Chapter 55: The Path to Shadows

The journey to the Forbidden Forest began under a sky shrouded in gray, the light of the sun muted as though the world itself mourned the darkness spreading across it. Xiao Tian, Yue'er, and Lian'er moved swiftly, their resolve unwavering despite the heavy burden of their mission. The map given by the cloaked figure pulsed faintly in Xiao Tian's hands, its strange symbols glowing whenever they strayed too far from the intended path.

"The Temple of Shadows," Yue'er murmured as she studied the map over Xiao Tian's shoulder. "It's deep within the Forbidden Forest. That place is a labyrinth of danger, and no one who has ventured there has ever returned."

"Then we'll be the first," Xiao Tian replied firmly. "We can't afford to hesitate. If this is where the first key lies, we have to face whatever waits for us there."

Lian'er walked a few steps ahead, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Her twin daggers gleamed in the faint light, ready to strike at a moment's notice. "The forest isn't just dangerous because of the beasts. It's said that the shadows themselves are alive, preying on the minds of intruders. We'll need to stay close and keep our wits about us."

As they ventured further, the terrain grew increasingly hostile. The air became damp and heavy, filled with the faint, metallic tang of decay. The trees were unnaturally tall, their twisted branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The path beneath their feet was uneven, and the ground seemed to shift slightly with each step, as if the forest was alive and breathing.

Yue'er shivered, her gaze darting toward the shadows that flickered at the edges of her vision. "Do you feel that? It's like... something's watching us."

Xiao Tian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay calm. Whatever's out there, we'll face it together."

The oppressive silence was broken only by the crunch of their footsteps on the forest floor. Every now and then, a distant rustle or faint whisper would reach their ears, but when they stopped to listen, the sound would vanish. The deeper they ventured, the more the forest seemed to close in around them, its shadows growing thicker and more oppressive.

Suddenly, Lian'er raised a hand, signaling them to stop. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "We're not alone."

From the darkness ahead, a low growl echoed through the trees, followed by the faint gleam of glowing red eyes. One by one, more pairs of eyes appeared, surrounding the trio in a wide circle. The creatures stepped into the faint light, revealing their monstrous forms—shadow hounds, their bodies composed of writhing black mist, their teeth glinting like shards of obsidian.

"They've found us," Yue'er breathed, gripping her staff tightly.

Xiao Tian unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming with a faint blue light as he infused it with his soul power. "Stay together. Don't let them separate us."

The shadow hounds moved as one, their movements unnervingly fluid as they darted forward. Xiao Tian met the first wave head-on, his sword slicing through the creatures with precision. Their bodies dissolved into mist upon contact, but more took their place, relentless and unyielding.

Yue'er chanted under her breath, summoning a barrier of light around the group. The hounds recoiled slightly, their growls intensifying as they circled the glowing shield. Lian'er took advantage of the momentary hesitation, leaping forward with her daggers flashing. She moved like a blur, her strikes precise and lethal, each attack reducing another hound to mist.

"These things just keep coming!" Yue'er shouted, her voice strained as she maintained the barrier.

Xiao Tian gritted his teeth, focusing his energy. "We need to find the source. They're being summoned from somewhere."

As if in response, the ground beneath them trembled, and a chilling laugh echoed through the forest. From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in black, their face obscured by a mask. In their hand, they held a twisted staff adorned with bones and glowing runes.

"Fools," the figure sneered, their voice dripping with malice. "You dare enter the Forbidden Forest? This place belongs to the Void."

Xiao Tian pointed his sword at the figure, his voice steady. "If you're the one summoning these creatures, then this ends now."

The figure laughed again, raising their staff. The shadow hounds snarled and lunged forward, their attacks more coordinated and ferocious than before. The trio fought back with everything they had, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.

"We can't keep this up," Lian'er called out, her movements slowing as exhaustion began to take its toll.

Yue'er's barrier flickered, the strain of maintaining it evident on her face. "There's too many of them!"

Xiao Tian's mind raced as he parried another attack. They needed to turn the tide of the battle, but how? His eyes fell on the masked figure, who was directing the hounds with their staff. If he could take them out, perhaps the creatures would vanish.

"Cover me," Xiao Tian shouted. "I'm going after the summoner!"

Lian'er and Yue'er nodded, redoubling their efforts to hold off the hounds as Xiao Tian charged forward. He dodged and weaved through the fray, his sword slicing through any creature that dared block his path. The summoner raised their staff, unleashing a wave of dark energy, but Xiao Tian countered with a burst of his own soul power, nullifying the attack.

In a flash, he closed the distance, his sword striking the summoner's staff. The impact sent a shockwave through the forest, and the summoner staggered backward, their grip on the staff faltering. Xiao Tian didn't hesitate, pressing the attack and disarming the figure with a swift strike.

The staff clattered to the ground, its glow fading. The shadow hounds froze in place before dissolving into mist, their forms dissipating into the air. The summoner fell to their knees, their mask cracking to reveal a young face twisted with fear and desperation.

"Please... don't kill me," they begged, their voice trembling.

Xiao Tian hesitated, his sword poised to strike. Yue'er and Lian'er approached cautiously, their weapons still at the ready.

"Who are you?" Yue'er demanded. "Why are you working for the Void?"

The summoner lowered their head, their voice barely audible. "I didn't have a choice. The Void promised me power... a way to protect myself. But it was a lie. I'm just a pawn, like everyone else."

Xiao Tian lowered his sword slightly, his expression hardening. "If you want to live, tell us everything you know about the Void and the Temple of Shadows."

The summoner looked up, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and gratitude. "I'll tell you everything. Just... spare me."

As the trio listened to the summoner's confession, the shadows of the Forbidden Forest seemed to retreat slightly, the oppressive darkness giving way to a faint glimmer of hope. They had survived another battle, but the path ahead was still shrouded in uncertainty.

The Temple of Shadows awaited, and with it, the answers they desperately sought.

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[End of Chapter 55]