?”What do I want? Do you still not understand?”

The young voice emanated from behind Sorovo, the warm breath tickling the edges of his ears.

Sorovo’s body stiffened, feeling a cold, sharp object slowly penetrating his flesh.

“You shouldn’t have drunk that ale,” Red Eye chuckled, a sound that seemed mocking yet was mostly a sneer.

“Did you think you were fast enough that I wouldn’t have time to prepare? Did you think by not telling anyone, I wouldn’t know what you’re planning? Let me tell you, in this play, you’re not the protagonist at all!”

The icy blade moved within Sorovo’s body, the wound expanding bit by bit as the blade severed blood vessels, muscles, and organs.

Blood flowed from the wound as if it cost nothing, Sorovo’s breathing became rapid, muscles twitching from the loss of blood, lack of oxygen, and pain.

“You just said wounds without mana mean nothing to a magus? What about now, can you still speak, oh arrogant one!”

No voice responded; when Sorovo opened his mouth, blood bubbled up from his throat.

Red Eye released his grip on Sorovo’s body, slowly withdrawing the blade and stepping back, gently laying Sorovo on the ground.

He pulled a white flower from his chest pocket and tossed it aside carelessly.

Sorovo’s body ceased twitching.

Sorovo is dead, felled by a blade void of mana, poisoned by a crude ale spiked with hallucinogens.

“You should have listened to him,” Red Eye remarked, his gaze on Sorovo’s body, the smile on his face dissipating, his eyes unflinching and calm.

Another life gone, and his own end wasn’t far behind.

Just what kind of end had that person designed for him?

A vendetta? Assassination? Or perhaps some ingenious little gadget? A minor ploy?

Red Eye couldn’t guess.

That person had always been like this; ever since they approached Red Eye, he had been unable to predict anything accurately.

Red Eye cast his gaze toward the rooftops across the street, his voice clear and his demeanor arrogant.

“Come out then. Or do I need to extend an invitation?”

…

Sorovo died without any warning.

Neither Howard nor Ali, not even Antalya, had anticipated such an end for him.

He was a nightmare incarnate!

Yet, now, the term “nightmare” seemed like a joke.

No one knew how Red Eye managed it.

Hallucinogens?

Such low-efficacy substances would hardly affect any magus, yet Sorovo clearly couldn’t break free from the illusion, even self-harming under the influence of mana-induced hallucinations.

The mystery behind it sent chills down everyone’s spine.

A powerful enemy is not to be feared; an unknowable enemy is.

And now, this unknowable enemy had finally come for them.

Although Red Eye’s gaze was directed towards Ali, it was Howard who stepped forward first.

What a terribly dire situation, akin to battling through a labyrinth only to find at the end, a hidden boss never before seen, rendering all prior intelligence and strategies utterly useless.

No mana, no potions, and even the allies were gone.

“Hey, down there, where’s that little girl?”

Despite little hope, Howard still wanted to pry something out of Red Eye.

“Would you believe anything I say now?”

Red Eye chuckled, waving the blood-stained scimitar in his hand.

“Sorovo has already died by my deception. Do you have the confidence to see through me?”

“That’s why I hate magicians,” Howard muttered under his breath, pulling out a communication crystal and dropping it before jumping down from the rooftop.

Antalya had already left, her final command being to abandon everything.

Abandon the plan, even abandon the little girl.

But could Ali, of all people, really do that?

Without even using what he jokingly referred to as his almost rusty brain, Howard knew the answer.

Impossible.

Ali stood up, her rapier already drawn from its sheath.

“Such an unreliable leader, running away when things get tough,” Ali chuckled bitterly, standing beside Howard.

“Heard there was some trouble at the inn. You threw your communication crystal away too soon,” Howard said, pulling out the straight sword from his back, a left-handed blade.

“No choice, I couldn’t accept that order. This is my last chance,” Ali said with a smile, taking a deep breath.

“I know it’s stupid, but I just couldn’t stand the idea of giving up, which is why I’m here.”

“Sounds like you’ve got an interesting story,” Howard squinted, “If we make it out alive, how about we swap stories?”

