Chapter 10: The Dark Lord Finally Reveals Himself

"I don't know what this place is either, Barbara," Lin Xiao replied, saying he had just been searching for his brother over there, and only hurried over after hearing their screams. Since others were present, it wasn't convenient to collect the corpse of the demon dog, so he had to leave it where it was.

Barbara gradually calmed herself. Though she found it hard to believe everything she was seeing, reality left her little choice.

"That axe—where did you get it?"

"Oh, I keep it in the car for self-defense. You know, there are wolves here at night," Lin Xiao explained, not wishing to reveal his true identity for now.

"So, how do we get out, Byers?" Barbara approached, pressing close to Lin Xiao, casting a sweeping glance at the strange surroundings. She still felt it was unbelievable.

Lin Xiao found this question troublesome as well. His original plan had been to swiftly kill the demon dog and return through the opened portal. Unfortunately, this time the passage lasted too briefly; it vanished almost as soon as they entered.

Still, he wasn't overly worried. There was always a fixed portal at the Hawkins Laboratory. If worse came to worst, he could return through there, though it might be difficult to communicate with the lab.

The best option was still to find a temporary portal back, all while searching for Will. If he could rescue his brother and take him home, that would be ideal.

"Barbara, I suspect my brother has run into this place. Let me search around here first," Lin Xiao said, climbing the ladder. Barbara hurried after him, unwilling to stay here alone.

They emerged from the swimming pool into Steve's villa, though its exterior was ruined and dilapidated, nothing like the luxury it boasted in the real world.

Lin Xiao paused to think, then decided to check his own house in the reverse world. Perhaps Will had already escaped to somewhere nearby.

With this in mind, he headed toward his home, Barbara hastening behind, soon finding herself unable to keep up. She broke into a jog, quickly becoming breathless.

"Wait for me, Byers!"

Lin Xiao glanced back with a slight frown. Having a burden was troublesome; if they encountered multiple demon dogs, he wouldn't have the strength to protect her.

Murphy's Law, Rule One: Never underestimate your own jinx. Bad luck always proves true.

Two larger demon dogs emerged slowly from the roadside grass. Their gray-red skins blended into the darkness, making them nearly invisible—Lin Xiao could only see them by channeling magic into his eyes.

"Stay close. Don't stray too far," Lin Xiao warned, gripping his battle axe. These dogs were agile and fast; fortunately, he had new gear, otherwise he wouldn't be able to keep pace.

Barbara trembled in terror. Though she couldn't see the surroundings clearly, Lin Xiao's demeanor told her new monsters had appeared—and not just one.

The two demon dogs charged from opposite sides, pushing off the ground with their four legs. Their lean bodies sprang from the earth—one lunged at Lin Xiao, the other at Barbara.

Leap!

Lin Xiao seized the initiative, activating his leaping skill before the monsters jumped. He raised his axe and struck a demon dog.

The demon dog was about to leap, but they met in midair. The blade swept across; the dog's front paws hooked onto the axe, trying to use the momentum to spring at Lin Xiao's face.

Get off!

Lin Xiao suddenly unleashed the effect of the Demon Dog Slayer title, stunning the attacking dog. The axe sliced through, tearing muscle and breaking bone, cleaving the demon dog in two.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for killing LV1 demon dog. Source energy +4.]

The other demon dog reacted swiftly, seizing the opportunity to tackle Lin Xiao. Its sharp claws pierced his ribs, pain radiating through his body.

Ah!

Lin Xiao screamed in agony, death looming. There was no time for weapons; he threw down the axe and grabbed the demon dog's arms, preventing it from digging further.

His mind focused intensely, channeling magic into his arms as he gripped the demon dog's limbs, struggling desperately to throw it off.

But the demon dog had another deadly weapon besides its arms—a gaping maw filled with razor teeth.

It opened its five-part mouth, bristling with teeth like a meat grinder. One bite, and not even his mother would recognize him.

"Damn, my mouth is nowhere near as big as that," Lin Xiao thought, opening his own mouth, though his couldn't compare.

The demon dog's jaws lunged for his head, saliva dripping and sizzling on his skin.

Lin Xiao's face was ashen. To fall so soon after crossing over—his luck was dire. Had he known, he wouldn't have entered at all. He was simply too weak.

Yet without facing danger, how could his strength grow? Without enough power, danger would always find him—a vicious cycle with no escape.

Just as death closed in, a dark shadow rushed forward, picked up the Star Destroyer Battle Axe from the ground, and struck the demon dog's back.

Barbara?

Lin Xiao was elated. He'd thought she was a burden, but at a critical moment, she saved his life. Never underestimate anyone.

The demon dog screamed, turned to attack Barbara, but Lin Xiao seized the chance, gripping its arms tightly.

Barbara gathered her courage, clenched her teeth, and swung the axe again, smashing the demon dog's back. A sharp crack sounded as its spine broke, its arms dropping limply.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao immediately rolled upright, pinned the demon dog down, and signaled Barbara to hand him the axe. With one stroke, he severed its head.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for killing LV1 demon dog. Source energy +4.]

Standing up, Lin Xiao was still shaken. His strength was far too weak—he needed to upgrade quickly or forge more equipment to ensure his safety.

To reach Level 2 required 20 points of source energy. He had 14 now, needing 6 more. Just a few more dogs and he'd level up.

"Thank you," he said to Barbara, discreetly opening his inventory and taking out a piece of blood essence to heal his wounds.

The girl blushed, lowering her head shyly. "You don't need to thank me. You saved me first."

He thought it over—it was fair. A life for a life.

They continued onward, Lin Xiao deliberately slowing his pace—not rushing as before. After all, she had saved him; he would try his best to get her out safely.

After more than twenty minutes, they reached Jonathan's house in the reverse world. All was quiet; not a sound could be heard.

Barbara trembled, her earlier bravery now faded. In truth, her courage was small.

"It looks like Will isn't here. There's no help for it—we'll have to try the exit at Hawkins Laboratory. Maybe there's a way out."

Lin Xiao made up his mind and was about to leave when a familiar scream echoed nearby—it was unmistakably Will.

"Will, where are you?" Lin Xiao shouted. From not far off came a reply:

"Brother, it's me! Please, come save me!"

Lin Xiao dashed toward the voice, Barbara hurried after, and they passed through Jonathan's house into the dense woods behind the yard.

A slender figure ran toward them—it was Will, but not far behind him followed a towering black shadow.

The Demon King!