Keyboard Warrior's Otherworldly Adventure

"Calling? What's calling you?" Xiaomei leaned closer, staring curiously at the "Forbidden Zone" marker on the map. The vibrant red seemed to shimmer with some kind of allure in her eyes. "Could it be some kind of treasure? Shall we go check it out?"

Sophie grabbed Xiaomei, who was eager to try, and said, "Don't be silly! The forbidden area is definitely dangerous, what if..."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Xiao Mei waved her hand dismissively. "Fortune favors the bold! Besides, we have a hidden master in our team right now!" She winked and gestured toward Ares.

Ares remained staring at the map, seemingly oblivious to Xiaomei's words. His brow was furrowed, and his fingertips lightly traced the words "Forbidden Land," as he continued to mutter to himself, "The call... is growing stronger..."

Li Jin also began to have doubts. Ares had been acting mysteriously ever since he appeared, with amnesia and being summoned by others—he seemed like a ticking time bomb. But the system scan hadn't found anything unusual, which only made him more uneasy.

"System, what's the situation with this 'forbidden area'? What dangers are there?" Li Jin asked silently in his mind.

"Ding! Insufficient permissions, unable to query." The system's cold voice sounded again.

"Damn it! It failed me at the crucial moment!" Li Jin cursed under his breath. This broken system was useless except for the occasional minor hint.

"Li Jin, what do you think?" Sophie asked softly, noticing Li Jin's uncertain expression. "Should we go check out the 'forbidden area'?"

Li Jin hesitated. Reason told him he should leave Meteor Valley as soon as possible, but the connection between Ares and the "Forbidden Land" intrigued him immensely. More importantly, he had a vague feeling that there might be some important clue hidden within that connection, which could help him better understand this world, or even... find his way home.

"Go! Of course we're going!" Seeing Li Jin wavering, Xiao Mei immediately seized the opportunity and said loudly, "Maybe there's some treasure inside! Besides, Ares has been summoned, how can we not go and see?"

Li Jin looked at Xiao Mei's expectant eyes, then at Sophie's worried face, and finally at Ares. He found her looking at him with a strange look, a look that seemed to contain a hint of pleading, a hint of expectation, and a hint of... fear.

"Alright," Li Jin took a deep breath and made a decision, "Let's go check out the 'forbidden area.' But everyone be careful, and if anything seems amiss, retreat immediately!"

"Yay!" Xiaomei cheered and pulled Sophie's hand to walk deeper into the canyon.

Li Jin shook his head helplessly and followed behind them, reminding Ares, "If you remember anything, be sure to tell us immediately."

Ares nodded silently, a complex light flashing in his golden eyes.

Meteor Valley is a narrow and winding canyon with steep cliffs on both sides, covered with strangely shaped rocks and withered plants. A faint smell of sulfur permeates the air, making it somewhat difficult to breathe.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding scenery grew increasingly eerie. Strange patterns, resembling ancient writing or symbols, began to appear on the rock walls, emitting a faint glow. Strange plants also began to sprout from the ground, their bodies jet black and their shapes twisted, as if they had grown from hell itself.

"This place...it's fucking creepy!" Xiaomei couldn't help but shudder, gripping Sophie's hand tightly.

Sophie also felt a little uneasy, but she still tried to remain calm and comforted Xiaomei: "Don't be afraid, Li Jin is here."

Li Jin remained silent, cautiously observing his surroundings, his hand tightly gripping a sharp dagger he had redeemed from the system. He had a constant feeling that something was watching them from the shadows, making him feel uneasy.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew from the depths of the canyon, bringing with it a piercing scream.

"What was that sound?" Xiaomei exclaimed, her face turning pale instantly.

Li Jin suddenly raised his head and looked into the depths of the canyon. He saw a huge black shadow slowly emerging from the darkness, emitting a chilling growl...