The aftermath of the Umbra Rift left the plains quiet, but that peace was fleeting.
From the sky, a surge of divine light descended, sharper, denser, and filled with intent. The high-ranking gods had regrouped, and this time they came as one.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Coordinated Divine Counterattack — Extreme Threat Level]
[Suggested Action: Defensive Strategy + Full Shadow Domination Deployment]
Shadows thickened around me, responding autonomously, probing, defending, and attacking simultaneously. The silver-haired woman and Arlena stood ready, their energy harmonizing with the darkness.
[HINT: Multi-Entity Coordination — Maximum Efficiency Active]
The gods struck with blinding speed. Every shadow reacted, anticipating strikes, siphoning energy, and countering attacks. Yet, the force they brought was unlike anything before — relentless and precise.
I clenched my spear, feeling the system pushing me to new limits.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — SYSTEM ALERT: Maximum Threshold Approaching]
[Shadow Overlord Control: 98% Optimal | Probability of Sustained Combat: 62%]
The silver-haired woman moved with lethal precision, intercepting a golden-armored strike, while Arlena coordinated, striking openings with controlled energy bursts. Together, they complemented the shadows perfectly.
[Shadow Echo + Abyssal Command — Fully Integrated]
Even with perfect coordination, I felt my power strain. Crimson eyes flared as shadows surged, tentacles and tendrils writhing violently, feeding on divine essence. The system warned me: Sustained use could exceed mortal endurance, but retreat was not an option.
With a surge of will, I pushed beyond limits. Shadows intensified, wrapping the entire battlefield, siphoning divine energy faster than ever. Each god struck back, but their coordinated might was now a puzzle I could manipulate.
[REWARD: Darkness Authority Stage 7 Unlock Pending — Threshold Breach Achieved]
[New Skill Available: Abyssal Overlord — Temporarily double the offensive and defensive capabilities of all shadows]
The gods faltered, their aura flickering under the relentless assault. Even high-ranking divine beings were struggling to maintain composure against a mortal who had become a predator of shadows.
The silver-haired woman glanced at me, eyes gleaming with a mix of awe and reassurance.
— You're unstoppable… for now, she whispered.
I allowed a brief nod, crimson eyes burning.
The storm of divinity was far from over, but one thing was certain:
I would no longer hide in the shadows. I was the shadow.