I stumbled through the dark, damp tunnel, the air thick with the smell of decay and the faint echo of my panicked breaths. The snarls and growls of the beasts faded into the distance, but the adrenaline coursing through me kept my heart racing. What had I gotten myself into?
Finally, I emerged on the other side, gasping for fresh air as I rolled out onto the ground.
The city loomed in front of me—dark, silent, and completely deserted. Not a single light flickered from the windows. No guards patrolled the gates. Nothing. My pulse quickened, a knot tightening in my stomach.
I wasn't afraid of many things. Hell, I just blew up half a forest full of monstrous creatures without blinking an eye. But this? A city with no life, no sound? This was giving me some serious paranormal vibes, and I didn't sign up to deal with ghosts or whatever nightmare scenario this might turn into.
I froze a few feet away from the gate. The only noise was the distant, fading sound of the beast wave behind me, crashing through the forest like a living storm. But here? Nothing. My heart pounded. My thoughts raced.
"Ghosts don't exist…ghosts don't exist…" I muttered, backing up slowly. "Fuck this."
Without thinking, I turned and bolted—right in the opposite direction of the city, away from the beast-infested forest, and toward the open plains stretching endlessly ahead. At least there weren't any creepy, empty cities that way. Just open land. Wide. Empty. maybe Safe.
I could feel my breath quicken as I ran, the pounding of my boots against the earth echoing in my ears. The wind whipped across my face as if trying to pull me back toward the city. But there was no way I was going back. Not when every instinct I had was screaming that the city was wrong. That something was lurking there, waiting for me.
"I'll take my chances with the beasts," I muttered through gasps of breath, glancing back at the city once more. Still empty. Still silent. "At least I know what they are."
The plains ahead stretched for miles, barren and desolate, but oddly comforting. No trees to hide in. No shadows to stalk me. It was just me and the wide-open space. For a while, I thought I was in the clear. No roars of approaching beasts. No haunted cities. Just my feet pounding the earth and the adrenaline pushing me forward.
But as the minutes passed, that sense of safety began to fade. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the world in a darkening twilight. My heart was still racing, my legs burning from the sprint, and in the back of my mind, a question echoed—where the hell was I going?
I stopped, gasping for breath, hands on my knees as I bent over, trying to calm myself down. There was nothing out here. I was running from the beasts and the creepy city, but I had no idea what lay ahead. No landmarks. No signs of life. Just… emptiness.
"Great job, Michael," I muttered between breaths, looking up at the empty plains ahead. "You're just gonna run until you hit… what? The edge of the world?"
I straightened up, scanning the horizon. Was this any better than the haunted city? I wasn't sure. At least back there, I had walls to hide behind. Now? I was out in the open, vulnerable, and completely alone.
Or so I thought.
A low growl echoed from somewhere in the distance, sending a shiver down my spine. My head whipped around, searching for the source of the noise. But there was nothing. Just the darkening sky and the cold wind brushing against the plains.
"Not again…" I muttered, stepping back, eyes wide as I looked around, feeling that creeping sensation that something—or someone—was watching me. My hands instinctively balled into fists, ready to summon a Qi blast if I needed to.
Another growl, closer this time.
"Okay, okay… Think, Michael. What now?"
I scanned the area, every instinct on high alert. The sound was getting closer, like the rhythmic thumping of paws against the earth. I could feel the adrenaline surging through me, urging me to run, but I knew that was a bad idea. If I turned and bolted without knowing what I was up against, I might just lead whatever was stalking me right to me.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, forcing my mind to clear. I needed to think like a cultivator, not a frightened rabbit. I have my powerful explosive skill, I can definitely fend off whatever was coming my way.
I focused, feeling the energy pulse through my veins. With each breath, I gathered the Qi, feeling it coil within me. The growl echoed again, this time louder, a primal sound that sent a chill through my spine. I was running out of time.
Suddenly, a massive shape emerged from the darkness—a hulking creature with glistening scales, its eyes glowing like fiery coals. It stepped into the fading light, revealing powerful limbs and jagged teeth that gleamed menacingly.
"Great, just what I needed," I muttered, my heart racing. "A freaking dragon-wolf hybrid."
It let out another growl, a low rumble that reverberated through the air, and I instinctively dropped into a combat stance. I had to act fast. With my heart pounding in my chest, I compressed Qi in my hands, ready to unleash a Tier 3 explosion.
Host is advised to keep track of q—
"Shut up system, I am busy now, talk later.."
"Let's see how you like this!" I shouted, throwing my hands forward, releasing the compressed energy in a blinding flash.
The explosion lit up the darkening sky, sending shockwaves through the ground. The creature staggered back, momentarily disoriented by the blast. I couldn't let up now. I charged forward, using the moment of surprise to my advantage, launching a series of quick attacks with my Qi bursts, each blast sending the creature tumbling back.
But the creature wasn't finished. It shook off the dust and let out a furious roar, charging back at me with terrifying speed. I had to think quickly. My earlier blasts had done some damage, but I knew I needed something more to stop it.
I felt the panic creeping back in, but I pushed it down. I needed to concentrate. I summoned all the Qi I could muster and focused it into a single, powerful blast—a Tier 4 explosion. It required a lot more energy, but if it hit, it would take out the beast for good.
"Come on, Michael. You got this!" I shouted, feeling the energy build within me.
Activation Failed
You do not have enough Qi.
Current Qi: 200/500.
"I totally forgot about this, fuck"
"Ahhh, I am soo fucked"