Damn! Originally, Nightshade Vale had only intended to exchange a few blows with Kaito—just enough to chip away at his arrogance. Never in his wildest expectations did he think he'd be forced into a relentless retreat instead. His pride as an expert refused to admit defeat in a normal exchange, but the truth was undeniable.
The Flaming Solstice Blade was already arcing toward him again, the silver flames licking its edge like a predator ready to pounce. Gritting his teeth, Nightshade Vale used Block, his daggers crossing in a desperate defense. One more direct hit from that blazing sword, and he knew he'd be finished.
Not good. Time to leave. The gap between our stats is just too wide.
After clashing head-on with Kaito, he understood the disparity between them all too clearly—especially that eerie silver flame. Every time his equipment met it, the durability dropped alarmingly. His silver-ranked dagger could endure for now, losing only a small amount with each impact, but the Mysterious Iron–rank armor he had worked so hard to obtain was already suffering. A single stab from Kaito had stripped away over a quarter of its total durability. If this continued, his entire set would crumble, leaving him exposed and helpless.
Without the attributes his gear provided, he wouldn't last more than a few seconds against Kaito's assault. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted.
"You can't escape."
Kaito's voice was calm, but his steps were a blur. Activating Wind veil Steps and mana steps again, he moved like a phantom, closing the gap in the blink of an eye. His blade danced, releasing a storm of sixteen sword images that closed in from every direction. The flames trailing from each stroke surged together, forming a wall of searing heat meant to swallow Nightshade Vale whole.
Nightshade Vale's eyes widened. There was no way to block so many strikes at once. In a flash, he activated Wind Steps, the brief one-second invincibility nullifying the assault before boosting his speed to its peak. Without missing a beat, he slipped into stealth.
"I said—you cannot get away."
Kaito vaulted forward, the Dragon Fang in his off-hand roaring to life as fire and lightning merged along its edge. The explosive energy of Blazing Thunder Clash ripped toward the assassin's escape path.
Nightshade Vale's instincts screamed at him. He had seen this move before, back when Kaito fought Gravemind's team—it was devastating. He immediately triggered Vanish, using its one-second invincibility to evade both the impact and the stunning effect.
But now… his arsenal was empty. All his lifesaving skills were gone.
Just like last time, he leapt toward the treeline, aiming to lose Kaito among the branches. But the moment his feet left the ground—
Boom!
A Cryo Core Orb detonated at the exact spot where he had used Vanish. The icy explosion locked his legs in place mid-motion, frost crackling up his boots. His stealth shattered instantly, leaving him exposed. Though the orb didn't deal damage, its control effect was more than enough.
Kaito's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "Got you."
Once again, sixteen blazing sword images erupted from the Solstice Blade, driving straight for Nightshade Vale's unguarded form.
This time, Nightshade Vale had no choice but to pour every ounce of skill into defense, his daggers a blur as he intercepted the flurry of strikes.
Two sword images—blocked.
Four—parried with gritted teeth.
Six—his arms trembled under the relentless force.
By the time he deflected the eleventh, his defense finally cracked. The remaining sword images crashed through his guard like a tidal wave.
One after another, red damage numbers erupted above his head. –312! –348! –402! –397! Each strike bit deep, and the silver flames seared through his armor like acid. At the same time, the durability of his gear plummeted at an alarming rate.
By the time his HP hit zero, the armor he had painstakingly gathered over countless hours was nothing more than shattered scraps. The loss struck him like a physical blow. He clenched his jaw so hard it hurt, fury and heartbreak twisting his expression. All that effort… gone in moments.
The only solace—if it could even be called that—was that his two silver-ranked daggers, as precious to him as his own life, had somehow survived the destruction.
Then, his body hit the forest floor with a dull thud, an expression of unwillingness still etched on his face. Moments later, it dissolved into motes of light, carried away by the wind.
"I told you—you're not getting away," Kaito said coldly. His gaze shifted to the silver-colored dagger lying among the loot, its gleaming edge glinting like moonlight. "I'll gratefully accept this."
He bent down, picking it up and turning it in his hand. The blade was so sharp it seemed to slice the air with every subtle movement. A weapon of this caliber was exceedingly rare.
Just by holding it, he could feel the faint vibration of condensed killing intent radiating from the blade.
He quickly pulled up the item panel.
[Assassin's Dagger] (Dagger, Silver Rank)
Level Requirement: 12
Attack Power: +81
Strength: +10
Agility: +15
Attack Speed: +8%
Durability: 35/60
Additional Passive Skill – Sharp Edge:
Attacks have a 15% chance to cause an Armor Break effect, reducing the target's Defense by 50% for 10 seconds. (Non-stackable)
Class Restriction: Assassin
With such high attack power and agility, it was no wonder Nightshade Vale had been able to inflict such devastating damage earlier. The Assassin's Dagger was clearly crafted for one purpose—to maximize an assassin's killing potential through sheer speed and precision. For agility-focused assassins, it was a dream weapon.
By Kaito's estimation, this dagger alone was worth at least one gold coin. With its loss, Nightshade Vale would face a long and painful road to recovery.
Kaito studied the weapon with a faint smile tugging at his lips. Not long ago, he had been wary of the man who stalked him from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But now, thanks to the Whisper Flame, he had turned the tables—thoroughly beating Nightshade Vale and stripping him of everything in the process.
Not only had Nightshade Vale lost a level, but every piece of equipment he wore had been destroyed. To make matters worse for the assassin, he had dropped his prized dagger upon death. It would be a long time before Nightshade Vale could muster the strength to come after him again.
The forest around him remained silent, the only sound the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. Satisfied, Kaito sheathed his weapon and resumed his journey, heading straight for the Black Market's teleportation area.
Kaito crossed the shallow ravine and entered a familiar clearing, where silent stone spires stood like ancient sentinels. Their faint runes pulsed as he approached.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and spoke the same phrase as before.
"Vereska Tal."
The runes flared crimson. A heartbeat later, the air rippled and folded inward, revealing a circular platform of black marble that rose smoothly from the earth. At its center, a single floating sigil turned slowly, radiating a faint, cold light.
[Hidden Formation Detected – Black Market Gateway (Old World Anchor)]
[Access Granted – Known Password]
[Teleportation Initiating…]
Stepping onto the formation, Kaito felt the familiar pull as the forest dissolved around him. In the next instant, the underground expanse of the Black Market unfolded before his eyes.
...
While, Kaito was in the midst of finalizing his transaction with Selvera
South Glade Town – Lower District
Nightshade Vale sat slouched in his chair inside the bar, a half-empty bottle in hand. He drank in silence, the faint clink of glass against wood punctuating the oppressive atmosphere around him.
Those who noticed his presence gave him a wide berth, instinctively retreating to the far edges of the room. It wasn't just his reputation—it was the palpable killing intent rolling off him in heavy waves, like a predator barely leashing its fury. No one in their right mind wanted to test whether that simmering wrath might turn on them.