[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-city-of-desire-kingdom-building":3,"chapter-city-of-desire-kingdom-building-city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-850":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","City of Desire [Kingdom Building]",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847020,2449,"Chapter 854: Assassins Clash II","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-850",850,"\u003Cp>Proofread by Thomas F\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Velara Boltas\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My apologies for making you all wait,\" I said as I took control over my emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My expressions eased, and a smile appeared on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I activated Sense Presence to check whether anyone else was hiding. I felt other presences, but they were moving away from the city hall instead of coming inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have chosen the place well; this place is spacious. It is a good place to leave their dead bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I will forgive you. If you drop that wicked dagger and surrender,\" replied the Mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I cannot do that. You see, we are enemies; if I surrender, then I will be a traitor,\" I declined with a smile appearing on my face and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to keep it in control, because when it goes out of control. It becomes hard to control myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you leave us with no choice but to use force,\" she stated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved before she finished speaking the last word. My job is to kill her, and I will try. I shouldn't actually, I should run away, before the other Lv. 40s came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially that Elderblood General; he is in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I moved, I felt the skill, an area-wide law enforcement skill. A powerful one, seeing how hard it is pressing on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is why I hate high-level city guards; they have the skills to counter mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he activated the skill, he moved toward me. At the same time, I saw a metal-headed Earth Lance coming toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Grade IV spell; I do not fear those, but this one is a variant. It has the punch of a barrage of normal ones and is very dangerous. If I had just been fighting her, I wouldn't have been worried, but I am not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second woman had also moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is coming toward me, while slashing her sword in the air, sending the arc of lightning toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Earth Lance appeared in front of me, and I dodged it by moving my neck. As I had finished dodging that, a lightning arc appeared in front of me, and I simply stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These attacks might be fast to others, but they are not to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have fought, Great Mages, while these two are only High Mages, powerful as they may be. Though that doesn't mean they are not dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with the man who appeared in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are the most handsome guard I have ever seen,\" I complimented. He is as beautiful as the two women in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't seem to appreciate my compliment as his expression remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He attacked, and I moved to dodge it. I am an assassin, not a warrior. I do not have to engage with him; I have a target to kill and very little time to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I moved toward her, but he appeared in front of her, with the speed that surprised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His information did say that he specializes in fast combat. He is fast and agile, and in that area, his skills are helping him fight a criminal in his jurisdiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His attack came, and I dodged it, but he followed, while hundreds of metal needles came at me, and the spell blade attacked on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dodged the man's attack and swung my blade against the hundreds of needles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Releasing the grey wave out of my dagger, which effortlessly turned the needles into dust, before defending against the sword of spell blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment we clashed, she took rapid steps back, while the man came at me again, and so was another spell from the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of metal-tipped spikes came out of the ground, and I moved through them while dodging the sharp Stone Disks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it wouldn't be easy, but seeing the constant attacks and the way they are doing it made me realise I had underestimated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dodged and defended the attacks, but they are coming from all sides, and I finally got hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade of the handsome man had cut along my waist. The cut is so shallow that not even a drop of blood had come out, but it showed me the risks they possess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These three are working very well together and have taken control of the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, assassins love such tight spaces like this, while mages like large spaces, but here, they have owned the space, making things difficult for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It seemed like I had to stop holding back!' I thought, and the next moment, my aura came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I harnessed the power from my artifact. The dark grey energy covered it, while my physical abilities increased and my senses sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I brought out my aura, the three activated their auras as well, andthat surprisedme!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not surprised that they have an aura. All three of them have awakened in the last battle, where they nearly wiped out our horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thing that surprised me is their control. It is better than I had thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their Presence Skills and Area skills pressed down on me. I activated my own, powering it with my own aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My control is better than theirs, with my experience. I have started learning the aura method, but I have yet to understand it. Still, there are three of them with sufficient aura control, while I am only one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I sought the aid of the artifact and tried to create the fractal, but once more I failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at them, and they looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell blade is at my left and a handsome guard at my right, while my target is behind them at a distance with her staff shining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's time to say goodbye to the world,\" I said with a grin and activated Target Locked and Assassins Flow, before moving toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are the skills that will help me kill the target fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They let me see obstacles coming toward me and show me the best way to reach them, while enhancing my strength and senses and increasing the chances of success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, she launched the spell, while the two moved at me once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A circle of metallic knives appeared above me and came at a breakneck speed, and they are sharp; they wouldn't have any problem cutting through my skin like butter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knives are not common thrown spells, but one she is actively controlling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling their power, I am surprised that she could use the spell of this calibre. Most High Mages could not; it is Great Mages that use such spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knives came, attacking me from all sides. Seeing that, I activated Flash Hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My dagger clashed against the knives, releasing the destructive energy at each clash, destroying one knife after another, creating a blush-grey cloud of dust around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked beautiful, but danger came through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man and woman; they attack, and they're faster and more powerful than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, I dodge the blade of the man and clash with the woman, using the power of the artifact. That sent her back with blood coming out of her orifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That should have brought her to her knees,' I thought in surprise, and pushed those thoughts and moved toward the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is the target, and despite knowing that, she didn't move from her spot. Instead, she threw another spell at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had