A dagger cut through the air, aimed straight at Kevin.
Mikhail instinctively raised his hand and pushed Kevin out of the dagger's trajectory.
Kevin, who was about to respond, quieted down when he saw the dagger lodged in the tree behind him.
"Show yourself!!"
Mikhail yelled, his voice echoing within the forest as his hand gripped tightly on his sword.
"Well, well, well."
A voice echoed from their side and both of them quickly turned towards it.
"Looks like we got some capable newbies."
A tall skinny man wearing a black leather jacket walked from behind a tree, his face covered with a cloth.
He didn't have much on him except an axe hanging on his side along with four daggers.
"Who are you?" Kevin asked, his voice much more serious than before.
Mikhail gestured Methew to hide behind the dead snake as the man laughed out loud.
"Are you stupid?" He said, his laughter dying. "What makes you think I would tell you that?"
'…Is he the newbie killer that the military guy warned us about?'
"It is against the law to kill another hunter." Mikhail reminded him slowly. "I suggest you leave."
The man rubbed his temples, his voice filled with contempt.
"You are a brave one, aren't you." He said. "Other newbies usually beg me to spare their lives by now."
Mikhail glanced at Kevin who had his muscles tensed with his body lowered slightly.
The man noticed that as well. "Looks like someone wants to play with Mr. Herbert." He got into position. "SO LET'S PLAY!!"
With a speed that clearly surpassed a Novice, he quickly rushed in.
Both Mikhail and Kevin held their ground, raising their swords in one synchronised motion.
With a roar, Kevin flung his broadsword which the man deflected with his dagger.
Mikhail took the split second to thrust his sword into his chest but the man twisted his body in an abnormal way to dodge it.
Herbert guided Kevin's sword to the side as he kicked his face before grabbing Mikhail's hand and pushing him into Kevin.
They both fell as the man created some distance between them.
"It's always so much fun~." Herbert said in delight. "Tormenting newbies is the best thing ever!"
Mikhail and Kevin had barely gotten a hold of themselves when the man rushed in once again.
With a quick reflex, Mikhail grabbed his short spear and hurled it at him.
Herbert used his dagger to parry the spear but in that moment Kevin rushed with his sword poised.
They crashed together.
Sparks flew around as their weapons ground together. Kevin slashed and stabbed, but each furious blow was deflected.
Mikhail jumped into the mix. He aimed at the legs of the man but he was quick to move around.
Herbert was clearly a skilled fighter and the cuts and wounds accumulating on their bodies were proof of it.
The man kicked Mikhail in the chest and he went hurtling through the air.
'Fuck.' Mikhail quickly got up, ignoring the pain. 'He is around level eleven or twelve.'
Mikhail immediately rushed towards the man who immediately raised his hand, which made Mikhail's senses scream.
He instinctively turned his head and a black sharp spike grazed past his cheek.
Mikhail twisted his body to dodge as Herbert sent more of those spikes while he handled Kevin.
More and more wounds appeared on Mikhail's body, making him sluggish.
But as soon as he reached the man, he immediately began to unleash a flurry of cuts and jabs, pressing him further back.
Kevin got a second to rest but that was not much as Herbert immediately gained distance when he was at a loss.
Mikhail guided the man in such a way that he stopped just beside the dead body of the snake.
Herbert let out a soft chuckle. "I must say." He said, rubbing his neck. "Both of you are quite something."
Mikhail drew in deep breaths, ignoring the pain building up in his body.
He glanced at Kevin who was in no better condition.
Herbert stretched his body and said. "Enough play, time to kill—hm?"
The man turned to look at his leg where he felt something touching him. Methew looked up at him with a grin on his face as he touched him with his paw.
"Meowtherfucker!!"
"Arhhhh!!"
Herbert let out a horrifying scream as the electricity messed with his entire nervous system.
Mikhail didn't waste a single second as he rushed in with all the speed he could muster.
He grabbed the military knife from his side and pushed it into Herbert's hand that he raised to defend himself.
Mikhail then snatched the axe hanging on Herbert's side, dropped to his knees and swung it.
"ARGHHHH!!"
Herbert let out an excruciating scream as he fell down, losing his balance. His eyes, filled with pain, looked at his leg that had been chopped off at the ankle.
Mikhail grabbed Herbert's dagger, twisted his arm and put it over the dead body of the snake.
He then lodged the dagger into his hand, passing it through and sticking it in the snake's body.
Just to be sure, he took two more daggers and plunged them into his arm as well, pinning him completely.
With deep breaths, Mikhail pulled himself back and glared at Herbert who tried to free himself.
Kevin walked towards Mikhail and helped him stand up.
Herbert, unable to free himself, let out a soft laugh as blood dripped down his mouth.
"Haha~ that was amazing."
Mikhail felt anger bubbling under his skin but he controlled himself.
Methew returned to his shoulder and gently licked Mikhail's cheek.
"What do we do with him?" Kevin asked, his voice tired.
Mikhail pulled himself up and straightened his back.
"Let's call the military and have him arrested." He said, his voice grim. "We don't have to deal with him."
Herbert smiled and kept on staring at both of them despite his condition.
"I won't let both of you go." He said, his gaze especially on Mikhail. "I will make sure you regret not dying by my hand."
Mikhail didn't say anything but Kevin looked concerned.
"Don't worry about him." Mikhail said. "He is a cripple who can't do anything."
Kevin nodded his head but the tension didn't leave his face.
Herbert, noticing that he couldn't get out of the situation, grew even more confident.
"Ah, I wonder what I would do with you guys?" He said in a dreamy tone, like he was imagining it. "I won't kill you, I will first kill your family members. Let's see…I will start with your father then mother—."
Kevin gripped his sword, raised it and swung it recklessly, trying to behead Herbert.
But before he could, a short spear struck itself in Herbert's face, obliterating it completely.
Kevin slowly turned to look at Mikhail who walked forward and retrieved his spear.
"I could have killed him." Kevin said quietly. "You don't have to dirty your hands."
Mikhail, with a grim look on his face, said quietly. "I have my limits."
He turned around and limped back to his other spear. "Let's go home."
Kevin nodded his head as he was tired as well.
But just as Mikhail grabbed his other spear, a screen appeared in front of him.
[You have killed an assassin of Count's rank.]
[Two skills have been detected.]
[Would you like to use [Steal]?]