Chapter 346 - Close
The moment he saw the note, even without considering if it was true or if he was being lured into a trap, with his heart pounding in his chest, Ethan wasted no time as he hastily gathered his belongings and sprinted towards the location mentioned in the note.
With each step, his mind raced with thoughts of Emily's safety and the implications of the information he held.
The urgency of the situation spurred him on, his training instincts kicking in as he navigated to the streets of the Lactarian District.
Though Ethan wasn't that familiar with the address, the technology was.
'Assassin….I hope I am not late.'
The night air was crisp and cold, but Ethan barely registered the chill as adrenaline-fueled his movements.
As he neared 7th Street, Ethan's senses sharpened, scanning his surroundings for any signs of danger. His muscles tensed, prepared for whatever awaited him at the designated location.
Arriving at the street, Ethan slowed his pace, keeping to the shadows as he surveyed the area.
His keen eyes searched for any suspicious figures or unusual activity, his mind calculating the best course of action to ensure Emily's safety.
And then suddenly, he sensed something amiss. In front of his eyes, there were stores that had yet to close. Some people were looking at him as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stopped.
Though many people were awakened in this world, not all of them had the necessary strength to reach such speeds, and seeing them was rare.
But what bothered Ethan wasn't that. Somehow, from the second store and onwards, there was something amiss with the stores.
'Dark?'
It was a little darker, and he felt like his senses weren't able to pass through that space.
'A barrier of veil!'
And Ethan instantly remembered the contents of the lecture. At one time, Eleanor mentioned that there were a lot of skills that could obstruct one's senses. They were mainly used by stealth users, and this situation especially fit that description.
He knew he had to tread carefully, for the presence of a barrier of veil suggested that someone was deliberately hiding their actions from prying eyes.
With a silent curse under his breath, Ethan weighed his options. He could charge ahead recklessly, risking a potential ambush, or he could take a more cautious approach and gather information before confronting the source of the barrier.
Of course, assessing the situation would be better. Even if he had acted somehow impulsively, Ethan was at least a seasoned Hunter to some extent.
He entered the veil while concealing his presence, but the moment he entered, his senses picked up something amiss.
A blade and killing intent.
An assassin releasing its killing intent meant one thing! The target was already on the brink of finishing.
'Not good!'
In an instant, he spread his senses, and then two figures materialized in his brain.
SWOOSH!
Grabbing his spear, he channeled his mana into it.
「 Spear of Hartley, Thunder Javelin.」
The spear sparkled with energy as he channeled the mana; following that, Ethan threw the spear.
And then he followed the strike. Appearing before the assassin, Ethan stood there looking at the assailant.
"The note was really true."
He saw Emily there with his body injured.
"You don't need to worry anymore now that I am here."
From now on, he would deal with this bastard before his face.
"….."
The assassin didn't say anything, looking closely at Ethan. Even though his face was veiled and his eyes looked blurry from the outside, Ethan was able to sense that the assassin was clearly annoyed.
At the same time, Emily just silently looked into Ethan's back as crackles of electricity slowly deformed from his body.
'…He is here….'
Her voice mumbled inwardly, yet there was something missing. She knew she was saved just now, but there was something missing inside her heart.
"Who are you?"
Ethan mumbled, pondering.
Yet before he could even fully process the situation, the assailant's response came in the form of a swift attack.
SWOOSH!
With a fluid motion, the assassin launched a dagger towards Ethan, aiming for his chest.
CLANK!
Reacting on instinct, Ethan deflected the dagger with his spear, the metallic clang echoing through the street.
The speed of the dagger was just too fast, something that Ethan had a hard time reacting to.
'This power…..'
From the clash itself, Ethan realized that the enemy's strength wasn't clearly low.
But before he could fully recover from the initial strike, the assailant closed the distance with alarming speed, daggers flashing in the moonlight.
As the assassin pressed the attack, Ethan focused on defending himself, his movements fueled by adrenaline and training.
Each strike was met with a calculated block or parry, but the assailant's relentless assault kept him on the defensive.
Amidst the flurry of blows, the assailant's voice cut through the chaos, dripping with disdain. "Is this important?" he sneered, the daggers flashing dangerously as he lunged forward. "Who I am matters little in the grand scheme of things. What matters is that your meddling ends here."
FLICK!
Suddenly, the assassin flicked his fingers.
SPURT!
Following that, blood spurted from Ethan's body. His arms, his wrists, and many of his veins were split open.
'Blood manipulation?'
Ethan was caught off guard as he was unable to sense the attack. His body started hurting inwardly. His head started spinning from the constant loss of blood.
SLASH!
Following that, the assassin attacked with his daggers flashing. The daggers were shining bright, with countless different symbols on them. The color of orange lit up as the daggers started burning.
The dagger with fire approached Ethan. The assassin clearly wanted to eliminate this person before him.
CLANK!
However, contrary to its expectations, the dagger didn't slash the body but was intercepted by the shining spear.
"Hmm!"
Assassin's eyes were narrowed as he seized his enemy. The effects of his skill shouldn't have been nullified this fast.
'Something is not right.'
He thought. Following that, his eyes met with the enemy with a spear. There, he saw the young man's eyes, which had turned vertically yellow and shining.
The enemy had already escaped his initial [Blood Ailment.]
Yes. The moment the assassin had seen Ethan's attack and dodged the initial strike, how could he not know that this person before him was an enemy? The attack clearly had an intent behind it, making him react to it.
Therefore, while Ethan was somehow talking to Emily, the assassin had already stated that he was using his ailment, covering his daggers and the air itself.
And while clashing with Ethan, he sped up the injection time, yet now it wasn't even effective for 2 seconds.
SWOOSH!
In an instant, the young man with the spear's figure blurred. Assassin's instincts warned him as he tensed his body.
Using his high agility and flexibility, he tilted his waist in a rather abnormal manner, evading the thrust.
As Ethan's yellow eyes continued to gleam with intensity, he pressed the attack, his movements fluid and precise despite the pain coursing through his body. He was already recovering at a fast rate as the pain was fading away.
With each strike of his spear, he aimed to exploit the slightest opening in the assassin's defenses, his focus unwavering.
However, the assassin, recognizing the imminent threat posed by Ethan's relentless assault, called upon another skill to enhance his agility.
[Dash]
It was a common skill that wasn't rare to find at all. Most of the agility type awakened had this skill.
With a surge of speed, he dodged Ethan's strikes with remarkable precision, his movements becoming almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Emily, who was watching the battle unfold, was having a hard time noticing everything. She was lacking in terms of this aspect.
Of course, being an awakened and someone from the Hartley family, Ethan's vision of such things was pretty developed compared to the normal students of the academy. After all, he had fought someone stronger and faster than this assassin – a certain white-haired monster.
Sensing the shift in the assassin's speed, Ethan remained vigilant but still adjusted his stance to maintain his offensive pressure.
SWOOSH!
But before he could close in for another strike, the assassin widened the distance between them, leaping back with impressive agility.
As the assassin retreated, he seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, hurling a dagger toward Ethan with deadly accuracy.
