22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8WEh3XcpJ
As night fell, the shadows grew thicker, the darkness beyond the camp undulating like a living thing. The low growl of the Shadowfang Cat pierced the quiet, sharp and urgent—a clear warning of danger.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQbz2GTROf
Lu Feng’s heart clenched. He knew instantly: tonight would bring no peace.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtpObWoDHu
“Stay alert—trouble’s coming!” he hissed, gripping his sword. His eyes, hawk-like, scanned the gloom.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaxM6jyKmW
The campfire crackled faintly, its warmth dwindling. The group, moments ago laughing and preparing to retire, now froze. The Shadowfang Cat—usually aloof, lazily basking in Lu Feng’s scratches—suddenly bristled like a spiked black furball, its emerald eyes locked on a shadowy corner beyond the camp. A low, frantic growl rumbled from its throat.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2yv2b2Rm1
Lu Feng’s smug grin vanished. The air, thick with the scent of roasted meat and camaraderie, turned icy. Only the rustle of leaves and the cat’s escalating snarls remained.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV6O8gLThV
Ayla understood first. Moonlight shimmered in her palms, her eyes narrowing. Tuck and Raphael, seasoned fighters, tightened their grips on weapons, muscles coiled.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0ydW2DNkB
Lu Feng rose slowly, his gaze sharpening toward the darkness. A smirk tugged his lips. “Looks like tonight’s dessert is delivering itself,” he muttered.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyER8NyMQzy
Orders flew: Ayla and Raphael fortified defensive wards while Lu Feng, Tuck, and the Shadowfang Cat stealthily advanced.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsuuvytYC3
The night reeked of malice. Whispers of vengeance slithered through the air—Grunn’s voice, venomous and plotting.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD061d29kbt
Under the cat’s invisibility cloak, the trio infiltrated the ogre camp. Firelight revealed Grunn at its heart, clutching a black crystal, murmuring to a cloaked figure. “Grunn’s here,” Lu Feng whispered, anger simmering. “And that sorcerer… trouble.”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiSX8IDE5L
The Shadowfang Cat ghosted to the camp’s far side, unseen.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNQ15SDxEL
Back at their camp, Lu Feng relayed Grunn’s plans. Dread settled over the group. They devised a trap, leveraging the forest’s labyrinthine terrain. Raphael sketched tactics; Ayla’s moonlight hardened the wards. Tuck hefted his blade, resolve stone-hard.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwaEDDFiu5
“Ready?” Lu Feng’s voice was steel.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCkJXhjm8S
“Done,” Raphael said, maps in hand.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVJQaMZSlN
Ayla nodded, her barrier glowing faintly.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp04s1TZpU1
Tuck grinned savagely. “Time to make them bleed.”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP1WL9cSCG
Then—footsteps. Rapid, panicked. The group braced, weapons raised, expecting ogre hordes.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7dx2vfl2G
Instead, a figure stumbled into the firelight—a youth, ragged and breathless. He collapsed, gasping, “Run… *now*!”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO5I17ec3H
Tuck’s eyes widened. “Wait—I know this kid!”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdRBeNbY5N
But the stranger clutched Lu Feng’s arm, face pale. “Grunn’s not alone—he’s summoned a *Nightfiend*!”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMLH9Q5qoZ
Silence.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNvTgT6w8c
Even the Shadowfang Cat froze.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9LLedvAgC
Lu Feng’s blood turned to ice. *Nightfiend*—a name from darkest legends.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwVYnkghbq
The boy trembled. “It’s already hunting… and it’s *here*.”
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkit82kyw9
Somewhere in the woods, a tree splintered. Something ancient, ravenous, and utterly *wrong* drew near.
ns18.191.187.74da2
