CHAPTER 73: AGAINST THE LEADER

But Xavier was already moving.

His body blurred through the smoke, instincts sharper than sight. He found the leader’s presence, the faint sound of breath, the shift of air against his skin.

Crack—!

His boot slammed into the man’s neck with crushing force.

"Ghh—! Fuck!"

A pained groan tore out of the masked leader as he staggered back, gritting his teeth against the force of the blow.

"Scatter!" he roared, his voice ripping through the smoke.

The others obeyed instantly, their bodies already in motion. Like phantoms in the mist, they vanished into the Dust Veil, blades flashing as they darted at the guards.

The once-perfect formation trembled as shadows cut through it, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoing through the black haze.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing, his senses widening. The air was alive with killing intent.

"This won’t be easy..." Xavier muttered, stepping deeper into the swirling black haze, his aura burning cold and sharp.

And then — just as suddenly as it had filled the courtyard — the Dust Veil began to thin. The black fog dissolved, curling away into the night air. Torches flickered back to life, throwing long shadows against the walls.

The assassins were gone. Silent, skilled — not a single trace of their movement left behind. They had slipped past the formation like ghosts.

Except one.

The leader.

Xavier’s eyes were already on him, his instincts fixed. He hadn’t let the man move an inch. The assassin stood there, a dark silhouette, his mask cracked slightly from Xavier’s earlier kick. Blood glistened faintly where it had trickled down his neck.

Xavier lifted his hand, voice cold and commanding. "After them! You know the plan!"

At once, the guards scattered in formation, peeling away toward the storage halls. Their boots rang out against the marble as they sprinted through the cloisters. The assassins may have escaped the courtyard, but Xavier’s plan was already in motion. More guards were lying in wait at hidden points near the storerooms.

The thieves thought they had slipped free. In reality, they were being funneled exactly where Xavier wanted them.

The leader remained where he was, his body tense, his blade glinting faintly in the torchlight. A low, guttural laugh rumbled out of him.

"Hehe... you seem confident. Confident enough to leave me to face you alone." His tone dripped with mockery.

Xavier said nothing, his expression calm, unreadable. He simply shifted his weight slightly, his hand resting lazily on the hilt of his dagger.

That silence stung.

The leader’s shoulders tightened, his masked face tilting as if to study Xavier more closely. He had hoped to bait him, to get the man to reveal something — a strategy, a weakness, even a flicker of arrogance. Instead, Xavier gave him nothing.

"Hmph!" The man spat blood to the side, the sound sharp against the quiet.

He reached into his cloak and withdrew a cruel-looking dagger, its edge jagged, the metal blackened from poison oil. Slowly, deliberately, he dragged the flat of the blade across his tongue, licking it with a sharp grin beneath his mask.

"Don’t worry," he rasped, his voice rising into something harsh, dangerous. "I’ll kick your ass hard enough you’ll regret underestimating us. You’ll see the strength of the Five Shadows is not to be mocked."

The night air grew heavy again.

Xavier’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. "Then stop talking."

The leader’s eyes narrowed behind his cracked mask. His knuckles tightened on his dagger—

Swoosh!

In an instant, his body vanished. It wasn’t teleportation — it was pure, refined speed, honed by years of killing.

Xavier’s eyes widened. For the first time, he realized he couldn’t keep up. Not with his eyes. Not with his body.

But his instincts screamed danger. A cold rush down his spine. The pressure rolling off this assassin... it was heavier than anything he had faced. Even the goblin boss hadn’t made him feel this way.

A glint of silver —

Shhk!

Pain bloomed sharp across his chest. The blade tore through fabric, biting into flesh before Xavier could even register the motion. He staggered half a step back, his teeth clenched.

"Too fast," he muttered under his breath.

A system chime rang:

[You’ve been poisoned by: Poison Fang Venom]

[Your body is self-healing.]

[You are adapting to the poison.]

[The moon detects the danger of her beloved... All stats boosted by 100%]

Xavier grinned devilishly at this notification...

Meanwhile, the assassin straightened, his mask tilting upward as he sneered. "Heh. That’s it. Your fate is sealed. That venom eats through your organs and locks your limbs. Soon, you’ll be crawling on your knees, begging to die."

