Nilan didn't slow down as he moved through the forest.
His breathing had already become uneven, yet the footsteps behind him kept getting closer and closer. The distance between them was shrinking little by little.
He knew he couldn't keep running forever.
So—
He suddenly stopped and turned around.
Shadow One attacked first.
A sharp slash came from the right side, fast and clean. Nilan stepped back just enough to avoid it, the blade passing dangerously close to his chest.
Before he could stabilize himself completely—
Shadow Two followed up from the front.
Nilan twisted his body sideways, but his foot slipped slightly on the dry leaves scattered across the ground. For a moment, his balance almost broke—
Yet he still forced himself upright.
The attack brushed past his shoulder, tearing part of his sleeve.
He didn't retreat anymore.
For a brief moment—
He forced his Qi to surge to Level Three.
The unstable power rushed violently through his body as he stepped forward instead of retreating.
Bang!
His strike landed directly on Shadow One.
The attack wasn't heavy, but the force traveled through the body instead of remaining on the surface. Shadow One's muscles tightened instantly as his movement froze for a split second.
That single moment—
Was enough.
Nilan turned instantly and struck Shadow Two in the ribs with a short, precise hit.
Thud!
Shadow Two staggered backward, his breathing disrupted immediately.
Nilan didn't stay there to continue fighting.
The moment both of them lost rhythm—
He moved.
Turning sharply, he slammed his palm directly into the nearest tree.
Crack!
The trunk exploded apart as Qi burst through it violently.
Then another tree—
And another.
Boom! Crack—!
Branches shattered apart. Leaves burst into the air. Dust and broken wood spread through the surroundings until the entire area became hazy.
Visibility dropped sharply.
Using the confusion, Nilan lowered his body and instantly changed direction before slipping behind a thicker tree deeper within the forest.
Shadow One entered the smoke-filled area first.
His vision was still blurred from the dust and debris.
That hesitation—
Became his mistake.
Nilan suddenly appeared from the side.
Bang!
The strike landed heavily on Shadow One's body, forcing him to bend forward as blood rose to his mouth.
This time—
The damage was real.
But Nilan still didn't stop to continue fighting.
The moment the attack connected, he stepped back and retreated once again.
However—
As soon as he turned around—
He felt a presence ahead of him.
Kairo Luo was already standing there.
Unlike the others, he hadn't rushed blindly from the beginning. He had calmly predicted Nilan's movement and cut off his escape path before he even arrived.
Nilan instantly tried to change direction—
But Kairo moved faster.
Slash!
The blade swept from the side in one smooth motion.
Nilan twisted his body to avoid it, but he was slightly too slow.
The edge of the blade grazed across his cheek, leaving behind a thin cut.
He stumbled immediately afterward.
For a brief moment, his vision blurred slightly, and a strange heaviness spread through his body.
The power hidden inside the attack was slowly suppressing his movements little by little.
Behind him—
Shadow One and Shadow Two had already caught up once again.
This time—
The three attacked together.
Shadow One attacked from the left, forcing Nilan to lower his body. Shadow Two attacked directly from the front, pushing him backward.
At the same time—
Kairo Luo moved from behind, cutting off his escape route completely.
Nilan turned and blocked one strike directly—
Bang!
The impact forced him backward violently. His foot slipped against loose soil as he dropped onto one knee.
Another attack came down immediately.
Nilan rolled sideways without hesitation—
Boom!
The blade struck the ground where his head had been only a moment earlier.
Using the momentum from the roll, he pushed himself back up and ran again.
Branches struck against his arms and shoulders as he forced his way deeper into the forest. The uneven ground made every step harder.
Roots spread across the surface, slowing his movement more and more.
His breathing became heavier.
His body slower.
But he still kept moving.
Because stopping—
Meant death.
Another attack came from behind.
Slash!
The strike grazed across his side, leaving behind another shallow wound.
Pain surged through his body.
His breathing became even more unstable.
Yet he continued running.
The forest around him grew darker and denser the deeper he went. Trees blocked the moonlight completely, turning the surroundings almost black.
Behind him—
The three hunters continued chasing relentlessly.
And ahead—
Only endless darkness remained.
Nilan clenched his teeth and forced his body forward once more.
Then—
His foot suddenly stepped onto something soft.
His expression changed instantly.
The ground beneath him—
Felt hollow.
Crack—
Tiny fractures spread beneath his feet.
Nilan's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Before he could react—
The earth beneath him completely collapsed.
His body dropped straight into darkness.
The cold wind roared past his ears as he fell deeper and deeper below the ground.
Then—
Boom!
Nilan crashed heavily onto solid stone.
Pain exploded through his entire body instantly.
For several moments, he couldn't even breathe properly.
His vision blurred violently.
A sharp ringing echoed inside his ears.
And his body—
Wouldn't move properly anymore.
"…Cough…!"
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as he forced himself to breathe again.
The strange power hidden inside Kairo Luo's attack was still suppressing his body little by little. Combined with the impact from the fall—
Even lifting his arms now felt difficult.
Nilan gritted his teeth and slowly tried to stand.
But the moment he forced strength into his legs—
Thud.
His knees collapsed instantly.
A sharp pain spread upward through his body.
"…Damn it…"
His breathing became rough and unstable.
For a few moments—
He simply remained there silently.
The underground space around him was completely dark.
No wind.
No sound.
Only the faint echo of his own breathing remained.
The silence here felt wrong.
Cold.
Ancient.
As if this place had remained sealed for countless years.
Then slowly—
Nilan dragged himself forward using his arms.
His fingers scraped across the cold stone ground as he forced his body to move inch by inch.
Every movement felt painfully heavy.
Step by step—
No—
Pull by pull—
He slowly moved deeper into the darkness.
Then—
A faint light suddenly appeared ahead.
Nilan froze slightly.
At the same time—
The stone walls around the underground passage slowly began to light up one after another.
Dim ancient symbols glowed across the walls, illuminating the darkness little by little.
The symbols were unfamiliar.
Nothing like the markings used within the Outer Sect.
Nilan's eyes narrowed slowly.
Then—
He stopped completely.
Three different paths stood before him.
One to the left.
One in the center.
And one to the right.
The underground space suddenly felt even colder than before.
Nilan stared silently into the darkness ahead.
Because for some reason—
The moment those three paths appeared before him—
A strange pressure rose deep inside his mind.
As if—
Choosing the wrong path—
Might cost far more than his life.