Emily instantly had flashbacks. She realized what had happened before Ethan came. She was already sure that the assassin was going to utilize the same tactic.
"Car-"
She wanted to inform Ethan, but she felt like she couldn't speak at all.
Her voice was concealed!
CLANK!
Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Ethan deflected the dagger with his spear.
However, suddenly, behind the dagger, another projectile appeared.
A triumphant smirk crossed the assassin's lips, thinking that he had successfully ensnared Ethan in his trap. The distance between them was too narrow to evade the poison flask, and he knew that a direct hit could prove fatal.
The person needed to deflect the dagger, but then they would most likely be in a bad posture, making it a lot harder to react.
"Heh…."
But suddenly, Assassin saw Ethan smile. Following that, the Assassin saw the flask flying back!
「 Spear of Hartley. First Move. Spinning Hell」
In a split-second decision, Ethan summoned his mana and twirled his spear in a swift motion, generating a small whirlwind around him! Therefore, without actually making contact with the poison flask, he safely defended himself.
It was a very fast decision, and that left Assassin's mouth agape.
"You are not the first one to think that."
Ethan mumbled with his smile, remembering that someone had pulled this trick on him.
CRACK!
The assassin immediately crashed the flask with his dagger as it was now approaching him. And then he landed on the ground.
CRACKLE!
But Ethan wasn't going to give the assassin the time. He knew he had the chance now!
Lighting surged through his body as Ethan's legs started channeling his energy. Once an assassin's tricks or first strike was avoided, it was a lot easier to deal with them!
「Spear of Hartley. Tiger's Thrust. 」
SWOOSH!
With a rapid speed, he stabbed his spear, aiming right at the assassin's heart.
THUD!
But, before he could even do anything, suddenly, he felt something amiss. The world turned dark for a split second, and he found himself standing still while a figure appeared before him.
No, there were two figures.
"….."
One was someone with a cloak, his dagger almost on his heart. And the other one was a girl with her sword intercepting the dagger.
"ETHAN! WAKE UP!"
At that moment, Ethan realized something.
He almost lost his life.
Chapter 347 - Close (2)
What is the fate?
What is the strength?
Emily, who had been watching the fight unfold before her eyes, asked herself this question countless times.
Ethan, with his spear facing the enemy that had targeted her, and the assassin clashed with him using his daggers – two of them were in their own world.
And here she was, just standing there watching the fight.
She knew she needed to feel grateful for Ethan. She needed to thank him for saving her in such a situation.
But something inside her didn't do as she wished.
There was something missing.
And as she watched the fight, she started realizing what that emptiness meant. Where it came from, or why she was feeling it.
'I am feeling useless.'
Seeing the two figures continuously clashing, Emily thought. The reason why she was feeling this empty.
It was because she was always on the receiving end of things. From the start, she never once gave anything meaningful to Ethan.
She was always saved.
And that was something she found undoubtedly unacceptable. She didn't want to be a liability. She refused to do so.
Why was this the case?
She couldn't answer, and neither did she need to. She just knew that this was her wish. From the bottom of her heart, she desired such a thing.
But the reality often disappointed the person. After all, she lacked the strength, and strength wasn't something that came from wishing so.
Gritting her teeth, she watched the scene.
Ethan somehow successfully managed to overpower the assassin. There was a faint pressure emanating from him, something that she couldn't put a name on but instinctively knew it was from a higher existence.
Something that was above her in the natural order. It easily suppressed her feelings and aura.
And as expected, Ethan managed to overpower the assassin and cornered him.
But then Emily witnessed the assassin throwing a dagger, and she wanted to warn Ethan. But not to her avail, as her voice was suppressed.
Emily felt like the aura that she initially felt when she entered the place somehow converged on her, covering her mouth.
However, Ethan managed to deflect the vial, and at that moment, Emily saw lighting surging from Ethan's body.
It was the first time she had seen him using lightning, but she somehow felt it was suited to him.
But then, just as Ethan was about to finish the assassin, suddenly, he stopped. He didn't move. Somehow, his eyes turned full black, and the concealment around Emily, this time converged on Ethan.
Then suddenly, someone appeared right before him. It was another assassin, and this one gave goosebumps to Emily!
As if they were of a higher rank. She felt suffocating just by being in the presence of the assassin. The aura and the killing intent suppressed her clearly.
The darkness around them also pressured her constantly, making it harder for her to even breathe.
Then, Emily saw the dagger in the assassin's hand approaching Ethan, but Ethan showed no signs of realizing that. It was as if his consciousness was from far away.
Emily didn't know what was happening, but she knew Ethan's life was in danger. Just like before, something was happening again, and it was because of her.
'No!'
Because of her, Ethan was this close to dying.
'NO!'
She gritted her teeth, trying to channel mana into her heart. Into her body.
As Emily focused her mind, channeling her mana with all her strength, a sudden tremor rippled through the darkness surrounding her. In that fleeting moment, she felt a small thread of energy entering her body from her spinal bulb, and her mana underwent a rapid transformation.
'Urghk! It hurts!'
It was not a phenomenon that could be foreseen, nor was it something that she was expecting. But no matter what, Emily's mana went under a qualitative change.
But that change brought pain inwardly.
With that change, she forced herself to move. And since her body was undergoing a change, her condition wasn't stable. With blood pouring from her eyes, Emily channeled her now darkened mana.
Then she felt the restrictions binding her dissipate, allowing her to move freely once more.
With a determined resolve, she pushed herself forward, propelling her body towards Ethan with all her strength.
In an instant, Emily materialized before the assassin, her sword poised to deflect the incoming dagger. With a forceful shout, she cried out to Ethan, "ETHAN, WAKE UP!"
Her voice echoed through the darkness as she intercepted the assassin's attack, her movements fueled by a mixture of desperation and determination.
And in that crucial moment, she felt Ethan twitching beside her, a sign that her words had reached him.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Ethan sprang into action, his spear lashing out toward the newly appearing assassin with incredible speed and precision. It was an instinctive act since Ethan's eyes were still wide open.
–SWOOSH!
"Tch."
The assassin, taken aback by Ethan's sudden resurgence, clicked his tongue in frustration, swiftly distancing himself from Ethan.
"You really are weird." The newly arrived assassin spoke, looking at Ethan.
"Master! Why did you reveal yourself?" The other assassin addressed the newly arrived assassin, feeling surprised by the sudden events happening.
It was apparently his master.
Realizing the choice of words, Ethan and Emily's bodies tensed. The assassin before them may not even be simple at all.
"Sigh…." The Master released a sigh of frustration. "Do you think you would still be alive if I hadn't done so?"
"That…."
"I clearly gave you every advantage that assassin needs, yet you still have failed the initial strike."
"But, master… That guy appeared out of nowhere."
"It is your job to ensure that the target is eliminated before any type of interference happens. Anything else is just an excuse." The Master spoke, looking at the young assassin. "But you are partly right; this guy is not simple."
The Master mumbled, looking at Ethan.
'Even though I used the [Dream Substituion], its effects were reduced by more than half.'
