Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Chapter 46: The Warrior and the Sorcery (1)

The voice from the shadow sounded ominous. It was sinister enough to remind me of a Demon Beast.

Something surged out of the shadow. It resembled the shape of a person—but it wasn’t human.

Its body was pitch-black, like it had been painted with ink. Its face had no eyes, no nose, no mouth. If a shadow were to take human form, this would be it. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet

“More than anything, I can’t feel any trace of life from it. It’s like standing in front of a doll.”

“Leon! What’s going on?!”

I heard someone calling me from outside. It seemed the shock from the impact had reached beyond the walls. It was an all-out strike—no wonder it was noticeable.

But I couldn’t answer. The enemy before me didn’t look like an opponent I could take lightly.

I knew instinctively—if I let my guard down, I’d be finished.

My focus deepened. If that thing moved even a step, I would draw my sword.

Perhaps it sensed my killing intent.

The shadow simply stared at me.

I asked. My voice unconsciously carried bloodlust. Anyone without mana would’ve wet themselves just hearing it.

The shadow remained silent. It only reached out its hand toward me.

Mana burst from the tip of its fingers.

It was a straight-line projectile. The mana was perfectly condensed and controlled—it meant this was a form of magic.

I swung my sword, deflecting the spell. The ricocheted magic pierced through the roof and vanished into the sky.

My wrist tingled. It felt similar to when I blocked Garan’s attack. Was this shadow as strong as him?

Just as I heightened my vigilance—

“What’s that noise?!”

Retina stormed in, her expression showing clear alarm.

“An enemy,” I replied calmly, in contrast to her agitation.

“It came out from my shadow. It knows how to use magic. Tell the others to be careful—it might be lurking in their shadows too.”

A short, concise explanation. Most people would’ve asked for clarification, but not Retina.

She’d lived as a mercenary for a long time. Her accumulated experience moved her body before thought.

Her eyes gleamed sharply. Mana began to ripple around her.

She was using telepathy—to share information with her comrades.

In an instant, mist-like mana filled the tavern.

That very moment, I charged toward the shadow.

Through my training with Garan, my Body Movement Technique had improved immensely. My movements resembled an immortal walking on clouds. With just a single light step, I arrived right before the shadow.

My Infinite Void Heart Fist struck the shadow. It was not an attack meant to kill—it was to subdue. It looked humanoid, after all. If it could speak, I could extract information.

We had no data on our enemies. Capturing one alive was essential.

Suddenly, blood gushed from my mouth. A heavy pain throbbed in my solar plexus.

My vision shook in disbelief. I couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

I thought. The shadow’s attack had been blocked. The magic that flew through the roof couldn’t have come back now.

‘There must be another reason.’

My mind turned sharp. Then I saw it—my own hand, pressed against the shadow’s chest.

I shouted her name, my voice rough and forceful enough that anyone would’ve thought I was furious.

“They can reflect attacks! Don’t strike first, no matter what!”

Her face twisted in shock.

“That’s impossible! Not even magic can reproduce something like that!”

A scream echoed from outside—it was Ryan’s voice.

Even a child could guess what had happened. Retina’s face hardened.

“Leon, can you handle it alone?” she asked, mana swirling tangibly in her hands.

I rubbed my abdomen. The solar plexus was a human’s weak spot. Considering that I had struck that spot with my Infinite Void Heart Fist, I was surprisingly fine.

“I can endure it,” I answered. The dull pain lingered, but there was no sign of internal injury. Maybe—just maybe—I could take it down by myself.

I raised my thumb, gesturing for her to go help the others.

After a brief hesitation, Retina left. Her eyes, filled with worry, lingered on me until the very end.

I exhaled deeply, trying to calm myself.

It was a situation I’d never experienced before. Confusion clouded my thoughts. If I didn’t steady my breathing, I felt I might lose control.

‘It’s just a simple ambush. There’s no reason to panic.’

All I had to do was focus on what I could do right now.

I slowly sheathed my sword. That thing reflected attacks—if I swung recklessly, I’d only kill myself.

I took the stance of the Infinite Void Heart Fist. From that brief exchange, I’d learned one thing—my body was sturdier than its.

Which meant—if endurance was the game, I could outlast it.

Reflect attacks? Then I just needed to hit it with enough force that I could survive the recoil.

My body was strong enough. As long as I didn’t go for lethal strikes, victory was possible.

My Infinite Void Heart Fist pounded the shadow again. A thunderous roar shook the tavern, so powerful that the building itself quivered.

Once again, blood filled my mouth. My insides trembled violently, as if my organs were struck. It felt like I’d suffered internal injuries.

My Infinite Void Heart Fist erupted in a flurry, faster than ever before. The fierce barrage, filled with killing intent, would have terrified any onlooker.

My gaze sank lower, colder.

Pain coursed through me with every punch. All the more reason not to stop.

