–Bang!

The man parried the attack and jumped backward. But just like a shadow, Nathaniel didn't even let him breathe and continued to engage him.

–Bang!

The boy's golden eyes locked on him; they never left him, just like a predator that eyed its prey.

–Bang!

Every time the assassin tried to fend off Nathaniel's attacks, numbness began to spread to his arms.

He didn't understand, from the report, it was written that Nathaniel's combat average ranks were around C.

Then why did he feel like the boy overpowered him in terms of strength?

What the hell did the information department even do? Why was the report of both Princes wrong?

It stated that the Second Prince was sucked at combat while the truth was, Adrian possessed top-notch agility!

When he finished his job here, he without a doubt would send a complaint to the information department on the mercenary he was working on.

The Mercenary Agency was an independent organization that spread across the continent.

Filled with professional soldiers, they provided information and received quests such as joining the war regardless of their political interests, aiding monsters' subjugation, escorting merchants, bodyguarding, assassinating, etc.

–Bang!

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue in irritation and hopped to distance himself once again.

This time he threw five daggers to create a gap but the knives were blown away by a strong wind and they fell near his feet.

'Wind Elemental..'

Another thing to watch out for from Nathaniel was his Wind Elemental, although the output was not as powerful as Adrian, it was his highest affinity.

Sensing something incredibly fast rushing at him, the man immediately tilted his head.

–Boom!

An explosion was heard and the moment his gut sent him a danger signal, wasting no more time he started to sprint.

?α?dαs ηθνε| –Boom! –Boom! –Boom!

His previous foothold exploded every time his feet left the ground.

"Don't be a coward! Fight me, you bastard!"

Ignoring the boy's taunt, he continued to run and when he saw a river up ahead, he soon did a backflip.

Nathaniel eventually stopped firing and as if the time slowed down, he could see how the man passed by him in the air.

–Tap!

Right after he landed, the assassin immediately threw three daggers toward Nathaniel's back which was entirely open.

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–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!

Nathaniel deflected them without hassle but unexpectedly, the man was nowhere to be seen.

His golden eyes vigorously swept the surroundings and to his surprise, the assassin was now running in Adrian's direction.

"Dammit!"

Nathaniel cursed, he just realized that the man had led him to distance himself from Adrian and he instantly moved his feet to chase after him.

The man promptly shot five knives toward Adrian.

–Stab! –Stab! –Stab!

The man clucked his tongue inwardly when his daggers struck a tall earth wall that suddenly emerged on the ground.

He turned his head behind his shoulder and three earth spears were seen flying at him.

The assassin zigzagged athletically to avoid them and the earth spears pierced the wall in front of him.

–Boom! –Boom! –Boom!

He hopped and used the earth spears as a stepping to head upward before jumping down the wall.

As the distance between Adrian and him kept decreasing, the assassin tightened his clutch on the sword and swung it.

–Bang!

The man flinched when he saw sparks of metal burst between the collided blades. He moved his eyes and a pair of feral golden eyes greeted him.

Before he could recover from his surprise, Nathaniel shoved his weapon away and slashed forward.

–Bang!

Luckily, the man managed to regain his senses and was able to block the sword from grazing his neck.

Nathaniel was irked at this point and added more strength to his attack.

"How dare you!"

The man's foothold was gliding backward a few centimeters.

Feeling that it was not enough, Nathaniel continued to add strength to his sword.

–Bang!

The man's face crooked as the numbness bloomed within his grip.

–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!

The more his sword clashed with Nathaniel, the more vivid the tingling sensation filled his entire arm and now it began to tremble.

Looked like he made a mistake by choosing to stay here. Let alone finishing Adrian, he couldn't even keep up with Nathaniel.

At first, he thought that he should accomplish this quest no matter what because he never failed any mission ever since he joined the Mercenary.

Well, it seemed the record would be tarnished now, but it wasn't an issue for him, the most important thing right now was to get out of there alive.

Also, not to mention that he took so much time and the reinforcement would doubtlessly have reached around here somewhere.

–Whoosh!

The boy's blade cut through the air as the man leaped upward to distance himself.

Nathaniel followed suit and raised his sword. Seeing how the blade nigher, the man tried to jump once again but to no avail–something was pulling his feet.

He looked down and mud that was clenching his leg came into view.

He glanced behind Nathaniel and Adrian was seen stretching out his shaking hand.

Even in his dying state, that brat could still cast magic to bind him!

"You bastard!!"

Anger erupted within him but the more the struggle the tighter the mud squeezed him.

His brown eyes rolled when a shadow cast upon him and a sharp blade fell on him.

–Boom!

Black smoke spread throughout the surroundings and Nathaniel jumped out of it, he hastily used a Wind Elemental to dismiss the smoke.

Once the black fog dissipated, the boy's golden eyes caught a silhouette entering a forest.

"Hey!! Wait!!

Nathaniel took a step but immediately stopped. He looked down and thick red liquid dripped from his sword.

Nathaniel spun around and ran toward Adrian, he knelt once arrived next to his little brother.

"Ian, are you alright?"

Adrian weakly nodded and Nathaniel brought him to his arms.

He checked the cut on Adrian's abdomen and soon, an arc was drawn from the black-haired boy's lips when he saw the wound had closed.

"See? I told you! You'll be f–"

–Drop!

His smile vanished and Nathaniel's body hardened when he saw how Adrian's hand slumped lifelessly to the ground and his head glided sideways.

"...Ian?"

But there was no answer.

"I–Ian?"

He shook Adrian's body but there was no response.

"Ian, this is not funny."

Nathaniel's voice cracked up and unsettling feelings began to wash over him.

"Ian?"

He brought Adrian's face to face him, and yet, all he could see was his little brother's peaceful expression.

"Ah.. Ian.."

Nathaniel suppressed his panic and tried his best to stay calm, although his entire body started to tremble uncontrollably.

He quickly put his fingers under Adrian's nose but he couldn't feel anything.

Changing the plan, Nathaniel put his ears on his little brother's chest but he heard nothing.

Even so, he didn't give up and snatched Adrian's arm to feel his pulse.

This time, he could feel it but it was very subtle as if.. as if..

Tears slid down his face and Nathaniel shook his head.

"No.. no.. no.."

Sobs escaped his mouth and he held Adrian's hand tightly.

"Ian.. don't leave me again, please.."

His tears fell on Adrian's cheeks and he hugged him.

"Why are you so cruel to me?"