Before everyone could react, Hudi had already rushed to the statue. He ignored the exclamations around him, grasped the hilt with both hands, and gave it a fierce pull.

A soft click.

The illusory Blade of Victory, with crumbling stones, was pulled from its pedestal by him.

When the Scholar saw this, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and anger, "Damn it, that's mine... Give the sword back to me!"

But what answered him was the whistling of an arrow cutting through the air, flying toward him with a screech. The Scholar hastily dodged, and the arrow struck a horse's leg; the stone shattered, showering him with fragments.

There were still others in the plaza.

Fang Hong turned around alertly, looking in the direction of the darkness; he raised his hand, and a Clockwork Fairy flew towards that direction. At the same time, he pulled down his Wind Goggles, the images in his vision constantly changing, advancing rapidly, and then the Clockwork Fairy suddenly stopped—on the rooftop of a building to the northwest, a Ranger cloaked in black was looking up.

To be precise, it was a Night Hawk.

Because Fang Hong had already seen the white feathers of the Night Owl on his shoulder, the signature mark of the Night Hawk.

The Night Hawk, holding his bow, stood up, looked somewhat surprised at the Clockwork Fairy in mid-air. "Quick response, little guy—" he mouthed to Fang Hong, waved his hand in the air, and then turned and leapt down, disappearing into the alley below.

And as the other turned away, Fang Hong caught a clear glimpse of the heraldry on the back of his cloak—the emblem of the Tabopolis Oak Knights.

Fang Hong was slightly stunned, instinctively wanting to continue the pursuit, but new developments emerged in the plaza. After Hudi pulled out the illusory Blade of Victory, he stepped back twice, looking somewhat bewildered at the others.

"Hudi, what are you doing!" Tianlan felt like she had been deceived, staring angrily at Hudi.

"Sorry, I, this sword is very important to me..." Hudi stammered as he retreated.

At that moment, the Scholar lunged forward, his eyes bloodshot, and his hands like a pair of eagle claws reaching for the sword in Hudi's hand, while roaring, "Damn you, give it to me—you have no idea what it means!"

Hudi recoiled in fright, instinctively stepping back.

With his retreat, the oppressive presence in the darkness seemingly finally descended upon the plaza, everyone was aware of a slight darkness overhead, as though something had obscured the moonlight.

The sudden darkening of the environment caught the Scholar off guard, and he grasped at nothing.

Only then did the sound of flapping wings come from above.

Whoosh, whoosh—

The Scholar shuddered suddenly, his complexion changing drastically as he looked up, just in time to see a shadow blocking the moon. It was a pair of outstretched wings, and a pair of indifferent, golden eyes that seemed devoid of human emotion.

It was a human female, with ebony long hair, her head slightly bowed as she looked down upon everyone in the plaza, her face lit by the moonlight, stunning beyond description.

Her skin was like Snow, almost completely unclothed, resembling a marble statue of a Goddess, her curves graceful, nearly flawless. The only slight regret was that the woman's hands and feet were shaped like dragon claws, the black scales on them were like cast gems, glittering in the light.

A long tail adorned her hips, also covered in black scales, curling back to cover her private area.

"Lord Nikopolas..." the Scholar gasped, quickly bowing in respect with a strange ceremony to show his reverence to the woman. Then he got up, shouting, "My lady, I am a subordinate of Lord Manlo, your faithful follower..."

But the woman looked at him as if he were a tiny insect. She cocked her head with a hint of wild laughter, revealing sharp canine teeth, her golden eyes showing not a trace of softness, only a cold and merciless expression.

Her slightly prolonged gaze seemed to have pierced through years to focus on this moment.

And Fang Hong, hearing the Scholar's words, realized that his deductions had been correct—the past of this ruined city was indeed related to the Dark Giant Dragon—without surprise, was this woman in mid-air the Shadow of the Dark Giant Dragon left in Dolifen?

He narrowed his eyes at the woman in mid-air, his mind also curious, was this her appearance from when she was human? And who was Manlo?

Fang Hong couldn't help but turn his head back and ask Mr. Hansen in a lowered voice, "Is this the Shadow of the Past?"

Hansen nodded lightly, "Yes, but today is somewhat different..."

"Different?"

"I feel its aura has grown stronger," Hansen stutteredly replied, swallowing hard.

Fang Hong glanced at Gita, wishing she were a bona fide Natural Historian; the knowledge of darkness of a Natural Historian could differentiate the types, levels, and approximate abilities of monsters.

And in mid-air at that moment, Nikopolas remained indifferent, after listening to the Scholar, she said nonchalantly, "Manlo's subordinate, what did he send you to do?"

"My lady," the Scholar took a deep breath, seeming a bit excited as he retrieved an object from his bosom, clenched it in his palm, and raised his fist high. "I was once your follower, and now I have brought this thing, just as in the Covenant, it will give you true freedom."

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