296: Plans

System Notification:

You have eliminated the "Shadowed Blade Apparition" – mere specters of the true assassins.

EXP Gained: 0.

Val's eyes narrowed, absorbing the system's message. These were only shadows? How surprising. But it also made sense. No wonder they were so weak.

"That should've drained quite a bit of your reserves," came a taunting voice. "It will be easier to defeat you now."

Emerging from the shadows, Clea appeared, flanked by a group of formidable-looking individuals. A confident smirk played on his face, echoed by similar expressions on the faces of his associates.

The shadow assassins were evidently deployed to exhaust Val and deplete his soul power reserves. Clea and his group seemed quite satisfied, assuming that their strategy had succeeded.