A few minutes later, two figures stepped into the room.

The first was Gerald, a High-Grade Martial Artist with an imposing build and a predatory smile. His presence alone sent chills down most men’s spines.

The second was Voss, a 4th Circle Mage, his long robes draping across the floor as he walked in with an air of arrogance.

Arthur had previously killed both the 5th Circle mages he had employed so he only had a few 4th Circle mages left.

“My lord,” Gerald greeted first, clasping a fist to his chest. “You called for us?”

Elaric leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “I have a job for you two.”

He paused, then smirked.

“Kill the children at the orphanage located here.” As he showed the location of Arthur’s orphanage in a map of Brightwater city.

Gerald’s smirk remained, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Of course my lord. I like the sound of it.”

Elaric thought if he couldn’t kill Arthur then he’d take something precious from him. He wants to see how Arthur reacts when he finds out his precious orphans have been slaughtered.

He tapped his fingers against the table. “But don’t kill them all. Kidnap some. We need leverage for me to get my hands on the Dragon core.”

Gerald’s grin widened. “Understood, my lord.”

Voss gave a slight nod. “Consider it done, my lord.”

Elaric leaned back, “Before the morning arrives, I want every single child in that orphanage dead or captured.”

As the assassins left the room. His laughter echoed through the halls of the manor, dark and filled with malice.

…

The moon hung high over Brightwater, casting silver streaks of light across the sleeping city. The streets were nearly deserted, with only the occasional patrol guard or stray drunk wandering home.

But amidst the silence, two figures moved through the darkness.

Their footsteps were light, as they moved towards their destination. Gerald and Voss, seasoned assassins, needed no words. They had done this type of job countless times before.

This time their target was an orphanage on the eastern edge of the city.

They halted outside a ten-meter-high wall surrounding the property. Gerald’s sharp eyes scanned the perimeter, taking note if there were any patrols guarding the orphanage, while Voss muttered a quiet incantation under his breath, a faint blue glow surrounding his eyes as he checked for magical barriers.

“Nothing,” Voss whispered, dispelling the magic in his eyes. “No protective wards.”

Gerald smirked. “What a joke. The brat didn’t even place proper security.”

They exchanged a nod before leaping over the wall, landing soundlessly on the other side.

Tonight’s job was simple, kill and capture.

They never even considered the possibility of failure.

…

Across the city, Arthur sat in his dorm room at the academy, his fingers tapping against the surface of his desk.

His datapad displayed a holographic feed, showing two red-marked figures moving towards the orphanage.

‘So they finally made their move.’

Arthur had expected Elaric to retaliate after his previous failures. That man’s ego and obsession with the Dragon Core wouldn’t allow him to give up so easily, so he placed some probes to keep an eye on the manor. So, when two suspicious figures exited the manor he was notified of them.

Still, Arthur thought he would have taken at least a few more days before trying something new.

‘Guess I underestimated his desperation.’

He leaned back, watching as the figures moved through the city silently. He knew exactly where they were going from the direction they were moving towards.

Arthur quickly donned his combat armor, the sleek black plating clicking into place. With a mental command, the stealth systems activated, as he silently lifted off the ground, flying toward the orphanage.

He arrived just in time to see both assassins disappear over the wall.

Arthur used ‘Analyse’ on them, pulling up their combat capabilities. One was a High-grade martial artist and another was a 4th Circle mage.

‘The combat bots should be more than enough to handle them.’ He thought as he hovered above the orphanage.

…

Gerald and Voss moved cautiously, weaving between the buildings as they scanned the surroundings.

Gerald turned to his companion. “Tch. This place is bigger than I thought.”

Voss nodded. “Let’s finish this fast. The master wants results before sunrise.”

As they approached the dormitory building, Gerald whispered, “We’ll start here. Fewer survivors means…”

Before he finished his sentence both of them heard a soft mechanical whirr behind them.

Both men froze. Gerald’s instincts screamed at him to move.

But before he could even turn his head, he saw a blue glowing blade made or some kind of energy he couldn’t identify pierce straight through Voss’s chest.

Voss choked, his eyes wide with horror. Blood dribbled from his lips as he staggered, his fingers twitching as if trying to cast a spell.

But it was too late.

The blade withdrew, and Voss collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Gerald spun around, his heart pounding.

What he saw sent a cold chill down his spine.

Standing there, illuminated by the soft glow of the plasma sword, was a sleek, humanoid golem.

No… it was not a golem.

It moved with a fluidity that was unnatural for constructs. Its jet-black armor was smooth and seamless, its red eye glowing ominously.

And it wasn’t alone.

From the shadows, more of them stepped forward, their plasma blades igniting one by one.

Gerald clenched his fists. “Shit.”

He had never seen constructs like these before. And that wasn’t good.

Gerald took a step back, his mind racing. Should he fight or flee?

