[354] Shadows Unleashed

"The Sword Princess! She's from the Loki Familia!"

"Thank goodness, reinforcements are here!"

"The youngest to reach Level 6, this is incredible!"

"Everyone, give it your all! The Sword Princess is here to help!"

"Take them down!"

...

Ais's arrival was like a shot of adrenaline to the adventurers, instantly boosting their morale. But while the atmosphere turned hopeful, Finn furrowed his brow. He had specifically instructed August and Ais to stay back at the familia. If anything went wrong, those two were the seeds of hope for the future.

Yet here they were. There was no point in scolding them now—it wouldn't change anything. The chaos below consumed all thought as August quietly positioned himself on a nearby rooftop.

"Well, we meet again, Filvis," August called out.

Nearby, the masked figure of Filvis stiffened in shock. Her surprise quickly twisted into cold, murderous intent. August had just casually unveiled her deepest secret—her connection to the mysterious monster attacks.

The Doppelgänger magic and the work of the creatures were Filvis's most closely guarded secrets, yet August had revealed them without hesitation. She had to kill him now—there could be no witnesses.

As for denying it? She didn't bother. The fact that August had spoken so confidently meant he was sure of her true identity.

"What do you want, August? To kill me?" Filvis asked, her voice laced with venom.

"That did cross my mind," August replied calmly, "but not the version of you that stands before me now."

"What do you mean?" she hissed.

"You're too weak right now. It wouldn't be satisfying. Killing the fully united version of you—that would be worth the effort."

Filvis's eyes widened in shock, her pupils contracting. He knew. August knew everything about her.

If that was the case, there was no way she could let him leave here alive. Without another word, she lunged at him, her hand flashing with a poisoned dagger—lethal upon the slightest touch.

Clang!

August's Shadow Blade, a manifestation of his Dragon's Shadow, intercepted the attack effortlessly. Truth be told, August was growing quite fond of his Shadow Blade—it was so versatile, always ready, and nearly indestructible.

"Is that… a shadow?" Filvis questioned.

"Indeed," August smirked. "The shadow of a dragon."

The Dragon's Shadow was a gift born from the pinnacle of the Dragon System's abilities, far beyond the reach of ordinary adventurers.

But August's words fell on deaf ears as Filvis pressed forward, relentlessly searching for an opening. She was different from her main body—this was a doppelgänger, a being forged from her dark side and monstrous energy. She was relentless, ruthless, willing to do anything to achieve her goals.

Bam!

Clang!

Boom!

After several rounds of attacks, Filvis had no choice but to withdraw. No matter how she tried, she couldn't break through August's shadow defenses. Meanwhile, August seemed completely unfazed, like he was toying with her.

Realizing the tide was turning against her, Filvis leaped back, retreating to a nearby rooftop and sheathing her poisoned dagger.

"Giving up so soon?" August taunted.

"Next time, August," Filvis spat. "I'll kill you myself."

"I'll be waiting," August replied coolly. "Just don't take too long, or I might get bored and send Dionysus back to the heavens before you get your chance."

Those words struck a nerve, igniting a fury in Filvis. Even though she was masked, August could feel her murderous rage simmering beneath the surface. But he paid it no mind. Filvis, even in her strongest form, was barely a Level 8. Compared to him, the difference in power was too vast to take her seriously.

Still, she managed to suppress her rage and retreated into the night, disappearing from sight.

Now that Filvis was gone, August turned his attention to the swarm of monsters below. The sheer number of them shocked him. The dungeon was truly going berserk.

It seemed that the roots of the World Tree, the treasure he had planted deep within the dungeon, were doing their job, causing a massive upheaval.

Was August concerned about the roots being in danger? Not at all. The monsters could try their hardest, but the World Tree's roots had absorbed the very essence of the dungeon itself. These creatures would be nothing more than fodder.

"August! If you're done sightseeing, how about lending a hand?" Finn's shout broke through August's musings. The battlefield was overrun with monsters, and Finn was struggling to hold them back.

Hearing Finn's call, many adventurers turned their gaze towards August, finally noticing him. Among them was Ottar, whose eyes widened in recognition. The sight of August, that overwhelmingly powerful figure, sent chills down their spines. The nightmare of a man who had haunted their dreams was here once again.

"Alright, Finn, no need to yell. I'm coming," August said with a grin.

In the blink of an eye, shadows surged across the battlefield. From the ground, the walls, and the surrounding darkness, an army of black-clad ninja warriors rose up. Clad in dark robes, their hands adorned with sharp claws, their eyes gleaming with crimson 'V' shapes, the ninja army appeared endless.

But it wasn't their appearance that stunned the onlookers—it was their sheer number.

"Go."

At August's command, the shadowy army charged forward. The ninja-like figures tore through the monster hordes with terrifying efficiency. Even when they were struck down, they simply dissolved into black smoke, only to be replaced by more from the surrounding shadows.

In a matter of seconds, the tide of monsters was pushed back into the Babel Tower. The remaining adventurers, awestruck, could only stare at August. His power to summon such an army—stronger than even the endless flow of monsters from the dungeon—left them speechless.

For that moment, August became the savior of the battlefield, a hero in the eyes of everyone present.

Unbeknownst to the others, as his shadow army fought, every magic stone and drop item left behind was quietly absorbed into the darkness. After all, if he was going to fight, he might as well reap the rewards. Every magic stone, no matter how small, had its value.

As August strode forward, the crowd parted for him like the sea. Wherever he walked, all eyes followed, and every soul in that battlefield knew—they were in the presence of an unstoppable force.

***

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What happens when someone gets the chance to wield Cartoon Tropes in a world of swords and magic?

Madness! Absolute madness!

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