Just as the shadow faced off against the suddenly appeared Sio.
Meanwhile, Ian, seemingly fleeing for his life, muttered under his breath words that would enrage the shadow to the point of fainting.
"Ease up on the strength, ease up... otherwise, the opponent won't be able to break through my defense..."
With a pale complexion (slowing blood circulation) and diminished strength (contracting his own power), Ian had lowered his defenses as much as possible. Yet, the shadow's strike failed to cut through flesh and blood, and after shattering his armor, only managed to graze the skin.
If it weren't for Ian's lightning-fast reflexes, clamping the blade between his muscles, deliberately cutting himself and keeping the blade in place, the shadow's strike might have been repelled long ago—how could it possibly remain embedded in him?