“Still in the mood for looting amidst chaos, huh? You really don’t know what being tense means,” Ali replied with a wry smile.

Quickly regaining her composure, she added, “Alright, I promise you, if we survive.”

Howard didn’t continue, just grinned and took a step forward.

Watching the two cease their conversation, Red Eye slowly lowered his scimitar, the smile fading from his face.

He tilted his chin up, “Are you ready to die?” 𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝘰𝑚

No answer was given.

He nodded, “Then I’ll take that as a yes.”

The moment his words fell, his figure began to blur.

Without any verbal communication, Ali stepped back as Howard advanced, his left-handed sword gripped in reverse, right hand bracing the hilt, mana and muscular force exploding simultaneously in an upward slash!

Ding—

A melodious ring followed by a tempestuous blast!

Red Eye stepped out from the shadows, his scimitar raised above his head in a vertical chop, only to be staunchly blocked by Howard’s upward slashing straight sword.

The moment the blades touched, the mana on the straight sword detonated.

Brilliant as lightning.

“Ali!”

Howard was sent flying backward.

A blurred figure darted past the airborne Howard, the very figure of Ali, who had retreated to gather strength.

Wind Pierce!

Though not prearranged, at that moment, the duo executed coordination precise to the second, not just in sync with each other, but also anticipating Red Eye’s response.

Mana burst forth unrestrainedly, all of it channeled into acceleration.

Opportunities like this were rare; this chance came from seizing the moment Red Eye initiated his probe and acted directly, otherwise, with Red Eye’s speed, he would never engage Howard in a head-on clash.

Before the tempest dispersed, the rapier, shimmering with mana, pierced unobstructedly into the expanding electric light.

…

Beneath the pale blue night sky, Antalya moved forward swiftly in silence.

She neither looked back nor waited, even though she knew Howard and Ali had chosen to stay behind, even though she knew their survival hinged solely on Red Eye’s whims.

Yet, such is the harsh reality of the world, where choices can be thrust upon us at any moment.

Vivia had sent out a distress signal.

On one side were two young men, their blood running hot with resolve; on the other, a foster daughter she had known for many years. .

Antalya chose her kin.

It was a selfish choice, but Antalya didn’t believe she was wrong to make it.

She had signaled for retreat; it was Howard and Ali who decided to stay of their own accord.

She understood what they were thinking, just as she knew what she ought to think.

To put a positive spin on Howard and Ali’s actions, one could say they stayed behind to buy time.

But such a foolish attempt at self-deception holds no value; humans are not beings of pure rationality.

Now, all she could hope for was that Vivia would survive until her arrival.

…

Was it a hit?

Or did it miss?

Lorinda, Oak Street.

The street, already quiet, seemed even more silent at this moment.

A brief instant stretched by perception, Howard controlled his descent through the air, his gaze uncontrollably fixated on Ali’s movements.

He knew what he should be doing was preparing for the next assault, but he couldn’t; he just watched Ali’s silhouette, as if doing so could somehow increase the likelihood of success.

If this ambush failed, it wouldn’t mean they’d lost the ability to contend, but it would undeniably be a massive blow to their confidence.

Depending on how the situation unfolded, Ali might even have to face Red Eye alone.

Howard landed firmly, Ali’s figure disappearing from his view.

A tall silhouette stood before him.

It was a figure entirely shrouded in a voluminous cloak, the eyes under the dark hood glinting red, conspicuously visible.

Beyond that, the figure showed no distinguishable traits, standing motionless as if it were merely a puppet.

Howard squinted his eyes; he hadn’t even seen how the figure had appeared.

This meant the figure’s arrival was swifter than his reaction time.

Before he could react, the shadow was already in front of him.

What to do?

Howard heard the sound of clashing blades and pushed forward, trying to aid Ali.

But like a ghost, the figure defied gravity, blocking Howard’s path, halting him.

“Cool down, my employer wishes to have a word with you.”

The figure suddenly spoke, its voice clearly disguised, making it impossible to discern whether it was male or female.

“My companion is still fighting!”

Howard’s right hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the blade vibrating intensely under the infusion of mana, ready to be drawn at any moment.

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