In the evening, Iron Rock City was shrouded in the murky crimson glow of the sunset.
The towering city walls cast long, sweeping shadows under the dying light. While the crowds at the gates continued to stream in and out, Lin Ye keenly sensed an atmosphere unlike any other day.
There were significantly more soldiers. Several ballistae had even been mounted atop the battlements.
"Something has happened in the city," Su Li whispered. Her gaze swept across both sides of the street. Many shops were closing earlier than usual, and pedestrians were walking in a hurried, frantic pace.
Reg walked over to a gate guard and exchanged a few low words. When he returned a moment later, his expression was grave.
"Within the last three days," he began, "four Demon Hunters have gone missing."
Lin Ye was stunned. "Demon Hunters?"
Reg nodded. "And experienced ones at that."
The air suddenly felt heavy and oppressive. Su Li knit her brows slightly. "This isn't something an ordinary magical beast could accomplish."
Reg didn't answer. However, his gaze drifted inadvertently toward Lin Ye. In that instant, Lin Ye's heart sank. He knew exactly what Reg was thinking.
Forbidden Books. A power that dangerous often acted as a lightning rod for even greater perils.
The three soon returned to the Demon Hunter Guild. The hall was noisier than usual, filled with groups of hunters huddled together in low, hushed discussion. Tension permeated the air.
Behind the counter, Irene was busy organizing mission records. Seeing Reg, she immediately looked up. She noticed the dust coating the trio. "How was the situation in the mine?"
Reg gave a concise reply: "A Grotto Lizard nest. It has been cleared."
Irene let out a sigh of relief, but her expression quickly turned solemn again. "Then you've returned at the perfect time." She pulled a report from beneath the counter. "There's trouble in the city."
Reg frowned. "The disappearances?"
Irene nodded. "And another just occurred." She handed the paper to Reg.
Lin Ye stood nearby and caught a glimpse of it. It was a patrol report with brief, chilling content: Midnight patrol discovered bloodstains in the Old District; no body found.
Su Li spoke softly, "It looks like they were dragged away."
Irene nodded. "The strangest part is..." she paused, "there were no signs of a struggle at the scene."
Reg's expression turned cold. "Which means the opponent's strength far exceeds that of a standard Demon Hunter."
The hall suddenly fell silent. It seemed those nearby had overheard him. The air felt as though it were being compressed. Lin Ye felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
Just then, the guild doors were flung open. A young Demon Hunter burst inside, his face pale and his breath ragged.
"Something's happened!"
Everyone turned to look at him. Irene asked immediately, "What is it?"
The man gasped for air as he spoke. "In the Old District... we found that the shadows are moving!"
Silence gripped the hall. "Shadows?" someone repeated.
The young hunter nodded. "It wasn't an illusion. The shadows on the walls... they were moving on their own."
Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat. Shadows. The word made him incredibly sensitive.
Reg suddenly looked at him. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. Lin Ye remained silent, but Su Li took a small step forward, shielding him slightly.
Reg remained quiet for several seconds before turning to Irene. "Seal off the Old District."
Irene nodded. "People have already been dispatched."
Reg turned back to Lin Ye and Su Li. "We're going as well."
Iron Rock City was much quieter at night than during the day, and the Old District was even more so. Most of the buildings here were ancient stone houses, and the streets were narrow and gloomy.
Torchlight flickered against the walls, stretching the shadows into long, distorted shapes. Patrol soldiers stood at the street corners, barring any civilians from approaching. After Reg produced his Demon Hunter badge, the three were granted entry into the cordoned area.
There was a strange chill in the air. Lin Ye couldn't help but look at the ground. Amidst the flickering firelight, his own shadow was swaying ever so slightly.
Suddenly, that familiar voice echoed in his mind—low and blurred.
"They are here."
Lin Ye grit his teeth. "Shut up."
Su Li heard him mutter. "What is it?"
Lin Ye shook his head. "Nothing."
Just then, Reg came to a sudden halt. "Look there."
On a wall ahead lay a massive patch of black shadow. However, the shadow looked bizarre; it wasn't stationary like a normal shadow but was writhing slowly, like a living thing.
Su Li's gaze turned razor-sharp. "Someone is controlling it."
Reg slowly drew his sword. The silver blade glinted coldly in the firelight. "Come out," he said in a low voice.
A few seconds later, the shadow seemed to tear open. A figure dressed in black dropped from the wall, moving as silently as a cat. His face was obscured by a black cloth, leaving only a pair of cold, indifferent eyes visible.
The air turned freezing. The black-clad man looked at Lin Ye with unmistakable interest.
"As I thought," his voice was low and raspy. "The aura of the Book of the Abyss."
Lin Ye's heart sank. Reg had already stepped in front of him. "The Shadow Council."
The man in black chuckled softly. "It seems you still remember us."
Reg gripped his sword tighter. "I remember that you once destroyed an entire city."
The man spread his hands. "Power always demands a price." He looked at Lin Ye again. "Hand over the Forbidden Book."
Lin Ye stared at him coldly. "And if I say no?"
The man's eyes crinkled slightly, as if he were smiling. "Then we'll just have to take it ourselves."
The moment the words left his mouth—every shadow in the vicinity moved. The walls, the rooftops, the ground—countless black shapes surged like liquid.
The battle erupted in the next heartbeat. The dark night of Iron Rock City had only just begun.