The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: The Hidden Power
The cold wind whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves like hushed murmurs. The forest stood shrouded in darkness, its twisted branches clawing at the sky.

The air felt thick and heavy, clinging to Athena’s skin like a damp shroud. Faint wisps of mist slithered across the ground, curling around the roots of gnarled trees.

The scent of decaying wood and damp earth filled her senses. In the distance, the faint echo of that cursed melody danced through the air, sweet, yet laced with something sinister.

Athena’s eyes fluttered open, and she gasped in shock, she was no longer in her bed. She was lying on the cold, wet soil of the forest floor.

Her fingers dug into the dirt, feeling the coarse texture of leaves and brittle twigs beneath her. How had she ended up here?

Her last memory was resting in Mr. Yao’s house, yet now, she was alone, deep within the cursed forest.

She pushed herself upright, her breath quick and uneven. The trees around her seemed to lean closer, their twisted limbs reaching toward her like skeletal fingers.

The air was unnaturally still, yet the whisper of that haunting song seemed to fill her mind.

Then came the shadows. They moved like liquid, seeping from behind the trees, twisted, malformed figures with hollow eyes that glowed faintly red.

Their skin was stretched thin over jagged bones, their gaping mouths twisted into grotesque smiles.

They did not walk, they glided across the earth, their limbs twitching and jerking unnaturally.

Athena’s heart raced. Her legs trembled as she staggered back, yet her feet seemed rooted in place.

The creatures closed in, their eerie song now louder, wrapping around her mind like a tightening noose.

No… no… not like this… she thought desperately.

Suddenly, warmth spread from her chest, a powerful heat that surged through her veins like fire.

Her mouth opened, but instead of a scream, a string of unfamiliar words poured forth, words foreign to her, yet somehow etched into her very being.

Her voice rang out, clear and powerful, breaking the cursed melody’s grip.

Golden light erupted from her skin, engulfing her body in radiant energy. The creatures recoiled, hissing and screeching as the light scorched their twisted forms.

Yet Athena could barely comprehend what was happening, her body moved on its own, her lips chanting words she didn’t recognize.

The light around her swirled and danced, forming intricate symbols in the air, runes of power that shimmered with divine energy.

The warmth intensified until her skin tingled as if thousands of sparks danced along her arms. And then, something appeared before her, a sword, floating in mid-air.

The blade pulsed with dark energy, black tendrils flickering like smoke. Its hilt was wrapped in silver, adorned with unfamiliar markings that glowed faintly violet.

The sword’s presence was cold, menacing, a stark contrast to the golden light bathing Athena.

Yet despite its ominous aura, the sword called to her. Her hand reached out instinctively, fingers curling around the hilt.

The moment her skin touched the cold metal, a rush of memories, foreign yet strangely familiar, surged through her mind.

Visions of battles fought beneath crimson skies, of figures clad in armor, of blood-soaked earth and cries of victory, all flickered past her eyes in rapid succession.

Why were they blurred? The sword felt… right. Like it had been waiting for her all along.

The creatures lunged again, but this time, Athena didn’t flinch. She swung the sword, and a wave of dark energy rippled outward, colliding with the monstrous figures.

They shrieked as the black energy devoured their twisted forms, turning them to ash that scattered into the wind.

Athena stood frozen, chest heaving, as the golden light around her dimmed and faded. The sword still pulsed in her hand, its dark energy thrumming in rhythm with her heartbeat.

She couldn’t let go, not because she didn’t want to, but because the blade refused to release her.

Moments later, the forest seemed to exhale, the tension lifting, the air clearing. The unnatural cold began to fade, replaced by the faint scent of pine and damp soil.

“Athena!” A voice called from the distance, Darren’s voice.

“Here!” she shouted back, her voice hoarse.

Moments later, Darren, Lisa, and Marco emerged from the trees, their faces pale with worry. Lisa’s eyes widened when she saw the sword in Athena’s hand.

“What… is that?” Marco asked, his voice trembling.

“I… I don’t know,” Athena muttered. She finally managed to loosen her grip, but the moment her fingers released the hilt, the sword dissolved into black mist, vanishing before their eyes.

“You’re glowing,” Lisa whispered, pointing at Athena’s skin.

Athena glanced down, faint golden runes still flickered along her arms and chest, like fading embers. The warmth lingered, as though something powerful had been awakened inside her.

“We need to get out of here,” Darren urged. “Before… whatever that was comes back.”

Athena nodded. They hurried through the forest, guided by Darren’s marks scratched on the trees. The cursed song had faded, and the air no longer felt suffocating.

Yet Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed, that whatever had awakened inside her was far from finished.

When they reached the village, Mr. Yao was waiting anxiously by his door. His face paled when he saw Athena’s glowing skin.

“You… you bear the light,” he murmured, almost in awe. “The flame of the protector… it’s returned.”

“What does that mean?” Athena demanded.

Mr. Yao shook his head gravely. “Long ago, there was a warrior… a chosen guardian who wielded light and shadow together, the only one who could destroy the Hunger Spirit.”

“You think that’s me?” Athena asked, disbelief clear in her voice.

“I don’t think,” Mr. Yao said quietly. “I know.”

The words sent a chill down Athena’s spine. She looked at her hands, faint golden runes still fading from her skin.

The power still hummed faintly within her, distant yet familiar, like an old friend returned. Whatever this new power was, she knew one thing for certain, the fight was far from over.

The red moon would rise again soon. And this time, Athena wouldn’t just survive, she would win.