The Residents of shadows

Chapter 2: Residents of shadows

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The House of Eclipse. In the pillar houses of my country, they hold the reins of the intelligence department. Their spy outposts was concealed across the world with the countries not even aware that they were being watched. They recorded activities of any nations, and even their classified informations are long been stored in their data.

I read all their reports and the books that they had collected. It was because of them that I was inspired to take on a journey. The festival that was taking place on this kingdom was also included in their reports.

I was grateful for all the information they provide.

But now I'm currently facing them as my enemies.

Sixteen assassin stands before me, from what I assessed they are all [expert ranks].

(Stay there at the top)

(crom!)

I ordered telepathically after Album was about to descend. The grim atmosphere must have rattled his animal instinct to protect me, his master. But I don't need any help from him right now, rather he will just get in the way. On this dire situation, there is only one ending waiting for us. I can't proceed properly if I have to protect him.

This people are fellow citizen and my benefactors, but even with that case, I can't let myself falter here.

I have resolve myself. This was the consequences of my actions. My actions and the efforts of my helpers would be all for naught if I back down now. My father will probably disappointed too if cower from the threats from a bunch of assassins.

It's only right that I will see it through the end.

"Sorry, surrender wasn't registered on my vocabulary"

"I heard Your Eminence doesn't pick a fights you can't win. Are you this confident you can take us out?"

"If I can't even defeat you guys, then my status would just be decoration"

"Is that so…"

Faint sadness was resonated on his tone, probably they didn't want any of this to happen. No, both of us doesn't want this to happen. They have an order to follow and I have my resolve. We can't back down now that the die has been cast.

"It will be an honor for us to be given an opportunity bear witness your abilities, your Eminence. Good Luck and Have fun"

"Good Luck and Have fun"

We said no more after bid our wishes to each other.

It's useless to talk my way out of this.

The household of eclipse will never consider the pleas of their enemies. They will do anything to achieve the objective of their mission.

And that is my capture.

My time very limited since I have plans for today.

This guys also understand that this was the end conversation so they all start brandishing daggers.

Both sides release their dreadful aura and the area was filed with psychic chillness.

Since I'm the one in a hurry, I made the first move.

I dash forward in blink of an eye and the leader in front responded to do the same. But when two figures collides –

* Bam!*

He threw up all the air inside his lungs right after I throw a fist straight to his solar plexus. The man drop on the floor convulsing together with his failed dagger.

I grabbed his dagger with my right hand braced myself to the remaining assassins who came rushing from different direction

Clang! – I raise my dagger without batting eye but it block the downward swipe of the person who jumped on my right. I send a kick to his expose side but he raised his knee defend.

Well bad move for you.

No sooner than my foot connect to his raised knee, than he's figure blown and crashed to the nearest building.

I just casted [force blast] using my foot to blow away his stance. This guys never had any records of how I fight and I'm thankful that I can use this to my advantage and surprise them with my abilities.

I sense a thrust from behind at the same time the three figure in front fired magic bullets. To push it further two are falling down from the roof with their glowing knifes retreated at ready for strike.

We're fighting on narrow space so a group battle is impossible here. But the way they move consecutively in response to was about to happen was worthy of praise.

With a side step on right, I swiftly dodge the thrust and use my momentum to knock the assailant at the back of his head with the handle and successively cut down that magic bullets which fly true on the predicted dodging spot.

The three stop their firing shots giving an opportunity for the two falling person to attack. I throw myself backwards to dodge the two assassin's dropping thrust.

While on midair, an assassin coming from behind and throw several daggers but nevertheless I fling my dagger to the two assassin before my body went through [portal gate] I casted. So the projectiles connected nothing but air.

The two man easily evade my thrown dagger by inclining their upper body to the side so the projectile shot straight instead to the three man behind them who shooting the magic bullets earlier. The middle man tilt his head to dodge the dagger at the bare minimum but –

*boom!*

A thunderous sound reverberated on the desolate place.

