We work in the dark and serve the lights.
We toil in darkness, yet serve the light.
A sigh escaped Qiweiya’s lips. Her ice-blue hidden blade, an apparition of steel, flickered into existence.
With a swift *shush*,
the guard before her crumpled, clutching his throat.
Qiweiya gazed coldly at the fallen corpse. ‘This must be the thirty-seventh life she had claimed on this mission,’ she mused inwardly.
Yet, she harbored no regret. These individuals were traffickers, dealing in the lives of various races—their deaths were a just consequence.
Along her path, she had liberated dozens of women from various beautiful races. Among them were elves, fae, and even the more alluring beastkin, such as fox-girls and cat-girls.
A soft *pat-pat-pat* echoed.
The sound of Qiweiya’s footsteps reverberated through the silent corridor.
A guard, hearing the approaching footsteps, mistook them for a comrade’s. “Ambi, is that you? Have you changed shifts already? Strange, I thought you weren’t due until later.”
Qiweiya tugged at her obscuring hood. Her steps were a blur, and she materialized behind the guard.
With a soft *thwip*, her hidden blade pierced his heart.
“You… ugh…” The guard collapsed, unwilling to accept his fate. The hidden blade was pristine, and chillingly cold.
It mirrored Qiweiya’s heart, which had once again been disappointed by humanity.
Approximately twenty minutes later, Qiweiya smoothly reached the entrance of the auction house owner’s bedroom. She surveyed her surroundings, discerning the presence of five hidden powerhouses guarding the room.
With a subtle *hiss-click*,
the hidden blade transformed into a miniature crossbow.
She raised her hand, and a soft *thwup* sounded. The sleeping figure within died in their slumber, utterly unaware.
Qiweiya lowered her hand and departed the location.
****
Tears streamed down Qiweiya’s face. She now understood the profound darkness lurking within the human empire.
Imperial laws were utterly incapable of governing it. Corruption plagued officials, security was lax, and the common people suffered endlessly, powerless to resist.
Qiweiya was in agony, for she deeply loved the human race. They were a reflection of her own hopes from years past.
Wiping her face, Qiweiya steeled herself once more. “Since you so recklessly harm this race… then I shall be the one to ensure you face the consequences of your actions!”
Qiweiya arrived at a crucial city named Cosmo. She sensed at least two city-level powerhouses and one national-level powerhouse within its walls.
Though their auras were exceptionally well-concealed, they could not escape the perception of Qiweiya, a god.
Qiweiya pondered for a moment. ‘With so many human powerhouses, this city’s darkness is likely the densest I’ve encountered,’ she thought. ‘If that’s the case, then it’s time to truly unleash my power.’
The black cloak, which had previously obscured her form, was withdrawn. Her ice-blue divine attire now radiated a dark luminescence.
“Since you have plunged the world into darkness, then accept the even deeper power of shadow!”
A black miasma enveloped Qiweiya’s hands. With a soft utterance, ‘Hmph,’ the dark mist silently drifted into the air with a wave of her hand.
The mist expanded ceaselessly, growing ever darker and more turbid.
Within the city, those burdened by grave sins began to wail in agony amidst the black mist. In soul-piercing illusions, they witnessed every person they had harmed return to exact vengeance, repaying their every deed a hundredfold.
Qiweiya sat cross-legged atop a watchtower. She listened quietly to the screams echoing throughout the city.
The night wind stirred her hair, sending strands dancing.
“You unleashed the black mist upon the city, didn’t you?” A Youth, clad in opulent red, had appeared behind Qiweiya at some unknown moment.
His words formed a question, yet his tone held no hint of doubt, instead conveying an absolute certainty.
Qiweiya smoothed her long hair. “What if it was me? What if it wasn’t? You intend to kill me regardless, as a suspicious individual, don’t you? So, does it truly matter?”
The Youth’s expression remained impassive. “You are correct. I do intend to do so. However, from the moment you spoke…”
A sharp *clink* rang out.
A black scythe, materializing abruptly in Qiweiya’s hand, parried the Youth’s rapier.
