A fierce duel of magic and swordsmanship begins...
Hu Yulun seized the opportunity, lunging toward the Wizard with a swift step. His sword was raised high, brimming with unstoppable momentum. The Wizard sidestepped, his wand moving rapidly, and streaks of black light shot towards Hu Yulun.
Isabella cried out, her magic staff radiating a brilliant light. It formed a screen of light, completely blocking the black streaks. Merlin was also busy, muttering incantations and casting a Binding Curse, attempting to restrict the Wizard's movements.
However, the Wizard was powerful and easily broke free. He snarled, shouting, "You fools who seek death! You will all die here today!"
Hu Yulun's eyes were resolute. "You won't kill us so easily!" he retorted. With that, his swordplay changed, becoming more fierce and tricky, forcing the Wizard to retreat.
Enraged, the Wizard increased his magical output, and the surrounding trees were uprooted by the powerful magic. Seeing this, Isabella and Merlin unleashed their strongest magic, joining Hu Yulun in the fight against the Wizard.
For a time, light clashed and magic overflowed. In the midst of the intense battle, Hu Yulun spotted an opening in the Wizard's defenses and thrust his sword forward. The Wizard couldn't dodge in time and was wounded on the arm by the sword.
"Argh!" The Wizard screamed, and his magical power weakened instantly.
"Now!" Hu Yulun shouted.
Isabella and Merlin understood immediately. The three of them exerted their strength simultaneously, focusing their combined power towards the Wizard.
"No!" The Wizard cried out in despair, but ultimately couldn't withstand the powerful combined force. He was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Hmph, let's see you try to stop us now!" Hu Yulun said.
They continued forward, exiting the eerie forest. At this moment, a full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating their path.
"After all we've been through, we will definitely complete our mission," Merlin said.
Hu Yulun and Isabella nodded, their eyes filled with hope.
Suddenly, an ancient Castle appeared before them. The Castle gates were tightly shut, and an aura of mystery permeated the surroundings.
"Where is this place?" Isabella asked.
Hu Yulun frowned. "I don't know, but I feel like there must be important clues hidden here."
They cautiously approached the Castle. Just then, the large doors slowly opened…
The doors slowly opened, and a musty, decaying smell wafted out. Hu Yulun instinctively covered his mouth and nose with his hand, stepping into the Castle first.
Inside the Castle, it was dark and damp. The torches on the walls flickered with weak light, casting eerie shadows. They walked cautiously, their footsteps making a "creaking" sound on the stone slabs.
"Be careful, everyone. There's something sinister about this place," Hu Yulun said in a low voice.
Isabella followed closely behind him, her magic staff emitting a soft glow, trying to dispel the unsettling darkness.
Merlin walked at the back, cautiously observing the surroundings.
Suddenly, a chilling laugh echoed through the Castle. "Hahaha! Welcome to the land of death!"
Hu Yulun's heart clenched, and he shouted, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
At that moment, a Shadow Figure cloaked in black slowly emerged from the darkness. The figure's face was obscured by shadows, making it impossible to see their features, but the evil aura emanating from them sent shivers down their spines.
"You have trespassed where you do not belong. Prepare to die!" the Shadow Figure said coldly.
Hu Yulun was unafraid, pointing his sword at the Shadow Figure. "Enough talk! Come at me if you dare!"
The Shadow Figure waved their sleeve, and a surge of Darkness Power erupted, surging towards the three of them. Hu Yulun gritted his teeth, fiercely swinging his sword to defend. Isabella quickly cast a spell, reinforcing Hu Yulun with a shield.
Under the impact of the Darkness Power, the three were forced to retreat step by step. Observing the situation, Merlin began to chant an ancient spell, his staff glowing brightly as it countered the Darkness Power.
After a fierce struggle, the Darkness Power began to wane. Seeing this, the Shadow Figure let out an enraged roar, increasing the output of their power once again.
