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.

figure became fuzzy, and then he materialized in

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

Swoosh―!

he saw him standing a few hundred meters away with his sword again pointed

'Fast.'

Murdock could think

at him, he was just

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

It was cracked.

how it

to himself as he analyzed the

had faced many skilled opponents before, and he knew that the key to victory

"Your mastery o―"

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

at the passing blade. Now that he understood how it worked, he

SHIIIIIING―!

at him from all sides. 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―!

the figure ducked down and counterattacked with

to act quickly if he wanted to avoid the

"Hup!"

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

Boom―! Boom―!

the water beneath them, and thunder began to

Kracka! Kracka!

Boom―!

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

Splash―!

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

right in front of the shadowy figure and clenched at his throat with his hand, pushing

plummeted down from above

Boom―!

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, and he knew

"Tell me…"

tightly onto his neck. He could snap

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

he brushed it toward the back of his head as he

race

Cruch―!

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!"

throat. The shadowy figure quickly appeared behind the Prince, and

Boom―!

reverberated through the 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 of the

more, brandishing a sword in hand and pointing it back

'Shit.'

dilating as he

force and speed that took

was too late. He felt a searing pain in his hand

Prince was in shock. 'How is

SHIIIING―!