Warning: Guys, this novel is a continuation of my first novel, "Cosmic Conqueror's Return: Act I." New readers are welcome, but first, you must read the first novel to understand the story. Now enjoy!
With a sudden, thunderous SNAP, the very fabric of space seemed to tear apart. It was a sound like the cracking of old parchment stretched too thin, sharp and electric, ripping through the stillness of the forest.
Above the trees, the air shimmered and twisted, bending like heat waves on a summer's day. Then, almost as if reality itself was peeling back, a jagged portal flickered into existence. It hissed softly, a fierce energy radiating from its edges like a storm held just beneath the surface.
The trees around the portal shivered, their leaves trembling in a wind that wasn't quite there. Branches arched away instinctively, as if trying to escape the strange power that had suddenly invaded their quiet home.
Sparks of light crackled in the air, tiny flashes of raw Qi that danced like restless fireflies, swirling unpredictably in the glowing crack.
Then, without warning---
Shen Hao burst out of the portal.
He flew through the air, twisted upside down, limbs flailing in an uncontrolled spin. His robes flapped wildly, catching the wind as he tumbled head over heels like a leaf caught in a sudden gust.
A startled yell broke free from his lips, loud and sharp—
"W-W-WAAAAHHHH---!"
His face was the first to meet the world again.
CRACK!
A thick tree branch struck him square in the face with a brutal, bone-jarring smack.
The impact rattled his senses.
"HNNGH---"
He bounced off the branch, momentum carrying him sideways, arms flailing for something to grab.
Another branch loomed—his back collided with it, hard enough to send a jolt through his spine.
THUMP!
He crashed through a thick tangle of bushes, branches clawing at his robes and skin. Leaves whispered and crackled as he passed.
SMACK!
His body slammed against a glowing stone, rough and cool beneath his ribs.
SLIDE…
He slid down a gentle slope covered in moss, the soft green cushioning his fall.
He landed flat on his back, breath knocked from his lungs.
For a long moment, he lay still.
Around him, the forest seemed to hold its breath.
Above, a single leaf drifted slowly down from the canopy.
It twirled gently in the soft breeze, spinning lazily like a dancer on an invisible stage.
The leaf floated down, spinning, spinning---
---and then landed softly.
Right into Shen Hao's open mouth.
He startled, mouth snapping shut, then---
PTOO.
He spat it out quickly, blinking up at the patchwork of sky glimpsed through the leaves.
"Okay." He muttered, voice rough from the fall. "Portal travel? Overrated."
A familiar voice echoed from the silver ring on his finger, carrying a teasing edge that lightened the moment.
Lingfeng:
"Well, I did suggest aiming feet-first. But nooo, you had to dive through space like a somersaulting squirrel."
Shen Hao pushed himself up, grimacing as dirt and bits of leaf fell from his face and robes.
"Don't start," he warned, rubbing the ache from his jaw.
Lingfeng:
"Too late. I'm already compiling a list: Shen Hao's Greatest Faceplants. Volume four is officially in the books."
Before Shen Hao could reply, another voice, calm and steady, slipped into his mind.
Mo Han:
"Focus. The forest won't wait while you catch your breath."
Shen Hao sighed deeply, pushing off the earth with steady hands and rising to his feet.
His robes were torn and rumpled, marked with dirt and scratches from the journey. His hair stood in wild tufts, as if styled by a tempest itself.
And his pride? Somewhere back at the glowing rock he'd headbutted moments ago.
"Understood," he muttered, voice low and serious. "No slacking."
He tapped a small button on his wristband.
A soft blue light blossomed above his palm---a holographic map, shimmering with faint edges of Qi.
His current position blinked at the edge of a vast forest zone, dense and unbroken.
Across the map, a green marker pulsed steadily---his destination.
Shen Hao squinted through the soft morning light filtering through the trees.
"...That's the city?"
Lingfeng:
"Yep. About seventy kilometers through jungle. No roads. High humidity. And probably snakes."
Shen Hao gazed into the shadowed forest beyond the clearing.
Then at the map.
Then back at the thick green wall of trees.
A long, slow sigh escaped him, quiet but heavy.
"Perfect," he said, voice low, "Jungle cardio."
He took a slow, steady step forward---
---and then froze.
Shen Hao's body stiffened like a drawn bowstring, every muscle tightening with alertness. His senses sharpened, Qi awakening deep within him as if responding to a silent alarm.
