The first day of the main tournament had come to an end, and night had fallen.
After the events wrapped up, we headed to an inn, which was unusually crowded.
âWow⦠Iâm not even sure weâll find a seat.â
It wasnât usually this busy, but with the tournament, the number of patrons had multiplied significantly.
âDidnât Lady Moyong reserve a table for us? Iâm sure weâll be fine,â Tang So-yeol said with a smile.
That was true.
Since Moyong Hee-ah was the one who invited us, she must have secured a spot. She disliked dealing with crowded spaces and wouldâve ensured we had a place to sit.
As I glanced at Tang So-yeol, who had spoken so casually, I found myself smiling as well.
âYou seem to be in a good mood.â
âHuh? Heheâ¦â
Was winning really that satisfying? Tang So-yeolâs smile was brighter than usual.
Her movements were light and carefreeâit was clear she was in high spirits.
ââ¦She was terrifying back on the stage, though.â
The look in her eyes as she battered Oil Sword, carefully controlling her strength, was intimidating even to me.
It reminded me of how the Poison Empress in my past life used to slaughter enemies from the unorthodox sects and the demonic cult.
Even though the era had changed, that expression of hers hadnât.
Moreoverâ
âSheâs gotten much stronger.â
Tang So-yeol was far more powerful than I had anticipated.
Iâd thought she might have touched the Peak Level, but it seemed she had fully crossed into it.
âShe didnât even use her familyâs martial arts.â
No poison arts, no hidden weapon techniques.
The martial arts passed down to the Tang Clanâs bloodline werenât even part of her arsenal this time. What she used wasâ¦
âThe power of the Shadow King.â
It was the same power Iâd witnessed from the Shadow King before.
Creating that black veil that altered the perception of the space withinâjust looking at it felt unsettling.
The issue wasâ
âItâs hard to even call it a martial art.â
The Shadow Kingâs power came from his draconic lineage, granting him supernatural authority.
If thatâs the case, does it mean Tang So-yeol used the Shadow Kingâs authority?
Tang So-yeol was human; she shouldnât have been able to wield such power. How had she managed it?
While the Shadow Kingâs ability was far more refined, the important point was that she had used it at all.
âHmm.â