Chapter 5 - Strategies Against Shadow Masters
Alright, Emily Coldstone gave me a ton of information about The Vipers after she managed to leak their ranking system. That girl must have done some seriously deep research to uncover all of this.
Good job making it this far. You're probably wondering how to take down those elusive foes—those who cloak themselves in shadows, much like Abyss, and possibly Nightshade.
Keep in mind, the only people in the city who know about the fighters ranked 11th and above are you and me. The reason I told you to stay away from this page is simple: the fighters ranked 12th and below are leagues apart from the ones above. The skill gap is so massive that someone ranked 12th would look like an ant compared to Abyss.
Facing individuals with the power to obscure themselves requires a steady nerve. In the realm of superhuman abilities, brute force alone won't be enough. Strategy is one of your most potent weapons.
Take the legendary strategist Sun Tzu, for example. His war tactics still guide businesses and military minds to this day. His secret? A calm, clear mind that was always a step ahead of the enemy. If you can master that mindset, you'll become an unstoppable force.
Now, the guide I'm about to lay out is specifically tailored for dealing with Abyss. As for The Shadow Mistress, Nightshade—I don't know enough about her yet to provide anything useful.
I closed my eyes, tuning in to the world around me.
"You think meditation's gonna save you here?" Abyss taunted.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
I see what Billy meant now...
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Why did I emphasize that?
In the chaotic symphony of sounds that surrounds you, this rhythm is your lifeline. If you ever hope to stand a chance against Abyss, you need to recognize this pattern—the elusive tap, tap, tap.
It's the key to uncovering his hidden presence, allowing you to pinpoint his location within the shadows that shroud him. Master this rhythm, and you just might have a fighting chance against the Darklight Observer himself.
I surged forward with an unexpected burst of speed, catching Abyss completely off guard.
His gasp of surprise was music to my ears.
I couldn't let him escape, so I did the only thing I could.
After recognizing the telltale tap... tap... tap, your immediate response is critical. You must lunge forward swiftly, like a coiled spring releasing its tension. This lunge needs to be followed by a restrictive attack—whether it's a tackle, a grapple, or any action that restrains your opponent and prevents them from vanishing back into the shadows.
When facing opponents like Abyss, allowing them to slip away into darkness is pretty much surrendering. Your victory depends on taking control and denying them the advantage of the shadows. Fail to do this, and you've already conceded defeat before the fight started.
Remember, mastering the tap... tap... tap rhythm and responding with precision is key here. This strategy, made by me, is one of the only ways you can deal with people who know their way around the darkness.
In a swift and calculated move, I swept Abyss's leg out from under him, sending him off balance. Before he could react, I delivered a crushing blow to his solar plexus, leaving him gasping for air.
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A Second Chance
FantasyTen years ago, Jay Walker was banished by his own team for a crime he never committed. Betrayed and broken, he lost all hope and vanished into The Desert of Doom. Now, after a decade in solitude, fate grants him a second chance: a new world, new pa...
