Vol.0 Ch.165 The Shadows Attack
<span style="font-weight:400">Sir Mathew ran towards the first silhouette in front of him, and he noticed the man was holding a dagger and wearing a ck cloak.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Feel my might!" Sir Mathew growled as he charged at the cloaked figure.
<span style="font-weight:400">The assassin turned around and dodged the initial swing. Beforeunching an attack of his own. Mathew managed to dodge the attack and kicked the assassin in the leg, knocking him away.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina taught assassin''s tactics to her husband and Sir George. And one of the things they learned was that assassins prefer to work in teams of two or more. Only the best of the best worked alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew knew that another assassin wasing from behind. Hoping to stab him in the back. So he quickly rolled away from the first assassin and got back on his feet. He then spun around and caught the second assassin by surprise.
<span style="font-weight:400">"W-What the?" the assassin muttered as Sir Mathew''s sword pierced the man''s chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Cheap tricks won''t help you," Sir Mathew said as he yanked his sword out of the man''s chest and kicked him away. Spraying blood on the grass and dirt.
<span style="font-weight:400">The first assassin wasn''t going to stick around for a fair fight and retreated into the green mist.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You can run, but you can''t hide!" Sir Mathew yelled as he chased after the assassin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once the man was out of sight, Sir Mathew heard the sounds of someone choking and coughing.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That sounds like Sir Andrew," Mathew said to himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then a thought came to mind. ''These assassins are trying to use these fumes to do the dirty work. But they have to know that it won''t affect Wina. She has immunity... Or were they hoping to rid us so they can outnumber her? Either way, they won''t stop until everyone is dead.''
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew took a deep breath and went in the direction of the coughing. Once he got to his destination, he saw Sir Andrew, Mitchell, and Sir Richard struggling to keep the three assassins at bay. Their movements were sluggish, and they were barely holding on.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sir, there are too many!" Richard shouted as he blocked an attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Just hold on!" Mathew said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then Sir Andrew coughed up arge amount of blood, and the assassin that was fighting him took advantage of the opening and charged at him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"DAMN IT!" Mathew shouted as he tried to save the young knight, but he was too far away.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Pick on someone who isn''t poisoned, you weaselly bastard!" Roared Sir George, as he came through the green mist with his shield and sword glowing from his mana. He then bashed the assassin with his shield, pushing him back and saving Sir Andrew. He quickly stabbed the assassin through the heart and ripped his de out of the body.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Andrew! Find somewhere to recover! I''ll deal with these cowardly bastards! Sir Mitchell and Sir Richard. Stay here and protect him. If things get too hot, get out of this mist! I''ll catch up with youter!" Sir George shouted.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Understood, Sir George! We''ll do what we can!" Mitchell shouted as he blocked a blow and tried to counter.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sir Mathew swiftly ran around the perimeter and did a horizontal strike from the assassin''s blindside helping Mitchell.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swoosh!*
<span style="font-weight:400">The assassin was cut in half and his guts spilled onto the grass.
<span style="font-weight:400">"George! Have you seen Wina or Lady Nelumbo?!" Sir Mathew yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I haven''t seen them! But they can handle—"
<span style="font-weight:400">They heard a scream of pain that sounded like Lady Nelumbo.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Dammit! I have to go now," Sir Mathew yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Go ahead. We''ll take care of the rest," Sir George shouted as he killed another assassin who was going after Richard.
<span style="font-weight:400">With that Mathew bolted through the mist heading towards the scream.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Please don''t be toote!''
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">***
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew could feel his heartbeat as he ran through the mist, and then he saw a sh of silver.
<span style="font-weight:400">*ng!*
<span style="font-weight:400">"How the hell did you deflect my blow?!" a man yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Because I''m used to your cheap tricks," Mathew said.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man jumped back into the mist to conceal his presence. Mathew knew that it was the same man he first tried to engage at the beginning before his friend tried to backstab him. He also knew the assassin was trying to use the green mist to his advantage, and that was going to be his downfall.
<span style="font-weight:400">''I don''t have time for this...''
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew quickly moved through the mist keeping his guard up until he came to a clearing. Six dead assassins were lying around Lady Nelumbo and Wina who were tied up in some type of trap.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lady Nelumbo was bleeding from her leg.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I told you to leave me! I''m slowing you down!" she yelled out.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I can''t just leave you behind!" Wina said as she was trying to remove the vines.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hehe... This Umbralis assassin has grown soft... Good catch, Zephyr," a sinister voiceughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We haven''t killed her yet, so keep your guard up," Zephyr replied to hisrade.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina looked behind her and saw five assassins approaching them.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Shit," she cursed under her breath.
