Brushing off the man's frosty allegation, Daisuke stepped forward confidently, seizing the spotlight as the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. "Right on cue," he muttered under his breath as a group of armed men came into view. Maybe one of these mobs will know where I can find the key to the jail cells.
The group halted in an orderly fashion, and from their ranks came a familiar figure who evidently outranked and outclassed the rest. With a casual snap of his fingers, the crystal fixtures on the walls radiated a blue glow, illuminating the expansive chamber.
"You," the man hissed, his brows pulling down into a nasty sneer. "How are you still alive? What happened to my men?"
"You'll be joining them in a moment," Daisuke retorted, shifting his body into an offensive stance.
The man clicked his tongue derisively and raised his fist in a telling gesture. "The rest of you stay back," he commanded. "I have unfinished business with this brat."
Daisuke caught the moment the bastard unsheathed his dagger, then in an instant, he vanished from sight. When his body reappeared, he materialized directly in front of Daisuke, his weapon tracing a deadly downward arc.
Daisuke countered with the Lipanthyer's Fang, utterly missing the crucial moment for an Impeccable Parry. Alarm flared in his golden eyes as he grappled with the overwhelming force of the assault. Pouring his strength into weathering the shockwave of impact, he found himself caught off guard as the assassin swiftly dropped low and swept his foot.
As Daisuke faltered, the man seamlessly transitioned into a spin, utilizing centrifugal force to deliver another devastating blow. Daisuke scrambled to intercept with his dagger, but without proper footing, the force of the assault sent him hurtling into the wall behind him.
He groaned as he crashed to the ground, his eyes narrowing with disdain as he caught sight of the bastard's smug grin.
DING!
[Rohan | Lvl 42 | Assassin]
I thought my generous supply of Stat Points would compensate for the level gap, but his gear and combat experience still gives him the upper hand. Daisuke slowly rose to his feet, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth in contemplation. I'm pretty sure more guards are on their way; if I turn this into a contest of speed, I won't have enough stamina left to deal with them.
[Name: Haxks
Species: Human
Level: 31 | EXP: 75,460/150,156 (50.25%)
Class: Dual Blader
Affiliation: Adventurers' Guild | Merchants' Guild
Title: Lone Wolf, Pathfinder, Unwavering Spirit, Congenial Denizen, Master of Divine Beast, Devoted Hunter
HP: 3821/3974 | MP: 529/529
Strength: 81 (+21) | Stamina: 126 (+22) | Agility: 151 (+35) | Intelligence: 41 (+10) | Dexterity: 31 (+35) | Composure: 22 | Indomitable: 13
Stat Points: 0]
The Florians watched the lopsided battle with despair etched on their faces. Daisuke's sudden arrival had offered a tantalizing glimmer of hope, the closest they had ever been to salvation from their accursed existence. But just as they dared to believe again, their fragile expectations were cruelly shattered, dashed upon the jagged rocks of despair.
"…It's hopeless," Petula's husband murmured, his tone heavy with resignation. "Based on what I've overheard, that's Rohan, the assassin—one of Casimir's elite captains. Your friend… he won't be able to win."
Petula shook her head with a smile, her fingers laced beneath her chin in a silent prayer. "I'm certain that goddess Seraphina has not forsaken us; she'll work a miracle through Haxks and see us finally freed from this place."
"Heh. Is that seriously the best you can do?" Daisuke taunted, tilting his head to cast a disdainful glance at the lackeys lingering in the background. "I've already sent a bunch of your buddies to hell, and this is how your captain avenges them? What does that say about the value of your sorry lives?"
The group's fleeting glance at Rohan seemed to ignite his fury. "You insolent little worm," he cursed through gritted teeth. "I've reached my limit with you; this farce has stretched on for too damn long."
Daisuke remained silent, his focus unwavering. He had already set the wheels of destruction in motion—now, all that was left was to wait patiently and reap the rewards. As Rohan charged forward like a bolt of lightning, consumed by unbridled malice, Daisuke relinquished his hatred as best he could and took a deep, calming breath.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, golden pupils darting around with mechanical precision, tracking the swift trail of light that Rohan left in his wake as he whipped around the chamber at lightning speed.
With heightened senses and razor-sharp focus, Daisuke expanded his awareness, until finally, the blurred outline of the assassin came into sharp focus in his mind's eye.
DING!
[The proficiency of the active skill «Eye of Verity» has advanced to level 2! The affiliated passive skill «Sixth Sense» has been acquired!]
DING!
[The Perception Stat has been unlocked.]
[Eye of Verity]
[Rank: Unique
Classification: Active Skill
Lvl: 2
Proficiency: 4%
Your inherent distrust of people and desire for transparency have culminated in this power bestowed through Alchemy.
Skill Effect:
▪︎ Endows the wielder with the ability to discern truth from falsehood, analyze target stats, and glimpse beyond the boundaries of reality.
▪︎ Unlocks the «Sixth Sense» skill.
