The stalemate lasted until a new group of guards arrived and the one-eyed thug moved the blade away from the hostage's throat and pushed the old man forward before plunging the knife in his back.
A corpse would only put them on the high-priority wanted list whereas injuring him would force the guards to waste time with first aid and delay the pursuit.
"I'll take that as a no." Lith Blinked the hostage to safety the moment the thug was far enough to not be affected by the spell as well and make it pointless.
Then, Lith released his middle finger in a flick that generated an air bullet so dense and so fast that it struck at the one-eyed man's sternum with the violence of a roundhouse kick.
The thug flew back against his accomplices, sending them sprawling on the ground as all of his ribs either cracked or broke, turning every breath he took into agony.
