The Hero

The first wave of creatures arrived just as the sun dipped below the horizon. They were humanoid, their twisted forms illuminated by the flickering light of torches.

Their glowing eyes and jagged claws sent shivers down Li Wei's spine.

"Hold the line!" Old Man Zhang shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Li Wei stood shoulder to shoulder with the other youths and elders, their weapons raised. The creatures lunged at them with terrifying speed, their claws slashing through the air.

Li Wei dodged a strike and thrust his spear into the chest of a Level 1 demonic human, its body convulsing before collapsing to the ground.

But for every creature they killed, two more seemed to take its place. The villagers fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered and outmatched.

The creatures' strength and coordination were overwhelming, and the defensive line began to crumble.

"Fall back!" Li Jian shouted, his voice hoarse. "To the shrine!"

The villagers retreated, their movements frantic as they tried to regroup. But as they reached the shrine, they realized the creatures had already surrounded them.

The tunnel was blocked, and there was no way out.

Despair washed over Li Wei as he realized they were trapped. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Li Mei, but she was nowhere to be found.

His heart ached with a mixture of fear and guilt. He had promised to protect her, and now she was gone.

Just as the creatures closed in, a deafening roar echoed through the village. Li Wei turned to see a figure emerging from the forest, his silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.

It was a young man, no older than himself, but his presence was commanding. In his hand, he held a jagged spearhead, its surface glistening with blood.

Behind him was Li Mei, her face pale but alive.

"Li Mei!" Li Wei shouted, his voice cracking with relief.

The young man stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination. Without a word, he charged at the creatures, his movements fluid and precise.

He moved like a shadow, dodging attacks with ease and striking with deadly accuracy.

Li Wei watched in awe as Wu Chen dispatched one creature after another. The Level 2 demonic humans fell like wheat before a scythe, their bodies collapsing to the ground in lifeless heaps. Even the Level 3 creatures, which had seemed invincible moments ago, were no match for him.

"Who is he?" Li Jian muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"He's... a hero," Li Mei whispered, her voice filled with reverence.

Wu Chen fought with a ferocity that reignited the villagers' hope. The youths and elders rallied behind him, their spirits lifted by his presence.

Together, they pushed back the creatures, their combined strength turning the tide of the battle.

But just as the last of the creatures fell, a low rumble shook the ground. Li Wei's heart sank as he turned to see a new horde emerging from the forest.

These creatures were larger, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. They were all Level 3, their power radiating like a suffocating wave.

The villagers froze, their hope evaporating as quickly as it had come.

Wu Chen stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute. He raised his spearhead, his gaze fixed on the approaching horde.

"Stay behind me," he said, his voice steady.

Li Wei and the others obeyed, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and admiration. They knew the battle was far from over, but with Wu Chen leading them, they felt a glimmer of hope.

As the horde closed in, Wu Chen stood tall, a lone figure against the darkness. The villagers watched in silence, their hearts pounding as they prepared for the fight of their lives.

The horde of Level 3 demonic creatures surged forward, their glowing eyes fixed on Wu Chen and the villagers.

The ground trembled under their weight, and the air grew heavy with their malevolent energy.

Wu Chen stood at the forefront, his spearhead gleaming in the moonlight, but even he felt the weight of the task ahead.

"This is too much", Wu Chen thought, his mind racing. "Even with my ability, I can't take on this many Level 3 creatures at once. I need to get stronger—fast."

His eyes darted to the fallen demonic creatures scattered across the village. Their cores were still intact, and he knew what he had to do.

Without hesitation, he activated his ability, absorbing the demonic cores one by one.

The villagers watched in stunned silence as a transparent black smoke rose from the corpses of the slain creatures, swirling around Wu Chen before being absorbed into his body.

Their eyes widened in amazement, but none of them understood what was happening.

"What... what is he doing?" Li Wei whispered, his voice trembling.

"I don't know," Old Man Zhang replied, his eyes narrowed in curiosity. "But it seems to be giving him strength."

Wu Chen felt the surge of energy as the cores were absorbed, his body growing stronger with each one. The familiar voice echoed in his mind:

[ Demonic Core Absorbed. ]

[ Power Level Increased: Mortal 2 Beginner. ]

Wu Chen's muscles tightened, his senses sharpening to an even greater degree. He could feel the power coursing through him, a raw, untamed force that filled him with confidence.

The horde was almost upon them now, their claws slashing through the air as they prepared to strike.

Wu Chen didn't wait. He charged forward, his movements faster and more precise than before.

The first creature lunged at him, its claws aimed at his throat. Wu Chen sidestepped with ease, his spearhead slicing through the creature's neck in one fluid motion.

The creature collapsed, its body twitching as black smoke rose from its corpse.

The villagers watched in awe as Wu Chen moved through the horde like a whirlwind, his every strike landing with deadly accuracy.

He was a blur of motion, his strength and speed far beyond anything they had ever seen.

"He's... unstoppable," Li Jian muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.