The Master Assassin analyzed. From the moment Ethan attacked his discipline, he knew he needed to interfere. Thus, he, in fact, pulled Ethan into a dream. In the real world, Ethan stopped in his tracks.
That was one of the skills he got after advancing the trait he acquired after making a contract with a demon, [Nocturnal]. He had never seen his skill fail him this much in his life.
From the moment Ethan made his appearance, this mission was no longer something that he could use to train this disciple of him.
"Well, it seems the warning given by the upper ranks was right. There was really someone strong involved with his girl." Master spoke and then locked his eyes with Ethan.
"Though, he is just a kid."
With those words, the assassin appeared right before Ethan, his body leaving an afterimage even in Ethan's eyes.
CLANK!
With his incredibly fast reflexes, Ethan was able to deflect the attack at the last split second using his spear.
As the Master Assassin closed in on Ethan with blinding speed, his dagger flashed like lightning, slashing with relentless ferocity. Ethan, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, struggled to keep up, his spear deflecting some but not all of the attacks.
With each slash, Ethan felt the pressure mounting, his body straining against the overwhelming speed and precision of his opponent.
Despite his best efforts, he couldn't deflect even half of the strike, and rather deep cuts began to mar his skin, drawing blood with each passing moment.
Meanwhile, Emily found herself locked in a fierce clash with the young assassin, their swords clashing with a metallic ring that echoed through the darkness.
Though she initially struggled to stabilize herself, at this point, Emily refused to be a liability, drawing upon her resolve to defend herself against her assailant's relentless assault.
With each clash of steel, Emily's movements became more fluid, her instincts guiding her sword as she deflected the assassin's attacks with growing confidence. Emily could feel like something inside her had evolved. She could see the assassin's movements, which she previously struggled to grasp, and this gave her the advantage she needed.
On the other side, Ethan and the assassin clashed with each other, and the air cracked with tension.
'This is not good!'
Ethan, feeling the weight of each strike, knew he had to find a way to break through the barrage of attacks.
'I am going to die at this rate!'
With a quick judgment, he focused his mind, activating his skill, [Temporal Warding].
A shimmering barrier materialized around Ethan, momentarily deflecting the assassin's relentless assault.
CLANK!
For a fleeting moment, Ethan felt a surge of hope as he managed to fend off the incoming strikes.
However, the assassin sneered, disdain evident in his voice. "Futile tricks," he remarked, his confidence unwavering.
With a swift motion, he unleashed his own skill, [Lizard's Fang], a technique specifically designed to break through barriers. After all, as an assassin, how could he not have such a skill?
Most of important people who would be subjected to assassination requests would carry special artifacts with them to defend themselves regardless of whether they were Awakened or not. After all, this world didn't lack danger with demons and monsters around already.
The barrier created by Ethan's [Temporal Warding] shattered like glass upon impact, leaving him vulnerable once more.
Ethan gritted his teeth, realizing that his opponent was not to be underestimated. No, the strength of his enemy was beyond his scope.
He was releasing his [????'s Might], but the enemy was not being affected compared to the assailants previously.
Even with his 5.69 strength, he was unable to completely deflect his attacks. His speed was a lot more lacking. Ethan now knew he was not in a good situation at all, and he acted impulsively by coming here this fast.
As if to compound Ethan's predicament, the assassin intensified his pressure, exerting his dominance over the battlefield.
'Huh?'
Suddenly, Ethan's movements began to falter, and his thoughts grew sluggish, as if his mind was under drugs.
And that was the case!
The assassin had already used another skill, [Dream Ailment], from his trait [Nocturnal], as he knew that the artifact that created this concealment was starting to run out of energy, and they needed to leave.
The spear in Ethan's hands gave him a weird feeling, and for some reason, the assassin felt like Ethan was improving himself as he battled. Though the assassin was still in an overwhelming advantage, he knew he needed to trust his gut.
The effects of the assassin's 'Dream Ailment' began to take hold, clouding Ethan's mind and sapping his strength. Despite his best efforts to resist, Ethan found himself struggling to maintain his focus, his movements becoming increasingly sluggish with each passing moment.
SLASH!
And the master assassin slashed.
Chapter 348 - Close (3)
The moment Ethan's thoughts turned sluggish, Assassin immediately attempted to strike Ethan with his daggers.
He wanted to end things fast.
BOOM!
But then suddenly, the mana exploded from his right side. Emily used her skill [Breath Resonance], but this time, her skill was slightly different.
Rather than just releasing a spherical shockwave without a clear direction, this time, she released a small crescent wave to Ethan's direction and distorted the Assassin's attacks.
Somehow, her wave had gained the distortion ability of the assassin!
"Tch!"
Master assassin, seeing his attack distorted, threw a look with annoyance at Emily. At this point, he thought these two were just futilely resisting.
They were already dead in his eyes.
Ethan managed to get rid of his sluggish thoughts as his mind started working properly again. He knew this was his last chance, as Emily had given him the space. The assassin was momentarily disturbed.
Utilizing his trait, he instantly channeled his mana into his spear. Lightning crackled around the spear as Ethan took his position.
[Transmeate]
Using his spear's special property, he drew the mana inside him more than he could. His skin started deteriorating as blood started dripping from his nose. His eyes were bloodshot as he even consumed his life force.
His strength far surpassed his body's limits momentarily, reaching almost the barrier of 7.
「 Spear of Hartley. Heavenly Shura」
RUMBLE!
The sky rumbled as lighting swept through Ethan.
In an instant, Ethan struck through the master assassin with his spear.
"!"
The assassin felt alarmed, as the aura behind the strike was clearly something that could be fatal to him.
And, but then, the only thing he needed to do was to evade.
Just as he attempted to do so, suddenly, the assassin felt the gravitational force increasing over his body, a sensation he hadn't anticipated. His movements became sluggish, his agility hindered by the unexpected force acting upon him. In that split second of his movements trapped, he realized his fatal mistake.
Around him, somehow, a new type of mana had appeared, but he wasn't even aware of that!
Ethan, seizing the opportunity afforded by Emily's intervention and the momentary stop caused by the unknown force, launched himself forward with unparalleled speed and precision. His spear, crackling with lightning, surged toward the master assassin with unstoppable force.
With a gasp of realization, the assassin attempted to evade, but it was too late. The gravitational pull held him in place, leaving him vulnerable to Ethan's decisive strike.
SWOOSH! RUMBLE!
In a swift and fluid motion, Ethan's spear pierced through the assassin's defenses, driving deep into his body with relentless determination.
"RAAAA!"
STAB!
The master assassin's eyes widened in shock and agony as he felt the searing pain of Ethan's attack tearing through him.
Despite his best efforts to resist, he could do nothing to prevent the inevitable. Everything happened in a split second.
"Argh!"
With a final, guttural cry, the assassin refused to succumb to Ethan's overwhelming power, grabbing the spear stabbed in his chest.
SPURT!
He channeled his mana into his arms, enhancing his strength. And then he pulled the spear out of his chest, with blood spurting from the wound.
Ethan had already reached his limit by that time, and he was no longer able to hold his spear, making him unable to resist the Master Assassin's pull.
"You!"
