MMORPG: Rebirth of the Shadow Mage

Chapter 88 Assassination

Walking down the road I was repeatedly glancing around, making sure that no one was following me. It was kind of stressful, but at the same time fun. I kind of wanted to complete this quest, because it was hidden rarity.

In my past life I don't remember hearing about John being able to plan one's assassination. Everything I'll experience during this quest will be unknown, I even thought that developers had something to do with such an abrupt quest.

While I was lost in my thoughts a shadow was following me, traveling on top of the roofs behind me. The silhouette held a silver knife while its face was covered with a black scarf. The assassin had a belt with multiple throwing knives pinned to it, the shadow's footsteps were also quiet, due to him wearing shoes with special properties.

Tap... Tap...

The assassin's silent footsteps wouldn't be heard by a normal human, but since my senses were enchanted, due to bonding with Fenrir I could perfectly hear my enemy.

Turning around the corner I hid myself in an alleyway, waiting for my stalker. I didn't need to wait for long, because he soon jumped down the roof, looking around, seemingly feeling disappointed, because of letting his prey escape.

I would've ran in and attacked him if not for my gut telling me to stay still. Unwillingly hiding my already equipped eerie staff I snorted thinking that I was about to fight with my face uncovered. Even though it wouldn't be recognizable, my spells are well known throughout the player base.

' I should buy some new spells... '

Clicking my tongue I made a mental note to buy some new skills and spells next time I went to the shop.

Cling...

Light reflected off the metal weapon thrown towards my head. I had no time to either dodge or create Shadow Protection, hence I used my hands as a shield.

Unfortunately I didn't expect the thrown knife to carry that much weight and was bashed backwards.

- 56 HP

My right arm's wrist was completely gone while some blood managed to make its way towards one of my eyes momentarily blinding me.

Whoosh... Whoosh... Whoosh...

Even though I couldn't see the projectiles, I heard them and rolled to the side expecting to avoid all of them.

Pierce...

Oh, how wrong I was... The assassin was obviously a well trained NPC and had skills to back it up. Even though the first two throwing knives were off the target, the third one managed to pierce my chest, right above my heart.

' Shit, it was close! '

Wiping away the blood I quickly consumed a HP potion and casted Shadow Protection deflecting another projectile. Taking a cover behind an old dustbin I warily looked over my Status Screen.

Since I was back to Lv. 1 I had no superior Attributes or other stuff, except for my items and Shadow Energy. If I died now my account would be done, I would be done.

Summoning Fenrir I instructed him to temporarily distract the assassin while I'd prepare a Shadow Blast.

Nodding his giant head, my black wolf jumped out of the cover and started running around the empty street evading knives thrown towards him by the man hiding his face with a black cloth.

I was pretty lucky that the street was also empty and nobody saw Fenrir, he was also something like a brand mark of mine.

Throwing the unimportant thoughts to the side I casted a Shadow Blast and took a peek of how the battle was going. While Fenrir was not even injured the man was roughly breathing and his left hand was weirdly bent in shape.

' He's like a bodyguard... '

Looking towards my pet I was once again reminded by how lucky I was, to have met him so early in the game. Not everyone can find a future boss randomly roaming around the forest.

Looking towards the masked man I waited until his back was turned towards me and threw the Shadow Blast aiming for his head.

Assassin NPC x1 Killed!

LooT

250 EXP

~~~~

Congratulation on reaching Lv. 2!

+20 SP

As soon as my thrown orb hit the assassin a system message appeared informing me, about my Level up.

I went ahead and put all the points into the Mana while approaching the assassin's body and turning it into ashes.

After giving Fenrir his pork I absorbed him into my tattoo and started distancing myself from the city. The further I am from the city the more chances the assassin will have to attack me.

With a chilling smile I started sprinting through the forest while a dozen assassins were right behind me.

After another few minutes of running I finally saw a building, a Gloomy Castle. Rushing through the gates I quickly made my way to the highest floor, barging into the library and entering the secret room I've used to kill the Demon Prince.

Soon after I pushed the Bookshelf to hide the hidden entrance quiet footsteps were heard all around the library. Taking a peek through the window I saw dozens of masked NPCs walking through the rows of bookshelves with dusty books and tomes, trying to find me.

Silently creating a Lightning Bolt I compressed it to be as small as possible before launching at the closest assassin.

Thud...

The assassin's body hit the ground notifying the others nearby.

Assassin NPC x1 killed!

LooT

250 EXP

~~~~

Congratulation on reaching Lv. 3!

+20 SP

Another level up message appeared before my screen, I didn't even flinch assigning half of the points to agility and the other half to Intelligence.

Since the assassins were very weak and died from spells casted by Lv. 1 Mage I didn't know what to think of this mission.

' Is this really hard? '

I thought, looking at the clueless bunch of NPCs glaring around trying to find out why their comrade had died. Since the Lightning Bolt dissipated the only proof of his death was a pierce wound in its chest area.

~~~~

' The Royal family is suspicious.... especially the princess, she seems too sweet '

Ava's thought process was... all tangled up. She was eyeing the princess who was smiling the whole time. To an onlooker the smile of Mia would be beautiful, but not for Ava, for her it looked... mocking?

Ki... Ki... Ki....

She heard Eli giggling and threw her a cold stare making Eli hide her face. Even though Ava was scary the situation was too funny not to laugh at.

With her face turned away Eli kept laughing while Ava was contemplating how to punish her after leaving the castle.

It was about 10 minutes after Leo had left and they were on their way out of the castle. The King and the princess also insisted on seeing them off.

Since Eric was no longer occupied by the prince, he was darting all around Mia, talking about various things from money to favorite flowers... It was depressing to watch.

The King was just enjoying the walk being a few meters ahead of the group, Eli was giggling at Ava who was sending death stares in her direction while the princess, Mia was politely answering 'sOmE' of Eric's questions.

Suddenly the topic of their conversation took a drastic turn.

" What'd you think about Leo, he's cool isn't he? "

Eric spoke while looking at the princess, others couldn't see, but he was currently writing every sentence of the conversation in his notebook. He had a weird sense of inferiority while being near Leo, he wanted to change that, especially now when Leo's account was reset.

He would lie if he said that Leo's warning that he'll catch up to them in two months wasn't worrying him. Eric's mind was now working overtime trying to think of ways to outperform Leo, he'd read somewhere that to beat an enemy one has to know him better. This led up to him asking Mia the question concerning Leo.

Surprised by the question, the princess momentarily held her breath before flashing a beautiful smile towards Leo.

" Yes, I do think he is cool! "

The smile certainly did blind Eric or rather stunned him in place. Even Ava had to agree that the princess's beauty could rival hers.

' It is nothing that concerns me '

Turning her head back to the front she started going through her system screen, trying to keep her mind off the dialogue.

~~~~

Achooo...

I sneezed helplessly revealing my hiding spot. All the assassins turned their heads towards the small window I was peeking through.

' Shit! '

Lowering my head I barely managed to evade countless knives flying right above my head. Since the assassins were high in numbers I probably have no chance to even lift my head or else I'd just be pierced by dozens of knives.

Crank...

Suddenly a sound of the door opening was heard. All the NPCs present turned their heads towards the newly arrived guest.

The Player wore a white cloak that hid its face and held a staff, not a normal staff, some kind of random branch broken off the tree.

' What the hell '

I heard her say before the assassins threw knives towards her.

' This day can't get any better can it? '

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An: Is the player a female? O/