Chapter 45 Part3 (2/2)

[Stop!]

When Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was about to secretly extend his sword and slice the shadow, Arema, who was standing at the forefront, discovered the traces and stiffly ordered his troops to stop. Unlike the others, Jin, who had been walking slowly to match their pace, stopped with ease.

[He's nearby. Golden Shadow! A tough battle awaits us. The nearby roads and buildings have been turned inside out...!]

[Is it the Golden Shadow General's barrier!?]

Right when the group flinched and stopped, Chi Paul reported through telepathy. The Golden Shadow had been caught in the traps, but ultimately, the Golden Shadow General joined the battle. Although three of the Chi Pauls, including one level 7 elite, had sustained critical injuries and were forced to retire, the rest of his forces were able to retreat safely.

He was a level 8 capable of controlling shadows and was also a part of the 12 Generals, yet none of them had died. As he thought, their anger towards Arema Steelworker was increasing their abilities by a 'level' or perhaps even more.

[Tell the injured to return. Pick out only those who can still fight and wait at the place I designate. If all goes well, you may be able to fight against Anti-Skull as well.]

[Understood!]

[Everyone, get ready for battle. He'll likely ambush us. Focus!]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo saw the Metal Army and Anti-Skull prepare for battle and summoned his own weapons. It was the jet-black Giant Drake Horn Lance that he'd infused darkness mana into prior! Arema Steelworker and Tarian Von Retadane flinched at the sight of it.

[Where did you get...?]

[...Darkness? It is darkness!]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had fully charged his seventeen weapons with mana, but only nine of them had been floating in the air. The other eight had been hiding in the shadows, but he'd chosen to extract them. He wasn't really trying to show off, but it was kind of laughable that a level 8 golem was flinching.

”Is this the first time you've seen a lance?”

[If you can wield darkness so easily, then even if you were to fight alone... He's coming!]

Suddenly, the shadow underneath them spread out and covered the entire area! It seemed as though it would dye the entire world black. Arema Steelworker gritted his teeth, gathered his own mana, and fought back against the darkness. However, he was only able to protect a portion of his golems. Most of them had been trapped within the darkness.

[Vellun Von Dorthe...!]

[Arema Steelworker. You finally show your true colors. To think you'd so fearlessly step foot into one of His Majesty's cities. I'm happy that I'll be able to bury you here.]

A gloomy man's voice resounded throughout the darkness. Although they were both level 8s, it seemed as though the Golden Shadow General's command over his element overpowered Arema's. Arema instantly gathered his mana and fired it within the darkness. However, the darkness merely dispersed for a short time and soon filled the air once more.

[You really think you can fill the entire world with darkness?]

[The Underground Empire is governed by darkness. Your metal element is merely unusual. That's all!]

[Come on. I'll show you the true strength of that unusual power of mine...!]

It felt like they'd come to blows at any time. But surprisingly, the Golden Shadow General didn't strike. Rather than challenging Arema Steelworker's golden mana, the Golden Shadow General safely hid within the darkness and then ambushed one of the Four Heavenly Commanders.

[Keoheok!]

[Stake!]

It was the right call. Since Stake hadn't been able to mount a proper defense and was completely destroyed. It made sense. After all, it was the surprise attack of a level 8 and one of the 12 Generals. Even Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had briefly lost track of his movements.

'His stats are geared towards Agility and Magic. It's a cla.s.sic strategy. He relies on magic, rather than physical strength to hurt his enemies.'

Stake Steelworker's death signaled the start of the battle. The Golden Shadow General's forces attacked all at once.

His forces hid within the darkness he'd created and continually appeared and disappeared in different areas. They then grouped up and attacked, looking like a wave of darkness.

'As I thought, using shadows was a specialized form of darkness.

But Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could see them clearly, as he'd reached peak darkness mastery. If he mixed his darkness within theirs, then he could quickly defeat their entire force, but because he knew that Anti-Skull was hiding something, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to not do more than what was necessary.

'They act like they're so powerful, but the technique doesn't feel invincible... Heup!'

[Kuhaahk!?]

[Guaah!]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo swung his lance strangely. The approaching wave lost its cutting edge and collapsed instantaneously. The Golden Shadow, which had been pointing their weapons at Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, were flung out. He squashed a portion of them with his lance and challenged the Golden Shadow General.

”You've just lost your subordinates. You just going to sit there?”

[Keuk. You rat. Let's see how long you can avoid me!]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had just grinned at the face of Stake Steelworker's death and fought off the Golden Shadow with ease. Arema Steelworker was enraged at the sight, spread out his mana, and began to chase after the Golden Shadow General. Tarian Von Retadane's Anti-Skull force was likewise struggling against the Golden Shadow.

'Let's see. I wonder what Anti-Skull's hidden objective is...'

If Rem was with him, then he'd be able to more easily observe their movements. Unfortunately, it wasn't with him right now. But now that it'd come to this, there was no helping it. He had no choice but to use his last resort: 'asking the bones themselves'.

'All of you, attack Tarian. That's right. So that I can easily kill him unnoticed... Just a little more. You can do it, Golden Shadow!'

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo licked his lips and his lance slowly melted into the darkness. The Golden Shadow General probably had no idea that the darkness he'd created was being used by someone else.

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