Stamina Cost: 0.7% ⅌ Second
Skill Cooldown: None]
[Sixth Sense]
[Grants you the ability to anticipate attacks originating from beyond your line of sight, especially those aimed at vulnerable areas. Additionally, you gain the ability to discern enemy weak points and successfully attacking them will increase Critical Rate and Critical Damage by 20%]
[Perception]
[Reflects one's awareness and sensitivity to sensory input, which influences reaction speed and the ability to detect subtle cues in the environment with precision.
▪︎ Higher values increase effectiveness.
▪︎ Stat Points cannot be manually allocated.]
Without a word, Daisuke swapped out the Lipanthyer's Fang for the Sturdy Club. His biceps bulged as his stats automatically poured into his Strength stat, his fingers coiling around the hilt of the crude weapon.
"Any last words, maggot?" Rohan's voice dripped with mockery, the sinister glint of his dagger casting a chilling reflection in Daisuke's eyes as he suddenly materialized.
For a moment, there was an eerie silence, and then—
BOOOOOMM!
Drawing on his newly acquired skills to bolster his accuracy, Daisuke swung the club in a wide arc, delivering a devastating blow to the gloating bastard with all his might.
Caught off guard at full throttle, Rohan found himself unable to evade. The wooden club struck him like a stone golem's fist, expelling the air from his chest in a sharp gasp of agony. His arms twisted alarmingly as the weapon bore down upon him.
CRACKK!
They snapped under the weight, the sickening sound echoing off the walls of the chamber. Simultaneously, the Sturdy Club shattered upon impact, but not before triggering its CC ability. Rohan was promptly lifted off the ground as the knockback effect sent him hurtling through the air.
Time finally righted itself, and he drew in a sharp breath, but before a pained cry could rip from his throat, Daisuke activated his Dash skill and closed the distance between them.
SLAAP!
He clutched the bastard's face midmotion, cramming a Frost Prism into his mouth. Rohan's eyes flickered erratically as he began to freeze from the inside out, a chill creeping through his veins. Then, without a shred of remorse or hesitation, spurred on by vengeance, Daisuke slammed his head into the floor, completely shattering the frozen body.
CRASH!
Fragments flew in every direction, leaving the onlookers in stunned silence. Petula's husband in particular was completely flabbergasted.
DING!
[Rohan has been defeated!]
[Stygian Abyss has been acquired.]
[Bloodstained Short Sword has been acquired.]
[Broken dagger has been acquired.]
[Kunai x7 has been acquired.]
[Smokescreen Bomb x2 has been acquired.]
[55 gold has been acquired.]
Ignoring all the other items, Daisuke retrieved the Stygian Abyss.
[Stygian Abyss]
[Rank: Unique
Type: Headgear | Light Armor
Durability: 177/180 | Physical Defense: 19.5 | Magical Defense: 29 | Evasion Rate: +18
A mask worn by a chilling specter believed to be the shadow of Charon—the lone ferryman tasked with guiding the fallen across the River of Styx. Legends speak of souls attempting to escape their fate and return to the mortal realm, only to be ensnared by the ferryman's shadow and cast into an abyss more harrowing than hell itself.
▪︎ Beyond merely veiling the wearer's facial features, the mask hoarsens the voice, obscures one's spiritual signature, scent, and even the faintest hint of movement.
▪︎ Reduces vulnerability to appraisal skills.
▪︎ Unlocks the «Intimidate» skill and amplifies its impact and effectiveness.
▪︎ HP +5%
Conditions of Use: Lvl 30+ | Strength 25+ | Stamina 15+]
Setting aside her own apprehension, Petula turned to the cowering Florians with a comforting smile. "Don't worry, everyone," she reassured with genuine warmth. "Haxks is here to help; we'll get you all out of here. Just hang in there a little while longer."
"Haxks… please, watch over my wife in my absence," Petula's husband implored, his voice laced with repentance.
Daisuke arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? Why would I need to do that when she'll be staying right here with you?"
"No, I'm not," Petula asserted defiantly. "I won't rest until we find the keys and escape together."
The husband raised his shoulders in surrender with an awkward smile, clearly aware that an argument with the woman wasn't one anyone could possibly win.
Daisuke briefly considered silencing her with a blow to the back of the neck, but hesitated. He was uncertain how the man would react to witnessing physical abuse inflicted upon his wife, even if it was for her own safety.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Daisuke shifted his gaze from the anxious husband to the cowering lackeys. As if his malevolence had whispered directly to their souls, the men recoiled in terror, their cries echoing through the chamber like pigs facing the slaughter.
In a frenzy of panic, they stumbled over one another in a desperate attempt to escape. But suddenly, Daisuke materialized before them without a sound, his head bowed low, his aura radiating a frigid darkness that chilled them to the bone.
Without uttering a word, he affixed a half mask to his face depicting a demon from eastern folklore. Snugly fitted across his face, it concealed his nose and mouth. The design featured a large, wrinkled nose and imposing fangs that jutted upwards like tusks.
When Daisuke lifted his head, his striking golden eyes gleamed with an ominous allure, a stark contrast against the backdrop of his silver hair and the matte black finish of the mask. Drawing closer, like a predator closing in on its prey, his shadow engulfed the petrified men, wrapping around them like the ghostly embrace of death.