Chapter 6: Shadow Strike on the Plain
The next day, around noon, Luna strolled casually while cheerful whistling echoed beside her. She glanced to her side, noticing Dion was no longer walking by her side.
"Wait... where’s Dion?" Luna thought in her head.
Luna turned around to look back. She spotted Dion walking with a heavy limp, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, and sporting deep dark circles under his eyes. He looked completely exhausted after trudging across the long plain, now struggling up the path leading toward the city of Phobos. Luna paused her steps to wait for Dion to catch up, turning back to face him.
"Are you tired? Can you still walk?" Luna asked attentively, wiping the sweat from Dion’s face.
"I can... hopefully, haha," Dion answered faintly, catching his breath.
"Hmm... we have been walking since this morning, haven’t we? Want to take a break first?" Luna asked.
"No need... the city of Phobos is already in sight up ahead," Dion replied, bending over and clutching his knees as he panted, pointing forward.
Luna turned to look ahead. A grand walled city stood on the horizon, accompanied by an academy resting on a hill attached to a high cliff. On a second cliff far below the hill where the academy sat, a wide, steep-roofed, magnificent structure came into view, their former dormitory.
"Oh... we’re close," Luna said.
"That’s why... no point stopping now... just let me catch my breath for a second, then we’ll keep going," Dion said haltingly from exhaustion. "Sorry... I’m weak, please don’t complain," Dion thought in his head.
"Hmm... since it’s already afternoon, how about we pull over for a bit to eat?" Luna suggested.
"Okay... good idea," Dion replied, still trying to steady his breathing.
The two moved to the side of the road and sat casually among the grass. "Phew," Dion immediately let out his fatigue, but then gasped in surprise. He saw Luna take off her bag and rest her staff beside her. Luna, who usually dressed like a nun, was now wearing only a black dress with gold trim and a short skirt that revealed her thighs, no longer wearing her veil.
"Um... since when did you change clothes? I could’ve sworn your outfit was still the same as last night?" Dion asked, thoroughly confused.
"Huh? I excused myself earlier and said I was going to change. Since you didn’t answer... I changed while walking," Luna answered casually, pulling food out from her dimensional bag.
"Huh?" Dion recalled when they set off that morning. He had walked ahead alone while Luna walked behind him. After a while, he had begun slowing down until he was side by side with Luna, eventually ending up panting behind her and getting left in the dust. He hadn’t even noticed Luna changing her clothes. He immediately buried his face in his hands.
"Lord help me... I’m way too weak... this is pathetic, losing a simple walk to a girl," Dion muttered in his head, completely forgetting that Luna was no ordinary girl.
"What’s wrong? Still tired?" Luna asked, handing Dion some food and stroking his cheek.
"No... just thinking," Dion answered with a faint, insecure smile, though his eyes remained glued to Luna’s outfit because her clothing was now entirely open and alluring.
Noticing Dion staring at her outfit, Luna flushed with embarrassment. She gently nudged Dion with a soft smile, unaware that Dion had tumbled flat onto his side. When she looked over, Luna’s face turned pale.
"Whoa... Dion... I’m so sorry!" Luna said, standing up and rushing over to him.
"Hahaha... sorry, I’m just weak," Dion replied with a laugh.
"Stop it, don’t keep talking like that. Sorry I pushed too hard, come on, let’s eat," Luna said, helping Dion to his feet.
They sat back down in their original spots, resuming their meal while enjoying the soft breeze brushing past them. Once they finished eating, while tidying up their food containers,
"Helpppp!"
Dion and Luna turned swiftly toward the road they had just traveled. In the distance, a carriage sped toward them at high speed. Dion narrowed his eyes; it appeared to be a merchant’s carriage pursued by a large pack of wolves.
"Hey Luna... we better move... fast?"
Dion gasped because when he turned, he saw Luna preparing herself. She walked straight into the middle of the road carrying her staff. Raising her staff into the air, the tip began to glow bright.
"Holy lance!"
In the sky, dozens of yellow magic circles materialized out of nowhere, unleashing a barrage of light spears that rained down from above. The spears of light showered the earth, completely missing the carriage. Yelp! Five pursuing wolves instantly perished, pierced through by the beams of light that fell like rain onto the path behind them. Dion, witnessing Luna’s action, glanced at Luna beside him, who wore a dead serious expression.
"Wow... one hit, all done," Dion thought in his head.
"Watch out!"
Suddenly, the carriage driver yelled as he nearly passed them. Faintly behind the carriage, a wolf materialized from the shadows. It was a giant beast, easily the size of the carriage, with red eyes, shadow-black fur, and a straight black horn on its head.
"Oh no... an A-rank Shadow Wolf... Dion!"
Luna turned, her eyes widening as she saw Dion engulfed in an aura of reddish-black shadow flames beside her.
["One Strike... is all I need."]
A holographic screen appeared in front of Dion’s face. He saw his arms clad in black padded leather armor, along with a hood, black leather gloves, and a mask. His glowing red eyes glanced sideways at the holographic screen.
