The early morning in Iron Rock City was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.
The city gates had just opened, and the streets were already beginning to bustle. Vendors pushed their carts into the city, knights rode through the gates on horseback, and the air was thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread and stew.
Lin Ye stood by the city gate, watching it all, still feeling a sense of unreality. Just a few days ago, he was merely an ordinary youth in Blackstone Village. Now, he was a member of the Demon Hunter Guild.
"Ready?" Reg's voice came from beside him.
Lin Ye snapped back to attention. "Yes."
Su Li was also prepared. She had changed into lightweight leather combat armor; the black leather fit her frame perfectly, making her look both agile and powerful. A shortsword hung at her waist, and her silver hair was tied back.
The morning light fell across her face, making her exquisite features appear exceptionally sharp. Lin Ye couldn't help but steal a glance.
Su Li noticed. She raised an eyebrow slightly. "What are you looking at?"
Lin Ye immediately averted his gaze. "Nothing."
Su Li gave a soft huff but said no more. Reg had already started walking toward the exterior of the city. "Let's go."
The three of them left Iron Rock City. Beyond the walls lay a landscape of hills and forests—the exact place where the shadow wolf packs were known to prowl.
After walking for about half an hour, Reg came to a halt. He crouched down, pointing at the ground. "Paw prints."
Lin Ye looked down. There were several distinct wolf tracks imprinted in the dirt.
"Fresh," Reg noted. "The pack is nearby."
The air suddenly turned silent. Lin Ye gripped his short blade tightly, his heart rate beginning to quicken.
Just then—a low growl echoed from the woods.
A shadow wolf slowly emerged from behind a tree, its fur pitch black and its eyes glowing green. Immediately following it was a second, then a third. Soon, six shadow wolves appeared around them. They moved through the trees like ghosts, forming a tight perimeter.
Su Li whispered, "Six of them. More than the mission report suggested."
Reg had already drawn his silver sword. "Prepare for battle."
The shadow wolves growled in unison. In the next second, they lunged forward, moving as fast as dark blurs.
The first wolf pounced directly at Lin Ye, its sharp claws swiping toward his throat. Lin Ye immediately raised his short blade to parry.
Clang!
The immense force of the blow made his arm go numb. Right then, Su Li dashed over, her shortsword cutting a streak of silver light through the air.
Pfft!
The wolf's throat was slashed open, and it collapsed to the ground. But two more wolves were already charging at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye took a step back. A strange sensation suddenly welled up inside him. His shadow moved. The black silhouette extended from the ground like liquid.
Suddenly—the shadow transformed into a spike.
Pfft!
The shadow spike erupted from the ground, skewering a wolf directly through its abdomen. The creature let out a harrowing shriek and fell.
Lin Ye was stunned. This was the first time he had actively controlled the shadow's power while fully conscious.
The other wolf paused for a fraction of a second but quickly resumed its pounce. Lin Ye took a deep breath. "Try it again."
The shadow extended once more, faster this time. The black spike thrust out violently.
Pfft!
The second wolf was impaled. Meanwhile, Reg had already finished off the remaining three. His swordsmanship was clean and efficient; almost every strike was lethal.
The battle ended, and the forest returned to silence. Lin Ye gasped for air. Su Li walked over. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Lin Ye shook his head. "No."
Su Li looked at the carcasses of the shadow wolves on the ground. "That move just now... did you control it?"
Lin Ye nodded. "I think so."
Su Li's eyes lit up slightly. "Good."
Reg approached them as well. He looked at the bodies and then at Lin Ye. "Your power is growing."
Lin Ye remained silent for a moment. "But I don't know what it will eventually become."
Reg sheathed his sword. "Then learn to control it," he said. "Otherwise, it will eventually control you."
Lin Ye did not answer. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting itself upon the shadows on the ground. His shadow looked no different from an ordinary person's.
But Lin Ye knew that was only the surface. The true darkness was slowly awakening.