Shadow Rift

This statement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. The old man in black's expression instantly darkened, and the red glow on his staff flickered violently.

Jialan's eyes widened in shock. So on the surface, the two nations appeared to jointly guard the Shadow Rift, but in truth, both had secretly been expanding it and absorbing more Shadow Energy to increase the production of Sun Fruit. At the same time, they tacitly maintained a delicate balance to prevent truly terrifying beings from descending upon the continent. To prevent high-level experts from losing control and fighting over the Sun Fruit, causing energy fluctuations that would utterly destroy that balance, the two nations had agreed to send only low-level professionals and one High Warrior suppressing their strength to compete each year. The winner would receive that year's ripe Sun Fruit. This secret agreement had lasted for ten years.

So that's how it is... Jialan thought bitterly. The so-called border conflicts, the so-called magical beast riots—they had all been a carefully orchestrated performance! The higher-ups of both nations had long since reached some kind of understanding, while low-level professionals like them were nothing more than pawns at the mercy of the chessboard.

Just as both sides remained locked in dispute, the old mage in black suddenly went pale and jerked his head up toward the rift in the sky. "Not good! They're actively connecting to the spatial rift!"

Calvin also lost his earlier composure and swept his staff through the air. "Stop them! If the roots come into contact with the rift's energy..."

But it was already too late. One Sun Fruit Tree closest to the rift suddenly began shaking violently, the dark red patterns on its trunk emitting an eerie glow. Its roots had already touched the edge of the spatial rift and began frantically absorbing the Shadow Energy within. The Sun Fruit in its crown burst one after another, releasing pitch-black juice that formed strange runes in the air.

The entire Shadow Valley began to tremble violently. The spatial rift expanded at a visible rate, its dark red patterns pulsing across its surface like blood vessels. A low, ancient voice drifted from the depths of the rift, as though it came from a distant hell...

Raymond shot toward the Sun Fruit Tree connecting to the spatial rift like a red bolt of lightning. His longsword finally left its sheath, its blade wrapped in crimson battle aura so dense it seemed tangible, carving a brilliant trail through the dim Shadow Valley.

"Flame Slash!"

With a furious roar, Raymond's blade struck precisely at the roots reaching toward the rift. To everyone's surprise, the roots that had been hard as iron twisted in pain like living creatures the instant they touched the red battle aura. Dark red sap gushed from the cuts. But even more horrifyingly, the severed roots rapidly regenerated after hitting the ground and stretched toward the rift at an even faster speed.

"Damn it!" Raymond's face turned livid. "These roots have already been assimilated by Shadow Energy!"

At the same time, Calvin and the Archmage in black had each taken their positions and begun rapidly chanting spells. Calvin's staff traced intricate golden runes through the air, every stroke containing powerful sealing force. The Archmage in black formed hand seals, dark red magic forming a strange magic array around him that stood in stark contrast to Calvin's golden runes.

"What are you standing around for?!" the Archmage in black shouted sharply. "Set up the Wind Barrier, now!"

The old Wind Element mage from the Dark Association, the expert who had once pursued Jialan, showed a flicker of hesitation. His sinister gaze shifted between the Archmage in black and the spatial rift. At last, he gritted his teeth and rapidly formed one spell seal after another with his hands.

"Hurricane Wall!"

Violent wind elements instantly gathered around him, forming a rotating wall of wind that temporarily isolated the space around the rift. Three different types of magic intertwined in the air, forming a complex net in an attempt to seal the expanding rift once more.

Jialan stood where he was, his mind echoing with the earth-shattering secrets he had just heard. Cold sweat had soaked his back, and his fingers trembled unconsciously. Any one of these secrets, if leaked, would be enough to shake both nations. He secretly glanced at Argyle. This Light Knight of noble birth might still have a chance of surviving, but for a low-level mage with no background like him, the best possible outcome would likely be permanent imprisonment.

I have to escape... Jialan thought. While everyone's attention was focused on sealing the rift, he quietly retreated several steps.

Then, a sudden change occurred.

The spatial rift abruptly twisted violently, and the interwoven sealing arrays emitted cracking sounds as if they were about to collapse under the strain. The dark red patterns on the rift's surface bulged like veins, and dense Shadow Energy erupted like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

"Not good!" Calvin's expression changed drastically. "The seal won't hold much longer!"

As if to confirm his judgment, several thick black tentacles suddenly extended from the rift. Each was as thick as an adult's waist, its surface covered in nauseating suckers. The tentacles easily tore through the Wind Barrier and lashed toward the nearest living creatures. Countless low-level Shadow Beasts also crawled out of the rift and scattered in every direction.

Even more terrifyingly, as the Shadow Energy spread, the surrounding creatures began undergoing horrifying mutations. Jialan saw with his own eyes a wounded soldier who had been fighting beside them moments ago suddenly let out an inhuman howl. His skin rapidly blackened and shriveled, his eyes bulging from their sockets. In the blink of an eye, he became a twisted monster that was half undead and half Shadow Beast.

"Run!" Argyle grabbed Jialan's arm. "Use Light Magic to protect your whole body!"

Jialan immediately understood. The Holy Light Bracelet on his left wrist lit up with a gentle glow, forming a thin Light Barrier around the two of them. When the Shadow Energy filling the air touched the barrier, it gave off sizzling sounds of corrosion, but the barrier barely managed to hold back the erosion for the moment.

The two staggered toward the valley exit, while shrill screams and the thunderous booms of spells continuously rang out behind them. Jialan glanced back and saw that the entire Shadow Valley had become a living hell. Apart from the four high-level professionals, only the High Warrior from the Aus Empire was still struggling desperately. Everyone else had either become half-undead, half-shadow creatures or corpses. The spatial rift had doubled in size, and countless Shadow Beasts poured out like a tide. The Sun Fruit Trees thrashed their branches wildly, shredding and absorbing every creature that came near.

Raymond and the three Archmages were still doing everything they could to maintain the crumbling seal, but they were clearly running out of strength.

Just as they were about to rush out of Shadow Valley, the entire Misty Forest suddenly began to shake violently. Trees in the distance fell in great swaths.

Then, an enraged female voice resounded through the heavens...