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Name : Dion von Oswald.
Soul persona : Shadow Assassin. [change]
Weapon : Djin’s dual jambiya (Persian Dagger).
Armor : Assassin outfit.
Passive : Dagger mastery, throw mastery, nimble, speedster.
Active : Vanish, shadow tranform, dark mist, poison stab, frenzy kill.
Given : Goddess Hestalia Blessing.
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Using transform mode ? [Yes] [No]
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"Um... Dion," Luna said.
"Wait here," Dion replied in a raspy voice.
Without another word or transforming himself into the physical form of the Shadow Assassin, Dion vanished. He materialized right behind the carriage, drawing both jambiyas. Groaaar! The shadow wolf leaped to pounce on Dion, but the giant beast blocking the sun suddenly froze mid-air, its face twisted in agony and shock. Dion hadn’t moved, yet fresh blood dripped from both his daggers. The shadow wolf’s body crashed to the ground, severed into four pieces.
"Phew... good thing I invoked Recall in time, otherwise that monster would’ve mauled Luna... okay, deactivate," Dion thought in his head.
Dion deactivated the skill. All his armor and weapons vanished, his glowing red eyes reverting to green. He then thought "Recall" in his mind.
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Change Soul Persona :
1. Dion von Oswald [current]
2. Black Knight rank SSSS [activate ?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 1 day)
3. Shadow Assassin rank SSSS (cooldown 23:59:33)
4. Berserk Monk rank SSSS [activate ?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 1 day)
5. Mechanical Crafter and Gunner rank SSSS [activate ?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 3 day)
6. Ancient One rank SSSS [activate ?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 5 day)
7. ???
8. ???
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After checking the cooldown time, Dion closed the screen once more and inspected his handiwork, the shadow wolf’s body split into four sections. Before he could do anything else, thump, thud, Dion fell to his side once again, ending up flat on his back. He saw Luna crashing into him yet again.
"Hey... I’m going to end up dead if you keep tackling me like this!" Dion yelled.
"Hehe... you’re amazing! I was terrified when we encountered an A-rank monster," Luna replied, hugging Dion tightly.
"Yeah... yeah... get up," Dion replied. "She’s definitely misunderstanding even more now... whatever," Dion thought in his head.
They turned as the carriage pulled to a stop nearby. A plump, middle-aged man with a mustache leaped down from the carriage, jogging over to greet them as they remained piled on the road. As Dion and Luna stood up,
"Thank you... thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, my carriage would be destroyed and my goods scattered everywhere," the man, who looked like a merchant, said as he held both of Dion’s hands.
"Why are your goods the first thing on your mind?" Dion thought in his head, though he put on a sweet smile and answered, "Um... yeah... you’re welcome, but you have the wrong person. The one who saved you is her," Dion said, turning to look at Luna.
"What are you talking about? You’re the one who killed the shadow wolf!" Luna protested.
"You killed the five dire wolves before that," Dion countered.
"Then that means both of us did it, not just one," Luna replied.
"Hahaha... I express my thanks to both of you. My name is Edgar. I own a shop in the capital of Lutherias and the education city of Phobos. I just delivered goods from Minatheras, and luckily I managed to get out before it was too late," Edgar said.
"Huh... why, what’s going on over there?" Dion asked in surprise.
"We just came from there yesterday, too," Luna added.
"A stampede... monsters in the forest are emerging and gathering... it hasn’t happened yet, but their movements are already visible... looks like something triggered it," Edgar replied.
"Oh... I see. Don’t worry, Mr. Edgar, our friend Rene is over there, and he’s pretty strong," Luna said casually.
Dion turned to look at Luna beside him, who clearly intended to leave Rene to deal with the tight situation back in the city, her face practically screaming "I don’t care."
"By the way, where are you two headed?" Edgar asked.
"We want to go to the city of Phobos, then enter the dark forest to take a shortcut to the Kingdom of Thetor," Dion answered.
"Hmm... okay, come with me to Phobos. It’s already in sight, but on foot you won’t arrive until tonight or tomorrow morning. Hop on," Edgar offered.
"Oh... but is it really okay, sir?" Luna asked politely.
"Of course it’s fine! I even know an innkeeper there, I’ll let him know later. Allow me to help those who saved me," Edgar said enthusiastically.
Dion turned to look at Luna. The two exchanged glances, then Dion looked back at Edgar.
"Alright, Mr. Edgar, thank you for offering us a ride," Dion replied.
"Don’t mention it, you’re my saviors! Come on, hop in," Edgar urged.
Finally, they both climbed into the back of the carriage while Edgar returned to the driver’s seat up front. The carriage set off. Dion turned to look back toward the direction of Minatheras’s capital. But then he turned back forward, looking at Luna’s pretty, calm face.
"Whatever, Luna’s right, Rene’s over there anyway... bottom line, I’m retired and living a slow, peaceful life," Dion muttered as he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back comfortably.