<span style="font-weight:400">''I should have been paying more attention. They used the others as cannon fodder, and they wounded Nelumbo before using her as bait.'' Wina thought as she was trying toe up with a n.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sever her head and be done with it, Niki," said a female assassin.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hmmm... With pleasure," said the male assassin named Niki.
<span style="font-weight:400">With that two male assassins came after Wina who was trying to free herself but the vines refused to be cut.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Mathew! I''m sorry. I''ve failed you... Just know that I love you.''
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swoosh!*
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina closed her eyes thinking she was going to be cut in half.
<span style="font-weight:400">***
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew saw the assassinsing down on Wina and a rage shot out of his core like never before as his lightning blood activated and made time slow down to a snail''s pace.
<span style="font-weight:400">His eyes lit up as the world around him became dark, and his vision went blue. His body and senses were heightened and the five assassins were outlined in a yellow color.
<span style="font-weight:400">"NO!" Mathew''s body was surrounded by electricity as he appeared in front of the two assassins.
<span style="font-weight:400">Niki and Zephyr didn''t know what happened as their body parts started falling to the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew had sliced through both of them with three swings of his sword.
<span style="font-weight:400">"W-What the hell is this guy?!" one of the female assassins yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">"He''s a Lightning Rider! Kill him—"
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew had already closed the distance before the assassin could finish her sentence. The next thing he saw was the yellow glowing from Mathew''s de.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Run! He''s too strong!" thest assassin yelled as he turned and ran.
<span style="font-weight:400">The other female assassin tried to counter, but Mathew was too quick and strong. He parried her attack and countered. Slicing off her right arm in three spots.
<span style="font-weight:400">"AAAAAHHHH!!!" she screamed in pain as her arm fell off.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew''s body was glowing brightly and the lightning around him was arcing. The woman tried to attack again, but Mathew swung his sword and cut the assassin''s head clean off. The remaining assassin kept running and didn''t look back. Mathew could feel his blood pulsating and his power growing.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Boom!*
<span style="font-weight:400">A lightning bolt hit the ground and a huge explosion erupted. Causing the mist to scatter. The st was so powerful it destroyed the remaining tents and even destroyed a couple of trees. Wina and Nelumbo could see Mathew''s body engulfed in lightning and the air around him was shimmering. Soon the electricity started to dim, and then Mathew copsed to the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">"MATHEW!!!" Wina yelled as she got out of the vines and rushed over to her husband.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mathew was unconscious, but he was breathing.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Thank the Gods..." Wina sighed as she checked his pulse.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Is Sir Mathew alright," Lady Nelumbo said as she freed herself from the vines.
<span style="font-weight:400">"He''s alive, but he pushed himself. I have to get him out of here. Can you walk," Wina asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Y-Yes," Lady Nelumbo said as she tied a bandage around her leg to stop the bleeding.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just as Wina was about to lift her husband, a dagger was thrown by the assassin who was hiding behind a tree. She caught the de with one hand and turned towards the assant.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You should have stayed hidden," Wina said with cold eyes and a murderous aura.
<span style="font-weight:400">The assassin panicked and tried to run but after taking two steps he felt his body get tangled up in something that he couldn''t see.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What the hell?" the man said as he struggled to break free. That''s when he noticed Wina was only five feet away from him and she had her hand out holding something that looked like spider webbing.
<span style="font-weight:400">"W-What sorcery is this!? Let me go!"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh? So you''ve never seen Arachne Webs?... Let''s see how long it will take before your body gets torn apart," Wina said as twisted her hands and tightened the webbing around the man.
<span style="font-weight:400">"AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!" the man screamed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina was twisting her hands while pushing down. Causing the webs to tighten around the man''s body cutting into his sh.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man''s screams soon became a gurgling sound as his own blood filled his mouth.
<span style="font-weight:400">"No one will ever harm my husband. Not while I''m still breathing."
<span style="font-weight:400">"T-This is what happens when an Umbralis grows too attached to a mark," the man sputtered out as his blood was starting to soak the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''re mistaken. This is what happens when an Umbralis finds her love and her true purpose," Wina said as she yanked her arm up, dicing the man''s body.
