Turning about, I fled down the passage.

The other three images of Gintalush had vanished with his death, and with no other target to hold their attention, the undead charged straight for me. But unhampered by injuries, I was able to easily outrun them, and after a few random turns, I concealed myself in the shadows.

Panting for breath, I reflected on the battle. It came as no surprise that the Gintalush was a sworn servant of a Dark Power. Menaq, I repeated, tasting the name on my tongue. He had to be the head of the Mantis faction.

A new foe. My third. First Ishita, then Erebus, and now Menaq. All Powers too.

How many more enemies would I collect? My foes were multiplying at a frightening rate, yet those I could count on as allies were few and far between.

If I keep going like this, I will not survive this Game much longer.

It was a depressing realization, but I adamantly shove it aside to dwell on happier things—like the three whole levels I’d gained from killing Gintalush. Where should I invest the new attribute points?

After a moment’s consideration, I decided to improve my Dexterity again. I still had Wengulax to kill after all.

Your Dexterity has increased to rank 38 (+6 from items).

What now? I wondered. There was still Gintalush’s corpse to loot. With the undead chasing me, I hadn’t had time to do so earlier. But the creatures must have dispersed by now, and with the shadows assisting me, I was sure I could pick them off one by one and get to the body.

It would take time, though.

Time I couldn’t afford just yet. I’ll take care of Wengulax first, then come back, I decided.

