Imagination system

Lu Fang approached the shelter, his steps slowing as a chill ran down his spine. Something was wrong. The door, which should have been sealed shut, was destroyed.

Splinters of wood lay scattered around the entrance, and the frame was cracked, barely holding together. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of hus sword as he stepped through the broken doorway.

Inside, the scene was chaos. Furniture was overturned, blood stained the walls, and the air felt thick with the remnants of battle.

At the center of the room stood the Shadow Guard, motionless as ever, surrounded by the corpses of ten monsters. Their twisted, lifeless bodies were sprawled across the floor, their blood silled everywhere and the people who were grouped in one place .

Near the back of the shelter, Li Lan and Li Mei sat huddled together, pale but unharmed.

"What happened here?" Lu Fang demanded, his voice sharp as his eyes darted around the room.

Li Lan stood slowly, her voice trembling. "After you left, four people came running toward the shelter. They were being chased by ten monsters. They begged us to help them."

Li Mei chimed in, her voice shaky. "We couldn't just leave them out there to die, so we opened the door to let them in. But the monsters were too fast. They smashed through the door before we could close it."

Lu Fang's gaze shifted to the shattered remains of the door. "And then?"

Li Lan swallowed hard. "We thought we were going to die. The monsters rushed in, and we had no way to fight them off. But then…"

Li Mei continued, her voice filled with awe. "The Shadow Guard moved. He didn't even hesitate. He killed one of the monsters instantly—just like that." 

"That got the attention of the rest," Li Lan said. "We thought they'd overpower him, but…"

Li Mei shook her head, her eyes wide. "It wasn't even a fight. He used some kind of shadow skill. It was like his shadow came alive and pierced through the other nine monsters all at once. It was over in seconds."

Lu Fang turned to the Shadow Guard. His dark, towering figure stood silently amidst the carnage, his black armor gleaming faintly. 

"You saved them," Lu Fang said.

The Shadow Guard gave no response, only tilting his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Lu Fang exhaled, some of the tension leaving his body. The immediate danger was gone, and everyone was safe. But the shelter's broken door was a glaring problem.

"This shelter isn't safe anymore," he muttered, his voice low but firm.

Li Lan and Li Mei exchanged worried glances.

"What do we do now?"Li Mei asked softly.

Lu Fang didn't answer right away. He walked to the destroyed door and inspected it closely. The monsters hadn't just broken the door—they'd damaged the entire frame. Fixing it wouldn't be enough.

"We'll figure something out," he said finally, turning back to the girls. "For now, let's clean this up and make sure nothing else can get in tonight."

The girls nodded, their faces showing a mix of relief and concern. Together, they began cleaning up the debris, working quickly to restore some sense of order.

As they worked, Lu Fang's mind raced. The Shadow Guard's power had saved them this time, but they couldn't rely on him forever. The forest was full of dangers, and now their shelter was exposed.

He needed a plan—a way to make the shelter safe again or to find a better place to stay.

When the cleanup was done, Lu Fang stood at the broken doorway, staring out into the dark forest. The trees swayed gently in the wind, but their shadows seemed more menacing than ever.

"We'll survive," he whispered to himself, gripping the hilt of his sword Edge. "No matter what it takes."