100 Years Later
One hundred years had passed since Yun's encounter with the hidden families. He had spent the century living a humble life, free from the trappings of power and wealth. The initial years were marked by frequent assassination attempts, but as time wore on, the would-be killers seemed to lose interest. Perhaps they had finally grasped the futility of their endeavors, for Yun was a man who had transcended mortality.
Yun's eyes sparkled with mirth as he reminisced about a particular incident from his past. A young assassin, driven by zeal and ignorance, had once come to end his life. But fate had other plans. The assassin's attempts were thwarted, and instead of becoming enemies, the two became unlikely sparring partners.
The memory still brought a smile to Yun's face. After issuing the 100-year ultimatum to the hidden families, he had deliberately shed his aura of invincibility and embraced a simple existence. Yet, for three years, a steady stream of assassins had come knocking on his door, each one more inept than the last. Their failures had become almost... amusing.
As the years passed, the attempts ceased, and Yun was left to live his life in peace. He had proven his point: that even without his formidable powers, he was a force to be reckoned with. And so, he waited, patiently biding his time until the day when the hidden families would come crawling back, eager to fulfill their end of the bargain.
After a two-year reprieve, Yun thought he had finally convinced the assassins' guild to leave him be. But, one day, a young assassin appeared, determined to take Yun down. As they clashed, the assassin's mask slipped, revealing a surprising truth.
"Wait, you're a girl?" Yun asked, taken aback. "I didn't know female assassins existed! I've only seen men try to kill me before."
The assassin's eyes flashed with defiance, but she remained silent.
"Tell me, what's your name?" Yun pressed, curiosity getting the better of him.
Just as he expected a response, the assassin vanished into thin air, leaving Yun bewildered.
Days passed, and Yun was attacked again. And again. And again. The same female assassin kept coming, her determination unwavering. Yun, however, remained unstoppable, always managing to stay one step ahead.
As the years went by – 20, to be exact – the cycle continued. The assassin would strike, Yun would counter, and she would disappear, only to return again. It became a strange sort of dance, with Yun growing more intrigued by his elusive adversary with each passing year. Who was she, and what drove her to persist in this futile pursuit? The questions swirled in Yun's mind, fueling his determination to uncover the truth behind the mysterious assassin's identity.
At One Evening
As the evening unfolded, a sudden "Swoosh!" signaled the arrival of a familiar figure. Yun turned to face Specter, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Ah, you're here, Specter. I see you've returned from your latest assignment. How did it go?" Yun asked, his tone casual.
Specter's expression remained stoic, but a hint of pride crept into her voice. "I was successful in my assassination."
Yun nodded, his smile approving. "Well done! I'm impressed. Who was your target today?"
Specter's gaze turned evasive, her response terse. "You don't need to know."
Yun chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Very well, keep your secrets. Let's focus on your training instead. Shall we begin your practice?"
Specter's expression turned serious, her voice curt. "Hm, let's go."
Together, they descended into the underground basement, a specially designed facility Yun had built for Specter's assassin training. As they faced each other, their stances shifted into fighting positions, ready to engage in a dance of deadly precision. The air was electric with tension, the only sound the soft hum of the basement's ventilation system. In this underground lair, the game of cat and mouse would continue, with Yun pushing Specter to her limits, and Specter determined to prove her skills.
As the two of them circled each other, the air was electric with tension. Specter darted in and out of the shadows, her movements lightning-fast but precise. Yun, on the other hand, stood still, his eyes fixed intently on his opponent.
The first strike came from Specter, a swift kick aimed at Yun's chest. But Yun was unfazed, his hand shooting out to catch the kick with ease. With a gentle smile, Yun twisted Specter's leg, sending the assassin crashing to the ground.
Specter sprang to their feet, eyes widening in shock. She had never encountered an opponent so powerful. Yun's strength was like a tidal wave, crushing and unrelenting.
The battle raged on, Specter unleashing a flurry of strikes and kicks. But Yun countered each move with ease, his movements almost dance-like in their grace. With every exchange, Specter felt her energy waning, their blows growing weaker.
In contrast, Yun's fists flew like thunderbolts, each strike landing with precision and deadliness.
As the fight drew to a close, Specter stumbled back, her vision blurring. Yun approached, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. Yun attacks her with a powerful punch. But when the fist comes close to her face he stops and flicks her on the forehead.
Specter let out a frustrated sigh. "Phew! I lost again."
Yun's lips curved into a hint of a smile. "To be precise, this is your 9998th defeat."
Specter's eyes widened in disbelief. "How are you so strong?"
Yun's expression turned introspective. "I was a normal human once, but life had other plans. Twists and turns forced me to become strong, and I slowly did."
Specter's gaze was piercing. "I've watched you for twenty years. You're the same today as you were twenty years ago. People call you immortal. Are you really?"
Yun's response was measured. "First, tell me your name – your real name – and your story. Why did you choose this path? You're not cut out for this job. I sense you're forcing yourself."
Specter's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "..."
