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.

and then he

had disappeared earlier, reappeared, and he reached out his hand with the intention of hitting the shadowy

Swoosh―!

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

'Fast.'

could think about at

was pointed at him, he was just

streak flew past the area that he was previously in, and when he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of

It was cracked.

that's how it

as

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

"Your mastery o―"

body to the right,

understood how it worked, he wasn't as

SHIIIIIING―!

Just as another blade passed by his body, he flapped his wings and appeared before the shadowy figure. With his hand outstretched, he aimed his claws at his

Swoosh―!

him, the figure ducked down and counterattacked with a punch, aimed directly at

knew that he had to act quickly

"Hup!"

the fist was about to make its way toward his stomach, Prince Murdock twisted his body, and

Boom―! Boom―!

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

Kracka! Kracka!

Boom―!

and appeared right behind him. He didn't waste a second and kicked him down with his

Splash―!

deep under it. Prince Murdock followed him down, his figure plummeting into the water beneath, and with one quick

aid of his wings, he appeared right in front of the shadowy figure and clenched at his throat with his hand, pushing him further down

them distorted as the two plummeted down from above at

Boom―!

two of them crashed deep under the 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 his hand at

upper hand now,

"Tell me…"

onto his neck. He could snap it at

in, the shadowy figure looked at him with a calm look, seemingly unbothered by the

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

are you? What race are

Cruch―!

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

"Arghhh!"

go of his throat. The shadowy figure quickly

Boom―!

a couple of rocks in the distance.

once more, brandishing a

'Shit.'

his breath, his pupils dilating as

struck again with a force and speed that took the

Prince tried to dodge, but it was too late. He felt a searing pain in his hand as one of his fingers was severed, and black blood diffused into

in shock. 'How is this possible?'

SHIIIING―!