We didn't open the door. Instead, it felt as though we were teleported inside.
"What's this skill?" I wondered to myself. Brushing my middle finger and index finger across my eyes, I activated 'Discreet Insight,' and all the information appeared before me:
Skill Name: Phantom Warp
Skill Attributes :Allows the user to teleport within a range to a location.
Duration: Last for 30 minutes
Cooldown: 24 hours
Range: 40-50 meters
Special Attributes: Faster than light, undetectable.
Rank: Special Grade Skill
When using Phantom Warp, the teleportation feels like being swiftly pulled through a tunnel of pure light. There's a brief sensation of weightlessness and disorientation as if i was floating through a blur of colors. In an instant, i was transported to a new location, with the world snapping back into focus around me.
[Han Yihong is really something. This skill was not even mentioned in his profile. With his hidden skills and impressive stats, it's clear he's a powerhouse. You'll need to put aside any ego and work with him for now. His expertise could be crucial for surviving these scenarios.]
" Wow, impressive!" I whispered to momo.
"He's my trump card for clearing this scenario, but his rude attitude is something I can't stand," I sighed, feeling the weight of my thoughts. Momo echoed my sigh, the sound heavy with boredom, and the connection between us dimmed as she deactivated the mindlink, leaving me alone with my swirling emotions.
" momo?" No response.
"Stop dozing off!" Han Yihong barked, delivering a sharp slap to the back of my head. My eyes snapped open as I stumbled forward, nearly tripping over my own feet. "Ow! What was that for?" I whined, rubbing the spot where his hand had made contact.
"You were practically drooling," he scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you're going to daydream, at least do it without looking like a complete idiot."
I shot him a glare, still nursing the back of my head. "I wasn't daydreaming. I was thinking," I grumbled, though it was clear he wasn't buying it.
Sure you were that you did not even realise where we are right now," he replied, rolling his eyes as he started walking further into the room. "Let's just focus on the task at hand, alright? We don't have time for your fantasies."
"Huh! Didn't we teleport— AHHHH!" I screamed as my eyes fell on the grisly sight before me. There, in the dim light, was a skull with red eyes glaring at me, dripping with blood.
We were in a seemingly endless corridor, its walls smeared with blood-red runes that glowed ominously. The only source of light was a grotesque skull perched on a pedestal in the distance. Its hollow eye sockets glowed with a sickly red hue, illuminating the darkness in front of us.
I clutched Han Yihong's arm tightly, my fingers digging into his sleeve. "What is that thing?" I squeaked, my voice high and trembling as I pointed at the skull.
Yihong barely flinched. He looked down at my hand clutching his arm with visible irritation. "What are you yelling about now?" he said, his voice as calm and cold as ever. He smoothly brushed off the spot where I had touched him, as if he couldn't stand the idea of anyone's hand tainting his pristine clothes. "It's just a skull."
"Aren't you scared?" I asked, gripping Han Yihong's right arm again, my fingers trembling.
[Not everybody is weak and pathetic like you! Hehehehe! Foolish human]
Momo mocked sarcastically but - he was ignored.
Yihong shot me an incredulous look. "Yes, can't you see? I'm so terrified I could almost pee my pants right now. Is that what you wanted to hear? Can we move on now?"
His sarcastic tone only heightened my irritation. "Rude bastard!" I muttered under my breath, watching as he walked ahead of me, gradually fading into the oppressive darkness of the corridor.
The skull's glowing red eyes seemed to follow us.
Frustrated, I glared at the skull, my fear mixing with anger. In a moment of impulse, I grabbed the skull and almost hurled it at Yihong, but I caught myself just in time. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and steady my shaking hands.
With a resigned sigh, I dropped the skull back onto its pedestal. It felt cold and heavy, the red eyes still watching me with that unnerving intensity. I clenched my fists, muttering under my breath, "I'll deal with this later."
The darkness was so thick it felt almost tangible, making every step a cautious guess. I stumbled forward, my hand reaching out for anything to steady myself, only to bump into something solid. Of course, it was Yihong.
"Can't you walk properly?" he snapped, his voice dripping with annoyance.
"How am I supposed to see in this pitch-black abyss? I feel like a blind person trying to walk through a maze," I retorted, frustration edging my tone.
Yihong didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the corridor was bathed in light. Every single bloody candle that lined the walls flared to life, their flickering flames casting a warm, eerie glow across the space. The dim, crimson light revealed a path stretching from one end of the corridor to the other, illuminating the blood-red runes and the haunting skull.
The sudden brightness made me squint, and I blinked rapidly to adjust. Just a few steps ahead, a coffin lay sprawled in the middle of the path. Blood smeared the lid and dripped down its sides, pooling in dark crimson stains. The runes etched into the coffin's surface glowed faintly, pulsing with a sinister energy.
The coffin's lid was slightly ajar, as if it had been forcefully pushed open. We dashed towards the coffin, only to find it empty. The lid hung open, the blood smeared around it now dry. "It's not here," Yihong muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
"Someone must have been here before us," he said, his eyes scanning the coffin's surface, where the runes still glowed faintly.
"Does this mean someone already found the Jade Crystal? Has the scenario been cleared?" I asked, my confusion growing.
Yihong's glare was icy, and without warning, he slammed his fist against the coffin's edge. I flinched, the force of his punch reverberating through the air. "Some idiots have made things worse for us," he growled, his anger palpable. "It's looking impossible for us to get out of here alive."
His curses tumbled out in a rapid-fire sequence. "Piece of trash!" he spat. "Motherfucker!" he added, his frustration spilling over. "Son of a bitch!" he roared, each word a reflection of his mounting rage. Suddenly Yihong grabbed my wrist.
Yihong's grip on my wrist was ironclad, sending sharp pangs through my arm. I winced and bit my lower lip to keep from making any noise. His eyes were intense, unwavering. "You," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Don't talk to anyone tomorrow."
I nodded vigorously, trying to suppress the pain and keep my voice steady. "Alright," I replied, hoping to avoid further irritation.
I glanced at the coffin once more, my curiosity sparked. "But what was in the coffin if it wasn't the Jade Crystal?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Yihong's face remained stony, and he didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand and activated 'phantom warp'. The world around us blurred, and in a blink, we were back in front of the door.
I checked my watch, incredulous. "Only five minutes?" I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck in disbelief.
[* Yawn* *Yawn* That's Chrono Stasis at work. It is a skill that slows time down for you, creating a bubble where everything around you moves much slower. This means that while only a few minutes pass in the outside world, you can feel like you have a lot more time inside. It's perfect for handling situations where you need to act quickly but don't have enough time.]
I couldn't help but throw in a parting shot. "I didn't ask you, but thanks anyways," I sent with a sarcasm through the mind link.
Yihong's expression remained unchanged, his focus locked on the path ahead.
He turned on his heel and walked back to his room with a brisk, purposeful stride. I followed quietly, my footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit hallway. He opened the door to his room and stepped inside, leaving me to watch from the threshold for a moment.
Yihong moved with practiced ease, arranging himself on the bed while I moved to the opposite side of the room sitting on a chair.
As I drifted off to sleep, Yihong's words echoed relentlessly in my mind. "Why would he stop me from talking to anyone?" I wondered, the question twisting and turning through my thoughts. "What was in the coffin, then? Why did we even bother going there if the Jade Crystal wasn't inside? And who could have possibly opened it before us?"
With that I finally closed my eye, drifting into a deep slumber.
[ good night foolish bastard, tomorrow won't be an easy day]