Chapter 5 - 81-90

Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 81: Welcome To Rodova, RookieTimeless AssassinC81: Welcome To Rodova, Rookie

(Rodova Military Academy, The Mess Hall)

By the end of Day 2 at the academy, Leo finally felt like he was beginning to get a handle on things.

He had secured a solid foothold among the students—forming a competitive alliance with Mu Shen and Su Yang, who now reserved him a seat at their corner table during dinner and ran beside him during the grueling morning sprints.

He had unwillingly acquired an annoying yet oddly useful companion in Mu Ryan, who clung to him like a shadow for no apparent reason—but at least she was good for helping him navigate social situations and tutoring him in studies.

And most importantly—he had established dominance.

After his brutal dismantling of Jiang Gu, word had spread fast. His name carried weight now, and no one in the class seemed particularly eager to test his limits.

Overall, everything was falling into place.

His personal goals were on track—except for his ongoing struggles with meditation—but that was a problem for another day.

For now, for the first time since stepping foot into Rodova Military Academy, Leo allowed himself to relax, loosening his shoulders, sinking into his seat, and actually enjoying a meal among his companions, as being no longer as worried about his memories as he was a couple days ago, he found his overly tense behaviour relaxing just a little.

However, unfortunately for him, lowering his guard during dinner was apparently a bad choice, as just when he least expected it, disaster struck.

*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*

The rhythmic footsteps of senior cadets echoed through the mess hall as they marched in, their uniforms dirtied with mud and blood, their boots leaving faint imprints of dust and grime across the polished floors.

The academic session had started a few days ago, however, this particular group of senior students looked like they had just arrived, as they entered with wide smiles and loud cheers, like a victorious troop returning home after a long mission.

They looked like they had just crawled out of hell itself— bloodied, battered, bruised, but still standing tall, as they carried themselves with the confidence of battle-hardened veterans.

"The Rodova Military Academy Interschool Circuit Team has returned from the SUMMER CAMP!"

The declaration sent a ripple through the hall.

Murmurs turned to whispers.

Whispers turned to cheers.

And then, like a wave cresting over the entire room, all hell broke loose as the second year students broke into wild cheers, while the first years joined in with excitement.

In Rodova Military Academy, the circuit team members were like the star athletes, who carried-on the pride of the institute, and they were treated as absolute superstars back home.

Almost immediately as they were back, potion bottles were opened and thrown over the team in joy, as the mess hall turned into a literal mess, as the expensive potion juices mixed with the dirt and grime off their bodies.

"YU SHEN! YU SHEN! YU SHEN!"

Slowly, the chant for Yu Shen erupted from the crowd, as standing at the centre of the group, Yu Shen pushed away everyone else around him, hogging all the spotlight as he raised his hands in the air with pride.

As a transcendent-level talent, and the Captain of the current Rodova Military Academy Interschool circuits team, he was the institute's pride, and the current most popular student of all.

It was common knowledge that qualifying for the circuits as a first year student was next to impossible, however, Yu Shen somehow managed to do it last year, becoming the only first year from his batch to be on the circuits team.

A living legend amongst his batch, and an inspiration for all the new joinees this year.

"Alright, relax people, Yu Shen is here–" he said, grinning wildly, as he basked in the adoration, before proudly raising his fist in the air, which had the whole mess hall roaring for him even louder.

However, just as effortlessly as he raised their volume, he silenced them as well, as with a simple gesture of raising a single finger and bringing it to his lips, he silenced the entire crowd that had gathered.

"Shhh—" he said, as the crowd obeyed, turning absolutely silent.

Then—

With a smirk still playing on his lips, Yu Shen turned back to his team, shaking his head in amusement.

"I was happily training at the camp with my second-year boys—who have worked themselves to the bone this summer— worked hard to become worthy of representing this academy at circuits— worked hard to kick GENEVA'S ASS THIS TIME AROUND—" Yu Shen began, his voice dripping with pride as he gestured toward his teammates behind him.

"—When I suddenly heard some news."

His smirk widened.

"Not one, but two Monarch-level talents have joined our academy this year!"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.

Yu Shen let the tension build, then barked out a sharp, amused laugh.

"Hahaha! Isn't that great, guys? Not just one—but TWO!"

He clapped, his enthusiasm contagious, prompting the gathered students to clap along with him.

"Come on, then! Tell me who they are!" Yu Shen's eyes gleamed with interest. "Where are our superstars?"

A hush fell over the hall once again.

