The Night’s Silent Blades

In a grand estate within the Royal City.

Three shadowy figures, cloaked by the night, gracefully leaped into the grand estate. Their lithe forms moved like bats, mere faint silhouettes against the darkness, utterly silent.

The shadows swiftly advanced through the estate. A faint, chilling aura of killing intent began to emanate from the three figures. Soon, they spotted the estate’s inhabitants.

Without a moment’s hesitation, a shadow blurred past. A cold, silver gleam flashed, and droplets of blood spattered.

Before the estate’s resident could even react, their body went limp, their vision blurred, and they began to fall. The shadow gently caught the person, lowering them to the ground.

Ignoring the fallen individual, the three shadows dispersed, converging on the estate’s center from three different directions.

The estate housed many people, yet the three shadows showed no mercy. Each encounter resulted in an immediate and ruthless elimination. Gradually, dark crimson stains began to mar their black attire.

Before long, the estate’s residents discovered the fallen bodies. Instantly, the estate erupted in chaos, terrified screams echoing one after another.

Humanity harbored an inherent fear of the unknown; the unseen shadows and silent deaths inflicted profound psychological terror upon the inhabitants.

At the entrance to a room, a maid was walking when she suddenly heard the commotion outside. Puzzled, she approached the door and pushed it open.

The instant she did, a shadow rapidly loomed before her. In a blink, she saw a pair of cold eyes, imbued with a chilling allure, pierce her own.

Startled, she instinctively tried to scream, but a cold sensation sliced across her neck. The scream was forcibly trapped in her throat.

Astonishment and bewilderment filled her eyes, and slowly, the maid’s body went limp, collapsing onto the floor.

The shadow stood beside the maid, not even sparing a glance for the body on the floor. It surveyed the room’s surroundings before swiftly darting away, traversing the corridor.

By this point, an hour had passed since the shadows infiltrated the estate. The courtyard was strewn with bodies, a testament to the sheer number of maids and guards in a count’s residence.

Though the guards had attempted some resistance, their efforts were swiftly annihilated by the sudden assault and the overwhelming disparity in combat power.

After all three shadows reached the main residence, not a single sign of life remained in the courtyard. A faint, metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, and crimson stains painted the ground.

Bodies lay sprawled haphazardly, silent beneath the thin, almost imperceptible moonlight. The entire courtyard now exuded an aura of desolation.

Within the main residence, the three shadows infiltrated from three directions, moving swiftly through the corridors. The moment they encountered anyone, a blade flashed across their neck without hesitation.

There was no longer any need to fear discovery, so the shadows’ speed intensified. As one person after another fell, the corridors became slick with blood, splattering everywhere.

Every hallway the shadows passed through transformed into a horrifying scene, painted by bodies and gore.

Soon, the three shadows halted before a room. This was the last chamber, the room belonging to the master of the estate, Count Kael.

The three shadows exchanged nods, confirming that no one had breached their respective perimeters. Their gazes then turned to the tightly shut door.

One stepped forward, raising a hand to gently push the door open. In an instant, the three shadows flashed into the room, revealing Count Kael seated within.

Count Kael sat composedly on the chair before the room’s sole table, his eyes slightly closed, his expression serene.

After the shadows appeared, the man slowly opened his eyes, observing them, then rose to his feet.

“It seems I’m the only one left, then,” Count Kael remarked. “Truly worthy of the Dark Guards. To eliminate so many people in such a vast estate within such a short time.”

Count Kael spoke calmly.

One observed Count Kael, her expression unwavering. For them, such deeds were commonplace; countless families had vanished at their hands during Her Majesty the Queen’s recent ascension.

“Indeed,” One confirmed. “You are the only one left alive in this estate.”

One’s voice was calm, yet laced with a chilling edge, mirroring the involuntary killing intent that radiated from her after so much slaughter.

Hearing this, the Count nodded slightly, then drew the long blade from his waist.

“Very well, then,” he declared. “Let me test the strength of the infamous Dark Guards.”

As he spoke, the Count’s eyes sharpened. As a Count of the kingdom, his position had been earned through bloodshed.

Seeing this, One gripped her blood-stained short blade, its tip pointing towards the Count.

“Come.”

Her voice was as faint and cold as ever, One’s expression utterly unchanged.

The Count gripped his long blade, his eyes snapping open. With a powerful stomp, he instantly appeared before One, his blade arcing down in a powerful cleave!

One watched the descending long blade calmly, her eyes unblinking. Just as the blade was about to graze her skin, she suddenly shifted sideways, evading the attack by mere millimeters.

Then, her short blade flicked upwards, slashing towards the Count’s back.

“Pfft!”

Blood spurted.

The Count stumbled forward.

One did not pursue. Instead, she observed the Count, whose face was now filled with shock.

“Such a vast difference?!”

One remained silent, simply watching the Count, her blade raised.

Seeing this, the Count let out a low growl, then charged swiftly at One once more.

This time, One’s eyes turned cold. As the Count reached her, she lightly tapped her foot, her figure blurring.

A white streak flashed, and then specks of blood stained the white line, creating a poignant, beautiful crimson.

*Thud!*

The Count’s body crashed to the floor, his eyes wide open.

One gazed at the Count’s corpse on the ground, speaking softly.

“This is the difference.”

“After becoming a Count, how much combat power did you retain, immersed as you were in power?”

Observing this, Two and Five remained impassive. They simply turned and departed.

Count Kael’s estate: no survivors.

Mission accomplished.

Under the cover of night, three shadowy figures emerged from a faint, bloody mist.

****