The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

Li Feng's stomach lurched as he and Mei Lian tumbled into the abyss. Dust and loose stones rained around them as they fell through the collapsed floor, the air thick with debris. Then—impact.

Li Feng landed hard, rolling against uneven ground before groaning and pushing himself up. His vision swam. Mei Lian lay a few feet away, coughing as she struggled to rise.

"Are you hurt?" he rasped, his limbs aching from the fall.

Mei Lian shook her head, brushing dust from her face. "Still in one piece. But where are we?"

A dim, eerie light flickered through the cavern they had fallen into. Strange carvings lined the towering walls, depicting dragon-like figures entwined with celestial warriors. The air smelled of damp earth and something ancient, something untouched by time.

Li Feng exhaled. "This… this must be part of the hidden sanctuary."

Before they could examine further, a low growl rumbled through the darkness. A deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down Li Feng's spine. The guardian of the ruin had awakened.

Mei Lian tensed, her fingers instinctively reaching for her daggers. "What was that?"

The ground trembled beneath them, and from the shadows, a towering figure emerged—an undead warrior, clad in rusted yet imposing armor, its empty eyes glowing with ghostly blue fire. It moved with a stiff, unnatural grace, but the massive sword in its hand gleamed, untouched by time.

Li Feng's grip tightened on the Coiled Dragon Ring. "We need to move. Now."

The warrior's blade swung with terrifying speed, slicing through the stone floor where they had stood only seconds ago. Mei Lian flipped backward, barely avoiding the strike, while Li Feng scrambled to dodge another attack.

"We can't outrun it forever!" Mei Lian shouted.

Li Feng scanned the chamber frantically. Then he spotted it—a set of glowing inscriptions carved into the stone near the far end of the chamber, similar to those in the sanctuary above.

"That writing—it's reacting to the ring!" he called out.

Mei Lian darted past the warrior, narrowly dodging another swing. "Then use it!"

Li Feng took a breath, focusing. He pressed his palm against the inscription. A pulse of energy surged through the room. The warrior froze, its fiery gaze locking onto the ring as if recognizing something.

For a fleeting moment, Li Feng thought it had worked. Then, with a deafening roar, the warrior charged again, this time moving faster, more deliberately.

The Coiled Dragon Ring burned against Li Feng's skin. The markings along the walls flared to life, illuminating an escape route—a passage hidden behind an ancient stone door. But the undead warrior blocked the way, its sword raised for a killing blow.

"We either fight, or we find another way!" Mei Lian shouted, breathless.

Li Feng had no time to think. He clenched his fist and braced himself as the monster descended upon them.