Beyond the Threshold

The air was thick with tension as Li Wei and Xia Ren left the safety of the recuperation room, the door sealing behind them with an echoing thud. They had changed into fresh clothes—simple tunics and trousers that allowed them freedom of movement—each carrying their weapons now restored and ready. Li Wei's face was set with determination, his wounds partially healed, and Xia Ren walked beside him, more alert than before.

The corridor stretched ahead, illuminated only by flickering torches that cast elongated shadows on the stone walls. Every sound echoed—each step, each breath—until they reached the next threshold: a heavy, iron-banded door with swirling, arcane symbols carved into its surface. A faint hum of magic pulsed from the door, hinting at the danger that lay beyond.

"Level eleven," Xia Ren said, glancing sideways at Li Wei. "Looks like the real fun begins here."

Li Wei’s expression was unreadable as he raised a hand to the door, sensing the magic thrumming through it. “We’re beyond the easy stages,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact. “If you’re not focused from here on out, it’s over.”

Xia Ren’s fingers flexed around the hilt of his Inferno Blade, a determined smile forming on his lips. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

Li Wei nodded once, and with a deep breath, pushed the door open.

---

The room was a vast, open chamber with polished stone floors that glowed faintly, reflecting the dim light from above. At first glance, it seemed empty—a deceptive calm that Li Wei knew better than to trust. He raised a hand, murmuring a spell to enhance his vision, and immediately spotted what the normal eye couldn’t see: shimmering outlines of pressure plates spread across the floor like an invisible web.

“It’s a trap floor,” Li Wei said quietly. “Step on the wrong plate, and the entire room will react.”

“React how?” Xia Ren asked, eyes scanning the empty space.

“No idea,” Li Wei admitted. “Could be projectiles, an explosion, or the room could seal itself shut. But it’s not meant to be survivable.”

“Perfect,” Xia Ren said sarcastically, then shrugged. “So what’s the plan?”

“I’ll move first,” Li Wei said. “Follow exactly in my footsteps. And be quick—this kind of room usually doesn’t give a second chance if you stop midway.”

Xia Ren gave a sharp nod. “Lead the way.”

Li Wei took a deep breath and stepped onto the first pressure plate, feeling the stone shift ever so slightly underfoot. He moved with the precision of someone who had walked dozens of such rooms before, each step measured, each breath controlled. Xia Ren followed, mimicking his movements exactly, his Inferno Blade poised and ready for anything.

Halfway through, Li Wei’s intuition screamed a warning. “Stop!” he hissed, freezing mid-step. Xia Ren halted just in time, his eyes darting to the faint shimmer of magic that rippled across the floor ahead of them.

Li Wei studied the shifting plates, his brow furrowed. “It’s changing the pattern,” he said, his voice low. “The trap resets every few seconds. We have to move faster.”

He picked up the pace, stepping in a dizzying zigzag that barely skirted the plates. Xia Ren kept up, matching him stride for stride, and just as they reached the end of the chamber, a deep rumble filled the room.

“Go!” Li Wei shouted, sprinting the last few feet as the floor erupted in a storm of darts that whizzed past them, narrowly missing Xia Ren’s arm. They hit the door on the far side, crashing through it and slamming it shut just as a barrage of arrows embedded themselves into the wood.

Both of them panted heavily, adrenaline rushing through their veins. Xia Ren chuckled breathlessly, sliding down the wall to catch his breath. “Now that was intense. Think I’m getting the hang of this.”

Li Wei just gave him a long, unreadable look. “You did well,” he said, the praise short but genuine.

---

The next level was no easier. They found themselves in a narrow corridor lit by eerie, glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The air was cold, and an unnatural chill settled in Li Wei’s bones. Ahead, the path split into two passages, each leading into darkness.

“A fork?” Xia Ren muttered. “Are we splitting up?”

“No,” Li Wei said firmly. “We stay together. The more complex these rooms get, the more they try to force separation. It’s how they break pairs.”

Xia Ren’s gaze lingered on the twin paths. “But how do we know which way is the right one?”

Li Wei extended his hand, murmuring a soft incantation as a swirl of purple light formed at his fingertips. The magic pulled toward the left passage, faintly tugging like a magnet. “That way,” he said, nodding to the left. “My magic senses the flow. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than guessing.”

