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Chapter 87 - Chapter 86: Beneath the Surface

The group pushes forward, despite the tension that hangs heavily between them after their encounter with the second guardian. Every step they take through the dense jungle feels heavier, each shadow a potential threat. Lusi leads the way, her mind racing as the Serpent's Heart thrums within her. Though she's more determined than ever, the ominous words of the guardian echo in her mind: "How long until it uses you?"

They travel in silence, the only sound coming from the rustling of the jungle and the soft crunch of leaves underfoot. Wang Jie watches Lusi carefully, sensing the internal battle she's fighting. The power she holds is unlike anything they've encountered before, and while it gives her strength, it also makes her a target for things far beyond their understanding.

As the day wears on, they find themselves nearing a vast, shimmering lake hidden within the jungle, its waters almost unnaturally still. The air here feels different—lighter, yet charged with a strange energy. Lusi pauses, sensing something beneath the surface of the lake. There's a pull here, something deep and ancient, calling to her.

"This place..." Lusi whispers, her voice barely audible. "It's not normal."

The rest of the group approaches cautiously, their eyes scanning the water's edge. There are no signs of life—no birds, no insects, no animals of any kind. Just stillness. The quiet is unnerving.

Wang Jie steps up beside Lusi, his hand resting on his sword. "Do you feel that? It's like the air is waiting for something."

Lusi nods, her eyes never leaving the lake. She feels it too—a presence lurking just out of sight, watching them. The Serpent's Heart hums in response, as if recognizing the energy that radiates from the water.

"Something's here," Lusi says, stepping closer to the edge.

The others hesitate, but Lusi's eyes are locked on the lake's surface. There's something she needs to understand—something buried beneath the calm water. She takes a deep breath, drawing on the power within her to connect with whatever force resides in the depths.

As she channels the Serpent's energy, the water begins to ripple, as if in response to her call. Slowly, the surface breaks, and a figure rises from the lake, shrouded in mist. Its form is indistinct, a shifting mass of water and shadow, but its eyes—glowing and ancient—fix on Lusi with an intensity that sends a chill down her spine.

"Who...are you?" Lusi asks, her voice steady despite the unease creeping through her.

The figure doesn't speak, but its presence presses down on her mind, filling her thoughts with images—fragments of a long-forgotten past. She sees glimpses of a world before the guardians, before the Serpent's Heart was sealed away. A world where the gods walked freely among mortals, and the power Lusi now holds was once wielded by beings far greater than her.

But there's something else—a warning buried in the vision. A danger far greater than the guardians, something that has been waiting for eons to awaken. The Serpent's Heart is not just a key to power; it's a beacon, calling to the dark forces that once ruled over all.

Lusi stumbles back, gasping as the vision fades. The figure sinks back into the lake, leaving only ripples behind. She feels the weight of the knowledge pressing down on her, heavier than before.

"We need to leave," Lusi says, her voice urgent.

Wang Jie looks at her with concern. "What did you see?"

"Something worse than the guardians. Something that's coming. And we're running out of time."

Without waiting for an explanation, Lusi turns and starts moving away from the lake, her heart pounding in her chest. The others follow, sensing the gravity of the situation. The journey ahead has just become more dangerous, and the stakes have never been higher.

As they leave the lake behind, Lusi knows one thing for certain—the Serpent's Heart is not just a weapon; it's a curse. And whatever it has awakened is coming for them.