The chilling aftershock of Xirath's visit still lingered in the night air, wrapping the Crimson Veil in an eerie silence. The group remained on edge, the reality of their new enemy sinking in. Lin Tian's fists clenched tightly, the weight of his powerlessness pressing down on him. He had won countless battles before, but Xirath… Xirath was something else.
"We need to leave before he returns," Xia Ling said, her voice steady despite the worry in her silver eyes. "The Abyssal Overlord doesn't make empty threats."
Bai Xianyu scoffed, flipping her long dark hair over her shoulder. "Run and hide? Hardly fitting for a Dragon Emperor."
Zhao Yue, who had been silent since she had caught Lin Tian and Bai Xianyu together the night before, finally spoke. "No one is saying we run. But we need a plan."
Before Lin Tian could respond, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A pulse of black energy erupted in the distance, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The sky above the Crimson Veil darkened further, the once-glowing crimson hues now a swirling vortex of deep shadows.
Lin Tian's Dragon's Eyes flickered to life, scanning the source of the disturbance. What he saw made his blood run cold.
Emerging from the abyssal mist was an Abyss Devourer—a towering, grotesque beast wreathed in shadows, its glowing red eyes locked onto their group. Its elongated limbs clawed at the ground, leaving trails of black fire in its wake. Its maw, lined with jagged fangs, split into a grin that dripped with malice.
"Well," Bai Xianyu said dryly, summoning her enchanted daggers. "That's disgusting."
Lin Tian didn't waste time. He drew his sword, the blade pulsing with golden energy. "Stay sharp! It's not alone."
As if responding to his words, more creatures slithered forth—shadowed assassins in black armor, their weapons dripping with cursed energy. The Abyss had sent its hunting party.
Su Lan's voice rang out. "They're after you, Lin Tian! They won't stop unless—"
"Then let's end this," Lin Tian growled, his aura flaring.
The battle erupted in a blinding clash of light and darkness.
The Abyss Devourer lunged first, its massive claw slamming down toward Lin Tian. He dodged, countering with a blast of Dragon's Breath. The golden flames met the beast's dark energy, sending an explosion through the battlefield.
Zhao Yue fought beside him, her movements fluid as she slashed through the assassins, her dagger glowing with ethereal energy. She had always been skilled, but now, there was something sharper in her strikes—an anger she hadn't yet voiced.
Bai Xianyu danced through the battlefield, her daggers a blur as she weaved between enemies. "You owe me a drink after this, Lin Tian," she called, her blade plunging into an assassin's chest.
Su Lan stood behind them, forming protective barriers and hurling talismans infused with divine energy.
But it wasn't enough.
The Abyss Devourer roared, unleashing a blast of darkness that knocked them all off their feet. Lin Tian crashed against the rocky ground, his vision swimming. The beast loomed over him, its claw raised for a final strike.
Then, suddenly—
A surge of white light sliced through the battlefield.
A new presence had arrived.