"Another wave of monsters ahead!"
Jen called out loudly from atop a tree before jumping down with agile movements.
It had been almost three days since we arrived on the island, and the tree was getting closer and closer.
We traveled at maximum speed and crossed a vast area, but the distance to the tree was truly beyond my expectations.
I quickly lowered my head upon noticing a wooden puppet appear out of nowhere.
Since reaching the inner part of the island, we started encountering these strange creatures, neither I nor Jen knew anything about them.
They were pure wooden puppets, but they bled when injured and cried out in pain.
And those cursed mutterings... they constantly sent shivers down my spine.
Despite all these creepy attributes, the puppets had modest abilities, but they resembled humans somewhat.
Their strength ranged up to rank G/F+, nothing dangerous to me.
My sword moved slowly, and it seemed that the puppet's eyes sank into the depths of sloth when looking at my sword; despite its speed, it was unavoidable.
Yes, it seems that the Commandment of Sloth works on inanimate objects too, an interesting piece of information.
I sliced the puppet's head like butter and surveyed my surroundings for anything else. The puppet screamed loudly in pain, but I did not hesitate to crush its head under my foot.
Making a loud noise here would be dangerous, plus I really hated their sounds.
These puppets helped me gain some experience, but the massive power difference between us made it barely a challenge.
I became more vigilant, at least...
I looked at my long hair tied back, considering that cutting it at the start of every fight was somewhat ineffective, I heeded Jen's advice and decided to tie it and keep it at the same length.
I hadn't transformed into beast form since entering the island, but my hair had grown longer since I last used it on the mountain of fog and I hadn't cut it.
"When do you think we'll get up there?"
I asked Jen the same question I had repeated all day, but he still patiently answered my questions, seeming to have gathered his emotions some time ago.
'This is how an assassin should be...' I nodded internally.
"An hour or two at most, I'd better think about how to climb all this height.."
I asked myself that question too, but I ignored it to maintain my spirit, I can't imagine myself climbing that tree without rest.
The city we wanted to reach literally reached the clouds..
'I hope we find elevators there or something...'
If there was indeed a civilization up there, I suppose they had invented at least one way to ascend.
As I thought about it, I suddenly stopped walking.
"Jen.."
"I know.."
Sweat poured down my face, we were surrounded from all sides..
Dozens.. No! Hundreds of wooden puppets surrounded us from every direction..
Atop the highest nearby tree stood a person with a pale face and blue eyes, black hair darker than night, and a somewhat slender build.
Of medium height and posture as straight as a ruler, his aura was also menacing.
'A+ rank..'
I looked at Jen anxiously, although he was of the same rank as that man, he hadn't been able to hide his severe injuries from me over the past few days.
Regardless of how much potions he consumed, his healing was progressing at a snail's pace, I was not unfamiliar with the type of injury he had.
Well, it was too late to think about it, hundreds of puppets around me were all between G and E ranks.
Even if Jen could somehow overcome that pale man, I would have to deal with them at the same time.
Well, this is still if they fight, not attacking us yet means he hasn't made his decision.
I opened my mouth with a smile trying to prevent any further fights, but the pale man interrupted me.
"Attack."
His voice was as cold as winter, just hearing it felt chilling, and I also felt a bit of dread.
My massive sword appeared in my hand, and I didn't hesitate to take the first stance in the best form I could.
I looked at all the puppets before me, feeling like I was going to take a severe beating today.
My body had been greatly enhanced in recent months, so I had no trouble jumping high and swinging my sword around.
Each of my strikes either cut off a hand or a foot of the puppets, their continuous screams gave me an annoying headache.
I paused for a moment when I felt an explosion happen in my mind, my thoughts became chaotic like some kind of blender.
One of the puppets took advantage of that moment to hit me hard. I fell immediately but managed to gather myself.
I stopped my fall with my arm and sent a backward kick to the puppet that hit me, sending its head flying to a distant place.
Before I could stand up, dozens of other puppets had already jumped on me.
I wasn't completely helpless; with the right moves, I could get myself out of this siege, and I had a good plan in mind.
I would've run away a long time ago if there hadn't been any hope of survival.
However, the high-pitched ringing in my mind forced me to drop my sword, I immediately put my hands over my ears and couldn't help but scream.
'What is happening to me?'
The feeling was terrible... really terrible!
It was like hundreds of needles stabbing my brain, I felt my skin melting and heat filling my body.
Due to the intensity of the pain, I ignored the continuous punches and hits coming from around me, everything turned black before I noticed.
The last thing I heard was the sound of Jen clashing with the pale man, the ringing made hearing anything else impossible.
I hope I never feel such a pain again... really...
***
Jen knelt on one knee, gasping for air around him desperately.
Although the man in front of him was of the same rank, he completely overshadowed him.
He started to feel that he wouldn't stand a chance even if he weren't injured...
Jen struck the ground below him in despair, causing him to disappear into the air. His blades moved at the speed of sound, capable of cutting even those in rank A+ and on the verge of ascension.
However, the pale man simply raised his hand, catching the blade. It was clear for a long time that this was a mechanical metallic hand, not a regular one.
The man grabbed Jen's face with his other-ordinary hand and immediately threw him to the ground, but he quickly noticed that Jen had already turned into a mirage.
It was one of his skills as an assassin, his speed doubled, and he merged with the wind, making his body transparent.
The pale man suddenly jumped into the air, making him an easy target. Jen doubted for a moment, but the ringing in his mind made thinking impossible.
The blade was a hair's breadth from the pale man's neck, but Jen finally realized his mistake.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
His blade was at his opponent's neck, but the mechanical hand was also at his forehead.
A hole opened at the front of the mechanical hand's palm, and compressed air burst out from it.
Compressed enough to send Jen to the ground at high speed.
Dust spread everywhere, and it was unclear what had happened to him.
When the surroundings finally became visible, the pale man's expression changed for the first time since he appeared here.
A large crater appeared below as if a meteor had struck the area, but Jen was nowhere to be found.
His air cannon was definitely powerful, but it wouldn't turn someone into nothing.
In a quiet voice, he commanded the unmoving Puppets around him.
"Search the area, he can't have gone far."
He lowered his hand to his neck after giving the orders, and as the dummies moved, the bright red blood dripping from there made his eyes shine a little.
When was the last time he saw his own blood?
He then looked at the other person, the one who had been beaten by hundreds of puppets for several minutes.
"He's really tough..."
The puppets stopped hitting him when the pale man approached.
Cassian's clothes were completely torn from the severe beating, and his injured body was fully exposed.
His skin had turned from healthy white to red and blue already; the pain he felt must not have been ordinary.
"Send him up, he'll make a good Puppet."
The pale man looked at the wooden puppets carrying Cassian towards the tree, then at his victim's sword embedded nearby.
The sword turned into particles of light and shot towards Cassian, but a mana-infused kick sent it flying away.
A metal wire extended from the mechanical hand and wrapped around the sword.
"You won't escape like that..."
The wire slowly returned to the arm, bringing the sword with it, and soon it disappeared inside despite the incredible size difference.
After that, the man's body turned to blue ash and disappeared completely...
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