Shade frowned at the enemy before him.
"Are you from the Blood Spirit School?"
Unlike that talkative bespectacled man, Shade's opponent did not seem to enjoy talking. He charged forward again, then exploded into a cloud of black mist. This method of Space Movement was clearly far inferior to Shade's Laguerre's Leap. Not only did it require a charging motion, but the sound and black mist during movement were far too conspicuous.
His keen Space Perception allowed Shade to sense his opponent's destination even before the man appeared. Rather than using Space Stabilization Aura to stop him, he thrust the longsword in his hand directly behind him.
The instant the man materialized, the crimson Moonbeam Greatsword pierced through his abdomen. The Flesh Corruption property of the Red Moon Moonbeam Greatsword took effect almost immediately. The festering wound instead made the sword in Shade's hand shine even more brilliantly.
But it was not a fatal wound. The Crimson Specter behind the man reached out and embraced him, then its two hands grabbed Shade's sword in front of the man. The strange spirit's head stretched over the man's shoulder toward Shade, its elongated neck like a slender crawling snake as its mouth bit toward Shade's throat.
Though he did not know what would happen if he were bitten, Shade still released his sword and retreated.
Their brief clash had lasted less than half a minute, and the five-ring Shade had barely managed to gain the upper hand.
Because Shade had let go, the red short knife piercing the man's abdomen vanished. The Mid-Ring Arcanist clutched his stomach and glared at Shade resentfully. His Destiny Ring emitted an even more dazzling light behind him, and this time, he actually exploded into red Blood Mist.
"Black mist, red mist... Are you really that good