Chapter 122: Verdant Sprites...

Leon took a glance around him, the other cultivators were locked in their own battles.The treants, with their massive limbs and near-impenetrable bark, proved to be just as dangerous as before.

But the addition of the wolves made the fight even more chaotic. The wolves darted in and out of the cultivators' defenses, their speed and agility making them difficult to hit.

Leon focused on his wolf, his movements quick and precise as he dodged its attacks and struck back with his katana.

The wolf was relentless, but Leon's focus never wavered. He knew that one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death in this dungeon.

Finally, with a powerful strike, Leon's katana found its mark, cutting through the wolf's neck. The beast collapsed to the ground, its lifeless body falling still.

As the battle raged on, Leon noticed something strange—the treants and wolves seemed to be targeting specific cultivators, as if they were being directed by some unseen force. It was as if the dungeon itself was testing them, pushing them to their limits.

But despite the odds, the cultivators fought back with everything they had. Slowly but surely, they began to gain the upper hand, their combined strength overwhelming the dungeon beasts.

When the last of the wolves fell, the forest grew quiet once again. The cultivators stood in the aftermath of the battle, their bodies bruised and battered, but their spirits unbroken.

Rynar wiped the blood from his blade and looked around at the group. "Well done," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But this is far from over. We're still only scratching the surface of this dungeon. Be prepared for more as we move forward."

The groups nodded in agreement, their eyes scanning the forest for any signs of further danger.

Leon's was alert too, He knew that this dungeon was unlike any other he had encountered, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

This time around, the group wasn't without losses about five people where killed instantly at the start of the ambush attack, their stomach and chests respectively we're impaled by spear like roots lunged out by Barkhide Treants, their life a price for loosing their guard at such critical juncture...

With a final glance at the group, Rynar, sighing at the losses, without further words he motioned for them to continue forward. The heart of the dungeon awaited them, and with it, the true test of their strength.

The group moved deeper into the forest, their steps cautious but determined. The dungeon had already tested their resolve, but they knew that the real challenge was still ahead.

After that clash, the group had a few more clashes with the Barkhide Treants and Leafbound wolves before the attacks gradually stopped...

The dungeon had been eerily quiet for a while, with only the occasional rustling of leaves and distant growls breaking the silence. The cultivators had been on edge, knowing that danger lurked around every corner. But no one expected what happened next.

Suddenly, without warning, the entire dungeon was plunged into darkness. It was not the slow dimming of light as the sun set in the outside world. Instead, it was as if someone had snuffed out the very essence of light, leaving the group in pitch blackness. Panic immediately gripped the group.

"What's going on?!"

"This isn't natural!"

"Stay calm!" Rynar's voice cut through the rising panic. He was frowning, clearly disturbed by the sudden change, but he maintained a calm demeanor. "Everyone, light your torches! We came prepared for this."

There was a hurried shuffling as the cultivators fumbled to light their torches. The sudden darkness had disoriented them, but soon enough, flickers of light began to break through the void. However, just as the torches illuminated their surroundings, the group noticed something strange. The ground around them was glowing faintly—a soft, eerie green light.

"What is that?" one of the cultivators asked, his voice shaking. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Leon's eyes narrowed as he watched the glowing patches of green. It wasn't just the ground. There were small, fluttering creatures emerging from the earth, their wings shimmering with an unnatural glow. They were tiny, almost like fireflies, but with translucent wings and a strange, leaf-like texture.

"What are these things?" another cultivator whispered in horror.

Rynar stepped forward, his expression tense as he observed the creatures. "I've never seen anything like this," he admitted. "Everyone, stay on guard!"

The tiny creatures, now fully emerged, began to rise into the air. They were small, barely larger than dragonflies, but their sheer numbers made them a terrifying sight. Thousands of them filled the air, their soft glow casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The entire area seemed to come alive with their presence, and the once silent forest was now filled with the faint hum of their wings.

The creatures darted around the group, their movements almost playful at first. But then, without warning, they began to attack. They weren't like the Barkhide Treants or the Leafbound Wolves, which relied on brute strength and ferocity. These creatures were subtle, draining the life force of their victims in small, insidious amounts.

Leon felt it immediately—a sudden weakness spreading through his body, as if something was sapping his strength. His vision blurred for a moment, and his legs wobbled. He could see the same thing happening to the others. Cultivators were falling to their knees, their faces pale as they struggled to stay upright.

"What's happening?!" one of the cultivators shouted in panic. "I can't move!"

The system's voice echoed in Leon's mind, startling him out of his haze.

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

**Alert: Your life force is being drained by an external force. Immediate action is required. Form a mana barrier around your body to block the effect.**

•──────────────────•

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

Leon clenched his fists, gritting his teeth against the weakening sensation. He had never done something like this before—forming a mana barrier around his entire body—but he had no choice. He had to try. Drawing on his mana, he concentrated on circulating it through his meridians, guiding it towards the surface of his skin.

But the process was far from easy. The life drain was relentless, and every time Leon felt like he was making progress, his concentration wavered. The mana he was trying to circulate slipped out of his control, dispersing before it could form the protective layer he needed.

"Come on, damn it!" Leon cursed under his breath, beads of sweat forming on his brow. The pressure was mounting. Around him, the cries of the cultivators were growing more desperate as they fell, one by one, to the ground. He could hear them shouting at Rynar, demanding answers, demanding solutions, but the mercenary leader had none.

Leon's heart pounded in his chest, his breathing shallow. If he couldn't form this barrier soon, he'd be just as helpless as the others. And if that happened… He couldn't afford to think about what Rynar—or rather, what Fredrick—would do to him in such a vulnerable state.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind. Panic wouldn't help him now. He needed to focus. Slowly, he began to regulate his breathing, forcing himself to push aside the fear and chaos around him. He couldn't let his emotions control him.

Then, a surge of killing intent flared within him. Fredrick. The young master who had tried to take Amelia from him, who had planned to kill him. The thought of Fredrick filled Leon with a cold, focused rage. This wasn't just about survival anymore—this was about revenge. He needed to stay alive, not just for himself, but to exact his vengeance.

With that thought driving him, Leon's mind cleared. He could feel the mana flowing through him more smoothly now, more controlled. The panic that had threatened to overwhelm him was gone, replaced by a deadly calm. He could do this.

Slowly but surely, Leon guided the mana to his skin, forming a thin, translucent layer over his body. It was a delicate process, and the mana coat threatened to collapse more than once, but Leon held firm. He refused to let it fail. Experience tales at M V L

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the barrier formed completely around him, glowing faintly with a blue light.

*****

A/N:

What do you think of the story so far, I'm sorry for the dno that I couldn't fill completely yesterday, but all will be filled today and also a new chapter will be released today also...