The forest opened into a wide plain, scarred by the battles of gods long past.
Shadows swirled around me, obedient to every heartbeat, every thought. The system had grown louder in my mind, whispering calculations, predictions, probabilities — a constant hum of potential death.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: New Target Detected — Lesser Deity "Ceryn"]
[Recommended Approach: Stealth + Shadow Dominion]
I moved silently, letting the shadows ripple across the ground like living water. Every step, every sway of the misty tendrils, brought me closer to my prey.
And yet… I could feel another presence. The silver-haired woman from before.
She appeared at the edge of the shadows, watching, curious but careful.
— You move well… but not without mistakes, she said lightly, a teasing edge in her voice.
I glanced at her. The shadows around me paused, almost acknowledging her presence.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Unknown Character — Potential Bond Formation]
— Follow me, I muttered, letting part of the darkness clear a path.
She tilted her head, smiling faintly, and fell into step beside me. Her movements were graceful, deliberate, almost predatory in their own way.
The hunt began again. Ceryn, a lesser deity guarding a ruined shrine, had already sensed my approach. Light flared in unnatural bursts, trying to pierce the shadow fog I commanded.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — STRATEGY MODE ACTIVE]
I focused, letting the shadows stretch farther, creating multiple false images of myself.
Ceryn lunged, striking at one illusion, while I appeared behind the real deity, spear poised.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: Shadow Doppelgangers — Confuse and overwhelm targets]
The silver-haired woman's eyes gleamed, impressed yet restrained.
— Clever. You'll need more than speed to survive what's coming, she whispered.
I didn't answer. I simply let the shadows bind Ceryn, siphoning energy and leaving the deity trembling, disoriented. My first kill since Ladrius had taught me one lesson: efficiency mattered more than mercy.
[REWARD: Soul Synchronization +15%, Darkness Mastery +5%, New Skill Available: Shadow Assimilation]
The battle ended quickly. Ceryn collapsed, shadows receding, and I felt the system pulse — satisfied, hungry for more.
The woman stepped closer, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face.
— You are… dangerous, she said softly. But I think we'll see more of each other.
I let the shadows shrink, but a part of me remained aware of her presence.
In this world of gods and hunters, allies could become enemies, and enemies… could become tools.
[HINT: Character Relationship Progression Possible — Effects on Future Arcs]
The plains stretched before me, silent but not empty. Somewhere out there, higher-ranking gods were already watching.
And I, the predator in the shadows, was only beginning to awaken.