Without another word, Jae-Hyun stood and left the bar, his mind already working through what he had learned. He walked back toward the inn, his steps deliberate and his gaze cold. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time. His enemies were closing in, and if he wanted to protect his sister, he needed to stay one step ahead.
As he reached the inn, the quiet of the village seemed almost deceptive. He climbed the stairs to the room he shared with Ahri, his senses on high alert. Whatever was coming next, he would be ready.
But for now, he had a moment to think—and prepare for the inevitable.
The room was small but clean, with two beds pushed against opposite walls. Ahri set down her pack, stretching her arms. “Finally, a bit of rest.”
Jae-Hyun didn’t respond. He placed his belongings neatly beside the bed and sat down, his expression still cold and distant. Ahri watched him for a moment before speaking.
“Did you learn anything new?” she said. “I would say you look more... focused?”
He glanced at her, his gaze unreadable. “We don’t have much time anymore, specially me”
Ahri didn’t press further. She could see the weight he carried, though she didn’t fully understand it. Instead, she lay down on her bed, her mind swirling with unanswered questions.
Jae-Hyun remained seated, staring at the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. His thoughts were a whirlwind of strategies, plans, and uncertainties. He had learned much, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more—more strength, more information. And above all, he needed to find his sister.
Sleep came slowly, the silence of the village broken only by the distant howl of wind through the trees.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The night passed uneventfully until a sudden, loud banging at the door jolted them awake. Jae-Hyun’s eyes snapped open, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade. Ahri sat up, startled, her eyes wide with confusion.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
Jae-Hyun didn’t answer. He already knew. The system interface flickered into view, displaying a cold, unyielding message:
System Notification: Kill all enemies (0/7). Penalty: Death.
His grip tightened on the hilt of his blade, his expression hardening into one of cold resolve. There was no hesitation, no room for mercy. He rose to his feet, his voice low and firm.
“Stay behind me.”
Ahri nodded, her trust in him absolute despite the tension crackling in the air. She didn’t fully understand what had hardened him so much, but something about his cold resolve left her both unsettled and reassured. He had changed—and she couldn’t help but trust that this new, sharper edge would keep them alive. The banging grew louder, more insistent, as shadows flickered beneath the door.
Jae-Hyun took a steadying breath, his heart pounding with controlled intensity. This wasn’t just a fight for survival—it was another test. And he would not fail.
The hunt had begun.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
With a swift, fluid motion, Jae-Hyun slid across the room, his blade drawn. The shadows within the room seemed to ripple, responding to his silent command. The banging ceased for a moment, replaced by an eerie silence. Then, with a deafening crash, the door splintered open, and the first assassin charged in.
Before the intruder could react, Jae-Hyun's shadow shot forward like a spear, piercing through the man’s chest. The assassin gasped, his weapon falling from his hand as he crumpled to the ground.
Enemies killed: 1/7.
Jae-Hyun didn’t pause. He spun on his heel, his eyes narrowing as two more assassins entered. They moved quickly, blades glinting in the dim light, but Jae-Hyun was faster. The shadows around him writhed and coiled, forming tendrils that lashed out, wrapping around one of the attackers and dragging him into the darkness. A wet thud echoed, and the notification flickered again.
Enemies killed: 2/7.
The second assassin lunged, aiming for Jae-Hyun’s throat. He sidestepped effortlessly, his blade flashing in a precise arc. Blood spattered across the wooden floor as the man fell, lifeless.
Enemies killed: 3/7.
Ahri watched in silence, her eyes wide. She had seen Jae-Hyun fight before, but this was different. He moved with lethal precision, every action cold and calculated. There was no hesitation, no mercy—only efficiency.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
More footsteps echoed outside. Jae-Hyun didn’t wait for them to breach the doorway. He extended his hand, and the shadows surged forward, slipping through the cracks in the walls and under the door. A strangled cry sounded from the hallway, followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the ground.
Enemies killed: 4/7.
Two more assassins stormed in, their movements coordinated. One feinted left while the other came from the right. Jae-Hyun didn’t flinch. He ducked under the first strike, his shadow forming a blade-like tendril that slashed across the second attacker’s chest. The man fell back, clutching the wound as Jae-Hyun drove his sword through the first assassin.
The wounded assassin stumbled, fear flashing in his eyes. He turned, attempting to flee, but a shadow shot out, piercing his back and dragging him down.
Enemies killed: 5/7.
Only two remained. One of them lunged suddenly, grabbing Ahri and pressing a blade to her throat. “Stay back!” he shouted, his voice shaking with fear. The second assassin stood frozen, his weapon trembling in his hands.
Ahri's eyes widened in shock, her heart racing. For a brief moment, fear gripped her, but Jae-Hyun remained unnervingly calm. She realized, with both unease and awe, how far he had changed—how much colder he had become in the face of danger. His gaze locked on the assassin, cold and unyielding.
