I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

He opened the map and began searching for traces of the abyssal rifts that had just appeared on the world map, like black scars.

He quickly located the coordinates of the rift closest to the Undying City.

[Abyssal Rift: Rotten Woodland]

[Danger Level: Nightmare]

Recommended entry level: LV110-LV120

Recommended group size: 3-5 people

"Nightmare level? Perfect, let's start with you."

A cold smile curved at the corners of Li Wu's lips.

He determined his direction, then leaped from the hundred-meter-high watchtower, tracing a graceful arc in the air before landing steadily on the ground outside the city.

Immediately, he transformed into a blur and sped off towards the decaying woodland.

A brand new hunt, one that belongs to him alone, is about to begin.

The Rotten Woodland is located about 300 kilometers east of the City That Never Falls.

This place was once a vibrant primeval forest, but after a certain version update, it was corrupted by an unknown evil force and turned into what it is today.

The air was thick with a nauseating stench of decay, and the tall trees were twisted and grotesque, with black sap flowing from their trunks.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of humus, like mud, and stepping on it would even produce green, poisonous bubbles.

Li Wu's figure appeared at the edge of this woodland.

He glanced around at his surroundings, his brow furrowing slightly.

The environment here was even worse than he had imagined.

However, he didn't care.

His purpose in coming here was that abyssal rift.

According to the map, the entrance to the fissure is located at the deepest part of this woodland.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Wu stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the woods, he felt a cold, viscous force trying to invade his body.

[System Notification: You have entered the "Rotten Lands." Your health regeneration rate has been reduced by 50%, and you will be continuously affected by the "Corruption" effect, losing 100 health points per second.]

"That's interesting."

Li Wu glanced at his almost empty health bar and immediately activated [Rock Protection].

Four rotating rock shields appeared around his body, instantly isolating him from the corrosive power.

He continued walking deeper into the woods.

Along the way, he also encountered some corrupted monsters, all around level 105.

These monsters are hideous in appearance and have very strange attack methods, such as spitting venom or releasing curses.

Other level 100 players would probably find it difficult to make any progress here.

But for Li Wu, these monsters didn't even have the power to make him stop in his tracks.

He didn't even bother using skills; he simply fired a few ordinary energy arrows, which easily killed them instantly.

After walking for about half an hour, Li Wu finally arrived at the center of the woodland.

Here, he saw the goal of his trip.

A massive spatial rift, tens of meters high and seven or eight meters wide, resembled a black scar hanging in mid-air, twisting irregularly.

At the edge of the crack, arcs of purplish-black electricity flickered, and streams of chaotic and violent abyssal energy surged out, distorting the surrounding space.

[Abyssal Rift: Rotten Woodland]

[Danger Level: Nightmare]

[Open for: 2 hours and 13 minutes]

[Remaining time: 21 hours and 47 minutes]

Current number of users: 0/5

"This is it."

Li Wu's gaze sharpened as he looked at the crack before him.

He could sense that the other side of the crevice was filled with dangers far more terrifying than this woodland.

But he showed no fear; on the contrary, he was eager to try.

He wanted to see just how much of a surprise this so-called "nightmare-level" rift could bring him.

He took a deep breath, and without further hesitation, stepped into the dark crevice.

A dizzying sensation washed over me.

When Li Wu opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely different world.

The sky was an eerie dark red, as if it were forever twilight.

There was neither sun nor moon; the only source of light was the luminous clouds in the sky, which pulsated like blood vessels.

The ground was hard, cracked black rock.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and blood, and the temperature was frighteningly high.

Directly in front of Li Wu was a vast wasteland.

On the wasteland, there stand massive black mountains that resemble the skeletons of giant beasts.

Further away, a majestic, colossal castle, entirely forged from obsidian, looms in the distance.

"Is this... the inside of the rift?"

Li Wu looked around, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

The environment here gave him a feeling of extreme oppression and danger.

Just then, his [Fate Perception] ability suddenly emitted a strong warning!

Danger!

Before Li Wu could even think, his body instinctively activated [Flash Arrow], shifting ten meters to the left.

Almost the instant he disappeared, a thick, battering ram-like black tentacle suddenly burst forth from the ground where he had just stood and slammed heavily onto the ground.

"boom!"

With a loud crash, a huge crater was smashed into the hard, black rock ground.

Li Wu looked at the deep pit, his eyes turning cold.

If he had reacted even half a second slower and been hit by that blow, he would have been seriously injured even if he hadn't died.

"What is it?"

He turned his gaze to the spot where the tentacle had emerged.

The ground began to tremble violently, and a huge figure slowly crawled out from underground.

It was a monster the size of a small mountain, its entire body composed of black, constantly writhing flesh and tentacles.

Its body was covered with countless eyes that emitted a ghostly green light.

Above its head, a huge, abyss-like mouth opened and closed repeatedly, emitting a teeth-grinding roar.

[Abyss Lurker (Elite)]

[Level: LV115]

[HP: 12000000/12000000]

[Skills: Tentacle Slam, Corrosive Breath, Abyssal Stealth, Flesh Regeneration]

[Description: A low-level predator from the abyss, it prefers to lurk underground, waiting for its prey to come to it.]

"A level 115 elite monster with 12 million HP?"

Li Wu raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at the attributes of the giant creature in front of him.

This amount of health is comparable to that of some minor lords in the wild.

As expected of a nightmare-level rift, it delivered such a "gift" as soon as I entered.

"roar!"

The Abyss Lurker seemed to have spotted Li Wu; all its eyes turned and locked onto him.

The next second, dozens of thick tentacles shot out from all directions like arrows, blocking all his escape routes.

Despite the overwhelming attack, Li Wu showed no sign of panic.

He simply and slowly drew back the arcane bow in his hand.