Chapter 21: The Glory of a Desperate Counterattack

Cold, chilling laughter echoed through the cavern, sounding like the flicking tongue of a viper, enough to make one’s skin crawl.

The intruders were none other than the "Blood Wolf" mercenary group, who had been repelled earlier. Their leader, a man with a scarred face, glared with sinister eyes, clutching a dagger that shimmered with an eerie blue light—a clear sign that he was channeling some formidable runic power.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!" the scarred man sneered. He slashed his dagger in a bizarre arc, sending a wave of azure energy, like a roaring beast, sweeping toward Chu Feng and his companions.

The stone walls of the cavern groaned under the impact of this energy, shedding showers of碎石 as a dangerous aura permeated the air.

Chu Feng’s gaze sharpened. He instantly activated his Shadow Rune, and black mist swirled around him, coalescing into a solid barrier.

The blue energy wave crashed against the barrier with a deafening roar. The black mist churned violently, yet it stood firm, refusing to yield.

"Not bad, but that’s as far as you go!" The scarred man laughed coldly and swung his dagger again. This time, the azure energy wave was more condensed and far more powerful.

Chu Feng felt immense pressure, and cracks began to appear in his Shadow Barrier.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed his runic power to its limit. The black mist surged frantically, like boiling water, barely holding back the overwhelming onslaught.

"Chu Feng, I’m here to help!" Pan Yue’s voice rang out from behind. A wave of warm energy surged into Chu Feng’s body. He felt a gentle heat flow through his veins, and the crumbling Shadow Barrier instantly stabilized.

The other team members joined in, their various runic powers weaving together to form a multi-colored light screen that held the azure energy wave at bay.

Seizing the moment, Chu Feng flickered like a phantom, appearing instantly before the scarred man. His black mist transformed into sharp claws, slashing fiercely at his opponent.

The scarred man, clearly not expecting such speed, was caught off guard and forced back several steps.

Regaining his footing, he flashed a look of wariness and growled, "It seems I underestimated you!"

"You were just too arrogant!" Chu Feng retorted coldly, activating his Shadow Rune once more...

"Now, the real fight begins!"

Black mist surged like a tide, with Chu Feng’s figure flickering within it like a reaper from the abyss.

The scarred man swung his dagger repeatedly, but he could not break through Chu Feng’s defense.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and for the first time, a look of fear entered his eyes.

However, just as Chu Feng prepared to deliver the killing blow, the rest of the "Blood Wolf" mercenaries swarmed in.

Though they lacked the individual strength of their leader, they were numerous and coordinated well. Suddenly, Chu Feng found himself caught in a brutal struggle.

Pan Yue and the others were also in dire straits.

Despite fighting with all their might, the "Blood Wolf" mercenaries were a force to be reckoned with. Their wounds multiplied, and their stamina began to wane.

A sense of despair started to spread among the team.

"Are we... are we all going to die here today?" Sun Yue’s voice trembled; his face was pale, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.

"No! We won't lose!" Chen Qiang roared, slamming his shield into a mercenary and sending him flying.

Yet, the enemy’s attacks grew more ferocious. Their runic powers poured down like a torrential storm, causing the cavern walls to collapse as debris rained down like hail.

At this critical juncture, a surge of overwhelming power erupted from within Chu Feng.

He felt his Shadow Rune undergo a transformation, becoming denser and more potent.

"Is this... a breakthrough?" Chu Feng felt a surge of joy as an unprecedented power flooded his entire being.

Black mist roared outward like a dragon, devouring the surrounding enemies.

The scarred man’s eyes widened in terror; his dagger dropped limply from his hand, his face filled with despair.

"No... this is impossible..."

Chu Feng’s assault swept through the ranks of the "Blood Wolf" mercenaries, felling them one by one.

The scarred man eventually fell into a pool of his own blood.

The remaining mercenaries, seeing this, dropped their weapons and fled in panic.

Chu Feng stood in the center of the cavern, surrounded by swirling black mist, like a king presiding over his realm.

He slowly raised his hand, feeling the surging power within, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"This feeling..." Chu Feng murmured to himself, "is truly remarkable."

He looked at his fallen comrades.

"Now..." Chu Feng’s voice was low and powerful, tinged with unconcealable excitement.

He slowly closed his eyes, and the Shadow Rune within him awoke like a slumbering beast. The black mist moved like a living entity, exuding a heart-stopping power.

He raised his hands, and thick, tangible black energy poured from his fingertips. Like a babbling brook that turned into a rushing river, it flowed gently yet dominantly toward his fallen teammates.

