The dark stage of the Nexus shuddered under the pressure of the power of two beings claiming dominion over darkness. Sung Jinwoo, frustrated by Cid Kagenou's unexpected resistance to his Monarch's Touch, intensified his aura, summoning a greater force. The shadows dragged from the edges of the fighting area multiplied by the thousands. They weren't just scouts; fully armored soldiers, elite knights with swords crackling with dark energy, and monstrous beasts emerged from the ground, forming a miniature, but dense and lethal army. And behind them, towering and brimming with power, figures familiar to Jinwoo materialized: the chimerical and violent form of Beru, the stoic knight Igris, the gigantic Iron, and the oppressive presence of the Shadow Army Commander, Bellion.
"You are not an imposter because of your power," Jinwoo said, his voice resonating with the authority of the Monarch, "but because of your arrogance in challenging my kingdom. This is the power of death itself. Kneel before the Shadow Army!"
Cid watched the army's appearance with a mixture of mock indifference and genuine inner excitement. Cid (Thought): Ohhh! The staging just keeps getting better! A summoned army, with high-level "generals" (must be what those big guys are). This "organization" really knows how to put on a show. Perfect. They're giving me the chance to demonstrate my superiority through brute force and numbers. It's exhibition time.
Cid (Out loud, with a theatrical sigh): "An army... how vulgar. The true Shadow operates with surgical precision, not with a mindless horde."
Cid unleashed his mana. Not in a concentrated attack yet, but as an aura of energy that rapidly expanded. Thousands of low-level shadows that were closest to him dissipated instantly, as if the very atmosphere around Cid repelled them. The armored soldiers stumbled, their dark energy flickering.
"Attack him!" Jinwoo ordered.
The Shadow Army obeyed. Thousands charged, swords, claws, and dark spells raining down on Cid's position. Beru let out a roar that shook the air and charged with terrifying speed, ready to pulverize his opponent . Igris advanced methodically, his legendary swordsmanship ready to be unleashed. Bellion simply watched from behind, his presence a silent and overwhelming threat.
Cid Kagenou moved. He didn't stand still to take the charge. His body, imbued with mana and reflexes beyond comprehension, became a blur. He didn't dodge each individual shadow; he moved through the swarm as if it weren't there, his mana aura pushing aside or disintegrating lesser shadows on contact. Every so often, he unleashed a swift, graceful slash with his sword that, though invisible to normal eyes, sent guillotine-like waves of mana rippling through the enemy ranks, slicing through hundreds of shadows at once.
Sung Jinwoo (Thought): Is he... erasing them? They don't regenerate as quickly as they should after being hit by his mana. It's like his energy has a quality that nullifies mine at a low level. And his speed...? He's as fast as Beru.
Beru reached the position where Cid had been a moment before, his attack only impacting the ground. Before the monarch ant could reorient itself, Cid reappeared beside it, not to attack it directly, but to use it as a foothold. He leaped onto Beru's head with ridiculous agility, using a controlled burst of mana beneath his feet to propel himself even higher, narrowly dodging a coordinated sword strike from Igris and Iron.
"Beru, Igris, coordinate! Bellion, get ready!" Jinwoo commanded, his voice strained. This opponent wouldn't be overwhelmed by numbers. He had to call on his elites.
Beru and Igris adjusted their attacks, moving with the lethal precision of seasoned commanders. Beru used his poison and speed, while Igris used his swordsmanship to try to corner Cid. Bellion, the strongest of Jinwoo's subordinates, drew his jointed sword, ready to intervene if necessary.
Cid smiled under his mask. Cid (Thought): Yes! Now the generals attack together! The choreography is top-notch! They must have rehearsed a lot. Okay, time to respond with a little... style.
Instead of continuing to evade, Cid decided to go on the offensive against the commanders. With a movement so fast it left multiple afterimages, he collided with Beru. The metallic sound of Cid's mana hitting Beru's exoskeleton echoed. The Ant Monarch, despite his immense strength and resilience, was thrown backward. Before Igris could take advantage of the opening, Cid was already upon him, his sword (a simple steel blade that became unbreakable and sharp with mana) colliding with Igris's blade in a flurry of dark sparks.
The sword duel between Cid and Igris was a display of superhuman skill. Igris was a master of shadow-imbued swordsmanship, each blow precise and deadly. Cid not only matched that skill with his own mana-empowered swordsmanship, but surpassed it with unpredictable movements and sheer speed that forced Igris constantly on the defensive. Moreover, Cid's blows seemed to momentarily drain Igris's shadow energy with each impact.
Meanwhile, the vast army of low-level shadows attempted to reform and surround Cid again, but mere proximity to him proved detrimental to their temporary existence.
Jinwoo watched, his frustration growing. His army, his ultimate weapon, wasn't as effective as usual. This "Shadow" wasn't like the other beings he'd faced. Its power wasn't death, it wasn't darkness; it was something... alive, shining, dense, behaving like an invincible shadow.
He decided to intervene directly again. Using Shadow Swap, he teleported behind Cid, his daggers aimed at a vital spot. But Cid, despite being in the middle of a frantic duel with Igris, seemed to "feel" the teleportation. He spun around with incredible speed, blocking Jinwoo's attack with his mana-enhanced forearm. The impact sent out another shockwave, this one more powerful, dissipating thousands of shadows around him and forcing Igris to retreat.
"Your tricks are predictable to one who sees the very fabric of existence," Cid said, his voice still calm but holding a tinge of superiority. Cid (Thought): Teleportation! Classic assassin move! But my "Void Sight" (my ability to sense moving mana) detects it instantly. Too simple. They need to up their game if they hope to surprise me.
Jinwoo recovered from the shock, his eyes shining brightly. He recognized that this opponent wouldn't be defeated by the brute force of his army or his standard skills. He had to use a power that resonated on a different level.
Sung Jinwoo: "I understand. You're not just strength. There's something more to your... shadow." He raised both hands, and the energy from the battle stage and the remaining shadows began to converge in his palms. "But my domain isn't an imitation. It's the true end."
Cid saw the immense concentration of dark energy in Jinwoo's hands. Cid (Thought): Oh! A concentrated attack of dark energy? The "Monarch" finally uses his special move. A sphere of annihilation, perhaps. This is what I expected. The final buildup before the climax.
A sphere of pure darkness, dense and unnatural, formed between Jinwoo's hands. It wasn't just energy; it was the very essence of death and controlled annihilation. A miniature black hole that could erase anything.
The tension on the stage became palpable. Cid, with his mana aura glowing barely perceptibly, and Jinwoo, with his Shadow Annihilation Sphere. Both were ready to unleash a power that could erase the stage and perhaps beyond.