Arthur crouched, his cold gaze boring into the assassin's. "Who sent you?"
The assassin tried to speak, but his jaw wouldn't budge.
Arthur sighed. "Fine." With a flick of his wrist, he loosened the bind around the assassin's mouth.
"I wasn't sent by anyone. I just wanted the loot!"
Arthur's katana pressed harder against his throat. "Lie to again, and I'll make sure your death isn't quick."
"I wasn—"
Before the words fully left his mouth, Arthur's arm blurred into motion.
THUD.
The sound echoed, dull and heavy, as the assassin's right arm hit the ground, severed cleanly at the shoulder. Blood spurted from the wound, but Arthur was already ahead—using Shadow Bind to constrict the blood flow, stopping the assassin from bleeding out too quickly.
The pain registered a heartbeat later.
"ARGHH!" The assassin's scream tore through the forest, raw and panicked. He staggered, his eyes wild as he looked down at the stump where his arm had been monts ago.
Arthur crouched in front of him, face devoid of emotion, katana dripping crimson. "I'll ask again. Who sent you?"
The assassin's chest heaved, blood pooling at his feet. He gritted his teeth, sweat mixing with dirt on his face. "N-No one sent ... I—I saw your post in the guild... thought I could—"
Arthur's blade flicked again.
THUD.
The man's other arm fell to the ground.
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Another scream, louder this ti, filled the forest. Tears mixed with blood on the assassin's face as he writhed against the Shadow Bind.
Arthur stood over him, his voice like ice. "Stop lying. You had tracking skills, cloaking, and you're strong enough to tail unnoticed. You don't just happen to find . So… who sent you?"
The assassin panted, his body shaking, but still, he refused to speak.
Arthur sighed, frustrated. "You're persistent. I'll give you that."
He squatted down, eyes locking onto the assassin's. "I'll make this simple. Give a na, and I'll end it now. Clean, quick. Refuse, and I'll drag this out. I'll heal you, over and over, and make sure you feel every second of it."
The assassin's lips trembled. "Y-You won't... You wouldn't…"
Arthur's face darkened. "Want to try?"
For a mont, the assassin hesitated—then sothing flickered in his eyes. A decision.
'He's given up.'
"I... I'll tell you..." the assassin croaked, leaning forward slightly. "But... I... I need to whisper it... in case... soone's watching..."
Arthur's instincts flared. 'Sothing's off.'
He stepped back slightly, keeping the katana raised. "No whispers. Say it loud."
The assassin's face contorted with pain and rage. "Then I have nothing to say."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "So be it."
With one swift motion, he sliced off the assassin's left leg. Blood spurted before Shadow Bind tightened again, cutting off the flow.
"ARGHHH!" The assassin's scream echoed through the trees, birds scattering into the sky.
Arthur leaned closer, his voice cold and detached. "You think this is bad? You haven't even begun to suffer."
The assassin's breathing grew shallow, pain clouding his mind—but sothing else was there too.
Desperation. And sothing worse—resolve.
Arthur noticed it a second too late.
"It was..." The assassin said.
A faint red glow spread across the assassin's chest. Runes ignited, hidden beneath his armor, pulsing with unstable energy.
"Shit!" Arthur leaped backward.
The assassin's face twisted into a bloodied smile. "You're... coming with ."
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted, the shockwave tearing through the forest. Dirt and blood flew in all directions, the impact shattering trees and sending Arthur flying backward.
Arthur hit the ground hard, rolling as a violent shockwave ripped through the clearing. Shards of bone and chunks of flesh rained down, splattering the surrounding trees in blood.
A ringing echoed in his ears, but he forced himself to stand, katana raised, his breathing heavy.
Smoke and dust swirled where the assassin had been.
"A self-detonation spell? No… that was a failsafe." Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Whoever sent him didn't want him talking."
His katana dripped with blood. The remains were scattered—a charred ribcage here, a mangled arm there—but nothing salvageable. Even the man's head had been obliterated.
Arthur clenched his jaw. 'Self-detonation...this isn't a normal organisation.'
He glanced at the spot where the assassin had been bound. "He almost slipped… he was about to say sothing—'The...' What?"
[You have killed the level 18 assassin George]
Arthur's eyes landed on the notification, and an idea ca into his mind.
He had only killed two native humans since arriving in Armageddon—the first being the bandit who had tried to capture Jasmine when they t, and now, George.
His heart raced. 'If this works...'
Arthur activated his Primordial Summoner talent. Instantly, his consciousness was pulled into a pitch-black void, swirling with faint whispers and cold energy. It was the sa place where he had first summoned his beasts.
But now, among the spectral forms of monsters, two distinct silhouettes stood out—humanoid figures. Arthur's eyes narrowed, focusing on the latest addition.
'George.'
Arthur's consiousness returned from the dark void.
"Awaken."
A dark portal suddenly appeared in front of him, and swirling dark energy appeared. Shortly after, a human figure erged from the portal.
The assassin stood there, lifeless, eyes vacant, yet sohow waiting—bound to Arthur's will. He bent one knee, as he stared at the ground beneath Arthur's foot.
[You have summoned the human 'George'. Would you like to rena it?]
Arthur dismissed the prompt. 'No need to rena him. He'll serve better as himself.'
Arthur stepped forward. "George."
"Yes, Master," George said, although, telepathically.
Arthur's heart pounded. It had worked. He could summon humans, not just beasts. More importantly—he could extract information from them.
"Can you talk outloud?" He asked the question that was on his mind.
George shook his head.
'I am unable to. It seems like there is so sort of restriction master.'
Arthur frowned and nodded. He decided to not dwell on the matter.
'It's not like i will be able to solve it anyway.'
"Who sent you to kill ?"
George's blank eyes flickered slightly at the question.
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