Chapter 124 Celestial Paragon
At the critical moment when the initial dagger was poised to strike its target, Eric, whose reflexes were sharpened by numerous engagements, adeptly triggered Swordsoar Ascension. Transmuted into an entity of the zephyr, he ascended effortlessly, evading the mortal strike by a hair's breadth. The Assassin's ambush, perfectly timed and executed, had failed.
"Not today,"
Eric uttered a deep growl, his voice tinged with anger and charged with adrenaline.
"Interesting," a voice, cold and sharp as shattered ice, whispered from the shadows.
The Assassin, his movements fluid and graceful, flowed effortlessly out of the path of Eric's attack. His wrist flicked, a blur of silver, and the dagger that had been aimed at Eric's back was now hurtling towards his chest, its trajectory a masterpiece of deadly precision.
Eric, however, was already moving. Ignoring the dagger aimed at his heart, he channeled his fury into a devastating counterstrike. Crimson Edge, his second blade, pulsed with crimson energy as he unleashed a flurry of blows, four distinct sword shadows materializing in the air, each aimed at a vital point on the Assassin's shrouded form.
He had no intention of dying today.
The Assassin, caught off guard by Eric's ferocity, was forced to abandon his attack and defend. He parried desperately, his daggers flashing like silver lightning as he deflected three of the sword shadows. The fourth, however, found its mark, slashing across his chest and drawing a hiss of pain from his lips.
The force of Eric's attack sent the Assassin staggering backward, his footsteps leaving deep imprints in the soft earth. He regained his balance, his eyes narrowed in surprise and grudging respect.
"You're a worthy opponent," the Assassin acknowledged, his voice a low murmur that barely carried through the oppressive stillness of the forest.
Eric, his heart pounding in his chest, kept his swords raised, his gaze locked on his adversary. He had never faced an adversary possessing the same level of proficiency as this individual. The Assassin's maneuvers were akin to the gentle swirls of smoke, his strikes devastating and stealthy, reminiscent of the tranquility of the grave. If not for the faint killing intent that had betrayed his presence, Eric knew he would have been dead before he even knew what hit him.
The Assassin was shrouded in a hooded cloak of deepest black, his features completely obscured. The cloak itself seemed to shimmer and distort the light, rendering Eric's observation skills useless. He couldn't even make out the telltale red glow that marked a hostile player.
A message flashed across Eric's vision, confirming his suspicions.
System: [Red-named player CelestialParagon has attacked you.]
The cloak, while effective at concealing the wearer's identity, couldn't fool the System.
CelestialParagon.
The name meant nothing to Eric, but the skill with which the Assassin moved, the deadly grace of his attacks, spoke volumes. This was no ordinary player.
"This time, you were lucky," CelestialParagon said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Next time, I won't hesitate."
He turned to leave, melting back into the shadows as if he were a phantom.
"You're not going anywhere," Eric snarled, his voice tight with anger.
He categorically refused to allow the cold-blooded assassin to evade justice. Should the Celestial Paragon seek a confrontation, he would most assuredly face one.
With a roar, Eric charged, his Abyssal Blade leading the way. The blade pulsed with dark energy, its edge trailing a stream of shadowy tendrils that reached out towards the fleeing Assassin like grasping claws.
CelestialParagon, seemingly anticipating Eric's attack, spun on his heel, his movements blurring with impossible speed. He flicked his wrist, and the silver dagger in his hand met the Abyssal Blade with a resounding clang. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but CelestialParagon held his ground, his stance unwavering.
His other dagger, however, was already moving, its trajectory a blur of silver aimed at Eric's abdomen.
Kidney Strike!
It was a vicious attack, designed to disable and cripple. The accumulated energy points from CelestialParagon's previous attacks were channeled into the blow, guaranteeing a stun effect that would leave Eric vulnerable for precious seconds.
