Foggy Forest

-Deeper Part of the Training Forest-

The miasma of death surrounds the forest. As a training camp, the casualties should be almost non-existent but today was a different story.

Sticking together, Sha and Kiri are heading towards the deeper part to look for the 2-star Magical Beast. They're aiming to ace this training with teamwork.

"It's a good idea that you agreed with my plan. I'm sure with our numbers, we could take down a 2-star Magical Beast with our own." Sha is leading their 2 team hunt, though younger, she's stronger than her brother.

"Just don't order me around. I hate that and I don't want to lose against that shithead of a crush of yours." Kiri roasted her very well which made Sha blush.

"What are you talking about!" Trying to defend herself, "I don't like him at all!" Making it more like she's trying hard.

*Murmuring sounds* And everyone seems to be talking about her.

They continued walking, trackers from both teams tried to map the area and looked for a potential target but, weirdly, not a single monster shows up.

Still walking ahead, they could feel like there's something wrong as if the place is starting to be covered with fog. The more they go deeper, the thicker the fog gets.

"I've read about this place even before we start traveling but I've never heard anything about the fog. Not only that, the fog is getting too thick that it's starting to get dark." Trouble is on its way. Sha felt that.

Showing confidence, "Well, you might have not read enough about this place. I'd say maybe we hit a jackpot for being the first ones to enter this place." Kiri doesn't seem to feel any danger.

Worried, "This doesn't feel right. We should go back and rest." Sha suggested leaving this weird place.

"What do you mean? Isn't this our best chance? With the 2-star monster core, both of us could break through to Expert Rank. Think about it? We can't progress if we won't fight stronger enemies." Troubled and worried maybe, Sha somehow wants that 2-star monster core.

"I guess... we could at least take a look. If by any chance we're in danger, we should escape as fast as we can." As a genius like Sha, she wanted to break her limit and progress even more to make her father proud.

...

Their travel kept on moving. They have to light torches to see due to the darkness of the fog. They could hear whispers from afar and fear started to devour their motivation. It's as if they're trapped.

*CLANG CLANG* Then they heard clashes of swords from afar.

Excited of what heard, "It looks like someone already found their target! Let's go!" Kiri, hoping to join the fight and land the killing blow, he rushed ahead leaving the others behind. Even so, his team members followed their leader.

Sha trying to stop her brother, "Wait up! That idiot of a brother... really! Don't get too-"

*SPLASH* Out of nowhere, blood splatter splashed on her face.

Shocked by what happened, "Blood?" She may have trained her whole life but the fresh warm blood that touched her face, this is her first time that it made her body freeze.

Then a head flew down rolling on the floor... the head of one of Kiri's team members.

*Pukes* One of them threw up as what he saw made him sick to his core. It's not every day you see something like this. The others fell to their knees.

"Ru... ru..." 'Shit!" Sha couldn't even say the word. It wasn't just the shock but the Intimidation Qi is too much for them to handle.

"Ohh hoo... Standing still even with an Intimidation Qi of a Master Ranks, I'd say you cute little fellow is doing so well." Not only one assassin but there are a couple of them. The fog is giving them the ability to hide.

'What is the meaning of this!' Sha after hearing those words, she knew that it wasn't a Magical Beast but instead, they are assassins and, "I will not be held by any other clans! Not by scums from the Fog Clan!" She gathered all pride and strength she has as the daughter of the Great Commander of the Black State.

After the great war of 5 States, one of the subclans that took down one of the Black Petal Clans walls was the Black Fog Clan with only assassins. It's said that this clan hasn't made a move for years and stayed silent but to make a move without warning, that's their specialty, waiting for the right time to attack. For a while, it stayed silent but...

*SWOOOOOSH SWOOOOSH* No footsteps but the sound of the wind broke the silence.

"What?! Ack..." Three shadows pass through them and it's too late for any one of them to react at all.

All of her team members fell to the ground with their limbs ripped apart. No voice was heard as her members are now lifeless meat.

