The circle rapidly expanded, transforming into a swirling vortex that emitted a powerful suction force. Before he could react, it swept Su Yu entirely inside!
"Your Highness!"
"Little monster!"
Dugu Bo and Crimson Flame's expressions changed drastically as they lunged forward simultaneously.
They saw a layer of purplish-black shield suddenly manifest around the massive body of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger.
More alarming was that its nearly lifeless body was being gradually pulled upward along with the vortex's rotation, as if about to sink into that unknown space together with Su Yu.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Dugu Bo's eyes nearly burst with fury as he unleashed his Soul Power without reservation, his ninth Soul Ring suddenly glowing brightly.
"Ninth Spirit Ability - Azure Phosphorous Divine Light!"
An intensely concentrated emerald divine light shot from the mouth of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor behind him, slashing fiercely toward the purplish-black shield.
The moment the divine light collided with the shield, a piercing sizzling sound erupted.
The purplish-black shield ultimately couldn't withstand the assault and dissipated into the air.
But by this time, most of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's body had already merged into the vortex, with only half of its tail remaining visible outside. The purplish-black glow on its Evil God Hook grew increasingly intense.
Seeing this, Crimson Flame once again manifested her Thunder Flame Phoenix True Body, her ninth Soul Ring also glowing brightly:
"Ninth Spirit Ability - Heavenly Burning Thunder Hell!"
Sky-covering thunder and flames interwove into a prison cage, pressing down fiercely toward the vortex and shield.
But at that moment, the last remaining section of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's tail also vanished into the vortex.
The vortex, as if having completed its mission, rapidly contracted, faded, and ultimately disappeared into midair.
Only the chaotic mess in the pit remained, along with the shock, anger, and anxiety evident on Dugu Bo and Crimson Flame's faces.
"Little monster!"
"Your Highness!"
Their shouts echoed through the forest, met only by dead silence.
Crimson Flame clenched her fists, her thunderflame power nearly igniting the air:
"Where does that vortex lead?!"
Dugu Bo's face was dark enough to drip water as his gaze swept over the residual purplish-black energy in the pit. Gnashing his teeth, he said:
"I don't know! But that vortex didn't look like a spatial rift—more like some kind of Spirit Ability. Let's wait here for now and see!"
Su Yu felt his body being pulled by a brutal force. Amid the dizzying spin, his feet suddenly landed on solid ground.
Collecting himself, he surveyed his surroundings—the lighting was dim, and the air carried a damp, chilly sensation, as if isolated in some enclosed space.
He instinctively raised his hand, only to discover his palm had become small and delicate, clearly that of a six-year-old child.
Su Yu slapped his forehead, his heart sinking: "Damn, it's the Arena of Life and Death!"
He had actually forgotten that the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger had this trump card Spirit Ability.
Once dragged into this space, intruders would be forcibly reverted to their six-year-old forms. Only by defeating the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger could one escape.
What made it more troublesome was that the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger itself wasn't restricted by these rules and could fight in its original form.
"I must break its shield first to make it subject to the space's limitations too..."
Su Yu gritted his teeth, looking at his powerless small hands with frustration.
With a six-year-old's body, the Soul Power he could mobilize was almost nonexistent. How was he supposed to confront a fifty-thousand-year Soul Beast?
Even though this fifty-thousand-year Soul Beast was severely injured, it was still beyond his current ability to kill.
If this Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger recovered even slightly from its injuries, he would be instantly annihilated!
Just then, a swirl of black mist suddenly churned overhead, accompanied by the faint clattering of bone joints.
A figure dropped from the mist, landing with a heavy "thud" on the ground.
Su Yu's heart tightened, and he immediately crouched into a defensive stance.
Although the childlike posture appeared completely non-threatening, his gaze remained sharp as he stared at the figure emerging from the black mist.
It was actually a miniature version of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, standing about half a person's height.
Its pitch-black scales still shimmered with an eerie glow, and its blood-red vertical pupils were especially piercing in the dim light.
The dark crystal on its forehead pulsed with a crimson radiance, though it had shrunk considerably from before.
Hah! It seems Old Poison and Crimson Flame accidentally broke through its protective shield! This inadvertently saved my life!
Perhaps due to its shrunken size, the originally fatal injuries had now partially healed.
The miniature Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger shook its head, seemingly adjusting to its new form.
It then turned and locked onto Su Yu, emitting a low growl from its throat.
Scraping its four claws against the ground, it slowly advanced toward him with undisguised killing intent.
Su Yu's small hand clenched slightly as a wisp of Soul Power gathered, a one-meter-long wooden spike quietly materializing in his palm.
He stared intently at the approaching miniature Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, his youthful face displaying a composure that belied his age:
"Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, come at me!"
"Human! Even suppressed by this space, you are no match for me!"
The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger roared low and suddenly lunged forward like a black lightning bolt, its foul breath washing over Su Yu.
Su Yu's pupils contracted as he hastily raised the wooden spike in an attempt to block the ferocious pounce.
However, the disparity in their strength was overwhelming. The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's front claws swept through with powerful force, and Su Yu felt his arm go numb, nearly dropping the wooden spike.
At that moment, the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger suddenly whipped its tail, the bony tip bearing the Evil God Hook shooting toward Su Yu's heart like a venomous arrow!
"Crrack!"
With just a light touch, the wooden spike in Su Yu's hand snapped cleanly, the broken end emitting faint black energy.
Su Yu's heart chilled as he quickly retreated two steps, simultaneously slamming both hands on the ground with a low shout:
"Wood Style: Palisade Technique!"
Instantly, countless resilient branches burst from the earth, rapidly intertwining and twisting before him to form a demon-faced shield.
"Swish!"
The Evil God Hook struck again, precisely targeting the eye socket of the demon face on the shield, piercing through with a "thud."
But at that moment, the branches on the shield suddenly began growing wildly, instantly entangling the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's tail and tightening relentlessly.
"Roar!"
The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger was startled, attempting to shake its tail free from the restraint, but the branches proved incredibly resilient and didn't budge.
Its blood-red eyes flashed fiercely as it sharply turned its head, baring its small yet sharp fangs, and bit down on the branches entwining its tail!
Seizing the opportunity, Su Yu retreated further, his small hands swiftly forming hand seals as he precisely manipulated the branches to crawl up along the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's tail, attempting to bind its entire body.
Though he had reverted to childhood in this Arena of Life and Death, the vitality and resilience of his Wood Release remained intact.
"Human! Release my tail!"
The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger roared in fury as the vines constricted painfully, its blood-red vertical pupils fixed intently on Su Yu.
"Heh, Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, are you joking with me?"
Su Yu lifted his small face, his youthful voice tinged with mockery.
"Release you? If I release you, will I have any chance of survival?"
With that thought, the vines wrapped around the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's tail instantly tightened, squeezing even more firmly.