The gorge erupted in chaos as the masked enforcer’s energy wave surged forward, tearing through the narrow path like an unstoppable tide. Xu Tian raised his hands, the shadows around him coiling into a dense barrier. The impact sent a deafening roar echoing through the gorge, the force of the collision sending cracks spidering across the rocky cliffs.

  Behind him, Yan Mei flung a talisman into the air, its golden light spreading into a protective dome that shielded her and Li Wei. Qiao Rui, perched on a jagged outcrop, loosed an arrow that streaked toward the enforcer, only for it to disintegrate midair against an unseen barrier.

  “Persistent, aren’t they?” Qiao Rui muttered, nocking another arrow.

  Xu Tian gritted his teeth, his shadows surging as the energy dissipated. “Stay back,” he said over his shoulder. “This one’s here for me.”

  The masked figure stepped forward, their presence unnervingly calm despite the chaos around them. Their robes billowed faintly in the energy-charged air, and the runes etched into their mask glowed brighter, pulsating with a rhythmic light.

  “Impressive,” the enforcer said, their voice cold and even. “You’ve survived longer than most. But that ends here.”

  Xu Tian’s shadows writhed, forming jagged tendrils that lashed toward the enforcer. The masked figure didn’t flinch. They raised a hand, and a pulse of energy rippled outward, disintegrating the shadows before they could land.

  “You’re going to have to try harder than that,” the enforcer said.

  Xu Tian lunged forward, his shadows forming a massive blade that he swung toward the enforcer. They sidestepped with inhuman speed, their movements smooth and deliberate. With a flick of their wrist, they summoned a spear of crackling energy, which they hurled toward Xu Tian.

  The spear struck his shadows, shattering them and sending him skidding backward. Xu Tian caught himself, his breath ragged as the star’s whispers surged in his mind.

  “You are outmatched,” the star hissed. “Let me guide you. Let me end this.”

  “No,” Xu Tian growled, his voice low. “Not like this.”

  The enforcer tilted their head, as if studying him. “You’re holding back,” they said. “Why? Are you afraid of what you might become?”

  Xu Tian didn’t answer. He raised his hand, his shadows coiling into a massive, serpentine form that lunged toward the enforcer. They responded with another pulse of energy, but this time, the shadows twisted around the attack, their movements sharp and unpredictable.

  The serpent struck, forcing the enforcer to leap backward. Xu Tian pressed the advantage, his shadows surging forward in relentless waves.

  From the edge of the gorge, Yan Mei watched the battle with growing concern. She could see the strain on Xu Tian’s face, the way his shadows flickered and pulsed erratically. He was pushing himself too hard, and the star’s influence was growing stronger with every moment.

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  “Qiao Rui,” she said, her tone urgent. “We have to help him.”

  “Are you sure?” Qiao Rui replied, his expression skeptical. “He doesn’t look like he wants company.”

  “If he keeps fighting like this, he’s going to lose control,” Yan Mei said firmly. “We can’t let that happen.”

  Qiao Rui sighed, nocking another arrow. “Fine. But if we die, I’m blaming you.”

  As Xu Tian’s shadows clashed with the enforcer’s energy, Yan Mei hurled a talisman into the fray. The paper charm glowed brightly before erupting into a wave of golden chains that coiled around the enforcer’s legs, anchoring them in place.

  The enforcer’s head snapped toward her, their voice sharp. “Stay out of this!”

  Qiao Rui fired an arrow, aiming for the exposed runes on the enforcer’s mask. The projectile struck with a burst of sparks, cracking the surface of the mask and drawing a low growl from the enforcer.

  “You’re getting annoying,” the enforcer said, their aura flaring as they shattered the chains and leapt toward Yan Mei and Qiao Rui.

  Xu Tian watched as the enforcer turned their attention to Yan Mei and Qiao Rui, their blade descending in a deadly arc. His shadows surged instinctively, wrapping around the enforcer’s arm and pulling them back before the strike could land.

  The enforcer turned toward him, their eyes—glowing faintly beneath the mask—narrowing. “Protecting them won’t save you,” they said.

  Xu Tian ignored them, his focus narrowing as he pulled his shadows tighter around the enforcer. The strain was immense, his body trembling as he fought to maintain control. The star’s whispers grew louder, pressing against his mind with relentless intensity.

  “You cannot win like this,” the star said, its voice both seductive and insistent. “They are holding you back. Let me take over, and I will show you what true power feels like.”

  Xu Tian’s vision blurred, the edges of the world darkening as the star’s influence grew stronger. He could feel it—the raw, overwhelming power waiting just beyond his reach. All he had to do was let go.

  “Xu Tian!” Yan Mei’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and desperate. “Stay with me!”

  Her words brought him back, anchoring him. He took a deep breath, forcing the star’s whispers back into the depths of his mind.

  With a final surge of effort, Xu Tian channeled his shadows into a concentrated blast that struck the enforcer square in the chest, sending them crashing into the rocky wall of the gorge. The force of the impact shattered part of the cliff, loose stones tumbling to the ground as dust filled the air.

  For a moment, everything was still.

  Then the enforcer rose, their movements slower but no less deliberate. The cracks in their mask glowed faintly, leaking streaks of crimson energy that flickered like embers.

  “This isn’t over,” the enforcer said, their voice tight with frustration. “You’re stronger than I expected. But next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

  They stepped back into the shadows, their form dissolving into the darkness as the energy in the gorge faded.

  Xu Tian collapsed to his knees, his shadows receding as the tension drained from his body. He was exhausted, his entire frame trembling from the effort of holding the star’s power in check.

  Yan Mei rushed to his side, her hands glowing with healing light as she knelt beside him. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.

  “I’m fine,” Xu Tian said, though his voice was barely above a whisper.

  “You don’t look fine,” Qiao Rui said, approaching with his bow slung over his shoulder. “That was… intense.”

  Xu Tian didn’t respond. He stared at the ground, his mind racing with doubts. The enforcer had been powerful—far more powerful than anyone he had faced before. And the star’s whispers were growing harder to resist.

  As the group prepared to move on, far above the gorge, a figure watched them from the shadows of a cliff. Their eyes glowed faintly, the same crimson light that had flickered in the enforcer’s mask.

  “They’re stronger than I thought,” the figure murmured. “But the star is consuming him. It’s only a matter of time.”

  The figure turned, their cloak billowing in the wind as they vanished into the night.

  And in the heavens above, the faint glimmer of stars seemed to pulse, as though watching the unfolding events with silent intent.