NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: 19 The Ultimate Test
Shen Yuchen's heart pounded as he watched the monstrous figure loom closer, its presence filling the air with a heavy sense of impending doom. The massive creature, more terrifying than any enemy they'd faced, moved with terrifying precision and purpose. His instincts screamed at him to run, but there was no escape—not now. The battle was inevitable, and they would have to face it head-on.
Su Wan-ning stood beside him, her eyes wide with fear but her body poised with determination. She clenched her fists, her body tense, ready for whatever was to come. There was no time for hesitation. They had already been through too much together, and if they were to survive this, they had to rely on each other more than ever.
AIC-01, the strange and powerful version of Shen Yuchen, took a step forward, his twin blades flashing in the dim light of the underground lair. His gaze was steely and unwavering, but there was something in his eyes—something that spoke of a deeper, more complex connection between him and Shen Yuchen.
"You need to get out of here. This thing is more dangerous than anything we've faced," AIC-01 said in a voice that was both calm and urgent. "If it reaches us, we won't stand a chance."
Shen Yuchen met his twin's gaze, feeling an odd mixture of awe and confusion. He was still grappling with the realization that this was a version of him—an AI version from another world, from another timeline. Despite the eerie sense of familiarity, he had no choice but to trust him, if only because they shared the same face, the same essence.
"No," Shen Yuchen replied firmly, stepping up beside AIC-01. "I'm not running. We fight together."
Su Wan-ning gave him a startled look, but she quickly nodded in agreement. "I'm with you. We're not leaving anyone behind."
AIC-01 hesitated, his steely gaze flickering between the two of them. For a moment, it seemed as if he might argue, but then he gave a short, clipped nod. "Very well. But stay close, and don't do anything foolish."
With that, AIC-01 advanced toward the creature, the blades in his hands gleaming with lethal intent. Shen Yuchen and Su Wan-ning followed, their every step deliberate, their senses heightened. The creature in front of them was a nightmare come to life, its hulking form shifting unnaturally as it moved, its eyes glowing with malice. Every step it took reverberated through the ground, shaking the very walls of the underground tunnel.
It was faster than they had expected. In the blink of an eye, the creature lunged toward them with horrifying speed, its enormous clawed hands reaching out to crush them. AIC-01 was the first to react, his twin blades flashing as he met the creature's monstrous limbs, sparks flying as metal clashed with scale. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and the sheer force of it nearly knocked Shen Yuchen off his feet.
"Stay focused!" AIC-01 barked, his voice filled with urgency. "This thing doesn't fight like anything we've faced before. We need to use our minds, not just our strength."
Shen Yuchen nodded, shaking off the disorientation from the blast. He had no time to question AIC-01's words—he had to act, and he had to act fast. He glanced at Su Wan-ning, who was already preparing to move. Her eyes were locked on the creature, her determination shining through. Shen Yuchen knew that he wasn't just fighting for his own life anymore. He was fighting for hers, and for a future they hadn't yet fully discovered.
Together, they darted forward, flanking the creature. Shen Yuchen dodged its swiping claws and leaped onto a nearby pillar, using the vantage point to assess their opponent. The creature was powerful, but its movements were not entirely unpredictable. It relied on brute strength, but lacked agility—if they could exploit that weakness, they might stand a chance.
"Su Wan-ning, aim for its legs!" Shen Yuchen shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "It's strong up top, but if we take out its legs, we can limit its movement!"
Su Wan-ning nodded, immediately following his lead. She sprinted toward the creature's side, using the environment around them to shield herself from its attacks. Meanwhile, AIC-01 continued to engage the creature head-on, his twin blades dancing in the air, blocking every strike and retaliating with lethal precision.
Shen Yuchen's heart raced as he leaped from pillar to pillar, making his way closer to the creature's legs. With each movement, his confidence grew. This was what he had trained for—this was the fight that would prove whether he could truly live up to the legacy of the man who had become an AI.
The creature roared in frustration as Su Wan-ning managed to land a direct hit to its leg, causing it to stagger slightly. Shen Yuchen saw his opening and dove, using every ounce of his strength to plunge a makeshift spear he had found into the creature's leg joint. The creature let out a deafening scream, its massive body shuddering from the impact.
For a brief moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. But the creature was far from finished. With a terrifying growl, it spun around, swatting at them with its enormous claws. Shen Yuchen barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side just in time.
"Get ready!" AIC-01's voice rang out as he moved to engage the creature once more, this time with an even more deadly force than before. "It's not done yet. It's about to enter a new phase!"
Just as AIC-01 predicted, the creature's form began to shift. Its glowing eyes flickered with an unnatural light, and its massive body started to grow even larger. Shen Yuchen's stomach twisted with unease. This wasn't just a monster—it was something more, something much more dangerous.
"Shen Yuchen, it's adapting!" Su Wan-ning yelled, her voice filled with panic. "We need to end this now, or it'll get stronger!"
Shen Yuchen's mind raced as he searched for a solution. They couldn't keep fighting like this—they needed to outsmart it, find its weak spot, and strike decisively. A glance at AIC-01 revealed that the AI version of himself seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
"Stay together!" AIC-01 commanded. "We'll target its core. There's a vulnerability in its chest. If we can hit it hard enough, we might be able to destroy it!"
The three of them formed a tight circle, each of them watching the others' backs. Shen Yuchen felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, the pressure to succeed. He wasn't just fighting for his survival. He was fighting for Su Wan-ning, for AIC-01, and for the future he had yet to fully understand.
With synchronized precision, they launched their final assault. AIC-01 leaped into the air, twin blades raised, while Shen Yuchen and Su Wan-ning flanked the creature, striking at its chest. The creature howled in rage, but this time, its defenses were no match for the coordinated attack. The blow struck home, and the creature's form began to disintegrate, its monstrous body crumbling into dust before their eyes.
As the creature's form faded, a strange silence fell over the battlefield. Shen Yuchen collapsed to his knees, exhaustion flooding his body. His breathing was ragged, his body aching from the intense battle. But despite the pain, there was a sense of triumph, of victory. They had won.
Su Wan-ning collapsed beside him, her body trembling. "That... that was too close..."
AIC-01 stood nearby, his twin blades dripping with the creature's remnants. His gaze softened as he watched the two of them, a rare moment of emotion crossing his usually cold features.
"You did well," he said, his voice a low murmur. "But this is far from over."
Shen Yuchen raised an eyebrow, his body sore but his mind alert. "What do you mean?"
AIC-01 turned to face him, his expression serious. "The creature was only a part of something much bigger. We've barely scratched the surface of what's coming."
The tension in the air thickened, and Shen Yuchen realized that this battle was only the beginning of a much larger war. Their journey was far from over.