Free Web NovelChapter 24: Chapter 24: Thunder Shadow Flash
The first night attack came quietly.
Not as a beast tide.
Not as a roaring charge.
Instead, the monsters approached through mist and shadow, using the broken terrain to hide their movement. Their eyes glowed faintly blue in the darkness, and their claws made almost no sound on the black stone ground.
Qin Yuheng counted at least seven.
Black Stone Hounds.
But their bodies were leaner than the ones from daytime, and pale markings ran along their backs.
The panel identified them.
[Night Black Stone Hound]
[Level: 5]
[Type: Nocturnal variant]
[Strength: Medium]
[Speed: High]
[Weakness: Light, throat, spine]
Nocturnal variant.
So the first floor changed monster behavior at night.
Qin Yuheng did not wake the others immediately.
Qin Mo’s formation alarm had detected the beasts early, and the reinforced wall gave him a moment to respond. If he could eliminate the first group quietly, the team could preserve rest.
He drew the Black Thunder Pattern Sword.
Then he focused on the movement route of Void Thunder Shadow Step.
First Form: Thunder Shadow Flash.
The skill was far more complex than ordinary footwork. It did not simply increase speed. It required a burst of thunder energy to activate the body, then a shadow-like shift in weight to change direction at the moment of acceleration. The "void" part was only a principle at his current level, not true spatial movement.
Still, even the first form was powerful.
Qin Yuheng circulated mana through the route.
A faint tingling sensation spread through his legs.
The first Night Hound climbed over a broken wall.
Qin Yuheng moved.
For an instant, his figure blurred.
He crossed the distance with almost no sound.
The hound barely opened its mouth before his sword passed through its throat.
Qin Yuheng stopped behind it, eyes focused.
Fast.
Much faster than his normal footwork.
But the mana consumption was noticeable, and the control difficulty was high. If he used it recklessly in uneven terrain, he might overshoot or expose his flank.
The second and third hounds reacted.
They lunged together.
Qin Yuheng stepped back, then activated Thunder Shadow Flash again.
His body shifted diagonally like a shadow cut by lightning.
He avoided both attacks and appeared beside the third hound.
One slash.
One kill.
The second hound turned, but a dark-blue dagger pierced its eye.
Qin Lian had awakened.
She stood near the inner wall, shoulder bandaged but eyes clear.
"You should have woken us."
Qin Yuheng withdrew his sword.
"I wanted to let you rest longer."
"We are a team."
A simple sentence.
Qin Yuheng paused, then nodded.
"You are right."
Qin Yuchen appeared moments later, sword drawn.
Qin Mo stumbled out last, hair slightly messy and expression deeply wronged.
"I dreamed of a bed. Then reality attacked me."
Qin Yuheng pointed toward the mist.
"Four more."
Qin Mo sighed and raised a formation talisman.
The remaining Night Hounds attacked together.
This time, the team handled them smoothly.
Qin Mo activated a small light formation, weakening their stealth advantage. Qin Lian and Qin Yuchen took the flanks. Qin Yuheng used Thunder Shadow Flash only once more, cutting down the fastest hound before it could break through.
After the last beast fell, the mission panel updated.
[Night Defense Event]
First night assault repelled.
Evaluation increased slightly.
Qin Mo stared at the panel.
"Even sleep is evaluated."
Qin Yuchen wiped his sword. "The Tower tests survival. Night defense is part of survival."
Qin Lian looked at Qin Yuheng. "Your movement changed."
Qin Yuheng did not deny it.
"A skill from the hidden reward."
Qin Yuchen’s eyes sharpened.
"You opened it?"
"Yes. I enhanced my movement."
He did not explain how much. freёwebnovel.com
Qin Mo looked at him suspiciously. "Your rewards are always suspiciously suitable."
Qin Yuheng smiled.
"Good luck."
Qin Mo did not believe him at all.
But again, he did not ask further.
The rest of the night passed with two more small attacks.
One was a group of Black-Tooth Rats drawn by the smell of beast blood. The other was a lone Stoneback Crawler that tried to dig beneath the wall. Neither caused serious danger.
