Bloodied Echoes

As the elevator doors slid open, Li Wei was met with an unexpected sight.

Instead of the anticipated battlefield or gauntlet of enemies, he found himself in a vast, seemingly endless corridor.

The stark white walls stretched far into the distance, broken only by pillars that cast long shadows in the light.

For a moment, the serenity of the scene almost lulled Li Wei into a false sense of security.

But his instincts, screamed danger. The air itself seemed charged with tension, and the haunting silence was more alarming.

Li Wei's hand instinctively tightened on the hilt of his katana as he cautiously stepped out of the elevator.

That's when he saw them. Five figures stood at strategic points along the corridor, their presence shattering the illusion of peace.

These weren't the Black-suited guards he'd faced in the arena below. No, were elite guards thet wore suits of deep red.

Each held a katana with the ease of a master swordsman, the blades gleaming wickedly in the artificial light.

Li Wei's mind raced as he assessed the situation. The System chimed in, confirming his worst fears:

┌────────────────────────┐

│ [System] Battle Alert Location: Infinite Corridor Enemies: 5 Elite Guards (Crimson Division)

Objective: Survive Warning: Enemy combat skills far exceed previous encounters Recommendation: Extreme caution advised

└────────────────────────┘

The guards stood fearless, their faces his behind a masks that reflected the harsh light of the corridor.

Li Wei could feel their eyes on him, calculating, assessing, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He knew he was outmatched. These weren't the run-of-the-mill thugs or even the skilled enforcers he'd faced before.

These were the elite of the elite, the kind of opponents that could push him beyond his limits.

He took a deep breath, centering himself. He'd relied heavily on his System abilities in previous battles, but now he sensed that even those might not be enough.

Still, he had no choice but to fight. With grim determination, he activated his trump card.

┌────────────────────────┐

│ [System] Shadow Step activated Duration: 5 minutes Energy consumption: High Warning: Overuse may result in system instability.

└────────────────────────┘

As the ability took hold, Li Wei felt the familiar surge of power course through his body.

The world seemed to slow around him, his perception heightened to superhuman levels.

For a heartbeat, the corridor was frozen in a carnage of impending violence. Then, as if triggered by an unseen signal, chaos erupted.

Li Wei burst into motion, his form blurring with afterimages as he charged towards the nearest guard.

The guard's katana whistled through the air with impossible speed, but Li Wei was faster. He ducked under the slash, his own blade singing as it sought the guard's heart.

But these were no ordinary opponents. The guard twisted, the katana missing his vital organs by millimeters. Li Wei's eyes widened in shock.

Even with Shadow Step, he had barely managed to land a glancing blow.

Before he could recover, the other guards were upon him. The air filled with the ring of steel on steel as Li Wei desperately parried and dodged.

Each movement was a calculated risk, every breath potentially his last.

As he fought, Li Wei could feel the strain on his body and the System.

Shadow Step was burning through his energy reserves at an alarming rate, and the guards showed no signs of tiring. The System's warnings became more urgent:

┌────────────────────────┐

│ [System] Warning: Shadow Step duration: 3 minutes remaining Energy levels: Critically low Recommendation: Conserve energy or risk system failure

└────────────────────────┘

Li Wei gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. He needed to end this quickly.

With a burst of speed that left even his enhanced senses reeling, he managed to slip past one guard's defense.

His katana found its mark, slicing deep into the guard's chest.

For a moment, triumph surged through Li Wei. But it was short-lived. Even as the first guard fell, Li Wei felt a searing pain across his back.

One of the remaining guards had taken advantage of his moments, landing a vicious strike.

The System's warnings became frantic:

┌────────────────────────┐

│ [System] Critical Alert HP: -20% Back: Severe Damage Shadow Step duration: 1 minute Warning: Imminent system failure

└────────────────────────┘

Li Wei stumbled, the pain threatening to overwhelm him. He knew he had pushed the ability too far.

With great reluctance, he deactivated Shadow Step, feeling the enhanced speed leave him like water draining from a broken vessel.

The sudden return to normal speed left him disoriented, his muscles screaming in protest.

The remaining four guards, sensing his vulnerability, pressed their advantage. Their attacks came faster, more brutal, a symphony of death conducted in crimson and steel.

Li Wei's world narrowed to a series of desperate parries and dodges, each movement sending fresh waves of agony through his smallish body.

He was dimly aware of the System's continued warnings, but they seemed distant, unimportant compared to the immediate threat of the blades seeking his life.

A katana slipped past his senses, driving deep into his chest. Li Wei gasped, tasting copper as blood filled his mouth. The System's warnings became a cacophony in his mind:

┌────────────────────────┐

│ [System] CRITICAL ALERT HP: 30% and falling Chest: Severe Damage Internal Bleeding Detected Respiratory Function: Compromised Combat Ability: Severely Impaired Survival Probability: 12.7%

└────────────────────────┘

Through the haze of pain, Li Wei realized the harsh truth. He was weak without the System's enhancements, and now, with Shadow Step deactivated and his energy reserves depleted, he was in dire straits. But he wasn't finished yet.

With the last of his strength, Li Wei yanked the enemy's katana from his chest, now wielding two blades. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the bright white floor of the corridor.

He knew without the System's warning that he was on the brink of collapse. But he was still standing. Still fighting.

Blood dripping from his lips, his eyes burning with defiance.

Come on,he growled

What are you waiting for!!!!!

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