The group continued their trek through the dense forest, each step echoing in the unnerving silence. The earlier battle had left everyone on edge, and the oppressive atmosphere only heightened their wariness.
Zhu Yan walked near the rear, muttering under his breath. "This place gives me the creeps. It's like the trees themselves are watching us."
"You don't have to say everything you feel," Xu Mei retorted, her eyes scanning the shadows.
"Don't tell me you're not feeling it too," Zhu Yan shot back.
"I feel it," Lin Yue said softly, clutching her staff close. "But saying it out loud doesn't help."
Li Feng remained silent, his Piercing Sight active as he scouted the path ahead. His upgraded vision allowed him to see the faintest traces of energy fluctuations in the forest, and what he saw made his stomach churn.
Clusters of energy swirled and moved, almost as if the forest itself were alive and aware of their presence. Whatever lay ahead, it wasn't going to be simple.
"Stop," Li Feng said abruptly, raising his hand.
The group halted, their weapons at the ready.
"What is it?" Xu Mei asked, her tone sharp.
Li Feng's gaze narrowed, focusing on a patch of forest that seemed unnaturally dark. "There's something ahead. It's not a beast—it feels… different."
Before anyone could respond, the shadows ahead shifted. A figure emerged, cloaked in darkness, its features obscured by a hood. Its presence radiated an oppressive aura that made the group's skin crawl.
"Who… or what is that?" Zhu Yan whispered, his flames flickering nervously.
The figure raised a hand, and the air around them grew colder. A deep, resonant voice echoed through the forest.
"You venture into places you do not understand," the figure said. "Turn back, or face the consequences."
Li Feng stepped forward, gripping his spear tightly. "Who are you? And why are you here?"
The figure chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. "I am but a shadow of what lies ahead. If you choose to continue, know that your lives are forfeit."
Xu Mei scoffed, her Mirage Blade shimmering in the dim light. "We've faced worse threats than you. Step aside."
The figure's aura darkened, and the ground beneath them seemed to tremble. "So be it."
The air around them shifted, and suddenly, the figure was gone. In its place, the shadows themselves came alive, forming into twisted, humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes.
"Form up!" Li Feng shouted, taking a defensive stance.
The shadow creatures attacked in unison, their movements unnaturally fluid and fast.
Zhu Yan unleashed a wave of fire, illuminating the battlefield and forcing the creatures to retreat momentarily. "What are these things?" he shouted.
"They're not physical!" Xu Mei called out, her blade passing through one of the creatures without leaving a mark.
Lin Yue raised her staff, her barriers forming around the group. "They're energy-based! We need to disrupt their cores!"
Li Feng's Piercing Sight activated, revealing faint energy clusters within each shadow creature. "Aim for their centers! That's where their energy is concentrated!"
Zhu Yan nodded, his flames focusing on one of the creatures' cores. The fire burned brighter, and the shadow let out a shriek before dissolving into nothingness.
Xu Mei adjusted her approach, her Mirage Blade slicing through another creature's core with precision. The creature dissipated, its energy scattering into the air.
Li Feng moved swiftly, his spear piercing through the cores of two shadows in quick succession. Each strike required pinpoint accuracy, and his upgraded Piercing Sight made it possible.
The battle was intense, the group working together seamlessly to counter the strange, otherworldly enemies. Lin Yue's barriers provided crucial protection, giving the others time to adapt their strategies.
Finally, the last shadow creature fell, its energy fading into the forest.
The group stood in the aftermath, their breathing heavy.
"What the hell were those things?" Zhu Yan asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Not beasts," Xu Mei said, her voice tense. "Something else entirely."
Li Feng remained silent, his gaze fixed on the spot where the cloaked figure had first appeared. Whatever these creatures were, they weren't random. They had been sent to test them—or to warn them.
"We need to keep moving," he said finally. "Staying here will only invite more trouble."
The others nodded, though the unease in their expressions was clear.
As they pressed on, the forest seemed to shift around them, the trees closing in tighter, the shadows growing deeper. The faint sound of running water was gone, replaced by an eerie silence.
"This place feels... wrong," Lin Yue said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's meant to," Li Feng replied. "Whatever's ahead, it doesn't want us to reach it."
Xu Mei frowned. "Do you think that cloaked figure will show up again?"
"Maybe," Li Feng said. "But we'll be ready."
Zhu Yan let out a dry laugh. "Ready for what? Shadows that don't die, or cryptic warnings from creepy figures?"
"Both," Li Feng said simply.
Finally, they emerged into another clearing, this one dominated by an ancient stone altar. The structure was covered in strange, glowing runes that pulsed with a faint blue light.
"What is this?" Lin Yue asked, stepping forward cautiously.
Li Feng's Abyssal System activated, a new notification appearing on his Celestial Screen.
[Abyssal Notification: Nexus Point Detected. Absorb Energy to Gain Abyssal Points.]
'Another one,' Li Feng thought, his mind racing.
Xu Mei examined the altar, her fingers brushing against the runes. "This place feels… powerful. Like it's been here for centuries."
Zhu Yan frowned. "Is it another Energy Pillar?"
"No," Li Feng said. "This is different. Smaller, but just as significant."
Lin Yue hesitated. "Should we… use it?"
Li Feng nodded. "We don't have a choice. Whatever's ahead, we'll need every advantage we can get."
He stepped forward, placing his hand on the altar. The energy flowed into him instantly, the process smoother than it had been at the Energy Pillar.
[Absorption Initiated. Abyssal Points Gained: +100.]
[Combat Rating Increased: +1.]
Li Feng felt the familiar warmth spread through his body, his strength and focus sharpening. The others watched him closely, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Your turn," he said, stepping back.
The others hesitated before approaching the altar one by one. Using their Celestial Screens, they absorbed the energy, though the process was visibly more taxing for them.
Zhu Yan winced as the energy flowed into him. "Damn, this burns."
Lin Yue's hands trembled, sweat beading on her forehead. "It's… harder than before."
Xu Mei gritted her teeth, her Mirage Blade shaking in her grip. "It's worth it. Just push through."
When the process was complete, they each checked their Celestial Screens.
"+50 CP," Zhu Yan said, a faint grin on his face. "And a CR increase. Not bad."
"Same here," Xu Mei added.
Lin Yue nodded weakly. "It's… exhausting, but I can feel the strength."
Li Feng watched them silently, noting the differences. While he had absorbed the energy effortlessly and gained double the Abyssal Points, the others had struggled to endure the process. The advantages of his Abyssal System were becoming increasingly clear.
"Let's move," he said, his voice firm. "We're not done yet."
The group nodded, their determination renewed. Whatever lay ahead, they were ready to face it—together.