By dawn, the camp remained intact.
A Tower message appeared.
[Main Mission Progress]
Survive for 24 hours: 18 / 24 hours
[Safe Camp Defense: Successful]
[Evaluation increased.]
Only six hours remained.
Most teams would likely stay in camp until the time ended.
Qin Mo certainly wanted that.
Unfortunately for him, Qin Yuheng had other plans.
"We move after breakfast."
Qin Mo looked at him with betrayal. "Why?"
Qin Yuheng opened the map they had drawn manually.
"We have completed the main side missions and hidden altar mission. But there is still a chance for a higher evaluation if we defeat a floor boss or discover an exit landmark."
Qin Yuchen said, "The Black Stone Wolf King?"
Qin Yuheng nodded.
Tower Theory had mentioned that first floors sometimes contained a Level 10 boss. Their hidden guardian had also been Level 10, but it was tied to the altar. A separate floor boss might exist. freewebnoveℓ.com
Qin Lian asked, "Do we need to fight it?"
"No," Qin Yuheng said. "We search. If conditions are bad, we avoid."
Qin Mo raised his hand. "I vote to decide conditions are bad now."
Qin Yuheng ignored the vote.
They left the camp after clearing traces and collecting usable materials.
The morning mist was thinner. The black stone valley looked less oppressive than at night, though danger still lingered in every shadow.
Using Qin Lian’s scouting and the Tower Theory notes, they moved toward the stone pillar region’s far side, where wolf tracks had been most concentrated.
Along the way, Qin Yuheng practiced Thunder Shadow Flash in short bursts when no enemies were nearby. He quickly learned its limits.
First, it consumed both mana and physical stamina.
Second, it required clear direction. Sudden obstacles could disrupt the step.
Third, using it repeatedly caused strain in his legs.
Fourth, its concealment was good in dim environments but obvious if he released too much thunder.
Still, the skill was excellent.
Even at Beginner mastery, it raised his combat flexibility significantly.
After two hours, Qin Lian found a trail.
"Large wolf tracks. Multiple smaller wolves following. Heading toward the northern black forest."
Qin Yuchen examined them. "Fresh?"
"Within one hour."
Qin Mo looked toward the forest. "Of course the boss lives in the dark forest."
Qin Yuheng studied the trail.
The main mission had four hours left.
Enough time to approach, observe, and decide.
They followed the tracks carefully.
The northern black forest was denser than the forest edge they had explored earlier. The trees grew close together, their branches twisting overhead like skeletal hands. The ground was covered in black leaves that muffled footsteps but hid roots and holes.
After entering, the temperature dropped.
Qin Yuheng felt a faint pressure.
His panel flickered.
[Boss territory boundary detected.]
[Proceed with caution.]
He raised his hand.
The team stopped.
From deeper in the forest came the sound of wolves.
Not one.
Many.
Qin Lian climbed silently onto a low branch and looked ahead through the leaves.
After a moment, she descended.
"Wolf den. At least twenty wolves. One large wolf with black stone crown-like spikes."
Qin Yuheng’s panel confirmed when he focused through the trees.
[Black Stone Wolf King]
[Level: 10]
[Floor Boss]
[Danger: High]
Qin Mo whispered, "We are leaving, right?"
Qin Yuheng did not answer immediately.
Twenty wolves plus boss.
In open combat, too dangerous.
But the forest had terrain.
They had talismans.
They had formation crystals.
He had Thunder Shadow Flash.
And if they killed the floor boss after completing hidden altar mission, their evaluation might reach S rank or higher.
Qin Yuheng looked at the remaining time.
Four hours.
Then he looked at his team.
"We do not charge the den."
Qin Mo exhaled in relief.
Qin Yuheng continued, "We lure part of the pack out first."
Qin Mo’s relief died.
Qin Yuchen’s eyes sharpened. "Divide and kill?"
"Yes."
Qin Lian asked, "And the Wolf King?"
Qin Yuheng looked into the dark forest.
"Only after its pack is weakened."
The final battle of the first floor was about to begin.
