The forest seemed alive, its oppressive silence broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their boots. The canopy above was so dense that it blotted out the sun, casting the group in a perpetual twilight. The air grew heavier as they ventured further, a thick humidity clinging to their skin. Every step forward felt like stepping into the unknown, the shadows ahead brimming with unseen threats.
Li Feng's Piercing Sight scanned the path ahead, its faint glow revealing energy trails interwoven through the trees. Despite the system's clarity, the deeper they went, the harder it was to discern where the energy led. It wasn't chaotic—it was deliberate, like threads of a web, pulling them toward something unknown.
"What's up ahead?" Zhu Yan asked, his grip tightening on his staff.
Li Feng didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his mind processing the patterns. "It's different. The energy is concentrated, but... I can't tell if it's a trap or a clue."
Xu Mei walked beside him, her Mirage Blade drawn and glowing faintly. "If it's a trap, we'll deal with it. That's why we're here."
Lin Yue, a few steps behind, shifted nervously. "I feel like we're being watched. It's... unnerving."
Zhu Yan rolled his eyes. "Great. Just what we needed—more paranoia."
Before Xu Mei could retort, Li Feng held up a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Be quiet," he said, his voice low. "We are being watched."
The group froze, their weapons at the ready. The forest seemed to hold its breath as a low growl rumbled from the shadows. Slowly, a massive creature emerged, its obsidian body gleaming in the dim light. It stood on four legs, each muscled and powerful, and its crimson eyes glared at them with primal fury.
A sizzling sound accompanied every drop of acidic saliva that dripped from its maw.
"It's a Tier-2 Beast," Li Feng said, his Piercing Sight highlighting the dense energy clusters in its limbs and chest.
Zhu Yan groaned, flames flickering at the tip of his staff. "Another one? Did the forest not get the memo that we're not Tier-2 yet?"
"This one's stronger," Xu Mei said, taking a defensive stance. "We need a plan."
"We stick to what works," Li Feng replied, his gaze unwavering. "Lin Yue, barriers. Zhu Yan, focus on slowing it down with flames. Xu Mei, attack its joints. I'll go for the core."
The beast let out a roar, shaking the trees as it charged.
"Move!" Li Feng shouted.
Lin Yue was the first to act, raising her hands to summon a shimmering barrier. The beast slammed into it, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface but holding long enough to halt its momentum.
Zhu Yan unleashed a torrent of fire at the creature's legs, forcing it to stagger back. The flames licked at its obsidian skin, leaving scorch marks but no significant damage.
Xu Mei darted in, her Mirage Blade slicing at the creature's joints. The blade sparked against its tough hide, but her attacks left shallow cuts.
"Feng!" Xu Mei called, leaping back as the beast swiped at her.
Li Feng was already moving, his spear glowing faintly as he circled the beast. His Piercing Sight revealed the pulsing core of energy in its chest, the key to taking it down.
The beast sensed his approach and swung its tail, aiming to knock him off balance. Li Feng ducked, the tail whistling past him and smashing into a tree.
"This thing's smarter than the last one," Xu Mei muttered, dodging another attack.
"Stay focused!" Li Feng replied, his spear poised for a strike.
The battle continued, the group working in seamless coordination. Lin Yue's barriers intercepted the beast's lunges, giving Zhu Yan and Xu Mei the openings they needed. Despite their efforts, the beast's resilience was daunting, its attacks relentless.
Finally, the creature stumbled, its movements slowed by exhaustion and accumulated injuries.
"Now!" Li Feng shouted, seizing the moment.
He lunged forward, his spear piercing the beast's chest with precision. The creature roared, thrashing violently as its energy dissipated.
Zhu Yan added a final burst of fire, and the beast collapsed, its body hitting the ground with a resounding crash.
The group stood in silence, catching their breath.
"Is it... dead?" Lin Yue asked, her voice trembling.
Li Feng nodded, his spear still embedded in the beast's chest. "It's dead."
The others lowered their weapons, relief washing over their faces.
"Another Tier-2 down," Xu Mei said, wiping her blade clean. "But barely."
Zhu Yan groaned, stretching his arms. "Can we take a break before the forest throws another one at us?"
Li Feng ignored him, his focus on the beast's chest. His Abyssal System activated, revealing a notification.
[Abyssal Notification: Beast Core Detected. Absorb Energy to Gain Abyssal Points.]
He reached into the beast's chest, extracting a crystalline core pulsing with energy.
"You're just going to absorb it, aren't you?" Zhu Yan asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes," Li Feng said, not bothering to look up.
As he absorbed the core, warmth spread through his body, and a familiar notification appeared on his Celestial Screen.
[Abyssal Points Gained: +120.]
[Combat Rating Increased: +1.]
The others watched as Li Feng's aura shifted slightly, a faint ripple of power radiating from him.
Xu Mei raised an eyebrow. "Are you done showing off, or are you going to share?"
Li Feng stepped aside, gesturing to the beast. "Your turn."
The others activated their Celestial Screens, using their systems to absorb the residual energy.
Lin Yue winced as the process began. "It's... still difficult."
Zhu Yan gritted his teeth. "Feels like my whole body's on fire."
Xu Mei remained composed, though her Mirage Blade pulsed faintly.
When they finished, they each checked their screens.
"+60 CP," Xu Mei said. "And my CR went up by 1."
"Same here," Lin Yue added, though she looked visibly drained.
Zhu Yan flexed his arms. "Finally starting to feel like a real powerhouse."
Li Feng noted the differences. While he absorbed the core effortlessly and gained double the points, the others endured strain and received half as much. The Abyssal System continued to give him a clear edge.
As they prepared to move on, Lin Yue spoke up. "What do you think that cloaked figure was trying to warn us about?"
Li Feng frowned, his gaze distant. "I don't think it was a warning. It was a test."
Xu Mei raised an eyebrow. "A test? For what?"
"To see if we're worthy," Li Feng said.
Zhu Yan snorted. "Great. More cryptic nonsense. Just what we needed."
Lin Yue looked uneasy. "But worthy of what?"
Li Feng didn't answer immediately. His thoughts were on the Nexus Points, the Abyssal System, and the strange forces guiding their path. Whatever lay at the heart of this forest, it wasn't just another Energy Pillar.
"We'll find out soon enough," he said finally. "Let's keep moving."
The group nodded, their resolve unshaken despite the lingering uncertainty. Together, they stepped deeper into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.