Hu Yulun felt a surge of numbness in his arm, but he still gripped the sword hilt tightly, with only one conviction in his heart: he absolutely could not fall!
Isabella and Merlin also fought with all their might, jointly resisting this powerful Darkness Power.
Just when they were about to collapse, a powerful force suddenly erupted from within Hu Yulun, and the light instantly illuminated the entire Castle. The Shadow Figure, under the illumination of this light, emitted a painful scream and gradually disappeared.
"This… what's going on?" Isabella looked at Hu Yulun in surprise.
Hu Yulun himself also felt bewildered, but there was no time to think about it. They continued to walk deeper into the Castle…
Deeper in the Castle, a thicker mist permeated, making people feel as if they were in a dream. Hu Yulun and the other two cautiously groped forward, each step filled with vigilance.
"This place is strange; everyone, be careful," Merlin's voice was low and serious.
Hu Yulun nodded, gripping the sword in his hand even tighter. The magic wand in Isabella's hand flickered with light, striving to illuminate the surrounding environment.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and huge cracks spread out beneath their feet.
"Watch out, get away!" Hu Yulun shouted.
They quickly leaped to the side, and saw countless black tentacles emerging from the cracks, frantically reaching for them.
Hu Yulun swung his sword, severing the approaching tentacles, while Isabella cast spells, freezing the tentacles or burning them to ashes. Merlin continuously chanted incantations, providing them with protective barriers.
"What kind of monster is this!" Hu Yulun roared as he slashed.
In the midst of the fierce battle, Hu Yulun discovered the source of the tentacles—a massive Dark Core, radiating an evil light.
"Attack that core, it might be controlling these tentacles!" Hu Yulun yelled.
Isabella and Merlin immediately focused their power and launched an attack on the Dark Core. Rays of magical light and the shadows of Hu Yulun's sword intertwined, charging towards the core.
Just as their attacks were about to hit the core, a black shield suddenly rose around it, completely blocking the attacks.
"Damn it, again!" Hu Yulun shouted.
They launched even more powerful attacks, repeatedly hitting the shield. Finally, cracks appeared on the shield.
"Push harder!" Merlin yelled.
With one last all-out attack, the shield shattered, and the Dark Core exploded in a burst of intense light.
The tentacles instantly vanished, and the Castle returned to peace. The three of them slumped to the ground, exhausted, gasping for breath.
"We finally did it," Isabella said.
"But who knows what else is waiting for us ahead," Hu Yulun said, his gaze fixed on the dark passage ahead, his eyes resolute.
After a short rest, they stood up and continued deeper into the Castle…
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Having defeated the Dark Core, the three continued to explore the Castle. They proceeded down a dim corridor, the torches on the walls flickering, as if they might go out at any moment.
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Suddenly, a tightly shut stone door appeared ahead. Hu Yulun stepped forward and pushed with all his might, but the door didn't budge.
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"Let me try," Isabella said, raising her magic staff and chanting an incantation. A flash of light erupted, and the stone door slowly rose, releasing a musty odor.
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Inside was a spacious room, filled with various ancient artifacts and books. Merlin walked forward and picked up a yellowed book, gently opening it.
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"This seems to be a record of the Mysterious Organization," Merlin said.
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Hu Yulun and Isabella immediately came over and carefully examined the contents of the book. Just then, a low growl came from the corner of the room.
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A huge Monster emerged from the shadows, its body covered in tough scales, its eyes flashing with red light.
"Prepare for battle!" Hu Yulun shouted, raising his sword again.
Isabella quickly cast a spell, enhancing Hu Yulun and Merlin's strength.
The Monster lunged at them. Hu Yulun dodged to the side and slashed at the Monster's legs. The Monster yelped in pain and turned to attack Isabella.
Merlin hastily waved his staff, releasing a powerful beam of magic that struck the Monster's back.
The Monster roared furiously and attacked them even more ferociously. The three of them worked closely together, engaging the Monster in a fierce, life-or-death battle.
