Chapter 14:The Storm(4)

### Chapter 15: Shadowstryker vs. The Puppet God

**Date: October 12, 2024 - 4:00 PM**

The crowd in the Pantheon buzzed with anticipation as the next round of the God Battle Royale commenced. Li Wei, known in the game as Shadowstryker, had advanced to the round of eight, his previous victory against Luminus solidifying his reputation as a formidable contender. Now, he was set to face a new and mysterious opponent: Marion, the Puppet God.

The arena transformed into a gothic landscape, filled with towering spires and narrow, winding streets. Shadows flickered ominously, and the air was thick with an eerie silence. Marion stood at the far end, his form cloaked in a dark, flowing robe. In his hands, he held several puppet strings that seemed to vanish into the shadows around him.

**Commentator:** "Welcome back, viewers! This match features Shadowstryker, the Earth and Shadow God, against Marion, the Puppet God. Prepare for an intense showdown!"

The horn sounded, and the battle began. Marion wasted no time, his hands deftly manipulating the strings.

**Marion:** "Puppet Summoning: Shadow Puppeteer!"

From the shadows, a grotesque puppet emerged, its movements jerky and unnatural. It lunged toward Shadowstryker with surprising speed, its sharp claws gleaming.

**Shadowstryker:** "Stone Shield! Reload time: 30 seconds."

Shadowstryker quickly raised a barrier of stone to block the puppet's attack. The puppet's claws scraped against the stone, creating a shower of sparks. Shadowstryker countered with his own tactic.

**Shadowstryker:** "Shadow Bind! Reload time: 1 minute."

Tendrils of shadow emerged from the ground, wrapping around the puppet and immobilizing it. Marion smirked, his fingers twitching.

**Marion:** "Puppet Mastery: Marionette's Dance!"

The immobilized puppet dissolved into shadows, reappearing behind Shadowstryker with a swift, silent movement. Before it could strike, Shadowstryker rolled forward, avoiding the attack.

A display appeared at the edge of the screen, showing Shadowstryker's HP bar and current technique reload times. His HP had only taken a slight hit, still well above 90%.

**Shadowstryker:** "Shadow Strike! Reload time: 1 minute 30 seconds."

Using the momentum from his roll, Shadowstryker unleashed a flurry of dark energy bolts. They struck the puppet, causing it to stagger and flicker. Marion pulled on more strings, summoning additional puppets to the battlefield.

**Commentator:** "An impressive display of Tactics from both gods! Marion is summoning more puppets to overwhelm Shadowstryker."

Shadowstryker assessed the situation, realizing he needed to disrupt Marion's control over the battlefield.

**Shadowstryker:** "Earthquake! Reload time: 2 minutes."

He slammed his fists into the ground, causing a massive tremor. The earth cracked and shifted, toppling several of Marion's puppets and forcing him to adjust his footing. Seizing the opportunity, Shadowstryker focused his energy.

**Shadowstryker:** "Dark Gaia! Reload time: 3 minutes."

A massive golem of shadow-infused stone rose from the ground, towering over the puppets. It roared and charged at Marion, swatting aside the remaining puppets with ease.

**Marion:** "You think brute force will stop me? Puppet Fusion: Titan Marionette!"

Marion combined several of his puppets into a colossal marionette, its body reinforced with dark energy. The Titan Marionette clashed with the Dark Gaia, the force of their blows shaking the arena.

Shadowstryker concentrated, his eyes gleaming with determination. He knew he needed to end this quickly.

**Shadowstryker:** "Shadow Earthquake! Reload time: 2 minutes 30 seconds."

Combining his earth and shadow elements, Shadowstryker caused the ground beneath Marion to shatter and release waves of shadowy energy. The dark energy disrupted Marion's control over his puppets, causing them to falter.

With Marion momentarily distracted, Shadowstryker unleashed his ultimate tactic.

**Shadowstryker:** "Eclipsing Darkness! Reload time: 5 minutes."

The entire arena was plunged into darkness as Shadowstryker channeled his power. The shadows enveloped Marion, binding him and sapping his strength. The Titan Marionette crumbled, its strings severed by the overwhelming darkness.

**Marion:** "No... this can't be happening!"

Shadowstryker stepped forward, his form glowing with a dark, eerie light. He raised his hand, summoning a blade of pure shadow.

**Shadowstryker:** "This ends now. Shadow Blade! Reload time: 1 minute 30 seconds."

With a swift, decisive strike, Shadowstryker cut through Marion's defenses, the shadow blade slicing through the Puppet God. Marion fell, his strings severed and his power dissipating.

**Commentator:** "Incredible! Shadowstryker has defeated Marion with a masterful use of Tactics and elemental control. What a victory!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, the commentators praising Shadowstryker's skill and strategy. Li Wei took a deep breath, feeling the rush of victory and the power of his shadow element coursing through him. The round of eight had been a significant challenge, but he knew even greater trials lay ahead.