Jade forced himself to stand.
Pain shot through his back like lightning, but he ignored it.
The man in the black cloak stood a few meters away, silent and unmoving, his presence heavy like a storm waiting to break.
Jade clenched his fists.
Without hesitation, he launched forward.
His body shot across the ground as he threw a powerful punch directly at the cloaked figure's chest.
But the moment his fist was about to connect—
The man vanished.
He didn't jump.
He didn't dodge.
He simply dissolved into the shadows.
Jade's eyes widened.
Before he could react—
BAM!
A powerful kick slammed into Jade's back.
The impact was brutal.
Jade was thrown forward across the ground, rolling violently before finally stopping several meters away.
He coughed, blood splashing onto the dirt.
For a moment, Jade couldn't breathe.
His lungs burned.
His muscles trembled.
He had fought many powerful creatures inside the trial, but this…
This was completely different.
The power behind that kick was terrifying.
Jade slowly lifted his head and looked toward the cloaked figure.
Such power…
How could someone like this exist inside the trial?
Not far away, several spectators had gathered after sensing the battle.
One of them suddenly shouted in shock.
"Silent Slayer?!"
Another person shook his head in disbelief.
"That's impossible!"
But a third man stared carefully at the cloaked warrior before speaking quietly.
"…No. That's him."
His voice was grim.
"That's definitely Silent Slayer."
A murmur spread through the group.
Everyone inside the trial had heard the name.
Silent Slayer.
A man who hunted humans instead of monsters.
A killer who appeared from the shadows and ended lives without mercy.
Another spectator watched the fight carefully and sighed.
"Blood Slayer is in for a wild ride."
Someone else muttered nervously,
"If he's smart, he'll run."
"That might be the only way he survives."
At that exact moment—
Henry came running through the forest.
He had heard the commotion and rushed toward the scene.
The moment he saw the black-cloaked figure standing before Jade, his face turned pale.
"Silent Slayer…!"
Henry's heart pounded.
He immediately shouted toward Jade.
"JADE!"
"RUN!"
But Jade didn't move.
Because at that moment, Silent Slayer attacked again.
The shadows beneath his feet twisted.
Then he disappeared.
Jade immediately turned his body—
But the attack still came.
A punch struck his ribs from the side.
Before Jade could even react—
Another strike came from behind.
Then another.
Silent Slayer moved like a phantom.
He attacked from every direction.
Front.
Back.
Left.
Right.
Jade could barely keep up.
Blow after blow landed on his body.
Blood spilled from his lips.
His breathing grew heavier.
From the outside, it looked like Jade was completely helpless.
But inside his mind—
Jade was calm.
He wasn't trying to fight back.
He was analyzing.
Carefully studying Silent Slayer's movements.
Every time the man disappeared into the shadows…
Every time he reappeared…
Every strike.
Every movement.
Jade observed everything.
Slowly, a pattern began to form in his mind.
The shadows…
He can only stay inside them for a short moment.
Jade narrowed his eyes.
About one second.
Silent Slayer could hide within shadows, but not for long.
There was a limit.
And limits meant weaknesses.
Meanwhile, Silent Slayer was also observing Jade.
At first, he had attacked out of anger.
After all, Jade had killed his pet beast, Lita.
But now…
His curiosity was growing.
Why wasn't this boy fighting back?
Why was he simply enduring the attacks?
Silent Slayer continued striking Jade again and again.
Soon Jade's body was covered with bruises and blood.
He was nearing his limit.
But then something strange happened.
Jade's wounds began to heal.
Not slowly.
But rapidly.
The cuts closed.
Bruises faded.
Muscles repaired themselves.
Silent Slayer's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
He stepped back slightly.
Jade wiped the blood from his lips.
His breathing was still heavy, but his body was recovering quickly.
This was thanks to his Blood Fragments.
During the year inside the trial, Jade had absorbed many blood shards.
His current count had reached:
Blood Fragments: 35 / 50
Because of this, his body possessed powerful regenerative abilities.
Even so…
Jade didn't look unharmed.
His clothes were torn.
