My mind was coming up with countless battle tactics in front of the other shadowy figures the assassin conjured up using her Shadowlight Mana as she was advancing towards me. The best of the tactics which I came up with after realising that I only had twelve bullets left was using my Spacial Radiance Skill Variant and the five Elemental Marbles I had previously hidden underground to ambush her.
The Shadowlight Mana she used wasn't exactly the best at enhancing physical capabilities so I didn't need to enhance my strength to keep up with the multiple opponents working together in synergy. Fighting her using martial arts alone would be fine.
I swiftly countered the closest ones after the well-formed shadow clones finally got close enough to attack me. The lack of Aura radiating off my body caught them off guard as the assassin was probably used to reacting to a target's Aura Clad to predict their next movement rather magic-less combat.
I myself knew of these tactics well. As an F Rank who had been researching every possible way I could get an upper-hand in battle, it was only natural that I knew something about these sort of opponents.
Gunshots resounded as I shot two shadowy figures in their foreheads at point blank range. The bullets I created using materials and magic may not have had much penetrative force due to how lacking my guns were. However, they were enough to kill an average human being who wasn't wearing Earth Aura.
The four clones I shot by allowing the bullets to dig into the targets behind them disappeared and were replaced by more shadowy doppelgängers who looked exactly the same without any sort of pause.
It was extremely difficult to stop the multiple shadow clones that had surrounded me from piercing those black throwing needles into my physique, but not impossible! The pistol in my right hand was dropped onto the floor as I moved my entire body to dodge and parry every attack.
Relying purely on the battle instincts I honed through actual combat, I weaved my body around the attacking shadow clones and mercilessly stabbed my hand into the throat of the clone that was furthest from me with absolute precision.
The clone immediately disappeared after I stabbed my fingers through its neck, but like before, another clone of that girl smiled before replacing it. It looks like she wasn't cowardly enough to be as obvious as to stay somewhere she'd be completely safe...!
"Sharp..." The shadow clone that was replacing the old one spoke in surprise. This was before it took a front kick to the chin that caused it to go flying onto the other doppelgängers gathered in one place.
A new battle tactic was formed in my mind as I found a new way to search for the real assassin. It seemed like launching reckless attacks was more effective than waiting for this assassin to me!
"Nice crossbow you got there, can you give it me?" A another nonchalant voice sounding like the assassin continued from behind my ear. I reflexively moved my body so that I could defend against the clone that took advantage of my blind spot... but was too late.
Blood trickled down my arm as a few black needles were stabbed into it. A numbness overcoming it...
I lifted my Revolver in my left hand and tried to shoot the shadow clone that had ambushed me but was unable to pull the trigger even one inch. This wasn't because I suddenly felt like giving mercy to the assassin before me but due to the fact that my left hand had suddenly lost strength and went limp.
I revolved the Moon Mana within the Skill Root inside me and tried to eliminate any poison that may have entered my system, but found that I had completely underestimated my enemy's strange techniques. I never realised there were martial arts this advanced on Sphera... The assassin in front of me was more like a Hapkido Practitioner than a magic user if I was to make any comparisons.
Not only were the pitch-black throwing needles interfering with my body's nervous system, they had also locked into place due to the density of the Shadowlight Aura stored within them.
My only option to survive right now was to use my deactivate my Spacial Radiance Skill Variant and use my Halo of the Sun God to retrieve the Warlock Armoury I used to protect my back so I could use it as a shield for throwing weapons once more.
The Sun Mana of my 'Halo of the Sun God' Skill Root psionically grabbed onto the Warlock Armoury on my back and enhanced it enough to resist her follow up attack. Sun Mana itself was more effective when defending against individuals who are armed with magic so it was natural I'd use that to my advantage!
I was too overconfident... I forgot that this wasn't Earth, but Sphera: A world that had an insanely unpredictable element named Magic incorporated into warfare and close-combat tactics.
Charging towards this assassin was reckless, I shouldn't have closed the distance between us without getting a good understanding of her magical abilities. After all, a severe lack of knowledge towards an opponents abilities could lead to death...!
I have to somehow take back the initiative in this battle and catch her off guard. A scared expression appeared on my face as I acted like a wimp who had been frightened by her subduing technique.
