Ling Tian and Xiao Ning'er moved quickly through the dense forest, their steps silent as shadows, hearts still pounding from the narrow escape. They had no time to rest—no time to recover fully. The masked figure was still out there, and the question of who they were gnawed at Ling Tian like an itch he couldn't scratch.
The deeper they traveled into the forest, the more the air seemed to thrum with an oppressive energy—something ancient and dark. Ling Tian could feel it settling in the pit of his stomach.
"There," Xiao Ning'er said suddenly, pointing to a break in the trees.
Ling Tian's eyes narrowed, and he followed her gaze. In the distance, the remnants of an old temple stood—its stone pillars cracked, ancient runes faintly glowing with a dark light.
"We need to check it out," he said quietly.
They approached the temple cautiously, the silence pressing in around them. As they crossed the threshold, the oppressive feeling grew stronger—almost suffocating. The air was thick with old magic, and Ling Tian's instincts screamed that they were walking straight into danger.
The inside of the temple was a labyrinth of corridors, and at the heart of it, they found a large chamber, dominated by a black stone altar. Symbols carved into the walls pulsed with an eerie glow.
Xiao Ning'er's hand tightened around her spear, her eyes scanning the room. "This place... it's not just ancient magic. It's... dark."
Ling Tian's mind raced as he studied the markings. This... this is no ordinary place.
A cold, familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
"You're persistent, Ling Tian."
They spun to face the source of the voice. From the shadows stepped the masked figure—tall, cloaked, and exuding an overwhelming aura of darkness. The mask was sleek, its surface reflecting the faint light of the temple with an unsettling gleam.
Ling Tian's breath caught. There was something about the figure that felt wrong. Not just in a physical sense, but in a deeper, visceral way.
"You," Ling Tian said, his voice filled with realization. "You're not just a Dark Guild leader..."
The masked figure tilted its head. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"
"You're one of them, aren't you? One of the Deity Ranked Beasts." Ling Tian's voice dropped to a low growl. "You're the power behind all this chaos."
The figure's laugh was low and rich with malice. "Very perceptive. But you are mistaken. I'm not just one of them... I was one of them."
Ling Tian's eyes widened. "What...?"
The figure stepped forward, the room seeming to darken with every movement. "You don't recognize me, do you, Ling Tian? I suppose that's to be expected... after all, I have changed... but I remember you. I remember you, brother."
Xiao Ning'er gasped, her grip on her spear tightening. "Brother?"
The figure laughed again, this time with a twisted, mocking edge. "Yes, Ling Tian. I was once a Deity Ranked Beast... until I was betrayed. Cast down. Left to rot. And now? Now I am reborn—stronger than ever."
Ling Tian's heart thudded painfully in his chest. This can't be happening. His mind scrambled for answers, but the words seemed to hang in the air like a weight.
"You... you are a Deity Ranked Beast?" Ling Tian whispered, his voice thick with disbelief. "But how?"
The figure's hand rose slowly, pulling back the hood. As it did, the mask began to crack, revealing a face—familiar, yet utterly unrecognizable.
The figure was once a man—his face scarred, aged, with unnatural markings on his skin. But what struck Ling Tian the most was the recognition in his eyes.
No... it can't be.
"You..." Ling Tian whispered, his voice barely audible. "It's you... Nie Li?"
The figure's grin widened, cold and wicked. "Yes. You finally remember. I am the very thing you failed to stop in your past life. I am your brother's nightmare."