1729 An unpopular Death
Today, the snowy winds seemed agreeable as if knowing a dangerous battle would soon come underway.
The forest was quieter, with only the faint sounds of the crumbling snow whistling underneath the feet of the opposing duo bearing each other with calm smiles hiding heavy murderous intent.
They hadn't even fought, yet their auras could freeze a vicious tsunami on the spot.
Both men wore elegant robes, and pants that portrayed their readiness to fight.
Death wore black while his opponent wore dark ocean blue.
This was a competition to the death.
.
Although poison wasn't off limits, it was seen as a coward's way of ending things.
Thus, both parties didn't lace their weapons with poison.
'He is strong.'
Death thought, carefully examining his open from head to toe.
Both men wore masks, so it was hard to see what each other looked like.
Still, to ensure they weren't fighting fake people disguised as themselves, they had various ways of checking things out for themselves.
The killer world was strange and peculiar.
Before the fight, they both had a moment of peace and solitude, with both sides almost acting like friends, visiting each other's side for pre-verification.
Although they didn't see each other's faces then, they still did a lot together to know if the people they were fighting today were fake or not.
Raising their palms to face each other, they confirmed that the markers on their palms were still there in the positions they each sewed on the opponent's palms.
Don't think this was a child's game.
Before today, Death had sewn a special fabric on his opponent's palm using magician rope.
It was a type of fiber made from plants that when sewn and knotted could stay in place for a month at most on human flesh before undoing itself.
How to say it?
One could think of the fiber as being a strange living being that differed from other plant fibers.
.
Understand that on its own, the plant is harvested from was known as the Janjular plant, a vicious, ferocious plant that even ate wolves for breakfast.
If a child was unfortunate to get swallowed into its trap, that child would have at most 2 minutes to break free before dying from strangulation.
The plant ate beasts and humans, before spitting out the undesirable parts.
Adults had more chances of survival, though a good fraction of people still die from the struggle.
Nature sure was brutal.
From this magnificent plant came the fiber loved by assassins that acted like worms since they loved dancing even when the plant was not in motion.
One strand of harvested fiber could go as long as 1 and a half meters. But that wasn't the best part.
Do you know that even if you buy this fiber onto 10 or even 30 pieces each piece would still act the same as the others and could still be alive, squirming like worms?
Yes.
They will become their own, and also grow longer too.
It is from these parts that the plant germinates from.
Understand that if one should knot their tails or ends together, the fibers wouldn't mind that much.
But should you try to undo the knots or cut them when in the knotted state, they will break into many pieces, turning as stiff as blades and flying in all directions they could travel.
The stiffness could last for a month to 2 months, rendering the hand useless for the time being.
That's why when it happens, many would immediately make a bigger mess of their palms to get all its pieces out.
Hahah!
Doing so was proof they tried to temper with the fiber death sewed in.
.
Again, even if they tried to see in the same pattern anand ways death did on another person's hands, Death who was at the top of Pyno's assassin world also carefully studied his opponent's hands and would know if he was facing a fake or not.
Using the fiber, death had sewn a piece of his favorite dark green handkerchief on his opponent's hands.
One shouldn't underestimate this fiber they used to sew with.
Even when wielding a sword, it would stay put without breaking. But if you use the blade's tips to forcefully try cutting the fiber, that would be the issue.
The fiber was also great for identification because in a month or so it will undo itself, coming out of the knotted stage and swimming freely again like worms.
That is the time one can pull it out without fear of it breaking into their skin.
All in all, the fiber was a classic Challenger identification method to ensure both parties were the right people doing the fighting.
For obvious reasons, one can choose to still wear a mask when fighting.
For one even if the opponent is dead, it doesn't mean his subordinates will all die.
Maybe one will escape.
Now that they know what you truly look like it's only a matter of time before your hidden identity gets blown.
There was too much at stake for both parties that they dared not take off their ads in headgear that only revealed their eyes and kept their faces in a wrapped mummified state.
No way.
One must always stay cautious.
----
"We meet again, my dear challenger." Death greeted playfully, not minding the fact that his opponent didn't look friendly at all.
"Now then... you know my assassin name and my reputation... so... now that we are at the crossroads, don't you think it's only proper you tell me yours now?"
Ghost inwardly sneered behind his mask. "Know your place. You do not deserve to know this one's name even upon death."
Sling!~
Ghost's blade whistled in the air as he unsheathed it coldly.
Do you deserve to know his name?
Hehehehehehehe~
Instantly, Death's smile turned vicious, after more or less confirming this guy wasn't from Pyno.
There wasn't any assassin he had fought from here who didn't at least put some respect on his name, DEATH.
No one would dare talk so disrespectfully, even his enemies.
"Alright. Outsider, I'll play your game."
Sling!~
Death took out his twin daggers that were half the length of swords.
They were his favorite weapons and the ones he was most comfortable using in any location.
"Is this it?"
"No." Ghost replied, with a cruel smile underneath his mask.
He asked Death to pick a battle location, which was this area within the forest.
But for the specific battle arena, it was him, Ghost, who had to pick it out.
Here, there were too many trees, menacing there were too many aces for Death to hide.
No way!
He, Ghost, was far superior to a puny Pyno rat!
(//*^*)
.
Ghost was inwardly upset though he never showed it.
He didn't understand why his master Sebastian Barn wanted him to fight a Pyno runt in a challenger battle.
Hmph!
Was he, Death, worthy?
Ghost felt this would undoubtedly be a stain on his reputation since he went to this length to fight someone so beneath him.
It was okay if he was the one receiving the challenge, but it was he who sent the challenger letter.
In the eyes of others, it showed that he respected Death and saw Death as a hurdle he must overcome in his career to be greatly recognized by the masses.
The thought alone made him want to puke.
Who the hell has so much adoration for Death?
Wasn't this giving Pyno a right to arrogantly brag later on?
Understand this.
Even if he wins, Death will still die victoriously known as the killer who was so respected by Veinitta's number 2 killer, so much so that Ghost had to leave Veinitta to Pyno just for the challenge.
F***!
No matter how you see it, many in his empire and continent would mock him to death for this single match.
This was why he was so on edge and increasingly angered by just being in Death's presence.
If eyes could kill, Death would be long dead by now.
Again, what's with this guy's laid-back attitude?
Doesn't he know to show fear in the presence of greatness?
Since he guessed he, Ghost, was an outsider, why not show a little respect and start showing fear? Or did he think he could win?
The more Ghost thought of things, the more irked he became.
'Young master, I'm only doing this for you. Luckily, I don't plan to tell him my name even upon his death or else if a passing enemy in the shadows here's it, how can I live with myself later?'
Ghost had thought long and hard about the outcome.
He indeed had this place surrounded by his men, so no matter what tricks Ghost has up his sleeves, he and his men were all destined to die here.
Even so... who can guarantee one would slip away and live to tell the tale another day?
That's why he swore not to tell his name no matter what.
.
With countless thoughts racing through his men, Ghost calmly led Death to the arena site.
It was a vast space devoid of trees, ensuring death would have no place to hide.
Perfect.
Now, they fight!
