Windmere IV

Sigils on my arms flared to life as I activated Lucent Harmony. With it came a perfect tranquility over all eleven elements of mana, a serenity that extended into total control. Paired with my Integration-rank level of mana mastery, it allowed me to do this.

I bent the ambient mana around me, weaving it into a cloak that concealed my very presence.

Why go to such lengths? Simple.

Because that woman was now a target.

Of course, I knew the mayor wouldn't let information slip from his town without consequence. In a place as controlled as Windmere, in a world saturated with technology, it wasn't difficult to see how he'd ensured secrecy. He was tapping into every electronic device, every means of communication, creating a web that allowed him to know when secrets were spoken aloud.

He'd know about our conversation. He'd know she'd shared details. And now, inevitably, he would send someone to silence her.

All I had to do was wait. She knew, too; there had been a shadow of resignation in her eyes when she'd spoken to me, a finality that hinted at her knowledge of what would come. And yet, she had still told me everything. She had put her life on the line for a sliver of truth.

I wouldn't let her die for it—not if I could help it.

The mana around me shimmered, and then Luna's voice sounded in my mind, calm but urgent: "He's here."

I acknowledged her warning, my gaze locking onto a figure emerging from the shadows near the brothel. A man in a dark coat, moving with a practiced quiet. He was skilled, I could tell, at masking his power, but I sensed it pulsing beneath the surface.

Mid to high Integration-rank. The same level as me.

'No wonder that 6-star adventurer didn't make it,' I thought, watching him carefully.

My weapon, Eclipse Blade, shimmered into existence at my side, the cold steel humming faintly with restrained energy. With Lucent Harmony activated, I could cloak myself in ambient mana, but such concealment wasn't perfect. Techniques like God Flash or Hollow Eclipse would tear through my stealth in a heartbeat, broadcasting my intent before my strike even landed. No, for the first strike, I would keep it simple.

Layer by layer, I wrapped my sword in resonating enhanced aura—the most power I could conceal without breaking my cover. At the same time, I summoned Soul Resonance, activating both Mythic Body and Soul Vision to heighten my focus and clarity.

I moved, closing the distance in a heartbeat, and brought my sword down toward him in a sweeping strike. He reacted, his body jerking as he sensed the attack at the last moment, raising his own weapon to meet mine.

Or at least, he tried to.

His aura, strong though it was, crumbled under the force of my strike. His stance faltered, feet skidding backward as he tried to regain his footing.

I didn't hesitate. The instant I landed, I surged forward, taking advantage of his staggered stance. With precision and speed, I launched into God Flash, my form blurring as I became a streak of lethal intent.

There was no need to drag out a battle with someone of his skill. Better to end it swiftly, without giving him a chance to recover.

I closed in on him, my blade a seamless extension of my will. The man in the dark coat was skilled, but it was clear from the first clash of our swords that he wasn't prepared to face someone of my level. His aura flickered erratically under the weight of my strikes, each swing of Eclipse Blade forcing him further and further back. 

He tried to counter, his sword darting toward my side, but it was a predictable move, easy to read. I sidestepped, bringing my blade down in a sharp arc that crashed into his shoulder, sending him staggering to the ground. He grunted, scrambling to regain his stance, but I was already upon him, launching another quick, calculated strike that left him reeling.

The look in his eyes changed from aggression to fear as he struggled to keep up with the relentless onslaught. He raised his sword to block once more, but my next blow shattered through his aura like glass, knocking his weapon from his hands and sending him skidding backward, his back slamming against the side of the brothel wall.

Breathing heavily, he tried to push himself up, but I didn't give him the chance. I stepped forward, pressing the tip of Eclipse Blade to his throat, pinning him in place. His eyes widened, and the bravado he'd tried to keep up through the fight drained away, replaced with cold realization.

"Yield," I commanded, voice low and unwavering. "You have no chance here. Stand down."

He swallowed, eyes flicking to my blade and then back to me, as if gauging his options. But there were no options left for him. Slowly, he raised his hands in surrender, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

In the distance, I heard the hurried footsteps of others approaching, and I didn't need to turn to know it was Cecilia and Ava. Their voices reached me just as they rounded the corner, their expressions shifting from concern to shock as they took in the scene.

"Arthur!" Cecilia exclaimed, her eyes darting from me to the subdued figure at my feet. "What happened here?"

Ava, equally stunned, narrowed her gaze at the man, quickly piecing together that he wasn't some random townsperson. "Who is he?" she asked, looking between us.

"Someone who came to tie up loose ends," I replied calmly, not lowering my blade. "He's from the mayor, most likely sent here to silence the woman I spoke to."

Cecilia's expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "So the mayor knew."

"Yes," I said, turning my attention back to the man. "Which means they're monitoring everything in this town. And he," I pressed my sword a fraction closer to his throat, "is part of that system."

The man glared up at me, anger flashing briefly across his face before it was smothered by the fear. He knew he was outmatched, that there was no victory to be found here. I considered my options, then nodded slightly, easing my blade back just enough to allow him to speak.

"Why are you doing this?" he muttered, his voice hoarse with strain. "You don't know what you're up against."

I leveled him with a cold stare. "Maybe not. But I know it's worth fighting."

Cecilia stepped forward, her gaze hard. "What did they send you here to do?"

He stayed silent, defiance in his eyes. But I could see that he was wavering, the weight of his defeat and his situation pressing down on him. After a tense moment, he lowered his gaze, as if resigning himself to whatever consequences might follow.

"They sent me to clean up any… spills," he said reluctantly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You came too close to the truth. So did that woman. And the mayor doesn't tolerate leaks."

Ava scoffed, her voice dripping with disgust. "So, you're just his errand boy. Cleaning up his messes."

The man glared at her, but he had no words to refute it. He knew what he was, and for the first time, I saw a hint of shame in his expression.

"Look at me," I said, my voice firm. He raised his eyes, and I held his gaze with cold resolve. "You're going to go back to the mayor and tell him that Windmere isn't his to control anymore. The people here have endured enough."

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but he hesitated, then slowly nodded, understanding that he had no real choice in the matter. Without another word, I stepped back, signaling for him to get up.

As he slowly rose to his feet, I kept my gaze on him, making it clear that I was more than willing to end him if he made a single wrong move. Finally, he staggered back, casting one last, wary glance at the three of us before retreating down the alley, disappearing into the shadows from which he'd come.

The silence that followed felt thick, almost heavy. Cecilia let out a breath she'd been holding, her expression still tight with concern as she looked at me.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, searching my face for any sign of injury.

"I'm fine," I replied, sheathing Eclipse Blade as I turned back to her and Ava. "But things are escalating. If the mayor is willing to send men of that caliber to eliminate witnesses, then he's more dangerous than we thought."

Ava nodded, her gaze steely. "We can't let him keep doing this. The people here… they deserve better."

"We'll put an end to it," I assured them, my resolve hardening.