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墨書 Inktalez
Deep within the cave, it was not the radiant brilliance that Lu Zhiyuan had described, but rather a suffocating, deathly darkness.
Xuan Yang cautiously stepped inside, the sound of crunching gravel beneath his feet echoing sharply in the stillness of the cave, as if Death itself were whispering in his ear, sending chills down his spine.
He held his breath, fully alert and on guard, activating all his senses like a poised cheetah ready to spring into action at any moment. His heartbeat thundered in his chest like a drum, adrenaline surged through him wildly, and every hair on his body stood on end, every nerve taut with tension.
“Village Chief? Si Yang?” he called out tentatively, his voice reverberating in the vast emptiness of the cave, but there was no response—only hollow echoes that mocked his ignorance and naivety.
A wave of dread washed over Xuan Yang as he felt a strong premonition of misfortune rise within him like a tide, extinguishing the last flicker of hope in his heart with icy water. He felt trapped in a massive spider's web; the more he struggled, the tighter it constricted around him, leaving him helpless as he watched an unknown predator draw closer.
Suddenly, a chilling laugh echoed from deep within the cave. It was sharp and grating, reminiscent of a rusty iron door being flung open or nails scraping harshly across a chalkboard—an eerie sound that sent shivers down his spine.
“Hehehe... Puppet Master, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you for so long!” A sinister voice emerged from the darkness, cold and devoid of any human emotion, like a call from the depths of hell that sent waves of cold dread coursing through him.
Xuan Yang's heart raced; instinctively he clenched his fists, his body taut like a drawn bowstring ready to unleash deadly arrows. He felt as if he were being targeted by a lurking venomous snake; chills ran down his spine as cold sweat soaked through his clothes.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows—tall and imposing, cloaked in black. His face remained obscured, but Xuan Yang could see a pair of crimson eyes glinting with an unnatural light in the darkness, resembling a hungry beast spotting its prey. Those dual eyes were filled with greed and bloodlust, as if they intended to devour him whole.
The Shadow!
Xuan Yang recognized him immediately; his heart plummeted like a stone sinking into an unfathomable abyss, sending ripples of panic through him. It felt as though an invisible hand had tightened around his throat, making it hard to breathe and causing his chest to feel heavy with dread.
“You... you are... the Shadow?” he forced himself to ask calmly, though there was an unmistakable tremor in his voice, each word squeezed out through clenched teeth.
The Shadow let out a cold laugh and replied, “What’s wrong? Surprised? Puppet Master, I didn’t expect you to be so weak; you’ve truly disappointed me!” His voice dripped with mockery and disdain, taunting Xuan Yang like an insignificant prey. Each word struck Xuan Yang’s heart like a sharp knife.
Xuan Yang gritted his teeth and remained silent. He knew that anything he said now would be pointless; only by fighting could he prove himself and protect those he wished to safeguard.
The shadow approached step by step, each footfall feeling like a heavy weight pressing down on his heart. The echo of its footsteps resonated through the empty cave, suffocating him with a sense of dread. He felt as if he were being targeted by an ancient, primal beast, chills running down his spine as every cell in his body screamed of danger.
"Do you know, Puppet Master, that everything about you is under my control? Your past, your present, your future—I know it all!" the shadow declared, its tone brimming with confidence and arrogance. It was as if it were a deity looking down upon mortals, wielding power over everything.
Xuan Yang's heart raced at the shadow's words, a wave of unease and fear washing over him. He had no idea what the shadow truly knew, but he sensed that it was not bluffing; every word could very well be true.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice laced with caution and wariness. His eyes fixed intently on the shadow, searching for any hint of its intentions.
The shadow let out a cold laugh. "What do I want? Heh... I want you to become my Puppet Master, to be my most powerful weapon in conquering this world!" Its voice dripped with seduction and temptation, as if promising endless power and glory should Xuan Yang agree.
A flicker of anger ignited in Xuan Yang's eyes. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms without him feeling any pain. "You wish!" he roared.
A glint of cold light flashed in the shadow's eyes. "Oh really? Then let me see what you're capable of!" It sneered dismissively, as if hearing the greatest joke ever told.
As soon as the words left its mouth, the shadow vanished from sight in an instant, moving faster than the eye could follow—like a bolt of black lightning or a wisp of elusive smoke—before reappearing right in front of Xuan Yang.
