The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

"We have to—!"

Kaiden, who had been about to jump down from the gate, froze. Zephyrion, who had been silently standing there all along, was gone.

The next time Kaiden saw him, Zephyrion was already standing between Jenna and the beast.

The eyes of everyone watching widened. At such a close range, if that punch landed, he would be reduced to nothing but mangled meat!

Not even one of the village elders would survive such a blow unscathed, much less a mere trainee!

Yet, under the stunned gazes fixed on him, and with the beast’s massive fists tearing toward him with such intensity that violent gales rippled across the ground, Zephyrion faced it all with unshaken composure.

The next moment, he calmly reached for Demorian’s metal rod. Under his touch, it lost shape instantly, then molded into a sleek gauntlet that wrapped around his arm.

This was one of the perks of gaining Demorian’s rod. Aside from its ability to forge his body, Zephyrion could also shape and wield the metal however he saw fit.

While this might not seem remarkable to an outside observer, one had to remember that the strength of a metal depended on the strength of the one who created it.

Demorian had forged this rod during his peak years... the metal of a peak Dominion rank.

Zephyrion took a heavy step forward. The ground cracked beneath him for several meters, dust and debris rising into the air.

With a thought, metal aura erupted from his body, coiling around him like a formless storm. It flowed with his movement, gathering at the tip of his coated fist as it drove forward.

"Pulse Break."

At the last moment, Zephyrion increased the weight as much as he could.

To the watching crowd, it was as though they were witnessing the act of a madman. Even a mark six would not dare clash head-on with a Drogoth. Trying to block was one thing, but meeting it head-on was practically sealing one’s fate!

Both fists collided in an explosion of force that shattered the ground and blasted the air outward. Intense gales slammed into the elders and the village head alike, whipping their clothes violently.

Regardless, every eye remained glued to the scene.

They watched, their eyes slowly widening, as an overwhelming force traveled through the arm of the Drogoth, fissures spreading across it in jagged lines. The massive fist exploded the next moment in a surge of silver blood and gore.

The village head’s gaze, along with every soul watching, trembled.

"...what?"

Standing frozen on the wall, Kaiden swallowed dryly. Fiona stared at the scene with wide eyes, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

A deafening silence settled across the field... then it shattered.

ROAR!

A piercing roar filled with pain tore out from the Drogoth as silver blood continued to gush from its destroyed arm.

It glared at Zephyrion with murderous intent, shocked that a mere human had been able to do this in a direct clash.

With another deafening roar, the metal ingots jutting out from its skin suddenly flowed, converging around its other arm. It punched out the next moment, the force sending large concentric ripples through the air.

In the face of this, Zephyrion’s gaze didn’t so much as flicker.

"Slip Step."

Metal aura flowed through his body. He shifted to the side, his movement fluid as the beast’s arm whipped past him.

The wind from the missed strike had only just begun to hit him when the gauntlet morphed, shifting into the form of a blade. He reduced his weight to the barest degree, then... he moved.

He appeared behind the ape in a flash. The only sign of his movement was the thin line now tracing across the beast’s neck.

A moment later, the head slid off. Silver blood burst from the severed neck as it fell and hit the ground, lifeless.

The clearing fell into a roaring silence. Every eye stared at Zephyrion, as though they had just witnessed something entirely impossible.

In an instant... he had killed the Drogoth in an instant...

Still, Zephyrion, who now held the attention of the entire field, remained oblivious.

He cast a glance at Demorian’s metal and gave a small inward nod.

’It worked well.’

The metal rod was so strong that the Drogoth’s overwhelming power hadn’t been enough to even shake it. Taking the form of a blade, it had also easily cut through the creature’s thick, metallic hide.

Regardless, the main reason for the ease of this victory was Zephyrion himself.

With his metallic bones, his durability far exceeded what anyone could imagine. His bones had just withstood a force not even a mark six would have dared to endure.

Though Zephyrion was currently at mark five, with the culmination of all the changes along with his metallic bones, he could clearly feel that his strength was beyond that level.

He came out of his thoughts a moment later. Under the stunned eyes of the villagers, Zephyrion calmly fastened the rod at his waist and approached Jenna, who lay on the ground.

He quietly noted the metal that had formed around her arm, then gave a slight smile before stretching out his hand to help her up.

"Here."

Jenna’s eyes were wide as she stared at Zephyrion. Right now, he looked like a devilishly handsome prince who had come to whisk her away.

Still, the sheer impossibility of what she had just witnessed was etched into her mind. It took her a few seconds to realize she was keeping him waiting.

"A-ah... y-yes."

As she took his hand and rose, her eyes met his, and her mind went blank for a moment.

"Are you hurt?" Zephyrion asked.

Jenna couldn’t help the flutter in her chest. She had heard terrible rumors about the lofty, spoiled prodigies of the higher houses who always thought themselves above everyone else, yet she sensed none of that here.

"...no, I’m fine... thank you... for helping me."

Feeling a faint heat rise to her face, Jenna clenched her fists. What was happening to her? Get a hold of yourself!

"Good. I’m glad you’re okay." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Hah..."

As Zephyrion gave a small, relieved smile, her mind went blank again.