[The damp air of the forest]
[The rustling of wind moving through the distant leaves]
[The sound of water dripping somewhere below]
The place deep within the Black Forest looked almost like something from a dream.
A narrow path wound through the dense trees before gradually opening into a beautiful valley.
Above it, thick vines formed a natural canopy, blocking most of the sunlight.
Yet the valley was not dark.
Rows of flowers covered the ground.
Each flower was about the size of a fist, with brilliantly colored petals and seven leaves growing from every stem.
A faint blue light emerged from the edges of those leaves, making them look like tiny stars scattered across the earth.
Arjun stared at them for several moments.
Even in such a terrifying world, there were places that created the illusion of peace.
But he knew that even such an illusion could be filled with danger.
Commander Veerbhadra and his group were carefully harvesting the flowers.
Their movements were fast, yet precise—like experienced craftsmen working with delicate materials.
Arjun had not been assigned to the harvesting.
It required a special technique, and one careless mistake could ruin the entire process.
So he sat a short distance away and focused on controlling his breathing.
[Slow, deep breaths]
His previous battle had pushed his cultivation to a certain limit.
And today, if luck was on his side, he might be able to break through that limit.
Arjun closed his eyes.
The Sea and Mountain Mantra.
He began drawing spiritual energy inward.
The energy hidden within the surrounding air slowly flowed toward his body.
First came the cold.
Then the stinging sensation.
Then a heavy surge of energy.
A familiar vibration rose beneath his skin—the same sensation that appeared whenever his cultivation entered a deeper state.
After some time—
[Pop!
Pop!]
Several faint sounds erupted from within his body.
Arjun’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
Then a deep, blackish impurity began seeping out through the pores of his skin.
It mixed with the filth that still remained on his body from his previous battle.
At the same time, his body began absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy at an even faster rate.
[The subtle sound of flowing energy]
The sounds within his body grew louder.
Then—
They suddenly stopped.
Arjun’s mind filled with a deep vibration.
His meridians tightened.
The blood and spiritual energy within his body began forming a new balance.
A wave of power swept through him.
Arjun slowly opened his eyes.
A faint purple glow flickered within them.
He had reached the Third Level.
But along with the excitement came a sense of unease.
Arjun looked toward his shadow.
[A faint, strange pulling sound]
Something unusual had happened.
During his cultivation, the impurities that had been expelled from his body had not moved toward the dark mark on his left arm.
Instead—
They had sunk into his shadow.
As if his shadow itself were consuming them.
Arjun’s expression became serious.
This was not normal.
He stared at the shadow beneath him.
It still appeared completely ordinary on the surface.
Yet somewhere within it, he could sense an unfamiliar form of life.
As if it were not merely a shadow.
As if it were something hungry…
Something that was drawing the impurities into itself.
Arjun slowly exhaled.
There was no time to think about it now.
He raised his eyes and looked toward the group.
They were still busy harvesting the flowers.
Then his gaze shifted toward the opposite end of the valley.
Faint shapes could be seen between the trees.
Ancient structures.
Broken.
Half-buried.
Sinking into the earth beneath the weight of time.
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
The distant buildings looked like the remains of an ancient worship complex—an extremely old place that seemed to have buried some unknown secret within its walls.
Commander Veerbhadra noticed where Arjun was looking.
“No one knows when this place was built.”
“This is our boundary.”
“Scavengers don’t go beyond it.”
Arjun calmly asked,
“The boundary?”
Veerbhadra picked up another Seven-Petaled Lotus and carefully placed it inside his bag.
“Yes.”
“If you ever get trapped in danger, that place is a good place to hide.”
“But going beyond it would be foolish.”
[A faint warning carried by the wind]
Arjun stared at the distant ruins.
For a brief moment, something inside him seemed to pull him toward them.
There was something there.
Something ancient.
Something buried.
But Veerbhadra spoke again.
“Your eyes work well.”
“Stay alive by relying on them.”
Arjun nodded.
He understood.
This valley was not merely a field filled with precious herbs.
It was the threshold of silent mysteries that very few people had the courage to cross.
The group continued working for some time.
Arjun remained seated to one side, trying to understand the changes within his body.
He could clearly feel the power of the Third Level.
His body was stronger than before.
A new layer of strength flowed beneath his skin.
And then—
[A sudden, violent cracking sound]
A tremendous explosion erupted from somewhere inside the forest.
Everyone raised their heads.
Another sound followed.
The clash of metal.
Someone shouted.
Then came the sharp ringing of weapons.
Veerbhadra’s expression hardened.
