With Zane unconscious, swaying between Arthur and Elara, Kai led the way through another narrow, dark passage that the Ancient Soul Emblem had imprinted on his mind. The air grew colder and damper as they ventured deeper. The faint blue glow of the Crystal Dragon Hall's crystals gradually vanished behind them, replaced by absolute darkness and the steady drip of water.
"This path will lead us out of the cave, but into a more northern part of the swamp," Kai whispered, his voice holding a new, deeper resonance after absorbing the Emblem. "We need to move quickly before they discover us."
However, fate did not allow them an easy escape. The moment they stepped out of the cave entrance, a bone-chilling cold swept over them, not from the night itself. It was the presence of dozens of creatures surrounding them. The night fog outside the swamp was so thick it was almost impossible to see, but Kai's "Keen Senses" told him they were caught.
"Damn it!" Arthur roared. "They were waiting!"
From the darkness, cold, mocking voices echoed.
"Come out, little rats! Do you think you can escape the grasp of the Shadow Syndicate?"
A figure emerged from the mist, tall and cloaked in black, revealing only cold eyes beneath his hood. He didn't bear the Bounty Hunters Guild's emblem. Instead, a silver broken sword symbol was etched into his cloak – the emblem of the Shadow Syndicate. His level exuded a terrifying pressure, certainly higher than any foe they had faced before.
"The leader!" Elara whispered, taking a step back, her bow already drawn. She recognized the symbol. "That's a Dark Assassin of the Shadow Syndicate!"
Enemy: Dark Assassin Level 25
HP: 300/300
"Where is Zane?" the Dark Assassin demanded, his voice deep as thunder, his gaze settling on the unconscious Zane. "What did he do with the Emblem? Speak, and I will grant you a quick death."
Kai felt the Dark Assassin's rage. Clearly, he had been tracking Zane for a long time, and now he was here to reclaim what belonged to the Shadow Syndicate.
"He won't tell you anything!" Arthur roared, stepping forward to shield Zane.
"Foolish," the Dark Assassin sneered. "Surround them!"
From the night mist, dozens of cloaked thugs charged out. They weren't ordinary bounty hunters; they moved swiftly, coordinated seamlessly, and wielded sharp weapons.
Enemy: Shadow Agent (x10) Level 10
HP: 120/120 each
"Damn it! Too many!" Elara fired a volley of arrows, but they were quickly dodged by the Agents or blocked with their daggers.
Arthur charged into the midst of the Agents, his hammer spinning, creating a whirlwind of steel. Each of his blows was powerful, pushing back enemies, but their numbers were overwhelming.
Kai knew this was his moment to unleash his full new power. With the Ancient Soul Emblem integrated into his body, he felt a surge of abundant energy, and his connection to water and mist grew stronger than ever.
"Mist Camouflage!" Kai almost completely vanished into the night fog. Utilizing this new ability, he glided silently among the Agents. He didn't attack directly. Instead, he used "Crystal Manipulation (Water)" to create sudden slippery puddles beneath their feet, or sprayed "Venom Breath" at the unwary.
One Agent slipped, falling flat. Another staggered, poisoned. Kai moved like a phantom, creating chaos within the enemy ranks.
The Dark Assassin saw this, his eyes flashing with irritation. "A dragon... with stealth abilities! Interesting." He waved his hand, a swirling mass of dark energy flying towards Kai. "Dark Net!"
[-15 HP! Afflicted with 'Bound'!]
The Dark Net, a magical skill, tightly bound Kai, rendering him unable to move.
"Kai!" Elara screamed.
"Don't mind me!" Kai roared, struggling. "Focus on the leader!"
Arthur, seeing Kai restrained, knew this was their only chance. He used his "Crushing Hammer" skill, focusing all his strength into a mighty blow aimed at the Dark Assassin.
The Dark Assassin didn't flinch. He raised a hand, and a shield of pitch-black energy appeared, blocking Arthur's hammer. "You are no match for me, knight."
Elara fired a volley of arrows at him, but they bounced off the energy shield.
Bound, Kai activated "Soul Imprint" – the new skill from the Ancient Soul Emblem. A blue light erupted from his body, not only shattering the Dark Net but also creating a wave of spiritual shockwave that pushed back the surrounding Agents.
[-50 HP! Dark Assassin has been afflicted with 'Stunned' for 1 second!]
The Dark Assassin staggered, surprised that Kai could escape and counter so powerfully. He stared at Kai, his eyes filled with astonishment mixed with fear. "The Emblem... you absorbed it!"
He realized Kai's danger. "It cannot be allowed to live! Destroy it!"
But it was too late. Kai, now free, charged forward. He unleashed a stronger "Venom Breath," covering a group of Agents, sending them sprawling. Then, he lunged straight at the Dark Assassin, using "Rending Bite" combined with "Crystal Manipulation (Water)" to amplify the bite's power.
"Clang!" Kai's fangs struck his energy shield, creating a large crack.
The Dark Assassin knew he had underestimated his opponent. He no longer cared about Zane or the other Agents. He unleashed a ball of dark energy towards Kai to slow him down, then spun around, disappearing into the mist in an instant.
"He ran!" Elara shouted.
"Let him run!" Arthur roared, still dealing with the remaining Agents. "The important thing is to save Zane!"
The battle continued for a few more minutes, but with the Dark Assassin retreated, the remaining Agents were quickly overwhelmed. Some died, others fled into the night.
As dawn broke, the three of them stood amidst the corpses of their enemies, panting, exhausted. Zane was still unconscious, but his vital signs were more stable thanks to Kai.
"We're safe... for now," Elara said, looking at the dissipating mist. "But the Shadow Syndicate won't give up. And now they know you have the Emblem."
Kai looked down at his chest, where he felt a warm energy from the Ancient Soul Emblem. He not only possessed new power but also bore the responsibility of protecting it from a ruthless force.
They had escaped the swamp, but stepped into a much larger war.