NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Emerald Shadows
As they stood in the cave, contemplating their next move, a darkness enveloped Lin like a cloak, swiftly pulling her away. Buck heard her muffled screams, panic rising in his chest. "Lin! No!" he shouted, desperation spilling from his lips as he ignited a brilliant flame over his glove. However, he could only see a dark creature whisking his beloved away into the depths of the cave. He dashed forward, heart racing, but a massive rock suddenly rolled out of the ground and blocked his path.
In a moment of urgency, he contemplated using his obliteration beam to shatter the rock, fully aware that it would drain his mana and leave him exposed to the darkness golem that had taken Lin. But before he could decide, the ground beneath him trembled violently. He felt it shift, the earth quaking as if it were alive. Suddenly, he began to sink, the solid ground transforming into a viscous fluid that enveloped his legs. "No! Not now!" he exclaimed, panic coursing through him as he struggled against the pull of the earth.
As he sank deeper, the ground solidified around him, encasing him up to his neck. The sensation was both terrifying and surreal, the weight of the earth pressing against him. Just as he felt despair creeping in, a formidable rock golem emerged from the shadows, towering over him, ready to attack. Behind him, an earth spirit materialized, her form a mesmerizing blend of stone and nature. Her skin resembled smooth polished jade, with veins of shimmering emerald running through it, and her hair flowed like cascading vines, adorned with delicate flowers. She exuded an aura of power, her eyes glowing with an ancient wisdom.
"Demi god, you die here today," she declared, her voice echoing ominously through the cave, as she charged forward, intent on striking him down. Buck's heart raced as he realized the gravity of his situation. He had to act fast.
In a moment of desperation, Buck summoned his ultimate move. His glove unleashed an explosive beam, detonating the area around him and freeing him from the earth's grasp. The earth spirit staggered slightly from the impact but remained steadfast, while the rock golem was hurled back, crashing against the cave wall and causing a mini tremor. As the earth spirit regained her composure, she beheld Buck standing defiantly, wings unfurled, prepared to counter both adversaries and eliminate them in an instant.
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The shadow spirit, disguised as Lin's shadow, had swiftly pulled her away, dragging her down a dark path. Despite her frantic attempts to kick and bite, it manifested dark tentacles that coiled around her, rendering her immobile. Desperately, she reached for her sheath, her fingers brushing against the handle of her katana. In an instant, the weapon flew from its sheath, slicing through the shadow spirit with precision, dissipating it into smoke that escaped with a piercing scream. Lin collapsed to the ground as the katana returned to its sheath, and she struggled to navigate her way through the enveloping darkness.
In the distance, a solitary lantern floated in mid-air, its glow beckoning her. As she trudged toward it, she realized she was wading through a lake that weighed heavily on her steps. The water gradually rose, reaching her neck, and in her struggle, she choked on the water, coughing violently as she fought to breathe. Yet her determination pushed her forward. Finally, she spotted the lantern being held by a water spirit, who sat peacefully on a raft, rowing through the murky depths. With a sudden burst of energy, Lin sprang onto the raft, seeking refuge from the water's chill. "You're late!" the spirit remarked, its humanoid form cloaked in a sea-blue hoodie, eyes fixed on the path ahead. Lin, still coughing and gasping for air, managed to reply, "I... I got caught... in the shadows..." her voice strained but resolute as she tried to regain her composure.
As Lin catches her breath, the water spirit glances over its shoulder, a playful smirk on its face. "You really thought you could escape that easily?" it teases, the lantern's glow illuminating the eerie surroundings.
Lin, still dripping from the lake, narrows her eyes. "What do you mean? I was fighting for my life!"
The spirit chuckles, its voice echoing softly like rippling water. "Life and death are just games to us. But you, dear Lin, you're caught in a web of your own making." It gestures toward the dark waters surrounding them. "Every choice you make pulls you deeper into this abyss."
Feeling the weight of its words, Lin clenches her fists. "I'm not afraid of the dark. I'll find my way back."
The water spirit raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that so? Then let's see if you can keep your head above water." It begins to paddle faster, the raft gliding over the surface, forcing Lin to hold on tightly as the darkness looms around them, threatening to pull her under once more.
As Lin steadied herself on the raft, the water spirit, a striking figure with blue skin, turned to her. "You're fortunate to have made it this far," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "I know better than to mess with the Demigods and semi-devils. They play a game you don't want to be part of." Lin furrowed her brow, curiosity piqued. "How do you know all this?" she asked. The spirit smiled knowingly. "I know all. The waters hold many secrets, and I am their keeper."
As they floated, the surface of the water began to ripple, revealing haunting images. Lin's heart sank as she recognized the spirits of dead hunters, their zombie-like forms rising from the depths. They reached out to her, their ghostly hands reminding her of her darkest past. "You're still a monster, Lin," one whispered, "a semi-devil who will never ascend to the ranks of Demigods. You depend on Buck's blood to survive, like a parasite clinging to its host, not as a lover but as a creature of darkness." The words echoed in her mind, each syllable a reminder of her struggles.
Before she could process her emotions, the spirits lunged forward, their hands grasping at her. Panic surged through her, but just as she felt herself being pulled under, the water spirit intervened. With a swift motion, he manipulated the water, severing the spirits' grips and dragging Lin back to the center of the raft. As the world around her blurred, she succumbed to unconsciousness, the weight of her past pressing down like the depths of the lake.