After [Utter Vile] breaks the enemies mind, add up with the sinister toxin from the Great Wall of Fog. Enemy casualties increased dramatically, they fell like flies under the Fallen Knight killing spree.
Zyro moved with deathly precession among the deranged assassins. The silver blade guided by his will flowed through them, finding its way to their hearts and heads. Instantly ending their life. Along with him, poisonous mist floated to be inhaled by the frantic madman's. Soon after, those who breathe this deadly gas cough before collapsing lifelessly.
With the baleful mists around him, he can't be surrounded because everyone nearby are killed by the fog. Allowing his to continue welding his blade freely in the crowd of madman's. Sometimes, a disoriented assassin would instinctively attack him. However, their deranged state unable them to deliver even a decent punch. Let alone, feints and skillful strikes. Their floppy moves can't threaten him at all, as if his fighting babies in an adult body. Therefore, Zyro can easily evade as he slay constantly.
It's hard to believe that this squadron was supposed to be an elite unit under a high ranking nobel's care. Trained privately to be deployed in times of need.
However, all those works are rendered useless against Zyro. Who weld the knowledge of corruption from the ancient ruins. He still remembered Baron warning about the danger those forbidden scriptures posed. But seeing it in person now, he thought that the old slave was describing it lightly. This knowledge won't turn it's bearer into lunatics at all... It completely destroyed their minds! They don't even care about Zyro anymore, as they focused on pulling their hairs out, banging their head against each other or simply screaming.
Whatever that knowledge was, it's something no mortals should ever know. And Zyro managed to indirectly held that knowledge for his own use.
If they were in their former glory, Zyro alone won't stand a chance. Each of this warriors were fearsome force, after all. The weakest of them being a mere Alpha, with the majority of Beta, a few Gamma and one Delta. The assassins had strong physics, However, without proper mentality to control it. Against an elite soldier, they are like kids with tough bodies. Aside from having a bit of difficulty cutting their flesh, Zyro had no problem in slaying them.
Even if there's a hundred of them, they don't know how to defend themselves or attack properly.
'How much longer do I have to do this?'
He thought somberly, his eyes weary.
Sighing, Zyro strained his muscles further and fought more aggressively.
From elusive fighting style which flowed fluidly to strike critical spots as he danced among the cloaked enemies. To a brawler technique that charge fearlessly. Akin to a boxer, Zyro unleashed punches one after another with his right hand, where the silver blade nested. It retracts every time he pulls his punches, then shoots out again when he delivers a fist to the enemies heart. Combining his own strength and the blade springing out made a powerful thrust, strong enough for the blade tip to go through his opponents back. Whenever a deranged vampire poses harm, Zyro would shift his footing skillfully. Before engaging again after predicting their movement. Of course, the number of enemies slayed by his blade are few compared to the assassins poisoned by fog.
Eventually, the underground pathway were crowded by corpses, paving the stone floor with lifeless bodies of cloaked men's.
'One hundred eleven down, ten left.'
Walking further on the road he made, Zyro counted the remaining assassins. And took a labored breath, straining his exhausted body to kill another.
'One hundred twelve.'
By now, the fog he released is all consumed by the dead assassins. Leaving him nothing but his blade to finish the rest. Slauthering mentally broken enemies is easy, because they're incapable of defending and attacking effectively. However, the assassins still numbered over a hundred with tough physics of a Marked being.
Zyro's stamina is limited, while each attack takes its toll. His body is tired, his cybernetic armor energy was spent, as well. Even the torch he brought was starting to dim.
Still, the battle isn't over.
Stepping forward, he picked up a lance from a dead assassin, bringing it into the chest of an eerily emotionless man, laying on a corner. Giving him a swift death, followed by the others. Soon, Zyro was left with one last opponent and a weary body that begged to rest.
Finishing the one hundred twentieth assassin, Zyro turn around to face a hooded man with medium build. He can only see his bearded mouth and a golden compass clenched in his hand, it's chains tied around his fist.
Zyro intentionally left him for last, feeling it's the right thing to do. Moreover, that man was the assassins leader, boosting a Mark of a Delta. The final tier of the Warrior stage, making him a full pledge Warrior who already achieved the right to received his very own relic.
And partially because of his curiosity towards this so called relics.
'It's not everyday you get to see magical items closely. Right, Aizra?'