Eric, whose reflexes were honed to a razor's edge, responded with alacrity. He contorted his form, narrowly evading the fatal strike, as the dagger grazed his flank, tracing a delicate line of blood.
CelestialParagon pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless. He moved like a phantom, his daggers striking from unexpected angles, each blow aimed at a vital point.
Eric, forced onto the defensive, parried desperately, his swords a whirlwind of steel as he fought to keep the deadly blades at bay. He knew that one mistake, one moment of hesitation, would be his undoing.
He leaped backwards, creating some distance between himself and his attacker. As he landed, he channeled his energy into the Abyssal Blade, the blade erupting in a conflagration of fire and lightning.
Inferno Thunderstorm!
CelestialParagon, recognizing the danger, crossed his daggers above his head, his body bracing for the impact. The force of the blow sent him to one knee, his arms trembling with the strain. He had blocked the attack, but only just.
Eric, sensing an opportunity, pressed his attack. He channeled his remaining strength into a final, desperate assault. Ten sword shadows, each imbued with the power of the abyss, materialized around CelestialParagon, leaving him no room to escape.
"Until next time," CelestialParagon said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
His form began to shimmer and distort, his body dissolving into motes of light. The chains that bound him clattered harmlessly to the ground.
The ten sword shadows, their target vanished, dissipated into nothingness.
CelestialParagon had used an advanced Assassin skill, a desperate gamble that granted him a brief moment of invincibility.
"You're not getting away that easily!" Eric roared, his voice echoing through the silent forest.
He spotted a patch of flattened grass where CelestialParagon had been standing moments before. With a surge of anger, he unleashed his Thunderbolt Slash, three arcs of blue energy lancing towards the spot where he had last seen his enemy.
CelestialParagon, however, was already gone. He had activated another skill, Galestride, granting him a burst of speed that made him all but untouchable.
Eric, refusing to give up, activated his own movement skill, Zephyr Stride, his body becoming a blur as he raced after his quarry.
He caught a glimpse of CelestialParagon's retreating form just as the Assassin reached into a pouch on his belt and flung a handful of white powder into the air.
Eric, recognizing the danger, turned his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
The white powder exploded in a blinding flash of light.
Sparkle Dust.
It was a rare and potent item, capable of blinding even high-level players for a short time.
When Eric finally regained his vision, CelestialParagon was gone, vanished without a trace.
'Who was this CelestialParagon, and why was he so intent on killing him?'
He cursed under his breath, his frustration mounting.
He had made some powerful enemies in his time, but none that he knew of possessed the skills or ruthlessness of this mysterious Assassin.
He considered the possibilities.
Eric was very familiar with ShadowForge Studios. Blazeclaw wasn't that formidable to find such an unknown expert. The only possibility was Leo Ironblade from Martial Alliance.
'Could it be Blazeclaw, seeking revenge for their encounter in Shadowwing Citadel? Or perhaps Leo Ironblade, humiliated by their previous encounter, had hired this skilled assassin to eliminate me?'
'There was an over 80% chance that Leo Ironblade had hired this help.'
He nodded his head and seemed to have seen through it.
He knew he had to tread carefully. An enemy that struck from the shadows, an enemy as skilled and elusive as CelestialParagon, was a threat that couldn't be ignored.
He needed to disappear, to change his appearance and vanish from sight. At least for a while.
With a heavy sigh, Eric activated his Spectral Knight skill, his form melting into the shadows, becoming one with the darkness of the forest.
He had a Frost Azure Flame to find, but first, he needed to ensure his own survival.
Concurrently, concealed amidst the convoluted boughs of a neighboring arboreal giant, the Celestial Paragon regarded Eric's vanishing with a blend of vexation and reluctant reverence.
"Damn, he's good," CelestialParagon muttered to himself, his voice a low hiss.
Although he had claimed he was leaving, his intention was to mislead Eric. He wanted to find another opportunity to ambush him. He hadn't expected Eric to pull such a move and disappear completely, leaving him no chance to strike again.
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