24 24. Second try

I kept myself calm.

Everyone was prepared to engage in battle but me. I stood like a stone statue.

I knew what had happened last time, what we had been through, and how hard it was to kill them, and not to mention this time they have one additional member.

Rena, I forgot her last name but she played a good game.

The future is changed and maybe they will live happily ever after, maybe because of my futile effort I moved Scott's heart and he realized how much he loved Rena.

What a bunch of bullshit.

That dude is a smooth talker and scheming bastard but he has no idea what he is up against. Noah Stone is the person who will not let them succeed and live their life happily even if they are fucking main characters of the story.

"Scott, fight me one on one unless you are afraid" I summoned my dagger.

Rex's face twisted. "Hold it there, he's not easy"

"Noah, please be careful. This is not a playground" Amalia retorted, not giving me a chance to say another word. "stay back and we will protect you as long as we can"

Scott laughed as he listened. "Oh Dear, don't you think you are being too arrogant? This is not a mock battle"

In his response, their party laughed.

What's wrong with mine? At least a few words of encouragement would have been better instead of saying it's not a playground. What am I a Kid?

Just forget it, I have to do what I think I need to do and that is attack.

"Don't worry Amalia, I will finish him off in one strike" I said, confident. "Only one"

Scott's face darkened as if I had insulted his whole family.

I know it's impossible, but I needed to make sure I died swiftly and without much pain.

It's horrific seeing the naked swords pointing at you and knowing in a few seconds they will thrust inside your body cutting all cables and wires for god sake even imagination of it was terrible and pain was beyond major. I don't want to die like that again, if possible... not ever.

"we will see who will die at one strike" He bellowed.

Thats it. Now he will surely go for my head. A quick way to die.

It was not like I was eager to die but I had no option to do anything other than to die. My only hope and plan died the moment she joined them. It was now impossible for us to win or even hope to win.

"Come at me!" I replied.

"Noah. don't provoke him" Amalia stood in front summoning her flames.

"Sorry but I have to do it" I mumbled under my breath.

The next moment I was right behind him, all I saw was the wide-open back side of his neck. I slashed but the result was no different than the last time. He got away instinctively with only a slight wound on the back of his neck.

He was stunned again, his group scattered seeing me among them.

"What the hell was that?" Rex said as they kept looking at me.

[ Name - Scott Rtene (beast slayer)

Level - 16

Age - 32

Race - Human

- how did he appear behind me? Fuck I was lucky to follow my instinct ]

There was something new. His title was There a beast slayer, It was included in the information.

His level was far more than I had expected. He was too strong to get killed this easily.

"Too bad I missed," I said, disappointed. "Now it's your turn, show me how bigger your balls are"

He grimaced at me, clutching the sword handle and jumping at me.

Honestly, I was scared. I knew what was coming and what to expect. I felt my blood running all around my body and time slowed down. I closed my eyes.

-

[ Ding! the host has been respawned...]

I ignored the rest of the notifications as a window disappeared.

I was back at square one.

Now it has become my habit. I no longer get surprised or agitated to do anything or feel anything.

The second attempt to assassinate Scott has failed.

Second try but no luck.

I guess I cannot use Shadow Strike against strong opponents. It's official now.

I inhaled and exhaled.

We failed when we fought three vs four and the reason was me being weak af.

I failed when I tried to convince them before entering the main location due to a lack of proof and Scott's impulsive actions.

The third time I failed to assassinate Scott all on my own, due to again me being weak af.

The fourth time when I tried to outnumber them by pulling Rena to our side, it backfired and She joined them as a result they outnumbered us yet again.

This is a pain in the ass.

I sat on the floor as if trying to meditate.

What i was missing? What I need to learn. What is the right way to kill five birds with one stone?

It was obvious in terms of strength we cannot win against those four or even those five then what should I do to escape the death?

How about I run away?

Was that even an option? The heck I am not in a game where I will miss out on anything. Fuck it.

I walked back on the same path. Yes, it's the right decision, but again do I even know the right way to home? I don't want to end up freezing to death like that time.

My feet stopped seeing the heavy storm outside. Fuck this is problematic. I hesitated.

Is this all right? I mean leaving Amalia and Rex all alone to face those guys. It means leaving them to their death.

I shook my head. I am not fucking hero to try and save everyone, if I kept thinking about others how can I able to survive? This is not a game but a life where everyone's priority is themselves.

One needs to make hard decisions to survive. It is a must.

What will happen if I leave, there is a chance I will freeze to death and also there are chances that I will find a way back to Stormfront. The weather is deadly but it was not as deadly as the situation inside the tomb.

I was about to step out just when another possibility hit my head. The Bandits often visit Stormfront and if I run away that means they will surely come back with that Scott and kill me alongside Old Man.

Fuck I cannot let that happen. I walked back and forth. I cannot let these fuckers harm Gramps.

"Noah" I heard a soft voice. She was Amalia. She came all the way here for me. "Are you ok? You can tell me if you are scared"

She looked worried.

Damn, she must have searched all around for me but wait it was like fifteen minutes and if she was here then Rex was all alone in the lion's den, and who knows what would have happened while we were out.

My eyes widened.

Behind her, I saw a figure, a tall man with a smirk. Dan!

"Amalia look out!" I shouted.

Dan took hold of her from behind and slit her throat in an instant even before my words could reach her ears. She dropped dead on the floor. The white ice began painting red, and all because of me. She came here to see if I was ok and because of that she got killed.

I stayed there speechless, eyes widened just like hers.

"I am glad I departed the moment she came back looking for you or else you brats would have fled" He wiped the sword from her robe as he laughed. "He only required two targets, The short hair girl already died by his hand and the only one left is the baldy. It means she is no use for him and neither are you, my friend"

I summoned the dagger and clashed with him. He just deflected my blows, jumping around as if making fun of me.

I swung around hoping to slash but it was no use, it was all finished when he attacked back with the same intensity.

I lay by her side as Strength left my body slowly and painfully.

I died again.