The robed men, witnessing the horrifying demise of their leader, froze in place, their minds struggling to process what they had just seen. A second ago, he was alive, commanding them. Now, his corpse lay twisted on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
"He… he killed our leader with some kind of trick!"
"That wasn't magic!"
"We'll never forgive him!"
Panic turned into blind rage.
"Everyone.. kill him!"
They surged forward at once, surrounding Ashan from all directions. Mages raised their staffs and hands, faces twisted with desperation as fireballs and lightning bolts erupted simultaneously. Explosions rocked the clearing, scorching the earth. Trees cracked, dirt and shattered stone flew into the air, and the night was lit up like a battlefield.
"He got hit!"
"I saw it! He can't survive that!"
"He's not that powerful after all!"
The dust slowly settled.
Ashan stood at the center of the devastation, completely unscathed. Not a single scratch marred his body. His clothes didn't even flutter.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tch… disappointing," he muttered. His gaze swept over them with open disdain. "Is that really all you've got? Poor, weak little things."
The robed men stiffened, fear clawing at their spines, but desperation pushed them forward.
"Charge him!"
Sword wielders rushed in from multiple angles, screaming as they swung wildly.
Ashan smiled faintly. His Byakugan activated, veins bulging slightly at his temples as his vision sharpened.
He spun.
[Hakkesho Kaiten]
A violent rotational force erupted outward. A massive wind barrier expanded instantly, slamming into the attackers. Bodies were flung away like ragdolls. Some crashing into trees, others skidding across the ground with broken bones.
Groans and screams echoed.
Still, they regrouped, driven by fanaticism.
Ashan clenched his fists, eyes cold. "I don't need to use any techniques to deal with trash like you," he said calmly. "My fists are enough."
He vanished.
A thunderous impact followed.
A high kick shattered a sword-wielder's jaw, teeth spraying into the dirt. Before the man even hit the ground, Ashan was already moving. A brutal kick to another's abdomen folded him in half, knocking the air from his lungs permanently. A punch smashed through a raised shield, cracking it and the arm behind it.
The mages fared the worst. Unable to keep distance, unable to cast properly under pressure, they collapsed one by one, struck down before their spells could form.
The clearing became a graveyard of broken bodies. Limbs bent at unnatural angles. Weapons lay shattered. Magical artifacts flickered uselessly before dying out.
Silence returned.
Ashan flexed his fingers, wiping blood from his knuckles with mild irritation. He walked toward the trapped raiders and placed his hand on the mana-sealing chains. The energy was absorbed instantly, the restraints shattering with sharp cracks.
—---------------------------------------
Congratulations…
You saved 50 raiders and changed fate.
Reward – MoveMastery
—---------------------------------------
"Are you all alright?" Ashan asked.
One by one, they stood, some trembling, some wiping tears from their faces. Then, as if on cue, they bowed deeply.
"Thank you… thank you so much!"
"If it weren't for you, we'd be dead."
"You're our savior."
Ashan placed a reassuring hand on one raider's shoulder. "Tell me. How did this happen?"
The man swallowed hard. "We're from different dungeon parties. We were kidnapped separately. They wanted to use us as blood sacrifices. They're a hidden organization, operating in the shadows."
Before Ashan could respond, footsteps echoed.
A woman emerged from the darkness.
She wore gray armor, battle-worn yet elegant. Her long red hair was tied neatly behind her head. A mask concealed her mouth and nose, leaving only her sharp amber eyes visible. A sword rested in her right hand, and a sun-shaped emblem gleamed on her chest.
—---------------------------------------
Name: Eirena Greaves
Age: 21
Gender: Female
[Power Rank: A]
[Specialty: Combat fighter]
[Strength: 170]
[Stamina: 150]
[Endurance: 130]
[Agility: 140]
[Other Powers and Skills]
<>Flame Slash - A
Channel fire through the blade for a burning attack.
<>Thunder Steps - A
Increase running speed.
<>Shadow Strike - B
Attack from a burst of darkness for a surprise critical hit.
<>Berserker Rage - A
Greatly increases strength and speed, but rapidly consumes stamina.
<>Executioner's Blow - S (Sealed)
As the cost for a massive mana load, one deadly blow can be created.
<>Divine Armor - S (Sealed)
Create mana armor over the body that can take higher damages.
Additional:
Has the potential to increase rank through a special awakening process.
—---------------------------------------
Ashan smirked beneath his mask.
'So you finally decided to come out after watching the entire show,' he thought calmly. 'I can't blame her. If I were in her position, I'd do the same.'
His gaze lingered on her stance, sharp and disciplined.
