Paxwell hates that he still has many hesitations about the plan he had come up with. Sure, he expected that Golden Kobold to protect the mages. But, he did not expect it to split them each with one Bone Warrior as a guard. Now the two are positioned far away, both forming a triangle, with the Golden kobold leading the front line.

  Alquin had warned him that the mage had some sort of detection skill, so they would have to charge fast. Perhaps it made sense to separate them so they could cover a wider area to serve as detection. Still, though, Paxwell did not want to think too far about what was going on inside the Kobold's mind.

  Focus on your tactic. This is the same as always.

  A hunt you've done a hundred times already.

  Don’t let the prey dictate your movement.

  Sweat went down his forehead. He nervously watched as that majestic creature stood behind the marching spear line. They needed to hurry. Eliminating the mages will be a key to victory.

  Unfortunately, he has to split his already small group into two more. Five of them, to be exact. With him, Benedict, the two HuGoblin, and Yuuki the scout.

  Should I bring Emily up here? No, it's too late. Besides, she doesn't have a mobility spell.

  “We split into two,” Paxwell said, whispering under the sparse leaves covering him. The other four were also hidden in different branches, ready to jump at his command. “Benedict, you will be our main offense. Bring Yuuki and Rika with you, kill the mage. Me and Yomi will keep the other one busy, we will try to kill it, but mainly we will hold it so it does not fire any spell.”

  “All right, I got it,” The man said. “Although, I think I should do this alone, so both groups can focus on killing. My class gave me perfect skills under the night like this.”

  “You failed earlier, didn't you?” Paxwell asked frankly. The man needed to be dealt with honesty instead of trickery. “Overconfidence will kill you, kid.”

  “I’m not,” Benedict simply said. “I know I can do it.”

  “Good, then you alone take the left one,” Paxwell said.

  “What? Uh, sir, this is too reckless,” The girl Yuuki said. She had been fighting with Benedict and was intent to learn his way, but if they had a weak link, it was her. Her mobility spell is not as reliable as the others had.

  “Benedict can do it,” Yomi said fervently, peeking his green head from the branches of leaves. “I saw him fight.” Paxwell would chastise him if not for the Kobolds approaching below. “He can,” The HuGoblin insisted.

  “I’m just saying it's reckless,” The girl said. “Besides, shouldn’t the guy who took down one of these Mage Kobolds be here? I saw him, with that transformation,” Paxwell could swear the girl almost shuddered as if recalling a horrible memory.

  Rue, the boy he had met first, has grown strong. Paxwell has identified his level, and he has been putting in work. And what he heard from Alquin about how he took down these Mages who had been hurling lightning, the first thing he considered was if he could get Rue in the third group, but, no, Paxwell would rather have him down there and give him a chance to weave in the fight when needed. He entrusted the Golden Kobold to him.

  “Rue can't jump between branches like we do,” Paxwell said simply.

  “I see,” The girl hummed. “That's a shame.”

  “I think I can do better than Rue, under these conditions and all,” Benedict mumbled. Paxwell almost didn’t hear him; clearly, the man also did not mean to say it out loud.

  What is this? Rivalry or some short? Paxwell doubted Rue saw it that way. But even if he doesn’t realise it, Rue and Benedict are the two that were the most eager to level up and adapt to this new world thrust upon them. That much is obvious

  Ah, to be young.

  “I’m too old for this,” Paxwell smiled under his breath. “Benedict!” He called out, earning Benedict's attention. “I’m trusting the left one to you! Take it down. We will have the other one.”

  “Easy enough,” He could make out the grin that crept along Benedict's lips, then the man jumped forward, turning into shadow and escaping the gaze of the marching Kobold.

  Good luck, my friend.

  “Alright, we should head out too,” Rita said from beside him.

  “Wait, we can't be a shadow like him; the rest of us will go the long way.” Paxwell continued. “We will take down the mages and flank the Golden Kobold. Let’s do this.”

