The mist seemed thicker now, like a heavy curtain draped over the battlefield, clinging to the courtyard as if reluctant to let go of the carnage that had just unfolded. The stench of blood hung in the air, sharp and metallic, mingling with the faint hum of fading magic. All around, the cobblestone ground was painted red, littered with lifeless bodies.
Aron stood amidst it all, his twin Shen Blades dripping crimson, his chest rising and falling steadily as if the massacre he had just wrought was no more taxing than a leisurely stroll. His violet eyes glimmered with something dark—satisfaction, hunger, and an ever-burning desire for more.
Drip… drip… drip.
The sound of blood falling from his blades echoed softly, a chilling rhythm that matched the stillness of the night.
Then, a new sound broke through the silence.
Step. Step. Step.
Slow, deliberate footsteps approached, cutting through the oppressive quiet. From the shadows, a figure emerged, wrapped in a flowing silver robe. A smooth, featureless mask reflected the pale violet lightning overhead, giving the man an almost otherworldly presence. His movements were calm, measured, yet there was an unmistakable sharpness to them—like a dagger hidden beneath silk.
Aron's gaze sharpened immediately.
"Banzo…" he murmured, tasting the name like a predator recognizing prey. His lips curled into a slow, feral grin.
The masked figure stopped a few paces away, his posture relaxed but coiled, ready to strike at any moment. His voice, when it came, was low and cold, with a barely controlled tremor beneath it.
"...Who are you? This level of slaughter… these are our elite guards."
Aron tilted his head, letting the question hang in the air for a heartbeat before answering, his tone smooth and mocking.
"Oh… you look strong." He raised one of his Shen Blades, letting the violet glow pulse ominously. "I want to know… how much stronger I'll get after killing you."
The words hit like a declaration of war.
Banzo said nothing in return. Instead, his form blurred, vanishing into the mist like a wraith.
Aron's grin widened as his instincts screamed danger. His body twisted just as a glint of steel sliced past his throat, so close that he felt the cold edge kiss his skin. He retaliated instantly, Shen Blades flashing outward in a wide arc, aiming for Banzo's midsection.
Clang!
The twin daggers met resistance—Banzo's own short blade intercepting perfectly before sliding away in a fluid parry. The masked assassin reappeared briefly, his stance low and predatory, before vanishing again into the swirling mist.
"Hah… fast," Aron muttered, excitement bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "I like it."
From behind, the whisper of air betrayed Banzo's movement. Aron pivoted sharply, bringing one blade up in a reverse grip just in time to block a strike aimed at his spine. The force rattled his arm, but he pushed back, his second blade lashing forward toward Banzo's throat.
The assassin twisted like a serpent, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike before disappearing once more.
As Aron steadied himself, three thin lines of blood blossomed across his forearm and shoulder. The cuts were shallow but precise, burning with an unnatural sting.
He laughed under his breath, tasting his own blood as he licked a droplet from his lip.
"Assassin type, huh? You like to toy with your prey."
The mist shifted unnaturally as Banzo's voice drifted from everywhere and nowhere.
"You're strong, but strength fades. Every breath you take, every step you make—it costs stamina. And when you're exhausted, I'll carve you apart."
Aron's laughter erupted fully, wild and genuine.
"Hahahaha! Yes! This is what I've been looking for… This makes me feel alive! Come on!"
He surged forward, blurring into motion with a speed that rivaled Banzo's, his Shen Blades glowing as their enchantments activated.
[ Twin Harmony Activated – Attack Speed +15%, Precision Greatly Enhanced ]
[ Predator's Instinct Activated – +5 AGL for 10 seconds ]
The courtyard erupted into a deadly dance. Banzo struck from angles so unpredictable that it seemed as if he was everywhere at once, his dagger flashing for Aron's vital points—neck, heart, kidneys, tendons. His movements were silent, efficient, each strike meant to bleed Aron dry without committing to a direct confrontation.
Aron countered with raw aggression tempered by experience. His twin daggers moved in a blur, each motion flowing seamlessly into the next. Where Banzo slipped through the mist like a ghost, Aron carved through it like a hurricane.
Steel met steel in rapid succession.
Clang-clang-clang!
Ssshhk!
Thud!
The rhythm of their clash was relentless, a storm of motion punctuated by brief flashes of violet and silver light. Neither gave ground, neither faltered.