These assassin professional that they are almost impossible to be shot down by simple projectile. So before I throw dagger, I pasted it first with explosion sigil and decided to detonate the sigil to the more number of victims. Thus, the three assassin blasted from their spot with smoke rising on their burnt bodies.

The portal emerge above the female assassin (since there's a mound on her chest) who threw the daggers.

She a sitting duck target. Of course I'll knock her down as well with a punch – or not

The woman suddenly jump and twist her body performing a tornado kick as greeting on my arrival.

So she had bated me after all. In this moment, her kick will connect first than my punch.

I quickly produce [floating disk] as a stepping stone to change my direction, teleporting on behind her and hurl her midair-body to the two charging assassin. The one of the two assassin withdraw its brandished dagger and decided to catch the propelling woman, throwing both of them several meters away.

It seems he doesn't anticipated the force behind it and assume he can stop the momentum

Three unconcern assassin passed the two sprawling bodies to assist the remaining one who is currently exchanging blows with me with his glowing daggers.

This glowing daggers are imbue with magic that can damage the mana circuit of a person. It's no joking matter if let myself get slashed by that and can't cast magic anymore. They planned to cut my escape by removing my ability to cast [portal gate] spell.

I dodge his thrust of his glowing dagger and return strike a palm on his chest but he moved his free hand to block it.

[Force blast]

The man was sent several meters but still standing on the ground. Tsk… he jumped away to kill the impact. He regain his stance sooner and joined the three speeding man.

As I facing the four men rushing towards me, I sense another four approaching assassin behind me.

This guys never gave me a breather. They all sprouting everywhere.

With that earlier exchange, the damage are starting to spread. I believe this will escalate to something bigger if we further continue this struggle. I really love to stop now but these guys wouldn't want that.

The first man from the front jump producing a short sword while spinning his body to drop a downward slash. Since I don't have a weapon, I step a foot forward and trust an upward palm strike meeting not the blade but his wrist. His short sword was fling upward and I send a round house kick to his unprotected side and send him crashing to the through the walls.

The smoke of dust billowed but not enough to obstruct or vision.

Scream of civilian resounded from where the man crashed through but we don't have time for concern since were in the middle of battle.

I catch short sword spinning on midair while sending a side kick to the sneaking man coming from behind. His limp body lay on the broken walls but I manage to steal his dagger before he got blown away.

Short sword on my right and dagger on my left. As if replacing those two, another two from the front begin their assault.

I twist my body to parry the slash of man from the left using my short sword. With that momentum, I deflect the thrust of another on the right and tilt my head a little to evade the magic bullet from three person behind. Sparks flies with cacophony clanking for every contact swords and magic bullets. With parry each weapons pushing limit to not get done in.

I also return a magic bullet but to the person on my left using the sword as my conductor right after I parry some attacks. The man deflect every projectiles with his dagger and successively trust his palm to shoot an energy ball at a short distance.

At the same time, another assassin jump coming from the front with a short sword raised aloft.

The ball shoot forth.

Since I'm occupied with the attacks from different directions, I created portal gate just enough for ball to pass through and send it directly facing to the falling man

He slashed the energy ball but not anticipated the handle of the short sword zeroing on his stomach. The man's body flew above, traversing several roofs.

These guys are still my fellow citizen so I tried my best not to kill them. After all, they have no intention to kill me.

From my raised short sword held on a reverse-grip, I parry the attacks on my right. I swatted his dagger but he rather use that momentum to spin and send a backward roundhouse kick aiming at my shoulder.

Taking advantage of that kick, the assassin on the left perform a sweep kick to prevent me from ducking. There's a possibility that I'll be dodging on middle so the four men assisted them by firing their shots on the between of the two attacks.

Time slows with how fast I analyze the appropriate counter measure.

I crushed the sweeping legs with a forceful stomp at the same time I let go my dagger to grab the incoming kick then pull his body as my shield against the magic bullets.