The Master Assassin growled, his voice filled with hatred for the first time. The wound on his chest was not closing at all, and it was rather deep. Even though he wasn't defeated and the wound wasn't something fatal, it still hurt.
The hatred in his eyes was clear as he covered the wound with mana, making the blood stop.
Even with Ethan's strongest attack connecting, the Master Assassin had yet to fall down.
THUD!
And Ethan, who had used even the last bit of his strength and some of his life force, fell to the ground. His body was in tatters, with his veins burst open thanks to the amount of energy they needed to withstand.
Many internal injuries had accumulated, and his inner organs were not functioning.
"Burghk!"
His breathing was hoarse, and from time to time, he coughed blood. He was no longer in a condition to fight.
"Die."
The Master Assassin raised his dagger, this time clearly with the intent to finish Ethan.
–CLANK!
But just as the assassin was about to strike, a sudden burst of energy disrupted the scene. With lightning-fast reflexes, the assassin deflected a strike aimed at him with his dagger. It was a bullet of energy directed towards him with pinpoint accuracy.
Before he could comprehend what was happening, more bullets of energy began raining down upon him, each strike aimed with deadly precision.
"Tch!"
The assassin growled in frustration, realizing that he was under attack from an unknown assailant.
The rapid onslaught of energy bullets forced the assassin to take evasive maneuvers, dodging and weaving to avoid being hit. Despite his agility, he couldn't escape the relentless barrage of attacks.
Realizing that he needed to deal with this new threat first, the master assassin activated the power of the artifact of concealment. It was the artifact that he had brought with him, sealing this whole space.
A thick curtain of darkness enveloped him, shielding him from view and providing temporary cover from the relentless assault as he moved from his space.
'Now you can't see me.'
He realized that this person might have been in this place for a long time, but he was unable to sense them. Even as an executive of the organization [Dark Watch], he was unable to sense the enemy.
His condition was also not good, as his strength was slowly deteriorating.
SWOSOH!
But, suddenly, as he was thinking rapidly, his senses had warmed him. A projectile approached him at a rapid speed.
It was an arrow!
An arrow filled with an immense amount of energy. Under the darkness of night, the arrow shone bright blue.
'He can see me!'
In an instant, the assassin realized that his location had been revealed, and he didn't have much time to evade it.
Thus, he attempted to deflect the arrow, throwing a dagger.
BOOM!
But to his surprise, the arrow exploded upon contact with the dagger, unleashing a powerful blast of energy that sent him hurtling through the air.
CRASH!
With a grunt of pain, the assassin was thrown backward, his body spinning uncontrollably as he struggled to regain his balance. The force of the explosion was immense, causing him to crash into the wall of the building with a bone-jarring impact.
As he coughed up blood, his senses reeled from the shock of the explosion. But even in his dazed state, his eyes locked onto the figure standing on the roof of the building, hidden in the shadows.
The assailant was clad in pitch-black armor, their features obscured by a dark cloak. In their hand, they held a massive blue bow crackling with potent energy.
Because of their concealment, the assassin was unable to sense the strength of the enemy clearly, but the arrows clearly contained a lot of energy.
'This….'
But then again, the Master Assassin had a lot of experience. Thus, he immediately made his decision decisively.
Grabbing a small rectangle thing from his spatial storage, he crushed it. It was an expendable charm, something that was made by the alchemist of [Dark Watch.]
Charm of Black Flame.
It had the ability to directly activate the spell belonging to the Fire and Darkness Domain. [Black Flame], and the strength of the spell was level-6. Even a higher-ranking hunter would have a hard time dealing with this flame.
In an instant, the surrounding area of the assailant erupted into chaos as the Charm of Black Flame was activated. Swirling tendrils of black flames engulfed the target destination, their intense heat and darkness burning and corroding everything in their path.
The master assassin watched with a mixture of satisfaction and bitterness as the flames raged, knowing that he had unleashed a powerful force that would make even the most formidable Hunters think twice before confronting. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret at having to use such a valuable and costly item.
As the flames consumed the area, the assassin's gaze remained fixed on the assailant, his mind racing with possibilities and strategies.
But then, just as he was preparing to strike again, his senses tingled with a warning. From his right side, shadows blurred and shifted, and before he could react, the assailant emerged from the darkness unscathed.
The assassin's eyes narrowed as he realized that the assailant possessed a spatial leap ability, allowing them to evade his attack and reappear unharmed.
It was a clever maneuver, one that showcased the assailant's skill and resourcefulness.
However, he wasn't discouraged. He knew that he had gained a brief respite, a moment to compose himself and get ready to clash.Top of Form
He was already ready to use his trait's next move.
「 Nocturnal. Manifesting Javelin. 」
In an instant, his mana was spread forward, manifesting a javelin he had conjured in his mind. It was one of the abilities of his traits, making him able to manifest a skill of his dreams.
SWOOSH!
The spears flew through the assailant at a rapid speed, but they lacked their usual strength. His condition was undoubtedly affecting the Master Assassin already.
But the assailant was quick to react, grabbing a bunch of silvery-colored chakrams from god knows where.
With remarkable agility and precision, they athletically deflected the javelins while evading some of them, their movements fluid and graceful.
Shadows swirled around the assailant's legs, enhancing their speed as they darted around the battlefield with unparalleled agility.
The master assassin gritted his teeth, realizing that his opponent was no ordinary adversary. However, even then, the assailant wasn't able to completely fend off his every strike. Some of the javelins passed through his skin, creating shallow cuts.
'This bastard…..If I was in my top condition!'
Desperate to gain the upper hand, the Master Assassin attempted to distort the trajectory of the chakrams utilizing the ring on his fingers, freezing them in mid-air for a split second.
SWOOSH!
But to his surprise, the assailant seemed to anticipate his move, already leaping into the shadows and appearing right behind him in the blink of an eye.
As the chakrams hung frozen in the air, the assailant wasted no time, seizing the opportunity to reclaim their weapons. With a swift motion, he seemed to pull a bunch of illusory threads, and the chakrams came to life, instantly flying back into the assailant's hands.
And on the trajectory, the Master Assassin was there, and he was about to be attacked.
However, being a high-ranking executive of an organization, his trump cards weren't even finished yet.
BOOM!
In an instant, an energy of darkness erupted from his body, releasing a shockwave similar to Emily's.
And the shockwave blasted the assailant behind him off.
CRASH!
The assailant crashed into walls, widening the distance.
As the shockwave blasted the assailant off, the Master Assassin seized the opportunity to act. With lightning speed, he unleashed a 'Dream Ailment' on the assailant, hoping to slow their thoughts and gain a momentary advantage, and then he threw another dagger at his enemy.
But his relief was short-lived, as he felt the effects of his own injuries taking their toll. With his mana reserves nearly depleted and his condition worsening by the second, the Master Assassin knew he couldn't afford to linger in the battle any longer.
Utilizing the momentary pause caused by the 'Dream Ailment,' the master assassin made a split-second decision to flee, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive.
However, as he reached for the ring on his finger to activate the artifact, a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
His whole hand was missing, severed cleanly at the wrist.
"Urghk-!"
