The hidden passage beneath the altar was narrow, barely wide enough for Lin Zhan and the mysterious man to squeeze through. The air was thick with a stifling, ancient energy, and the further they descended, the more it felt as if the very walls were pressing in on them. A faint, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through the stone, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within Lin Zhan’s bones.
Despite the discomfort, Lin Zhan’s mind raced. The trials had only just begun. He had fought off the dark creatures, but there was a deeper, more ominous force at play—something far older and more powerful than anything he had encountered before. The whispers had grown louder, an unholy chorus that threatened to drown him in despair.
“Stay focused,” the man’s voice came from behind him, steady and calm. “This is the trial of your inner self. The power of the Undead Monarch is not easily controlled. You will be tested in ways you do not expect.”
Lin Zhan nodded, though he couldn’t entirely suppress the unease building in his chest. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The temperature dropped with each step, and the air grew colder still. Finally, they reached the bottom of the passage, where the floor opened into a vast, cavernous chamber.
At the center of the room stood a towering stone pillar, adorned with carvings that pulsed with an unnatural, eerie light. The pillar was the source of the hum they had felt all along, and Lin Zhan could sense its immense power. He could feel it calling to him, as if beckoning him to approach, to claim what lay within.
“This is where the real test begins,” the man said quietly, his eyes flicking to the pillar. “You must face your greatest fears here, Lin Zhan. The pillar will bring your darkest thoughts to life, forcing you to confront the power inside you.”
Lin Zhan swallowed, his throat dry. The pillar felt like a living entity, its dark energy seeping into his mind. He could already feel the presence growing stronger, filling the chamber with an oppressive weight. The power of the Undead Monarch was stirring inside him, reacting to the pillar as if recognizing an old, familiar force.
As Lin Zhan stepped forward, a surge of energy coursed through him, his body vibrating with power. The chamber seemed to shift and warp around him, as though reality itself was breaking apart.
A voice, cold and hollow, echoed from the shadows. So, you have come, Lin Zhan…
Lin Zhan’s heart skipped a beat. The voice was ancient, filled with a chilling sense of inevitability. He couldn’t place it, but it felt as though it had existed long before him. The voice seemed to seep into his very soul, filling him with a creeping sense of dread.
You think you can control the power of the Undead Monarch? The voice sneered, dark and mocking. You are nothing but a puppet, a vessel to be filled with the power of death. You are weak—no different from the countless others who have come before you.
Lin Zhan’s breath hitched as shadows twisted around him, forming into spectral images of people he had known—his parents, his childhood friends—all distorted, their faces twisted in agony. The shadows whispered his name, accusing him, blaming him for everything that had gone wrong in his life.
“NO!” Lin Zhan shouted, shaking his head, trying to dispel the images, but they only grew stronger, more vivid.
The voice laughed, a deep, hollow sound that reverberated through his mind. You cannot escape, Lin Zhan. These are the truths you must face. These are the consequences of your power. The Undead Monarch will consume you, just as it has consumed all before you. There is no escaping it.
Lin Zhan fell to his knees, his mind racing. The weight of the voice’s words crushed him, but deep inside, he could feel a flicker of defiance. He couldn’t let it control him. Not now. Not when he had come this far.
With a trembling breath, Lin Zhan closed his eyes, focusing on the Qi inside him. He could feel the connection between himself and the power of the Undead Monarch, the dark energy flowing through his veins like fire. He wasn’t just a vessel—he was its master. He had the power to control it, to shape it.
Slowly, he reached out with his consciousness, pushing back against the dark presence that surrounded him. The whispers grew louder, but Lin Zhan forced them aside. The image of his parents, twisted and accusing, began to fade as he concentrated on his own strength.
You are nothing! the voice screamed, but Lin Zhan could hear the fear in it now. You cannot defeat me!
With a surge of willpower, Lin Zhan reached deep inside himself, tapping into the raw, untapped potential of the Qi. He could feel it swirling, condensing into a focused core of power. The dark energy of the Undead Monarch trembled in response, but Lin Zhan was no longer afraid.
“Enough!” he cried, standing up, his hands glowing with the concentrated Qi.
The shadows recoiled, dissipating into nothingness as Lin Zhan’s power flooded the room. The pillar at the center of the chamber cracked, its ominous light dimming as the dark energy was overwhelmed by his control. The voice faltered, and Lin Zhan’s body pulsed with the force of his victory.
“You are not my master,” he said, his voice steady and powerful. “I control this power. Not you.”
For a long moment, there was silence. Then, the voice, weak and trembling, replied. This is not the end, Lin Zhan. The trials are far from over. There are more forces at play here, forces beyond even your control. You may have won this battle, but the war is far from finished.
Lin Zhan’s heart pounded, but he stood firm. He had conquered his fear, his doubts, and the power of the Undead Monarch. He knew the journey ahead would be even more difficult, but he was ready. The voice of the darkness had no hold over him.
The pillar cracked one last time, and from its shattered core, a key materialized, glowing with a faint golden light.
“Take it,” the man said, his voice steady. “It’s your next step. The key will open the way forward.”
Lin Zhan took the key, feeling its weight in his hand. It was warm, as though it had been waiting for him all along.
The chamber around them began to shift, and the stone walls parted, revealing a narrow staircase leading upward. Lin Zhan took a deep breath, his resolve firm.
“I’m ready for whatever comes next,” he said, stepping toward the stairs. The trials were far from over, but Lin Zhan was no longer afraid. He was determined to uncover the truth—and to wield the power inside him as a force for his own destiny.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment