The sounds of other guests faded out as they left the inn and went to their homes.

I decided it was time to leave.

Sliding a few coins across the counter, I paid my bill and stood up.

Sacril stretched and started following.

I adjusted my mask and cloak.

“It seems like I need to wear more thick clothing from now on then.” I thought as I felt the breeze.

Despite the fact that my physical capability is high enough to not care about the cold and other low-level weather conditions, I liked feeling comfy all the time.

As I was walking and thinking about what I should do for the time being, a sharp, gnawing sensation hit me at the back of my mind, like an itch I couldn’t scratch.

My body tensed.

“I am in danger!” I thought, screamed from within my soul.

A fraction of a second later, a small bolt of magic whizzed past me, close enough that I felt its heat graze my side.

It struck a nearby wall with a crackling sound, leaving a faint scorch mark behind.

I turned sharply, my eyes scanning the source of the attack.

“Coward,”

I muttered under my breath.

“Too afraid to face me head-on?”

The street was quiet now, the usual background noise replaced by a tense stillness.

“The commoners are not here; even in the evening time, there should be one or two commoners on the street...”

“It is easy to see that somebody isolated this area...”

“Sacril,”

He looked up at me.

“Find them.”

He didn’t need another word.

With a swift and silent motion, Sacril darted into the shadows.

Another spell bolt flew toward me, this one faster and more focused.

I dodged again.

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And this time, I didn’t wait.

I cast Energy Shield.

The next spell hit the shield and fizzled out harmlessly.

“Show yourself!”

“If you think you can kill me, at least have the decency to face me directly.”

For a moment, there was silence, and then a faint rustling sound came from the alley to my left.

“Come out,” I said coldly, my voice steady.

“Or I’ll bring this whole street down on top of you.”

If they thought they could toy with me, they were about to learn just how wrong they were.

Seconds later, I thought I saw something, and then my thought became reality.

A figure stepped forward—a man with a blade glinting in the faint moonlight.

From his movement and behavior, also the energy levels in his body, it was not hard to see that this man, whoever he was, was not just a simple swordsman.

It is more than likely that he was a Chosen Warrior.

“If he got close, I’d have no chance of holding him off physically.”

The man wasted no time. He broke into a run, his speed impressive, much faster than mine, but it was not surprising.

"Alright,"

He was fast, too fast for me to dodge if he got within range.

“I wonder what his capability is of protecting his mind and soul.”

I channeled my focus into the spell.

“Spirit Attack!”

The familiar rush of energy surged through me, and I directed it toward the oncoming man.

The air between us shimmered faintly, a ripple in reality itself, as the attack launched.

The man didn’t seem to notice at first; his eyes were locked on me.

But as the spell struck, his body jerked violently mid-step.

He stumbled, his blade dropping slightly as his muscles seized.

I could see it in his face, the sudden confusion, the realization that something was wrong.

“A spell that hits the soul and the mind...” The man uttered.

Spirit Attack wasn’t about physical damage.

It was about disrupting and, in extreme cases, destroying their mind and soul via the powerful force of magic and the caster's mental magic.

All mages had a higher level of mental and soul power compared to the Chosen Warrior due to interaction with the magic spells and all the time spent on harnessing the knowledge and trying to cast spells.

A chosen warrior, despite being experienced in battles and having a strong body, has no chance of stopping a spirit attack spell from an adept-level mage.

Even under the effects of the attack, he forced himself forward.

"Persistent, aren't you?" I said through gritted teeth.

My hand remained raised, ready to fire off another attack.

"Fine, let’s see if you can handle another."

I focused again, pouring more energy into the next strike.

Sacril barked sharply behind me, a warning that pulled my attention for a split second.

The second Spirit Attack struck the man head-on, and this time, the effects were immediate.

legs buckled, and he collapsed to one knee, the blade slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground.

He gasped for breath, his body trembling as if it had been drained of all strength.

"That’s more like it."

I muttered, lowering my hand slightly but keeping my guard up.

I stepped forward cautiously, keeping my distance.

The man glared up at me, defiance still burning in his eyes despite his weakened state.

"Who sent you? And why are you after me?"

He didn’t answer, but I could see the strain on his face.