The air around the bridge was unnaturally still, the silence broken only by the faint hum of Floki’s War Glaive. Across from him, the shadowy figure stood motionless, a predator waiting for its prey to make the first move.
The figure’s voice was low and cold, reverberating through the air. “Turn back now, boy. You’re not ready for what lies ahead.”
Floki tilted his head, his grin sharp and unwavering. “Funny, people keep saying that. I’m still standing.”
The figure’s stance shifted slightly, his presence pressing down like a storm about to break. “Then prove it.”
Floki lunged first, his War Glaive slicing through the air with deadly precision. The figure didn’t flinch, his blade—long, black, and humming with energy—blocking the attack effortlessly.
The clash of weapons sent a shockwave rippling across the ravine. Floki pushed harder, shadows swirling around him as he activated Eclipse Shroudto drain the surrounding light.
The figure countered with a burst of energy that shattered the shroud instantly. “A neat trick,” the figure said, his tone mocking. “But tricks won’t save you.”
Floki barely had time to react as the figure’s blade sliced through the air in an arc of shadow-infused energy. The attack cut across the bridge, forcing Floki to leap back to avoid being cleaved in two.
The ground beneath Floki’s feet cracked, and he stumbled, his grin faltering for the first time. The figure stepped forward, his movements unnervingly calm.
“Is this all the Shadow Clan’s new prodigy can muster?” the figure taunted, his blade glowing with a dark light. “I expected more.”
Floki grit his teeth, summoning his Shadow Cloneto flank the enemy. The clone lunged, aiming for the figure’s blind spot, but the enemy’s blade moved faster than Floki could follow.
The clone shattered into wisps of shadow, its attack rendered useless. “Your illusions lack conviction,” the figure said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Floki swung his glaive in a wide arc, channeling all his strength into the attack. The figure caught the weapon with his bare hand, his grip crushing the glaive’s momentum instantly.
Before Floki could react, the figure struck, his blade slamming into Floki’s chest with a burst of force. Floki flew backward, his body slamming into the ground with a heavy thud.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he forced himself to stand, his body screaming in protest. “Not bad,” Floki muttered, his grin returning weakly. “But I’ve had worse.”
The figure stepped closer, his aura suffocating. “Then let’s see how much worse you can handle.”
Floki raised his glaive, his mind racing for a way to counter the overwhelming power. Before he could act, the figure unleashed a barrage of attacks, each strike faster and stronger than the last.
Floki’s defenses crumbled as the onslaught continued, his glaive barely holding together under the relentless assault. A final blow sent him crashing to the edge of the bridge, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious.
“You’re done,” the figure said, his blade poised for the finishing strike. Floki’s system chimed softly, urging retreat.
[Warning: Fatal Threat Detected. Tactical Retreat Recommended.]
Floki clenched his jaw, his pride warring with the need to survive. “You win this round,” he muttered, activating Shadow Veilto vanish into the surrounding darkness.
The Retreat
Floki stumbled into the cover of the nearby forest, collapsing against a tree as his body gave out. The relic in his pouch pulsed faintly, a mocking reminder of his failure.
The system chimed softly, overlaying his injuries and remaining energy levels. [Physical State: Critical. Recovery Time Estimated: 72 Hours.]
“Three days?” Floki grumbled, wiping blood from his mouth. “Might as well be three years.”
His mind replayed the fight, every movement, every misstep, every overwhelming strike. The figure wasn’t just stronger—he was leagues ahead in both skill and power.
Floki’s grin returned, sharper than before. “Fine. If I can’t beat him head-on, I’ll find another way.”
The Plan
For three days, Floki sent out Shadow clone, after Shadow clone, as he observed the figure from the safety of the shadows. He watched every movement, studying how the figure fought, where his attacks focused, and when his defenses faltered.
The system worked tirelessly in the background, analyzing the patterns.
[Observation Complete: Target Relies on Predictable Combos. Weakness Detected: Energy Depletion After Sustained Attacks.]
Floki’s grin widened as the pieces of his strategy clicked into place. “You’re strong, but strength doesn’t mean much when you’re running on empty.”
The system chimed again, highlighting the potential for his glaive’s energy siphoning ability. [Suggestion: Utilize Energy Siphon to Drain Opponent’s Reserves Gradually.]
“Drain him dry, huh?” Floki muttered, his grin turning sharper. “I like the sound of that.”
He formulated a plan to combine his Shadow Cloneswith precise strikes from the War Glaive. Each attack would sap the figure’s energy bit by bit, wearing him down until the fight was his to win.
With the system guiding him and his glaive ready, Floki felt the weight of the fight shift. He wasn’t just surviving anymore—he was about to take control.
The Strategy Unfolds
On the fourth day, Floki returned to the bridge, his steps steady and confident. The figure turned to face him, his blade gleaming with dark energy.
“Back for another beating?” the figure asked, his voice dripping with disdain. “You must enjoy pain.”
Floki twirled his War Glaive lazily, his grin sharp. “Not really. But I do enjoy watching people fall apart.”
The figure charged, his blade cutting through the air with deadly speed. Floki activated Eclipse Shroud, plunging the battlefield into swirling darkness.
The shadows around him twisted, forming three identical Shadow Clonesthat darted toward the enemy. Each clone moved erratically, their attacks relentless and chaotic.
The figure struck one clone, his blade slicing through it harmlessly. Another clone attacked from the side, forcing him to turn and defend, but it vanished just as quickly.
“Annoying,” the figure growled, his voice filled with frustration. “Illusions won’t save you.”
Floki used the distraction to land his first strike, the War Glaive slamming into the figure’s shoulder. The crimson blade glowed faintly as its siphoning ability activated, drawing energy from the figure with a crackling hum.
The figure staggered slightly, his movements slowing for a fraction of a second. Floki’s system chimed softly.
[Energy Siphoned: 5%. Target Reserves Decreasing.]
Floki darted back, letting his clones continue the assault. They swarmed the figure, forcing him to burn more energy with each swing of his blade.
“You’re not as fast as you were before,” Floki taunted, his grin widening. “Getting tired, old man?”
The figure snarled, his attacks growing wild as he struck at the shadows surrounding him. Floki weaved through the chaos, his glaive striking at precise intervals.
Each hit drew more energy from the figure, the blade glowing brighter with every successful siphon. The system tracked the progress, its updates steady.
[Energy Siphoned: 25%. Target Efficiency Reduced.]
The figure’s breathing grew labored, his strikes slower and less coordinated. Floki’s clones danced around him, their movements forcing him to exhaust what little energy he had left.
“You’re slipping,” Floki said, his tone mocking. “I thought you were supposed to be unbeatable.”
The figure roared, his blade flashing with one final surge of energy. Floki activated Shadow Veil, vanishing into the darkness as the attack missed completely.
Reappearing behind the figure, Floki struck again, the glaive’s siphoning ability draining the last remnants of his strength. The figure stumbled, his weapon trembling in his hands.
Floki stepped forward, his War Glaive humming with power. “Looks like you’re running on fumes. Guess this path isn’t for the weak after all.”
With one final strike, the figure’s blade clattered to the ground. He fell to his knees, his aura flickering weakly as Floki stood over him.
“You fought well,” Floki said, his voice calm but cold. “But this path belongs to me now.”
The system chimed softly, overlaying a new mission.
[Path of Death Activated. Entry to Pai Mei’s Domain Granted.]
The relic in Floki’s pouch pulsed with renewed energy, its glow matching the triumphant fire in his eyes. “Let’s see what’s waiting for me on the other side.”
