The growling from deep within the forest grew louder.
Closer.
Lin Ye had never heard a sound like it before.
It didn't sound like a wolf.
It didn't sound like a bear either.
It was deeper… heavier… like something crawling out of darkness itself.
The surrounding leaves began to shake violently as something large moved through the underbrush.
Su Li's expression became extremely serious.
"Get ready to fight," she said quietly.
Lin Ye blinked.
"Right now?"
Su Li didn't answer.
Instead, she reached to her waist and drew a short sword.
The blade was slender and silver.
Strange runes were engraved along the surface of the metal, and under the morning sunlight, the blade glowed faintly with a pale light.
Lin Ye couldn't help asking, "What kind of weapon is that?"
"A Sealing Sword," Su Li replied simply.
"It's designed to deal with monsters."
Before Lin Ye could ask another question—
The bushes ahead suddenly exploded outward.
Something burst through the vegetation.
Lin Ye's pupils shrank.
It was a creature that looked like a wild boar.
But it was at least twice the size of an ordinary one.
Its curved tusks were as long as daggers.
Its eyes glowed with a terrifying red light.
And its body was covered in thick, black hide that looked harder than armor.
Su Li spoke quietly.
"Blackhide Demon Boar."
"Normal weapons can barely harm it."
Lin Ye felt his heart sink.
The monster had already seen them.
It let out a deep, angry snort.
Then it charged.
The ground trembled beneath its weight.
Its speed was shocking for such a massive creature.
"Move!" Su Li suddenly shouted.
Lin Ye immediately dove to the side.
"BOOM!"
The boar slammed directly into the tree behind him.
The trunk shook violently, leaves raining down through the air.
Su Li seized the opportunity and rushed forward.
Her movements were incredibly fast.
The silver blade cut through the air in a bright arc.
"Clang!"
The sword struck the boar's body.
But only a shallow mark appeared on its thick hide.
Su Li frowned.
"The skin is too hard."
The boar turned toward her.
Steam burst from its nostrils.
Then it charged again.
Su Li stepped backward quickly.
It was clear she didn't want to face the creature head-on.
Lin Ye stood nearby, his heart pounding.
If Su Li were alone, she might have been able to keep dodging and wearing the monster down.
But now—
The demon boar had clearly targeted both of them.
Lin Ye took a deep breath.
"Guess I'll have to try," he muttered.
Su Li heard him and immediately turned toward him.
"Wait—!"
But it was already too late.
Lin Ye raised his hand.
The shadow beneath his feet suddenly spread outward like dark water.
It rushed across the ground toward the charging monster.
The demon boar had just reached the middle of its charge—
When the shadow suddenly rose.
It hardened into a long, sharp spike.
"Thrust!"
The black spike stabbed into the boar's body.
The creature let out a horrific scream.
But it didn't fall.
Instead, it became even more furious.
With a violent shake of its head, the shadow was forced away.
Lin Ye's expression changed.
"It didn't die?!"
Su Li immediately shouted, "Its heart is on the left side!"
Lin Ye gritted his teeth.
He focused again.
The shadow gathered together once more.
This time, the black shape became thinner.
Sharper.
Like a needle of pure darkness.
The demon boar charged again.
The ground shook with every step.
Just as the creature closed the distance—
Lin Ye swung his hand forward.
"Go!"
The shadow shot out.
"Thrust!"
This time, the black spike pierced directly into the left side of the boar's chest.
The monster's body suddenly froze.
For a few seconds, it stood motionless.
Then—
It collapsed heavily onto the ground.
The earth trembled slightly from the impact.
Silence returned to the forest.
Lin Ye stood there, breathing hard.
His head began to ache again.
A dull pain pulsed behind his eyes.
Su Li walked over to the corpse of the demon boar.
She crouched down and examined the wound carefully.
Then she looked back at Lin Ye.
Her expression was more complicated than before.
"So this," she said quietly,
"is the power of the Abyss Book."
Lin Ye gave a weak smile.
"That doesn't sound like a compliment."
Su Li remained silent for a moment.
"It's powerful," she admitted.
"But it's also dangerous."
Just then—
Another growl echoed through the forest.
Then another.
And another.
More than one this time.
Su Li's face changed instantly.
"That's bad."
Lin Ye heard it too.
At least three or four monsters.
All moving closer.
Su Li spoke quickly.
"This area isn't safe anymore."
"We need to return to the village."
Lin Ye nodded.
Without another word, the two of them began running toward Blackstone Village.
Branches snapped beneath their feet as they rushed through the trees.
But neither of them noticed—
Deep within the darker part of the forest,
A pair of crimson eyes watched them silently.
Unblinking.
Patient.
Like a predator studying its prey.