The Intellect Devourer lurking in the shadows had no idea when it had given itself away.
When it devoured the Master of Arms' brain and truly replaced "Christian," it gained all of the powerful Drow's memories and abilities—
From his training at the Spider Academy to becoming the Kling Family's finest warrior, nearly a century of experience had ingrained Arcane Arts and combat skills into his very instincts.
So it kept its breathing quiet as always and used the Invisibility Spell to conceal itself completely. It only hoped for a moment when their guard dropped, so it could take the woman back without a struggle.
Then its kin could devour her brain and replace her.
But they were sharper than it had imagined.
Whoosh—
The arrow tore through the air with a shrill whistle. From that sound, Chris could tell its owner was a seasoned hunter.
But he did not consider himself prey.
He drew two jet-black scimitars from his waist.
Fast.
Faster than the arrow. His scimitar traced an arc through the air, its clear note like a drop of water falling into the Dark Lake. That harmonious ring alone proved the century of skill "Chris" possessed.
The blade vanished into the darkness without a trace. Shalti saw only the arrow trailing pink petals split in two, cut down by an unseen strike.
She reacted at once, reaching for a second arrow.
But the figure in the darkness surged forward, swift as a Black Panther, and was almost upon her.
He moved faster than any beast she had ever seen.
With her bow still coming up, she had no time to react.
"Emerald Flame Sword."
Emerald light flowed like fire down the tips of Chris's twin scimitars. Of course, Chris would not cut off her head. He needed this