Serena bit her lip, thinking. "If we go to another god's domain, will that even be enough to keep us safe?"
"For a while," Asher admitted.
"They won't be able to move as freely outside of Malfus's territory. But if they really want me dead, they'll find ways to get around that."
Serena frowned. "Then what's the plan?"
Asher's eyes darkened. "We take out their leadership before they take out us."
They stopped near a rocky cliffside, hidden under the shadows of overhanging trees. Asher pulled out a small map, quickly scanning it under the dim moonlight.
"There's a place called Black Hollow Citadel about 500 kilometers from here," he muttered. "It's one of the closest territories belonging to another god. If we make it there, the Blood Cross won't be able to touch us as easily."
Serena folded her arms. "And in the meantime?"
Asher smirked. "We make their lives hell."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "You want them to chase us?"
"They're coming after me no matter what," Asher said, rolling his shoulders. "Might as well turn the hunt around. If we take down some of their key figures on the way, it'll throw them into chaos. They won't be able to organize a proper assault on us if they're too busy dealing with internal losses."
Serena sighed. "I swear, you have the most reckless ideas."
Asher grinned. "Reckless works."
She couldn't argue with that.
"Alright," Serena said, adjusting her grip on her daggers. "Who's our first target?"
Asher's smirk turned deadly as he pulled out a bloodstained document he had taken from Gideon's base.
"A man named Veyrn Kalthis," he said. "One of the Blood Cross's high-ranking priests."
Serena's eyes gleamed. "Let's go hunting, then."
And with that, they vanished into the night—becoming the predators instead of the prey.
"But how can we defeat him? I mean, if you had the power, we wouldn't be running away," Serena asked.
Asher replied, "The guy back there was an SSS-rank fighter. I'm just a B-rank right now. I can fight him, but killing him is not possible."
"But this guy, Veyrn Kalthis—he's just an SS-rank," Asher said, glancing at her. "I can kill him."
Serena narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying we couldn't take down Gideon because he was SSS-rank, but this Veyrn Kalthis is just SS-rank, so you can kill him?"
Asher nodded. "Exactly."
Serena crossed her arms. "I feel like you're making this sound way easier than it is."
Asher shrugged. "I won't say it'll be easy, but it's doable. The gap between SS and SSS is massive. Gideon was beyond what I could handle right now—I could fight him, but killing him? That was out of the question."
Serena huffed. "Fine. But just because he's not SSS-rank doesn't mean this will be easy. He's still an SS-rank priest of the Blood Cross. He'll have divine blessings and all sorts of weird tricks."
"I know," Asher said, stretching his fingers. "That's why we won't be fighting him head-on."
Serena frowned. "Then what's the plan?"
Asher smirked. "Simple. We kill him before he even knows he's in danger."
Serena gave him a skeptical look. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
"We'll bait him," Asher said. "From what we've learned, the Blood Cross sees me as a threat now. Veyrn will definitely want to deal with me personally, especially after what happened with Lloyd and Gideon."
Serena nodded. "So we leak some information that you're in a certain place, lure him in, and strike first?"
"Exactly," Asher confirmed. "We control the battlefield, dictate the terms of the fight, and eliminate him before he can even activate his blessings."
Serena sighed. "You always make things sound so easy."
Asher smirked. "That's because I'm good at what I do."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile. "Alright, fine. Where do we set the trap?"
Asher pulled out the map again. "There's an abandoned fortress near the border of Malfus's domain. It's outside any major settlement, which means fewer innocent people getting caught in the crossfire. And most importantly—"
"It's isolated," Serena finished, catching on. "Which means once he steps in, there's no one to help him."
"Exactly," Asher said. "We send the right message, make it seem like I'm hiding out there, and wait for him to come to us."
Serena nodded, gripping her daggers. "Alright. Let's go hunting."
The abandoned fortress loomed ahead, its crumbling stone walls standing like the last remnants of a forgotten era. Ivy crawled over its surface, and the wind howled through its hollow halls. It was the perfect place for an ambush—isolated, quiet, and easy to control.
Asher and Serena stood just outside, surveying the area.
"Looks creepy," Serena muttered.
"Which makes it perfect," Asher replied. "If I were an SS-rank priest looking to eliminate a target, I'd assume someone hiding here was desperate and weakened."
Serena glanced at him. "And you're sure they'll fall for this?"
"They will," Asher said confidently. "The Blood Cross doesn't see me as just another target. I killed Lloyd, and Gideon had to retreat because of me. They'll send someone strong, but they'll also be arrogant. Veyrn will think this is an easy execution, not a trap."
Serena exhaled, adjusting her grip on her daggers. "Alright, so how do we do this?"
Asher pulled out a small, enchanted communication crystal. "We let the right people 'accidentally' overhear that I'm hiding here. The Blood Cross will hear about it within a day, and Veyrn will come running." The most updated novels are published on Novel~Fire. (n)et
Serena narrowed her eyes. "And when he does?"
Asher's expression darkened. "We end him before he even realizes he was never the hunter."
Two days later, just as expected, Veyrn Kalthis arrived.
Asher watched from the shadows, concealed on one of the fortress's upper floors. He could sense the man's mana—a dense, oppressive force laced with divine energy. Unlike Lloyd's overwhelming bloodlust, Veyrn's presence was cold, calculated, and suffocating.
The priest was dressed in a high-collared black robe embroidered with the crimson sigil of the Blood Cross. His face was concealed beneath a silver mask, but Asher could see the arrogance in the way he walked.
"Come out, little rat," Veyrn called out, his voice smooth and controlled. "You've caused quite a lot of trouble for my organization. Did you really think hiding in this ruin would keep you safe?"
Asher smirked from his hiding spot. Good. Keep talking. Make yourself comfortable.
Serena was already in position, hidden in the shadows behind him. She was waiting for the perfect moment.