CHAPTER 11 SHADOWS IN THE FOREST
881 Words
The earth continued trembling beneath their feet.
Dust fell from the towering trees.
The birds that had remained hidden burst into the sky in panicked flocks.
Then...
Everything became still once more.
Jin Wu swallowed.
"...Please tell me that's over."
No one answered.
Even the wind had disappeared.
Raizen slowly looked toward the heart of Black Pine Forest.
The uneasy feeling in his chest had only grown stronger.
"That wasn't natural."
Su Ziling nodded.
"Spirit Beasts don't cause earthquakes."
Jin Wu forced a laugh.
"Maybe... a really big one does?"
Neither of them smiled.
Warning.
Unknown lifeform detected.
Distance: Unable to calculate.
Threat Level: Unknown.
Raizen frowned.
"You still can't identify it?"
Insufficient information.
Recommendation: Avoid contact.
That single sentence made his heart sink.
Until now...
The Origin System had always been able to analyze everything they encountered.
This was the first creature beyond even its current understanding.
"We should head back."
Raizen said.
"We already have two Beast Cores."
"The assessment isn't worth risking our lives."
Jin Wu immediately agreed.
"I've been wanting to hear those words all day."
Su Ziling glanced toward the forest's center one last time before nodding.
"Let's leave."
The trio changed direction.
Instead of venturing deeper...
They began making their way toward the forest's outer region.
The atmosphere gradually lightened.
The sounds of insects slowly returned.
For a moment...
It almost felt as though the danger had passed.
Snap.
Raizen abruptly stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
"Did you hear that?"
Jin Wu looked around.
"Hear what?"
Another snap echoed from behind them.
This time...
Su Ziling heard it too.
"Someone's following us."
The three instinctively stood back-to-back.
Silence.
Nothing moved.
Only swaying branches greeted them.
"Come out."
Raizen said calmly.
"If you've been following us..."
"There's no point hiding anymore."
Several seconds passed.
Then...
A figure stepped out from behind a massive pine tree.
It was another disciple of the Rizz Clan.
His clothes were torn.
Blood covered one arm.
His face was deathly pale.
"Help..."
He staggered forward before collapsing onto his knees.
Raizen immediately rushed over.
"What happened?"
The young disciple trembled violently.
"There..."
"They're all dead..."
Jin Wu's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
"My team..."
"They were..."
Before he could finish...
His eyes widened in terror.
He looked behind Raizen.
"RUN!"
A massive shadow crashed through the trees.
BOOM!
Splintered wood exploded into the air.
A creature nearly four meters tall emerged from the forest.
Its body resembled a gigantic black bear.
Crimson veins pulsed beneath its dark fur.
Its claws were as long as swords.
Its blood-red eyes radiated madness.
Most terrifying of all...
Black mist continuously seeped from its body.
Jin Wu's face turned white.
"A... Black Iron Bear?"
Su Ziling slowly shook her head.
"No..."
"It shouldn't look like that."
Appraisal Activated.
Black Iron Bear
Status: Corrupted
Realm: Late Spirit Beast
Warning:
Corruption source unknown.
Host victory probability: 9%.
Nine percent.
Raizen's breathing became heavy.
They couldn't win.
Not like this.
The corrupted bear roared.
ROOOOOOAR!!
The shockwave alone sent leaves flying in every direction.
The injured disciple covered his ears and screamed.
Before anyone could react...
The bear moved.
Its enormous body crossed the distance in an instant.
"So fast!"
Raizen shouted.
"Dodge!"
The giant claw slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth exploded.
The injured disciple wasn't fast enough.
His scream echoed through the forest.
Blood splashed across the shattered ground.
Silence followed.
Jin Wu froze.
His spear slipped from his trembling fingers.
"He..."
"He..."
Su Ziling clenched her sword until her knuckles turned white.
Raizen stared at the crimson stain on the earth.
The disciple...
Was gone.
Rage flickered inside him.
But reason quickly extinguished it.
If they fought...
They would die.
"Run!"
He shouted.
"NOW!"
The three turned and sprinted through the forest.
Behind them...
The corrupted bear let out another deafening roar.
It wasn't hunting.
It was playing.
Branches whipped across their faces.
Roots threatened to trip them.
Yet none of them slowed down.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Each step of the gigantic beast shook the forest.
It was gaining on them.
Jin Wu gasped for breath.
"I..."
"...can't..."
Before he could finish...
His foot caught on an exposed root.
He crashed hard onto the ground.
"Jin Wu!"
Raizen immediately turned back.
The corrupted bear raised one enormous claw.
Its shadow engulfed Jin Wu.
There wasn't enough time.
Without hesitation...
Raizen threw himself forward.
He shoved Jin Wu aside.
BOOM!
The claw struck the earth where Jin Wu had been only an instant earlier.
The impact hurled Raizen through the air.
He slammed violently against a tree.
Crack!
The trunk splintered.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His vision blurred.
Everything hurt.
Host has sustained moderate internal injuries.
Raizen forced himself back to his feet.
His legs trembled.
His sword shook in his hand.
Even so...
He stood between the corrupted bear and his friends.
Jin Wu stared at him in disbelief.
"Raizen..."
"Why?"
Raizen wiped the blood from his lips.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Because..."
"We're teammates."
The corrupted bear lowered its head.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Raizen.
Then...
It charged.
Far beneath Black Pine Forest...
The ancient chained creature slowly opened both eyes.
A deep rumble echoed through the underground cavern.
"...At last..."
"...the true trial begins."
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