“What can you even do?” Jae-Hyun said flatly, his tone devoid of emotion. The assassin tightened his grip, but it was futile.
With a silent command, a shadow emerged from behind the man, swift and merciless. The tendril pierced through his back, and the assassin collapsed without a sound, releasing Ahri as he fell.
The second assassin dropped his blade, falling to his knees. “Please! Mercy! We were just following orders!” One dropped his blade, falling to his knees. “Please! Mercy! We were just following orders!”
The second assassin echoed the plea. “We didn’t have a choice!”
Jae-Hyun’s expression remained cold, his eyes devoid of empathy. The system’s notification flashed once more in his vision:
Kill all enemies (6/7). Penalty: Death.
Mercy was not an option. He stepped forward, his shadow rising behind him like a looming spectre. The assassins flinched, but it was futile. Without a word, Jae-Hyun’s blade sliced through the air, ending their lives in one swift motion.
Enemy killed: 7/7. Quest Complete.
The room fell silent, save for the soft sound of Jae-Hyun’s breathing. Without delay, he activated his skill—Reaper's Claim. Shadows coiled around the bodies, absorbing their essence into nothingness, erasing all traces of blood and corpses. A brief system notification flickered in his vision:
System Notification: Souls absorbed. Cleanup complete. The air grew colder for a brief moment as the skill completed, leaving the room eerily pristine. Ahri stood by the wall, her expression unreadable as she took in the aftermath.
System Notification: Quest Complete. Reward: 15 Stat Points.
Jae-Hyun exhaled slowly, the tension in his body easing slightly as the system’s notification faded. He turned to Ahri, his gaze still cold but steady.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
She shook her head, stepping forward cautiously. “I’m fine. What about you?”
“Unharmed,” he replied simply. He glanced at the shattered door. “We need to leave. Whoever sent them knows we’re here.”
Ahri nodded, her trust in him unshaken despite the carnage she had just witnessed. She could see that the old Jae-Hyun—the one who hesitated, who doubted—was gone. What stood before her now was someone colder, sharper, and far more dangerous.
They gathered their belongings quickly and exited the room. The village remained eerily silent, the soft rustle of leaves and distant chirping of insects contrasting sharply with the violence that had just unfolded. Shadows clung to the corners of the buildings, masking their movements as if the night itself sought to shield them. Jae-Hyun led the way, his senses on high alert as they slipped into veil of the night.
----------------------------------------
The fight was over, but the war was just beginning.
The night was thick with silence, the kind that weighed heavily on the senses. As Jae-Hyun and Ahri slipped through the shadows of the village, their steps were quiet, measured. The dim glow of lanterns faded behind them, leaving only the pale light of the moon to guide their path. Neither spoke for a while, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
Jae-Hyun led the way, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he scanned the surroundings. Every rustle of leaves, every distant sound of nocturnal creatures, put him on edge. He had learned long ago that danger didn’t always announce itself—sometimes, it crept up silently, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Ahri followed closely, her eyes flicking occasionally toward Jae-Hyun. She could see the tension in his posture, the way his hand remained near his weapon, ready to react at a moment’s notice. Despite the calm exterior he projected, she knew there was a storm brewing within him. The events of the night had left her with more questions than answers, and though she trusted him, she couldn’t ignore the growing distance between them.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ahri broke the silence. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on?” she asked, her voice low but steady.
Jae-Hyun didn’t answer immediately. He kept walking, his eyes fixed ahead as if weighing her words. After a few more steps, he came to a stop beneath the canopy of an ancient tree. The branches cast long shadows over them, blending into the night.
“They put a bounty on my head,” he said finally, his tone cold and detached. “I didn’t do anything to deserve it. They left me to die, and now that they know I’m alive, they want to get rid of me quietly.”
Ahri’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself. “Who’s they?”
“The Silver Talon Guild,” Jae-Hyun replied. “More specifically, their vice-leader. He’s the one who betrayed me, and now he’s making sure no one knows I survived.”
Ahri frowned, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together in her mind. “So that’s why those assassins were after you. It wasn’t just a random attack.”
Jae-Hyun nodded. “It won’t stop here. More will come. That’s why we need to keep moving. The longer we stay in one place, the more vulnerable we become.”
Ahri was silent for a moment, processing his words. Despite his cold tone, she could sense the weight of every decision he made. This wasn’t just about survival—it was about staying ahead of enemies who would stop at nothing. Yet, despite everything, he remained focused, determined. It was both admirable and concerning. She wondered how much of the old Jae-Hyun still remained beneath that hardened exterior.
“You’re not alone in this,” she said quietly. “Whatever happens, I’m with you.”
Jae-Hyun glanced at her, a flicker of something unspoken passing through his eyes. Gratitude, perhaps, or maybe something deeper. He didn’t respond, but the slight nod he gave her was enough.