<span style="font-weight:400">"AAAAAGGGGHHH!!!" the man screamed onest time before his head was cut off.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once he was dead Wina looked around her surroundings and noticed only one assassin was fleeing the area and towards a cave where some Galebane Fumes were lingering by the Labyrinth.
<span style="font-weight:400">''I''ll deal with himter. I need to make sure Lady Nelumbo can watch over Mathew and give the rest of the men the antidote.'' Wina thought as she turned to her friend.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Nelumbo! Do you still have the antidotes for the men? They''ll die if they keep breathing this in," Wina said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Yes... What are you nning, Wina?" Lady Nelumbo asked as she pulled out a satchel full of antidotes.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I''m going after thest assassin. I need to make sure he won''t send any messages about our location... Go help the men and tell Sir George to watch over Mathew," Wina said as she disappeared into the darkness.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lady Nelumbo almost felt sorry for the assassin who was fleeing.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Poor bastard. She''s going to tear him apart... But they had a choice and they must suffer the consequences,'' Lady Nelumbo thought. Thest thing she wanted to do was face her wrath. She picked up her spear and walked towards the men who were struggling to breathe.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">***
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">"Fuck! Fuck! How am I the only one left?!" thest assassin cursed under his breath as he was fleeing the area as fast as he could. He knew the cave wasn''t that much further but the green mist was making it hard to find. The assassin hoped he would make it to the cave and barricade himself in. As he was running he saw a silhouette in the mist, and his instincts kicked in as he threw a dagger at the person. Hitting the figure squarely in the chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Ow? If you really wanted to get a reward, you didn''t have to attack me you know?" Said an old man sitting on a rock. His white eyes glowed in the dark.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Who the fuck are you?" the assassin said as he pulled out his sword.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Huh? People like to call me Rolf... But I''m just the Keeper of the trials," Rolf said as he poked the dagger that was sticking out of his chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Dammit! It''s the Eternal. I don''t have time for this," the assassin said as he was about to run.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh... Don''t be like that. Aren''t you curious about your reward?"
<span style="font-weight:400">The assassin stopped and turned around.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What reward?"
<span style="font-weight:400">"It will help you guide you through your future."
<span style="font-weight:400">"What the hell does that mean?... Never Mind! You''re wasting my time! I''m leaving!"
<span style="font-weight:400">The assassin started to leave, but the Keeper chimed in, "Well, this is interesting?... I can''t see your reward. I wonder why that is? Hmmm..."
<span style="font-weight:400">"What the fuck are you talking about old m—," the assassin felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he looked down.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was a bloody hole, and a de was sticking out.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That is very strange... But now I know why I can''t see your reward... Oh well. Have a nice trip," Rolf said as he waved his hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then the assassin heard the cold voice of Wina who was behind him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Die..."
<span style="font-weight:400">Then a secondter the man''s body was torn apart and blood was all over the grass and stone. Her face was still as cold as ice as she looked down at the pieces.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So? Have you decided to fight the shackles?" Rolf said as he looked at Wina.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, this is what you meant... Yes... I will fight them... But I can''t do it alone," Wina said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rolf smiled, "It''s good that you aren''t alone, Wina Daz."
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina smirked and looked at the Keeper standing there with a dagger in his chest. She was a little worried but Rolf seemed unfazed.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I take it that this isn''t your first time getting stabbed?... D-Do you need someone to help you pull the dagger out?" Wina asked as she didn''t know what he was going to do.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh? This thing? Thanks for pointing it out... When you live as long as I do, you tend to forget things," Rolf said as he looked down at the de in his chest. He used one of his hands to pull the dagger out with no signs of pain and no blood. The hole quickly closed as he brought up the weapon and examined it.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, Eternals don''t have blood. Interesting..." Wina said with intrigue.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hehe... Nope. Never had the stuff... Hey? Is that Mathew guy, alright? I think he needs his loved one by his side," Rolf said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wina''s eyes opened wide. She got distracted by Rolf and forgot her husband was unconscious.
<span style="font-weight:400">"How could I''ve forgotten! I''ll take care of him right away!" Wina didn''t bother with pleasantries. She ran back as fast as she could.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rolf just smiled, "Those two are something... I wonder what''s going to happen once they take over the shadows?... Meh... I need something to eat." He looked around the ground before looking at the dagger in his hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Well, this will do," Rolf said as he started eating the dagger.