Another day had passed, and Adrian was Level 57 now. Hunting down ruby spiders was no longer as effective as before, so he wanted to move onto hunting down gold spiders. Unfortunately for him, all the gold spiders he had encountered were in groups, and even if he had been able to kill one, he didn’t want to risk it and fight too many of them at once.

That would have been pure suicide.

So Adrian avoided those and stuck only with ruby spiders. All he needed now was to gain 3 more levels, then he would finally have reached the next rank. He was getting close, he could feel it.

He emerged from the hidden room he buried himself in, and he began to make his way through the dimly-lit corridors of the third floor. But he could see relatively clearly, so he simply left markings on the walls as he ventured out in a different direction today.

Adrian expected to run into a jewel spider or two within the first hour. But after three hours passed, he found nothing.

That is strange, he thought as he stepped around a corner. Why is it so empty today?

Adrian didn’t know. But he soon found his answer as he came across the mangled corpse of a pair of ruby spiders. He frowned as he studied the corpse. And what he found covering the body were…

“Needles,” Adrian whispered as he plucked one out of the corpse. “That must mean the hitman is here—”

And as the words left his mouth, his [Savage Instincts] flared, warning him of a threat that was coming from behind. He instinctively ducked low, and a rain of needles shot just over his head.

“Tsk, shoulda known that would miss.” A figure emerged from behind a cluster of stalagmites, shaking his head. He came to a halt a dozen feet or so ahead of Adrian as he crossed his arms. “Also, I have a name, you know?”

[Dwarf - Level 65]

“You—” Adrian stared at the hitman with wide eyes. He caught himself and took a step back.

The hitman just smiled savagely, producing some needles. “My name is Ankit, pleasure to finally properly get to know you.”

“I don’t care about your name,” Adrian said, shaking his head.

“Oh, but I think it’s only polite to introduce myself— after all, you are a soon-to-be dead man.” Ankit’s eyes glinted, and he threw the needles straight at Adrian.

In response, Adrian backflipped out of the way, avoiding the volley of attacks. And in that moment, he wondered how exactly the hitman found him.

This had to have been a trap, Adrian’s thoughts raced through his mind as he glanced back at the dead ruby spider. He must have cleared out the jewel spiders in the area in hopes of drawing me out and waiting in one spot.

Was it luck that this trap worked? Perhaps. But there was no point cursing his fate when he had to deal with this problem right here.

So as Adrian landed across from Ankit, he produced a javelin and hurled it back with a [Powerful Throw]. The hitman just sidestepped the attack with a chuckle.

“That was a close one. That would’ve hurt if you got me!”

Adrian narrowed his eyes as he backed up even further, but then Ankit produced a bag from his side. Adrian expected Ankit to throw out more needles. But instead, the dwarf scattered a bunch of glowstones around the area, illuminating the tunnel.

Blinking, Adrian glanced around at the glowstone lighting up the area.

That must be why he set up a trap for me, Adrian realized, eyeing Ankit. Because he can’t see in the dark.

“Now it’s time for you to die!” Ankit yelled, dashing forward as he hurled even more needles at Adrian.

Adrian moved to jump out of the way, but the needles twisted mid-air, homing in after him. His eyes went wide.

“Shit—” Adrian cursed as he swung out with his dagger to deflect the hail of needles.

But it almost seemed like they were unending. As if they had multiplied when they were about to reach him. And Adrian had no choice but to use [A Dozen Strikes] to deflect them all.

He was about to land on the ground right as Ankit reached him. The hitman lashed out with a strike that would have completely left Adrian riddled with needles. But he jumped in the air, using [Double Jump] to once again disengage.

Adrian was panting as he landed, seeing the way Ankit had shredded the ground with his attack. If Adrian had touched the ground, the battle would have already been over. So he was fortunate he escaped.

“You’re faster than you were last time, huh?” Ankit said as he picked his needles up off the ground. “I am actually surprised— unless, that was a Skill?”

Adrian didn’t answer. He just eyed the hitman warily. His brain was working overtime trying to figure out a way out of this predicament. And as he took a step back, he kicked a glowstone behind.

It went skidding as he stared at it. And he realized he knew what needed to do. If Ankit can’t see in the dark, but I can, then I need to bring him to the dark.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Ankit didn’t remain idle as the realization settled in for Adrian. The hitman dashed forward, trying to land a free hit on the unmoving human. Only for Adrian to suddenly vanish.

At least, to Ankit’s eyes.

The hitman came to a halt, blinking a few times as he spun around. “What just happened…?”

He stared in confusion, looking around for where Adrian could have gone. But all he saw were the shadows around him moving— shifting and creeping. He frowned as he took a nervous step back.

And Adrian watched Ankit from the coiling shadows.

That was right. That was what his upgraded version of [Stealth Step] did. Its name, [Shadow Walk], was quite intuitive. But it meant that Adrian was practically invisible whenever he passed through a shadow.

Which was what he was doing right now. Even though the glowstones in the area had illuminated the tunnel enough for Ankit to see, it couldn’t disperse all of the darkness. There were stalactites and stalagmites that still cast shadows around, making it easy for Adrian to hide.

