**The sky grew darker.** Just when I thought we were about to reach the safe zone, who’d have guessed we’d run into *big trouble* right at the entrance of the so-called "beginner’s village"? It was like a giant tiger blocking our way.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAZcANjg5hU3
As Lu Feng and his Shadow Cat neared Twilight Fortress, a foul, nauseating stench suddenly filled the air—like some cheap biochemical weapon had leaked, reeking of rotting corpses and pungent sulfur. Lu Feng wrinkled his nose, his stomach churning.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGhqQbGezyk
*What the hell is this? A Resident Evil cosplay?* He muttered under his breath, quickly covering his nose with a makeshift cloth mask. These days, if you didn’t have some kind of anti-toxin gear, you couldn’t even call yourself an isekai protagonist.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAj8wGvrYS3w
The Shadow Cat, alert as ever, pricked up its ears, its sapphire-blue eyes gleaming sharply. A low growl rumbled in its throat—clearly, it sensed danger ahead. That little furball’s nose was way sharper than Lu Feng’s. *Something’s definitely wrong.*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoMkZx3yWub
Lu Feng halted, squinting as he cautiously scanned the surroundings. In the distance, Twilight Fortress loomed under the sunset like a dormant beast, eerie and menacing, straight out of a horror movie. A faint crimson mist hung in the air, reducing visibility to almost nothing, with only the vague outlines of ruins barely discernible. *This smog’s worse than doomsday!* He couldn’t help but complain.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAf6qNm6mwxT
"Stay sharp, Xiao You," Lu Feng whispered, gripping his dagger tightly.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAXAIKh66bvs
That dagger—a limited-edition merch from his gaming days—had unexpectedly become his lifeline now. *Who knew official merch would actually come in handy?*
236Please respect copyright.PENANA2pLFMZ1CFb
"Meow~" The Shadow Cat vanished into the darkness, scouting ahead.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAdOFGA6ovWQ
Having an invisible little helper like this sure upped their survival odds.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAlRn1SeAoHf
Then, a bone-chilling gust swept past, making Lu Feng shiver.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAsG9HtmJpTn
He felt *watched*—goosebumps rising all over his body.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA0HFl7qtT0j
*This place is freaky as hell!* He clenched his fists, inching forward cautiously.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAMTnmQKdjJg
Suddenly, the Shadow Cat let out a shrill cry before disappearing into the abyss.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiFZGaWTocv
"Xiao You!" Lu Feng’s heart lurched as he bolted toward where the cat had vanished. That little guy was his right-hand companion—he couldn’t afford to lose it!
236Please respect copyright.PENANALnJuNYqycn
But before he could take more than a few steps, the ground *quaked* violently beneath him. Then, from the darkness, a pair of blood-red eyes slowly *opened*...
236Please respect copyright.PENANAvvtJzhFuC4
*Holy crap, what the hell is that?!* Lu Feng cursed under his breath, adrenaline surging.
236Please respect copyright.PENANABPCSxSkKFL
Was this some kind of monster battle royale?
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoHQTsRonFp
He froze, activating his gamer-like "scan" mode, trying to identify the creature lurking in the dark.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAQLVTjGhhfZ
But the crimson mist was too thick—visibility was practically zero.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAIl6wMXagJU
All he could make out was a massive silhouette and those猩猩-red eyes glowing ominously.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAlDJaGLNc9W
*That level of pressure… Definitely a boss-tier enemy.* A cold sweat trickled down his back.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGk1kMpwa2T
Just as he was about to pull out his "family heirloom"—a glorified brick (well, a large rock)—the scene before him sent chills down his spine.
236Please respect copyright.PENANApgBkmo3w71
The once-tranquil Moonlight Lake suddenly shimmered with a silvery glow.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAmhdgssVvMA
The water’s surface, mirror-smooth, reflected the moon with surreal clarity—stunningly beautiful.
236Please respect copyright.PENANARUcE0CSqMw
But the peace didn’t last.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAqrzRmKuzCF
Rapid footsteps shattered the silence, followed by a desperate cry: *"Help! Someone, please help me!"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANA87NW9hHQdV
Lu Feng turned to see a young woman—graceful, ethereally beautiful—being pursued by several black-clad assailants.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoRUSONDtyO
Her long silver hair cascaded like liquid moonlight, almost divine in its radiance.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAhrmDnzY6SL
*"Whoa… An elf girl?!"* Lu Feng blurted out.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAifAUPjTlqX
Her beauty surpassed every idol from his world combined.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAZToaCYaQPn
But this was no time to admire aesthetics.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAnPDdYxxM4E
The black-clad figures reeked of malice, outnumbering her. She was clearly outmatched.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAPQuGb6mvwt
A surge of impulsiveness hit Lu Feng: *This is the perfect damsel-in-distress moment!*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAzDCbxRfpZd
Even in his own precarious situation, as a morally upright beta tester, how could he just *walk away*?
236Please respect copyright.PENANACL1T0SA5YF
"Hey! You lot—bullying a lone woman in broad daylight? What kind of cowards are you?!" He shouted.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAAVGS14Focg
The moment the words left his mouth, the attackers’ attention snapped toward him.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAq3TOVNTvEU
One sneered, "Kid, scram if you wanna live!"
