A technique that didn't belong to any heroes, its origin shrouded in mystery and darkness.
And yet… it had done nothing.
The Shadow Leech didn't move. Its tendrils writhed slowly, almost cautiously. Its beady, soulless eyes locked onto Kael—not with rage, but with something else.
Hesitation.
Confusion.
Somehow… the beast knew the energy from that skill.
Because it wasn't a human skill. It came from demonic energy.
From the demons.
A flicker of understanding passed through the leech's monstrous gaze. It stopped circling. The forest wind picked up, rustling the leaves.
Even Elysia—panting, bruised, and bloodied from her battle—noticed the shift in atmosphere.
The Shadow Leech now faced a dilemma.
The beast was sent by the demons to kill the students for the future threat. But the aura Kael just released... was unmistakably demonic. It wasn't fake or copied. It was genuine and familiar.
The beast's instincts screamed at it.
(Is this boy… one of us?)
