I Reincarnated As A Shadow Assassin Now I'm Overpowered

Chapter 5: The Assassin's Chase

Xyren had escaped.

The moment he vanished into the alleyways of Black Hollow, I knew the hunt wasn't over.

[Contract Status: Incomplete.]

[Target Escaped. Pursuit Recommended.]

I didn't need the system to tell me. My body was already moving.

I slipped into the darkness, blending into the shadows of the slums. Xyren wouldn't get far—he was wounded, and even the best assassins bled.

But he was smart. He wouldn't run blindly. He would set traps, mislead me, and use the city itself as a weapon.

This wasn't just a chase.

It was a battle of assassins.

Tracking the Target: A Game of Shadows

The blood trail was faint but there. Xyren had been sloppy, or desperate. His wound was slowing him down.

I followed, my Phantom Step allowing me to move soundlessly through the twisting backstreets of Black Hollow.

Then I stopped.

The blood trail… ended.

I scanned the area. The alley was too quiet—no drunkards, no beggars. Just crates, barrels, and broken cobblestones.

A trap.

I shifted into Shadowmeld just as something whistled through the air.

THUNK!

A crossbow bolt buried itself into the spot where I had just stood.

I vanished into the darkness, slipping behind cover. A rooftop sniper.

Xyren had planned for pursuit.

I counted—three figures on the rooftops. Not just Xyren. He had allies.

Mercenaries? Hired killers? No—these weren't random thugs. Their movements were too coordinated.

They were assassins.

And they were hunting me.

The Trap Springs: Fighting the Hunters

TCHAK!

Another bolt sliced through my cloak, barely missing me. No time to run.

I moved—fast.

I leapt onto a wooden beam, kicking off to reach the rooftops. The first assassin barely had time to turn before my dagger sank into his throat.

SHINK!

He gurgled, falling backward. The second one lunged—dual daggers flashing. I twisted, dodging just as the third attacker swung a short sword from behind.

Three against one. No, two now.

A fair fight.

I slipped into Shadowmeld, phasing through the second assassin's strike before I reappeared behind him, my blade carving through his ribs.

The third man hesitated.

That was a mistake.

I dashed forward, Shadow Strike activating, my form blurring as I lashed out—

SLASH!

He collapsed. Dead.

The fight had lasted less than ten seconds.

I turned—Xyren was nowhere in sight.

But he had left a clue—a torn piece of cloth stuck on a wooden railing. The same black fabric as his cloak.

He had gone up.

Rooftop Pursuit: The Final Clash Begins

I ascended quickly, leaping from beam to ledge, chasing after the only lead I had.

Then, I heard it—footsteps. Fast. Calculated. Xyren was moving across the rooftops, trying to reach the old watchtower at the edge of Black Hollow.

I pursued, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, the wind rushing past.

Then—Xyren stopped.

He turned, his dagger glinting in the dim city lights. His grin returned.

"You actually caught up. Impressive," he mused, rolling his shoulders. "I thought those lackeys would slow you down more."

I said nothing. Words didn't matter.

This would only end with one of us dead.

Xyren exhaled. "Guess I'll stop running then."

He lunged.

The Duel: A True Assassin's Battle

The first clash was a blur.

Steel met steel, sparks flying in the night.

Xyren was fast. He fought with a fluid, aggressive style, shifting from dagger strikes to brutal kicks and counter-moves.

I ducked under a slice—his blade narrowly missing my throat.

I twisted, aiming a counter—but Xyren's knee slammed into my ribs.

CRACK.

Pain. But I didn't falter.

I retaliated, slipping under his next attack—Shadow Strike activated, my dagger carving toward his stomach—

But he twisted midair, dodging at the last second.

"You're learning," Xyren muttered, licking a trail of blood from his lips. "But not fast enough."

Then he did something unexpected.

He threw his dagger.

I dodged—but it wasn't the real attack.

The moment I moved, Xyren was already there, his second blade flashing.

SHINK.

Pain flared across my side.

I staggered. A clean cut.

Xyren grinned. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

I clenched my teeth. He was stronger. More experienced. But he had made a mistake.

He thought I fought like a human.

I wasn't human anymore.

The shadows themselves shifted around me. The pain dulled. My form blurred, my body phasing between solid and mist.

Xyren's grin faded.

"You—"

I appeared behind him.

SHNK!

My dagger sank into his back.

Xyren gasped, his breath hitching. His body trembled, his fingers twitching toward his blade.

Then he collapsed.

The End of Xyren

I stood over him, watching as the life drained from his eyes.

He coughed, blood trailing from his lips. Even in death, he grinned.

"Heh… you really are… something else," he muttered. "I should've… recruited you."

His fingers twitched—reaching into his cloak.

I tensed, expecting another trick.

But instead, he pulled out a single silver coin, pressing it into my hand.

"Take it… you'll need it soon…"

Then his body went still.

The system chimed.

[Target Eliminated.]

[Contract Complete.]

A strange warmth spread through me.

[You have leveled up.]

[New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Chains.]

But before I could process it, something shifted in the air.

A presence.

I turned sharply—Selene stood behind me, watching with amusement.

"Took you long enough," she said. "I was wondering if you'd actually survive."

I didn't lower my blade. "You followed me."

She shrugged. "Had to see if you were worth investing in." Her eyes flickered toward Xyren's body. "Looks like you passed."

I frowned. "Passed what?"

She smiled.

"You'll find out soon, Shadowborn."

The city lights flickered in the distance. My first true contract was complete.

But something told me…

This was just the beginning.

END OF CHAPTER 5