NOVPUBDraz's wings twitched as they shrank and folded into his back, vanishing beneath his coat as he morphed back into his human form.
He stood upright, trying to look composed, but the effort was futile. Anyone could tell that he was afraid.
"With all due respect, we're not acting alone," he said, careful not to meet Asher's eyes for too long.
"Our family have powerful backers. Even Starfront wouldn't mess with them without knowing all the details. So, maybe we should settle this by talking. Please contact your guild leader."
Asher shook his head.
"Guild leader Astra personally gave me this mission. I doubt calling him will help." He said it on purpose—so if things got worse, he has someone to blame.
Draz was confused. He couldn't figure out who has enough influence to push Starfront into action—especially to the point of challenging the Crimzahr family head-on.
And even sent an S Rank to messed with their plan.
'Is this because of that item?' Draz muttered under his breath. 'Did Starfront know about it all along?'
"Handhim over now. I don't have time to waste," Asher said firmly. His tone didn't rise, but there was weight behind every word.
"Don't forget—you started a fight in the middle of the city. That gives me the right to eliminate you if I have to."
His warning didn't go unnoticed. One by one, the others changed back into their human forms.
Transformed or not, it didn't matter. None of them stood a chance against an S Rank.
"I can't hand this person to you," Draz said, holding his ground.
Asher narrowed his eyes but didn't make a move.
He didn't want to kill anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. Starting a bloodbath would only lead to more problems later.
Instead, he raised one hand .
BLINK!
Alder vanished from the ground and reappeared in his arms, unconscious but intact.
Everyone was stunned.
"Was that...space manipulation? " Someone stumbled.
Meanwhile, Draz swallowed hard. 'Godlike abilities'
Godlike abilities weren't common. They didn't just enhance strength—they let a person control the battlefield.
Warp space, manipulate time, and so on. With that kind of power, even an S+ Rank could hold their own against an SS-.
Maybe even win, given enough preparation.
That's why there was a saying across the universe—those who controlled time and space would eventually become unbeatable, as long as they reached their full potential.
"It's over," one of the Crimzahr members whispered under his breath, barely able to keep his voice steady. "We can't fight someone that can control space..."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp whooshing sound cut through the air.
In a split second, Asher, Shery, and Alder vanished—blinking out and reappearing a short distance away.
A clean line slice across the spot they were in just seconds ago. The cut was precise. Like the space itself had been severed.
Asher stared at the line—it was too close, even for him. What made it more dangerous was that he only noticed the attack, but not the attacker.
"So you actually dodged my attack. You're a fast one, I give you that."
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
A man stood on top of a chair near the broken window, balanced like he weighed nothing.
He wore a black combat suit—sleek and futuristic, but the design had a shinobi theme.
Twin short swords were strapped to his back in an X, and a matte-black mask covered the lower half of his face. His white
Even though he wasn't moving , the pressure around him said enough. He was dangerous.
Just the sight of his red eyes was enough to make even an A Rank think twice about fighting.
Draz's eyes narrowed at first—but then his lips curled into a slow, wide grin
He recognized the figure. Raven.
One of the best assassins in the entire sector. Known for completing impossible contracts and disappearing without a trace.
"Raven, you're here. We got some trouble—get rid of this bastard fast!" Draz pointed sharply at Asher. Gone was the respect in his voice now that an (S) Rank appeared.
The assassin just nodded and unsheathed his twin swords.
"Sorry, this is just business," Raiden took a stance.
Seeing this, Asher summoned his own weapon. It was designed for sharp, precise cuts—perfect for one-on-one fights. The blade looked like a katana.
Raven frowned in confusion. He was sure Asher was a long range combatant, but his actions of says otherwise.
"Hey, stop fooling around. I know you're a magician, so why not take this fight seriously?"
"I am serious—that's why I brought a weapon," Asher said, drawing his sword and holding it like a broadsword.
That only made the assassin more sure he wasn't a swordsman.
Raven sneered. "You underestimate me too much. One second, and you'll be dead before you even realize it."