Their body suit was designed to withstand several spells and together with inherent protective magic, the bullet will never be penetrated through the skin. But that doesn't save them from the pain. After rain of bullets, the man pass out.

The man with the broken legs groans with tears forming on the corner of his eyes. I can bare to see him like this so I help him ease the pain. I let go the unconscious man's legs and moved at a breakneck speed to bang the weeping face of that disabled man on the floor. His face deeply planted on the stone pavement producing web of cracks.

After what happened to their comrades, the remaining men from behind just shoot their bullets nonstop as they approached while brandishing their daggers at ready for a close quarter combat.

I also rushed in their direction while deflect the bullets with my remaining weapon, the short sword on my right hand, while pointing my left index finger to them to shoot magic bullets.

Our figures closing in while exchanging fires and deflecting bullet.

When reached we a certain distance, our blades clashed sending sparks on every collision. Our figures ricocheted to the walls to performing a hit and run tactic.

Whoa… I barely dodge that wild dagger flying on my neck while as traversing on midair.

That dagger wasn't belong to this three.

I shift my gaze to where that dagger came only to be greeted with a spear made of ice and a bird made up of flames. I jumped to opposite wall while parrying on the incoming assassin.

The ice sphere pierced on the window freezing the whole upper part of the building but the flame bird homed in to where I am.

*Boom!*

The bird exploded right after I land on the opposite wall.

Black smoke rise on the burning building with another scream of civilian from the inside.

I erected barrier before the contact so I came out unscathed. I landed on the floor and shifted my gaze to the two person who blasted that that spell.

It was the woman I threw earlier and the man who catch it.

An assassin will never make a reckless AoE attacks like that. They must have abandon their usual method since they know they can't win. And decided to come at me with AoE magic since they have never make a hit. Well I guess they're no longer moving as an assassin since we're all fighting on a broad daylight from that start and with all that noise.

The three man joined the two.

My breathing is still steady even after that fight but my face is a little moist from sweat. I can't tell their expression of those five since the lower face is covered with mask. But with their face sweating profusely at least that gave a hint to what their feelings.

I face them with wearing smile on my face, not because I enjoy fighting them, it's because I know what about to happen. This development very beneficial for me and worst for them.

We let few silent moment passed to ready ourselves once more. Then, we let the wheel turns once again

The symphony of clashing sounds and explosion gave life to this desolated alley it was as if we are sending fireworks celebrating our own festival.

With five figures on full throttle, I dance on storm of blades, bullets and spell.

Our match continued as we chased ourselves across the back alley. Several dark smokes rising from different location were already visible on the vicinity. I hear the footsteps and screams of people evacuating the whole area but fortunately there's was never been a casualty among the civilians. But the surrounding buildings are laying into wastes. With this chaos, I doubt the patrolling knights will just march here to take a look. Maybe they on their way now to report the situation to the royal knights.

As the time continues, those five assassin became four, then three, and two, until all of them are wiped out.

In just a half an hour, we destroyed everything around southernmost area of the building district. And I stand in the middle of the ruins heavily breathing with sixteen bodies lying around.

My weapon clang after I threw them. The battle was over so I don't need them anymore. I consider selling it but I refrain since there's a chance that it will be traced back on us.

I begin to relax my muscles and wipe the sweat under my mask with a handkerchief from my breast.

I closed my eyes and bath myself to the sense of achievement. These guys are strong. They are all expert ranks. Their strength enough to threaten the security of a country individually. That battle told me that told me that wasn't giving their all. Same goes for me too.

We all can cast grand AOE magic. But if we did that, this capital might erased off the map. That why we settled for a controlled medium sized AOE.

I never really plan to use AOE magic, but since they started it, I just go with the flow and responded in kind.

From far distance, I sense another multiple individuals coming here.

Twenty assassin of eclipses once again descended on this place. Unlike last time, I didn't go on battle mode. There no really need to be worked up.

After all they can't afford for another battle like this.

