[Three! Its three of us!]

Ah.

Realizing it, thanks to Agony's annoyed voice, Seol quickly restated himself.

Right, its three.

Seol had acquired a new skill despite the short duration of the fight.

Through his journey, Seol acquired countless titles and skills. However, the most valuable were those that enabled him to acquire and awaken new abilities more frequently.

In fact, it was mostly thanks to those abilities that Seols summons grew stronger by the day, tremendously, through awakening new skills.

Though Seol should have been happy with the situation, he sensed something strange about it.

Why am I not getting stronger then?

Seols progress had felt stunted ever since he met Toki. While Frannan and Ur had helped him grow, it was mainly related to his summons, not Seol himself. Additionally, Seol had shown little interest in growing stronger himself.

However, Seol knew the truth.

After all, he had spent 17 years in The World of Eternity. He knew better than anyone else how to diagnose his current state.

In fact, the person who knew best about himself was likely also him.

Its dangerous like this.

Though Seols stats were increasing explosively day by day, his methods of using them havent increased at all. The sole measure he had right now was the hand-to-hand fighting skills he had learned from Toki.

In fact, even that wasnt at a high level at all.

Though Seols weaknesses did not show when he faced weaker opponents, they exposed themselves whenever he faced stronger opponents, like now.

And in The World of Eternity that Seol knew, the class you chose did not decide everything about your future.

Even if you chose to be a swordsman, you could learn magic based on your stats. Even if you chose to become a priest, you could swing a weapon on the front lines.

In turn, though Seol had chosen to become a Shadow Summoner, the way he fought could change tremendously.

Seol can become stronger.

Then why couldnt he?

Seol realized the reason during his fight with Phantom. No, he had understood a great deal of it during his fight with Dae Ha as well.

Seol had to fight stronger opponents for him to grow stronger as well.

That simple truth was once again proving its necessity right before his eyes.

Faaaaade

The darkness encroached into the space around him.

Seol was already within Phantoms domain, his eyes completely shut. Though he could not see Phantom at all, he could sense him.

Shadow Hand had transformed into a new skill, Sense Domain.

While Seol knew that his skills changed somewhat based on the class Night Crow gave him, he didn't expect a skill to change entirely into something else.

Seol quickly learned what Sense Domain did.

Essentially, I have another imaginary arm.

It was almost like Seol had an imaginary arm sprouting out of his back, waving around. And that imaginary arm would transfer information to Seol.

Fwip!

Seol knew he would be too slow if he reacted only to sound.

It was a fact he had learned after being attacked by Phantom multiple times.

Claaaaaang!

Seol blocked the first attack.

I got him!

Sense Domain had managed to detect Phantoms blade.

There you are!

Seol quickly turned around to deflect Phantom's attack with Agony.

[Phantom used Blind Spot.]

[Darkness Slash targets the enemy's most vulnerable point.]

Hrgh!

Slaaaaaaash!

Phantoms blade managed to carve out a large chunk of meat from Seols side.

- Did you think you could dodge it?

Thats damn cheap.

Just as ghosts had different powers, their Daoist spells were also different.

Phantoms powers were concentrated entirely on sharpness. If he were human, he would be considered the quietest, most atrocious swordsman imaginable.

Splatter

Seol quickly grabbed his side as his intestines were about to spill. However, within seconds, his wound healed.

He could sense that Phantom was even stronger than before, and that unsettling suspicion was rapidly becoming a grim reality right before his eyes.

So youre recovering your strength faster than before

- I will recover my strength completely and then bring fear to all of you.

Even though you wont be able to leave here?

- Nonsense.

Seol was taunting Phantom to buy time to recover.

Even he recognized that he had no chance of winning at this rate.

Hell probably recover all of his strength before I can defeat him

Reaching a decision, Seol then spoke to Karuna.

Karuna, Ill take control now.

- But okay.

Seol recognized that he wouldnt be able to reach a conclusion by leaving it to Karuna.

Karuna was a honed, polished sword, at an extremely high level at that. The things that he could learn from this fight were limited.

But if its me

In contrast, Seol was a blank page of a swordsman. A clean, white sheet that could learn anything and everything.

Because the Night Crow forms strength was the sum of Seols and Karunas power, Seol was willing to take this risky gamble. It was his last chance.

Karuna, Karen, and Jamad were all Transcendent-rank.

In fact, Ur, despite being sealed, was also Immortal-rank.

