**The sky grew darker.** Just when I thought we were about to reach the safe zone, who’d have guessed we’d run into *big trouble* right at the entrance of the so-called "beginner’s village"? It was like a giant tiger blocking our way.
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As Lu Feng and his Shadow Cat neared Twilight Fortress, a foul, nauseating stench suddenly filled the air—like some cheap biochemical weapon had leaked, reeking of rotting corpses and pungent sulfur. Lu Feng wrinkled his nose, his stomach churning.
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*What the hell is this? A Resident Evil cosplay?* He muttered under his breath, quickly covering his nose with a makeshift cloth mask. These days, if you didn’t have some kind of anti-toxin gear, you couldn’t even call yourself an isekai protagonist.
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The Shadow Cat, alert as ever, pricked up its ears, its sapphire-blue eyes gleaming sharply. A low growl rumbled in its throat—clearly, it sensed danger ahead. That little furball’s nose was way sharper than Lu Feng’s. *Something’s definitely wrong.*
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Lu Feng halted, squinting as he cautiously scanned the surroundings. In the distance, Twilight Fortress loomed under the sunset like a dormant beast, eerie and menacing, straight out of a horror movie. A faint crimson mist hung in the air, reducing visibility to almost nothing, with only the vague outlines of ruins barely discernible. *This smog’s worse than doomsday!* He couldn’t help but complain.
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"Stay sharp, Xiao You," Lu Feng whispered, gripping his dagger tightly.
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That dagger—a limited-edition merch from his gaming days—had unexpectedly become his lifeline now. *Who knew official merch would actually come in handy?*
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"Meow~" The Shadow Cat vanished into the darkness, scouting ahead.
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Having an invisible little helper like this sure upped their survival odds.
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Then, a bone-chilling gust swept past, making Lu Feng shiver.
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He felt *watched*—goosebumps rising all over his body.
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*This place is freaky as hell!* He clenched his fists, inching forward cautiously.
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Suddenly, the Shadow Cat let out a shrill cry before disappearing into the abyss.
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"Xiao You!" Lu Feng’s heart lurched as he bolted toward where the cat had vanished. That little guy was his right-hand companion—he couldn’t afford to lose it!
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But before he could take more than a few steps, the ground *quaked* violently beneath him. Then, from the darkness, a pair of blood-red eyes slowly *opened*...
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*Holy crap, what the hell is that?!* Lu Feng cursed under his breath, adrenaline surging.
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Was this some kind of monster battle royale?
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He froze, activating his gamer-like "scan" mode, trying to identify the creature lurking in the dark.
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But the crimson mist was too thick—visibility was practically zero.
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All he could make out was a massive silhouette and those猩猩-red eyes glowing ominously.
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*That level of pressure… Definitely a boss-tier enemy.* A cold sweat trickled down his back.
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Just as he was about to pull out his "family heirloom"—a glorified brick (well, a large rock)—the scene before him sent chills down his spine.
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The once-tranquil Moonlight Lake suddenly shimmered with a silvery glow.
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The water’s surface, mirror-smooth, reflected the moon with surreal clarity—stunningly beautiful.
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But the peace didn’t last.
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Rapid footsteps shattered the silence, followed by a desperate cry: *"Help! Someone, please help me!"*
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Lu Feng turned to see a young woman—graceful, ethereally beautiful—being pursued by several black-clad assailants.
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Her long silver hair cascaded like liquid moonlight, almost divine in its radiance.
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*"Whoa… An elf girl?!"* Lu Feng blurted out.
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Her beauty surpassed every idol from his world combined.
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But this was no time to admire aesthetics.
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The black-clad figures reeked of malice, outnumbering her. She was clearly outmatched.
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A surge of impulsiveness hit Lu Feng: *This is the perfect damsel-in-distress moment!*
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Even in his own precarious situation, as a morally upright beta tester, how could he just *walk away*?
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"Hey! You lot—bullying a lone woman in broad daylight? What kind of cowards are you?!" He shouted.
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The moment the words left his mouth, the attackers’ attention snapped toward him.
