Chapter 12: A Thrilling Heist in the Treasure Vault

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At the end of the dim passage stood an ancient, massive stone door.

It was tightly sealed, its surface scarred by the ravages of time, as though whispering of one long-forgotten tale after another.

Yet the most striking feature of the door was the faint radiance seeping through its cracks—a heart-stopping golden light, filled with an irresistible allure.

Around the stone door, countless fiends surged like a rising tide.

They took every conceivable form. Some resembled twisted beasts; others looked like rotting corpses. Each one exuded a nauseating stench of decay, while their scarlet eyes burned with a bloodthirsty hunger.

They clawed at the air and unleashed shrill howls, as though proclaiming absolute dominion over the area.

A suffocating pressure permeated the air, casting a shadow over the hearts of the entire team.

Pan Yue clenched her fists. She could feel her heart pounding violently against her ribs, as though it might burst from her chest at any moment.

Liu Yong’s expression remained calm, but his faintly trembling hands betrayed the tension within him.

Even Sun Yue’s lively eyes flashed with a rare trace of unease. He licked his cracked lips, trying to conceal the fear in his heart.

Chen Qiang gripped his shield tightly. His once-firm features had grown tense, as though he were facing a battle that would determine life or death.

Wu Xia, meanwhile, swiftly searched her memory for information about these fiends, attempting to identify their weaknesses.

“This… this doesn’t look good,” Sun Yue said, his voice trembling slightly as he shattered the oppressive silence.

“Yeah. They don’t look like anything we can afford to provoke.” Chen Qiang swallowed, fine beads of sweat beginning to form across his forehead.

“Are… are we really going in?” Pan Yue asked hesitantly. She turned toward Chu Feng, seeking his opinion.

Facing the team’s apprehension, Chu Feng drew a deep breath and straightened his back. His gaze swept over every one of his companions, and his voice rang out low and resolute.

“We’ve already come this far. There’s no reason to turn back! These fiends are nothing to fear. After everything we’ve faced along the way, what storm haven’t we weathered? Don’t forget—the treasure is right in front of us. We absolutely cannot give up!”

His words were like a flame in the darkness, driving the fear from the hearts of his companions.

Hope rekindled in Pan Yue’s eyes. She nodded, determination returning to her face.

Liu Yong tightened his grip on the wrench, his gaze sharpening.

Sun Yue grinned, his sly expression returning once more.

Chen Qiang raised his shield and let out a deafening growl, like a ferocious beast poised to spring.

Wu Xia quickly scribbled across a sheet of paper, organizing all the information they had gathered.

They were no longer afraid. A fierce desire surged within their hearts.

Chu Feng slowly approached the stone door. He extended his hand and touched its icy surface. The glow of the treasure filtered through his fingers, as though calling out to him.

He turned toward the others, an excited smile touching his lips.

“Are you ready?”

Everyone nodded and tightened their grips on their weapons. They were prepared to meet the challenge.

“Then…”

Chu Feng inhaled deeply. But just as he was about to continue, his gaze suddenly froze. He turned toward a certain direction, where something seemed to be drawing near. An ominous presence was growing increasingly intense…

Before Chu Feng could finish speaking, a gust of fetid wind struck them in the face, accompanied by a horrifying series of shrieks.

From the darkness on either side of the passage, even more fiends surged forth. As though summoned by some unseen force, they lunged madly toward the group.

The battle erupted without warning.

With a furious roar, Chen Qiang planted his enormous shield before him, forming an impregnable barrier.

The fiends’ claws and fangs crashed against the shield in a frenzy, producing shrill metallic screeches as sparks flew in every direction.

Even with Chen Qiang’s powerful physique, the pressure was immense. The force surging through the shield nearly crushed him.

Sun Yue moved with uncanny agility, weaving among the fiends in search of their weaknesses.

But in a moment of carelessness, a spider-like fiend pounced from the side. Its razor-sharp legs tore across his arm, and blood instantly stained his clothes crimson.

“Ah!”

Sun Yue grunted and staggered backward.

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Seeing Sun Yue injured, Pan Yue’s heart clenched. She hurried to his side and began treating his wound.

The other team members grew even more vigilant, and the urgency of the battle intensified at once.

“Damn it!” Chu Feng growled.

The power of the Shadow Incantation Mark surged through his body, black energy enveloping him like flames.

He transformed into a streak of black lightning and plunged into the swarm of fiends, the dagger in his hand carving one deadly arc after another.

Wherever he passed, the fiends collapsed, dissolving into black smoke that faded into the air.

Seizing the opportunity, Liu Yong swung his wrench in a blur, smashing it viciously into the fiends’ heads. The sickening sound of splintering bone rang out.

Chen Qiang steadied himself as well. His shield struck like a battering ram, sending the fiends before him flying.

Wu Xia treated Sun Yue while directing everyone to attack the fiends’ weak points.

Professor Ma stood nearby, observing the fiends’ movements and searching for openings.

Through their combined efforts, the number of fiends gradually dwindled, and the pressure slowly eased.

Then, without warning, the stone door let out a thunderous boom and began to open.

“Wait—what is that?”

