Nam Tae-hoon, the man who would later be known as the "Shadow Lord."
There were three main ways he utilized shadows.
First, shadow movent, moving between shadows.
Second, shadow binding, restraining opponents with their own shadows.
Finally, shadow materialization, giving physical force to shadows and controlling them.
His characteristics were not only optimized for espionage and assassination but were also quite useful in one-on-one combat.
Moreover, the terrain conditions of this place offered many opportunities for Nam Tae-hoon's abilities to be utilized.
White Castle, with its tower structure dozens of floors high, had each floor much wider than a soccer field and constructed with high ceilings.
"Hup!"
Nam Tae-hoon wove the shadows of prison bars into sothing resembling a giant spear and shot it.
Kwaaang!
Shadow tentacles pursued Su-hyeon, who avoided it by stepping through the air.
'He's beco much faster than before.'
Su-hyeon thought that it might be difficult to avoid if he was accidentally herded.
But.
With Eye Power activated, Su-hyeon could clearly see an escape route through the dense shadow tentacles.
"Tsk!"
Nam Tae-hoon, seeing Su-hyeon reach right in front of him, concealed himself by moving between shadows.
'Over there.'
Shuk!
Su-hyeon, using Chukji, instead caught Nam Tae-hoon from behind.
Chaeng!
Then a horizontal slash followed.
"Kuk!"
Nam Tae-hoon, who barely blocked the attack by supporting the back of the blade with his palm, was pushed back.
The vibration that started from his wrist felt like it resonated all the way to his bones.
The difference in output was too stark.
Moreover.
'Disgustingly fast!'
Su-hyeon had already begun the motion of swinging his sword while stepping with Chukji, allowing him to attack without any delay.
'This crazy bastard. Always with the talent.'
He himself, who had always used shadow movent, had never thought of such a way to reduce delay.
Yet Su-hyeon, who hadn't learned the technique of Chukji for long, had already created an application that he hadn't thought of.
'It's a technique I learned from your future self.'
Su-hyeon thought, looking at Nam Tae-hoon's expression.
'Good, if you've seen it, use it!'
Nam Tae-hoon pretended to catch Su-hyeon from behind, moved once more to steal Su-hyeon's timing, and then in exactly the sa way as Su-hyeon's thod, eliminated the delay and stamped on his instep.
Kkaang!
"Tsk!"
However, Su-hyeon's response of montarily placing a hardening shield on his foot blocked Nam Tae-hoon's dagger infused with sword energy without taking damage.
'Caught you.'
Su-hyeon imdiately launched a soccer kick to counterattack Nam Tae-hoon.
Utwuk!
Su-hyeon's shadow, obeying Nam Tae-hoon's command, grabbed and held its owner's foot.
"Tsk!"
'Got it!'
While Su-hyeon's body was halted, Nam Tae-hoon did a handstand and kicked Su-hyeon's face.
Ppaak!
As Su-hyeon, who had placed a Mana Shield on his forehead, t the instep with a headbutt, Nam Tae-hoon abandoned any lingering attachnt and hid his form between shadows.
'To allow an attack like that just now. Has my concentration fallen a bit?'
Su-hyeon thought.
It wasn't strange.
Not only had there been considerable stamina and mana consumption while fighting a formidable enemy like Do Sang-jun.
But considering the forced march conducted all through dawn, a decline in concentration was unavoidable.
The problem was that Nam Tae-hoon's situation was no better than Su-hyeon's.
'Damn, too much mana has been depleted.'
Feeling a slight dizziness, Nam Tae-hoon clawed at his thigh in an attempt to maintain his concentration sohow.
From the academy to the hideout, and then to White Castle.
Moving through the shadows created by moonlight over such distances was by no ans an easy task.
'If I hadn't used a mana potion on my way here, I wouldn't have even been able to fight.'
Moreover, if he wanted to escape with his uncle, Nam Woo-young, he needed to reserve so strength.
