Chapter 351 - Gathering of the Strong(Part-5) (1/2)

The sweet mesmerizing sound of zither came to everyone's ears which were accompanied by various other instruments that were being played creating a soulful concert of the orchestra that suddenly seemed to fill everyone with courage.

Ryuu simply looked back as he saw Zywia busy on her zither playing it, as the sound reached his ears he felt himself getting empowered a bit, he closed his eye before he stopped a large tentacle, covered with bone like protrusion that looked like armor covering it. with his sword before he let out a harrumph as his KI swelled up within his body before he caught the creatures tentacle with his other hand then he pulled and threw it up out of the water the creature screamed in surprise only for it to be cut short as it was cleaved into many small parts from the attacks intertwined with sword force.

”EVERYONE MOVE!!!!!!”,a shout came from one of the cultivators as Ryuu turned to look at one of creature swelling at a rapid pace and glowing, he bit back a curse as he manage jump back towards Zywia's side when the creature detonated with enough power that it felt as if an attack by a low level Celestial Immortal had unleashed a technique at their full strength.

Ryuu's hands extended while he dashed towards Zywia as at least 6 talismans flew in front of him, as they touched his hands multiple array were inscribed on them as the blast reached them he pointed it towards the blast as it slammed on them, Zywia's closeness with her friend made sure that they were protected by the beige colored barrier when it enclosed them, including some of the others.

”Thank you fellow Daoist, for saving our lives we are in your debt.”, a person spoke from his right as they waited for the steam to move as Ryuu shook his head as he spoke, ”Thank you for your kind words but we are in a battlefield where only working and helping each other will we succeed so there is no need to feel indebted to me.”

As the steam that was covering the battlefield lessened they were greeted by the sights of various cultivators standing each having erected their own means of protection against the blast although a few looked worse for wear and Ryuu was sure that a few of them had even died, a Celestial Immortal was no joke even if it was a low leveled one and his hunch proved to be right even if they died because of other means as he looked towards the nearest group of cultivators who seemed to have been dead even inside their protection bubble.

Zywia frowned at that as she spoke, ”Poison?”

Ryuu nodded at that as he spoke, ”I think that so.”

As soon as he spoke the dead cultivators twitched as Su-Min spoke with a huff, ”You are seeing things they a…..”, whatever she was going to say was stuck inside her throat as extra appendages like tentacles, bony protrusion started to grow as they began morphing into abominations like that they had slain a few moments ago.

For Ryuu the process awoke some hidden memories that he wished to forget memories that still existed within the deepest recess of his mind.

”…Run Kei…”

”Sorry…I am…”

”RYUU?”, a shout from his side drew his attention as his gaze fell on the veiled face of Frozen Ocean eyes whose projected a strange mixture of curiosity and concern as she spoke again, ”Are you alright Ryuu?”

Ryuu shook his head as he spoke, ”No I am fine.”

Zywia tilted her head as she spoke, ”Have you seen something similar Ryuu?”

Ryuu send a fake smile at her as he spoke, ”No but it was rather grim and I hope not to see something similar.”, while inwardly he frowned, 'Seen such a thing, I had seen such a thing from the front row seat, seen my friend and colleague turned into one and had to be put down like a rabid dog.'

Ryuu shook his head to clear his thoughts as he spoke in a rare serious manner, ”Focus everyone next time we might not be lucky, my array prevented anything from harming us including any form of gaseous poisonous substance that killed them and are now they are transforming, as such try to make sure when you are trying to escape from the blast make sure you are protected from the poisonous gas as well.”

Ryuu waited for a brief moment as more creatures came to his sight as he spoke, ”Everyone brace yourselves I am going to release the barrier and the battle will begin anew.”

Everyone gripped there weapon hard as the sea in front was churning as multiple creatures started appearing causing Ryuu to narrow his eyes before he shouted out loud so that every cultivator could hear, ”EVERYONE TAKE TO THE SKIES AND ATTACK FROM RANGE MORE OF THOSE CREATURES THAT BLEW UP JUST NOW HAS APPEARED FLY FLY FLY HIGHER.”

His shout drew everyone's attention as they did not have to be told twice as they were high up into the sky as Daoist Three-lives approached him as he spoke, ”Daoist brother Ryuu what a fine mess, I hope that we will be able to deal with them from afar.”

Ryuu looked at him directly in his eyes as he shrugged while speaking, ”I hope so too, but I hope you know that eventually we have to enter the ocean into their territory.”