Beast Taming Star Journey

A chilling wind howled from the cave entrance, carrying a stench of decay and blood, sending a shiver down my spine. The massive opening, like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, lay silently in the darkness, seemingly ready to devour any life that dared to approach. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil churning within me. This was the entrance to the Dark Nest, the most crucial link in our plan. Only by infiltrating the nest could we completely destroy the foundation of the dark forces and protect everything we cherished. Su Yao… her gentle yet resolute gaze flashed through my mind. She should have fought alongside me, facing this unknown danger together, but her injuries hadn't healed, and I couldn't let her risk her life. “Wait for me, I will return safely,” I silently promised her, then turned my gaze to the dark cave entrance. I knew I couldn't hesitate any longer. I approached the entrance stealthily, each step cautious. The cave entrance was strewn with rubble and dead branches; the slightest misstep would alert the enemies inside the nest. I held my breath, trying to move as quietly as possible, slowly advancing along the cave wall. The cave was pitch black; you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I took out a luminous pearl from my pocket, its faint light illuminating a small area around me. By this dim light, I saw strange patterns covering the cave walls, like some kind of ancient script or mysterious symbols. I carefully examined these patterns, trying to find some clues. However, these patterns were completely unfamiliar to me; I couldn't understand their meaning. Just then, I felt as if I had stepped on something. I looked down and, by the light of the luminous pearl, saw a thin thread on the ground, almost blending into its surroundings, almost imperceptible without close inspection. My heart sank; this was likely some kind of trap! I immediately stopped, afraid to make any further moves. I cautiously took a few steps back and then carefully observed my surroundings. Soon, I discovered more threads on the cave walls, crisscrossing and forming a huge spiderweb, covering the entire cave entrance. I couldn't help but gasp. If I hadn't noticed those threads in time, I probably would have triggered the traps, and the consequences would have been unimaginable. "It seems this dark lair is even more dangerous than I imagined..." I muttered to myself. I had to find a way to bypass these traps and enter the lair. I closed my eyes, concentrated, and sensed everything around me. My beast-taming ability began to take effect. I could sense the faint energy fluctuations in the air, I could sense the traps hidden beneath the ground, I could sense... "Little Gold, it's your turn," I whispered. Little Gold, my natal beast, a golden spirit sable, peeked out from my sleeve, its bright eyes darting around as if surveying its surroundings. I gently stroked its soft fur and whispered, "Little Gold, go scout ahead and see if there are any dangers." Little Gold obediently nodded, and with a flash, disappeared into the darkness. It was incredibly fast and agile, moving freely through the darkness like a golden lightning bolt. Through the power of the contract, I shared its vision, and everything inside the cave was clearly presented in my mind. With Xiao Jin's vision, I clearly saw the threads hidden in the darkness; they had nowhere to hide under Xiao Jin's keen perception. Xiao Jin nimbly avoided these traps, moving swiftly along the cave walls. It leaped, climbed, and ran quickly across the ground, like an experienced scout, carefully surveying its surroundings. With Xiao Jin's help, I successfully bypassed the traps at the entrance and arrived at a relatively open cave. The ground here was covered with a thick layer of dead leaves, and the air was filled with an even stronger stench of decay. I took a deep breath, put Xiao Jin back into my sleeve, and then cautiously stepped into this area. I walked with extreme care, afraid of triggering any mechanism. "Crack!" A slight sound suddenly came from beneath my feet. My heart sank. Oh no! I immediately jumped backward, but it was too late. The ground suddenly collapsed, and I fell into a deep pit. "Damn it!" I cursed under my breath, quickly regaining my balance and preparing to climb out of the pit. Just then, a pair of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness, accompanied by a low roar, and a huge dark creature slowly crawled out from the depths of the pit. Its body was covered in black scales as hard as steel, its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws were sharp as knives, and its mouth was full of sharp fangs, emitting a nauseating stench. My heart leaped into my throat. What…what kind of monster was this?! I quickly drew my longsword from my waist, assumed a defensive stance, and warily stared at the dark creature before me. It slowly approached me, each step carrying a heavy, oppressive weight, like a small mountain slowly moving. "Roar!" It roared again, the deafening sound echoing through the cave, making me feel dizzy. I knew I had to calm down to find a way to deal with it. Su Yao's trusting gaze flashed through my mind, eyes full of encouragement and support, as if telling me that no matter what difficulties I encountered, she would always be by my side. This filled me with courage. I gripped my longsword tightly, my gaze fixed firmly on the dark creature before me, and whispered, "Come on, let me see just how strong you are!" I took a deep breath, channeling my spiritual energy into the longsword, which instantly emitted a dazzling light… The sword light flickered, and I charged towards the dark creature like an arrow released from a bow. Its massive body seemed like a small mountain before me, and its stench was overwhelming and nauseating. I endured the discomfort and swung my sword straight for its eyes, the only weakness I had observed. The dark creature seemed to sense my intention, jerking its head to narrowly evade my attack. I rolled away, creating distance, and looked for another opportunity to strike. Its speed was much faster than I had imagined, and its strength was astonishing; I dared not be careless in the slightest. "Little Gold!" I whispered, and Little Gold darted out from my sleeve, transforming into a golden streak and darting around the dark creature. Its sharp claws continuously left wounds on the creature's body; though the wounds weren't deep, they successfully drew its attention. I seized the opportunity to attack again, my longsword carrying a sharp aura, slashing straight at its head. This time, the dark creature couldn't dodge; the blade grazed its cheek, leaving a deep wound. "Roar!" The dark creature let out a painful roar, gushing out foul-smelling blood. It furiously swung its claws, attacking everything around it frantically. I dared not linger and quickly retreated. Little Gold returned to my side, its fur stained with black blood, looking somewhat disheveled. Just then, the dark creature suddenly let out a sharp cry, a sound completely different from its previous roars, more like an alarm. My heart sank; it was calling for its companions! I realized I had to finish this quickly, otherwise, if more dark creatures arrived, I would be in dire straits. I took a deep breath, channeling my spiritual energy to its limit, making the sword shine even brighter. "Su Yao, wait for me!" I silently told myself, Su Yao's trusting gaze reappearing in my mind, filling me with strength. I charged at the dark creature again, this time faster and stronger. I mastered all the sword techniques I had learned, each move carrying a deadly intent. The dark creature's defense was astonishing; my attacks could inflict damage, but not kill it instantly. Its ferocious attacks also left me struggling to cope, and wounds began to appear on my body. Time ticked by, and I felt my stamina rapidly depleting. The dark creature's cries grew increasingly urgent; I knew its companions would arrive soon. I had to find a way to end this battle as quickly as possible! While dodging the dark creature's attacks, I observed my surroundings. Suddenly, I noticed some shimmering crystals on the cave ceiling. A bold idea surfaced in my mind. I once again swung my sword to repel the dark creature, then leaped up, grabbing a protruding rock and climbing upwards. The dark creature seemed caught off guard; it roared angrily, but couldn't attack me. I climbed quickly, soon reaching the top of the cave. I reached out and grabbed a shimmering crystal, then snapped it in two… “Boom!” A deafening roar followed as the crystal shattered, releasing a powerful burst of energy… I cautiously proceeded along the passageway inside the lair, the air thick with darkness, my grip on my sword tightening…