Looking at how Azzy isn't dodging the attack, the assassin wondered whether he wasn't in a state to move.
As he saw that Azzy was unleashing his soul skill, he thought it might be related to that. After all, it isn't rare at all. Several soul skills needed one to stay concentrated and not be disrupted until they cast it, although most of the cases belong to magicians.
Not intending to waste such an opportunity, instead of sending a mirage clone, this time, the real assassin himself made the move.
However, just as he reached Azzy and tried to slice through his stomach, Azzy sidestepped and dodged the attack. And pushing his left leg against the ground, he dashed forward, passing through a mirage clone and created distance between them.
With that, he escaped the encirclement of the mirage clones. And even after that, his hand and the scythe never came down.
"How?" The assassin's eyes widened. "Impossible. Only a rank-7 and above experts would be able to distinguish me and the mirages. This kid… What is he…"
He clearly didn't anticipate such a reaction from Azzy.
He didn't know that because of acquiring Protos energy, Azzy was able to see aura even in humans.
If the assassin hid himself and deliberately suppresses it, then, Azzy wouldn't be able to find out even his presence much less aura but the assassin decided to make a head-on battle.
He was before his eyes and so, his aura was also clear to Azzy.
As for the other clones, because they are mirages, not actual clones, they lacked the aura, which helped Azzy to distinguish them from the original.
*Wow*
A powerful bark was resounded at the moment. The assassin glanced at it and saw the cuts and injuries on the wolf are gone. 'Damn…'
"Vajra, use Soul skill: Lightning Paw"
Keeping his death scythe still above his head, Azzy ordered the black lightning wolf to use the soul skill.
Upon hearing its words, the wolf let out a powerful bark before raising its paw.
Sharp claws extended from it as it rushed towards the assassin.
"C'mon, then." The assassin took it as a challenge. It bit and scratched him a lot. So, naturally, he wanted to teach it a lesson.
The assassin controlled the mirage clones and changed the position to confuse the wolf.
"Vajra… He's third from the right." Azzy passed the message to the black wolf through telepathy.
Just as it reached half-way distance, a dark-energy-filled giant paw with claws appeared in the air. Lightning sparks are all over the giant wolf paw.
Meanwhile, Azzy felt his soul power was decreased by 10000, leaving him with only 30 thousand plus more…
"So, this is one of the soul skills of this platinum grade beast?" The assassin's eyes lit up in excitement. Platinum-grade beasts are extremely rare. So, naturally, he wanted to see its strength.
However, he can't waste too much time either. So, he threw away the thought of facing it and stayed in his position, and let the attack go by…
Who could have expected the beast would suddenly change its direction as it unleashes its soul skill.
As if the beast also spotted his position, the attack went straight towards him.
The assassin was stunned for a second. His brain didn't work for a second. But that one second made the attack decrease the distance and almost reached him.
Now, even if he wanted to dodge it, he wasn't able to.
In reflex to block the attack, the assassin put forth his hands before his chest. Just as the paw was about to hit his arms, Azzy swung down the death scythe, creating a giant arc that was filled with deathly energy.
Its speed was even faster than the wolf.
The assassin underestimated the power of the soul skill of Vajra. Experiencing the battle with it, he thought the platinum grade beast can be defeated but the assassin didn't know that Vajra is a celestial grade beast, a higher level than even platinum grade.
Its attack even destroyed a peak-grade-rank-6 shield of the Robot.
Naturally, taking it head-on, the mid-rank-6 screamed in pain as his bones were crushed and he loses his strength in his arms.
Before he comes out of the pain inflicted by the black lightning paw, dense energy in the form of arc hit him dead on and flung him away dozens of meters.
He crashed onto the ground. "Ugh…" The assassin groaned in pain as he gets up with extreme difficulty. He was bleeding from his lips.
"Cough" "Cough…" He coughed out while feeling pain all over his body. "The damage isn't as this wolf's but it hurts like hell…"
Looking at his hands that were hanging down, the assassin mumbled, "let's just get out of here." He no longer wanted to contend against this monster. Remembering his teacher's words again, he wanted to escape from here.
As a person from the Death clan, he doesn't fear death but he isn't that prideful either.
Their clan's teachings also tell that running away isn't cowardice but it's just a strategic retreat. As long as one is alive, one can take revenge.
"This is your win, kid." The assassin spoke to Azzy who stood there like a statue. After attacking once, neither Azzy nor the wolf is making a move.
"So, you'll answer my questions?" Azzy asked him but wondered whether he will keep with his promise. "You are too naïve, kid…" The assassin laughed. "Do you think I'll give you the information just because I lost?"
Azzy frowned inside. He asked, "So, you are going back on your promise?" His grandpa taught him that breaking the promise is the same as committing a sin. That's why one should never give a word either carelessly.
"We'll meet again very soon, kid." The assassin didn't say directly anything about not answering his question but his stance was clear. "So, long…"
"Soul skill: Shadow Steps"
The assassin mumbled to himself, trying to activate the skill so that even if Azzy try to catch up, he fails.
But, then, he felt nothing.
"Huh!" There was no surge of soul energy into his legs. When he tried to inspect his body, his eyes widened in shock. "H… How this is possible?"
The assassin saw that something dark enveloped his soul orb, trying to melt it slowly. He felt his soul energy was completely trapped inside and wasn't able to eject out of the soul orb.
"It's no use… You won't able to use your soul energy unless I take back the death energy…"
The assassin looked towards the source who had no expression on his face even now and his tone is also unchanged. It was still flat even while threatening/informing him.
*Clomp* *Clomp* *Clomp*
Azzy started to walk towards him. The assassin's pupils started to shake in fear. He lost strength in his legs and on his knees.
Walking step by step, Azzy reached him and stopped. The black lightning wolf also stood beside Azzy baring its fangs at the enemy.
"So, now, will you answer my questions, Mr. Assassin from the Night clan?" Azzy looked at him in the eyes, "I'll ask again. Who are you and Why are you at my home?"
His question was very simple, and yet, it sounded terrifying for the assassin.