Then—

Su Yang moved first.

With his head held high, he stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.

He didn't hesitate.

"First-year, Su Yang." He said, his voice filled with conviction.

"I'll be joining your team." He declared boldly, as Yu Shen didn't react immediately.

He kept clapping.

Never breaking rhythm.

Never letting Su Yang's declaration shake his performance, as even his smile remained unchanged.

"That's one," he mused, his voice carrying through the hall.

"And the second?" He asked, as all heads turned towards Leo.

A beat passed.

Then, Leo exhaled softly, as he stood.

He did not wish to get tangled with all this attention, but the crowd wasn't giving him a choice and hence he was practically forced to play along.

However, unlike Su Yang, he didn't announce himself.

Didn't speak a word.

He simply walked forward, his steps slow, deliberate, measured.

As he approached Yu Shen, his gaze flickered—not just to the captain, but to the team behind him as well—

And the moment he looked into the eyes of those standing behind Yu Shen, he understood just how friendly this meeting was going to be.

Hostility.

He sensed crippling hostility as he looked into their eyes, as although it wasn't obvious or openly expressed, it was clearly there in the eyes of all members present.

*Shiver*

Leo felt a shiver down his spine, as he looked at them as a group, as somehow he felt genuine danger to his life at that moment.

An unspoken warning radiated from the second-year circuit members standing behind Yu Shen, as unlike the others in the mess hall—who looked at Leo with awe, curiosity, or fear—these guys looked at him like he was an intruder.

Like he wasn't supposed to be here.

Like he hadn't earned his place.

And in that instant—Leo understood that they did not like him at all.

The sheer presence they exuded was suffocating and he senses traces of killing intent coming his way too.

These guys were not on the same level as the rest of the second years, as the pressure they exuded was not like any other student Leo had met here, but rather they seemed to carry the same weight, the same predatory sharpness—as a Professor, who had strength equivalent to the Lieutenant rank.

It was the gaze of men who had stood on real battlefields.

Who had bled and killed to survive.

And Leo could feel it in his bones that if he were to fight any of them in battle today, he would lose hands down and that it would not even be a close fight.

"Hahaha, a smart one–" Yu Shen chuckled, watching Leo's reaction with evident amusement.

"You hope to join the team too?" He asked, tilting his head to the side, as he forcibly locked eyes with Leo.

"I'm assuming you've already had your first two Practical Combat classes." He noted, looking around for confirmation as some of the first years present in the mess hall nodded.

"What's the score for the two of you?" Yu Shen asked, alternating his gaze between Leo and Su Yang for answers.

"18-2? 19-1?" He prompted

as "20-0" replied Leo.

"20-0? A perfect score! Bravo—" Yu Shen said, his eyes narrowing as he clapped louder, as if he were mockingly impressed.

"Well then, Mr. 20-0 Monarch-level talents…" Yu shen said, his tone shifting as the playful edge disappeared from his voice and so did the fake grin from his face.

At that moment, he finally decided to drop the act that he had been performing since the start, as he started to leak some of his true intentions.

His black irises bled into a deep, unnatural purple and a suffocating pressure crashed down upon the mess hall—

*Crackle*

The temperature dropped.

Frost bloomed across the floor.

As the warm mess hall suddenly turned frigid, as if cold tundra air had suddenly swept the entire room.

*Crash*

The weak-willed collapsed immediately.

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The pressure Yu Shen exuded was too unbearable for them, while even the stronger ones, those who could resist passing out, began to shiver as they couldn't escape the deep, primal fear that clawed at their senses.

And at the center of it all—

Yu Shen smiled.

"[Bloodline Move: SUBDUE]" he mouthed softly, as at that instant both Leo and Su Yang froze in time.

Not from shock.

Not from fear.

But froze absolutely in time, as if their physical bodies had turned into an ice-sculpture that simply could not move.

'What the fuck? Why the fuck can't I sense my body?' Leo asked himself in alarm, as despite his mind screaming at him to move, his body simply refused to obey.

It was as if he had been ripped from reality.

Trapped in a dark, formless void—a place where he existed, but couldn't act.

And in this paralyzed state, his senses heightened—

Allowing him to feel everything.

The ice-cold chill sinking into his bones.

The phantom sensation of chains coiling around his body.

The sheer power pressing down on his soul.

However, although he felt that way, his eyes and ears still saw everything happening around him in the real world, which told his brain that he was not in an actual phantom world, but still within the confines of reality itself, which created a weird jumble of senses in his head.