  Name: Benedict.

  Level: 30

  Race: Human.

  Class: Rogue Lvl 30.

  Magic Vein (Wood): 62%

  HP: 1580/1580

  Mana: 240/480

  Strength: 58

  Vitality: 51

  Dexterity: 110

  Arcana: 35

  Mind: 48

  Perception: 92

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  -Skill (4/10)-

  - Shadow Cloak (Rare)

  - Shadow Phase (Uncommon)

  - Dagger Phase (Uncommon)

  - Shadow Eyes (Uncommon)

  -Passive Skill (7/10)-

  - Light Step (Uncommon)

  - Shadow Camouflage (Uncommon)

  - Back Stab (Common)

  - Night Detect (Uncommon)

  - Night Vision (Common)

  - Shadow Balance (Uncommon)

  - Meditate (Common)

  Benedict jumped, not worrying about the marching Kobolds group beneath him. He shot a glance at the ground force, good – they’re well hidden. As he passed between the branches with the wind pushing his curly hair up, sending his cloak flapping like some sort of bloody cape. Luckily, his Shadow Cloak also hides his clothes along with his body.

  His body morphs invisibly, and shadows engulf him like a warm blanket. This skill is nearly perfect; the only weakness is that it draws the shadows near him, stripping away their darkness – keen eyes could easily notice something unnatural, especially when he moves – the shadows would return to their original objects. Particularly if he runs, he would be quite literally pushing blaring light around his shadowed body.

  But, with the cover of busy leaves and under the darkness of the night, there’s barely any light to push away. Still, it will not hurt to be careful. He took the long way instead of jumping over the Kobold group like a fool. He jumped left crescently toward where the Mage Kobold should be, making sure to keep his distance this time.

  Yes, this time…

  When he and Yomi approached the kobold camp, they were exposed by the mage's natural detection. It's infuriating, especially since Benedict has better detection range than the Mage. Yomi receives bolts of lightning thanks to that mistake.

  When that happened, the despair of losing patients flooded back to Benedict, like a wave breaking a fragile wooden dam inside of him. He had suppressed those memories, how their hospital had always been lacking in every department. A cruel place to send a student to.

  Shaking his head, Benedict landed on another branch, but his foot slipped – failing to land properly, instead he stepped on a weak, flimsy branch that was as thin as a straw. Yet he did not panic. Shadow shot out from around the tree, they lurched in line of black and caught Benedict's body, balancing him by two feet on top of the branch.

  He let out a chilly breath, looking up at the Icen wall.

  Beautiful thing.

  “Wish it’s not so cold now tho,” He muttered. The temperature had been dropping further, especially since he’s high up in these trees that would shame any high-rise building back in the badtown.

  Now he should be far enough; he activated Shadow eyes. Everything in front of him turns into a shadowy figure in his vision. They’re swaying like a jellyfish. Shadows of trees one by one, he banished with his eyes, banish and banish, until he finally made out two figures, both those of dragon wannabes. He made out one long staff a figure held, and the other figure held a sword that was undoubtedly Long Bone.

  Benedict let out a smile. He blinked twice, and his vision returned to normal.

  Maybe six more steps, then we would detect each other?

  His Shadow Eyes might make him pierce through any obstacle. But his Night Detect made him sense any living creature within his sphere of perception; it only worked at nighttime, though. Unfortunately, his Night Detect is inferior to whatever that Mage kobold has. Benedict had heard it was based on electricity, so it would not have any limitations based on daylight. But it did not matter now.

  By his Shadow Eyes, they’re twelve trees away. He has to cross six huge trees to make it to them and take them down quickly. He is not Rue; he did not have those fancy, formidable defenses. His class is very easy to understand, an assassin. That’s it. And he will have to act like one.

