The Extended Defensive Line

A chaotic, unreal sky hung over the monotonous earth. The colorless scenery appeared flat and depthless, suffused with an indescribable eeriness. A breeze swept past, carrying fine black dust that seemed to conceal countless watching eyes—Duchess Victoria stood in this world of black and white, and even her usually aloof face could not hide a trace of surprise.

The person responsible for her surprise stood beside her. The overly lively Half-elf wore a smug expression, her long black hair drifting faintly through the air like smoke and dust, her golden eyes smiling. An undispersing cloud of shadow enveloped her lower body, making her seem like a spirit of the Shadow Realm, seamlessly blending into this black-and-white world.

"...An incredible power," Victoria said softly after watching Amber for several seconds. "You are the most powerful Shadow Master I have ever seen. No wonder Dark Raven lost to you twice. As expected, no one under Duke Cecil is ordinary."

"You can praise me a little more if you want. It's rare for anyone to compliment me like that," Amber said smugly with a laugh. "Now that you mention that Dark Raven guy, I remember him. He's the one I kicked out of the Shadow Realm twice, right? You should talk to him when you get the chance. If nothing else works, he should practice with a two-handed sword or a polehammer or something. The path of shadows might not suit him..."

Anyone familiar with Amber knew that once she started babbling, she would quickly wander off-topic, and barely a few words would make any sense. But Victoria was clearly not yet used to the Half-elf's rhythm. She froze for a moment, seemingly unsure how to continue the conversation. Fortunately, Amber's babbling came in bursts. If she got no response for a while,