The battlefield lay in silence after the first clash. Mud and blood still clung to my boots, and the remnants of Ladrius' light aura flickered like a dying star.
Ladrius staggered back, his golden armor scorched and cracked.
— You… you are no ordinary mortal… he muttered, voice trembling with both rage and awe.
I didn't answer. The shadows around me writhed, feeding on my heartbeat, growing heavier and more alive.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — STAGE 3: True Power ACTIVE]
[Special Effect: Shadows now independently defend and attack]
I extended my hand, and the shadows surged forward, striking Ladrius from all angles. His defense faltered as the black tendrils wrapped around his limbs, siphoning his energy.
— You think this will stop me? he growled, summoning a pillar of radiant light beneath him. The ground shook, sending mud and corpses flying.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Probability of victory increased to 92% — Target weakened]
I leapt into the air, shadows swirling around me like a storm. With a single thought, the spear reformed, sharper and longer, composed of living darkness.
I struck. Light clashed with shadow in a dazzling explosion, sending waves across the battlefield. Ladrius screamed, staggering as the black tendrils tore through his armor and left deep burns across his chest.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: Shadow Surge II — Amplified speed and attack power, shadows adapt to target's movements]
Even as he tried to counter, the shadows anticipated, blocking and redirecting his strikes. My crimson eyes burned brighter, veins pulsing with black light.
I felt the rush of power, the intoxicating pull of darkness. Each strike was precise, calculated — a dance of death that even a demigod could not match.
— Enough…! Ladrius roared, desperation creeping into his voice. His aura flared one last time, bright enough to rival the sun itself.
I narrowed my eyes. This was it — the moment the system had been waiting for.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — STAGE 4 UNLOCKED: Shadow Manifestation Complete]
[Effect: Full control over shadows, capable of independent offensive and defensive maneuvers]
With a swift motion, shadows enveloped Ladrius completely. His roar was muffled as the darkness tightened, siphoning his strength.
[FIRST BLOOD CONFIRMED]
[REWARD: Soul Synchronization +20%, Darkness Mastery +15%, System Rank Up]
Ladrius collapsed, a broken figure amidst the carnage. My heart raced, yet calm settled over me like a dark tide. The first god had fallen.
In the distance, I sensed the eyes of countless others — gods, demigods, watchers — noting the rise of a new predator.
The hunt had truly begun.