Smoke shrouded a desolate battlefield like a gray curtain drawn over the earth. Tattered banners swayed feebly in the wind, as though recounting past glory and carnage. The pungent stench of blood and burning filled the air, enough to make anyone frown.
Ye Lingyun stood at the edge of the battlefield, his figure looking especially lonely against the chaos. He wore black battle armor covered in scars from combat, with traces of blood still wet in places. His long hair stirred gently in the wind, a few strands veiling his stern face. His gaze pierced the drifting smoke, seeking the companions who had once fought by his side.
Countless corpses lay strewn across the battlefield, some human, others of the Shadow Race. Lives once so vibrant had turned cold and stiff. They had fallen one after another beneath the Shadow Ancestor's Shadow-Devouring Demon Spell, their eyes filled with defiance and a yearning to live. Some warriors still clutched their weapons tightly, as though struggling to resist even in their final moments; others lay wide-eyed, terror frozen on their faces, as though still trapped in the horrors of battle.
Unprecedented despair welled up in Ye Lingyun's heart, accompanied by a profound sense of helplessness. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet felt no pain. His eyes were filled with anguish and confusion. He did not know how to face this cruel reality.
System! Ye Lingyun cried inwardly, his voice trembling slightly. What should I do?
The system's voice sounded in his mind, calm and indifferent: "Host Ye Lingyun, Hidden Mission triggered: 'Power of Smiling.' Keep smiling amid despair, and you will gain the power to enter the Star God Stage for one day. Mission reward: one day at the Star God Stage."
Ye Lingyun's heart jolted.