V3 Chapter 33

Cian’s exploration has progressed considerably, and after getting some useful skills along the way, along with all the spoils he had gathered and collected, he was in high spirits. In addition to the new skills and treasures he had collected, fighting against new monsters has also improved his skill levels and combat skills.

“Hm?”

As he was wandering around, suddenly he had noticed he had arrived in a strange area. The stench of blood was too strong, and the sense of death is still even here. The negative feelings that lingered in the area are still as thick as the smell of blood. It was clear that there was a terrible battle here not too long ago.

And as if confirming his suspicions, he found a person lying in the ground. It’s a Werebeast. Though, it's not alone. But only one among the many corpses- Humans and Werebeasts, scattered all over the place.

They were cut in half with a single strike... seems like whoever did this is quite strong, to be able to cut a Werebeast in half.

"His body hasn't gone into rigor mortis yet, meaning it hasn't been two hours since his time of death."

Most humans were killed with claws, so it can be said that this is a battle between Werebeasts and Humans. However, what caught his attention was that most of the Werebeast's death was being cut apart with a very sharp blade. But even if a sharp weapon capable of slicing a Werebeast apart exists, just like his [Imagis Realis], the person who wields still cannot be ignored.

Strong...

Some wounds were even more brutal since there were wounds concentrated on the chests and throats, like an assassination. The victims lack of any scratches or wounds that show resistance was even more eye-catching. They were killed in an instant. And also, they were killed before they were aware of it. What superb assassination techniques.

“Oh?”

Looking at the corpses, suddenly, Cian’s eyes narrowed. He smiled as he stood up, looking behind him. It seems like there are still people here.

Swish.

Just as he was thinking about what to do, suddenly, numerous black lights stormed out from the forest and shot off towards him. In fact, these attacks aimed mostly at his vital points, which he can’t help but praised inwardly for such an incredible assassination attack. This must be the guy.

There’s no hesitation as well. Precise, and deadly. This attack was too swift and abrupt, that anyone other than him, who didn’t know about their existence beforehand, would surely fail to notice it before their life flashed before their eyes.

Boom!

But just when the black lights were about to hit Cian's body- from his throat to his chest, his color dyed metallic grey. It’s like a piece of sketch that had been dyed in ash, that even his clothes seemed to have been assimilated into his body, dyeing itself in the same color.

Clang Clang!

As the sharp black lights made contact with his body, they bounced off while making clanging sounds. Cian looks down, and saw sharp, throwing daggers. Fine craftsmanship. They were well made- sharp, light, and made thinner as much as possible, all to cut through the air better. Even still, the hardness cannot be underestimated. It must have been made from good materials.

Cian smiled softly as he raised his head and look in the direction where the daggers had come from.

“That’s a mean greeting. A new fad of saying hello?”

“I thought we have cleaned out the dirty trashes, but to think there are still one.”

From the forest, sounds of laughter rang out. Then, three figures rushed out and landed on a branch. They stared down at Cian with gazes as if they had spotted prey.

Humans. Each one of them was wearing blue clothes, with the same symbol on their chests. And Cian knows the meaning of the symbol-the Godstone Kingdom. The country where Asceius and Iris came from. He had seen it before... too many times in fact.

One a middle-aged man with red hair, and a distinct scar on his face, a sword hanging on his waist, the middle a man with distinct blue-hair, and a creepy grin, in around mid to late twenties old, holding a spear, and lastly, was a woman holding three small daggers in her right hand, position between her knuckles. It was clear that she was the one who had thrown those knives at him accurately.

She was quite a beauty, with a great curvy body. She has long red hair that frames her face, fair skin, and light-red eyes with eyelashes. She keeps her hair in a ponytail with a red hair-band. She was staring at him with a cold expression, but clear to Cian, curiosity, and interest appeared in her eyes as she stared at him.

Was she that surprised that her attack failed?

Cheeky.

However, still an amateur. The moment her surprise attack fails, she should have turned around and hide, or best run away. But was she that confident?

Cian stared at them indifferently. He turned towards the corpses, and said, “If you said you’re cleaning up, then you are surely doing a bad job. This is not cleaning, this littering. Want me to introduce you to a new job? I knew a few ones that don’t involve cleaning, since you obviously suck at it”

“Haha you have a smart mouth,” one of them sneered. It was the spear guy.

“But do you think it will last?”

“Whether it will last or not, it surely would not end today. That's for sure.” Cian replied. Then he glanced at the red-haired woman who was clearly observing him from head to toe.

“Just a mere Foxman. Are you just stupid enough to stand bravely, or you’re just plain fearless, we’ll see about that,”

The moment the red-haired man said that, his figure disappeared.