'What in the hell is happening to me? Is this Yu Shen's true power?' Leo wondered, however, before he could figure the answer to his question, Yu Shen moved.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

As he approached Leo without any hurry in the world.

"You want to join the circuit team? You think you have what it takes to go toe to toe with the best young fighters in the universe?" Yu Shen asked in disgust, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he raised a single finger— before dragging it lightly across Leo's throat.

"Dead." He said, looking straight into Leo's eyes, as at that moment, Leo truly felt like his breath had been caught in his throat.

The fear of death was a primal instinct.

And at that moment, Leo experienced it firsthand, as this was the closest he had ever felt to death in his entire life.

However, as if humiliating only him was not enough, Yu Shen then moved on to Su Yang, doing the same to him as he said "Dead" once again.

Only then—

Only after making his point to the both of them, did he finally release the pressure, allowing the duo to move, as the room returned to its normal temperature.

The mess hall breathed a collective sigh of relief, as Yu Shen's fake smile returned once more.

"Welcome to Rodova Military Academy Rookies, Members from my team will face both of you this Sunday, just to show you the gap between Heaven and Earth.

Don't worry about Major Hen. He'll allow it—

See you in class," Yu Shen said, as he turned and left the mess hall, with the rest of the second year circuits team following behind him.

 Contact - ToS 

Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 82: Unreasonable DemandTimeless AssassinC82: Unreasonable Demand

(Rodova Military Academy, Outside the Mess Hall – Present Time)

Yu Shen stormed out of the mess hall, his jaw clenched so tight it felt like his teeth might crack under the pressure.

His mind was a swirling storm of rage, as although he had humbled the two first-years in front of the entire academy, he still did not feel his simmering rage reduce even slightly.

This was because, the real cause behind his anger was not the first years, but rather the conversation he'd had with Principal Alric Dainhart just moments before.

A conversation that had pissed him off more than anything else in recent memory.

—--------

(Flashback – Principal Alric's Office, 30 Minutes Ago)

The moment Yu Shen and his team stepped onto Rodova Military Academy's grounds, fresh from the grueling summer camp, a summons awaited Yu Shen, as apparently Principal Alric Dainhart was eagerly waiting to see him.

Yu Shen hence barely had any time to shake off some dirt covering his body, before he found himself in the principal's office, standing before the most powerful man in the academy.

"Ah, Yu Shen," Alric said, his voice laced with genuine pleasure.

"At last, you've returned my boy," He said warmly, as he stood up from his seat to show the kid some respect—

To which, Yu Shen responded with a respectful bow, before he sat across from Alric, on the other end of his imposing desk.

"The summer camp went well, I assume?" Alric inquired, his sharp eyes studying Yu Shen closely, as he tried to sense the aura he exuded.

Yu Shen only smirked in response, tilting his chin up, as he confidently let Alric check him, as it was only after the principal was satisfied with his search, that Yu Shen finally responded.

"More than well, sir. My team is stronger than ever. We will not shame the academy at the circuits this year" Yu Shen declared, as listening to his words, Alric nodded happily.

"That's exactly what I was hoping to hear." Alric said, as he then transitioned into making some lighthearted small-talk praising Yu Shen for his accomplishments over the summer as reported by his training instructors.

Apparently, Yu Shen had grown a lot stronger during the summer, receiving high praise from all the training instructors that had gone with him to the camp, with him showing progress not only as an individual, but even as a leader who was well respected and well feared by his troupe.

The instructors also reported on how well-balanced this year's circuits team was—calling them one of the strongest, most well-rounded rosters in recent memory.

As listening to all this high praise, Yu Shen's chest swelled with pride.

He already knew that this year's team was much stronger than the year before, as he was a part of last year's team and had experienced their performance at the circuits firsthand.

Hence, if anyone knew what it took to win at the circuits, it was him, and although he did not think his team was ready to quite win yet, he was confident that with 8 months before the circuits started, they had enough time to really work hard towards it.

Which was exactly why—

The next words out of Alric's mouth shattered every ounce of pride that he'd been feeling.

"About your team, my boy… There are a couple of changes you might need to make." Alric said casually, as Yu Shen's expression froze listening to those words.

"I don't know if you've heard yet, but we have two Monarch-level talents among our first-year intake this year." Alric continued as if he had not just spouted blasphemy, as he talked like he could not sense Yu Shen's discomfort at all.

"They are two very important individuals, and they need to be given exposure to the circuits as first years so that they can become proper leaders like you in their second year.