The combat bots moved in unison, spreading out, blocking every escape route.

Gerald grit his teeth. “So this is what that bastard was hiding?”

He took a slow breath. As a High-Grade Martial Artist, he wasn’t going to die without a fight.

“Come on, then,” he growled, golden Chi flaring around his fists. 

The combat bots lunged.

…

Twenty minutes later…

The streets of Brightwater were eerily silent as Gerald sprinted for his life.

His breathing was ragged, his once-pristine armor dented and scorched. His arms and legs were covered in cuts and burns, blood dripping onto the cobblestone road.

Behind him, the metal footsteps of the combat bots echoed relentlessly.

He had tried fighting them, but he couldn’t even put a dent in their armor.

And more kept coming.

‘What the hell are these things…?’ Gerald’s mind was spinning. ‘Who the hell is this Arthur?!’

He turned a sharp corner, darting into a narrow alleyway. His plan was to disappear into the slums and make his way back to the Count’s estate.

But as soon as he stepped into the alley…

A combat bot was waiting for him.

“Fuck.”

Before he could react, a plasma blade sliced through his chest.

Gerald staggered, his vision blurring. He coughed, tasting blood in his mouth.

His knees buckled as his body hit the ground.

…

Arthur hovered above Count Bahram’s estate, watching from the shadows.

He had already retrieved the bodies of Gerald and Voss and bought them in front of the manor.

Outside the estate gates, Arthur dropped the headless corpses unceremoniously onto the pavement; he kept the heads as they had precious data about man and Chi.

The night guards, previously dozing off, jolted awake at the sickening thud.

One of them took a hesitant step forward, his face going pale as he recognized the bodies. “T-That’s Gerald and Voss…”

Another guard quickly said as he looked at his subordinate, “Go and inform Lord Elaric, they are his men.”

The guard nodded and left to inform Elaric’s attendant about the death of his two subordinates.

Arthur, seeing the bodies already found, left the place and returned to the academy.

…

The dim glow of enchanted lanterns flickered softly against the lavish walls of Elaric Bahram’s private chamber. The noble lay sprawled across his silk-covered bed.

Knock. Knock.

A somewhat hesitant rapping on his chamber door interrupted his peaceful sleep.

Elaric’s eyes opened,and  irritation immediately settled on his features. His brow furrowed, and he groaned, rolling over. “Who dares disturb me at this hour?”

“Enter,” he said, his voice thick with sleep but laced with annoyance.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing an attendant, his face pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The man hesitated for a second before stepping forward and bowing.

“My lord… I bring urgent news.”

Elaric let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his temples as he sat up. His golden silk robe draped over his shoulders as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

“This had better be worth my time,” he growled.

The attendant swallowed hard, his voice wavering slightly. “It’s about Gerald and Voss, my lord.”

Elaric’s irritation turned to interest. He straightened slightly. “They’ve returned?”

The attendant’s expression twisted. “M-My lord… their bodies were found in front of the manor.”

Silence.

For a moment, Elaric didn’t react. His mind processed the words slowly, as if they were foreign, unreal.

Then…

Crash!

His ornate bedside lamp shattered against the floor as he sent it flying with a sudden, furious swipe of his hand.

“AGAIN?!”

The attendant flinched, keeping his head bowed.

Elaric shot up from his bed, his robe billowing as his fists clenched. His veins bulged from his forehead as pure rage overtook him.

“Arthur…THAT DAMN BRAT! Wasn’t he at the academy at this hour!? So, how did the two of them die?” he roared.

Nothing had gone according to his plan since he encountered Arthur at the auction house.

The first assassination attempt failed.

The second attempt, using a Peak-Grade Martial Artist, failed too.

And now, even Gerald and Voss, two of his most trusted men, were dead. Elaric’s breath came fast and ragged.

‘A mere student should not have this much capability!’

His frustration boiled over, his chest heaving. He wanted to rip something apart, to see Arthur bleed, to watch him suffer.

But he couldn’t. And his pride had already taken too many hits.

Sending more assassins wouldn’t work. Arthur had proven that he was more than capable of handling them.

Elaric exhaled sharply and turned to the still-trembling attendant.

Now the only thing he can do now is to sabotage the supplies of the orphanage but he knew it was not going to hurt Arthur much, he can just buy things from someone else. Still he ordered the attendant to tell the merchants to not sell anything to the orphanage.

“Gather the merchant guild representatives in the morning,” he ordered coldly. “Tell them that from now on, they are not to sell food, supplies, or medicine to the orphanage under any circumstances.”

The attendant hesitated for a second but quickly bowed. “Yes, my lord. I will ensure the message is delivered.”

Elaric narrowed his eyes. “And make sure every merchant in Brightwater gets the message. I don’t care how much it costs, bribe them, threaten them, I don’t care.”

The attendant nodded quickly before turning and hurrying out of the room.

***

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