The Outer Wards trembled under the chaos of battle. Corrupted beasts lay in heaps of ash and shadow, yet their leader, a towering figure radiating malevolent energy, remained standing. Its eyes glowed with fury, scanning the battlefield for its next target.
Minwoo's left arm, now temporarily replaced and empowered through Kuzuki's fusion, pulsed with emperor-level energy. Shadows from his body surged, intertwining with Kuzuki's precise strikes, the Ghoul Lord's brute force, and Kinro's blazing fire.
"Everyone, stay focused!" Minwoo commanded. "This is the final push!"
Kuzuki's arm swung in perfect sync with Minwoo's shadow strikes. Every slash, every surge of power, struck the enemy with unmatched precision. The Ghoul Lord roared, smashing the ground to knock back clusters of foes, while Kinro darted in from the air, igniting the enemy with bursts of molten silver flame.
Keal and Lira moved like wraiths, cutting through corrupted minions, while Jinn's raw power created shockwaves that kept the enemy's flank in check.
The rogue faction leader bellowed, gathering a sphere of black energy. "You think you can defeat me? I am beyond mortal comprehension!"
Minwoo's violet eyes glimmered. "We don't fight as individuals—we fight as Shadow Fang!"
With a coordinated shout, the team launched their apex strike:
Minwoo's shadows enveloped the enemy, restraining its movement.
Kuzuki channeled emperor-level energy through Minwoo's left arm, striking the enemy's core with immense force.
Kinro dived from above, fire blazing, targeting weak points with pinpoint accuracy.
The Ghoul Lord slammed into the ground behind, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
Keal, Lira, and Jinn added their own synchronized attacks, cutting through the enemy's energy barriers.
The rogue leader screamed as the combined force slammed into him, energy, shadow, and flame colliding in a massive explosion that lit up the Outer Wards.
When the smoke cleared, the enemy leader had fallen, defeated but still twitching, its aura barely holding onto existence. The battlefield was silent, save for the heavy breathing of the Shadow Fang members.
Minwoo retracted his left arm carefully, Kuzuki stepping back. "Thanks," Minwoo said quietly. "That connection… it gave me the precision I needed."
Kuzuki nodded. "It's what happens when trust and strength merge. But remember… this was only an S-rank mission. Greater threats are coming."
The Ghoul Lord growled approvingly, while Kinro perched on Minwoo's shoulder, wings fluttering.
Suddenly, a ripple in the shadows caught Minwoo's attention—a presence far more sinister than the rogue faction they had just defeated. His eyes narrowed.
"Something's watching us," he whispered, violet light flaring in his eyes. "And it knows we're here."
From the distance, a dark silhouette emerged, larger than anything they had faced. The ground beneath it cracked as it stepped forward, emanating a presence that dwarfed even the Ghoul Lord.
Kuzuki's expression hardened. "Minwoo… this is no ordinary threat. Prepare yourself. Shadow Fang is about to face something far beyond an S-rank."
Minwoo's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Good… it's about time we met a real challenge."
The shadows surged around him, Kinro's flames flickered higher, and the Ghoul Lord bared its teeth. The Shadow Fang guild stood united, ready for the coming storm.
The next chapter of the Shadow Domain was about to begin.