Chapter 37 - The Desperate Stand  

Chapter 37 - The Desperate Stand

In the main base and the remaining stronghold of the Assassin House, panic gripped the ranked 1, 2, and 3 assassins as they received a distress signal, informing them of the destruction of their other two bases at the hands of the Sword Devil.

The swift and merciless manner in which their comrades fell left them rattled and filled with a sense of impending doom.

Owl, the top-ranked assassin, racked his brain for a solution, but deep down, he knew that they were no match for the infamous Sword Devil.

Even the most seasoned assassins, who prided themselves on their cold-blooded nature and lack of mercy, felt their hearts tighten and fear creep into their minds at the thought of facing the legendary killer.

"What should we do? Old 4 and 5, both formidable 9-star assassins, were slain by the Sword Devil,"

Dark Shadow voiced his concerns, his worry evident in his voice.

"We must face the truth. We are outmatched by the Sword Devil," admitted the beautiful woman beside them, her face displaying a mix of complex emotions.

Just as despair threatened to consume them, a message arrived from their master.

Relief washed over the trio as they opened the communication device, revealing the weary face of Morris, the leader of their organization, rushing towards their location with all his might.

"It's our master,"

Owl exclaimed, his voice laced with a glimmer of hope.

"Wait for me. Just give me three minutes, and I'll reach the base,"

Morris gasped heavily, his breath labored.

Despite being an accomplished assassin, he had never felt such fatigue.

As he ran, his mind raced, formulating a plan to defeat the Sword Devil.

He knew he couldn't match the speed of his nemesis, but he refused to accept defeat without a fight.

He decided to use some of his trump cards and his speed was tripled so he was sure that he could reach the base faster than Sword Devil.

Morris's worry deepened, knowing that if their organization was destroyed, those who held grudges against him would hunt him relentlessly.

All his amassed wealth resided in his personal residence located within the main base.

Everything he had worked for would crumble if he couldn't stop the Sword Devil in time.

He had attempted to contact the sect leader of the Demonic Sect for assistance, but his pleas had gone unanswered.

"It seems I must rely on myself,"

Morris gritted his teeth, filled with regret for accepting the ill-fated mission.

If he had known it would escalate to this extent, he would never have conspired against the students and the academy.

'The demon sect is truly not to be trusted.'

As the minutes ticked away, Morris's determination solidified.

He would protect his organization, his wealth, and himself from the wrath of the Sword Devil.

The weight of responsibility pressed upon his shoulders, urging him to make every second count.

Finally, Morris arrived at the main base, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

The remaining assassins greeted him with a mixture of relief and trepidation.

The fate of their organization now rested on their leader's ability to devise a plan to outsmart the seemingly invincible Sword Devil.

"Activate the formation"

He commanded and then went to his subordinates.

Inside the base, tension hung thick in the air.

Morris gathered his top-ranked assassins, Owl, Dark Shadow, and the enigmatic beauty whose skills matched her allure.

Their eyes locked in a shared understanding. 

"Master, how long will he reach our base?"

Owl asked nervously.

Morris gritted his teeth and replied helplessly. "I estimate that he will reach this place in just 5 minutes."

With every passing moment, Sword Devil drew closer to their location, his thirst for vengeance unquenchable.

Morris knew that the battle ahead would test their limits, but he also understood that failure was not an option.

Their lives, their legacy, and their future hung in the balance.

"Wait for me," Morris declared, clenching his fists.

He hurriedly made his way to his residence, hastily gathering all his treasures and wealth.

While he entertained the notion of defeating or negotiating with the Sword Devil, he was prepared to abandon everything and live a normal life if the situation proved too perilous.

With his accumulated wealth in hand, he was ready to face whatever awaited him.

Once he had collected everything, Morris issued a command for everyone to await the arrival of the Sword Devil.

Determined, Morris decided to employ a technique he had been preparing for this very moment.

The assassins anxiously waited; their nerves frayed.

The weaker ones harbored thoughts of escape, but their hopes were quashed by Owl, who personally dealt with anyone attempting to flee.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man materialized before them, and a wave of recognition swept through the crowd.

It was the one they had been waiting for — the Sword Devil himself.

The man raised his sword and swiftly cleaved through their carefully constructed formation.

