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墨書 Inktalez
Danger!
At a critical moment, Xuan Yang suddenly sidestepped, his body twisting at an incredible angle like a leaf caught in a wild wind, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.
It was a dagger glinting with a cold blue light, its blade as thin as a cicada's wing, clearly laced with poison. The dagger grazed his ribs, sending a chilling breeze that seemed to freeze the air around him.
Xuan Yang broke out in a cold sweat, tiny beads of perspiration forming on his forehead. He hadn't anticipated the enemy's speed to be so swift and their strikes so ruthless, each one aimed for the kill—clearly a trained assassin.
He couldn't afford to hesitate any longer and immediately activated Reverse Control.
An invisible force instantly wrapped around the shadowy figure that had ambushed him, like unseen chains or countless invisible hands tightly binding its limbs and body.
The shadow's body suddenly lost control, and its previously fearsome face was now filled with terror and disbelief. The dagger in its hand changed direction as if manipulated by an unseen force.
With a sickening sound, the dagger plunged deep into its own thigh, the sharp blade slicing through flesh and severing blood vessels, blood gushing forth like a fountain, staining the ground and filling the air with a heavy metallic scent.
"Ah!" The shadow let out a heart-wrenching scream, stumbling to the ground as intense pain caused it to convulse and contort.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xuan Yang broke free from the encirclement of other shadows. Carrying Qu Si Yang on his back, he quickly ran deeper into the forest. He knew he couldn't linger; he had to find a safe place to protect Qu Si Yang.
He was aware that the trial grounds lay deep within the forest, inside an ancient ruin.
After a difficult trek, Xuan Yang finally found the entrance to the ruin.
It was a massive stone door, standing ten meters tall and five meters wide, its surface adorned with ancient and mysterious carvings. These designs resembled some form of ancient script or mystical incantations, exuding an aura of antiquity and history as if telling tales long forgotten.
The stone door stood firmly closed, seemingly unchanging through time, guarding the secrets within the ruin.
Xuan Yang attempted to push open the stone door; his arms bulged with muscle as he exerted all his strength, but it didn’t budge at all—seemingly fused with the mountain itself, it was indestructible.
"It seems entering the ruin won't be so easy," Xuan Yang thought to himself, furrowing his brow.
He carefully examined the carvings on the stone door, trying to find a way to unlock it. The intricate designs were like a labyrinth, dazzling to behold.
Suddenly, he noticed that the patterns on the door seemed to resonate with the power of Shadow Puppet within him; an inexplicable connection surged in his heart.
He placed his hand on the stone door, channeling his internal power into it, attempting to establish a connection.
Suddenly, the patterns on the stone door illuminated, emitting a dazzling light as if infused with life. A powerful force surged from the door, overwhelming and vast, like a mountain torrent that pushed Xuan Yang back several steps, causing fine cracks to appear in the ground beneath him.
A rumbling sound echoed as the stone door slowly opened, producing a deep, grinding noise akin to a slumbering giant awakening. It revealed a dark passage leading into the depths of the ruins, shrouded in shadows that seemed bottomless.
Xuan Yang, carrying Qu Si Yang on his back, cautiously stepped into the passage, each movement deliberate and careful.
Inside the passage was pitch black; he could not see his own hand in front of his face. A chilling dampness filled the air, sending shivers down his spine as if he had entered the Nine Nether Hell.
Xuan Yang fished out a torch from his backpack and ignited it with a lighter. By its flickering light, he noticed various strange patterns carved into the walls on either side of the passage. These designs were vivid and lifelike—some resembled ferocious beasts, others bizarre runes, and some twisted human faces that seemed ready to spring to life and devour him.
Suddenly, a gust of cold wind swept from the depths of the passage. The flame of the torch flickered violently, making a "whoosh" sound as if it might extinguish at any moment. The surrounding darkness thickened ominously, as if something was stirring within it.
A chill ran down Xuan Yang's spine; he sensed an approaching aura of danger—cold and malevolent—that filled him with unease.
He immediately heightened his vigilance, carefully observing his surroundings while keeping Qu Si Yang protected behind him.
At that moment, several shadowy figures darted from deeper within the passage like phantoms, silently lunging toward Xuan Yang with astonishing speed. In the dim light of the torch, he could only make out vague silhouettes.
"More Shadow Force!" Xuan Yang thought grimly; he hadn't expected them to track him down here, relentless as ever.
He quickly summoned a Shadow Puppet—a dark humanoid figure appeared beside him, exuding a powerful presence and ready to engage in battle against their foes.
However, just then, countless sharp arrows shot out from both sides of the passage's walls like a torrential rainstorm, aimed directly at Xuan Yang and his Shadow Puppet. The sound of arrows slicing through the air was sharp and piercing, sending chills down his spine.
