Ke Luoyi screamed, simultaneously complaining loudly in her mind.
To cause such destruction with bare hands, without relying on magic, this person is simply a pervert, meow!
Amidst the flying dust, Runova's body suddenly crouched, her steps like a lion or tiger treading the earth, dashing to the position where Ke Luoyi had fallen, both fists descending with a whistling wind pressure.
"Now, it's my turn!"
In the nick of time, Ke Luoyi's cat tail wrapped around the eaves, forcibly adjusting her posture in mid-air.
The moment she blocked the heavy punch with her dagger, her tiger's mouth throbbed with pain, almost making her spit blood on the spot.
This person's arm strength is superior to mine!
Ke Luoyi immediately recognized this fact.
Ugh… a cat isn't meant for direct combat. Just holding out this long should be enough for that person to escape, right?
That's right, after understanding Rhode, Ke Luoyi never even thought of killing him!
He's not a scumbag who's committed all sorts of evil, and he's a handsome man with excellent demeanor; how could she possibly lay a hand on him!
This was probably her only sense of restraint.
The reason she came to track Rhode today was actually just to feign an assassination, to warn him that he was being targeted.
Later, sensing a peers nearby, she had no choice but to act early, using the bottle to warn Rhode and draw out the other party!
A 100% assassination success rate throughout her career sounds cool.
But if she planned to retire, it would definitely be a dangerous negative buff!
So, the clever Black Cat had a flash of inspiration.
If my last commission in my career actively failed, wouldn't that be equivalent to breaking the flag early?
This was also one of the reasons she didn't intend to truly strike from the beginning.
If she still needed to convince herself and give herself a reliable reason for acting against her usual style.
Then it was probably because the client was disgusting in every way!
Not even one percent as handsome as the target, Rhode!
A cat wouldn't work for such a person!
Ke Luoyi's peripheral vision swept to the distance, wanting to confirm how far Rhode had run.
"!!!"
However, she found that the idiot was still leisurely watching the show, seemingly nodding in satisfaction, and almost stumbled, nearly getting hit by Runova's fist.
"You idiot, meow!"
Ke Luoyi was both angry and anxious.
A cat risked its life to save you, and you're so engrossed in watching girls fight that you don't even care about your life?!
Although it's a little bit happy that you can appreciate the cat's beauty and elegance... hehe...
No, this isn't the time to be secretly happy!
Idiot Rhode, that shrew over there, swinging her terrifying fists, genuinely wants to kill you. Pay attention, meow!
Don't think all assassins who take contracts are as kind-hearted as a cat!
Ke Luoyi desperately wanted to shout for Rhode to run now, but she was afraid that the obviously sinister Black Fist in front of her would turn her attack to Rhode.
With his current stats, he absolutely couldn't withstand such terrifying fists!
No choice, a good cat finishes what it starts!
Ke Luoyi gritted her silver teeth, skillfully retracted her dagger, twisted her body agilely, and made a mocking face at Runova.
"Damn Black Fist, if you dare, come chase me!"
With a flicker, Ke Luoyi disappeared among the ruins of the alley.
At the same time, two magic-created clones materialized, dispersing to the left and right, escaping in separate directions with her real body.
Runova's mouth twitched slightly, her fists clenched, facing this troublesome illusion magic, she cursed the black cat's cunning in her heart.
"How annoying!"
Her peripheral vision caught Rhode still standing in place, Runova's brows furrowed slightly then quickly relaxed.
So that's it. Although he saw the two of us arguing, after realizing the deceptive nature of the black cat's illusion magic, he's worried that if he flees rashly, he'll be caught and killed instead?
Runova quickly conjured Rhode's "true thoughts" and secretly admired him in her heart.
As expected of someone chosen by a Justice Familia!
Indeed, he's meticulous, making seemingly abnormal but actually the most rational move even in such a desperate situation!
That's right, Runova actually had no intention of killing Rhode!
Today's plan was less about tracking and more about covert protection!
The more she understood Rhode, the more she felt he shouldn't die.
If he died, then no one would quietly protect the light in the way she admired...
Burdened with sin, I have no right to embrace the light, but let me, just this once, experience the feeling of being a righteous envoy without compensation.
You protect the light, and I will protect you.
However, just this once!
After this, we will still be strangers, and if we become enemies again, I will absolutely not hold back!
But for now... let me unilaterally consider you a temporary partner!
Runova's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, she took a deep breath, let out an angry roar, erupted with a powerful aura, and chased in one direction.
"Don't even think about running!"
A gentle breeze blew past.
Rhode, who had become alone again in the blink of an eye, stood dumbfounded.
"....."
He blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
Rhode stroked his chin, utterly bewildered.
"What exactly is going on...."
"Weren't they both here to assassinate me? Why did they suddenly start fighting each other?"
He had originally prepared for a counterattack, but they inexplicably started fighting each other?
