The battlefield lay in ruins, faint wisps of divine light still flickering as if mourning their defeat.
Shadows retracted slowly, coiling around me like loyal sentinels, their energy feeding back into my body. The system hummed, analyzing every movement, every outcome.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Stage 7 Fully Integrated — Post-Combat Recovery Optimal]
[Suggested Action: Analyze Enemy Retreat Patterns & Plan Counterstrategies]
The silver-haired woman sheathed her blade, stepping closer.
— That was… impressive, she murmured. Her gaze lingered on me, a subtle warmth beneath the deadly precision she always carried.
Arlena, standing slightly apart, observed quietly.
[HINT: Ally Bond Progression — Cooperation Potential High]
A soft vibration in the shadows drew my attention. The system flagged an incoming signal — not divine, but organized, human-like, yet unnatural.
[ALERT: Unknown Faction Detected — Likely High Threat Level]
The silver-haired woman's eyes narrowed.
— You're attracting more than gods now… she said, voice low.
I exhaled, letting the shadows swirl around me, crimson eyes scanning the horizon.
The system pulsed:
[REWARD: Shadow Assimilation Refinement +5%, New Tactical Skill Available: Shadow Veil — temporarily hide all allies and shadows from high-tier surveillance]
The winds shifted, carrying faint whispers of movement — a hint that the next confrontation was already forming.
Arlena's stance relaxed slightly, yet energy readings confirmed she was ready for anything.
[HINT: Team Dynamics Stabilized — Strategic Advantage Confirmed]
The predator of shadows did not smile, did not speak.
Instead, I allowed the silence to speak. The storm had passed, but the currents were shifting. Allies had grown, enemies had regrouped, and the battlefield was no longer just a place of combat — it was a chessboard.
And I… I was the player moving the shadows.