11:58 PM.
2 minutes left.
"Stop." Suddenly, Hans spoke.
But whether he spoke or not, Kael would have stopped on his own.
Currently, the two could sense the change in the atmosphere around them.
It was so obvious that even someone like him could recognize it.
Although it was only a small change, Kael could still feel that everything around them had become much darker and more sinister.
It was as if in the darkness, thousands of eyes were focused on both of them, just waiting for an opportunity to rush in and kill them all at once.
The darkness was supposed to be inanimate.
But now, it felt like it was breathing, and alive.
There was no doubt that Shadow Slayer was here.
Tap… tap… tap…
Just like that time, steady footsteps slowly echoed in the middle of the silent night, and then, from the darkness, it appeared.
Just like the first time they encountered, that existent still had lava-colored eyes and emitted the same disgusting aura.
But the strange thing was… it didn't move.
It just stood there, staring at Kael and Hans.
To be honest, from the first time the two sides met, Kael had felt something was not right.
Right now, both of them were many times weaker than it, and Shadow Slayer must have known that better than anyone.
If that was the case, then why didn't it kill him and the protagonist immediately? It had so many chances, but why still let the two of them live?
The most reasonable answer he could think of right now was that Kael was a transmigrator, and Hans was a regressor.
'No, this isn't the time to be concerned about that!'
If Shadow Slayer didn't move, then everything was fine, right?
They wouldn't have to worry about being killed anymore?
No. Kael was wrong.
Tap…
Under the astonished gazes of both him and the protagonist, Shadow Slayer took another step forward.
Closing the distance between the two.
At the same time, a jet-black sword, as if forged from darkness itself, appeared in its palm.
Tap…
Another step. The distance was shortened once again.
Kael and Hans were both thinking the same thing: They needed to run away from here as quickly as possible.
However, both of their legs refused to listen. It was as if some invisible chain was locking them in place.
No! There were no chains here!
This was because of the darkness that Shadow Slayer carried! It was the darkness that made Kael and Hans feel that way.
'Heh, your darkness is quite strong, damn Tower Creature.'
Nevertheless, it was only strong against those with weak wills.
And coincidentally, Kael and Hans were not such people.
"Hans! Do it!" Kael ordered, at the same time, running far away from the darkness of Shadow Slayer.
Behind, the protagonist did exactly as they had discussed: Throwing the backpack containing the corpses of the other three people somewhere else, then without delay, running after him.
That was their plan.
A plan that only game addicts who understood the characteristics of Tower Creature could think of.
"Please, please, please, please…" Kael kept praying, and it seemed that this time, the Tower had listened to his plea.
Because after that, Shadow Slayer no longer followed the two, but instead headed towards the backpack that Hans had just thrown away.
In the game Tower of Glory, no matter how smart a Tower Creature was, they were still just a Tower Creature.
A creature that was attracted to the blood and flesh of humans, and was obsessed with killing them at all costs.
The more humans and blood there were, the easier it was for the Tower Creatures to be attracted.
And in the case just now, in that giant backpack were 3 human corpses with a lot of blood, while Kael and Hans were only 2 people, and they didn't even have a single trace of blood on their bodies.
So, it was understandable that Shadow Slayer chose the backpack.
If one had to compare, what had just happened was like someone choosing between a food he hated, or a food he loved.
Obviously, he would choose the food he liked.
***
It was already midnight, and Shadow Slayer had definitely realized that it had been tricked, and was now trying to chase after the two of them.
"Hans! It's a new day, use your Ability to check if there are any spirits around here!"
Kael said loudly, still not taking his eyes off the path they had just run on.
All that entered his vision was the deep darkness of the night.
But when he focused all his senses and pushed them to the maximum, he could sense something approaching.
Along with it was a murderous aura, strong enough to knock down an elephant.
Simultaneously, the protagonist's eyes turned golden, becoming the only thing glowing in the forest at the moment.
[Night Eye] had been activated.
Right after that, he did not hesitate to turn 360 degrees.
And then…
"I saw it, Kael! I think I have seen the spirit you said!"
"Follow it!" Without hesitation, he gave the order.
He didn't even bother to ask what the spirit looked like, because time was limited. And because here, in the Deadly Forest, only the guiding spirits would appear during this period of time.
Just like that, the two of them sped up, following the spirit to reach that mysterious temple.
Behind him, Kael could not only feel, he could even hear a lot of strange noises going on.
It was like the screams of those who had died under the Shadow Slayer's blade.
Those who, despite being dead, still wanted Kael and Hans to die with them.
Their screams were extremely loud, to the point that the sound waves they created could even shake the leaves and the bushes, attacking his corneas directly.
Making it feel like it was about to explode.
…
To be honest, his condition was not good at all.
Running at high speeds had never been Kael's strong point.
Especially when he knew that something even more terrifying than a ghost was following him closely, trying to separate his head from his body.
"Damn it! Where the hell is that place!?"
Some time had passed, but Hans in front was still running, showing no signs of stopping.
It showed that they had not reached the temple yet.
At some point, Kael began to doubt his own decision as well as the existence of the temple.
It was true that it had appeared in the plot, but there was no guarantee that it would appear here.
Just as he was about to fall into despair, Hans, who was running in front, suddenly stopped and shouted:
"Here it is!"
Finally, they found it.
There, illuminated by the moonlight, elegant in appearance, as if carved by artisans, but not ostentatious, nor showing any traces of time, was a temple made of stone.
Not too big, not too small.
But most importantly, it had an entrance, not blocked by anything.
That truly saved them a lot of time.
Once he had determined that this was what he was looking for, Kael did not hesitate to grab Hans' hand and enter with him.
They had to obtain an Ability in this temple.
And only by obtaining that Ability could the Shadow Slayer be defeated.