The Signal (6)

Selena's needles cut through the air, while Hagley's shadows shot from all directions.

Their movements intersected, seeking openings and exploiting gaps, each acutely aware of the other's attempts to gain the upper hand through Shadow Transference.

“You're used to fighting with Transference, Selena!”

“Thanks to you!”

Not really thanks to Hagley, but rather, thanks to Frondier. To keep up with his fighting style, she had no choice but to utilize Transference.

Swish!

Crack!

Hagley's shadows only harmed living beings, and Selena's needles were useless against inanimate objects.

Thus, their battle was silent.

Only the occasional sound of their feet hitting the ground broke the stillness; they made no unnecessary noise. Even when not on an assassination mission, the battles of assassins were soundless, as if it were the very trajectory of their lives.

“I raised you! I know all your fighting techniques!”

“I've also observed a thing or two!”

Selena and Hagley's fight seemed evenly matched. Although Hagley had trained Selena, he couldn't replicate her skill with needles, just as Selena couldn't replicate his shadow magic.

Unlike Hagley, Selena wasn't particularly talented in magic. To be more precise, among the assassins of the "Yeolgot," Selena, the youngest, was the least adept at magic.

However, her exceptional appearance and talent for close combat made her more suited to be an assassin than anyone else.

She compensated for her lack of magical ability with physical techniques and her lack of strength as a woman by mastering needles.

‘Handling needles was Selena's innate talent.’

Selena had an eye for reading the flow of mana within living beings. Her excellence in close combat stemmed from her understanding of anatomy and her ability to apply it. Most living beings couldn't withstand her needles and would crumble.

It wasn't that their bones or joints were dislocated, but rather that the needles disrupted the natural flow of mana within their bodies.

The twisting of limbs or death were merely consequences.

“I shouldn't have taught you about such weapons!”

“Regret is always too late!”

Hagley extended both hands and then brought them together, aiming at Selena. Recognizing this, Selena immediately leaped into the air.

Whoosh!

Shadows shot out from all corners of the cave, their blades surpassing the sharpness of any ordinary weapon. It seemed like there was no escape for Selena, but...

Swoosh!

With astonishing flexibility, Selena squeezed her body through the gaps between the shadow blades and hovered in the air.

“……!”

Hagley's eyes widened. Not only was Selena's evasion skill impressive, but her clothes also surprised him.

He hadn't expected to land a direct hit with his shadows from the beginning, knowing Selena's abilities. However, he thought he could at least graze her, hoping to induce bleeding.

Yet, the blades that brushed against Selena failed to cut her skin.

“……You're wearing good clothes.”

“That's right.”

Landing back on the ground, Selena stood upright and looked at Hagley.

“Though they're not enough to seduce a man.”

“……Did Frondier give them to you?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Indeed, it seems that bastard is completely smitten with you.”

“…….”

Selena had nothing to say to that. Both Belphegor and Hagley were certain that Frondier was deeply infatuated with her.

Honestly, from Selena's perspective, it seemed like he was simply reviewing his escort's equipment. Of course, some level of closeness and trust had developed, but...

‘What should I do?’

She tried to appear composed, but the truth was, Selena was at a disadvantage. As Hagley himself had said, he knew almost all of her attack patterns.

Although she had made some improvements while spending time with Frondier, the core wouldn't have changed much.

Due to the nature of Selena's weapon being "needles," their launch was barely visible to the naked eye, especially in a place like a cave with unreliable light sources.

However, for Hagley, who manipulated shadows, darkness was his battlefield, and he experienced almost no penalties from it.

On the other hand, while Selena had observed Hagley, she didn't know everything about him, and even if she did...

‘I'm running out of needles.’

The fact that this fight was even close only made Selena's defeat more likely.

With her delicate senses, Selena could tell the number of remaining needles based on their weight. And to avoid miscalculating that weight, this outfit contained the same number of needles as the ones she usually wore.

“Why the hesitation, Selena?”

And inevitably,

“You should hurry, shouldn't you?”

Hagley also knew.

Selena was on high alert. She had known from the beginning that she couldn't waste her needles. Every single shot that pierced through Hagley's shadows was precious.

“Selena, finding a way out is important, but...”

Meanwhile, Hagley raised one hand.

“I can also play tricks like this.”

With those words, Hagley created a curtain of shadows in front of him, large enough to completely conceal his figure.

“……?”

Selena stood there for a moment, not understanding his intention.

“!”

Swish!

But in a split second, Selena realized his plan and twisted her body in mid-air.

Yeolgot Secret Art

Hidden Weapon Throwing Technique

Octagon

A technique that simultaneously launched needles in eight directions. Naturally, it used up all the needles loaded in her hand.

Originally intended for situations where she was surrounded or to eliminate a group of enemies, this time it was different.

Crack!

Hagley, who appeared behind Selena, blocked the needles with his shadows.

“Now do you understand, Selena?”

At his words, Selena pressed her lips together tightly.

With his shadow curtain concealing his form, Selena couldn't determine whether Hagley would use Shadow Transfer or not. If she carelessly looked behind her, she would be exposed to Hagley if he hadn't used Transfer.

Therefore, scattering needles in all directions like she just did was the safest option, but...

Naturally, it consumed eight needles at once.

“I already know how many needles you have left. You have twenty-four left. Can you hit me with them before they run out?”

Swish!

Hagley didn't rest. He continued to shoot shadows, pushing Selena into a corner.

Selena desperately dodged and moved using Transfer, but within the cave, it was difficult to handle all of Hagley's attacks. As a result, her needles were wasted on defense.

Hagley knew that this offensive approach was the safest way to deal with Selena. Once she used up all her needles, victory would be his.

“Ugh!”

And with the last four remaining needles, as Selena grasped them in her right hand...

Hagley extended a large shadow to eliminate even those.

From the floor, it sprung up like a devil's hand, and from the walls and ceiling, waves of shark fin-like blades surged towards Selena.

Using ‘Octagon’ was impossible with only four needles.

In this desperate situation...

“……I finally...”

Selena spoke softly.

“I finally see it.”

Yeolgot Secret Art

Selena Original

Spirit Sealing Needle

Selena ran straight ahead. A hand reached out to grab her. Selena threw the first needle.

Hit by the needle, the shadow hand crumbled powerlessly.

‘……!’

Witnessing this, Hagley's eyes widened.

‘She erased the magic with a needle.’