The path to the Abyssal Ruins was as treacherous as the elder had warned. The once-thin forest thickened into a labyrinth of ancient trees, their gnarled roots twisting like skeletal fingers. A thick fog clung to the air, making it difficult to see even a few paces ahead.
"Cursed place," Luo Yan muttered, swinging his axe at an overgrown branch. "Feels like something's watching us."
Lin Yue nodded, her talismans faintly glowing. "The energy here is different—corrupted. Be careful. The Abyssal Ruins are said to draw out the worst in people."
Ye Chen remained silent, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His grip on his sword tightened as a low growl echoed in the mist.
"We're not alone," he said, his voice calm but firm.
A shadow darted through the fog, followed by a second, then a third. The growls multiplied, growing louder and more menacing.
"Wraithbeasts," Lin Yue whispered, her face pale. "They're drawn to the token's power."
The creatures emerged from the mist, their forms barely humanoid. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, and their bodies radiated an aura of decay.
Without hesitation, the first wraithbeast lunged at Ye Chen, its claws slicing through the air. Ye Chen sidestepped the attack, his sword flashing in a clean arc that severed the creature's arm.
But instead of retreating, the wraithbeast let out a bone-chilling screech, and its severed limb regrew almost instantly.
"They regenerate!" Luo Yan shouted, slamming his axe into another creature's chest. "What kind of monsters are these?"
Lin Yue threw a talisman into the air, chanting quickly. The talisman exploded in a burst of light, momentarily driving the wraithbeasts back.
"They're not invincible," she said. "But they feed on energy. Prolonged fights will only make them stronger!"
Ye Chen's mind raced. He focused on the flow of his energy, letting his sword intent build. The creatures circled, their glowing eyes locked on the Forest Heart Token.
"We need to end this quickly," Ye Chen said.
With a sharp cry, the wraithbeasts lunged as one. Ye Chen surged forward, his blade slicing through the nearest creature. This time, he infused his strike with sword intent, the concentrated energy severing the creature's connection to the corrupted aura around them. It dissolved into ash.
"They can be purified!" Ye Chen called out. "Focus your attacks—cut them off from the abyss!"
Luo Yan roared, his axe blazing with fiery energy as he cleaved through two wraithbeasts in a single swing. Lin Yue's talismans transformed into glowing chains, binding another creature long enough for Ye Chen to deliver a finishing blow.
One by one, the wraithbeasts fell, their forms disintegrating into the mist. When the last creature vanished, the forest fell eerily silent.
Ye Chen lowered his sword, his breathing heavy. "Is everyone all right?"
"Barely," Luo Yan said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Those things were tougher than anything we've faced so far."
Lin Yue approached Ye Chen, her expression serious. "They were after the token. The closer we get to the Abyssal Ruins, the more dangerous it will become. We need to be prepared."
Ye Chen nodded. "We don't have a choice. Let's keep moving."
The fog thickened as they pressed on, and the forest began to shift. The trees became twisted and skeletal, their bark blackened as though burned. Strange whispers echoed through the air, growing louder with each step.
"This place is wrong," Luo Yan muttered, his grip on his axe tightening. "Like it's alive."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a massive fissure opened, separating the group. Ye Chen leapt back, narrowly avoiding the collapse, but the others were on the opposite side.
"Ye Chen!" Lin Yue shouted, her voice filled with alarm.
"I'll find another way around!" Ye Chen called back. "Stay together and keep moving!"
Before they could argue, the fog thickened, obscuring their view of one another.
Ye Chen pressed forward alone, his sword at the ready. The whispers grew louder, forming words that seemed to come from within his own mind.
"Why do you fight?" the voices asked. "Is it for power? Revenge? Or are you simply lost?"
Ye Chen gritted his teeth, refusing to respond. The whispers twisted, becoming more insistent.
"You cannot hide from the truth. The token will consume you, as it has consumed others before you."
A figure emerged from the mist—a man clad in tattered robes, his eyes hollow and glowing faintly green. In his hand was a blade similar to Ye Chen's, but its aura was dark and oppressive.
"The Abyssal Ruins do not grant power," the man said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "They demand sacrifice. Turn back now, or lose yourself to the shadows."
"I'm not turning back," Ye Chen said firmly, raising his sword. "If the ruins demand sacrifice, I'll find another way."
The man tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Foolish. You'll see the truth soon enough."
Without warning, the man lunged, his dark blade clashing with Ye Chen's. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, and Ye Chen was pushed back a step.
The man moved with unnatural speed, his attacks relentless and precise. But Ye Chen held his ground, his movements steady and calculated.
"You're strong," the man said, his voice tinged with mockery. "But strength alone won't save you."
Ye Chen's sword glowed brighter as he channeled his sword intent, meeting the man's attacks with equal force.
"I don't need saving," Ye Chen said, his voice steady. "I'll carve my own path."
With a powerful swing, Ye Chen shattered the man's blade, the dark energy dissipating into the mist. The man staggered back, his form flickering like a fading shadow.
"You've chosen your fate," he said before vanishing completely.
Ye Chen stood alone, the whispers finally silenced. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before continuing forward.
The ruins were close—he could feel it. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head-on.