I didn't leave the building immediately.
After using Shadow inside, my stamina was dangerously low. The system warning hadn't disappeared, and ignoring it would've been stupidity, not courage.
[STAMINA: 9% ⚠]Recommendation: Rest advised
I stayed near the exit until my breathing steadied.
Rest wasn't optional.
But neither was staying.
When I finally stepped outside, I felt it.
Pressure.
Not from the air.
From a person.
My steps slowed slightly, like my body was pushing against something invisible. My chest felt heavier. My muscles resisted even simple movement.
Aura.
Someone nearby was releasing it deliberately.
The street looked normal. Cars passed. People talked. Nothing seemed out of place.
That was the point.
Aura pressure didn't need spells or glowing effects. It worked directly on the body, forcing weaker opponents to slow down, panic, or collapse.
Which meant the attacker was confident.
And strong.
[SYSTEM ALERT]Threat detectedSource: External aura pressureRisk level: High
House Calderon wasn't being careless.
They were sending someone who could end this quietly.
I kept walking.
Running now would only confirm I was the target.
I turned into a side street.
The pressure increased immediately.
Breathing became harder. My legs felt heavier, as if gravity itself had doubled.
[STAMINA: 7% ⚠]
Three men stood at the far end of the alley.
Plain clothes. Calm posture.
One of them stood slightly ahead of the others.
He wasn't holding a weapon.
He didn't need to.
The aura pouring from him was thick and controlled, pressing down on my body like a physical weight.
A martial expert.
The other two were support.
Clean. Efficient. Noble-approved.
One of them drew a short blade.
Dark metal. Enchanted. Designed for close-range kills.
Silent.
I understood immediately.
The aura would restrict my movement.
The blade would finish the job.
No witnesses.No noise.Just another "accidental" death.
[STAMINA: 6% ⚠]
One Shadow use.
That was all I had.
Aura restricted the body.
Shadow didn't.
Aura affected movement.
Shadow affected attention.
That difference mattered.
I activated the skill.
[Shadow — Activated]
The world dulled.
Not darker.
Slower.
The aura still pressed down on me. My muscles still resisted movement.
But their focus slipped.
For a brief moment, their attention locked onto where I was—and then lagged behind.
That was enough.
Transition Agility forced my body sideways, moving through the gap before their reactions caught up.
The blade passed through empty air where my throat had been.
[WARNING: STAMINA CRITICAL][Shadow — Terminated]
Pain exploded through my legs.
My knees buckled, and I slammed into the wall, barely staying upright.
The aura surged again, heavier than before.
The lead assassin stepped forward.
"You shouldn't have moved," he said calmly.
I laughed weakly.
"You already failed," I replied.
They paused.
Professionals always paused when something didn't go according to plan.
I raised my shaking hand and held up my phone.
"I sent copies of my medical records, death confirmation, and security footage before I walked out," I said. "Multiple locations."
Not a bluff.
Preparation.
"If I die," I continued, "House Calderon doesn't get a clean ending. It gets questions."
The aura wavered.
Just slightly.
That was enough.
"You were sent to correct an inconvenience," I added. "Not create a scandal."
Silence.
The lead man studied me.
Then he lowered his aura.
The pressure eased immediately, and I nearly collapsed as the weight vanished.
He tapped his earpiece.
I waited.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]Negotiation detectedSurvival probability: Improving
After a moment, he nodded.
"Stand down," he said.
The others stepped back.
"You'll be contacted."
They left without another word.
The alley went quiet.
And only then did my body finally give in.
[STAMINA: 3% ⚠]Condition: Near collapse
I slid down the wall and stayed there.
Breathing.
Waiting.
Letting the aftermath catch up to me.