Then What about me?

How far had Seol reached?

Seols eyes began to glow with fighting spirit.

Grow.

Phantom grew a bit larger.

- Youre scared. Does it have something to do with how your aura has changed?

Seol knew it as well. He was extremely lacking compared to Karuna, so it was natural that he would be more scared than before.

I have to get rid of all my doubts. I will defeat him. I cant feel fear.

Fwip!

A blade soared toward him.

Hrgh!

Claaaaaaaaang!

Phantoms sword carried incredible power behind it.

Fwip!

Clang

Krgh

Seol failed to deflect it entirely.

Seol wobbled for a moment after Phantom cut his thigh, but he quickly recovered.

- I am the darkness. I recommend you stop trying to dodge what cannot be dodged.

...Thanks for the advice, said Seol, covered in blood. But Im the type that learns from being knocked down.

[Night Crow: Sense Domain's proficiency increases.]

With that attack, Seol had gained another imaginary arm.

Since I cant see, I dont need to see it. Since I cant dodge it, I dont need to dodge it.

Seols blood began to boil.

Seol gave up his sight and hearing to enhance his other senses.

Despite being unable to see or hear, the information he received felt strangely pleasant.

I have to recall how Frannan defeated Ur. He was able to defeat someone much stronger than him. How?

Unexpectedness.

Frannan did not defeat Ur because he was stronger than him. He defeated Ur by using an attack that Ur couldnt possibly expect.

- How interesting.

Fsssssss

Phantom then changed his attack method.

Is this the space around me changing?

Phantom's ability to warp the terrain, which he had used to manipulate the mines, was now being employed in combat.

[Phantom used Twist.]

[The surrounding terrain changes.]

Rumbleeee!

A pillar of stone rose from the ground, aiming to pierce Seols heart.

Fwip!

Seol easily dodged that.

Fwoosh!

Another blade soared from the distorted terrain.

However, as it was still within Seols Sense Domain, he was able to respond.

Clang!

- Pitiful.

Fwip!

Ahhhhhh!

Seols left ankle was almost cut off cleanly.

He then tumbled on the ground a few times from the impact.

However, there were no further attacks.

Haah Haah

- Ive already learned everything you know a long time ago.

Then why cant you kill me?

-

Ive picked up a few things. Your bladeyou're only able to use it a maximum of three times, right? It doesnt make sense otherwise. Not to mention, theres your area where I cant see, and your incredible speed thats hard to react to. Am I right? Or is it that the more you fight at full strength, the longer it takes for you to recover? Which is it?

- Even if you know, nothing will change.

No, its changing! Its undoubtedly changing!

Clench

[Night Crow: Sense Domain's proficiency increases.]

Seols Sense Domain now had a total of three imaginary arms.

- You dont know when to give up.

Then make me give up.

- Fine.

Rumble rumble rumble!

[Phantom used Twist.]

[The surrounding terrain changes.]

Rumbleeeee!

Seol heard a loud rumbling around him.

Is it a rockslide?

Phantom was trying to cause Seol to panic by altering the terrain around him.

Fwooosh

[Phantom used Induce Fear.]

[Amplify the fear felt by the target.]

[Mind Control Resistance activates.]

[You resist Phantoms Induce Fear.]

Rumble!

Rumble!

Rocks continued to fall from the ceiling.

Though Seol still couldnt see, he could sense them all.

I only have to concentrate on the ones that enter Sense Domains area.

Relying on his remaining heightened senses and the three imaginary arms, Seol focused on avoiding the altering terrain that could harm his body.

He shut his eyes to concentrate more deeply.

[Phantoms Passive: Ominous activates.]

[Darkness Slash's amount increases proportionately to the level of fear your target feels.]

Fwip!

Claaaang!

Fwip!

Fwip!

Two swords came flying at Seol simultaneously.

Seol quickly turned his body, ferociously spinning in the air.

Clang!

Claaang!

Fwip!

Fwooosh!

Damn it

Though he could sense more than before, he still was unable to react to all of Phantoms attacks.

Seols body was covered in cuts.

Fsssss

Even so, the Blood of Origin quickly sealed those scars once more.

Fwip! Fwip!

Krgh

Though Seol's wounds healed quickly, Phantom's relentless assault left him constantly wounded.

To survive, Seol adjusted his strategy. He focused on deflecting only the attacks targeting his vitals, allowing the less critical strikes to land.