The wind, once soft and playful, fell suddenly still. The leaves that had danced moments before now hung motionless on their branches, as if waiting, watching.
The forest seemed to pause, holding its breath in a suspended moment between heartbeats.
A faint, low rumble began to ripple through the earth beneath Shen Hao's boots. It was barely audible at first, like distant thunder rolling on a far horizon. But gradually it grew louder, steadier.
The ground itself began to tremble with subtle vibrations, vibrations that shook loose tiny twigs and scattered dry leaves beneath his feet.
Birds, startled by the strange stillness and sudden sound, burst from the trees in a sudden flutter of wings. Their cries were sharp but brief, then vanished quickly into the thick canopy overhead.
Shen Hao turned slowly toward the source of the growing noise.
His sharp eyes caught the trembling of smaller branches ahead, a cracking sound, brittle and quick. It was a warning, a sign that something heavy was moving.
Then the forest exploded into motion.
With a violent CRASH, a massive creature burst from the underbrush.
It was enormous.
Its body was coated in thick plates of dark, obsidian-like armor, overlapping like the shingles of an ancient fortress. The heavy slabs glinted faintly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.
Each step it took thudded with the weight of a collapsing mountain. The ground quaked beneath its massive claws, roots snapping and soil churning in its wake.
Two sharp, curved fangs jutted menacingly from its lower jaw, glinting like polished blades. Its yellow eyes burned with a fierce, hungry light as they locked onto Shen Hao.
The creature emitted a low, guttural growl, a sound like grinding metal, heavy and threatening.
Lingfeng (dryly, from the ring):
"Ah. A walking fortress with teeth. What a warm welcome."
Shen Hao studied the beast carefully.
"Beginning Realm… Level Eight?" he muttered, assessing the creature's strength.
The beast's growl deepened and sharpened.
Mo Han (calm, in Shen Hao's mind):
"Do not rush. Its Qi plating is thick, but there are gaps. Under the back armor. Observe. Then strike."
Shen Hao exhaled, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders.
Suddenly, the beast roared, a deafening, soul-shaking roar that sent a shockwave rippling through the clearing.
Two small trees snapped under the force, their trunks splintering like matchsticks.
Leaves exploded outward in a whirlwind of dust and debris, scattering like startled birds.
The beast charged forward with terrifying speed and power.
Shen Hao's body reacted without thought.
He dashed to the side, feet flashing with Qi that surged like lightning beneath his skin.
The creature's claws slammed down in a deadly strike where he had just stood moments before.
The impact shattered the earth, a deep crack splitting the soil wide.
Lingfeng:
"Good news: it missed. Bad news: I think the ground is mad at you now."
Shen Hao barely spared the ground a glance.
"Noted," he muttered, already moving.
He circled the beast swiftly, his eyes sharp and unblinking, searching for weaknesses in the dark armor.
Despite its size, the creature was surprisingly agile, turning with grace that belied its weight.
Its armor caught the sunlight, gleaming like liquid night.
Mo Han:
"Strike now. Focus Qi in your right palm. Use the First Form."
Shen Hao's fingers curled slowly.
Crimson Qi began to gather and swirl around his hand, coalescing into a dense spiral of energy.
Soft flames bloomed like petals unfolding in slow motion, delicate but crackling with lethal heat.
He shaped the Qi carefully, forming a glowing, burning rose.
His voice was low and steady.
"Crimson Core Detonation: First Form---"
His foot planted firmly against the earth.
"Ember Bloom!"
He hurled the fiery rose forward.
The burning blossom spun through the air like a comet trailing fire.
BOOM!
The explosion bloomed against the beast's left shoulder, sending sparks and stone fragments flying.
The creature howled, stumbling with a heavy wobble.
Smoke curled from the cracked armor.
Shen Hao cracked his knuckles, ready.
"One hit."
The beast snarled fiercely, smoke curling from the scorched armor like a wounded beast's breath. Its yellow eyes flashed with anger, burning hotter than before.
Despite the blow, it was far from defeated.
With a sudden, ferocious roar, it lunged forward again, this time aiming its massive jaws straight at Shen Hao.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa---!" Shen Hao shouted, twisting mid-air to dodge.
The beast's teeth snapped shut just inches from his side, the sound ringing like a hammer striking iron.
Lingfeng (teasing):
"You almost became jungle soup."
Shen Hao landed nimbly, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I'm allergic to being chewed," he shot back.
