Chapter 201: TERROR OF THE TENEBRIS LORD
Edmond fired his gun methodically, taking down another armed force with a precise shot that pierced through armor and flesh alike, while he blocked the incoming bullets fired at him with his shield, the surface rippling slightly under the onslaught but holding firm against the assault.
The forces continued their persistent firing, rounds pinging off his defenses in a relentless rhythm, but they quickly found themselves at a severe disadvantage as Edmond took them down one by one with his insane marksmanship—honed from years of guerrilla warfare against trolls—and his cheat of a shield that blocked all of their shots without fail, turning the tide into a deadly game of attrition.
"Utilize the grenade launchers!" the captain barked orders, his voice rising above the din, sweat beading on his brow under his helmet as he assessed the deteriorating situation.
Two soldiers positioned at the rear hefted their grenade launchers—bulky, shoulder-mounted devices loaded with high-explosive rounds—directing them toward Edmond with grim determination, their fingers tightening on the triggers.
With unyielding purpose, they fired the grenade launchers at Edmond, who was caught off guard by the sudden escalation, realizing just how thoroughly they had prepared against him, the projectiles arcing through the air with a ominous whistle.
"You have got to be kidding me," Edmond sighed in exasperation, a weary exhale escaping his lips as he was blasted away by the grenade launcher’s explosive force, the concussive wave hurling him backward through the air, his shield cracking under the immense pressure but unable to fully save him from the disorienting impact that left his ears ringing and his body bruised.
"Deploy the drones! Inform the defense team—I want to see fireworks!" the captain continued barking orders, his tone urgent and commanding, seizing the opportunity to press their advantage with every resource at their disposal.
The intensity of their fire increased dramatically, a symphony of destruction forcing Edmond back into a purely defensive posture as he hid from the continuous assault of heavy-duty attacks—grenades exploding in brilliant flashes, shrapnel whizzing past—that shook the ground beneath him. Tanks rumbled into position, their massive treads grinding against the pavement, while bazookas were shouldered and fired in booming salvos, Edmond feeling a growing headache from the ceaseless barrage that compelled him to dart from wall to wall, taking fleeting shelter behind crumbling facades amid the chaos.
Edmond felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of attacks, his thoughts racing like a storm in his mind as he desperately pondered strategies to make a comeback against the persistent, unyielding onslaught that seemed to anticipate his every move.
"I was hoping to save all of my abilities for when I face Stronghold One," Edmond groaned in annoyance, his voice strained with reluctance, but he knew deep down that he couldn’t hold back any longer—not if he was going to secure victory and fulfill his mandate from Aaron.
"Tenebris Pulse!" Edmond called out firmly, activating one of his abilities—a big game-changer in his arsenal that he had reserved for dire situations.
◈ Tenebris Pulse: Release a wave of oppressive darkness. It blinds eyes, deafens ears, and shatters morale, leaving enemies vulnerable.
A pulse of pure, oppressive darkness emanated from Edmond at the center, moving outward like a living entity with tendrils of shadow that writhed and expanded, striking every armed force in proximity with unerring force. The unfortunate ones hit directly by the pulse went blind in an instant, their vision swallowed by inky blackness, while the photon emitters that had been providing the even, shadow-eliminating light shattered to pieces under the pulse’s destructive influence, their fragments tinkling to the ground as shadows crept back into existence, reclaiming the space with eager hunger.
"Retreat! Retreat!" the commander shouted desperately, seeing some of his men yelling helplessly as they stretched their hands out in front of them, stumbling blindly and clawing at the air in panic. They hadn’t received any intelligence concerning Edmond’s game-changing ability, as he had never deployed it before in observed conflicts, leaving them completely unaware and utterly unable to counter or tackle its devastating effects.
"From here on out, it’s going to be one-sided," Edmond declared coldly to them, his voice carrying a chilling finality as he scanned the rest of his abilities that were registered subconsciously in his mind, a mental inventory of powers bestowed by Aaron flashing before him like a tactical overlay.
"Cloak of First Darkness. Umbra Dominion, Living Darkness, Abyssal Predation," Edmond activated his attacks one after the other with swift incantations, hoping to finish things quickly and decisively, minimizing any further delays.
He had learned from his mistake of giving Stronghold Five enough time to prepare, all in the name of resting and recuperation—his hesitation now costing him dearly in this prolonged engagement.
It was like giving the man in the black suit prep time and still expecting to beat him, a futile endeavor against an opponent who thrived on strategy and foresight.
◈ Cloak of the First Darkness: Absolute stealth. No talent, sense, or divine perception can reveal you while you stand within shadow.
Using Cloak of the First Darkness, Edmond disappeared from sight entirely, his presence vanishing into the reclaimed shadows that now pooled around the battlefield like spilled ink, rendering him undetectable by any of the remaining armed forces who could still use their eyes, their scanners beeping futilely in confusion.
"Where did he go?!!!!" the commander yelled frantically, searching everywhere for Edmond with wide, desperate eyes that darted from corner to corner, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum.
"I’m right behind you," Edmond whispered chillingly into the ears of the commander, appearing suddenly behind him from utilizing Living Darkness, his breath cool against the man’s neck like a harbinger of doom.
◈ Living Darkness: Body becomes fluid shadow. Attacks pass through you, and you may travel instantly between connected shadows.
With shadows now existing freely once more, Edmond easily traveled between a nearby shadow cast by a toppled vehicle to the elongated shadow of the commander himself, materializing in an instant with predatory silence.
"Abyssal Predation," Edmond said quietly, stretching his hand forward as he placed his shadowy palm firmly on the commander’s shoulder, the contact sending tendrils of darkness snaking into the man’s form.
◈ Abyssal Predation: Shadows leech life, stamina, and fragments of memory from foes they touch, empowering you with their essence.
"Aarghhhh!!!" the commander cried out in agony, his life force being devoured ravenously by Edmond, the energy draining from his body in visible wisps of fading light, his skin paling and wrinkling as vitality ebbed away.
Edmond sapped every last drop of life force from the commander, his own wounds healing rapidly from the stolen essence, flesh knitting together with a tingling warmth that invigorated him anew, restoring his strength and focus.