Beast Taming Star Journey

I cautiously made my way through the passageway inside the lair, my longsword gripped tightly, my knuckles turning white. A heavy, pungent stench filled the air, like rotting flesh mixed with some unknown spice, making my stomach churn. The stone walls on either side of the passage were pitted and covered with a slippery layer of moss, resembling the skin of some colossal beast, sending chills down my spine. The surroundings were eerily quiet, broken only by the soft echo of my footsteps. This silence was more unsettling than any noise, as if something lurked in the darkness, watching my every move. Every now and then, strange sounds drifted from afar, like the low groans of some creature, or the grating of metal scraping together, making my nerves taut, almost holding my breath. I remembered the terrified look in the young boy's eyes, and his fragmented description. He had been captured by the forces of darkness and imprisoned deep within this lair. Although he eventually escaped, that experience had clearly left an indelible mark on his heart. He told me the lair was riddled with traps and mechanisms; a single misstep could lead to certain death. He also mentioned a terrifying creature guarding the lair's core, possessing the ability to devour souls. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Su Yao was waiting for me; I had to complete this mission, uncover the secrets of the dark forces, to protect her and our shared home. I cautiously moved forward, each step extra careful. Suddenly, I felt the ground beneath my feet shift, as if I had stepped on a trap. My heart tightened, and I leaped backward. Almost simultaneously, the spot where I had just stood collapsed, revealing a dark, deep pit with gleaming spikes visible within. I gasped; if I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have fallen in. The tungsten boy was right; this lair was fraught with danger. I continued forward, even more cautiously. The passage narrowed, the stone walls on either side becoming increasingly constricting, making it hard to breathe. Just then, I heard faint footsteps ahead. Someone! I immediately held my breath, pressing my body against the stone wall, trying to conceal myself. The footsteps grew closer; I could even hear their breathing. I gripped my longsword tightly, preparing for battle. "Who goes there?" a deep voice echoed in the passage. My heart skipped a beat; judging from the voice, it seemed to be the Beastmaster on patrol. "Come out!" the Beastmaster shouted again, his voice tinged with wariness. I hesitated, unsure whether to go out. If he discovered me, my identity would be exposed, and the mission would fail. "I know you're here!" the Beastmaster continued. "Stop hiding, come out!" His voice grew closer, clearly having spotted me. I gritted my teeth, knowing I couldn't hide any longer, and leaped out from behind the stone wall, my longsword pointed directly at the Beastmaster. "It's me!" I shouted, leaping out from behind the stone wall, my longsword pointed directly at the Beastmaster. "It's me!" The Beastmaster was clearly startled by my sudden appearance; he instinctively took a step back, a gleaming dagger appearing in his hand. "Who are you? What are you doing here, sneaking around like this?" I forced myself to remain calm, trying to make my tone sound natural. "I...I'm here to investigate the situation here." The Beast Tamer narrowed his eyes, sizing me up. "Investigate? What qualifications do you have to investigate this place? This is forbidden territory; unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter!" I inwardly cursed; it seemed my explanation hadn't convinced him. I glanced at the beast-taming pouch at his waist; a creature resembling a cheetah was peeking out, watching me warily, ready to attack at any moment. It was a wind-attribute Gale Leopard, renowned for its speed and agility. If a fight broke out, I probably wouldn't be its match. "I...I have special permission," I said, forcing a smile, while my mind raced, searching for a way to escape. The Tungsten Boy had told me that there was a hidden recess at the end of this passage, which could be used for concealment. "Permission?" The Beast Tamer sneered. "Let me see it!" I feigned panic, fumbling with my clothes. "I...I think I forgot to bring it..." A cold glint flashed in the Beast Tamer's eyes. "Hmph, suspicious indeed! Tell me, who are you? Are you a spy for the dark forces?" Before he finished speaking, the Gale Leopard let out a low growl, poised to pounce. I dared not hesitate any longer and turned to run. "Trying to run? Not so easy!" the Beast Tamer roared, and the Gale Leopard chased after me like an arrow. As I ran, I