Chapter 176 It's Too Dangerous Here
"I know. But as you often say, as long as we have faith in our hearts and trust each other, no trial can stop us from moving forward." Arthurtightly held Diana's hand, both their eyes filled with anticipation for the future.
In the night sky, stars began to twinkle, as if guiding the warriors about to depart.
On this quiet yet hopeful night, a whisper gently drifted through the air: "Then let's welcome the dawn together and uncover the Shadow hidden behind the Storm Woman… "
The next morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist, scattering over the dense Amazon forest, as a group of determined individuals gathered around Arthurand Diana, ready to set off.
Arthurgazed into the distance and confidently announced, "Friends, today, we embark not just on a journey, but on an adventure of the soul.
Whatever lies ahead, remember, we are seeking the Shadow, for the future of Amazon, and to prove that mortals can also write legends."
A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the crowd, every person's eyes filled with curiosity for the unknown and admiration for their heroes.
"Depart!" With Arthur's command, the team officially set off.
Along the way, they encountered various people, whose reactions differed, but added different colors to this special expedition.
As they passed a small village, several farmers working in the fields stopped their labor, looking in surprise at the well-equipped and imposing team.
"Look, is that My Lord Arthurand Diana? I never thought we'd run into them in our small place!" an old farmer exclaimed in surprise, almost dropping his hoe.
"I heard they are going to uncover the Storm Woman's secret, how brave!" a woman nearby exclaimed, wiping sweat with her sleeve.
As the team passed a bustling market, the conversations of vendors and customers came to an abrupt halt due to their appearance, and everyone cast admiring glances.
"See that? Those are the legendary heroes! I wish my grandson had half their courage," an old cloth vendor said enviously.
"Their courage is commendable, I hope they can return safely and bring us good news," a young mother whispered in prayer, while tightly embracing the child in her arms, as if this could provide silent support to the distant warriors.
As the journey progressed, the team encountered various difficulties, from treacherous terrain to sudden Beastattacks.
Each crisis was resolved by Arthurand Diana with their tacit agreement and strength, and their story quickly spread along the way, becoming a legend among the people.
One day, as everyone rested by a ruined relic, an old man in a worn robe quietly approached, his eyes deep, as if seeing through everything.
"The journey is long and dangerous, the Shadow you seek may be heavier than you imagine." The old man's words were mysterious, prompting hushed discussions among those around him.
Arthurstepped forward and said firmly, "No matter what the Shadow is, escape is not an option.
We are willing to bear this responsibility and forge a new future for Amazon."
The old man smiled and nodded slightly: "It is because of brave ones like you that the World is brighter.
But remember, the greatest enemy often hides within oneself.
Be careful not to let fear and doubt defeat your faith."
With that, the old man disappeared as silently as he appeared, fading into the sunset, leaving everyone in deep thought.
Night fell again, and by the campfire, Arthurand Dianasat opposite each other, recalling their journey and the old man's advice.
"Arthur, what do you think he meant by 'inner enemy'?" Diana asked softly, her eyes reflecting the dancing firelight.
Arthurgazed at the flames, pondering for a moment before saying, "Perhaps he was reminding us to face our own fears and insecurities.
Only by overcoming these can we truly become Guardians and lead Amazon to glory."
Just as they were speaking, a meteor suddenly streaked across the night sky, like the brush of fate, drawing an unknown trajectory in the boundless heavens.
Diana pointed at the meteor, her voice firm and full of hope: "Then let us be like this meteor; even if our light is but for a moment, we must illuminate the path ahead until all secrets are revealed."
Arthurclasped her hand, their hearts tightly connected at this moment: "Yes, no matter how difficult it is ahead, as long as we are together, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome.
Tomorrow, we continue."
The night deepened, and the warriors around the campfire had already fallen asleep, but the sky remained bright, as if silently watching every moment of this legendary journey.
And beneath this starry sky, a new adventure was quietly unfolding, awaiting them with more surprises, challenges, and the Shadow that could change Amazon's destiny…
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At night, the two stood facing each other, unaware of what they were about to face.
Arthurfrowned, seemingly deep in thought: "Diana, we must find the Storm Woman.
This concerns the entire future of Amazon.
But right now, we know too little about her."
Diana nodded slightly, the moonlight on her face making her look even more serious: "That's right, Arthur.
The intelligence we currently have is like a few stars in the dark night; it can't help us find her at all."
Arthurclenched his fist: "I know it's difficult, but we have no choice.
From the existing clues, the Storm Woman seems to be able to control the weather, but why did she suddenly disappear?
What do her appearance and disappearance mean for Amazon?"
Diana stood up, pacing as she thought: "If I remember correctly, when the Storm Woman appeared, the sky would become strange, with raging winds and storms sweeping everything.
But her appearances were always random; the last time was in a small town by the sea, and she hasn't been seen since."
Arthuralso stood up, looking at Diana: "That alone isn't enough, is it?
Perhaps we can go to the places she once affected and look for witnesses; maybe we can find some new clues."
"That's a plan, but most of those places are already ruined beyond recognition.
Wherever the Storm Woman went, houses collapsed, farmlands were destroyed, and people were too busy dealing with the disaster to really find useful information?" Diana said with some concern.
"If it weren't for us, Amazon might have already been destroyed by her."
Arthurtook a deep breath and continued: "We must try, Diana.
Even if hope is slim, it's better than sitting here waiting.
In the affected areas, someone will always notice some details about the Storm Woman."
Diana stopped and looked at Arthur: "But even so, the Storm Woman has been to too many places, without any pattern.
Where should we look now?"
"And the last place she appeared was in our Amazon, so that means we have no clues at all."
Arthurfrowned; indeed, she was right.
The last time the Storm Woman was seen was in Amazon, and it was precisely because of this that they became the heroes of Amazon.
"If I remember correctly, before the Storm Woman came, she also went to a small town by the sea.
Although I know that many places she visited might not yield any clues, for the sake of the entire Amazon, let's go and see."
Diana clenched her fist: "Alright, in that case, let's go to the small town by the sea and see.
Maybe we'll find something new."
The two said no more and rushed straight to the seaside town.
When they arrived, it was just dawn, and the entire town was devastated, with broken buildings looking particularly desolate in the morning breeze.
Arthursearched carefully through the ruins, and suddenly he called out: "Diana, there are some strange traces here, like they were left by a powerful energy impact.
Look, these patterns seem to have a life of their own, crawling all over these broken walls."
Diana immediately ran over and crouched down to examine them: "These patterns don't look like they were caused by an ordinary storm; they look more like some kind of regular energy burst.
It's as if… she deliberately left these behind, is it a provocation?"
They followed the traces and continued forward, soon encountering an old man tidying up his remaining belongings.
Arthurcould hardly believe his eyes; he never thought anyone would be alive in this apocalyptic place.