And hence, it is my decision that they be included in the circuit's team this year." Alric instructed, as Yu Shen's heart almost stopped at those words.

They be Included by default?

Alric wasn't suggesting this—he was declaring it, which made Yu Shen's brow twitch in fury, as he barely controlled his rage.

"I will let them join, if they earn it, not without it, sir–" He said coldly, barely controlling his emotional outburst, as he spoke without raising his volume.

However, Alric dismissed his thoughts like they were garbage.

"You will do what I tell you to do boy. You're a Captain on paper, but it's me who fills the forms to decide the circuit team and who represents Rodova and my decision on this matter is final!

The boys need exposure if they are to win us the cup next time around, and I'm going to give them what they need at any cost necessary," Alric declared, as listening to his words Yu Shen immediately saw red.

He felt his fingernails dig into his palm.

As although it wasn't explicitly mentioned, he understood the exact meaning behind the words that Alric had just said.

And what he really meant was that despite all his praises—

Despite all the efforts that Yu Shen and his batchmates had put in to train and get stronger, Alric did not actually believe in them to win Rodova the cup this year.

What his words really meant was, that the principal of this academy did not have faith in them to do the job they were trained to do, and was rather interested in grooming the next batch, who he fancied more to win.

As this made Yu Shen's blood boil like it were molten steel.

'How dare you underestimate us?' He thought, as he just couldn't wrap his head around why instead of investing in the warriors who had already given their blood, sweat, and tears, Alric was focusing on building the next generation? And was more interested in investing in two untested rookies over the men who had suffered in hell to get here.

Still, knowing how he was in no position to argue he bit his tongue.

His emotions raged like a storm beneath the surface, but his voice remained calm.

"With all due respect, sir…" he began, forcing himself to speak carefully.

"I don't have a problem with them joining my team if they have the strength to earn their place."

He looked Alric in the eye, his voice unwavering.

"However—if they don't—"

His fingers curled into fists beneath the desk.

"Then I'll let hell freeze over before I let them join just because of your recommendation alone."

His words hung in the air.

For a moment, the two locked eyes—a silent war of wills.

Alric said nothing, simply because he had no need to.

Yu Shen lashing out about it was never going to change his decision on the matter, and it was not like the boy had any real power in the first place.

While, Yu Shen did not budge from his position either.

His mind flickering back to Ru Han—his captain from last year, the one who had entrusted him with carrying on their legacy.

The same as how the captain before him had entrusted it to Ru Han.

It was a promise passed down from leader to leader. Continue your journey at NovelBin.Côm

Rodova had not won the cup in years.

But this year—this year was supposed to be different.

He had promised Ru Han.

He had promised himself.

That they would fight to reclaim Rodova's lost crown.

That they would bring the championship home.

Not next year. Not in some distant future.

This year.

And now—he was being asked to lower the quality of his team by putting two undeserving rookies in it instead of hard trained warriors?

Who had suffered nothing?

Who had not yet bled for this academy?

No.

It was not happening.

He knew he couldn't argue with Alric right now.

But as soon as he stepped out of this office—

He knew exactly what he was going to do.

"Don't do anything stupid after walking out of here, boy, I know how hot-headed you can be, and hence I will be watching you—" Alric warned, as Yu Shen stormed out of his office, his anger burning white-hot as he stormed toward the mess hall.

If the principal wanted to gift those two a spot on his team—

Then Yu Shen was personally going to ensure that they fucking earned it.

 Contact - ToS 

Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 83: ResolveTimeless AssassinC83: Resolve

(Rodova Military Academy, The Mess Hall – Present Time)

After Yu Shen and the other circuit team members exited the mess hall, a heavy silence hung in the air.

All eyes shifted toward Leo and Su Yang, the two first-years who had just been publicly humiliated and overpowered—and the gazes that fell upon them today were not something they were accustomed to.

They were used to admiration. Fear. Respect.

But today?

The stares directed at them carried none of those things.

Instead, they were filled with pity. Mockery. Satisfaction at their downfall—the same kind of looks that had been cast upon the unfortunate first-year Su Yang had crushed on the very first day.

But now, it was their turn.

Leo could feel the weight of those stares pressing down on him, his male pride burning from within as he winced at the bitter taste of helplessness.

He had faced many things since arriving at this academy.

Fights. Threats. Insults.

But never had he experienced such complete and utter powerlessness.

It gnawed at his insides, twisting his stomach into knots.

