Zhang Shi knew he couldn't be suppressed like this. Taking advantage of his retreat, he rolled away to create distance, taking a deep breath and channeling his inner power. A faint black light emanated from Lao Duan's blade, a prelude to his Shadow Slash. The lizardman leader wasn't about to give him a chance to breathe. He waved his wand again, and several black spikes burst from the ground, shooting towards Zhang Shi like arrows.

Zhang Shi's eyes narrowed, and he used the Shadow Step, his figure weaving through the spikes like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of the lizardman leader, his blade imbued with surging shadow power, slashing fiercely at the leader's throat. The lizardman leader reacted just as quickly, dodging to the side and blocking with his wand. With a loud clang, sparks flew, and looking at the wand, it had been sliced ​​in two by Old Duan.

The two exchanged blows, their battle growing increasingly fierce. The black mist within the hall churned and surged due to the magical energy, further reducing visibility. Zhang Shi inwardly groaned; at this rate, his stamina would eventually be exhausted, and he needed to end the fight quickly. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He recalled the lizardman leader's reliance on the frequency of magical fluctuations when casting his magic array. Feigning weakness and retreating, he secretly gathered power in his hands, preparing to unleash his shadow technique to attack from two directions simultaneously, aiming to deliver the final blow and kill his opponent.

The lizardman leader, believing Zhang Shi was showing signs of defeat, was overjoyed and intensified his attack, his wand flashing with impenetrable power, unleashing streams of black energy. Just as he was basking in his triumph, Zhang Shi seized the opportunity, letting out a shout and simultaneously unleashing Shadow Step while releasing his shadow. In an instant, the lizardman leader felt his wand falter, his previously smooth flow of magic becoming blocked. Looking down, he saw that frost had somehow spread to his feet, making even taking a step extremely difficult.

Zhang Shi used a trap that Ge Dalong had prepared in advance. He only needed to attach the frost aura to the weapon beforehand to accumulate it over time and eventually freeze the enemy.

Seeing his opponent troubled by the frost aura, Zhang Shi seized the opportunity and unleashed his strongest Shadow Strike with all his might. The black sword energy surged like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, hurtling straight towards the lizardman leader's chest. The lizardman leader was terrified and hastily dodged, but the sword energy still grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep wound from which black blood gushed forth.

"Damn humans!" The lizardman leader, enraged and humiliated, ignored his injuries and frantically chanted a long incantation. As he chanted, the floor of the hall began to tremble violently, and the surrounding black mist seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, converging towards him. In the blink of an eye, it formed a pair of huge black wings behind him. With the flapping of the wings, a gale was created, swirling up the rubble and debris on the ground and sending them flying everywhere.

Zhang Shi felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that his opponent was going all out. He dared not be careless in the slightest, gripping his weapon tightly, his feet slightly apart, adopting a defensive stance, while his eyes were fixed on the lizardman leader's every move, trying to predict the next attack direction from his spellcasting actions.

The lizardman leader, aided by the power of his wings, moved with ghostly speed through the air, instantly appearing above Zhang Shi. He gripped his wand tightly and slammed it downwards, the tip gleaming with an eerie black light that seemed capable of devouring everything. Zhang Shi hastily used Shadow Step to dodge sideways, but the black light relentlessly pursued him. In the nick of time, Zhang Shi gritted his teeth, turned, and hurled his weapon, colliding with the black light. A deafening roar erupted, and the powerful impact sent him flying, crashing heavily into a stone pillar that shattered instantly.

Zhang Shi struggled to his feet, feeling his blood surging within him, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet the fighting spirit in his eyes burned ever brighter. The lizardman leader was also in bad shape, staggering a few steps after landing, his face pale, his black wings dimming slightly. The two exchanged a glance, then charged at each other again, engaging in a life-or-death struggle within the death-filled hall.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield outside the palace, Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong were locked in a fierce battle. The lizardmen's offensive grew increasingly relentless, with a constant stream of new recruits pouring in from all directions. Although the Alliance warriors fought desperately, the casualty count continued to climb. Zhao Feng's wounds multiplied, blood staining his armor, yet he remained standing like a war god, each swing of his battle axe carrying a resolute determination to take everyone down with him. Ge Dalong's magic was nearly depleted, and the power of his ice and lightning spells was greatly diminished, but he gritted his teeth, forcing out incantations to barely maintain his defensive magic, creating a final barrier for his comrades.

Despite the dire situation, they all trusted Zhang Shi, believing he could find a way to defeat the enemy deep within the palace and end this nightmarish battle. Just as everyone was struggling to hold on, a violent energy fluctuation suddenly came from the depths of the palace, and a dazzling light shot straight into the sky. Immediately afterward, a scream pierced the air.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong were greatly encouraged. Zhao Feng brandished his battle axe and roared to the sky, "Brothers, Zhang Shi succeeded! Let's give it our all and wipe out these reptiles!" His roar, like a resounding bell, made the surrounding lizardmen freeze in their tracks. The Alliance warriors, as if injected with a stimulant, felt their previously exhausted bodies surge with renewed strength, and they charged at the lizardmen with even greater ferocity.

Despite his exhausted body, Ge Dalong pulled out the last magic crystal from his pocket, crushed it, and a surge of magic power instantly flooded into his body. His eyes regained their luster, and he waved his hands, creating an unprecedented giant ice wall that temporarily blocked the surging lizardmen, giving his comrades a moment to catch their breath.

Deep within the palace, the duel between Zhang Shi and the lizardman leader had reached its climax. The scream had come from the lizardman leader; Zhang Shi's all-out attack, though not fatal, had severely wounded him. But the lizardman leader, relying on his tenacious will to survive and the eerie power of his wings, continued to put up a desperate fight.

Taking advantage of his opponent's injury, Zhang Shi darted forward, closing in once more. His blade gleamed coldly as he stabbed several times towards the lizardman chieftain's abdomen with lightning speed. The lizardman chieftain frantically parried, sustaining several more wounds, black blood splattering all over Zhang Shi. But just as Zhang Shi was about to deliver the final blow, the lizardman chieftain suddenly opened its mouth, spewing out a stream of black, corrosive venom. Zhang Shi couldn't dodge in time; the venom splattered onto his right arm, instantly sending a sharp pain through him. The venom had penetrated his black armor, and his flesh began to fester.

Zhang Shi gritted his teeth and endured the pain, kicking the lizardman leader in the chest and using the momentum to leap back and create distance. He looked down at his right arm and inwardly cursed; the venom was too potent, and if he didn't treat it in time, his arm would be ruined. But he had no time to think. The lizardman leader attacked again, flapping his wings and creating black wind blades that swept towards Zhang Shi like a tidal wave.