Xavier smirked, unfazed. "You like the sound of your own voice, don’t you?"

The assassin’s sneer faltered for a fraction.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his grin spreading devilishly. "My fate is sealed, huh?"

The moon answered.

Fwoooom—!!

From the heavens, a silver beam tore down at light-speed.

The assassin’s eyes went wide. "Wha—"

Blast!

His arms exploded in a spray of blood and shredded cloth, instantly vaporized by the divine strike. His dagger spun away, clattering uselessly across the stone floor.

A scream ripped from his throat, guttural, enraged, agonized. He staggered back, staring in disbelief at the charred stumps of his arms.

"H-how?! You couldn’t even follow my movements before! The poison— it should’ve crippled you!"

Xavier tilted his head, his smirk cruel, merciless. "Guess your poison’s weaker than your bragging."

"You bastard!" the assassin roared, sweat pouring down his brow. His knees bent, muscles tensing, and then he lunged. His body twisted mid-air, unleashing a savage kick.

Even without arms, his legs snapped through the air with terrifying speed. Each kick cut the air like a blade.

Xavier chuckled. "Still have fight left? Fine. I’ll indulge you."

The assassin’s heel whistled past his cheek, close enough to cut strands of hair. Xavier leaned back lazily, his smirk unbroken.

Another kick slashed in low. Xavier’s hand shot out—

Crack!

He caught the shin mid-strike and twisted. Bone snapped like dry wood.

The assassin howled, his mask slipping to reveal bloodied teeth clenched in agony.

Xavier shoved him back with a flick, then stepped forward, driving his fist into the man’s ribs with brutal force.

Thoom!

The assassin flew, smashing into the courtyard wall. Stone cracked and dust fell from the impact. He crumpled but forced himself up, coughing blood.

Xavier tilted his head, voice calm, mocking. "Still breathing?"

The assassin snarled, his eyes bloodshot. "This is impossible...! You were poisoned! Slower than me! You—"

"—am still standing." Xavier cut him off flatly, each step echoing heavy against the courtyard stone. His shadow stretched long, silver light haloing his figure.

The assassin roared, spittle flying from his mouth. He launched himself forward again, his legs blurring into desperate flurries of kicks. Every strike was wild, furious, powerful enough to crack tiles and split air.

But Xavier moved like water. Slipping left, ducking low, swaying back — each motion smooth, effortless.

The man screamed in frustration, his strikes missing by inches, grazing Xavier’s clothes but never his flesh.

"Why won’t you fall?!"

"Because you’re weak."

Xavier’s elbow buried into the man’s spine.

Smash!

"Because you’re sloppy."

Xavier’s knee shattered his jaw.

Crack!

"Because you rely on poison and tricks."

Xavier’s palm thrust slammed him into the ground, the force cracking stone and forcing blood from his lips.

Bang!

The assassin twitched, broken and mangled, his body barely holding together. He lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at Xavier with wide, desperate eyes.

"H-how... how are you doing this...?"

Xavier crouched down, close enough for the assassin to see the faint silver glow burning in his irises. His smirk was cold, merciless.

"Simple. You relied on speed. On poison. On surprise." He leaned closer, his voice dropping low, sharp as steel. "But me?"

The moonlight spilled over his shoulders like a crown.

"I possess real strength."

The assassin choked, disbelief etched into his last breath.

Thud.

His body went still.

Xavier exhaled slowly, standing tall once more. The courtyard was quiet save for the faint crackle of torches, their flames flickering in reverence.

He turned his head, eyes narrowing toward the storerooms where the clash of steel and the shouts of men rang out through the night.

"This one’s done." His voice was cold, certain. "Time to clean up the rest."

"I didn’t want to kill him at first," Xavier muttered, brushing dust from his sleeve as his gaze lingered on the still corpse at his feet. "But since he was after my life... it’s only right to reciprocate such intent."

His tone was calm, almost casual, but the faint gleam in his eyes betrayed something colder. The moonlight kissed his figure as he turned, leaving the shattered body of the assassin leader behind without another glance.

The clash of steel echoed faintly from the distance, carried on the night air. Shouts of men. The ring of blades. The sound of bodies hitting the ground.

Xavier’s smirk returned, faint and dangerous. "Looks like the rats are busy."