The Shadow's Path

Chapter 15: The Guardians' Wrath

The moment Shen Li summoned his dark energy, the atmosphere in the clearing grew tense. The guardians, ethereal figures of shadow and light, shifted their stances, sensing the power radiating from him. Their eyes, glowing like cold embers, locked onto him as if recognizing a kindred spirit, yet one that was also a threat.

Liu Feng, Jiang Mei, and Zhou Wen tightened their grips on their weapons, their expressions steeled for the coming battle. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the soft hum of the relic atop the altar and the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the forest’s unnatural wind.

Shen Li took a deep breath, grounding himself. The shadows within him stirred, their whispers more insistent than ever. He knew that whatever power he unleashed here would reveal more of his true nature to his companions, but there was no other choice. The guardians would not let them pass without a fight.

“Stay close to me,” Shen Li instructed, his voice low but firm. “These creatures are bound to the relic. If we want to reach it, we need to break through their formation.”

Liu Feng nodded, his eyes sharp with determination. “We follow your lead.”

The guardians made the first move. With a swift, fluid motion, they surged forward, their bodies shifting and warping as they closed in on the group. They moved like shadows given form, their attacks precise and coordinated.

Jiang Mei was the first to strike, her agility and speed allowing her to dart between the guardians’ blows. Her blade flashed in the dim light as she aimed for the closest guardian, but her attack passed through it as if cutting through smoke. The guardian retaliated with a wave of dark energy that sent her sprawling to the ground, her face pale with shock.

Zhou Wen charged forward with a roar, his heavy sword cleaving through the air. His raw strength allowed him to land a solid hit, but the guardian simply reformed around the blade, its glowing eyes narrowing as it struck back with a force that sent Zhou Wen stumbling backward.

Shen Li knew that conventional attacks wouldn’t work. These were not ordinary enemies; they were manifestations of the forest’s will, bound to protect the relic at all costs. He stepped forward, channeling the shadows into his hands, shaping them into tendrils of dark energy that lashed out at the guardians.

The shadows struck true, wrapping around the nearest guardian and constricting it like a serpent. The creature struggled, its form flickering as if trying to resist the pull of Shen Li’s power. But the more it fought, the tighter the shadows squeezed, until finally, with a burst of dark light, the guardian dissipated into nothingness.

Liu Feng and the others stared in awe, but there was no time for hesitation. The remaining guardians pressed their attack, moving with greater ferocity now that one of their own had fallen. Shen Li continued to wield the shadows, his movements growing more fluid and instinctual as he tapped deeper into the dark energy.

One by one, the guardians fell, each dissolving into wisps of darkness that were absorbed by the shadows surrounding Shen Li. But with each victory, Shen Li felt the shadows growing stronger within him, their influence creeping further into his mind. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the battle, but a part of him couldn’t ignore the cost of using this power.

Finally, only one guardian remained, its form towering over the others. It seemed to shimmer with an intensity that the others lacked, as if it were the leader or perhaps the essence of the forest’s will itself. It stood between the group and the altar, its eyes burning with a cold, unwavering light.

“We take this one down together,” Liu Feng called out, rallying the others. “It’s the last obstacle between us and the relic.”

Jiang Mei and Zhou Wen nodded, their resolve renewed despite the weariness that showed on their faces. They positioned themselves on either side of the guardian, ready to strike at its flanks while Shen Li and Liu Feng prepared to face it head-on.

The guardian moved first, unleashing a wave of dark energy that swept across the clearing. Shen Li raised his hands, summoning a barrier of shadows to deflect the attack. The energy collided with the barrier, causing it to tremble but holding firm.

Liu Feng dashed forward, his sword glowing with a brilliant light as he aimed a powerful strike at the guardian’s core. At the same time, Jiang Mei and Zhou Wen attacked from the sides, their blades flashing as they sought to weaken the guardian’s defenses.

The guardian’s form rippled as it parried their attacks, its movements fluid yet precise. It seemed to anticipate their every move, countering with strikes that forced them to retreat. Shen Li could see that this guardian was far more powerful than the others, and it was growing more aggressive with each passing moment.

Summoning every ounce of his strength, Shen Li channeled the shadows into a massive wave of energy, hurling it at the guardian with all his might. The wave struck the guardian, wrapping around it in a cocoon of darkness. For a moment, the guardian was immobilized, its form flickering as it struggled against the overwhelming force.

“Now!” Shen Li shouted, his voice strained from the effort.

Liu Feng, Jiang Mei, and Zhou Wen didn’t hesitate. They launched a coordinated assault, their combined strength focused on the guardian’s core. Their blades pierced through the shadowy cocoon, striking the guardian with a force that shattered its form.

With a final, echoing wail, the guardian dissolved into a cloud of darkness, leaving the clearing eerily silent. The shadows that had been swirling around Shen Li receded, returning to their dormant state. Shen Li staggered, exhausted but relieved that the battle was over.

Liu Feng approached the altar cautiously, his eyes fixed on the relic. The object still pulsed with that strange light, as if unaffected by the battle that had just taken place. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he touched the relic.

The moment his fingers made contact, the light intensified, engulfing the entire clearing in a blinding flash. Shen Li shielded his eyes, feeling the shadows within him recoil from the sudden brilliance. When the light finally faded, they found themselves standing in the same clearing, but the relic was now gone, and the altar lay cracked and broken.

“What happened?” Jiang Mei asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

“The relic,” Liu Feng said, staring at his hand. “It… it disappeared the moment I touched it.”

Shen Li frowned, feeling a deep sense of unease. The relic had vanished, but he could still feel its presence, as if it had been absorbed into the forest or perhaps into something—or someone—else.

“We need to leave,” Shen Li said urgently, sensing that the forest’s hostility had not diminished. “The trial isn’t over yet.”

The group nodded in agreement, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as they turned to leave the clearing. The path through the forest reappeared, guiding them back the way they had come. But as they made their way out, Shen Li couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed within him.

And as they reached the edge of the forest, emerging into the light of the sect’s grounds,