Night had already settled when they came for Kaer.
Two assassins slipped silently into his house.
No sound.
No hesitation.
One of them heard it—
A faint choke.
He turned.
Too late.
An arrow was already buried in his partner's throat.
The body dropped without a sound.
The second assassin reacted instantly—rolling, wrapping himself in his black cloak, dissolving into the night like smoke.
Gone.
Then—
He reappeared a short distance away, moving toward the horses.
Silent.
Careful.
Calculated.
And then he saw him.
A shadow.
Bow raised.
Waiting.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
A silent acknowledgment.
Two killers.
One outcome.
The night itself seemed to hold its breath.
The assassin felt it—a flicker of something unexpected.
Respect.
This opponent… was worthy.
He adjusted his stance, movements fluid, refined through years of missions and survival.
He began to vanish again—
Kaer released.
The arrow struck his chest.
No escape this time.
Kaer closed the distance instantly, knives already drawn—their blades reflecting a faint, blood-red glow under the moonlight.
He was about to finish it—
Then he felt it.
Something wrong.
Not human.
Kaer stepped back.
Slowly.
Watching the darkness.
Three shapes emerged.
Fangs catching the light.
Vampires.
They smiled without warmth.
Without sound.
Death, waiting.
Kaer took another step back—
And raised his hand.
Three ancestral wolves materialized beside him.
The vampires advanced.
Silent.
Hungry.
The first one lunged.
Too fast.
Kaer didn't retreat.
He invoked the ancestral force within him—
And struck.
The impact was devastating.
The vampire disintegrated instantly, releasing a piercing, inhuman scream.
The other two reacted immediately.
The wolves leapt.
But the vampires dissolved into a thick mist—vanishing for a heartbeat.
Reappearing behind.
Circling.
Hunting.
For a moment—
they had the advantage.
Then—
The wolves adapted.
The next strike was precise.
Final.
Three days later—
Kaer was already hunting again.
This time—
something else.
He crouched behind a cluster of trees, watching as the creature stepped out of the shadows.
Massive.
Terrifying.
Garunrock.
A fusion of brute strength and terrifying speed.
Its fur was dark as night, layered with deep brown undertones. Its body carried the weight of a bear—but moved with the speed of a wolf.
Power.
Agility.
Perfectly combined.
Its head bore traits of both beasts—sharp ears, glowing eyes filled with awareness, a long muzzle that radiated dominance.
Its massive paws tore into the earth with each step.
Its tail balanced every movement with unnatural precision.
A predator.
At the top of its domain.
Kaer moved first.
A poisoned bolt flew—
Striking true.
The creature staggered.
Then its eyes locked onto him.
Rage.
Pure and immediate.
It roared—
And charged.
Fast.
Violent.
Kaer sidestepped with perfect timing.
The beast slammed into a nearby tree, splintering it on impact.
No pause.
Kaer followed.
A fire arrow—
Straight into its throat.
Then—
An ice arrow.
Piercing its chest.
The creature collapsed.
Hard.
Still.
Kaer approached carefully, scanning the area.
Even in death—
it felt dangerous.
He collected its claws.
Rare.
Valuable.
Then he found it.
The lair.
Hidden nearby.
Inside—
A chest.
And within it—
Stealth Cloud Gloves.
Legendary.
Desired by the most skilled assassins.
Later, Kaer moved through several taverns.
Not for rest.
For information.
For attention.
A signal.
He found the contact.
Redowan.
"Someone is spreading information about me," Kaer said calmly. "I want names."
"That's all?"
"For now."
A pause.
"There's also something else. A creature. The Shadow of Death. Rare. I want to know everything you hear."
Elsewhere—
A courier approached a hidden entrance.
The domain of the Silent Serpents.
He carried a package.
For their leader.
Lilith Venomstrike.
She arrived moments later—short dark hair, sharp presence, flanked by two assassins.
Her gaze immediately fixed on the stranger.
"State your business."
"I bring a message from Kaer," the courier said calmly. "He wants to know who ordered his assassination."
A pause.
"And this is for you."
Her eyes narrowed.
"How did you find this place?"
"He told me how."
After the courier left—
Lilith opened the package.
Inside—
Weapons.
Recognizable.
Too familiar.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"These were my people," she said coldly.
Then—
rage.
"Who is this Kaer?" she snapped. "He kills my assassins, finds our hidden location—and sends me this?"
Silence filled the room.
Dangerous silence.
That same night—
Kaer returned home.
And found her waiting.
Lilith stood inside his room.
Three assassins behind her.
"You lack caution, Kaer," she said calmly.
Kaer stepped inside.
"I knew you'd come."
A pause.
"Do you want to see something?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What?"
Kaer raised his hand.
"Show yourselves."
Six wolves materialized.
Silent.
Perfectly positioned.
Four in the corners.
Two blocking the exits.
Control.
Absolute.
Kaer poured wine.
"I prepared something," he said. "Your favorite."
Lilith studied him.
Then—
smiled.
"Impressive."
She gestured slightly.
Her assassins left immediately.
The house fell silent.
They sat.
Two predators.
Different paths.
Same world.
Kaer spoke first—about the attack. The assassins. The vampires.
Lilith listened carefully.
"I've heard whispers," she said. "These vampires have been targeting my people as well."
A pause.
"What your attackers did… that's a problem."
"You're not allied with them," Kaer said.
"No."
Her voice turned colder.
"I've remained neutral. Until now."
She leaned slightly forward.
"You want something."
"Yes," Kaer replied. "I prefer you as an ally… not an enemy."
Silence.
"You want my support?"
"I want you with me," Kaer said. "Especially now that the vampires are working with the Natorhog."
That caught her attention.
She leaned back.
"I'll think about it."
A pause.
"But why me? There are stronger factions. Larger guilds."
Kaer reached into his pack.
"I've heard things about you. Your honesty."
He placed something on the table.
"Consider this… a gesture."
Lilith froze.
Her eyes locked onto the item.
Stealth Cloud Gloves.
"…Where did you get these?" she asked, her voice lower now.
"I thought you might like them."
Silence.
Then—
she stood.
Walked around the table.
And embraced him.
Unexpected.
Real.
There were tears in her eyes.
Later—
Alone.
Kaer lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Thinking.
About her.
Lilith Venomstrike.
A presence impossible to ignore.
Power and mystery in perfect balance.
Her short dark hair framed sharp, controlled features. Her deep black eyes seemed to read intentions before words were spoken.
Her rare smile—
dangerous.
Magnetic.
She was both respected and feared as the leader of the Silent Serpents.
Every movement she made was precise. Every decision calculated.
A strategist.
A survivor.
A woman who never lost control.
Kaer closed his eyes.
And for the first time in a long time—
he wondered—
If trust… was more dangerous than any enemy.