---
Chapter 15: Spy and Assassination
Jefel said nothing as the duo left. He slipped the badge and keys into the recognition point on the door. With a creak, the door opened, and he stepped inside. It closed silently behind him.
Cool air washed over him, glowing orange lights flickered to life. The room was simple yet luxurious for an academy dorm. He slid the badge and keys into his robe—
Tink—
[System Notice]
Objectives:
—Survive first week without forfeiting badge.
—Defeat at least one rival challenger.
Rewards: Hidden.
Failure: Badge confiscated → Expulsion.
"What… the…"
His thought was cut short.
CLAAANG—!!
Tink—
[Battle Instinct Autonomy: Activated]
A blade whistled toward his throat. His hand moved instinctively, silverfang lightning dagger flashing into existence, catching the strike. His heart pounded—he hadn't sensed the assassin until the very last second.
A figure in black robes and a cloth mask stood before him.
Tink—
[System Alert: Assassination]
—Assassin detected—
—Invisibility Magic Robe: Grade (Dominion Rank)—
"What the hell… how did you get here? Who are—"
CLANGGG—!!
Another strike, this time from behind. He spun, blocking by instinct again.
A second assassin stepped from the shadows, also clad in black, a strange obsidian mask hiding his face.
Tink—
[System Alert: Second Assassination]
—Second assassin detected—
—Invisibility Magic Mask: Grade (Dominion Rank)—
Quest Unlocked: Defeat assassins.
Reward: ???
Failure: Death ☠️
"What!!? Two against one?" Jefel snarled. Fury boiled in his chest. "Who sent you!?"
One assassin stepped forward, voice cold.
"Don't worry. Your death will be swift if you allow it. Don't bother screaming—no one will hear you. We are of the Black Assassin Clan… and we're here for your lif—"
A predator's howl tore from Jefel's throat.
"HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT MY LIFE!?"
TRANSFORM!
Tink—
[Predator Transformation Activated: 10 seconds]
"Predatory Beast Art—Devouring Fang Blitz!"
BOOM—!!
Lightning exploded across the dorm. His aura flared wild, predatory, leaving streaks of orange, blue, red, and silver in its wake.
The assassins stiffened instantly, danger alarms shrieking in their instincts. One barely evaded the first slash.
"Stron—!!"
TINNN! CLANG!
The other was cut short as four lightning-charged darts shot from Jefel's side, hounding him relentlessly. Each dart seemed alive, striking with uncanny precision, as if mocking him.
Shadows danced in the edges of their vision, whispering with glee. The assassins' spines went cold.
"This… this is a mistake," thought the one clashing blades with Jefel. His eyes widened—Jefel was mirroring his movements, copying his style blow for blow. And worse…
A faint glow of elemental essence flickered around Jefel's body.
"What!? No… he's… copying my affinity!?"
Panic struck. With each exchange, Jefel grew faster, sharper, stronger. The assassin, on the other hand, felt himself slowing—his robe barely keeping him alive. And those whispers… eldritch, ancient… knowledge no mortal should hear. Dizzy, weak, he faltered—
BOOM!
A lightning strike crashed from above, slamming into him. He staggered.
Another from the left—CRACK!
Then the right—BOOM!
Lightning rained from all directions. His breaths came ragged. "Such… a monster…" he thought, barely able to raise his arm.
"Predatory Beast Art—Second Form: Flash
STREEWAK!"
BOOOOM!!
The assassins froze. Their instincts screamed death.
"P-please, mercy—"
Too late.
Jefel blurred forward, dagger glowing with lightning and elemental coatings—flames, wind, stone shards laced into the blade.
SWISH—!!
He passed the first assassin.
SLICE—!!
Momentum carried him through the second.
At the far end, he halted, dagger still humming, eyes glowing like molten suns.
SPLAAASH—!!
Blood sprayed.
THUD. THUD.
Two heads rolled across the floor.
Jefel panted, chest rising and falling, his predator form crackling with dying arcs of lightning.
Tink—
[Assassins Defeated]
[Microscopic Effect: A rare phenomenon allowing the user to replicate elemental traits at the atomic/subatomic level, influencing physical reality.]
His robe buzzed—
-EXP Credits achieved and recorded : 20.-
—82% to next level—
Jefel nodded faintly.
"Assimilate."
Tink—
[System Assimilation Complete]
The corpses dissolved. Blood vanished.
Without a word, he discarded the dagger, stripped off his blood-stained student robe, and headed to the washroom.
The battle had ended—
But the assassins' shadows still lingered in his mind.