Jessica sat in her office across from her grandfather, Stanley Cooper.
"Do you think those three guild masters will be enough to capture the assassins alive?" she asked. "Recently, the Bloodhound Guild has been nothing but trouble. They’re slowly expanding their influence and strengthening their network. If they’ve co here this ti, it’s definitely for sothing important."
Stanley Cooper, who had been quietly sipping his tea, placed the cup down on the table.
"Those three are more than capable," he replied calmly. "Jasper is a ferocious warrior. Clever, decisive, and relentless once he sets his mind on sothing. When he’s angry, very few people can stop him."
He paused before continuing.
"Archie is the complete opposite. Rational and level-headed. His lightning magic makes him a terrifying long-range combatant, while his swordsmanship is nothing to scoff at either. And then there’s Oliver. S-Class tanks are already rare these days, but Oliver is exceptional even among them. He’s a street fighting champion even without relying on his Golden Skin ability." He leaned back slightly.
"Together, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Against assassins, strength alone isn’t enough. You need decisiveness. Sending more hunters would have only complicated the situation."
Jessica nodded. She trusted her grandfather’s judgnt and didn’t press further.
But, after a brief silence, she spoke again.
"What do you think they’re here for?"
Stanley crossed his fingers and looked at his granddaughter directly in the eyes. "I can’t say for certain, but I’m convinced it has sothing to do with the Delvan Tower."
Just as they were about to continue their discussion, the office door burst open.
A man hurried inside, his face filled with panic. "Miss President! It’s bad!"
Before he could say more, his gaze landed on Stanley. His expression instantly changed.
"Ah, Senior Cooper! I didn’t know you were here. Please forgive my rudeness." He quickly bowed his head.
Stanley waved a dismissive hand. "Relax. I’m just an old man visiting his granddaughter."
"Y-Yes, sir."
The man imdiately straightened up, not even daring to et Jessica’s eyes.
Jessica frowned.
"What happened? What was so urgent?"
At her words, the man’s face turned pale once more. "Leon Bale. The person you instructed to keep an eye on," the hunter reported. "I’ve been waiting outside his house since yesterday. He only returned about an hour ago, but after staying inside for less than five minutes, he left again. And..."
"And?" Jessica pressed.
"He entered the Bowen Estate."
"What?" Jessica shot to her feet. "Has he lost his mind? What is he doing there?"
She imdiately turned toward Stanley. "Grandpa... what should we do?"
Stanley’s expression grew serious.
"We’re going to the Bowen Estate." He rose from his seat. "I’m coming with you."
Back at the training ground of the Bowen Estate...
Leon had just crashed into a wall. The impact caused it to collapse on top of him, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
"Since when did monsters start using swords?" Oliver finally asked. His eyes remained fixed on the spot where the orange lion-headed beast had been sent flying.
Jasper didn’t answer. He had none.
Archie was still trying to process everything.
’Those sword moves... They’re definitely better than mine. What the hell is going on? First, everyone here vanished, and I ended up fighting a monster. That one was definitely strong. Then suddenly everyone is back again, and there’s only one monster left... a monster that can wield a sword.’
Amid their confusion, the lion-headed beast slowly pushed itself back to its feet.
This ti, however, all three S-Class hunters noticed sothing else.
The remaining hunters and even the assassins noticed it as well.
During the last exchange, the beast’s chest had been caved in, leaving behind a fist-sized hole.
But now... The wound was almost completely healed. They watched in stunned silence as the final traces of the injury closed up before their eyes. Flesh knitted together, and a faint hiss of steam rose from the spot.
"It can use healing magic, too?" Alpha muttered in disbelief, his eyes widening.
"These three are strong... They’re S-Class monsters, after all. If this continues, I’ll die here for sure." Leon murmured.
His brows furrowed for only a mont before relaxing. A smile slowly spread across his face.
’I believe it’s ti to put my new buddies into action for the first ti.’
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"The Raging Inferno’s Wings," he whispered.
Instantly, a pair of crimson daggers began erging from the system panel. But just as their tips appeared, Leon closed his eyes and focused.
The daggers vanished. Completely.
Just the space in front of the panel rippled slightly, confirming that the blades had been drawn.
A grin appeared on Leon’s face. "Let the real fight begin."
The mont those words left his mouth, sothing sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
On the battlefield, Jasper, Archie, and Oliver watched as the orange monster rose from the pile of debris.
Then it happened.
Sothing shot through the air at incredible speed, producing a shrill whistle as it closed in.
"Watch out!" Jasper roared. But he was already too late.
Stab!
Stab!
Both Jasper and Archie froze. Their eyes widened as they felt sothing pierce their bodies.
Instinctively, they looked down.
Blood rapidly soaked through their shirts. Yet there was nothing there.
No weapon..No attacker. Nothing at all.
It was as if they had been wounded by an invisible blade.
The next mont, sothing whistled through the air once again.
Clang!
Clang!
Oliver instinctively crossed his arms in front of his chest just in ti.
The impact was so powerful that it sent him skidding backward, his feet carving deep trenches into the ground.
"What... What was that just now? Horror flashed across his face.
Before he could recover...
Clang!
Another invisible strike slamd into him. His legs skidded back even farther... "Damn it. What the hell is going on?"
From the mansion entrance, Alpha’s expression twisted even further. He stared at the battlefield, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Stealth Magic?!!!!!" He whispered.
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