“Stay alert!”
Arjun stood instantly.
Dust rose from the path ahead.
Several figures emerged from between the trees.
They did not look like ordinary scavengers.
Their clothes were dark.
Their movements were disciplined.
And their eyes carried a dangerous intent.
An old voice echoed through the valley.
“No one is leaving this place alive.”
[The tense rhythm of battle]
Veerbhadra immediately signaled his people to fall back.
But the attack came fast.
Two figures lunged from the left.
Another attacked from the right.
Their weapons flashed beneath the dim light.
Arjun immediately assessed the situation.
These were not ordinary bandits.
They were members of Bloodshadow.
One of them was a thin young man with sharp eyes.
He moved directly toward Veerbhadra.
Another was a tall, powerfully built woman who circled toward Veerbhadra’s left side, preparing to strike.
The third was a heavyset man carrying a massive weapon, attempting to surround them from behind.
Veerbhadra was not alone.
But the enemy’s numbers and preparation were obvious.
Then a threatening voice came from the attackers.
“And that boy?”
“He’ll fetch a good price.”
The moment Arjun heard those words, his eyes narrowed.
They were targeting him as well.
One of the attackers struck Veerbhadra across the chest.
Veerbhadra staggered backward but did not lose his balance.
His eyes instantly became ice-cold.
He countered with his weapon.
[The sharp clash of weapons]
Arjun did not hesitate.
His gaze fell toward his shadow.
That strange movement was still there.
But this time, he did not feel it as a source of power.
It felt more like a silent support.
As if his shadow could push him forward from behind.
Arjun lunged.
His first attack was aimed at the temple of the thin young man.
[The sharp sound of metal piercing flesh]
The young man collapsed without a sound.
The tall woman immediately turned and threw a dagger at Arjun.
Arjun leaned to the left and avoided it.
In the same instant, he drove his fist into her chest.
[The heavy impact of a blow against flesh]
The woman staggered backward.
But the third man had already rushed toward him.
Arjun drew his dagger.
He lowered his body and struck behind the man’s legs before immediately retreating.
His mind held only three things—
Distance.
Speed.
Timing.
Veerbhadra noticed him.
A flash appeared in his eyes.
It was the kind of look that only an experienced battle-hardened leader could have when he realized that a young boy was growing faster than expected.
But the Bloodshadow members had not stopped.
They wanted Veerbhadra.
And they wanted Arjun too.
Arjun took another breath.
He released the power of the Third Level throughout his body.
His feet firmly planted themselves against the ground.
His hands became steady.
His movements were not merely fast anymore.
They were precise.
Then—
He lunged again.
This time, his movement was so quick that the attacker in front of him could not fully react.
Arjun cut across the man’s palm.
His weapon fell.
Then Arjun struck the back of his neck.
[The final scream of the struggle]
Two enemies had already fallen.
Only the heavyset man and another companion remained.
For a moment, they stared at Arjun.
Disbelief filled their eyes.
This child…
But Veerbhadra gave them no opportunity.
He unleashed his full strength and forced the opponent in front of him backward.
Arjun immediately spun and charged toward the heavyset man.
There was no iron spike in his hand this time.
There was only a decision.
He struck directly.
The Bloodshadow member collapsed.
The battle had not lasted long.
But it had carried the full scent of death.
At last, the forest became silent again.
The remaining members of the group stood stunned.
Veerbhadra’s breathing was somewhat heavier, but his eyes remained steady.
He looked toward Arjun.
There was no obvious smile on his face.
Yet his silence said enough.
Arjun wiped his dagger clean.
Then he looked at Veerbhadra.
For the first time, there was a faint sense of loyalty in his voice.
“Should we leave now?”
Veerbhadra met his eyes.
Then he gave a slight nod.
“Yes.”
“Now we leave.”
[A distant vibration carried through the wind]
Before leaving, Arjun looked once more toward the ancient structure.
It was still there.
Buried beneath the weight of time.
Silent.
Like an ancient guardian watching everything around it.
And Arjun suddenly felt that the battle they had just fought was only the beginning.
He had repaid an unknown debt.
He had protected someone stronger and more experienced than himself.
And at the same time, he had witnessed the first true proof of his growing strength.
He was no longer merely surviving.
He was beginning to fight back.
Chapter CliffhangerWas the Bloodshadow attack only the beginning?
What else will Arjun’s strange shadow be capable of doing?
How will Veerbhadra view Arjun after witnessing his performance?
And what secret is hidden behind the ancient structure deep within the Black Forest?