Second World

The assassin was similarly surprised to see Jack at this place. After his failed assassination attempt at Daminos Square Garden atop Mount Audacias, he had been fleeing non-stop. His original plan was to assassinate the human team's healer and escape before anyone had the chance to identify him. He never thought that not only did he fail, but Jack who knew his identity was also there.

He knew he was doomed already then. He couldn't go back to the Assassin's Guild. The faction won't offend the Council of Virtus for him. His only option was to continue to flee and hide. He had practically three forces targeting him, Council of Virtus, Assassin's Guild, and Verremor. He had been continuously pushed until he ran out of hiding places and ended up in this wooded Dorwin region.

"So, this is where you have run to. Good! Let's settle the grudge between us!" Jack uttered. He cast Magic Weapon.

Oswald had no intention of entertaining Jack, he vanished.

"Vanish skill again? His invisibility just now is not due to that skill?" Jack asked.

"No, he might have used Hide. He lost his invisibility before you touch him," Peniel said.

Oswald's Vanish was already max-stars, his skill covered a large distance. Jack's mana sense didn't detect so far. His radar also couldn't pick up on someone who had turned invisible from Vanish skill. Fortunately, he now had a new skill that could counter this max-star Vanish. He activated Gold Dragon Sight.

All the movements around him appeared to slow down greatly. But this was not the ability Jack was after, it was the other effect. The Gold Dragon Sight gave him the ability to see invisible objects. Oswald now appeared in his vision. He was currently running away.

Jack used Charge in his direction, shortening their distance. He then cast Mana Beam. The thick energy beam shot at Oswald.

The assassin had been looking back periodically while running. He was greatly surprised when Jack used Charge in his direction. He told himself the guy just did a lucky guess, but when Jack shot his Mana Beam, he knew it was not a coincidence. The outworlder knew his position!

Oswald rolled to the side evading the beam. Yet, it grazed him, turning his invisibility off. Jack swung the beam to the side. Oswald, who was ready to jump away again, was puzzled. The direction Jack swung his beam was away from his position.

The beam hit a nearby tree, or at least what Oswald thought to be a tree. An enraged roar was heard. The tree moved. It turned out to be a Lumbering Ent, a level 50 special elite monster that populated this area. Both Jack and Oswald had fought this monster in these woods. This monster liked to pretend to be a tree and then struck unsuspecting prey that came near.

Jack hit the Lumbering Ent on purpose. He saw the red dot on his radar. Although Jack was the one who hit the Ent, Oswald was closer. Hence, the Ent was now targeting him. The ent lifted his arm, which turned elongated when it swung that arm forward. The elongated arm came lashing like a whip. Oswald had no choice but to dodge away. This dodge halted his escape further and allowed Jack to close in.

<br/>Jack summoned his wolf pack when the ent was attacking Oswald. The ten fast wolves caught up to Oswald and were now surrounding him. The ent was also approaching.

"Don't think you can hold me!" Oswald shouted and jumped upward. His body exploded into countless shadows.

  These shadows spread and struck everything around him. Both Jack's wolves and the Lumbering Ent were hit. This was the move Oswald had used in the past to decimate the Mouseants. It couldn't kill his wolves and the ent in one hit like the Mouseants, but the numerous slashes reduced their HP rapidly and also pushed them back. The shadows then flew some distance away before fusing back into Oswald.

Jack had been following the movement of the shadows. Once they turned back into Oswald, he used Combination Assault with Therras which he had just summoned. The two turned into a meteor and slammed into Oswald.

The assassin had exhausted most of his skills to escape previous attacks. He now had no choice but to block the assault directly. Despite blocking with his twin large daggers, he still suffered high damage and was flung from the impact.

Jack cast Magic Bind to catch Oswald where he fell, but the assassin was very nimble. His foot tapped the ground for only an instant, but it was enough to allow him to jump away before the magic ring formed to lock him.

Jack used Wind Slash with his right hand while casting another spell with his left. Three wind energies rushed out. Even with his speed, Oswald couldn't escape all of them. He ended up getting hit one out of the three. Jack completed his spell and ten thin beams shot out. It was his level 45 Archmage spell, Tracing Beams.

Oswald was already staggered by the Wind Slash. The Tracing Beams now came from every direction. It was even more difficult to avoid this attack. He ended up getting hit by multiple beams and kept on getting pushed back. While he was losing balance, the ground underneath him lighted up. Fifteen crimson chains came out.

The last time Jack tried to capture him with this spell, he had managed to escape. Now, however, he was not in a position where he could move freely. The chains bound his body and kept him in place.

Jack sent Sword of Light while Therras used Oppressive Wave. The two slashing energy hit Oswald and brought his HP down further.

Oswald yelled. The chains that were holding him became loose.

Jack was surprised at first, but then he realized Oswald was of the human race. Oswald should also have the human race's skill, Willpower. This skill gave Oswald enough window to escape Jack's crimson chains. Oswald's body turned into a shadow and dashed towards Jack. It was the Deadly Flash Strikes.

Jack countered the skill as he did against Disco Rain during the tournament. He used Blitz Slash. Two flashes of light and shadow crossed one another and resulted in numerous clashes in the air. When the confrontation ended, Oswald was down on the ground with zero HP.

"Eh? I thought this clash would just negate each other like the last time with Disco Rain? How come his one is so weak?" Jack uttered after seeing the assassin's still body.

The lumbering Ent was still around. Jack's wolves and Therras were engaging it. He didn't bother dealing with the monster himself. At this time, Jet arrived with his Crimson-manned Lion. They were now bullying the ent.

Grace came to Jack who was still standing over the dead assassin.

"I thought you are going to ask for a favor? Why do you kill him?" Grace asked.

"He is not a villager," Jack explained. "Do you remember the assassin that sneaked in and tried to kill our human team's healer? This is the man."

"Oh? Why is that assassin here?"

  "Don't know. I planned to ask him myself, amongst other things. My intention is to capture him. How can I know he is so weak? Hm… To think he overpowered me so easily in the past. Now, I can kill him even when I don't mean to. I truly have come far."

"If you are done being self-satisfied, you still have to work out how we get into the Village of Peace," Grace said after seeing Jack's expression.

"We will think of a solution once we enter the Lost Forest," Jack replied.

"Mm… You know. He looks weird. What do you think he looks like?" Grace asked, indicating Oswald on the ground.

Jack shrugged. "Looks dead to me," he said.

"He looks more like a creature in hibernation," Grace said.

"Hibernation? All right, let's hit him and see if he wakes up," Jack said and slashed down.

He was just joking actually, but when his sword hit, the body turned into a puff of smoke. He then saw what was on the ground was a piece of wood.

"Substitution Escape!" Jack recognized this skill. It was used by Sinful Pleasure in the past.

Oswald was now standing in front of them, his HP was no longer zero, but it was in a critical state, though.

Jack was about to move, but Oswald held out his hand. "Hold!" He uttered.

"I heard you want to ask me things. How about this? I answered whatever questions you want and you let me go?"

"Don't think to be let off that easy. You attacked me in the past, remember?" Jack said.

"You are still fine now, aren't you?" Oswald said.

"Doesn't mean I'm not pissed off by your past attack."

"Holding a grudge is not a good thing. You should learn on forgiving. The attack is not personal. I'm simply carrying out a hit. If it's not me, some other assassin will take my place. It is the person who placed the hit that you should be pissed off with."

"Oh, make no mistake. He will get his beating sooner or later. About you… All right. Tell you what, you answer all my questions. If I'm satisfied, I'll think about letting you go."