The night air hung thick with tension as Alex gathered his squad beneath the canopy of ancient pines, their shadows stretching long and menacing in the moonlight. His voice cut through the whispers of the forest, steady and commanding.
"The plan's simple: trap them inside a triangle. We split up. I'll lead my nine through the center. Ralf, you and your team take the left flank. Karui, you move with your group on the right."
Karui cracked her neck confidently, whispering to her team, "Alright, folks, eyes sharp. Let's move."
Ralf grinned, the faintest glint of challenge in his eyes. "No pressure, Alex. Don't mess this up."
Alex smirked in return. "Same goes for you."
The band of warriors melted into the forest's embrace, the night swallowing their footsteps as they navigated the winding main road of the Crimson Thicket. From treetop positions, Alex glimpsed their objective ahead—an unassuming hollow framed by gnarled branches. No torchlight flickered at the entrance.
Something didn't sit right.
He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, instincts prickling. Suddenly, figures began emerging from the shadows of the trees—deserters, unmistakable by their ragged armor and wary movements. Leading them stepped Cidinei, his gaze cold as steel.
No signal. Alex watched, silent, analytical.
The chief's rallying them, Alex thought. They're soaked in desperation—if they strike together, we risk surprises.
Then, he spotted Karui's silhouettes on the right and Ralf's shadows on the left. He gave the subtle signal for the two flanks to converge with his center team. As they moved, the symphony of clashing steel hummed through the underbrush—battle igniting with brutal ferocity.
Four deserters fanned out, encircling Alex in a deadly embrace, blades hungry for blood. He closed his eyes, heart steady, and leaped.
Above them, his fingers ignited—minute flames spiraling from his fingertips, lancing through the air like fiery arrows. Two fell, their screams swallowed by the crackling blaze. The others twisted and dodged with desperate agility.
Landing low, Alex drew his sword—a silver gleam in the darkness. The first deserter lunged wildly. Alex dodged with practiced ease, slicing a clean arc that severed his foe's head in a flash of crimson. The last assailant sought stealth from behind, but Alex's senses prickled—swift as a striking serpent, he dispatched him before the blade could find flesh.
"So far, too easy," he muttered. His gaze locked on Cidinei's figure—a dark silhouette framed by pale moonlight. "You're done tonight, Cidinei. Your end is by my hand."
Cidinei's lips curled into a cold smile as he met Alex's charge.
"Chief," one deserter called out, breath ragged, "we're taking casualties. What now?"
Cidinei's eyes burned with ruthless calm. "Stay composed. Distract them. I'll finish this."
An eerie white aura rippled across his skin as his voice murmured sacred words. With a steady palm pressed to the earth, he etched a glowing sigil: a forbidden magic circle blazing bright.
"Lithic Ascension…"
The ground cracked and ruptured, sending jagged blades of stone stabbing toward the sky like the claws of an ancient beast.
Alex's heart twisted. Across the shadows, Karui's arrows whistled—and Ralf stumbled, wounded near the creeping line of earth knives.
If I hadn't taken to the trees… I'd be dead, Alex cursed inwardly.
Cidinei sneered. "Chicken out already?"
"Not yet," he hissed, weaving another chant.
Around him swirled seven circles, each pulsing with dark power—and spectral golems, black as night with glaring yellow eyes, emerged. The beasts' heavy steps sent tremors through the soil.
Alex dashed forward. "Strange golems. Normal ones wouldn't stand a chance."
Suddenly, a blur surged from the left—the unmistakable figure of Ralf, swords flashing like lightning. His strike aimed to catch Cidinei off guard.
He's distracted. This is perfect, Ralf thought.
But Cidinei's reflexes were honed fire. Sidestepping with fluid grace, he unleashed a crushing kick to Ralf's gut, tossing the warrior backward. Before Ralf hit the earth, a double hammer strike slammed down with terrifying speed, forcing the breath from Ralf's lungs.
"Breathe... just breathe..." Ralf coughed, fighting the darkness creeping into his vision. And then, he fell.
