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

out his hand with

Swoosh―!

saw him standing a few hundred meters away with his sword

'Fast.'

Murdock could think about at that

the tip of the sword that was pointed at him, he was just about to take a step forward when he suddenly twisted

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

It was cracked.

that's how

murmured to himself as he analyzed

for him to understand what had happened, and he instantly calmed down. He had faced many skilled opponents before, and he knew that the key to victory was to remain

"Your mastery o―"

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

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

SHIIIIIING―!

Just as another blade passed by his body, he flapped his wings and appeared before

Swoosh―!

figure ducked down and counterattacked with a punch, aimed directly at his abdominal

had to act quickly if he wanted to avoid

"Hup!"

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

Boom―! Boom―!

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

Kracka! Kracka!

Boom―!

right behind him. He didn't waste a

Splash―!

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

shadowy figure and

plummeted down

Boom―!

spilling around the area they were in. When the

had the upper hand

"Tell me…"

his neck.

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

brushed it toward the back of his head as he had many

you? What race are

Cruch―!

and felt intense pain. When he looked

"Arghhh!"

throat. The shadowy figure quickly appeared

Boom―!

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

figure appeared before the Prince once more, brandishing

'Shit.'

dilating

The shadowy figure struck again with a force

to dodge, but it was too late. He felt a searing pain in

shock. 'How is this possible?'

SHIIIING―!