"Your Highness only those who are present here know the horror. They are not using shadows rather it feels like they are shadows."

"They are like a formless, invisible existence who appear and disappear without leaving behind a single trace."

Jack who was speaking started to tremble as he continued to speak. His heart started to beat frantically.

Although Noah wasn't on the spot, he could feel the situation was quite bad to the point that even Jack, a Legendary, had been weary.

'Jack is a Legendary rank and at this level with his mastery over the aura, he could find slight traces as his senses are far more developed than others. So, no matter how dark it is, how is it possible to go undetected?'

Noah's judgement wasn't wrong. At a higher level, one could use mana to increase eyesight which could even pierce the darkness and determine the enemy's location.

'It is only plausible if they are using some kind of artifact or secret spell like us which helped in concealing our movements. Still, our artifact can only hide our appearance, it cannot mask our presence or hide the mana fluctuations.'

'No, it's not possible. The remnants might be led by Alex who was now the King of a small Kingdom. There is no way he would be able to come across such an artifact. Moreover, even if he knew magic, what kind of magic it can be.'

'There is something wrong and I am not able to point it out.'

Noah fell into deep thought.

His and Riya's presence is already something he had never expected to be out here. Both of them had shown rapid growth and had good potential so shouldn't they be posted in some place where they can show their brilliance instead of here unless they pulled some strings to get here?

Noah asked Jack to tell him all the details. The more he listened, the more confused he became.

He felt as if he was searching in a bottomless pit. He had seen Alex's information but nothing matched the way Jack described it.

Riya's fighting style was that of an assassin so she might be the one who might be adept at fighting in the darkness but as described by Jack, he heard the name of Alex many times during the battle.

"Sure enough, winning is not as easy as it looks," Noah muttered as he felt that all his experience will be put to the test at this time.

Jack waited for Noah's command and soon he heard the same unwavering tone as before.

"As time goes on, the enemy will surely reach the limit of physical strength. Our troops outnumber them many times and if the battle is drawn out, they will be the ones who would be in trouble."

"Do not be fooled by the darkness and your surroundings. The enemy is trying to scare you all and put you at a physiological disadvantage which seems to be successful. Wait, observe and move patiently, you may soon find out."

"I will lead my troops there. If the situation turns out to be difficult, just retreat."

The situation may have changed a bit but it was not something that would tilt the entire scale of the battle.

Rather than being swayed, he looked at reality. The situation is still favourable for them.

They still have a huge number of troops. Loss of another 10,000 or 20,000 is insignificant compared to that number

Noah's brows furrowed as he didn't get any response. He had expected some kind of response from Jack but what he got was a loud gasping sound from another side.

"Jack, are you there?"

"Did the enemy appear?"

Noah didn't receive anything.

Noah thought of moving his troops however as he was about to move, he heard a desperate scream from the other side.

"Arghhhhhhh!'

...

Jack who was talking with Noah Ark suddenly felt a bad premonition. He raised his sword hurriedly and looked around in fear.

Due to panic, he had even forgotten to cut the call and put it around his waist.

The eeriness around him was giving him chills.

There wasn't a single trace of confidence on his face with which he stepped into the forest.

Facing an enemy which can't be seen or found could easily frighten anyone.

He remembered Noah's advice and took a deep breath and looked around.

Swoosh!

He felt something at the side and turned his head.

The leaves of the trees and the bushes seemed to be swaying slightly.

'He is there. I have found it.'

'This time you are done. Once you get caught in my hand, you are finished.'

Jack hardened his heart and hurled towards the direction, carefully.

Soon, he picked up the slight trace of mana and a smile appeared on his face.

"Sure enough there he is."He muttered softly.

The mana around him exploded which covered everything behind him and he swung his sword crushing down everything.

The wind in that direction was cut apart.

Jack jumped towards it and as he reached the place, instead of the enemy he found the dead body of Arkham soldiers.

His face became as pale as a sheet of paper and he turned his gaze all around.

Behind him, on the branch of the tree, a pair of bloody eyes appeared.

A red sword appeared but in the next instant, it was covered by an aura of dark colour which blended entirely with the surroundings.

Jack's body suddenly stiffened. He sensed an intense blood lust from his back.

But before he could react, something passed as fast as light through him.

For a moment, he didn't feel anything but as he looked down he saw a cut on his chest.

He was cut through the back but a wide gap appeared in the front from which blood splattered.

Soon, with a scream, he fell to the ground with a horror-stricken face.

Tak! Tak!

With a soft noise, soon he saw the appearance of the man who had made their life hell appearing out of the darkness with a casual smile.

Alex stepped on Jack's test which had been and cast a minor healing which was enough to stop the blood loss

"Jack, what is it?"Why are you screaming, are you alright?"

"You haven't cut the call," Alex spoke with an amusing expression.