The night was unnaturally silent. A cold wind whispered through the ruined cathedral as Arin stepped onto the darkened battlefield. The air was heavy with tension—something was watching him.
Selene and Lilith stood behind him, their expressions sharp. Seraphina, still shaken from the previous battle, watched intently, her hands gripping her staff.
Then, without a sound, he appeared.
> [New Villain Identified: Noctis, The Phantom Duelist]
🕶️ Status: Enemy (Extreme Danger)
A man cloaked in shadows stood atop a shattered pillar. His obsidian armor blended seamlessly into the darkness, and his crimson eyes gleamed like a predator studying its prey. Two curved blades rested in his hands, pulsing with eerie energy.
"You're interesting, Arin," Noctis murmured, his voice like silk laced with venom. "But are you fast enough to keep up?"
Before Arin could react, Noctis vanished.
WHOOSH!
A blade whistled through the air.
Arin barely dodged, tilting his head as a thin line of blood appeared on his cheek. His pupils narrowed—Noctis was faster than anyone he had faced before.
Lilith clicked her tongue. "Damn, he's fast. Even I couldn't see him move."
Selene crossed her arms, smirking. "This is going to be interesting."
Arin didn't hesitate. He activated his Nightmare Vision, slowing down the world around him.
Noctis flickered back into existence, appearing behind him. A perfect killing strike.
But Arin was ready.
CLANG!
Their swords met, sending a shockwave across the battlefield. Sparks rained down as Arin pushed Noctis back with sheer strength.
Noctis twisted midair, landing gracefully. "Oh? You blocked it? Impressive."
Arin smirked. "You're not the only one who moves fast."
The duel escalated. Noctis danced in and out of the shadows, attacking from impossible angles. His Phantom Step made him intangible for split seconds, allowing him to slip through attacks like mist.
Arin, however, adapted. His Dark Dominion skill let him manipulate shadows, slowly countering Noctis's technique.
Their battle was a blur of steel and darkness.
CLANG! SWOOSH! BOOM!
Each exchange sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The onlookers could barely follow the fight, their eyes widening at the spectacle.
Then, Noctis made a mistake.
He lunged too aggressively, expecting Arin to retreat. Instead, Arin stepped into the attack, twisting his sword at an unnatural angle.
SLASH!
Blood sprayed. Noctis staggered back, clutching his shoulder. His cloak, once untouched, was now tattered.
His breathing was uneven. "Tch… you're not bad."
Arin flicked his sword, shaking off the blood. "And you're not invincible."
Noctis grinned. "Then let's see how you handle my real power."
The air grew colder. The shadows deepened.
> [Warning: Noctis is activating Phantom Eclipse Mode]
Selene's eyes narrowed. "Arin, don't let him finish that move!"
But Arin wasn't concerned.
He vanished—reappearing right in front of Noctis.
A single punch, enhanced by Crimson Overdrive, sent Noctis crashing through multiple stone pillars.
BOOM!
Dust and debris filled the air.
As it cleared, Noctis lay unconscious, defeated.
> [Noctis Defeated. Victory Achieved.]
Arin exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "That was a decent warm-up."
Selene chuckled. "You call that a warm-up? You're ridiculous."
Lilith pouted. "I was hoping for more blood~"
Seraphina, still shocked, took a deep breath. "He's… beyond human."
Arin turned to them, smirking. "On to the next challenge, then."
But deep in the shadows, unseen by anyone, a pair of glowing golden eyes watched the battle unfold.
And they were amused.
---
[TO BE CONTINUED...]