NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Killing the Killer
"I hope you survive and escape from the Blackcloud Forest."
Since it was his plan to use the Beast Essence Powder, Ethan didn't waste any time and quickly headed toward the exit of the Blackcloud Forest, holding his injured hand.
Nevertheless, before leaving, he didn't offer any words of encouragement to the assassin.
"Damn you, b*stard."
Recovering from his shock, the assassin cursed Ethan and also ran toward the exit.
However, it was already too late for him, as some of the spirit beasts had already caught up to him.
'Die… die.'
'Slash!'
Despite being surrounded by the Spirit Beasts, the assassin didn't give up easily.
He slashed the Spirit Beasts to death while moving toward the exit of the Blackcloud Forest.
The Beast Essence Powder used by Ethan was just a low-level medicine that attracted and affected the minds of only Rank 1 and Rank 2 Spirit Beasts.
Like cultivation realms for cultivators, Spirit Beasts also have ranks depending on their strength, starting from Rank 1. Rank 1 and Rank 2 Spirit Beasts have strength equivalent to Qi Refining Cultivators; however, within the same rank, Spirit Beasts are stronger thanks to their primitive and bestial nature.
Similar to cultivation realms for cultivators, Spirit Beasts are classified into ranks based on their strength, starting from Rank 1. Rank 1 and Rank 2 Spirit Beasts possess strength comparable to Levels 1-5 and Levels 6-9 Qi Refining cultivators, respectively. However, within the same rank, Spirit Beasts often hold the upper hand due to their primal instincts and ferocious nature.
'Swoosh!'
'Phew… everything went as smoothly as I planned. Now, all I have to do is wait for him to exit the forest.'
As for Ethan, he encountered a few Rank 1 Spirit Beasts on his way; however, thanks to his Level 6 Qi Refining Cultivation and Shadow Steps, he was able to escape them easily.
If others had Ethan's cultivation, they could have easily killed the beasts; however, his case was different as he had zero battle experience.
'With his completion-level Qi Refining Cultivation, there is no way he would die from the onslaught of Rank 1 and Rank 2 Spirit Beasts.'
Standing outside the Blackcloud Forest, Ethan tended to his injured hand and patiently waited for the assassin.
It might be very difficult for other cultivators with the same cultivation realm as the assassin to escape the onslaught of the Spirit Beasts; however, Ethan believed that as an assassin, he must have quite a few tricks up his sleeve.
Time continued to pass, and in a flash, one hour had gone by when a blood-soaked figure staggered out of the forest, eyes full of killing intent.
"I guessed it correctly. You are not someone who dies easily."
Ethan was not surprised at the assassin's survival, as it was within his expectations.
"You… cough."
The assassin was already determined to kill Ethan, but hearing his words only fueled his agitation, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood.
'Thud!'
Before Ethan could react, the assassin fell to the ground, the dagger slipping from his hands and landing near Ethan's feet.
'Is he dead?'
Ethan didn't rush to check on the assassin because it might be a trap, where the assassin would strike when he got closer.
'Ding,
The killer is not dead yet. The mission is not completed.'
Suddenly, Ethan received a system notification, confirming his earlier guess.
"I know you are acting. If you tell me the name of your employer, I can give you a quick death."
Since he got confirmation from the system, Ethan questioned the assassin about the one who wanted him dead.
"Y-you are sharp. B-but, do y-you think I w-will tell y-you?"
The assassin struggled to lift his head and weakly replied to Ethan with a cold smirk.
"I knew it."
Ethan shook his head, deciding to complete the mission without wasting any more time.
'Shuffle.'
Ethan picked up the assassin's dagger from his feet and slowly walked toward the assassin.
'I can kill him… I am killing an assassin who killed me and will kill me again. I have to kill him.'
'I can't give him time to heal his injuries.'
With each step he took, Ethan felt like he was crossing an invisible boundary—one that he could never return from.
He had the perfect chance, the perfect excuse, but his hand trembled as the thought of killing someone loomed over him like a storm.
Nevertheless, Ethan continued to prepare himself, because this was no longer the modern world but a cultivation world where killing others was as common as drinking coffee.
'Puchi!'
He steeled his heart and finally pierced the dagger into the assassin's body.
There was no technique or precision. It was only Ethan's determination to live and become stronger in this world—to erase the regrets of his past life.
'Puchi!'
'Is this his Divine Retribution? Or was it because he was too confident in killing me that my plan worked so smoothly?'
Pulling out the dagger, Ethan pondered, concluding that it was Divine Retribution for all the innocent lives the assassin had taken—fate making him encounter Ethan, a transmigrator with a cheat.
'Ding,
Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the mission [Eye for an Eye].
'Ding,
The host is rewarded with a Special Talent: [I Am Your Killer].
What followed next was the system's congratulatory notification and the reward for completing the mission.
'[I Am Your Killer]? Sounds interesting.'
Just the name alone made Ethan excited; however, before he could check the information on his new Special Talent, he received a series of system notifications that gave him another round of excitement.
'Ding,
The host's Special Talent [I Am Your Killer] is triggered'
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