'What a fucking ss. In this situation?'
Nam Tae-hoon, suppressing a sigh rising to his chin, attacked Su-hyeon once again with materialized shadows.
'There's not much ti.'
The [Sword of Belphegor] was excellently keeping the Execution Force Captains occupied.
But if properly equipped reinforcents from the Execution Force arrived, it would be over.
'Fuck, how did I end up being chased by the Execution Force while working in sync with the [Sword of Belphegor].'
Suppressing the desire to lant his situation, Nam Tae-hoon's gaze sharpened.
'No matter what anyone says, I will save Uncle at least.'
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The battle between Captain Son Ji-gwang and 'Asura' Seong Ji-cheol on the outskirts of White Castle was so intense and destructive that it was changing the surrounding environnt.
"Keuk!"
Son Ji-gwang, who was barely receiving the fierce attacks pouring from Seong Ji-cheol's six hands, didn't miss the montary gap and launched a counterattack.
Ppagak!
"Hmm!"
As Seong Ji-cheol's body montarily halted after being hit in the abdon, Son Ji-gwang retreated and caught his breath.
"I'll give you credit. That was quite a sharp counterattack."
"Huuu."
Compared to Son Ji-gwang, who was drenched in sweat and had rough breathing, Seong Ji-cheol rely sweated slightly as if he had just returned from a light jog.
"You. You've strengthened your power even more."
"And you don't seem to have changed much since that day."
Son Ji-gwang twisted his mouth at Seong Ji-cheol's matter-of-fact words.
"You. Overconfident, aren't you."
But it was as he said.
The 2nd Unit, an elite unit composed of reversal warriors.
The sight of Son Ji-gwang, the legendary hero leading the 2nd Unit, being unable to handle and being pushed back by one Ma-in in front of him was a scene rarely witnessed.
'Good heavens.'
The 2nd Unit mbers who had followed Son Ji-gwang were watching the two with emotions half mixed with surprise and fear, not even daring to intervene in the fight.
'To think even Captain Son Ji-gwang, one of humanity's greatest forces, is being pushed back. I wish this were just a nightmare.'
But this was undoubtedly reality.
From that six-ard Ma-in, one could feel a level of power never seen before.
'Is that Asura? The worst and most vicious Ma-in?'
Seong Ji-cheol was a Ma-in boasting notoriety and power no less than the Vampire Queen.
'Just who is the leader of that organization to be able to have and command a Ma-in of that caliber under him?'
How great must that person's power be?
'Even if the 1st Unit Captain, no, the Commander were to co, would they be able to win...'
"It pains my heart. To think that a man I once acknowledged as a match would show such an ugly appearance, having not progressed at all since that day."
"Haha."
A smile spread across Son Ji-gwang's wrinkle-filled face.
"Isn't that only natural? I've been descending from my pri for a long ti already. Most of my contemporaries have retired or are focusing on cultivating the next generation. I'd say I'm still quite fit for my age?"
"Senescence. The transience of humans who burn and extinguish like mayflies."
Asura lanted.
As he said, for so reason, Ma-in didn't age as easily compared to humans.
'They say magical energy acts to stop aging cells from functioning. Truly a nightmare power.'
Son Ji-gwang, who had murmured inwardly, said.
"The truth is unknown. Whether Ma-in live young and long, or live young and die early, there aren't Ma-in who have lived long enough to prove it, are there?"
"That is correct."
Seong Ji-cheol nodded.
"Countless Ma-in have died from exhaustion in struggles, or been killed by the Execution Force. Even Ma-in sent to prison often fail to overco their madness and direct their murderous impulses towards themselves."
"When they can't kill anyone else, they can only kill themselves."
"Yes. That is the fate of Ma-in imprisoned in this prison."
Asura pointed to the scene behind him, filled with screams and shouts, and asked.
"Knowing this, you still speak of this prison as if it were a nursing ho or orphanage. Don't you think it's hypocrisy?"