After a hard fight, the Monster finally fell to the ground. They were exhausted, but their faces showed the joy of victory.
"Hopefully, we can find more useful clues this time," Hu Yulun said.
They began to search the room carefully, not missing any possible corner.
They carefully searched the room. Hu Yulun focused on examining the ancient artifacts, trying to find special markings or runes. Isabella quickly flipped through the books and scrolls scattered on the floor, hoping to find key information about the Mysterious Organization.
Merlin stood in the center of the room, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as his brain worked at lightning speed, considering the possible connections between the items.
"Look at this!" Isabella exclaimed excitedly, holding a yellowed parchment in her hand, on which some complex patterns and symbols were drawn.
Hu Yulun and Merlin immediately came over. Merlin carefully examined the parchment, his brows gradually furrowing.
"This seems to be some kind of code or map, but it's missing a key part," Merlin said.
At that moment, a strange sound suddenly came from the room, as if something was moving behind the wall.
Hu Yulun gripped his sword warily and walked towards the direction of the sound. He pressed his ear against the wall, and the sound became clearer.
"There must be a secret passage behind this," Hu Yulun said.
Isabella cast a spell, attempting to find a mechanism on the wall. After some effort, she finally found a raised stone in an inconspicuous corner.
She gently pressed the stone, and with a dull sound, the wall slowly opened, revealing a dark passage.
A cold current of air surged from the passage, causing everyone to shiver.
"Be careful, everyone," Hu Yulun cautiously entered the passage, the sword in his hand emitting a faint light, illuminating the path ahead.
A pungent smell permeated the passage, and unknown vines crawled on the walls. They cautiously moved forward, and the ground under their feet became damp.
Suddenly, several Shadow Figures appeared ahead, quickly rushing towards them.
Hu Yulun shouted and swung his sword to meet them. Isabella and Merlin also reacted quickly, magical light flashing in the darkness.
After an intense battle, the Shadow Figures were finally repelled. They continued forward and found that the end of the passage was a huge secret room.
In the secret room, a massive stone table dominated the space, and upon it rested a book radiating an aura of mystery.
Hu Yulun approached and gently opened the book. The words and illustrations within stunned all three of them…
The instant Hu Yulun opened the book, a surge of powerful magic erupted from its pages, enveloping them. In the flashing light, the words and illustrations seemed to come alive, dancing in the air.
Isabella's eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of magic is this?"
Merlin struggled to remain composed. "Be careful, this magic is extraordinary."
Hu Yulun attempted to control the magic, but his own power felt insignificant in its presence. Just when they were at a loss, an ancient and deep voice echoed from the book.
"Brave explorers, your arrival here proves your courage and determination. But to uncover the truth, you must first pass a test."
As the voice faded, the secret room's floor began to violently shake. Mysterious runes appeared on the surrounding walls, emitting an eerie glow.
"It's a Magic Array!" Merlin shouted.
Countless magical elements converged within the array, gradually forming illusions of various magical creatures. There was a Flame Dragon, a Frost Giant, and even a Dark Knight.
"Prepare for battle!" Hu Yulun raised his sword again.
Isabella and Merlin also quickly readied themselves for combat. The Flame Dragon was the first to unleash a torrent of scorching flames. Hu Yulun dodged to the side and charged towards the dragon. Isabella cast ice magic, attempting to slow the dragon's movements.
Merlin waved his staff, releasing bolts of lightning that struck the Frost Giant. The battle was intense, and all three of them sustained numerous injuries.
But they didn't retreat. Coordinating with each other, they gradually gained the upper hand. Finally, through their combined efforts, all the illusions were destroyed, and the Magic Array ceased to function.
The mysterious book slowly opened, revealing the secrets hidden within – a detailed record of the Mysterious Organization's origins and ultimate goals.
"Finally found it!" Hu Yulun exclaimed excitedly.
However, before they could read it carefully, a sharp alarm suddenly blared in the Secret Chamber.
"This isn't good. New danger is probably coming," Merlin said anxiously.