Aron ducked beneath a horizontal slash, his boot kicking upward to unbalance Banzo. The assassin twisted midair, landing silently on a nearby corpse before springing forward with a lunge aimed directly at Aron's eye.
Aron tilted his head just enough for the blade to pass, feeling it graze a strand of his hair. His left dagger lashed out in response, catching Banzo's cloak and tearing a long rip through the fabric—but not flesh.
"Tch," Aron clicked his tongue. "Slippery bastard."
Banzo's laughter was soft and chilling. "Your strength is immense… but you're bleeding stamina with every wild swing."
Aron smirked, unconcerned. "Good thing I brought my own battery."
[ Blood Resonance Activated – Restoring 1% Stamina per Kill ]
He gestured toward the sea of corpses surrounding them. "Every one of these bodies? Fuel for me."
Banzo's posture stiffened ever so slightly at that revelation.
Banzo switched tactics. Instead of purely evasive maneuvers, he began to strike in calculated bursts, aiming to cripple Aron's joints. A feint to the left—then a real strike to the Achilles tendon. A high slash that transformed into a thrust toward Aron's liver.
Despite his skill, Aron was hit several times. Shallow cuts bloomed across his chest and thighs, each one sapping a fraction of his stamina and slowing him imperceptibly.
[ HP -5% ]
[ Warning: Stamina Decreasing Rapidly ]
Aron staggered slightly, his breathing heavier now, though his grin never faltered.
"Finally… some real pressure."
Banzo appeared directly behind him, dagger poised for a killing blow. Aron's reflexes kicked in at the last second. He spun, Shen Blades crossing in a perfect defensive X.
Clang!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the mist. Aron's muscles screamed in protest, but he held firm, then twisted, shoving Banzo backward.
Without hesitation, Aron activated his trump card.
[ Double Strike Enchantment – Critical Hit Multiplier Engaged! ]
His right dagger slashed diagonally, and before Banzo could fully dodge, the left dagger followed instantly, striking the exact same spot. The combined force ripped through Banzo's guard, leaving a deep gash across his torso.
For the first time, Banzo stumbled, blood spraying across the stones.
Aron exhaled sharply, his chest heaving. His grin widened, feral and unrestrained.
"Ha… Hahahaha! You bleed just like the rest!"
Both men were battered now. Aron's body was covered in shallow cuts, his stamina dangerously low despite [Blood Resonance] trickling it back up. Banzo's movements had lost a fraction of their initial sharpness, his cloak torn and bloodstained.
They circled each other, silent but for their ragged breathing.
Banzo's voice broke the stillness.
"You're strong… too strong. But even you can't fight forever."
Aron tilted his head, violet eyes burning with mad glee.
"Forever? No. But long enough to kill you."
He surged forward in a blur of speed that defied comprehension, his body moving at the absolute limit of its capabilities.
Banzo responded in kind, his dagger flashing upward.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The final clash was a whirlwind of motion, too fast for the human eye to follow. Then, suddenly, it ended.
Aron stood behind Banzo, his blades dripping crimson. Banzo froze, his dagger slipping from nerveless fingers. A single line of blood traced itself across his throat before erupting outward in a spray.
The masked assassin fell silently, his body hitting the ground with a muted thud.
[ Ding! ]
[ Level Up! ]
[ LVL 15 → LVL 16 ]
[ All Stats +3 ]
[ Title Effect: +10 Undistributed Stats ]
Aron didn't even glance at the system notification. His violet eyes narrowed as he felt a new presence—heavier, more oppressive—emerge behind him.
Slowly, almost casually, he tilted his head to the side, his expression calm and cold.
From the mist stepped a towering figure clad in ornate black armor etched with crimson runes: Duke Akresman himself. His very aura sent a shiver through the air, the oppressive weight of it making the blood on the ground tremble.
Aron's grin returned, sharper than ever.
"So… where have you been hiding, 'Soldier of Nigoshin'?" he drawled. His voice was low but carried a dark amusement. "Well, I had my fun… now let's get this over with."
Without warning, he surged forward in a blinding flash of speed.
Akresman's spine went cold at the words, but his warrior instincts screamed louder. With a roar, he charged to meet Aron head-on, his greatsword swinging in a deadly arc. There was no hesitation, no question—only violence.
The mist exploded around them as their clash began, shaking the very foundations of the mansion.
_ _ _
To be continued....