Chapter 91: Wait… they can’t see me, can they?

Reon swiftly activated his Identify skill, his gaze darting in every direction as he scanned his surroundings. But no matter how intensely he searched, the man's presence remained completely elusive.

His skill was precise, capable of extracting detailed information from a pinpointed target—but without a clear focus, it was useless.

Instead, all he could detect were the trees, insects, and scattered herbs in his path—everything except the enemy lurking in the shadows.

"How cute! That confused look of yours is quite nice. Now, I'd love to see the fear in your eyes too." The young man sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

"I was curious about how you managed to find me before, but it turns out… it was nothing more than a cheap little trick."

Moving with blinding speed, the young man unleashed his First, Second, and Third styles in perfect harmony, his movements flowing with effortless precision.

His dagger danced like a phantom in the moonlight, tracing merciless arcs through the air—slashing across Xue Taiyang's cheek, hand, and back in a relentless succession of strikes.

"Arghh!"

Xue Taiyang gritted his teeth as pain flared through his body.

"So pathetic," the man sneered, his voice echoing from all directions.. "Just from the way you hold your sword, I can tell—it has never tasted the blood of a human."

Before Xue Taiyang could react, another sharp slash tore through his skin.

"Arghh!"

Another wound. Another sharp sting.

Blood trickled down his wounds, staining his clothes as he struggled to track his assailant.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't follow the young man's movements—he was nothing more than a phantom in the darkness.

"Do you actually think you can kill me? You cowardly little rat." The young man taunted, his voice echoing from unseen corners, his dagger flashing once more.

Slash!

"Arghh!"

Reon's scream tore through the forest as another strike landed, agony rippling through his body.

His vision blurred from the pain, his own blood soaking him as he desperately tried to sense even a trace of his relentless enemy—but there was nothing. Only the pain, the darkness, and the chilling laughter of his tormentor.

"Fuck! My Instinctual Awareness can't detect him unless he harbors malice or killing intent toward me. But right now... I feel nothing." Reon gritted his teeth, fury boiling within him.

"That bastard—he's toying with me. He has no intention of killing me just yet. He's enjoying this."

His hands trembled, not with fear, but with rage. "Damn it! I was a little bit hesitant before... As a modern man, I've never seen bloodshed or taken a life. But this bastard—I will never forgive him."

His grip on his sword tightened, his vision stained red.

"I'll fucking kill him. I'll tear him to pieces!"

A dark resolve settled over him, his hesitation burned away by fury. "And he doesn't deserve a shred of my pity."

Meanwhile, unseen in the shadows, the young man smirked, his dagger poised for the final strike—the finishing blow that would end Xue Taiyang once and for all.

"Prepare to lose your head."

"Shadow Fang Assassination Art…

Fourth Style—Silent Reaper's Claw!"

The young man's voice cut through the night as he unleashed his finishing move. In that instant, his Pinnacle-Stage Yellow Dagger Aura surged to life, coiling around his blade like a hungry serpent.

He had already activated it in the background—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

And now, he unleashed everything.

A suffocating wave of killing intent erupted from him, saturating the air with the promise of death. 

Then, like a relentless storm, a rapid chain of dagger-infused slashes tore through the air, each one aimed to cut Xue Taiyang down in an instant. The deadly barrage closed in—fast and merciless.

But just as the attacks were about to land, Reon's eyes gleamed with fierce determination.

"Found you, you sneaky bastard!" he growled. Without hesitation, he roared out, "Cloudia, Little Tiger—attack together!"

At his command, his companions surged forward, ready to turn the tide of battle.

"Huh?!" The young man stiffened in shock. He had been certain he was still undetectable, yet Reon had seen through him.

Before he could react, two monstrous beasts emerged from the shadows, revealing their true forms.

Cloudia stepped forward first, as graceful and composed as ever, her presence exuding an air of quiet dominance.

Beside her, Little Tiger stood, her stance slightly tense yet unwavering in her resolve to protect her master.

Her true form was even more massive and fearsome than Cloudia's—her sleek fur adorned with striking black and white patterns that rippled with the raw energy of thunder.

She wasn't just powerful—her aura was that of a sovereign, like a mountain god descending upon the forest.

Meanwhile, Reon unleashed his full power, his Pinnacle-Stage Dark Sword Aura surging to life.

Black flames roared around his blade, clashing violently against the young man's dagger-infused assault.

A shockwave erupted from the collision, ripping through the air and sending tremors through the forest, shaking the very earth beneath them.

"Huuh?! How the hell can he see my attacks?!" the young man screamed in disbelief.

But when his eyes landed on Cloudia and the Thunderous White Tiger, terror gripped his heart.

Where had these massive beasts suddenly come from?! Panic set in as he quickly darted behind a nearby tree, hoping to evade detection.

"Wait… they can't see me, can they? If I stay completely silent, they won't sense me," he reassured himself, his breathing shallow.