Everywhere was a scene of devastation after the storm's rampage; houses collapsed like building blocks into piles of rubble, streets were soaked by seawater, covered with thick mud and debris, and the original vitality had long since vanished.
Logically, the people here should have been swept into the sea by that terrifying storm, or crushed to death by collapsing houses.
Arthurstepped forward and asked in as gentle a tone as possible: "Old man, do you live nearby?
Can you tell us what happened here?
Why did it become like this?"
Hearing the sound, the old man jolted as if electrocuted, and the few old clothes he was tidying up immediately fell to the ground.
His lips began to tremble, his eyes instantly changing from confusion to terror, his cloudy eyes wide open, bloodshot, as if he had seen the most terrifying thing.
His gaze darted quickly between Arthurand Diana, each glance making his body tremble more violently.
"Who… who are you?
Don't… don't come near me!" The old man's voice was like a rusty bellows, every word trembling.
He cried out in fear, frantically backing away, tripped, and almost fell.
He used his veined and calloused hand to steady himself against a half-collapsed wall, barely standing, but his legs were still shaking uncontrollably.
Arthurimmediately stopped, raising both hands in a non-threatening gesture: "Old man, don't be afraid, we are here to help.
We know there was a great disaster here, and we want to know what happened.
You are the only person we can find right now.
You are safe now; we won't harm you."
The old man was still gasping for breath, his rapid breathing causing his chest to heave violently, as if under immense pressure.
His body was still trembling slightly, like the last leaf on a tree in autumn, ready to be blown away at any moment.
After a long while, he finally calmed down a little, but the wariness in his eyes had not diminished.
"This place… it's become hell." The old man's voice was filled with sorrow and fear.
He looked at Arthurand Diana, his gaze falling on the dilapidated small town, his eyes full of despair, "That devil… she brought the storm.
That kind of sight is not something a human should witness.
The fierce winds were like sharp knives, splitting houses and trees apart."
"The sky suddenly turned pitch black, as dark as midnight, with no light at all, only lightning, one after another, tearing the sky open."
Memories of that terrifying experience surfaced in the old man's eyes, and his body began to tremble again: "That Woman… she stood in the middle of the storm, as if she were the Master of this storm.
The surrounding lightning twisted around her like mad snakes."
"She just stood there, coldly watching it all.
Then, she waved her hand, and the sea seemed to be enraged, waves surged like mountains, engulfing the houses on the shore in an instant."
"Many people… many couldn't escape, swept away by the waves.
That sound… those screams, I still can't forget them."
"Did you see which way she went?" Arthurasked softly; he didn't want to interrupt the old man, but time was short, and they needed clues.
The old man's trembling hand pointed towards the sea, his hand swaying in the air as if unsupported by bones: "She went that way.
A giant tornado appeared on the sea, like a black snake connecting heaven and earth."
"She just disappeared into it, as if returning to her hell.
I can't stay here anymore; this place is cursed.
Every stone, every grain of sand exudes death.
I must go, far away, and never return."
With that, the old man frantically began to pick up the clothes and some daily necessities on the ground, his movements hurried and chaotic, his fingers constantly trembling, fumbling several times.
He stuffed everything into a worn backpack, which was already in tatters, but he didn't care about that now, stuffing things in desperately, as if only by leaving here, these things would be his hope for survival.
Arthurand Diana exchanged glances; they deeply felt the terrifying nature of the Storm Woman from the old man's words, but this was precisely why they came here.
Although for Arthur, a change of pace once in a while was not bad, the most important thing now was to find her first; only then would it be possible to make her one of their own.
"Old man, please leave quickly; it's too dangerous here.
We will go and stop her, and not let her harm others again.
You must take care." Diana's voice was gentle yet firm.
The old man said nothing, only carrying his heavy bag, staggering out of the town.
He occasionally looked back at the sea, and each time he did, the fear in his eyes increased, as if the Storm Womanmight reappear from the sea at any moment, bringing with her the power to destroy everything.
After the old man left, Arthurand Diana stood there for a while.
The sea wind whistled past them, bringing the salty and cold taste of seawater, like the heavy sigh of this disaster-stricken area.
Chapter 177 I hope there will be progress this time
They looked around, their gazes firm; although this place had become a ruin, there were certainly more secrets about Storm Woman waiting for them to discover.
Arthurand Diana continued to search carefully in this dilapidated place, taking each step with extreme caution, their eyes not missing any corner, even small items half-buried in sand and mud could be the key to unraveling the mystery.
Arthurcrouched down, his rough hands fumbling through the sand, mud, and debris.
He picked up a piece of wood, mottled and corroded by seawater, its grain no longer clear, its surface uneven, but a few strange scratches on it were exceptionally distinct.
These scratches seemed to have been carved with something sharp and magical, each cut deeply embedded in the wood, the lines winding and curving, like part of some mysterious symbol.
Arthurfrowned, the lines on his brow deep, and he looked at Diana, his eyes full of confusion and thought: "Look, these scratches are not naturally formed. Look at their shape and depth; there's a mysterious power. Could they be related to Storm Woman?"
Diana immediately leaned closer, her beautiful face appearing even more serious due to her focus.
She crouched down, examining the marks on the wooden board with Arthur.
Her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, not missing any detail, "It's possible. This looks like some ancient magicimprint. Perhaps she left it while casting her storm magic."
"Look at the direction of these lines; there seems to be some pattern. Let's keep looking; maybe we can piece together a complete clue, and then we'll be able to find her whereabouts."
They stood up and continued to walk through the ruins. The strong wind blew fine sand against their faces, stinging painfully, but they did not notice at all.
Not long after, Diana discovered a crystal shard emitting a faint glow in a pile of sand and mud. The shard was half-buried in the sand and mud; if it weren't for her sharp eyesight, it would have been easily overlooked.
She carefully picked it up; the shard emitted a faint blue light in her hand, weak but clearly containing immense power.
"Arthur, look at this. This is not an ordinary crystal; it has very strong energy. I can feel it."
"This energy fluctuation is very similar to the magic items I've encountered before, but also a little different."
Arthurwalked over, his gaze fixed on the crystal shard, a hint of curiosity and alertness flashing in his eyes.
He reached out and gently touched the shard; a faint electric current sensation came from his fingertips.
"Could this be one of the sources of Storm Woman's power? Or a key item left behind when she created the disaster?"
If we can unravel the mystery of this crystal shard, perhaps we can find her weakness. We need to study it carefully to see if we can find more clues from it.
Just then, Arthurnoticed a relatively intact lighthouse not far away.
There were some scorched marks on the lighthouse wall, looking as if they had been left after being struck by powerful lightning, black scorch marks spreading along the wall, like the claw of a demon.
There were also some strange footprints on the surrounding ground; the footprints were large and oddly shaped, each deeply embedded in the ground, clearly not left by humans.
