The assassin couldn't believe that a simple kick sent him flying. Moreover, his lower jaw was dislocated!
As he struggled to get to his feet, he couldn't help but think in astonishment, W-What's wrong with his mana?! I-Its so tyrannical!
Adam's kick was a simple one, but it was the mana imbued in the kick that made the assassin tremble in fear.
The Astral Tyrant Manual not only strengthened the user's body, it also transformed the user's mana. It made the quality of mana heavy and domineering!
As the assassin finally got to his feet and gazed at Adam who was slowly walking toward him, his body involuntarily shuddered. No, I must escape! I can't fight him! I'm not his match!
He took out a few smoke bombs from his pocket and immediately threw them at his feet. The bomb exploded soundlessly and covered the area within a radius of tens of meters in a dense fog. Then, he activated his mobility technique and fled for his life.
Fear gripped his heart as he ran through the woods. He finally escaped from the area filled with fog and made his way toward Adam's camp in the far distance.
If I manage to hold one of those kids hostage… A vicious glint flashed past his eyes. I'm sure I'll be able to escape then. After I get back to base I'll bring a Rank 2 Magus to deal with you!
Suddenly…
The fog behind him parted and tens of Magic Missiles flew at him. Sensing the grave danger, the assassin turned around and when he did, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"So many!!"
Moreover, from the mana signature of the spell, he was finally able to confirm his earlier speculation - Adam was indeed a Muscle Stage Magus!
The Rank 1 Spell: Magic Missile only allowed a caster to materialize five Magic Missiles at most, and that too if the caster was very proficient with the spell. But the fact that Adam was able to cast tens of them could mean only one thing.
"Dual-Casting!" The assassin blurted out. "No! That number is way more than…"
He didn't have enough time to even finish his words as the Magic Missiles came raining down on him. And each of them flew unpredictably, making it very difficult for the assassin to dodge them.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})But he was an experienced assassin after all. He managed to dodge all of them in the end, but the time he had wasted here was all it took for Adam to catch up to him.
Adam appeared behind the assassin like a malevolent specter, his eyes brimming with unbridled ferocity and killing intent. Then, with great force, he launched a sidekick to the man's ribs.
The assassin hurriedly crouched down to dodge the kick, and then immediately dashed toward the front to escape from the youth. But suddenly, Adam's body dissipated into gray smoke!
Rank 1 Spell: Dingy Illusion!
The assassin was dumbfounded when he realized he'd been tricked. But before he could even think about where his opponent was, he was suddenly struck hard in the face by a flying knee.
"Kuagghhh!!" As the assassin was swept off his feet, he threw half a dozen throwing knives at Adam.
The youth skillfully dodged all the throwing knives as he closed in on the assassin. The latter, now knowing he wouldn't be able to escape, finally threw caution to the wind and chose to duke it out with the youth.
"DON'T LOOK DOWN ON ME!!" He roared at the top of his lungs as he brandished his poison-coated daggers and swung them at Adam.
With quick reflexes, Adam instantly disarmed him by immobilizing his wrists. Then, the youth gathered mana in his hand and delivered a gut punch, followed by a slap to the face, and then finally a round-house kick!
The assassin flew dozens of meters and smashed against the side of a mountain. A crater was instantly formed upon impact and the assassin slowly fell to the ground like a ragged doll.
Adam had snapped!
But before the assassin's feet even touched the ground, Adam had already appeared in front of him and started throwing a series of punches, slaps, and palm strikes to the assassin's head, chest, and stomach areas.
In mere seconds, Adam had already attacked more than a dozen times. By now, the assassin had already lost consciousness from all the beating, his life hanging by a thread.
But so what?
Adam didn't care!
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})He was enraged! Truly Enraged!
Just as the assassin's bloodied and battered body was about to limply fall to the ground, Adam took a horse-stance position and gathered a tremendous amount of mana in his hands.
His right palm was facing the assassin, while the left palm was placed below the right and aiming at the sky. The mana between his palms slowly began to swirl into a vortex.
When Adam had expended almost all of his mana, something akin to a singularity made of pure mana had formed between his palms!
Adam took one last look at the assassin, his red eyes filled with unbridled killing intent.
And then…
He spun his hands.
Hand of Doom: Billowing Strike!
SPLAT!
Peace returned to the woods. Adam's chest heaved up and down as he caught his breath. He looked at his hands, which were bleeding profusely and were heavily injured from having just used the technique without the gauntlets.
After having calmed his raging emotions, he sighed. He had never been so furious ever in his life. He was finally able to let it all out.
After Adam confirmed that the white lotus had devoured the assassin's soul, without taking another look, he silently turned around and left.
And on the jagged wall of the mountain, all that remained of the assassin…
Was mere bloodstains.
…
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})A month and a half later, the traveling party had made their way into the Nightingale Kingdom, and Moon City was finally within their sights.
"Oh, how much I've missed this place!" Edward spoke emotionally as he gazed at the silhouettes of the tall trees and buildings in the distance.
Lisa too had a faint smile on her face. She had missed this place as well. Suddenly, she looked toward Adam and the smile on her lips gradually vanished.
Edward was too dumb to notice it, but how could she not?
For more than a month now, Adam had been in a strange mood. He still behaved like his usual self, but at the same time he didn't. The change was very subtle, but Lisa had noticed it.
She tried to ask Adam about it, but the latter always dodged her question. In the end, she decided to just leave him be. If he wasn't comfortable sharing it with her, she didn't wish to force him.
Whatever it is, I hope you sort it out, She thought to herself.
The traveling party finally entered the gates of Moon City. Seeing the wide, bustling streets filled with people from all races, a smile appeared on their faces.
"Home…" Adam subconsciously muttered.
Edward came forth on his horse and nodded. "Yes, home."
Lisa suddenly reminded them, "We still have to go to the academy and hand in our mission report at the administrative building…"
While Lisa was talking about handing over the mission, Adam suddenly turned his head and recognized someone walking in the far distance. His eyes suddenly narrowed and he got off his horse.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Lisa glared at him.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I just remembered I had to do something urgent. You guys carry on without me." Saying his piece, Adam made his way through the crowd and vanished from sight.
"Ugh, this guy…" Lisa facepalmed, not knowing what to do with Adam. Then, she headed toward the academy with Edward.
…
In one of the lively, cobblestoned streets of Moon City, Jeffrey, Kevin, and a few other students were leisurely strolling. There was still another week before the academy reopened.
Jeffrey had a wide grin on his face as he looked at Kevin and asked, "That thing should be done about now, right?"
Kevin raised his eyebrow and then nodded with a smirk. "Yes, that matter should have already been dealt with by now. Those people are professionals after all."
"Hehe, good, good, very good!" Jeffrey couldn't remember the last time he was so happy.
Ever since they'd entered the academy, he was always living in fear that one day Adam would come to his dorm room late at night and slit his throat for what he had done to him.
But now, it was all sorted.
The world seemed very bright and beautiful to Jeffrey now. Suddenly, a loud and familiar voice drifted into his ears, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Hahaha, my old friend! Long time no see!"
"Huh? Who the—" Jeffrey followed the direction of this obnoxious voice, and when his gaze landed on the person who had just spoken, he froze.
Adam merrily walked toward Jeffrey with a bright smile on his face and gave him a warm hug. Then, he whispered into his ears.
"I know what you did."
Jeffrey's body trembled as his heart was gripped by terror. In a state of panic, he subconsciously looked toward Kevin, who was as shocked as he was.
Adam followed Jeffrey's gaze, and when he saw Kevin, his lips curled up into a cold smile.
So it was you!
(End of Volume 1—Humble Beginnings)
