The war drums thundered across Twilight Fortress like roaring beasts.
Lu Feng swung his arm fiercely, bellowing, "Brothers, fall back!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN0UvCgSHW
A piercing whistle shattered the forest’s silence, reverberating until ears rang. The crude whistle, scavenged from the Lord’s Realm, proved unexpectedly vital in this desperate hour.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07nG1D9S7q
"Shadowcat, scout ahead! Tark, guard our rear—don’t let them flank us!" Lu Feng barked orders mid-sprint.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ywvVZRmft
The Blood Fiend Sect’s disciples clung to their heels like sharks scenting blood.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMx5Hb5FQ0
Aelia followed closely, her staff glowing with faint moonlight that cast a protective aura over the group. "Lu Feng, their numbers are overwhelming. This isn’t sustainable."
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpeisTmg2V
"I know! Damn it, they’re like rabid dogs!" Lu Feng spat, eyes darting across the jagged terrain—a maze of twisted boulders offering meager cover.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8L5dF4dhe
"Raphael! How’s the barrier?!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QNmTxFUfm
"Almost done, sir! Ten minutes—just ten more!" Raphael’s voice crackled through the comms, strained and dripping with sweat.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDGDpXmyfX
*Ten minutes? We don’t have ten minutes.* Lu Feng gritted his teeth. "Tark! Buy us five! Hold the line!" He unsheathed his steel sword, its edge glinting coldly.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X5icq0DFC
"On it, Boss!" Tark roared, hefting his warhammer like a charging tank.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnD00zFyLb
"Ares, with me!" Lu Feng hissed, ducking behind a boulder. His lips curled into a feral grin. "Blood Fiend trash! Been waiting for this!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1Gwo7Q3ar
*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv78ssm730Z
Crossbow bolts sliced through the air. Ares darted through the shadows like a phantom, each arrow finding its mark.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemgmzvZNOX
"Argh!" Blood Fiend disciples collapsed, screams echoing.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4RnIla2Nb
"Not bad." Lu Feng smirked. Most disciples were only at the second level of the Beast Control Art—manageable, for now.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBlCAunXvG
"Arrogant fool! Today, you die!" A raspy voice cut through the chaos as a crimson-robed elder emerged, reeking of rot.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfAg6xqJxF
*A Blood Fiend elder.* Lu Feng’s eyes narrowed.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOO3nP2R5p
"Surrender now, and I’ll grant you a quick death," the elder sneered.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLchqcPNr7r
"Quick death? Save it for yourself!" Lu Feng spat, sword aimed at the elder’s throat.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJgDMUedZl
"Fool!" The elder’s hands flickered, summoning a blood-red wave that reeked of decay.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkuenp9ehR
"Shadowcat, purify this filth!" Lu Feng commanded. The cat’s silver gaze erupted, scattering the miasma.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBOE8LG4rs
"Pathetic tricks!" The elder swiped his bloodied horsetail whisk, unleashing crimson claws that shredded the air.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqnE2qJEgQ
Lu Feng ducked, countering with a blade thrust. *Clang!* The whisk deflected his strike.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIwEYJL2Jv
"You’ve skill, boy—but not enough!" The elder laughed, a surge of energy blasting Lu Feng backward.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDLeWwfRVR
"Lu Feng!" Aelia shouted, her staff blazing as a crescent moon blade shot forth.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFVKW0dMNG
The elder batted it aside. "Weak!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp2xfc6vL5
"Careful, Aelia!" Lu Feng warned.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU8doXLhDf
Ares materialized behind the elder, dagger aimed at his spine—only to be swatted away like a fly.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuBQlyYsGS
*Thud!* Ares crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his lips.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDSfyCwD79
"ARES!" Lu Feng’s rage spiked. "Raphael, status?!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYij2IK6RH
"Almost—!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxb5kcoHTp
"Damn it!" Lu Feng inhaled sharply, channeling spiritual energy into his blade. "Beast Control Art—First Layer: Spirit Infusion!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOkuUHxWU5
The sword blazed with runes. "Blood Fiend scum! Today ends here!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxporC1cftO
The elder sneered, summoning a net of bloody claws. "Die struggling!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3742h4iB9F
"BREAK!" Lu Feng’s sword clashed with the claws in a blinding explosion. His organs screamed, but he pushed forward.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgAZDdTowL
"Second Layer: Beast Merge!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuYNTUhz1k
Shadowcat dissolved into silver light, merging with Lu Feng. His speed tripled.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC4onNnXe8
"What?!" The elder paled.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgwR3FtdkM
"Die!" Lu Feng’s blade pierced toward his throat. The elder dodged, but the sword gashed his arm.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuCuy3EZVS
"Old fool! This is your end!" Lu Feng pressed the assault, strikes relentless.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEAq0ya0UD
Ares suddenly lunged, locking the elder in a grapple. "NOW, LU FENG!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRje35ZE1D
"ARES!" Lu Feng poured every ounce of energy into his sword. "Third Layer: Unity of Man and Steel!"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsLZIG1zGH
He became light—a single lethal thrust.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDduDdquZ9
*Thunk!*
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25mcbyRrHQ
The blade pierced the elder’s throat. Blood gushed as the corpse slumped.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3Dj3O6Ior
Lu Feng collapsed, heaving.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFIXy3fYNO
"We… won!" Tark roared.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNbzL0GTNV
"Lu Feng!" Aelia rushed to his side.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4NOMR2kVL
"Alive… barely," he croaked.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsiQWffC0G
"Barrier’s… up," Raphael panted.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc82fXR7eNM
Lu Feng nodded weakly.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoc0qYyPtI
Ares coughed blood. "Sir… their base… in the Cursed Valley… protected by… an ancient barrier… unbreakable…"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaTF0ZX7SU
Lu Feng’s eyes snapped open. "Cursed Valley? Barrier?"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjN24tKbnT
"To destroy them… you must… break it…" Ares fell unconscious.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4pIiywaqM
Lu Feng’s mind raced. *The Sect’s lair in such a place?*
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY033s1bWO
"Simulator, activate!" he mentally commanded.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpFr7lOOZq
**[Deduce method to breach the Blood Fiend barrier.]**
**[Cost: 100 Spirit Points.]**
**[Simulating…]**
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHh0dUlWgA
Agony lanced his skull as knowledge flooded in.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpKi4Mu4xv
"Found it!" Lu Feng gasped. "But the cost…"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIltuxQjOEo
Over the following days, the group trained relentlessly. Tark honed close combat, Aelia purified moonlight, Raphael mapped the valley, and Ares recovered.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbGthhq0yA
As preparations finalized, a voice boomed in Lu Feng’s mind: *"Boy… turn back from the Cursed Valley…"*
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu3LmhtsIu
He ignored it.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkL3SEywMd
At dusk, they advanced. The valley loomed ahead—a nest of shadows.
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3N6poNdX1
Ares froze. "Sir… something’s—"
204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe1n1moYce