"Criticize as you please."
Son Ji-gwang had no intention of engaging in useless argunts with him.
"Hypocrisy? That's fine too. No matter what anyone says, striving for good is better than aiming for evil. That's what I think."
"Haha. Is that so."
Asura once again raised his six weapons to aim at him.
"Very well. Fate will tell us the answer. As it always does."
"No matter how many tis I hear it, I can't get used to your lengthy speeches."
Kwaaaang!
The collision between one human and one Ma-in shattered the crust and vibrated the atmosphere.
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"Keuk!"
"Damn it."
The cadets, who had succeeded in subduing not only the enemy executives but also the combat personnel, couldn't even think of interfering in the fight between Su-hyeon and Nam Tae-hoon, and rely surrounded and watched them.
"......."
And the sa was true for the [Liberation Corps] executives and combat personnel who had been subdued by far younger cadets.
"Huu."
Soone sighed.
The air was heavy.
What is right and what is wrong?
It was a situation where even that was confusing.
They simply watched the two people's fight with a mindset of waiting for an answer.
Kwang! Kwaaang!
Amid the rampant explosions, Nam Tae-hoon's fight, which avoided confronting Su-hyeon's sword head-on as much as possible and looked for openings, surprised them.
'To think Tae-hoon was that strong!'
Lee Yu-jin, who had competed with and defeated him during the first sester finals, bit her lip.
'The skill he's showing now absolutely cannot be said to be below mine.'
There was a feeling that he was hiding so power even then.
'To this extent?'
Hwang Ji-su was also feeling similar thoughts.
'How arrogant.'
If the current skill was his real ability.
At the ti of admission, perhaps Nam Tae-hoon might have been stronger than Jeong Su-hyeon, Lee Yu-jin, herself, and even Seo Jun-seong?
The fact that she couldn't clearly deny such a question was making her uncomfortable.
But.
'No. It's a bit different.'
Seo Jun-seong, who was silently observing the two people's fight, thought.
'Looking at absolute skill alone, he falls short of not only Jeong Su-hyeon but also . However, it seems he studied Jeong Su-hyeon's fighting and tactics quite thoroughly. That's why he can fight so well.'
Just as Su-hyeon had suspected Nam Tae-hoon, he too had been wary of Su-hyeon.
'......I really didn't know anything.'
For him, there had been few days as complex and filled with self-loathing as today.
anwhile, it wasn't just the cadets who were surprised by Nam Tae-hoon's skill.
'Tae-hoon has long surpassed .'
Nam Woo-young thought.
'I vaguely felt it, but to this extent...'
As much as he marveled at his nephew's power.
There was great pain in watching this shining talent cornered in a dead end, fighting to save his insignificant life, and bitterness towards himself for having almost completely lost his combat ability and only being able to watch.
'To think even Tae-hoon has beco so strong. If that kid could have grown smoothly just like that, how much could he have developed?'
Do Sang-jun, the leader of the [Liberation Corps], thought bitterly.
'You were hiding your true abilities even from us. That ans you couldn't trust us that much.'
He felt shaful both as a leader and as an adult.
But.
Even Nam Tae-hoon's valiant fight was already showing its end.
Kwang!
Nam Tae-hoon, who was sent flying by Su-hyeon's kick, hit his back against the wall without even being able to perform a falling technique and exhaled empty air.
"Keheuk!"
Su-hyeon, who had broken down the tactics Nam Tae-hoon had prepared, asked with a settled face.
"Did you think you could beat
with just a bit of research?"
"Not really."
Nam Tae-hoon answered, spitting out saliva mixed with blood.
"So what? Do you only fight battles you're sure to win?"
"If possible."
"You annoying bastard."
Shak!
Nam Tae-hoon's figure disappeared into the shadows once again.
"That won't work anymore!"
Su-hyeon, using Chukji to leave his position, appeared dozens of ters away.
