Zander Tecson, what he was dealing with this time, was supposed to be a delicate task that he didn't even need to sweat for.

Zander was used to fighting at the frontlines. He was never the slightest bit daunted by any challenge he faced, be it a minor or a major battle.

He had dealt with high-level dungeons before and had even survived alone once. Wasn't that an outstanding achievement?

At 45, he managed to reach level 180 in Yunatea. The average hunter can only reach level 150 at that age, and only a rare few could reach level 200 at age 50.

And what made his blood boil this time was that the damn boy in front of him had dared to mention his daughter. It was an intolerable insult that deserved only death as retribution.

"How dare you talk about my daughter?" Zander spoke after a few seconds of silence.

"Daughter?" The youth in front of him answered and showed a confused face.

"How dare you talk about my daughter, and now you act like you know nothing about it!"

Zander clenched his fists, his breath coming out heavily. Never in his life had he felt angry like this. That damn young man, who was on a timer rapidly winding down to his death, had dared to provoke his anger.

"Eh... Mr. Zander. Can we skip this vent session, and enter the main session today? I mean, I can't wait to see you lose and be fooled by your own pride." Nathan answered.

"You don't need to worry, because I can destroy you in seconds. Do you have any death wishes, kid?"

"Huh? Really? You can grant wishes? Are you a genie?"

Nathan walked slowly towards Zander until they were face to face. At such close range, there was no way he could escape if Zander decided to kill him immediately. Unless, of course, he had tricks up his sleeve.

"Why don't you tell me the reason as to why you are coming after me? Have I done anything wrong to you? Or whoever ordered you to kill me?" Nathan lifted his face so he could still face the towering Zander.

"What a waste of time, but I will answer your questions, so you don't become a wandering spirit."

"Go on, tell me."

Zarden's heavy breathing could still be heard clearly behind his skull mask. "Someone wants something from you."

"Hmmm... Really? From someone as weak as me? Then why did I have to die for it? Can't you, or that person, ask me nicely? What do you get from doing this job? Money? Fame? Power?"

Zander was silent for a moment, hearing Nathan's answer.

"I need money. I need a lot of resources. And that I can only get by doing these despicable jobs."

Nathan nodded his head slowly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"I will pay you double what that person gave you. By simply doing the same thing that person asked you to do. Kill that person for me." Nathan answered calmly.

Zander smiled faintly at Nathan's words. He was silent for a moment before bursting out laughing. His incredulous laughter started lightly before ending up in an uproarious, belly-full laughter that almost killed him.

"Do you have any other questions? I've wasted enough time in this place." He finally asked Nathan after he finished laughing.

"Tell me how much that person paid you. We'll make a contract. I'll pay you double."

"If only.." Zander raised his hand, pointing at Nathan. "If only you mentioned nothing about my daughter. You've dug your own grave, kid."

"It's never too late, Zander. Make a contract with me, and we'll end your business with me. Because, frankly, I'm pretty confident I can beat you here."

"We'd better end this nonsense." Zander responded slowly, his hands clenched into fists even harder.

"Wait.." Nathan raised his right hand. "Last question. Tell me who sent you."

"Bastian Brian."

"Huh? Hmmm, okay, thanks."

Nathan nodded slowly, then turned around and walked away.

After getting enough distance, Nathan turned around and took out the black sword in his right hand. He was immediately in a fighting stance.

Zander tossed his head left and right, stretching his muscles. "I'll finish you in seconds."

A burst of energy instantly exploded from around Zarden's body. The impact of the explosion cracked the ground around his feet. In a split second, he darted swiftly toward Nathan.

"Master Nathan... No, no, no, no..." Luna screamed and darted toward Nathan, but she stopped immediately when she realized something.

Nathan remained silent on the spot and smiled when Zander's fist aimed at his chest.

"Goodbye kid."

In no time at all, as if time had stopped, Nathan's body stood on the same spot as Zander's hand had pierced his chest.

Luna floated around them, gasping for air.

However, before and even after Zander's fist pierced his body, Nathan was still smiling. "At least this fight won't be over in a matter of seconds, right? Mr. Zander?"

Zander jolted in surprise, turning to face Nathan, who vanished like fog.