The soil around the footprints looked as if it had been baked by high temperatures, becoming cracked and hard.
"Diana, there's something wrong with that lighthouse over there. Let's go check it out. These footprints and scorched marks don't look right; they might be related to Storm Woman."
They walked towards the lighthouse, feeling the abnormality of the ground beneath their feet with every step.
The closer they got to the lighthouse, the stronger the unsettling feeling became, as if unseen eyes were watching them in the darkness.
The lighthouse door was ajar, swaying constantly in the wind, making a "creak, creak" sound, like a groan.
A low humming sound came from inside, like many bees flying, or like the resonance emitted when some mysterious magic was operating.
Arthurtightened his grip on the weapon at his waist; the weapon's handle gave him a sense of security. He gently pushed the door open, and the door hinge made a "creak" sound.
A mysterious mist permeated the lighthouse; this mist seemed to have a life of its own, flowing slowly.
Their vision became blurred, only able to see outlines not far ahead. They walked forward cautiously, the wooden planks under their feet making "creaking" sounds, which were particularly piercing in this quiet environment.
Arthurand Diana's heartbeats involuntarily quickened; they knew that danger might be hidden within this mist.
Suddenly, Diana noticed some black feathers on the ground, with faint electric currents still flickering on them. These feathers seemed to have been soaked in darkness, emitting an eerie aura.
"These feathers… Does Storm Woman have flying helpers? They don't look like ordinary bird feathers; the electricity on them is very strange," Arthurwhispered, his voice very low, fearing to alarm any potential dangers around them.
Diana nodded, her gaze fixed on the feathers, "It seems things are more complicated than we imagined. We must be careful; there might be some trap waiting for us."
"These feathers might have been left by some mysterious creature, perhaps a helper summoned by Storm Woman. We cannot let our guard down."
Suddenly, a blurred figure appeared in the mist, flickering in and out of view, emitting a powerful aura. That aura pressed down on them like a physical entity, making them breathless.
Arthurand Diana immediately became alert, gripping their weapons, their bodies slightly crouching, ready to deal with any potential danger.
They stared intently at the blurred figure, not daring to relax in the slightest.
The mist slowly dissipated, and they finally saw clearly that it was an ancient magic circle. The magic circle glowed with a faint blue light, and images seemed to flicker within the light.
The patterns of the magic circle were complex and mysterious, as if woven from countless stars and runes, and every line flowed with strange power.
They approached the magic circle, their eyes filled with both surprise and caution. The images within the magiccircle gradually became clear, and they saw the figure of Storm Woman.
She stood on a dark island, surrounded by a black storm, with dark clouds and lightning striking.
Storm Woman's figure stood out exceptionally in the darkness; she wore a black robe that fluttered in the strong wind, like dark wings.
She held a jeweled scepter in her hand; the gem at the top of the scepter emitted a dazzling light, but that light contained a hint of *evil*.
She whispered something, her lips moving rapidly, but no sound came out, but from her expression, it was clear that she was casting a powerful spell.
The scene changed, revealing famous buildings from around the World, and each building had a symbol identical to the one they had seen on the wooden board earlier.
Those symbols flickered with strange light on the buildings, as if waiting to be activated.
"She is planning a bigger conspiracy; these symbols might be her target locations for attack. She wants the disaster to spread throughout the World. We must stop her; we cannot let more people suffer."
Diana said with a serious expression, the fire of justice burning in her eyes, her hand gripping her weapon turning White from the force.
Arthurgritted his teeth, his gaze becoming even more determined: "We must stop her; we cannot let her succeed. We need to take this information back and prepare everyone. But right now, we cannot miss the chance to find her; perhaps by following these clues, we can find her whereabouts."
Just as they were about to leave the lighthouse, the magiccircle suddenly released a powerful force, rushing towards them like a tide.
The light became blinding, making them unable to open their eyes, and the powerful impact pushed them back a few steps.
A mysterious voice echoed in the lighthouse, as if coming from the abyss, deep and majestic: "Do you think you can stop her? You are too naive; this is just the beginning… You will be completely swallowed by this dark storm."
Arthur's lips curled slightly upward, revealing a confident yet mocking smile, his gaze sharp, as if it could penetrate this layer of darkness.
"Hiding and lurking, do you think I care about a few words from you?" He clenched his fist, the muscles on his arm bulging, full of power.
Every muscle seemed to contain infinite energy, ready to erupt at any moment.
Diana frowned, her eyes full of worry. She walked to Arthur's side and whispered, "Arthur, this voice is strange; we don't know what abilities the other party has. It's better to be careful." Her hand unconsciously touched the sword at her waist, preparing for any potential unexpected events.
Arthurturned to look at Diana, his gaze firm. He patted her shoulder, comforting her: "Don't be afraid, Diana. I know the person behind this is not simple, but with me here, you don't need to be afraid; I don't even put these people in my eyes." His tone was calm and powerful, giving a sense of security.
Diana nodded softly, "I understand, it's just that all of this is too strange. Ever since we arrived here, every time we discover something, the situation becomes more complicated."
"Precisely for that reason, we must find Storm Woman," Arthursaid, then walked towards the direction from which the voice came, each step firm and powerful, his boots thudding on the lighthouse floor, echoing clearly in this silent and mysterious space.
They searched for clues throughout the lighthouse, not missing any corner.
Arthurcrouched down, carefully examining the marks on the ground, and while looking, he said to Diana: "Look at these scratches; their depth and direction are different. It looks like something struggled here, or was dragged forcibly."
Diana also crouched down, looked carefully, and said: "You're right, and these marks are still very fresh; they should have been left around the time the storm occurred. Perhaps they are related to that mysterious voice."
Just then, Arthurstood up and walked towards the lighthouse wall. There were some blurred patterns on the wall, which were difficult to discern due to the passage of time and the recent storm.
Arthurreached out and gently touched the patterns: "These look like some ancient ritual. Look here; it seems to represent a gathering of power."
Diana walked over and looked closely: "That's right, and over here, it looks like someone is controlling this power. Is this related to how Storm Woman created the disaster?"
As they were speaking, the mysterious voice sounded again: "Foolish insects, do you think you can find me with these few clues? How ridiculous. You are stepping deeper into the abyss, and only destruction awaits you."
Arthurglared, shouting towards the direction of the voice: "If you have the guts, come out! What kind of ability is it to hide here? Do you people only know how to hide in the dark and yell?"
Diana clenched her fists: "We will definitely find the truth and stop all this disaster."
Arthurand Diana continued their search in the lighthouse, and they discovered a staircase leading to the top. The staircase looked shaky, and some steps were damaged, but Arthurunhesitatingly stepped up: "Let's go, let's go up and see; maybe we can find more clues."
Diana followed behind, carefully climbing up, "Hopefully, we'll make progress this time; time is running out, we need to find Storm Woman quickly."
