Inside the cave, the air was thick with the scent of blood, tinting the entire space with a faint red hue. The torchlight flickered, casting countless twisted shadows. Lin Yun's short sword trembled slightly in his hand, but his breathing gradually steadied.
He tightened his grip on the hilt, his knuckles white. Sweat dripped down his temple, mingling with the dust below, stirring up faint plumes. The colossal beast's roar grew louder, each step a proclamation of its overwhelming power. Lin Yun felt his heart pounding in his chest, but he stood firm, his gaze unwavering.
In a sudden flash, a blinding light erupted from the cave's depths, slicing through the darkness like a blade. The entire cave seemed to shudder with a powerful force. Lin Yun's eyes were momentarily dazzled by the sudden brightness, causing him to squint.
As the light receded, a strange sight emerged. On the far wall of the cave, a massive rune glowed with a ghostly blue light. Its lines were fluid and ancient, whispering of a long-forgotten legend.
Lin Yun's eyes were drawn to the rune, feeling an inexplicable pull. Just then, the beast's roar shattered the moment, louder and more resonant than before. Lin Yun snapped back to reality, his focus returning to the immediate threat.
The beast's eyes blazed with fury, its scales reflecting the eerie light, appearing even more impenetrable and cold. Lin Yun knew he had to act swiftly. Taking a deep breath, he dashed forward, his body like an arrow released from a bowstring.
His short sword traced a silver arc in the air, aimed at the beast's eyes. The beast swung its head, the blade scraping across its scales with a harsh screech. Lin Yun used the momentum to leap onto its back, driving his sword towards its spine.
The beast howled in agony, its body convulsing violently in an attempt to throw Lin Yun off. He clung to its scales, feeling a surge of power within him. Concentrating, he channeled his spiritual energy into the blade, causing it to glow with a brilliant light.
With a determined shout, Lin Yun plunged the sword into the beast's spine, the energy flooding into the creature, tearing through its nerves. The beast let out a final, harrowing scream before collapsing to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Lin Yun jumped off its back, landing on one knee, gasping for breath. He looked up to see the light fading from the beast's eyes, its life force quickly dissipating. He knew the battle was finally over.
Rising to his feet, he wiped the sweat from his brow and turned towards the glowing rune in the cave's depths. Its light pulsed steadily, as if beckoning him. Lin Yun took a deep breath and walked towards it.
The air around the rune hummed with spiritual energy, each line exuding an aura of antiquity. Lin Yun reached out, gently touching the rune's surface, feeling a slight vibration. He sensed that something immense was hidden behind this symbol.
Suddenly, the rune's glow intensified, flooding the cave with blue light. Lin Yun felt a powerful force surge from the rune into his body, rapidly amplifying his spiritual energy. His body trembled uncontrollably as the energy coursed through him, threatening to break free.
As Lin Yun's consciousness began to fade, a familiar voice called out, "Lin Yun!"
He forced his eyes open to see Chen Hao standing nearby, concern etched on his face. Lin Yun mustered his strength, suppressing the turbulent energy within, and slowly made his way towards Chen Hao.
"Are you alright?" Chen Hao asked, steadying him with a worried tone.
"I'm fine, just a bit drained," Lin Yun replied with a strained smile, feeling the energy within him gradually stabilizing. He knew he had unlocked the secret of the rune, gaining a formidable power.