Liam stood over the fading remains of an Abyssal Wraith, watching as its dark, misty form dissipated into nothingness. His breathing was steady, his body reacting smoothly to each attack he had thrown. It was a noticeable difference from when he first started training.
Just a few weeks ago, prolonged fights would have left him aching and drained.
But now? Nothing.
His body was keeping up with him.
"So, this is what proper training does."
He mused, flexing his fingers as the remnants of his magic flickered away.
It was satisfying. The way his muscles obeyed without delay, how his magic flowed through him with precision. He had spent so long hiding his strength, but here, in the dungeon, there was no reason to hold back.
[EXP gained.]
The familiar notification flashed in his mind, signaling another step in his growth.
Satisfied, Liam turned his attention to the loot. The monsters he had slain had dropped a few items, but nothing particularly valuable.
Abyssal Dust, Cracked Soul Shard, Shadow-Touched Cloth.
All useful for crafting low-tier enchanted items but nothing that would bring in real money. He sighed and gathered what he could anyway—every bit counted.
Even if this run didn’t make him rich, it was still worth it.
The EXP alone made it worth the trip.
Still, he needed more.
Liam glanced around, deciding it was ti to move on.
The dungeon was large, and if he wanted to maximize his gains, he had to keep moving.
He adjusted his bag, nodded to himself, and started deeper into the ruins.
_______
"You forgot my food, human."
Asger, who had been lazily draped over Liam’s shoulders, let out a loud, dramatic sigh. His sharp tail flicked against Liam’s arm, showing his displeasure.
Liam didn’t even blink.
"I was more focused on making sure I didn’t die."
He replied dryly.
Asger huffed.
"An excuse. A poor one, at that. I, Azgarethorax Malfiros, the Abyssal Wyrm of Eternal Desolation, have never....oi, are you ignoring ?"
Liam ignored him and continued walking.
The deeper he went into the dungeon, the stronger the unease in his gut beca. It wasn’t a feeling of danger, not exactly—but rather, a feeling of being watched.
Liam’s pace slowed.
"Asger."
He murmured, voice low.
The half-dragon went rigid against his neck, his wings tightening.
"You feel it too."
It wasn’t a question.
Liam gave a small nod, eyes scanning his surroundings.
The feeling of being followed had grown too strong to ignore.
He adjusted his grip on his dagger, keeping his movents subtle. If he was being tracked, he didn’t want to give away that he knew.
He walked a few more steps, keeping his breathing even—
Then.
A sudden shift.
The air behind him crackled—
Liam spun on his heel, just as a blade sliced through the space he had just been standing in.
The assailant—a hooded figure dressed in dark, flexible gear—clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Should’ve known you’d notice."
Liam’s eyes narrowed.
The man was fast—faster than most people Liam had fought before. If he hadn’t been on guard, that attack might have landed.
And it wouldn’t have been just a scratch.
This wasn’t a normal encounter.
This was an ambush.
The assassin didn’t hesitate. The mont Liam dodged, another attack ca.
A dagger flashed in the dim dungeon light, aid directly for Liam’s throat.
Liam twisted, narrowly avoiding it. He brought up his own weapon in a counterattack, but his opponent was just as skilled. Their blades clashed, sparks flying from the force of impact.
Liam’s mind worked quickly. Who was this? Why were they after him?
This dungeon wasn’t supposed to be populated by anyone else at the mont—especially not soone skilled enough to sneak up on him.
A bounty hunter? An assassin? A test from Victor?
His opponent lunged again, forcing Liam to refocus.
He couldn’t afford distractions.
He channeled magic into his limbs, enhancing his speed and reaction ti. The next ti the assassin attacked, Liam t him head-on.
Steel t steel. Magic flared.
Liam ducked low, slipping past an overhead strike, and delivered a sharp kick to his opponent’s ribs. The assassin grunted but didn’t stumble, instead twisting with the montum and bringing his dagger down again.
Liam barely got his weapon up in ti.
The force behind the attack sent a sharp vibration up his arm. This guy was strong.
Too strong to be a random enemy.
"This isn’t so common thug. He’s trained. Be careful"
Asger muttered, coiled tightly around Liam’s neck.
Liam didn’t need the warning.
He could already tell.
But that wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that he wasn’t sure if he could afford to go all out.
He had spent so long hiding his strength, and if this was an enemy from the academy, revealing too much here could lead to trouble.
Still, he wasn’t going to let himself get killed just because of caution.
Liam shifted his stance, drawing more magic into his blade. The next ti the assassin struck, Liam t him with force.
Their weapons clashed in a blinding burst of energy.
The shockwave sent both of them skidding backward.
The assassin stared at Liam, his covered face unreadable. "Interesting," he murmured.
Liam didn’t answer.
He was watching. Waiting.
For the next attack.
For an opening.
For anything that would give him the advantage.
The assassin moved first.
This ti, Liam was ready.
He sidestepped the initial strike, caught the assassin’s wrist mid-attack, and drove his knee into his gut. The assassin coughed, but instead of pulling away, he twisted.
A dagger appeared in his free hand, slashing toward Liam’s side.
Liam barely managed to jump back in ti.
The two stared at each other.
A pause.
A test of patience.
Then, just as Liam prepared to attack again—
The assassin... stepped back.
"I see,"
He murmured.
Liam didn’t relax.
Not yet.
"You’re more capable than I was told,"
The assassin continued.
Liam’s fingers tightened around his weapon.
"What do you an by that?"
The assassin chuckled.
"You’ll find out soon enough."
Before Liam could react, the air distorted around the assassin’s body.
Then—he was gone.
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