They reached the top of the lighthouse, and the strong wind suddenly rushed at them, almost blowing them over. But they held onto the railing tightly, steadying themselves.
Arthurand Diana stood at the top of the lighthouse, looking around. The wind howled, making their clothes flap noisily. Arthursquinted, trying to find some clue from this chaos.
"Over there!" Arthursuddenly pointed at a reef by the sea, "There are strange marks on those stones; they might be related to Storm Woman."
Diana followed his gaze and indeed saw some scorched black marks and scratches on the reef, as if left by a powerful impact. "Let's go check it out."
They quickly descended from the lighthouse and ran towards the reef beach. As they got closer, waves continuously surged up, wetting their feet. Arthurfirst
Chapter 178 Chilling
Arthurleaped onto a reef, carefully examining the marks on it.
"These marks are very fresh, and there's a familiar magicaura lingering," Arthursaid with a frown.
"Are you saying Storm Woman really came here?" Dianaasked.
"Most likely. And judging by the direction of these marks, she seems to have headed deeper into the ocean," Arthursaid, looking out at the churning sea.
Just then, a large wave crashed, and a Shadow seemed to flash on its crest. Arthurimmediately drew his weapon, "What was that?"
Diana also gripped her twin swords, ready for battle. When the wave receded, they found an old bottle washed ashore, with a piece of parchment inside.
Arthurpicked up the bottle, smashed it open, and took out the parchment. It had some strange symbols drawn on it, and a rough map, which marked a small island in the sea.
"Could this be a clue to find Storm Woman?" Diana asked, looking at the parchment.
"Whether it is or not, we have to go see," Arthursaid with a determined expression.
They searched along the coast for something to go out to sea with, and soon, in a secluded cove, they found an old but still usable small boat.
"This boat should be able to make it to that small island," Arthursaid, beginning to inspect the boat.
Diana also helped patch the holes in the boat, "I hope this time we can find Storm Woman and stop her from harming more people."
Just as they were about to set off, a chaotic sound suddenly came from the nearby woods, as if something was rapidly approaching. Arthurand Diana exchanged glances, gripping their weapons again, preparing to deal with new trouble.
A group of people wearing strange clothes and with bizarre patterns painted on their faces rushed out. They held spears and stared at them with fierce eyes.
One of them, who looked like the leader, shouted, "You cannot leave! You have violated the taboo of the Sea God, and you will bring us greater disaster!"
Arthurfrowned, "We haven't done anything taboo; we are here to stop the source of the disaster."
"Nonsense! Ever since you came, things here have been getting more and more wrong. You must stay!" The leader waved his spear and charged forward.
Arthureasily dodged and, with a backhand punch, sent the leader stumbling back, "We don't have time to waste with you; get out of the way!"
Diana also started fighting the other enemies. Her twin swords danced like butterflies, nimbly blocking attacks while looking for opportunities to counterattack. "Arthur, we need to deal with them quickly, don't let the clue be broken."
Arthurnodded. He used his full strength; each blow made the opponent unable to parry... After the battle, these people, seeing they couldn't win, fled.
"Let's go." Arthurand Diana got into the boat and rowed towards the small island marked on the parchment.
The small boat struggled forward through the strong winds and huge waves; wave after wave almost swallowed them.
Arthurgripped the oars tightly, his gaze fixed on the front, the veins on his forehead bulging, sweat mixing with seawater and running down.
Diana kept an eye on their surroundings, her hair flying wildly in the sea breeze.
"Arthur, the weather is getting worse and worse. It seems the closer we get to Storm Woman, the stronger her power's influence on the environment," Diana shouted, her voice trembling slightly in the wind.
"Hmph, no matter what, we won't stop," Arthurreplied, gritting his teeth, his hand movements not slowing down at all.
Suddenly, a huge whirlpool formed on the sea surface. The small boat was pulled by the suction and began to shake violently. Diana almost got thrown out; she quickly grabbed the side of the boat, "Arthur, be careful!"
Arthurfrowned, concentrating all his strength into his legs to steady his body, then rowed hard, trying to break free from the whirlpool's pull.
Just as the small boat was about to be sucked in, Arthurburst out with a powerful energy. The oars glowed faintly, and with a fierce stroke, the small boat used this force to rush out of the whirlpool.
"Phew, that was close," Diana sighed in relief.
"This is just a small problem; who knows what else awaits us later," Arthursaid, panting.
After some struggle, the small island marked on the parchment finally appeared before their eyes.
The small island was surrounded by a layer of mysterious mist, with lightning faintly flashing in the fog, making it look eerie and terrifying.
As the small boat approached the shore, they heard a low roar, as if an angry roar was coming from inside the island.
Arthurand Diana jumped off the boat and cautiously walked onto the island.
The plants on the island were all strange; some were covered in sharp thorns, while others seemed to writhe, emitting a bizarre aura.
"Everything here is strange; we need to be careful," Arthurwhispered, his hand never leaving his weapon.
They carefully moved through these strange plants, taking every step with extreme caution, as if a slight mistake would trigger something deadly.
Arthurwalked in front, his weapon in his hand like a loyal servant. As he wielded it, the thorny plants were gently pushed aside, their thorns scraping against the weapon with a slight "hissing" sound, clearing a relatively safe path for Diana.
The air around them was so stuffy it was hard to breathe, as if countless eyes were watching them from the Shadows.
Suddenly, Diana gently patted Arthur's shoulder, signaling him to stop.
Arthurlooked in the direction she pointed and saw a figure moving in the Shadow not far away.
That Shadow was like a black cloth, wrapping the figure inside, making it appear and disappear.
They lightened their footsteps, each step like treading on cotton, making almost no sound, slowly approaching.
It turned out to be a ragged teenager, curled up under a huge tree with strange patterns carved into its bark.
The trunk of this tree was so thick that several people would be needed to hug it, and the patterns on the bark resembled twisted human faces, as if silently telling the secrets of this island.
The teenager's clothes were already tattered, rags hanging from his body, constantly swaying with his slight trembling.
His hair was messy, like wild grass, covered in dirt, and some places were matted with small clumps of mud.
His eyes were filled with fear and exhaustion, a deep fear of unknown danger, as if he had just crawled back from the edge of hell.
His lips were cracked, and some places were bleeding, as if silently recounting the pain he had experienced.
Arthurasked in a low voice, "Who are you? How did you come to this island?"
His voice echoed in the quiet air, like a pebble dropping into a lake, breaking the original stillness.
The person heard the voice, his body suddenly trembled, like a startled rabbit, his eyes frantically looking at them, full of fear and wariness.
He instinctively retreated, pressing tightly against the tree trunk, as if wanting to merge himself into the tree to avoid potential threats.
His lips trembled, wanting to speak but unable to due to extreme nervousness, only able to make "uh... uh..." sounds, like a wounded small animal.
