Linggis stood atop a pile of corpses and rubble, his breaths heavy, but a faint smile lingered on his face. The air around him was thick with the scent of blood and dust, while the shadows of his two black knights stood tall at his right and left, loyally awaiting his command.
"Just as I expected," Linggis murmured, wiping the blood trickling down from his shoulder. "You're tough, but still... not enough to stop me."
Jin Woo lay on the ground, his sword having been flung several meters away. Blood poured from a deep wound on his chest, but his eyes remained open, burning with rage and resentment. Beside him, Seo Ah crawled toward Jin Woo despite her own body being riddled with injuries.
The archer, who had posed the greatest threat earlier, now lay motionless, her bow broken in two. Linggis glanced at her body briefly before turning away, ensuring there was no one left who could stand against him.
"I never intended to kill all of you," Linggis spoke in a calm but cold voice. "But if you force my hand..." He turned his gaze to Jin Woo, who glared at him with pure hatred. "Next time, make sure you're strong enough to challenge me."
Linggis walked away, leaving behind the battlefield filled with corpses and ground soaked in blood. His shadow knights vanished into the darkness as he stepped forward.
Before he disappeared completely, he paused, glancing at the sky, which had turned crimson as the sun set. "This fight is only the beginning," he said softly. "There are still many chasing after me. And you, Jin Woo, Seo Ah... if you're foolish enough to try again, I'll always be here, waiting for your naivety and heroism, heroes number 23."
With a meaningful smile, Linggis vanished into the shadows, leaving behind the ruined hunters and devastation as witnesses to his power and knights of shadow disappear.
Linggis walked slowly across the barren land, his feet dragging slightly as the cane in his right hand tapped against the dry earth. Each tap of the cane echoed clearly, breaking the silence of the vast plain devoid of any vegetation. The strong wind whipped against his body, ruffling his disheveled white hair, but his expression remained cold and impassive.
In the distance, a woman appeared, her steps steady. Her long hair flowed with the wind, and her sharp gaze locked onto Linggis. She stopped a few meters in front of him, brandishing a weapon that looked like a glowing longsword.
"So, it's you, Linggis. The monster they've been talking about," she said, her tone full of confidence.
Linggis gave a faint smile, straightening himself slightly with the support of his cane. "Monster? Interesting. But… aren't you the one walking toward your own death?"
Without warning, the woman lunged, her sword gleaming like lightning. Linggis moved his cane, and the sound of metal clashing rang out.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
The sharp sound of metal echoed in the air as the woman's sword met Linggis' cane, which, despite its simple appearance, seemed indestructible. The woman's movements were incredibly fast, like shadows too quick for the eye to follow, but Linggis matched her pace with minimal effort. Each of her attacks was blocked with terrifying precision.
"Damn it... you're not even trying!" the woman shouted in frustration, increasing the power of her strikes.
Linggis chuckled softly, raising his cane with one hand to block her next attack. "If this is all you've got, I'm getting bored."
With a single thrust, Linggis slammed his cane into the ground, creating a wave of energy that shook the vast plain. The woman was thrown back but managed to land on her feet perfectly, even as the ground around her cracked from the force of the attack.
"I didn't come this far to lose to you," she said, raising her sword high. Blue energy began to envelop her body, and her power seemed to surge dramatically.
Linggis tilted his head slightly, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Good. At least give me some entertainment before I finish you off."
The once-quiet plain now became a fierce battleground, every clash of weapons and explosion of energy breaking the silence, marking the beginning of a new, intense confrontation.