The Shadow Nexus Online

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Chapter 29: Into the Unknown

The first rays of dawn crept through the window as Rio's eyes remained open. He had barely closed them all night.

Finally… Rio sighed in relief as the soft glow of morning signaled his escape from his suffocating predicament.

Beside him, both Retina and Iris stirred awake, stretching lazily. They looked well-rested—unlike Rio, who felt like a zombie.

"Morning," Retina mumbled, her voice still laced with sleep.

"Did you sleep well, Rio?" Iris asked, her silver eyes blinking softly as she glanced at him.

Rio forced a smile, suppressing the urge to groan. "Oh… yeah. Perfectly fine…"

Retina didn't seem convinced. "You look… tired."

"Just… ready to start the journey." Rio quickly changed the subject, sitting up and stretching. His muscles were stiff, and his back ached from staying still all night.

"Alright then," Retina said, getting up and walking to the center of the room. "Time to clean up."

She raised her hand, murmuring an incantation.

> [Retina activates: Arcane Dissolve]

The magical house, which had kept them safe through the night, began to shimmer and fade. Within seconds, it vanished completely, leaving no trace of their presence.

"Impressive as always," Rio muttered, nodding approvingly.

"No point leaving evidence behind," Retina said with a wink.

"Let's move out," Rio said, stepping forward. "The Land of Demons won't wait."

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A False Assumption

As they walked, an eerie silence surrounded them. The land stretched endlessly ahead, shrouded in mist and gloom. The soil was dry, cracked, and lifeless, while jagged rocks dotted the horizon.

"The Land of Demons…" Rio murmured, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape. "It's… quieter than I expected."

"Too quiet," Iris muttered, her ears twitching as she listened for any signs of life.

"Strange…" Retina's crimson eyes narrowed as she glanced around. "I expected at least some demon activity by now."

But there was nothing. No signs of movement. No distant growls. Just… silence.

"Maybe they're avoiding us?" Rio suggested, though even he didn't believe his own words.

"Or maybe…" Retina's voice trailed off, a frown tugging at her lips.

None of them voiced the unsettling feeling gnawing at their instincts.

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A Forest of Dread

After hours of walking, the landscape began to shift. The barren ground gave way to twisted roots and withered trees, their branches looming like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky.

"A forest?" Rio asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"It wasn't on the map…" Retina murmured, her brows furrowing.

As they approached, an overwhelming aura pressed down on them—a suffocating presence that made the air thick with menace.

"Do you feel that?" Iris whispered, her tone sharp as her senses went on high alert.

"Yeah," Rio replied, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. "Something… powerful."

The forest pulsed with energy—dark, ancient, and far more sinister than anything they had encountered before.

Suddenly, a chilling growl echoed through the dense foliage. It wasn't just one sound—multiple growls echoed, blending into an eerie symphony.

"Something's in there," Retina said softly, her eyes narrowing.

"Do we go in?" Rio asked, though he already knew the answer.

A brief silence followed.

"We don't have a choice," Iris murmured, her voice steady but cautious.

Rio took a step forward, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Let's do this."

They moved together, stepping into the shadowed depths of the forest. The moment they crossed the threshold, an invisible force seemed to wrap around them, as though the forest itself was alive—and watching.

The growls grew louder. Whatever awaited them within… was ready.

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