They moved down the left path cautiously, the glow of their weapons reflecting off the cold, crystal-lit walls. The narrow passage twisted and turned until it opened into a vast cavern. The air was damp and heavy, and a soft hissing noise echoed from the far end, sending a chill down their spines.

“What now?” Xia Ren asked, scanning the darkness.

Li Wei’s eyes narrowed, focusing on the shifting shadows at the edge of the cavern. “There’s something here. Watch my back.”

Xia Ren’s grip tightened on his Inferno Blade as Li Wei stepped forward, his Whisper Blades drawn. The hissing grew louder, and from the depths of the cavern, a creature emerged—a serpentine figure with multiple heads, each with glowing, venomous eyes. Its scales shimmered with an iridescent hue, absorbing and reflecting the light of the crystals in a way that was almost hypnotic.

“Hydra,” Li Wei muttered, recognizing the magical beast from his studies. “Be careful. The heads regenerate.”

“Great,” Xia Ren said dryly. “Any bright ideas?”

Li Wei took a step forward, brandishing his blades. “Cut fast and don’t let them regenerate at the same time. Keep the fire on them.”

With a roar, the Hydra lunged, its multiple heads striking out like lightning. Li Wei ducked and spun, his blades a blur as he sliced through the first two heads in a single motion. Xia Ren followed, flames dancing from his Inferno Blade as he slashed at another, setting it ablaze. The cavern echoed with the sounds of battle as the Hydra retaliated, its scales deflecting some of their strikes, but they pressed forward, forcing it back with relentless blows.

The creature writhed and hissed, flames licking up its severed heads. Xia Ren grinned, eyes wild with excitement, his spear striking faster and more fiercely with each movement.

Suddenly, one of the heads struck low, catching Li Wei off guard. He twisted just in time, but the Hydra’s fang grazed his shoulder, sending a burning jolt of poison coursing through his veins. He stumbled back, biting down a curse as pain lanced through him.

“Li!” Xia Ren shouted, his eyes wide with panic.

“I’m fine!” Li Wei snapped, raising a hand to cast a shield of shadows around himself. “Focus on the fight!”

They moved in tandem, Li Wei’s blades moving like quicksilver, Xia Ren’s flames keeping the Hydra off-balance. Finally, with a combined strike, they severed the creature’s final head, the flames from Xia Ren’s Inferno Blade ensuring it would not rise again. The Hydra’s massive form slumped to the ground, dissolving into a pile of glittering, fading scales.

Li Wei sank to one knee, clutching his injured shoulder, his face pale. Xia Ren was at his side in an instant, worry etched into his features. “You’re not okay,” he said, his voice tight. “The poison—”

“It’s not lethal,” Li Wei said through gritted teeth, his breath ragged. “I’ve dealt with worse.” He gestured weakly toward another healing cabinet embedded in the wall. “The recuperation room isn’t far. I just need a moment.”

---

After another tense few minutes, they reached another safe chamber—a recuperation room bathed in soft, golden light. This one was slightly larger than the last, with an actual bathing area and shelves stocked with fresh linens and healing herbs. Xia Ren didn’t waste a second, practically dragging Li Wei to the bath, helping him wash the blood and grime from his wounds.

“Stubborn bastard,” Xia Ren muttered, though his voice was soft as he carefully tended to the cuts on Li Wei’s back, bandaging them with the precision of someone used to mending his own wounds. Li Wei, for once, didn’t argue, his exhaustion too great to resist.

“You know,” Xia Ren said quietly as he tightened the final bandage, “I thought this would be about proving myself. But... this place, it’s not what I expected.”

Li Wei’s eyes were half-closed as he lay back, the painkillers beginning to dull the worst of the agony. “Nothing about this place is what it seems,” he murmured. “And it’s only going to get worse.”

“Good,” Xia Ren said, his eyes burning with determination. “Then we’ll just have to get stronger.”

Li Wei chuckled softly, the sound rough with fatigue. “You better. Because if you fall behind, I’m not waiting.”

Xia Ren grinned, handing Li Wei a warm cup of herbal tea from the cabinet. “Oh

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***