CHAPTER 69: BLINDING LIGHT.

AT THE SILVERWOOD MANOR.

*WHOOSH*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

"Keuk!... how is it so strong?"

Galen thought in his mind while flying through a wall after being tossed from the east side of the manor to the west.

*CRASH*

"Urgh…"

Galen groaned in pain as he crashes onto the floor. But quickly got back on his feet, sword in hand and his guard up. Glancing around, he noticed he was back at the center of the manor's entrance hall, bathed in moonlight.

"What the hell was that beast? Blocking its attacks sent me flying across the manor… Ugh."

Galen muttered, with a pained expression. He looks down at his hands and noticed them tremble from the impact of blocking the beast's attacks with his sword. Then he realized that if he hadn't blocked the attack he would have gotten seriously hurt.

"Taking more attacks like that would be dangerous."

Galen thought in his mind with a cautious expression.

*WHOOSH*

"RAAAAAAAOORR!!"

Grace's deafening roar pierced the air as she appeared in front of Galen, launching an incredible speed attack with her claws aimed at his head.

"!!!"

Noticing the attack Galen reacts quickly, he raised his sword, channels his mana into it, and deflects Grace's huge claws.

*CLANG*

*WHOOSH*

After her attack was blocked Grace retreated into the dark corners of the 'entrance hall' waiting for an opportunity to strike again.

"Even after using my mana to disperse some of the power in that attack, it's still had this much power. Keuk!"

Galen said in his mind as he grunts in pain feeling the impact of the attack on his hands. But unlike the first attack which caught him by surprise, this attack was weaker.

"I was not sure at first, but now my suspicion is confirmed. This beast does not attack with mana; it seems to rely only on its physical strength to attack…"

Galen paused, scanning his surroundings with his mana sense but unable to sense Grace's presence.

"…My guess was right. Whatever this beast is, it does not possess a single mana in its body. That's why it could get the drop on me before… And with the advantage of the night, it can evade both my mana detection and my sight… But how is it possible for any living creature to not possess mana?"

Sir. Galen thought in his mind as he tightens his grip on his sword.

But what Galen did not know was that what Grace possessed was not mana but universal Qi.

*CREAK*

*WHOOSH*

"!?..."

Galen snaps out of his thought as he hears the loud sound of creaking wood and quick movement. He swiftly turned toward the source of the sound, but the area was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible for him to discern anything.

"Tch, what an annoying beast to fight. I can't sense its mana or see it. How do I fight against something like this?"

Galen thought desperately, holding his sword with one hand. He rummaged through his storage ring, hoping to find an 'Everglow orb' to illuminate the dark corners of the hall where Grace hid, giving him an advantage. But to his dismay, there were none in his storage ring.

*WHOOSH*

*THUD– THUD*

"!!!"

Galen's heart raced as he heard heavy footsteps rapidly approaching from behind. Swiftly turning towards the sound, he tightened his grip on his sword with both hands, his eyes locked on the darkness, fully prepared for a confrontation.

*WHOOSH*

"Huh...Wood?"

Galen said in his mind with a confused expression as a piece of wood came hurtling towards him. For a brief moment, he was puzzled, but soon he realized that it was just a distraction to divert his attention.

"SHIT!!"

Galen cursed, realizing he had fallen for the beast's trick. He sensed a presence behind him, so he tries turning around to defend himself.

*WHOOSH*

"Sorry…"

Grace said in her mind, as she appears behind Galen and lunch a vicious attack with her claws.

"..."

Galen's instincts kicked in as he witnessed the impending attack, realizing he wasn't fast enough to dodge or block it. He quickly gathered all his mana on his back, creating a barrier to mitigate the damage he would take. However, to his dismay, Grace's claws were infused with universal Qi, and as they struck the barrier, they effortlessly broke through it, stabbing Galen through the chest and stomach.

*ZAP…CRACKLE…BOOM*

*STAB*

"KEUHEUK… Cough! Cough!"

Galen let out a gasp of pain as the sharp claws pierced his body, leaving him vulnerable and in agony. He coughed up blood, his strength waning as the excruciating pain intensified.

*TAKES OUT*

*THUD*

"..."

