The Shadow Citadel buzzed with preparation. Today, all members of Shadow Fang—Minwoo, Kuzuki, Kinro, Keal, Lira, Jinn, and even the tamed Ghoul Lord—were setting out on an S-rank mission. Reports had come in about a rogue faction disturbing the Outer Wards, and the Council demanded immediate action.
Minwoo stood at the front, the ceremonial staff in hand, shadows flickering across his SSS-ranked aura. "Everyone ready?" he asked.
Keal, ever composed, nodded. "We're prepared. This mission won't be easy."
Lira smirked, adjusting her blade. "Finally, some real action. Let's see what this S-rank threat can do."
Jinn cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming. "I've been itching for a fight."
Kinro chirped, flying circles around Minwoo, tail leaving trails of silver fire.
Kuzuki stepped forward, his emperor-level presence dominating the courtyard. "I'll handle the heavier threats," he said calmly, eyes scanning the horizon. "Minwoo… you focus where you're strongest."
Minwoo's gaze hardened. "Agreed. But Kuzuki…" he hesitated, glancing at his left arm. A recent battle had left it partially corrupted from exposure to the Ghoul Lord's previous power surge. "This arm… I'm worried I won't have full control."
Kuzuki smirked faintly. "Leave it to me." In a motion almost imperceptible, shadows and emperor-level energy coiled around Kuzuki's form. The Ghoul Lord, understanding Minwoo's intent, moved forward instinctively.
Minwoo watched in surprise as Kuzuki melded with the Ghoul Lord, absorbing part of its essence to replace Minwoo's left arm temporarily. The transformation was seamless—the Ghoul Lord's strength and resilience now channeled through Kuzuki's precise control, and Minwoo's shadows responded as if the arm had always belonged to him.
"Consider it a gift of trust," Kuzuki said calmly. "I'll handle the arm's power while you lead the mission."
Minwoo clenched his fists. "Understood. Let's move."
The team descended into the Outer Wards, shadows stretching before them, Kinro scouting the skies, the Ghoul Lord and Kuzuki forming an unstoppable wall of strength, and Keal, Lira, and Jinn moving with deadly precision.
The rogue faction appeared almost immediately—a horde of corrupted beasts, empowered by dark energy. Their leader, a towering figure of malice, smirked. "Ah, Shadow Fang… so many of you, yet none will leave alive."
Minwoo raised his staff, shadows flaring. "Everyone, attack formation Alpha! Kuzuki, left flank; Ghoul Lord, shield the rear; Kinro, air support! Keal, Lira, Jinn—strike with precision!"
The battlefield erupted. Shadows, flames, and raw power collided with the corrupted beasts. Kuzuki's arm—Minwoo's left now—struck with emperor-level force, crushing multiple monsters in a single blow. The Ghoul Lord, synced with Kuzuki, guarded the rear while Kinro's aerial attacks set the enemy ablaze.
Keal and Lira moved in tandem, slicing through enemies with lethal efficiency, while Jinn's brute strength shattered armored foes. Minwoo coordinated the team with precise movements, shadows surging to protect weaker allies and redirecting attacks with devastating force.
The rogue faction leader tried to focus on Minwoo, but the unity of Shadow Fang was overwhelming. Kuzuki's control of Minwoo's arm allowed him to strike unexpectedly, Kinro's fire raining down simultaneously. The leader roared in frustration.
Minwoo's violet eyes glimmered. "This is what happens when the strongest of the Shadow Fang stand together."
The battlefield was chaos, yet Shadow Fang moved like a single organism—each member's strengths complementing the others. The synergy between Kuzuki, the Ghoul Lord, and Minwoo was unmatched, their combined power now a living weapon.
Shadows, flames, and raw power had united. S-rank missions were no longer a challenge—they were a testament to Shadow Fang's dominance.
The enemy began to falter under the onslaught. Minwoo, ready for the decisive strike, raised his staff. "Now—finish them!"