As he coughed blood, his vision blurred.
Chapter 349 - Close (4)
In this world, how do you catch a fish bigger than you? No, it is not necessarily confined to this world.
In any world, how does one defeat the thing that is above them in terms of natural order? Can a cat hunt a lion? Can a normal jellyfish hunt a shark? Can a deer hunt a bear?
Are there any examples of such a thing happening in the world?
The answer is obvious.
The humans, we, are the prime example of that. From the moment we are born, do you think we have the necessary physical aspects to deal with a bear or any type of predator?
No, we do not.
But we are still in this world, living around for countless centuries or even millenniums.
That alone is an example.
Then how did we do it? At first, we were overwhelmed, but then we started adapting and getting crafty. We started utilizing the most important thing in this world.
Being able to think and plan.
The key to catching a bigger fish is here. To outsmart them, to plan your actions.
You first throw the bait.
Someone will bite it eventually.
The reason why I had made Ethan connect with Emily was for this purpose. After all, Emily was the main character of one of the side-quests, and her questline was long.
Therefore, there needed to be certain key elements that wouldn't change even now. And that was the case. As the guild conflicts over Azure Crest Guild's area intensified, people were bound to be sent by the demon contractors.
After all, the mobs can no longer deal with Emily and the area since the Hartleys are now looking over this district. Though Hartley's, in general, are a lot better compared to other families, this is not the case when you try to harm their descendants.
Especially Ethan, who has been doted on thanks to his lack of strength. Ethan's mother and father still dote on him, and they can never overlook such a matter.
Thus, they were bound to get desperate. And, just as I had thought, an assassination request had been sent via InfenalCovenant.
And then, utilizing Fred's smartwatch and identity, I was easily able to infiltrate as an assassin. After all, Fred was kind of a freelancer. Thus, he lacked conditions when I had first hunted him. Therefore, his death was overlooked, and nobody cared, thinking he just disappeared after failing to achieve his mission.
Also, the InfernalCovenant had yet to develop a method of self-destructiveness. Therefore, their smartwatches can be used for a long time.
It also doesn't always connect to the central server only when it is initiated from the smartwatch.
Therefore, they still lack in terms of this, though they are developing.
In any case, by pretending to be an assassin, I followed the notice, seemingly interested in the job, and checked the developments.
After that, it wasn't hard to learn the narrowed time to a certain extent since the employer seemed to be restless and wanted to achieve the result clearly.
It seemed they didn't trust the ones taking the job and wanted to guarantee it. Therefore, after getting the information, it wasn't hard to inform Ethan and track Emily using Horde.
Though I spent some money to invest in Horde, that was fine since they are doing their job clearly well, and also, I am frankly a lot richer compared to how I was before.
In any case, Horde tracked Emily with their newly bought equipment, and then they informed her that someone was indeed trailing her.
From that point on, I confirmed Emily would be attacked and informed Ethan.
Then, after he left, I followed him. Thanks to my improved endurance and the distance being relatively close to the Academy, it wasn't hard for me to follow Ethan without completely tiring myself out.
My speed does not lack compared to Ethan's.
As I watched Ethan approach the scene, my senses tingled with a faint disturbance in the air. It was subtle but unmistakable—a telltale sign of an artifact at work, weaving its veil of concealment around the area.
My specialized vision allowed me to perceive the subtle distortions in the surroundings, indicating the presence of the enchantment. The darkness cloaked the area, making it difficult to discern what lay beyond.
With Ethan drawing closer, I knew he needed to proceed with caution. The concealed area could be a trap, a haven for unseen dangers lurking in the shadows.
But Ethan would press on, driven by determination and purpose.
As he stepped into the shrouded space, I also readied myself.
It was imperative for me to mask my appearance and blend seamlessly into the darkness. With a quick invocation of my skill, [Shadow Leap], I vanished into the shadows, utilizing the small crack that appeared in the curtain of concealment thanks to Ethan's entrance. After all, that small crack connected the space inside and outside for a split second, making me able to utilize my skill.
As I materialized within the concealed area, my senses heightened, alert to the unfolding danger. Ahead, I saw Ethan engaged in a fierce clash with a cloaked figure—a skilled assassin, no doubt. He fought with determination, driven by the need to protect Emily from harm. It was in his character.
'No doubt that he is improving rapidly.'
I thought, looking at his prowess. This was also a good chance to observe the protagonist and see his speed of improvement.
'However, there is no way they only sent one assassin.'
Sure enough, as if on cue, a palpable pressure surged from the shadows, signaling the arrival of another assassin. The pressure emanating from it was a lot stronger than from the former, and from the ripples of mana across, I could see that that guy's strength was even on the level of Count Charles, the vampire.
He was probably an intermediate-rank 7 Awakened.
They really sent someone with a higher rank. The big fish was here.
'He is at least an executive. As expected, the organization must have noticed that the previous mobs couldn't be dealt with by normal guys. That means someone is behind Emily.'
In a sudden burst of movement, the second assailant emerged from the darkness, poised to join the fray. The dagger approached Ethan, who was pulled into a momentary dream.
Though, I know if I were to reveal myself here, that would be the end of us since we wouldn't be able to deal with the assassin. However, I didn't need to either.
Emily, previously a bystander in the conflict, began to undergo a transformation. The mana of the dark curtain converged around her, mingling with her own energy in a display of raw power.
'So this was her talent…'
It was then that I realized the true extent of Emily's talent from the game since it wasn't clearly revealed. However, I knew from one conversation that it was thanks to a demon contractor she clashed with. It seemed that using her was the right choice.
'Digestion and Absorption.'
The mana converged to her and assimilated into her mana, mutating. There needed to be certain triggers, and it seemed the first one was darkness-attributed psions.
Emily intervened to save Ethan from a fatal strike, and she was successful.
Then, with renewed determination, Ethan engaged the second assailant in a fierce clash, his every move a testament to his resolve.
But despite his best efforts, Ethan's skills alone were not enough to match the power of his adversary. His stats fell short, and it seemed as though defeat was inevitable.
However, I knew Ethan better than anyone. I knew that he was not one to go down without a fight.
And just as I had expected, Ethan reached deep within himself, tapping into his strongest technique and the skill of spear—the very limit of his current abilities.
'Heavenly Shura.'
A skill that enabled him to even clash with the higher ranking enemies. The leverage of the main character.
'And now it is my time.'
With a surge of energy, I also activated his [Celestalith], transforming it into [Umbralith].
Since Ethan's decision was a bold move, a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of battle in his favor, I needed to utilize this strike, which was on the border of the 6-rank well.
And then, I activated the gravity pull around the second assailant, and then, from that moment on, the rest was history.
********
As the shockwave blasted the assailant off, the Master Assassin seized the opportunity to act. With lightning speed, he unleashed a 'Dream Ailment' on the assailant, hoping to slow their thoughts and gain a momentary advantage, and then he threw another dagger at his enemy.
But his relief was short-lived, as he felt the effects of his own injuries taking their toll. With his mana reserves nearly depleted and his condition worsening by the second, the Master Assassin knew he couldn't afford to linger in the battle any longer.