Seizing the moment, Karui rained a volley of arrows from above, each one singing through the cold night toward Cidinei.
"Not enough," she muttered, summoning deeper magic.
"Arrow Clone."
With a shimmer, her arrows multiplied, shadowy doubles dancing toward their target in a deadly swarm.
Cidinei's sword sang as he deflected and dodged, face tightening with concentration. His armor absorbed many shots, but his gaze flicked anxiously skyward.
My arms, chest, legs—armored. But the head... just one hit there, and I'm finished.
In that subtle distraction, Alex moved silently through the shadows. His hands wove the fire in the air, crafting a blazing bow and black thunder arrows shimmering with raw energy.
Wait for the right moment…
Cidinei faltered, retreating unknowingly into Alex's line of fire.
Then—release.
One arrow streaked silently, striking the back of Cidinei's armor with a burst of flame and smoke billowing into the night.
"I got him! That has to finish him."
The smoke cleared. Where the arrow struck, a wide fracture marred the back of Cidinei's armor as he lay face down in the dirt.
Alex strode forward, sword raised for the final blow.
"Karui, come down."
But before she could descend, a rough hand closed around her throat. Cidinei's eyes gleamed with cruel triumph as Karui's gasp faded, her body collapsing limp. Without hesitation, Cidinei plunged his sword into her chest—silencing her forever.
Hatred flared hot and bitter in Alex's chest.
"How—how are you still alive?" he spat, furious. "Your body's right here!"
From the shadows, Cidinei stepped down from the tree—smiling like a spider with fresh prey.
"Ha! That's the gift of my unique skill: Soul Clone," he jeered. "I foresaw your attack and let my clone take the hit. While the smoke hid us, I struck your ally down."
Alex's blood ran cold—but a rise of grudging respect swelled within. "So that's how it was. Thought you a fool—you earned some applause after all."
"Die, Alex," Cidinei hissed, blade poised.
The two charged, sword against sword beneath the swaying branches. Alex's strikes rained from above and sideways, met equally by Cidinei's defense. The clash carved the night with ringed steel.
Cidinei lunged for Alex's chest, forcing him back. Again and again, Alex pressed the assault, driving his foe to the ground with a sudden trip. His sword hovered over Cidinei's throat.
Then Cidinei rolled free, rising fast. "You won't kill me so easily, insect."
"Had you thought you were winning?" Alex snarled.
With a chant, Cidinei summoned jagged stones—Chaos Stones—that soared like missiles.
Alex sliced through the flying rocks, blade sparking on stone, until he closed the gap between them.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Annoying brat," Cidinei muttered, mana flickering low. "Next strike's my last. I'll burn everything into ash."
A thick, oppressive aura swelled as Cidinei's sword blazed with overwhelming power.
All or nothing… Alex's mind raced, weaving his own spells—enhancing strength, speeding his movements to impossible speeds. Flames roared along his blade.
The two collided with a thunderous crash, chest striking chest. Both staggered, panting.
"Tsk…"
Cidinei spat blood, sinking to his knees, a gaping wound showing through his armor.
Alex glanced at the scattered figures—eight assassins, battered but alive.
"Someone—go to the Theocracy of Lumen. Tell the Shaded Path Guild what happened here."
An assassin stepped forward. "I will. With my familiar, I'll be back fast. Name's Otus."
"Good. The rest of you, hold fast. I'm heading to the inn to recover."
As Alex turned, a cold thought clawed at him.
Why didn't I get Cidinei's Skill? This can't be happening...
Determined, he strode back to where Cidinei lay and drove his sword deep through the enemy's heart. A voice echoed in his mind.
Unique Skill "Soul Clone" acquired.
Utility: Create up to five soul clones, each consuming 20% of mana.
Element Acquired: Earth.
Alex's lips curled in a small, tired smile.
"A new unique skill… Interesting."
He hurried to Ralf's side, feeling the faint pulse beneath his hand.
"Still alive… barely. Help me get him to the inn."
The night whispered on, heavy with the weight of blood and fate, but Alex's resolve burned brighter than ever.