Rhode recognized the two assassins as the Black Cat and Black Fist who would become part of The Benevolent Mistress in the original story.
At this point in time, they should have just arrived in Orario not long ago, still taking on assassination requests.
So Rhode wasn't surprised that they were hired to attack him.
The Dark Faction simply didn't have many strong fighters...
Valletta, Vit, Olivarus.
These three were the well-known executives.
Yet, one of the strongest, Valletta, was a mole specifically when dealing with Rhode...
Erebus wasn't without stronger trump cards, but deploying those guys at this current time point just to deal with Rhode would be a huge loss no matter how he thought about it.
Once Finn's vigilance and attention were aroused, the Great War would certainly not achieve the imagined results!
That "Evil God" might not necessarily adjust his plans based on the Justice side's combat power.
But the overall layout of the Great War in the original story had already pushed the entire Orario to the brink of almost being wiped out.
If something even bigger were to come, it's likely that very few would remain in Orario after being 'cleansed'!
This completely went against his original intention of creating heroes.
Now he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Rhode's lips curved slightly, he could even guess Erebus's troubled and conflicted expression at this moment.
He probably hadn't anticipated that his perfectly planned scheme, prepared for so long, would face a complete collapse due to an outsider like Rhode.
At this moment, Rhode stood still, quietly waiting for the two women to decide their victor, so he could interrogate them about their true intentions afterward.
At the same time, system prompts kept flashing in his mind, one after another.
[Your contractor Alise has completed an A-rank prayer. Congratulations on obtaining 800 Prayer Points.]
[Your contractor Ryu has completed a B-rank prayer. Congratulations on obtaining 400 Prayer Points.]
[....]
"Alise and the others were also attacked, but it seems everything is going smoothly so far."
After the girls were granted demi-human bloodlines, Rhode wasn't too worried about their safety.
The Dark Faction's schemes and attacks would all become the foundation for them to improve their ability values.
And the crisis caused by the Dark Faction to the residents would inadvertently lead to terrified residents generating A-rank prayers.
Even Rhode, who wasn't physically present to contribute, reaped benefits from behind the scenes.
This was killing two birds with one stone.
Rhode now increasingly felt that the demi-human bloodline combined with the Grace system was truly a genius and perfect combination.
Individuals with this combination, when fighting ordinary enemies, would ultimately only have three outcomes.
Already won, currently winning, about to win.
If they ultimately won, their ability values would increase, paving the way for subsequent upgrades.
If they lost, they would resurrect and restart, gaining combat experience, which was also a win.
And Rhode himself could still wait in the background to harvest Prayer Points, winning remotely.
In summary, he was winning big time.
Rhode sincerely expressed his gratitude to these enemies in his heart.
If the future empire were successfully established, these Dark Faction members, who came one after another, would be the greatest contributors who must not be forgotten!
Rhode was in a pleasant mood, but Vit, watching the entire process from afar, was utterly insane!
"Heh.... Heh heh.... Heh heh heh heh heh —"
Vit's body trembled violently, his fingertips, shoulders, and even the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
A series of low, suppressed laughs squeezed out of his throat.
"Haha.... Hahahahahaha —!!!"
The laughter carried a bone-chilling self-mockery and sarcasm, like the despair of madness.
The laughter grew louder, he suddenly threw his head back, as if he could no longer suppress it, and the laughter turned into a wild and frenzied howl.
"Ah —!!!"
He gripped his longsword, blue-black aura erupted around him, and he almost swung his arm in a full circle, unleashing immense force!
Boom!
The sword light exploded suddenly, piercing through the street, and the buildings along the way were shattered like building blocks!
Debris flew, wooden beams snapped!
Screams of residents and cries of fear rose and fell, coming miserably from the ruins.
In the past, such sounds would bring him genuine pleasure, and the bloody severed limbs were the only proof he felt alive.
Now, there was only intense irritation, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, making him want to cut off all the noise with his blade!
"It's like this again, it's · like · this · again.....!!!"
"—Rhode!!!"
Vit roared to the sky, his voice hoarse and twisted, gritting his teeth, almost shattering his jawbone.
Unspeakable grief and venom surged in his chest, his eyes were bloodshot, malice and killing intent almost drowning the entire world!
Ever since he met that guy, everything had gone downhill.
His already shitty, unfortunate fate plunged directly into an even deeper mire!
He had merely casually grabbed a few people to torment for fun, but Valletta had inexplicably taken a liking to Rhode, who looked like an ordinary person in every way.
She even went so far as to threaten and warn him, to protect that guy, which almost made him explode with indignation on the spot.
Finally, when Valletta left for a mission, he thought he had an opportunity; if he couldn't act, at least he could verbally humiliate that annoying guy. Instead, he happened to catch the man trying to escape.
Overjoyed by the godsend opportunity, he thought he finally had an excuse to legitimately kill the other party, only to be blocked by two foolish Justice Familia members who rushed in!
