Volume 2 Chapter 16: Nightblades
The silence before the storm
The midnight bell chimed twelve times as the shadows slid across the castle boundary.
The assassins, silent ghosts of death, had already slain the two guards at the gate. Their blades sparkled with deadly venom and their eyes burned with icy determination.
The trade guild has not forgiven the humiliation.
The blood in Romulus' bedroom
Romulus was awakened by the rustling of curtains.
The reincarnate's instincts kicked in before reason - he leapt from the bed the instant the first blade slammed into the pillow.
- "Uninvited guests..." - He whispered, jumping to his feet, his hand reaching for the sword on the wall.
Two men in black robes, as if woven from the night, appeared in the moonlight.
- **"Young upstart... you **can't* escape payback," the leftist hissed.
- **"Your *revolver* won't help you, "** the right grinned maliciously.
Romulus took a deep breath... and smiled.
- "I wasn't gonna rely on him."
The dance of steel and magic
The first killer
A lightning lunge - steel glinted at Romulus' throat.
A graceful withdrawal - with the power of telekinesis, Romulus threw the bollard under the attacker's feet.
A deadly response - the sword sliced through his throat before he made a sound.
The second killer
Poison Star - The shuriken whistled a millimeter from his eye, leaving an icy trail.
Payback - a fiery whip wrapped around the assassin's legs, tossing him to the floor.
Justice - the steel went in between his ribs, a precise blow.
No words. No hesitation.
Romulus wiped his blade clean, listening to the echo of battle from the corridors.
- "Father!"
Fighting in the dark
Count Lucian stood with his back against the wall, fighting off the attacks of the three mercenaries. His trusty sword was crushing the armor, but their numbers were growing.
- **"Romulus! **Are you alive?!"
- "More alive than anyone else!"
Romulus burst into battle:
Telekinesis - threw a heavy vase at the first one's head.
A fiery explosion - scorched the face of the other.
Sword - pierced the throat of the third.
Father and son back to back, blood on the walls, heavy breathing.
- **"The Guild will *pay a terrible price* for this, "** growled the Count.
And then.
The darkness thickened, swallowing up the light.
Mini-boss: The Shadow from Nowhere.
A dagger burst out of the thick gloom, swift as a snake, aiming for the heart.
Romulus barely managed to dodge, but the blade left a flaming wound on his shoulder.
A figure in a cloak of shadows appeared before them.
- **"Argelions... you **are* too dangerous to this world," a voice came from all corners at once, like a whisper of death.
Status:
[☠️ **Opponent: "Teneboy" (mini-boss)** ] ]
■ Level: 35
■ Skills:
- **Shadow Step** (instantaneous movement in darkness).
- **Shadow Poison** (paralysis for 10 seconds, darkness in veins).
■ Vulnerability: **Light** (but **night** is its **ally**).
The Count gripped his sword tighter, preparing for the final battle.
- **"Romulus... **run, save yourself."
But the boy had already raised his hand - the words of the new system's power rang out in his mind.