The deeper they moved into the forest, the more the atmosphere changed.
The trees grew thicker, their branches weaving together so tightly that sunlight could barely reach the ground. Fallen leaves carpeted the forest floor, rustling softly beneath every step.
Reg walked at the front.
His steps were light, but every movement was careful and alert.
Lin Ye and Su Li followed behind him.
The farther they went, the stronger Lin Ye's unease became.
There was a strange smell in the air.
Like rotting blood.
Su Li suddenly stopped.
She spoke quietly.
"Do you feel that?"
Lin Ye nodded.
"The demonic energy here is strong."
Reg didn't turn around, but he spoke calmly.
"The nest is ahead."
They slowly pushed aside a patch of thick bushes.
The sight that appeared before them made Lin Ye frown immediately.
It was a sunken clearing.
The ground had been dug up into dozens of pits.
Bones were scattered everywhere.
Some belonged to animals.
Others clearly belonged to humans.
The air was thick with the stench of decay.
At the center of the clearing stood a massive cave entrance.
Darkness spilled out of it like thick fog.
Su Li whispered,
"At least twenty monsters."
Reg nodded.
"And not just Shadow Wolves."
Lin Ye's eyes moved across the ground.
There were many footprints.
Shadow wolves.
Demon boars.
And other tracks—larger ones.
"This place looks like…"
Lin Ye hesitated.
"A gathering point."
Reg finally turned and glanced at him.
"That's right."
"Nests like this normally only appear deep in the mountains."
Su Li frowned.
"But this is too close to the village."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Reg said slowly,
"Which is exactly why it's dangerous."
Just then—
Lin Ye suddenly felt a strange vibration.
Not from the ground.
But from his shadow.
The shadow trembled slightly.
As if something were responding.
The voice of the Abyss appeared again in his mind.
"Do you see?"
"They are searching for you."
Lin Ye's breathing paused for a moment.
"Shut up…" he whispered inwardly.
Su Li noticed the change in his expression.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Ye shook his head.
"Nothing."
But Reg had noticed as well.
He narrowed his eyes at Lin Ye.
"You don't look well."
Lin Ye forced a smile.
"Just a little nervous."
Reg didn't ask further.
But his gaze clearly became more cautious.
Then—
A low growl echoed from deep inside the cave.
The sound was rough and heavy.
Like the breathing of some massive beast.
Reg immediately raised his hand.
Everyone froze.
A few seconds later—
Two green eyes appeared in the darkness of the cave entrance.
A Shadow Wolf slowly stepped out.
Then another.
And another.
More and more followed.
Su Li lowered her voice.
"They've noticed us."
Reg drew his sword.
"Prepare for battle."
The pack of wolves began to advance.
At least a dozen of them.
They spread out into a semicircle, surrounding the three of them.
Lin Ye took a deep breath.
His shadow began spreading across the ground.
The black darkness flowed like liquid.
The first wolf suddenly lunged.
Reg's sword flashed down.
CLANG!
The wolf was sent flying.
But more wolves rushed forward.
Su Li joined the fight.
Her short sword traced silver arcs through the air.
Every strike was precise and deadly.
Lin Ye moved as well.
His shadow stabbed forward.
THRUST!
One wolf was pierced through the body.
But this time—
He felt something different.
The shadow was faster.
Sharper.
And easier to control than before.
The voice of the Abyss whispered again.
"Do you feel it?"
"They are feeding you."
Lin Ye clenched his teeth.
"I don't need it!"
His shadow suddenly surged.
Black tendrils burst from the ground like vines.
Two wolves were impaled at once.
Su Li turned toward him.
Her expression shifted slightly.
"Lin Ye!"
She could clearly see something was wrong with his power.
But the battle continued.
The wolves grew more frenzied.
As if something were driving them forward.
They kept charging again and again.
Reg noticed something as well.
"They're targeting you," he said.
Lin Ye didn't respond.
Because he had already realized it himself.
Every wolf was moving toward him.
As if he were the true target.
Then—
A far more terrifying roar erupted from deep within the cave.
All the wolves suddenly froze.
Then they quickly retreated.
Reg's face darkened.
"There's something bigger."
A massive figure slowly emerged from the cave.
It was a creature even larger than the Alpha Demon Wolf.
Its shape resembled a wolf—
But jagged bone spikes grew along its back.
Black scales covered its body.
Its eyes burned like flames.
Su Li's voice dropped to a whisper.
"An Abyssal Demon Wolf…"
Reg tightened his grip on his sword.
"This just got worse."
The monster's gaze slowly swept across the three of them.
Then it stopped on Lin Ye.
The air suddenly fell silent.
The next second—
The Abyssal Demon Wolf roared.
And charged straight toward Lin Ye.
Su Li's face changed instantly.
"It really is drawn to you!"
Lin Ye's heart sank.
At last, he understood something.
These monsters gathering here—
Was no coincidence.
They had sensed the power of the Abyss.
And the source of that power—
Was him.