I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The blinding white light gradually dissipated, and Li Xuan and Mu Yang collapsed onto the cold ground, their wounds throbbing with excruciating pain. Escaping the checkpoint felt like waking from a nightmare, yet the lingering shadows of that nightmare still clung to them. The battle replayed in Li Xuan's mind: Old Zhou's despairing gaze before being swallowed by the Shadow Demon's black vortex, Sister Wu's face draining color as she lay in a pool of blood, Mu Yang being repeatedly blasted away by the Shadow Demon's energy waves, his figure crashing heavily to the ground… Each image was branded into his mind like a hot iron, searing his nerves. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain. All he felt was profound powerlessness and anger, and a flood of regret washing over him. If only his reaction had been faster, if only his abilities had been stronger, could he have stopped all of this from happening? "Li Xuan…" Mu Yang's voice pulled him back to reality from his painful memories. He turned to look at Mu Yang, who was supporting Sister Wu and gently bandaging her wounds. Sister Wu's face was still pale, but her eyes were filled with gratitude and trust as she looked at Mu Yang. This scene warmed Li Xuan's heart; in this cruel apocalypse, the trust and support of the team were especially precious. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the grief and anger in his heart. He knew that now was not the time to indulge in emotions; they had to find a way to defeat the Shadow Demon as soon as possible and avenge their fallen comrades. Old Zhou, leaning on his cane, slowly walked over. His face showed a trace of fatigue, but his eyes remained firm. "Children, this defeat does not mean the end. We still have a chance." His voice, though old, was full of strength, giving Li Xuan and Mu Yang great encouragement. "Old Zhou, you are right. We cannot give up." Li Xuan stood up, his eyes shining with determination. He walked up to Elder Zhou and asked earnestly, "What do you know about the Shadow Demon? We must find its weakness to defeat it." Elder Zhou pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Shadow Demon is an extremely powerful energy entity. It can absorb surrounding energy to enhance its own power, and it's incredibly fast, making it very difficult to track. However, I've heard that the Shadow Demon fears the power of light..." Just then, a cheerful voice interrupted Elder Zhou: "I have an idea!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a burly young man striding towards them, a confident smile on his face and enthusiasm in his eyes. It was Lin Yu, who had been waiting for them outside the checkpoint. Lin Yu walked up to the group and said firmly, "I know the Shadow Demon is fast, but I'm not slow either. I can re-enter the level and use my speed advantage to attract the Shadow Demon's attention, then you can find an opportunity to attack it, how about that?" Old Zhou frowned, looking at Lin Yu with concern, "That's too dangerous, you simply can't withstand the Shadow Demon's power..." Lin Yu, however, was fearless. He patted his chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, Old Zhou, I'm confident..." Before he could finish speaking, Li Xuan interrupted him. Li Xuan walked up to Lin Yu, his eyes sharply fixed on him, and said in a deep voice, "Your plan is too reckless. We need a more reliable approach..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and slowly continued, "We must unite to defeat the Shadow Demon..." "Reckless? How is my plan reckless?" Lin Yu's voice rose a few decibels, his thick eyebrows furrowed, glaring at Li Xuan with disapproval. "Rather than waiting to be killed, we should take the initiative! I'm fast enough to hold off the Shadow Demon and create opportunities for you. What's wrong with that?" "Good? You're gambling with your life, and that's good?" Li Xuan remained unyielding, his tone icy. "What do you think the Shadow Demon is? A toy for you to play with? It can devour energy and is incredibly fast. Going in is just suicide!" "Suicide is better than waiting to die!" Lin Yu slammed his fist into a nearby stone pillar, the pillar thudding and sending dust flying. "Old Zhou, Sister Wu is injured. We can't delay any longer!" Old Zhou sighed, his cloudy eyes looking at Lin Yu, his wrinkled hand gently stroking his cane. "Young man, your courage is commendable, but acting rashly will only make things worse. The Shadow Demon can't be dealt with by speed alone. Your reckless actions will only result in a pointless sacrifice." "Sacrifice? I've long since disregarded life and death!" Lin Yu retorted, his voice trembling with emotion. "Instead of wasting time arguing here, let's take a gamble!" He turned to Mu Yang and Sister Wu, seeking their support. "What do you