Supreme Intelligence

Later that night, Wu Chen found himself standing at the edge of the village, his eyes scanning the dark forest. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the trees. He could feel the energy of the demonic cores he had absorbed, a constant hum beneath his skin.

As he stood there, Li Wei approached, his expression hesitant.

"Wu Chen," he said, his voice low. "I wanted to thank you. For saving my sister. For saving all of us."

Wu Chen turned to him, his expression calm. "You don't need to thank me. I did what I had to do."

Li Wei nodded, but his eyes were filled with determination. "I want to help. I want to fight alongside you. Teach me how to be stronger."

Wu Chen studied the young man for a moment. He could see the fire in his eyes, the same drive that had pushed him to survive in the forest.

"Strength isn't just about power," Wu Chen said. "It's about understanding your limits and knowing when to push them. If you want to fight, you need to be prepared for the consequences."

Li Wei clenched his fists. "I am prepared. I won't let my family or my village down again."

Wu Chen nodded. "Then we'll train together. But remember, this isn't just about protecting the village. It's about understanding the forces we're up against."

Over the next few days, Wu Chen began training Li Wei and the other youths of the village. He taught them how to anticipate their enemies' movements, how to strike with precision, and how to conserve their energy in battle. The villagers watched with pride as their young ones grew stronger, their confidence bolstered by Wu Chen's guidance.

But even as the village prepared for the next attack, Wu Chen couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. The forest was too quiet, the air too still. It was as if the creatures were waiting, biding their time.

One evening, as Wu Chen meditated on the outskirts of the village, he felt a familiar presence. The boss creature was nearby, its energy faint but unmistakable. Wu Chen's eyes snapped open, his gaze fixed on the distant hills.

*It's watching us,* he thought. *Planning its next move.*

He knew the next battle would be far more difficult than the last. The boss creature was no ordinary foe—it was a being of immense power, and it wouldn't make the same mistakes as its underlings.

As the days turned into weeks, the village began to feel like a home to Wu Chen. He grew closer to the villagers, learning their stories and sharing in their struggles. Li Mei, in particular, had taken a liking to him, often bringing him food or asking him questions about his journey.

But despite the sense of camaraderie, Wu Chen never let his guard down. He continued to train, to absorb the cores of any creatures that ventured too close to the village, and to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with the boss creature.

One night, as the villagers gathered around the fire, Wu Chen stood at the edge of the village, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The air was thick with tension, and the forest seemed to hold its breath.

*It's coming,* he thought. *Soon.*

The villagers sensed it too. They had grown accustomed to the signs—the unnatural silence, the faint tremors in the ground. They knew the creatures would return, and this time, they would be ready.

---

**Atop the Hill**

Far from the village, the boss creature stood atop the hill, its glowing eyes fixed on the distant lights of the settlement. It had watched Wu Chen's every move, studying his strengths and weaknesses.

"This one is... different," the creature mused, its thoughts sharp and calculating, a testament to its heightened intelligence and formidable strength. Its mind worked with a clarity that set it apart from the mindless hordes Wu Chen had faced before. If Wu Chen had been privy to its thoughts, he would have been struck by the realization that this was no ordinary foe. It was a being of higher order, its intellect and power far surpassing the rest.

Such a revelation would have left Wu Chen questioning the nature of these special creatures. What made them different? How were they connected to this cursed land and the Trinity Palace? Were they merely products of the trial, or was there something deeper at play—something ancient and malevolent that had been awakened?

The creature's ability to think, to strategize, and to observe with such precision hinted at a hierarchy among the demonic beings, one that Wu Chen had only begun to glimpse. If he had known, he would have surely wondered: *What are these special demonic creatures, and why do they exist? What role do they play in this place, and how are they tied to the trial I must complete?*

But for now, the creature's thoughts remained hidden, its plans unfolding in the shadows as it watched, waited, and prepared for the next move in this deadly game.

The creature summoned its forces. The forest came alive with movement as hundreds of demonic creatures emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent light.

"Prepare for the final assault," the boss creature's guttural growl reverberated through the minds of its underlings, a command conveyed not through words but through an oppressive, telepathic force that left no room for disobedience. Its presence alone was enough to instill fear and urgency, its malevolent will driving the horde into a frenzy of anticipation.

The creatures responded instantly, their glowing eyes narrowing with focus, their twisted forms tensing as they readied themselves for the impending attack. The boss creature's command was not spoken—it was *felt*, a primal directive that pulsed through the air like a dark heartbeat.

*This time,* the creature's thoughts echoed silently, its intent clear, *we will not fail.*

The forest seemed to shudder in response, the very earth trembling under the weight of its resolve. The creatures moved with a newfound purpose, their movements sharp and coordinated, as if the boss creature's will had become their own.

Wu Chen, had he been aware of this silent exchange, would have felt a chill run down his spine. The intelligence and control displayed by the boss creature were unlike anything he had encountered before. It was a reminder that the true threat was not just the horde of demonic beings—it was the mind behind them, a mind that calculated, strategized, and waited for the perfect moment to strike.

But for now, the boss creature remained hidden, its presence a shadow looming over the village, its plans unfolding in silence and darkness. The final assault was coming, and this time, it would be relentless.

---

The stage was set for the final battle. Wu Chen and the villagers stood ready, their spirits unbroken despite the looming threat. But as the boss creature's forces gathered in the darkness, one question remained:

Would Wu Chen's strength be enough to protect them all?