The figure stopped a short distance away.
His gazed did not settle on Limbo first.
Not on the Gaja, nor on the Rin.
It even ignored the elder and soldier.
It directly fell on the child.
Sambha felt it, something familiar.
That he always witness.
His fingers tightened around the Limbo's sleeve —but this time, not in fear.
The battlefield did not relax.
It merely...waited.
The elder straightened slowly, not because the tension had ease, but because it has shifted. Around him, the soldier's followed his movement instinctively, rising from their kneels one by one. None of them spoke. None of them questioned why they were allowed to stand now—when no one spoke or give command.
It was not permission given by words.
It was signal.
The shadow had given by hint, not everyone felt it, only elder.
Limbo noticed first how Sambha froze.
The child did not cry.
Did not speak.
He simply stood there, shoulders drawn inward, eyes fixed on the dark fierce ahead. His hands trembled faintly, fingures curling into his clothes like a child caught after breaking something precious.
Not fear of death.
But ..
Fear of disappointment.
Like a child standing before parents after a mistake.
Limbo's chest tightened.
Rin felt it too. She moved half a step closer to sambha, ready to pull him back if needed. Gaja's jaw clenched, muscles tightening beneath his skin.
The shadow did not Move.
At first.
His gaze lingered on sambha only briefly —just long enough for the child's breath to hitch.
Then it shifted.
Locked on Limbo.
The moment their eyes met, Limbo felt a sharp uneasiness crawl up his spine.
Not presure.
Nor the killing intent.
But.... Judgment.
His system remained silent, but that earlier notification echoed in his mind.
Correlation: Sambha.
So it's true, Limbo thought.
He's connected to him....Closely.
The shadow titled his head slightly, studing Limbo like a problem left unsolved for too long.
Intresting.
Around them, the battlefield held still. Guards exchanged uncertain glances. The elder's expression was grave, but he did not intervene.
Then the shadow spoke.
"Put your weapon down."
The word were calm.
Too calm.
Limbo blinked. "What—"
Before the thought finished—
The air split.
A blur crossed his vision, and instinct screamed.
Limbo twisted sideways at the last possible moment. Something sharp brushed past him, close enough that the wind alone cut his cheek. The ground him cracked in a clean, shallow line.
Not an explosion.
A warning.
Limbo skidded back, heart hammering.
Loudly like a dreambeats.
The shadow stood where he had been before, one hand extended slightly, fingers relaxed.
A grin curved beneath the shadow of his hood.
"Hah," he chuckled. "So you avoided it."
The soldiers gasped.
Rin's breath caught.
"Limbo—!"
"Good," the shadow continued, ignoring her completely. "Now prepare for the next."
Limbo barely had time to raise his spear.
The shadow moved again.
This Time Limbo blocked.
The impact was strong.
There was no force—yet the shock traveled straight through his arms, rattling his bones and forcing himback several steps. His feet dug into the ground, lightning flaring instinctively before he suppressed it.
He's not even using the mana too attack, and still the attacks are this deadly, Limbo realized.
Rin's clenched her fists. Gaja took involuntary step forward.
This wasn't case like with the elder.
This wasn't a test of some form.
This time, someone was playing with distance, timing and reaction — a master of his own league, testing instinct.
Not only strength.
Sambha stood unmoving.
He was too scared to even breathe.
The shadow circled Limbo slowly, making footsteps unhurried.
"You stood well against the elder," he said carefully. "Better than expected."
Shadow spoke mid fight.
Limbo didn't answer, rather he couldn't.
He was too engaged too avoiding the attacks.
Another strike came.
Limbo deflected it—barely.
Then another one hit which he avoided.
And another come in line.
Each exchange forced Limbo back, never enough to knock him down, never enough to end it.
The shadow laughed softly.
"What happened?" He asked, voice carrying easily across the field. "A few moments ago, you were standing together."
As one.
His gaze flicked briefly toward Gaja and Rin.
"Now you fight alone."
Gaja growled. "That's enough."
He stepped forward.
The shadow's eyes gleamed.
"Oh?" He said with weird smile on face. "Now you move?"
Gaja positioned himself beside Limbo, blades drawn.
"He's not a close-combat fighter," Gaja said calmly. "That's my role."
"And I'm here to fulfill my role, let's engage."
The shadow chuckled.
"So you finally remember your place."
Then his tone sharpened.
"You, who stood ready moments ago," he said, eyes fall on Sambha, "now hiding behind an outsider?"
Shame on you.
The words hits harder than the strike.
By listening this taunt Gaja clenched his teeth.
Limbo felt it too — anger, frustration, helplessness.
The shadow attacked again.
This time, Gaja met him head-on.
Steel clashed.
The impact thundered across the battlefield.
Gaja was forced back a step — then another.
His arms trembled.
He grinned fiercely. "He's not serious."
Limbo nodded. "I know."
"Five percent," Gaja muttered. "No more."
He lunged.
This time, the shadow blocked with two fingers.
The ground cracked beneath them.
Rin's eyes widened. "This is bad..."
Limbo and Gaja exchanged a glance.
They pushed together — one attacking, one supporting.
They didn't land a single clean hit.
Not one made it.
The shadow waved between them effortlessly, amused.
"That's it?" He taunted. "This is the resolve that made the land react?"
Sambha's hands cleanched.
His heart pounced so loudly he thought everyone could hear it.
Rin noticed him shifting, "Sambha—don't!".
But the child took a step forward.
Slowly.
And carefully —.
Ignoring her grip.
Another step.
"Sambha!" Rin whispered urgently.
He didn't stop.
Tears welled in his eyes, but his feet kept moving.
The shadow noticed.
The fight stopped instantly.
Silence crashed down.
Before anyone could react—
A voice rang out.
Clear and sharp.
Unmistakable.
"Sambha."
The child froze.
He turned towards the sound instinctively.
And responded to the sound.
"...mama?"
The battlefield shattered into the Shocked.