The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation-Chapter 64 - 62 — All Out

Zephyrion turned toward the villagers instantly.

"We have to leav—"

Whoosh!

An intense bloodlust swept through the cavern, drenching Zephyrion in a biting cold. He shrugged it off easily, however, the villagers beside him shivered violently and collapsed to their knees.

"W-what is this...? It’s so cold..."

"W-what’s happening?!"

Zephyrion ignored the frightened whispers, his gaze narrowing toward the entrance of the cavern, where a man stepped in with calm, measured steps.

The man was tall and slender, carrying a dangerous air around him. Red hair, red eyes, red lips. A Sanguine, and not just anyone.

’A Reaver.’

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Zephyrion’s eyes lowered to the man’s arm, where he casually held the severed head of the instructor, crimson blood dripping steadily from it.

The instructors of Calderalth were at least Mark Five. For one to be killed so easily...

’At least Mark Six.’

As the man calmly surveyed the area, Zephyrion stepped in front of the villagers.

"Stand up. Get behind me."

"...y-yes!"

Fiona moved without hesitation, taking her place behind him. When the villagers remained frozen in fear, he shot them a cold look that made them flinch.

"Now."

The villagers nodded meekly and hurriedly gathered behind him.

"Hm... they’re all dead. Looks like I was a bit late. I did come as fast as I could."

Eventually, the Reaver’s gaze settled on Zephyrion, and he instantly felt a heavy weight press down on him.

"...you. Did you do this?"

"..."

"Oh? Not even a reaction... even under my bloodlust?"

The man raised an eyebrow at Zephyrion’s unfazed expression.

"...interesting. You’re not normal, are you?" he glanced at the corpses. "...those wounds... clean. Precise."

He grinned.

"Heh... figures."

’He thinks.’

Zephyrion’s eyes sharpened slightly. He was dangerous.

’I have to go all out.’

But the witnesses behind him made that impossible. He couldn’t allow anyone to see.

’They have to leave.’

The man clearly wasn’t going to make that easy. Zephyrion’s mind spun, thoughts flashing one after another before settling.

’It’s fifty-fifty.’

But it was the only option available.

Suddenly, Zephyrion stepped forward, his gaze turning cold.

"I am Zephyrion Calderalth."

"...Zephyrion? Wait... that name..." The man’s eyes narrowed briefly, then widened.

"...you’re the one who just returned, right? That genius prodigy?"

"You’re trespassing within Calderalth territory, Sanguine." Zephyrion continued calmly. "State your business."

"...purple eyes... so it really is you."

The man ignored his words entirely, a grin slowly spreading across his face.

"Hah... what a find. Didn’t think I’d get this lucky. Zephyrion Calderalth... you’re worth quite a lot."

The man slowly began circling the fire in the middle of the cavern.

"Did you not hear me?" Zephyrion gestured behind him and began circling the bonfire from the opposite side, the villagers shifting along with his every step.

"State your business."

"Haha... my business?" The man chuckled. "What do you think? I came here to have some fun? Visit a lover? ...or maybe..." his eyes gleamed "...for blood."

’Almost there.’

"Touch Calderalth blood... and your lineage ends."

"Hah... a cub threatening me?" the man slowly licked his lips. "...how cute."

A coldness flickered through Zephyrion’s gaze.

"...it’s a fact."

"Oh?"

’Here.’

As the man raised an amused brow, Zephyrion suddenly came to a stop. Now, the exit to the cavern lay directly behind him.

"Leave. Now."

"B-but young lord, w-what abou—"

Zephyrion silenced her with a steady, reassuring look.

"Protect them."

Fiona’s gaze trembled. She gritted her teeth, then gave a firm nod.

"...I’ll be back. I promise."

She turned and hurried out of the cavern with the rest of the villagers.

"Hmm."

The Reaver watched the entire scene unfold with an amused smile, making no move to stop them.

"How pointless... I’ve already sealed the exit. They’re all going to die anyway."

"..."

Despite his words, Zephyrion’s expression did not change. It didn’t matter. What mattered now was that there were no witnesses left.

Now, he could go all out.

Zephyrion reached deep within himself, and every brutal experience he had endured in the Order surged through his mind.

In the next instant, an overwhelming bloodlust erupted from him, washing over the entire cavern.

"Hm?"

The Reaver frowned as he felt the sudden chill. It was as though the temperature of the entire cavern had dropped.

The moment he noticed the dangerous air beginning to pour out from Zephyrion, his eyes narrowed to slits. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"...what is this...? You’re just a kid—how are you—"

Whoosh!

The man snapped his head to the side, locking onto a metal spike shooting toward him.

He squinted.

’When?’

He had been listening the entire time, yet he hadn’t heard any hum of the WorldPulse. He jerked his head back, the spike slicing past his face.

He turned his gaze back to Zephyrion... but he was gone.

"!?"

His awareness surged outward, spreading through the entire cave.

"The—"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

His eyes darted rapidly, catching sight of multiple spikes shooting toward him from different directions.

"Hmph!"

The man scoffed and waved a hand. Crimson blood materialized around him, condensing instantly into a dense dome. The spikes slammed against it, but it held firm.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The man’s eyes narrowed as several spikes suddenly surged from within the dome.

’How’s he doing this?’

He released the dome and swung his arm. The blood snapped outward like whips, snatching each spike midair in an instant.

A cold sensation brushed his back, and he spun around. Zephyrion was already there, his blade inches away from piercing his neck.

The man’s gaze constricted.

’What?’

The relentless barrage of spikes had clearly been a distraction to close the distance. The man understood that much.

Yet, the fact that Zephyrion, someone who was supposed to be nothing more than a cub, had executed it with such precision made his heart freeze.

A sharp hum echoed as the man reached out toward Zephyrion’s blood.

"Stop."

Zephyrion froze midair, his body suspended by an unseen force.

The Reaver’s crimson eyes were wide as they stared at him.

"...what the hell are you?"