"This is simply a process of elimination. Start with the enemy's identity, stand in their shoes and think about it—what in this underground area is most valuable? In any case, the Baleful Shadow wouldn't come to the underground for a tour for no reason."
"But the Ainsel River is so complex, unless we spend a lot of time..."
"Exactly."
Throne listened to the short, sharp screams outside and heard the clattering sound of a sword being dragged. A black wolf head gradually emerged from the stairs, and Melina's question came to an abrupt halt. The man stood up slowly and opened his hands.
The Flowing Curved Sword and the Silver Tear shield fell into his grasp, like a host who had been waiting for a distinguished guest for a long time.
Clatter, clatter... The greatsword scraped against the ground as the werewolf strode forward with chest puffed out, its greatsword, shimmering with red-black flames, as dazzling as ever. The time for using his brain had passed. When it truly came to a head-on confrontation and using a blade, Throne never had the habit of backing down; instead, he felt relieved.
The one who came was still that same Baleful Shadow. The Two Fingers did not know that he had already grasped its entire plan, so it had not sent reinforcements. If it had been a pack of werewolves coming up, he would have had no choice but to grab the treasure chest and flee to the stronghold.
"You have finally arrived." Armor concealed its face, but it was hard to cause any confusion.
The Baleful Shadow couldn't be bothered to care how the other party knew its purpose; it paused its footsteps and hoisted the greatsword onto its shoulder. "Tarnished, this is your last chance." The air was nearly frozen, and even the sounds of explosions outside were blocked from his ears. Throne didn't speak, simply spreading his hands. Thud.
The black orb fell from overhead, and a 'jelly rain' began to fall; the Silver Tears wriggled on the ground like a bizarre legion. Everything went without saying. The Baleful Shadow leaned down and gripped its sword tightly; its mission included one item—
Kill all who block the way.
A flash of intense light came from outside, as if some powerful magic was colliding, illuminating the room for an instant like lightning. Battle begins! Throne raised his foot and kicked the black orb, causing this originally slow-moving object to instantly accelerate, rushing rapidly toward the Baleful Shadow. The latter jumped instantly, hanging its hand from the ceiling.
The black orb beneath its feet smashed the door, but it stopped instantly and just sat there, stunned. It seemed it couldn't do anything about the enemy overhead. "Too slow." Throne used his foot to flick up a Silver Tear and batted it away with his shield, using his allies as projectiles just like a catapult. The Tears had no intelligence, and of course, they wouldn't curse or complain.
They simply flew over, transforming in mid-air into 'sea urchins' covered in spikes. The werewolf was silent; it let go and dropped from the dome, then slashed down fiercely with the sword held in both hands! Red-black sword trails remained in the air, but the Silver Tears were not lifeforms in the traditional sense; they were sliced in two in mid-air, then exploded into brilliant lightning.
The light from the explosion of over a dozen Silver Tears was too intense; even Throne closed his eyes, and then he heard Melina's voice. "He is coming."
I know! Throne kept his eyes closed and raised his shield, and then his left arm felt a heavy slash. Clang!! Throne's knees bent slightly.
He didn't know how this guy had jumped a hundred meters in an instant; it was just like his own opposite, with a combat style that was simple and unadorned. Before the opponent could slash with a second sword, he had already used Bloodhounds Step to retreat rapidly, throwing out a blade until it lagged and dissipated into starlight. Hum, hum, hum...
The massive black orb rolled backward, shattering ornate chairs into splinters. The Baleful Shadow didn't have time to leap away. It spun, thrusting its sword forward. Ding. Sparks erupted in a blinding flash. The orb screeched to a halt as the werewolf skidded across the floor, claws carving deep gouges into the stone.
Its chest heaved. Before it could exhale that rancid breath, a streak of silver lightning shot toward its back. The creature rolled aside. Throne hurled the Flowing Curved Sword. He wasn't a master with it, but its reach gave him an edge. Swish. Swish. Swish.
The sword returned in a flash, gouging the ground as it flew. The black orb, furious, slammed into the walls, leaving craters like it had been fired from a cannon. So agile. Throne watched the creature's frenzied movement and rang the bell. Jingle. A dozen ghostly clay men materialized before him—spirit ash borrowed from the Night Maiden.
Destined Death was lethal to the living, but spirit ash? Different story. Only a fool would engage this thing up close. Throne dropped his shield, hurling the Flowing Curved Sword repeatedly while raising his left hand. Dark Star Volley. Cannon of Haima. Magic Downpour.
Clad in full knight's armor, Throne transformed into a turret, unleashing a relentless barrage. If they couldn't touch Destined Death, they'd bury it instead. Bang. Bang. Bang. The hall exploded into chaos, dust clouding the air like thick fog.
A moment later, Throne heard Melina's warning and the rumble of the black orb. He leaped backward. Boom—
The greatsword crashed down from above, obliterating the spot where he'd stood. The werewolf crouched in the crater, poised to charge, but the clay men blocked its path. They were sliced apart in an instant—cannon fodder, but they'd done their job.
