Shadows of the Dark Shadow Elite
A faint vibration hummed through the air as the vault, forged from millennium steel, finally clicked open. Inside gleamed a pitch-black elixir, its luster undimmed by time.
One glance was enough to tell it was no ordinary pill. Any martial artist worth their salt would recognize its value instantly—their Heavenly Killing Star would resonate with it.
"Found it."
The vault's tremors ceased. The device, attuned to the power of Malo's Heavenly Killing Star, had waited centuries for its master and now fell silent.
While every other mechanism in the place had crumbled, this one—the elixir's sealed container—had endured thanks to meticulous craftsmanship. We'd achieved our goal.
"Now, let's get out of here."
"Not so fast."
The response echoed from the chamber's entrance. Malo sharpened his senses, glaring toward the voice. Wolbi summoned her demonic energy, dropping into a combat stance.
An enemy beyond their perception. I stayed vigilant, tension coiling in my gut.
"This is getting old. More Dark Shadow grunts?"
"Indeed, Young Master. It's been a while."
Two men emerged from behind the door. Unlike the earlier Dark Shadow fodder, these wore elite uniforms. Similar in height and build, they could pass for brothers—but their faces were starkly different.
The one on the left donned a deep indigo martial robe, twin heavy swords sheathed at his waist. Scars riddled his face, marking him as a brutal thug, his hard life etched into every line.
His counterpart on the right had a heavier, more solemn visage, thick features suggesting a brawler versed in ferocious hand-to-hand. A massive cleaver-like blade, reminiscent of a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, hung across his back.
Malo swallowed a groan at the sight. From what he'd let slip, these were high-ranking figures even in the Demonic Cult. I racked my brain, recalling the original story's characters.
"Hyeol Gun-myeong, Gwan Sa-hui. The Dark Shadow Captain and Vice-Captain making a personal appearance—does that mean the entire unit's firmly in the Three Elders' pocket?"
Malo had saved me the legwork.
Dark Shadow Captain and Vice-Captain
As expected, no pushovers.
Even as a low-tier Demonic Cult affiliate, the Dark Shadow Unit was a formal assassin squad. Its leader held a position of real clout across the cult.
Both showing up meant they'd brought the unit's full might. Even I couldn't afford to relax.
"We made a deal with the Three Elders. I don't like the old bastard either, but his cunning? That's undeniable."
"The Captain's judgment was spot-on. Looks like the Young Master's found the treasure."
They might've been tailing us the whole time. Holding back until we unearthed the prize—child's play for them to shadow us undetected.
Malo drew his sword, killing intent dripping from its razor edge. But neither Hyeol Gun-myeong nor Gwan Sa-hui flinched.
'Can't gauge their strength. Are they above me?'
If so, this could get dicey. No room for complacency.
Malo glanced my way, his face etched with doubt.
"Can you handle one of them?"
"Of course. Both would be pushing it."
"This isn't the time for bravado."
"It's not bravado."
"Fine. I trust you... Take the right one, Gwan Sa-hui. Dark Shadow Vice-Captain and blade master."
Gwan Sa-hui, the cleaver wielder.
"An assassin's boss, a blade savant? Doesn't fit."
"Don't underestimate him like the others. Wolbi! Weapons up. You and I take Hyeol Gun-myeong!"
"Understood!"
Wolbi whipped out her centipede needle from the start. Hyeol Gun-myeong scowled at our battle-ready formation.
"Who's that lion-masked freak? Three Elders' intel didn't mention him..."
"The old man's shady, but he was reliable—guess I'll revise that. Plan stays the same: Kill the Young Master, seize the treasure. Vice-Captain, you take the masked weirdo! The Demonic Cult's future is ours!"
"Understood!"
Gwan Sa-hui's form shimmered like petals in spring breeze, demonic energy stirring around him. He was closing in with footwork.
I moved opposite Malo and Wolbi—overlapping paths would cramp the fight.
"Haha! Quick as a rabbit!"
He closed the gap in a blink. His footprints dotted the floor like stepping stones.
Now gripping his massive cleaver two-handed, inky demonic energy cloaked it—like ink brush strokes in the void.
"Slaughter Collapse!"
Whoooosh!
He swung wide. Murderous blade wind grazed my hair. I ducked the blade qi.
'Blade's size matches its qi—massive.'
The more I watched, the less he fit the assassin mold. I drew my sword.
Mana Sword 3Lv (C-grade)
Consumes mana to cloak the blade in a mana edge. Greater mana yields stronger edge, but efficiency drops off.
Mana sheathed my sword—a force like qi, yet subtly different. I clashed it against his cleaver.
Clang!
Numb shock jolted my hands. He had bear-like power. Our blades met, shoving me back—heels skidding across stone.
"Tch!"
Worlds apart from those earlier Dark Shadow scrubs.
"Haha! Thanks for handling those useless Third and Fifth Squads—I was gonna clean house anyway! As reward, I'll send you straight to King Yama!"