Xuan Yang was taken aback; he hadn't anticipated traps in this place—these mechanisms were ingeniously designed and nearly impossible to evade.
He hurriedly commanded his Shadow Puppet to defend against the arrows while he dodged left and right to avoid their onslaught while still carrying Qu Si Yang.
Yet there were too many arrows coming from all directions—dense and rapid like a net closing in around him. Although Xuan Yang's Shadow Puppet was formidable, it could not withstand such concentrated attacks for long. It was soon riddled with arrows, dissolving into a cloud of black mist and vanishing.
Xuan Yang sustained several minor injuries as well; sharp arrows tore through his clothing, leaving streaks of blood across his body that stained his garments red. But he paid no mind to the pain as he continued to protect Qu Si Yang fiercely.
"Damn it, what kind of place is this? What the hell is going on?" Xuan Yang couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
In that critical moment, Qu Si Yang suddenly woke up. She opened her eyes and saw Xuan Yang in danger, injured and vulnerable. A flicker of concern crossed her face as she unhesitatingly activated her Ability.
A fiery red protective shield instantly enveloped both Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang. This shield resembled a massive eggshell, its surface ablaze with roaring flames, deflecting all incoming arrows with a series of clanging sounds.
"Si Yang, you're awake!" Xuan Yang exclaimed in surprise, feeling a wave of relief wash over him at the sight of her consciousness returning.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Qu Si Yang replied weakly, her face pale and beads of sweat dotting her forehead. "We need to get out of here quickly; it's too dangerous. These traps are terrifying."
"Alright!" Xuan Yang nodded, carrying Qu Si Yang on his back as he cautiously continued deeper into the passageway, each step taken with utmost care.
The traps within the passage became increasingly dense and perilous. In addition to arrows, there were poisonous fumes, spikes, and various other hazards that emerged one after another, overwhelming them.
Thanks to their seamless cooperation, Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang managed to navigate through danger time and again. Although Qu Si Yang's fire-based shield was powerful, maintaining it for an extended period took a toll on her. Her complexion grew paler, and her breathing became more rapid.
"Si Yang, can you hold on?" Xuan Yang asked with concern.
"I... I'm fine. I can still hold on," Qu Si Yang gritted her teeth as she spoke, her voice trembling slightly.
"Damn it, these guys just won't quit!" a rough voice echoed from the group, clearly filled with dissatisfaction. "If it weren't for having to protect this burden, we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"Exactly! If I had known, I wouldn't have brought her along; she's nothing but a jinx!" another voice chimed in, laced with resentment.
These words pierced Qu Si Yang's heart like sharp thorns. Her body trembled slightly as she pressed her lips together tightly, nearly biting them until they bled.
Xuan Yang's gaze turned icy in an instant. He turned his head and shot a cold glare at the Trialists who had spoken. His voice was low yet filled with menace: "You'd better shut your mouths! If I hear another word from you lot, I'll leave you here to feed the traps!"
The Trialists shivered at Xuan Yang's fierce glare and quickly fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
"Si Yang, don't listen to their nonsense," Xuan Yang said softly to comfort her. "You've done great; without you, we would have perished here long ago."
"But... but I..." Qu Si Yang's voice choked up as tears welled in her eyes.
"There's no 'but' about it; you are our hero," Xuan Yang said firmly. "Trust me, we will make it out together."
Suddenly, a massive abyss appeared ahead, like the gaping maw of a giant beast, stretching out before them. The bottom of the chasm was pitch black and unfathomable, resembling a gateway to hell. A chilling wind howled from its depths, sending shivers down their spines.
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang halted in their tracks, knowing they had encountered their greatest challenge.
On the other side of the abyss lay the central area of the ruins, where the Puppet Heart was hidden. That was their goal and the key to passing the trial.
"What should we do?" Qu Si Yang asked, her voice tinged with despair. Faced with such a wide chasm, she couldn't think of any way to cross it.
Xuan Yang pondered for a moment, surveying the width of the abyss and the surrounding environment. His gaze swept over the stone walls on either side of the chasm as if searching for something. "It seems our only option is to jump across. This chasm is at least twenty meters wide. What’s there to fear? It’s either that or death!"
"Jump across?" Qu Si Yang exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "That's too dangerous! We could die! Twenty meters? Are you crazy?"
"We have no other choice," Xuan Yang replied resolutely, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I believe we can succeed. I don’t want to die here; do you?"
He took a deep breath to steady himself, adjusting his focus as he hoisted Qu Si Yang onto his back. With his legs slightly bent like a coiled spring ready to launch, he leaped into the air, soaring toward the other side of the abyss. His body arced gracefully through the air like a bird in flight.
Below them, darkness loomed.
Would this lead them to the heart of the ruins or to their demise?
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