Heading northwest, I went in search of the other assassin.

~~~

Two hours later, I still hadn’t found Wengulax.

I’d been up and down dozens of different corridors, come across multiple dead hunter eyes—Gintalush’s I presumed; deactivated when he died—and even spied Toff’s team again—from a safe distance of course—but of Wengulax, I saw no sign.

Finally admitting defeat, I traced my steps south and towards the ogre’s party. I knew where to find them, and in the absence of any better plan, I had it in my head to ask the players about Wengulax.

Who knows, maybe they’ve killed the mantis already. I judged that unlikely to be the case, though.

From my earlier observations of Toff’s team, I knew they’d resumed their dungeon dive. The party had given up on the slow, careful approach they’d likely used on the first level and instead were seemingly intent on carving a direct path to the second sector’s boss.

I suspected the players’ encounter with the mantises had spooked them, and now they wanted nothing more than to be done with the dungeon.

As I drew closer to the southern end of the dungeon, I heard the now-familiar voice of Toff shouting out orders amidst what sounded like a large battle.

Looks like they’ve almost made it to the boss, I thought, hurrying my steps. Once the party entered the final chamber, they would be beyond reach until the boss was dead.

I was about to turn the last corner and enter the passage leading to the final chamber when a sixth sense warned me of danger.

Heading the instinct, I dived forward and rolled across the cold hard stone floor. A blade slashed down. It cut through the empty spot of air I’d only just occupied and bounced off the nearby wall in a shower of sparks.

You have evaded an unknown hostile’s attack.

Leaping back to my feet, I spun about in time to meet the charge of my green-clad attacker.

Wengulax had found me.

Or perhaps he had been hovering around the edges of Toff’s party all along, waiting for me to appear.

Whatever the case, the assassin did not look best pleased, and he threw himself at me with almost palpable ferocity. The attacks came thick and fast, seemingly from all angles and all at once. I’d only faced such a savage assault on two prior occasions, and both times, I’d barely survived.

But I was no longer the same fighter I’d been just two short days ago.

In the interim, I’d gained two whole player ranks, improved my sword skills, and most crucially, significantly advanced my Dexterity. So, despite the blistering pace of Wengulax’s strokes, I managed to hold him back. I was not quite a match for him in skill or speed, but I was good enough to foil his attacks.

In the first handful of seconds, we traded over a dozen blows—without Wengulax managing to score a single hit.

I saw the assassin’s eyes narrow as he came to the same realization I had: I was not the same easy mark. At that moment, just for a second, the ceaseless flow of the mantis’ attacks relented as he reassessed his strategy.

It was the opportunity I’d been waiting for.

Not to counterattack but to disengage. Tugging free a stone bottle from my belt, I flung it on the floor.

You have ignited a smoke bomb, creating a smoke cloud.

Dark gray clouds ballooned out from my feet, blinding Wengulax and hiding me from sight. Choosing a direction at random, I threw myself sideways. Hearing soft footfalls, I knew my foe had likewise repositioned.

I had no interest in finding him, though. Not yet. Darting forward, I turned the corner and, feet pounding against stone, raced down the corridor.

A moment later, I heard the sound of pursuit.

Wengulax was following. Good.

I kept running, my ears straining to hear the telltale snicker of a blowpipe as I opened the distance between my hunter and me. Gintalush had not carried a ranged weapon—or if he had, he hadn’t used it—but there was no telling if Wengulax was. Just in case, I jinked erratically to confuse my foe’s aim.

I was not fleeing blindly, of course. There was method to my flight. Toff’s party and the final chamber were maybe fifty yards ahead. Both had just come into sight—mine at least. I didn’t know if any of their players could see as well as I could in the dark and couldn’t be certain I’d been spotted in turn. But I couldn’t wait for confirmation.

Wengulax was gaining, and I had to act while I still could.

Unclipping another bomb, I threw it hard against the floor and, without pause, flew through the thick plumes of smoke that appeared. Emerging out the other end, I dove into the shadows and wrapped myself in darkness.

You are hidden.

Struggling not to pant, I shifted silently sideways and summoned psi in preparation.

Seconds later, Wengulax flew through the selfsame cloud and ground to a halt as he failed to see me. Knowing I had to be close, the mantis scanned the corridor ahead of him.

Wengulax has failed to detect you! You are hidden.

Wengulax has failed to detect you!

Wengulax has…

Bare blades at the ready, the assassin padded forward. From farther up the corridor, I heard renewed shouting. Had Toff’s party spotted the smoke cloud? Or Wengulax?

I couldn’t tell, but I dared not tear my gaze away from the searching mantis to check. Besides, if my spell worked, it wouldn’t matter one way or the other.

The last weaves of my casting fell into place, and I released it, flinging a torrent of psi at my target.

You have cast simple slaysight.

I had tried once before—and failed—to use my mental abilities on the mantises, but like my blade skills, my telepathy had come a long way since then. This time will be different, I told myself, half-hope, half-promise.

The strands of psi I sent seeking outwards seeped into Wengulax and, finding his mind’s fear centers, incited them to a fever pitch.

Wengulax has failed a mental resistance check!

You have terrified your target for 10 seconds. Warning: Taking hostile action against your target will dispel the spell’s effect.

Between one heartbeat and the next, the assassin went from assured predator to frightened prey. Freezing in place, the assassin stood stock-still, eyes bulging and chest heaving.

I didn’t hesitate with my follow-up. Shadow blinking, I stepped through the aether to emerge behind the bespelled mantis.

But I was too late.

Panic had dug its claws deep in Wengulax, and before I could strike, he took off running—down the corridor and towards the assembled dungeon party, who I saw now, had indeed spotted us.

With a pleased smile, I followed more slowly on the heels of the fleeing mantis.

Up ahead, the party did not stand idle, nor did they question their good fortune. Staffs were lowered, bows were raised, and in a frighteningly short time, a lethal flight of missiles was racing towards Wengulax.

This time, the bewitched assassin made no attempt to dodge, and the storm descended upon him unopposed.

An unknown player has injured Wengulax.

An unknown player has critically injured Wengulax.

…

Wengulax has died.

You have gained in experience and reached level 104!

Your task: Preying Mantises! has been updated. You have twice over orchestrated the death of the assassins sent to kill you, even sending one of them to his final death. Wolf is pleased. But only time will tell if your actions have sufficed to convince Menaq to call off the hunt. Your objective remains unchanged.

A broad grin broke out across my face.

Despite the somewhat ambiguous nature of the task update, I was ecstatic with my day’s efforts. I’d faced both of my nemeses and triumphed without even suffering a scratch in return.

That’ll teach the mantises, I thought in savage satisfaction. Let Menaq send more of his minions to hunt me. I’ll give him nothing in return except more dead followers.

My gaze slid to the puddle of green and red that was all that remained of Wengulax. This time, I’d gained only a single level from the assassin’s death. I was certain that was because I’d done no damage in the encounter myself. The bulk of the experience must have gone to Toff’s party.

Speaking of which…

My eyes drifted farther up the corridor to see a crowd of players bearing down on me. They didn’t look best pleased, but I was sure I could talk my way out of any unpleasantness.

I wonder if they’ll let me loot the corpse, I mused idly. Folding my arms nonchalantly, I waited to greet the angry party.