<Redline> 

Today was one of the normal days: I'd gotten back into my normal routine of working out in the morning, watching Sc'the go at it against a few of the dummies--he was at level 13 for each now, only two behind me in two of the settings and only one for the defense setting--and then going at it myself and doing my absolute best to keep ahead of the monstrous growth he had. It was hard work trying to stay ahead, and when I first saw him fighting against the level nine settings near the middle of last week...I was nearly shocked out of my own fur; though, at least it's lit that fire in me again. 

The competitiveness to be the best, to continue growing stronger if only to stay above Sc'the for the short time he was here. That was something that I started looking forwards to every morning, instead of going through the motions I was now able to go through my exercises while watching him fighting, and then fighting while he did...whatever it was he did afterwards. It was hard trying to keep track of a dragon with a curious meter that's gotten him blown up nearly twice now...all from his own doing too. 

This morning there was something else I was able to look forwards to: Freija and Wreign had planned something together for this afternoon with the rest of the team! I didn't get to see them often as Pendleton locked himself in his house working on his already vast assortment of toxins and other nasty things, and Sly was literally a cave-dweller that hated the city, and only came down when there was a job involving all of us or an event he'd been told about weeks in advance.

...It was a miracle we were still a team with everyone being so distant to each other, aside from Freija, Wreign, and myself that is. 

I left the house around 10:83am as I'd been told it was something on the other end of the city, closer to where the other two lived, and since Sly had to enter the gate every time, and Pendleton was always late Freija made every event a mandatory meeting somewhere close to it at least two hours in advance...just in case. 

Today, however, I'd gotten to the East Sanctuary, where the meet was planned to be held, and started to make my way over to the West side as that's the side Sly usually came from when he needed to enter the city. I hadn't seen Freija or Wreign yet, and that was pretty normal as they liked to ambush me or something to "keep me on my toes" or something like that.

...Actually. There was no one there at the moment: usually I'd be able to see a kid or two playing in the distant expanse of the field with parents sitting on the benches or in the grass nearby but today the fields sway in the wind with absolutely no one in sight. I was instantly put on edge, with my quiver already on my back and my bow in hand, I was ready to act on any indication of an attack. 

Something rustled next to me, but I kept my focus on moving towards the forest, towards the border of the tall grass, it wasn't as tall as to hide a person, but someone on all fours or something around the size of Sc'the would be able to hide decently well in it. Not to mention those with cloaking abilities like (Invisibility). 

My senses tingled, something was above me! I immediately dodged to the side as a human with a giant hammer came crashing down at the spot I'd been: that would've hurt, a lot. There were two knives thrown at him as soon as I dodged but the man just stood up, looked at them, and ripped them from his arm like they were just a bothersome pest; considering how huge this guy was, they probably were...

He (Streaked) towards me, striking with the hammer.

I hopped back to avoid it and shot an arrow at his eye. My Skill (Never-miss Arrows) was usually a skill I kept to the higher damaging attacks and normally it was something that I wouldn't use so early, but I didn't know of this guys level, I didn't know if there were any others trying to attack me at the moment, and I still didn't know where Freija, Wreign, and if the other two had even gotten here yet. 

The arrow curved around his hand as he raised it to smack the arrow out of the air, burying itself just past the tip into his eye. He roared in pain and the ferocity of his swings grew stronger and faster, a wispy red aura was starting to waft off of his form and I knew I had to end this before his (Rage) Skill or an equivalent kicked in. 

I shot another arrow at the previous, aiming to bury them in further and further into his head until they pierced the brain, but the arrow was caught and broken in the man's grip. 

The next few minutes were a game of cat and mouse with the man's roaring and frustration growing in volume and intensity with each passing second. Then I saw my opening, there was a reason (Decapitation) was my highest Skill: I grabbed one of my dueling knives and rushed him just as the hammer impacted the ground. I used the shaft as a jumping point, crushing his fingers and digging my claws in for more grip--totally not because he hadn't officially ruined my day--the skill activating as I struck his neck. 

(Level 94 Human (Harlan) Killed)
(Experience Gained)
(Personal Level Increased x9)
(Personal Level: 76)
(Skill Levels Increased: Heal (Lv. 52), Decapitation (Lv. 71), Endurance Boost (Lv. 59), Strength Boost (Lv. 59), Huntress (Lv. 53), Never-miss Arrows (Lv. 50), Light Aura (Lv. 36), Streak (Lv. 56). 
(Points Gained: 360)
(Free Points: 580)

It was relieving to see the message that he'd actually died instead of somehow being able to burn through his magic to ramp up his healing and keep fighting even at the risk of destroying his body internally from Mana Burn. It was also relieving that I was also able to kill someone over level 90 without another enemy stepping in last minute...maybe they were somewhere else, or did they actually just send one after me thinking that was enough? 

I looked at my extra points with a grimace, I should've been slowly using all of those this past week...now I'm going to have to wait nearly a week now to get that to 0: I mean, they're welcome, and I'll definitely take it after how annoying fighting this guy was, but I didn't know if I would need to use at least a hundred or more of them here yet since there was sure to be other's that wanted to kill me still nearby. 

