A chilling silence filled the air. Yan Xi opened his eyes to absolute darkness. It wasn't just the absence of light—it was a void, a place where even time seemed frozen. His breath came out in misty puffs, the air cold enough to pierce bone.
"Everyone, report!" Bai Xuan's voice echoed, steady but urgent.
"Here." Mo Ye's shadow form flickered.
"Alive." Ling Feng brushed dust off his robe.
"In one piece." Ren Yue, gripping her poison daggers, looked around warily.
"I... I can't sense Ling Yue." Yun Zhi's voice trembled slightly.
At those words, Yan Xi's eyes sharpened.
Ling Yue was missing.
But before they could react, the void around them shifted. Symbols of ancient lunar runes ignited, forming a path ahead. As the five warriors stepped forward, shadows peeled away, revealing a majestic yet eerie city.
Tall, obsidian towers loomed over them, their spires piercing a crimson moonlit sky. Chains hung from the heavens, rattling in the wind. The entire realm pulsed with power—dark, ancient, and unyielding.
"Welcome, outsiders."
A deep voice resonated from the mist. A figure emerged—a man draped in black robes, his eyes like burning silver. His aura was overwhelming, an oppressive force pressing against their souls.
"You have trespassed into the Realm of Eternal Night."
Yan Xi tightened his grip on his sword. "Where is Ling Yue?" His voice was low, dangerous.
The man chuckled, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
"She is where she was always meant to be—at the heart of this realm. And if you wish to reach her…
…you will have to survive first."
At his words, spectral warriors emerged from the shadows, their weapons gleaming under the blood moon.
The battle had begun.