A gentle breeze swept through the top of the Tibel Forest's trees, causing the leaves to rustle in a calming, somewhat captivating manner as a few, small clouds flittered across the half moon in the night sky.

Located atop a nearby hill, giving an impressive and comprehensive view of its surroundings, a small fire crackled as it gave off a warm, orange light.

A couple of meters from the fire stood two workhorses, loosely tied to the side of a heavily laden carriage, as they lazily grazed on the short grass.

Under the light of the weak moonlight, a wide dirt road could be seen running beside the hill, passing through the forest with a couple of meters of clear ground each side.

The calming yet noisy natural ambience of the forest had long since affected the solitary figure sitting on a log, staring into the fire with a bow across his lap and an arrow notched. This drowsiness caused the man's eyes to droop, and his head to occasionally jerk as he tried to keep himself awake.

While the nearby forest was safe, having been regularly cleared of all beasts and bandits, only leaving mortal animals that posed a limited danger to cultivators, it was still considered smart to keep someone on watch for those camping along the roads at night.

On the opposite side of the fire, the man's friend was snoring quietly with a rough blanket pulled over him, totally oblivious to his comrade's valiant struggles to maintain his vigil.

As the man sitting guard continued to fight against sleep, even going as far as to splash some water from his canteen onto his face, a shadow could be seen stealthily moving behind him.

With an incredible amount of patience, making sure that there would be no noise before making any movements, a crouched figure slowly stalked towards the guard — the figure's tattered black sheet-like clothing helping to break up its outline and giving it an even more sinister appearance.

The wind briefly picked up as a slightly larger cloud passed by the moon, gently dimming the already limited ambient light.

As if it had been waiting for this opportunity, the figure slowly rose and increased its speed.

Though it had capitalised on the best moment to move, using the extra noise caused by the wind and the limited light to maximum effect, it was utterly pointless due to the figure's glowing, blue eyes which locked onto the man's back, clearly revealing its position to all that would look in its direction.

Moments later, a faint glint of silver, reflecting the firelight, appeared as a small kitchen knife appeared in the figures slim, delicate-looking hand.

The man's head nodded forward, causing him to startle and breath deep for a moment and causing the figure to pause momentarily.

After shaking his head and slapping his cheeks a few times, the man readjusted his position, making just enough noise for the deadly figure that was looming behind to move within a couple of feet without being detected.

The cloud finally passed the moon as the small knife was slowly lifted high into the air, the figure seemingly putting their all into the first strike.

Nyx's eyes had been locked onto the man's neck, in particular, the area where his jugular should be located and felt like she could almost see it beating in a slow, steady rhythm, a slight trace of saliva appearing at the side of her mouth.

However, at the moment she was about to strike, forced to use momentum to compensate for her injured body, a sudden, surprising thought flickered across Nyx's mind.

After spending the entire day hidden inside the cramped compartment under the driver's seat while continually thinking about all of the events that had lead to this point, she had allowed the men to get comfortable after stopping for the night before emerging and sliding into the shadows.

Circling the pair as they ate and talked, her rumbling stomach almost giving her away more than once, Nyx had patiently waited patiently for an opportunity such as this.

She knew that in her current state, her body having been severely injured by the backlash in the tower and unable to use any skills or abilities that relied on energy, cultivated or not, Nyx knew she wouldn't be able to confront the men directly and had decided on assassinating them when their guard was down.

Her initial plan was to kill the men, loot what she needed from the carriage, and disappear into the woods to recover and recuperate.

It was only at the last moment that Nyx realised how flawed her plan had been.

Yet, true to her nature, the hesitation had nothing to do with Nyx deciding to be merciful or, now that she was free of a soul bond and third parties, to try and change or as an act of repentance.

After experiencing what she had in her many lifetimes, those feelings and desires were almost none existent.

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Nyx had stopped because she realised that instead of their deaths benefiting her, the thought of eliminating every enemy and immediately preparing for the next fight having been ingrained into her soul, that they could actually turn into the root cause of her demise.

However, if she was honest with herself, Nyx really wanted to kill the men, especially as she had to suffer more than one bout of flatulence that had seeped into the enclosed space she was trapped.

It had to be also said that Nyx saw nothing wrong with killing, nor being killed if it weren't for the threat that she would be under once she returned to the abyss at the present time.

In her mind, just like most cultivators who were in an advantageous situation, the world was one of survival of the fittest.

Killing the men and taking their supplies was also the quickest way to secure the area and recover yet, Nyx suddenly felt that she was too predictable. That this is precisely what those who would be trying to track her would expect. That she would leave a trail of blood that they could follow and, at their convenience, sweep down and take advantage of.

If that was the case, then if the two men went missing or were killed, then everything she had achieved up till now could be wasted.

