"What an opportunity."

That was what Mason thought the moment he heard that the club would be going on a trip. After all, he had been looking for an opportunity all this time, and now was the time.

Inside the academy, it was almost impossible to harm a student unless they could lure them to desolate locations. And their target wasn't that dumb, at least.

He had tried countless different things to lure her at night, but none of them succeeded. He even used as much of his powers and many other demonic artifacts before Sylvie could make a name for herself and attract the academy's attention.

However, none of them worked, and according to his intel, the girl had already shown signs of awakening, and that made it even harder for him to act.

From how she acted before, it was clear that something wasn't right with her, and that gave him a clue that she possibly knew about his identity.

Therefore, the moment the destination of the trip was concluded, he immediately prepared a small squad for this opportunity.

He wanted to bring more personnel, but it was almost close to impossible. Western Uxbridge City was under the heavy surveillance of the government and magic tower because of the researchers; therefore, entering there without spending a bunch of resources was almost impossible.

And they didn't have much time to prepare for this case, making their choices limited.

Even then, it was fine. After all, there was no advisor who came on this trip since he seemed busy with his grades for the papers. There was a high chance that he thought nothing important would happen in such a safe place.

The only ones that could possibly pose him a threat were the seniors, especially Maya Evergreen, but if he were careful about that, that would be okay.

Just like that, Mason meticulously devised his plans to capitalize on the opportunity the trip presented. His motives, veiled in the shadows, were driven by a sinister agenda aimed at Sylvie. The secrecy surrounding his actions suggested a cunning and calculated approach.

As the group dispersed to explore Western Uxbridge City, Mason trailed Astron and Sylvie from a distance.

That annoying guy was also always with her, and for some reason, he got a weird vibe from him. It was as if he couldn't sense his presence at all, and he himself had forgotten that he existed sometimes.

He also felt that guy glaring at him from time to time, but whenever he checked, he never saw his eyes on him.

In any case, he was annoyed by the existence of that guy, and now that they were together, he smirked internally.

'Let's see if you can glare at me like that this time as well.'

His movements were stealthy, a product of both his demonic abilities and his experience in covert operations. His keen eyes followed the duo as they navigated through the city's narrow streets and winding alleys.

They wandered around for quite a while. Most of the time, it was almost impossible to capture her because of the public attention, and the time was reaching its end.

However, at that moment, suddenly, the two entered a desolate alley where no one could be seen.

'Heh...You stupid fuckers.'

He immediately put a smirk on his face as he realized this was the opportunity they were looking for.

[Target confirmed. Get ready to engage.]

From the earbuds, he signaled the team.

[Understood, First.]

And then, after the notification came, they were now ready to strike. The team surrounded the two as they slowly created a small barrier to block the sounds with their demonic energy.

After that, he condensed his demonic energy, and it was the start of the fight.

*********

CLANK!

As the initial demonic converged mana was deflected by the dagger, the assailants immediately followed with their attacks, all of them with good precision.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

However, almost all of the attacks were deflected by Astron, holding his daggers.

CLANK!

As another one of the projectiles was deflected, Astron looked around with his eyes, counting the number of the assailants.

"Wha-?"

Sylvie was caught off-guard by the attack as she looked around. However, this time, different from the previous ones, she immediately gathered her attention.

"Stay close!" Astron shouted to Sylvie as they both faced their assailants. A group of hooded figures emerged from the shadows, their faces concealed, making it impossible to discern their intentions.

"Got it." Sylvie immediately took her position and started using her mana to give buffs to Astron. She had yet to understand how to fight, but even then, she knew her role well.

SWOOSH!

The hooded figures moved with uncanny speed, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

Astron and Sylvie, standing back-to-back, faced the encroaching threat. The air crackled with tension as the assailants circled their prey.

Astron's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly moved to intercept the first attacker with his increased stats. Now that he got Sylvie's buffs, his firepower and strength were far above normal.

SLASH!

His dual daggers met the assailant's weapon in a clash of steel. The crimson aura around Astron intensified, lending an eerie glow to his movements.

Sylvie focused her mana, creating a protective barrier around them. The hooded figures, undeterred, continued their relentless assault.

CLANK! CLANK!

The rhythmic clashes of metal echoed through the air as Astron parried the attacks, his movements a deadly dance.

SWOOSH!

One of the assailants lunged at Sylvie, aiming to exploit her position. However, Astron intercepted the attack, pushing the assailant back with a powerful strike. The hooded figure stumbled, momentarily disrupted.

However, even then, that wasn't the end.

SWOOSH!

Just as Astron seemed to have the situation under control, a sudden surge of demonic mana erupted from one of the assailants. An unexpected attack that carried a formidable force.

CLANK!

Astron managed to intercept the attack, but the sheer power behind it caught him off guard. The force of the impact sent vibrations through his daggers, and for a split second, he lost his foothold.

STAB!

And that momentarily loss of foothold became detrimental in the fight against higher numbers.

A spear made from demonic energy pierced his shoulder.

historical

"Grrr..."

He gritted his teeth as the pain flowed through.

"NOW!"

One of the assailants realized this was an opportunity created by the third one behind them, and he immediately followed the attack with another swing of his blade.

CLANK!

However, different from what he expected, his blade met with the dagger swing.

"How?"

His eyes opened wide as he realized the wound they had just made healed immediately. And then, he realized the reason for that was the girl.lightsnovel

'That must be the reason why they want her alive.'