Diana squatted down, her movements gentle and slow, her eyes full of tenderness and concern, like an Angeldescending to the human World.
She said in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you. We are here to stop the disaster."
Her voice was like a spring breeze brushing over Water, carrying a calming power.
After a long time, the teenager finally recovered, his eyes still with fear, but with a little more light of hope.
His voice was hoarse like a rusty bellows, every word seemingly squeezed out of his throat with difficulty: "I... I was blown here by the storm; this place is hell, full of terrifying things."
His body trembled constantly, seeming to recall those terrible scenes again, falling back into deep fear.
Arthurand Diana looked at each other; they both saw pity for this teenager in each other's eyes, as well as a strong interest in the secrets of this island.
Arthurcontinued to ask, "Have you seen Storm Woman?" The teenager shook his head, his movements a little flustered, as if afraid of being misunderstood.
"I haven't seen her, but I can feel her aura. Everything here... seems to be related to her."
A hint of fear flashed in his eyes, as if merely mentioning the name Storm Woman would bring endless disaster.
They searched around and found some strange footprints. These footprints were somewhat similar to those seen near the lighthouse before, but also slightly different.
These footprints were much larger than the previous ones, each deeply indented, with some peculiar patterns on the edges.
These patterns shimmered slightly in the sunlight. Following the direction of the footprints, they arrived at the entrance of a cave.
The cave entrance was covered by vines and weeds; if one didn't look carefully, it would be easy to miss. The vines were covered in small thorns, like sharp needles, which could easily prick someone.
A cold aura emanated from the cave, like icy arms slowly crawling out of the entrance, wrapping around them, making them shiver involuntarily.
At the same time, there was a low humming sound, similar to what they heard in the lighthouse, but the sound here was more muffled, as if coming from deep underground.
Arthurgripped his weapon tightly, his hand turning White from the effort, the patterns on the weapon gleaming coldly in the faint light.
He was the first to enter the cave, taking every step steadily and carefully.
There was a foul smell in the cave, like rotten things mixed with burning sulfur, making one nauseous.
There was glowing moss on the walls, in various colors: some eerie green, some mysterious purple, and some deep blue.
Although their light was faint, they barely illuminated the surroundings, making the entire cave appear both dreamlike and terrifying.
Deep inside the cave, they saw some ancient murals. The colors of the paintings had faded somewhat, but the meticulousness of their original creation was still discernible.
The paintings depicted battle scenes between Storm Woman and some mysterious creatures. Storm Woman's image was lifelike; she wore a black robe that fluttered in the wind like a pair of dark wings.
She held a scepter studded with jewels, the gem at its tip emitting a dazzling light.
Her expression was fierce and ferocious, as if she was defying the World.
Opposite her were some huge, grotesque creatures: some had massive wings and sharp claws, like legendary demons;
Others were covered in scales, spewing Fire from their mouths, like monsters escaped from hell.
The battle scene was extremely intense; lightning flashed in the sky, and the earth trembled, as if the entire Worldwas shaking for this battle.
There were also some scenes that looked like sacrifices were being held. The people in the paintings wore strange clothes and had bizarre patterns painted on their faces, offering sacrifices to a giant whirlpool.
These sacrifices were diverse; some were shiny jewels, while others were living beings. Their eyes were filled with reverence and madness, as if they were performing some sacred ritual.
And Storm Woman seemed to be drawing power from the whirlpool; she stood at the edge of the whirlpool, her hands raised high, constantly chanting something, and the energy from the whirlpool continuously poured into her body.
Just as they were carefully studying the murals, a chaotic sound suddenly came from outside the cave, like thousands of soldiers galloping, or countless Beasts roaring.
They immediately rushed out, only to see a group of grotesque creatures charging towards them.
These creatures had huge wings and sharp claws; a single flap of their wings stirred up a strong wind, which also carried a pungent smell.
Their eyes glowed with an eerie red light, like two burning balls of Fire, full of bloodlust. They let out sharp cries, a sound like nails scraping a blackboard, sending shivers down one's spine.
Arthurand Diana immediately adopted a fighting stance. Arthurcharged towards the creatures, his figure as swift as lightning. His power completely erupted at this moment, each punch carrying immense impact, like a cannonball.
When his fist struck the creatures, there was a loud "bang," as if the air itself was shattered.
The struck creatures were knocked back several meters, some falling directly to the ground, struggling to fly up again.
Diana, on the other hand, moved nimbly among the enemies; her twin swords danced like butterflies, light yet deadly.
The twin swords cut through the air, leaving trails of cold light; with each flash of cold light, a creature would be injured.
Her gaze was sharp and focused, like an eagle locking onto its prey.
Her footsteps were light, as if she were performing a graceful dance.
She skillfully dodged attacks and then seized the opportunity to counterattack.
Chapter 179 We must find the source of the tentacles
In the battle, Diana noticed that these creatures seemed to have a tacit understanding, and their attacks had a certain pattern.
Some were responsible for frontal assaults, attracting their attention, while others launched sneak attacks from the side or above. She shouted, "Arthur, pay attention to their attack methods, there's a trap!"
Arthurbecame more alert upon hearing her, dealing with the frontal attacks while keeping an eye on his surroundings.
Once, a creature quietly approached Arthurfrom above, its claws glinting coldly in the sunlight, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to him.
Just as it was about to attack, Arthurseemed to have eyes in the back of his head, suddenly turned around, and punched it in the abdomen.
The creature let out a miserable shriek and was sent flying. Arthursneered, "Trying to ambush me? Not that easy!"
Diana, on her side, used the surrounding environment to evade the enemies' attacks.
When several creatures rushed at her simultaneously, she used a large tree to flip and jump onto it.
The monsters missed, collided with each other, and fell into disarray.
Diana seized the opportunity to jump down from the tree, thrusting her twin swords directly at the monsters who hadn't yet recovered, instantly taking down several of them.
After a fierce battle, they finally drove away those creatures, but they were also exhausted.
Arthurhad several scratches on his body, blood flowing from the wounds, staining his clothes red. Diana's hair was messy, and her forehead was covered in sweat.
At this point, they became even more convinced that this island held important clues about Storm Woman. Although Storm Woman was not here, the clues on the island might help them find her.
So, they returned to the cave, intending to examine the murals more carefully.
Upon entering the cave, they looked at the murals more closely. Arthurdiscovered some small details he hadn't noticed before: next to the vortex where Storm Womanabsorbed power, there were some very small symbols.
These symbols looked like an ancient script, with complex and mysterious lines. Some resembled flowing Water, some burning Fire, and others birds spreading their wings.
Arthurfrowned, trying to understand the meaning of these symbols. He muttered to himself, "These symbols must be related to Storm Woman's power. If we can figure them out, maybe we can find a way to defeat her."
Diana, on the other hand, was studying the clothing and patterns of the people in the sacrificial scenes on the murals.
