Night had fallen.
Blackstone Village slowly grew quiet as most of the villagers returned to their homes to rest.
But Lin Ye lay awake in bed, unable to sleep.
Too many things had happened today.
The Alpha Demon Wolf.
Reg's suspicion.
And Su Li's sealing spell.
Lin Ye turned over and looked toward the window.
Moonlight slipped through the narrow gap, drawing a pale line across the floor.
His shadow rested silently on the ground.
It looked no different from an ordinary shadow.
But Lin Ye knew the truth.
Something terrifying was hidden within it.
"The Book of the Abyss…"
he murmured softly.
Su Li had said it herself.
It was one of the Seven Forbidden Books.
Each one sealed a fragment of the ancient Demon King's power.
Lin Ye couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Why did it have to be me…"
Just then—
A voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
Low.
Faint.
As if it were rising from the deepest darkness.
"Because you chose it."
Lin Ye shot upright.
"Who's there?!"
The room was silent.
Only the wind rattled softly against the window.
His heartbeat began to quicken.
He was certain he hadn't imagined it.
That voice…
It had come from inside his mind.
A few seconds later, it spoke again.
"Power… belongs to you."
Lin Ye's breathing grew faster.
"What are you?"
The voice paused.
Then answered slowly.
"I am the Abyss."
The air in the room seemed to grow colder.
A chill ran down Lin Ye's spine.
"The Abyss?"
The voice continued.
"You opened the seal."
"So you are the new vessel."
Lin Ye frowned.
"Vessel?"
There was no immediate reply.
But his shadow suddenly shifted.
As if it were alive.
It slowly stretched across the floor.
Lin Ye stared at it.
A strange feeling rose within him.
If he wished—
The shadow could become anything.
A weapon.
Chains.
Even a monster.
The voice whispered again.
"You haven't truly used your power yet."
Lin Ye gritted his teeth.
"I don't need more power."
The voice fell silent for a moment.
Then it let out a quiet laugh.
The sound was deeply unsettling.
"Everyone who finds a forbidden book…"
"says the same thing at the beginning."
Lin Ye clenched his fists.
"Shut up."
The shadow suddenly shrank.
Returning to its normal shape.
The room fell silent again.
Lin Ye breathed heavily.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
After a long time, he slowly lay back down.
But he had realized something important.
The power of the forbidden book—
Was not just power.
It had its own will.
The next morning.
At dawn, several people had already gathered at the village entrance.
Reg stood at the front.
His silver sword rested across his back.
His expression was as calm as ever.
When Lin Ye arrived, Su Li was already there.
She nodded to him.
"You're here."
Lin Ye gave a bitter smile.
"I don't think I had the option to refuse."
Su Li didn't reply.
Reg looked at Lin Ye and spoke flatly.
"Are you ready?"
Lin Ye nodded.
"Let's go."
The group soon entered the forest.
The air smelled of damp soil and leaves.
Tracks left by monsters were still visible on the ground.
Reg walked in front.
His movements were careful and deliberate.
Every so often he would stop and examine the ground.
After a while, he suddenly crouched down.
"There."
Lin Ye stepped closer.
There were many footprints in the dirt.
Shadow Wolves.
Blackhide Demon Boars.
And another set of prints—
Much larger.
Like those of some enormous beast.
Reg stood up.
"The monsters really are gathering."
Su Li frowned.
"But why?"
Reg didn't answer.
Instead, his gaze slowly shifted toward Lin Ye.
There was something meaningful in his eyes.
Lin Ye felt his heart sink.
Just then—
A low growl echoed faintly from deep within the forest.
The sound was distant.
But chilling.
Reg's expression turned serious.
"Up ahead," he said.
"That should be the nest."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Lin Ye clenched his fists.
He didn't know why—
But his shadow had been trembling slightly ever since they entered the forest.
Almost as if it were excited.
Or perhaps…
Responding to something.
The voice of the Abyss whispered again inside his mind.
"Over there…"
"There is more power."
Lin Ye's expression shifted.
Because he suddenly realized something.
Maybe the monsters gathering here—
Wasn't a coincidence.
Maybe something was drawing them in.
And that something…
Might be him.