Multiple Personalities

The phantoms seemed like ghosts crawling out from an ancient abyss, wantonly drifting in the deep, dim passageway. Their forms twisted, sometimes stretching out like slender threads, sometimes curling up into blurry spheres, emitting strange sounds; akin to the whistling of wind through a worn-out bellows, or the low, mournful wails of ghosts, echoing continuously in the silent passage, sending chills down one's spine.

Lin Yue clung tightly to Shen Jingqi, her hands unconsciously gripping the corner of his clothes, her voice tinged with a slight tremor: "What are these phantoms? Will they attack us? They look so terrifying, what if they suddenly pounce on us and..." She dared not continue, her eyes filled with fear and unease.

Shen Jingqi furrowed his brow, his eyes revealing vigilance and calmness. He gripped his sword tightly, its blade glinting coldly in the faint light. He spoke in a low voice, "Don't panic yet, let's see what they intend to do. In an unknown place like this, any impulsive actions could bring danger, we must stay calm, observe clearly before making any decisions." His voice was steady and firm, like a mountain, giving Lin Yue a slight sense of security.

The phantoms did not attack as they feared. They continuously changed shapes in front of the two, sometimes forming strange symbols, sometimes transforming into vague scenes, seemingly conveying some mysterious message. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue widened their eyes, closely observing every change of the phantoms, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Suddenly, Shen Jingqi's eyes lit up, as if discovering an important clue. He said excitedly, "I understand now, these phantoms are guiding us. See the shapes they change into, it seems to suggest the path ahead. If we follow them, we might find a way out."

Lin Yue looked at the phantoms half-skeptically, then looked at Shen Jingqi, hesitated for a moment and said, "Can it really work? These phantoms are too bizarre, what if they are deceiving us, leading us to a more dangerous place?"

Shen Jingqi patted her shoulder comfortingly, "There's no other way now, instead of waiting here doing nothing, it's better to give it a try. Besides, I feel that these phantoms have no malice, they might just be trying to help us."

So, they cautiously followed the phantoms through the labyrinthine passageways. The passageway was filled with a stale, decaying odor, the walls flickering with eerie light, as if countless eyes were watching them from the darkness. With each step, their hearts jumped into their throats, fearing something dangerous would suddenly spring from some corner.

The phantoms floated left and right ahead, guiding them through one narrow passageway after another. Sometimes, when the passage suddenly forked, the phantoms would flicker a few times on the correct path, as if telling them where to go. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue stuck closely behind, their eyes not daring to leave the phantoms for a moment.

After a long and tense trek, they finally saw a glimmer of light ahead. The light grew brighter and brighter, like a beacon of hope in the darkness. They quickened their pace, rushing towards the light. When they exited the passageway, they found themselves in a vast circular space.

In the center of the space was a massive arena, built of black boulders, exuding a cold and solemn aura. A samurai in black armor stood on the arena, tall and mighty, his entire body wrapped tightly in heavy armor, with only a pair of cold, sharp eyes exposed. He held a massive longsword, the sword glimmered with a ghostly light, as if containing endless power. The samurai stood there quietly, like an immovable mountain, exuding a powerful aura that inspired awe.

"The final trial is to defeat me. Only by defeating me can you obtain the Divine Artifact." The samurai said coldly, his voice like cold steel, devoid of any emotion, echoing in the empty space, sending chills down one's spine.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, seeing determination and resolve in each other's eyes. Shen Jingqi took a deep breath and said, "Alright, let's go! We've come this far for the Divine Artifact, we must not retreat here."

They tightened their grip on their weapons, Shen Jingqi's sword trembled slightly, whether from nervousness or excitement; Lin Yue clutched a dagger firmly, her eyes revealing determination. They charged towards the samurai, their footsteps echoing in the silent space, like the beat of a battle drum.

The samurai let out a loud shout, his voice like thunder, exploding in the space. He swung his sword at them, his sword techniques incredibly sharp, each strike carrying immense power, seemingly able to tear the air apart. The sword wind roared, making their hair and clothes flutter noisily.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue cautiously dodged the samurai's attacks, their bodies like agile swallows, darting through the shadows of the sword. Shen Jingqi dodged while searching for an opportunity to counterattack, his eyes fixed on the samurai's movements, not missing any detail. Lin Yue assisted him from the side, occasionally stabbing the samurai's legs with her dagger, trying to disrupt his attacks.

However, the samurai's strength far exceeded their imaginations. His swordsmanship was exquisite, each move well-balanced between offense and defense, making it difficult for them to find a flaw. The battle was fiercely intense, the arena sparkled with sword light, and the shouts of battle thundered. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue gradually felt their energy waning, their clothes soaked with sweat, their breathing becoming labored.

"This won't work, we're no match for him." Lin Yue panted, a hint of despair in her eyes.

Shen Jingqi gritted his teeth and said, "Hold on a bit longer, there must be a way. We can't just give up, the Divine Artifact is right in front of us, we can't let it slip away now."

But, the samurai grew more valiant as the battle went on, his attacks becoming more fierce, his sword techniques more sharp. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue's bodies gradually showed some wounds, their blood staining their clothes red. They felt their strength gradually draining, while the samurai seemed to have endless energy.

Just as they were on the verge of despair, Shen Jingqi suddenly remembered the mysterious force he had felt before in the box. That force had once appeared when he was in the most danger, giving him hope and courage. A thought struck him, and he said to Lin Yue, "Lin Yue, do you remember the force we felt in the box before? Let's concentrate and try to harness that force, maybe we can turn the tide."

Lin Yue's eyes lit up, she said, "Alright, let's try."

So, they concentrated once more, closing their eyes, trying hard to recall the sensation of that force they felt before. Their bodies trembled slightly, as if trying to establish a connection with that mysterious force. Gradually, they felt a warm current rising from the depths of their hearts, then quickly coursing through their bodies.

A powerful force surged into their bodies, their movements became more agile, their attacks more fierce. Shen Jingqi felt his body filled with power, as if he could easily lift a mountain. He let out a loud shout, swinging his sword towards the samurai, his sword techniques as swift as lightning, carrying a strong momentum.