"Accept your death."

Cracks appeared, shattering their hopes.

Fear pervaded the air as the Sword Devil effortlessly dismantled their strongest defense.

Morris took to the skies, confronting the Sword Devil directly.

"Why don't we take a step back and resolve this peacefully?" he proposed a glimmer of hope still present in his eyes.

Sword Devil scoffed at the suggestion and retorted, "Well, well, well, the infamous cold-blooded killer is now willing to lower his head and beg for mercy? How enlightening."

Morris's anger surged, and he replied defiantly, "Hmph, you may be strong, but I refuse to be a pushover."

Sword Devil regarded him with a smirk and taunted, "Hehe, why don't you try to withstand my attack?"

Not one to complicate matters, Sword Devil fearlessly launched an assault against Morris.

"Shit!"

Morris cursed as he evaded the attack, but the surrounding buildings crumbled, and weaker assassins perished in the destruction.

Boom!

Owl, Dark Shadow, and the female assassin anxiously waited for an opportune moment to join the fray and assist their master, but the relentless onslaught left them unable to find an opening.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The devastation was shocking, with nearly half of the base reduced to rubble.

Morris gasped for breath, his body bearing visible wounds.

Pale-faced, he had not anticipated the vast chasm separating him from the Sword Devil.

Despair settled in, for he realized he was utterly outmatched.

'He becomes stronger!'

In a desperate move, Morris decided to flee, recognizing that there was no future remaining.

"Owl, Dark Shadow, Rena, stall for time while I unleash my trump card!" he commanded, his voice resolute.

Though filled with fear, the top three assassins complied, their lives still bound to Morris's will by a curse they could not disobey.

They believed that he would reveal his secret weapon, yet their efforts proved futile as the Sword Devil effortlessly defeated the 3 of them with one sword.

Boom!

Cough! Cough!

The trio coughed up blood, their spirits crushed.

Their eyes turned towards Morris, who was now running for his life.

He produced a token and vanished into thin air, leaving Owl, Rena, and Dark Shadow perplexed and stunned.

Owl: "What...?"

Rena: "Huh...?"

Dark Shadow: "But... how...?

Sword Devil's expression morphed into a mix of confusion and anger as he realized he could no longer detect Morris's presence.

"Argh, you think you can escape me? I will continue to hunt you down after I lay waste to this place,"

Sword Devil declared with seething fury.

His eyes burned red with rage, swearing that he would not return to his young master until he had exacted vengeance upon Morris.

"Argh!"

Sword Devil unleashed a relentless assault on the base, employing explosive sword techniques that reverberated with thunderous booms.

The ensuing explosion sent shockwaves throughout the surroundings, drawing the attention of major families who dispatched their forces to investigate what was happening.

...….

Meanwhile, five minutes before the destruction of the Assassin House, two young men were making their way toward the location.

If Dwight were to see them, he would recognize them as Swift and Sandro, the latter being the recipient of a sword technique gifted by Dwight.

Swift and Sandro had grown close during their time in the jungle, with Swift being in awe of Sandro's power.

He was grateful for Sandro's companionship, Swift had wanted to introduce him to his master and provide him with numerous benefits, recognizing Sandro's boundless potential as an inherent cultivator.

Sandro, in need of resources and supplies, had agreed to accompany Swift, unaware of the nature of the organization or clan they were approaching.

"We're getting close,"

Swift exclaimed, brimming with excitement at the prospect of finally meeting his master.

Sandro, too, felt a sense of curiosity as they continued their journey.

After walking for some time, they suddenly heard an explosion, prompting Sandro to act swiftly.

'What is happening?'

He pushed Swift aside and swiftly threw himself to the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Though both of them were propelled backward by the force of the explosion, Sandro's decisive action minimized the damage.

Swift found himself in a state of shock, momentarily disregarding his injuries as he rushed toward the source of the explosion.

Gritting his teeth, Sandro followed closely behind.

"Wait for me! It could be dangerous,"

Sandro called out, concerned for his companion's safety.

Ignoring the warning, Swift pressed on, driven by a mix of adrenaline and concern.

When he arrived at the original location of their thriving base, his eyes widened with disbelief and shock.

Instead of the prosperous stronghold they had left behind, all that remained was a colossal crater.