I twisted my body just in time, feeling the wind of the blades barely misses my ribs.

She’s fast.

Her attack wasn’t reckless—it was precise. Clean movements, no wasted energy. She wasn’t some random thug trying to make a scene.

She was aiming to kill.

Lumi yelped in my pocket.

“M-Master—!”

I didn’t have time to reply.

The girl didn’t stop.

She adjusted her grip and lunged again, her daggers cutting through the space between us like a blur.

I barely managed to dodge, leaning back as one blade zipped past my throat.

Close. Too close.

Still mid-dodge, I flicked my wrist, releasing a quick pulse of mana—

Boom!

A shockwave burst between us, just enough to force her back.

She landed smoothly, daggers still gripped tight, eyes locked onto me like a predator watching its prey.

No hesitation.

No fear.

‘…Who the hell was this girl?’

I exhaled slowly, keeping my stance ready.

“So,” I muttered. “I’m guessing you’re not here to sell food.”

She didn’t answer.

Her eyes narrowed, and she moved again, fast as a snake.

This time, she came at me low, one dagger aiming for my stomach. I jumped back, but she was already swinging the other blade toward my side.

Swish!

I twisted, feeling the mana-coated blade cut through my shirt but miss my skin.

“Master, be careful!” Lumi squeaked in my pocket.

“Trying!” I snapped, but I didn’t have time to say more.

The girl didn’t stop.

She stepped forward, her feet light and quick, and sent a sharp kick toward my knee. I shifted my weight just in time, her boot grazing my leg instead of cracking it.

Thud.

I stumbled but stayed on my feet. She didn’t give me a second to breathe. Her daggers came at me again, one high, one low.

I ducked under the first and blocked the second with my forearm, the blade scraping against the leather guard I wore.

Clang!

The impact stung, but I pushed her arm away and swung my fist toward her ribs. She sidestepped, my punch barely missing her.

Fwip!

Before I could react, she spun, her elbow aiming for my face. I leaned back, but her foot followed, catching me in the chest.

Thump!

The kick sent me stumbling back, my breath knocked out of me. I coughed, trying to steady myself, but she was already coming again.

This time, I was ready.

As she lunged, I dropped low and swept my leg out, aiming for her ankles. She jumped, but I used the moment to roll to the side and get back on my feet.

“Stay still,” she finally uttered something, in a bitter cold tone.

“Not a chance,” I shot back, breathing hard.

She came at me again, her daggers flashing. I dodged left, then right, her blades slicing the air so close I could hear them.

Swish! Swish!

One dagger grazed my arm, and I hissed at the sting. But I didn’t stop moving. I stepped in close, inside her reach, and drove my elbow toward her stomach.

Thud!

She grunted, stumbling back a step, but she recovered fast. Her knee came up, aiming for my gut. I blocked it with my hand, but the force still pushed me back.

“Tsk…” I clicked my tongue, stepping back to put some distance between us.

‘But if she wants to kill me… why isn’t she using mana?’ It didn’t make sense.

Most fighters relied on mana for speed, strength, or even special attacks.

But she wasn’t using any.

I didn’t have time to figure it out. I quickly wrapped myself in a thin layer of mana, letting it coat my skin like a second layer of armor.

It wasn’t much, but it would help if her daggers got too close.

“Lumi… can you turn into a sword or something? Anything I can fight with?” I asked her, as I kept my eyes on the random girl.

I wasn’t sure if Lumi could do what a morph weapon could, but if she could transform, it would give me a fighting chance.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then I felt a warm, green-gold glow coming from my shirt pocket. Lumi’s light grew brighter, and suddenly, my hand closed around something solid.

But it wasn’t a sword, it was… a double-edged scythe.

<I’m sorry Master, but this is the only thing I can transform into.>

A voice echoed through my head, which I immediately recognized as Lumi.

But yeah, this was more than enough, even though I didn’t know how to fight with a scythe, much less a double-edged one.

Fwoop!

She shot toward me, faster than before.

This time, her daggers glowed with a faint aura, and the same light wrapped around her body.

It was like she’d lit herself on fire but with energy instead of flames.

I’d never seen anyone use aura like this. Most people used mana to boost their strength or speed because it was more effective.

