Chapter 14 – Pursuit Through Shadows
The forest outside the vault seemed eerily quiet, the aftermath of their battle hidden beneath the thick canopy. Leon Jian, Mei Lin, and Kael moved swiftly, each step calculated, each sense alert. The Celestial Jade pulsed warmly against Leon's chest, but he knew that its light could not shield them from what awaited.
"We need to put distance between us and the vault," Leon whispered. "They'll send reinforcements… and sooner than we think."
Mei Lin nodded, her eyes scanning the shadows. "The forest is familiar to me. I know paths where we can move unseen. But we can't slow down—not even for a moment."
They advanced cautiously, winding through narrow paths and overgrown roots, until a sudden movement caught Leon's attention. From the treetops, dozens of figures dropped into the clearing with silent precision. Black-clad enforcers, more than they had faced before, encircled them, weapons glinting in the dim light.
Leon's fists glowed with golden energy. "So predictable," he muttered. "They think they can corner me."
Before they could react further, a figure stepped forward, taller than the rest, cloaked in a dark robe that seemed to swallow the light. A mask concealed their face, but the aura of power radiating from them was undeniable.
"I am Xianwu," the figure announced, voice cold and commanding. "I serve the Azure Cloud Sect directly. Your little skirmishes have drawn too much attention, Leon Jian. Now, you will pay the price for your insolence."
Leon's jaw tightened. "I've been waiting for someone like you. Let's see what the sect considers elite."
Xianwu moved first, faster than the eye could follow, striking with twin blades that shimmered with dark energy. Leon barely deflected the first strike with a surge of golden light from the jade. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the force reverberating through the forest.
Mei Lin and Kael engaged the surrounding enforcers, but the odds were overwhelming. Arrows flew, energy waves collided, and the forest became a chaotic battlefield of light and shadow.
Leon felt the jade thrumming violently, guiding him. He channeled its energy into his fists, creating golden shockwaves that scattered enemies. Yet Xianwu adapted, using agility and shadow techniques to counter every strike.
"You're strong," Xianwu said, parrying a punch that could have shattered a tree. "But strength without control is useless."
Leon's eyes blazed. "I control the jade, and I control my fate!"
He focused, letting the jade's power surge through him. Golden light enveloped him completely, enhancing his speed, strength, and reflexes. In a flurry of precise, devastating strikes, he forced Xianwu to retreat step by step.
Mei Lin and Kael, inspired by Leon's display, pushed back the surrounding enforcers. Kael's arrows found gaps in armor; Mei Lin's swordwork flowed with deadly grace, each strike perfectly timed with Leon's golden surges.
But just as victory seemed within reach, Xianwu vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Leon. Before he could react, a blade of pure dark energy grazed his shoulder, sending him sprawling.
"Not over," Xianwu hissed, melting back into the treeline. "The sect knows you're alive, Leon Jian… and the true hunt has just begun."
Breathing heavily, Leon rose, touching the Celestial Jade. Its warmth pulsed reassurance. "This isn't the end," he said, voice steady despite the pain. "It's only the beginning. Eldric and the Azure Cloud Sect will learn that no darkness can stop the reborn."
Mei Lin sheathed her sword. "Then we keep moving. We survive tonight, and tomorrow we strike back harder."
Kael nodded, glancing at the dense forest ahead. "The hunt has begun. And this time, we're the hunters."
The night closed around them, shadows crawling like living things. But Leon Jian, glowing faintly with the jade's golden light, was ready. The path to vengeance was fraught with danger—and Xianwu's arrival had made one thing clear: the battles ahead would test every ounce of their strength, cunning, and resolve.