Blood stained his chest.
His breathing was uneven.
But his eyes were sharper than ever.
Jade raised his hand.
A vine shot out from his body.
It twisted and expanded quickly, weaving together into a shield-like structure in front of him.
The vine shield pulsed with energy.
Silent Slayer stepped forward calmly.
Without hesitation, he punched the shield.
The moment his fist touched the vines—
A sharp slicing sound echoed.
Blood spilled from his hand.
Silent Slayer looked down at his bleeding fist with surprise.
"…Sharp."
He hadn't expected the vine to be so dangerous.
Jade didn't hesitate.
The vines moved again.
This time they reshaped themselves into long, blade-like strands.
They shot forward like swords.
The vines moved like lightning, slashing toward Silent Slayer repeatedly.
One strike tore part of the fabric covering his shoulder.
The cloak ripped open slightly.
Jade immediately followed with a barrage of attacks.
Slash.
Strike.
Pierce.
The vines attacked relentlessly.
For the first time since the fight began—
Silent Slayer was forced onto the defensive.
He blocked.
He dodged.
He retreated.
The spectators watching the fight gasped.
"…He's pushing Silent Slayer back?"
"That's insane…"
But something strange happened.
Although Jade's attacks were fast and precise…
They lacked brutality.
They weren't the killing blows people expected from the infamous Blood Slayer.
It was almost as if Jade was testing something.
Studying.
Learning.
Silent Slayer noticed this too.
Then suddenly—
His body dissolved into the shadows again.
But this time Jade was ready.
The moment Silent Slayer emerged from the darkness—
Jade kicked.
BAM!
His foot struck Silent Slayer directly in the chest.
The cloaked man slid backward several meters.
For the first time, Silent Slayer looked genuinely shocked.
He frowned.
"…Impressive."
Then he spoke calmly.
"I suppose I will have to use my full power."
Dark energy gathered around him.
From the shadows, a sword slowly appeared in his hand.
At the same time, black armor formed around his body like living darkness.
The spectators watching the battle gasped.
"Whoa…"
"I never knew Blood Slayer was this strong."
Another person whispered nervously.
"…He forced Silent Slayer to use his full power."
"That's insane."
Silent Slayer moved.
He vanished again.
This time his speed was even greater.
He appeared behind Jade instantly and swung his sword.
Jade turned quickly and dodged.
He could read Silent Slayer's movements now.
But suddenly—
A sharp pain exploded across his back.
Jade staggered forward.
Blood sprayed from a deep wound.
His eyes widened.
What…?
He had dodged the attack.
Or so he thought.
Silent Slayer spoke coldly.
"Shadow Sword."
"It cannot be dodged."
Jade's expression darkened.
Silent Slayer continued calmly.
"The blade will always strike."
"But it has a limitation."
"It cannot kill."
"It can only injure."
"And once wounded…"
"You cannot heal."
Jade clenched his teeth.
Silent Slayer attacked again.
Jade tried dodging.
But once again—
A wound appeared on his body.
Then again.
And again.
Jade's body accumulated several injuries.
But strangely…
His wounds were still healing.
Slowly.
But they were healing.
This confused Silent Slayer.
Meanwhile, Jade's mind worked rapidly.
He studied the skill carefully.
Instead of avoiding it completely…
Jade allowed himself to be wounded several more times.
He needed to understand it.
The spectators watching the fight were horrified.
"Is he crazy?"
"Why isn't he dodging?"
But Jade remained calm.
His regeneration still worked.
Which meant Silent Slayer's skill had limits.
Eventually, Silent Slayer stopped attacking.
He stared at Jade coldly.
Then he spoke.
"You will never leave this trial alive."
The moment those words entered Jade's ears—
Something strange happened.
Jade suddenly felt dizzy.
His mind became foggy.
The forest around him blurred.
His thoughts slowed.
Jade's vision darkened slightly.
It felt like an invisible force was invading his mind.
And for the first time since the battle began—
Jade realized something terrifying.
Silent Slayer wasn't just attacking his body.
He was attacking his mind.