The Deathly Monster
Some of the other strike members came across Kang killing the prisoners, "I was asked to kill them in the most excruciating way possible," He talked to himself, holding up one by their throat. "Seems I got the job done too quickly. Well, watching them beg for mercy while their intestines were spilling out was pretty enjoyable while it lasted," Kang smiled "S-spare me," the prisoner begged in his grip. "Oh no. This one is begging me to hurry up and kill him," he laughed sinisterly. "W-what is going on here?!" Asks the fighter walking around a corner. "What the hell? Where'd you two come from?" Kang asks, looking over with a blank expression. "The paths we took must connect, for this to happen," he thought aloud, drawing his daggers and cutting through the prisoner's head with one swipe. "That means the boss's lair is down the path on the left. Thanks to you guys, I won't get lost," Kang explained, as the two watched. Cringing from the brutality. "Although, there has been a change of plans," Kang added as blood spilled down his hands, onto the ground.
Winter stood in front of David and the healer and felt the confirmation of his suspicions. He spun around and heard a blood-curdling scream. The clanging of metal colliding echoed through the dungeon. "That's not good," Winter thought, "We need to head back!" David turned and started to run. "Right Behind you, Uncle David," Winter replied, following. Quickly they rushed back and went down the right path. Winter hung behind with the healer, as David ran ahead. Suddenly, a blur of a human figure rushed past David, and a sharp, shiny object swung at the healer. "Wait-" Winter thought, moving his hand out and catching the slower end of the sharp object. With a rush of air, Winter blocked an attack from Kang against the healer. "If I was a moment late, she would have lost an eye or worse," he thought, glaring at Kang with a surprised expression on his face. "You're Fast," He was half smirking. "What the hell is your deal?!" Winter asks, pushing him away, nearly into the wall. "He blocked my attack?" Kang thought, deeply confused. He leaped further away, half disturbed by this feat from an E-rank. "How is he so strong?!" He added, "I see you've managed to block my attack, Conjurer," Kang hissed at Winter skidding back on the ground. "You have good instincts, kid," He complimented.
"To avoid any setbacks, I wanted to get rid of her first, because though she's a non-combat class, she's still a B-rank healer. I might need to rewrite my story, again, if things don't go as planned," Kang explained, standing up straight and pondering with a sinister grin on his face. "W-what? Suddenly, it became a death sentence!" The healer watched, trembling. "I was planning only to kill the prisoners and Winter, But I'll be killing all of you now," Kang glared at Winter. The bodies of other raiders lie lifelessly on the dungeon floor behind him. "What?! You're part of the Association! Why the hell are you doing this?!" David asks, deeply confused and troubled. "Why did you do this?" Winter asks, "Were you paid by Cyrus?" he asks more. "Well, I guess you could say it's similar to the nature of magic beasts. One day, a gate opens and the magic beasts overrun the humans. It's like a natural disaster," Kang explained, smiling smugly. "I just thought of a good idea for a story!" He added, pointing his dagger at Winter. "I was originally going to say that the goblins whipped everyone out, but I think it'd be best to change the direction of the story a bit," Kang explained, pacing around a little. "The prisoners all plotted together and tried to escape. They killed you guys first and then went for the boss. I let my guard down, and they tried to ambush me from behind as well," he began. "But since I'm a b-rank, they were no match for me, and that's how I was the only one able to make it out of the dungeon alive," Kang explained sinisterly. "How does that sound? The public would probably fall for it, right?" He asks, laughing. "You piece of," Winter gritted his teeth, gripping his dagger tightly before suddenly flinching. "Whoa, there. You can't win against him," David grabbed Winter's shoulders. "Leave it to me," he glared at Kang.
"My opponent is b-rank... I won't be able to affect him with my c-rank skills alone," David thought, walking over to one of the bodies. "On top of that, he's an assassin. I won't be able to match his speed," he added, leaning over and taking a bloody sword. "But his defenses will most likely be weak. I might have a chance if I can get a critical hit on him using my magic abilities," David thought, putting up his guard with the long sword. "It's been a while since I've wielded a sword against someone," David moved his head from side to side, to stretch out his neck. "Hey, can you cast a power buff on me?" He asks the healer, "Huh? O-okay!" She replied doing so with concern. "I'll make him engage in close combat. I'll close the distance and make it impossible for him to avoid my attacks!" David thought, feeling the power of the boost. "A mage pretending he's a swordsman?" Kang laughed, "A strength buff for a mage is a useless skill since it only drains their energy, but right now I'm a swordsman," he replied, holding his guard.
