"What is it? Why are you stopping?" Taria asked nervously, looking around.
The alley was dim, moonlight barely cutting through the shadows. Kaedros gently moved Taria behind him, his eyes fixed ahead.
"Come out. No use hiding."
Silence followed, heavy and tight. Taria held her breath as her fingers quietly unhooked her spear. Then—
A harsh laugh echoed, and two figures emerged from the darkness just a few feet away.
Kaedros hissed and pulled Taria farther back, never taking his eyes off the approaching enemies.
"You look surprised, super newbie."
A dagger gleamed in the lead assassin’s hand as he brought it to his mouth and gave it a slow, deliberate lick.
Kaedros narrowed his eyes. Two of them. No, one assassin, one mage. Both at stage eight of rank one.
"For a newbie, you sure noticed us coming."
The assassin’s grin was feral, his tone oozing malice. They wore dark combat gear that left only their eyes exposed.
"It must be a technique. We didn’t hear them at all. Even now their steps are completely silent," Taria said, dropping into a low fighting stance, her face pale.
"I’m shocked you even sensed us. Usually, they only feel the cold of my blade." The assassin sounded proud of his skills.
Kaedros tapped the side of his nose. "Your technique might mask sound and sight, but not smell. You forgot about that."
What he didn’t tell them was that he recognized the scent, chemical traces from an Refiner’s blend. He’d smelled it before.
"A dog’s nose, huh? Then you’ll die like one," the assassin sneered.
The Ascendant mage remained silent, but Kaedros could feel his aura prickling at the edge of aggression.
"What do we do?" Taria whispered, her grip tightening on her spear. Kaedros could feel the fear rolling off her. This wasn’t some mindless monster, they were facing humans. Ascendants.
"I’ll handle it," Kaedros said calmly.
"You don’t seem to understand your situation." The assassin chuckled darkly. "We live in the dark. Kill in it too. We are silent killers."
"Are you sure?" Taria asked in a near whisper, her voice tight. "They’re stage eight of rank one. Both of them."
"Just stay back." He said coldly. Then he faced the assassin. "You point your swords at me? The question I want to ask is, are you ready for the consequence?"
He was already shaping a technique in his mind.
His raw mana was leagues beyond theirs, but he couldn’t unleash his full power nside the town. Not without drawing attention from the Celestial Order.
Is it the order that sent them or someone else? Not that it really matters. They’re making their final mistakes.
"Here’s a tip," he said coolly. "Next time you go for a stealth kill, dampen your auras. The murderous intent you’re throwing around announces you like a beacon. And try to wash. You stink."
Taria moved back, giving him room in the narrow alley.
"You cocky bastard. Think you can take us? We’re not dumb beasts." The assassin grounded his feet and raised his dagger, shadows swirling around it.
Kaedros studied them, textbook formation. The mage would hang back and fire from range while the assassin closed the distance.
Efficient, but predictable, something quick and easy to use against some newbies.
The assassin lunged, dagger gleaming with dark energy, stabbing forward,
But he struck nothing but air.
He spun in surprise and shock, how was he moving so fast? Anticipating a counter from behind, but Kaedros wasn’t there.
He was above them, suspended midair like a specter, between mage and assassin. His eyes locked onto the mage, technique ready to unleash.
But the caster reacted fast. His hand whipped up, and magic twisted the air.
It struck Kaedros in mid-cast.
In an instant, he froze. A statue of flesh. Even the breath in his lungs halted.
He crashed to the ground with a dull, heavy thud.
Taria screamed and surged forward, only to be stopped cold by a dagger pressing to her throat, black as the shadows around them.
"Tut tut. Don’t move, little bird. I thought this mission would be tough... turns out it’s child’s play." His breath was hot on her neck, and something wet slid along her skin.
She trembled, torn between disgust and fury. Her spear arm twitched, but the cold blade at her throat held her still.
"Don’t toy with the mission," the Mage growled.
"What’s the harm in a little fun?" The scout’s voice curled with amusement. "Her partner’s probably dead anyway."
Taria’s heart clenched. Her eyes flicked toward where Kaedros had fallen, but she could barely see in the darkness.
"Aww, that got your heart racing." The scout leaned in closer.
"But he’s done. That technique was Temporally Stop. Stops everything, muscles, breath, even time at higher rank. He’s frozen solid."
Taria forced herself to stay still. She tried to remember Kael’s voice scolding her during training, keep calm. Never rush. Everything is about timing and calculations.
Could she roll under the dagger? Headbutt him? Every scenario ended the samez blood, her throat cut. But she was ready. She’d die fighting.
She began to move, when the mage suddenly gasped.
"Where is he?" His voice turned sharp. Alert.
"Where’s who?" the assassin snapped.
"He’s here." Kaedros’ voice came from behind them, calm, cold.
A hand reached out from the dark and rested gently on the assassin’s head.
Silence fell. Everyone froze and stiffened.
Taria felt her entire body relax in a wave of relief.