Chapter 24: Facing a Formidable Foe, Breakthrough Is the Only Path

The massive dark shadow slowly sharpened, revealing itself to be a hideous, colossal specter. Thick, black mist swirled around its body, and its scarlet eyes burned with a thirst for blood. With every step it took, the ground trembled, and the air grew heavy with a sickening, putrid stench.

"It's a Black Demon Wraith!" Sun Yue exclaimed. "That’s a high-level specter—we’re no match for it!"

The Black Demon Wraith let out a deafening roar, sending a powerful shockwave rippling outward from its center that left the base teetering on the brink of collapse. Chen Qiang took the brunt of the assault; his defensive sigils flared with blinding light, allowing him to barely withstand the impact, though he was forced back several paces, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Chen Qiang!" Pan Yue cried out in alarm. Feng Yao immediately unleashed a healing sigil, wrapping Chen Qiang in a soft, soothing light to mend his wounds.

"Everyone, be careful! Its attacks carry a corrosive effect!" Wu Xia warned. Her intelligence device flickered erratically, displaying the creature's various data points.

Chu Feng’s gaze hardened. His shadow sigil transformed into countless blades, which he launched at the Black Demon Wraith like a torrential storm. Yet, these attacks hit the creature like pebbles tossed into the sea, failing to inflict even the slightest injury.

"Ridiculous humans, your struggle is meaningless!" The Black Demon Wraith let out a mocking laugh. It lashed out with its claws, and a wave of dark energy whistled through the air, aimed directly at Chu Feng.

At the critical moment, Master Lin suddenly appeared. With a wave of his staff, a golden barrier blocked the energy wave.

"Master Lin!" the group shouted in surprise.

"Leave now. I will handle this," Master Lin said, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority.

"But..." Chu Feng tried to protest, but Master Lin cut him off.

"That is an order! You must grow stronger as quickly as possible; only then can you face even greater enemies!"

Master Lin’s words hit Chu Feng like a bolt of lightning. He understood that this was no time for bravado; they had to preserve their strength to fight better in the future.

"Go!" Chu Feng decided instantly, leading his teammates in a rapid retreat.

The Black Demon Wraith attempted to pursue, but Master Lin intercepted it.

"Your opponent is me!" A sharp glint flashed in Master Lin’s eyes as his staff glowed with intense radiance... "Kid, don't forget our agreement..."

The massive shadow swung its claws before the base, each strike accompanied by a thunderous roar. The sheer power of the Black Demon Wraith filled everyone with a sense of hopelessness. Cracks spread across the ground, and the creature’s corrosive energy gnawed at everything like venom.

"Chu Feng, we can't hold on much longer!" Sun Yue’s voice was laced with despair; his face was slick with sweat and grime. Chen Qiang’s defensive sigils were flickering wildly, on the verge of failing. At Liu Yong’s console, equipment wailed with shrill alarms due to the overload. Wu Xia frantically inputted commands, trying to find a weakness in the Black Demon Wraith, but its power far exceeded their expectations.

"Hold on, everyone! We still have hope!" Chu Feng’s voice was firm and powerful, even though he felt pressure like never before.

Just then, a surge of intense light flooded Chu Feng’s mind. He felt his sigils coursing through his body like a river about to burst its banks. He knew this was the precursor to a breakthrough.

"Feng Yao, Pan Yue, help me!" Chu Feng shouted. The two women understood immediately. Feng Yao’s healing sigils and Pan Yue’s support sigils converged on Chu Feng, providing him with immense backing.

In an instant, Chu Feng’s shadow sigil flared with blinding light. His body was enveloped in a black halo, as if a pair of massive shadow wings had unfurled behind him. An unprecedented power surged forth, and Chu Feng felt a qualitative leap in his abilities.

"Sigil Initiate—I’ve finally broken through!" Chu Feng’s roar was thunderous. His eyes, sharp as daggers, locked onto the Black Demon Wraith.

The creature seemed to sense the change in Chu Feng. Its scarlet eyes flashed with malice as it let out an even more deafening roar. But this time, Chu Feng did not retreat. He swung his arms, and his shadow sigils transformed into countless blades that swirled toward the Black Demon Wraith like a tornado.

"Die!" Chu Feng’s roar shook the sky. The black blades fell upon the Black Demon Wraith like a rainstorm, each strike delivering devastating destruction. The black mist surrounding the creature began to dissipate, and its body was gradually torn to shreds.