"Because I'm a mage, I have lower overall compared to this guy. I have to be aware of my disadvantage before attacking," David thought, standing offset. "Even if I have protection, it'll be disproportionately unsafe for me to go all out. If I can't control my speed, I'll probably die," David thought to himself, looking up to notice Kang overhead with his dagger in hand. Ready to swing, Kang slashed at David, but David brought up his borrowed sword and blocked the attack. "Mages are at a disadvantage against assassins," Kang smiled and stared crazily as they pushed against each other. "Opting for a sword was probably a good choice. But, in the end, you're still a mage," he explained as David glared back. "Your physical abilities are barely even D-rank, so how would wielding a sword make any difference?" Kang laughed, but it was cut short by David's blade. He moved his blade to the inside of Kang's arm and swiped it down into Kang. For a moment, it seemed he had caught Kang off guard, and landed a blow, "It could very well make a difference," David just barely missed as Kang pushed himself back in time. "You're pretty fast. You've been buffed, but it seems like you were already skilled," Kang saw his tie cut in two. "Although it was for just a split second, Uncle David caught up with him," Winter thought to himself. "If he could just gain a bit more speed," He added in thought, watching David rush up to Kang and swipe down again. But jumping up, Kang dodged the attack. "Impressive. You're fast and precise. I can see why you chose a sword over your magic," Kang complimented, smiling sinisterly. "But that's your limit," he slices at David's left shoulder. "Just think about it. There's a reason why mage swordsmen don't exist," Kang explained, turning around to face David. The damage that gathered on his body began to heal, as David stood back up with his guard back up. "That healer is getting on my nerves," Kang thought, his depression going blank. "I can't let this become a fight of endurance," he added, "I'll get rid of you, first," Kang sprinting at the healer. "Never turn your back on an opponent who's wielding a sword. You underestimate me!" David slashed down at Kang and cut through his business suit. Kang turns and catches the blade, angrily glaring at David. "You're not an ordinary old man, that's for sure," he grumbled, "I may not look it, but I train an s-rank," he replied. "My body may not be able to keep up, but I won't let you beat me when it comes to technique!" He slashed down, past his dagger, crashing his sword into the ground. Winter watched, standing off to the side with the healer, "Advanced tactics without power to back them up are useless," Ultima sighed.
"Unfortunately, there's a limit to your strength," Kang replied, speeding around with little to no effort. "Do you think it's possible for a lowly mage to keep up with the speed of an assassin? Don't be ridiculous!" He mocked, lunging in towards David, forcing him to block with his sword before breaking his guard. Kang bounced all over the cave system, propelling him faster while cutting into David. Blood spilled onto the ground from each of the many cuts he sustained. "Someone a bit stronger might've stood a chance, but I'm much higher in rank than you," Kang explained, his expression blank. "Mages like you can't even keep track of my movements," he added glaring at David. "Uncle David!" Winter watched with concern stepping forward as he wobbled in place. Behind his back, David waved Winter away, and so he stayed back with the healer. "Good, that's very smart of you. Seems you've realized that it's no use trying to fight me," Kang walked up to David with a sinister smile across his face. David kept his head down, staying silent. "I'll give you a quick and painless death!" He brought his dagger up over his head. Without hesitation, a pillar of fire consumed Kang, using the remaining ounces of mana in his reserves. Mustering as much power as he could into one attack. The cavern tunnel lit up from the large and powerful pillar of fire. Reaching up into the ceiling and spreading up like a confined tree. "Did it work?" David asks, looking up.
"A mage pretending to be a swordsman to distract me from his magic spell," Kang stood to the side of David, his torn suit burnt, now. "You waited for me to attack so that you could unleash your spell on me at the perfect moment. Not a bad plan. You sly old bastard," he grinned sinisterly. "Is this the end?" David thought, grinding his teeth and clenching his fist. "Die!" Kang brought his dagger down from over his head. Just then, Winter's dagger blocked the attack, and in one fluid motion, Kang's attack was pushed away, breaking his guard before slashing at Kang with his other dagger. Stunned, Kang's shoulder blade was sliced. "You again?! You're just a mage like him! How the hell did you do that for a second time?!" He asks with annoyance. "I'm at least A-rank in strength... And what did you say? You're b-rank?" Winter replied, smirking smugly. Kang leaped back, landing in the massive crater left by the pillar of fire. "Pfft- Yeah right. Cyrus said you were E-rank in strength. Either he lied, or you're playing a trick on me," Kang replied, with worry settling into his body.
"Winter... How did you do that?!" David asks, "I guess an E-ranker can have such strength if you're a power type, but judging from your reflexes, I'm pretty sure you're not just some average guy. You managed to block my attacks twice. Could it be that you're an assassin? No, this has nothing to do with your class," Kang processed aloud. "You've been hiding your true skills," he guessed confidently, with a large, sinister smile across his face. Winter stared back, emotionless. "Are you a false ranker? No, you seem to have been on close terms with your uncle for quite some time now, so that can't be it," Kang continued. "A false ranker would never spare the life of someone who's witnessed their true powers. That would just be stupid. Which means there's only one answer," he tapped his chin. "You're an Evolver?" Kang asks, filled with surprise, "An Evolver?" David asks. "From his reaction, it looks like it hasn't been long since you've begun growing," Kang smiles sinisterly. "Hmm, Agent River recently went looking for someone he suspected to be an Evolver if I start thinking about it," he thought, "Either way it looks like you don't have much experience as a raider," Kang began drawing his second dagger. "In that case... As your superior, let me teach you a lesson or two," he explained approaching Winter at a leisurely pace.