Qiweiya’s brow arched. “Interesting! You’re a rapier user; such formidable practitioners are rare on the continent these days.”
A flurry of *bangs, swishes, and clangs* erupted. The Youth touched his bleeding abdomen.
“You are indeed formidable. Though I only employed city-level speed in that thrust, it should have been unstoppable by anything less than a national-level expert. Yet, you even managed to injure me in return… you are truly powerful.”
Qiweiya swung her massive scythe in a wide, sweeping arc, like a whirlwind. The colossal clash of steel resonated across the watchtower.
The Youth continuously dodged, occasionally deflecting the scythe’s assaults with his rapier. Sparks flew, and afterimages flickered into and out of existence, a relentless dance.
The Youth’s pupils contracted. He swiftly rolled.
As the scythe descended, the watchtower, having met its timely demise, was cleanly severed in two by the wind blade generated from its swing.
Noticing the Youth’s attempt to flee, Qiweiya instantly teleported behind him, her left hand darting out with a *clang*.
Her hidden blade sprang forth, aiming for a backstab.
As if sensing it, the Youth thrust his rapier backward, miraculously parrying the fatal blow. Qiweiya frowned, retracted her hidden blade, and then swept her scythe horizontally.
The Youth ducked low, evading the strike. He then lunged back with a thrust, a *thud* resounding.
Qiweiya’s hidden blade shot out to parry, followed by several more sweeping arcs of her scythe.
The Youth, exasperated, rapidly retreated from the attack range. ‘Why can’t he just let me finish this quickly?’ Qiweiya thought, annoyed.
‘It would be better for everyone! No need for all this trouble! So much simpler~’
“Little one, since you enjoy this game of dodgeball so much, let’s see if you can evade this technique: Blade Storm!”
The scythe flashed repeatedly, unleashing a dense barrage of wind blades. The Youth’s face paled; he knew escape was impossible.
“Edge of Despair: Thrust!”
To Qiweiya’s surprise, she sensed the power of fundamental laws within that single strike. It was a thrust capable of piercing through anything.
Even some divine-level powerhouses would be unable to withstand such an assault. However, Qiweiya was no ordinary god. With a *swish-slice… thud*,
the Youth was bisected by the scythe.
The Youth’s eyes were vacant. “How… how could this be? You’re completely unharmed! Impossible… ugh… cough, cough.”
Qiweiya cast a cold glance at the Youth. “If you believe that level of power makes you invincible, then perhaps it’s better you die sooner rather than later.
This world has no limits; there are always higher heavens and stronger individuals. The world is vast, and there are many far more powerful than you.”
A bitter smile finally touched the Youth’s perpetually impassive face. “So I truly was too weak… Then, unknown powerhouse, please live on forever, carrying my wish. I…
I wanted to see more of this endless, vibrant world, to witness how many more battles could truly astound me!”
Qiweiya regarded him with a flicker of pity. “Rest in peace. I am an eternal being, and I accept your request.”
With a soft *thud*, his head separated from his body. The Youth formally departed from the world of the living.
Qiweiya’s expression reverted to its usual coldness.
“How many more pitiful powerhouses remain in this city, I wonder? Truly, it’s something to anticipate, hehehe.”
Suddenly, colossal mechanical sounds reverberated from a distance. Qiweiya’s expression drastically changed.
“I didn’t expect Kiana and the others to send Titans to search for me. That’s unexpectedly aggressive… But! I haven’t even rescued all the captured races yet; I won’t simply let myself be caught by you.”
As she spoke, she retracted her scythe and extended her right hand. “Be banished! O defiled souls of sinners! Accept the eternal solitude of the endless void! This is your rightful punishment.”
The city fell silent instantly. Qiweiya donned her cloak and departed the now-hushed city.
She knew the Titans would continue to release the captured races; after all, no one understood Mei and the others better than she did.
At some unknown point, an inscription appeared on the city gates. “We toil in darkness, yet serve the light. We are the Assassin’s Creed!”