Chereads / The Legends of the Dragon Monk / Chapter 16 - The Lingering Shadow

Chapter 16 - The Lingering Shadow

Arjuna, Hanuman, and Li Ming returned to their headquarters, feeling a sense of relief mixed with sadness. They had successfully defeated Kratos, but the scars of their battle remained. Arjuna couldn't help but feel a lingering emptiness in his heart, as he mourned the loss of Amara and the betrayal of Kratos.As they regrouped and assessed their situation, Hanuman couldn't shake off a nagging suspicion. "I can't shake off the feeling that Kratos isn't completely gone," he said, furrowing his brow. "It's as if there's still a shadow lurking in the darkness."Li Ming, who was now revealed to be Li Ming-Jun, nodded in agreement. "I sensed a strange energy during the battle," he said, his eyes narrowed. "It felt like Kratos' dark aura, but different, almost as if it was a clone or a decoy."Arjuna's mind raced as he considered their words. "Could it be possible that Kratos created a clone of himself to deceive us?" he questioned, his archer instincts kicking in.

Hanuman nodded grimly. "It's certainly possible. Kratos was known for his cunning and deceit," he said. "We cannot let our guard down. The threat may not be completely over."Arjuna clenched his fists, his determination reignited. "We must remain vigilant and continue our efforts to protect our world," he declared. "We cannot let Kratos' dark ambitions resurface."

With renewed resolve, the trio set out to investigate further, searching for any clues or signs of Kratos' lingering presence. They scoured the dark world, interrogated prisoners, and followed leads, but their search yielded no concrete evidence.Days turned into weeks, and the tension among them grew. Arjuna couldn't shake off the feeling that Kratos was still out there, plotting his revenge. He was haunted by the memories of Amara and the betrayal they had faced, and he refused to let his guard down.

One day, as they were investigating a secluded cave, they stumbled upon a hidden chamber. In the chamber, they found a secret laboratory filled with vials of dark energy and strange, experimental equipment and human dead bodies.Li Ming-Jun gasped, recognizing the dark magic infused in the vials. "This is Kratos' handiwork," he said, his voice filled with alarm.