Chapter 161: Shadows in the Veil

The rain had finally ceased, leaving the world washed clean and cool beneath a settling gray sky. Inside the Raiden Edge Guild's main hall, Riku sat alone at a polished table, eyes narrowing as he mulled over the information Kavros Isen had spilled before being sealed away.

"The ones you've fought so far… they're just low codes. The other five you haven't met are the High Codes, directly under him."

The name of the boss — Akuma Kurogane — lingered silently in his mind. No record, no whispers, no traces anywhere in any database or archive he had access to. It was as if the man didn't exist, a ghost manipulating strings from the shadows.

Riku knew he couldn't tackle this alone.

Slowly, he rose, his gaze steeling.

With a subtle motion, he extended both hands forward.

From the ether, two perfect copies of himself emerged — clones, identical down to the faintest detail. Their movements mirrored his as they prepared to take on assigned tasks. Around them, four knights appeared — towering, armored figures radiating a low silver glow, their essence forged in Riku's own unique energy.

The knights stood stoically, ready to defend or scout as needed. These were no ordinary summons; they were extensions of Riku's will and strength, precise and unwavering.

He assigned one clone to dig into underground networks, hunting rumors and hidden intel on the mysterious High Codes. The other clone was dispatched to scout the city's outskirts and shadowed districts where illicit dealings often thrived.

The knights were tasked with securing sensitive locations around Raiden Edge and monitoring for any unusual movements or attacks that might be tied to Akuma Kurogane's network.

Riku watched as his summoned allies dispersed seamlessly into the night, their silent footsteps carrying the promise of answers.

This was the beginning of a deeper hunt — a shadow war against an enemy no one had seen coming.

And Riku was ready to bring those shadows into the light.