EPISODE 18

How did they track us?

Arjan and I had been moving almost without leaving a trace. Even in broad daylight, I was confident they wouldn't find us so quickly.

That confidence held as we settled in the cave, where I managed to rest well alongside Arjan. However, they closed in on us as if they knew our exact location.

It wasn't something to dwell on now.

The situation was dire, but fortunately, the assassins hadn't pinpointed our location yet.

Is holding on our only option?

I hoped they would pass by without noticing us, but I had little confidence that things would go that smoothly. This was something I had learned from my short life—unpleasant premonitions often proved true.

A nearby assassin suddenly turned his head and threw a dagger at me.

The attack was unexpected, but I didn't panic. I drew the Ring Sword and blocked the strike.

Clang!

The sound of blades clashing echoed, followed by a loud noise from behind the assassin who had attacked me.

I couldn't see what happened, but it seemed that Arjan had also joined the battle.

Arjan's situation was probably worse than mine, but I couldn't afford to worry about anyone else.

I felt a sudden chill on either side while I prepared to counter the assassin before me.

I quickly retracted my half-outstretched hand and stepped back just as two more assassins emerged from the shadows, their robes billowing like dark wings.

They drew strangely curved swords and swung them at me.

I clicked my tongue. Competing head-on against opponents with a sword was inefficient at my current level. The only way to counter their attacks was to dodge. But their swordplay was filled with killing intent, and I couldn't underestimate it.

I could also tell by their positioning that they were accustomed to working together—only three individuals were attacking me, while the rest were providing support from a distance.

They knew that more than three people in a confined space like this would only hinder each other.

I quickly realized that it wasn't wise to prolong the fight, so I kicked off the ground and retreated. Using internal energy, I created an instant gap between me and the enemies.

Naturally, the three assassins quickly tried to close the distance.

Before they could do so, I threw my sword at them and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

One of the assassins snorted, likely misunderstanding my words. I was bidding farewell to the weapon I was familiar with.

Moments later, the blade cracked and exploded, sending fragments and flames toward the opponents.

The internal energy I had imbued and the gradually intensifying Fire Qi finally broke the blade.

Unfortunately, I couldn't completely control the attack's direction, which meant that the fragments were also heading toward me.

I spread my cape to block the debris. When I checked it again, I saw flames at the edge.

Should I use these flames?

I closed the distance to the assassins, still uncertain.

Rather than faltering in pain, the bloodied assassins fought back, wielding their swords.

I had heard that Hadenaihar's followers were notoriously resilient among the church's ranks. This seemed accurate now.

I swung the cape as if I had been waiting.

The flames at the edge flared, quickly transforming into a fire demon that devoured everything in its path. Of course, it was more for show. The flames weren't strong enough to burn through clothing, but they were enough to blind the assassins supporting from behind.

The fire distracted the assassins close to me as well, momentarily drawing their attention.

Meanwhile, I seized the opportunity and punched the one standing in the center.

The assassin belatedly came to his senses and crossed his arms to block me.

Crunch.

The flaming punch shattered both arms and crushed the bridge of his nose. His hood fell off, revealing a face with rolled-back eyes.

I made him faint.

I shifted my focus to the assassins on either side.

They swung their curved swords in unison as if they had regained their coordination. However, their precision was lacking—likely due to the pressure from the blazing flames.

This opened a gap I could easily exploit.

I bent back to dodge their swords, then kicked off the shin of the assassin on the right.

The bone snapped, and his leg bent at an unnatural angle. He collapsed to one knee, and his sword veered off course, heading toward his companion.

The startled assassin on the left blocked it with his sword, but that was a mistake. It was like sacrificing his bones to protect his flesh.

Tak.

I placed my palm on the chest of the defenseless assassin. His face filled with confusion just before flames erupted from the palm.

Bang!

The assassin flew through the air as though struck by a rock before crashing to the ground. His neck twisted at an unnatural angle, a clear sign that he died instantly.

The White Sun Eclipse's Fire Wheel could also be unleashed in such a way when released from point-blank range.

Crackle...

In the meantime, the deceptive flames faded.

The others realized the situation and sent three more assassins.

Ugh.

I stepped back, choosing not to respond immediately.

Multiple daggers and needles struck the spot where I had been standing.

The rear assassins had once again provided support.

The cape-swinging technique was no longer an option, and the assassins who closed in on me clung to me relentlessly.

This isn't good.

From the start, this fight had been a nightmare. But it only seemed to worsen as it progressed.

I had gained an unexpected advantage but still lacked enough internal energy. After all, the White Sun Eclipse was a martial art that consumed vast amounts of internal energy due to its immense power.

How long could I keep fighting at this pace? Five minutes? Ten minutes?

I need to find another way. As I fought, my mind raced. What means can I use in this situation?

The memory of the old collector, Kayan, and the peculiar footwork he had demonstrated suddenly surfaced in my mind. The Hidden Steps, a technique of devastating power in close combat, was particularly effective against adversaries like assassins. The problem, however, was that I had only ever used it once.

Damn... I should've practiced it. But now, there is no other choice.

I dodged a sword that narrowly missed my nose, then kicked the nearest assassin, creating just enough distance to regain my posture.

My upper body moved with an odd rhythm.

At first glance, the motions appeared clumsy. But when a skilled fighter suddenly adopted strange moves, caution was essential. I suspected they would react the same way. After all, caution was the most important virtue for any assassin.

As expected, they hesitated for a moment.

