Brian’s lethal strike sent a chilling message to the group of assassins.
Despite their numbers, around 30 or 40 carefully chosen elites, nearly half of them were killed with just one blow.
Brian’s formidable strength instilled fear in the remaining assassins.
Prior to their arrival, the assassins had gathered intelligence that the elite fighters of the nearby Celestial Alliance had been deployed elsewhere.
Seeing the vulnerability in the defenses surrounding Alicia and Aurora, they perceived an opportunity for assassination. Unbeknownst to them, a young powerhouse lay concealed within the villa.
After delivering the strike, Brian forcefully drove the handle of his halberd into the ground, creating a crater between them.
“Who else dares to step forward and face their end?” he demanded coldly,
His words resounded like thunder and caused the assassins to recoil instinctively.
“Hmph! You fools dare to act recklessly on the Celestial Alliance’s territory. Who gave you the audacity?” Brian continued to taunt. It was as if he was a lone defender against an unbreakable force.
He bellowed, “Here’s your chance. Get down on your knees, surrender, and reveal the mastermind. Perhaps I’ll spare your lives. Otherwise, expect no mercy.”
“At such a young age, your voice certainly carries quite a presence!”
Suddenly, a wise and authoritative voice sounded out of thin air. It commanded attention despite its volume, which overshadowed Brian’s words and was clearly heard by everyone.
“Who’s there? Hiding in the shadows doesn’t make you a hero. Show yourself!” Brian’s sharp gaze scanned the surroundings.
“I am directly above you. Did you not notice me?”
As the voice sounded again, a figure clad in black, with a head full of white hair and a ghostly mask, descended from the treetops. Silent and stealthy like a phantom, Shadowcloak landed without a sound.
If Shadowcloak hadn’t chosen to reveal himself, Brian would have remained unaware of the presence hidden above him. The ability to conceal one’s presence so skillfully was often a hallmark of elite assassins.
“Who are you? State your name!” Brian shouted.
His eyes narrowed as he instinctively aimed his halberd at Shadowcloak. He deduced that anyone capable of eluding his perception and senses must be an elite assassin.
“Who I am is none of your concern. If you don’t want to die, step aside right now. Otherwise, I won’t mind adding one more soul to my collection,” Shadowcloak said indifferently.
Despite his calm demeanor, his words dripped with arrogance.
“Hmph! Who do you think you are to speak with such audacity? Today, I’ll test your true abilities!”
Brian kicked the handle of his halberd and sent it spinning into the air. He caught it with one hand and thrust it at Shadowcloak.
Despite the halberd’s bulkiness, it felt weightless in Brian’s grasp, and his thrust was incredibly fast. Most opponents wouldn’t have time to react.
“Rookie skills.” Shadowcloak scoffed with his hands behind his back.
As the halberd thrust approached, he tapped his toes lightly on the ground. Then, he transformed into a wisp of smoke and vanished from sight. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared five yards away.
“Your attacks are too slow, and you couldn’t lay a finger on me,”
Shadowcloak taunted disdainfully and shook his head. His arrogant demeanor made it clear he didn’t see Brian as a threat.
“Slow?” Brian’s eyes narrowed, and a surge of deadly intent flashed through them. “You’re about to understand the meaning of fast.”
He gripped his blade’s hilt tightly with both hands and felt his grandmaster’s internal energy surge wildly within him. Instantly, his muscles bulged, and veins stood out on his arms.
“Die!” With a burst of speed, Brian propelled himself forward like a lightning bolt. His halberd arced high over his head before crashing down heavily toward Shadowcloak.
The strike was swift and powerful, with a tremendous impact. All anyone could perceive was a blur. In the blink of an eye, Brian’s halberd cleaved through Shadowcloak from top to bottom.
The others were shocked by the spectacle.
“Damn! Did he just take him out in a split second?”
“It’s no surprise he’s the principal disciple! His skill is remarkable!”
“I thought that assassin was tough, but Brian made it look easy. What a joke!”
The Celestial Alliance disciples were amazed and impressed again by Brian’s strength.
But while they cheered, Brian’s expression remained solemn and devoid of any joy in victory. When his strike connected, it felt as though he encountered no resistance, as if he had sliced through nothingness.
“That was a decent hit but too slow,” a ghostly voice echoed.
Everyone looked up in shock.
Shadowcloak, apparently cleaved in two by Brian, slowly dissipated into thin air and transformed into a wisp of smoke. Simultaneously, the air ahead distorted, and Shadowcloak materialized seemingly out of nowhere.
The eerie spectacle sent shivers down everyone’s spines. They couldn’t discern whether Shadowcloak was human or a ghost.