Thus they all ignored my presence and go instead to the sprawling bodies of their fellow household and the rest collects all weapons that can be used as evidence.

Right after they collected what they need, they all dispersed to different directions.

Except this woman who had decided to remain.

Why did she stay?

Now that the commotion died down, I already hear the pounding boots of the heavily armored knights rushing on the scene. It would be bad if the two of us would be spotted on the middle of this wreckage.

Thus, I begin to cast [portal gate] to leave.

"No matter where you go, we are always there, Your Eminence."

I stop on my tracks before I enter the portal. Did you stay behind just for that? There's no need to remind me of the obvious thing.

Of course you are I'll be troubled if you don't.

The house hold of eclipse are the primary source of information in my country. They are also there provide help to our citizens who are lost or in danger in the foreign lands. And the same time, no enemies can escape from their surveillance. Any targets that was designated for elimination can only end in one way. –Death.

I know… What she have just told me was the truth.

So I need to tell her something too.

And this is also irrefutable truth –for me at least.

In a nonchalant manner, I reply her message without looking at her.

"And no matter what you do, it will all end the same way"

I say no words after that. I don't know if she interpret it as warning or an insult. I don't care what she think.

Thus, I step inside the portal, leaving her and the product of our battle behind.

-\(0.0)/-

  "Crooom?! Crooom!?"

(I'm here.)

"crom!"

Album saw me entered a portal so it's obvious that he don't know where I am.

I opened the portal to an alley near the main street of the building district. I can fully hear hubbub of people and life of the capital. I remember correctly from the aerial view, the adventurer's guild just a litter further ahead.

"Let go, album"

"crom!"

I hold Album once again on my arm and walked straight heading to the main street. There's so much thing to do so I need to get to the adventurer's guild immediately.

But after a few steps – I stop.

I check myself to see if I look presentable. I'm applying for a job so it's important to look professionally.

After the earlier battle, it's not surprising if I'm covered in dirt and smelly from all that explosion and sweat. But fortunately my coats seems to free of dirt. But I smell like smoke and my under shirts is a little wet from all the sweat.

I read the report regarding the adventurers – it says that they sometimes smelly and from all the works but never care about appearance. They are a bunch of drunkards and barbarians yet the people respect them since the kill the monsters that threatens their security.

But that doesn't mean that I have to like them. Nope, I never be like them. My mom will kill me if she saw me behaving like them.

I'll need to change first.

I erected an [illusion barrier] to prevent the people from seeing naked if ever the pass in this alley. I let go Album and start undressing every clothes and fold them neatly on the hamper coming from the [void storage].

I get the cabinet and pick the same garment out which was washed and fuming with fragrance –a white coat with an aiguillette hanging on the chest, black shirt and pants and the white hat.

After a minute, I've finished changing.

I remove dome-shape barrier and hold Album on my arms and start heading to the main street once again.

As soon I get out on the alley –

Whoa…. this pretty nice

"Croom"

This time I was truly welcomed by the festive atmosphere of the capital. Even album agreed, swiveling his head on everything new to his eyes.

I let my self be taken by the flow of the passing crowds.

The different races which I've seen and read on internet are dotted everywhere.

There's the short people called dwarves calling out costumer on armor stall and their costumer a slender man with long sharp ears and a beautiful countenance but nevertheless their long term nemesis, the elves. It's seems they are bantering about the price. There's also animal people, with a human shape body with animal ears and their tails swaying in every steps.

There are humans wearing full plated armor, and witches and wizard selling magic items.

Townsfolk and foreigners are mingling one another.

Whoa… is that demon folk? He's walking casually with people. In other countries, demons sometimes are subjugated and considered as monsters.

I can't believe there was a country that was very welcoming country for a dark-races that was once considered the enemy of humanity.

There's so much things I need to know and I very much like to go sightseeing but I still have things to think about. I can't let this invigorating place to distract me on my plans.

Thus, I'll just observe everything around me while threading the road heading to the adventurer's guild.