Realizing that fact, he increased the distance from the two. The other one did the same.

"You are like a cockroach." He mumbled, his eyes locked on the boy before him.

[You don't need to keep others alive. You can kill him.]

At that moment, a small signal came from his earbuds.

[Really?]

[Yes. We only need the girl alive.]

The moment he confirmed, a smirk appeared on his face. Since their leader called it, he could only oblige.

'You can only blame yourself.'

He knew that Mason would not normally kill someone unnecessarily. It seemed this annoying guy got on his nerves.

The assailants, understanding that they no longer needed to hold back, intensified their assault. Astron, nursing the wound on his shoulder, prepared for the upcoming onslaught.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The three figures moved with synchronized precision; each strike imbued with dark mana. They aimed to overwhelm Astron and Sylvie through sheer force and coordination.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

Astron, despite the small dislocation on his shoulder, expertly parried the attacks. The crimson aura surrounding him flared, signifying that he was using a lot more mana than usual.

Sylvie, on the other hand, focused her mana on healing Astron's injuries.

'This time, it will be different.'

Her eyes glowed with a soft, soothing light as she channeled her energy into closing the wounds caused by the attackers.

She had convinced herself and readied for such moments. And now, she was doing her best, with all her focus on Astron.

CLANK!

lightsΝοvel But, even then, there were times when conviction would not be enough.

STAB! SWOOSH!

One of the assailants lunged at Astron with a demonic spear, aiming for a vulnerable spot. Astron, anticipating the attack, sidestepped and retaliated with a swift dagger thrust. The assailant staggered back, momentarily disoriented.

However, the other two assailants seized the opportunity. One unleashed a barrage of strikes, while the other channeled a surge of demonic energy into a devastating attack.

SLASH! STAB!

And their slash met with the flesh. Astron's body was pierced by the demonic blade, and he let out a grunt of pain. Sylvie, desperately maintaining her healing efforts, felt a surge of fear.

"NO!" she cried out, her voice cracking with emotion.

Astron, despite the excruciating pain, refused to collapse. His sheer willpower kept him on his feet, even as the assailants raised their weapons for a finishing blow.

"Die, you cockroach bastard."

One of the attackers smirked as his dagger was about to hit.

"STOP!"

The assailants, momentarily taken aback, turned their attention to Sylvie. She had a determined look on her face, and her eyes glowed with a fierce light. In an unexpected move, she swiftly produced a dagger and pressed it against her own neck.

"Leave him alone, or I'll end myself right here," Sylvie declared, her voice unwavering.

The assailants, uncertain about how to react, exchanged glances. The threat Sylvie posed to herself introduced a new element to the situation. She was willing to risk her own life to protect Astron.

It was as if she had realized their intention and their goal was her. Even from the start, none of them aimed for her life as well.

Astron widened his eyes as if he wasn't expecting Sylvie to do such a thing. But he needed to act his part.

"D-don't, do it."

However, the one holding the dagger couldn't help but shake his head.

"Heh..." With a smirk widening on his face, he laughed.

"Ahahahahahahaha..."

The assailant holding the dagger looked at Sylvie with a cruel glint in his eyes. "Go ahead, do it. If it's that easy for someone to kill herself, then go ahead. You little girl...Do you really think you can take your life?"

Sylvie's eyes didn't change as she looked at the assailant.

"Leave him alone, or I will do it."

However, the one holding the dagger couldn't help but shake his head.

"Heh..." With a smirk widening on his face, he laughed.

"Ahahahahahahaha..."

The assailant, seeing Sylvie's unwavering determination, narrowed his eyes. He exchanged a brief, silent communication with his companions, who remained tense and ready for any sudden moves.

"Kid. Drop that dagger," the assailant finally said, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Sylvie, maintaining her steely gaze, hesitated for a moment. The dagger trembled in her hand, but she didn't lower it. The assailant's irritation grew, realizing Sylvie's resolve was genuine.

"Fine, have it your way. But if you try anything funny, remember, your friend pays the price," he warned, withdrawing his dagger slightly.

After that, they left Astron on the ground, with his body tattered.

"N-no..."

He tried to reach Sylvie, but he couldn't.

The assailants, having momentarily subdued Astron and achieved their primary goal of capturing Sylvie alive, decided to leave Astron on the ground. His injuries were severe, but the assailants paid him little attention as they focused on their captive.

"Move, girl. And don't try anything funny if you care about your own life," he sneered, guiding Sylvie away from the wounded Astron.

'At least I saved him.'

Sylvie thought as she looked at Astron, feeling slightly fulfilled. For once in her life, she wanted to become useful to someone, and she didn't want to repeat the same experience she had at the dungeon.

However, she missed one thing.

One of the assailants, fueled by cruelty, turned back with a sinister grin. He summoned a demonic spear, channeling malevolent energy into its deadly form.

Astron, battered and weakened, realized the impending danger but was 'powerless' to defend himself. He strained to move, to escape the inevitable, but his body betrayed him. Sylvie's desperate cries filled the air, echoing in the alley.

"NO! Don't! Please, don't!"

But even then, the demonic spear, fueled by dark energy, thrust forward mercilessly, finding its mark in Astron's defenseless body.

And that was the last thing she had seen.

However, none of the assailants had noticed green mana attached to their bodies, and neither did they notice the small thing eating the demonic energy they had left in this place.