Utilizing the momentary pause caused by the 'Dream Ailment,' the master assassin made a split-second decision to flee, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive.
However, as he reached for the ring on his finger to activate the artifact, a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
His whole hand was missing, severed cleanly at the wrist.
"Urghk-!"
As he coughed blood, his vision blurred.
Turning his head, the master assassin's eyes widened in horror as he saw the assailant manipulating the chakrams connected to him with silvery threads.
It dawned on him that the assailant had not been affected by his 'Dream Ailment' at all, and he had fallen into a trap of his own making.
There were two people who were strong against his dream attacks!
First, this blue-haired bastard, and now this newly arriving guy.
"Burghk-!"
He coughed another mouthful of blood as he struggled to stand. His body was on the verge of collapsing.
"Grrrr….."
Slowly, the emotions he suppressed to think logically started getting out of control.
As the assassin struggled to stand, his body wracked with pain and his vision growing dimmer with each passing moment, a wave of intense hatred washed over him.
'It is because of you!'
He realized that he could no longer escape without finishing this bastard, without avenging himself against those who dared to defy him.
"Grrrr…"
With a growl of fury, the assassin's mind was consumed by thoughts of revenge. He knew that he was facing two formidable foes, but he refused to go down without a fight. If he was going to die, he would take them with him.
With a hateful glare directed at the newly arriving adversary, the assassin made a desperate move.
Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, he attempted to bite down on the small capsule hidden in his teeth, a last resort that he had kept as a failsafe.
–SWOOSH!
But before he could even sink his teeth into the capsule, the assailant appeared right before his face as if materializing from the shadows.
In a blur of motion, the assailant slashed at his mouth with the chakrams, moving with such speed that the assassin could barely react. It was as if his thoughts had been read.
–CRACK!
The chakrams sliced through the air with deadly precision, cutting into the assassin's flesh with a sickening sound. Blood sprayed from the wound as the assassin's mouth was torn open, his scream of agony muffled by the onslaught.
But that wasn't the end, as the assailant attempted to grab the capsule inside his mouth as if he knew the exact location.
And then, the assailant grabbed the capsule.
However, the Master Assassin's eyes shone bright for a split second.
'You dared to come close to me!'
In an instant, the assassin channeled every bit of his remaining mana and even his life force. It was the same technique Ethan had used, but Assassin did it to the extreme that he would be dead one hundred percent after using it.
A crimson aura erupted from his body, a bloodlust aura of his peak strength, enveloping the assailant before him. And just as he expected, the assailant wasn't able to resist his full aura, meaning he was weak.
'DIE!'
Because his mouth was ripped open, Assassin could only scream inwardly. He channeled his aura into his arms, creating a blade.
STAB!
And then he stabbed the black-cloaked assailant in his chest, his arm passing through the assailant's body.
'Hehehehe...Now, due to the poison, you bastard.'
On the tip of his nails, he hid poison after all.
SLASH!
But this was his last thought as his neck was severed. The last scene he saw was the assailant, whose chest now had a hole in it.
Chapter 350 - Close (5)
The moment Ethan used his last strike, his vision turned blurry. Breathing was hard; his body was in tatters. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. However, his body forced him to stay awake.
It was because of the intent that was being released from the newly appearing figure, as well as the explosion that had just happened. After all, such an explosion would force everyone to wake up.
Clad in pitch darkness, the figure emanated such a strong killing intent and hatred that Ethan couldn't help but feel scared.
'Who is this?'
Ethan asked himself. Where did this person come from? Was there always there? He hadn't noticed at all.
However, what was more impressive was the fact that the flying chakrams around the space. The newly arrived dark figure dealt with the assassin, who was injured thanks to his attack.
The figure's moves were clean and practiced. The way they utilized the chakrams and the mana surrounding them showed their expertise.
However, it was evident that Master Assassin was still able to deal with the assailant to a certain degree.
After a bunch of blow exchanges, the fight between the two finally met their end.
THUD!
The head, belonging to the master assassin, fell to the ground. However, the dark-clad assailant also suffered some losses from the clash as now there was a hole in their chest.
Blood was dripping from the injury as the flesh corresponding to the surface was being devoured and deteriorated by the position disgustingly.
"Burghk-!"
The dark-clad assailant coughed blood, their body injured and shaking.
At that exact second, the disciple who had been locked in combat with Emily realized the fate that awaited him if he didn't act swiftly.
CLANK!
With lightning-fast reflexes, he deflected Emily's sword attack, his movements fluid and precise.
But instead of pressing his advantage against Emily, the disciple's attention was drawn to his fallen master.
With a solemn expression, he checked the body and realized that his master was no longer her. Then, his gaze fixed on the severed hand that still clutched something tightly.
'FUCK!'
Realizing that he was no longer in a position to complete the mission safely, his mind started working.
SWOOSH!
With a quick slash, he threw a crescent blood wave to Emily, who was breathing heavily from the constant fighting.
Even though her mana had undergone a change, she didn't have the necessary time to accommodate the feeling; thus, she was unable to use her potential to the max.
And the Assassin that she was facing was not an easy opponent as well. His speed and his abilities were quite troublesome to deal with, thanks to his blood magic.
CLANK!
However, she forced herself to stand up just to give Ethan the free time. Though the appearance of the dark-clad assailant caught her off guard, she knew her job hadn't changed.
CLANK! CLANK!
She deflected the rapidly approaching crescent blood waves while also constantly reminding herself to check her body so that no ailments were spread inside. She was once struck by the ailment, and that almost cost her life.
On the other side, utilizing his blood manipulation abilities, the disciple reached out with his own blood, manipulating the severed hand that once belonged to his master.
From the blood and flesh that corresponded to the severed surface, a bunch of threads began to form, weaving together to create a makeshift connection.
–SWOOSH!
With careful precision, the disciple manipulated the threads, guiding the severed hand to himself. And as the hand drew near, he reached out and plucked the ring from his master's finger, his actions swift and deliberate.
With the ring in hand, the disciple's expression hardened as he looked at the people responsible for the death of his master.
With that, while gritting his teeth, he channeled his mana into the ring and followed.
Emily realized what was happening, and in an instant, she attempted to leap and shorten the distance.
"You are not going anywhere!"
However, she was too late, as the spatial mana around the assassin fluctuated. Following that, the guy was slowly sucked into the portal appearing.
But at that exact second, that portal also removed his mask and his cloak, revealing the face of the assassin.
It was a young man with his head shaved.
His dark-tanned skin contrasted sharply with the intricate tattoos that adorned his body, each one telling a story of its own.
Upon his shaved head, countless tattoos covered his scalp, depicting various symbols and images in a ritualistic manner. Serpents intertwined with worms, forming a mesmerizing yet eerie pattern. But it was the tattoo on his forehead that drew the most attention—a star with five-pointed edges, with a man depicted hanging from a cross within its center.
The details of the tattoo were chilling, as if the man hanging from the cross was reaching out to the young man, his hands elongated and stretching towards the young man's eyes. It was a disturbing image that sent shivers down Ethan's spine.