He's fast, Cian frowned. Still, he didn’t move, as if he was unable to do so. A sharp, bright light came above him, and the red-haired man appeared magically, slashing his sword.

The middle-aged man sneered, already knowing victory is at hand. Even the blue-haired man let out a mocking whistle. The sword descended, but when it was almost inches away from his forehead, the corner of Cian’s lips suddenly arch upwards.

Blood spurted in the air.

The blue-haired stood upright in a jolt, and his expression changed. Looking at the blood spurting in the air, his eyes widened in shock as the blood didn’t come from the Foxman, which he and the others expected. But it also didn’t come out from the middle-aged man with the red-hair- instead, it was coming from the red-haired woman who had suddenly appeared between them.

Her hand on the black dagger grabbing it as the edge inches away from the red-haired man’s neck. Blood spurting horribly from her palm where she was holding the black blade.

The red-haired man’s sword inches away from the ground, but there was no one there. Instead, standing beside him was the Foxman that should have been there, but now, have a black dagger aimed at his throat.

“Ho?”

“Tsk!”

The red-haired man hurriedly snapped out from shock, and grabbing the woman’s waist, he jumped in haste, like a startled rabbit. While carrying the woman, he jumps away from the Foxman, with a pale face.

That was close…!

He thought.

The blade was almost at his neck. He had never realized anything before the black knife was already near his neck. If not for the woman, he would have lost his life before he had even realized what was going on. He can still even feel the heat on his throat, and surely a small trickle of blood should be there.

“Are you okay, Regina?!” he asked.

The red-haired woman, Regina, who was gritting her teeth from the excruciating pain on her palm, slowly stand up on the ground. Her hand was still holding the black dagger. She shook her head and felt her arm trembling.

“I’m…I’m fine,”

“I’m impressed.” suddenly, they heard the familiar voice. “Color me surprised- to think you were able to stop it as if you have known what I was going to do…how? Without you, he would have been dead,” the Foxman said, pointing at the red-haired middle-aged man with an amused grin.

“Shut up!”

Annoyed, and ashamed, the red-haired man yelled in anger. But he didn’t dare to charge again, as right now, he had already realized that this Foxman in front of them is not just any ordinary Foxman.

To be able to follow his speed, and even almost killed him in an instant, the Werebeast before them is surely a powerful fighter.

But they didn’t hear any Foxman with an ability like this?

Aren’t Foxmen infamous for being small fries?

Cian ignored his scrutinizing gaze and fixed his gaze at the red-haired woman. His interest was piqued.

I like this woman...

Ho? Was she that good?

A voice replied.

Yes, my love. Didn't you see? She was able to stop my attack, and grab my dagger.

You sound so impressed. But, didn't you just let her have it?

No, no, that's not it. Even with that, didn't you see how she moved? She made a move before... I did...

Mhm? What do you mean...?

Wait...could it be...?

Cian stared at the red-haired woman with curious eyes.

“...Can you see the future, Regina?” he asked, muttering her name as if it was natural.

Perhaps, she’s a Clairvoyant?

But though, he also has a clairvoyance skill, it’s somewhat different from predicting the future.

Unlike seeing the future, the Clairvoyance Skill only allows him to locate things or people through physical objects that somehow have a connection with the target. And although it can let him see future events, it still have connections to the target he was holding-though, this hardly succeeds.

In the first place, it’s hardly controllable. And he cannot see things he wanted to see.

Perhaps, because of his low level?

However, this woman-

“No,”

Regina’s court answer.

“But you don’t need to find out how,”

After she said that, on Cian’s position, the area suddenly exploded.

Cian came out jumping from the clouds of dust and dirt, followed immediately by a blue-haired man. The spear point pointing towards him. Cian continued to retreat, his body gracefully made side-stepped motions, and then duck, and once again, jumped backward, completely and elegantly evading the blue-haired man’s fast spear attacks.

Yep, as one would expect from elites who had dared enter the Gods Ruins, the blue-haired man was hitting him continuously at a speed that was unmatched by normal elite warriors he had encountered up until now.

Cian can even tell that each blow will cause considerable damage to low-Baron ranking demons. Or perhaps, even against a Marquis- this guy is superior in both power and speed.

Strong, and fast. Not only that, he was trying to attack not just any part of his body, but every fatal point such as eyes, throat, and heart with incredible precision and accuracy. If not for his [Night's Eye], Cian was certain he would have a hard time dodging every attack and following the opponent's every move.

Amazing...he's like a hybrid of an assassin and a spear fighter. His movements and techniques didn't have a resemblance to any school, but it was almost perfected. Becoming a new school in spearmanship. His footsteps are so quiet, it's eerie. There is even no wasted movement, and the burst of power and speed was at the perfect timing.