recalled the route the boy had told me. The depression should be not far ahead. I gritted my teeth, increased my speed, practically skimming along the stone wall. The Gale Leopard was incredibly fast; I could almost feel its hot breath. At the last second, I finally saw the depression. I swerved sharply and slipped inside. The depression was narrow, just enough for one person to hide in. I held my breath, pressed myself tightly against the stone wall, and dared not move. The Gale Leopard flashed past me without noticing me. The Beastmaster followed closely behind, stopping near the depression and looking around. "Strange, I clearly saw him run this way..." he muttered to himself. My heart pounded, almost leaping out of my throat. I could feel the Gale Leopard's nose sniffing around nearby, and I could even hear its heavy breathing. "Could he be hiding?" The Beastmaster seemed to realize something, and his gaze began to search the surrounding stone walls. My eyes fell on a loose stone slab on the ground. The Tungsten Boy had warned me that this was a trap trigger. If the Beastmaster stepped on it, it would trigger a powerful earth-based magic circle, trapping him. I held my breath, nervously watching the Beastmaster's every move. He slowly approached me, my palms already sweating profusely. "Come out! I know you're here!" he shouted again, his voice full of threat. His foot was almost touching the stone slab… I could even feel my heart pounding with tension. Suddenly, he stopped. “Wait…” He seemed to sense something, bending down to examine the ground closely. My heart sank. Had he discovered a trap? “What’s this…” He reached out to touch the stone slab… “Don’t move!” I almost shouted. The sudden sound made the Beastmaster abruptly withdraw his hand. He looked up alertly, glancing around with wary eyes. “Who? Who’s there?!” I gritted my teeth in frustration. I had been too impulsive! Now I was completely exposed. The Beastmaster reacted quickly, his gaze locking onto the hollow where I was hiding, a smug smile spreading across his face. “So you were hiding here! I really underestimated you; you managed to find such a concealed spot.” My heart sank to the bottom. It seemed there was no escape this time. In such a confined space, I had no way to avoid the Gale Leopard’s attack. Fear surged through me like a tidal wave. My hands and feet grew cold, and my breathing became rapid. In this life-or-death moment, the image of Su Yao flashed through my mind. I remembered her gently stroking my hair, encouraging me to bravely face any challenge. That warm touch, like a current of warmth, flowed through my entire body, gradually calming my panicked heart. Su Yao, wait for me, I will definitely come back alive! I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Now is not the time to be afraid; I must find a way to escape! The Beast Tamer slowly approached me, a mocking smile on his face, as if he could already see me surrendering. "Come out, stop hiding, you can't escape." Every step he took felt like a crushing blow to my heart, making me feel suffocated. Just then, I noticed a small crack at the top of the depression, seemingly leading to another place. This might be my only chance! I held my breath and carefully climbed upwards. The crack was narrow; I practically crawled along the stone wall, every inch of movement incredibly difficult. The Beastmaster seemed to sense my movement. He stopped, looked up at me, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "What do you want?" I ignored him and continued climbing. "Don't try anything funny!" the Beastmaster roared, reaching out to grab me. At the last second, I managed to crawl into the crevice and disappear from his sight. I crawled forward along the narrow passage, which was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I didn't know where this passage led, or what dangers awaited me, but I had no choice but to keep going. I crawled for a long time before finally seeing a glimmer of light ahead. Overjoyed, I quickened my pace. When I emerged from the passage, I found myself in a spacious cave. The cave was filled with many strangely shaped stone statues, and a strange aura permeated the air. Before I could even properly observe my surroundings, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. "You can't escape!" the Beastmaster's voice echoed in the cave. I turned around and saw the Beastmaster standing at the entrance of the passage, a ferocious smile on his face, a dagger gleaming coldly in his hand. "Now let's see where you run!" He approached me step by step… Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet began to shake, and rocks started falling from the cave ceiling… "What's going on…"