Chapter 28 : The Roar of Silent Shadow
The trio—Tian Heng with his calm, measured steps; Lyra the elven scout leading silently ahead; and Lilith, trailing Tian Heng like a disturbing, ever-present shadow—moved through the branching network of tunnels toward the location of the Water Purification Unit.
The tunnels in this sector were noticeably different from those near the Aether Cavern. They appeared older, more damaged in places, with clear signs of past collapses and rusted metal supports barely clinging to the damp stone walls. Lyra led them cautiously through the unstable sections she had noted in her report, where loose stones occasionally fell from the dark ceiling, though they passed through without incident.
Tian Heng walked steadily, his mind split between analyzing their surroundings and reviewing the foundational principles of the Starfrost Fusion Technique, which he was steadily mastering. He could feel the cold, pure energy slowly and steadily gathering in his dantian—a sensation of continual growth that gave him quiet confidence despite the lurking dangers.
As they passed through a particularly wide and dim tunnel section—so dark even the phosphorescent moss was scarce—the attack came suddenly and without warning. A swarm of black-winged creatures burst from cracks in the ceiling and sidewalls, emitting sharp, grating hisses. They were larger than normal bats, with leathery dark wings that seemed to absorb what little light was present, and multiple small eyes glowing with malignant red dots. These were the Voracious Shadowbats Ilara had described, clearly drawn to the aether auras radiating from the group—especially from Tian Heng and Lilith.
Lyra reacted instantly and instinctively—stepping back and drawing an arrow, ready to defend. But Tian Heng didn't move at all. He paused only for a moment, didn't lift a hand, didn't flinch. Just a brief flick of his cold eyes toward the attacking swarm—a quick assessment—then he resumed walking as if the threat were a minor nuisance to be dealt with.
He expected Lilith to act.
And before the first of the bats reached them, Lilith moved.
Her movement was not mere speed—nor elven grace. It was like the instantaneous displacement of shadow itself. In one moment, she was behind Tian Heng; the next, she stood in front of him, arms slightly raised. No weapons—only her sharp, black-clawed fingers.
But the power she released was terrifying. Dozens of fine strands of pure darkness erupted from her palms and body—no ordinary shadow, but a living, stretching void that devoured both light and essence. These black threads slithered like venomous serpents toward the incoming swarm.
There was no explosion, no violent clash. The moment the threads touched the bats, they stopped mid-air, frozen, then withered and shriveled with astonishing speed, as if their life force was being completely drained. Their brittle, dried husks fell to the tunnel floor like dead leaves, making no sound. The threads of shadow retreated back into Lilith just as quickly as they had appeared.
The attack ended in under two seconds. The entire swarm had been annihilated with deadly, silent efficiency.
Lyra stood frozen, her arrow still nocked in her bow, eyes wide in shock and quiet dread—first at Lilith, then at Tian Heng, who had only paused momentarily in his stride.
Lilith, having eliminated the threat, showed no sign of exertion or pride. She turned calmly, and as Tian Heng approached the area where the bats had fallen, she stepped elegantly to the side, just out of his path, and bowed her head slightly—a gesture that was both submissive and strangely dignified—waiting for him to pass first.
Tian Heng passed her without a glance, without a word, as though her intervention had been expected and routine. He simply continued walking in his usual composed manner. Lilith slipped behind him again, resuming her role as his deadly, devoted shadow.
Lyra followed, still under the lingering effects of shock, a deep unease settling in her regarding the strange dynamic between this unnervingly calm human and his terrifying demonic servant.
After a short time, the smell of moisture and stagnant water began to grow stronger. The tunnel finally opened into a broad, damp cavern, its walls covered in a slimy layer of dark moss and bioluminescent fungi that cast a faint, ghostly glow. At one side of the cavern lay a large, still pool of water, murky and lifeless—just as Lyra had described.
Facing the pool—or perhaps once drawing water from it—stood the Water Purification Unit. It was a massive cylindrical metal structure, several meters tall, crafted from the same dark alloy as the rest of the vault's technology. But now it was covered in a thick layer of dust and mineral buildup from centuries of high humidity. The thick pipes meant to transport water to and from the unit were either severed or heavily corroded. The unit stood utterly silent and inert—a mute witness to a forgotten age of progress.