  Benedict rolled both of his shoulders, and a satisfying crack popped off. He drew both his Long Knives, both just a Common weapon. LongBone will be too difficult to carry. But, he was secretly glad for it. These knives are very easy to use, but he’s not crazy enough to name them like Alquin did, though. He had heard the old man screaming Betty as he cleaved a Kobold.

  Crazy old man.

  “Alright, here goes.”

  Benedict leapt forward, breaking the branches below him. He crossed three more and steeled himself for the upcoming detection.

  Another branch passed, and he closed his eyes briefly as he felt the night wind accompanied by the cold swirling around him like a mad blizzard.

  His eyes widen, his sphere of detection has recognized the Mage and the Bone Warrior, it's like both of them are suddenly in the corner of his mind.

  “Oh, I hope you’re the one who detected me earlier,” He muttered under his breath.

  A streak of Blue Lighting crossed through a tree near him, and it harmlessly disappeared, leaving a trail of fire against the wood.

  He skidded over a trunk and launched himself into another branch. As he was about to land, a lightning crash tore apart his target branches.

  “Whoa!” Benedict let out a shout; he was free-falling toward the ground. Recognizing a branch about to pass him, he shot out his hand, and the shadow began to grasp his hand, but his body weight kept him falling. The shadows did not give up, though; light pushed to the trees, and it even began glowing in this dark, cold night, its shadow gathered at one point, toward yanking Benedict's arm up.

  He saw the mage, who pointed a finger at him. Lighting zaps straight dead-on toward him. The shadow pulled him up, throwing him above the branch. The lightning crashed against the tree. Gorging it to the point it shook. Shadows steady Benedict, and he put one leg on the trunk, ready to launch himself down.

  He sheathed one Long Knife in a quick motion and drew a dagger with his left arm. Holding the dagger by its point – shadows seep into its gleaming steel, and he threw it down straight at the Bone Warrior.

  The Bone Warrior angled his shoulder shield to receive the knife throw. Benedict let out a smile and jumped down, with a foot push on the trunk, he dodged another lightning bolt that hit the tree again.

  As he reached the ground, his head snapped up – managing to see his knife spin about to connect with the bone Warrior shield. As it was about to land, Benedict cast Dagger phase. The shadow overtook the knife, and it disappeared. He moved.

  The Bone Warrior tried to find where the dagger was, looking around like a chicken. Then it appeared, skipping over its shoulder shield, landing deep into the side of its neck.

  The Kobold roared, its hand shot up to remove the knife before the Mage slapped away its hand and began to steady the knife.

  Smart for a bunch of monsters.

  But, behind them is Benedict; they were seconds too late to react. Before even the kobold's eyes widen. Benedict brought both of his long knives in a scissor-like slash to its neck. Under normal circumstances, this shouldn’t be enough to decapitate the Bone Warrior, but with his Backstab, he even cut through its armor, his head sliced off into four parts.

  Its scaly body fell.

  (You Have Slain Kobold Bone Warrior. Lvl 15)

  The Mage’s hands sizzle with electricity, they move at lightning speed, and attempt to point their finger at Benedict, but way too slow. He slashed both hands with each knife. The staff fell to the ground, still held with its bodyless hand. He kicked the mage down, and it fell, still bleeding profusely.

  It roared and screamed and finally begged.

  “Are you the one?” Benedict asked the Kobold. It merely kept begging and begging and eventually crying. Memory flood again, a boy six years old, saying he wanted to die in his hospital bed.

  ‘Please, doctor,’ the boy extended his bony arm, void of any nutrition; the only life he had was his eyes. ‘Keep me alive’

  Benedict reached out.

  Benedict held the kobold's hand. He blinked, looking down at the scaly hand. It looked strong, but it was dripping with blood and no body.

  Where is the body?

  He looked at the Robe kobolds, and their eyes slowly lost their colour.

  (You have Slain Robe kobold. Lvl 15)

  “Ah,” Benedict sighed. He pulled the bloody cloak of the Kobold.

  Wouldn’t need it any longer.

  “Tonight is cold.”