His cleaver was heavy—but never slow.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Like swinging a morningstar as a saber. Raw power alone couldn't achieve that. Each arc, each draw and strike, perfect—yielding this mastery.
He'd mastered the heavy cleaver.
'Chungnam Sect's Rain-Clad Master? That's his path.'
Leagues beyond the Rain-Clad Master from the Yongho Contest. I dodged his onslaught, but wounds accumulated.
Couldn't evade every blow—some I had to parry. Each block sent shocks up my arms, stacking damage.
His killing intent barely deflected left gashes scarring the cavern walls.
'Can't keep taking hits! Mana Thread!'
Mana Thread 1Lv (C-grade)
Consumes mana to weave thin mana filaments. They boast potent cutting power; scale and strength vary with input.
Mana threads ensnared Gwan Sa-hui—inspired by Wolbi's centipede play. Couldn't fully bind him, but might buy a split-second opening.
"Cute trick!"
He spun like a whirlwind, sweeping his cleaver to broom the air. Blade-wind threads snapped like razor wire.
Skill-reading, weakness-spotting, countermeasures—Gwan Sa-hui was a battle-hardened vice-captain.
Failed attack meant retreat. Trading blows up close? I'd lose.
"Haha! Dancing like a brothel girl—priceless! Wave Collapse!"
This differed from prior combos. He pulled back—not halting, but coiling power for something bigger. Dangerous.
'But a chance too.'
He'd gauged my speed in our exchanges. Withdrawing now? Betting I couldn't exploit the gap. Big mistake.
'Time Acceleration!'
The skill kicked in—sweat droplets crawled slow-motion down my cheek. The world muted, like a silent film.
Moving normal-speed in a slowed reality always felt alien. I surrendered to it, mentally rehearsing the next form.
My blade seemed to breathe with me. Mind sucked to its tip—peak focus phenomenon.
There—he raised his cleaver. Swelling biceps hinted at devastation. Strike before completion. Simple plan.
'Time Accel alone's too slow!'
But solutions existed.
Wind Control 5Lv (B-grade)
Expends stamina and mana to freely manipulate wind.
Wind erupted from my soles' Yongcheon points. Jet-boosted, I rocketed forward. Horror flashed on his face.
"True KHC - Full Moon Slash!"
Powerful penetrating sword strike.
Blue mana on my blade bleached white—density spiked, vibrations accelerating. Felt like clutching a pulsing heart, not steel.
Clang-clang-clang!
Market-bought sword cracked under Full Moon mana. No matter—time enough for one strike.
We were half a jang apart.
"You worm! Hiding your power against me?!"
His body bent like rubber. Focus unbroken to the end—he twisted from my arc.
Moonlit shadow grazed his left shoulder. One breath shy of his cleaver's peak unleash.
Slice!
Hand confirmed it—shoulder severed. Wanted more, but sword shattered. I withdrew, regret nipping.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
His scream lagged. Left arm hit dirt clean. Missed dominant right—regretful, but gain enough. Gwan Sa-hui's face twisted demonic.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
"Haha! One-armed threats? Not scary at all—what now?"
Taunt landed—black sword-qi slashed from the side. I twisted away. Sloppy guard nearly cost my flank.
Hyeol Gun-myeong, battling Malo and Wolbi, still struck at me.
Madness gleamed in Gwan Sa-hui's eyes. Blood dripped from his white-knuckled right grip—cleaver hilt near-snapping.
"I'll chop you to bits and eat you myself! Die!"
Like a raging bull, he charged, cleaver whirling. Crude attacks usually easier—but he amplified sharpness with sheer force and speed.
Storm of blows forced evasion over engagement.
"Don't run like a coward!"
Ignoring his drivel, I dodged coolly, assessing. Mortal wound meant his fall was time. But Hyeol Gun-myeong's side? Real issue.
'Malo and Wolbi are losing ground. Gotta end this quick.'
One way.
'Time Pose!'
Time Pose 2Lv (SS-grade)
Consumes 99% HP/MP to irrationally halt time for 2 minutes. Passive skills/items unaffected. Once per hour.
Time Pose—my ace.
'Finish wounded Gwan Sa-hui, then hit Hyeol Gun-myeong!'
Long cooldown made single-targeting wasteful. Needed fatal blows on both.
Bait laid—severed arm meant one slash to end him.
World grayed. Furious Gwan Sa-hui froze statue-still. No hesitation—sword to heart.
Stab!
Hummm!
Odd qi rippled from his heart. I yanked free—but exploding qi outpaced.
BOOM!
"Gah!"
Point-blank thunderclap. Force matched. Body hurled away.
'Self-destructs core qi for mutual kill—body modded for it!'
Unforeseen. Two ribs cracked, maybe.
Slathered potions, popped jujube elixirs for HP. Two minutes vanished. Plan derailed.