After the thunderstorm passed
"According to Shiro's predictions, the monster will have a long cooldown after that burst. So what I need to do now is..."
"RUN!"
Flames erupted from Shaka's body, leaving a trail of fire across the ground as he vanished into the distance.
The goblin shaman Thunderstrike Keno let out a frenzied roar when it saw him flee.
"Guga ga ga ga! Gusha la sha!"
No one would outsmart the Monster Lord and escape with what it desired!
Its high-pitched, hoarse cry acted like a royal command. All attacking monsters halted their assault and retreated in unison, chasing after Shaka's trail.
On the city wall
Sora swung his arm and shouted: "Now's our chance! Whether Shaka survives depends on all of you!"
Shiro continued scribbling calculations on the ground: "He'll be fine. Barely."
Yamato's face darkened at their casual tone, but knowing how much this mattered to Shaka, she clasped her hands together and began to chant.
"Futsu-no-Mitama!"
A massive purple sword descended from the sky, and a gravity array spread across the ground. Monsters that couldn't retreat in time were pinned down by crushing force.
The dwarven troops hurled their giant axes gravity doubling their destructive power.
Kanade stepped forward calmly: "Let me help."
[Sonic Hand Slash!]
Two rapidly vibrating blades shot from her wrists. She raised her hands high, overlapping the blades as a terrifying sonic wave rippled outward. Below the wall, monsters clutched their ears as their magic cores shattered and turned to ash.
Sora clicked his tongue in amazement: "What terrifying magic."
Shiro nodded in agreement: "Like the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, top tier in this land."
...
Inside the city, near the clock tower by the gate, stood a man of unremarkable appearance only his short reddish-brown hair set him apart.
He narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue coldly: "That girl has magic similar to [Silence]?"
Seeing the monster army split and begin redeploying, he smirked, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and jumped from the tower.
At the foot of the building, he hunched over, pushing a fried potato ball cart as he pretended to be an ordinary citizen heading for a quiet alley.
"Hey you there, sir."
A voice called from behind: "Could you stop for a moment?"
Lulune hands in her pockets strolled over and stopped a few meters away.
"Are you talking to me?" The man turned around, his fox-like eyes narrowing into slits.
"Don't move, please. I don't want to accidentally throw something dangerous." Lulune spoke calmly, her gaze locked on him warily.
"Though surrendering willingly would be best."
The man straightened up, revealing a strange, terrifying grin: "We've been found out?"
"Hmph hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Unrestrained laughter echoed through the alley. A bead of cold sweat rolled down Lulune's forehead.
When he finally calmed down, he asked with interest: "Can you tell me how you spotted me?"
He was confident in his anonymity his face was so ordinary it was forgettable. His companions called him "Faceless Man" for this very reason. But more importantly…
Almost everyone who'd crossed paths with him was dead.
Lulune kept her guard up and retorted sharply: "Before asking questions, you should introduce yourself first."
"My apologies for being rude..." The man placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "I'm Witt. You probably haven't heard of me."
Witt former member of the Erebus Familia. Defeated in the "Absolute Evil" incident but spared by the gods.
"I should be locked up in Bergen the City of Sinners. But here I am. Curious?" He winked, completely unconcerned.
"The gods are amusing creatures. They built a dystopian city in the lower realm just for villains like all the world's evil condensed into one place. Everyone there is talented and clever. I'd never want to leave if I wasn't so focused on my goal."
Lulune felt a chill run down her spine: "No one can leave Bergen! How did you,"
"You guessed it." Witt grinned wildly, laughing hysterically.
"Because I'm Level 5! Hahaha, why would those evil gods let a talent like me waste away there!"
In the blink of an eye, he moved forward and grabbed Lulune by the throat, lifting her off the ground.
"I remember you [Mud Dog], right? Level 2 five years ago... now Level 3?"
He curled his lip in disdain: "So weak. All of you are far too weak."
The dog-human struggled, gasping out words: "What... what's your goal? Do you... want to kill Goddess Astraea?"
Witt paused, then smiled maliciously: "That was part of the plan. I'm contradictory though I don't like bullying the weak, but I love seeing them suffer."
"Unfortunately, the plan failed." He sounded disappointed as he lowered his voice. "Let me guess was it that brat who saw through me?"
"Is that why you held back a Level 3 fighter like yourself to keep an eye on me?"
Lulune shook her head frantically: "No... no! He couldn't know you specifically he just guessed someone was pulling the strings!"
"Cough... cough..." She clawed at his fingers, fighting for every breath as her legs kicked wildly.
Witt paid no mind, pulling her closer: "He guessed that much, but did he guess you'd die here?"
Lulune smiled faintly.
Witt's expression darkened: "What are you laughing at?"
The next moment, four or five peculiar potions clattered out of her pant leg. They contained sky-blue liquid that radiated intense cold.
"Omnipotent artifacts?!" Witt recognized them items commonly used by Asfi.
But there was no time to dodge.
Lulune coughed heavily: "Cough... sorry but I'm not dying here!"
Witt cursed under his breath: "Damn it!"
He released her and swept his leg out, sending Lulune flying over ten meters into an alley wall, which cracked on impact.
Bang bang bang bang!
The potions exploded, cold air spreading to freeze parts of Witt's body.
He knew the freezing agents wouldn't kill him they were just meant to distract him and buy time for escape. So he'd acted decisively to disable her completely.
As expected, Lulune had taken a Level 5 blow to the chest. She spat out blood, her vision blurring.
"Six ribs broken one punctured her lung. She can't move now!"
Witt struggled against the ice forming on his legs as he spoke calmly: "I admire your cleverness, but it means nothing against absolute power."
"I had fun this time though it's a shame I didn't get to see the whole city painted red with blood."
Lulune lifted her head, blood trickling from her mouth and nose as she smiled bitterly: "No... I'll make it back alive. Because that lord said so!"
She thought of those two terrifying individuals opponents she couldn't beat even if she cheated.
they're like gods!
That was why she'd willingly taken on this dangerous mission.
In the quiet corridor, the steady, crisp sound of leather boots echoed off the stone floor.
Witt spun around sharply: "Who's there?!"
From the shadows of the alley, a figure in a black cloak and hood walked forward calmly.
"I am the one who hides in the shadows and hunts those who dwell there."