think? Are we just going to hide here and wait for the Shadow Demon to reappear?" Mu Yang remained silent, looking down at Sister Wu, who was bandaging her wounds, his eyes filled with worry. Sister Wu gently shook her head and said weakly, "Lin Yu, we appreciate your kindness, but... we can't let you take such a risk." Lin Yu became even more agitated, pacing back and forth like a trapped beast. "Are you all just willing to fail? Old Zhou, you're experienced, don't you have any other ideas?" Old Zhou shook his head helplessly. "We haven't fully grasped the Shadow Demon's weaknesses yet. Acting rashly will only increase casualties..." The argument grew louder, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense. Li Xuan looked at the tense crowd before him, feeling anxious. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and activated his mental perception ability again. The battle scenes flashed rapidly through his mind; every movement of the Shadow Demon, every energy fluctuation, was clearly presented before his eyes. The Shadow Demon's black energy vortex was like a black hole that devoured everything, sending chills down one's spine. But Li Xuan noticed that at the moment when the Shadow Demon released its dark power at its peak, its body flickered for a moment, as if the excessive concentration of energy had caused a crack in its defenses. This discovery jolted Li Xuan awake. He snapped his eyes open, a sharp glint in them. Could it be… this was the Shadow Demon's weakness? "Wait!" Li Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to silence everyone. He walked to the center of the group, his gaze sweeping over each person intently, and said in a deep voice, "I might… have found the Shadow Demon's weakness…" He paused, his gaze landing on Elder Zhou, "Elder Zhou, you once said that the Shadow Demon fears the power of light, is that right?"

Old Zhou paused slightly, then nodded. "That's right, this is a rumor I heard a long time ago, but I don't know the specifics of how to use the power of light to subdue the Shadow Demon..." Li Xuan's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Perhaps... I know how to use it..." His gaze turned to Lin Yu again, his tone becoming serious. "Your speed is indeed crucial..." "Lin Yu, your speed and strength are our advantages, but we can't be reckless." Li Xuan pointed to the traces left from the previous battle. "Although the Shadow Demon is fast, its attack trajectory is relatively simple. You are responsible for distracting it, but avoid direct confrontation. Use speed and terrain to maneuver around it." Although Lin Yu was somewhat unconvinced, seeing Li Xuan's serious gaze, he nodded. Li Xuan turned to Mu Yang. "Mu Yang, your defensive capabilities are the strongest. You need to protect Old Zhou and Sister Wu's safety, and also pay attention to supporting Lin Yu to prevent him from being affected by the Shadow Demon's attacks." Mu Yang nodded steadily, indicating that he understood. “Sister Wu, your healing abilities are crucial. Please monitor our condition closely and provide timely treatment.” Li Xuan looked at Sister Wu, his eyes filled with earnestness. Sister Wu smiled gently, “Don’t worry, I will do my best.” Finally, Li Xuan’s gaze fell on Old Zhou, “Old Zhou, you are experienced. Please take command from the rear and provide guidance as needed.” Old Zhou pondered for a moment, a glint of light suddenly flashing in his cloudy eyes. “Wait!” He slapped his thigh suddenly, “I remember now! When I was young, I encountered a monster called the Shadow Hunter in the Infinite Flow Space. Their characteristics are very similar to the Shadow Demon; they both fear the power of light, and…” He paused, his tone becoming somewhat excited, “When they release powerful energy, a brief energy vacuum period appears around their bodies!” “Energy vacuum period?” Li Xuan’s heart skipped a beat; this coincided with his discovery! “That’s right!” Old Zhou nodded affirmatively. “The Shadow Hunter’s defense drops significantly during its energy vacuum period. If we can seize this opportunity, we can inflict heavy damage on it!” This discovery invigorated everyone, and the previously somewhat gloomy atmosphere revived. “In other words, as long as Lin Yu can restrain the Shadow Demon, forcing it to release its powerful energy, and then we seize the moment during its energy vacuum period to concentrate our attacks, we can defeat it!” Li Xuan’s tone was full of confidence. “That’s right!” Old Zhou said excitedly, “I successfully killed the Shadow Hunter using this method back then!” Combining everyone’s opinions and Old Zhou’s experience, Li Xuan began to formulate a more detailed battle plan. He drew simple diagrams on the ground to simulate the Shadow Demon’s attack range and movement trajectory, and explained in detail everyone’s tasks and