Lin Xiao walked cautiously along the riverbank, drawn by the eerie wailing that grew louder with each step.
The mist was thick, clinging to his clothes and obscuring his vision. As he continued, the landscape began to shift.
The river, which had been flowing calmly beside him, now tumbled over the edge of a cliff, creating a roaring waterfall that cascaded into a dark, yawning cave below.
The mouth of the cave was shadowed and ominous, with jagged rocks protruding from its entrance like the teeth of some ancient beast.
The sound of the waterfall was deafening here, drowning out all other noises and making the air vibrate with its intensity.
Lin Xiao peered over the edge, trying to gauge the depth of the drop and the best way to descend without using his mana.
He scanned the surrounding area for anything that could assist in his descent. The trees were sparse and their branches too weak to use as handholds.
The rocks were slick with moisture, offering no secure grip. There were no vines or ropes, nothing that could aid him in a controlled climb.
Frustration began to build as he realized he had no other option but to use his abilities.
Lin Xiao sighed, knowing that conserving mana was crucial, but he had no choice.
He prepared himself, focusing on the strength-sharing skill that connected him to his cats.
With a deep breath, he leapt off the edge, the cold air rushing past him as he plummeted towards the dark abyss below.
Just as he was about to hit the water, he concentrated hard, his body tingling with the familiar sensation of mana.
In an instant, he teleported, landing safely on the ground at the base of the waterfall.
The rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest. He stood there for a moment, catching his breath and calming the rapid beat of his heart.
The cavern was vast and echoed with the sound of the waterfall crashing behind him.
The air was damp and cold, the walls glistening with moisture. Stalactites and stalagmites filled the space, creating an almost surreal landscape.
Pools of water reflected the dim light, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Lin Xiao took a moment to orient himself, still feeling the adrenaline from his jump. He moved cautiously, the ground slippery beneath his feet.
The source of the wailing seemed closer now, reverberating off the cavern walls and guiding him deeper into the dark expanse.
Lin Xiao moved cautiously through the cavern, his senses on high alert. The air was damp and cool, with the faint scent of moss and wet stone.
The walls of the cavern were rough and uneven, glistening with moisture.
Stalactites hung from the ceiling like ancient teeth, dripping water into shallow pools that reflected the dim light from his makeshift torch.
He pulled up the system map, hoping for some guidance, but the display was frustratingly blank. Confused, he asked the system, "What's going on with the map?"
The system's response was terse
[Upgrade your map level.]
And then it went silent. Lin Xiao was speechless. He sighed, realizing he would have to navigate these treacherous caverns without any assistance.
Resigned to his task, he continued his exploration, relying on his instincts and the faint sound of wailing to guide him.
The cavern was a labyrinth of passages and chambers.
Lin Xiao passed through narrow corridors that forced him to squeeze through sideways, then emerged into vast, echoing chambers where the ceiling disappeared into darkness above.
He had to watch his step carefully, as the ground was uneven and littered with loose rocks that could easily trip him up.
He ventured deeper, encountering strange formations. Some rocks were covered in luminescent moss that glowed faintly, providing just enough light to see by.
Pools of water were scattered throughout, some shallow and clear, others deep and murky, hiding unknown depths.
He could hear the distant sound of water dripping and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, Lin Xiao pressed on. The wailing sound grew louder, reverberating through the caverns and leading him ever deeper into the subterranean maze.
Occasionally, he would stop and listen, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound, then adjust his course accordingly.
As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he constantly glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see someone—or something—following him.
But each time he looked, there was nothing but shadows and the oppressive silence.
His journey through the caverns felt endless, each step echoing in the dark, each chamber blending into the next.
Suddenly, he stumbled upon an open chamber within the cavern. The space was larger than the previous ones, its walls marked by the signs of a fierce battle.
Claw marks gouged deep into the stone, and the unmistakable indentations of gunfire pockmarked the walls, telling a grim story of what had transpired here.
In the center of the chamber, Lin Xiao saw two figures lying motionless on the cold, damp ground. They were dressed in patient clothes—loose-fitting, white garments stained with dirt and blood. Their faces were pale, eyes closed, and their bodies were unnaturally still.
Lin Xiao's heart sank as he approached them. A sense of dread filled him as he knelt beside the first figure, a man with dark hair matted to his forehead. He pressed two fingers to the man's neck, feeling for a pulse, but there was nothing.
The skin was cold to the touch. He moved to the second figure, a woman with brown hair sprawled around her head like a halo. He checked her breathing, hoping against hope that she might still be alive, but she, too, was gone.
They must have been from the facility, the same place he had entered the dungeon.
Looking around the chamber, he noticed more details. The claw marks were deep and vicious, as if whatever had attacked them had enormous strength.
The gunfire marks were concentrated in one direction, suggesting the patients had tried to make a stand against their attacker.
There were bloodstains on the ground, leading towards a narrow passageway on the other side of the chamber.