And that was when Adrian struck.

[Savage Ambush]! He unleashed the flurry of strikes upon Ankit, much to the dwarf’s shock.

Adrian slashed open Ankit’s back with the first hit. But as the hitman reeled and screamed in pain, he barely managed to parry the follow-up attacks. However, even then, he was cut in the arms and legs as he panted, stepping back.

“How…?” Ankit gasped out.

But Adrian didn’t answer. He followed-up with a [Hammer Punch] that Ankit narrowly dodged.

Ankit tried to counter with his own swing with his needles. But Adrian disappeared again. His [Shadow Walk] was still active. The only reason why he became visible for a brief moment was because he had stepped out into the light.

“What the fuck is this?” Ankit yelled as he backed up.

Adrian’s cooldown for [Savage Ambush] hadn’t come to an end just yet. However, he rushed forward, slashing out at Ankit.

This time, the hitman was prepared for the attack. He blocked the strike as he cursed. However, Adrian vanished again before he could counter. Again and again and again, Adrian lashed out from the shadows. Even with [A Dozen Strikes].

But Ankit was barely able to deflect most of the attacks, taking only a few scratches from Adrian.

This is the result of the rank difference between us, Adrian thought as he watched Ankit backing away. I can’t even properly catch him off-guard when he can’t see me.

However, Adrian knew he wouldn’t be able to win with just [Shadow Walk]. And he knew Ankit was astute, unlike a jewel spider. So the dwarf wouldn’t just stand there as he was overwhelmed by an invisible enemy.

But that was why Adrian planned for this.

“Damnit, I don’t know what this is, but I’m not going to just stand here and die—” Ankit screamed as he turned around and dashed off.

Good, Adrian thought, watching the dwarf run off into the darkness.

Ankit was leaving the illuminated tunnel behind. Which was exactly what Adrian hoped would happen. Because his [Shadow Walk] ended a moment later, and he grinned.

Now then—

Adrian gave chase to Ankit. The dwarf waded through the darkness, cursing as he glanced back. But just as Adrian had suspected, Ankit couldn’t see more than ten feet ahead or behind him.

So all Adrian had to do was leap into the air and descend upon Ankit with another [Savage Ambush].

“Urk—” Ankit yelped as he sustained even more injuries than earlier, unable to block as many of the flurry of slashes.

Ankit spun around and hurled his needles in all directions. But Adrian disengaged quickly and kept a good distance away from the hitman.

“What is going on?” Ankit screamed as he stumbled back, bleeding from his side and back. “You weren’t this strong just a few days ago!”

“I know,” Adrian said in the darkness.

Ankit’s eyes darted to the side, and he hurled a flurry of needles in Adrian’s direction. But Adrian had already predicted that would happen, so he repositioned himself to the back of the dwarf. And while Adrian didn’t get close to attack, he threw a rock using [Powerful Throw], striking Ankit’s back and making him stumble forward.

“Unfortunately for you…” Adrian continued.

And Ankit spun around, again hurling more needles in Adrian’s direction.

Again, Adrian wasn’t there anymore. He continued to watch Ankit from the darkness, using his [Lesser Night Vision] to his advantage.

“I am much stronger now,” Adrian whispered. “Even stronger than you. That is why—”

Ankit screamed, taking out his needles and wildly throwing them in every direction imaginable. But Adrian just produced the corpse of the gold spider and waited behind it with his eyes closed.

“Why can’t I hit you!” Ankit yelled madly. “I will kill you!”

And Adrian sighed, “That is why I will not run anymore.”

But his words could only be heard by himself. Taking in a deep breath, Adrian raised his dagger and walked forward, even in the darkness. He activated [Shadow Walk]. Just for a moment. Just to reach Ankit’s side.

And he unleashed another [Savage Ambush] to disarm the hitman.

Ankit screamed as his arms were cut open. He tried to run away. But a [Hammer Punch] to the kneecaps made him collapse to the ground.

He tried to crawl. He pulled away from Adrian.

But Adrian just walked after Ankit. A callous look on Adrian’s face. Never before had Adrian directly killed someone.

Yes, Adrian had seen plenty of people die. He had even been indirectly responsible for killing some of the dwarves that had pursued him down to the Silk Mines.

But never had he directly ended someone’s life.

And that was going to change now.

“P-please,” Ankit begged as he crawled away from Adrian. “Don’t kill me—”

But Adrian ignored the pleading. He continued to walk forward until he reached the dwarf’s side. And in one swift motion, he sliced down and cut off Ankit’s head.

“No.”

That was Adrian’s only response.

*Ding!*

You have killed a [Dwarf - Level 65] — You have earned additional experience for killing an enemy at a higher rank than you!

*Ding!*

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 58! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

*Ding!*

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 59! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

*Ding!*

Your Class [Savage Hermit] has reached Level 60! — You have gained +1 to all Essences, and you have gained 1 Essence Points!

*Ding!*

For reaching Level 60, you can now evolve your Class!