172. Assassination ( Radiation World)
The sky was a sea of dark, brooding clouds, their oppressive weight casting the forest below in shades of grey. Snow, not the pristine white of old-world winters but an eerie, ash-like grey, drifted silently from above.
Each flake melted upon contact with the trees, leaving behind faint trails of residue on the weathered bark. The dense forest stretched endlessly, its leafless branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers, whispering secrets to the wind.
Amid this desolation, a narrow path wound its way through the trees, cutting a thread of order through nature's chaos. The sound of an approaching hovercar hummed faintly, steadily growing louder as it emerged from the shadowed canopy. Its sleek, polished frame glided just above the ground, faint waves of displaced snow swirling in its wake.
The car climbed the forested incline, the hover engines adjusting effortlessly to the shifting gradient. At the crest of the peak, the path widened into a flat circular expanse, a natural bowl cradling the landscape like a giant's palm.
Along the slope, clusters of red mushrooms, each as tall as a man, sprouted from the ashen ground, their scarlet caps pulsing faintly in the gloom. The scene was otherworldly, both alien and unsettling, their vibrant hue a stark contrast to the monotone greys of the world above.
From the edge of the peak, the view opened to a small town nestled in the valley below. Encircled by high, reinforced walls. An energy shield shimmered faintly above it, a protective dome that reflected the faint light of the mushroom field. Within the walls, the outlines of buildings could be seen—simple, utilitarian structures designed more for survival than beauty.
**In the Shadows**
The room was pitch dark, lit only by the faint glow of a single red holographic interface flickering on the table. Shadows danced on the walls, the dim light barely illuminating the five figures standing in a tense circle. The air was heavy, filled with unspoken anticipation.
"I've just received word," said the tallest figure, his voice low but commanding. "Our target, Rain, is arriving in the town any minute."
Silence fell over the group, each person digesting the weight of the announcement. The only sound was the faint hum of the interface, the tension palpable in the small space. After a few moments, the speaker broke the silence.
"I and Number 2 will handle the assassination outside the town. We'll make sure Rain is taken out before he can get any reinforcements." His gaze shifted across the room. "Number 3, 4, and 5—you three will stay behind and ensure that the C-rank robots and other guards are blocked. Rain cannot get any backup."
Number 3, a broad-shouldered figure leaning against the wall, nodded slowly. "Understood. We'll set up interference immediately."
Number 4, a wiry woman with sharp features, spoke next. "Blocking the guards will be simple, but we'll need a distraction to hold their attention long enough. I'll set up some charges near the energy shield—it'll force them to focus inward instead of worrying about what's happening outside."
Number 5, a quiet man with a scar running across his cheek, added, "I'll jam their communication systems. Even if someone notices Rain's trouble, no messages will get through."
The tall figure nodded in approval. "Good. Make it quick. We don't have much time."
Without another word, 3, 4, and 5 exited the room, the faint sound of their boots fading into the distance. The remaining two stood in silence for a moment, the tension thick between them.
Turning to Number 2, the leader spoke again. "Wuji, you'll initiate the attack. Engage the boy directly—draw all his attention. You've seen the reports. He's fast and cunning, so don't underestimate him."
Wuji smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry. I'll keep him busy long enough for you to land the killing blow."
The leader's expression didn't shift. "This isn't just about keeping him busy. His genetic beast is a super-healing lizard. Unless you take out his heart or his brain, he'll recover from anything else. Aim to disable him, not kill—leave the final strike to me."
Wuji raised an eyebrow, a hint of irritation flashing in his eyes. "You don't trust me to finish the job?"
The leader's voice dropped an octave, his tone icy. "This isn't about trust. It's about precision. One mistake, and he'll escape. If that happens, we're all dead. Do you understand?"
After a moment, Wuji gave a small nod, his smirk fading. "Understood."
The leader placed a hand on Wuji's shoulder. "Good. Make it look like a direct attack. He'll be too focused on you to notice me coming from the shadows. This needs to end in one strike."
With a curt nod, Wuji turned and left the room, the door hissing shut behind him.
The leader lingered for a moment, staring at the faint red glow of the interface. His mind raced through the plan, weighing the risks and contingencies. Finally, he exhaled a cold determination hardening his resolve.
"Rain," he murmured to himself, "your journey ends tonight."
--
The hovercar paused at the edge of the bowl, its occupants seemingly taking in the sight. For a brief moment, the forest was still, the only sound was the faint hum of the car's engines and the soft hiss of falling grey snow. Then, as if responding to some unspoken command, the vehicle began its descent, gliding down the slope toward the town gates.
Halfway down the path, the air shifted. A sharp, almost imperceptible whistle cut through the quiet. In an instant, a streak of red light pierced the sky, moving with unnatural speed and precision. It struck the hovercar directly, a searing explosion erupting upon impact.
