CHAPTER 83: DOPPLESHADE’S ATTACK

"Oh no, what’s happening?" Chelsie suddenly stopped breathing for a moment as she saw thickening smoke rising.

"Wait, I’ll try to see," Shaan said, squinting his eyes and trying to look down. "Damn, I can’t see clearly. We’re too far from the gate."

"I feel like something bad might have happened down there," Nalira said as she stood up and started climbing the stairs again. "Come on, we can’t stay here too long. We have to keep moving."

"I agree. We need to get to Twilight Sanctum as fast as possible and report this to the officers there."

However, just as they prepared to continue, a mysterious silhouette suddenly appeared from behind a tree near the stairs. The figure looked quite large, maybe twice Shaan’s size, and slowly walked toward them.

"Damn, could that be the one who caused this explosion?" Shaan grabbed his dual short swords. "We need to be careful."

Shaan’s heartbeat quickened as he realized the silhouette was getting closer and closer to them. Damn, judging from the silhouette alone, this figure must be quite strong. He tightened his grip, preparing to launch his attack.

"Now, it’s time for me to launch..." Shaan paused and immediately lowered his dual short swords when he saw that the figure was just one of the gate guards they had met earlier.

"Oh man, that was close. If I had attacked, they would have seen me as a threat."

"Thank goodness, it’s just an officer."

Mr courier sighed deeply, then walked toward the guard. He tried to explain about the explosion at the entrance gate, but for some reason, the guard didn’t respond at all and just stood there motionless.

"That’s strange. Something’s wrong with that officer..." Shaan’s expression tensed when he saw the officer’s hands covered in blood and suddenly start to change shape. "Oh no, could it be..."

"Doppleshade!" Nalira exclaimed in panic. "Mr. Courier, get away from there immediately!"

"I don’t understand what you’re—"

’Slash, slash!’

Doppleshade immediately slashed the courier, causing him to collapse weakly on the ground. Fresh red liquid flowed from the wound, and the courier’s consciousness began to fade.

"Oh God, Mr. Courier!" Chelsie screamed. "I have to save Mr. Courier before he—"

"Elsie, calm yourself." Nalira held Chelsie’s wrist. "We can’t act rashly. The distance between the courier and Doppleshade is very close, and if you try to help the courier without a well-thought-out plan, you could get hurt."

Hearing Nalira’s words, Chelsie fell silent for a moment. "But, but if I’m late treating his wound, Mr courier... Mr courier will die."

’This is bad. What Chelsie said is true. The longer Mr courier goes untreated, the more likely he is to die from blood loss.’ Shaan bit his lower lip, his face pale. ’I have to distract that creature as much as possible.’

"Chelsie, listen to me. I’ll try to—"

Without saying a word, Nalira immediately dashed forward and launched a swift attack toward Doppleshade. The terrifying creature immediately blocked Nalira’s attack and succeeded in disrupting its focus.

"Elsei, I can’t hold it any longer!" Nalira said while blocking all of Doppleshade’s counterattacks. "Hurry!"

"Alright."

Seeing the chance, Chelsie and Shaan ran toward the courier. They quickly dragged him away from the Doppleshade and gently leaned him against a nearby step.

"Mr. Courier, hold on. I’ll help you soon."

"Chelsie, stay here and take care of Mr. Courier. I’ll help Nalira right away."

"Uhmm... okay." Chelsie nodded quickly. "Please, be careful, Shaan."

Without wasting any time, Shaan gathered all his strength and launched a powerful strike at the Doppleshade, who kept attacking Nalira. At the same time, Robin Hood’s arrows flew in, breaking the Doppleshade’s defense and giving Nalira a chance to counterattack.

"Take this, damn creature!"

Nalira swung her sword swiftly, but the Doppleshade easily dodged her attack. She also commanded Satan to breathe fire, but the Doppleshade moved far faster than all of that.

"This creature moves fast. None of my attacks can hurt it."

"Nalira, it’s going to be very difficult to defeat this creature alone. We have to work together to defeat it."

"... Yes, you’re right."

"I’ll try to slow down the creature with Robin Hood’s help," Shaan explained. "When it slows down, use all your strength to finish this terrifying beast as quickly as possible."

"Alright, I understand." Shaan once again wrapped his dual short swords with his mana, glaring sharply at Doppleshade. "Robin Hood, it’s time to defeat this damn creature."

[Of course, with pleasure.]

When Doppleshade launched his counterattack, Shaan dashed forward at full speed, deflecting all incoming attacks. He then commanded Robin Hood to use the Phantom Specter to temporarily halt Doppleshade’s assault.

"Swooshh!"

An arrow from Robin Hood flew swiftly and successfully wounded both of Doppleshade’s arms. Within seconds, both of Doppleshade’s hands were paralyzed. Good, now Shaan and Nalira’s chances of defeating the creature were even greater.

"I must kill Doppleshade while I have the chance."

Shaan darted forward swiftly and dodged the creature’s counterattack. He then swung his dual short swords and slashed at the creature’s legs with such force that it could no longer move.

"Nalira, now!"

Hearing Shaan’s shout, Nalira concentrated all her mana energy in her legs, then dashed forward at full speed, breaking through the smoke in front of her. With all her strength, she launched her strike toward the Doppleshade, hoping the creature would notice her presence.

"Feel this, you wretched creature!"

"Cling!"

"Damn, what—"

"Nalira, watch out!"

A powerful blow instantly came from in front of them, aiming to knock out Shaan and Nalira. However, they quickly dodged the attack before it could hit them.

"D-Damn it, but how?!" Shaan widened his eyes. "I was completely sure that the paralyzing attack had disabled Doppleshade’s arm, but... but how is that creature still able to move?"

Slowly, the thick smoke began to fade. Bit by bit, it cleared away, until everything became fully visible. Shock and tension instantly appeared on Shaan and Nalira’s faces as they realized that it wasn’t the same Doppleshade who blocked Nalira’s attack—there was another one.

"Oh no... D-Don’t tell me... There are two of them?"