As it turned out, an unseen enemy was often more intimidating than a visible one.
Charlotte, who had been on high alert just moments earlier, now charged forward alone without a second thought—proof enough.
Perhaps that was why people liked to scare others with things beyond comprehension.
Unfortunately, the target proved far more agile than its kind had been before.
Fu Qian followed the group and only had time to admire the target's impressive form once more before it vanished into the darkness again.
"It's our equipment. Even the patterns on it are identical."
Now that she was taking things seriously, Charlotte showed a remarkable coolheadedness, refusing to be lured away from the group by such a crude trick.
"But that thing is fast. Chasing it will probably take quite a bit of effort. What do you think?"
After stating her assessment, she looked directly at the Sage for his opinion.
"It doesn't look like we've been attacked."
The Sage nodded slightly.
"Not attacked... You mean one of our people has changed?"
That was indeed the likeliest possibility, but the group clearly found the alternative even harder to accept.
To change without a sound or warning—just imagining it was enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat.
For once, Scrooge didn't even have time to sneer. He stepped forward, frowning deeply.
"There are many possibilities. Without catching up to that thing, we can't make a definitive judgment. But given what we've seen so far, it isn't much of a threat—"
Before the Sage could finish, a streak of dark red flashed by.
In the next instant, half of his head was gone. He slumped limply to the ground, his tongue still writhing inside his mouth.
The devastating blow came from an intensely heated beam, fired from the covered eye on