The enormous black vortex loomed like a bottomless abyss, exuding an endless aura of darkness and mystery. Its presence heralded an unprecedented crisis that was quietly approaching.
Xuan Yang's heart tightened suddenly, the alarm bells ringing deafeningly in his mind. He couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, is this still not over? Did I really poke the Shadow Demon's nest?" Before he could finish his words, a wave of deep helplessness surged within him.
He struggled to rise, but it felt as if he were weighed down by a thousand-pound burden. Each movement was agonizing, like arrows piercing through his heart, as if all the bones in his body were about to shatter. In that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be utterly incapacitated.
"Damn it! What on earth are these Shadow Demons? No matter how I attack them, it's like scratching their itch; I can't eliminate them at all. They're even tougher than those cockroaches that just won't die!" Xuan Yang cursed angrily, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
Beside him, Xuan Qing wore a grave expression; his once delicate features were now etched with worry. He furrowed his brow tightly and shouted, "Yang'er, be careful!"
The black vortex spun like a frenzied beast, whirling at an astonishing speed while emitting piercing howls.
At that moment, from the depths of the vortex, an even larger and more terrifying figure began to slowly emerge. This figure loomed like a small hill, surrounded by an overwhelming sense of oppressive power that distorted the very space around it.
It was far more hideous and terrifying than any Shadow Demon they had encountered before. Its twisted and contorted body radiated an evil aura that churned the stomach and threatened to induce nausea, as if it were a malevolent spirit clawing its way out from the darkest depths of hell.
Its vast wings suddenly spread wide, resembling a cloud that could blot out the sky and sun. The wings were covered in dense black feathers, each one sharp as a blade, glinting with a chilling light that seemed capable of slicing through flesh and bone with the slightest movement.
Its Dual Eyes burned like two raging flames, shooting forth a light filled with bloody desire. Wherever its gaze fell, it seemed as if all life would be instantly reduced to ashes, mercilessly devoured.
"What the hell is this monster?" Xuan Yang couldn't help but curse inwardly as his heart sank heavily. A wave of deep despair surged over him like a tide, making him feel as though he had plunged into an icy abyss without bottom.
At that moment, he felt as small as an insignificant ant facing an unbeatable prehistoric beast. Apart from trembling uncontrollably, he was utterly incapable of any effective response.
The massive Shadow Demon stood like a towering mountain before him, its colossal body radiating a chilling dark aura. Suddenly, it opened its mouth wide enough to swallow heaven and earth and let out a deafening roar. The sound crashed over him like a tidal wave, tearing through the air and creating visible ripples.
Xuan Yang felt as if his eardrums had been struck by a heavy hammer; pain shot through him, nearly causing him to lose his balance. At the same time, the entire dilapidated temple began to shake violently. Dust that had been precariously settled on the walls rained down while the ground trembled beneath him as if the temple were about to collapse at any moment.
From the Shadow Demon's gaping maw emerged rows of razor-sharp fangs glinting ominously in the light. Then, a surge of Black Energy erupted from its mouth like floodwaters breaching a dam, sweeping toward Xuan Yang with overwhelming force. This Black Energy contained boundless destructive power; wherever it passed, grass withered and rocks shattered as if all things would turn to dust before it.
Xuan Yang's heart plummeted into despair: "Damn it! This is really it! Am I going to die here today? This cursed place!" Faced with such terrifying attacks, he felt profound hopelessness and helplessness wash over him. He could only close his Dual Eyes and quietly await death's arrival.
However, just at that critical moment, a figure darted in front of Xuan Yang like lightning. This figure appeared somewhat slender but was exceptionally resolute—like an immovable mountain—instilling an unshakeable sense of security. It was Lu Zhiyuan—the esteemed Old Village Chief! In his hands was a simple Puppet Master woven from ropes. Though it looked unremarkable, it radiated a mysterious glow in Lu Zhiyuan's grasp.
At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan's gaze was unwavering, like a solid rock, showing no sign of retreat in the face of the powerful enemy before him. He fixed his eyes on the wave of Black Energy rushing towards him, unafraid, as if he had already placed life and death aside.
"Yang'er, run! Leave this to me!" Lu Zhiyuan's voice, though slightly hoarse with age, contained an immense strength. This statement rang in Xuan Yang's ears like a thunderclap, causing him to open his eyes wide in shock.
In that instant, Xuan Yang felt as if struck by a bolt of lightning, suddenly awakening his Dual Eyes. His gaze was filled with endless astonishment and disbelief, as if he were witnessing the apocalypse.
"Village Chief... he actually..." Xuan Yang's lips trembled slightly, his throat constricted as if gripped by an invisible hand, struggling to utter those words. Tears uncontrollably welled up in his eyes; he could hardly believe what was happening before him.
"Village Chief, you’re insane! You can't possibly be his match! Doing this will only lead to your death!" Xuan Yang's voice was filled with desperation and trembled heavily, even carrying a hint of suppressed sobs.
However, Lu Zhiyuan merely smiled gently, a serene kindness shining through the wrinkles etched across his face.
"Silly child, I've lived for so long; it's time I did something for the village. Cough cough..." Before he could finish speaking, a violent fit of coughing seized him, causing his body to sway as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
In his grasp, the seemingly ordinary Puppet Master suddenly came to life, moving as if infused with spirit. With a series of cracking sounds, the simple puppet transformed into a towering wooden figure.
