Frostfire Legacy

During the time Faeloria was fiercely battling one of the Aracelli Race members, a shadow moved relentlessly throughout the city—quick, precise, and unstoppable. These three words best encapsulated Zenearith's movements as she worked with unerring efficiency.

'The chaos has already spread throughout the entire city.'

After a thorough inspection of every nook and cranny of Orinfeld City, she could only frown deeply. No part of the city was untouched by turmoil. Dead bodies lined the sidewalks, while uncontrollable flames raged, consuming everything in their path and casting a grim shadow over the once-peaceful streets.

Given that she was alone, any attempts to aid the citizens would have only a minimal impact. Therefore, she prioritized her primary strength: eliminating the masterminds behind the chaos.

She had initially set out with the intention of finding whoever had brainwashed the citizens below. However, aside from the one Faeloria was currently confronting, she had yet to locate any other members of the Aracelli Race.

'Where are they hiding?'

Zena had searched high and low, exploring every building and alley, but still came up empty-handed. Her impatience grew as she failed to catch even a glimpse of the enemy's presence. The city was in disarray, and the urgency of her mission weighed heavily on her shoulders.

"...!"

Then, something peculiar caught her attention.

The enemy had the ability to brainwash anyone who met their gaze, with the duration of the effect varying based on the individual's mental resistance. Once they had "planted the seeds," they no longer needed to be physically present to witness the unfolding chaos.

With this realization, Zena decided to extend her search beyond the city's confines. To her surprise, it proved almost effortless. Within a minute, she pinpointed the enemies' location with remarkable ease!

In a forest clearing near Orinfeld City, five of them sat around a table, leisurely sipping tea and other beverages as if enjoying a relaxed afternoon. They watched feeds from cameras scattered throughout the city, their demeanor a stark contrast to the devastation below.

"Garreth, your pawns are too powerful! Maybe you should hold back a little!"

"Kahaha! I'm no match for you, Brother Arkos. Your pawns already dominate the entire Eastern block!"

"You two, stop boasting! My troops are just getting started. Don't count your chickens before they hatch!"

"Sister Numea, the gap in scores is too wide for you to catch up. Just give up. Those two are way too strong."

"What are you saying, Sister Ferria? Us sisters shouldn't act like losers! We will win this!"

"Hmph. The four of you should stop deluding yourselves. This great Amerak's troops have already taken over the entire west wing. This is my win."

Without a hint of tension, they continued sipping their drinks leisurely. It was as if the chaos unfolding in Orinfeld City was merely a "game" to them—an unsettling display of their detachment from the suffering they had caused.

"..."

Despite observing the enemies engage in trivial banter, Zena maintained her composure. Alone and outnumbered, she knew her best chance was to assess their strength and eliminate the most formidable among them. From their conversation, she identified the strongest as the man with ashen-red hair, who sat arrogantly at the center of their table.

"Shit! If only I was under level 100, I could've joined Lady Lorelai in the dungeon instead of playing games with you bastards!"

The woman with pink hair, named Numea, cursed once again. "I could've made a bigger impact if I had helped bring back that brat named Aster and that healer girl with the revival skill!"

"Give up, Sister Numea. Even if we had joined her, our seals have not been removed. We can't use our full strength just yet."

Zena's ears twitched as her gaze sharpened with renewed focus.

At that moment, she abandoned her usual restraint. The best assassin of the Hit Squad finally demonstrated why she had earned that reputation. Time seemed to stretch in her senses as her body moved with unmatched precision. In just three swift actions, everything was resolved.

With her exceptional stealth, she cast a complex barrier within 0.003 seconds, effectively nullifying all the senses of the five at the center.

Then, 0.02 seconds later, before anyone could process what was happening, Zena's finger flashed. Sharpened Manasteel wires, arranged in an intricate 3D pattern around the forest, surrounded the enemies, sealing off all escape routes.

Just as the enemies realized they were under attack, 0.05 seconds later, Zena closed her palms. The wires tightened, and like a laser saw, they reduced "everything" within their reach to nothingness. The trees, the chairs, the table—even the air itself. Everything was dismantled to the molecular level, leaving no trace behind.

A total of 0.01 seconds later, the barrier was dispelled.

Zena stood amidst the aftermath—a deep crater where the table had once been, now a massive gouge as if carved out by a colossal shovel. A fine mist of blood and dust filled the space, creating a chilling and surreal scene.

Her cold gaze swept across the area where the five Aracelli Race members had been, and she whispered with a mix of disgust and unrestrained fury.

"How dare you touch Aster..." Her voice was thick with seething anger. "He will soon be mine. I will never allow you to meddle with him."

As usual, Zena vanished without a trace. Like a phantom, she left no hint of her presence behind.

After her departure, the area began to disintegrate. A large "hole" formed, and like a black hole, it consumed everything within the vicinity before dispersing. The crater expanded, becoming larger and more dramatic, to the point where it appeared as though a weapon of mass destruction had been unleashed.

Five enemies perished in an instant, leaving no evidence of what had transpired. Truly, it was the work of the city's most skilled assassin.

Five enemies were eliminated, while one of them was engaged with Faeloria. The remaining six gathered together and, using the same method as the "kidnappers," entered the dungeon. Zena was aware of this but realized she couldn't provide direct assistance to Aster's group.

As for where she went afterward, nobody knew. However, if any "enemy" crossed her path, their fate was sealed.

They would lose their lives without ever understanding what hit them, their demise a testament to the deadly precision of the city's finest assassin.