Taking advantage of the mont away from everyone's gaze, Su-hyeon said very softly, just loud enough for him to hear.
"Pay attention, idiot."
"?!"
Nam Tae-hoon's eyes widened at the incomprehensible words.
"I won't explain further."
Without detailed explanation, Su-hyeon launched an attack at Nam Tae-hoon.
'I should let him go at this point.'
Su-hyeon thought.
'Feeling-wise, I'd like to catch him and beat him until he listens.'
But that was impossible given how far things had gone.
'If caught now, Nam Tae-hoon can't avoid going to prison.'
However, Su-hyeon was convinced that if he let him go now and allowed him to move on his own, it would definitely be helpful in the future.
'With your wits, you should have understood.'
If not, there's nothing to be done.
Su-hyeon put his gaze on his right hand as if showing Nam Tae-hoon.
'?'
Shuuk!
Then thrust with the Moonless Sword.
"!"
Having seen it beforehand, Nam Tae-hoon easily avoided the attack and retreated.
This ti, Su-hyeon sent his gaze to his left hand, gave a small delay, and then threw a left hook.
Bwoong!
'This guy.'
By this point, Nam Tae-hoon, who could vaguely guess Su-hyeon's intentions, clenched his molars tightly.
'Is he going to let
go?'
Why on earth in this situation?
Keeping such questions in his heart.
"It's over!"
Looking at Su-hyeon's raised sword, Nam Tae-hoon wrapped himself in shadows.
Kaaang!
Shadow armor.
Nam Tae-hoon's hidden trump card allowed him to receive Su-hyeon's attack head-on.
"This!"
As Su-hyeon made a surprised sound as if caught off guard, Nam Tae-hoon's dagger dug into his side.
"Keuk!"
Nam Tae-hoon's attack, which conspicuously stabbed through the gap intentionally opened.
'This bastard actually stabs
with a knife.'
Su-hyeon pulled the knife out of his side and threw it away with a feeling half irritation, half relief.
Shuk!
Taking advantage of the gap created, Nam Tae-hoon shouted.
"Uncle!"
"Tae-hoon!?"
At that mont, the shadow holding Nam Woo-young swallowed him as if devouring him.
"Oh no!"
The attacks of Seo Jun-seong and Hwang Ji-su, who imdiately reacted, slashed at empty air.
"Damn it!"
Su-hyeon's attack flew towards Nam Tae-hoon.
Bwoong!
Nam Tae-hoon's shadow swallowed even its owner.
"He's escaping!"
Su-hyeon used both spiritual sense and vision to find where Nam Tae-hoon would appear.
'Choi Min-a?'
Nam Tae-hoon, carrying his uncle on his back, appeared in front of Choi Min-a, who was standing by the exit.
"!"
For a mont, the two people's gazes crossed in mid-air.
'Nam Tae-hoon.'
The girl, who still didn't know what her own feelings were, froze, not knowing what to do.
That brief hesitation decided Nam Tae-hoon's fate.
'Take care.'
Nam Tae-hoon, with sad eyes, bid her farewell and once again leaped into the shadows.
"Damn it!"
"No!"
The lightning shot by Kim A-yun and the flying strike launched by Lee Yu-jin targeted Nam Tae-hoon, but they ended in vain by a hair's breadth.
"......He escaped."
Seo Jun-seong muttered bitterly.
"I can't believe you let him go."
"I didn't expect him to have a hidden move until the very end."
At Su-hyeon's answer, Seo Jun-seong was about to say sothing but closed his mouth.
'To my eyes, it looked like you softened or let him go at the end.'
Indeed, his intuition had an unusual aspect.
Su-hyeon fell into silence, looking in the direction where Nam Tae-hoon had disappeared.
He didn't know when they would et again.
But he thought they probably wouldn't et for quite a long ti.
'Farewell.'
Su-hyeon bid him goodbye in his heart.
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