Chapter 266

Chapter 266: The Startling Shadow

A few minutes ago, at the Demon Hunt Agency.

The air in the office was tense, a strange and unsettling energy seeping through its walls.

In the spacious hall, Alan, the newly appointed captain of the Night Watchers, stood tall in his black suit, a sharp contrast to the unease etched on his face. Before him, a team of elite Night Watchers awaited his orders.

Each member of this team carried the potential for awakening extraordinary abilities. Among them were two individuals who had already reached an advanced level—remarkable talents, even capable of leading other teams.

Alan shared a grim piece of information: a dangerous, mysterious creature was lurking within the agency. Its presence posed a threat unlike anything they had faced before.

Alan’s Rise

Though Alan was newly appointed, his strength had shocked many. Few had known the extent of his abilities until now.

Rumors circulated: had he been hiding his strength all this time? Had he deliberately pretended to be weaker?

Alan denied these claims outright.

“It’s impossible for me to hold back when protecting the innocent. How could I not give it my all?”

Still, his sudden rise in power raised questions. In the Night Watchers’ system, any noticeable improvement in extraordinary abilities required thorough documentation. This policy ensured that such powers did not spiral out of control.

The new director, once known

as the Raven Reaper, vouched

for Alan, attributing his growth

to Lin Bian’s inheritance. Out of

respect for Lin Bian and trust

in the director, most refrained

from questioning Alan further.

The Threat Within

Alan took a deep breath. His

instincts, bolstered by the

voice of the Savior in his mind,

warned him of an imminent

danger.

The creature lurking in the

agency, the Savior revealed,

was the most terrifying one

yet. Though it hadn’t shown

itself, Alan knew it was hiding

nearby.

Most of the agency’s

personnel had already left to

handle disturbances across

Tatsumi City, leaving only the

most skilled behind. These

included Alan, the Raven

Reaper, and Adelaide.

Alan glanced at his team, his

longtime friends. Despite his

new rank, there was no

animosity between them. But

the absence of Lin Bian, their

former mentor, weighed

heavily on them all.

The Startling Shadow

Alan’s assistant, Ai, stepped

forward. With her short hair,

glasses, and composed

demeanor, she exuded quiet

confidence.

“The wards have detected

nothing unusual,” she reported.

“Divination ceremonies also

revealed no trace of the

creature.”

She hesitated, then continued,

“There are two possibilities.

Either the creature has left the

agency or it possesses

abilities that render it

undetectable.”

Alan’s voice was firm. “It’s still

here. Nearby.”

Ai nodded, trusting his

judgment despite her doubts.

Alan’s thoughts raced. The

Savior had called the creature

the Startling Shadow. Perhaps

it was a shadow-based entity,

like a Shadow Fiend.

Suddenly, a bone-chilling

sensation swept over him.

Danger.

“Captain! Your shadow!”

Alan looked down. His shadow

had changed, elongating

unnaturally. A grotesque figure

emerged—tall, thin, with

hollow eyes and mouths on its

head. It laughed, a silent,

sinister sound.

The Battle Begins

The Startling Shadow moved

with terrifying speed, merging

into Ai’s shadow before

anyone could react.

“Captain…” Ai whispered, her

voice trembling. Her body

froze, then twisted unnaturally,

manipulated like a puppet.

A monstrous weapon emerged

from her shadow—a sword

with shark-like teeth, radiating

madness and terror.

Alan’s instincts screamed.

“Everyone, dodge! Don’t get hit

by that blade!”

The shadow blade swung with

immense force, splitting Alan

in two. But it was a trick. Alan

reappeared nearby, his

Substitute Puppet magic

saving him.

A Desperate Gamble

Alan hesitated. How could they

defeat this creature without

harming Ai?

Ai, consumed by pain, pleaded

through tears.

“Kill me… Please…”

Her words pierced Alan’s heart,

but he refused to give up.

Summoning his courage, he

used his Reanimation Spell,

sending knives imbued with

electricity to pin the shadow

down. The creature howled in

pain but refused to relent.

Alan called upon the power of

the Sun Anthem, a radiant light

that swept through the hall,

burning away the shadows.

But the Startling Shadow

retaliated, wielding its massive

blade with devastating power.

The Savior’s Intervention

The battle seemed hopeless

until a familiar voice broke

through.

“It seems we’re not too late.”

Alan turned, his heart leaping

with hope. A group of powerful

allies, led by the Emperor, had

arrived.

With a single strike from

Gungnir, a beam of pure light

descended, tearing into the

Startling Shadow. The creature

screamed silently, writhing in

pain as the light consumed it.

Yet, its strength persisted. The

battle was far from over.

Alan clenched his fists,

determination burning in his

eyes. He would fight until his

last breath—to protect his

team, his city, and the memory

of Lin Bian.

The Startling Shadow had met

its match.

To be continued…