The wind swept up yellow sand, rapidly reducing visibility. So when a figure appeared beside the damaged fountain statue in the center of the square, Shade could not even make out who it was at first.
"Judging by the build, it's male."
Unlike those previous enemies that appeared in monster form from the start, the figure hidden beneath the sandstorm this time had the shape of a normal human.
It stood beside the fountain's ruins. It did not attack, nor did it even show any sign of trying to move toward Shade. Shade even suspected it was an illusion, so as he advanced against the wind and sand, he summoned his Destiny Ring and threw a Truth Crystal created by Thaumaturgy in its direction. But the figure did not change.
He was not the sort of person who, out of curiosity, had to approach and see his opponent's face before attacking. Seeing that it was not moving and that the distance was suitable, Shade gripped the Thunder Spear in his right hand, and silvery-white thunder pierced through the sandstorm.
The bolt easily struck the figure beside the fountain, but the attack seemed to have been absorbed and had no effect at all. Just as Shade was puzzled, a sudden clap of thunder rang out from nowhere. Then a Thunder Spear shot toward his head from afar.
He immediately summoned the Moonbeam Greatsword and drove it into the ground. A golden shield forcibly blocked the Thunder Spear, but once the shield dissipated, Shade's expression darkened.
"Coincidence, or... Moonlight Slash!"
The greatsword slashed forward, and a dazzling silver blade of light flew low across the ground into the sandstorm once more, only to be immediately blocked by the other party's "Heaton Seal." Then, just as Shade had expected, nearly identical moonlight lit