236Please respect copyright.PENANARNz0v715C1
Lu Feng smirked. *"Oh, you think I’m scared?"* He struck what he thought was a heroic pose. *"Today, justice gets served!"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAFG3wHPFf3f
With that, he brandished his rock and charged.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAQaNkL9oLm7
The black-clad figures scoffed, weapons flashing as they met his assault.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAd5ur0DOaNP
Chaos erupted.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAiJrmYrhcjy
Lu Feng’s combat skills were mediocre at best, but his gamer reflexes and terrain knowledge kept him barely afloat.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAS6vKAgvoEZ
Yet the enemies were no pushovers—their coordination was flawless, attacks ruthless. Soon, Lu Feng was cornered.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAXFmMCQ9XcV
*Crap, crap, crap! Is this where I bite the dust?!*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAwRwPHL8VLo
Just as despair set in, the elf girl *moved*.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAfighYyiSAR
Hands clasped, she chanted softly—then a *silver light* erupted from her, illuminating the entire lakeshore.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6ID69nNnK
The attackers screamed as the radiance seared them, black smoke rising from their bodies.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAKk06kUJO0o
*"This… Is this lunar magic?!"* Lu Feng gaped.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZLVe7ZScA
*"Run! I can’t hold them long!"* The elf girl panted weakly.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA3n70BYZ6D3
Lu Feng didn’t hesitate—he scooped her up and *bolted* toward Twilight Fortress.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA3iMLRR9Xq2
But the pursuers broke free, closing in fast.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAF0h8cnFK98
*Ugh, these guys are like cockroaches!*
236Please respect copyright.PENANA1mkOWyssrf
Then—*ambush*.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAostEnegzQ9
The Shadow Cat reappeared, darting through shadows.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA0fGXAlADPg
One by one, the black-clad figures collapsed, howling in agony.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAYnGT2dfe0x
*"Xiao You, you legend!"* Lu Feng cheered internally.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAYx8UbKf0KQ
With the cat’s help, they finally shook off the pursuers, reaching the fortress outskirts.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA4ccZW6ymcf
*"Thank you… for saving me,"* the elf girl murmured gratefully.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAOuT3IsUFQy
*"No biggie. Couldn’t just leave you there,"* Lu Feng waved it off. *"What’s your name?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAipPfyisvZz
*"Aylia,"* she whispered. *"I’m… the last heir of Moonlight Forest."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAqJLc01vQa5
*"Moonlight Forest?"* Lu Feng frowned. *"What’s that?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANA5BzGT1gwPj
Aylia’s voice trembled. *"It was… the most beautiful woodland in this realm. Until the Blood Pact annihilated it."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANACFvSdK1WZV
*"Blood Pact?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANACFXpvweJRp
*"A cult of dark cultivators,"* she spat. *"They slaughtered my kin… burned everything."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAqX9rACGrzS
Lu Feng fell silent.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAeSdsUHaPrx
Beneath this world’s serene surface festered unspeakable cruelty.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAZkYVgM8OBv
*"So… what now?"* He asked gently.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAyp8jX0xLt2
Aylia lifted her chin, eyes blazing. *"I’ll make them pay."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAcjNT3E9lYY
*"Need a hand?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoQoLlcxalP
She hesitated. *"You’d… help me?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANASWDr76Wisj
*"Sure,"* Lu Feng grinned. *"We’re friends now, right?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAo1WtzEoej5
Aylia smiled faintly. *"Thank you."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANABXMtBH55Fr
*"But the Blood Pact won’t go down easy,"* he warned.
236Please respect copyright.PENANApfzgdXezAm
*"I know,"* she nodded. *"But I won’t give up."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAqHXCQn8bqa
*"Then let’s team up,"* Lu Feng declared. *"Together, we’ll kick their butts!"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANArcNDP4lDYo
As they stood side by side, gazing at Twilight Fortress, determination solidified.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAKUEtNbmXGP
*"Oh, you never told me your name,"* Aylia suddenly said.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA7ejMpAq7ff
Lu Feng paused dramatically. *"Call me…"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAQtq3TBpZNv
He savored the suspense before grinning.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAuY4VIold1k
*"Lu Feng."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAi8APjL9KS5
Aylia’s breath hitched. Her gaze turned complex—recognition flickering.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoWJYL6pQLY
*"I…"* She bit her lip.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAYTztIykJFK
Lu Feng chuckled, diffusing the tension. *"Relax, I’m not some cliché OP protagonist. More allies mean better odds—wanna join my ‘Anti-Blood Pact Justice League’?"*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAXsmNCD60As
Aylia burst into laughter—a sound like wind chimes. *"I’d be honored. For Moonlight Forest… and to repay my debt."*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAlIaVyHXKqZ
**Ding!** A game prompt echoed in Lu Feng’s head:
236Please respect copyright.PENANAGXdVfUiV0n
*[Congratulations! Hero Unit Recruited: Elf Princess Aylia! +10 EXP for "Cross-Realm Lord"!]*
236Please respect copyright.PENANANYhsXm9BFY
*Heh. Feels like playing Heroes of Might and Magic IRL.*
236Please respect copyright.PENANAdFr1hYnBRK
But just as he fantasized about their future crusade, a *guttural roar* shook the earth.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAf5UQ8BVGTE
The air itself grew heavy with primal dread.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAQFoBfErI9U
*"What now—Godzilla?!"* Lu Feng cursed, hairs standing on end.
236Please respect copyright.PENANAoaUA94Xp40
Aylia paled, gripping her staff.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA3jvAVxAmm0
Then—she seized his arm.
236Please respect copyright.PENANA6nncdh0Y0C
**"Run."**
ns216.73.216.65da2