The monstrous beast lunged, claws slicing through the air like steel blades. Lu Heng twisted just in time, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. The beast's roar shook the cavern, reverberating like a thunderstorm trapped in stone walls. Lu Heng held on to the wall of the cave as it shook violently from the roar of the beast. The atmosphere became dark and oppressive. Dark tendrils drifted all over the cavern, trying to capture him as he evaded them. His eyes darted ferociously all over, tying to anticipate the danger and gauge the level of it. But more importantly, keeping a thorough lookout in the direction of the sound.
The beast's hulking form emerged fully into the dim light—an abomination of twisted sinew and shadowy fur. Its glowing crimson eyes burned with malevolence as saliva dripped from its long, dagger-like fangs. The eyes of the creature were burning with red fire as if one was staring into the pit of hell. It was also quite big, standing at over ten feet in height and a girth almost like a gigantic tree. Its claws gleamed like steal and furlike substance covered its entire body. It had two polished horns of about two inches each protruding from both sides of its head. Its entire appearance looked like the stuff nightmares were made of, scary and ancient looking.
Lu Heng steadied his feet against the stone floor of the wall and held his spear firmly, his breath sharp and controlled after the initial shock of seeing the beast. He realised that the beast was a manifestation of the scroll on the floor. He had sought power from the forbidden scroll, but he hadn't expected such a ferocious guardian beast to be bound to it. His mind raced as the beast charged again, faster this time, as if to swallow him up.
With a mighty leap, Lu Heng launched himself backward, thrusting his spear in a precise arc. The weapon grazed the beast's shoulder, spraying dark ichor across the cavern floor. The creature howled in rage, barely slowed but growling more angrily as he drew nearer to Lu Heng. There was a murderous expression vividly glowing on its face as it neared him, swinging its gigantic hands wildly all over the place in a bid to catch him in a strangle hold but Lu Heng dodged swiftly again to the left.
Lu Heng's mind sharpened, instinct taking over. He surged forward, spear spinning in deadly arcs, aiming for vital points of the beast. The beast met him with brutal force, its claws clashing against his weapon with bone-jarring strength, producing a piercing ringing sound as steel claws met with steal spear.
Blow after blow, Lu Heng deflected and countered, but the beast's endurance seemed limitless. A crushing paw struck his side, sending him sprawling across the cold stone floor. Pain flared through his ribs, as a gaping hole spewing rivulets of blood was revealed where the beast's claws had gorged at his flesh, but he forced himself up, spitting blood, determined to triumph over the beast. He knew he had to at least subdue the creature in order to be able to fully utilise the power of the forbidden scroll. He was also aware that if the beast should win against him, then there was only one way the battle would end, which was in Lu Cheng's death. Lu Cheng wasn't willing just yet.
"This… is my path to power. I will the scroll and dominate the world," he growled, fury reigniting his resolve.
With renewed determination, Lu Heng tapped into the dark energy coursing through his veins—the power granted by a previous forbidden technique he had bought from a roque cultivator. He quickly took a red capsule from deep within his robes and bite down unto it. Suddenly, blood like threads of energy snaked up his arms, directly inscribing ancient runes onto his flesh. His spear glowed faintly as dark energy flowed from his palm unto it, pulsing with dark intent, seeking living essence to devour. He felt rejuvenated as the effect of the red capsule spread all over his body, sealing the claw wound on his side and secretly feasting on his life energy.
He surged forward, faster than before. The beast swung its claws but this time Lu Cheng was prepared for it as he dived low and stabbed the beast in the left foot causing the beast to growl loudly as he heaved down and grabbed Lu Cheng. With a mighty swing, it three Lu Cheng across the floor and made to stump on him. He quickly rolled over and did a back flip causing it to appear at the back of the now berserk beast.
Lu Cheng then stabbed at the beast with its spear again but ti was like the beast had anticipated his move as it swung backwards and then forward in the spate of seconds. Lu Cheng was surprised to see himself directly facing the beast with less than two feet separating them. He made to step back but the beast swung its massive arm forward with its elbow hitting Lu Cheng square in the face causing him to fall down. As the beast made to stump down on him again, Lu Cheng rolled backwards and quickly sprang on his feet. And jumped forward, spear poised as if to pierce.
The beast snapped its jaws, trying to rip the spear from Lu Cheng's hands but he twisted mid-air, and landing behind the beast, then pushing forward as a sudden force from deep inside him driving his spear deep into the back of the beast. The cavern echoed with a sickening crunch as the spear pierced vital organs and lodged in bone.
The beast roared, but this time in pain, its claws flailing in desperation. Lu Heng yanked his spear free, dark ichor spilling across the ground. With a final, savage thrust, he plunged the weapon into the beast's heart again and again causing the creature to let out one last agonized howl before collapsing, its form slowly dissolving into swirling red mist.
Breathing heavily, Lu Heng stumbled back, leaning on his spear for support. The beast's remains spiralled into a vortex of dark energy, drawn toward the forbidden scroll still glowing faintly on the ground.
A deep, resonant, malevolent voice echoed in Lu Heng's mind, ancient and evil:
"You have slain the guardian... now claim its strength."
His eyes widened as the vortex shifted toward him, coiling around his body. Blood like energy surged through his veins like molten fire, igniting every nerve with unbearable intensity. His vision blurred, overwhelmed by searing pain and consuming power. Lu Cheng screamed painfully and clutched his chest as the dark magic worked over him, changing his inner core and gifting him with magical dark powers beyond his imagination.
His body trembled continuously, but he held his ground, gritting his teeth as the beast's essence fused into his very being. He hungrily and greedily sucked everything up, thrilling in the power rushing into him. He could feel its monstrous strength becoming his own—feral, untamed, and bound by dark magic.
The runes on his arms flared brighter, pulsing with newly absorbed power. His wounds closed rapidly, leaving only faint scars as proof of the deadly encounter. His muscles thrummed with enhanced strength, his senses sharper, deadlier. He felt invincible. Like he could conquer the world. But at the core of him, he felt a corrosive influence begin to take over his being in a subtle, hardly distinguishable manner.
When the last traces of the beast's essence faded into his core, Lu Heng collapsed to his knees, gasping for air as he felt the immensity of the power. The feeling he had was that the power was too immense for him to handle, that he had over reached but this feeling disappeared as he lost consciousness and darkness overtook him. The cavern fell silent once more, the forbidden scroll's light dimming into eerie stillness.
As Lu Heng slowly rose to his feet on regaining consciousness about a day later, the cavern seemed darker than before, filled with an oppressive stillness. He grabbed the now still spear but could still feel the power as he clenched his fists, marvelling at the overwhelming strength now pulsing through his body.
But something in the shadows stirred—something unseen, ancient, and watching. A faint, mocking whisper echoed in the cavern, reverberating like two irons grinding together, grating to the ear.
"Power always comes with a price… Are you prepared to pay it?"
Lu Heng's gaze hardened, unwavering. He had come too far to turn back now. His destiny was no longer bound by the rules of the Xiang Sect—or the heavens themselves. He would seek and take power whenever he found it whether good or evil. He vowed to crush anyone who stood in his path in his pursuit of power. Power was everything.
'Whatever the cost of power, I am ready to pay it' he vowed
He would rise, no matter the cost. And when the time came, Li would fall and anyone who dared stand against him on his path to greatness.