She looked back and saw how gruesome it was... By that sight, she lost all her will to fight. Not even a hope of getting out of here alive passed through her thought.

Hearing the same voice, "It looks like you're next, princess."

*SWOOOOOSH SWOOOOOSH!* With no time to react, *CLANG*

The sound of metals hitting each other surprised all of them. The assassin looked in front of him but someone unfamiliar to him, not even their target, appeared. His attack was stopped by merely with a brace made of metal but it was sturdy enough to defend due to Qi infused to it.

"Who are-" *BAAAAAAM* A strong punch sent the assassin flying hitting a tree. The tree almost broke but the force of the attack was reduced because of the Qi Aura of the Early Master Ranked assassin but the Qi Aura completely disappeared. It sure saved his life but it also stops him from going to battle for a while.

Surprised maybe, Sha is more worried, "Kin! You need to get out of here too or they'll kill you!" But Nin won't move.

One of the assassins checked the condition of the one who got hit but he's having trouble standing up so he has to get help.

Still can't express how surprised they are, "We're supposed to clean up the trash while our leaders take on the stronger ones. I didn't know we'll meet a peak master at this point. But you won't be able to fight alone." Not only three assassins from the Fog but there are even more. A dozen appeared and surrounded both Sha, who's currently down on her knees crying and Kin who won't leave Sha behind.

"Is this the reason you've called us? We're about to kill the damn kid who refuses to die." It seems they've been fighting with someone else before they came.

'Are they talking about Kiri?' Sha, is still hoping to see her brother.

"What?! You sure take your time for just a kid."

"Coming from someone who's having trouble against two... wait... this one is at her peak Master Rank... We have no choice. Let's do it." They have decided to attack her at the same time before she could do more damage against them.

Positioning themselves around those two girls, they are going for the overkill. "BLACK FOG ART!" Chanting at the same time.

Pointing her finger to her chest, Nin used a chantless art and now she's bursting with Qi. "Come at me, all of you..."

"A power like that won't do you any good against our combined ART! SHADOW MIST!" Moving so fast around, *SWOOOOOSH SWOOOOSH* the mist started to get even thicker while the wind blows and moves so fast around the area due to their coordinated movement. After maintaining the right momentum, they swiftly moved in a circular motion and about to attack Nin.

"CLOSED PETAL!" Nin and Sha have been covered with a petal-like defense that every attack of the assassins wasn't able to harm them.

"What? A Petal Art user!" Looking at the ground, he somehow remembered something similar art he witnessed before. Without a chance to back off due to the momentum of their attack,

"BLACK PETAL ART! WITHERING PETAL!" With just one art, their bodies disappeared from existence...

Using that art made Nin's Qi unstable as it almost depleted all the Qi left she has. She knew that it's her last resort and she has only once chance to survive. Thankfully, they were dumb enough to fall for her provocation of attacking her at the same time. Nin passed out.

'What should I do? I have to find my brother...'

Without thinking twice, she carried Nin on her back and walked directly where Kiri went. She knew that it might be a suicide attempt to look for her brother but she didn't care and the only thing that is keeping her from moving while carrying Nin was the adrenaline rush she's having right now.

It didn't take long before she reached and found her brother. "Ki-" She was about to shout his name but then she stopped herself as making noises could attract more attackers. Even a single Master Rank opponent, it's a deathwish for her.

Her brother lying on the ground, bleeding and severely injured from wounds made by cuts and stabs, he sure did well surviving up until now.

It's a good thing that she learned first aid and patched her brother up but it's not good enough. He needs better healing arts or else he'll die.

"Wait..." Not far from their location, Sha found Aki'ko lying on the ground. Unlike her team members, she's the only one alive but is also severely injured.

She rushed towards Aki'ko after making sure that her brother won't die that fast.

Sha tends to her wounds but the cut is way too deep that she has to remove Aki'ko's clothes. It's not really the first time she would see a naked man as she lived with her brother her whole life but this is a different story, not even the guy she likes but she has no choice. She quickly ripped Aki'ko's uniform and- "Wait, what?"