She noticed that these patterns were somewhat similar to those on the people who attacked them by the sea. She said to Arthur, "Look, the patterns here are very similar to those on those people. There must be a connection. Perhaps those people are also members of an organization under Storm Woman, or they are controlled by her."
They continued deeper into the cave and found several forkroads inside.
These fork roads looked very deep, and they didn't know where they led.
Arthurpicked up a stone and threw it into one of the forkroads. They only heard the stone rolling inside, the sound getting fainter and fainter, but there was no other movement.
Diana said, "We need to be careful, we don't know what dangers are inside." Arthurnodded, and they decided to choose a fork road that looked wider to enter first.
The walls of this fork road also had murals, but they were more blurred than those seen before, as if they had been eroded by time for many years.
They could only barely make out some outlines; some looked like giant monsters, others like some mysterious ritual.
As they walked, they heard the sound of flowing Water, and the further they went, the clearer the sound became.
Soon after, they arrived at an underground cave. Inside the cave, there was an underground river, its water glowing faintly under the illumination of luminous moss.
By the river, they found some strange artifacts, which looked like items used for sacrifice.
Some were stone bowls, intricately carved with patterns; others were metal scepters, inlaid with unfamiliar gemstones.
Arthurpicked up a bowl, carefully examining the patterns on it, and found that these patterns were somewhat similar to the symbols on the murals.
Diana, meanwhile, was interested in the scepter. She tried to pick it up, and as soon as she touched it, the gemstones on it suddenly emitted a dazzling light, illuminating the entire cave.
In the strong light, they saw a huge map appear on the cave walls.
This map looked like a complete overview of the entire island, with some special places marked on it, one of which was marked with a large vortex.
Arthurlooked at the map and excitedly said, "This might be the core location of Storm Woman's power. We have to go and see."
Diana nodded in agreement, and they decided to follow the underground river to find an exit and head towards the place marked on the map.
Along the way, the flow of the underground river varied in speed.
When the current was swift, they had to hold tightly to the rocks on the bank, afraid of being swept away.
Once, Diana was almost swept away by a strong current, but Arthurreacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.
Arthursaid, "Be careful, this Water is not easy to deal with."
When the current was calm, the river water was very clear, but there were some strange creatures swimming at the bottom of the river.
Some looked like transparent jellyfish, with colorful lights flashing inside their bodies; others resembled long, slender eels, with sharp teeth in their mouths.
They swam back and forth at the bottom of the river, occasionally approaching Arthurand Diana, seemingly curious yet wary of them.
They carefully avoided these creatures and continued forward.
After some effort, they finally found the exit of the underground river.
The exit was a waterfall, with water cascading down from a height, splashing everywhere.
They climbed up the adjacent rocks and returned to the surface.
At this point, they found themselves in another part of the island, where the trees were denser and the fog was heavier.
In the thick fog, they vaguely heard some sounds, like someone softly crying, or someone whispering.
They followed the sounds and discovered a small village hidden in the fog.
This village looked dilapidated, most of the houses had collapsed, leaving only some ruins.
In the center of the village, there was a stone tablet, and on top of the stone tablet was a large stone platform, where an old man sat.
The old man's eyes were vacant, as if he had lost his mind. He kept muttering unintelligible words.
Arthurand Diana approached him, wanting to speak with him.
Arthurasked, "Old man, what's wrong? What exactly happened here?"
The old man did not answer, continuing to mutter to himself.
Diana listened for a while and realized that some of the words he spoke resembled the symbols on the murals.
They searched around the village, hoping to find some useful information.
Finally, in a collapsed house, they discovered a diary.
The paper of the diary had yellowed, and the handwriting was somewhat blurred, but still legible.
The diary recorded the history of this village. It turned out that this place was once very lively, and the villagers lived peaceful lives.
But everything changed after Storm Woman appeared.
She used the villagers for sacrifices, absorbing their power, which led to the slow decline of the village.
The villagers tried to resist, but they were all destroyed by the disasters brought by Storm Woman.
After reading the diary, they hated Storm Woman even more, but Arthurbecame more interested in her.
They decided to continue searching for clues, heading towards the vortex location marked on the map.
Along the way, there was a plant that sprayed poisonous mist, emitting green poisonous mist suddenly upon approach.
Arthurand Diana quickly covered their noses and retreated to a safe place.
There was also a trap that looked like the ground; stepping on it would cause injury from sharp spikes.
They carefully avoided these dangers, moving forward step by step.
Finally, they reached the vortex location on the map.
It was a large valley, covered in thick fog, with a huge vortex slowly spinning at the center of the mist.
The vortex emitted powerful energy, making one feel as if they were standing at the center of a storm.
They began to investigate. Arthurtook out the items he had collected from his backpack, including the wooden board with mysterious carvings, the blue-glowing crystal shards, and the parchment with strange symbols.
He tried to find clues related to the vortex from these items, his eyes darting between the objects and the vortex, his brow furrowed, sweat beading on his forehead.
Diana, meanwhile, walked slowly through the valley, her gaze sharp, carefully observing her surroundings.
She noticed several faint carvings on the rock wall; these carvings were somewhat similar to the mural symbols from the earlier cave.
"Arthur, look here!" She called Arthurover, pointing at the rock wall.
Arthurimmediately ran over, and the two of them leaned close to the rock wall, trying to understand the carvings.
The carvings varied in depth, and some areas had been eroded by the mist, making them difficult to see clearly.
Arthurreached out and touched the carvings, wanting to feel if there was any residual magic power.
Suddenly, he felt a faint electric current at his fingertips, the same sensation he felt when he touched the crystal shard.
"These carvings must be related to the vortex's energy, possibly a method to control or guide the energy," Arthursaid.
They continued searching along the rock wall and found that these carvings seemed to form a large circle around the valley.
At certain positions within the circle, there were small stone platforms, also covered with symbols.
Arthurand Diana each went to different stone platforms, carefully studying the symbols on them.
Some of these symbols resembled star constellations, others wave shapes, and when combined, they appeared very mysterious.
Arthurtried to compare the carvings on the wooden board with the patterns on the platform, and found that some parts of a few patterns were very similar to the carvings.
His eyes lit up. He took a charcoal pencil from his backpack and began to draw these similar patterns on the ground, wanting to see if he could find any connection.
Diana, on another platform, discovered the relationship between the crystal shard and the platform's symbols. When she placed the shard at a certain position on the platform, the blue light emitted by the crystal became brighter and began to flash rhythmically.
"Arthur, I found something!" Diana shouted.
Arthurquickly ran over upon hearing her. Seeing the flashing crystal shard, he realized that these platforms might be some kind of energy control device, and the crystal shard was one of the keys to activating them.
They began to search for similar trigger points on other platforms, and after some searching, they found relevant clues on each platform.
As they placed the corresponding items on the platforms or performed operations, the energy fluctuations of the vortex began to change.
