Chapter 797: 550, my Dark Shadow never lies.

The New Moon Knight barely remembered the man; she must have seen his name while reviewing the hunting list.

But his ranking wasn’t high, and she had only faintly recalled his name.

Eye of True Knowledge, Lin Da.

Scenes from when she attacked the Dark Shadow flashed before the New Moon Knight’s eyes.

Those images fragmented into countless pieces, dissected layer by layer, until the truth revealed itself.

Just as her spear was about to pierce through the Dark Shadow, the opponent disappeared briefly, leaving her speeding forward uncontrollably and passing through.

Mere moments later, Eye of True Knowledge Lin Da appeared.

“Dark Shadow and Lin Da… are the same person!”

The New Moon Knight thought in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Lin Da was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling with excitement.

His maneuver seemed flawless, but in truth, it was performed at the very limit.

If he had switched back to his true form a moment too early or too late, he would have been impaled by the New Moon Knight’s spear.

He had derived the theory behind this move from the “invincibility frame” mechanics in games.

Characters with dual forms would briefly disappear from the screen during a switch, making it a highly effective strategy against difficult bosses.

In games, Lin Da had mastered this technique, but this was the first time he had used it in reality.

Even he wasn’t certain whether the invincibility frame existed in real life.

And even if it did, whether he could seize that fleeting moment was still unknown.

Mindset, skill, and luck… the combination of all three had allowed him to narrowly evade the fatal strike of the New Moon Knight.

Before he could catch his breath, a stronger killing intent surged from below.

The New Moon Knight’s expression was icy, rising like a roc soaring into the sky, her spear again aimed squarely at him.

Bang!

Lin Da suddenly collided into a soft embrace.

A faint fragrance entered his nostrils, and his cheek pressed into something as soft as cotton.

Startled, he raised his head–only to see Evelyn’s cold profile. Her left hand held him, while her right hand gripped her sword. Her silvery eyelashes fluttered in the wind, and her tight, crimson lips suppressed a rising anger.

The Magical Dragon followed closely behind, finally breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Lin Da unharmed.

Holding him tightly while evading the New Moon Knight’s attack, Evelyn said coldly, “I should have tied you up in the palace from the very beginning, watching over your cultivation day and night. If I had done that, both of us would have reached Legendary Rank, and Bloodflame Duke and his ilk wouldn’t have had the chance to betray us.”

Lin Da coughed awkwardly, turning his head to the side to avoid contact with certain things, and sighed. “But all along, I thought you were the traitor.”

Evelyn repelled the New Moon Knight with a single strike before releasing hundreds of Ice Cones. The New Moon Knight dodged frantically but was still hit by one, sent hurtling into the ground like a cannonball.

While pursuing downward, Evelyn murmured, “So that’s why you hid your identity? Looking at the outcome, your approach wasn’t wrong; even I didn’t anticipate Bloodflame Duke and the others to betray us.

The Demon King’s Castle never fully trusted me. If I had brought you to the Royal Capital, you might not have lived to see the next sunrise.”

–She had attempted to infiltrate the Demon King’s Castle using the illusion abilities of Cold Moon Law, but the plan was likely exposed by the chief Heavenly King, Angel.

The Royal Capital raid specifically excluded informing this “Demon Clan Legend,” instead assigning the New Moon Knight to monitor her.

“Evelyn.”

Lin Da hesitated before speaking. “I’m not Dai Lian; I’m Lin Da. Does that disappoint you?”

As a gamer, Lin Da naturally wanted the characters within the game to care for him, rather than the avatars he controlled.

Evelyn didn’t reply, instead striking down into the pit where the New Moon Knight lay.

Ice crystals spread across a thousand meters, freezing the earth solid.

Gritting her teeth, the New Moon Knight broke free of Evelyn’s Battle Qi lock and ascended again into the air.

Stealing a glance at Evelyn’s resolute figure, Lin Da was handed off to the Magical Dragon as Evelyn placed him on the ground.

She rose into the sky, her sword scattering frosty white moonlight within the azure barrier. Her lonely, aloof silhouette never looked back as she said:

“I don’t care whether you’re Dai Lian or Lin Da, a Dwarf or even a Goblin.

What matters to me is you–and you alone.

Among the adventurers on Mystic Continent, only you deserve to remain at my side.”

Lin Da froze for a moment, the barriers he felt about Evelyn seemingly starting to dissolve.

Be it a game or Another World, Evelyn was always that fierce and unrestrained swordsman.

He chuckled wryly and said, “You’re too arrogant. There are always stronger people out there. Mystic Continent is full of powerful warriors.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that I am the Number One Swordsman on the continent.”

Evelyn’s gaze was razor-sharp as she declared furiously, “I will liberate the Royal Capital and obliterate all Demons.”

Lin Da nodded. “I and my companions will help you.”

“Companions?” Evelyn paused, surprised, and turned to give him a curious look.

It was unexpected to hear the word “companions” from the lips of the cold and ruthless Dark Shadow.

It was akin to a Goblin, known for its unrestrained breeding urges, telling a girl he would marry only her.

Evelyn wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not.

“Yes, companions,” Lin Da said earnestly. “Evelyn, I’ve changed–I no longer intend to fight alone. My companions are trustworthy adventurers.”

The Phoenix Tail Flower squad members, the Snow Goose trio, Isa, Abner… all had the potential to ascend to the Legendary Rank.

Currently, the three Grand Dukes had betrayed them, taking their Legendary Rank underlings with them.

The Demon Lord’s Army held an overwhelming numerical advantage in Legendary warriors.

Mystic Continent must rapidly increase its top-tier combat strength.

And even among Legendary Rank, there were varying tiers.

Levels 90-93 were new Legendary warriors.

Levels 94-96 were seasoned Legendary warriors.

Levels 97 and above were the peak of Legendary power.

Across Mystic Continent and Devil’s Continent, peak Legendary warriors likely numbered fewer than five.

Evelyn at Level 96 and the New Moon Knight at Level 95 were exceptionally valuable assets.

Lin Da mounted the Magical Dragon, casting Verdant Shield and Guardian Shield on himself. While Eye of True Knowledge was far tougher than Dark Shadow, Evelyn’s front-line distraction greatly reduced the risk.

“Why are you following me?” Evelyn asked, confused.

“You could kill the New Moon Knight alone, but I want her captured alive,” Lin Da said, his gaze unwavering as he fixed on the New Moon Knight gasping heavily above.

He narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

Simply cutting down the New Moon Knight would only benefit the enemy Witch.

He intended to make the New Moon Knight serve him, helping in the battle against the Demon Lord’s Army.

After all…

“She’s your biological sister, isn’t she?”

“No, she’s merely a Demon now. I won’t hesitate,” Evelyn replied firmly.

“I have a way to restore the New Moon Knight.

She might just be brainwashed by the Demon King’s corrupting power, similar to my sister’s case.

My sister was once fiercely loyal to the Demon King’s Castle, but after my ‘Purification,’ she changed her ways and now fights alongside me.”

“Purification?” Evelyn asked incredulously. “Is it even possible to purify a Witch?”

Extensive research had already been conducted on Witches in the Royal Capital, at the cost of tremendous financial and physical resources. The conclusion was clear:

A Witch’s state was irreversible; once bonded to the Demon King’s contract, a Witch was akin to an alchemy bomb whose fuse had been lit, falling irreversibly towards the abyss of corruption.