Haah Haah

- Do you think youll be able to regenerate forever? Its not like youve managed to injure me, either.

Phantom began to feel uneasy, an unfamiliar emotion creeping into his presence. Seol's resilience was wearing on him, stirring feelings even Phantom couldn't fully comprehend.

...Dont you think were becoming more and more like each other by the second?

-

Seol gasped for air before continuing.

It will only take an instant for me to reach you. Until then, endure the wait, even if it bores you.

- Do you truly think that you will be able to reach me?

Of course. More importantly, you

Seol, his eyes still closed, let out a big smile.

Youve gotten smaller, havent you.

Phantom finally managed to define the emotions that he was feeling. It wasnt a sense of unease.

It was ominousness.

- I will cut you into tiny pieces so that you may never regenerate.

Go ahead. You know what will happen if you fail to kill me right?

Rumble rumble rumble

Fwoooosh!

The shape of Phantoms sword slowly changed.

Previously, it was sharp and straight like a razor blade. But now, it had transformed into a chakram, a circular, wheel-like blade.

This blade attacked once more on its way back.

- Die.

[Phantom used Darkness Slash.]

[If the target fails to perceive this attack, this attack has double its cutting power.]

Fwooooosh!

Its slower than before.

Phantoms sword was slower than before.

Which, in turn, also meant that Seol was now capable of deflecting them.

Clang!

Clang!

Fwirl!

Claaaang!

Phantom was shocked.

Though Phantoms blade had transformed into a chakram, it was only narrowly slower.

Despite this, Seol was reacting to his attacks with much greater precision than before.

It was as if it was a choreographed fight. Seol was beautifully twisting and contorting his body to deflect each attack skillfully.

Phantom sensed that Seol was changing.

He was becoming stronger, awakening new senses.

He also knew that, in the end that was what would allow Seol to defeat him.

Recognizing that, Phantom became more desperate.

Rumble rumble!

Baaaaaam!

However, something unexpected happened.

The falling debris struck Phantoms blade in the darkness, something even Phantom hadnt anticipated. As a result, the chakram twisted at an unexpected angle, aiming directly for Seols neck.

Krgh

Claaang!

Though Seol had managed to deflect it, he was unable to avoid damage. He winced as his stance crumbled.

Phantom recognized this as an opportunity.

- Die!

He sent all of his blades at Seol.

Claaang!

Fwip fwip!

K-Khrgh

The attack cost Phantom a lot of his energy.

However, it allowed him to embed multiple blades into Seols body.

Thud

Seol fell over.

Grow

Phantoms domain slowly closed in.

He looked closely at Seols body, weakly lying on the ground, punctured with wounds.

-

His gaze shifted to the traces of Seols swordsmanship.

Seol had almost reached him, but in the end, he had failed.

The result of their fight was clear, Seol lay defeated on the ground.

- To think you were able to push back my domain this far

Raise

- Die.

Fwip!

Phantom sent a blade flying toward Seols neck, aiming to finish him off.

Claaaaaaang!

- What the hell?!

Like a marionette with its strings cut, Seol weakly stood up, using Agony as a cane to support himself.

I told you before, didnt I? If you cant finish me off it will end up like this.

Grow grow.

Seols flesh quickly healed, sealing up all of the holes.

Phantom, too, watched as Seols body underwent yet another transformation.

[Due to repeated regeneration, all of your blood has been replaced with the Blood of Origin.]

[Blood of Origin begins to bubble.]

My body feels hot

[Blood of Origin is changing.]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! screamed Seol.

He let out a long, agonized scream as his veins swelled, turning his face a deep shade of red.

Phantom seized this opening, attempting to strike Seol once more.

Fwip!

Grab!

- Thats

Seol had grabbed Phantoms blade with his bare hands.

However, it was unable to cut him.

It was easy to see why just by looking at Seol.

[Passive: Sticky Shadows(Composite) combines with the Blood of Origin.]

[Awakening! You have awakened a new skill.]

[You have awakened Night Crow: Bones of Origin.]

[Night Crow: Bones of Origin is born!]

Clatter

An armor, seemingly made out of bones, suddenly wrapped around Seols body.

[Bones of Origin connects to Hope Devourer.]

[Bones of Origin copies Hope Devourers Bonus Effect.]

[Bones of Origin drastically increases the copied Hope Devourers Bonus Effect.]

Im done with just clinging on, smirked Seol. From now on Im going to use everything Ive got to destroy you.