Legend of the Divine Archer

The creature snarled, its many heads snapping and gnashing their teeth, its eyes filled with murderous intent.

Yan Jin pivoted, changing direction mid-sprint, dodging into a narrow tunnel. The walls of the labyrinth closed in, making it harder to maneuver, but he relied on his agility. He could feel the heat of the beast's breath on his back as it barreled forward, tearing through the tunnel with brute force.

Yan Jin darted from side to side, using the narrow space to his advantage, rolling beneath falling debris and vaulting over jagged rocks. He turned quickly and fired another arrow, this time aiming for one of the beast's many eyes. The arrow struck true, and the creature let out a deafening roar of pain, momentarily slowing it down.

Yan Jin used the opportunity to gain distance, his senses tuned to every slight vibration in the labyrinth.

Suddenly, the oppressive darkness of the maze gave way to an open expanse. Yan Jin emerged into a vast underground cavern, unlike anything he had seen before. Towering trees with silvery bark and dark green leaves stretched toward the cavern's roof, their branches laden with glowing blue fruit that illuminated the space.

The air was peaceful here, a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed him moments earlier. The ground was soft underfoot, covered in a thick layer of moss, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. It was serene, almost tranquil.

Yan Jin didn't have long to appreciate the calm before a powerful presence stirred within the cavern. The air shifted as if something ancient had awakened, disturbed by the intruders. Yan Jin's sharp senses picked up on the shift almost immediately, his instincts screaming at him that they had stumbled into something far beyond them.

From the largest tree in the center of the cavern, a colossal figure began to take shape. It was a Century Plasma Cell, its form eerily similar to that of the celestial Garuda. The creature's body was covered in shimmering feathers that radiated light, each feather as sharp as a blade. Its wings spanned wider than the tallest trees in the cavern, their tips crackling with pure energy.

The Century Plasma Cell's head was avian, with piercing, intelligent eyes that gleamed with ancient wisdom. Its talons, long and curved, dug into the earth as it rose to its full height, its beak letting out a sharp cry that echoed throughout the chamber.

The environment around it seemed to bend to its will, the trees swaying as though acknowledging the Garuda's authority. A waterfall that flowed gently at the edge of the cavern began to glow with an otherworldly light, and the very air shimmered with energy. Despite its immense power, the creature exuded a peaceful aura, as if it had existed in harmony with its surroundings for centuries.

But the peace shattered the moment Yan Jin and the blood trall beast intruded on its domain. The Garuda's eyes flicked toward them, its peaceful demeanor replaced by one of fierce protectiveness. The air around the cavern grew heavier, the pressure building as the Garuda prepared itself for battle. Its feathers, once serene and soft, now stood on end, crackling with energy.

Yan Jin, exhausted but ever the hunter, could feel the danger. He was cornered between two monstrous forces—one born of corrupted blood and the other a guardian of purity. He knew he couldn't fight them both. Without hesitation, Yan Jin made his move, dashing to the side as the Garuda launched itself into the air, its wings creating powerful gusts of wind that knocked the blood trall creature back.

The corrupted beast roared and lunged at the Garuda, but it was no match for the sheer speed and precision of the plasma cell. The Garuda's wings flicked once, sending a flurry of its sharp feathers hurtling through the air. The feathers pierced the blood trall's thick hide, embedding themselves deep into its flesh. The beast howled in pain, but it fought on, refusing to fall.

Yan Jin, using the chaos to his advantage, nocked another arrow and fired at the blood trall's weakened spots, the Garuda's assault exposing them.

The final, decisive blow came in a flash of brilliance. Yan Jin had loosed his last arrow, piercing one of the creature's remaining eyes, distracting it just long enough for the Century Plasma Cell to strike. The colossal Garuda-like being had pinned the monstrous chimera to the ground, its talons digging deep into the corrupted flesh.

The air crackled with an intense energy as the plasma cell's beak began to glow, gathering power with a hum that reverberated throughout the cavern.