Pan Yue cried out, pointing toward the dark shape moving slowly within the doorway.

The stone door continued to open, and an ancient, mysterious presence surged outward.

Just when everyone believed victory was within reach, a colossal shadow slowly emerged from inside.

Its outline was blurred, its true form impossible to discern, but the overwhelming pressure it radiated left everyone present struggling to breathe.

Chu Feng’s heart sank. A powerful sense of foreboding surged through him.

He realized that the true danger had only just begun.

He shouted, “Be careful! This thing is no ordinary monster!”

The shadow released a deafening roar. A tremendous shock wave swept outward, forcing everyone back again and again.

Chen Qiang bore the brunt of it. His enormous shield actually cracked beneath the impact, and he was hurled through the air before crashing heavily to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

“Chen Qiang!”

Pan Yue cried out and rushed to his side without hesitation, taking out healing supplies to treat him.

Watching Chu Feng throw himself so recklessly into danger tore at her heart.

Tears blurred her vision, but she forced them back. She knew this was no time to cry.

Chu Feng saw the worry in Pan Yue’s eyes, and his heart filled with emotion.

He clenched his fists. The power of the Shadow Incantation Mark erupted once more, black energy surging outward like a tide and enveloping him completely.

He knew that he had to protect Pan Yue and the others.

At that moment, a noisy series of footsteps came from the opposite end of the passage.

Several other adventuring parties had arrived.

They saw Chu Feng’s team confronting the shadow.

Chu Feng’s brows drew tightly together. After taking a deep breath, he made a bold decision.

“Everyone!” Chu Feng called out. “I know we all came here for the treasure, but we now face a common enemy. Why don’t we work together to eliminate this monster first? Afterward, we can discuss how to divide the treasures. What do you say?”

The other groups hesitated at first, but after witnessing Chu Feng’s sincerity and the shadow’s overwhelming strength, they ultimately agreed to cooperate.

Just as everyone was preparing to join forces against the shadow, a strange sound suddenly came from within the stone door.

“Wait. What is that sound?” Professor Ma’s expression changed as he pointed into the doorway.

The sound grew louder and louder, as though some ancient mechanism were beginning to activate.

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Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed intently on the interior of the stone door as they waited for the unknown to emerge.

Suddenly, a blinding radiance burst from within, illuminating the entire passage.

When the light faded, a massive circular altar appeared before them.

Several objects floated above it, each radiating dazzling brilliance and containing powerful surges of energy.

Chu Feng’s gaze was instantly drawn to a black crystal at the center of the altar.

The crystal pulsed like a beating heart, radiating a soul-shaking energy that resonated intensely with the Shadow Incantation Mark within him.

He knew that this was the treasure capable of enhancing his incantation-mark abilities.

The members of the other parties also discovered the treasures upon the altar. Yet they understood that if they wanted to claim them, they first had to deal with the shadow before them.

Thus, under Chu Feng’s leadership, the various groups temporarily set aside their disputes and joined forces against the shadow.

The shadow’s strength was indeed extraordinary. Every attack it unleashed possessed the power to destroy heaven and earth.

But working together, the group employed their respective abilities and tactics, engaging the shadow in a fierce battle.

Chu Feng moved like a black specter around it, weaving through the darkness while his dagger struck precisely at the shadow’s weak points.

After a grueling struggle, the shadow finally released an unwilling roar before dissolving into a wisp of black smoke that faded into the air.

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, smiles of survival spreading across their faces.

According to their earlier agreement, Chu Feng’s team was allowed to choose their treasures first.

Without hesitation, Chu Feng selected the black crystal at the center of the altar. Pan Yue chose an emerald gemstone radiating a gentle light, while Liu Yong took a metal fragment covered in intricate runes.

The other groups obtained their own rewards as well, and satisfied smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.

“These treasures are incredible!” Sun Yue exclaimed, stroking an unassuming-looking ring in his hand. The corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears. “We’ve struck it rich this time!”

“Indeed. The haul is even better than we imagined!” Chen Qiang said, displaying a rare smile. His shield had already been restored to its original condition.

Everyone agreed. They were all deeply satisfied with the outcome of the expedition.

Carrying their respective treasures, they prepared to leave the perilous ruins.

Yet when they stepped outside, the sight before them left everyone utterly stunned.

The world they had once known had become strange and uncanny.

The sky was an unnatural dark red, and the air was filled with an unsettling presence.

The city’s outline had twisted, as though it were being torn apart by some invisible force.

The buildings that had once been familiar now stood in ruins, looming like specters.

“What… what happened?” Pan Yue asked in horror, covering her mouth.

Professor Ma removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. His voice was filled with shock.

“I… I can’t explain any of this. Could the power of the incantation marks have affected reality?”

Chu Feng’s brows furrowed deeply. He could sense a mysterious force influencing the entire post-apocalyptic world.

He knew that a far greater secret lay hidden behind it all. But how would they face what came next?

As everyone stood bewildered, Wu Xia suddenly pointed into the distance.

“Look! What is that?”

They followed the direction of her finger and saw a massive crack slowly opening in the distant sky.

Within that fissure, something seemed to be awakening…

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