After a long and arduous journey, I finally emerged from the Misty Forest. At the forest's edge, sunlight bathed my body, bringing a warmth I hadn't felt in ages.
Exhausted, I dragged myself back to the wizard's dwelling, gasping for breath as I spoke, "Wizard, I've completed the first trial."
The wizard gave a slight nod and said, "Well done, young one. Your next trial is to retrieve the mystical key from the Valley of the Lost. It is guarded by a colossal serpent."
Gritting my teeth, I set off once more.
I didn’t know what awaited me in the Valley of the Lost, but for my Senior—and for the Werewolf who loved me deeply—I feared nothing.
Every step was filled with determination, my conviction burning like a flame, illuminating the path ahead.
My body weary beyond measure, I pressed on toward the Valley of the Lost.
Thorns sprawled across the path, their sharp spikes stretching recklessly as if to bar my way.
Each step felt like a fierce battle against demons.
My clothes were already torn to shreds, ragged strips fluttering helplessly in the wind, my skin covered in tiny wounds.
Those wounds snaked across my flesh like crimson streams, the stinging pain coursing through me like electric shocks.
But I paid no mind to the pain. My heart held only one unwavering resolve—find the mystical key and save my Senior.
After what felt like an eternity, I entered a dark forest. The trees here stood tall and dense, like silent giants looming imposingly.
Sunlight barely pierced through the gaps in the leaves, the few struggling rays quickly swallowed by the darkness.
An eerie atmosphere hung in the air, like an invitation from death itself.
Treading carefully, the crunch of dead leaves beneath my feet echoed unnervingly in the silence, as if the forest protested my intrusion.
With every step, a chill crawled up my spine, coiling around me like an icy serpent.
As I walked, a strange sound reached my ears—a noise that seemed to rise from an ancient abyss, filled with dread and the unknown.
It came and went, sometimes a low growl, other times a sinister chuckle.
I froze, my heart pounding as if trying to escape my chest. Gripping the branch in my hand—my only weapon—it felt pitifully fragile.
Eyes darting, I scanned the darkness for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, a swarm of enormous bats swooped overhead, their wingbeats thunderous in the silence, like the drumbeats of doom.
I dropped to the ground, arms shielding my head, terrified of being attacked by these creatures of the dark. The cold wind they stirred whipped my hair wildly, their passage like blades slicing my cheeks.
Even after they vanished, my heart still raced wildly, as if trying to break free.
I pressed forward, the path growing rougher. Tree roots jutted from the ground like coiled serpents, alive with power and peril.
A single misstep could send me tumbling, each step fraught with uncertainty.
Not far ahead, I encountered a narrow path choked with thorns. Their interwoven spikes formed an impassable barrier, glinting menacingly in the faint light.
Searching for another route proved futile—the dense thicket left no way around.
With no choice, I stepped gingerly into the thorns. The moment I did, sharp spines tore into my skin, blood blooming like crimson petals.
Every step felt like a thousand knives carving into me, pain crashing over me in waves. But I clenched my jaw and inched forward.
Sweat drenched my tattered clothes, mingling with blood and stinging my wounds.
Each breath was agony, each heartbeat a torment. Gasping, I forced myself onward, refusing to let pain halt my progress.
Finally, I emerged from the thorns, my body a tapestry of wounds—each one a badge of perseverance, each drop of blood proof of my resolve.
At the entrance to the Valley of the Lost, a thin mist swirled, lending an air of eerie mystique.
The fog drifted like a veil, obscuring the path ahead. As I stepped inside, strange whispers filled my ears—ghostly murmurs, or perhaps ancient curses.
The valley’s stones took grotesque forms: some like snarling beasts, poised to strike; others like brooding giants, silent yet brimming with wisdom.
A gust of wind sent a shiver down my spine.
Then, a massive serpent appeared before me.
Its body was thick as a tree trunk, scales glinting dully in the mist, each one like an ancient plate of armor, speaking of its might.
The serpent’s eyes burned like twin flames, cold and piercing, as if they could see into my soul and lay bare my terror.
With a hiss, it lunged, jaws gaping to reveal dagger-like fangs.
I barely dodged as its body slammed into the ground, shaking the earth and kicking up dust.
I fled through the valley, desperate for cover, every step frantic with panic.
The serpent pursued relentlessly, its speed terrifying, each lunge bringing me closer to death’s edge.
Using boulders as shields, I dodged and weaved. The serpent crashed into the rocks, sending debris flying like deadly projectiles.
Its attacks grew fiercer—a whip of its tail nearly crushed me, sending me sprawling. The impact sent pain screaming through my body, as if my bones would shatter.
Yet I stayed focused, studying the serpent’s movements, searching for weakness.
After a harrowing struggle, I found it—the serpent’s underbelly, where the scales were smaller, less armored.
A spark of hope ignited within me.
Taking advantage of its inattention, I suddenly rushed forward and stabbed at its abdomen with the branch in my hand.
The branch was like a sharp sword, stabbing straight at the python's weak point. The python writhed in pain and let out an angry roar. The sound was deafening, as if it were going to tear the entire valley apart.
It launched a final, frenzied attack on me, as fierce as a violent storm.
I nimbly dodged and continuously attacked its weak point with the branch.
Every dodge was a test between life and death, and every attack was an intertwining of hope and despair.
Finally, the python gradually lost its strength and fell to the ground.
Its body was still twitching slightly, showing its last struggle. I stood aside, gasping for breath, feeling completely exhausted. Sweat poured down like rain, and my vision became blurred due to fatigue.
In the place guarded by the python, I found the mysterious key.
The key emitted a mysterious glow, as if it contained endless power. Its light illuminated my sweaty and dusty face, bringing me a glimmer of hope.
However, just as I was about to leave the Valley of Lost with the key, I found that the valley entrance was blocked by a mysterious magic barrier.
The barrier shimmered with a strange light, like flowing water waves, full of unknown power.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break through this barrier. I rammed into it with all my might, but was bounced back by a powerful force. I touched it with the key, but there was no reaction at all.
Just when I was feeling desperate, I suddenly noticed some strange symbols engraved on the key. I realized that this might be the key to unlocking the magic barrier.
I began to carefully study these symbols, trying to find the pattern among them. The symbols were all different in shape. Some were like twisted lines, and some were like mysterious patterns, making it hard to figure out.
As time passed by second by second, I still had no clue. Every attempt ended in failure, and the anxiety in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
At this time, the sky was gradually getting dark, and the Valley of Lost was filled with unknown dangers. The darkness surged in like a tide, swallowing everything up.
I didn't know if I could unlock the magic barrier before the darkness fell, but I knew that I couldn't give up...