cooperation methods. “Lin Yu, you need to lure the Shadow Demon to this location,” Li Xuan pointed to a mark on the map, “then use your speed to dodge its attacks and induce it to release a large area of ​​dark energy.” “Mu Yang, you need to protect Elder Zhou and Sister Wu from this position, and also keep an eye on Lin Yu's location. If he's in danger, you must immediately provide support.” “Sister Wu, please be ready to heal us at any time, especially Lin Yu; he needs to take the greatest risk.” “Elder Zhou, please command from the rear and adjust our strategy as needed.” Li Xuan's plan was detailed and meticulous, covering everyone's strengths so that everyone could play their maximum role in the battle. After hearing this, everyone felt filled with hope; their previous dejection vanished, replaced by a burning fighting spirit. “Alright! Let's proceed according to this plan!” Lin Yu clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Everyone, get ready," Li Xuan said, surveying the group with a firm tone. "This time, we must succeed!" Old Zhou looked at the spirited group and nodded with satisfaction. "While the guardians in the Infinite Flow Space are powerful, they all have weaknesses. If we find and exploit those weaknesses, victory is possible. The Shadow Demon is troublesome, but not invincible..." He paused, his gaze deepening. "Remember, in the Infinite Flow Space, survival is paramount..." He patted Li Xuan on the shoulder. "I believe you can do it." The group adjusted their equipment, checked their condition, took a deep breath, and headed towards the Shadow Demon's location. Li Xuan led the way, his eyes resolute and calm. He knew this battle would be crucial to their survival in the Infinite Flow Space... He glanced back at the group and said in a deep voice, "Let's go." The group moved through the dimly lit passageway. Old Zhou, leaning on his cane, walked slowly but firmly. He continued to recount the various strange aspects of the Infinite Flow Space, especially the characteristics of the guardians. “The guardians of the levels in the Infinite Flow Space are not simple monsters,” Old Zhou’s voice was deep and magnetic. “They are more like the manifestation of certain rules, protecting the balance of the space. They possess immense power, but this power is neither infinite nor without flaws.” He paused, looking around as if sensing the energy flowing through the space. “Each guardian is intimately connected to the level it resides in. The environment, rules, and even subtle changes within the level can affect the guardian’s state. Like this Shadow Demon, it clings to darkness; the denser the darkness, the stronger its power. Conversely, if the surrounding dark energy can be weakened, its power will also diminish.” “Besides the influence of the environment, each guardian has its unique weakness,” Old Zhou pointed to the area where the Shadow Demon was entrenched. “Just as the Shadow Hunter fears light, the Shadow Demon may also fear a certain type of energy or substance. Finding this weakness is the key to defeating it.” Old Zhou’s explanation gave Li Xuan and the others a deeper understanding of the Infinite Flow Space. They realized that defeating the level guardian wasn't simply a matter of brute force; it required meticulous observation and analysis to find the guardian's weaknesses and to develop effective strategies using the environment and rules. Under Zhou Lao's guidance, they re-examined their previous battles, analyzed the Shadow Demon's attack patterns and energy fluctuations, and combined this with the information Zhou Lao provided about Shadow Hunters to find potential weaknesses in the Shadow Demon. After some discussion, they finalized a new battle plan. Lin Yu would still be responsible for attracting the Shadow Demon's attention, but this time he would use the terrain and speed to lure the Shadow Demon to a specific area where a special energy fluctuation might affect it. Mu Yang would be responsible for protecting Zhou Lao and Sister Wu, while also observing Lin Yu's situation and being ready to provide support at any time. Sister Wu would be responsible for healing and providing energy replenishment. Li Xuan, on the other hand, would use his mental perception abilities to find the Shadow Demon's weaknesses and deliver a fatal blow at a crucial moment.

After thorough preparation, they once again entered the area where the Shadow Demon resided. A thick, suffocating aura of darkness filled the air. "Be careful," Li Xuan whispered a warning, "The Shadow Demon may have already sensed our arrival." Just then, a low laugh echoed from the darkness, and the surrounding darkness intensified, as if an invisible giant hand was slowly tightening its grip, enveloping them… "It seems it can't wait any longer…" Mu Yang gripped his shield tightly, speaking in a deep voice.