Startled, Xuan Yang hurriedly tried to dodge but was too late. The shadow's attack came like a flash of lightning—swift and merciless. He could barely react as he watched the shadow's hand strike toward him.
Bang!
With a dull thud, Xuan Yang was sent flying by the shadow's blow, crashing to the ground like a kite with its string cut. He felt his insides shift violently; blood surged up his throat as he coughed out a mouthful of crimson, pain coursing through him as darkness clouded his vision.
"Cough cough..." He gasped violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His face turned pale as paper, resembling a crumpled sheet.
The shadow reappeared before him once more, looking down with an air of superiority filled with mockery and derision—as if observing a dying insect or a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Is this all you've got? Puppet Master, you really disappoint me!" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain and contempt.
Xuan Yang gritted his teeth, struggling to stand, but his body felt like it was falling apart, completely devoid of strength. Each attempt ended in failure.
At that moment, a petite figure stepped in front of him. Her small frame felt like an imposing mountain, instilling an overwhelming sense of safety and reassurance.
Qu Si Yang!
"You... what are you doing here? It's dangerous, you should leave!" Xuan Yang asked in surprise. He never expected Qu Si Yang to appear here; his heart was filled with both gratitude and anxiety.
Qu Si Yang said nothing, her gaze fixed resolutely on the shadow. Flames blazed around her, transforming her into a goddess reborn from fire, exuding an aura of power and majesty.
"Shadow, you will not harm him!" she declared coldly. Her voice was quiet yet filled with determination and resolve.
The shadow sneered and replied, "Little girl, do you really think you can stop me? How naive!" He looked at Qu Si Yang with contempt, as if she were just a foolish child unaware of her own limitations.
Qu Si Yang remained silent, but the flames around her blazed even brighter. The fire seemed alive, swirling and dancing around her, forming an indestructible shield that protected Xuan Yang behind her.
"Overconfident! How will you know unless you try?" The shadow scoffed, impatience flashing in his eyes as he vanished from sight once more. His speed was so swift that it was nearly impossible to follow, like a black specter leaving behind trails in the air.
In the next instant, he reappeared behind Qu Si Yang, striking toward her back with a palm enveloped in swirling black mist that emanated a chilling aura.
At that critical moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared, blocking Qu Si Yang from behind and taking the shadow's blow head-on. Though the figure was tall, it appeared somewhat fragile against the shadow's might.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed, as if the mountains were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart. The shadow was sent flying, like a fallen leaf, tracing an arc in the air before crashing heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Lu Zhiyuan!"
"Village Chief!" Xuan Yang exclaimed in surprise. He hadn't expected Lu Zhiyuan to appear here, and even more so to be injured while protecting Qu Si Yang.
Lu Zhiyuan slowly stood up, his face pale as paper, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Clearly gravely injured, he nonetheless endured the pain and shook his head.
"Cough... I'm fine. You all should leave quickly! I'll hold him off!" he said, his voice weak but filled with determination. He knew he was no match for the shadow, but he had to buy time for Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang.
The shadow let out a cold laugh and said, "Want to leave? Not so easy! None of you will walk out of here alive today!" His voice was laced with murderous intent, as if he had already sentenced the three to death.
In a flash, he reappeared in front of Lu Zhiyuan and struck towards his chest. If that blow landed, Lu Zhiyuan would undoubtedly perish.
At that critical moment, a beam of golden light suddenly shot from Xuan Yang, like a sharp sword, carrying an unstoppable momentum that forced the shadow back.
The shadow's expression changed as he looked at Xuan Yang in astonishment. "You... you actually... can wield such power? It seems I underestimated you!" A hint of seriousness flickered in his eyes; he hadn't anticipated that Xuan Yang possessed such hidden strength.
Xuan Yang slowly rose to his feet, radiating dazzling golden light like a Golden Armored War God descending from the heavens, exuding an imposing aura.
"Shadow, your game ends here!" he declared coldly, his voice filled with authority and dominance, reminiscent of a king ruling over all.
A glimmer of fear flashed in the shadow's eyes... He realized that this time he had truly encountered an opponent. He would have to give it his all if he hoped for even a slim chance of survival. His crimson eyes fixed intently on Xuan Yang, as if trying to see through him.
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