The Return of the God Level Assassin

Before long, they arrived at the center of the city ruins. Hovering above, they took in the sight of a massive statue rising from the rubble below. The figure was enormous, carved from dark stone, and stood like a guardian watching over the forgotten city. Even from a distance, they could see the intricate details etched into its surface—sharp features that had somehow withstood the ravages of time.

The statue's eyes seemed to catch the faint light of the stars and moon, giving it an almost lifelike quality.

"That statue is the final boss of this dungeon," Su Yuqi began to explain. "Once we enter a radius of 50 meters around it, the statue will start to activate. We'll have about ten minutes before it fully comes to life and attacks." She paused, glancing at the others. "During those ten minutes, the statue will remain still, but that doesn't mean we'll have it easy.

As soon as we step inside that 50-meter radius, waves of monsters will swarm us. Some of us will need to hold them off while the others search the statue for the clue."

"Dusk and I will handle the monsters," Shen Ji Yun suggested. "The rest of you focus on finding the clue on the statue."

Everyone agreed with the plan. Dusk descended briefly, allowing them to jump down from his back. As soon as they landed, monsters resembling guard statues emerged from the shadows. Before these monsters could launch an attack, Dusk flew back up and unleashed a torrent of fire, creating a blazing circle around the massive statue, separating the group from the advancing enemies.

Shen Ji Yun immediately moved to take down the monsters that had managed to avoid the flames and were now trapped within the ring of fire. Meanwhile, Luo Yan, Su Yuqi, and Eclipse began their search for the clue on the statue.

Since Su Yuqi could fly, she volunteered to search the upper part of the statue, from the torso up. Meanwhile, Luo Yan and Eclipse focused on examining the lower sections and base.

Su Yuqi flew up to the statue's torso, carefully scanning the stone surface for any markings or signs. She moved around the statue's chest and shoulders, feeling for hidden switches or anything unusual. Her hands brushed over the cold stone, but everything seemed solid and smooth.

Below, Luo Yan and Eclipse moved quickly, checking the statue's legs and base. Luo Yan ran his fingers over the carvings along the statue's feet, looking for any hidden mechanisms. Eclipse, with his sharp eyes, inspected the lower parts of the robe draped over the statue, tapping and pressing against the stone to see if anything shifted.

They worked methodically, covering every inch, searching for the clue that would reveal the next checkpoint.

As Su Yuqi hovered near the statue's shoulders, her hand brushed against a small, rough patch on the otherwise smooth stone surface. She paused, her eyes narrowing as she examined it more closely. It wasn't a switch, but there was something there—an almost invisible indentation. Trusting her instincts, she pressed against the spot.

A soft click echoed through the ruins, followed by a faint rumbling. Down below, Luo Yan noticed a section of the statue's base beginning to shift. He watched as a hidden compartment slowly opened, revealing a small, rolled-up scroll inside.

"Luo Yan, did something happen?" Su Yuqi called down, hearing the sound.

"Yes," Luo Yan replied, moving closer to the newly revealed compartment. "A hidden compartment just opened. I think we've found the clue."

As he spoke, the others quickly gathered around him. Only Dusk remained above, still circling in the air, keeping watch for any signs of danger.

[Climb the frozen peaks where whispers of the old ones ride the icy winds. In a place where time stands still and shadows dance with frost, find the mouth that breathes cold fire. Inside, where the light is swallowed whole, seek the hidden chamber where the mountain keeps its frozen heart. But beware, for the path is guarded by the silent watchers, whose gaze turns warmth to ice and courage to fear.]

That was their team's clue for the third checkpoint. As soon as they read that, a system notification appeared before them.

[Team Yunyue has found the clue for the third checkpoint!]

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Bai Ze had transformed into a large lion, with Luo Jin seated on his back, while Rowan ran alongside them. They followed the winding, serpentine trail of the Eldergreen Forest, their eyes scanning the dense surroundings for any hint of a temple or shrine. At that moment, a system notification popped up before them, announcing that their team had discovered the clue for the third checkpoint.

"The others are doing their part; we should, too," Bai Ze said, his voice taking on a guttural tone due to his lion form.

Luo Jin and Rowan remained silent, but the look on their faces showed they agreed.

"Since we haven't seen a notification about team Mozu finding their clue, they're likely still in this forest," Bai Ze continued. "If we encounter them, you know the plan."

That meant attacking team Mozu without mercy or hesitation, doing whatever it took to obstruct their progress and throw them off course.

But, as if mocking their determination, a system notification appeared in front of them right at that moment.

[Team Mozu has found the clue for the third checkpoint!]

Bai Ze nearly stumbled when he saw the notification. Damn it. They hadn't even caught a glimpse of the other team, and now the game was telling them that team Mozu had already found their clue? Why did it seem like team Mozu was always a step ahead of them?

"Keep moving. We need to reach their second checkpoint's location, so we can follow them quickly," Luo Jin urged, reminding Bai Ze. "Who knows, maybe they haven't even left this forest."

Bai Ze knew that too, so he quickened his pace. But just as he did, something dropped from above, followed by a sudden explosion that rocked the surroundings.