Free Web NovelCHAPTER 42 — ASSASSIN'S GAME
The council chamber fell into tense silence.
Every weapon remained drawn.
Kragga's axe rested on her shoulder, but her eyes never left Nyxara.
"You're either the bravest woman I've ever met..."
"...or the dumbest."
Nyxara smirked.
"I've been called both."
Lirael stepped forward, her bow already half drawn.
"You admit you were sent here to assassinate our Queen."
"Correct."
"And yet you expect us to let you walk away?"
"I expect nothing."
Nyxara shrugged.
"I merely enjoy surviving impossible situations."
Vespera remained in her human form.
She looked from the assassination order to Nyxara.
"You could have attacked while I was alone."
"I could have."
"You didn't."
"I didn't."
"Why?"
Nyxara's confident smile faded for the first time.
"Because nothing they told me was true."
She walked slowly around the Sanctuary Core.
"I've spent years killing kings, nobles, warlords, priests... whoever paid enough."
"I've seen enough monsters wearing human faces."
Her silver eyes settled on Vespera.
"But this..."
She gestured toward the bustling Domain outside.
"I've never seen monsters protecting children."
"I've never seen goblins running businesses."
"I've never seen orcs rebuilding homes instead of burning them."
She laughed quietly.
"It ruined a very profitable contract."
Kragga snorted.
"So what now?"
"You want a refund?"
Nyxara chuckled.
"I doubt the Church gives refunds."
Vespera studied her carefully.
"The Cathedral wants me dead."
"They're terrified of you."
"Good."
"No."
Nyxara shook her head.
"Terrified people do stupid things."
"They won't send one assassin next time."
"They'll send armies."
The room grew quiet.
Darius finally spoke.
"I believe her."
Several heads turned.
"The Church never commits halfway."
"If they've hired the Shadow Syndicate..."
"...they're preparing something much larger."
Vespera folded the parchment.
"So."
"What do you want?"
Nyxara answered immediately.
"A challenge."
Kragga groaned.
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
Nyxara ignored her.
"I've spent my life serving people who only wanted power."
She looked directly at Vespera.
"I want to know whether you're different."
"And how exactly do you plan to find that out?"
Nyxara smiled.
"By trying to beat you."
The courtyard outside quickly filled with spectators.
Word had spread through the Domain.
An assassin had challenged the Queen.
No one believed it would end well.
Vespera stepped into the training grounds wearing simple combat clothes in her human form.
No armor.
No crown.
Across from her stood Nyxara.
Twin daggers gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
Lirael frowned.
"This is reckless."
Kragga grinned.
"This is going to be fun."
Darius raised one hand.
"The rules are simple."
"No killing."
"No outside interference."
"Yield if you can no longer continue."
He stepped back.
"Begin."
Nyxara vanished.
Several spectators gasped.
"Where the hell did she go?"
Vespera closed her eyes.
She didn't search with her vision.
She searched with Sense Life.
A heartbeat.
A breath.
A shift in the wind.
Behind her.
She pivoted.
Steel rang against steel as Nyxara's dagger met Vespera's conjured Abyss blade.
Nyxara's eyebrows rose.
"Not bad."
"You hide your presence well."
Vespera replied.
"But nothing truly disappears."
The duel intensified.
Nyxara became a blur of shadows.
She struck from impossible angles.
Above.
Below.
Behind.
Every movement flowed into the next with practiced precision.
Vespera answered by switching forms in rapid succession.
Human.
Abyssal Queen.
Human again.
Each transformation changed her reach, speed, and strength.
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
They weren't just fighting.
They were adapting to one another.
Minutes stretched on.
Neither woman landed a decisive blow.
Sweat rolled down Nyxara's face.
She laughed breathlessly.
"I haven't had this much fun in years."
Vespera smiled.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Nyxara suddenly threw both daggers.
Not at Vespera.
At two goblin children who had wandered too close to the arena.
Gasps erupted.
Before panic could spread—
The daggers curved harmlessly around the children and buried themselves in the ground several feet away.
At the same instant, Vespera had already moved.
She stood protectively in front of the children, her Abyssal wings shielding them.
Nyxara slowly lowered her hands.
"There."
"I have my answer."
The arena fell silent.
Vespera looked at her.
"What answer?"
Nyxara retrieved her daggers and sheathed them.
"I wanted to know what you'd save first."
"Your victory..."
"...or innocent lives."
She smiled—a genuine smile this time.
"You didn't hesitate."
Nyxara dropped to one knee.
Not in surrender.
In respect.
"I was sent here to judge whether the stories were lies."
She lowered her head.
"They weren't."
"I won't take the Church's contract."
Kragga crossed her arms.
"So you're switching sides just like that?"
Nyxara looked up.
"No."
"I'm offering a new contract."
She met Vespera's gaze.
"If you'll have me..."
"I'd rather fight beside the Queen who protects children..."
"...than the men who fear them."
The System chimed.
──────────────────────── freewebnovel.cσ๓
Unique Quest Completed
Assassin's Game
Rewards:
• Nyxara has joined the Abyssal Domain.
• Bond Potential Unlocked.
• New Companion Added.
Warning:
The Cathedral of Light has declared Nyxara a traitor.
────────────────────────
Far away...
Inside the Cathedral of Light...
An Inquisitor knelt before the High Archbishop.
"The assassin has failed."
The Archbishop remained calm.
"No."
He looked toward a stained-glass window depicting a triumphant saint.
"She has chosen her side."
He slowly closed his prayer book.
"Now..."
"We begin the crusade."
End of Chapter 42