In one swift motion, the Garuda unleashed a concentrated beam of pure energy from its beak, piercing straight through the center of the blood trall's twisted body. The creature let out a final, earth-shattering scream, a sound filled with agony and desperation, before it began to disintegrate under the force of the plasma cell's attack.

Its grotesque form collapsed inward, the blood, fur, and multiple heads that had once formed its body dissolving into a swirling mass of energy.

As the beam obliterated the last remnants of the creature, something extraordinary happened. The souls and bloodlines that had been forcibly fused together within the chimera began to break free. Streams of light, each one representing the different lives and powers trapped within the beast, ascended into the air like wisps of smoke.

Yan Jin could see the flickering shadows of great creatures—beasts of flame, ice, and storm—fading away as their souls were finally released from their nightmarish prison.

The bloodlines, too, began to dissipate, the stolen essence of the beings returning to the earth, the energy no longer bound by the twisted experiments of the blood tralls. It was as if the cavern itself sighed in relief, the oppressive aura of corruption lifting, replaced by a feeling of peace and restoration.

The blood-red energy that had stained the air slowly dissipated, leaving behind only a gentle glow from the plasma cell.

The massive Garuda lowered its head, its fierce eyes now softening as it turned its attention to Yan Jin. The air grew still as the creature regarded him, its feathers no longer bristling with danger but now shimmering with a quiet, otherworldly light. Yan Jin could feel its presence pressing down on him, but it wasn't a force of aggression. It was inquisitive, ancient, and curious.

Then, without warning, a deep, resonant voice filled Yan Jin's mind. It wasn't a spoken voice, but more a presence that vibrated through his very being. "Who are you?" the voice asked.

Yan Jin stood motionless, his heart still racing from the battle, but his mind calmed by the presence of the Garuda. He couldn't see the majestic creature before him, but he could feel its power, its wisdom. It was unlike any entity he had ever encountered. He paused for a moment, considering how to respond to such a being.

"I am Yan Jin," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I am a participant of the Iron Blood Cell Trials. I am here for the red blood cells. Thank you for your protection, Great Garuda."

As the words left his lips, the towering figure of the Garuda began to shift. Its immense, bird-like form, which had once filled the cavern with an awe-inspiring presence, gradually started to shrink. Feathers shimmered and glowed, shrinking down until the colossal Garuda stood no taller than a regular human.

Yan Jin could feel the energy it radiated as it approached him, now at eye level, despite his blindness. He could sense its breath, warm and close, as it stood face to face with him.

"I am not the Great Garuda," the figure said, its voice softer now, filled with a quiet sadness. "I am merely a remnant, trying to protect its legacy."

Yan Jin tilted his head slightly, feeling the closeness of the being's presence. "Protect it from what?" he asked, feeling the breath of the Plasma Cell next to him. There was something both comforting and unsettling in its proximity.

"The reason the Great Garuda was killed," the remnant began, its voice growing heavier, "was because it had shown signs of corruption. After its death, the corruption should have ceased to spread.

But you humans, with your meddlesome abilities, have decided to turn its body into a vein." The remnant's words carried a weight of frustration and sorrow as it began walking slowly away from Yan Jin, its footsteps soft yet resonating with authority.

Yan Jin followed behind, trying to process what he had just heard. "The same way resentment gave birth to me," the remnant continued, "a hybrid plasma with white blood cells… there are plasmas with cancerous cells in this tunnel, born from the same meddling."

Yan Jin's expression hardened as he kept pace with the remnant. "How do we stop them? There are thousands of people who depend on this vein for protection. If it turns completely…"

The remnant paused for a moment, turning its head slightly as if considering Yan Jin's plea. "It was fine," the remnant said, its voice tinged with bitterness, "until fourteen years ago. Some individuals came in and broke the balance. I am the only white blood cell left, protecting this little corner of the maze. The rest… has been invaded by cancer cells.

The corruption festers and spreads, slowly overtaking everything."