The enormous black vortex loomed like a bottomless maw, exuding an endless aura of darkness and mystery. Its presence heralded an unprecedented and colossal 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 not over yet? Did we really poke the nest of the Shadow Demon?" Before he could finish his words, a wave of profound helplessness surged within him.
He struggled to rise, but it felt as if a thousand-pound weight was pressing down on him, each movement akin to being pierced by a thousand arrows, as if all the bones in his body were about to shatter. At that moment, he truly understood what it meant to struggle to move forward.
"Damn it! What on earth are these Shadow Demons? No matter how I attack them, it feels like I'm just scratching their itch; I can't completely eliminate them. They're even more tenacious than those unkillable cockroaches!" Xuan Yang cursed angrily, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
Beside him, Xuan Qing's expression was equally grave; his once delicate features were now etched with worry. He furrowed his brow tightly and shouted, "Yang'er, be careful!"
The black vortex spun rapidly like a frenzied beast, emitting piercing howls.
At that moment, from the depths of the vortex, an even larger and more terrifying figure began to 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 made one feel nauseous, as if it were a malevolent spirit clawing its way out from the deepest darkness of hell.
Its vast wings suddenly spread wide, resembling a cloud that could block out the sky and sunlight. The wings were covered in dense black feathers, each one sharp as a blade, glinting with a chilling light that seemed capable of easily slicing through flesh and bone with a mere swipe.
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 by its insatiable hunger.
"What the hell is this monster?" Xuan Yang thought bitterly to himself, feeling his heart sink heavily. A deep sense of despair surged within him like a tidal wave, 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 completely unable to respond effectively.
The massive Shadow Demon towered before him like a mountain, emanating a heart-stopping aura of darkness. Suddenly, it opened its gaping maw 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 wherever it passed.
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 dilapidated temple began to shake violently. Dust that had been precariously clinging to the walls fell in torrents as the ground trembled beneath him; it felt as though the temple was on the verge of collapse.
From the Shadow Demon's open maw emerged rows of razor-sharp fangs glinting ominously in the dim 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 went, vegetation withered and rocks shattered as if all things would be reduced to dust before it.
Xuan Yang's heart plummeted into despair: "Damn it! Is this really how it ends? Am I going to die here today? This cursed place!" Faced with such terrifying attacks, he felt deep despair and helplessness wash over him; he could only close his Dual Eyes and quietly await death's arrival.
However, at that critical moment when all hope seemed lost, a figure darted in front of Xuan Yang like lightning. This figure appeared slender yet remarkably steadfast—like an immovable mountain—instilling an unshakeable sense of security. It was Lu Zhiyuan—the esteemed Old Village Chief! In his hands was tightly gripped a simple Puppet Master woven from ropes. Though this Puppet Master looked plain and unremarkable, it radiated a mysterious glow in Lu Zhiyuan's grasp.
At this moment, Lu Zhiyuan's gaze was incredibly resolute, like a hard rock, showing no signs of retreat in the face of the powerful enemy before him. He fixed his eyes on the black wave of energy rushing toward him, unafraid, as if he had already cast aside any thoughts of life and death.
"Yang'er, go quickly! Leave this to me!" Lu Zhiyuan's voice, though slightly hoarse with age, contained boundless strength. This statement struck Xuan Yang's ears like a thunderclap, causing him to open his eyes wide in shock.
In that instant, Xuan Yang felt as if he had been struck by lightning; he abruptly opened 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 its match! Doing this will only lead to your death!" Xuan Yang's voice was filled with anguish and trembled heavily, even carrying a hint of suppressed sobbing.
However, Lu Zhiyuan merely smiled gently. On his wrinkled face, which resembled a landscape of deep valleys and ridges, there was a comforting kindness.
"Silly child, I have lived for so long; it’s time for me to do something for the village. Cough cough..." Before he could finish his sentence, a violent fit of coughing overtook him, causing his body to sway unsteadily as a trickle of crimson blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.
In that moment, the seemingly ordinary Puppet Master he held tightly began to move as if it had been imbued with life. With a series of cracking sounds, the simple puppet made of ropes transformed into a giant wooden figure.
This wooden figure was unlike any ordinary puppet; it radiated a powerful vitality as if it possessed its own independent will. Its sturdy wooden arms swung powerfully through the air as it fearlessly charged toward the terrifying Shadow Demon.