This guy is a genius fighter!

“T-this guy!”

Perhaps he felt something from Cian’s gaze that was observing him, the blue-haired man attacked him even harder, hitting and kicking him using another technique. But Cian still avoided it all unscathed, and he burned his movement to his eyes.

Truly, the accuracy is good, displaying how well trained they are in the art of killing. However, they met a bad match... unfortunately. They have good skills, but their brain is too small, they are almost stupid.

Werebeasts would not bother such meticulous things as they more relied on brute force and absolute power. And only humans trained fatal killing points to perfection. However, for someone who had known them already, even without the help of his [Night’s Eye] to follow his opponent’s speed, Cian can easily dodge them even with closed eyes.

It’s like trying to dodge an attack of a machine- fixed and with a pattern.

And this spear guy is the best example of people having talent, but too arrogant in heart, it clouded their judgment.

They are too reliant on their experience in fighting Werebeasts, that their fighting abilities become monotonous, and easy to predict. They didn't even think that a Werebeast can fight meticulously as well. And now, when their mindset was disturbed, they go berserk, letting their hearts raged. A pity.

‘Do you want my help, Cian?’

Cian heard Amadea’s voice inside his mind again. But he shook his head, “Not yet… let me test them out first,” as he said that, he continued to dodge the incoming spear thrusts.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit! Stop avoiding it!”

The spear guy was getting more annoyed, always missing his target, and was now crying in anger.

“Violent, aren’t you?”

Cian raised his right leg, blocking the incoming stab.

Baaang!

“What the-?!”

The blue-haired man stared aghast at the leg that had completely stopped his spear.

“…Guuuuu!? Wh-why it’s not moving!?”

The blue-haired man seems to have put more power into it, but Cian’s looks haven’t changed at all.

“You are actually trying to compete for physical strength with a Werebeast- are you an idiot?”

“Body Strengthening?! No, if it’s just that, how could you possibly stop my spear with your bare leg!”

“You don’t need to find out how,”

With amusement, Cian throws the same phrase Regina had given, and pushed more strength into his leg, knocking the the blue-haired man away. Though, obscured by the dust, one can still see from his leg to his foot was now covered in a greyish color.

Then, his gaze turned towards the red-haired man and woman and saw them disappeared. He suddenly arched his body backward, and a sword swung above him, almost hitting his chin, even cutting some strands of his hair. Then, following the arching momentum of his body, and his legs kicked upwards before making a complete backflip.

His toes hit the attacker’s jaw, as he flips backward making a distance. But when he landed, a cold light flashed at the corner of his eyes. Cian smirked before hurriedly raising his arm in front of him. His eyes stared at the attacker. The red-haired woman was holding a familiar black dagger and attack him, the target was his throat.

She’s a good assassin.

Precise and moved with deadly silence- she basically covers almost all basics of being a true assassin.

If Cian didn’t have an incredible sharp instinct, he would have a hard time defending against her sneak attacks even with the [Night's Eye].

His hand covered by greyish color trembled as he blocked the woman’s attack. Then, his eyes turned towards the black dagger, and he smiled, unmeant.

“You should really give that dagger back. It’s quite important to me, you know,"

“Don't worry, you will have it soon as I will use it to slit your throat,”

Regina replied coldly and then her leg raised, kicking him in the waist.

“You can’t, babe. Give it up,”

Cian smirked in amusement before jumping back.

The blade is useless against him. It can never hurt him, even if it allows him to do so. It would not even pierce his skin or cut a strand of his hair. But he didn’t say that. And just left that blade in her hand.

What a pity.

If she knows that hurting him, much less killing him is impossible using that, just what kind of expression would she show him?

Nevertheless, she made everything easier for me.

Since she dared to use it, she became a harmless animal in front of him. Still, Cian can feel the annoyance and grievance from the black blade as it coursed through his mind, seemly trying to raise complains. It was complaining about being able to be used by someone other than him.

He could not help but chuckled in amusement. [Imagis Realis] is really one of those type of girls who never wanted to be touched or used by anyone other than their lover/master, that’s also the reason why Cian love it. If not because of his decision, the girl would not even be able to swing it.

However, although he just wanted it out of his hand for another reason, a trap he had planned. Still, he had never expected that the red-haired woman would actually use his dagger to attack him.

Why?

Though, this was the best possible thing to happen, still, it’s quite a wonder why she uses it, when she also have weapons dangling on her waist. Is she just an idiot who would use weapons carelessly that is not hers, or did she saw the remarkableness of his dagger?