The rumbling thunder was no longer heard and the downpouring heavy rain had changed into a drizzle.
A shivering wind passed by them as they exchanged stares.
"I'm amazed by your serenity, Prince."
Adrian looked at him nonchalantly.
"I have been studying you since our first appearance in the forest, and yet, not for a split second did you change your expression–you remained indifferent. You seemed to be used to this kind of situation, huh."
That was because of his job back in his previous life.
But hey, talking with that man was not a bad idea since it could buy him time to recover some of his Mana and Stamina, and so, Adrian responded.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course, you should."
The man chuckled and spoke.
"I won't beat around the bush. Adrian, I'm interested in you, why don't you join me?"
"Your point?"
"Actually, those assassins aren't my subordinates. They're originally from the House that hired me."
Well, that explained a lot as to why he remained immobile all the time; he was studying this boy.
"Honestly speaking, you are the first Elementalist, who managed to dodge my attack. I'm impressed and judging from your previous movement, it appears that you are an all-rounder."
Ah, it seemed this guy had mistaken him for an all-rounder because he managed to evade his attack; which was completely wrong.
Adrian had a hunch that it was his gift that gave him a sight of the future, if not because of it, he would have died right now.
"I know you're fully aware that you can't defeat me, right?"
"Yes."
It was true, Adrian had calculated and the result was about a 10% chance of winning and 90% of losing; which also ensured his death.
"You are too precious to die, you know. You have value."
The man continued.
"Then why don't you join me? With that, I can fake your death and you can be my partner afterward. It's a win-win solution."
It was indeed a tempting proposal but he wasn't interested in becoming an assassin.
"Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline."
He hummed and shrugged.
"That's… unfortunate, then."
The man threw a knife at him and Adrian swung his weapon.
–Bang!
The moment the knife changed direction, the assassin was already in front of him with a sword that was ready to jab his neck.
Adrian took a step back to evade the attack and jumped backward.
The man hopped forward and raised his sword once again.
–Bang!
Their weapons collided and they continued to exchange blows.
–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!
Adrian clucked his tongue inwardly. He wasn't fond of how this was going.
He was pushed every time their weapons clashed, and his hand began to get numb.
Simply put, his strength was too much for him and in the end, Adrian leaped backward to distance himself.
However, the man didn't let him do as Adrian pleased.
He dashed at him and Adrian sent a flying earth spear in his direction to block his path.
The man did a backflip athletically and the spear hit the ground behind him.
–Boom!
The assassin lifted his sword and made a cut.
–Bang!
Their weapons collided and sparks of metal burst as their blades bound.
"Are you sure you won't join me?"
He asked once again and Adrian answered firmly.
"I'm sorry."
"It can't be helped then."
"Cough!"
Blood jumped out from Adrian's mouth right after the assassin's knee hit the boy's abdomen.
When the bound of their blades loosened, he grabbed the boy's neck and lifted his sword.
But before the man could thrust his weapon, Adrian kicked his chest, and distance was created.
Adrian landed on his knee and the assassin was seen sprinting at him. Wasting no time Adrian chanted a spell.
Sensing something coming from the ground, the man hopped upward.
–Thrust!
An earth spike shot out under his previous foothold, he jumped once again and this continued for a few times.
–Thrust! –Thrust! –Thrust!
"Cough, cough!"
And it eventually stopped when Adrian threw up a handful of blood. The man stood there and watched the boy in silence.
Adrian spat the last remaining blood in his mouth and wiped it with the back of his hand without removing his eyes from the assassin.
It looked like he overdid his magic; his Mana Exhaustion symptoms came back.
Adrian forced his feet to stand and he staggered before he was able to stand straight.
"Haa… haa…"
His breath was haggard; mimicked a fish that came out of the water. Adrian was tired beyond words.
His sights began to blur once again, his head was throbbing in pain, and his body felt numb and tingling with agony–he was at his limit.
Yet, regardless of all of them, Adrian readied his weapon and stood on guard for his last clutch.
The rain had stopped and the chilly wind danced around the surrounding area.
Rays of light descended from the sky down to earth as the sun slowly revealed itself behind the dark clouds.
After a long lull, the man opened his mouth.
"This is your last chance. Join me, Adrian."
"I'm good. Thanks."
"Tsk. How persistent."
He sighed and said no more. With that, he began to run and sent three flying daggers at the boy.
Adrian raised his dagger and swung it.
–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!
One by one the knife stabbed the soil and when he saw the assassin's blade rush in, Adrian lifted his dagger.
–Bang!
=====
Their blades clashed and Adrian's foothold slid backward; he was pushed a few centimeters due to their gap in strength.
"Goodbye."
"Urf!"
Adrian's mouth was oozing out blood; the assassin used his left hand to stab the boy's heart with a dagger.
The man pulled his dagger and Adrian fell on his knee, then everything turned blackout.
=====
–Bang!
Adrian was startled when a deafening clash of metal was heard.
'The sight!'
His foothold glided backward in the mud and the moment he saw the assassin's lips move, without much thinking, Adrian used his remaining power and smacked the man's left hand holding a dagger.
"Goodbye."
–Stab!
"Urk!"
Blood gushed out from Adrian's wound. He looked down and a dagger was seen planted on his abdomen.
He failed to dodge it.
This content is taken from freewebnove(l).com