The Author's POV

Drip! Drip!

The rain continued to fall steadily, each droplet creating a ripple as it collided with the surface of the water.

It was a dreary and ominous atmosphere that surrounded the two figures standing at the edge of the water. Their stillness only added to the sense of foreboding.

Prince Murdock's warily stared at the figure before his eyes.

He had never encountered anyone like this before. The stranger's appearance was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult for Murdock to discern any distinguishing features.

However, the sheer power emanating from the figure was palpable, sending chills down Murdock's spine.

Despite his wariness, Murdock stood his ground, his expression stoic as he faced the shadowy figure. He spoke in a measured tone, trying to keep his composure.

"What are you?"

His voice was firm, but there was a hint of trepidation underlying his words.

"..."

The figure remained silent, its dark form seemingly immobile.

"Not much of a talker, are we?"

Murdock continued to scrutinize the figure, trying to glean any information he could from its appearance. The stranger appeared to be human in build, but there was all he could make out.

"I've never heard of a human as strong as you, nor―"

Drip!

He was interrupted by the subtle sound of a raindrop hitting the water, which resounded through the air unlike any of the other drops around him. "Swoosh!" In that split second, the shadowy figure vanished from where it was standing.

"Uh?!"

Swoosh―

Murdock's eyes widened in surprise as he felt a sudden force against his cheek. He stumbled backward, narrowly dodging a swift punch aimed at his face.

"Rather hurried, aren't we?"

Murdock quipped, trying to regain his composure. As he distanced himself from the shadowy figure, Murdock noticed a cold glint reflecting off a blade being unsheathed.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, but it was too late. Murdock's gaze met with the figure's, and time seemed to come to a standstill.

The only sound was the raindrops falling around them.

Drip!

SHIIIING―! In that moment, Murdock watched in horror as his arm was sliced clean off by the blade. The pain was intense, and he could feel warm blood gushing out of the wound.

Spurt―!

Black blood spurted out, staining the water and adding to the eerie atmosphere. Murdock could barely comprehend what had just happened. He looked up at the shadowy figure, whose features were still obscured by the darkness.

"Arghhh!"

He eventually succumbed to the agony and let out an agonized scream as a result. He glared at the figure in the shadows while clutching his right hand, and he flapped his wing once.

fuzzy, and then he materialized in front of

reached out his hand with the intention of hitting the

Swoosh―!

his body, and when he turned around, he saw him standing a few hundred meters away with his sword again

'Fast.'

Murdock could think

was pointed at him, he was just about to take a

was previously in,

It was cracked.

how

murmured to himself as he analyzed the

instantly calmed down. He had faced many skilled opponents before, and

"Your mastery o―"

but his expression shifted mid-sentence, and he moved his body to the right,

up on his face as he glanced at the passing blade. Now that he understood how it worked, he wasn't as worried as before. However,

SHIIIIIING―!

his body, he

Swoosh―!

for him, the figure ducked down and counterattacked

act quickly

"Hup!"

stomach, Prince Murdock twisted his body, and the fist grazed past

Boom―! Boom―!

fractured the water beneath them, and thunder

Kracka! Kracka!

Boom―!

landing a fist against the shadowy figure, he flapped his wings and appeared right behind him. He didn't waste

Splash―!

Prince Murdock followed him down, his figure plummeting into the water beneath, and with one quick scan

the aid of his wings, he appeared right in front of the shadowy figure and clenched at his throat with

plummeted down from above at high

Boom―!

ocean, sand spilling around the area they were in. When the sand settled, Prince Murdock's figure was revealed, standing above the shadowy figure with

the upper hand now, and he

"Tell me…"

tightly onto his neck.

in, the shadowy figure looked at him with a calm

left the Prince unsettled, but he brushed it toward the back of his head as he had many

race

Cruch―!

crunching sound and felt intense pain. When he looked down, he saw that a portion of his hand had been bitten off, and

"Arghhh!"

from his mouth, and finally let go of his throat. The shadowy figure

Boom―!

back, crashing against a couple of rocks in the distance.

appeared before the Prince once more, brandishing a sword in hand and pointing it

'Shit.'

his pupils dilating as he

shadowy figure struck again with a force and speed

felt a searing pain in his hand as one of his fingers was severed, and black blood diffused into the

in shock. 'How

SHIIIING―!