The car was engulfed in a brilliant blaze of red and orange, shrapnel scattering in every direction. The sound echoed across the valley, a deafening roar that sent flocks of birds screeching from the distant treetops. Pieces of the car's frame tumbled down the slope, leaving charred trails in the ash-covered ground.
The mushroom field glowed faintly in the aftermath, the crimson hue seeming to pulse in rhythm with the flames. As the fire burned, a figure emerged from the distant shadows of the forest, standing motionless at the tree line.
The mushroom field glowed faintly in the aftermath, the crimson hue pulsating like a heartbeat against the flickering flames. Rain stood amidst the chaos, his eyes scanning the darkened forest edge as he tried to gauge the danger. His senses were heightened, his body still thrumming with the genetic energy that had saved him from the explosion.
The figure in the distance finally moved, stepping out of the shadows and into the faint glow of the mushroom field. Rain tensed as the air grew heavier, a palpable aura of malice radiating from the assassin. The red glow of the sinister blade in the figure's hand sent chills through him.
Rain's mind raced. He had been lucky—his decision to stop comprehending the rule of sharpness at the peak had spared him. But the calculated timing of the attack made one thing clear: this was no random ambush. Whoever the assassin was, they had tracked him, studied his movements, and prepared meticulously.
Rain steadied himself as the assassin's phantom snake attack rushed toward him, its crimson energy twisting and snapping like a living thing. Without hesitation, Rain retaliated, unleashing a barrage of energy bombs at twice the speed and intensity of his first attack. The blasts illuminated the night, shaking the ground as they collided with the serpent. The explosions filled the air with heat and pressure, scattering the dust and embers from the initial car blast.
But the assassin was unrelenting. As the dust began to settle, a dark silhouette emerged from the chaos. Rain saw the phantom now, wielding its sinister blade, and charging forward with murderous intent.
Rain clenched his sword tightly, his eyes narrowing. The assassin's energy was clearly from a strange, corrupt source—a weird energy controller. And his realm, somewhere in the early or mid-stages of C-rank, was nothing to scoff at. Rain had no way of knowing if the blade in the assassin's hand was a weapon of the weird domain or a strange artifact imbued with energy, but it didn't matter. The assassin's blade crackled with an ominous red light, and Rain knew it was dangerous.
The assassin's first swing came in fast, the red blade slicing through the air. Rain sidestepped and parried with his sword, releasing an energy blade as he struck. The clash lit up the area with a burst of sparks as the energy from both swords collided violently.
The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as they exchanged blows. Each swing of their swords sent shockwaves through the mushroom field, leveling everything in their immediate surroundings. Rain released another energy blade, but the assassin countered with his own, their blades colliding mid-air and dissipating in a shower of sparks.
Neither was injured, but the devastation around them was growing. The once serene forest was now a battlefield, and the glowing mushrooms that had dotted the slopes were obliterated. The air crackled with residual energy, and the faint scent of burning vegetation filled Rain's nostrils.
"You knew I was coming," Rain said, his voice calm but edged with tension. "How?"
The assassin didn't respond, his face obscured by a dark hood. He charged again, his movements faster and more precise this time. Rain met the assault head-on, their swords clashing again and again, the metallic ring echoing through the valley.
Rain's mind remained sharp despite the chaos. He could feel the assassin testing him, probing his defenses, looking for a weakness. But Rain wasn't ready to give him one. He switched tactics, releasing another volley of energy bombs while closing the distance between them.
The assassin was forced to leap back, but even as he did, he swung his blade, sending a massive red energy arc toward Rain. Rain rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, before retaliating with an energy blade of his own.
This duel wasn't just a test of strength—it was a battle of wills. Both combatants knew that one mistake, one misstep, could mean the end. And Rain, for all his calm, couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. The explosions within the town meant Lily and Siobhan were in danger. He had to end this fight quickly, but his opponent wasn't giving him an opening.
The red glow of the sinister blade burned brighter as the assassin surged forward again, his strikes growing more aggressive. Rain matched him, his blade glowing with genetic energy. Each clash sent ripples of power through the air, the sheer force of their attacks shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Rain gritted his teeth. He had to push harder. If he didn't finish this soon, it wouldn't just be his fight—it could mean the lives of everyone in the town.
The two warriors locked eyes, the unspoken promise of death hanging heavy between them. Without warning, the assassin lunged, his red energy blade arcing downward with lethal precision. Rain sidestepped at the last moment, his blade meeting the red energy weapon with a resounding *clang* that echoed through the valley. Sparks of raw energy scattered into the night air, illuminating their intense expressions.
Rain pushed back, forcing the assassin to stumble slightly before retaliating with a swift horizontal slash. The assassin parried effortlessly, twisting his blade to deflect the blow and counter with a quick upward strike aimed at Rain's torso. Rain leaned back just in time, the edge of the crimson blade grazing his chest plate and leaving behind a faint trail of heat.