'Now then… what will you do?'
From the symbol engraved on her armor, the freed raiders immediately recognized her. Murmurs spread among them.
"She's a high-ranker… from the Luminary Association."
"She came to rescue us…"
Relief washed over their exhausted faces, though confusion lingered as their eyes moved between her and Ashan.
Eirena stepped forward without hesitation, placing herself directly in front of Ashan. She raised her sword, its blade igniting with fierce flames, stopping just inches from his face.
Her amber eyes locked onto him.
"Who are you?" she demanded coldly. "And what is your purpose for saving these people? Speak."
Ashan laughed softly, mockery clear in his voice. "Isn't that a bit rude for a young lady's first words?" He tilted his head slightly. "Especially after hiding in the shadows and watching the whole scene without lifting a finger. Shouldn't I be the one asking why you didn't step in earlier?"
The raiders stiffened, tension returning to their bodies.
Eirena didn't flinch. Her grip tightened. "Was there any reason for me to interfere," she replied evenly, "when you were clearly handling everything with ease?"
Ashan spread his hands theatrically. "Exactly. That's my point. I saved all these people by myself, yet this is how you greet me." He sighed exaggeratedly. "Honestly, that hurts."
"Haa…" Eirena exhaled slowly, unimpressed. "If that's the case, then tell me, where are the mana-boosting pills? You took them, didn't you?"
Ashan's smile sharpened. "Oh? And how do you know about those?" He leaned forward slightly. "Aren't you the suspicious one here?"
"Puff.."
Eirena laughed, a short, humorless sound. "You're either incredibly naive," she said, "or you really don't know how our association works. We have connections everywhere. We received intel about this operation long before tonight."
Ashan nodded slowly. "Ahh… I see. So that's how it is." He shrugged. "Yes. I took them. And?"
Her eyes hardened. "And you'll hand them over to me. That would be the smart choice."
"I don't wanna."
The blunt refusal caught her off guard for a split second.
"You have no other choice," she snapped. "I represent the will of the entire Luminary Association. We also hold authority over this forest."
Ashan crossed his arms, his tone turning cold. "Alright. Let's say I give them to you." His gaze pierced her. "Then what? You'll become no different from those trash bastards, using human blood to enhance those pills?"
"No," Eirena replied immediately. "We'll use monster blood instead. The ones we hunt."
Ashan lifted his hand and calmly pushed the burning blade away from his face with mana-layered fingertips. Sparks scattered.
"Are you stupid?" he said flatly. "That's completely impractical. Monster blood loses its mana the moment the monster dies. Once the blood separates from the body, the connection is gone." He tilted his head. "Am I wrong?"
Eirena clenched her jaw.
"I'm not giving them to you," Ashan continued. "Do whatever you want."
Whoosh..
Eirena attacked without warning.
Ashan leaped back effortlessly, avoiding the flaming strike by a hair's breadth.
"Soon, people from my association will arrive," she warned while pressing the attack. "When they do, we'll take those pills, and we'll unmask you."
Ashan continued dodging with ease, his movements relaxed. "I think we should stop this now," he said casually. "I'm starting to feel like breaking that shiny sword of yours."
She laughed mockingly. "Try it. This sword isn't cheap scrap like the weapons you destroyed earlier. It's a high-ranking blade."
Hearing that, Ashan didn't hesitate for another moment.
Crack!
A rapid flurry of Black Flash strikes slammed into the sword at lightning speed. The blade split cleanly in two.
Silence fell.
Ashan tilted his head, examining the broken weapon. "Doesn't seem very durable," he said with a smile. "Isn't it weak?"
Eirena's eyes widened. Shock and fury collided on her face.
"My sword…?" Her voice trembled. "You bastard! Do you know how precious that was to me?! I'll kill you!"
She kicked at him with full force, but her leg passed straight through his body.
Her pupils shrank. "What…? My attack went through him? How is that possible…?"
Ashan gazed up at the night sky for a moment, completely ignoring her.
He turned back to the stunned Eirena.
"Well, lady," he said calmly, "it's getting late. I should be going. Let's hope we don't meet again."
A vortex opened behind him, twisting space itself.
Eirena lunged forward desperately, fingers stretching out, but grasped nothing.
The vortex closed.
She stood there, breathing hard, fists clenched, rage and frustration boiling inside her.
She had lost. Completely.
"Eirena," a male voice crackled through her earphone. "What's going on? Where are you?"
She bit her lip, suppressing her anger before replying.
"Hostages are safe," she said stiffly. "The masked man I mentioned… he escaped. Get here immediately."
Her eyes remained fixed on the empty space where Ashan had vanished.