But she was different I guess.

Her daggers came at me in a blur, one aimed at my chest, the other at my side. I swung the scythe awkwardly, trying to block it.

Clang!

The blades met, sparks flying as her dagger scraped against the scythe’s edge. The force of the impact rattled my arms, but I held my ground.

Then, she spun, her foot snapping toward my ribs. I twisted, barely dodging the kick, and swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back.

Whoosh!

She barely avoided the scythe, forcing her to jump back.

But as soon as she landed on the ground, she dashed forward, her daggers glowing with that strange aura.

I swung the scythe, trying to keep her at bay, but she was too fast. She ducked under my swing and slashed at my legs.

Swish!

I jumped back, but the tip of her dagger caught my pants, slicing through the fabric. I could feel the cold metal graze my skin.

She didn’t give me time to think. She came at me again, this time from the side. Her dagger aimed for my ribs, but I twisted, using the scythe to block.

Clang!

The impact sent a shock through my arms, but I pushed her blade away and swung the scythe in a wide arc.

She leaned back, the scythe’s blade missing her by inches.

Whoosh!

Before I could recover, she flipped backward, putting some distance between us. Her eyes narrowed, and she raised one hand.

Dark shadows began to swirl around her fingers, forming into small, sharp shards.

“Shadow magic?”

She flicked her wrist, and the shadow shards shot toward me like arrows.

Zip! Zip! Zip!

I dropped to the ground, rolling to the side as the shards slammed into the wall behind me, leaving deep cracks in the stone.

‘Fucking hell…! How does she have a shadow affinity?!’

I screamed inwardly.

Just like how Lucas has a light affinity that is purely reserved for angels, shadow magic is purely reserved for shadow beasts!

But my thoughts were quickly interrupted as I barely had time to breathe.

The girl raised her hand, and the shadow shards flickered with dark energy.

Then—

Whoosh!

She swung her arm, sending them flying at me like arrows.

I ducked, twisting my body as one shot past my ear. Another zipped by my leg, slicing through my pants.

Crack!

The last one slammed into the stone wall behind me, leaving deep cracks. If that had hit me, I would have a hole in my body!

‘Fucking hell…’

‘Is there any assassin this strong? Gosh, you could even create a guild yourself!’ I complained inwardly, keeping my eyes on her movements.

She was really strong.

But of course…

I was stronger.

“Fuuu…”

I exhaled deeply, gripping Lumi as my eyes started glowing dimly.

『 Judgement Eye (✦ S-Level Skill ✦) 』

The girl’s face widened in surprise, and that made me smile.

Fwoop!

Before I could move, she was already in front of me.

She was really fast… huh.

Swish!

Her dagger sliced through the air, aiming for my neck.

I jerked my head back, feeling the wind from the blade as it missed by inches.

Then—

Thud!

Her knee slammed into my stomach.

I gasped, my body jolting from the impact. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t have time to recover. She spun, bringing her other dagger toward my ribs.

I raised the scythe just in time—

Clang!

The weapons clashed, sparks flying. My arms shook from the force.

She pushed forward, trying to overpower me. I planted my feet, holding my ground, but she moved again—

Bam!

She slammed her elbow into my chest.

‘Haa… just a little bit more…’ I bit my lip tightly.

I stumbled back, coughing.

She quickly took the opportunity, dashing in, low to the ground, her daggers flashing under my eyes. One went for my side, the other for my thigh.

I jumped back—

Swish! Swish!

Both blades barely missed, cutting through the air where I had just been.

I swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back—

Whoosh!

She ducked under it, fast as lightning, and lunged again.

This time, she was too close.

Clang!

Her dagger scraped against the scythe’s handle as I barely blocked it.

Then—

Thud!

Her foot shot into my shin, and I reacted just in time to block her blow.

‘Alright… it’s over now.’

The glow in my eyes intensified slightly.

I didn’t know how I knew that, but I just knew it.

At that moment, she rushed at me again.

Swish!

Her dagger cut through the air, going straight for my throat.

I didn’t dodge this time.

I stepped in.

Her eyes widened—just for a second.

I twisted my body, swinging Lumi in a sharp, curved motion.

Whoosh—!

