The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweat as Yan Jin sprinted through the twisted maze of the labyrinth, his breath sharp and heavy. Behind him, the monstrous creature howled in rage, its grotesque form crashing through the dark passages with unnatural speed, forcing Yan Jin to react with every ounce of skill and cunning he possessed.
Leaping over obstacles, Yan Jin narrowly avoided a massive, clawed hand that smashed into the ground where he had just stood. He rolled forward, quickly spinning on his heel to let loose another arrow. It whizzed through the air with deadly precision, but the beast barely flinched, the tip of the arrow glancing off its thick hide.
The creature snarled, its many heads snapping and gnashing their teeth, its eyes filled with murderous intent.
Yan Jin pivoted, changing direction mid-sprint, dodging into a narrow tunnel. The walls of the labyrinth closed in, making it harder to maneuver, but he relied on his agility. He could feel the heat of the beast's breath on his back as it barreled forward, tearing through the tunnel with brute force.
Yan Jin darted from side to side, using the narrow space to his advantage, rolling beneath falling debris and vaulting over jagged rocks. He turned quickly and fired another arrow, this time aiming for one of the beast's many eyes. The arrow struck true, and the creature let out a deafening roar of pain, momentarily slowing it down.
Yan Jin used the opportunity to gain distance, his senses tuned to every slight vibration in the labyrinth.
Suddenly, the oppressive darkness of the maze gave way to an open expanse. Yan Jin emerged into a vast underground cavern, unlike anything he had seen before. Towering trees with silvery bark and dark green leaves stretched toward the cavern's roof, their branches laden with glowing blue fruit that illuminated the space.
The air was peaceful here, a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed him moments earlier. The ground was soft underfoot, covered in a thick layer of moss, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. It was serene, almost tranquil.
Yan Jin didn't have long to appreciate the calm before a powerful presence stirred within the cavern. The air shifted as if something ancient had awakened, disturbed by the intruders. Yan Jin's sharp senses picked up on the shift almost immediately, his instincts screaming at him that they had stumbled into something far beyond them.
From the largest tree in the center of the cavern, a colossal figure began to take shape. It was a Century Plasma Cell, its form eerily similar to that of the celestial Garuda. The creature's body was covered in shimmering feathers that radiated light, each feather as sharp as a blade. Its wings spanned wider than the tallest trees in the cavern, their tips crackling with pure energy.
The Century Plasma Cell's head was avian, with piercing, intelligent eyes that gleamed with ancient wisdom. Its talons, long and curved, dug into the earth as it rose to its full height, its beak letting out a sharp cry that echoed throughout the chamber.
The environment around it seemed to bend to its will, the trees swaying as though acknowledging the Garuda's authority. A waterfall that flowed gently at the edge of the cavern began to glow with an otherworldly light, and the very air shimmered with energy. Despite its immense power, the creature exuded a peaceful aura, as if it had existed in harmony with its surroundings for centuries.
Then, without warning, a deep, resonant voice filled Yan Jin's mind. It wasn't a spoken voice, but more a presence that vibrated through his very being. "Who are you?" the voice asked.
Yan Jin stood motionless, his heart still racing from the battle, but his mind calmed by the presence of the Garuda. He couldn't see the majestic creature before him, but he could feel its power, its wisdom. It was unlike any entity he had ever encountered. He paused for a moment, considering how to respond to such a being.
"I am Yan Jin," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I am a participant of the Iron Blood Cell Trials. I am here for the red blood cells. Thank you for your protection, Great Garuda."
As the words left his lips, the towering figure of the Garuda began to shift. Its immense, bird-like form, which had once filled the cavern with an awe-inspiring presence, gradually started to shrink. Feathers shimmered and glowed, shrinking down until the colossal Garuda stood no taller than a regular human.
Yan Jin could feel the energy it radiated as it approached him, now at eye level, despite his blindness. He could sense its breath, warm and close, as it stood face to face with him.
"I am not the Great Garuda," the figure said, its voice softer now, filled with a quiet sadness. "I am merely a remnant, trying to protect its legacy."
Yan Jin tilted his head slightly, feeling the closeness of the being's presence. "Protect it from what?" he asked, feeling the breath of the Plasma Cell next to him. There was something both comforting and unsettling in its proximity.
"The reason the Great Garuda was killed," the remnant began, its voice growing heavier, "was because it had shown signs of corruption. After its death, the corruption should have ceased to spread.
But you humans, with your meddlesome abilities, have decided to turn its body into a vein." The remnant's words carried a weight of frustration and sorrow as it began walking slowly away from Yan Jin, its footsteps soft yet resonating with authority.
Yan Jin followed behind, trying to process what he had just heard. "The same way resentment gave birth to me," the remnant continued, "a hybrid plasma with white blood cells... there are plasmas with cancerous cells in this tunnel, born from the same meddling."
Yan Jin's expression hardened as he kept pace with the remnant. "How do we stop them? There are thousands of people who depend on this vein for protection. If it turns completely..."
The remnant paused for a moment, turning its head slightly as if considering Yan Jin's plea. "It was fine," the remnant said, its voice tinged with bitterness, "until fourteen years ago. Some individuals came in and broke the balance. I am the only white blood cell left, protecting this little corner of the maze. The rest... has been invaded by cancer cells.
The corruption festers and spreads, slowly overtaking everything."