Ⅰ
After Acker's low shout, a figure slowly rose from the shadows to one side-a place where the wall met the moonlight.
Shadows filled the space.
But at Acker's low shout, those shadows began to flow like water.
When the figure emerged, the shadows truly streamed off his body like water, while some shrouded him like mist, making his face impossible to see.
"Are you the teacher's last student?
You naive fool.
Who do you think you are?
Do you think you can save them?"
His hoarse, harsh voice brimmed with contempt and mockery, along with an indescribable resentment and anger. Yet a smile appeared on Acker's dry, deeply wrinkled face.
"How would I know without trying?"
As his words fell, Acker shifted his feet.
Whoosh!
A fine thread behind him whistled as it suddenly accelerated.
The thread skimmed past Acker's body and collided with another that skimmed past Bloodshadow Thorn-
Clang!
The clear ring sounded like blades clashing.
Then they trembled and wound around each other.
The two men stood face-to-face, but the threads moved on their own, like two impossibly slender snakes.
They kept whistling through the air, but never collided again.
Not because he did not want to, but because he could not.
After just one collision, Bloodshadow Thorn knew his imitation Spider Silk was a full grade inferior to the genuine Spider Silk.
Another collision would shatter the Spider Silk in his hand.
That was the last thing he wanted to see.
He could not accept such an outcome.
He would never lose to the man before him.
Acker noticed this instantly, too.
He took a slight step back, and his Spider Silk instantly retracted.
A dagger appeared in his hand.
As Acker withdrew his Spider Silk, Bloodshadow Thorn also withdrew his own Spider Silk, and