The golden eyes never blinked.
The massive Divine Beast stood between the trees like an ancient ruler of the forest, its silver-black fur moving slightly in the cold wind.
Kael remained still.
The system flickered repeatedly.
====================
Divine Beast Bloodline Detected
Soul Resonance Increasing
Warning: Unknown External Observation Present
====================
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…We’re being watched.”
Lyra immediately turned.
“…Where?”
The Divine Beast growled lowly.
“Not beasts.”
“Humans.”
The forest shifted.
Then—
Figures emerged silently from the darkness.
Black cloaks.
Mana-concealing artifacts.
Killing intent.
Six of them.
The system reacted instantly.
====================
Threat Detected
Classification: Assassins
Estimated Strength: Rare Mage — Mid to Peak Stage
====================
Lyra’s expression changed instantly.
“…Assassins?”
One of the cloaked figures stepped forward.
His voice was distorted through a rune mask.
“…So the target truly came here.”
Kael’s eyes sharpened.
“…Target.”
The assassin ignored the question.
Instead, his gaze shifted toward the Divine Beast.
A faint greed entered his voice.
“…And we found the beast too.”
The Divine Beast’s eyes turned cold.
Pure killing intent exploded outward.
BOOM!!!
The surrounding trees cracked instantly.
Several assassins staggered backward.
But the leader remained calm.
“…Deploy the chains.”
CLANK!
The assassins immediately threw dark metallic chains covered in purple runes.
The moment the chains touched the ground—
corrupted mana spread through the clearing.
The Divine Beast roared furiously.
“Corruption tools.”
Kael immediately understood.
“…They came prepared.”
The system flickered violently.
====================
Emergency Quest Issued
Quest: Survive Assassination Attempt
Hidden Objective: Protect Divine Beast Descendant
Reward: Shadow Points +500
Rare Artifact
Unknown Favorability Increase
Failure: Death
====================
Kael exhaled slowly.
“…Every quest wants me dead.”
Lyra stared at him.
“Now is not the time for jokes!”
The assassins moved instantly.
Two charged toward Lyra.
Three targeted the Divine Beast.
The leader himself rushed directly toward Kael.
FAST.
Far faster than the wolves.
A black dagger coated in corrupted mana pierced toward Kael’s throat.
Shadow Step.
WHOOSH.
Kael vanished just before impact.
BOOM!
The dagger shattered the ground where he stood.
Kael appeared behind the assassin.
Shadow Strike.
CLASH!
The assassin blocked with a curved blade instantly.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“…Experienced.”
The assassin laughed coldly.
“…You’re the academy anomaly?”
A pause.
“…Disappointing.”
Then—
his aura exploded.
Rare Mage — Peak Stage.
Pressure flooded the clearing.
Lyra struggled against two assassins nearby while the Divine Beast tore through corrupted chains with violent force.
Kael observed calmly despite the chaos.
The assassin moved again.
Faster.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Blade after blade collided against Kael’s shadow constructs.
Each strike carried deadly precision.
Not brute force.
Professional killing techniques.
The assassin smirked behind his mask.
“…You’re talented.”
A pause.
“…But talent dies easily.”
Suddenly—
a hidden blade shot from his sleeve toward Kael’s chest.
TOO FAST.
Kael barely reacted.
The blade pierced his shoulder.
SHINK!
Blood sprayed.
Lyra’s eyes widened.
“Kael!”
Pain exploded through his body instantly.
The dagger carried corrupted mana.
The system flashed red violently.
====================
WARNING!!!
Corruption Poison Detected
Mana Circulation Interference Active
====================
Kael staggered slightly.
The assassin smiled coldly.
“…Now die.”
He lunged forward for the finishing strike.
But—
Kael’s eyes suddenly changed.
Calm.
Cold.
Focused.
The system flickered rapidly.
====================
Adaptive Combat State Activated
Analyzing Enemy Rhythm
====================
The assassin attacked again.
But this time—
Kael saw it.
The movement pattern.
The breathing shifts.
The attack sequence.
Everything slowed inside his perception.
Shadow Step.
WHOOSH.
The assassin’s blade missed by inches.
Kael appeared directly beside him.
The assassin’s eyes widened slightly.
“…What—”
Kael grabbed his arm instantly.
Shadow energy surged violently.
“…Found you.”
BOOM!!!
A concentrated shadow burst exploded at point-blank range.
CRACK!
The assassin was launched backward through multiple trees.
Silence hit the clearing for a split second.
Then—
the remaining assassins froze.
Because the leader’s arm…
was gone.
Blood poured onto the forest floor.
The assassin screamed in rage.
“…YOU—!”
Kael stood silently, blood dripping from his shoulder.
But his eyes remained terrifyingly calm.
The system flickered.
====================
New Skill Understanding Increased: Combat Prediction
Shadow Integration Phase: 6.3%
====================
The Divine Beast stared at Kael carefully now.
Not with curiosity anymore.
But recognition.
“You adapt faster during death.”
Kael looked at the wounded assassin.
Then quietly replied:
“…Because death is honest.”
The assassin roared furiously.
Corrupted mana exploded around him.
The forest trembled violently.
And deep within the darkness—
something else began moving toward them.