William Mark's heart hammered against his ribs like a rebellious drum. Standing at the edge of the abyss, he could feel the ground crumbling beneath his feet. Before him stood that massive shadow, its burning, ember-like eyes piercing right through him. Without his glasses, William's world was a blur—only a nightmarish silhouette visible amidst the fog.
As the shadow lunged with its raised sword, William instinctively thrust his father's old backpack forward as a shield. The sharp blade sliced through one side of the bag, but miraculously, it didn't cut all the way through. Inside the bag, his father's old diary began to glow with a strange blue light. The light was so intense that the shadow figure froze for a moment, let out a shriek of agony. It wasn't a human scream; it sounded like the collective wails of hundreds of dead souls.
William didn't waste the opportunity. He began fumbling blindly on the rocky ground for his glasses. His fingers brushed against wet soil and moss until he finally felt the familiar frame. Quickly sliding them onto his nose, he saw the shadow figure retreating into the mist, seemingly unable to bear the blue radiance.
William pulled the diary from his bag. Its leather cover was now ice-cold. As he opened it, he saw that the previously blank pages were now filling with glowing golden letters. They read: "Do not be afraid, William. Your blood is your strength. Place your hand upon the page."
William didn't hesitate. He placed his palm in the center of the diary. Immediately, a strange surge of electricity coursed through his body. The exhaustion and terror that had gripped him vanished instantly. He felt his vision grow sharper than ever before; even in the pitch-black darkness, he could clearly see every leaf and vine in the forest.
But the danger wasn't over. The shadow figure roared again. This time it wasn't alone—four or five similar shadows began emerging from the woods. They were surrounding William, each wielding ancient weapons and emitting a toxic smoke from their bodies.
"William Mark! Do you think that mere book will save you from us?" a deep, raspy voice drifted from one of the shadows.
William stood tall. He remembered his father's words: "Courage is moving forward despite being afraid." Gripping the diary tightly, he sprinted into the depths of the forest. This time, he wasn't running aimlessly; the diary's light was guiding him toward a specific path.
The footsteps of the shadow figures echoed behind him, chasing him as if they were gliding on air. As he ran, William reached the ruins of an ancient temple. It was overgrown with vines, but strange symbols were etched into its stone walls. The diary's blue light synchronized with a specific symbol on the wall. William realized this was his only sanctuary.
He slipped through the broken temple door and immediately hauled a large stone slab across the entrance. Once inside, an ethereal silence enveloped him. The interior of the temple was fragrant with the scent of ancient incense. The shadow figures could not enter; they struck the walls from the outside, screaming ferociously.
William collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. He brought the diary before his eyes again. The pages were turning on their own until they stopped at a specific entry. There, in his father's handwriting, was a map and a set of codes.
Below the map, it read: "William, if you are reading this, know that your journey has begun. This is no ordinary forest; it is the 'Valley of Fear.' Here, your greatest enemy is your own mind. Those who chase you are not human—they are 'Shadow Hunters.' They feed on human fear. If you conquer your fear, they will vanish."
William's eyes welled up. His father had left this diary specifically for him. He realized this journey wasn't just about travel; it was part of a cosmic struggle. From this day forward, he was no longer the shy boy in glasses; he was the bearer of a mysterious legacy.
He spent the night inside the temple, carefully reading every page. The diary contained survival techniques that couldn't be found in any ordinary book—how to make medicine from toxic vines, how to navigate by the stars, and most importantly, how to fight the Shadow Hunters.
As the first light of dawn filtered through the cracks in the temple, the hellish screams outside faded away. William stood up. He knew his true test lay beyond these walls. He had to reach the 'Forbidden Village,' the last place his father was seen.
He packed his bag, tying the torn section securely with vines. Then, he slowly pushed the stone away from the door. Outside, the fog had thinned, but the forest's silence carried an ominous warning.
Suddenly, he spotted a glinting metallic object on the ground right in front of the temple. He walked over and picked up a locket. Opening it, he froze. Inside was a small photograph of himself and his father. Was his father a prisoner here? Or was the locket placed there as a trap?
William tucked the locket into his pocket and stepped forward. Before him now lay a massive waterfall, its waters as red as blood. He couldn't reach the village without crossing it. But from within that crimson water, strange hands were reaching out toward the shore...