The black mist enveloped them, cocooning them in warmth.

Pan Yue was the first to feel the nourishment. Her pale complexion turned rosy, and the wounds on her chest healed at a visible rate.

She opened her eyes, glowing with surprise and joy.

"This is..." she whispered, feeling an unprecedented, warm, and powerful energy surging within her.

The other members awoke one by one, their faces filled with disbelief as they felt the changes in their bodies.

Liu Yong’s mechanical arm emitted a low hum, as if reborn; Sun Yue felt his body become more agile, as light as a leopard; Chen Qiang’s muscles felt solid as rock, imbued with infinite strength; and Wu Xia felt her sensory perception sharpen, everything around her becoming crystal clear.

They stood up and looked at each other, knowing that all of this was thanks to Chu Feng.

"Chu Feng!" Pan Yue cried out in excitement, rushing forward to embrace him.

The others crowded around, sharing the joy of having survived the ordeal.

After this life-and-death struggle, the bonds between them had become unbreakable.

The black mist gradually dissipated, replaced by a faint, lingering glow on each of them—a sign of their elevated runic powers.

Pan Yue’s healing runes were stronger; Liu Yong’s mechanical arm had been reinforced; Sun Yue’s stealth skills were now supernatural; Chen Qiang’s defense was like iron; and Wu Xia had gained superior reconnaissance abilities.

They felt the surging power within and beamed with pride, as if they had been granted new life.

"We all seem to have gotten stronger," Sun Yue said with a grin, scratching his head.

Chen Qiang clenched his fists, savoring the power. "Yeah, this feeling is great."

Pan Yue looked at Chu Feng with gratitude. "Chu Feng, thank you!"

Chu Feng smiled slightly, his gaze steady and profound. "This is our shared victory. Now..." He paused.

"What is that?" Wu Xia suddenly spoke up, pointing toward the deep end of the cavern. A faint, flickering light radiated from the distance, appearing like ancient runes and emitting an eerie aura.

The strange light grew clearer, as if it were beckoning them.

Chu Feng’s eyes narrowed. Enveloped in black mist, he stepped into the depths first.

Pan Yue and the others followed closely, knowing that new challenges awaited.

As they delved deeper, the passage narrowed. The walls were etched with ancient runes that glowed with a dim, unsettling light.

The air was heavy with a sense of unease, as if countless eyes were watching them from the shadows.

Suddenly, the ground trembled. Several dark shapes emerged from the cracks in the stone, their eyes glowing red as they lunged.

"Watch out!" Chen Qiang bellowed, thrusting his shield forward to block the lead shadow.

Liu Yong’s mechanical arm roared, firing beams of energy at the dark figures.

Sun Yue darted between the shadows like a ghost, his daggers flashing with cold light.

Wu Xia kept the team informed of their surroundings.

Chu Feng stood still, black mist swirling around him. He watched the shadows intently, the power of his Shadow Rune surging.

He realized these shadows were not physical entities, but monsters composed of negative energy. They were fast and attacked in bizarre ways.

With a flick of his hands, the black mist turned into countless blades and slashed at the shadows.

The dark creatures let out shrill, piercing cries as their energy dissipated, eventually vanishing into thin wisps of black smoke.

After clearing the path, they pushed forward and reached the end of the cavern.

The space suddenly opened up into a massive chamber. Countless glowing gems were embedded in the walls, illuminating the entire area.

In the center stood an ancient altar carved with complex runes, exuding a mysterious aura.

Chu Feng approached the altar and felt a powerful force pulsating from it. He carefully reached out to touch it. A wave of warm energy rushed into his body, and he felt his Shadow Rune evolve yet again, growing even stronger.

The others also found treasures in the cavern suited to their needs. Pan Yue’s healing, Liu Yong’s arm, Sun Yue’s stealth, Chen Qiang’s defense, and Wu Xia’s perception were all further enhanced.

With their spoils, they left the cavern and returned to the surface. Sunlight bathed them, dispelling the cavern's chill.

They cheered, celebrating their great victory, filled with a sense of glory.

However, upon returning to their base, they noticed strange phenomena.

The air around the base seemed thick and viscous, a thin mist clung to the ground, and in the distance, low, guttural roars could be heard.

Pan Yue looked at Chu Feng, her eyes full of confusion. "What is happening?"

Chu Feng’s brow furrowed. He slowly looked toward the horizon, an ominous premonition clouding his heart.