Lei Zhen's heart raced as the figure stepped closer, his shadow seeming to swallow the light. The air grew colder with each movement the cloaked man made, as if the very atmosphere was bending to his will. Lei Zhen's fingers tingled with the raw power surging through his veins, but it felt different now, darker and more uncontrollable. It wasn't just his energy anymore—this man was connected to it, somehow.
"Who are you?" Lei Zhen's voice barely rose above a whisper, his throat tight with uncertainty and fear. He could feel the weight of this moment, the realization that he had just come face-to-face with something far greater than he had ever imagined.
The man's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "You don't recognize me?" His voice was smooth, as if each word was carefully measured. "How disappointing."
Lei Zhen took a step back, instinctively drawing his energy in, trying to regain control over the wild currents inside him. But the figure's presence seemed to make it harder, like a constant pressure pushing against him.
The cloaked figure laughed, a sound like metal scraping against stone. "You are unaware, aren't you? You don't know what you are. You have no idea the power that runs through you. But you will. Soon."
Lei Zhen's eyes narrowed. The figure's words were like riddles, each one designed to provoke confusion and fear. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. "What do you want with me?"
The figure tilted his head, as though considering the question, before stepping even closer. Lei Zhen's heart skipped a beat, his body instinctively tensing. The man's eyes, glowing a fierce red, fixed on him with an intensity that made Lei Zhen's blood run cold.
"I want what is rightfully mine," the figure said, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. "The power that has been locked away for centuries. The power that you now carry."
Lei Zhen's breath caught. He didn't want to believe it, but he could feel it—the truth gnawing at him. The shadow, the abyss, the power within him—it was all connected.
"No," Lei Zhen whispered, shaking his head. "This is my power. It's not for you."
The figure's smile deepened, a twisted mockery of amusement. "You think you can control it? You think you have the strength to stop what's already begun? No, Lei Zhen, it was never meant to be yours. It was meant to return to its true master."
A surge of energy shot through Lei Zhen, and for a split second, he felt his power slip from his grasp. The cloak of the figure seemed to ripple, and the air grew heavier. The very ground beneath Lei Zhen's feet seemed to tremble, as if something ancient was waking.
The figure extended his hand, and the shadows responded, twisting and coiling like serpents, snaking toward Lei Zhen. His power fought against it, but it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a single breath. The shadows enveloped him, pushing against his will, seeping into his mind.
"You can't stop this," the figure whispered. "You cannot fight what is already inside you."
Lei Zhen gasped, his knees buckling as the energy clawed at him. He fought back, calling upon every ounce of his willpower to force the shadows away, but they were relentless. The darkness seemed to echo in his mind, a chorus of voices speaking words he couldn't understand, words that tried to drown him in despair.
Embrace it. Become one with it. The abyss will set you free.
"No," Lei Zhen gritted through clenched teeth. "I won't let it."
With a final, desperate surge of energy, Lei Zhen pushed against the shadows, his hands glowing with fierce light. The force of his power cracked through the dark tendrils, forcing them back. But the moment he did, the figure's voice echoed in his mind, cold and mocking.
"You think this is a victory?" The figure's laughter sent a chill through Lei Zhen's bones. "This is just the beginning. The abyss is patient. It will wait for you."
Lei Zhen staggered back, his breath shallow as he fought to remain standing. He could feel the energy within him, still volatile, still uncontrollable. But now, he realized something terrifying—the figure's words were true. He was bound to the abyss, whether he liked it or not.
"Don't forget, Lei Zhen," the figure said, his form flickering like a wraith. "There's more at stake than you realize. Much more. And when the time comes, you will choose. But remember this: I will be watching."
The figure's form seemed to dissolve into the shadows, vanishing into the very air around them. Lei Zhen stood alone, his chest heaving, the echoes of the man's words lingering in his mind like a dark cloud.
As the last traces of the figure's presence disappeared, the temple began to settle, the oppressive weight lifting just slightly. But the silence felt more ominous than ever. The abyss was not a distant threat—it was within him, coursing through his blood, waiting for its moment to rise again.
He looked down at his hands, the glowing energy flickering weakly. He could feel it—something ancient, something powerful, stirring within him. The darkness had been momentarily pushed back, but it was far from gone. And Lei Zhen knew that the true test was still ahead.
A sound broke through the quiet, distant and faint at first. It was the sound of footsteps.
Xian Mei's voice, weak but determined, broke through the stillness.
"Lei Zhen… can you hear me?"
He turned, his heart skipping a beat. Xian Mei was alive—she was still out there, somewhere. The voice had reached him, faint but unmistakable.
"Xian Mei?" Lei Zhen called out, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Where are you?"
"I'm coming," she responded, her voice barely a whisper in the wind. "But you need to be ready. The true enemy… is closer than you think."
A chill ran down Lei Zhen's spine. The real battle was only beginning—and he was no longer fighting alone.
Cliffhanger: The sound of Xian Mei's voice brought hope, but her warning made it clear: the true enemy was still out there, and Lei Zhen's journey was far from over. What was coming next would test his resolve in ways he had never imagined.