In that brief pause, I stepped forward. My movements were light, and, oddly, I felt exhilarated. I was certain I had successfully memorized Kayan's technique.

I pressed on, closing the gap in an instant. They wouldn't perceive it, deceived by the illusion that warped their sense of space. Killing them would be as effortless as slitting a dead man's throat.

At that moment, daggers sliced through the air.

Shit.

I stepped back quickly to avoid them, but not fast enough. One of their daggers struck my left shoulder, near where Osel's dagger had hit before.

Should I have followed Arjan's advice and treated the wound?

Fortunately, I could still move my left arm. But I realized one fatal flaw of the Hidden Steps. It would be effective in a one-on-one fight but not when surrounded.

It only works on those in front of me. I can't believe I failed to notice this before.

It was obvious in hindsight. I had assumed I was fine, but perhaps my condition was worse than I had expected.

I bit my lip hard, swallowed the flowing blood, and glanced at my opponents.

The Hidden Steps' flaw was indeed fatal, yet the footwork technique still offered a clue to overcoming the current predicament. The solution was simple: if a flaw existed, I would only need to compensate for it. It didn't matter that the difficulty would increase exponentially. My life was at stake, and I had no other choice.

I took another step forward.

Softly? No, it was harsh—a movement unique to me.

However, that wasn't the only thing that changed.

Crackle!

Flames erupted beneath my feet.

The technique mimicked the cape's deceptive effect but wasn't as inefficient as scattering flames indiscriminately.

My mind focused on the landscape wavering under the hot sun, like a heat haze.

I ran, my steps infused with Fire Qi, transforming them from the original Hidden Steps. Each step stomped the ground, leaving fiery imprints in my wake. Although the movements were no longer concealed, they remained mysterious.

I gave it a new name—Sun Shadow Steps.

Swish.

The assassins' projectiles whizzed past me.

The more precisely targeted the attack, the less accurate it became.

In the end, it was merely a minor optical trick. Some attacks grazed my skin but failed to land any fatal blows.

By then, I was already close to the assassins. I broke their jaws, ribs, and necks in rapid succession.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed.

Were they reinforcing their numbers again?

I was just clicking my tongue when a figure I hadn't expected appeared—Arjan.

"Arjan?"

Arjan exhaled sharply, her face streaked with blood. Yet, upon closer inspection, it was not her own.

How many people had she killed?

I had assumed her kill count was on par with mine at most or that she was barely holding on. Moreover, something about her complexion was off now. Her eyes were shining like a beast's.

I was wondering whether this was still the Arjan I knew when she hoarsely said, "Come here."

Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist and started running away.

The moment the assassins around us tried to stop her, Arjan swung her right arm.

Baaang!

With a deafening explosion, the assassins in front of us were thrown back.

I was at a loss for words, stunned by her overwhelming power. It was as destructive as a high-ranking mage's magic.

This girl, what is she?

The mystery of Arjan's identity, which had previously puzzled me, deepened. Of course, this wasn't the time for questions, so I quietly followed her.

In the blink of an eye, Arjan sped away from the battlefield.

***

The cave's size worked in our favor. If it had been an ordinary cave, defeating the enemies would have been impossible.

As I mentioned earlier, the cave had one large, straight passage, but there was plenty of space in between. Arjan and I chose one of these areas to hide.

"Arjan, are you okay?" I asked.

She was gasping as though she would pass out at any moment. It was difficult for her to respond, so she simply nodded slightly.

While waiting for Arjan to recover, I peered through the cracks.

After a while, Arjan recovered her strength and said, "I'm fine now."

I studied her face for a moment. The overwhelming weakness and explosive energy that I had witnessed earlier were gone. Her eyes were the same as usual.

I was curious about Arjan's source of power but decided to stay quiet. I had a hunch that she wouldn't give me an honest answer even if I asked. In the first place, I was the one who had suggested we didn't ask each other such questions.

"It is difficult. The number of enemies has dropped a little, but that alone—" Just then, I felt a gaze.

Turning back, I saw a figure in black standing in the gap.

When did he catch up?

The man likely realized that fighting alone was futile, so he immediately turned and tried to flee.

Whoops...!

He was planning to bring his companions. It would have been perfect if I had something to throw, but I didn't.

Swish!

The moment I gritted my teeth, preparing to chase him, a sword flew from somewhere, piercing the assassin's head.

The assassin collapsed in mid-stride.

I closed my mouth. This wasn't Arjan's doing—she was so exhausted that she hadn't even noticed the assassin there.

Besides, the weapon that struck him wasn't one of ours. It was a longsword, and neither of us carried one.

The precision and speed of the attack suggested a great expert.

I got goosebumps. I was more nervous now than when facing Kayan, Osel, or the assassins.

"You over there," a voice suddenly called. "Pick up the sword."

I searched for the source of the voice. Then, I noticed a narrow crack in the cave wall, just wide enough for a person to fit through. The voice was coming from there.

I asked nervously, "Who are you?"

"Hah." The voice from beyond the crack laughed. "If you are curious, come inside. I don't think you are church members, but I'm a bit interested in your identity."

The voice stopped there, leaving no room for further questions unless I entered personally.

"It is dangerous, Young Master Luan," Arjan said.

It was a typical Arjan response, but I agreed this time. If I had a bomb on hand, I would've thrown it through the gap.

Still, my hesitation had a simple cause.

I have heard this voice somewhere. Who is it?