Ch. 6: The Foreseer [2]

The rumbling thunder that once filled the air had now faded into silence, and the heavy downpour had transformed into a gentle drizzle. A shivering wind passed by, causing both of them to momentarily break their intense stare.

"I'm amazed by your serenity, Prince."

Adrian looked at him with an air of nonchalance, his expression unchanged despite the dangerous situation he was in. 

The assassin continued, his voice filled with intrigue, "I have been studying you since our first encounter in this forest. Not once did your expression waver. It's as if you are accustomed to such perilous situations."

That was because of his job back in his previous life. 

But hey, engaging with that man was not a bad idea, as it would buy him some time to recover his depleted Mana and Stamina, and so, Adrian responded, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Of course, you should." The assassin chuckled, seemingly amused by Adrian's response, and continued, "I won't beat around the bush. Adrian, I am intrigued by you. Why don't you consider joining me?"

Adrian arched an eyebrow, "Your point?"

"Actually, the assassins you encountered earlier are not under my command. They were originally employed by the House that hired me."

Well, that explains why he remained motionless all the time; he was observing this boy.

"Speaking honestly, you are the first Elementalist who has managed to dodge my deadly blow. I'm impressed, and judging from your previous movements, it appears that you are versatile."

Ah, it seemed this guy had mistaken him for an all-rounder because he managed to evade his attack; which was completely wrong.

Adrian had a hunch that it was his gift that granted him a glimpse of the future. If not for it, he would have died right now.

"I'm aware that you know you can't defeat me, right?"

"Yes."

It was true. 

Adrian had calculated the odds and determined that there was only about a 10% chance of winning and a 90% chance of losing, which also meant certain death for him.

"You are far too precious to die, you know. You hold immense value." The man continued, "Then why don't you consider joining forces with me? In doing so, we can stage your death and become partners afterward. It's a mutually beneficial solution."

Well, that was a tempting proposition, Adrian must admit.

"Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline."

Adrian knew better than to trust someone he had just met, especially when that person had been paid to kill him. He believed that this proposal was merely a ploy to lower his guard, allowing the assassin to strike when he least expected it.

The assassin hummed, a hint of disappointment evident in his expression, "That's… unfortunate, then." 

The man hurled a knife at him, prompting Adrian to swiftly retaliate with his weapon.

—Bang!

The moment the knife changed direction, the assassin was already in front of him with a sword that was ready to jab his neck. Reacting with sluggish movements, Adrian managed to evade by leaping backward, narrowly avoiding the assault with a hairbreadth.

Undeterred, the man leaped forward and swung his sword once more, so did Adrian.

—Bang!

Their weapons collided, but due to the vast difference in their strength, Adrian was flung backward and landed on the muddy ground.

"Ugh!" The impact left him momentarily dazed.

Seizing the opportunity, the assassin swiftly dashed towards Adrian and thrust his sword at him.

—Splat!

Just as the assassin's sword was about to pierce the boy's body, his attack was abruptly halted mid-air by the sudden appearance of a wall of earth.

"Haa… haa…" Adrian breathed turned haggard as he watched the tip of the sword a few centimeters away from his face. Somehow, he managed to do a conjure just in the nick of time.

Wasting no more time, Adrian manipulated the mud beneath him, gliding his body backward to create some much-needed distance. As soon as he was out of harm's way, Adrian swiftly rose to his feet and assumed a defensive stance.

Nevertheless, Adrian couldn't help but glance at his trembling hands, which were throbbing with pain from the previous clash. Pulling his sword, the man charged towards him and Adrian conjured a flying earth spear to block his path. But the assassin executed a backflip, resulting in the spear striking the ground behind him instead.

—Boom!

Standing upright, the man rushed toward Adrian once again. As the distance between them diminished, they both brandished their weapons.

However, unexpectedly, the assassin swiftly retracted his sword just before they clashed, and with deftness, his other hand caught the boy's wrist. Without delay, he yanked Adrian forward and delivered a powerful kick to his abdomen.

"Unf!" 

Blood spurted from Adrian's mouth immediately after the assassin's kick connected with his abdomen. The force of the impact sent Adrian hurtling backward, causing him to crash into the muddy ground and roll several times.

Immediately after coming to a stop, he began to cough uncontrollably, blood pouring from his mouth, "Cough, cough!"

Through his hazy sight, he saw the assassin sprinting towards him once more, his intent clear.

Summoning the last remnants of his Mana, Adrian chanted a spell. Shortly, a magical circle materialized in the air, unleashing a barrage of wind bullets. However, the assassin deftly zig-zagged, effortlessly evading the attack.

—Boom! —Boom! —Boom!

The ground erupted in a series of explosive booms as the wind bullets struck the mud, sending clumps of earth and mud splattering into the air. 

"Cough, cough!" 

Adrian expelled a handful of blood from his mouth, his hand shaking as he wiped it away with the back of his hand. His eyes remained fixed on the assassin, his gaze unwavering despite the pain and exhaustion that coursed through his veins.

The man stood there and watched the boy in silence.

Adrian's breath came in ragged gasps, each inhaling a struggle as if he were a fish gasping for air, "Haa… haa…"

It looked like he overdid his magic; his Mana Exhaustion symptoms came back.

Soon, Adrian forced his trembling legs to straighten, his body swaying unsteadily before finding its balance. He was beyond tired—he was at his limit. Regardless, he readied his weapon, his grip tightening around the hilt of his dagger. 

He knew this was his last chance, his last stand.

The rain had ceased, leaving behind a damp and chilly atmosphere. The wind danced around the battlefield, carrying with it a sense of anticipation. Rays of light broke through the dark clouds, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene as the sun slowly revealed itself.

After a long pause, the man finally spoke, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and resignation, "This is your last chance, Adrian. Join me."

Adrian's response was firm and resolute, "I'm good. Thanks."

"Tsk. How persistent." The man sighed, realizing his persuasion had failed. 

Without another word, he swiftly moved into action, his body a blur as he sent three flying daggers hurtling toward him. Adrian raised his dagger and parried them.

—Bang! —Bang! —Bang!

The clash of metal against metal reverberated through the air as his knife stabbed into the soil, one by one, deflecting the incoming projectiles. But before he could fully recover, the assassin who had just arrived in front of him swiftly swung his sword.

—Bang!

=====

Adrian's dagger was flung away by the assassin, causing him to stagger backward upon impact.

"Goodbye."

"Urf!"

A searing agony surged through Adrian's entire being, and blood cascaded forth as the blade ruthlessly pierced his heart. As the man withdrew his dagger, Adrian crumpled to his knees, and darkness enveloped his senses.

=====

—Bang!

Adrian was taken aback as his dagger was forcefully flung aside, causing intense pain in his hand.

'The sight!'

"Goodbye."

Mustering his last ounce of strength, Adrian forcefully struck the man's left hand away.

—Stab!

"Urk!"

Adrian's gaze shifted downwards, revealing a dagger firmly embedded in his abdomen and blood began to pour forth from the wound.

He failed to dodge it.