This wooden figure was unlike any ordinary puppet; it radiated a powerful vitality as if it possessed its own independent will. Its stout wooden arms swung vigorously in the air as it charged fearlessly toward the terrifying Shadow Demon.
Although the wooden figure might not match the formidable strength of the Shadow Demon, its courage and determination moved everyone present deeply.
It fought like an enraged lion against the eerie Shadow Demon in a fierce battle for survival. Each violent clash between them erupted with thunderous roars that shook the very souls of those who heard them.
As this fierce battle escalated, the already crumbling temple could barely withstand the strain. Cracks began to appear on its dilapidated walls one after another, spreading rapidly like a terrifying net enveloping the entire structure. Meanwhile, countless small stones fell from these cracks—some hitting the ground and kicking up clouds of dust; others hurtling toward the combatants engaged in their deadly struggle, making this already perilous space even more treacherous.
Standing aside and watching the battle unfold, Xuan Yang fixed his gaze on Lu Zhiyuan fighting bravely ahead. His heart was flooded with an indescribable emotion—an intertwining of admiration and gratitude that surged like a tidal wave. This esteemed Village Chief had unhesitatingly chosen to sacrifice himself to protect him! The thought ignited a burning warmth within Xuan Yang’s heart, a feeling both bittersweet and painfully intense.
"Damn it!" Xuan Yang muttered under his breath. His previously pale cheeks flushed crimson with resolve as determination flickered in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he summoned every ounce of Puppet Power hidden within him. In an instant, a thick black mist surged upward, and then an even larger and more powerful Shadow Puppet materialized before everyone’s eyes.
This newly manifested Shadow Puppet exuded an intimidating aura reminiscent of an invincible war god from ancient times, steadfastly guarding the faint but precious light of hope behind it. Raising its massive and razor-sharp black claws high into the air, it unleashed a fierce wind as it ruthlessly clawed at the Shadow Demon.
The two immense forces collided explosively, unleashing earth-shattering energy waves that caused the entire dilapidated temple to tremble violently as if it were on the verge of collapse. Dust swirled around them like a dark cloud obscuring all vision.
Lu Zhiyuan's body began to shake; his complexion turned pale as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. Yet his gaze remained resolute without any hint of retreat—like an unyielding statue. The Puppet Master in his hands also began to crack; wood shavings flew about as if it would shatter at any moment.
Suddenly, the Shadow Demon let out a thunderous roar, its massive wings flapping as Black Energy surged forth like a tidal wave, carrying with it the essence of destruction, engulfing Lu Zhiyuan and his Puppet Master entirely.
"Village Chief!" Xuan Yang's roar seemed to tear through the heavens, echoing throughout the valley. The sound was filled with endless sorrow and rage, causing hearts to tremble at its resonance. He widened his Dual Eyes, fixating on the scene before him, tears flooding his eyes in an instant. There lay Lu Zhiyuan, sprawled in a pool of blood, the breath of life rapidly escaping from his body.
Xuan Yang felt as if an invisible hand had tightly grasped his heart, making it impossible to breathe from the pain. He longed to rush forward and fight the enemy with all his might, but reality was cruel—against such a powerful foe, he felt utterly powerless. That deep sense of helplessness surged within him like a tide, threatening to consume him entirely.
"Damn it, I will kill you! For Village Chief's revenge!" The madness in Xuan Yang's eyes flickered like burning flames. At that moment, he gathered all his strength into his palms, coalescing it into a pitch-black energy ball. This energy orb compressed and spun continuously, emanating a terrifying aura that sent chills down spines.
Suddenly, Xuan Yang shouted and hurled the energy ball forward with all his might. The Black Energy Ball shot through the air like a bolt of lightning, racing toward the Shadow Demon with blinding speed. As it passed, the air was torn apart, creating visible shockwaves.
With a deafening boom, the Black Energy Ball struck the Shadow Demon squarely. The creature let out an agonizing scream as its form twisted and contorted under the force of the impact before dissipating into a wisp of black smoke.
As the Shadow Demon vanished, the once chaotic and noisy ruins fell silent once more. However, this tranquility felt heavy and oppressive. The ground was littered with rubble and blood; the air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of blood, making it hard to breathe.
Xuan Yang's legs gave way beneath him as he collapsed to the ground with a thud. He covered his face with his hands as tears poured forth like a flood breaking through a dam. The sorrow and pain deep within him crashed against his emotional defenses in relentless waves, nearly driving him to despair.
"Lu Zhiyuan..." Xuan Yang murmured, his voice trembling and hoarse. The kind-hearted Village Chief who had always quietly protected them had left him in such a tragic manner. Xuan Yang understood that Lu Zhiyuan had sacrificed himself to protect him. This debt of gratitude would likely remain unrepayable for life.
Beside him, Xuan Qing quietly approached and gently patted Xuan Yang's shoulder in comfort. But at that moment, any words seemed utterly powerless. The two stood there silently for what felt like an eternity, only the sound of their silent weeping echoing in the stillness of the ruined temple...
Above them, a massive crack appeared in the temple's ceiling as sunlight streamed through it, illuminating the entire space. A glimmer of hope was born amidst despair. Yet this hope was tinged with sadness and pain.
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