Chapter 54: Predator and the Prey
Flynn had forced VoidShadow back with a single strike, yet the result did little to satisfy him. He let out a quiet breath, more thoughtful than frustrated. Detecting a cloaked Rogue in this game was turning into a nightmare.
In truth, he had not actually sensed the shift of air the way Edruson once described. There had been no subtle ripple, nor whisper of movement. What he caught instead was far more primal, the raw killing intent radiating off VoidShadow like heat. When the ambush came, Flynn had simply reacted faster.
He knew better than to mistake that for mastery. He was still far from being able to truly see through a high-level Stealth.
VoidShadow, however, saw things very differently.
To him, his perfect ambush had failed. Not only had Flynn avoided it, he had countered immediately and driven steel straight into him. The reversal was so abrupt it left no room for interpretation. The hunter had become the hunted.
Flynn muttered to himself for a moment, then lifted his gaze toward VoidShadow with genuine curiosity.
"So, you’re definitely after me. Who sent you?" he asked casually. "I know I’ve made a few enemies, but I didn’t think I was worth hiring a professional yet. Was it Kazehana’s crew? Or maybe that kid, Peerless Blood-Sword?"
He tilted his head slightly, considering it. The latter seemed too impulsive for something this calculated, but people had surprised him before.
VoidShadow shook his head without a word.
Flynn nodded, as if that answered everything. "Right. Professional ethics. Can’t burn your client."
"No. I actually don’t know," VoidShadow replied.
His voice came out rough and deliberately deepened. He was trying to sound older than he was, hoping the mask and altered tone would protect his identity in case Flynn decided to retaliate later. The thought alone made something twist uncomfortably in his chest.
’Dammit.’
The fight was not even over and he was already worrying about being hunted in return.
Still, he did not move. He could not tell if Flynn’s counter had been a lucky coincidence or if the man truly possessed some terrifying ability to perceive him through Stealth.
Flynn did not press forward either. Instead, he frowned slightly.
"You don’t know?"
"It was an anonymous contract at the Mercenary Guild," VoidShadow admitted, even as he questioned why he was explaining anything to his target.
"The Guild handles jobs like that?" Flynn mused. "Sounds less like a guild and more like an assassin’s den. Might be worth checking out."
To VoidShadow’s disbelief, Flynn casually sheathed his daggers and waved a hand as though dismissing a minor inconvenience.
"Look, if you’re just a contractor doing a job, I won’t hold it against you. You can go."
VoidShadow’s face flushed hot beneath his mask.
"I’m here to kill you!" he snapped. "Could you at least take this seriously?"
Flynn blinked. "I wasn’t taking it seriously, and I already took a third of your health. If I start trying, you’re dead."
The words landed like a slap.
"Son of a..." VoidShadow’s anger surged. Not taking it seriously? The arrogance was suffocating.
When he did not move, Flynn simply turned away.
"Alright then. I’m leaving."
"Wait! Don’t you dare walk away!"
Flynn glanced back over his shoulder, faintly annoyed. "What now? I’ve got ore to dig."
’Ore?’
VoidShadow nearly scoffed aloud. Why waste time on something like that when he could be sharpening his combat skills? Still, he forced himself to focus.
"If I don’t kill you, I fail the contract. It’ll tank my completion rating and my Guild Points."
"Oh," Flynn said, as if that explained everything. "And what do you expect me to do? Stand here and let you stab me?"
VoidShadow’s frustration boiled over. This man was treating him like a minor inconvenience, not an actual threat.
Without another word, he downed a health potion, waited for his combat timer to reset, and slipped back into Stealth. His voice lingered in the air, colder now, and edged with determination.
"One more round. I won’t lose this time."
Flynn rolled his eyes. The guy was persistent, he would give him that.
"You can try a hundred times," he said lightly. "You’re still not in my league."
VoidShadow did not respond.
He circled behind Flynn with practiced precision, closing the distance in silence. Then, in a sudden burst of motion, he lunged. Instead of a blade, however, a flash of yellow light flared in his hand.
"What the...?"
Flynn twisted instinctively, but it was too late. The projectile expanded midair, unfolding into a heavy weighted net that snapped tight around him, locking him in place.
VoidShadow felt a surge of triumph.
"Got you now!"
He charged forward with a roar.
Flynn struggled, but the net was no ordinary tool. It pinned his feet firmly, leaving him unable to turn or escape. VoidShadow slipped behind him and unleashed two rapid Keen Strikes. Flynn’s health bar dropped sharply.
