Dungeon King: A Lady Knight Offered by My Goblins

As they conversed, the two had already arrived in front of the Temple.

It was situated in a dark forest, surrounded by tall black stone pillars that seemed like eternal guardians.

The black pillars emitted an eerie aura, as if harboring endless dark powers.

Soaring high into the clouds, their surfaces were smooth as mirrors, yet no light reflected off them.

They appeared to have grown out of nothingness, completely isolated from the surrounding environment.

Upon closer inspection, one could see the pillars were engraved with ancient runes and patterns, flickering with a faint red light, as if whispering unspeakable secrets.

These runes and patterns were ever-changing, at times revealing demonic faces, at others transforming into distorted human figures, inducing a sense of unease and a chilling sensation in Ethan.

As night fell, the air around the pillars seemed to become heavier, permeated with a rich scent of darkness.

At this time, the runes and patterns on the pillars became more animated, emitting deep, growling sounds, as if countless demons were awakening within.

A strange atmosphere enveloped the Temple, reminiscent of a sinister ambience from another world.

The sparsely wooded forest was shrouded in a thick mist, rendering the environment hazy and indistinct.

The branches and leaves of the trees were twisted and deformed, presenting an eerie posture, as if narrating some unspeakable secret.

The ground around the Temple was covered with withered grass and wilting flowers, emitting a scent of decay that was suffocating.

Scattered on the ground were peculiar stones of various shapes, some resembling human faces, others like demon claws, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

The Temple's walls were inlaid with strange patterns and symbols, flickering with a faint light, seemingly hinting at some mysterious power.

From the cracks in the walls, low moans occasionally emanated, instilling fear in those who heard them.

The air around the Temple was thick with a rancid odor, as if something was rotting.

Occasionally, strange sounds could be heard, like the roar of beasts or the crying of ghosts, sending shivers down one's spine.

"This is truly eerie!" Ethan exclaimed.

Sherry nodded slightly: "According to the High Priest, the Temple becomes even more terrifying when someone enters. Now, because many of our clan members have gone inside..."

Hearing Sherry's words, Ethan suddenly realized:

"What about those members of the Shadow Clan? There were so many people just now, but now there's not a single one in sight."

Sherry pursed her lips, speaking indifferently:

"Those who do not know whether they are alive or dead have probably already entered."

"So what are we waiting for?"

Ethan looked at Sherry, who extended her hand for him to hold.

He clasped her hand, and together they stepped into the Temple.

The gates of the Temple opened.

As the Temple doors slowly swung open, an ancient aura rushed towards them.

It was as if the river of time had been awakened at that moment, with a long history and mysterious powers emanating from behind the door.

The ancient aura that exuded from the gate permeated the entire space, making Ethan feel a sense of awe and amazement.

The Shadow Clan must be a lineage with many years of heritage, and this Temple was remarkably unique.

This feeling did not last long, as he suddenly felt the sensation of stepping onto solid ground.

Looking ahead, there was a bridge. The other end of the bridge connected to another place, but the dense fog shrouded its end and the buildings it connected to.

The bridge was supported by two massive obsidian pillars, each inlaid with a purple gem that twinkled with an eerie light.

This gem emitted a mesmerizing glow, illuminating the path to the Temple.

On either side of the bridge stood statues of Shadow Clan warriors, lifelike in their depiction. They held long spears, their gaze fixed ahead, guarding this bridge leading to an unknown destination.

Before Ethan could ask, Sherry gazed at the bridge and softly said:

"This bridge is known as the Inkblack Crossing. It leads to the Hall of Shadow Spirits, and it's the necessary path for us to delve deeper into the Temple."

"This bridge seems ominous," Ethan noted, observing the mist enveloping the sky. The key concern was the lingering shadows moving within the fog, "There's something hidden in that mist."

Sherry's expression was a mix of reverence and sorrow:

"Inkblack Crossing is naturally ominous, as it's a bridge that only the dead can traverse. After death, the spirits of the Shadow Clan cross this path to reach the Hall of Spirits, where they use their remaining Power of Soul to protect the Shadow Clan."

Ethan felt a chill, instinctively asking:

"Then how can the living pass this bridge?"