The air was heavy with unspoken words, Specter's secrets and emotions simmering just below the surface. Yun's eyes never left hers, his gaze inviting her to open up, to share the truth that had driven her to this point. The silence between them was a palpable thing, a living, breathing entity that seemed to pulse with the weight of Specter's untold story.
Yun's expression softened, his voice gentle. "If you don't want to share, that's okay. I'm not immortal, just...long-lived. People might think me immortal due to my age, but that's all."
Specter's gaze lingered, then she began, her voice hesitant. "My name is Ariana Richmon. I come from an assassin family, one of the best. I'm the only female assassin, which...isn't usual. In our world, females are forbidden from becoming assassins. Only males can take on that role."
Yun's eyes never left hers, his attention rapt.
Ariana's voice gained strength. "My father, Aric Richmon, was the eldest child, but he refused to follow the family path. He wanted a normal life, free from bloodshed. He wasn't built for it, physically or mentally. His body was fragile, unsuited for the demands of our trade."
Yun's expression turned sympathetic.
Ariana's eyes clouded, her voice cracking. "His own family mocked him, bullied him. My grandfather favored him, but that only made it worse. My uncles, aunts...they were cruel."
The air was heavy with the weight of Ariana's words, the pain and struggle evident in her voice. Yun's silence was a supportive embrace, encouraging her to continue sharing her story.
Specter's voice took on a haunting quality. "That's when my father's fate was sealed. I was only six years old when he was brutally murdered. His throat was slit, and the scene screamed of a calculated kill. My grandfather launched a relentless search for the assassin, but they seemed to vanish into thin air."
Ariana's eyes darkened, her gaze piercing. "I knew the killer was hiding in plain sight, within our own walls. Days later, a trainee confessed to the crime, but my instincts screamed doubt. I vowed to uncover the truth and dedicate myself to becoming an assassin, no matter the cost."
Her voice hardened, determination etched on her face. "My grandfather gave me his blessing, but my cousins and family members scorned me. They saw me as a foolish little girl playing at a deadly game. But I proved them wrong. By the time I was seventeen, I had become a top assassin, feared and respected by all."
The shadows in the room seemed to deepen, as if the darkness itself was listening to Ariana's story, her words painting a picture of a young girl forged in the fire of tragedy and determination.
Specter's voice was laced with a hint of melancholy. "My grandfather passed away just shy of my 15th birthday. With his demise, my second uncle ascended to the position of family head. But before he left this world, my grandfather imparted a crucial piece of advice: if I truly desired to uncover the identity of my father's killer, I had to first claim the mantle of family leadership."
Ariana's gaze intensified, her determination palpable. "And so, I embarked on a perilous journey, seeking out the most treacherous missions to hone my skills as an assassin. I was resolute in my pursuit of power and truth."
Her eyes locked onto Yun's, a fierce glint in their depths. "Then, when I turned 20, I discovered your existence - a target so elusive, so impossible to eliminate. And that's why, on that fateful night, I came for you, driven by a burning need to prove my worth and unravel the mysteries of my past."
The air was heavy with the weight of Ariana's words, her story a testament to her unyielding spirit and the unrelenting drive that had brought her to this moment, face to face with the enigmatic Yun.
Specter's gaze was piercing, her voice laced with curiosity. "But there's one thing I don't understand - with your level of power, why didn't you eliminate any of the assassins who came for you? Why let them go?"
Yun's expression turned introspective, his voice measured. "I made a promise to the hidden families, a vow to abstain from taking any family member's life for a century. Moreover, I've never been fond of killing."
Specter's eyes narrowed, her tone probing. "Yet, you possess knowledge of basic assassination techniques. Did you undergo training as an assassin?"
Yun's smile was enigmatic, his response cryptic. "That's a story for another time, Specter. Let's just say my past is complex, and my experiences have shaped me into the person I am today."
The air was thick with intrigue, the mysteries surrounding Yun's past lingering like a challenge, beckoning Specter to uncover more.
Yun's eyes gazed into the past, his voice filled with nostalgia. "Ariana and I spent the next 40 years together, our bond growing stronger with each passing day. After completing her targets, she would often come to me for sparring, our blades clashing in a dance of steel and skill."
His expression turned somber, recalling a poignant moment. "Ten years ago, Ariana lay on her deathbed, her life force ebbing away. I offered her a vitality potion to extend her lifespan, but she refused, saying she had lived enough. Though she couldn't fulfill her quest for revenge, she found solace in my presence, grateful that I was by her side in her final moments."
Yun's gaze returned to the present, his eyes fixed on the designated meeting spot. "I've been waiting here since morning, just as I had 100 years ago, when I invited all the hidden families to this very place. But not a single soul has arrived. As the day wears on, morning yielding to afternoon, and afternoon to evening, I'm left with only a few minutes before the 100-year deadline expires."
The air was heavy with anticipation, the weight of a century's promise hanging precariously in the balance. Would anyone arrive to honor the pact, or would Yun's wait be in vain? Only time would tell.