Grace pulled her claws out of Galen's body, and he collapsed to the ground, now bearing two enormous holes in his chest and stomach. Blood pooled around him, and he struggled to remain conscious, his life slipping away with each passing moment.

"..."

Grace stood in silence, her gaze fixed on Galen's lifeless body, her expression filled with sadness. However, that sadness soon turned to cold determination as she diverted her eyes from him and looked down at her hand and paws. They were covered in a pulsating purple energy, exuding a powerful aura that hinted at the immense force she possessed.

"I knew the power my liege gave me would be powerful, but it was still shocking when I broke through a mana barrier of a 3rd class grandmaster with ease… I wonder how–"

*THUMP-THUMP*

"UGH…!"

Grace grunts in pain, feeling a sharp pain in her heart as she falls to her knees vomiting blood, and transforms back to her human form. Her breaths were labored, and her once powerful demeanor now seemed vulnerable and weakened.

"Wh-what is happening to me?"

Grace questioned, her voice trembling with fear and confusion. She stared at the blood she had coughed up, feeling the last vestiges of strength leaving her body. Her vision blurred, and the world around her seemed to fade away as she fell flat on the ground. With a final gasp, she lost consciousness, her body now motionless and defenseless on the cold floor of the manor's entrance hall.

******************************************************

A FEW MOMENTS LATER.

*PITTER-PATTER*

The sound of running footsteps echoed through the manor as Tristan and Percival sprinted towards the entrance hall with haste. Their hearts pounded with adrenaline, and their minds filled with concern for their team leader.

"???"

As they reached the entrance hall, Tristan and Percival noticed a figure lying on the ground from a distance, resembling Galen. Their hearts sank, and a sense of dread washed over them as they approached cautiously, hoping their fears were unfounded.

*WHOOSH*

"Team leader! Are you okay?! Where is the beast? Did you kill it?"

Tristan and Percival yelled in unison, their voices filled with concern and urgency as they rushed toward Galen. When they got to him, they both noticed that despite their cries, he did not reply and remained motionless.

"Is the team leader unconscious?"

Tristan questioned in his mind as he knelt beside Galen, gently tapping him on the back in an attempt to rouse him.

*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*

"Team leader… team leader, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Tristan asked anxiously, but there was no reply or movement from Galen.

"Emm… Tristan, do you think the leader is not moving because he's dead?"

Percival asked with a shaky voice. The possibility of Galen's demise weighed heavily on both of them, and the atmosphere was filled with apprehension.

"That's impossible! There is no way the leader is dead; he's just hurt!"

Tristan yelled with an angry tone and expression, refuting Percival's suggestion.

*THUD* *THUD*

"Well… well… well. It seems someone is already dead. Kekekeke."

The chilling, unknown voice and sinister laughter echoed from the manor's entrance, sending shivers down Tristan and Percival's spines. Their instincts kicked in, and they swiftly drew their swords, pointing them toward the source of the voice, ready to face whatever new threat awaited them.

*SHIIING!*

*SWISH*

"Who is there?"

Tristen asked, his voice tense and laced with panic. He maintained his guard, ready to defend against any potential threat. However, there was no answer, only an eerie silence that left them on edge. The unknown presence in the darkness continued to toy with their fears, heightening the suspense in the air.

*CREAK! *

"!!!"

Suddenly, a loud creaking sound echoed through the manor as its entrance door slowly swung open. The unsettling noise reverberated throughout the hall, intensifying the tension in the air. Tristen and Percival kept their eyes fixed on the door, their hearts pounding with anticipation, unsure of what awaited them on the other side.

*WHOOSH*

After the door was fully opened, a crystal ball came flying through it, landing on the ground with a soft thud.

*THUD*

It rolled towards Tristen and Percival, gradually coming to a stop at Tristen's feet.

"What the hell–"

*FLASH*

Before Percival could finish his words, a blinding flash of bright light burst out of the crystal ball, flooding the entire floor with its brilliance.

"AAAAAHHH!!"

Tristen and Percival yelled in pain, covering their eyes as they were temporarily blinded by the intense light. The sudden and overwhelming brightness disoriented them, leaving them vulnerable and unable to see their surroundings.