The originally steadily spinning vortex began to become unstable, the fog grew thicker, and even some small lightning bolts moved through the mist.
Arthurand Diana knew they were on the right track, but they also understood that such operations might bring unknown dangers.
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Just then, a low roar came from the vortex, like an enraged giant beast that had been awakened.
Arthurgripped his weapon, and Diana also prepared for battle.
Suddenly, several dark tentacles emerged from the vortex. These tentacles seemed to be composed of dark energy, and they glowed with electricity.
The tentacles rapidly lunged at them. Arthurswung his weapon, cutting off several, but more tentacles continuously surged out.
Arthurroared, and the weapon in his hand emitted a dazzling light. Each swing brought a fierce whooshing sound, like sharp blades slicing through the constantly attacking dark tentacles.
He moved through the tentacles, his muscles taut, his body filled with power. The severed tentacles' ends emitted a pungent dark smoke, spreading through the air.
Diana, meanwhile, moved as gracefully as a phantom, her twin swords transforming into two flashes of light in her hands.
She moved swiftly, dodging the tentacles' attacks, while simultaneously searching for the enemy's weak points.
She seized an opportunity, leaping into the air, and brought her twin swords down in a cross-slash. A powerful sword light flashed, instantly cleaving several thick tentacles in two.
But these tentacles seemed to feel no pain; they regenerated immediately after being severed and continued to rush towards them.
"This won't do, we need to find the source of the tentacles!"
Arthurshouted, while increasing the intensity of his attacks. His attack range widened, and each swing could temporarily force back the surrounding tentacles.
Chapter 180 The powerful sound of the electric current is like the roar of death
tentacles.
Diana nodded in response, beginning to notice the direction from which the tentacles emerged, realizing they all extended from the center of the vortex.
"Arthur, attack the center of the vortex!" Diana shouted. Arthurunderstood, and they began to push forward painstakingly towards the vortex's center.
Every step required resisting attacks from tentacles coming from all directions. Arthuralready had many scratches on his body from the tentacles, with blood seeping out, but he seemed to feel no pain at all, his eyes filled only with determination.
Diana was not having an easy time either. Her hair was already soaked with sweat, clinging to her face, but her twin swords still swung powerfully.
As they neared the center of the vortex, the black tentacles became more numerous and ferocious, as if desperately trying to prevent them from approaching.
Arthurtook a deep breath, concentrated all his strength into his weapon, then sharply spun his body, creating a powerful vortex of air. The surrounding tentacles were shredded by this force, black fragments scattering everywhere.
Diana seized this opportunity, releasing a strong energy blast towards the center of the vortex, like a beam of White light shooting directly into the vortex.
The vortex trembled violently after being struck, and the black sphere at its center also showed a slight fluctuation.
The black tentacles seemed enraged, surging towards them wildly, more numerous and attacking more fiercely than before.
Arthurand Diana stood back to back, cooperating with each other, the glow of their weapons intertwining in the darkness to form a protective net.
During the intense battle, Arthurnoticed a pattern in the tentacles' attacks: each time they attacked the center of the vortex, the tentacles' attacks would briefly become chaotic.
"Diana, let's focus our attacks on the center of the vortex to disrupt their rhythm!" Arthurshouted.
So, they began to look for opportunities, repeatedly launching more ferocious attacks on the center of the vortex during gaps in the tentacles' assaults.
Arthurroared, stomping his feet heavily. A powerful force spread out from him, briefly pushing back the surrounding tentacles.
He seized the chance, charging towards the center of the vortex like an enraged bull, the light from his weapon blazing. Every step he took left deep imprints on the ground, marks of his power.
"Arthur, be careful!" Diana shouted from the side, her twin swords flashing, cutting down every tentacle that tried to attack Arthurfrom the side.
The severed tentacles sprayed black liquid, which sizzled upon contact with the ground, corroding small pits.
Arthurignored it, his eyes fixed only on the target at the center of the vortex. He leaped high, his weapon raised above his head, drawing a dazzling arc in the air, and fiercely struck the black sphere at the vortex's center.
This strike concentrated all his strength. Accompanied by a deafening roar, the energy wave generated by the collision of his weapon and the black sphere spread outwards, instantly dispersing the surrounding mist and revealing a larger view of the valley.
However, the black sphere merely swayed slightly, but the tentacles seemed provoked, rushing towards Arthurat an even faster speed.
Arthurquickly stabilized himself after landing, his weapon continuously swinging, forming an impenetrable defensive circle.
But there were too many tentacles; a few broke through his defense, leaving several deep wounds on his body, and blood immediately stained his clothes.
Arthurgritted his teeth, ignoring the pain, and launched another attack.
His strength seemed endless; each swing was more powerful than the last.
He plunged his weapon into the ground, and a powerful energy flowed from the weapon into the earth, then surged from all directions towards the black sphere.
The ground began to shake violently, and cracks spread towards the black sphere. The tentacles near the cracks fell into them.
Diana was not to be outdone. She unleashed a special skill, and a faint blue aura appeared around her body.
Wherever the aura passed, tentacles were repelled. She moved closer to Arthur, fighting alongside him.
"Together!" Diana shouted, plunging her twin swords into the ground, forming a triangle with Arthur's weapon.
...
The two began to concentrate, continuously pouring their power into this energy array.
As their power converged, the energy array emitted a dazzling light. Mysterious runes appeared within the light, identical to those they had seen earlier on the stone wall and platform.
The runes slowly ascended and flew towards the black sphere. Each rune that touched the sphere triggered a strong energy fluctuation.
Tiny cracks began to appear on the surface of the black sphere, and black smoke continuously emerged from the cracks.
But just then, the black sphere suddenly released a huge suction force, attempting to pull Arthurand Diana in.
They gripped their weapons tightly, resisting the suction.
The surrounding tentacles also seized the opportunity to attack again, making the situation extremely tense.
Arthur's eyes turned cold. He let go with one hand and fiercely punched in the opposite direction of the suction.
This punch, carrying his anger and strength, created a vacuum zone within the suction.
He then pulled out his weapon and charged towards the black sphere. Diana followed closely, their figures moving through the suction and tentacle attacks like two sturdy boats in a storm.
The moment they approached the black sphere, Arthurforcefully plunged his weapon into one of its cracks, then pried it open.
The sphere let out a painful roar, and more cracks began to spread. Diana, holding a sword in each hand, stabbed into other cracks on the sphere.
Their cooperation was seamless; the black sphere was on the verge of collapse under their assault.
Suddenly, a powerful dark energy burst from the sphere, throwing Arthurand Diana back.
They fell heavily to the ground but immediately got back up.
At this point, the black sphere was covered in cracks, and the surrounding tentacles were even more frenzied, as if making a final struggle.
Arthurwiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a fearless smile on his face. "Bring it on!"
