Three Against One

Chapter 103 — Three Against One

The giant ape's fist descended like a falling boulder.

BOOM!

Aether moved at the last moment.

The ground beneath him exploded.

Blackfang attacked from the side.

Its claws struck the ape's ribs.

The attack barely made the creature move.

The ape swung its arm.

Blackfang was hit directly.

Its body shattered.

Black mist spread across the ground.

Aether watched calmly.

The mist immediately returned to his shadow.

Blackfang reappeared behind him.

No injury.

No hesitation.

Aether's eyes gleamed.

“Again.”

Blackfang attacked.

Ironhide charged from the opposite direction.

The ape roared.

It grabbed Ironhide by the shoulder and hurled the massive shadow into a cliff.

Stone collapsed.

For a moment, Ironhide disappeared beneath the rubble.

Then black mist emerged.

It flowed through the cracks and returned to Aether.

Seconds later, Ironhide reformed beside him.

Aether smiled.

“As long as I'm standing, you two will keep coming back.”

The ape seemed to understand that something was wrong.

Stolen novel; please report.

It turned toward Aether.

Aether's expression became serious.

“Now.”

Blackfang attacked the ape's legs.

Ironhide struck its back.

The ape staggered.

Aether used Shadow Step.

He appeared above its head.

His fist struck downward.

BOOM!

The ape's skull slammed into the ground.

But it still didn't fall.

Instead, its Origin Energy exploded outward.

Aether was thrown backward.

He landed on one knee.

The ape charged.

Blackfang intercepted it.

Ironhide followed.

The two shadows fought desperately, repeatedly being destroyed and reforming.

Every time their bodies disappeared, they returned to Aether's shadow.

They were becoming difficult to stop.

But Aether noticed something else.

Their movements were improving.

Every time they were destroyed, they seemed to understand the enemy better after reforming.

Their bodies might disappear.

Their combat experience didn't.

Aether's gaze sharpened.

“Interesting.”

The ape swung toward Blackfang.

Blackfang dodged.

Ironhide attacked its exposed side.

The ape stumbled.

Aether appeared directly in front of it.

He gathered all his strength.

Origin Energy surged through his body.

“Break.”

His fist struck.

The ape's defense shattered.

Blackfang attacked its throat.

Ironhide slammed into its chest.

Aether delivered the final blow.

The giant beast collapsed.

Silence returned.

Aether stood over its body.

The System appeared.

[Stage 8 Peak Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points +120.]

[Origin Points: 430 / 900.]

Aether stared at the number.

“430.”

He was already halfway toward his next breakthrough.

Then another notification appeared.

[High-quality Origin imprint detected.]

[Compatibility with Origin Shadow Authority: 91%.]

Aether's expression changed.

“Ninety-one percent.”

This was the highest compatibility he had encountered.

He placed his hand over the ape's body.

Dark energy spread outward.

The Origin imprint was slowly pulled from the corpse.

But once again, the shadow formation didn't begin.

[Additional Origin Shadow manifestation unavailable.]

Aether frowned.

“So I need to strengthen the Shadow Authority before I can create more.”

He withdrew his hand.

The imprint was absorbed into his Origin Energy for temporary storage.

Aether wasn't disappointed.

A restriction was not the same as a dead end.

He simply needed to find the method of evolution.

He looked at Blackfang and Ironhide.

Both shadows stood beside him.

They had fought an opponent much stronger than themselves.

And they had survived every destruction because Aether remained alive.

Aether looked toward the horizon.

“Let's find out what comes next.”

He turned around.

But before he could leave, a strange sensation passed through his Origin Sense.

Someone was nearby.

Human.

And hiding.

Aether's expression became cold.

“Come out.”

Silence.

Aether waited.

Nothing happened.

He raised his hand.

Blackfang disappeared into the surrounding darkness.

Ironhide moved toward the opposite side.

Aether remained in the center.

“You have three seconds.”

Still nothing.

“Three.”

A branch moved.

“Two.”

A figure stepped from behind a tree.

A young man wearing a dark cloak raised both hands.

“I don't want trouble.”

Aether studied him.

“Then why were you watching me?”

The man's expression became nervous.

“I saw what happened.”

His eyes shifted toward the shadows.

“Those creatures…”

Aether's gaze hardened.

“You saw nothing.”

The man swallowed.

Then he nodded.

“I understand.”

Aether stepped closer.

“Good.”

But before he could say anything else, the man's expression suddenly changed.

Aether's Origin Sense detected something inside him.

A black mark.

Blackridge.