The sun barely pierced the blackened clouds above, casting jagged shadows across the war-torn valley.
I walked steadily, spear in hand, shadows trailing like silent hunters at my side. Every step echoed with anticipation; every movement whispered of power.
The system pulsed with warnings and calculations.
[New Targets Detected — Demigod Patrol Approaching]
[Suggested Action: Avoid Confrontation or Prepare Ambush]
I didn't hesitate. Shadows thickened, stretching across the terrain, blending with the ruined trees and jagged rocks. I became a phantom, moving unseen.
From the edge of my peripheral vision, I sensed her presence — the silver-haired woman. She didn't interfere, only observed. Her faint smile suggested amusement, and a hint of admiration.
The demigods arrived, gleaming in their radiant armor. Their formation tight, their confidence unshaken. They believed in the light, in divine order. They were about to learn that darkness had its own rules.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — STRATEGY MODE ACTIVE]
I let the shadows flow, creating multiple doppelgangers of myself. Each one moved independently, striking, feinting, forcing the demigods to divide their attention.
A flash of light, a clash of steel, and chaos erupted. The shadows constricted like snakes, siphoning energy, restraining limbs, and leaving my enemies exhausted.
[COMBAT EFFICIENCY INCREASED — SYSTEM REWARD: +10% Dark Mastery]
When the last demigod fell, barely conscious, I allowed the shadows to retract. Silence returned, broken only by the wind.
She stepped forward, brushing mud from her cloak, her expression unreadable.
— You're growing stronger, she said softly. But strength alone won't carry you through what comes next.
I glanced at her briefly, acknowledging the words without a reply. The shadows around me shifted, protective yet restrained — a reminder of the control I now wielded.
[HINT: Character Bond Progression Detected — Potential Future Alliance]
The valley lay quiet again, but I could feel the presence of higher gods watching, their attention drawn by the trail of fallen demigods.
This was only the beginning. The hunt had expanded, the predator's steps leaving echoes that would resonate across the realms of gods and mortals alike.