The sun dipped low behind the jagged mountains as Wang Lin stepped cautiously onto the worn path leading out from the secluded training grounds. The air was thick with the scent of pine and distant smoke from scattered villages, but beneath it all lay a current of unease. His new ability—the Abduction Path—throbbed faintly within him, a dormant power eager to be tested beyond the safety of his refuge.
He had barely taken three steps into the open world when a chilling whisper echoed through the trees. "Wang Lin."
The voice was soft, yet razor-sharp, slicing through the evening stillness. Wang Lin's heart quickened. It was the first time someone from the Temple had called him by name outside the shadows.
He turned sharply to see a figure stepping from the darkness, cloaked in flowing black robes embroidered with the Temple's emblem — a silver crescent entwined with thorned vines. The man's eyes glinted with cold calculation.
"So, the boy with the forbidden path ventures out," the man said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "You think you can hide forever from the Temple's gaze?"
Wang Lin's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "I'm not hiding. I'm preparing."
The man smirked. "Preparation won't save you. The Temple claims what it desires."
Without another word, the man's palm exploded with dark energy, forming a jagged black spear of shadow aimed straight at Wang Lin's chest.
Instinctively, Wang Lin's Abduction Path flared. Time seemed to slow as he reached out, his hand glowing faintly with a violet aura. The shadow spear began to distort and waver, pulled by an invisible force.
"Abduct!" Wang Lin muttered, channeling his power to siphon the spear's energy.
The spear shattered mid-air, fragments dissolving like mist. The man's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You… you stole my technique?" he gasped, momentarily stunned.
Wang Lin's eyes burned with determination. "I can absorb and refine anything. That includes you."
The man snarled and lunged forward, claws extending like razor blades. The forest around them erupted into chaos as the two clashed—steel against shadow, power against will.
Each strike from the Temple warrior was met with Wang Lin's quick reflexes and the subtle manipulation of his Abduction Path. With every absorbed attack, Wang Lin felt his strength grow, the power of the Temple warrior fueling his own.
But even as he gained ground, a seed of doubt gnawed at Wang Lin's mind—was he merely becoming a weapon shaped by the Temple's darkness? Could he master this power without losing himself?
Suddenly, a distant shout pierced the night. "Wang Lin! The sect… they're falling!"
The words hung heavy in the air. The rumor was true—the fallen sect was no longer a whisper but a terrifying reality close by.
Wang Lin locked eyes with his opponent, the battle momentarily forgotten. The world around them shifted, destiny pulling him toward an uncertain future where friends, foes, and ancient powers would collide.
With one final surge, Wang Lin unleashed a wave of stolen energy, forcing the Temple warrior to retreat into the shadows with a warning: "This is far from over."
Breathing heavily, Wang Lin stood alone beneath the darkening sky. The path ahead was more dangerous than ever—but now, he was ready to face it.