The young man's gaze was intense, his eyes reflecting a mixture of anger and determination. He clenched his fists tightly, his resolve evident as he faced Ethan and Emily with unwavering determination.
"You…..You are all going to pay for everything…I will make sure of it….." his voice was low and menacing, filled with an air of vengeance. His brown eyes shone red for a split second as blood poured from his eyes.
"We never forget our promises."
Following that, with a surge of spatial mana, the young man was slowly pulled into the portal, disappearing from view.
And in that fleeting moment, Ethan caught a glimpse of the young man's expression—a distorted expression that even he could not help but flinch.
It was a haunting sight that would stay with Ethan long after the young man had disappeared into the unknown.
But things didn't end here, and Ethan knew that. At that moment, Ethan's attention was forced to be drawn to the figure whose face was obscured by a mask. Despite the mask, Ethan could sense the intense gaze directed at him, causing him to flinch involuntarily. The intent emanating from the assailant was palpable, filling the air with an ominous presence.
However, in a split second, the direction of the assailant's intent shifted, letting Ethan relax without the pressure.
"ETHAN!"
Just as Emily shouted a warning, believing the assailant was targeting Ethan, the gravity around her suddenly intensified, rendering her unable to move.
She was trapped, immobilized by the oppressive force exerted by the assailant. The dark-clad figure's hand was now shining black-purple.
With a raised hand, the dark-clad figure demonstrated their mastery over telekinesis, causing the blood that had spilled from their own wounds to rise from the ground and vanish into thin air.
"Grrrr…."
Emily gritted her teeth and tried to move her body, but gravity did not let her do so. Yet, she didn't give up and tried her best.
Ethan finally managed to gather a bit of his strength managed to utter.
"W-who are you?" His internal injuries made it very hard for him to speak, but he still forced himself.
"….." The dark-clad assailant didn't say anything as the shadows swirled around them.
SWOOSH!
And following that split second, the assailant disappeared, leaving the two.
RING!
At that second, the sound of a police car siren rang in both Ethan's and Emily's ears. The curtain that disconnected them from the outer world was now lifted, letting them finally have their way.
"Kughk-!"
As Ethan coughed a little bit more blood from his mouth, Emily came to his side and grabbed him from his cheeks, letting his head rest on his thighs.
"Here, drink this."
She slowly poured the potion into his mouth, letting him digest it without damaging herself.
At that moment, the people on the street, who could now see the destruction caused by the fight, gathered around both Ethan and Emily with their mouths agape.
Right before their eyes, such a fight occurred, yet none of them felt anything, and this made them understand the dangers of their world once again.
As for Ethan, his mind was a mess with thoughts about the dark-clad assailant and the assassins.
Yet he knew one thing, and that was the fact that he had grown from this fight.
*******
"Hrrrrr..."
My voice is now hoarse. It was something that could be expected from my body. After all, there is a complete hole on the right side of the belly. My liver is possibly fractured, as well as the ribs that were covering it.
'I really didn't think they would already have those capsules.'
There was a slight miscalculation on my side. The fact that the assassin held the [Destruction] capsule in his mouth was something that I momentarily overlooked.
'Or maybe his Dream Ailment caused it.'
That was possibly the case. There was a chance that I could still be affected by the mind-type attacks, although I am pretty confident in my mental strength.
External influences are not always something that one can deal with just by having a high mental strength.
"Cough-!"
Blood continued to threaten my mouth to spill out, but I was not going to let it do so. My world was shaking, and the potion I had just taken didn't seem to have any effects.
Of course, with the poison that is constantly dripping inside my body, that would be the case. There is nothing I can do about that.
THUD!
Leaning on the walls of the building that was in the process of being built, I could only try to get my energy. I came here after dealing with the assassin since the police and officers were already on the way.
This place was already covered by the mana of concealment, the artifact that I had taken from the assassins.
'It went as I planned, but the hunt was still hard.'
No matter how hard I tried, the speed of my improvement was still lacking. I already knew the answer, but just by training, I could not get strong fast enough.
The increased limit of talent is just as much, and it is not enough.
'But, no need to think about these right now.'
As my trembling hand gripped the dagger, I focused on channeling my remaining strength into steady precision.
With a slow, deliberate movement, I poured the narcotic liquid onto the affected area, feeling the numbing sensation begin to spread.
"Huff….huffff….huffff….."
Despite the agony raging through my body, I suppressed the urge to cry out, determined to endure.
"Haaaaaaah...Haaaaaah...."
With a sharp intake of breath, I positioned the dagger over the infected site, the blade glinting in the dim light.
The right side of my liver, weakened and battered, awaited my desperate attempt at salvation.
The moment I noticed that the assassin's attack contained poison, I forcefully created a barricade of my own mana to momentarily stop the spread. But that was only a temporary solution since that also meant my body wasn't getting supplied with energy. Even now, some of my muscles are protesting against me.
Steeling myself against the searing pain that awaited, I pressed the blade against my flesh and began to cut.
"Grrrrrr….."
The sensation was overwhelming, a wave of agony crashing over me as I sliced through the tissue tainted by poison.
Every nerve screamed in protest, but I clenched my jaw tightly, refusing to let even a whimper escape my lips.
Blood welled up from the wound, dark and viscous, but I pushed through, my vision swimming with tears, showing my body's protest to my own actions.
But there was nothing I could do. I needed to deal with this before returning to the academy, or I would already be dead by that time.
With a trembling hand, I grasped the torn tissue and pulled it free, my muscles trembling with exertion. Despite the blinding pain, I forced myself to maintain a steady grip, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I fought to stay conscious.
With the infected tissue removed, I wasted no time in administering the high-ranking potion directly to the raw, exposed wound—the liquid seared against my flesh, a fiery agony that threatened to consume me whole.
But I gritted my teeth and endured, pouring every ounce of my willpower into sealing the wound and purging the poison from my body.
As the potion took effect, I felt a surge of renewed strength coursing through my veins, the pain gradually subsiding to a dull ache.
"Haaaah….."
With a shaky exhale, I leaned back against the wall, my body trembling with exhaustion.
'I hunted an executive.'
Chapter 351 - Close [Interlude] (6)
The academy was in an uproar as students gathered in small groups, their voices a cacophony of shock and disbelief.
"What is this?" one student exclaimed, their eyes wide with horror as they scrolled through the disturbing videos on their phone.
"What the hell?" another muttered, shaking their head in disbelief. "This is... this is disturbing..."
The academy was in an uproar as many students were talking amongst themselves. After all, how could they not be?
First, it was the post that showed that a group of seniors were bullying a bunch of juniors. Of course, it got a response, but that wasn't enough to stir that much of an effect.
Mostly, people found out the identities of the attackers and demanded an apology as well as a punishment.
Nobody had correlated their actions with seniors. But then something else happened.
There are a bunch of videos of sophomore-year students getting beaten by a masked assailant.
The assailants showed no mercy even though the sophomore students didn't even do anything. They didn't fight. They were just getting beaten.
And at the end of all of the videos, the attackers said the same thing.
"This is payback for what seniors were doing to us."
