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.

outline of his figure became fuzzy, and then he materialized in front

reached out his hand with the intention of

Swoosh―!

passed directly through his body, and when he turned around, he saw him

'Fast.'

Murdock could think about at that

at him, he was just about to take a step forward when he suddenly twisted

a silver streak flew past the area that he was previously in, and when he turned his

It was cracked.

how

as he analyzed the

happened, and he instantly calmed down. He had faced many skilled opponents before, and he knew that the key to victory

"Your mastery o―"

shifted mid-sentence, and he moved his body to the right, narrowly avoiding the tip of the blade

glanced at the passing blade. Now that he understood how it worked, he wasn't as worried as

SHIIIIIING―!

he flapped his wings and appeared before the shadowy figure. With his hand outstretched,

Swoosh―!

figure ducked down and counterattacked with a punch,

Murdock knew that he had to act quickly if he wanted to avoid the

"Hup!"

way toward his stomach, Prince Murdock twisted his body,

Boom―! Boom―!

of their fight fractured the water beneath them, and thunder began to crackle from

Kracka! Kracka!

Boom―!

right behind him. He didn't

Splash―!

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

shadowy figure and clenched at his throat with his hand,

down from above at high speeds and bubbles followed their

Boom―!

the area they were in. When the sand settled, Prince Murdock's

the upper hand now, and

"Tell me…"

neck. He could snap it at

the situation he was in, the shadowy figure looked at him

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

race are you

Cruch―!

in the middle of a sentence when he heard a crunching sound and felt intense pain. When he looked down, he

"Arghhh!"

let go of his throat. The shadowy figure quickly appeared behind the Prince, and his fist connected against the Prince's

Boom―!

back, crashing against a couple of rocks in the distance. The rocks shattered upon impact, sending several fish scattering out of the

before the Prince once more, brandishing a sword in hand

'Shit.'

dilating

struck again with a force and speed that took the

was too late. He felt a searing pain in his

'How is this

SHIIIING―!