Acting was key to deceiving enemies and I had never been the type to get embarrassed about lying someone I already consider to be my enemy. I'm no martial artist after all, I am a former soldier. I'll use anything I can get my hands to snatch victory!
"You really suck at deception." I tried to bide my time by talking to her with a show of 'feigned courage'. She looked surprised for a moment before shrugging her shoulders in disinterest.
"So you finally want to say your final words? Fine, I'll allow it for now since this weapon of yours is intriguing." She ignored the deep meaning behind my words and confidently picked up the Pistol I threw away in order kill one of her shadow clones. I wasn't really bothered though since I had already put a trap on that gun as soon as I dropped it.
"It's a unique type of weapon I created myself after copying the blueprints from someone else. The original creator of this weapon called this a 'Gun'." I didn't lie. Well, not all of what I was a lie if you really think about it... Not that it mattered in any case.
I secretly revolved the Sun Mana within my non-active Sun Attributed Skill Root so that the three Spell Circles left behind by the disassembled Warlock Hand moved towards my glove from within my clothes as we were 'happily' chatting. It doesn't look like she'll give me the time to unblock the nerves she was clogging with her Shadowlight Aura.
I'm glad this young girl before me has some screws loose because I needed some time to assimilate the Spell Circles into the glove on my hand so that I could unleash this new technique I just thought of.
"A 'Gun', is it? What an interesting weapon. How about you tell me where are the blueprints for their creation and I promise to kill you quickly. I'd love it if you'd rather be tortured before that though~"
"Wouldn't it have been easier to persuade me with a chance of living?"
"Denied. A genius like you is also a danger to the organisation I work for."
"How honest of you." My deadpan tone seemed to have hit a soft spot as she glared at me.
Her hand traced over the prototype gun she held while she was familiarising herself with the Pistol's mechanisms. It was then a clicking sound could be heard due to her unlocking the safety lock I put.
"You said before that I wasn't good at deceiving, is that right?" Her smile became more real at that moment. It wasn't one of innocence, but a smile of cruelty that could terrify even the vicious criminal.
"You really DO suck at deception. Do you think I don't know what your real main weapon is after all this time I've been beating your clones?" I asked rhetorically in a contemptuous tone of voice.
One of her shadow clone's eye twitched as it seemed shocked by my words. In this situation, a normal person would be shaking in fear, but I contrarily still had great confidence in my tone...!
On a side note, I've only now realised that she seemed to have been trained to allow her emotions to be expressed by her doppelgängers no matter how sudden they were. Making it hard to pinpoint her location by just understanding her body language.
This, by itself, was a deterrence so that she wouldn't act rashly. It's a very crude and rushed tactic, but it should be enough to stall a young girl like her who probably had less experience in battle. I didn't expect she'd be so surprised that I learnt of her tactics. Was this supposed to be a 'secret'~?
"When you first saw me, the first thing you did was blatantly reach for the black needles hidden in your hair after throwing a knife at my throat. An assassin wouldn't make the mistake of letting a target understand their method of killing. Not only that, but these black needles you're using aren't even coated with poison... Meaning that they aren't supposed to be used to kill." Her face paled as she heard my speech. Then her eyes sharpened with resolve as her killing intent intensified greatly!
"Now then, the now question is: What is your true weapon if not the black throwing needles piercing into and sealing my arm? The answer for that is simple: What weapon would be most effective while using the Shadow Clone Aura Conjuring, a technique most skilled Ninja's usually use to hide their hidden weapons in plain sight?" As I spoke, I threw my Revolver into my right hand before using the numb index finger my left hand to tap on an invisible but extremely sharp string not far from my body injecting into it a high Sun Mana concentration.
An intricate web of thin but sharp strings which surrounded me appeared out of nowhere as they connected to her clothes. Her true body was found immediately as the only one using string traps!
A droplet of sweat ran down her face as she seemed unable to understand how I was able to deduce her ploy with such insignificant clues... It looks like she is no longer able to keep her composure since her carefully laid trap ended up giving away her position.
