Genta nearly choked on his own spit when he saw Laras—who had been passed out earlier like some bum who just lost their life savings in a Ponzi scheme—now standing tall with a golden aura so bright it made his eyes sting. The girl had just tapped the shadow monster's shoulder, and it had shattered into pieces like a cheap tin of crackers."Damn, is that a buff or a cheat code?" Genta muttered, his legs shaking harder than a Twitter account getting canceled by a mob.Without wasting any time, he dragged Laras—who was still in some kind of trance—out of Fort Canning before any authorities or random onlookers could record the scene on their phones. They ended up at a sleazy motel on the outskirts of Geylang where the hourly rate was cheaper than a trendy latte in Orchard. Laras immediately collapsed onto a mattress that smelled like a blend of wet socks and desperation."Okay, Genta. Deep breath," Genta whispered, staring at his wallet, which contained only a single ten-dollar bill and s

"Holy shit, what is this?!" Genta slammed his phone onto the wooden floor. The cracked screen was still lit, showing the shadow in the photo which now seemed to crawl out from the pixels, its tongue licking the corner of the screen.Laras shrieked, backing away until her back hit an extinguished lamp post. "Genta, that's not my shadow! It's... it's pulling something out from behind my jacket!"Genta didn't waste a second. He grabbed Laras's wrist, pulling the girl along as they ran through the darkness. Behind them, the sound of laughter that sounded like a knife scraping against a glass plate drew closer. Every step Genta took left a trail of pale blue energy on the ground, a makeshift Taoist technique to misdirect their pursuers."Don't look back, Laras! If you see its eyes, you'll become an exhibit in their gallery!" Genta shouted amidst his heavy breathing.THUD!They leaped into an almost empty express train heading toward Changi Airport. The doors closed just as a pitch-black cl

"Good, then let the show begin." Shin-woo flicked his fingers.The world around them seemed to twist. The dusty wooden floor of Dante’s shop transformed into a massive, magnificent stage. The smell of wood turned into a suffocating scent of expensive perfume, and before them, thousands of empty seats seemed to scream, demanding entertainment.Genta pulled Laras behind his back. His indigo eyes flashed sharply, piercing through the stage illusion Shin-woo had built. Behind the blinding glare of the spotlights, Genta saw black threads crawling like earthworms, sucking the vitality from the shadows of every empty chair."A hack shaman with a hack budget," Genta spat, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "Using energy-draining talismans for an audition? What do you think this is, some back-alley amateur tournament, damn it?"Shin-woo only chuckled, his voice echoing throughout the room. "Genta, you’re always too sentimental. This isn’t about talent. It’s about who owns the

Laras's world turned upside down. Genta had been there just a moment ago, acting like a tough guy with his cool attitude, and then in a matter of seconds, he vanished, swallowed by the dark, murky current of the Han River. Ten men in black suits with a sickening aura of dark sorcery stood surrounding her, their hands beginning to form forbidden seals."Genta!" Laras screamed again, her voice hoarse. She tried to lunge toward the river, but a sharp kick slammed into her ribs, sending her sprawling onto the wet asphalt."Save your breath for praying, Miss Hostess," one of Shin-woo's followers sneered. His face was deathly pale, like a living corpse. "The God of War doesn't like playing games, and that wannabe hero is currently becoming a snack for the dwellers at the bottom of the river."Laras felt a familiar coldness creeping through her veins. It wasn't fear; it was Lanying. The Goddess began to awaken, thirsty for bloodshed. Her eyes changed color to a glowing gold, her pupils narro

The neon lights of the Marina Bay Sands stage, which should have been sparkling, dimmed drastically, turning into a sickening shade of dark purple. Thousands of spectators in front of him froze, their mouths agape, as if their souls were being slowly sucked out through their pores into an atmosphere now dominated by a thick black mist."Damn, Shin-woo has completely lost it!" Genta cursed. He pulled Laras, whose body was shaking violently, behind a stage support pillar.In the center of the dance floor, which had turned into a dimensional rift, Shin-woo stood atop the main stage. His black cloak billowed, not from the wind, but from a cursed energy that distorted reality. Beside him, a ten-foot-tall avatar of the God of War appeared—an ancient armored figure wielding a double-edged sword that dripped a thick, black liquid."Laras, listen to me," Genta said, staring into Laras's eyes, which were beginning to glow gold—a sign that Goddess Lanying was ready to take over. "Don't fight the