Watching Liang Qian disappear before our eyes while we were helplessly rooted to the spot.

Both Daxiong and I froze, mouths agape with stunned silence.

It wasn't until several seconds later that Long Jia's voice in my ear shattered the paralysis: "Run!"

Her command echoed like thunder in my ears, jolting me out of the paralyzing fear.

Instantly I spotted the towering shadow behind us - the monstrous figure had released Liang Qian and was now barreling toward me.

Though Liang Qian's physical form had vanished from our sight, her shadow remained visible for a moment longer. Instead of disappearing entirely, it grew fainter by the second before slowly ascending into the air.

The surreal spectacle left my mind reeling, but there was no way I'd abandon Liang Qian like this.

Just as that monstrous black silhouette reached me, its massive hand shot toward my throat.

I remembered clearly how Liang Qian had been captured earlier - and now with the experience under my belt, I crouched down at the last second to evade.

The shadow of the middle-aged giant and mine passed through each other like phantoms, creating an uncanny sensation as if I'd pierced a thin film across my face.

A strange darkness flitted past me during this exchange - yet when I turned back, nothing remained visible.

I touched my cheek experimentally, finding no foreign substances there. The oddity would have to wait; right now, survival mattered more.

Springing to my feet, I measured the distance between Liang Qian's shadow and mine before leaping upward to grab her ankle.

When my fingertips were still several centimeters from reaching her, that same membrane-like resistance returned.

Earlier attempts had been fruitless, but this time I definitely pierced through whatever barrier separated our worlds.

My fingers closed around something solid - Liang Qian's delicate, warm ankle!

A surge of relief coursed through me as I yanked her downward. Her body materialized in the air just like before, and I caught her securely in my arms. She was unconscious but breathing steadily.

"Watch out!" Long Jia warned from nearby.

Lifting my gaze, I saw that black shadow had turned back toward us with renewed aggression. This time it moved faster than ever.

My crouched position proved fortunate given the attacker's height disadvantage. Scooping Liang Qian into my arms, I rolled sideways to escape its grasp.

The movement jostled her enough to rouse from unconsciousness. Her eyes fluttered open only to meet mine at point-blank range - no more than three centimeters separated our faces.

Both of us blushed instantly as her soft body pressed against me and the faint perfume from her collar filled my senses.

Liang Qian was the first to recover, smiling slightly when she noticed my reaction. "You saved me?" she asked softly.

I nodded quickly, already shifting her weight. "No time for stories - we need to move!" I said, dragging Daxiong by his thick arm as Long Jia fell into step behind us.

"Head toward the stands, not back toward the cages," she advised mid-stride. "Otherwise they'll cut off our escape."

We veered accordingly, only glancing back once when we reached the stadium's upper level.

That black shadow hadn't given chase - it simply approached at a leisurely pace through the falling rain.

From our vantage point on the stone steps overlooking the arena, we could see the storm intensifying below. Raindrops pierced the swirling fog like silver fish darting through river rapids.

The moisture soaked all four of us, faces blurred by splashing droplets as we huddled near the wall for shelter.

Though rain and mist obscured most of the arena floor, the distant light source allowed visibility for that elongated black shadow still standing there.

Now it moved toward the glowing sphere, growing shorter with every step until its form completely merged into the light - erasing the dark blot in the center as if the whole phenomenon had been some elaborate illusion.

We watched this transformation unfold silently before turning toward the stadium exit.

The coliseum's exterior streets would lead us directly to Poseidon's temple.

I refused any longer contemplation of these mysteries - but my companions remained captivated by the sphere even now.