Compared to Laine, who watched comfortably from a safe position, those within the vast space were having a difficult time. The intensifying cold symbolized that the previous attack had not finished off the enemy. Even though the shadow figure had been shattered by Kolin’s sword, if the enemy were not dead, they should have been forced out of their shadow form to reveal their true body.
However, that did not happen. The shadow figure had been torn to shreds by the sword aura, yet the enemy did not appear, and the pervasive chill only grew more severe.
There was only one scenario that explained this situation: the shadow figure they had just defeated was merely a decoy, and the enemy producing the cold had not sustained any damage at all.
If that were the case, why did the opponent not launch an attack while they were busy dealing with the decoy? Did they lack the ability to do so, or was there some other motive?
This question weighed on the hearts of everyone present, keeping them from making any further moves for the time being. That said, Liyami continued to do her best to manipulate the surrounding shadows with magic, attempting to find where the enemy was hiding.
Kolin did not want to remain indifferent any longer. He raised his sword once more, pointing the tip downward, preparing to release another divine technique to leave the opponent with nowhere to hide.
The opponent clearly noticed this movement and could not sit still any longer. Just as Kolin lowered his sword tip and was about to press down, Liyami’s expression suddenly changed. She immediately abandoned the shadow she had been occupying and dropped from the ceiling.
As she fell, she shouted, “Defend! Watch out for the shadows!”
No sooner had Liyami finished speaking than the surrounding shadows began to twist and squirm. Moments later, shadow-formed spikes surged out crazily, attacking the group head-on.
Caught mid-air, Liyami had no way to dodge, but fortunately, Kolin was right beneath her. With a light leap, Kolin caught her around the waist with one arm. The shadow spikes struck the barrier surrounding them, failing to leave even a shallow scratch.
This gesture made Liyami a bit shy, and she wrapped her arms tightly around Kolin’s neck. Kolin thought Liyami did this because she was frightened, so he held her a bit tighter. Fortunately, Liyami remembered they were still in the middle of a battle and refrained from any further dramatic display.
Eleanor’s prayers finally landed, and a large barrier of light enveloped everyone, blocking all the shadow spikes from the outside. Although they were still furiously attacking the barrier, they would not be able to break through anytime soon.
However, Eleanor’s complexion did not look good. With every strike from the shadow spikes, her face grew paler. It looked as if she would have no capacity for defense left if the barrier were to be broken.
Seeing this, Kolin knew this could not go on. He set down Liyami, who was blushing for some reason, and gripped his sword with both hands. He thrust the tip into the ground and immediately cast “Holy Nova.” A strong, semicircular ring of light spread rapidly from his position across the entire vast space. Upon touching this halo, the shadow spikes that were attacking so frantically went still and dissipated, as if they had never existed.
The enemy hiding within the shadows also seemed to be severely affected; the nearby shadows stopped twisting and squirming, showing no signs of further attacks.
Liyami’s previously shy face suddenly turned serious. She looked toward a corner of the room where a mass of human-shaped shadow was writhing in pain. She had finally found the one who was creating the cold!
Before Liyami could make a move, an arrow flew in first, swiftly pinning the writhing shadow figure to the wall.
Liyami followed right behind. Although she was clearly inferior to her opponent in terms of shadow manipulation, the opponent could hardly spare the effort to control the shadows fully at that moment. She only needed to interfere, and she could keep the opponent trapped and immobilized within their current shadow, preventing them from driving the nearby shadows.
Seeing that Liyami had already restrained the opponent, the group immediately launched a fierce assault. Eleanor first cast “Swift Prayer,” bestowing a blessing on the group. Lavinia fired arrows one after another, continuously striking the shadow figure as it tried to move, pinning it firmly against the rock wall without any chance of escape.
Kolin finally had time to build up his power. He raised his sword to his shoulder again, crouched slightly, and the blade began to wrap itself in a dazzling light. If this strike were fully charged and successfully hit the opponent, they would certainly perish given the abilities they had shown so far.
The opponent clearly realized this as well. The figure began to writhe more violently, and even Lavinia’s arrows could not slow its movements down. This made things very difficult for Liyami, who was fighting for control of the shadows. Beads of sweat appeared on her beautiful face, and her furrowed brows and serious expression showed how much strain she was under.
Seeing this, Kolin grew anxious and intended to strike immediately. Fortunately, Eleanor acted in time, and a column of warm light fell upon the strangely writhing shadow, forcing its movements to slow down and timely relieving the pressure on Liyami.
Kolin breathed a slight sigh of relief, and his eyes grew determined. The light winding around his sword was shining brightly. Although it was not in its strongest form, to avoid any complications, Kolin decided to strike. In any case, even if this blow did not kill the opponent in one hit, it would likely render them unable to pose a threat ever again.
Kolin grunted, the ground beneath him began to crack, and the light on his sword surged violently. He raised the sword slightly and slashed out with lightning speed. The dazzling sword light reached the shadow figure in an instant; it could struggle no more.
A flash of light passed, and the shadow figure that had been pinned to the wall shattered and dissipated completely. In the corner below, a figure was kneeling, struggling to hold its body up.
“It wasn’t a one-hit kill? Your survival skills are truly impressive.”
Kolin muttered expressionlessly, showing no sign of regret. He stepped forward, preparing to declare the opponent’s defeat and deliver the final blow to end all the sins the enemy had committed.
However, after seeing the opponent’s appearance clearly, Kolin’s eyes widened immediately. He blinked in disbelief, caught off guard by the situation.
“A male body? Not the Half-Faced Maiden? Wait! Could it be?”
Realizing something, Kolin’s expression shifted from surprise to aggression. He swung his sword toward the figure kneeling on the ground, but the light of his blade was blocked by a sudden magical barrier.
Seeing this, Kolin’s expression turned solemn—more serious than it had been during the battle with the shadow figure.
He turned toward the tunnel entrance behind them, one of the three passageways where he had suspected the enemy was hiding. Just then, footsteps sounded from within, getting closer and louder.
Kolin frowned and looked in that direction. As the footsteps grew nearer and more resonant, the grip on his sword tightened.