Yet, as much as it stung for him—he could tell that for Su Yang, it was so much worse.

The prideful golden boy of the first-years, always so composed, always carrying himself like a king among men—now stood unnaturally stiff, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter.

His hands were trembling, his entire body tense with barely contained fury.

And then—

"Fuck this–" Su Yang hissed through gritted teeth, his voice laced with seething rage.

Without another word, he stormed out of the mess hall, leaving behind his half-eaten plate of food, refusing to meet the eyes of anyone.

*Giggles*

*Chuckles*

The moment he left, a ripple of muffled laughter followed.

Soft at first.

Then, louder.

The quiet snickers turned into whispers. Then murmurs. Then outright chuckles of amusement.

It was like watching the mighty fall.

And as Leo followed after him—he heard it.

The hushed voices, the barely restrained snickers, the amused smirks forming in his peripheral vision.

It burned.

It burned so fucking much.

But he didn't react.

He wouldn't react.

Because right now? Right now, anything he said, anything he did, would only make it worse.

So he just walked.

Step after step.

Keeping his face blank, his eyes cold, his movements steady—as if he didn't hear, as if he didn't care.

But inside?

Inside, his blood boiled.

Inside, he replayed the moment over and over.

Yu Shen's condescending smirk.

The unbearable weight of his power.

The helplessness. The humiliation.

And as he made his way through the academy corridors, heading toward his dorm—one thing became very, very clear.

This feeling?

This unbearable, gut-wrenching, rage-inducing powerlessness?

He never wanted to experience it again. No matter what.

********

(Leo's Dorm Room, 22C)

After reaching his room, Leo slammed the door shut as he began pacing around the room like a maniac.

He couldn't stay still, because he was far too agitated to sit without motion, and hence pacing around became his only option to vent.

"Fucking cock-sucking, motherfucker!" Leo snarled, his voice low but venomous, as his mind spiraled into an endless loop of rage-fueled scenarios.

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At first, all he could think about was how he would hurt Yu Shen if he had the power to do so.

He imagined smashing that smug grin off his face.

Imagined turning the tables the moment Yu Shen dared to look him in the eye.

Imagined making him feel the same helplessness that he had inflicted on him.

But then, the scenarios shifted—

Instead of what if I had the power?

It became what if I had outplayed him?

As the scenarios he cooked up in his head became even more delusional.

He thought about how he should have countered the humiliation.

How he should have flipped the situation on its head.

How he should have made Yu Shen look like the fool instead of standing there like a frozen fucking idiot.

But none of it mattered.

Because him cooking those scenarios was not going to change what had already occured in reality.

And it wasn't until half an hour later, when his rage had simmered just enough for his mind to regain some semblance of clarity, and when he looked at his own crazed reflection in the bathroom mirror, that the weight of it all truly hit him.

This was pointless.

It didn't matter how many ways he reimagined the scenario, for it was not going to change what had already happened.

No.

It would only make him weak.

As instead, what he needed to do wasn't to stew in useless what-ifs, but rather accept it and move-on.

What he needed to do now was to plan, to figure out exactly what it would take to ensure that this never fucking happened again.

Because whether he liked it or not—

Yu Shen and the entire second-year circuits team were stronger than him.

And that?

That was an undeniable fact.

'Freaks…. They're freaks—' Leo thought, as he recalled the gaze of the members standing behind Yu Shen….

Those who had not even acted today, as he recalled how even they exuded a power that Leo couldn't hope to easily match.

"They want to face me this Sunday…. The whole academy will be watching.

That's my chance to fight back—

If I can show a strong performance there, then I can send a message that I'm not to be trifled with," Leo mused, as he began psyching himself up for the fight to come.

"I need to re-practice my skills…. all of them! I need to get back to my peak.

I need to become 'TheBoss' yet again.

If I wish to have any hope of defeating them, then I need to get back to my martial peak!" Leo mused, as grabbing a couple of daggers from his storage space, he rushed out of his dorm room, headed straight for the practical combat training field.

**********

(Meanwhile Su Yang)

Unlike Leo who managed to regain his calm after a few minutes, Su Yang failed to do the same, as the destroyed furniture in his room served as a proof of his bubbling anger.

"Who the fuck does he think he is? That fucking second year cunt! I'm the Su Family Blood Descendent.

Someday I will be the Su Family Patriarch.

Yet he dares lay a hand on me?" Su Yang spat, as he lifted his half broken bed and smashed it to the ground yet again.

