“It wasn’t Shadow Magic after all?”
After listening to Liyami’s speculation, Kolin thought for a moment and found the answer.
“…Then it can only be Dark Arts. Hmm, this time’s opponent seems quite formidable, to be proficient in advanced magic and also know such a rare art like Dark Arts. It seems we must be even more cautious.”
Kolin spoke seriously, then turned to inform the others. Liyami remained standing where she was, lost in thought.
“…Dark Arts?” Liyami murmured to herself.
Dark Arts were a type of magic exclusive to the Demon Race, generally very potent. Some Dark Arts could even achieve the power of Forbidden-level magic. However, no race other than the Demon Race could use them, not even demons themselves. It was truly unknown who created such magic!
Although Dark Arts were exclusive to the Demon Race, it didn’t mean every member of the Demon Race could use them. On the contrary, those among the Demon Race who could use Dark Arts were extremely rare.
This was because the vast majority of demons needed to study to learn Dark Arts, and learning them required not just effort, but also immense talent.
If one’s talent was insufficient, they could spend their entire life dedicated to learning Dark Arts, unable to learn other magic. Some might even study Dark Arts their whole life and not even grasp the basics.
Therefore, even though Dark Arts were exclusive to the Demon Race, aside from the very few demons born with the ability and those with exceptionally high talent, rarely would any demon specifically choose to learn Dark Arts. After all, with that time, why not just learn some advanced magic directly?
Moreover, while Dark Arts were powerful, the stronger the art, the more terrifying its negative side effects. This meant even those demons born with the ability wouldn’t use Dark Arts casually.
And yet, the individual they encountered this time not only used Dark Arts, but used them so casually?! Using Dark Arts against people of Laine and Rolan’s level?
It was important to know that due to the Human-Demon War, powerful demons and humans had nearly all perished. Those among the Demon Race who could use Dark Arts were almost exclusively the powerful ones, and most of them had died during the Human-Demon War.
This time, Liyami and the others not only encountered a demon who could use Dark Arts, but one who used them so casually! This could only mean the mastermind behind this was absolutely terrifyingly strong! A demon who became a cadre early in the Human-Demon War, survived until now, and could casually use Dark Arts!
Such an opponent made Liyami think of the legendary Demon King and his infamous Four Heavenly Kings. While the Half-Faced Maiden certainly couldn’t compare to the Demon King, she seemed very close to his Four Heavenly Kings!
Although in Liyami’s memory, all the Heavenly Kings should have been dealt with by that Hero. Why would such a demon appear on Sunlight Island? How did such a being survive until now? And why, possessing such power, was she still acting so cautiously? Could there be a reason she couldn’t make a grand appearance?
Liyami pondered for a long time but couldn’t find an answer, so she temporarily gave up on that line of thought. Just as Liyami snapped out of her contemplation, Eleanor also finished her prayer to the “Holy Light.” This immediately drew Liyami’s attention to her, and she stopped thinking about Dark Arts.
Eleanor slowly opened her eyes. The staff in her hand was emitting a faint glow, which slowly drifted in a certain direction. Seeing this, Kolin looked at Eleanor, who had stood up, with a questioning glance. After receiving a firm nod from her, Kolin immediately set off, swiftly walking in the direction the glow was drifting. Eleanor closely followed behind him.
Seeing this, Liyami exchanged a look with Lavinia, and they both followed as well. Laine didn’t want to continue following them into danger, but he was also afraid of being left alone. Reluctantly, he steeled himself and followed their footsteps.
They soon passed through the beach and entered a patch of woods. Although the woods weren’t large, Kolin didn’t let his guard down, because his intuition sensed something unusual nearby. Something had definitely happened in these woods.
After advancing for a while longer, the faint glow from the staff in Eleanor’s hand began to dim. It seemed they had reached the destination guided by the light—a small clearing within the woods.
Kolin had been on alert even before the light dimmed. Lavinia raised her longbow, and Liyami silently Melted into the Shadows.
But there was no movement around them, only the sounds they themselves made and the faint whisper of the wind.
After observing the surroundings, Kolin made a gesture, signaling the alert group to begin relaxing. Although everyone was still wary of possible danger, Kolin had already crouched down, examining the immediate environment.
He had sensed something abnormal about this small clearing as soon as they approached, which was why he had been so vigilant.
Sure enough, Kolin quickly deduced what had happened here from the surrounding traces. This small clearing in the woods showed clear signs of battle. The residual magic traces also closely resembled the magic traces from the attack on Laine on the beach. It was highly likely they came from the same person.
In addition, Kolin found other traces: chaotic footprints, grass that had been flattened by something heavy, and residual traces of “Holy Light”-type divine arts. All these signs indicated a battle had taken place here previously, and a rather intense one at that.
One party in the battle was the Half-Faced Maiden. As for the other party…
Liyami walked over holding a small fragment of armor. Kolin reached out and took it. Upon seeing the missing pattern on the armor fragment, Kolin’s expression immediately turned grave.
Although the pattern was severely damaged, Kolin, as a Holy Knight, could still recognize it. The missing pattern on this armor fragment belonged to a Holy Knight of the Temple. The owner of this fragment must have been a Holy Knight, just like him!
Seeing this, Kolin immediately asked Liyami where she found it. Liyami pointed to a nearby patch of grass; she seemed to have found it while keeping watch.
Since such an item was left at the scene, it meant this Holy Knight, like Kolin, was one of the individuals who had caused these battle traces.
But according to Kolin, the Strongest Paladin of the Current Era, there was only one Temple-affiliated Holy Knight on Sunlight Island: Fritz, who had been dispatched to serve as a member of the local Special Incident Handling Squad.
And if Fritz was here, that meant the ones who fought the Half-Faced Maiden were the local Special Incident Handling Squad. No wonder Kolin and Lavinia couldn’t contact them; they had already met with misfortune.
Although he had suspected this possibility, seeing the suspicion turn into reality, Kolin couldn’t help but tightly grip the armor fragment in his hand and bow his head in prayer for a moment.
After silently mourning Fritz’s sacrifice for a while, Kolin resumed examining the surrounding traces.
Judging by the timing of Laine’s group’s attack and when Lavinia tried to contact the local Special Incident Handling Squad, it was clear that the Half-Faced Maiden, immediately after attacking Laine and capturing Laura and Xiaolan, encountered the local Special Incident Handling Squad right here in these woods, and a battle immediately erupted.
The outcome was also quite obvious: the local Special Incident Handling Squad was defeated, and it was a crushing defeat.