From the invisible embrace of darkness, Northern watched in keen observation as two lithe forms streaked against each other, carrying dim traces of light with every movement.
Both figures were like dancing lightning, raging furiously against the clearing, crashing against each other with bone-shattering force.
They were fast, they were strong, at a glance they looked evenly matched.
Even if Northern didn't boast of an overwhelming experience when it came to the techniques, strategies and tactics of battle, he at least knew what to look for.
Plus, having [All Eyes] made him able to see what others would not.
For example, their movement.
While it was blurringly fast, his eyes adapted frighteningly to every detail. His eyeballs kept shooting to and fro, following every movement in the corners of his eyes.
Bullets of sweat marred his pale face, his mouth was slightly open as he watched.
Raven was undoubtedly strong!
He had never, of course, seen or faced her in battle. This was the first time. This was the first time he had seen anyone move like that.
This was the first time he had seen such a frightening show of sword skill.
Although it was only by a hair's breadth, Raven was managing to shake away the offenses of the feral lady, a little too consistent to be called a hair's breadth, in fact.
Northern felt his heart beat tremendously. What he saw was so enlightening, it was so real.
It was on another level compared to the feral battle style he had learned from Night Terror and other monsters.
It was swift, technical and most especially...
'Ah, I need to enter that place...'
Currently, Northern was donning two items that worked to erase his presence in darkness.
The first one was [Night Terror].
So he was very sure that no matter how perceptive Helena the Sage was, she couldn't detect him that far into the depth of the darkness.
And the second was the effect of a robe he had gotten from Hao:
Description: [Once, the shadows were a veil that walked amidst men, they dressed and moved as one of us. However, they were betrayed.]
Charm Abilities: [Frigid Darkness], [Black Veil], [Shadow Step]
Frigid Darkness: [This cloak can manifest a shield of impenetrable darkness for as long as one's essence allows.]
Black Veil: [When one dons this cloak, they become one with the darkness, merging completely with it.]
Shadow Step: [It is possible to travel between shadows.]
With the [Black Veil] ability and [Night Terror], Northern had no doubt he was as good as not being there, in fact.
With lightning swiftness, he flopped over the short wall and threw a last glance at Helena and Raven.
'Better get that map before things start to get tough for her.'
While it did look amazing that Raven was doing very well, trying to hold up her defenses against the Sage and even managing to sneak in attacks, some were endearing rather than sneaky.
In reality, however, she was struggling. First, she was breaking into sweats all over her face.
Northern surmised that keeping up with such rapid movement of the Sage was taking its toll on her body.
Another thing was they hadn't even started using their talent abilities.
He remembered Raven had said her abilities were unfair, which means she must have experienced it before. Although she most likely would have been just a Drifter then.
'...Or maybe a Nomad.'
Either way, Raven right now would probably have unfair abilities but still, would it be enough to overpower the Sage?
Was it even possible to overpower the Sage?
Northern heaved one last sigh and walked inside nonchalantly.
Since the door was slightly open, he didn't need to make any unnecessary noise.
However, the moment he entered, the door made a slight creaking sound.
This immediately caused Helena, who was locked in a tight and tense brawl with Raven, to throw her head back.
Immediately, Raven's blades whipped towards her like tremendously vicious pythons, aiming to cleave her neck in one go.
Even though late, Helena spun her rod, warding off the attempt and dove into Raven, twisting herself to lash a twirling kick that first aimed at the young lady's flank.
As Raven blocked it with her arm, Helena twisted almost immediately, throwing another kick to her head that smashed Raven and caused her to stagger back.
Helena crouched on the floor and, like a frog with a spring-like momentum, she dove again into Raven, this time hitting the young lady's stomach with her head.
Raven curled like a piece of paper, coughing up blood and rolling away.
Helena stood upright and placed the rod over her shoulder. She threw one more glance to the door.
'Was I imagining it?'
Helena was certain about her senses. She'd never doubt what she sensed, and when she sensed absolutely nothing, she'd never doubt it, too.
Because too often, her sense of perception had proven itself to be the real deal.
However, just now, it seemed like her door had made a slight creak despite her not perceiving anything.
Helena narrowed her gaze, then turned it to Raven, who was standing on her knees and coughing.
"Hey, silly," she called out with her strong voice. "What are you even here for? What made you come here?"
Raven was silent for a couple of seconds, then she spat the rest of the blood in her mouth and looked at Helena.
"Why else? I came to make a proposal for you."
"After stabbing me in the back, you came to make a proposal? I took you in, catered for you like a sister, and you dare steal from me? To make it worse, you came back having a proposal for me?" She laughed amazingly.
"I have to give it to you, young one, you are indeed full of guts."
Raven flinched for a second, remembering how she had left Helena's place with a really bad reputation.
"I'm sorry, I stole from you. I had no choice..."
Raven raised her hands, and slowly, her weapons disintegrated into sparks of light and disappeared.
Helena watched the young girl dismiss her weapons with a suspicious glare.
"What do you think you are doing?" she inquired.
Raven smiled, "I told you. I have a proposal for you. I didn't come here to fight you."