Before he could steady himself, the beast lashed out with its tail, a thick, powerful club that swept through the air with brutal force.
WHAM!
Shen Hao crossed his arms just in time to absorb the impact.
The blow sent him flying backward like a stone skimming across water.
He tumbled across moss and dirt, sliding nearly ten meters before flipping upright.
He winced, rubbing a sore shoulder.
"This thing hits like a wagon full of bricks."
Mo Han (calm):
"Then stop standing still."
Shen Hao nodded, grim determination setting in.
"Right. Less talking, more flaming roses."
He lifted his hand again, Qi gathering faster now.
The beast, though wounded, charged once more, this time slower, limping slightly but eyes blazing with fury.
Shen Hao formed another crimson rose, petals glowing fiercely in the dim forest light.
"Second shot."
He threw the ember bloom without hesitation.
BOOM!
The explosion struck the beast's ribs, sending a shockwave through the clearing.
Smoke and debris rose like a curtain, masking the beast's stagger.
It let out a furious howl and struggled to regain balance.
Without wasting a moment, Shen Hao dashed under its massive belly, using a burst of Qi from his feet to spring upward.
Mid-air, he shaped a third flaming rose.
He brought it down sharply---
"Third one!"
KRA-BOOM!
The blast hit squarely between the beast's shoulder blades.
It screamed in pain and lurching forward, its armor cracking under the assault.
Its breaths came ragged now.
Its movements slowed, losing the precision and strength it had moments before.
Lingfeng (hovering above, urgent):
"Finish it now, before it starts healing!"
Shen Hao landed softly, crouching low.
Qi gathered once more in his palm, warm and pulsing.
One final strike---
But something stopped him.
A sudden shift in the atmosphere.
A second presence entered the clearing, not with noise or fury, but with a quiet, crushing pressure.
The forest seemed to tense again, as if all life was holding its breath.
Smoke from the explosions twisted, pulled slightly toward an unseen force behind the trees.
Shen Hao's muscles tightened.
The hairs on his arms rose on end.
The trees ahead began to part slowly.
No roar. No crash.
Just deliberate, silent movement.
A second creature stepped into the clearing.
Taller.
Leaner.
More graceful.
Its body shimmered with dark purple scales pulsing softly with Qi, veins glowing faintly like a heartbeat made of energy.
It had six limbs, each moving with eerie precision.
Its eyes, narrow and calculating, locked onto Shen Hao, not just seeing, but measuring him.
Lingfeng (low voice):
"…That one's thinking. I don't like when things with fangs do that."
The new creature's gaze flicked to the wounded beast still struggling nearby.
Then back to Shen Hao.
It moved with calm, deadly grace to stand beside its ally.
And stopped.
Silence fell.
The air thickened with pressure as its aura fully expanded.
Mo Han (quiet in Shen Hao's mind):
"Beginning Realm Level Eight. Peak stage. Stronger than the first. Faster, too."
Shen Hao said nothing.
His stance lowered, Qi gathering slowly but steadily in his palm.
His thoughts sharpened to a razor's edge.
Lingfeng (still cautious):
"Master… this might not be the best time for jokes."
Shen Hao (soft smile):
"Too late. The jokes keep me from sprinting."
He cracked his neck once.
Then smirked.
"I've still got two roses left… and a few bad ideas."
The second beast remained perfectly still, its many limbs poised like a coiled spring. It watched Shen Hao with those sharp, intelligent eyes, weighing every move, every breath.
The first creature, battered but fierce, growled low and rumbled beside its companion. Its heavy armor still smoked from the recent blasts, but its spirit remained unbroken.
Shen Hao's fingers tightened around the Qi gathering in his palm. Fire flickered softly, casting faint shadows across his face. Every muscle was tense, ready.
The forest seemed to hold its breath with him.
The air was thick, heavy with the scent of earth, smoke, and danger.
Lingfeng's voice echoed softly in his mind, a dry note of caution.
"Master… this isn't just a fight. It's a test. Every move counts."
Shen Hao nodded silently, eyes narrowing. His mind flicked through possibilities, attacks, defenses, evasions, the dance of survival.
Then, like lightning splitting the sky, the beasts charged together.
The first, still limping but furious, smashed forward with brute strength.
The second moved with fluid grace, limbs slicing through the air in a deadly rhythm.
Shen Hao dropped into a low stance, Qi surging around him like a shield of glowing embers.
He met their charge head-on.