Chapter 21: The Shadow's Warning
The emptiness of the void enveloped Li Yan, its silence deafening after the chaotic storm and the bustling memories of his past. He floated in the infinite nothingness, his mind still reeling from what he had just experienced. The shadowy figure's words echoed in his ears: "You don't know what's coming… You don't know the truth."
Li Yan clenched his fists. "What truth? What are you trying to tell me?" His voice resonated in the void, but no answer came.
Before he could dwell on it further, the void shifted. A pulse of light appeared in the distance, growing steadily until it engulfed him. In an instant, he was pulled into a new realm—a desolate, barren landscape under a blood-red sky. The ground was cracked and lifeless, and the air was thick with an oppressive energy.
"This place… feels different," Li Yan muttered, scanning the area. "Not a memory. This is something else entirely."
A voice boomed from the sky, deep and resonant, filled with authority and menace. "Li Yan, the path you walk is fraught with danger, yet you march forward unyielding. But do you truly understand what lies ahead? Or do you blindly stumble into the unknown?"
Li Yan's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? Another part of the trial? Or are you the one behind the shadow I just saw?"
The voice laughed, a sound that sent chills down Li Yan's spine. "I am merely a herald, a fragment of the truth you seek. But know this—your past is not as it seems. The life you left behind, the world you called home, and even the system you wield… all are pieces of a larger puzzle. And at the center of it all is you."
Li Yan frowned, his mind racing. "Me? What are you talking about?"
The ground trembled beneath him, and a towering figure rose from the cracked earth. It was a giant made of shadows, its form shifting and swirling like a living storm. Its eyes burned with an eerie crimson light, and its voice was the same one that had spoken moments before.
"You are a variable, Li Yan—a force that was never meant to exist. The heavens fear you, the rules of existence rebel against you, and yet you continue to defy the natural order. Why?"
Li Yan stood his ground, his aura flaring to life as he met the shadow's gaze. "Why? Because I refuse to let anyone or anything dictate my fate. The heavens can fear me, the rules can rebel, but I'll carve my own path. No one decides my destiny but me."
The shadow giant roared, its form expanding as it loomed over him. "Bold words, but mere defiance is not enough. Show me your resolve, Li Yan! Prove that you are worthy of the chaos you bring!"
Without warning, the shadow attacked, its massive hand descending like a tidal wave of darkness. Li Yan leaped into action, his body moving on instinct. His golden aura blazed brighter, and his hand shot forward, summoning the radiant power of his system.
"[Eternal Conflagration]!"
A torrent of golden flames erupted from his palm, colliding with the shadow's attack. The impact shook the ground, and the air was filled with the sound of crackling energy. The shadow hissed as the flames burned through its form, but it quickly reformed, its laughter echoing across the desolate landscape.
"Impressive, but insufficient!" the shadow taunted. It unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one faster and more powerful than the last. Blades of darkness, spears of crimson light, and waves of chaotic energy all converged on Li Yan.
Li Yan dodged and countered with precision, his movements a blur as he fought back with everything he had. His system fed him an endless stream of abilities and techniques, each one more devastating than the last. Flames, lightning, and raw energy clashed with the shadow's attacks, creating explosions that lit up the crimson sky.
But the shadow was relentless. It seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, its form becoming more defined and its attacks more precise. Li Yan gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face as he pushed himself to his limits.
"You cannot defeat me, Li Yan," the shadow declared. "I am the truth you refuse to see, the darkness you refuse to confront. Until you accept what you truly are, you will never win."
Li Yan's mind raced. The shadow's words gnawed at him, but he refused to let them break his focus. "I don't care what you are or what you represent," he shouted. "I'll overcome anything in my way, no matter what it takes!"
Summoning every ounce of his strength, Li Yan activated one of his most powerful techniques. "[Heavenly Annihilation]!"
A blinding pillar of golden light erupted from his body, surging upward and piercing through the shadow. The attack tore the giant apart, scattering its form into fragments that dissolved into the air. The ground beneath him cracked further, and the oppressive energy in the air began to dissipate.
As the shadow faded, its voice lingered, softer this time, almost melancholic. "You have won this battle, but the war is far from over. The truth will find you, Li Yan… and when it does, will you be ready?"
The barren landscape began to crumble, and Li Yan felt himself being pulled away once more. He closed his eyes, letting the strange sensation wash over him. When he opened them again, he was back in the void, alone but victorious.
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End of Chapter 21