Leonhardt froze, his red eyes narrowing at the black-cloaked figure wearing a blank mask. He hadn't heard the figure approach, which unnerved him.
He forced a laugh, scratching his head with a grin. "Well, damn, didn't see you there, buddy," he said, keeping his tone light. "You always sneak up on people like that?"
The masked figure stayed quiet. But the dark, deadly energy gave off was overwhelming, colder and stronger than anything Leonhardt had faced before. It felt like staring into a bottomless pit.
Rin lifted her staff. "Stay back!" she shouted, firing a bright beam of energy at the figure. The forest lit up in a flash, but the figure raised a hand, and a swirling black hole appeared in its palm, sucking up the attack completely. The mana vanished without a trace.
Rin's eyes widened. "What… what are you?" she whispered, her voice full of shock.