The three of them looked around nervously, awaiting an unknown challenge…
Just then, the ceiling of the Secret Chamber began to slowly descend, as if to crush them.
"Damn it, we have to get out of here quickly!" Hu Yulun shouted urgently.
Isabella immediately cast a spell, trying to stop the ceiling from falling, but her magic seemed to have no effect on it.
Merlin quickly flipped through the newly acquired book, hoping to find a solution.
"Don't panic, everyone, there's definitely a way out!" Hu Yulun reassured his companions, looking around for a possible exit.
The ceiling was descending faster and faster, and the air was becoming increasingly oppressive.
"I found it!" Merlin suddenly shouted. "The book mentions a hidden Mechanism in the Secret Chamber's southeast corner. Activating it will open an escape passage."
Hu Yulun and Isabella immediately rushed towards the southeast corner. Just as the ceiling was about to crush them, Hu Yulun finally found the Mechanism and pressed it with all his might.
A loud rumble echoed, and a Hidden Door slowly opened. The three of them quickly dove into the Hidden Door. A loud crash followed as the ceiling slammed onto the ground.
They ran desperately through the passage until they reached a more spacious area, where they stopped to catch their breath.
"We finally escaped with our lives," Isabella said, still shaken.
"But we can't let our guard down. We don't know what's waiting for us ahead," Hu Yulun said.
They continued forward. A damp smell permeated the passage, and droplets of water dripped onto their shoulders.
After a while, three branching paths appeared ahead.
"Which way do we go?" Isabella looked at Hu Yulun and Merlin.
Merlin pondered for a moment and said, "I feel a faint air current in the left passage. Perhaps it leads to the exit."
So, they chose the left passage. After walking for a while, strange sounds began to emerge from the passage, as if countless eyes were watching them in the darkness.
"Be careful, everyone," Hu Yulun gripped his sword tightly.
Suddenly, a group of shadows darted out of the darkness and pounced on them…
Hu Yulun reacted instantly, swinging his sword to meet the black shadows. The blade flashed a cold light in the darkness, clashing with the shadows and emitting a sharp clang. Isabella quickly cast a light spell. As the light bloomed, they saw that the shadows were actually a group of Monsters with fangs.
"Damn it, these guys are tough!" Hu Yulun gritted his teeth.
Merlin, however, calmly observed the Monsters' movements, muttering incantations as he prepared to cast a powerful spell.
Isabella's Magic light flickered continuously, providing cover for Hu Yulun. Hu Yulun's sword moves were sharp, each swing carrying immense force, driving back the approaching Monsters.
"Watch this!" Merlin shouted, waving his Staff. A powerful torrent of Magic erupted, instantly knocking several Monsters to the ground.
However, the Monsters didn't retreat; instead, they charged forward even more ferociously. Hu Yulun gained a few more wounds, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished.
"We can't let them hold us here!" Isabella shouted.
The three of them coordinated, fighting and retreating. Finally, they found a relatively narrow passage. Utilizing the terrain advantage, they temporarily blocked the Monsters' attack.
"This isn't working," Hu Yulun said, panting heavily. "We need to find a way out, and fast."
Merlin closed his eyes, concentrating on sensing the surrounding magical fluctuations. After a moment, he opened his eyes and pointed ahead. "I feel an unusual surge of magic over there. It might be the way out."
Without hesitation, the three of them charged in the direction Merlin indicated. Monsters continued to pour out of the passageway, but they couldn't afford to worry about them. They had only one thought in mind: get out!
They ran for an unknown amount of time before a glimmer of light finally appeared before them.
"It's the exit!" Isabella exclaimed excitedly.
Hu Yulun quickened his pace, bursting out of the passageway first. Outside, a dense forest stretched out before them, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves and onto their bodies.
"We finally made it!" Hu Yulun collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Isabella and Merlin also breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew the adventure wasn't over. They still had to carry the secrets they'd obtained from the castle and continue their journey…