The black knight swung its massive sword with extraordinary force, cracking the ground and sending dust flying. Jin Woo and Leon focused on holding back the creature's frontal attacks, their swords clashing with deafening echoes. Meanwhile, Seo Ah leapt into the air, searching for an opening to attack from behind.
Linggis, however, remained calm, standing at the edge of the battlefield. Chuckling softly, he turned his gaze toward the silver-haired woman holding a bow in the distance.
"I know your role, archer," he muttered under his breath. "You control the flow of this battle from afar. In that case, you'll be the first to die."
Linggis's Surprising Move
Suddenly, Linggis moved, faster than anyone could anticipate. In the blink of an eye, he was already near the archer, his cane spinning with deadly precision. The tip of the cane transformed, sharpening into a thin blade.
"Die silently," he whispered, swinging his cane toward the archer's neck.
But his attack was stopped. A large blade slashed from the side, forcing Linggis to retreat. A new figure appeared, wielding a greatsword in his hands. The man was clad in white armor with the emblem of a renowned guild on his chest.
"Stop, Linggis. You won't hurt anyone else," the man said firmly.
Linggis looked up, narrowing his eyes at the man. "Heaven's Shield Guild? So, you've finally shown up, huh?"
A New Party Joins
Behind the man, four more hunters appeared, each radiating a powerful aura that indicated they were no amateurs. Linggis chuckled softly.
"So, it's not just my old party, but now you lot want to join the fray? The more, the merrier," he said, readying himself once more.
"The Heaven's Shield Guild won't let you wreak havoc any longer, Linggis. Surrender the coffin now!"
"It won't be that easy," Linggis replied. "You don't even know what's inside this coffin."
Meanwhile, the black knight summoned from the coffin continued its rampage, pushing Jin Woo and Leon to their limits. The creature's attacks grew increasingly ferocious, shattering the area around them.
A New Confrontation Begins
The hunters from Heaven's Shield quickly divided their roles. Two engaged Linggis directly, while the other two moved to assist Jin Woo and Leon in fighting the black knight.
The man with the greatsword attacked Linggis relentlessly, swinging his blade with calculated precision. Linggis deflected each strike with his cane, which shifted forms between a thin sword and a small shield.
"I must admit, you're more organized than my old party," Linggis said as he leapt backward. "But that's still not enough to stop me."
The Black Knight's Rampage
Meanwhile, the black knight slammed Leon with its massive shield, sending the burly man flying several meters before crashing hard into a tree. Seo Ah tried to stab the creature's back, but her daggers merely bounced off its thick armor.
Jin Woo finally managed to wound the black knight with his sword, creating a small crack in the creature's armor. However, instead of retreating, the knight emitted an even denser black aura, overwhelming everyone nearby with its oppressive energy.
"This thing is getting stronger!" Jin Woo shouted.
"Then we have to destroy the coffin!" one of the hunters from Heaven's Shield replied.
Linggis Laughs
Hearing this, Linggis laughed. "Destroy the coffin? It won't be that easy. Even I don't know the limits of this coffin's power. You want to try? Go ahead."
The battle grew more intense. Linggis moved nimbly, evading attacks from the two hunters of Heaven's Shield. Meanwhile, the black knight fought fiercely against the four Rank S hunters, creating chaos that seemed endless.
A New Surprise
Suddenly, the coffin on Linggis's back began to glow again. Dark light poured out from within, this time even stronger than before.
"What is this?!" Jin Woo shouted.
Linggis grinned widely. "I told you, you have no idea what you're dealing with. You want this coffin? Fine… I'll give it to you."
The coffin cracked open slightly, and from within, a terrifying scream echoed. Something far larger than the black knight began to emerge, causing everyone, even Linggis, to momentarily fall silent.