The assassin gasped, feeling the insane bloodlust rushing out of Arad. Even though he looked like a human, his glare resembled that of a large beast.

“Do you think you can protect them? It’s only a matter before you run out of steam.” The assassin grunted, pointing his dagger at Arad.

“You talk a lot,” Arad smiled, lifting his sword. “No one will get hurt while I stand here.” He lifted his blade above his head, and sparks of red flame ignited it.

The assassin blinked. ^I saw that before.^ It didn’t take him longer than a blink to notice, and the fine hair on his body stood.

^It’s that bastard who came here several years ago and almost killed Lord Xaviin.^ He could see Alcott’s image in Arad, lifting his blade with zeal.

“Action Surge!” Arad growled. BOM! His sword exploded with a burst of flames.

VROOM! BAM! Arad bent his knees and jumped into the sky after the assassin, swinging his blazing blade.

The assassin lifted his daggers. “You bastard won’t win!” He shouted, Action Surge

Arad aimed for the assassin’s neck, but that strike got deflected, so he aimed at the torso. The assassin wasn’t letting go easily, deflecting and attempting to counter Arad’s strikes.

^Those moves, this raw power. It’s just like him.^ The assassin grunted, deflecting Arad’s third strike. ^I wasn’t able to fight last time. I didn’t have any skills.^ .𝒄𝒐𝒎

CLANG! He redirected Arad’s fourth strike. ^But now it’s different. I have trained and become stronger. I won’t sit powerless like the last time.^

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! After a few rapid strikes, Arad reached the end of his eight-strike combo.

The assassin felt the lag in Arad’s movements. This was the time to strike. He pulled his dagger and tried to stab him in the neck.

^It’s my chance. Most fighters can’t attack right after using an action surge. But I’m a trained assassin. I can pull a last strike.^ The assassin smiled, seeing his blade racing toward Arad’s neck.

SWOSH! Arad took a deep breath, loudly pulling air into his lungs. “ACTION SURGE!” VROOM! He only has enough stamina for another five strikes.

SP: 108

/310 ^Just like with the bandits. I will be able to do five strikes but fail on the sixth one.^ Arad thought, but he didn’t care. The assassin is in front of him.

CHOP! Arad swung his sword upward, cutting the assassin’s arm.

^The **? He can action surge twice? Is he a level 40 fighter?^ The assassin couldn’t believe seeing his wrist flying. CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!

Arad chopped the assassin’s other limbs alongside his torso. But on the sixth strike, Arad’s vision turned red as blood started pouring from his eyes and ears. A throbbing headache devoured his head as he fell to the ground.

Heal with blood. Some of your veins have burst.

BOOM! The assassin’s necklace exploded as the body disappeared.

BAM! Arad’s body fell on the street.

***

BAM! The assassin reappeared inside their headquarters alongside his severed limbs. The necklace stopped the last fatal attack and teleported him back.

“Damn it! I was saving this for a big mission! Healers!” He screamed in pain, and two men rushed toward him.

“Edary, what happened to you?” One of them gasped, seeing the bloody mess.

“Shut the ** up and attach my arms and legs! It’s **ing burns!” Edary screamed his lungs out. Arad’s flame had seared his wounds, preventing him from bleeding too much. But also making it harder to reattach his limbs.

The two healers looked at each other. “We will put you to sleep for the time being. Don’t resist the magic.” One of them put his hand on Edary’s forehead.

Sleep And the assassin fell asleep. After two hours he woke up again in an empty room. His limbs are attached, but feeling awful.

“That **er! I will kill him.” He growled.

“No, you won’t, Buffon.” A woman’s voice came from the room corner.

“Shut up ** up, Eris! It’s not your job!” He glared at the brown-haired woman, glaring at him with glowing red eyes.

Eris smiled, approaching Edary. “You need to rest for the twin mission. It’s Connor’s decision, but I will take over for now.”

Edary sighed, “Fine. I understand. We can’t mess up the job.” He turned toward the bedside table, but it had no water.

“Want something?” Eris looked at him with a gentle smile.

“Water, where is it,” Edary asked, feeling his lips as dry as sand.

“You’ve been flailing your arms around, so I moved it away.” She turned around and walked toward the table at the room corner. She picked up the water jug and handed it to Edary.

“Don’t drink too much. You might hurt yourself,” She said with a gentle face.

Edary looked at the jug and then at Eris. “Sorry for yelling at you. You’ve been here by my side…”

“It’s my job as your mentor,” Eris sighed, “I’m used to people like you, so don’t worry about it.” She shook her head, resting her fists on her hips.

Edary lifted the jug and took a large gulp of water.

“Drink slowly,” Eris sighed.

“I just need a bit of water. I lost too much blood.” Edary put the jug down with a smile. “That felt refreshing.”

“That guy has been spotted with Scarlett. Conner wants him dead as soon as possible so there are no unknown variables.” Eris said with a worried face. “Seeing how he defeated you, he’s dangerous.”

“The mother**er reminded me of that Alcott. The way he swings his blade is very similar.” He looked at Eris, “It’s possible he trained him. And he’s also a werewolf.”

Eris smiled, “I also heard he pulled the rug from beneath the thieves guild feet. Connor was right to see him as a large problem.”

Edary felt a slight burn in the back of his throat and coughed.

“Are you okay?” Eris stared at him.

“Something is burning in my throat.” Edary grabbed his neck, gasping for air.

“I told you to not drink quickly.” Eris sighed, handing him the jug, “Just take a sip. You might feel better.”

Edary took a sip, and his head started spinning. The last thing he saw was Eris smiling, with a small paper pouch in her fingers that said. Anti-salt

Edary started shaking, having a stroke as Eris walked to the window. “Bad luck for you Edary. But I found someone more interesting.” She smiled, jumping out.

^The anti-salt poison draws salt from the blood. Causing water to flow from it to the cells in a matter of seconds. (Water moves toward salt.) Eventually, causing Edary’s brain to swell and crush at the walls of his skull and cause the stroke.^