He originally thought, 'Forget it,' anyway, an ordinary person without Grace could never escape his subordinates outside, and having the small fry kill him would also avoid conflict with Valletta.
But he didn't expect that guy to suddenly burst out with speed comparable to an LV3, actually breaking through the inescapable net!
Even more absurdly, during this escape, he just happened to encounter that important figure, who for some unknown reason not only didn't capture Rhode but also slaughtered all of his subordinates!
And he didn't even dare to confront that person to reason with her, damn it, it was too stifling!
Afterward, the situation spiraled further out of control. That guy, from who knows where, managed to gather half of the Loki Familia's strongest members, almost wiping them out on the spot!
If you had such abilities, why didn't you say so sooner!
After barely escaping alive from the Elf Royalty's furious magical barrage, he could only cover his arm and silently lick his wounds in the dark, filthy underground tunnels.
However, fate seemed to play a mocking joke.
That guy, whom he had once dismissed and looked down upon, not only joined the Astrea Familia, which only accepted females.
He even grew rapidly at an incomprehensible speed, single-handedly wiping out the Soma Familia to save the Pallum, gaining fame in Orario, and recently even being hailed as a reborn hero.
The more Vit recalled, the more intense his confusion, jealousy, hatred, and resentment became.
Why could that supposed worthless, weak, and powerless nobody possess all the happiness he couldn't obtain?
It was as if the whole world loved him; what despicable, sickening injustice!
No, he would never allow it!
Why was he the only "flawed product" created by the gods!
Vit had already sworn.
Even if it cost him everything, he had to drag that guy into the abyss of hell!
He spared no expense, convincing Erebus to deploy the strongest forces within his authority.
But what should have been a flawless plan, with everything accounted for, kept falling apart.
The two diversionary forces he had set up mysteriously failed, and the two foreign aids he painstakingly brought in betrayed him at the decisive battle.
He tried his best, but was instead mocked by fate, like a clown on a stage!
"Since that's the case, then I'll just fucking kill all of you!!!"
Vitt leaped, carrying endless madness and killing intent, straight to the center of the battlefield.
At this moment, Runova and Ke Luoyi were still playing their chase game.
Ke Luoyi's main body and clones continuously leaped between broken walls, eaves, and shattered wood, each push-off as light as a cat, while her flying knives, like rain, whistled in from incredibly tricky angles as she dodged and weaved.
Some flew directly at Runova's vital points, some bounced off walls to reflect into blind spots, and some even collided mid-air, suddenly changing trajectory to attack both arms.
Runova was in a world of pain.
This guy's agility is too much higher than mine!
Runova couldn't catch up with her opponent, so she simply gave up on dodging, smashing her fists like a roaring tsunami against the walls in her way, instantly turning into a demolition crew.
Broken bricks and ruined walls flew everywhere from her punches, and the illusory phantoms couldn't withstand the immense force, dissolving into smoke.
Ke Luoyi gasped, then fell from a collapsing beam.
"Hey, hey, hey, do you have any public morality? Be careful not to hit any cats or dogs!"
Runova acted as if she hadn't heard, relentlessly swinging her fists and charging at Ke Luoyi.
Ke Luoyi let out a startled "Eh," and her tail behind her instantly stood up.
"Damn it... Don't think I'm afraid of you!"
Ke Luoyi gritted her teeth, summoned her phantoms again, and toyed with her opponent with her agility.
And Runova responded with absolute destruction and power.
The alley grew increasingly dilapidated, filled with flying dust and stones.
Ke Luoyi's phantoms weaved through collapsing walls, her flying knives striking directly.
Runova, on the other hand, was like a giant beast of the battlefield, leaving no brick unturned wherever she went.
Just as Runova and Ke Luoyi were exchanging blows, fists flying and blades flashing, their fighting spirit growing fiercer and their tempers rising with each strike.
A bone-chilling coldness suddenly swept across the entire scene.
It was like a silently drawn black blade against one's neck, causing a suffocating feeling.
Their eyes suddenly froze, and their movements stopped almost simultaneously!
The air seemed to freeze.
Runova gasped for breath, sweat trickling down her temples, her gaze fixed on the alley entrance.
A rapid whooshing sound rapidly approached, and a figure, with a twisted smile of madness and slaughter, like a nightmare suddenly tearing through reality, instantly rushed before the two women.
"You are—?"
As Runova spoke, Vitt, with a sneer and a sadistic smile, slashed down furiously.
Her scalp tingled, and she instinctively met the attack with her fists, but the violent force sent her flying, smashing through a ruined wall and burying her in the rubble.
Vitt's gaze shifted, cruelly fixating on Ke Luoyi, who was about to retreat.
Ke Luoyi's heart suddenly tightened, and her hair stood on end.
"Meow meow meow?!"
She understood this guy's insane mental state better than Runova, knowing that he would definitely not let her go easily, so she quickly threw a handful of flying knives.