They were crossing a vast, desolate wilderness. The surroundings were eerily silent, as if forgotten by the world. Only the gentle breeze whispered through the tall grass, a subtle, drawn-out sound like the earth's soft murmur. The wilderness was so expansive it inspired despair. The withered, yellow grass stretched to the horizon, seemingly merging with the gray sky, an endless expanse. The grass swayed in the wind, their slender forms seeming to whisper of the land's loneliness and desolation, each movement a sigh of helplessness. Distant mountains loomed in the swirling mist, appearing like a dreamlike paradise, yet also giving a sense of mystery, remoteness, and inaccessibility.
Suddenly, without warning, a group of Assassins, like demons erupting from hell, shattered the tranquility. They moved with the agility of cheetahs, their weapons glinting menacingly in the dim light. These Assassins wore black Night Cloaks, the fabric seeming to absorb the surrounding light, blending them with the darkness. The black cloths covering their faces revealed only cold, ruthless eyes filled with killing intent, like icicles in a cold night, piercing the heart. Their movements were swift and silent, like ghosts in the dark, instantly surrounding Hu Yulun and the others, placing them in extreme danger.
Isabella, without hesitation, drew the Longsword from her waist. Her movements were lightning-fast and powerful. Each swing of her sword carved a sharp arc through the air, spraying blood. Her eyes burned with fiery anger and unwavering determination, as if she intended to slay every one of these hateful Assassins. Her long, flowing hair danced wildly in the wind, adding to her wild and unrestrained appearance. Her figure moved through the Assassins with agility, leaving a trail of flashing sword shadows wherever she went, an unstoppable storm that the Assassins struggled to withstand.
"You villains, you won't harm us!" Isabella roared, her voice filled with fearless courage.
Merlin, with his extraordinary intellect, quickly and calmly observed his surroundings. His gaze was sharp and focused, missing no detail he could exploit. He frowned slightly, his brain racing, calculating a response.
"Follow me, this way!" Merlin shouted.
He skillfully guided the Assassins toward a Trap he had carefully set. The Traps were cleverly placed, hidden beneath the withered grass and loose stones. When the Assassins inadvertently fell into the Trap, they let out a cry of surprise. Merlin temporarily escaped their entanglement. His eyes remained calm and composed, showing no panic. His fingers deftly manipulated the surrounding objects, as if playing a silent melody, each movement precise and orderly.
Hu Yulun was not to be outdone. He gripped his Treasure Sword tightly, engaging in fierce combat with the Assassins. Veins bulged on his forehead, sweat dripping down his cheeks, but his eyes remained firm, and he kept shouting, "Come on, I'll show you what I've got!"
Under the valiant resistance of the three, the Assassins' attacks were gradually broken down. Yet, the situation remained tense, as the Assassins didn't give up easily.
Hu Yulun gasped for breath, his eyes still sharp. He shouted at the Assassins, "You bunch of cowards, come out and fight like men!"
Isabella's clothes were stained with blood, but her fighting spirit soared. "Today is your end!"
Taking advantage of the respite, Merlin pulled out a blue Potion from his pocket, quickly chanting an incantation and scattering the Potion around. In an instant, the Potion transformed into streaks of blue light, enveloping the Assassins and slowing their movements.
"Now, attack!" Merlin shouted.
Hu Yulun and Isabella swiftly responded, their swords and magic clashing, and the Assassins fell one after another.
But just then, an Assassin leader hiding in the shadows suddenly appeared. He wielded a huge Scythe, radiating a powerful aura of darkness.
"Do you think you can win like this? Too naive!" the Assassin leader sneered.
Hu Yulun fearlessly stepped forward, declaring, "No matter how strong you are, we won't back down!"
The two clashed instantly, their weapons meeting in a blaze of sparks. Isabella and Merlin supported him, their magic flashing around them.
Hu Yulun and the Assassin leader met in a flurry of blows, longsword and scythe colliding with ear-splitting force that echoed through the wilderness.
The Assassin leader attacked first, swinging his enormous scythe with a whistling rush of wind toward Hu Yulun. Hu Yulun dodged to the side, his eyes fixed on the Assassin leader's movements, not daring to relax for a second. His breathing became rapid, and sweat trickled down his forehead.
Hu Yulun seized his chance, thrusting his sword toward the Assassin leader's chest. However, the Assassin leader reacted swiftly, dodging the blow with a turn and slamming the handle of the scythe into Hu Yulun's abdomen. Hu Yulun groaned, stumbling back a few steps, a sharp pain searing through his gut.
"Hmph, kid, is that all you've got?" the Assassin leader sneered.
Hu Yulun gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain and charging forward again. His sword flashed like lightning, his attacks fierce. The Assassin leader easily parried them with his scythe, then followed up with a horizontal sweep, forcing Hu Yulun to leap back to avoid it.
At that moment, Hu Yulun had only one thought: he had to win! His eyes became even more determined, his grip tightening on his sword. Each attack was fueled by every ounce of his strength.
The Assassin leader seized an opening in Hu Yulun's defense and swung his Scythe, slashing across Hu Yulun's arm. Blood gushed out instantly, staining his sleeve red. Hu Yulun's face turned pale with pain, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he roared and launched an even fiercer attack.
"Come on!" Hu Yulun shouted, as if pouring all his pain and anger into this strike.
His swordsmanship became somewhat chaotic, yet filled with a desperate resolve. The Assassin leader, however, remained calm, continuously deflecting Hu Yulun's attacks and occasionally counterattacking, putting Hu Yulun in an even more precarious position.
Isabella was anxious. "Hu Yulun, hold on!"
Merlin frowned and cast a powerful spell again, sending a golden light toward the Assassin leader.
The Assassin leader sidestepped to avoid it, which gave Hu Yulun a chance to breathe. Hu Yulun seized the opportunity to counterattack, coordinating with Merlin's magic.
After a fierce struggle, the Assassin leader finally showed an opening. Hu Yulun saw his chance and thrust his Longsword, piercing his vital spot.
The Assassin leader screamed and fell to the ground.
"Finally over…" Hu Yulun said wearily.
Isabella ran over, looking at Hu Yulun's wound with concern, "Are you alright?"
Hu Yulun shook his head, "This little injury is nothing."
Merlin looked at the Assassin corpses scattered on the ground, his expression grave, "Although we repelled them this time, the Mysterious Organization probably won't let this go."
"So what? We're prepared to face anything," Hu Yulun said firmly.
The three of them looked at each other, then continued on their journey filled with the unknown.
But the danger didn't end there. The war between the kingdoms was like a raging storm, mercilessly ravaging the land, and their journey was fraught with thorns and Traps.