~ Chapter 12 ~

Lin Yue's footing faltered as the jagged edge beneath her crumbled into the abyss.

The Jade Blade in her hand glowed brighter, casting erratic beams of light that illuminated the yawning chasm below. Her heart raced, but she refused to let fear consume her.

"Hold on!" Wei Han's voice cut through the chaos, his hand outstretched as he lunged toward her.

The beast growled fiercely, planting itself between Lin Yue and the shadowy figure.

Its golden eyes burned like embers, locking onto the enemy with a primal intensity. The air grew heavier, and Lin Yue felt the oppressive weight of the shadow's presence pressing down on her.

"She cannot hold the balance!" the shadow spat, its voice resonating like thunder. "She is unworthy of the blade, unworthy of her legacy!"

Lin Yue clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on the hilt of the blade.

The words stung, but they ignited something deep within her—a defiance that burned brighter than her fear.

She stepped back from the edge, her body trembling but her resolve hardening.

"Unworthy or not, I'm still here," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around her.

Wei Han pulled her to safer ground, but the chamber continued to quake.

The fractured mirror atop the altar pulsed with a strange energy, its surface rippling as though it were alive.

Lin Yue's reflection appeared within it, but it wasn't her.

The figure in the mirror stood tall and commanding, cloaked in flowing robes that shimmered like starlight, her eyes glowing with the same golden hue as the beast's.

"What… is this?" Lin Yue whispered, unable to look away.

"The mirror shows the truth of what you might become," Lady Zhen said, her voice tinged with something between awe and fear. "But whether that future is yours to claim… that depends on your choices."

The shadow laughed, the sound echoing like splintering glass. "That future is a lie! You are bound by blood and destiny, girl. But neither will save you from the darkness that awaits."

The chamber grew colder, the air sharp with the sting of frost.

The shadow extended a hand, and dark tendrils snaked through the air, reaching for Lin Yue.

The beast snarled and lunged, its massive form colliding with the shadow in a burst of golden and black energy.

"Lin Yue, focus!" Wei Han shouted. "The blade reacts to you—it's your power!"

Lin Yue's eyes darted to the Jade Blade, its light flickering in her trembling hands.

She closed her eyes, shutting out the chaos around her, and let the blade's hum guide her.

The sound wasn't just a vibration; it was a rhythm, a song that resonated with something deep within her.

She raised the blade high, its glow intensifying until it was blinding.

The tendrils recoiled, and the shadow let out a deafening roar.

The light surged outward, filling the chamber and driving the darkness back.

When the light faded, the shadow was gone, and the chamber was eerily silent.

The chasm remained, but the tremors had ceased. Lin Yue fell to her knees, the blade clattering to the ground beside her.

"Is it over?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Lady Zhen knelt beside her, her expression grim. "No. That was merely the beginning. The shadow was a guardian—one meant to test your resolve. You passed… but at a cost."

Lin Yue looked at her reflection in the mirror again.

The figure in the glass was gone, replaced by her own weary face.

But something about her eyes had changed—they seemed darker as if they had glimpsed a truth she wasn't yet ready to understand.

Wei Han sheathed his sword and approached them. "We need to leave this place before it collapses further. The sanctuary won't hold much longer."

Lady Zhen nodded, but her gaze lingered on the mirror. "Take it," she said.

Lin Yue blinked. "What?"

"The mirror," Lady Zhen said, her tone insistent. "Its truth is tied to your journey. It may reveal more as you grow stronger."

Lin Yue hesitated, but the moment her fingers touched the frame, the mirror shrank in size, folding into itself until it became a small, compact shard that fit in the palm of her hand.

She slipped it into her satchel, the weight of it pressing against her like an unspoken promise.

As they made their way out of the cave, the oppressive air began to lift, but Lin Yue couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.

The beast trotted beside her, its golden eyes scanning the shadows.

It nudged her hand gently, as if to reassure her, but the gesture only deepened her unease.

When they emerged into the pale light of dawn, Lin Yue turned to Wei Han. "What happens now?"

He looked at her, his expression grim. "Now, we prepare. The shadow was only a warning. Whatever comes next will be far worse."

Lady Zhen's gaze drifted to the horizon, her lips pressing into a thin line. "The darkness is stirring. The blade may have chosen you, but that doesn't mean you're ready. If you falter, Lin Yue, the consequences will be catastrophic—not just for you, but for everyone."

Lin Yue's heart sank, but she straightened her shoulders.

She had chosen this path, and there was no turning back now.

As they began their journey down the mountain, a low rumble echoed in the distance.

Lin Yue paused, her hand instinctively going to the blade at her side.

Far behind them, deep within the cave, a pair of molten eyes flickered back to life.

The shadow was not defeated—it was only waiting.

To be continued...