Lin Xiao saw a strange, reddish portal shimmering in the middle of the room. Xiao Bai floated up and turned on the light, revealing the room's contents.
Beds and medical equipment were scattered around, confirming Lin Xiao's suspicion, this was where Wang Lei and the other captives had been held.
But now, the room was eerily empty.
"Where is everyone?" Lin Xiao muttered, scanning the vacant room. Neither Wang Lei nor Li Jing was in sight.
The only notable feature was the strange portal, pulsating with the same energy as the red crystal they had encountered before.
"System," Lin Xiao called out, "what is that?"
[It's a portal]
Lin Xiao rolled his eyes. "I can guess that much. But where does it lead, and why is it here?"
After a brief pause, the system replied, making Lin Xiao raise an eyebrow in disbelief.
[Go inside and find out.]
"Seriously?" Lin Xiao muttered under his breath.
Lil' Blackie, still on his shoulder, whispered, "We should be cautious. This feels like a trap."
Xiao Bai floated back down, his eyes wide with curiosity. "But what if it leads us to Wang Lei and the others? We can't just ignore it."
Lin Xiao sighed, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. "Alright, we'll check it out. But stay close and be ready for anything."
With a nod from his companions, Lin Xiao took a deep breath and stepped towards the portal.
The energy radiating from it felt almost tangible, like a low hum vibrating through his bones.
"Here goes nothing," he murmured, taking one final look at the empty room before plunging into the unknown.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, a blinding light enveloped him, and he felt a strange sensation of being pulled through space and time.
When the light faded, Lin Xiao found himself standing in a completely different place.
The air was thick with mist, and the ground beneath his feet was soft and damp. Strange, twisted trees surrounded them, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers.
"Where are we?" Xiao Bai whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
Lin Xiao found himself standing in front of a medieval castle that looked like something out of a dark fairy tale. Its towering spires pierced the misty sky, their stone surfaces cracked and covered in creeping vines.
The castle's large, ironbound doors stood ominously at the entrance, flanked by grotesque gargoyles that seemed to watch their every move.
The mist surrounding the castle was so thick that Lin Xiao couldn't see anything beyond its walls, making it seem like the entire world had disappeared, leaving only this foreboding structure.
As Lin Xiao took a hesitant step toward the castle, a system notification flashed before his eyes: [Complete the Man-Made Dungeon - Rewards +200 Exp +1 Intelligence].
"What?" Lin Xiao muttered in disbelief. "Man-made dungeon? Does that mean this place was artificially created? Are Li Jing, Wang Lei, and the others inside?"
The realization hit him hard, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Both of his cats received the mission notification as well.
Xiao Bai's eyes lit up with excitement. "Finally, a mission!" he exclaimed.
Lil' Blackie smacked him on the head with her paw. "Be serious, Xiao Bai. This isn't a game."
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. "We have no other choice. This castle is the only place we can go."
Lin Xiao pushed open the heavy iron doors, the creaking sound echoing through the mist. Inside, the air was cold and damp, and the faint smell of mildew filled their noses.
The stone walls were lined with torches that flickered weakly, casting eerie shadows that danced along the corridor.
"Stay close," Lin Xiao whispered to his companions.
The trio moved cautiously through the dimly lit hallway. Xiao Bai's tail twitched with excitement, while Lil' Blackie remained alert, her eyes scanning every corner for potential threats.
As they ventured deeper into the castle, the atmosphere grew heavier, and an unsettling silence enveloped them.
They reached a large chamber filled with ancient, rusted weapons and broken armor scattered across the floor. A massive, ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystals covered in dust and cobwebs.
At the far end of the room, a grand staircase spiraled upward, disappearing into the darkness above.
"This place makes me so excited," Xiao Bai whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Focus," Lil' Blackie hissed. "Keep your guard up."
Lin Xiao nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Let's find out what's really going on in this castle. We need to save Li Jing and the others."
They ascended the staircase, and as they reached the top, Lin Xiao saw a door entwined with vines.
He put his hand on the doorknob and cautiously opened it.
What he saw on the other side shocked him—a picturesque European-style village lay before him, complete with cobblestone streets, charming cottages, and bustling townsfolk going about their day.
Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment before stepping through the door.
As soon as he did, there was a sudden whoosh, and the door behind him vanished.
He spun around in disbelief. "No! Xiao Bai! Lil' Blackie!" he called out, but there was no response.
Panicked, Lin Xiao asked the system, "Send me back! They're still there!"
The system's reply was calm and somewhat reassuring,
[They will be fine. They have your strength and their own powers. Moreover, they can use strength sharing to access some of your abilities. Don't worry. I am still connected to them]
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Okay, if the system says they'll be fine, I have to trust it. But where am I?"
He took in his surroundings. The village was quaint and lively, a stark contrast to the eerie castle he had just left.
Market stalls lined the streets, filled with colorful fruits, vegetables, and handmade goods. Villagers chatted and laughed, seemingly unaware of the strange portal that had brought him here.
As Lin Xiao wandered through the village, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He approached an elderly woman tending to a flower stall. "Excuse me, ma'am, can you tell me where I am?"
The woman looked up and smiled creepily. "Welcome, traveler! You're in the village of Eldora,"