Linfei pushed deeper into the Azure Forest, adrenaline buzzing from his recent Wolf Pack victory. The dense woods echoed with distant roars, screams, and the clanger of battle—there was no safety in this realm.
Suddenly, three shadowy figures slipped from behind the trees, faces shrouded beneath dark hoods, their movements swift and silent. Linfei's senses flared a warning; these were not ordinary contestants—they were assassins. The leader hissed, "Die, Linfei!" and lunged with twin daggers glinting with poison.
The battle erupted, tooth and nail. The assassins fought with ruthless precision, striking from blind angles and swirling through the mist. One darted around Linfei's guard, aiming a poisoned blade for his side; another circled, hurling metal darts from the shadows. The third, perched high on a gnarled branch, loosed arrows in rapid succession, forcing Linfei to weave and duck, seeking cover behind ancient trunks.
Caught off guard by the coordinated attack, Linfei reeled from defensive to desperate counterattacks. The forest became chaos—a blur of flashing steel and whistling arrows. He forced calm, drawing on the power of his silver ring to amplify his reflexes and perception, gradually adapting to their assassin skills. He began matching their stealthy strikes, countering with his own swirling footwork and iron fist strikes.
Realizing he was outnumbered and surrounded, Linfei devised a fainting strategy. He feigned exhaustion, staggering just long enough for two assassins to rush in for the kill. Using his ring's energy, he exploded into action, catching one with a sweeping kick and disarming the other instantly. The assassin dropped his blade, shocked by Linfei's speed, and with a final burst, Linfei struck his head, knocking him senseless.
The archer gasped seeing Linfei's abrupt attack succeed, and for a moment hesitated atop his perch. Linfei snatched up a fallen dart and hurled it through the leaves, forcing the archer to retreat into the shadows.
As the forest resettled, Linfei breathed heavily, surrounded by carnage and distant cries for help. He had killed one assassin, fought off the rest, but knew he'd need to stay vigilant—danger wasn't over, and silent killers still stalked the woods.
With renewed determination, Linfei pressed deeper into the forest, resolved to outlast assassins, monsters, and rivals alike—his will unyielding, and every battle forging the legend of his ascent.