1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 74: The Daggers That Felled Countless

While all senses were disabled, he could still sense his own mana within his body. It was a revelation he was thankful for as he intentionally guided it through his limbs. One specific element was put at the forefront of his mind, visualizing the erratic form of energy–"Shock."

He jolted his own body with a controlled expulsion of electricity, causing his limbs to twitch. All at once, the sensory-depriving curse was purged as he clenched his hands.

A single blink returned his vision as he was met face-to-face with the hooded figure, this time taking the reins. He pushed his forearm forward forcefully, intercepting the assassin’s swinging motion.

"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, FOLKS?! THE NEWCOMER NOAH, HE’S SOMETHING ELSE! THIS IS A RISING STAR WE’RE WITNESSING!"

"Huh?!" Van reacted in surprise, pulling back. "You...How did you break free of the Blackout already?"

Noah rolled his shoulders and wiggled his fingers, like trying to wake up an arm that’d fallen asleep, "It was pretty simple, really. That spell was pretty scary at first, but once I figured it out, it wasn’t all that bad."

"You’re the kind of opponents that get on my nerves the most, you know," Van said with a calming exhale, readying his stance as his cat-like eyes fixated on the young man. "Talented monsters that simply ignore logic–your type are truly a pain in the ass. Never worth the pay."

Fighting within the boundaries of the ring of fire only seemed to supply the crowd with excitement unlike the previous rounds, as they cheered for the rookie. Despite all of the support, Noah’s focus laid entirely on the assassin across from him, whose energy completely shifted.

"Using sneaky tactics won’t work on you, I understand that much now. It’s tiresome, but I’ll have to confront you head-on, in a proper battle," Van admitted with an exhale. "Sorry if I kill you."

"That’s funny coming from you–"

The moment he gave his underhanded response, every instinct in his body fired off to defend himself. His arm moved on its own, bringing his axe in front of his neck as it stopped an incoming strike, though he hardly saw it come through.

’--An attack? What kind of speed was that?’ He thought.

[The Snake’s Eye]

By the time he elevated his senses, looking around, he found the assassin still moving as if unaffected by his sight entirely. Even as kicked-up sediment slowly drifted in the air, Van was coming to him with an intense dash all the same.

For a moment, Noah questioned if his skill failed to trigger, though the burning sensation in his eyes entirely washed that notion away. As their blades clashed, repelling the initial attack before following up only for the assassin to pull away and escape his sight again, the truth settled:

This was slowed time that Noah witnessed; Van was moving in such a way that heightened perception only made it "reasonable" to react to his path.

’So, he’s got some superspeed of his own? It’s pretty damn fast, I gotta admit,’ he thought.

Relinquishing the enhancement to his eyes, he entered the very same realm of agility as his opponent.

[Tintri]

Stepping into the world of swiftness, a single thought crossed a dozen meters, and their blades clashed multiple times within a moment. Nobody but the most elite could observe them, leaving the audience only seeing sparks in various points of the arena where their steel met.

The act of moving with ascended agility allowed one to defy natural motion; Noah glided effortlessly as if the ground was of sleek ice. As he drifted along the battlefield, his unblinking eyes looked around to track his elusive rival.

Fire and wind would be far too slow, leaving only one choice when it came to magecraft. He held his hand out as lightning coiled around his arm. The erratic element was preemptively aimed for the swift assassin, sending quick bolts that forced the experienced killer to pivot.

["When you meet somebody on the battlefield, all illusions are cast aside. No words are needed, no lies are told–the truth is obtained through clashing, through a tug of war of life-and-death. Each time the axe met the dagger, Noah understood Van more and more, and vice versa."]

’If you tossed everything aside and accepted killing me, you could’ve. I sense that much–I understand it better than any of these fools watching; you’re an anomalous talent, Noah Soul. Still, if you lack resolve, your blade will be too dull to cut even a leaf,’ the retired assassin assessed.

’Every time you go for my vitals, your movements slow, even just a little. You’re fighting those instincts you’ve etched into your body all these years. You can say what you want, but I know it–you feel immense guilt,’ Noah analyzed.

The moment their blades touched, he flicked the wrist of his free hand, curving a bolt of lightning around his opponent’s flank. In such a fashion as if his bones were made of liquid, the rogue bent backwards, ducking beneath the angled discharge.

["I’ve lived forty long years, fighting and killing since I could hold a knife.

I’ve survived calamities.

I’ve cut down giants that dwarfed hills.

I’ve taken the hearts of vampires.

I’ve bested masters of the blade.

I’ve slain legends that bards sing of.

Boy, what makes you think I can’t cut through your talent?"]

In the world where only those of blessed speed could perceive, the sound of the rogue’s muscles coiling sounded like leather being twisted. Noah heard it, watching the man come to a stop before suddenly–he sprang.

A burst of speed elevated from their current rhythm; Van moved in multiple places at once, coming from several directions with a distinct, malevolent aura dragging from his dagger.

’Fast–’ The simple thought was all Noah’s mind could come to.

He imbued his mana into the ground with the intent of raising an omni-directional defense, though hesitated on the belief it’d be too slow. Instead, he opted to scatter lightning around him, but that plan came too slow–

From all directions, the daggers that claimed countless lives cut across.