I slowly made my way to the tree line, observing everything as I went: looking for anything odd in the branches or around my area on the ground, looking for any spots or triggers that might be a trap, and keeping my awareness at maximum for any other attacker, near or far. As I made it closer to the tree line I noticed a faint shimmer in the air, so that's why no one was here: They'd put up a sort of illusion to keep non-targeted people out of the Sanctuary while the attack was taking place. I debated whether I should shoot one of my (Light Arrows) up at the top of it, just as a test to see whether I'd be able to dispel it that way or not. 

Light was a strange element: it traveled at a pace faster than most could perceive, and yet it also bent and acted in ways that made it seem like there was more of something there, or that something that wasn't, was. It also was capable of burning things if the intensity got high enough, so it wasn't uncommon to see fire whenever some Light magic was used in highly concentrated rays. 

Strangely enough, mirrors seemed to enhance the effects too sometimes...

Ultimately, I decided not to do that as it would not only alert those nearby that I was alive, but it would also reveal one of my more powerful skills prematurely...if I was still even being watched that is. As I got closer to the edge of the forest I got a feeling that something was...off, I still felt like I was being watched but I couldn't tell where from. It was like dealing with Sc'the's (Invisibility) all over again, except without the strange effects he had on the perception--I stepped forwards and there was a small flash of light. 

The next moment I'm sent flying from a giant explosion underfoot, my legs were both wrangled messes and even Pain Tolerance wasn't able to block everything. The next few moments were a mix of shock, pain, and watching my (Health) slowly depleting: 3576-/4140. I couldn't feel my legs, I couldn't even feel my thoughts, and when I was able to finally look at the damage my vision went dark. 

-----------------------------

"See! Look at that guys, she's incapacitated and can't do shit to us now..." A man sitting on a tree and swinging his legs yelled. The others two next to him looked at the carnage with a mix of pity and annoyance. "We didn't even need to fight her, she practically did all of the work for us!" One of the others standing against the same tree below, a woman in skimpy armor that barely covered her waist, chest and shoulders, and legs. She held what looked like a spiked whip in her hands and was frowning with displeasure. 

"Couldn't you have made a mark less...explosive."

"No. What would be the point of a smaller explosion?" The man in the tree guffawed at her, "We wanted her incapacitated, we need her alive in case Ghast and the others aren't able to do their jobs." He lend over to look down at her with a confused expression. "Oh, you just wanted a fight again didn't you? Well you don't get to have this one, this one's mine. My catch, my spoils. It was annoying enough that we lost Harlan just because the damn brute couldn't wait..."

"I would've gone with him if I'd known he was going after the target." The woman underneath sighed, "Whatever, I can't do anything about it now. Lets just get over there and make sure the target doesn't die on us..." 

The three were about to move after Redline when a transparent wall appeared, blocking off the path towards their prey, a feminine voice sounding from behind, "You thought you could just walk away after almost killing our precious kitten?" Freija purred dangerously. Two of the three other assassins looked at each other with confusion. The other one, the woman with the whip, smiled lustfully at Freija, stepping forwards and licking her lips. 

"I've got this one you two, just get the target and leave. I'm going to get a little enjoyment from this waste of a perfectly good drinking day." As she spoke she walked closer to Freija, the natural sway of her hips would've distracted anyone in the vicinity, but Freija kept her eyes on the woman's own and got into an attacking stance with her Chakrams pointed outward. "Your flesh is going to be wonderful, isn't it?" The woman purred and sung the whip towards Freija. 

It snaked through the air, defying any and all known laws of physics as it went for the leg, trying to wrap around and snag Freija but once in range it suddenly separated into eleven pieces: Freija's Chakram blade flashing in her grip and through the air as they somehow bounced on thin air to return the way they'd come or come in from a different angle to cut through another section of the whip before returning. 

Freija smiled as the other woman watched her weapon fall to the ground in pieces, "You want a taste of my flesh? Yeah, I don't think so Impy, I've already reserved that for another..." 

The other woman remained unfazed, she dropped her broken whip and took out a pair of yellow-green spheres. "Oh? I guess I'll just make you tell me then, so I can dispose of them and make you watch..." Freija's expression went cold and an invisible barrier materialized horizontally at the edge of the other woman's neck.  

She barely avoided it: leaping back but having to dodge another appearing behind her at the waist, and then another nearly severing her arms, and another, and another. And with that the battle started with Freija marching forwards, and the other assassin fighting for her life right of the start. 

I also seem to have gotten rusty with fighting scenes...X_X

i'm also just realizing that as more of the action starts ramping up, I've been subconsciously avoiding everything to do with the Status screens and leveling; as to not have to deal with constantly changing numbers and the like, so if I end up screwing something up in the future I'd like to know where...It's definitely going to happen sometime. 

Otherwise thanks for Reading and I'll see you in the next one!!

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