According to Depter, relics are embodiment of one's character in a form of items. Each one is unique, with varying enchantments depending on its owners soul. Judging by how accurately they were tracked, it must have something to do with that golden compass mystical ability.
Closing in, Zyro said through the mask in an electronic tone.
"So, your the tracker... I'm not expecting you to answer, but I'll still ask. Who sent you to kill her?"
He can never earn enough merits for the future queen of vampires. Furthermore, whoever planned to kill Scarlet caused him a lot of trouble, as well. His kind enough to return the favor.
As expected, no answer came.
He sighed.
"I'm sorry, but all I can give you is a painless death."
The man stood still, unmoving. He may seem helpless now, but his still a Warrior of the fourth tier - Delta. And lived up to the Delta's pride, despite being inflicted by the cursed knowledge and breathing the deadly mist. He remained standing proudly on his feet like a statue. His tenacity was one of the reasons Zyro saved him for last.
When he reaches a satisfactory distance, Zyro gripped the lance tightly before charging forward with what was left of his strength. The lance tip pierced the assassin chest, but didn't go all the way. Still, it's enough to puncture his heart. The golden compass banished into thin air along with his life, ceasing to exist from reality.
Truly, a Delta's body are on a different level. Zyro strength had already exceeded human limit two times already, the first is through the Blinker soul core. Giving him [Dark Burst] and a part of a monster strength. Followed by Scarlet blessing, which infused her blood in him to bestow her lineage talents, including slight strength enhancement, too.
After all, the power he received are dependent on Scarlet own. And she's no way weak, perhaps she's even stronger than a Delta.
Still, she can't win against this many. But Zyro did.
The last assassin fell, leaving The Fallen Knight to stand alone on the carpet of corpse. His messy garment painted dark by blood, gazing at his fallen foes with impassiveness.
And just like that, the hundred assassins are no more. So as their screams which Zyro deliberately prevent himself from hearing. Only now did he allow sounds enter his ear, the prolonged utter silence was suffocating.
Without the mask, the foul smell of blood dripted into his nostrils. Zyro had long been accustomed to this kind of ador to be noxious. Besides, he had seen worse.
"It recked death." He grunted, neither happy nor sad to the result of his victory.
Then, barely audible hasted steps reverberated through the cavern. The steps pace imply urgency, it's steady tapping allude it belongs to someone who's trained to walk with grace.
He only knew one person with that royal quality.
Scarlet.
When she argued with Zyro and left, Scarlet was a bit angered by his decision. At the same time, ashamed of herself. Ashamed for not being strong enough to bend his seemingly idiotic decision to stay behind. If she's stronger, then the assassins wouldn't be able to threaten her life and be put to difficult situations. But the fact remains... she's still weak. She may be a Master of the second tier - Zeta, the sixth Mark. Her power alone wasn't enough against that many assassins.
Aware of the inevitable, she's prepared herself to face a disgraceful death. Yet, the ungrateful young man refused her sacrifice and insisted of stalling the enemy. Of course, she's mad at him. Leaded by anger and unstable mind, Scarlet left him to face the consequences of his stupidity. That's what he want, right? Then be it.
However, as she continue to run away along with Pert and Baron. A strange feeling constantly bug her, I was guilt. She realized his reasoning, to fought bravely for her safety despite being a futile endeavor. He still do it... For her.
Of course, that's just her own understanding. In reality, Zyro only went against the assassins to protect his interest. So the princess would live to get him out of this place. Considering the fact that she's an important figure, it's likely for other force's to send her aid sooner or later. After all, politics consisted of bad and good people. If there are those treacherous novels who greed for the throne, supportive loyal novels also exist. He only needs to keep her safe until then.
However, Scarlet thought different. In the end, she didn't want Zyro to die and return running with the intention of coming to his rescue. Even if he chose death for her sake, she refused to be a damsel in destress and would rather die alongside him. Scarlet would die if he failed, anyway.
Eventually, she arrived at the scene of the crime alone.
Scarlet was dumbfounded, donning a relatively comical expression on her face as she stared at the path littered by corpses with wide eyes. Her gaze lingered on the lifeless assassins, struggling to believe the scene. Then, she look at Zyro sitting in the corner, not knowing what to say or too scared, perhaps.
It's understandable, because he didn't stall them. He massacred over a hundred assassins!
Her stiff smile and frightful eyes made her look like an adorable kitty staring at a monster.
Zyro returned the look and tilted his head a little and said nonchalantly.
"What?"