Nyx couldn't help but frown.

Her previous embodiments had carved a bloody path through any and all opposition, leaving death and destruction in their wake. This behaviour, while seemingly barbaric, was not only expected but often the result of a direct command. This was because once she died, no matter how hard her foe looked clues to follow, it would be a dead end.

All that was left was for her to be resummoned so she could start again if she had failed, or move onto the next target if she had succeeded.

Her eventual victory was all but guaranteed, it was just a matter of time. However, now that she didn't know if or when she would be resummoned, as well as if she would be safe in the darkness of the void, sticking true to these tactics seemed to be the pinnacle of foolishness.

Cold moonlight shone down upon Nyx as she slightly tilted her head, giving her a ghost-like complexion, seemingly deep in thought.

-"I am no longer the Nyx of old. It's not just my body and soul that has changed. I now have new restraints and objectives that I must accomplish to reach my goals."

Nyx knew that she could no longer rely on her mentality of the past. While it was still useful, as shown in the capital, it was more suited for specific situations and encounters. If she wanted to not only survive, but thrive, she needed to adapt and overcome these new challenges.

A beautiful smile, as if she had just solved a puzzle that had been bothering her for a lifetime, appeared on Nyx's face, instantly dispelling the ominous appearance that her figure had previously been conveying.

Nyx's gaze, that had drifted to the moon at some unknown point, returned to the man before her.

Her first thought was to create a situation that would conceal her involvement, like pushing the blame onto bandits or beasts. However, this was instantly dispelled as she remembered hearing the two talk about the current environment and how safe it was.

Giving the problem a little more thought, she also realised that due to the delicate situation at the moment, where nearly everyone was looking for her, even if she had a seemingly watertight alibi, any death or disappearance would likely be investigated. Particularly for those that were in, or had recently left, the capital.

At least that was how Nyx believed she would act if she had to hunt herself.

However, even though things weren't as simple as she first thought, the smile still hadn't left Nyx's face, seeming to enjoy looking at the problem that was before her in a new light.

Her instincts demanded that she kill the men and secure her immediate future while, on the other side, her mind was insistent that she think about the long-term and, by merely doing nothing and letting them live, cover her tracks.

Yet, Nyx soon discovered new problems due to her shifting mindset.

-"If I can't kill them, I can't take the carriage or horses nor can I take any of the supplies that might be beneficial. If anyone finds out and asks questions or gets suspicious and decides that this could be a lead, I might just as well kill them here and now and be done with it."

Nyx's smile waned as she continued to debate the pros and cons of each action she might take.

As she did, the dagger would raise slightly when she was convincing herself to kill them, then lower a little when she was starting thinking about the benefits of letting them go.

After a while, Nyx's aching, severely wounded body that urgently needed rest, woke her from her thoughts.

Lowering the knife, that would have subconsciously descended the moment the man showed any signs of discovering her, the intensity behind Nyx's gaze seemed to grow. The idea that had at first been vague when she first hesitated, flourishing as she added to it.

-"I have been stuck in my ways for too long, but that doesn't mean it is a bad thing. The world already believes that I am a relentless, bloodthirsty monster that will kill without hesitation or reason. A being that should be feared and despised, a beast that can only follow simple, primordial logic."

Nyx's smile returned, yet this time it was tinged with a predatory savageness.

Slowly, being careful so she wouldn't make any sound and waste her time, Nyx slowly retreated back out of the fire's light and into the darkness.

-"Back home, they said that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist."

Nyx reached the bottom of the hill, and moved to the side to the carriage would block her from sight.

-"I think I can do one better."

Nyx's figure started moving towards the nearby woods, casting more than one reluctant look at the carriage that contained a good amount of food as well as a few cultivation resources.

-"If these two men reach their location safe and sound, with nothing strange happening on the way, then even if it is investigated, who would even begin to think that I, the bloodthirsty monster, had been hiding underneath them?"

Taking one last look at the hilltop, something inside still reluctant to leave the men alive, Nyx took a deep breath and disappeared into the darkness.

-"From the sounds of it, my existence is already legendary; however, while it has some advantages, the disadvantages far outweigh them. As I can't see a way to erase my existence from common knowledge, all I can do is turn that legend into a myth while gathering strength to find my crystal."

Nyx, her two eyes like floating orbs in the near pitch black forest, moved further away from the road.

-"Once I have destroyed that and no longer have any binding to this plane of existence, I can finally set my sights on that old hag turned angel and destroying her plans."

Liberated and, for the first time in recent memory, feeling completely free and unfettered despite the terrible condition of her body, Nyx couldn't help but chuckle before her soft, clear voice echoed out amongst the trees.

"For the times they are a-changin~'.