Assassin - 2

Max frowned hearing the voice of the assassin but not detecting his figure. 'He is cautious.' He thought.

Despite being able to become invisible or at least that was what seemed to Max, the assassin maintained some distance from him.

Suddenly, the faintest whistling sound reached his ears—a dagger slicing through the air, hurtling toward him from his right.

Without missing a beat, Max pivoted, his Basic Sword Art activating in a fluid motion. His sword arced through the air with precision, deflecting the projectile effortlessly. The dagger spun away, embedding itself in the ground.

Max's Three-Dimensional Body allowed him to perceive every movement in his surroundings, giving him an edge over most opponents. Yet, the assassin's ability to mask his presence posed a unique challenge. Each attack seemed to come from a different direction, as if testing his defenses.

"You're quick," the assassin's disembodied voice remarked, oozing with amusement. "But how long can you keep up?"

Max didn't reply. His eyes narrowed, scanning the area for even the slightest distortion in the air.

'Another!' His senses flared as another dagger shot toward him from behind. This time, it came faster, and the sharp hum of its flight was laced with killing intent. Max sidestepped and twisted his body, deflecting the blade with a flick of his sword.

The moment the dagger was deflected, three more were launched in rapid succession—one from his left, another from his right, and the third from above. Max's movements were a blur as his sword danced through the air, intercepting each blade with perfect timing.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of steel meeting steel echoed, but Max remained calm, his breathing steady. "Hiding won't save you," Max called out, his voice steady yet carrying an edge of authority.

"You're bold," the assassin replied, his voice shifting positions as he spoke. "But boldness without caution leads to death."

Max's frown deepened. The assassin was skilled, his movements methodical, but Max could sense a pattern forming. Each attack came at intervals, as if the assassin was testing him while conserving energy.

'He's gauging my limits,' Max thought. He adjusted his stance, gripping his sword tighter.

The assassin attacked again, this time unleashing a flurry of daggers from multiple angles, aiming for Max's blind spots.

Max's Three-Dimensional Body illuminated the trajectories in his mind, and his sword moved like a shield, weaving a protective web around him. Sparks flew as blade met blade, the deflected daggers scattering across the battlefield.

Max's patience wore thin. "Enough games," he muttered, his tone cold.

He planted his feet firmly, drawing upon the full power of the his Basic Sword Art.

"I see you've been holding back," the assassin chuckled, his voice no longer shifting. Max smirked. The voice's stability gave away the assassin's position—barely perceptible, but enough for Max to act.

In a sudden burst of speed, Max lunged toward the source of the voice, his sword slashing horizontally. The blade cut through the air, forcing the assassin to reveal himself—if only for an instant.

A figure in dark garb shimmered into view, his dagger raised to block Max's strike.

Clang!

The impact sent the assassin skidding back, but he recovered quickly, disappearing once more.

"You're sharper than I expected," the assassin admitted, his tone more cautious now.

Max's smirk widened. "And you're not as invisible as you think."

The game of cat and mouse continued, but now the tide had shifted. Each time the assassin attacked, Max responded with greater precision, forcing him to reveal more of himself with every clash.

'He is invisible but nor from my Three Dimensional Body… I can't see him because he is maintaining a certain distance from me.' Max mused planning as he contemplated an attack against him.

'It's time to end this,' Max thought, activating his Swift Dash to its maximum potential. His figure blurred, then vanished entirely, becoming one with the wind.

In a heartbeat, Max reappeared directly in front of the assassin, his movement so swift it left faint ripples in the air. The tip of Max's finger glowed menacingly, a bullet of pure energy formed from the condensed might of 10 Magic Bullets, pulsating with deadly power.

"Damn it!" the assassin cursed, his instincts flaring in alarm. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, summoning five daggers to form a defensive barrier in front of him, their metallic edges gleaming ominously.

Bang!

The energy bullet slammed into the daggers with a thunderous explosion. The force shattered the assassin's makeshift shield, sending the daggers hurtling in all directions like scattered leaves in a storm.

Before the assassin could recover, a chilling sensation ran down his spine. He froze, realizing too late that Max had already appeared behind him, his Swift Dash leaving no room for escape.

"Now, talk, who send you." Max asked.

"Believe me you don't want to know." The assassin said sneering.

Max frowned as he increased the grip on his sword and force it against the assassin's neck.

"If you don't talk, then I can only kill you." Max threatened.

The assassin laughed. "What did I tell you before?" He asked. "I know I am assassin and if I don't kill then I will be killed so it doesn't matter if I die or not."

Max's frown deepened hearing him.