just taken two steps when the man appeared in front of me once more and attacked. I dodged his attack before swinging my dagger at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripping sound rang out, and a large, deep cut appeared across his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frown appeared on my face, seeing that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wound should have been bigger. This guard's stomach should have been split open with his guts spilling out, and the energies of the artifact tearing through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My dagger isn't poisonous or has abilities like Ever Bleed, which assassins love so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, instead it is destructive. Finishing the enemies thoroughly and messily instead of quickly and cleanly, for which most assassins are known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved once more, but once again, he appeared in front of me as if there wasn't a giant wound on his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dodged his attack and moved for another, but this time, he brought back his sword and defended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It forced him to take a step back, but he again moved to stop me, and this time, the spell's blade joined as well, along with a barrage of spells from the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the fuck is happening?' I asked as I saw that these three were containing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have a higher level of aura control and even the artifact, but despite that, I am failing to move toward the target. I have fought battles with such people before and have killed them, but here I could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second passed, and another, and they kept throwing themselves at me, despite injuries spreading across their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hell,' I cursed and leaped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is strange, and what is even stranger is that not a single person came from outside to aid them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have read about the number of powerhouses the city has and their positions. By now, at least a few of Lv. 30's should have come here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are also two Generals in the city and a Great Witch; there are no signs of any of them either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My trusted Dangersense remained silent, and it made me feel worse. I know very well that Dangersense isn't perfect; it could be avoided and tricked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned somber and turned to the mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A very few people have survived after meeting me,\" I said to her and moved toward the window. Yes, I am escaping; I might love the challenge, but I do not have a death wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt this would be my fated end if I stayed here any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved and expected them to follow me and launched a barrage of spells, but saw them watching, without moving; they didn't even cast a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't make me relieved. Instead, made the sinking feeling worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached the window and jumped out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I did, I felt the weight of presences; a lot of them. The guards surrounding the city hall from all directions, along with the powerhouses, including mages and archers, but like the three, not a single one of them moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just watched me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached the guards within seconds and felt all the hair on my body stand up. It's not a danger, but a warning. As if telling me, I shouldn't do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I jumped over them and began to run through the city, avoiding the roofs and high places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I wouldn't get targeted by spells and arrows, but not a single spell or arrow came at me, nor did people come to stop me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could sense their presence all around, but nobody moved toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the fuck is happening?' I asked myself, but the questions revealed no answer to this strangeness aside from one. I should get out of the city as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved fast and even pulled the power from my artifact to move even faster, reaching the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then that I felt powerful eyes on me and turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the top of the gate of the city, there are two people: the Elderblood General and a general. They too just looked and didn't move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Surrender, Miss Botas. It will be a much less painful experience,\" said the elderblood. \"Make me,\" I challenged, pushing myself even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he would rise to my challenge, but he only shook his head and remained where he was, which confused me even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could guess why others didn't move: they weren't a match for me, but these two are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Elderblood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I begin to run up the wall. Reaching the top within seconds, and even then, there was no attack. I stopped for a moment and looked, but I could not see the single soul moving toward me, nor any attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, I jumped and landed on the ground a few seconds later, and I started running across the wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was expecting an attack or something, but still nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Has Liorian done something?' I asked myself. Maybe he made some deal with Silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the only explanation I could think of for them letting me leave without resistance, but why did the Elderblood then ask me to surrender?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was thinking that, when suddenly the large dome of darkness enveloped me. I didn't sense it; it suddenly appeared surrounding me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It kind of scared me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was moving to attack it to get out when I saw the form in the darkness, and a moment later. An armored man appeared in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Knight, clad in green-scaled armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at him, and all the hair on my body stood up, and my Dangersense blared like never before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognised him. He is a knight who has just appeared around Greltheaven; our intelligence surmised that he might be a prop created to deter us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is definitely not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seemed like you were the only Lv. 40 that came,\" he said, and disappointment dripped in his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me angry. I looked at the man, and he was wearing enchanted armor. It is of impeccable craftsmanship, but still just enchanted armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sheathed sword is the same. He doesn't have an artifact, I could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment passed, and he turned to me. \"Surrender, there is no escape for you,\" he said, and I grinned. \"I will not,\" I replied and moved toward him with everything I have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is powerful, but I have killed a powerful one before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed my skills, my aura, and even the artifact for the power as I moved toward him, when suddenly, yellowish energy covered my dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long time, I finally succeeded. I had learned the aura method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, hope couldn't help but rise in my heart, but the next moment. The dread filled it when I saw the knight in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was over ten meters away from me, but now he is in front of me. My eyes were on him, but I didn't sense him move at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment he was there, and now he is in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations, you have entered the league, a few could,\" he said, and I was about to give him the honor of being first to be attacked, when I felt something hitting my head hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hit me with such force that it made me lose consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to fight back, but the blow was too powerful. It was like a stone against a lake; it could skip over it for a few moments, but it would eventually get swallowed by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 50+ chapters early, unlock exclusive art & maps, and join for free on Patreon.\u003C\u002Fp>",2530,"2026-06-09T06:55:06.748Z",1,"novelbin.me","d7d36317e0b77479db53eaae778a8bce24057a6c469feea39459dfff9a6057da",null,"city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-849",917,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcity-of-desire-kingdom-building-cover.jpg"]