Crossing the wilderness to survive, starting with a broken kitchen knife.

Zhang Shi executed Shadow Step, weaving through the gaps between the wind blades. Simultaneously, his left hand fumbled at his waist, pulling out a bottle of antidote he had prepared. He bit the cork open with his teeth and tilted his head back to chug it down. The potion quickly spread through his body, slightly easing the pain in his right arm and slowing the festering. He knew the potion would only provide temporary relief; he had to end the battle quickly.

Seeing the wind blades' ineffective attack, the lizardman leader grew increasingly furious. He plunged his wand into the ground, his hands rapidly forming hand seals in the air. A massive black magic circle emerged beneath his feet, surging with strange energies, like a portal to the abyss. Zhang Shi was startled; he could sense the destructive power within the magic circle. If he allowed it to fully form, he would be doomed.

At this critical juncture, Zhang Shi cast aside all distractions and mobilized all his magical power, concentrating it in his left hand. A complex rune gradually emerged from his palm. This was his ultimate life-saving trick, one he would never use unless in dire straits. The rune shimmered with light, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding darkness.

Just as the magic circle was about to be completed, Zhang Shi shouted loudly and slammed his left hand down to the ground. The runes instantly shone with dazzling light, and an invisible shockwave spread outward from him. Wherever the shockwave reached, the magical elements were forcibly disrupted. The forming magic circle was torn apart by an invisible giant hand, cracks appeared, and finally collapsed with a loud bang.

The lizardman leader, struck by the backlash of his magic, spitted blood and collapsed to the ground. Zhang Shi seized the opportunity to rush forward, raised the broken blade in his hand, and stabbed the lizardman leader's heart. The opponent's eyes widened and he fell silent. However, Zhang Shi did not dare to be careless. Knowing that the opponent had the ability to resurrect, he used Lao Duan to chop the corpse into a meat paste before stopping.

After disposing of the lizardman leader's corpse, Zhang Shi's tense nerves relaxed slightly. He leaned wearily against a nearby stone pillar, breathing heavily. Although the wound on his right arm had stopped worsening, it still caused waves of excruciating pain. Looking around, the black mist in the hall had mostly dissipated, and the eerie chill had faded considerably, but the pervasive smell of blood had become even stronger and more pungent.

After a short rest, Zhang Shi forced himself to pick up some potentially useful items scattered on the ground, including a mysterious gem that had fallen off the lizardman leader's wand, and several scales engraved with strange runes. He knew very well that these trophies might contain the key to unlocking the secrets of lizardman magic, and they might be of great use in future research.

Zhang Shi slowly made his way towards the palace exit, each step weighing a thousand pounds. As he neared the door, a clamor erupted from outside. His heart tightened, thinking the lizardmen were making new moves. He gripped his broken blade tightly and dodged sideways through the door.

Outside the palace, sunlight streamed across the devastated battlefield. Upon seeing Zhang Shi emerge, the Alliance warriors erupted in resounding cheers. Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong were the first to charge forward. Zhao Feng's face was bloodstained, his battle axe slung across his shoulder, his teeth stained red as he grinned. He clapped Zhang Shi's shoulder vigorously, "Good boy! I knew you could do it!" The slap stung Zhang Shi's wounds, yet his heart was filled with warmth. Ge Dalong, his magic power nearly depleted, his form swaying, yet his gaze remained gleaming. He handed over a bottle of his remaining magic potion, "Drink it quickly! You must have lost a lot of energy."

Zhang Shi took the drink and drank it all, feeling his depleted strength slowly return. Looking out, the battlefield was littered with corpses. The Alliance soldiers had suffered heavy casualties, and the remains of Lizardmen piled high. Blood mixed with mud, staining the ground an eerie dark red. Though wounded and exhausted, the surviving warriors' eyes were filled with the determination and pride of victory.

Just as they were about to evacuate, the ground suddenly began to shake violently. A strange red light shone in the distant sky, as if something terrifying was about to break free. Zhang Shi's face changed drastically, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart. He hurriedly shouted to the others, "Oh no! Something's happening! Get to higher ground!" Upon hearing this, the soldiers quickly ran towards a nearby hill.

As they reached the top of the hill, they saw the ground crack where the Lizardmen's palace had once stood. A streak of crimson light shot up from the ground, and within the light, a gigantic figure struggled and twisted. As the crimson light faded, a massive lizard, the size of a mountain, blazing with black flames, suddenly appeared. With every breath, it belched thick smoke, its blood-red pupils fixed on the people on the hill, and it unleashed a deafening roar that jarred their eardrums.

Zhang Shi groaned inwardly, having thought the battle would be over with the lizardman leader, but he hadn't expected this back-up plan. Beside him, Zhao Feng gripped his battle axe tightly, glaring, "Don't care what monster it is, kill it if it comes!" Ge Dalong, however, frowned, worried, "This magical fluctuation is too powerful. A head-on fight won't work. We need to find a way."

Zhang Shi stared at the beast, his mind racing. He suddenly remembered the spoils he'd collected in the palace. He pulled out the rune-emblazoned scales and placed them in his palm for a closer examination. He noticed that the scales glowed faintly under the beast's magical energies, as if responding to them. An idea struck Zhang Shi, and he called to Ge Dalong, "Old Ge, use ice magic to freeze these scales! Quick!"

Although Ge Dalong didn't understand the situation, he unleashed his ice magic without hesitation. Chilling air instantly enveloped the scales. In the blink of an eye, they were encased in ice, their light growing ever brighter, and a strange rhythm emanated from them. Seeing this, Zhang Shi, holding the ice-encased scales, rushed towards the beast, simultaneously unleashing his Shadow Step. Leveraging his ghostly form, he weaved through the flames surrounding the beast, seeking an opportunity to strike.

As he neared the beast's head, Zhang Shi, watching for the moment when its bloody maw opened wide, ready to spit fire, fiercely hurled the ice-wrapped scales into its mouth. The beast froze for a moment, then a muffled sound echoed from its belly, as if something were exploding. It writhed in agony, flames dancing chaotically around it, and black mist poured out from where the scales had been embedded.

Zhang Shi took the opportunity to retreat back to the hillside, where he, Zhao Feng, and Ge Dalong watched the beast's reaction. The beast struggled on the ground for a moment, its movements gradually slowing, its black flames growing fainter, and finally, it collapsed to the ground with a thud, leaving no further movement. This time, everyone truly felt the crisis was over. Cheers rang out once again, echoing over this battle-worn battlefield for a long time.

After this battle, Zhang Shi, Zhao Feng, and Ge Dalong gained widespread fame. They returned to the island with the surviving warriors, sharing the thrills and growth of battle along the way. Back on the island, they shared their trophies and combat experience, helping the alliance grow stronger and laying a solid foundation for future challenges. After all, the Lizardmen threat wasn't over yet, and no one knew when their next attack would occur. All the survivors quietly gathered their strength, ready for battle at any moment.