The battlefield remained alive with chaos. The ruins of Vedangiri, once a sacred ground for training, were now a war zone. Smoke and blood filled the air, but the young warriors stood their ground.
Riya gritted her teeth, her hands glowing with raw magic as she faced off against the assassin before her. Unlike the others, this one was different. He wore a long cloak embroidered with strange runes, his fingers crackling with arcane energy. His mask covered his entire face except for his glowing red eyes.
"A mage-assassin," Riya muttered. "Great."
The assassin smirked beneath his mask. "I expected more fear."
Riya twirled her staff, her magic surging to life. "Fear? You’re standing in front of the wrong person for that."
The assassin raised his hands. A burst of electric-blue magic shot toward Riya. She barely managed to summon a barrier in time, but the impact sent shockwaves through her body. She skidded back, her boots digging into the ground.
"Fast," she admitted.
The assassin wasted no time. He flicked his fingers, and several fiery orbs materialized in the air. With a snap, they launched toward her, each one burning with destructive energy.
Riya’s eyes narrowed. She slammed her staff into the ground, summoning a gust of wind that redirected the orbs, sending them spiraling into the ruins behind her. The explosion rocked the battlefield, but she remained steady.
"You’ll have to do better than that," she taunted.
The assassin tilted his head. "Oh? Then let’s take this up a notch."
He extended his hand, and suddenly, the entire battlefield seemed to shift. The air grew heavy. Magic pulsated around them. Riya recognized the spell—Domain Lock.
He was trying to trap her.
"Nice trick," she muttered. "But I’m not so easy to contain."
Riya clapped her hands together, channeling her mana. Sparks of electricity crackled in the air as she began weaving her own spell. The assassin moved swiftly, summoning chains of light that shot toward her.
Riya smirked. Perfect.
At the last second, she unleashed her counter—Stormweaver.
Lightning erupted from her body, splitting the chains apart midair. In a blink, she was gone, moving faster than the assassin could track. She reappeared behind him, her palm glowing with intense energy.
She struck. A direct hit to his back, infused with pure lightning magic. The force sent him crashing into the ground, his body convulsing as the electricity overwhelmed him.
The assassin twitched, trying to rise—
Riya raised her staff, summoning a massive bolt of lightning. "Stay down."
The bolt struck, and the assassin fell limp.
Riya exhaled, wiping the sweat from her brow. "That was annoying."
She turned, her eyes scanning the battlefield. But even after all of that—
The real danger was still ahead.
Meera vs. The Shadow Assassin
Meera stood in the ruins, breathing heavily. Her arm ached, blood dripping from the wound inflicted earlier. Across from her, the assassin with a curved sword stepped forward, his movements eerily silent. His blade gleamed under the dim light.
She could feel it—the presence of death lurking behind his every step.
Meera’s instincts screamed. She twisted her body just in time, raising her daggers to block a deadly strike aimed at her back. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, the force pushing her back.
The assassin didn’t stop. He lunged again, his movements swift, precise.
Meera parried, but pain shot through her injured arm. Her grip faltered for a split second.
The assassin’s blade grazed her side, cutting through fabric and skin.
Meera clenched her teeth. No. I won’t lose.
She took a deep breath, focusing. If brute force wasn’t an option, then she had to outthink him.
The assassin lunged once more, confident in his advantage.
She threw one of her daggers straight at him.
The assassin smirked, sidestepping with ease. "A weak attempt."
Then his eyes widened.
Meera had closed the distance.
She slammed her fist into his face, her adrenaline energy surging into the punch. The sheer impact sent the assassin flying backward. He crashed into the ruins, debris crumbling around him.
He didn’t get back up.
Meera exhaled sharply, her body swaying. The pain in her arm flared up, her vision blurring. She was losing too much blood.
Before she could hit the ground—
"Hey, stay with me," he said, gently lowering her onto the stone floor. His eyes darted to her wound, his mind racing. Then—
A status screen materialized.
Aamir ignored the rest. "Show me what poison was used on her."
Red Flower of the West Poison detected.
One of the deadliest poisons, derived from the red glorris flowers found in Galvia. Commonly used by the Green Serpent Assassin Guild.
Aamir’s blood ran cold. Deadliest poison?
He quickly scrolled down. "Is there an antidote?"
The system responded.
Yes. The antidote is made from the same flower. Most assassins carrying this poison also carry the antidote.
Aamir clenched his jaw. "Then I just need to find it."
Without hesitation, he bolted toward the ruins where the assassin had crashed. His hands tore through the man’s belongings until—
A small vial, filled with dark blue liquid.
Aamir ran back to Meera, kneeling beside her. He was about to pour the antidote into her mouth when he hesitated. "System, is there any process to giving this?"
No. Just make sure she doesn’t drink water afterward, or the antidote will lose effect.
He gently tilted Meera’s head and let theantidote trickle past her lips.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then—her breathing steadied. The poison’s effect was fading.
Aamir exhaled in relief. "You’ll be fine now."
Meanwhile, Raj faced off against an assassin wielding a massive war hammer.
Raj smirked, cracking his knuckles. "So, you’re planning to take me on with brute strength?"
The assassin let out a low chuckle. "Oh yes. And trust me, kid—I’m gonna crush you."
Raj’s grin widened. "Then let’s see who’s stronger."
Without hesitation, he charged forward.
The assassin reacted instantly, raising his war hammer high before slamming it into the ground. The earth shook, cracks spiderwebbing beneath the impact. Raj barely managed to leap back, landing with a smirk.
"Not bad," Raj admitted. "But how are we supposed to have a real fight if you rely on that hammer?"
He knew the type—most brute-force fighters were muscleheads, easily baited into dropping their weapons.
The assassin scoffed. "You’re right, kid. I can’t properly show you my power if I just crush you with this."
With that, he tossed the war hammer aside and lunged at Raj with bare fists.
Exactly what Raj wanted.
"You made a mistake," Raj muttered.
A surge of adrenaline energy coursed through his veins, his body burning with raw power. He activated Adreno Arts: Metal Fist—his arms tensed, his muscles hardened, and his fists became unstoppable.
Raj’s fists struck like hammers, each punch landing with bone-crushing force. The assassin barely had time to react before a final, devastating blow slammed into his gut.
The assassin’s body lurched, his breath escaping in a choked gasp. His legs buckled.
But before Raj could celebrate, a chill ran down his spine.
A presence—cold, deadly, suffocating.
Something... or someone... was watching them.
Aamir’s eyes darted forward too.
A figure stood at the edge of the battlefield, cloaked in shadows. He wasn’t moving, but his gaze burned through the air.
Aamir tensed. "Who is that...?"
Kunal, however, didn’t move. He stared back, his eyes unreadable.
Aamir clenched his fists. "Kunal, don’t worry. We’ll handle him—"
But Kunal didn’t respond.
Because deep inside, he knew.
This wasn’t a battle they could fight.
Was a fight only he could end.
R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at f(r)eew𝒆bnov𝒆l.com Only