‘Bit by bit… its form is fading.’

It was just as I’d suspected—its body was weaker than mine. The shrinking size of the shadow proved it.

‘If I do this right, I can kill it and still survive.’

A fierce gleam flashed in my eyes. I’d found the answer. There was no longer any reason to hesitate.

The power in my fists grew even stronger. Every punch carried intense killing intent—an unshakable will to destroy, even if it meant dying together.

“I cannot die. This is but my replica. No matter how much you strike, you will never harm me. Only your own body will break.”

“Are you even listening? Why won’t you stop?”

The shadow shouted, its tone cracking under my relentless assault.

At that moment, I looked at it with cold, sunken eyes.

“For something that’s kept its mouth shut all this time… why start talking now?”

Even as I spoke, I didn’t stop attacking. The shadow raised its hand, trying to use magic.

I didn’t give it the chance. My hand clamped around its wrist and crushed it.

I felt the bones shatter—but my own hand remained unscathed.

A killing light glinted in my eyes.

‘As I thought—its body isn’t as tough as mine.’

At the same time, I sensed it—the fear radiating from its gaze.

The shadow tried to speak to me again and again.

I didn’t listen. The moment I let my guard down, it would strike. I wasn’t foolish enough to be swayed by its chatter.

A desperate cry. Yet one that couldn’t be ignored.

I grabbed the shadow’s throat. My entire body tensed with the urge to snap it in two.

My voice dripped with murderous intent. My eyes gleamed with a predatory light.

“What did you say about Rahan?”

“...Like I said, we have him.”

My grip tightened. It had no face, yet I could feel it—it was in pain.

“Kh! If you break my neck, you’ll die too. You already know that, don’t you? I can reflect all your attacks.”

“Well, I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.”

I meant it. I was ready to snap its neck right there. My body was far sturdier than its. Even if the effect rebounded, I’d live through it.

Perhaps it sensed that resolve.

The shadow trembled, then spoke.

“There is someone who wishes to meet you.”

“You didn’t hide in my shadow just to say that. Were you planning to kidnap me too, like you did Rahan?”

The shadow didn’t reply. Its silence was answer enough.

“You act without ever considering others’ opinions… are you a noble?”

That arrogance was typical of nobles—those who thought the world revolved around them, that commoners existed solely for their sake.

Of course, not all were like that. The Duke of Kellyburn and the Count of Enox were exceptions—nobles who had proven themselves different.

But most nobles were steeped in entitlement.

Maybe it was acceptable in the Empire’s culture…

“Answer me. Why should I follow your command? Because you’ve kidnapped Rahan? You think I’d bow to you over that?”

Murderous energy surged from my entire body. It wasn’t something a fifteen-year-old should possess—it was the aura of a battle demon who had faced death countless times.

‘There were people like them in my past life too…’

Those who looked down on the weak. Those who treated others’ lives as worthless.

‘In the past, I might’ve bowed to them—just like they expected.’

My killing intent intensified further. The denser it grew, the rougher the shadow’s breathing became.

“W–wait, calm down….”

The sound of its neck breaking echoed. At the same moment, I felt a faint pain in my own throat.

It was nothing. If anything, it felt like clearing a clog from my chest.

“Listen carefully. I’ll come find you myself—to take Rahan back. Don’t mistake that for bowing to your threats.”

“...Understood. I’ll remember that.”

“I noticed you attached shadows to my comrades as well.”

“There was only one other. And it has already been destroyed. The only remaining one stands before you now.”

Its voice rasped; its vocal cords were damaged.

“Come to Elbin’s Bakery. I’ll be there.”

“Elbin’s Bakery? I’ve heard of it.”

“No one in the capital could not know it. And if possible, I’d prefer if you didn’t destroy this puppet. Could you bring it with you?”

“Come get it yourself.”

I replied, throwing the shadow to the ground.

I’d grasped enough information about the enemy. Then I passed it on to my comrades.

After the situation settled, Garan spoke upon hearing my report.

His voice dripped with bloodlust. Whether it was from anger at being attacked, or fury over Rahan’s kidnapping—it was likely both.

“Leon, let’s handle this ourselves. Those things use a strange power—reflecting the strength of their attacker. Only we warriors can withstand that recoil. The others should stay here and wait.”

No one voiced objection. Everyone had seen it—the sight of warriors enduring the shadow’s reflection.

All non-warriors had been injured.

Ryan, Rhuin, Kazan, and Retina—not a single one was spared.

Though the wounds were minor, they were still unfit for the upcoming battle.

“They told you to come to Elbin’s Bakery, right? I know the place too. I’ve bought bread there a few times. For them to summon us there… perhaps they’re the owner.”

A bakery—or a tavern—was a convenient choice for a hidden base. After all, Garan used a tavern as his mercenary corps’ hideout.

Chances were, they were no different.

When the discussion ended, Leon and Garan headed straight for the bakery.