Chapter 242: The Unseen Threat

Shaan didn’t blink as Miss Khaya briefly explained her plan to defeat the Resistance leader. She had laid out every detail and even prepared a backup plan in case things went wrong. Impressive. Shaan hadn’t even thought that far ahead.

"Shaan, do you understand the plan?"

Shaan nodded quickly. "Yes, I understand."

"Good. Let’s move."

They charged toward the Resistance leader at full speed. Shaan moved ahead of Miss Khaya and launched a relentless series of attacks. The Resistance leader swiftly blocked every strike.

"D-damn it! I won’t lose! "

The Resistance leader unleashed a powerful counterattack, but Shaan rolled to the side and narrowly evaded the blow. The strike smashed into the ground, leaving the Resistance leader momentarily exposed.

"Miss Khaya, now!"

Miss Khaya suddenly emerged from behind Shaan, her spearhead enveloped in mana. Without hesitation, she swung the weapon with tremendous force, striking the Resistance leader and sending him reeling.

"Damn it, what the—"

"Take this!"

The Resistance leader shot into the air before he could evade the attack. The sword slipped from his grasp, leaving him completely defenseless.

"It’s time to end all of this."

Miss Khaya leaped high into the air and struck the resistance leader with her spear. Instantly, he crashed hard to the ground, losing consciousness in an instant.

"We d-did it." A smile slowly spread across Shaan’s face. "Your plan worked."

"Yes, but we can’t celebrate just yet." Miss Khaya aimed the tip of her spear at the Resistance leader’s face. "This is our chance. We’ll finish him off before he causes any more—"

"Wait a moment." Shaan immediately grabbed the spear shaft, stopping Miss Khaya from bringing its tip any closer to the Resistance leader.

"Miss Khaya... we can’t do this."

"What?"

"We can’t kill him."

"Why would you say that?" Miss Khaya furrowed her brow. "This man... this man has caused a lot of trouble in the Twilight Sanctum." Miss Khaya clenched her fists tightly. Her eyes glared coldly at the resistance leader. "He even harmed other members of the resistance and tried to take control of the Twilight Sanctum for himself." She lowered the spear tip until it hovered directly above his face. "He deserves to die."

"Yes, I know, but what if he... what if he isn’t as cruel as we think?" Shaan turned his gaze toward the Resistance leader’s face. "What if he’s just a victim, and someone is controlling him, forcing him to commit these terrible acts?"

Miss Khaya fell silent for a moment, then pulled her spear away from the resistance leader’s face. "Tell me, why would you think that?"

"Because I saw it with my own eyes. He—"

A low, raspy laugh suddenly echoed through the area, silencing them both. They turned toward the sound at the same time and realized the Resistance leader had regained consciousness. His eyes had turned crimson, and a wide grin stretched across his face.

"Soul Devourer."

In an instant, a magic sigil resembling a samurai mask appeared directly behind the Resistance leader. To their astonishment, thick, pitch-black tendrils emerged from within the sigil and spread across his body, gradually covering him from head to toe.

The tendrils then pulled his body toward the sigil. Within moments, the Resistance leader vanished into it without a trace.

"W-what just happened?" Shaan rubbed his eyes repeatedly. "W-where did he go?"

Miss Khaya slowly shook her head. "I have no idea what just happened either, but one thing is certain. The Resistance leader is still—"

"ARRGH!!"

"Mi-Miss Khaya, that sound..."

"That was one of my members." Miss Khaya fell silent for a moment, her expression tense. "Something terrible has happened. We need to check on them right now."

However, the moment they arrived, their expressions stiffened at the sight before them. All of Miss Khaya’s members lay sprawled across the ground, too weak to get back up.

"Oh my God, w-who did all this?"

Miss Khaya slowly approached one of her fallen members and examined his injuries. "Sword wounds. I’m certain Ronin did this." She scanned the surroundings, tightening her grip on her spear. "Stay alert. Ronin must still be nearby."

"Understood." Shaan crossed his two short swords in front of him, his gaze fixed ahead. "We have to defeat that creature, no matter what it takes."

Moments later, a figure clad in black armor emerged from behind a pile of rocks not far from them. Shaan immediately recognized the armor as Ronin’s and braced himself to attack.

"Time to—"

Shaan’s body froze. His face turned pale as he recognized the figure wearing Ronin’s armor. It was the Resistance leader. He had never imagined that a Daemonist could possess a skill like this.

"B-but how is that possible?"

"Fusion Skill. A daemonist ability that does more than summon its user. It allows a daemon to merge its power with its Daemonist." Miss Khaya shifted one foot backward and tightened her grip on her spear. "We must be careful. The Resistance leader is much stronger now."

However, even after they waited for quite some time, Ronin made no move toward them. The figure remained motionless, his head bowed the entire time.

Shaan slowly lowered his dual short swords. Something about this figure seemed strange, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

[Cursed Object’s side effect activated.]

[Insanity Level increased by 5%.]

’Damn it, what’s—’ A sudden, excruciating pain struck Shaan’s head. It felt as though someone had slammed a heavy object against his skull. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, groaning in agony.

"Shaan, what’s wrong with—" Miss Khaya abruptly fell silent when thin, black veins began spreading across the palm of her hand. "Damn it! This... this is the cursed object’s effect!"

She immediately slapped Shaan’s cheeks several times, trying to bring him back to his senses. "Shaan, get rid of that cursed object!"

"No!" Shaan shook his head. "I can’t. I won’t let go of this thing until I’ve defeated the Resistance leader."

"But the longer you use the cursed object, the more it will affect your body." Miss Khaya warned Shaan, her voice filled with concern. "Shaan, please listen to me. You have to let go of that thing. Right now!"

"After I finish off the Resistance leader."

"Shaan, don’t do anything reckless! Ronin might—"

Shaan ignored Miss Khaya’s warning and dashed toward Ronin at full speed. The pain in his head grew worse, but he forced himself to keep moving. Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his dual short swords, ready to finish his opponent once and for all.

"Time to put an end to this damn creature!"

However, just as Shaan was about to strike, Ronin suddenly opened his eyes. He drew his katana in one swift motion, unleashing a slash infused with dark energy that shot straight toward Shaan.

Shaan tried to twist away, but the pain in his head suddenly intensified. His vision blurred, and his body refused to respond. "Oh, sh*t!"

"Shaan, watch out!"