The enemy, caught in Chu Feng’s violent assault, had no means of retaliation and was utterly annihilated, dissolving into a wisp of black smoke that vanished into the air.

Chu Feng stood in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by his shaken teammates. A look of resolve burned in his eyes, and a faint, victorious smile touched his lips.

"Everyone, are you ready? Our fight has only just begun." Chu Feng’s voice rang out like a war drum, inspiring every member.

"Give me your hands."

Feng Yao was the first to reach out, gripping Chu Feng’s palm. A warm current flowed into her, and she felt her healing sigils grow stronger, their light becoming purer. One by one, Pan Yue, Liu Yong, Sun Yue, Chen Qiang, and Wu Xia also received the gift of energy from Chu Feng.

Once the last member had received the energy, Chu Feng withdrew his hand, and the glow of his shadow sigil gradually faded. He looked at his rejuvenated teammates, his heart filled with joy.

"Thank you, Chu Feng," Feng Yao said, her voice choked with emotion, tears shimmering in her eyes. The others expressed their gratitude, embracing one another and feeling the warmth and strength of their bond.

After receiving Chu Feng’s energy, the sigil abilities of the team had significantly improved. Feng Yao’s healing could now instantly mend grievous wounds, Pan Yue’s support sigils could drastically boost combat prowess, Liu Yong could manipulate more complex machinery, Sun Yue’s reconnaissance had greater range and precision, Chen Qiang’s defense was now impenetrable, and Wu Xia’s intelligence sigils could glean even more hidden information. They felt the surging energy within them and beamed with excitement and pride.

"Is this the power of a Sigil Initiate? It’s truly incredible!" Sun Yue waved his arms excitedly as his reconnaissance sigil manifested as a nimble bird, circling in the air.

"I feel like my defensive sigils can withstand any attack!" Chen Qiang clenched his fists, his armor feeling as hard as steel.

"Now, we should head back and check on Master Lin." Chu Feng turned his gaze toward the depths of the base.

The group nodded and followed him deeper inside. A tense atmosphere filled the air, and the depths of the base were deathly silent, like the calm before a storm.

"Wait..." Wu Xia suddenly stopped, her expression turning grave. "I sense... an immense surge of energy..."

The ruined base looked desolate in the night. However, the members of the adventure team were brimming with vigor, their faces alight with the joy of surviving a catastrophe. Chu Feng had broken through, and they had risen with him. Feeling unprecedented power within, their cheers and roars intermingled, deafening and vibrant enough to make the ruins tremble.

Pan Yue hugged Feng Yao in excitement, jumping and bouncing without regard for composure. Sun Yue darted about like a nimble monkey, displaying his newly awakened reconnaissance skills. Chen Qiang punched the air, each blow whistling with such force it seemed to tear the very atmosphere. Liu Yong remained stoic, though the corner of his mouth curled upward, his grip on his wrench tightening until it creaked. Wu Xia excitedly wiped her glasses, recording data rapidly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Their cheers dispelled the lingering stench of rot and chased away the gloom that had weighed upon their hearts.

"We did it! We really did it!" Sun Yue’s voice was hoarse, but he kept shouting as if to vent all the excitement in his heart.

"Now we can become powerful Travelers too!" Pan Yue waved her fists, her eyes filled with longing for the future.

"This power is simply magnificent!" Chen Qiang clenched his fists, feeling the surging strength within him, as solid as iron. They embraced, celebrating this hard-won victory and sharing in each other's warmth.

Yet the joy did not last long. Wu Xia’s expression suddenly changed. "I’ve received an urgent intel report: there is a city occupied by specters that may hide the secret connection between the Sigil Realm and the real world!"

At these words, the smiles on everyone’s faces froze, replaced by grim seriousness.

"Is this true?" Chu Feng frowned.

"The source is reliable—the information is absolutely accurate!" Wu Xia said urgently. "Furthermore, the number of specters in that city is massive, and their strength is high. We must prepare thoroughly!"

Chu Feng took a deep breath. He looked around at the resolute gazes of his teammates, his heart filled with confidence and hope.

"Everyone, let’s rest, and then we depart!" Chu Feng’s tone was firm and powerful. "We must find the truth and save this apocalypse!"

They dispersed to gather their gear, preparing for the adventure ahead. The night deepened, and the surroundings of the base fell silent, save for the wind whistling through the broken walls.

"Chu Feng, look..." Feng Yao’s voice suddenly rang out in the night, tinged with a hint of doubt and uncertainty.