Though in terms of strength the wooden figure might not compare to the immensely powerful Shadow Demon, its display of courage and determination moved everyone present deeply.
It fought like an enraged lion against the ominous Shadow Demon in a fierce battle that was both thrilling and life-threatening. Each violent clash between them erupted with deafening roars akin to thunder from the heavens, shaking the very souls of those who witnessed it.
As this fierce battle escalated, the already crumbling dilapidated temple could hardly withstand the pressure. Cracks began to appear on the old walls one after another, spreading rapidly like a terrifying net that enveloped the entire temple. 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 an already perilous space even more treacherous.
Standing aside and watching the battle unfold, Xuan Yang fixed his gaze on Lu Zhiyuan fighting valiantly ahead. Deep within him surged an indescribable emotion—an intertwining of admiration and respect that overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. This esteemed Village Chief had chosen to sacrifice himself to protect him without hesitation! The thought ignited a burning warmth in Xuan Yang's heart—a feeling that was both bittersweet and painfully intense.
"Damn it!" Xuan Yang cursed under his breath. His cheeks flushed red from tension as determination flickered in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he summoned every ounce of hidden power from within his Puppet Master abilities. In an instant, a thick black mist surged upward, followed by an even larger and more formidable Shadow Puppet appearing before everyone.
This re-emerged Shadow Puppet exuded an intimidating aura reminiscent of an invincible war god from ancient times, steadfastly guarding the faint yet precious light of hope behind it. It raised its massive and razor-sharp black claws high into the air and unleashed a fierce wind as it ruthlessly clawed at the Shadow Demon.
The two powerful forces collided with earth-shattering energy waves that caused the entire dilapidated temple to tremble violently as if it would collapse at any moment. Dust swirled around them, obscuring visibility.
Lu Zhiyuan's body began to shake; his complexion turned pale as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. Yet his gaze remained steadfast without any hint of retreat—as if he were an unyielding statue. The Puppet Master in his hands also began to crack; wood shavings flew about as if it might 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 an aura of destruction that engulfed Lu Zhiyuan and his Puppet Master.
“Village Chief!” Xuan Yang's roar seemed to tear the heavens apart, echoing throughout the valley. This voice was filled with endless sorrow and rage, causing hearts to tremble at its sound. He widened his Dual Eyes, fixating on the scene before him, tears flooding his eyes in an instant. There lay Lu Zhiyuan in a pool of blood, the breath of life rapidly fading from his body.
Xuan Yang felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly, making it impossible to breathe. He longed to rush forward and fight the enemy with all his might, but reality was cruel—facing such a powerful opponent, he felt utterly powerless. That profound sense of helplessness surged within him like a tide, nearly consuming him entirely.
“Damn it, I will kill you! I will avenge the Village Chief!” The madness in Xuan Yang's eyes sparkled like burning flames. At that moment, he gathered all his strength into his palms, condensing it into a pitch-black energy sphere. This sphere compressed and spun continuously, emanating a terrifying aura that sent chills down spines.
Suddenly, Xuan Yang shouted and hurled the energy sphere forward. The black sphere 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 sphere struck the Shadow Demon squarely. It let out a piercing scream as its body twisted and contorted under the force of the impact before dissipating into a wisp of black smoke.
With the Shadow Demon’s disappearance, the once chaotic and noisy ruins finally returned to silence. 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 out like a flood breaking through a dam. The sorrow and pain deep within him surged in waves, battering against his emotional defenses until he was on the brink of collapse.
“Lu Zhiyuan…” Xuan Yang murmured, his voice trembling and hoarse. The once kind and gentle Village Chief who had always silently protected them was gone in such a tragic manner. Xuan Yang understood that Lu Zhiyuan had sacrificed his life to protect him. This kindness was something he feared he could never repay in this lifetime.
Beside him, Xuan Qing quietly approached and gently patted Xuan Yang's shoulder in comfort. But at that moment, any words felt so pale and powerless. The two stood silently together for what seemed like an eternity, only the sound of their silent weeping echoing in the stillness of the ruins...
Above them, a massive crack appeared in the temple's ceiling, sunlight streaming through to illuminate the entire space. A glimmer of hope was born amidst despair; yet this hope was tinged with sadness and pain.
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