Chapter 38: Chaos Hunters

Feng Lin lay on the forest floor, staring up at the sky as his chest heaved with labored breaths. The encounter with Tsang, the Keeper of Chaos, had drained him more than he expected. His body ached, and his thoughts swirled with questions—chiefly about the figure who had effortlessly dismissed Tsang. The chaos surrounding him was growing denser, and more unpredictable.

[System Notification: Qi Energy Restored: 1,500/9,000]

The system worked to replenish his energy, but it wasn't enough. He was running on fumes, and the strain of Chaos Overdrive had pushed him to his limit. He needed to find a better way to control his chaotic powers, or his next fight might be his last.

Suddenly, he heard the rustle of leaves nearby. Feng Lin's hand instinctively reached for his Chaos Rune Sword, ready to strike, but then a voice, familiar yet cautious, called out from the shadows.

"You're alive… for now."

Yan Mei stepped out from behind a tree, her face half-hidden in the dim light of the forest. She didn't approach too closely, as if sensing the volatile energy still lingering around Feng Lin.

"Yan Mei," Feng Lin muttered, half in relief, half in frustration. He hadn't wanted anyone else involved in his journey of chaos. "What are you doing here?"

She crossed her arms, keeping a safe distance. "I was passing through when I felt something strange—a huge burst of energy. I figured it had something to do with you. I see I wasn't wrong."

Feng Lin pushed himself into a sitting position, ignoring the soreness in his body. "It's nothing I can't handle."

Yan Mei raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "If that's what you call 'handling it,' you look like you were seconds away from being crushed."

Feng Lin chuckled lightly, though his exhaustion weighed heavily on him. "What brings you here, really? You've never been the type to chase after 'strange bursts of energy.'"

She hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Just a feeling. And it seems I was right to follow it."

Feng Lin didn't push the matter further. Yan Mei had her reasons for showing up, but now wasn't the time to dig into her motivations. Instead, he stood slowly, gathering his strength as he did.

[System Notification: Chaos Surge Detected – Stabilizing…]

Feng Lin felt the familiar thrum of chaotic energy shifting within him, but this time, it was calmer, more controlled. The system had begun stabilizing the chaos after his overuse of Chaos Overdrive, but it was a reminder that he still had a long way to go before he could fully master it.

Yan Mei watched him carefully, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You've been different lately."

"Different how?"

"Your energy… it feels off. Strong, but unstable. You've been messing with something dangerous."

Feng Lin stiffened but didn't respond. He couldn't tell her about the chaos energy or the system—it wasn't her burden to bear, and he wasn't ready to involve anyone else in his fight. Especially since he wasn't even sure what he was truly up against.

"It's nothing I can't handle," he said again, dismissing her concerns.

Yan Mei didn't seem convinced, but she let it slide. "If you say so. But if you're not careful, whatever you're toying with will destroy you."

Feng Lin exhaled, brushing the dust from his clothes. "Let's get out of here. Staying in one place too long isn't safe."

Without another word, the two of them moved through the thick forest, the towering trees casting long shadows over their path. The tension between them was palpable, but Feng Lin's mind was elsewhere. The system's notification about unlocking the Chaos Nexus played on his thoughts like an unanswered question.

[System Notification: Quest Updated – Chaos Nexus Unlocked]

The Chaos Nexus. A hidden dimension tied to the core of chaos energy. It was a realm where he could grow stronger—at great risk. The system had said it required the Chaos Seed he had obtained from the trial. The rewards were clear, but the dangers were equally immense.

As they walked deeper into the woods, Feng Lin sensed a shift in the air. His Perception skill alerted him to faint disturbances in the surroundings—subtle movements that felt off. He slowed his pace, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword.

Yan Mei noticed his change in posture and tightened her grip on her own weapon. "What is it?"

Feng Lin didn't answer right away, focusing on the growing sense of danger. The forest was too quiet. Too still.

Suddenly, three figures emerged from the shadows of the trees, their dark cloaks blending into the forest's eerie gloom. Their faces were hidden, but Feng Lin could feel the oppressive chaos energy emanating from them. It was suffocating.

Yan Mei tensed, instinctively stepping closer to Feng Lin, though she had no idea of the chaotic forces at play.

"Who are they?" she whispered.

Feng Lin's grip tightened around the Chaos Rune Sword. "Trouble."

The cloaked figures advanced in sync, their steps unnervingly silent. Feng Lin didn't recognize them, but their chaotic energy was unmistakable. Whoever they were, they were hunting him, drawn to the chaos that surged within him.

[System Notification: Combat Initiated – Defeat the Chaos Hunters]

His mind raced. These weren't ordinary opponents. If they were tied to the chaos energy, then they were here for him. But the question was: who sent them? And why?

Without waiting for them to make the first move, Feng Lin activated Shadowstep, vanishing from his spot and reappearing behind the nearest figure. His sword moved in a fluid arc, aiming for the hunter's back. But to his surprise, the figure twisted at the last second, deflecting the blow with a swift, effortless motion.

Feng Lin gritted his teeth. These hunters weren't just using chaos energy—they were masters of it. And that made them even more dangerous.

Yan Mei charged at another figure, her blade flashing in the dim light. She had no idea what kind of enemy they were facing, but she fought without hesitation. Her strikes were precise, but the hunter dodged them with unnatural speed as if reading her every move.

The third hunter stepped forward, raising a hand crackling with dark energy. Feng Lin felt the chaotic force surge toward him, a blast of power aimed directly at his chest. He barely had time to react, raising his sword to block the attack.

The energy collided with his Chaos Rune Sword, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. Feng Lin was pushed back several feet, his arms trembling from the impact.

[System Notification: Chaos Resistance +5]

He exhaled, trying to steady his breath. These hunters were stronger than he expected, and their chaotic powers were a perfect counter to his own. But he couldn't afford to back down now.

Yan Mei struggled to keep up with the rapid movements of the hunters, her frustration growing as her attacks missed their mark. She had no idea of the full scope of the danger they were in.

"Feng Lin, we need to retreat!" she called out, her voice tense.

But retreat wasn't an option. Not anymore.