CHAPTER 36: NIGHTWOLF ECOUNTER

’Damn it... How am I supposed to fight him if he has Lightnova’s power of light?’

Nightwolf was clearly struggling against Indigo now. The pressure was overwhelming. Every movement she made felt heavier than before, as if the light itself was crushing her shadows.

"If you truly have the ability to copy other powers..."

Nightwolf asked cautiously, her breath unsteady,

"does that mean you can also copy my power?"

Indigo tilted his head slightly, his posture calm as ever.

"Hm... it seems so."

Nightwolf’s eyes widened slightly.

’Damn it... I can’t even use my full power anymore. If I do, he’ll just copy it.’

"Tch..."

She slammed her palm to the floor. In an instant, two massive shadows burst from beneath the ground and rushed toward Indigo at blinding speed.

Indigo, still completely relaxed, merely flicked his finger.

Light erupted.

The shadows froze mid-air, completely paralyzed by the radiant glow.

Nightwolf wasted no time. She dashed forward, moving faster than before, crossing the distance in a heartbeat. She crossed both of her arms in an X-shape.

From behind her shadow, four massive shadow tentacles emerged and lunged toward Indigo violently.

Indigo countered calmly, deflecting each tentacle with blades of light that formed around his arms. The clash of shadow and light shook the entire room.

Nightwolf slipped through his guard and aimed a punch straight at his abdomen.

But Indigo caught her fist effortlessly.

Before she could react, Indigo drove his knee upward into her stomach.

"Puah—!"

Nightwolf was hurled backward, skidding across the floor. She clutched her stomach in pain.

’He’s extremely skilled...’

The air around them suddenly shifted. Darkness rapidly spread across the room.

Nightwolf activated her true domain of shadows.

The entire room was consumed by darkness.

Indigo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked around. Then he swung his right arm outward.

A sword of pure light materialized instantly in his hand—Lightnova’s weapon, perfectly replicated.

"You can even copy Lightnova’s light sword...!"

Nightwolf growled.

"You really are someone who needs to be captured."

She sprinted sideways, circling Indigo at extreme speed.

Unnoticed by Indigo, dozens of shadow clones began forming all around him—perfect replicas of Nightwolf.

All of them crossed their arms.

From behind them, countless shadow tentacles erupted at once and charged toward Indigo.

The attacks were relentless. Indigo blocked many of them, but their numbers were overwhelming. Several strikes forced him to dodge.

"Even if you can copy Lightnova’s power, that doesn’t mean you can defeat me!"

Nightwolf shouted.

Indigo had no choice but to advance.

While deflecting the barrage of attacks, he pushed forward step by step.

"You’re quite persistent, Miss Nightwolf~"

"What!?"

In a flash, Indigo vanished.

He instantly reappeared behind Nightwolf.

Nightwolf reacted at the last second, flipping forward in a clean somersault, narrowly avoiding his strike.

’That was close... I forgot he can teleport.’

Indigo raised his hand.

The power shifted again.

Flames erupted from his palm, illuminating the shadow-filled room.

’Fire!? He can even use fire now!?’

It was So-ah’s power—copied perfectly.

Indigo rushed forward through the darkness, flames trailing from his hand.

Nightwolf leapt backward, barely dodging the burning attack.

’So hot...!’

She reinforced her legs with shadow energy, increasing her strength dramatically.

As Indigo pressed forward, Nightwolf began counterattacking using Capoeira—her body flowing like a violent dance, each kick aimed with deadly precision.

Indigo immediately realized the danger.

If even one of those blows landed cleanly, it would be devastating.

Nightwolf’s movements became fluid and unpredictable, her legs launching attack after attack in beautiful yet lethal arcs.

Indigo narrowly avoided several strikes.

Finally, he caught her right leg mid-kick.

But Nightwolf twisted her body and fired her left leg instantly.

The kick struck Indigo square in the face.

He staggered back.

Indigo straightened his posture, touching his mask.

"Not bad at all... Miss Nightwolf."

"This is only the beginning!!"

Her attacks intensified.

Each time Indigo dodged one kick, a second, hidden strike followed immediately. The first attack was merely bait.

Indigo was struck repeatedly.

Then he tried to adapt—allowing one attack to land, expecting the real strike afterward.

But Nightwolf had already anticipated that.

This time, her first kick became the real blow.

It landed directly on Indigo’s face again.

His body flew backward.

A sharp crack echoed.

His mask shattered slightly.

Nightwolf panted heavily, exhausted, yet she smiled faintly.

"Looks like you’re having a hard time this time, Indigo."

Indigo touched the cracked mask calmly.

"Hm... I suppose I am."

In the next instant, he teleported directly in front of her and launched a side kick.

Nightwolf blocked it.

But it was a feint.

Indigo spun his body and unleashed a powerful Brazilian kick.

The second strike hit the back of Nightwolf’s neck.

Her eyes went wide for a split second—then her body went limp.

She collapsed.

Indigo caught her before she hit the floor.

"Oops... I guess I went a little too far."

He gently laid Nightwolf’s unconscious body down.

The surrounding shadows slowly dissolved.

"Whew... I really fought for a long time today."

With that, Indigo vanished in a flash of light.

Aftermath.

A brilliant glow approached from outside the shattered hotel window.

Lightnova descended and landed beside Nightwolf’s unconscious body.

"Nightwolf!"

She rushed to her side immediately.

"Nightwolf! Are you okay!? Nightwolf!!"

Panic filled Lightnova’s voice. She checked her pulse desperately.

"Damn it... She’s unconscious..."

Lightnova looked around.

Nearby lay a headless corpse drenched in blood.

It was Hollow.

The assassin Indigo had killed.

"...This place is a disaster..."

Lightnova muttered.

"If only I had arrived sooner..."

*At the Hero Medical Wing*

Nightwolf lay unconscious in a hospital bed.

"How is her condition?"

Lightnova asked anxiously.

Park Hyun-Woo adjusted his medical tools and replied calmly.

"She suffered a heavy strike to the back of her neck. It’s a critical point, but she’ll be fine. The blow only caused temporary unconsciousness. She will wake up."

Park Hyun-Woo was a male healer Hero who treated both civilians and Heroes.

Lightnova clenched her fists.

"If only I had arrived faster... Indigo would already be in custody."

At the sound of Indigo’s name, Park Hyun-Woo broke into a cold sweat.

’As I suspected... This was his doing. Still... I must keep my connection to Indigo a secret. He saved my sister’s life... I owe him too much.’

Lightnova glanced at him sharply.

"What’s wrong? You look like you know something you’re hiding from me."

Park Hyun-Woo stiffened.

"A-ah, no! It’s nothing! I just need to use the restroom for a moment. Please excuse me!"

He hurried away.

Lightnova stared at his retreating figure, suspicious—but she said nothing.

Her attention returned to Nightwolf.

’Indigo... Why are you doing this? What do you really want...? I don’t understand.’

Lightnova’s heart trembled with doubt.

She still couldn’t understand why Indigo had once saved her... yet continued slaughtering people mercilessly.

She had not yet realized the cruelty of this world.

Those Indigo killed were always people who hid evil behind masks of virtue.

And Lightnova still did not know the darkness hidden inside those who appeared good.