The ground beneath them began to crack from the sheer force of their clashes. Each strike was accompanied by bursts of energy, and every missed blow sent shockwaves rippling outward. Rain unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes, his blade glowing with genetic energy as it blurred in the air. The assassin countered each attack with calculated precision, his red blade moving like a serpent, weaving through Rain's offensive with deadly grace.
Rain pivoted, using the momentum to deliver a spinning strike aimed at the assassin's side. The assassin jumped back, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth, and retaliated with a powerful vertical slash that cleaved through the air with a sharp *whoosh*. Rain raised his sword in defense, the impact sending vibrations down his arms.
The force of the blow pushed Rain back a few steps, his boots skidding across the rocky terrain. He glanced at his opponent, noting the eerie glow surrounding the assassin's blade. "A weird weapon," Rain muttered under his breath, confirming his suspicion. The weapon wasn't just deadly; it was enhancing the assassin's strikes, making them sharper and more forceful.
Rain didn't have time to dwell on it. The assassin pressed the attack, swinging his blade in a wide arc. Red energy erupted from the weapon, forming a phantom serpent that lunged at Rain with a hiss. Reacting instantly, Rain slashed horizontally, releasing an energy blade from his sword that collided with the serpent in midair. The resulting explosion shook the ground, sending debris flying in all directions.
Dust and smoke obscured their vision, but the sound of rapid footsteps told Rain that the assassin was closing in. He braced himself, swinging his sword upward to meet the downward slash of the red blade. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and both warriors gritted their teeth as they pushed against each other, neither willing to give an inch.
"You're stronger than I expected," the assassin said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "But strength alone won't save you."
Rain didn't respond. Instead, he poured more genetic energy into his blade, forcing the assassin to retreat a step. Seizing the opportunity, Rain unleashed a barrage of energy bombs at close range. The explosions surrounded the assassin, engulfing him in a cloud of fire and smoke.
But the assassin was unfazed. Emerging from the smoke with his red blade glowing brighter than before, he dashed forward, slashing downward with incredible speed. Rain dodged to the side, but the sheer force of the attack left a deep gouge in the ground where he had just stood.
The fight escalated as the two warriors moved faster, their blades clashing with a ferocity that turned the surrounding area into a battlefield. The mushroom field was reduced to ashes, the once-glowing fungi obliterated by the relentless energy blasts and sword strikes. The trees on the edge of the forest were felled, their trunks split by stray energy waves.
Rain feinted left, then quickly shifted right, aiming a thrust at the assassin's exposed side. The assassin twisted his body unnaturally, his blade coming up in time to deflect the strike. He countered with a low sweep, forcing Rain to jump back.
The assassin didn't let up. He followed Rain's retreat with a series of rapid strikes, each blow aiming for a vital point. Rain parried and dodged, his mind working at lightning speed to predict the assassin's movements. The crimson blade came dangerously close several times, but Rain's reflexes kept him just out of reach.
Realizing he couldn't win in a prolonged duel, Rain decided to change tactics. He released a powerful energy bomb directly at the ground between them, creating a massive explosion that forced both of them apart. The assassin staggered slightly, momentarily disoriented. Rain seized the moment, channeling all his energy into his sword.
With a loud battle cry, Rain swung his blade downward, releasing an enormous energy blade that tore through the air, aimed directly at the assassin. The red-bladed warrior raised his weapon to block, but the force of the attack sent him skidding backward, his feet digging trenches into the ground.
Rain didn't wait for the dust to settle. He charged forward, his blade glowing brighter than ever. The assassin barely had time to recover before Rain was upon him, their swords clashing once more in a blinding display of energy and skill.
This time, however, Rain noticed something. The assassin's movements were slightly slower, his strikes less precise. The constant barrage of energy bombs and the intensity of the duel were beginning to take their toll.
"You're tiring," Rain said, his voice steady despite the strain.
The assassin growled, his crimson blade flaring with an unnatural light. "You'll tire before I do."
Rain then suddenly pivoted sharply and unleashed an energy beam at close range. The beam struck inches from the stomach of a second assassin, who had been concealed until now.
Advancing to the true body realm had granted Rain a vital new ability—his spiritual field. Though its range was limited to ten meters, it was enough to detect the invisible intruder before he could land a fatal blow.
The beam tore through the new assassin's stomach, sending him hurtling back to the slope of the peak, where he collapsed with a sickening thud.
Rain kept his focus on the first assassin, whose expression had turned grim at the sudden turn of events, but who showed no signs of retreating. Rain's eyes flicked briefly to the second assassin, his relief short-lived as he saw the impossible—flesh knitting together at an unnatural speed. Within moments, the gaping wound had completely healed.
The second assassin stood, his aura erupting with the unmistakable pressure of an intermediate C-rank. A sinister green flame flickered to life along the edge of his blade, casting eerie shadows on the smoldering slope. Rain's grip on his sword tightened. The odds had just shifted dramatically, and the danger he faced was now greater than ever.