''He is a Shadow mage.'' Lucas thought to himself with closed eyes.


    A shadow mage is very rare or more like a shadow affinity.


    Shadow affinity is an affinity for ck magic. This shadow affinity is even rarer than Lucas''s Light affinity.


    Only 0.1% awaken shadow affinity when their mana core blooms.


    That''s why there is not much known about shadow magic.


    It was a mysterious and elusive magic that had always intrigued him. Shadows, by their very nature, held an air of enigma, and those who possessed the ability to manipte them were rare and often powerful.


    Shadow mages could manipte darkness itself, bending shadows to conceal, ensnare, or even attack. The intricacies of this affinity were shrouded in darkness, making it a formidable force when wielded by a skilled practitioner.


    As his mind delved into the possibilities of shadow magic, Lucas couldn''t help but feel a mixture of apprehension and fascination. He wondered about the specific techniques and spells this [B-] rank viin might employ with such a unique affinity.


    Sia''s warning echoed in his thoughts, urging him to remain vignt. The shadows held secrets, and facing a shadow mage required a keen awareness and strategic approach.


    The car continued its journey through the city, each passing moment bringing them closer to the confrontation with the elusive and dangerous viin.


    Lucas''s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sports caring to an abrupt stop as he opened his eyes. Looking out the window, he saw that they had arrived at a dark and narrow alley, which was currently blocked off by a Hero police. Blinking lights of several armoured hero police vehicles drowned it in an unsettling glow, and there were many officers on the scene, their faces pale and tense.


    Sia yawned, stretched, and gave him a crooked grin.


    "Rise and shine, Cadet Lucas. We''ve arrived..."


    ***


    Lucas got out of the car, somewhat apprehensive of what he was about to see. The hero police present at the scene looked very relieved to see Sia appear — their tense faces cleared, and the darkness hiding in their eyes seemed to dissipate a little.


    Sia walked over to one of the policemen and greeted him with a short nod. Even though he was much older than her — not to mention Lucas himself — the officer treated them with the utmost respect.


    The man gave Lucas a strange nce but decided to not as anything because he was with Sia Talen an [S+] rank hero.


    "Nice to see you again, ma''am. Let me show you the way."


    He led them deeper into the alley, toward a heavy metal door that hid in the deep shadows. It was wide open, and there were strange shes of intense white lighting out of it, mixing with the red glow of the Hero police sirens.


    Lucas turned to Sia and asked:


    "What is this ce?"


    She hesitated for a few moments, then said in an unexpectedly dark tone:


    "It''s a… club, of sorts. Called the NeighbourClub. One of the few such establishments in the city."


    Lucas stared at the door, which had no sign or any indication that there was a club on the other side of it. Was this a marketing ploy to create a feeling of mystique and exclusivity, or were there things going on inside that needed to be hidden?


    "...A peculiar name for a nightclub."


    Sia smiled with a corner of her mouth.


    "It is meant for a very specific clientele. The ground floor is your usual dance club, but beneath it, there is a VIP area with an underground arena. There is nothing illegal going on there, just… things that are in poor taste."


    She then paused and added with a dark tone:


    "The arrogant noble and a few higher-upse here to entertain themselves, them, Here they send monsters to fight with ves."


    Lucas frowned.


    He knew that wealthy people were big fans of wasteful forms of entertainment, though… wasn''t it a bit too much? They sent a ve to fight monsters.


    Those people are the worst.


    "So what happened in this Nightclub"


    Sia shrugged.


    "That''s what we have to find out. All I know is that everyone inside is dead. Kind of ironic!"


    The Hero Police came to a stop and opened therge ck door, he then turned toward Sia and now his head deeply and said, "Please stop that psychopath killer."


    Sia just nodded her head slightly and said, "Don''t worry you have done your job now leave."


    The main raised his head and walked away from Sia and Lucas.


    Lucas was the first to step inside of room.


    Inside, the air was filled with the smell of blood.


    Lucas took a deep breath, the scent of blood triggering a mix of difort and determination. He followed Sia as they entered the nightclub, passing through the dance floor on the ground level, where remnants of a lively atmosphere contrasted starkly with the ominous events that had unfolded.


    The shes of white light led them to a staircase that descended into the depths of the NeighbourClub. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, anticipation and anxiety mingling in the air.


    As they reached the underground arena, the sight that awaited them was chilling. The once-vibrant arena was now stained with blood, and lifeless bodies were scattered across the floor. The monsters that had been sent to fight with vesy defeated, their grotesque forms a testament to the brutality of the events.


    Sia scanned the scene, her eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and concern.


    "This isn''t just about the entertainment getting out of hand. Something else happened here," she muttered.


    Lucas, feeling a knot in his stomach, observed the surroundings. The shadows seemed to hold echoes of the violence that unfolded, and he couldn''t help but recall the enigmatic nature of shadow magic.


    Sia approached one of the fallen monsters, examining it closely. Her expression darkened as she observed peculiar wounds and markings.


    "This wasn''t a typical brawl. There''s a method to this madness," Sia remarked, her voice cutting through the heavy silence.