"Why do you want to kill me?" Winter asks seriously. "Are you asking that right now?" Kang asked sinisterly. "I'll ask what I want," Winter replied, glaring at Kang. "Ooh... That one gave me chills," his face twisted and deformed in all the wrong ways. "Lighten up a bit, man. I have my reasons," Kang remembered the large, upfront paycheck. "There's no way I could refuse the request with that much money behind it. And really, I would get to do my favorite thing. Killing criminals and easy prey-" Kang began- "I tried to turn him down by raising the price, but he was quick to accept the offer," he explained with his palms pointing out from his body with a tight grip on his daggers. "Although things have taken a turn, I don't want to hurt you guys-" he added looking at Winter with crazy eyes- "If you promise to pretend like nothing ever happened here today, I won't bother you guys anymore," Kang offered with a strange, sinister smile. "You say one thing, but by the looks of it, you're dying to teach me a lesson," Winter mocked, while Kang's face continued to twitch and deform disturbingly. "I never had any intention of trusting you in the first place, and in all reality, I have no reason to believe the words of someone who was making up a bunch of stories just a minute ago," Winter responded just as Kang sprinted towards him.
Spreading out his legs, Winter slightly knelt and brought one dagger up to catch the one head for his head. He skids back slightly, and Kang pushes against Winter, one foot forward. "Doesn't matter whether you trust me or not," Kang had a large smile plastered on his face. "I just feel sorry for the people that had to die because I was exterminating an insect," he explained, spinning and round and clashing daggers once more. "Then I feel sorry for you, too," Winter replied, cutting his dagger coming down on Kang's horizontal pointed dagger, "What?" Kang skids back as his dagger is pushed down. Winter caught the other dagger and then leaped up. Cutting his cheek in mid-air. "Since you'll be dead soon," Winter responded, watching Kang spin to face him, their blades clashing, and sparking. Kang quivered briefly, starting to realize the difference between himself and Winter.
"I don't know how many levels you've climbed, but you're just a mage. I won't be an easy opponent!" Kang rushed up his attacks. Winter rose to meet his opponent and slowly began to outpace them. He caught both of Kang's daggers with his left dagger before slashing at Kang's side with his right dagger. "Too slow," Kang replied, appearing to the side of Winter. "Tch," he scoffed, his eye on Kang since he began to move. "Want to see me go faster?" Winter asks, dashing at Kang. In a spectacle of sparks and auras, David witnessed their deathly struggle for the upper hand. "How is he Able to move like that?!" David asked, in awe of this sudden change of pace. "He's no longer the Winter I used to know," David watched in awe.
Winter ducked to the side, his right dagger catching Kang's left, pushing it away from the inside of his arm. "Looks like two million dollars won't be enough for this job!" Kang smiled sinisterly in twisted glee. "I didn't think I'd meet a man like you in a d-rank dungeon!" He laughed, but he was cut off. With a dagger passing by his head, leaving a mark on his cheek. "We move at the same speed!" They thought, clashing for another time. "Is this as fast as you can go?!" Kang asks with no intention to listen. "Your eyes may be able to keep up with my movements, but it won't mean a thing if your body can't!" He explained with a sinister, disturbingly deformed smile on his face. Suddenly, a dagger flew by his face once more, taking a chunk from his purple, spiky hair. "Alright. No more playing around," Kang thought, getting serious. Through one end of the cavernous tunnel, to the other they bounced off the wall, ceiling and floor, clashing with slashes and swipes. Nearly catching the other two people in the room. "We may have similar specs and skills, but he doesn't have experience fighting high-rank battles," Kang thought to himself, "That difference will be your downfall," he added. Throwing a dagger at the healer over the head of Winter. "If you're going to protect your healer, at least do it properly," Kang mockingly laughed, as Winter could only watch the dagger fly by. It reached the healer in seconds, but David stepped in front of her and blocked the dagger with his swords. Nearly missing. With his gaze diverted, Winter turned to catch a figure rushing up to him.
A barrage of attacks came his way, and with it a rain and show of sparks came from the clashing daggers. Only marks were left on Winter's skin and clothes thus far. With both daggers in, Winter looked up at Kang, his guard up in a boxing stance for the swift attacks. "Oh? You've got grit, huh?" Kang asks with annoyance. The System began to warn Winter of the intense lust for blood. White cursed energy pours from Winter, forming a mask-like skull over his face.
~>System<{" An [Urgent Quest] Has [Arrived],"}>it rang, popping up<~< p>
"Thanks to you, the System's acting up again," he looked up, his eyes glowing blood red with no emotion but rage.
~>System<{" The [Emergency Quest: Kill Enemy]! There is an [Enemy] Nearby That [Intends] to [Player]. All [Enemies] [Ensure] [Player]'s Safety. If [Player] Fail Complete This [Quest], Heart Will Stop Beating. [Enemies Kill: 1]. Killed: 0],"}>it explained in a 'Quest info' tab before Winter's eyes<~< p>
"The System is giving me another reason to kill you. So be prepared," Winter brought his daggers up and got into a stance. "The circumstances should be in my favor. What's this guy's deal?!" Kang thought gritting his teeth in anger and anxiousness.