Garrett charged with the speed and ferocity of a predator. His sword came in a brutal overhead strike that would have split Lucian in two if it connected.
Lucian triggered the first spell matrix. Lightning Strike.
A bolt of electricity erupted from his blade, striking Garrett's chest. The veteran's body convulsed, his charge interrupted. But he recovered in seconds, his combat experience letting him push through the pain.
"Clever toy," Garrett snarled. "Won't save you."
They exchanged blows—Garrett's decades of experience versus Lucian's technical perfection and youth. Garrett fought dirty: feints, trips, using his greater weight and strength. Lucian fought smart: maintaining distance, using the enchanted sword's reach, looking for openings.
Garrett's blade caught Lucian's shoulder, cutting deep. Blood sprayed, and Lucian gasped in pain.
"First blood," Garrett grinned. "Now you die like all the others."
Lucian triggered the second spell matrix. Earth Bind.
Stone erupted from the ground, wrapping around Garrett's legs and anchoring him in place. The veteran cursed, trying to break free.
Lucian didn't give him the chance. He moved in close, inside Garrett's sword range, and struck with precision Marcus had drilled into him over weeks of brutal training—target the gaps in defense, accept damage to deal killing blows, never hesitate.
His blade pierced Garrett's side, between the ribs. Not a fatal blow, but deep enough to matter.
Garrett roared, breaking free of the earth bind through pure strength. He backhanded Lucian across the face, sending the young genius stumbling.
"You're good," Garrett admitted, breathing hard, blood seeping from his wound. "Better than most soldiers I've fought. But good isn't enough against someone who's survived thirty years of war."
He raised his sword for a killing strike, his Bronze Peak cultivation flaring for one final, overwhelming attack.
Lucian triggered the third spell matrix. Force Blast.
The concussive wave hit Garrett at point-blank range, sending him flying backward into a weapon rack. Swords and spears clattered around him as he struggled to stand.
Lucian was already there, his blade at Garrett's throat.
"Any last words?" Lucian asked, his amber eyes cold.
"Yeah. You're still too soft. Should have killed me the first time your blade pierced my side." Garrett smiled bloodily. "That hesitation—that's what separates students from killers."
"Then I'll learn from the mistake."
Lucian's sword took Garrett's head cleanly. The veteran mercenary who'd burned three villages and murdered four hundred civilians died without further ceremony.
Lucian stood there, covered in blood—some his, some Garrett's—breathing hard and staring at the corpse. His hands weren't shaking this time. His eyes weren't filled with guilt or horror. Just cold acceptance.
Phantom approached, examining Lucian's shoulder wound. "Deep cut. You'll need healing."
"I know. But I did it. I led the contract, made the plan, executed it successfully. I killed him myself." Lucian looked at his bloody sword. "No hesitation at the end. No freezing. Just... what needed to be done."
"Good. You're learning." Phantom placed his hand on Garrett's corpse and activated his Midas Touch. The body transformed into a large mana crystal—Silver Rank - Mid Stage, pulsing with powerful energy.
Phantom sat down and began absorbing immediately. The mana flooded into his channels, pushing him toward the breakthrough he'd been approaching.
BRONZE PEAK STAGE: 95%... 100%
BREAKTHROUGH DETECTED. ADVANCING TO SILVER RANK - LOW STAGE.
The transformation was profound. Marcus's entire body restructured itself as he broke through the barrier between Bronze and Silver. His mana channels expanded and crystallized, becoming more efficient and powerful. His physical capabilities increased dramatically. His Midas Touch range extended to sixty feet. His perception sharpened to the point where he could sense individual mana signatures in the surrounding area.
Most importantly, his cultivation base solidified into the foundation for Silver Rank advancement. He was no longer Bronze Peak with potential—he was Silver Rank with power.
SILVER RANK - LOW STAGE: 17%
When the absorption finished, Marcus stood, feeling the new strength coursing through him. Silver Rank. A milestone that took most cultivators seven to ten years to reach from Bronze Peak. He'd done it in three months total from entering the academy.
"You broke through," Lucian observed. "I felt your aura change. You're Silver Rank now."
"Yes. Which means I need to hide it carefully at the academy. If anyone asks, I'm still Bronze Peak Stage pushing toward Silver." Marcus looked at Lucian's wounded shoulder. "Let's get you healed. Then we collect our bounty and plan our next moves."
They left the mercenary compound quickly, avoiding City Guard patrols. By the time authorities found the scene—Iron Garrett beheaded, five guards paralyzed by poison, Phantom's calling card left behind—Marcus and Lucian were back at the warehouse base.
Marcus used one of his Platinum-grade healing potions on Lucian's shoulder. The wound closed in seconds, leaving only a faint scar.
"75,000 gold split two ways," Marcus said, checking his Starfall Guild account. "37,500 each. You earned it."
"We earned it." Lucian sat down, looking thoughtful. "I killed three people now. Crane, Kael indirectly, and Garrett directly. It's getting easier. That should probably worry me more than it does."
"It means you're adapting to reality. This world rewards the strong and buries the weak. You're choosing to be strong." Marcus pulled out food—stress eating remained his primary coping mechanism. "Though you're right that Garrett identified your weakness. You hesitated after wounding him. Against stronger opponents, that hesitation will be fatal."
"I know. I'll work on it." Lucian accepted a pastry Marcus offered. "So what's next? You're Silver Rank now, which is incredible progress. I'm still Bronze Peak at 78%, probably need another month to break through. Our partnership has been profitable for both of us."
"It has. And it can continue if we're both interested. But Silver Rank changes things. The contracts available to Silver Rank assassins are more dangerous, higher profile. Platinum Rank nobles, Gold Rank criminals, organized crime leaders. The risks increase exponentially."
"So do the rewards. And I'm not interested in safe." Lucian's amber eyes were intense. "I told you—I need to be strong enough that my birth doesn't matter. That requires taking risks."
Marcus nodded slowly. "Then we continue. But carefully. At the academy, we're just students who happen to be friends. Our assassination partnership stays completely separate. No slips, no hints, no connections anyone can trace."
"Agreed. Speaking of the academy..." Lucian checked the time. "We have Ascending Circle meeting tomorrow. Elena wants to discuss collaborative enchantment projects. Apparently Victor can create artifacts that store our abilities for later use."
"Interesting. That could be tactically valuable." Marcus finished his food and pulled out mana crystals. "I need to cultivate and stabilize my Silver Rank breakthrough. You should too—that fight stressed your cultivation base. We'll talk tomorrow."
After Lucian left, Marcus sat alone, processing everything. Silver Rank. Twenty-eight assassination contracts completed. Over 550,000 gold in total wealth accumulated. Member of the academy's elite study group. Training the bastard son of a Marquis. Tournament champion.
Three months ago, he'd been a nobody who died choking on a dumpling.
Now he was becoming someone who mattered. Someone powerful. Someone dangerous.
The question was whether he was building toward something greater or just accumulating power for power's sake.
Marcus wasn't entirely sure himself.
But as long as the power kept growing, the wealth kept accumulating, and he kept surviving, he'd figure out the purpose eventually.
For now, advancement was its own reward.