The red rain finally stopped.
Twelve hours of blood, madness, and power.
As the storm faded, the world was not the same. Monsters had evolved. Cities had crumbled further. And the skies now carried a strange hum like a whisper that couldn't be heard, only felt.
Liu Feng stood outside the bunker, breathing in the air.
It still smelled like iron and ash, but he could sense it,a shift in the world's energy. His body buzzed with power. His muscles felt stronger than steel.
Lin Xue stepped beside him. "Where to now?"
Liu Feng looked at the crumbling map he found in the bunker's terminal.
"Sector 12," he said. "That's where the system says a new anomaly is forming."
---
They traveled north for two hours, past the red-soaked trees and smoking hills.
Along the way, Liu Feng kept picking up fallen attributes from dead beasts and melted monsters.
[+1 Strength]
[+2 Constitution]
[+1 Agility]
[New Skill Fragment x3]
Suddenly, a message popped up:
[Skill Fusion Ready – 3 Fragments]
[Do you want to fuse?]
"Yes."
[Fusion Complete – New Skill Acquired: Shadow Veil]
> Shadow Veil: Temporarily blend into shadows. Grants invisibility for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 2 min.
Liu Feng smirked. "Now I can vanish too."
---
As they crossed into Sector 12, the atmosphere changed.
Dark fog swirled around their feet. The trees were all blackened and twisted. Strange whispers echoed through the air, even though there was no wind.
"Can you hear that?" Lin Xue whispered.
Liu Feng nodded. "It's not the wind. It's something else."
[System Alert: Mental Interference Detected – Source: Sector 12 Anomaly]
[Warning: Extended exposure may cause hallucinations or madness.]
Suddenly, a sound like a dying scream echoed from deeper within the mist.
Lin Xue froze.
"Don't listen to the voices," Liu Feng warned. "They're not real."
---
Then, from the mist… movement.
Shadows darted between the trees.
Then more.
Then,they came out.
[New Enemy: Whispering Wraith]
Level: 17
HP: 4500
Ability: Mental Screech, Phase Shift, Silent Slash
Liu Feng drew his knife and whispered, "Get ready."
The wraiths didn't make a sound as they attacked.
Fast. Silent. Deadly.
One slashed at Liu Feng from behind. But his Threat Sense kicked in.
He spun, activated Shadow Step, and appeared behind it. His knife slashed through its dark body.
[+3 Agility]
But the wraith didn't fall. It turned and screamed silently, stunning Lin Xue.
"Lin Xue!"
Liu Feng activated Blood Frenzy and dashed through three wraiths.
SLASH! STAB! RIP!
He reached her, shielded her with Bone Armor, and fired his pistol.
BANG! BANG!
The bullets were soaked in black acid from a dead creature extra effective against shadow beings.
[+5 Strength | +4 Constitution]
The last wraith shrieked and vanished into smoke.
---
Lin Xue gasped. "That… that was terrifying."
"They're getting stronger," Liu Feng said. "But so am I."
He turned toward the black tower in the center of Sector 12.
"That's the anomaly. Let's go."
---
As they approached, the whispers got louder.
The tower was tall, broken, and made of obsidian-like stone. Strange runes pulsed on its surface.
[System Alert: Anomaly Node Discovered – Shadow Core Tower]
> Effect: Weakens perception of time
Monsters gain stealth abilities
Contains: Shadow Core Crystal, Hidden Boss
Liu Feng stepped forward.
The door opened on its own.
Inside was dark,darker than night.
He activated Shadow Veil and slipped inside unseen.
---
The first floor was filled with shadow beasts sleeping.
He moved quietly, picking up stray attribute drops.
[+2 Strength | +3 Agility | Shadow Essence x1]
He climbed silently to the next floor.
More beasts. Stronger.
He used Gravity Pulse, knocking them into the walls, then finished them off.
[+6 Constitution | +1 Skill Book: Silent Dash]
He learned it instantly.
> Silent Dash: Dash up to 15 meters with zero noise. Cooldown: 20 seconds.
---
Finally, he reached the top floor.
And there… it waited.
A humanoid shadow figure, wearing a broken crown. Its body flickered between form and mist. Its eyes burned with violet flames.
[Hidden Boss: Shadow King – Level 22]
HP: 12,000
Skills: Shadow Clone, Shadow Beam, Whisper Madness, Void Step
Passive: Immune to Normal Bullets
Liu Feng's grip tightened.
"Let's dance."
---
The battle began.
The Shadow King moved like a ghost. It vanished and reappeared behind Liu Feng.
He was ready.
Shadow Veil → Dash → Gravity Pulse
The king staggered.
Liu Feng slashed its chest and then fired a burst of armor-piercing bullets soaked in Essence.
BANG! BANG!
It screamed.
Then… it split into three clones.
Each one attacked with deadly speed.
Liu Feng activated Bone Armor, blocked two hits, then vanished using Shadow Step.
He reappeared above them and unleashed Blood Frenzy.
He fought like a demon.
Slashing.
Dodging.
Striking the real one again and again.
---
Finally, with one last leap, he stabbed his blade deep into the Shadow King's chest.
CRACK!
The boss howled… and burst into shadowy dust.
---
[Boss Defeated: Shadow King]
EXP Gained: 4500
Rare Drop: Shadow Core Crystal
+25 Strength
+20 Agility
+12 Constitution
New Skill: Void Cloak – Become untargetable for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 10 min
Shadow Weapon: Void Blade – Ignores 30% of enemy defense
Liu Feng stood in the dark room, panting, eyes glowing.
He picked up the Void Blade, black as night, and strapped it to his back.
He checked his status.
---
[Liu Feng – Status Update]
Level: 18
Strength: 186
Agility: 139
Constitution: 90
New Skills:
Void Cloak
Silent Dash
Equipment:
Void Blade
Adaptive Combat Armor
Bone Armor
Pistol (Modified)
---
As the tower collapsed behind him, the whispers stopped.
Sector 12 was silent again.
But Liu Feng knew…
This was just the beginning.