"I can't believe this is happening," a sophomore whispered, their voice trembling with emotion. "I saw so many students in the infirmary... they were badly injured..."
"Open the path!"
Suddenly, they saw a man rushing to the infirmary.
"Hey!"
"What are you doing?"
Some of the students who were getting shoulder-pushed by that student threw an annoyed look.
"Shut up."
But the student didn't seem to care as his eyes filled with anger turned to look at the students for a second. "Leave before I lose myself."
"Hick!"
Because of the pressure, none of the students could withstand what happened here as they left.
Dorian's heart pounded in his chest as he raced towards the infirmary, his mind filled with a jumble of emotions. Helia, running alongside him, reached out to grasp his arm, her voice urgent as she tried to calm him down.
"Dorian, please," she pleaded, her eyes wide with concern. "You need to stay calm. We don't know what's going on yet."
But Dorian shook his head, his eyes burning with anger and fear. "How can I stay calm after seeing that video?" he demanded, his voice choked with emotion. "You know Aria was there as well…."
"I know….Sigh….."
As they reached the infirmary, Dorian's worst fears were realized. The room was filled with injured students, their groans of pain echoing off the walls. Most of them had friends hovering anxiously beside them, their faces drawn with worry.
Scanning the crowd, Dorian's heart lurched in his chest as he spotted his sister among them. Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd, his steps quickening as he rushed to her side.
"Aria!" he called out, his voice trembling with emotion as he knelt beside her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Aria looked up at her brother, her eyes filled with pain and exhaustion but also fear. "Dorian..." she mumbled. "I am fine, don't worry…."
Her injuries were already stated to heal to some extent, but because she was found early in the morning after the video came up and didn't get the treatment for the whole night, it took a little longer for her to heal up.
But Dorian could see through her brave facade, the bruises and cuts that had yet to be healed marring her skin, telling a different story.
"How did this happen?"
He asked, though he inwardly knew the answer.
"I-I don't know…" Aria mumbled. "On the way to the library, I was attacked suddenly…And then…." Yet, Aria couldn't answer more. The corner of her eyes shook, and she lowered her head slightly, gambling with the tip of her middle finger.
She would do it when she was anxious; it had already become a habit.
Dorian, hearing his sister's words, wanted to urge her to talk more, but then suddenly, his hands were grabbed by something warm.
Turning his head, he saw Helia looking at him while shaking her head. He realized that Aria must have already been having a hard time and that what he was just about to do was something stupid.
CLENCH!
Anger boiled within him as he clenched his fists, his gaze sweeping the room as he vowed to himself that he would find whoever was responsible for hurting his sister and make them pay.
"If they want a war, we will let them have it. Nobody can get away after doing something."
His eyes met with the other seniors, and all of them had the same idea in their heads.
The academy was changing already...
*******
DING! DING!
In the heart of a grand chamber adorned with intricate golden ornaments and embellishments, a figure stood upon a raised platform. The room exuded an aura of solemnity and reverence, its pristine white walls gleaming under the soft glow of ethereal torches. Pillars adorned with intricate carvings reached towards the vaulted ceiling, their golden accents catching the light in a mesmerizing display.
As the figure stood in the center of the platform, bathed in the golden hue of the chamber, a hushed silence filled the air, echoing off the polished marble floors. Their presence seemed to command attention, their posture poised and dignified amidst the grandeur of their surroundings.
Suddenly, from a sleek device nestled within the folds of their robes, a flicker of light emerged, coalescing into the form of a holographic figure.
This apparition bore the likeness of another being, one with horns protruding from its head, a symbol of power and authority.
The holographic figure's expression was unreadable, their features obscured by shadows cast by the flickering torchlight.
Yet, there was an undeniable air of intensity and gravitas about them, as if they held secrets and knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
As the hologram hovered before the figure on the platform, the atmosphere in the chamber seemed to shift as if the very air became sour and clashing.
The encounter between these two figures held the promise of profound significance, their meeting set against the backdrop of a sacred and holy place, where whispers of ancient mysteries lingered in the air.
"Villon," the man murmured, his gaze steady as he regarded the demon before him.
The man in the white robe's expression remained calm, his demeanor unwavering despite the demon's hostility.
"You should already know the answer," he replied, his tone measured yet firm as he met Villon's gaze.
Feigning ignorance, Villon shook his head, his holographic form shimmering in the golden glow of the chamber.
"I know nothing of what you speak," he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain.
A slight smile tugged at the corners of the man's lips, his expression gentle and soothing in contrast to the demon's hostility. It was as if he radiated an aura of purity and serenity amidst the tumultuous atmosphere of the chamber.
With a wave of his hand, the man in the white robe spoke with quiet authority, his words carrying a weight that seemed to resonate throughout the chamber.
"If you have no intention to fulfill your side of the deal, then do not expect us to uphold ours," he said, his voice echoing with finality. "The fate intertwining the kin of moon and us is still there."
With that, he turned away from the holographic figure of Villon as if this was a normal conversation. He reached for the engraving on the walls and the murals depicted in those engravings. He gently caressed the sun shining.
On the other side, Villon, one of the demon generals, couldn't help but frown.
'They already know it….Of course, the Lord had already warned us, but to think that it would be this fast.'
"From now on, the deal between our predecessors will be null; you shall convey this to "Him." You are dismissed." With a wave of his hand, the man released a surge of mana, and then the hologram dispersed, leaving the man alone.
"Leonard."
The white-robed man called, and in an instant, someone appeared from his side. It was a young man with yellow hair and yellow eyes.
His face was chiseled, his white robe excluding the same sense of holiness.
"Your Holiness." The newly appearing young man bowed his head.
"Prepare yourself. You are to head over to the Valerian Federation. Arcadia City. I sense the moon from there."
Leonard nodded, ready to carry out his orders without hesitation.
"And take this," the man continued, reaching into the folds of his robe and producing a small, intricately crafted necklace of silver color. In the middle of the necklace, there was a crescent moon with engravings similar to the ones on the murals.
"This artifact will shine in the presence of the 'Kin of the moon.' And it will converge to its other half. Use it to fulfill your mission."
With a sense of purpose, Leonard accepted the artifact, the weight of his task settling upon his shoulders as he prepared to embark on his journey to the Valerian Federation in search of the elusive 'Kin of the Moon.'
"However, this is not your only task," the white-robed man continued, his gaze fixed on Leonard with a solemn intensity.
"As the promise has been broken, the line of information connected to them regarding the Saintess no longer needs to be maintained. From now on, you are authorized to retrieve the Saintess and to interfere with her affairs as necessary," he declared, his voice carrying a weight of authority.
Leonard's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, the implications of the directive sinking in.
It was a significant departure from their previous protocols, indicating a shift in strategy and priorities.
"As you wish, Your Holiness," Leonard replied, his tone respectful but tinged with a hint of determination. He understood the gravity of his new assignment and was prepared to carry it out with unwavering resolve.
With a nod of acknowledgment, the white-robed man watched as Leonard prepared to depart on his mission.
As for Leonard, he couldn't help but smile.
'Finally, I wonder how my little sister is doing?'
After all, it had been years since he last visited his home and his sister.