Setting: The edge of the Dark Forest.
Van Nam snapped out of his daze. Before him, the Blood Shadow Spider, his first Shadow Guard, hovered in mid-air, its six large spider legs neatly folded, its dark purple eyes glowing with loyalty.
"You... why are you here?" Van Nam stammered in shock. He still couldn't believe that the ferocious Blood Spider had now become this strange creature, subservient to his commands.
The Blood Shadow Spider did not answer, only bowing its head in silence, as if awaiting orders.
Van Nam took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He remembered the mysterious voice in his head, the Shadow Pact sigil on the back of his hand, and the bizarre process that had just occurred. Clearly, it was all related to the Primal Dark Origin Spirit, the mysterious power he possessed.
"Can you understand what I'm saying?" Van Nam ventured.
The Blood Shadow Spider gave a slight nod.
"You... why did you submit to me?"
The moment the question left his lips, Van Nam felt a little foolish. It was obviously related to the Shadow Pact, but he still wanted to hear the answer from his own Shadow Guard.
The Blood Shadow Spider made no sound, but Van Nam suddenly felt a stream of information flow into his mind. It was a series of flashing images: the scene of him fighting the Blood Spider, the moment the Dark Fang finished it off, the stream of black energy from the Pact sigil enveloping the spider's corpse, and finally, its strange transformation.
"The Shadow Pact..." Van Nam murmured. He was beginning to understand. This was the ability of the Pact, allowing him to purify and subjugate the souls of beasts he killed, turning them into his Shadow Guards.
He curiously observed the Blood Shadow Spider. Compared to a normal Blood Spider, it had several differences. Its body was larger, its carapace tougher, and most notably, it was shrouded in a dark aura that made it appear far more terrifying.
"What can you do?" Van Nam asked, a spark of excitement rising within him.
The Blood Shadow Spider seemed to understand his intent. It suddenly vanished, blending into the shadows of the forest.
"Invisibility?" Van Nam was astonished. He recalled that normal Blood Spiders didn't have this ability.
A moment later, the Blood Shadow Spider abruptly reappeared right in front of him, startling him into taking a step back.
"Incredible speed!" Van Nam exclaimed.
He continued to experiment, ordering the Blood Shadow Spider to move, attack, and defend. He discovered that his Shadow Guard not only possessed the ability to become invisible and move with great agility, but it could also spew black silk threads infused with the Power of Darkness, which were far more durable and lethal than the webs of a normal Blood Spider.
"How interesting," Van Nam smiled, his heart filled with excitement. He had gained a powerful ally, a secret weapon for the perilous journey ahead.
While engrossed in exploring his Shadow Guard's power, Van Nam suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Brother Van Nam, are you alright?"
Startled, Van Nam quickly recalled the Blood Shadow Spider. He turned to see Mai Lien standing not far away, her face etched with worry.
"I... I was just tending to my wound," Van Nam replied, trying to remain calm.
"Are you okay?" Mai Lien asked. "I heard a loud noise just now and rushed over to check, but I couldn't find you."
"I'm fine," Van Nam shook his head. "Just a moment of carelessness while fighting the Blood Spider."
"That's good," Mai Lien sighed in relief. "Everyone must be worried about us. We should get back quickly."
"Right," Van Nam nodded. "Let's go."
The two of them returned to where the team was resting. When they arrived, the sight before them sent a shiver down Van Nam's spine.
The corpses of three teammates lay strewn across the ground, stained with blood. Li Kun—the one with the Long Staff Qi Spirit, He Meng—the one with the Scout's Eye Origin Spirit, and another Origin Apprentice named Zhao Yong were all dead. Their eyes were wide open, their faces still frozen in utter terror. Not far away, the corpse of a mature Blood Spider lay motionless, its body covered in wounds from a greatsword.
Zhang Hu and Li Mei were leaning against a tree, their faces pale and their bodies covered in injuries. Beside them, Li Zhong—the Origin Disciple who had fled earlier—was huddled in a corner, shivering like a leaf, his eyes vacant and filled with panic.
"What happened?" Van Nam asked anxiously.
"We... we were ambushed," Zhang Hu answered with difficulty. "Two adult Blood Spiders... They were too strong..."
"There was another one..." Li Mei rasped. "It... it got away..."
Van Nam looked at the tragic scene, a sense of helplessness and sorrow welling up inside him. He never expected that in such a short time, three teammates would lose their lives in the deep forest.
"Van Nam, Mai Lien, are you two alright?" Zhang Hu looked at them, his eyes filled with guilt. "If it wasn't for my carelessness, this wouldn't have happened."
"It's not your fault, Big Brother Zhang," Van Nam comforted him. "Who would have thought the Blood Spiders would set a trap for us."
Just then, Li Zhong, who was still trembling in fear, suddenly shrieked, "It's your fault! It's all your fault, Van Nam! If you hadn't tried to save that girl, we wouldn't have fallen into the Blood Spiders' trap!"
All eyes turned to Li Zhong. Van Nam frowned, not expecting this man to blame him.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Mai Lien said angrily. "It was clearly..."
"That's enough, Mai Lien," Van Nam cut her off. "Now is not the time to argue."
He turned to Zhang Hu. "Big Brother Zhang, we need to leave this place quickly. That other Blood Spider could come back at any moment."
Zhang Hu nodded, struggling to his feet. "Van Nam is right. We need to get back to Umbral City immediately."
The group gathered their belongings, preparing to leave. Van Nam helped Li Mei bandage her wounds, then, along with Zhang Hu, carried the bodies of their three fallen comrades. They had to bring them home, to their families.
The journey back was heavy with a somber, mournful silence. No one spoke a word; only the heavy thud of footsteps echoed in the quiet forest.
As they neared the forest gate, while they were packing their things, Van Nam took the opportunity to sit cross-legged and close his eyes. On the surface, he appeared to be resting, but in reality, he was focusing on absorbing Origin Power, breaking through to Level 4 of the Origin Apprentice realm. He could feel the powerful dark energy surging within him, blending with his Origin Power, causing his cultivation speed to multiply.
"Level 4!" Van Nam opened his eyes, a surge of joy rising in his heart. In just a short time, he had broken through consecutively, reaching Level 4 of the Origin Apprentice realm.
But that joy was quickly extinguished by the brutal reality. He looked at the bodies of his teammates lying on the ground, and his heart grew heavy.
"Stronger... I must become stronger!" Van Nam told himself. He knew this was just the beginning. The road ahead was long and filled with dangers. He had to continue cultivating, to raise his strength, so he could protect himself, protect his loved ones, and achieve his goals.
"Van Nam, get up. It's time to go." Mai Lien's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Van Nam stood up and looked towards the forest gate. The faint light of dawn was beginning to break, dispelling the dark night. A new day was beginning, bringing with it new hope and new challenges.
"Let's go," Van Nam said, his gaze firm. "We're going home."
(End of Chapter 7)