The master stood at the pavilion's balcony, gazing out over the quiet imperial capital cloaked in the deep darkness of night. The once vibrant city felt suffocated, its streets eerily silent as though all its inhabitants held their breath in anticipation. The corruption had spread further; he could feel its tendrils coiling beneath the surface of the land, infecting the energy of heaven and earth.
His golden eyes narrowed as he turned his thoughts inward. That ominous voice still echoed in his mind: "I have been waiting for you." It wasn't a threat. It was a challenge.
But who, or what, had been waiting for him? His understanding of heavenly laws told him that this darkness was not from this realm alone. There were ancient forces at play here, forces that did not abide by mortal reason or time. He could feel their weight pressing against him like an unseen force.
The soft sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Wei Long approached, his armor still stained with the marks of battle from the noble estate the night before. His face was etched with exhaustion, but his resolve burned bright in his eyes.
"Master," Wei Long began, bowing deeply. "We have searched the capital. No trace of the man in black robes has been found, but there is something unusual."
The master turned to face him. "Speak."
Wei Long hesitated briefly before continuing. "Several witnesses claim to have seen a group of travelers arrive in the city late last night. They were… strange. They carried no torches, but their path was lit by an unnatural light. The guards at the gates swear that the travelers vanished before their eyes after entering the capital."
"Vanished?" the master repeated, his gaze sharpening.
"Yes. They—" Wei Long paused as he searched for the words. "… they stepped into the shadows, and the shadows swallowed them whole."
The master frowned, a flicker of understanding dawning in his mind. "The shadows are not merely spreading," he murmured. "They are alive."
Wei Long's face paled slightly. "Alive? What do you mean?"
The master turned back to the city, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he extended his spiritual sense outward. He could feel it now—a faint ripple in the air, like a predator's breath against its prey. The shadows in the capital were not merely a manifestation of dark energy; they were entities, living fragments of something ancient and far more dangerous.
"Prepare yourself, Wei Long," the master said. "Tonight, the true test begins."
The night deepened, and the capital slept uneasily. Within the shadows of the city's alleys and forgotten corners, something stirred.
In one such alley, a group of beggars huddled around a meager fire, their faces illuminated by its dying light. The chill in the air felt unnatural, seeping into their bones no matter how close they sat to the flames.
"Did you hear that?" one of them whispered, his voice trembling.
"Hear what?" another snapped irritably, pulling his tattered cloak tighter around himself.
The first beggar pointed into the darkness, his eyes wide with fear. "It's there. Something's moving…"
The others fell silent, straining to listen. For a moment, there was nothing but the faint crackle of the fire.
Then they heard it—a faint, slithering sound, like something dragging itself across the ground. The fire flickered violently, its light shrinking as though cowering before the encroaching darkness.
"Who's there?" one of the beggars shouted, his voice cracking.
A deep, guttural laugh answered him.
The shadows at the edge of the alley began to move, writhing like living things. Tendrils of darkness slithered across the cobblestones, reaching toward the terrified men. One of them screamed and tried to run, but the shadows surged forward, swallowing him whole. His scream was cut off abruptly, leaving nothing but silence.
The others scrambled to their feet, panic overtaking them. "Run!" one shouted, but it was too late. The shadows engulfed them, one by one, leaving the alley empty and deathly quiet.
Above it all, a figure stood watching from the rooftops—a man cloaked in black, his face hidden beneath a hood. His voice echoed through the empty alley, a dark whisper that carried on the wind.
"The storm is coming."
At the pavilion, the master's eyes snapped open. He had felt it—a surge of dark energy, like a wound tearing open in the fabric of the city.
Without hesitation, he rose to his feet and stepped out onto the balcony. His golden eyes scanned the city, locking onto the source of the disturbance.
"The western district," he murmured.
Wei Long appeared at his side, already armed and ready. "Master, what is it?"
"The shadows have begun their attack," the master replied. "Gather the guards. We head to the western district immediately."
The streets of the western district were deserted when the master and Wei Long arrived with a contingent of guards. The air was thick with an unnatural cold, and the light of their torches seemed dimmer than usual, as though the shadows were devouring the flames themselves.
The master stepped forward, his spiritual energy radiating from his body like a golden aura. The shadows recoiled slightly in response, hissing faintly as though in pain.
"Show yourself," the master called out, his voice echoing through the empty streets. "I know you are here."
For a moment, there was only silence. Then the shadows began to shift, coalescing into a single form. The figure of the man in black robes emerged from the darkness, his face still hidden beneath his hood. He stood at the far end of the street, his presence exuding a malevolent power that sent chills down the spines of even the most battle-hardened guards.
"You are bold, to call me forth," the man said, his voice low and mocking. "But boldness will not save you."
The master stepped forward, his golden eyes blazing. "Who are you? Why are you spreading this corruption?"
The man laughed softly, a sound that seemed to echo from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Who I am does not matter. What matters is that the darkness has returned—and soon, this world will belong to it."
"Not while I still stand," the master declared, his voice steady.
The man tilted his head slightly, as though amused. "Then come, 'master.' Show me what you can do."
The shadows around him surged forward like a tidal wave, rushing toward the master and the guards with terrifying speed. Wei Long shouted orders, and the guards formed a defensive line, their swords gleaming in the torchlight.
But the shadows were relentless. They crashed against the guards like a living storm, dragging men down into the darkness one by one.
The master raised his hand, and golden light erupted from his palm, slicing through the shadows like a blazing sun. The darkness recoiled, shrieking in fury as it burned away.
The man in black robes remained unmoved, watching as the master advanced toward him.
"Your light is strong," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But light alone cannot banish the night."
The master's eyes narrowed. "Then I will tear the night apart."
With a surge of spiritual energy, the master shot forward, his golden aura blazing like a comet. The man in black robes raised his hand, and the shadows surged to meet him. The two forces collided with a thunderous roar, sending shockwaves rippling through the street.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as light and darkness battled for dominance.
And then, the shadows began to retreat.
The man in black robes stepped back, his form dissolving into the darkness. "This is only the beginning," he said, his voice echoing ominously. "You cannot stop what is coming."
Before the master could respond, the man vanished, leaving nothing but an empty street and the lingering chill of his presence.
The master stood in the center of the devastation, his golden aura flickering around him like a dying flame. The guards who remained stared at him in awe and fear, their faces pale.
Wei Long approached, his voice quiet. "Master, what was that?"
The master's golden eyes glowed faintly as he turned his gaze to the sky. "A warning," he said softly. "The storm is coming—and we must be ready."