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One sneered, "Kid, scram if you wanna live!"
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Lu Feng smirked. *"Oh, you think I’m scared?"* He struck what he thought was a heroic pose. *"Today, justice gets served!"*
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With that, he brandished his rock and charged.
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The black-clad figures scoffed, weapons flashing as they met his assault.
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Chaos erupted.
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Lu Feng’s combat skills were mediocre at best, but his gamer reflexes and terrain knowledge kept him barely afloat.
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Yet the enemies were no pushovers—their coordination was flawless, attacks ruthless. Soon, Lu Feng was cornered.
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*Crap, crap, crap! Is this where I bite the dust?!*
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Just as despair set in, the elf girl *moved*.
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Hands clasped, she chanted softly—then a *silver light* erupted from her, illuminating the entire lakeshore.
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The attackers screamed as the radiance seared them, black smoke rising from their bodies.
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*"This… Is this lunar magic?!"* Lu Feng gaped.
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*"Run! I can’t hold them long!"* The elf girl panted weakly.
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Lu Feng didn’t hesitate—he scooped her up and *bolted* toward Twilight Fortress.
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But the pursuers broke free, closing in fast.
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*Ugh, these guys are like cockroaches!*
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Then—*ambush*.
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The Shadow Cat reappeared, darting through shadows.
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One by one, the black-clad figures collapsed, howling in agony.
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*"Xiao You, you legend!"* Lu Feng cheered internally.
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With the cat’s help, they finally shook off the pursuers, reaching the fortress outskirts.
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*"Thank you… for saving me,"* the elf girl murmured gratefully.
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*"No biggie. Couldn’t just leave you there,"* Lu Feng waved it off. *"What’s your name?"*
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*"Aylia,"* she whispered. *"I’m… the last heir of Moonlight Forest."*
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*"Moonlight Forest?"* Lu Feng frowned. *"What’s that?"*
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Aylia’s voice trembled. *"It was… the most beautiful woodland in this realm. Until the Blood Pact annihilated it."*
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*"Blood Pact?"*
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*"A cult of dark cultivators,"* she spat. *"They slaughtered my kin… burned everything."*
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Lu Feng fell silent.
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Beneath this world’s serene surface festered unspeakable cruelty.
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*"So… what now?"* He asked gently.
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Aylia lifted her chin, eyes blazing. *"I’ll make them pay."*
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*"Need a hand?"*
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She hesitated. *"You’d… help me?"*
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*"Sure,"* Lu Feng grinned. *"We’re friends now, right?"*
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Aylia smiled faintly. *"Thank you."*
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*"But the Blood Pact won’t go down easy,"* he warned.
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*"I know,"* she nodded. *"But I won’t give up."*
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*"Then let’s team up,"* Lu Feng declared. *"Together, we’ll kick their butts!"*
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As they stood side by side, gazing at Twilight Fortress, determination solidified.
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*"Oh, you never told me your name,"* Aylia suddenly said.
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Lu Feng paused dramatically. *"Call me…"*
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He savored the suspense before grinning.
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*"Lu Feng."*
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Aylia’s breath hitched. Her gaze turned complex—recognition flickering.
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*"I…"* She bit her lip.
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Lu Feng chuckled, diffusing the tension. *"Relax, I’m not some cliché OP protagonist. More allies mean better odds—wanna join my ‘Anti-Blood Pact Justice League’?"*
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Aylia burst into laughter—a sound like wind chimes. *"I’d be honored. For Moonlight Forest… and to repay my debt."*
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**Ding!** A game prompt echoed in Lu Feng’s head:
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*[Congratulations! Hero Unit Recruited: Elf Princess Aylia! +10 EXP for "Cross-Realm Lord"!]*
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*Heh. Feels like playing Heroes of Might and Magic IRL.*
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But just as he fantasized about their future crusade, a *guttural roar* shook the earth.
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The air itself grew heavy with primal dread.
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*"What now—Godzilla?!"* Lu Feng cursed, hairs standing on end.
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Aylia paled, gripping her staff.
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Then—she seized his arm.
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**"Run."**
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