The monstrous horde charged, their guttural roars echoing through the ruins. Ethan cracked his knuckles, his smirk unwavering. This was his kind of fight.
Eline, still recovering from their earlier clash, barely had time to react before Ethan lunged forward.
BAM!
The first monster, a massive wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes, didn't even get to pounce before Ethan's fist caved in its skull.
Blood splattered, its body crumbling to the ground.
Eline's eyes widened beneath her mask. That kind of strength…
But there was no time to think. More were coming.
Ethan twisted his body, dodging a clawed strike from another beast before delivering a bone-shattering kick that sent it flying into a ruined pillar. The structure collapsed, burying the monster beneath the rubble.
Eline hesitated for a fraction of a second.
He's insane.
She had assumed he was just another arrogant upstart, someone lucky enough to defeat Aldric. But this? This was raw power.
And he was fighting without mana.
She shook herself from her thoughts. This wasn't the time to be distracted. She retrieved another dagger from her belt, spinning it in her fingers before dashing into the fray.
A shadowed beast lunged at her—she ducked, slicing through its neck in a single clean motion.
Another came from her blind spot, but before it could land a blow—
BAM!
Ethan's elbow smashed through its skull, sending blood spraying into the air.
Eline barely dodged the flying corpse. "Hey! Watch it!"
Ethan grinned. "Try to keep up."
She scoffed but said nothing.
Side by side, they tore through the monsters with ruthless efficiency. Ethan used sheer brute force, each punch and kick leaving devastation in its wake, while Eline danced between them, her daggers slicing through flesh like a phantom.
Within minutes, the battlefield was silent.
Only the corpses of the beasts remained.
Ethan rolled his shoulder. "That was fun."
Eline, breathing heavily, lowered her daggers. Fun?
Who the hell was this guy?
She had seen powerful fighters before. Assassins, warriors, even mages. But Ethan… he was something else entirely.
And worst of all?
He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
Eline sheathed her daggers and took a step back, evaluating the situation. Her mission had already failed. She wasn't supposed to be fighting monsters—she was supposed to assassinate him.
Yet here she was, standing beside him, alive.
She clenched her fists. "Why?"
Ethan raised a brow. "Why what?"
"Why didn't you kill me?" she asked, her voice sharp. "You had the chance back there."
Ethan blinked, then frowned. "Why would I kill you?"
She stiffened. Was he mocking her?
"I just tried to assassinate you," she said, her tone laced with frustration. "You should've—"
"Ohhh," Ethan interrupted, realization dawning on his face. "That? I figured you were just testing me."
Eline nearly stumbled. Testing him?
Her eye twitched. "You think I attacked you just for a 'test'?"
Ethan nodded seriously. "Yeah, isn't that how assassins train? You fight strong opponents to see where you stand."
Eline's mind went blank for a second.
He was an idiot.
A complete and utter idiot.
She had tried to kill him. And instead of seeing her as an enemy, he thought she was… training?
Eline groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're impossible."
Ethan tilted his head. "People say that a lot."
She let out a sigh, shaking her head. The worst part? He wasn't even joking. He genuinely believed it.
She didn't know whether to laugh or stab him again.
Before she could decide, a sharp pain shot through her side.
She gasped, her knees buckling slightly.
Ethan was beside her in an instant. "Hey, you alright?"
Eline bit her lip, glancing down. Blood was seeping through her outfit. One of the monsters must've landed a hit during the fight, and she hadn't even noticed.
"Tch. It's nothing," she muttered.
Ethan frowned. "You're bleeding. That's definitely something."
Before she could protest, he scooped her up into his arms.
Eline froze.
Her brain stopped functioning.
"What… are you doing?" she whispered, her voice unusually quiet.
"Taking you somewhere safe," Ethan replied matter-of-factly. "You're injured."
She didn't know how to react.
She had been prepared to fight him. To kill him.
And now… he was carrying her like a princess?
Heat crept up her neck, and she cursed internally. What the hell was this?
"Put me down," she said, trying to regain her composure.
Ethan ignored her, walking toward a nearby cave. "Nope. You'll pass out from blood loss."
"I can walk," she insisted, her face growing hotter.
"You just almost collapsed."
"I was just resting."
"While bleeding?"
"Yes."
Ethan sighed. "No offense, but you suck at lying."
Eline groaned, burying her face in her hands. This was humiliating.
Not only had she failed her mission, but now the very target she was supposed to kill was taking care of her.
This was the worst.
And yet…
As she felt the warmth of his arms, his steady heartbeat beneath her, something in her chest stirred.
Something she didn't like.
Something dangerous.
She clenched her fists. I will not be swayed.
Yet, despite her thoughts, her heartbeat betrayed her.
And she hated it.
To be continued…