The whole mercenary force started to converge on the southwest woods as they set up a perimeter around it so no one can escape. The only part that they didn’t cover was the cliff as it’s a dead end for those who want to run away, not to mention, the ambushers even set up a barrier to prevent anyone going in or out of the area. The only way to destroy it was to kill the caster maintaining it.

Within this barrier, a certain man was stuck inside it and trying to find a way to bypass this roadblock as soon as possible. He was tired and his casual clothes were dirtied by the ground dirt.

“What the hell? There’s a fire in the forest now and this barrier just won’t budge at all!”

The invisible barrier indeed prevented him from further running away. He kicked the ground out of frustration and keep on using his communication device in a chance of someone picking up his call.

“C’mon!!! Anyone answer! I don’t want to die here helplessly and be forgotten. I still have my grand ambition, I still need to become the ruler of Stygia and conquer the whole damn world!!”

Out of his continuous frustration of being unable to do anything in this situation, he brought out a dark sharp knife that emits magical energy. The enchanted knife has an intricate design and looked more of an ornament made to be displayed rather than a weapon.

“I just hope my Shadow Edge do something here like at least denting the damn barrier. I just can’t afford to be caught by any of those ambushers or that insane bastard who planned all of this bloodfest.”

That sharp knife is called Shadow Edge. It’s a that possess magical attributes and abilities. These so-called was made from magical ores that have been cultivated with mana and rare materials extracted from magical beasts. Woss stabbed this magical knife directly into the barrier in hope of breaking it and finally escape.

*Clang*

The Shadow Edge started to pierce through the barrier and sparks starting to appear but in the end, the barrier ultimately prevails and pushed back the poor guy to the muddy ground.

*bam*

“Goddamnit! Why the hell it’s me who got stuck in this godforsaken situation! If I only refused that assignment of being a driver then I wouldn’t be in this screwed situation.

Woss immediately got up to his feet while voicing his frustrations and regrets with no one hearing him except the trees surrounding him and maybe...

“Woss.”

“Oh please no…”

It’s the voice he wanted to hear the least. A portal just appeared near him and a man slowly appeared from it. His iconic mechanical left arm and necklace immediately gave away his identity. That’s right, it’s King Roa.

“Hey, ther-”

Before he finished his greetings, multiple knives flew towards him from Woss. He didn’t even give the king some time and started to widen the distance between them.

*Clang* *Clang*

“This is the second time you interrupted me you disrespectful mutt. Struggle and you want, you will not break that break as ten mages are maintaining that so no one can escape alive.”

“Tsk!”

The young king just non chalantly deflected all the knives with his left arm as he tried to look for Woss who already hidden behind the trees and waiting for some opportunity to strike back.

“So are we playing hide and seek now you damn bug?”

“Shut it you insane king! How the hell you know the numbers of the mages maintaining it?”

“Wow! You are really not paying attention to what I’m saying huh? I said, I planned all of this so I know exactly how those mercenaries will move and how many they are.”

“Well screw you and your grand fake death plan! Why the hell you even brought me here? What did I do to deserve this?”

(This man is really arrogant but I will make sure that he will pay for it and finally die here for sure.)

“You want to know? The answer to that is simple, you pissed me off.”

“...”

“No response? Don’t tell me you ran away again?”

“Heh.”

“Did you just laugh on me? Now you really got my attention, I will drag you out and finish you off!”

King Roa started to dash off towards a certain tree and immediately smash it. The large trunk fell down together with its branches and dust scattered everywhere.

“You think I can’t detect where your voice was coming from? Your girly moans gave me your location. Your luck has run out, time for you t-”

The dust started to settle down, broken branches and cracked rocks were only the things that King Roa saw.

“What?! Where are you Woss?”

No any signs of Woss as he just disappeared into thin air. King Roa immediately looked around in his surroundings to see if there are any traces of him.

“Hmm?! Is this a military radio? and It’s currently playing a recording.”

“Heh.”

“Heh.”

“You bastard!! You recorded that question earlier too, I’m gonna mak-”

He immediately cut off what he was saying when he saw something attached to the military recorder.

“FLASHBANG!!”

*Shing*

King Roa was late to react against the hidden flashbang and was consumed by a blinding light that rendered him blind and deaf for a brief moment of time.

“Argghh! Crap I can’t see a thing!”

A window of opportunity. Woss wasted no time and started his counterattacks against King Roa as he was currently defenseless against any attacks.

“Shadow Edge!”

With the help of the blinding light from the flashbang, the young king’s shadow stretched so far that Woss manage to touch it to finally activate the magical knife’s effect.

“Hyaaa!!”

He instantly appeared behind King Roa after he touched his shadow. This is one of the abilities of Shadow Edge as it can easily transport its user directly to the owner of the shadow its touches. King Roa felt that someone was behind him and immediately moved his body.

“I can’t move?!”

“This is the end for you, your majesty. With that knife stabbing your shadow, You’re pinned on your spot and cannot move.”

This is the other ability of that knife, Woss immediately stabbed his shadow upon getting near him to finally render the king unable to fight.

“What a damn elaborate plan you got there, I’m really amazed by your execution. My vision is back already and if I get out of this bind you did, you’re dead.”

“You’re still arrogant even you’re about to die here you bastard.”

“You chat so much! Just finish me if can you fool!”

“No need for you to say that!!”

He brought out another knife from his back and quickly thrust it into the king’s neck for an instant kill but at that moment,

“Not this time Woss!!”

At that instant, A small dimension hole appeared blocking the knife’s trajectory.

“Oh damn!!”

The knife that was approaching the king’s neck has suddenly appeared below Woss’ neck.

“I need to dodge!”

Woss immediately stopped his arm from swinging towards his neck to avoid danger but then he remembered something grim.

“Hahahaha!! Say goodbye to your right arm Woss!!”

“ROA NOOO!! STOP!!!!!”

The dimension hole suddenly closed while his arm was still inside it. This instantly cuts his arm as he was too late to pull his arm off the dimension hole.

“ARRRGGHHH!!! MY RIGHT ARM!!”

“Man, you really sound like a pussy there, It seems that’s gotta hurt a lot there Woss!”

A torrent of blood instantly gushed out from his right shoulder as he curled in excruciating pain as he tries to crawl away from King Roa.

“You.. monster!!”

“Yeah yeah, I know that. I guess it’s time from me to end this.”

“You’re still stuck right there, How are you ex-”

*cough* *cough*

“...exactly gonna end this Roa?”

“How? By this using this of course, . “

That is the name of the very complex that King Roa uses. His body instantly disappeared from the spot and appeared near the knife that binds his shadow.

*Pluck*

“Time to end this Woss, I already used up all my spells just to kill you, so stay there and die peacefully.”

He walked towards the struggling Woss as he held the knife to finally put an end to this battle and proceed to the final stage of his plan.

“Kughh... Stay away...”

“Goodbye Wossenheim Lond.”

He swiftly swung the sharp knife towards Woss’ neck who was crawling from the ground but then,

*clang*

“Oh?”

A sword appeared in front of Woss and stopped the deadly knife from reaching him. King Roa stepped back quickly as he looked into the intruder’s face.

“You finally arrived huh...”

“I don’t know what’s happening here but as my target, I’m here to kill you, King Roa.”

It’s the mercenary boss who finally arrived to finish the operation he started. He looked into the king’s eyes and went into his battle position

“So it’s your turn now. Bring it on mercenary!”