Three seconds later, the net dissolved. Flynn’s health had fallen to less than half.
Before the next strike could land, he surged forward, breaking the distance between them in a single motion.
VoidShadow pursued immediately, sensing victory.
"Don’t bother running!" he called, a cold laugh slipping through.
"Who said I was running?"
Without slowing, Flynn twisted mid-stride and flicked his wrist. Two small spheres arced backward through the air.
VoidShadow reacted on instinct, diving away. He recognized them instantly; area-of-effect bombs.
The explosions were not massive, but the concussive force and blinding flash forced him to shield his eyes. By the time he realized what had happened and lowered his guard, Flynn was gone.
A split second later, searing pain tore through his back. Flynn’s voice came low at his ear.
"Not bad. That net, though. Specialized trap? Where’d you get it?"
He did not wait for an answer. A brutal combination followed, Keen Strike flowing seamlessly into Rupture. VoidShadow clenched his teeth and spun to retaliate.
’He’s lower than me. I can still win this.’
He trusted his mechanics. In a direct exchange, he believed he had the edge. Then reality shattered that confidence.
Keen Strike, miss.
Basic attack, miss.
Rupture, miss.
The repeated flashes of failure made his thoughts stutter.
’How is this possible? Is my luck really this bad?’
Flynn did not give him time to recover. His attack speed was relentless, his twin daggers moving like living shadows. When VoidShadow had attacked from behind, opportunities had been limited. Now that he had turned to face him head-on, Flynn almost looked amused.
Most Rogues relied on backstab chains, locking opponents down from behind. Flynn did not need that.
Facing him directly only exposed more vital points. The throat, the heart, and the vulnerable gaps beneath the ribs. Each one was a target.
His blades moved with precise intent, striking with surgical accuracy.
VoidShadow was not completely inexperienced. He realized, with growing dread, that he was being dismantled piece by piece. Desperate, he executed a quick roll to the side, forcing distance between them.
Flynn chuckled softly.
"Nice roll. Very practiced. You must spend a lot of time on the ground."
"Shut up!" VoidShadow snapped, scrambling backward.
He glanced at his health bar and felt his stomach drop. It had fallen into the red, less than ten percent remaining. One more hit would end it.
He turned and bolted for the treeline. If he could just break combat, he could vanish again and try later.
Flynn considered chasing him, but quickly realized the gap was not closing. VoidShadow’s gear clearly favored agility.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, then he reached into his pouch and pulled out a Copper Bomb.
The explosion came without warning.
VoidShadow never saw it. He had not expected Flynn to carry so many explosives. The blast struck him squarely in the back, erasing his remaining health instantly.
Silence followed. Flynn approached the fallen body, clearly pleased.
"Amy was right," he said, crouching down. "These things are useful."
He studied the masked figure for a moment.
"So, kid, what’s your name? Bit young to be playing assassin, aren’t you? You’re still green."
Even with the mask and altered voice, the clarity in the boy’s eyes had given him away. Flynn did not need to see his face to know.
A string of ellipses appeared in the chat. Then, reluctantly: "You got lucky. But I’m not giving up."
Flynn laughed.
"Give it a rest. You want to be an assassin? If my old instructor saw you right now, you’d fail on the spot."
"Instructor...?" VoidShadow asked, confused. Was he talking about a Class Trainer?
Flynn shook his head. "Never mind. Hey, want to know when I first spotted you?"
That question hit its mark.
VoidShadow had been wondering since the beginning. How had Flynn gotten behind him at the mines? Had he been waiting there all along?
"When?" he asked.
"Outside the Rogue Guild," Flynn said with a grin. "When I was turning in my quest. You were lurking in the corner, right?"
In truth, Flynn was guessing. He had only sensed a faint trace of hostility earlier, but the gamble was worth it.
It paid off immediately; VoidShadow’s thoughts spiraled.
’He saw me? Back then? While I was in Stealth?’
The idea alone felt impossible. Flynn’s grin widened, feeding off the reaction.
"Like I said, you’re green. And for the record, when you saw me board that carriage, I didn’t stay on it. I cloaked the moment I stepped inside, slipped out the other side, and followed you all the way here."
His tone turned sharper.
"You never even looked back. Honestly, kid, you’ve got zero potential as a Rogue."
With that, Flynn turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving VoidShadow standing there, stunned and silent.