Without waiting for a reply, he disappeared from his spot like he teleported.
What followed was a rapid series of clangs and sparks as their swords met. Their swings moved so fast, it was impossible to see each strike clearly.
Surprisingly, the shockwaves stayed within a limited area.
That's when everyone realized Asher had raised a barrier to keep the damage from spreading.
SWOOOSH!
Raven jumped back, his expression tightening. His opponent didn't seem to follow any known sword style, but Asher's reaction time was incredible.
His body moved on instinct, blocking every strike from the assassin's blade.
There was no doubt in the assassin's mind that Asher was born for close-range combat.
"I apologize. I thought you weren't taking this seriously, but I was wrong. You're a close-combat fighter who uses magic to support your fighting style—a magic swordsman."
Raven expected Asher to agree.
"No, I'm a full-time magician. I just swing swords sometimes."
Raven laughed low and sharp. "Ha! You're funny. Trying to mess with my head, huh? I like your style—confuse your opponent first. But that won't work on me. My eyes are trained to see through enemies, and I can tell you're a close combat fighter."
Asher didn't bother to correct the assassin.
Instead, he cast a series of body-enhancing spells on himself .
It might have seemed like he had the upper hand in their first clash, but that was only because neither of them was going all out.
If they did, not even his barrier could block all the shockwaves, and this whole place would have fallen apart quickly.
SWOOOSH!
Raven vanished again, this time, Asher met him head on, and grab the hilt of his katana with both hands.
CLANG!
The assassin was thrown outside of the building.
"Now, we don't have to hold back," Asher said, his fist already swinging down.
BANG!
His fist smashed through Raven's twin sword, sending him crashing down toward the city below.
BOOOOOM!
Hovering in the air, he glanced at Shery first and summoned his puppets to protect them both before heading down.
As powerful as his punch was, at the last second, he felt Raven's twin sword absorb most of the impact.
THUD!
He landed on the road and saw people fleeing the area. Nearby, Raven sat against a pole, looking calm as if nothing happened.
"Did you really have to make so much noise? You know this could get us into even more trouble," Raven sighed deeply.
As an S Rank, he knew better than to cause too much chaos in the city.
"You talk a lot for an assassin. Besides, your group started this mess. I'm just doing this city a favor by eliminating threats."
Raven's face grew serious. "You must be new—only someone inexperienced would say something that careless."
His laid-back attitude vanished, replaced by something cold and dangerous.
"I'm done playing around. Get ready," the assassin declared.
A wave of dark energy burst from him, spreading across the ground. It was so black, it was swallowing the light around it.
"Ever wonder how I earned my S Rank without brute strength?" Raven didn't raise his voice, but something in his tone made the air feel heavier.
"It's because of this."
His body began to sink into the pitch-black matter at his feet. The darkness spread like ink in water, swallowing him inch by inch.
It clung to him until he vanished into it completely—like the shadows claimed their master. Not even a trace of aura. It was like he ceased to exist.
Asher floated higher while casting a barrier around himself.
The dark matter below wasn't just for show—his instincts screamed at him to stay alert.
Out of nowhere, a sharp gust tore through the air like a blade.
It slammed into his barrier—cracking the first layer instantly. Before he could process it, another slash followed.
His second layer held for half a second before it shattered like glass.
A third one came. Then a fourth. Each strike faster than the last.
Good thing he could kept recasting, layering barriers one after another. Any slower, and he would be hit already.
He couldn't even see where the attacks were coming from.
'So this is what fighting an S Rank feels like...'
'I have to admit—he's on a whole different level than anyone I've faced before.'
Each strike wasn't just fast—it was strong enough to shatter a barrier that could survive a full blast from a lesser dragon.
Not even Kitsune's light-based attacks hit this hard—and she was the strongest opponent he ever faced in a one-on-one fight so far.
'I need to find a way to track his exact location,'
Casting a flame spell, he aimed it at the dark matter—but to his surprise, the blue fire vanished the moment it touched the shadow, swallowed whole without a trace.