Their limbs scattered, unfazed by Destined Death. They'd bought Throne a fraction of a second, and that was enough. Howling Storm. A powerful gust cleared the dust, and the Flowing Curved Sword shot straight for the werewolf's face.
It tilted its head, catching the blade mid-air. Do you think I'm one of those Nox Swordsmen? Throne smirked, releasing the sword and clenching his left fist. Gravity Sword Array. Weapons embedded in the ground wrenched free, drawn by magic.
Six blades flew. The werewolf deflected them, but six more came. The air filled with flashing steel, sealing its path alongside the clay men. The Baleful Shadow couldn't advance. Behind it, the black orb rolled closer. Troublesome. It turned, hurling the greatsword.
Throne focused, dodging to the side. Rumble. Gravel struck his armor. The greatsword, heavy with Destined Death, landed meters away. The werewolf leaped, gripping the hilt mid-air and using its momentum for a brutal slash. Up. Across. Thrust.
It couldn't be called sophisticated swordsmanship; it was simple, raw, and devastating. Fast, precise, and laced with a poison no living thing could withstand. Damn it, Throne thought, retreating. This creature's combat instinct was monstrous. It had already noticed the pause in his Starlight movement.
If it were anyone else, he could have tanked a hit and escaped, but he dared not use himself as a test subject for Destined Death. "Am I not to strike yet?" Melina was getting a bit anxious. "Wait a little longer." Throne glanced at the black orb rolling over, and could also feel the wall not far behind him, lightly jumping into mid-air.
This backward jump was only for an instant, yet the Baleful Shadow had already chased over frantically, the greatsword grinding out a large spray of sparks on the ground. Slash! Storm Stomp! The fierce gale collided with the simple and unadorned blade, yet it was hard to suppress the descending blade, but Throne stamped his left foot down again. Golden Wrath!
The storm had not yet ceased, and the dazzling golden light flashed again. The force of the slash was exhausted, and Throne gripped a flying Silver Tear shield, hunching his body and pushing it up. Shield Bash. The two lunged forward together, meeting the rolling iron ball. This thing clearly didn't have friendly fire turned off.
Throne instantly felt a violent force pass from the werewolf's back to the shield, and then transmit to his own chest. Thud!! With a dull thud, both flew out. Throne, flying through the air, swallowed the blood in his throat, but saw the Baleful Shadow still expressionless, slashing down with its sword in mid-air. Not a chance!
Throne threw out the shield, and after hearing the sound of the blade colliding with the shield, it disappeared, leaving only a red-black sword light remaining in mid-air. The brief lag was clearly enough. Throne's body reappeared on top of the treasure chest, quietly watching the figure dozens of meters away.
He had jumped out of the corner and almost returned to the position where the battle began. Without frustration or surprise, the Baleful Shadow remained as calm as death, and then, like a mirror, simultaneously pulled out a flask of crimson tears with Throne and drank it. Crazy enough. Throne's eye twitched.
His Gravity Magic was still a bit lacking; the gravity flying swords couldn't keep up with such a small, fast enemy, and other magic were even harder to land. There was no time to think more. The werewolf spread its legs and raised the greatsword. Even from dozens of meters away, the sword tip pointing from afar still made his brow ache faintly. It was going to charge.
This was obvious, but—
Speed is king! In the blink of an eye, the blade was right in front of him, with only a white ring blooming in the distance. It was charging, charging against the Crystal Burst, ignoring the dozen or so blood splatters exploding on its body, straight for Throne's chest.
Sizzle—
The blade scraped against the armor, and Throne fell backward, watching his ornate arm guard being cut through. An indescribable pain exploded in his mind. Destined Death. That was an ability capable of hunting down demigods. Throne only felt as if someone had hit him on the head with a hammer. This couldn't kill him, but it was equally fatal in close-quarters combat. Bang!
He raised his leg and kicked hard at the werewolf's crotch, but it ignored it as if it had no sense of pain, only slashing its greatsword back. As the blade enlarged in Throne's eyes, he knew the time had come. "Melina!" Before his voice faded, the young girl suddenly appeared behind the werewolf, and that short blade stabbed into its back without hesitation. Puff.
Suddenly suffering a heavy blow, the werewolf's body staggered. For the first time, it showed an expression of astonishment, as if unable to believe the aura from its back, but it quickly turned its head and saw a girl wearing a cloak. "You... are..." Melina had no intention of explaining; following what Throne had said, she used an incantation. Golden Order Greatsword.
Golden light erupted from the creature's chest—a blade aimed straight between Throne's eyes. One strike, two kills. His back already pressed against the ground, he raised a palm. Thops's Barrier. Refract! The sword of light hit cyan ripples and bent at a sharp angle, stabbing back through the werewolf's gut.
"Thought I only deflected magic?" Throne kicked the beast away. It scrambled up, two mortal wounds gaping, yet still coiled like a spring against the wall. Eyes locked on him. On the sword. No hesitation. No pain. What kind of machine fought like this?
The pain in his soul had lessened slightly. He didn't want to take another slash. Anyone else would be dead already. But as the Baleful Shadow rebounded, he vanished. BANG!!! Air shattered like glass. The floor cracked under the force. Melina landed in front of him, face tight with warning.