The darkness was not silent. Aside from the demon's temptations, the sounds of the Church Ring Arcanists fighting within the black mist were growing clearer and clearer. This meant the Church was about to break through the demon's black fog.
"I don't think you need to keep showing off your mastery of illusions. My friends are about to break through the angel's obstruction, and the Orthodox Church's High-Ring Arcanists are about to shatter your defenses as well. Why not show yourself now, and we can settle this in a one-on-one duel?"
Shade shouted loudly into the darkness. He paced where he stood, continuously smashing apart the pairs of rotting hands reaching out from the dark. Then, a humming suddenly rose from ahead. Looking up, he saw a gray stone wall embedded with countless wailing souls crashing toward him, only to be shattered by the Moonlight Slash swung by Night Watchman.
"If you don't care about those illusions, then do you care about what is real?"
Two entirely new figures appeared within the thick black fog. Leisha and Princess Margaret, who should have been sitting dazed in the audience, had actually been brought before Shade by the demon:
"What luck! I never expected both of your female companions to be here today! Oh, these souls are—"
A huge pitch-black hand hovered above the princesses. As they saw the sword-bearing man standing in the darkness, his entire body glowing, the malicious voice asked:
"I cannot exploit your desire, but that does not mean you have no desires. Put down your sword, or your princesses will die."
"How dare you?"
The fury that surged forth in that instant was like a powder keg ignited by sparks, reaching the level of wrath. Shade took a deep breath, suppressing that abnormal rage, then threw Night