He charged towards the black sphere again. This time, his speed was faster, and his strength was greater.
Diana followed closely behind. With a determination to fight to the death, they launched their final assault on the key to this battle.
Arthurcharged towards the black sphere like a burning meteor, his strength reaching its peak at this moment.
Every contraction and expansion of his muscles released surging power, causing the surrounding air to howl.
Arthur's weapon was infused with powerful energy, emitting a dazzling light. Wherever that light reached, the black tentacles momentarily retreated.
Behind Arthur, Diana's twin swords flashed like snakes. With her agile movements, she dodged most of the attacks and simultaneously cleared threats coming from behind. Her gaze was focused; each sword swing precisely severed a tentacle. Black liquid splashed onto her, but she paid it no mind.
As Arthurneared the black sphere, he suddenly turned, his weapon transforming into a curtain of light, shredding all the obstructing tentacles. Using the momentum of his spin, he delivered a powerful kick, striking the black sphere with a thunderous roar.
The cracks on the black sphere's surface deepened, and more dark energy began to leak out. But the black sphere also seemed enraged; a strong dark energy wave erupted from its core, sweeping towards Arthur. This energy was like a black tide, devouring everything in its path.
Arthurfelt immense pressure, but to him, it was merely a challenge. He tried to neutralize these dark forces, but found them more difficult to deal with than he imagined.
Seeing Arthurin trouble, Diana rushed over, accelerating. The moment she approached the energy wave, she unleashed a powerful defensive skill. She crossed her twin swords, chanted a spell, and a faint blue shield appeared before her. This shield was as solid as a city wall, blocking part of the dark energy.
But the energy wave was too powerful; Diana felt her strength rapidly draining, but she gritted her teeth and held on, just to buy Arthurtime.
Arthurfelt Diana's support, and a warmth surged in his heart. He took a deep breath, gathering all his strength. His body began to glow, this light confronting the dark energy wave, locked in a stalemate.
At the crucial moment, Arthursuddenly exerted force, breaking through his limits, and forcibly tore open a gap in the dark energy wave. He seized the opportunity to attack the black sphere again, raising his weapon high, gathering all his strength for a single downward strike.
The moment the weapon collided with the black sphere, the entire valley was enveloped in dazzling light. The black sphere trembled violently, cracks rapidly spread, and finally, with a loud bang, it was shattered into pieces.
After the black sphere shattered, the black tentacles lost their support, falling to the ground and turning into black liquid, slowly disappearing.
The vortex's energy gradually weakened, and the previously chaotic mist slowly dispersed, restoring peace to the valley.
Arthurand Diana collapsed to the ground, exhausted and covered in wounds, but they had successfully neutralized the energy within the vortex. This also brought Arthurone step closer to obtaining the power of the Storm Woman.
After a good while, Arthurslowly sat up. He looked at Diana, his eyes full of gratitude.
"I couldn't have done this without you." Diana smiled softly, "We're partners; we face difficulties together."
After resting for a while, Arthurand Diana, dragging their weary bodies, walked out of the valley.
They knew that the Storm Woman's whereabouts were like a tightly strung bowstring; even a second's delay could cause the string to snap, leading to irreversible consequences, so they had to rush against time.
They advanced along the rugged mountain path, every step difficult.
They arrived at a vast, boundless wasteland, where jagged, strange rocks were everywhere, like the earth's ridged back when it was angry.
The sky was overcast, like a heavy black cloth pressing down. Occasionally, lightning, like silver snakes, streaked across, their dazzling light and deafening thunder seemingly warning them that new dangers were approaching...
"Diana, something's not right with this wasteland. We need to be careful."
Arthurgripped his weapon tightly; it glowed faintly as he infused it with power. His gaze was sharp, like an eagle, scrutinizing his surroundings, not missing any rustle of wind or grass.
"Hmm, I can feel a powerful force surging in the shadows, like some kind of magnetic interference. This feeling is very bad."
Diana's twin swords flashed with cold light in her hands. She adopted a fighting stance, like a leopard ready to pounce at any moment.
Suddenly, a howling sound came from the sky. They looked up and saw a swarm of flying mechs approaching like a dark cloud.
These mechs resembled giant metal eagles, with blue electrical currents flashing on their wings, those currents snaking across the metal surface like small serpents.
The mechs' eyes were two glowing red scanners, their light sinister and terrifying, like the eyes of a demon.
"They're Mechanical Eagle Guards. It seems someone doesn't want us to leave easily." Arthurfrowned, his muscles tensing, his body filled with power, ready to erupt at any moment.
"Hmph, then let them come and not return." Diana's eyes were firm, burning with the flame of battle.
The Mechanical Eagle Guards swooped down like raindrops. Their beaks and claws were charged with strong electricity, glinting dangerously in the sunlight.
Arthur's figure flickered, and he charged into the group of Eagle Guards like a phantom, moving so fast that he was barely visible.
He brandished his weapon, each swing bringing forth a golden light. That light was like fragments of the Sun, and wherever it reached, the Mechanical Eagle Guards' shells were sliced open, sparks flying like dazzling fireworks.
"Diana, watch out for their combined attacks!" Arthurshouted loudly, his voice still clear amidst the noisy battle.
Diana moved nimbly through the Eagle Guard swarm, her figure like a dancing butterfly, light and agile.
Her twin swords were like two blue ribbons of light, drawing graceful arcs through the Eagle Guard swarm, cutting down countless Eagle Guards attempting to attack Arthurfrom behind.
"Don't worry, I won't let them harm you." Her voice was firm and confident.
But the Mechanical Eagle Guards seemed to have a command system. They began to change formation, quickly forming a huge circle in the air, trapping Arthurand Dianain the middle.
Then, they simultaneously released strong electrical currents. These currents intertwined, forming a giant electrical net, which flashed with dazzling blue light as it pressed down on the two. The powerful sound of the electricity was like the God of Death roaring.
"Diana, let's break through together!" Arthurroared, plunging his weapon into the ground and gathering power with both hands. A powerful energy fluctuation began to surge around his body. This energy was like golden flames, colliding with the electric net, producing a thunderous sound.
Diana, meanwhile, leaped into the air, her twin swords spinning, chanting softly, releasing a blue energy pillar. That energy pillar was like a giant dragon, charging directly towards the electric net.
"Boom!" A colossal explosion, as if the Universe had burst, tore a gap in the electric net, and the two seized the opportunity to rush out.
But the Mechanical Eagle Guards did not give up. They readjusted their tactics, splitting into several groups, and attacked again from different directions.
They charged at Arthurand Diana like a well-trained army, orderly and disciplined.
Arthurlooked at the charging Eagle Guards and said to Diana, "We can't be held back by them. We need to find their control center." His eyes were firm, filled with determination.
"I'll distract them; you go search." Diana said, then charged towards the largest group of Eagle Guards, wielding her twin swords and performing a sword technique.