The sudden drop in temperature and the dead-eyed, grey-robed figures stepping out of the unmapped dungeon wall had thrown the entire team on edge, but Nathan knew panicking right now would get them killed.
Those strange, void-faced phantoms weren't part of any official tournament programming, and as Kaito instantly lunged forward to test their defenses with his blade, the cold reality set in that whatever was happening here went far beyond simple competition points and ranking boards.
The grey-robed figures formed a loose circle around them, blocking every exit.
Kaito didn't hesitate. He pulled his sword and stepped in front of the group. "You want to test us? Try me first."
The lead figure tilted its head. Its voice sounded hollow, scraping right against their eardrums. "The Sword Saint. Your pride is your shield, but it's also your weak spot. We didn't come here for you."
"Then what do you want?" Kaito snapped.
