The childish yet resolute words seemed to make the shadow energy gathering at the Shadow Hunter’s fingertips waver.

It wasn’t out of anger, but a sense of absurdity.

’Where on earth does this child’s "confidence" come from?’

’Could she truly have some backing he was unaware of?’

In the briefest of moments, as he hesitated—a pause born from the sheer abnormality of the situation—

A calm, almost indifferent male voice spoke up without warning from the Shadow Hunter’s side and rear, right at the very edge of his mental perception:

"She’s right."

The voice wasn’t loud, but it detonated like a thunderclap in the Shadow Hunter’s senses!

’Impossible!’

’His Mental Force Field has been on high alert this whole time! How could someone get this close without him noticing until they spoke?’

Shock and instinct were faster than conscious thought.

Without even enough time to fully turn or identify the newcomer, the Shadow Hunter unhesitatingly redirected the attack meant for Eleanor toward the source of the voice behind him!

At the same time, several layers of pre-cast, semi-activated Defense Force Fields lit up on his body—a Dark Shield, an Oblique Force Field, and the innermost, skin-tight Shadow Armor.

These passive protections fully activated the instant they sensed a lethal threat!

Almost simultaneously, a streak of dark gold light erupted soundlessly from his blind spot. The piercing shriek it made as it tore through the air only exploded a moment later!

Its initial velocity was unbelievable, and it was aimed straight for his heart from behind!

PFT! PFT! PFT!

A series of rapid, faint shattering sounds blurred into one!

The streak of dark gold light was unstoppable. The first layer, the Dark Shield, popped like a bubble on contact.

The Oblique Force Field barely managed to alter its trajectory by a minuscule amount before flickering and dissipating.

The toughest layer, the Shadow Armor, played a crucial role. The moment it made contact with the light, it erupted with twisting shadows, forcefully holding off the attack for a precious instant.

And that was a precious instant!

The Shadow Hunter grunted, his face paling.

His three layers of passive defense being broken in succession not only absorbed a great deal of the attack’s kinetic energy but also bought him a crucial moment to react!

Using the impact from his shattered defenses and that minuscule shift in trajectory, he twisted his body forward and to the side with unnatural flexibility and speed!

SCHRRIP!

The muffled sound of a sharp weapon tearing through flesh followed, but it wasn’t the heavy thud of it piercing bone.

After piercing three layers of defense and having its kinetic energy drastically reduced, the dark gold Flying Sword ultimately failed to maintain its initial, absolutely lethal force.

It grazed past the right side of the Shadow Hunter’s back as he twisted, carving a gruesome gash deep enough to reveal bone, flesh peeled back. Blood instantly spewed from the wound, but the sword had missed his spine and internal organs—the truly vital areas! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Argh—!"

The Shadow Hunter let out a pained roar. The immense impact still sent him tumbling forward, and he rolled wretchedly across the floor twice before managing to prop himself up on one hand, dropping to one knee.

The right side of his body was soaked in blood. The intense pain twisted his features beneath his hood, but the horror in his eyes was even more pronounced.

’The original power of that strike...’ he thought. ’If it hadn’t been weakened by my Defense Force Fields and my own desperate dodge, it would have pinned me to the floor, dead on the spot!’

His left hand rapidly pressed several points near the wound, using Shadow Energy to temporarily seal the blood vessels. At the same time, shadows spread from beneath his feet, dragging him rapidly backward to create distance from his assailant.

Only after retreating to what he felt was a safe distance did he gasp for breath, staring intently at the attacker through the swirling shadows and the cold sweat that dripped from his brow.

It was a tall, black-haired man dressed in blue Knight’s Armor. He was standing silently in the hallway—it was impossible to say when he’d arrived—positioned perfectly between the Shadow Hunter and Eleanor and Leia.

The man’s face was expressionless, his eyes deep and calm, as if that earth-shattering attack from moments ago had nothing to do with him.

And the dark gold Flying Sword, having failed to kill with one blow, had traced a graceful arc through the air as if alive. It now hovered silently by the man’s side, its tip still pointed at the Shadow Hunter, the blood on its blade slowly sliding off.

The Shadow Hunter’s pupils contracted.

’There are no vast fluctuations of Magic Power coming from him,’ he thought, ’but the power and speed of that Knight’s Sword, his ability to approach undetected...’

"What... what are you?" His voice was hoarse and distorted by pain and shock.

Murphy didn’t answer his question.

His gaze first swept over to Eleanor, who was staring up at him with wide eyes from behind Leia’s protective embrace. After confirming his daughter was unharmed, a nearly imperceptible flicker in his eyes subsided.

Then, his gaze fell back upon the Shadow Hunter.

"You touched my daughter. How do you want to die?"