She barely had time to react.

Slash!

The blade cut across her side.

She gasped, stumbling back.

A thin, red line stretched across her waist.

At first, it was just a scratch. Just a small, shallow wound.

But then—

I exhaled.

『 Bleed 』

Lumi’s voice echoed with mine.

And then—

Splurt!

The wound ripped open.

Blood sprayed out, spilling down her side like a fountain.

She let out a sharp breath, eyes wide in shock.

Her knees buckled slightly, her body jerking from the sudden pain. She grabbed her side, but the blood kept flowing, soaking through her clothes, and dripping onto the ground.

Drip… Drip…

Her breathing grew unsteady.

She staggered back, her dagger trembling in her grip.

For the first time—she hesitated.

But only for a second.

Her face twisted, pain mixing with anger.

Then—

She charged.

Blood loss? Pain? She didn’t seem to care.

Her daggers flickered with dark light, her speed was even faster than before.

Whoosh!

She spun, her first dagger aiming for my stomach.

I twisted my body—

Swish!

The blade missed by an inch, but her second dagger was already coming.

I raised the scythe—

Clang!

The weapons clashed, metal screeching against metal.

Then—

Thud!

She slammed her forehead into my face.

“Ugh—!”

Pain exploded in my skull.

My head snapped back, my vision going blurry for a second.

But I still moved.

I spun the scythe, the blade slicing through the air toward her leg—

Shing!

Another cut.

Her thigh split open, another wave of blood gushing out.

『 Bleed 』

Lumi whispered along with me.

The wound tore wider.

Splurt!

Blood splashed onto the ground.

She gasped, her body trembling as her breathing turned ragged.

But even now—

She didn’t stop.

Her grip on the daggers tightened.

She lunged again.

This girl…

She was insane.

“…You’re still not worthy…”

Her words suddenly reached my ears, although I didn’t quite got what she meant.

She completely disappeared into thin air.

‘Where… did she go?’

I looked at my surroundings warily…

<Master! Behind you!>

My instincts quickly kicked in as I turned around, bringing my scythe to the front.

Clang!

It met both of her daggers, and that was when I noticed how she had disappeared…Her body’s shadow had completely disappeared which meant, that she had turned into it.

‘Fucking hell…’

“I should end this soon.”

I muttered to myself.

The girl seemed to have heard my words, but I didn’t exactly care.

“Assassin or not, you’re still a bit weak to kill me,” I uttered coldly.

A faint silver glow enveloped my scythe as the temperature around us seemed to have dropped.

『 Frost Explosion! (✦ 6th-Level Spell ✦)』

A small ball of ice mana formed on the tip of my index finger.

Then, I flicked it towards the girl.

“Explode.”

Fwip!

And then, the moment the small orb got close enough to the girl—

BOOM!

A violent blast of ice erupted, frost and sharp shards of ice bursting out like a crashing wave. The air turned freezing, my breath visible in the sudden chill.

The girl’s body disappeared into the explosion of frost.

For a second, everything was silent.

Then—

Crack!

A loud sound of shattering ice echoed through the air.

Through the fog of frost, I saw movement.

She was still standing.

Her body trembled, her arms covered in thin layers of ice. Her legs wobbled, frozen in place for just a moment. Blood dripped from her wounds, the deep cuts from earlier now mixed with frostbite.

Her daggers were covered in ice.

Her lips were pale.

Her breathing was heavy.

But she was still alive.

At her gaze, I frowned slightly.

First, I let her hit me multiple times to measure her power. I mean, what if she had some skill that could be hidden by my Judgement Eye?

But now… I’m quite curious.

Her body… had an incredible defense.

And why didn’t she use shadow magic to avoid the attack?

She’s really strange, sometimes she uses magic, and then she stops using it, only relying on her daggers.

But then, she smiled at me.

Not like… a happy smile, but it also wasn’t a cold smile.

It was more like a…

…crazy smile.

She stretched out her right hand, passing the dagger to the other hand, making it hold both of them and then looked at me.

A small black orb condensed at her fingertips…

Wait a minute…

Is she…

『 Frost Explosion! (✦ 6th-Level Spell ✦)』

Replicating my spell?!

…I’m fucked.

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