Chapter 183: We Will See Again
Xanor stood before the kneeling Wendigos with an air of imposing authority. He slowly raised a hand, removing his helmet to reveal his face. Beside him, Shadow eyes stood motionless.
"Is this the stronghold?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that seemed to fill the air, directed at the eight-foot Wendigo who knelt before him.
"Yes," the Wendigo replied, its voice a gravelly whisper.
"Update me on everything," Xanor commanded, his focus already shifting as he walked toward the main building—a three-story structure that dominated the small city.
The Wendigo followed, its words rushing to keep pace. "We’re currently awaiting the next shipment, scheduled for tomorrow morning. But... we’ve been plagued by intruders. They keep attacking our scouts and have even attempted to breach the stronghold multiple times."
"Why are they still a problem?" Xanor’s stride didn’t falter, his question cutting through the Wendigo’s explanation like a blade.
"Every time we send our strongest, they’re annihilated. Their leader is a master of illusions, so potent that even a Stage One Celestial rank would struggle to break free."
Xanor stopped, turning his head just enough to catch the Wendigo’s eye. "What rank is she?"
"Stage Five of the Heavenly rank," the Wendigo replied, a hint of frustration in its tone.
"That weak, and you can’t eliminate them?" Xanor’s voice was a chilling whisper, colder than any ice.
"Her illusions make her impossible to pin down. She always escapes."
"Hmm... a new plan, then—"
Suddenly, Xanor froze, feeling a powerful presence outside the city walls. He didn’t say a word, as Shadow eyes vanished in a blur.
__
[Outside the Gate.]
The copy of Leonardo, stopped abruptly as Shadow eyes appeared before it.
"Trespassers must be killed," she hissed, her voice devoid of emotion as a crimson bone dagger appeared in her hand.
Leonardo’s copy drew its sword, a surge of energy causing the blade to hum.
"I am here to wipe you all out!" it declared, launching forward.
Shadow eyes sneered behind her mask. "So arrogant. I’m fourteen stages higher than you. What gives you this much gall?"
She spun her dagger and vanished, reappearing behind the copy; and it shattered into a cascade of light particles.
_
"....?!"
Hidden behind a large boulder, Sunny, Ellen, and the real Leonardo watched in stunned silence.
"Was that a copy with your full strength?" Sunny asked, his voice tight with disbelief.
"Yes." Leonardo’s jaw was clenched. He snapped his fingers, and the light particles reformed, this time, wearing his grand-class armor.
"Let’s see the outcome now."
__
Xanor stood on the wall, watching the scene below with a calm expression:
’An excellent opportunity to assess the Fifth’s strength,’ he mused, his arms crossed. ’This will be a true test.’
Below the wall, Shadow eyes turned to face the newly armored copy:
"So, you’re just a clone," she said, her voice dropping, a hint of disdain creeping in: "Then I will keep destroying you until your energy is depleted." She charged, her grip tightening on her dagger.
The armored copy of Leonardo channeled his energy, unleashing a massive crescent blade of pure force.
"King’s Slash!" he roared.
Shadow eyes’s eye glowed a furious red, and the attack shattered into shimmering particles as she moved past it, appearing before the copy. With a single, clean cut, she destroyed it once more.
"...?!!"
"This woman is too strong," Leonardo muttered, his face grim.
"Her skill neutralized my most powerful attack—one that could split a planet. Her dagger bypasses all defenses." He turned to Sunny, his plan already shifting:
"We need to go. The nations must be warned. If she decides to attack, no one will be able to stop them. We’re facing an enemy far beyond our current capabilities. The only viable solution is to destroy this planet with them on it."
"Hmm... That’s a solid plan, but..." Sunny hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the city.
"There are children here. Twelve of them. They’re planning to attack this outpost tomorrow."
"We have to stop them," Leonardo said, his gaze hardening. "You saw what happened. A Stage Six God-rank can’t last a single round against her, let alone them. Where are they? I’ll get them off this planet."
Sunny thought for a moment, his gaze shifting to Xanor on the wall:
’Fighting them now would be a death sentence,’ he thought, lowering his gaze to Ellen, who remained silent but observant.
’I have to keep Ellen safe... and fulfill the mission.’ He turned back to Leonardo.
"Head north. You’ll find their camp. Your strength will prevent you from being fooled by her illusions. But I can’t leave, and you can’t destroy the planet."
"And why is that?" Leonardo asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Because there are people inside," Sunny revealed.
’The quest is to save the captives, not condemn them. And I can’t do that if they’re dead. I also need to find out who’s helping these pests and where the captives are being shipped.’
"I can call the other elders—"
"No," Sunny cut him off, his voice firm.
"You saw what happened. She killed you twice, each time with a single move. If you call them, they’ll just end up dead too."
"Then what are you suggesting?" Leonardo asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Leave them to me," Sunny said with a new confidence. He snapped his fingers, and a small, ornate chest appeared.
"Give this to a girl named Casey. It’s a gift from me."
Leonardo stared at him, a silent exchange passing between them, before he nodded. "Alright. Just... don’t die here." He took the chest and vanished in a flash of light.
Sunny turned to Ellen, a warm, reassuring smile on his face. "Okay, Ellen. Time to head home."
Ellen, understanding the gravity of the situation, simply nodded, as Sunny snapped a finger, and a gateway shimmered into existence before them.
"Go on," he said, gesturing for her to enter.
WHOOSH!!!
BOOM!!
"....?!!"
The boulder they had been hiding behind exploded into dust.
"Found you," Shadow eyes said with a sneer, her dagger spinning between her fingers.
"We will meet again," Sunny said with a calm, unbothered smile. He took Ellen’s hand, and they stepped through the shimmering gateway, which closed and vanished behind them.
"...?!"
Shadow eyes blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
’Huh?’
The confidence in the man’s smile was unsettling, not something she had encountered before.
"Who was that guy?" she muttered to herself, the victory she felt just moments ago replaced by a gnawing sense of unease.