Zander jumped backward, and he saw Nathan, or rather many Nathans, surrounding him. There were 5 copies of Nathans standing around him, clapping lightly with a faint smile.

"Ha ha ha ha.. Zander.. Are you surprised? This is just an opening.. I have more surprises for you."

Zander smiled faintly and narrowed his eyes. "You think I can be fooled by a cheap trick like this?"

A burst of energy instantly shot out of Zander's surroundings. He stomped his feet quickly and darted toward Nathan once more.

Zander threw his hand at the first Nathan, and the young man's body disappeared like before.

With a light jump, Zander swiftly slammed his fist into all the remaining Nathans. But they all always came back from various directions.

All the Nathans who were running towards Zander raised their swords which were engulfed in flames, after which hurricanes of energy flames shot simultaneously from various directions towards Zander.

Zander just smiled faintly and let the illusory flames hit his body. However, the last fire throw was real, and managed to deal a blow to his back.

Zander immediately turned and ran towards the final Nathan, who had given him the previous attack.

"Die you, kid."

Zander grabbed Nathan by the neck and strangled him, but the boy smiled and disappeared again like fog.historical

Zander gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. He immediately ran and attacked whenever the other Nathans appeared around him.

"You little bitch, deal with me properly if you are as strong as you say!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

All of Nathans laughed at the same time. Some only had time to open their mouths before their bodies were crushed by Zander's punch.

Zander relentlessly attacked every Nathan that appeared, even as he also received several ranged attacks on his body.

"You piece of shit!!!"

A sword pierced his waist. Zander turned to the side and found Nathan smiling slightly at him. Then the young man immediately disappeared from his sight.

"ARGGHHH..."

Zander started to move wildly. He threw his punches in all directions, the ground, the trees that stood in his way, and all of Nathan's clones that kept appearing to attack him.

Until, at some point, he stopped in place, straining against something holding him back from moving. Black-colored energy flowed from the ground and entangled his body like dozens of tentacles, forcing him to stop in place.

A sword stabbed his body from behind, right in his heart.

"Nathan!!! Cut off his head." A youth shouted behind Zander. It was Marco.

"You stupid bitch, how dare you conspire to gang up on me?"

Nathan appeared before Zander from thin air, holding a black sword that he immediately threw at Zander's neck.

However, Zander managed to move his body again. He caught Nathan's blade with his teeth.

Zander smiled at the helplessness of the youth in front of him.

However, another slash of a sword landed on him from the side, right in the neck, as Nathan's body before him vanished from the air.

Blood gushed out from Zander's neck. He turned to the side and found Nathan straining to complete his attack.

In a blink of an eye, there was a huge explosion from the sword blade that stuck in his neck.

Nathan exhaled, then gritted his teeth and tightened the grip of his sword.

With all his might, Nathan threw his sword aside, making a deep slash in Zander's neck.

Blood spurted out of his neck once more.

Nathan made another slash, and finally, Zander's head was ripped from his body.

The man's blood splashed down Nathan's face. It was the first human that he had killed with his own hands.

[You've killed Zander Tecson Beginner Lv. 100]

[You received 41,067 experience]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level: Unranked Lv. 47]

[Exp: 1,477/8,382]

A series of notifications appeared in front of Nathan, indicating that he had actually succeeded in killing his opponent.

Nathan stood still as Zander's body fell to the ground.

The gust of wind created by Zander's massive body hitting the ground made Nathan realize that he had really killed someone for the first time.

Nathan dropped the hand that was holding the sword slowly. His hand was covered with blood, too.

"Nathan..." Marco called him softly.

Nathan looked to the side and realized that what he had done would not have worked without Marco's help, however...

"Never let your guard down." Marco smiled slightly at him.

[Blue Bar (Mana):-]

[Green Bar (Energy): 10%]

[Yellow Bar (Will Power): 10%]

Black energy rose from the ground and entangled Nathan's body, the same energy that had previously restrained Zander's movements.

Dozens of black tentacles extended all over Nathan's body, making his already weakened body stiffen.

Nathan turned to Marco. He wanted to say something, but his mouth was sealed.

Marco walked slowly with a cane to help support his body in front of Nathan.

"Do you think I'm on your side, Nathan? Fool. Finally, My Victory"