After passing through the passage on the ninth floor, Linley and his group arrived at the tenth floor.
This floor is very different from the previous nine floors.
There were no jungles, no lava, and no caves. Before me stretched an endless, dark plain, its surface perfectly flat, as if polished by something over thousands of years, unlike anything naturally formed. There was an indescribable coldness in the air, not a physical chill, but a feeling of being watched, an instinctive shiver.
Linley held his sword and walked as quietly as possible. He felt that what was hidden on this level was far more dangerous than what was disguised as Thorium Demon on the ninth level.
After taking only a step or two, the darkness beneath my feet began to move.
It wasn't the ground that was moving, but the darkness itself—a humanoid shadow, blending seamlessly into the night, silently appeared beside him. This person was entirely black, shaped like a demon, but in place of two crescent-shaped blades, their edges gleaming coldly, as if they were made for killing.
Abyssal Blade Demon.
Linley's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively raised his sword to block. But the Blade Demon's movements were faster than he had imagined; the crescent-shaped blade had already grazed the edge of the Purple Blood Soft Sword, sparking dazzling sparks. If Linley hadn't reacted in time, that blade would have struck his neck.
"Get back, all of you!" Linley roared, and with a backhand slash, forced the Blade Demon back.
But this sword strike made Linley feel a sense of heaviness in his heart. The Purple Blood Soft Sword struck the Blade Demon's blade without leaving a mark; instead, it made Lin Lei's hand go numb. The Blade Demon's blade was harder than a divine weapon; ordinary weapons could not harm it at all.
The Blade Demon missed its first attack, but didn't pause for a moment. It flashed forward, its two curved blades raining down on Linley like a storm, each strike swift and fierce, always aimed at vital points. Linley fought and retreated, barely managing to block a few blows, but he was being forced into a corner, and two more wounds appeared on his arms.
"There's only one, and we outnumber them!" Fain roared, raising his fist and charging forward.
However, the Blade Demon moved much faster than anyone expected. In a flash, he circled behind Fain the instant his fist missed, and slashed at the back of his neck. If it weren't for the swift Tulilei Eye, who blocked the blow with his axe behind Fain, Fain would probably have fallen to the ground on the spot.
"This thing... it's too fast!" Tulilei gripped the trembling giant axe, his face grim. "And its blade is unbelievably hard. My axe is a divine weapon; it can't even leave a mark when it hits."
This is what makes people realize the difference between the two. The Thorium Demon is excellent, but he is full of disguise and cunning; while the Abyssal Blade Demon is a ferocious beast born to kill. Its speed, swordsmanship, reaction and other aspects are all at the Peak Saint Realm, and it has almost no chance of winning in a one-on-one battle.
"We can't compete with its speed," Linley said in a low voice, retreating into the crowd. "If it's fast, we'll slow down and wait for it. Olivier, use your sword intent to restrain its blade; Tulilei, take charge of defense; Fain, once it's entangled, will use Lightning Dragon Descends to strike it. Desri, observe from the outside and lend a hand if there's danger."
After exchanging glances, the group nodded. The battles along the way had made them accustomed to cooperating with each other. Linley quickly assigned tasks with a single sentence, and without further hesitation, everyone spread out to surround the Blade Demon.
Olivier Tulilei first. Her longsword drew a cold, sharp arc, its energy as fine as silk, drawing the Blade Demon's attention entirely to her. The Blade Demon was indeed enraged, and his two curved blades followed closely behind Olivier as he charged forward. Seizing the opportunity, Tu Lilei used his giant axe to block the two blows.
"Now!" Linley roared.
Fain was ready. He clenched his fists, and a thick bolt of lightning shot out from his body, transforming into a roaring thunder dragon that crashed down on the Blade Demon. After the thunder dragon struck the Blade Demon's blade, it sparked and pinned the ferocious beast, known for its speed, to the ground.
Taking advantage of the situation, Linley pressed forward, his Fire Element longsword, imbued with the power of scorching lava, piercing the Blade Demon's heart. The Blade Demon let out a piercing scream, wildly slashing with its two curved blades, but it was already surrounded by layers of attacks and had no way to escape.
"Smash it!" Fain roared, and the thunder dragon exploded, turning into a sky full of lightning that engulfed the Blade Demon from head to toe.
After the lightning subsided, all that remained of the Abyssal Blade Demon was a pile of charred and broken fragments, and it made no sound again.
Linley knelt on one knee, panting heavily. Although it wasn't as mystical as the Evil Eye King, it tested his patience and teamwork more than any battle he had ever experienced. Looking at the fresh wound on his arm, and then at the injured but still able-bodied people around him, he let out a long sigh.
"On this tenth floor, a single Blade Demon almost killed us," Tulilei said, gripping his large axe with lingering fear. "If there had been a few more, we probably would have perished here."
"No more," Desri's voice came from outside, sounding tired but confident. "I checked, there was only one on the tenth floor. It was the only owner of this floor, and it's dead now, so this floor is quiet."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
They found a relatively flat spot, lit a campfire, and rested there. They were all exhausted from fighting several battles along the way. Linley sat cross-legged beside the fire, letting Desri bandage the wound on his arm, and stared blankly at the flames.
"What are you thinking about?" Olivier came over and sat down next to him.
"I'm thinking about this Necropolis of the Gods," Linley said. "We've only reached the tenth level and the Abyssal Blade Demon has already appeared. Who knows what lies further in? I feel the deeper we go, the closer we get to the true secrets of this tomb."
"Do you still want to go further in?" Olivier asked.
"Yes." Linley looked at the leaping flames, but his eyes were very calm. "I came to the cemetery not to hide here forever. The further I go, the more I feel that what is hidden in the tomb is worth risking my life for."
After a moment of silence, Olivier didn't try to persuade him further, but simply patted him gently on the shoulder.
The campfire roared, and a group of survivors sat around it. Peace was rare on the tenth level of the dark plains. But Linley knew that this tranquility would not last. There were many unseen dangers ahead, and he needed to heal his injuries there before slowly venturing into the darkness.