Cold night

The night was troubled, the wind was chilly and the barracks were as usual. Nothing changed from the occupants as well as the mood. Always happy and not broody.

The Paladins were on their night duty and guarded the towers as usual. It was a normal night for them but without the recruits currently as they were away for a celebration.

Guards armed and armored were on standby on their posts while others cooked for their dinner. A vegetable soup made to be tasted slightly sour with the magic of radishes and meat for its tasty flavors.

Others chopped the meat and others the spices. They went to cook outside with a fire pit with a hanged cook pot on a rod while the sound of boiling water was ready for the ingredients to be added.

Others enjoyed sitting by the fire as they felt the cold wind chill down their armors. As for the others who were on their posts, only the torches laid were what their heat source could be in the meantime.

Chuckles and jokes were cracked on the bottom that made the others scoff and laughed too. Only their best entertainers can make their normal day extra special on that unforgiving night.

Just on the top of one of the nearest buildings, stood a man perching on the tip of the roof. Salivating for more blood on his daggers.

He can only sip back the saliva on his mouth and then licked his daggers. His robes were black, different from Rangers who were brown and were fit and tall.

Crouching then hopped towards the edge of the building, he dropped towards the ground with a backflip, toes first.

[Shadows]

Multiple images of himself emerged from his shadows and then went dashing towards the darkness. With silent movements like a cat paw, they used their skill [Sneak] in navigating through the dark.

[Conjure daggers] and [Conjure chained daggers] were cast.

They used the said weapons as their main weapons. Climbing towards the towers, they didn't even break a sweat. Nimble in their climbing but silent in their attack.

Guards who were amused by their comrades slightly responded late. In just split seconds, a dagger flew towards their forehead.

Others sneaked towards their backs and choked them with the chains. Others slit their throats while covering their mouths.

All the guards stationed on all posts became silent. It was then, that they put off the fire on the torches and then went towards the others.

They sneaked first towards them but soon decided to take them down simultaneously. Conjuring throwing daggers, they all threw them at the same time. Dashing on a frontal assault, they drew their curved daggers out.

The daggers flew and the ones who didn't notice it went fatal immediately. Others who were struck on their heads went limp in a second.

Only a handful of the elites made it out. Just six of them remained alive in that series of events.

Drawing their swords and hammers, they went to cover their backs immediately. Shields on their chest level while in their best defensive positions. Shadows running in their radius were barely seen.

It was then, that flying projectiles were seen heading through their faces. Throwing daggers occasionally went towards their prey as they went careless for a second.

Luckily, their shields were thick enough for the daggers not to penetrate. Making clunking sound as it hits their round shields in the process.

[Shield of aegis]

This skill made them have extra protection from physical and elemental damages. Making them glow in white while seen having a film-like coating on their armors and skin. Also created a floating shield on their back that was transparent.

[Durable weapon and armor]

The skill made their armors and weapons have greater durability. Further making its defensive endurance heighten and will make their gears and equipment better than before.

[Elemental damages discharge]

This skill imbues their weapons with elemental damage like fire damage, ice damage, poison damage, earth damage, wind damage, and lightning damage.

[Crusader]

This skill made them have temporary increase in attack speed in them and their allies. With more allies present, the greater the skill effect was.

They soon faced the enemy ready for combat. It was then, that the enemy didn't wait for them to attack first. From the shadows, one rotated and slashed with his chained dagger.

Sparks were sent on their shields. On the other side was someone who threw daggers relentlessly.

Further making them cover their faces with their shields. One of them felt annoyed by the behavior of their enemy.

"Let us retaliate now!" he shouted.

They soon stared at each other then nodded. They broke their defense positions and then made their turn to attack. Dashing towards multiple enemies, they swung their weapons equipped with the damage of the elements.

One smashed his hammer towards one shadow and lightning sparks emitted from the weapon. Further toasting him in the process.

Others swung their swords and the shadows were cleaved by the wind blade emitted from the weapon. Another one used his sword to swing vertically and the enemy blocked it with his dagger.

The enemy then felt alarmed at how heavy his attack was. Making him sunken to the ground with the weapon slashed in half. All were chaotic in just several seconds. Turning the tide of the battle.

It was then when they were fighting, the original was just watching in the darkness. The shadows returned to his shadow, making him have slight headaches in the process with every death of his shadow.

Still, the others were fighting. Daggers were stabbed on the gaps of their armors but it was all for naught. The daggers just either sparked or were bent on the process.

Others just stalled time for them to waste energy and just evaded their strikes. Enemies evaded and then dashed towards them with nimble maneuvers.

With a slash of the sword, the enemy was either burned on the fire or frozen. Others caught poison fumes and went coughing. Other enemies attacked on their backs but others covered them with their shields. Sparks were made and then enemies retreated again.

Sparks of lightning went their ways and they were struck relentlessly. The enemies were decimated and on their part, exhausted. Fighting while covering each other's backs and their defense formation was almost perfect.

Others panted and slammed their knees on the ground, sweaty inside their armors.

"We won! Hahaha!" shouted one Paladin.

"No, not yet," said the other.

It was then, that a shadow emerged from the darkness. Daggers were being nimbly played by his fingers by rotating it in between them.

"So your skill's duration has ended now?" he asked.

It was his plan all along. The Paladins were invincible when they were on their high horse. After the skill expired, they were all vulnerable. Albeit if he was an elite or something.

[After image]

The enemy left a clone on himself and then turned invisible. Having also had a burst of speed and strength for a moment.

With the Paladins exhausted, their knee on the ground or their swords; others their shield thrust on the dirt below them. Exhausted breaths inside their helms and their vision blurry, they will pass out soon enough without taking a breather.

The Rogue walked towards them but with a flash of his hands, two daggers were thrown then headed towards their necks in high precision. The other two were stabbed in the chest carried by his momentum then let go of the dagger as it had sunk and stuck on the metal.

Conjuring another two, one paladin tried to retaliate but his weapon was fended off and then was stabbed in the neck. Throwing on the other one on the gap of his helm right on the forehead.

"You have done well with my shadows and I salute you for that. Now rest well," he said then patted his shoulders.

The two slammed to the ground and he stared at him in his eyes with disbelief. He didn't expect that it would be his death that he would face. Still, he wished to take a sip of the soup that they cooked.

Closing his eyes, he grabbed his sword and then tried to stab him in the chest. But the enemy was fast to respond and was cut on the left thigh.

The enemy winced and gritted his teeth while infuriated. Twisting the dagger on his chest then drew it.

It was then, that the bodies were hidden and the recruits came. Troan was the sole survivor while drenched in the rain.

He held Mikael on his side while not knowing what to do. Blood trickled on the ground and it trailed towards the entrance.

Gerald entered in haste running. Troan panicked after he saw Gerald arrive, he approached him but was kicked in the chest.

William saw all that was in front of him and was infuriated after he saw that Mikael was lifeless.

"No no no! Mikael, stay with me!" William shouted.

Running towards him, he grabbed his health potion and let him drink it. His wounds were healed but he remained lifeless as he was. William then grabbed Troan in his shirt on his chest, lifting him.

"What happened?" he shouted.

Troan watched his surroundings but the enemy disappeared. He was stuttering about what to say.

"Answer me!" William shouted.

"There was a robed man! Probably a Rogue! I fought alongside them! He singlehandedly killed them! I stood till my last ounce of breath!"

Troan was shaken, he still was weeping deep inside with the loss of his friends. Tears were welling in his eyes. Also, Gerald was not helping at all.