The figure appeared without fanfare, stepping from the swirling mist like a shadow born of the mountain's darkest crevices. Towering, broad-shouldered, and cloaked in black armor etched with crimson veins of qi, he radiated a menace that chilled the very air. His eyes, piercing and unyielding, burned like twin embers set deep within a forge of cold fury. Not a word passed his lips, but the weight of his presence pressed upon Abraham like a storm ready to break.The system's voice echoed softly in Abraham's mind. "This is your new bodyguard—the Guardian of the First Relic. He is more powerful than even your master, Jin Tiandao. His loyalty is absolute; his strength, unparalleled. He will protect you, but beware—his methods are ruthless, and his gaze spares no weakness."The bodyguard's gaze locked onto Abraham's, sharp and assessing, as if seeing every hidden fragment of his soul and every shadowed intention. His movements were precise and predatory—a coiled serpent ready to strike, emanating a silent promise of swift and brutal justice to any threat. Without a word, he stepped forward and knocked a jagged stone with a gloved fist; a ripple of crimson qi surged along the ground like a warning flare.Abraham swallowed hard, feeling the relic's rhythm quicken. This presence was a living storm, a force of nature meant to guard the fragile hope he carried but also a reminder that his journey bore dangers that would demand more than skill—it would command sacrifice.The silent sentinel fell into step beside him, footsteps drowning the mountain's whisper with the sound of inevitability. Mount Hua awaited—but now Abraham's path was shadowed by a guardian whose power eclipsed even the legends he dared to chase.
The air shifted. A ripple—barely a sound, but it sliced through the stillness like a blade through silk. What was that? My heart hitched; breath caught somewhere between throat and mind. Shadows darkened at the edge of vision, the quiet dread folding in. Instinct screamed: Danger. Not just any danger.I turned slowly, senses stretching taut. There he was—the figure that had appeared from nowhere, stepping out of mist and cold like the mountain's grim reaper. Too tall. Too wide. Too... impossible. His armor drank all light, black etched with veins of crimson qi that throbbed like tribal warpaint. His eyes—no, not eyes—embers burning deep within a furnace. I felt heat, but no warmth. Just silent judgment.This isn't protection. It's a warning. A storm wrapped in flesh.The pulse of the relic thundered against my chest, screaming both fear and power. Was I prepared for this? For him? Every step he took toward me cracked the earth beneath with silent threat, a predator pacing, measuring prey before the kill. His gaze ripped into my soul, peeling back doubt, fear, and every hidden scar.I'm not the same as before. But I'm still me. Can I bear the weight of his judgment?His gloved fist smashed a jagged stone; the impact sent ripples of crimson qi rolling into the ground. It felt like a prelude to battle—a signal that weakness would be devoured. I swallowed dryly, pulse speeding. I should feel safer with a blade like that by my side. But instead, I felt the cold clutch of panic tightening like a noose. Not because he's my guardian—but because he embodies everything fierce and indifferent about Murim.This is no ordinary protector. This is a harbinger.The air grew thick with qi. I clenched my fists, the relic's glow brightening in a dangerous symphony. The journey ahead was no longer just about survival—it was a test of will against not just enemies, but shadows summoned by power itself.And he? He was the storm waiting to fall.I took a breath. This was only the beginning.