Although she's an assassin, she is still just a mere young girl after all... It probably never occurred to her that the thin but sharp strings she hid using her Shadowlight Aura could be found so easily. Well, it's not like I saw them with my own eyes. I had just deducted her battle strategy not long ago after taking her actions and movements into account. I DID have this feeling of danger around me as we fought.
I guess the shadow clones were just to throw me off... Little did she know that my aunt named Anna was quite knowledgeable about weapons a Dark Specialists would use when facing opponents.
Unlike other kind of specialists, Dark Specialists were the normally the most scheming and manipulative... They would always have multiple layers of schemes hiding their true killing skills.
Well... At least the strategies I've heard about were better than this stupidly simple ruse.
The only credit I can give is for being able to keep up with me for so long.
Who said I needed to actually see her main weapon of choice to know of its existence?
I guess I should be thankful that this unknown organisation this assassin worked for sending a mere child who seemed like some recruit to our home instead of an actual adult to 'assassinate' my sister.
Though I'm still confused on why they didn't send any older Shadowlight Aura specialists who are a lot more tricky to deal with than most. After all, young and naive Dark Specialists that are just starting to understand their powers wouldn't be able to properly show their potential with large schemes...
"You're already too late to realise it anyway." She blushed in pure fury as the face of all her remaining doppelgängers twisted. A strong Shadowlight Aura once again covered the sharp strings connecting to the clothes of the real physical body of the assassin girl as she surrounded me in an inescapable net.
[Thread Art- Ruinous Calamity!]
The black threads were like a gale as they cut through the air, intending on slicing through my clothes and severing me into chunks of flesh. The assimilation of Spell Circles into my former Warlock Hand, however, was already done as used my right hand to push forwards towards the young assassin!
My right hand glowed a blue hue as a natural energy of Lightning started to form as I lunged...!
The Revolver I had previously been holding in that hand was already in pocket in my clothes.
However, what surprised me was that immediately after I touched the net, the black threads release an amethyst glow as the attribute of the attack suddenly changed. This must be her trump card!
She laughed sadistically as the lightning net electrocuted me. She was probably certain I would die due to the Anti-Magic effect the her particularly pure Lightning Affinity she imbued into her attack.
Any normal young boy my age would panic upon experiencing the sudden change in attribute and end up dying at her hands without being able to react or resist against her, dying miserably as a result.
This would be true if it was someone else, but not for me... My charge was unaffected by her stunning electrocution Thread Art in any way because of the magical Spell Circles affecting glove I wore.
Both the unique Lightning Gatherer Spell Circle and Mana Charge Spell Circle complemented each other they created a powerful suction force that drained the sharp black strings of their Lightning Aura before storing it within itself for me to use.
She sealed her fate when she decided to change her Shadowlight Aura to Lightning Aura considering how the Lightning Gatherer of my customised magic glove now had the ability to absorb the Lightning Attribute out of anything it comes in contact with.
Looks like people CAN fall from their own traps...
The sharp threads that were being manipulated purely by Lightning Aura lost their momentum as they suddenly collapsed without the manipulative enhancements which were needed to control them.
Even the self-injury I caused by overloading my enchanted glove didn't cause my right arm to become unusable like my left arm, it did however made me feel enough pain to reconsider continuing my charge. However, my close-combat efficiency wasn't dropped low enough for a mere little girl to be able to defend against my attacks! My plans didn't change as advanced towards her with heavy steps...!
The two other Spell Circles within my enchanted glove were activated as I conjured a blue bolt of lightning that hovered in front of me. The I swiftly speed-drew my Revolver from my jacket at her.
The young assassin girl I set my eyes on panicked as she saw her trump card fail miserably and tried to shoot me with my own Pistol she stole not too long ago... but her resistance was futile!
The Pistol had my Sun Mana within it from the very beginning... No, it had been completely under my control the moment I was finished using Molecular Retrofit! With just a thought, I was able put on the safety catch on in order to lock her trigger.
[Gun Art- Railgun Bolt!]
The upgraded Customised Spell and Mana Release Spell Circles also worked to complement each other as I pulled the trigger of the Revolver covered in circuits after pointing it at her as blue bolts of lightning started to cover my hand once more.
In this speed-draw of guns, I'm the one who obtained both life and victory! A bullet flew through the air and entered the young girl's skull from between her eyebrows before exiting the other side!