Sherry shook her head slightly, speaking slowly:

"The High Priest said to just keep walking forward. As for the rest, we leave it to the Clan Spirits of the Shadow Clan."

Ethan's lips twitched slightly, as he seemed to understand something:

"You are the Holy Maiden of the Shadow Clan, essentially recognized by the clan."

"Yes, why?"

"So when the High Priest said to keep walking forward, he meant that as the Holy Maiden, the Clan Spirits would naturally protect you. But what about me? I'm an outsider. How am I supposed to walk forward?"

Sherry's face suddenly stiffened, her expression turning to shock:

"Right, what do we do then?"

"What do we do?" Ethan said with a wry face, "I've been completely duped by the High Priest. Now, all we can do is keep walking."

Many members of the Shadow Clan were on the bridge.

As they saw Ethan emerge, their eyes filled with hostility.

Anyone who took away their clan's Holy Maiden would naturally be met with anger.

Monroe stepped forward, intending to confront Ethan.

Dart held Monroe back, shaking his head slightly.

Monroe, being impetuous, shouted loudly: "Dart, what are you trying to do? Why are you stopping me? Are you also favoring these outsiders?"

His voice was loud, seemingly meant for Ethan to hear, and deliberately so for the Shadow Clan members.

He had learned from Dart how to use public opinion to pressure him, making it difficult for Dart to restrain him.

Dart's lips twitched slightly, internally cursing Monroe for his foolishness, but outwardly he remained calm and said:

"Passing through Inkblack Crossing, we are protected by the Clan Spirits. So even if we cannot cross, speaking well of them, we won't suffer any substantial harm."

"But that outsider, lacking the Clan Spirits' protection, is certain to die if he tries to step onto the Inkblack Crossing."

"So you don't need to lift a finger; our ancestors will take good 'care' of that bastard for us."

Only then did Monroe understand, and he yelled across at Ethan:

"You mongrel, dare you cross the bridge? Did you come here just to watch Sherry brave it alone?"

The crowd also started to jeer, saying:

"Holy Maiden, see the true colors of that outsider. His true nature is about to be revealed."

"Haha, I bet that coward doesn't have the guts to cross the bridge."

"Such an outsider doesn't deserve our Holy Maiden."

"Holy Maiden, wake up."

"..."

"Ethan, don't mind them," Sherry, worried Ethan might react emotionally, advised against confrontation.

With the Shadow Clan in large numbers, if Ethan went up alone, he would surely be at a disadvantage.

Ethan shook his head slightly, a wry smile on his face: "No worries, just treat it like the barking of dogs."

His voice was equally loud, stirring up the mist on the bridge, nearly revealing the shadowy spirits hidden within.

The crowd became further enraged, causing Dart immense frustration.

"This outsider is truly stubborn. If it weren't for pressing matters at hand, I'd really like to teach him a lesson myself."

Seeing that the Shadow Clan members made no move, Ethan took Sherry's hand and stepped onto the bridge.

The moment they set foot on the bridge, the surroundings indeed changed.

The bright light that had been on the bridge vanished, replaced by a cold and sinister aura.

The previously calm mist became turbulent and violent, as if countless dragons were writhing within it.

The stone carvings on the bridge began to twist and deform. 

Their eyes glowed with a strange light, their mouths curving into malevolent smiles.

The figures once carved as beautiful angels and divine beasts now appeared grotesque and terrifying.

On either side of the bridge, where there had been a bed of vibrant flowers, changes occurred as well.

The bright flowers withered, replaced by swathes of black vines.

These vines, entwined like tentacles, emitted a nauseating stench. 

Oddly shaped fruits grew on them, flickering with a sinister purple light, as if luring the souls of passersby.

Ethan's lips twitched slightly, thinking to himself:

"This is nothing compared to the Skeleton Bridge I crossed in the Santos Tower."

Walking on that bridge in the Santos Tower had made Ethan's back sweat and filled his heart with chill.

But now, these minor changes were still within the realm of what he could accept.

Sherry clung tightly to Ethan as they moved forward:

"Ethan, make sure to stay close to me. Perhaps because of my presence, the Clan Spirits won't do anything to you."

Ethan, observing the eerie changes around them, showed no fear: "No worries, I'm actually curious to see these Clan Spirits of the Shadow Clan."