Chapter 223: What Lies in the Shadow

Screech! Screech!

Inside the darkness, Thoren’s movement did not slow down at all. He moved through the stone maze with sharp and vigilant eyes.

He could feel that whatever was hiding in the darkness was drawing closer to him. The sensation wrapped around his mind like a tightening snare.

Slowly, he felt the invisible net closing in around him. His chances of survival seemed to be slipping away with every passing moment.

Even though he felt this pressure, there was nothing he could do to directly confront it.

Against an unseen enemy, his only option was to keep moving forward.

And that was exactly what he chose to do.

Suddenly, two orb like eyes appeared before him.

They burned with a deep and ominous purple glow, filled with malice and predatory intent.

Thoren, who had been waiting for the creature to reveal itself, did not hesitate.

“Strike,” he commanded firmly.

The undead Storm Tyrant moved instantly.

Swift and precise, it stepped forward and swung its massive hammer.

Bang!

The heavy weapon crashed through the air with terrifying force.

Screeech!

A sharp cry of pain echoed through the darkness as the creature was struck.

However, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished back into the shadows.

Thoren immediately focused his perception, attempting to track its movement.

But it was gone.

Completely gone.

Thoren stared into the darkness, his brows slowly knitting together.

How could a creature disappear from his senses so completely without leaving even the slightest trace.

The thought lingered in his mind, deepening his confusion.

With his Awakened Soul, he had always possessed superior perception.

Never once had he encountered a situation where a beast could escape his detection so thoroughly.

That fact alone unsettled him.

Just as he was trying to think of a way to break the stalemate, his eyes widened slightly.

“How could I forget?” he muttered as he slapped his forehead in frustration.

With his abilities, he should not have been intimidated into passivity.

This environment should have been his advantage, not his weakness.

Yet in his haste and unease, he had neglected to use one of his greatest tools.

For a brief moment, he did not know whether to feel annoyed or embarrassed.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

“I suppose that sudden fall disrupted my focus,” he whispered quietly while shaking his head.

Since arriving in this oppressive darkness, his thoughts had been unusually scattered.

His only concern had been escape.

He had not stopped to properly assess his situation or consider how to use his abilities to their fullest potential.

That realization irritated him.

“I will remember this mistake,” he said under his breath.

Screech! Screech!

The number of screeches around him began to increase, growing louder and more aggressive.

The sound echoed through the maze from every direction, creating a suffocating sense of pressure.

Thoren listened carefully.

Then, slowly, the corner of his lips curled upward.

“You have had your chance,” he said calmly. “Now it is my turn.”

Without hesitation, he activated his second talent.

[Soul Lantern of Eternal Crypt.]

Instantly, an illusory floating lantern appeared before him.

Compared to its previous state, it was slightly larger and noticeably brighter.

Its range had also expanded.

The oppressive darkness was pushed back as pale light spread outward.

The once concealed environment was illuminated in an instant.

With the appearance of the Soul Lantern, every creature hiding within the darkness was revealed.

Thoren’s gaze sharpened as he finally saw his enemies clearly.

Dozens of creatures surrounded him from all directions.

[Purple Arachne]

[Level: 23]

[Attributes: Strenght 52, Constitution 48, Agility 66, Spirit 10, Defense 46]

[Traits (1): Mental Veil – Blocks enemy perception and weakens detection abilites within 15 meters radius.]

[Trait (2): Shadow Blend – Body merges with darkness, making webs and movement difficult to detect.]

[Trait (3): Venom Thread – Web attack carries poison that slows enemies movement.]

[Skills (1): Silken Ambush – Fires near-invinsible weebing to immobilized targets briefly.]

[Skills (2): Phatom Skitter – Rapid movement across walls and ceiling, leaving faint afterimages.]

[Skills (3): Inject venom that paralyze enemy for ten seconds.]

Thoren did not pay much attention to the details of the stats.

His focus remained on their physical forms.

The Purple Arachnes possessed the upper bodies of slender human females.

Their lower halves were those of massive spiders, grotesque yet strangely elegant.

Their skin carried a faint violet hue, smooth yet unnaturally cold in appearance.

Their glowing purple eyes shimmered with a hypnotic and dangerous light.

Long strands of dark hair drifted around their faces like living shadows, blending seamlessly with the dim environment.

Among them, Thoren also noticed stronger individuals at Level 24.

These variants were larger in size and more refined in appearance.

Their forms were more alluring, yet their presence carried a far greater sense of danger.

Screech!

The Purple Arachnes shrieked in shock and irritation as the light exposed them.

Their glowing eyes flickered with anger and hostility.

However, their hesitation lasted only a brief moment.

Soon, their attention locked onto Thoren.

Screech!

Now that their concealment had been stripped away, they abandoned their cautious approach.

Their eight legs moved in perfect coordination as they surged forward.

They rushed toward Thoren and his undead servants with terrifying speed.

Thoren observed them calmly.

The intimidation they once held within the darkness had completely faded.

Now that they were visible, they were no longer unknown.

And what was known could be killed.

Whoosh!

From his undead space, dozens of undead Jackal Beastmen emerged.

Each one carried crude weapons forged from bone and rusted metal.

Axes.

Clubs.

And mostly sabers.

The sudden appearance of reinforcements caused a ripple of surprise among the approaching Arachnes.

For a brief instant, their advance faltered.

Yet their aggression did not diminish. Instead, it increased. To them, humans were nothing but food to be eaten.

Their ear piercing sound echoed in the darkness with their fast moving limbs.

“Kill,” Thoren commanded coldly.

****

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