"To suffer such humiliation publicly…. They must pay a price…. This Sunday, I must reclaim my honor, or what good is the Su Family blood flowing through my veins?" Su Yang muttered, as looking towards the ceiling, he let his rage dry out the tear forming in his eyes, preventing it from falling down anyhow.

"I swear I will make it to the Rodova circuits team…. I swear I'll prove to everyone that had laughed at me today that the Su family is not to be disrespected.

I may not be able to touch Yu Shen today, or anytime in the near future.

But I swear I will return the humiliation I faced today, in this life or the next—" Su Yang said, as he too rushed out of his room.

His destination, the swordsmanship training ground, specially created for swordsmen to test their power.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 84: Back To PrimeTimeless AssassinC84: Back To Prime

The following days passed in a blitz of rage for both Leo and Su Yang, their tempers burning like wildfire.

They moved like men possessed, throwing themselves into their training with reckless intensity, that was driven by humiliation and fueled by an insatiable need for redemption.

But the academy life did not let them be.

The students around them did not let them forget the humiliation they suffered a few days ago, as every time they stepped into a class, the giggles and whispers began and everywhere they walked, smirks followed them, the silent mockery lingering like an unshakable stench.

And to top it all off, during the 'Basics of Magic Theory,' class Leo found something new waiting for him—a single note on his desk.

A simple, taunting message written in scrawled, messy handwriting:

[Yu Shen's gonna kill you on Sunday.]

Leo stared at it for a long moment, his fingers tightening around the paper before he crushed it in his fist.

He did not need this reminder.

He was already counting down the days till he could redeem himself, and incidents like these only pushed him even harder, fuelling his rage as he went wild with his training at night.

—----

(Rodova Military Academy, Practical Combat Grounds – 8:00 PM)

BOOM!

Another training dummy exploded into splinters, its form disintegrating as Leo drove his dagger deep into its core, executing [Kill Strike] with brutal precision.

His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, sweat rolling down his back as he wiped his face with the back of his hand.

Slowly but surely—

His body was remembering.

His skills, his instincts—they were coming back to him, as he felt more and more sure of his fighting style.

"That's the seventeenth dummy you've exploded tonight Skyshard, and while I'm glad to see your skill activation time reducing fractionally, I must also remind you that these dummies don't come for free.

Although, we don't charge you students for destruction of practice dummies and let you use as many as you like, they actually cost 20MP a piece and you've just destroyed seventeen of them tonight.

That's equivalent to the monthly salary of my assistants—" Major Hen said, as he walked over to Leo, with an eyebrow raised.

"Breathe deeper, or control your explosive movements to a point where you can sustain them.

I've seen your file and your training for the past few days.

You have an uncanny ability for sudden change in direction and burst of speed, but it takes a lot out of you.

Not every battle is decided with one decisive strike.

Some go on for hours.

So control your power Skyshard, huffing and puffing against your opponents is helping you win no matches," Hen advised, as looking at the panting form of Leo, he could not help but shake his head in disappointment.

"Major, if you don't mind me asking…. Do you think I can win against any of Yu Shen's team members on Sunday? Do you think I have what it takes?" Leo asked, as he straightened his posture and looked into Hen's eyes for an answer, but the Major simply shrugged his shoulders in response.

"You could—, you clearly have some very practical skills.

Especially the decoy one, and the short range teleportation one.

Those make you very unpredictable. However, that's pretty much all you have.

The hellish academy life that you've been experiencing for 5 days, your seniors have experienced it for over a year, and to top it off they've already fully absorbed their genetic awakening serums and have undergone a special training camp this summer.

I'm pretty darn sure that you don't have the raw physical ability to compete with them, so you're going to need to be very smart if you want to beat them," Hen said as he gave Leo his unbiased opinion.

"Just how big of a difference do you expect to see in our physical abilities?" Leo asked, hoping for more answers, as Hen simply shut him down.

"You're an Assassin aren't you boy? And you also attend the scouting and movement course—

Go figure that shit out yourself, I'm not gonna stand here and be your source of information on how to deal with your opponents" Hen said, as he walked away from Leo yet again, but not before tossing him a small vial of stamina potion.

*Clock*

Uncorking the golden potion bottle, Leo took a sip of the stamina potion and instantly felt the warmth coursing through his body as it soothed his muscles.

He had been training hard for the past few days and had pretty much learnt how to control all of his skills, except for [Parallel Processing] which still left his body in a puddle after only 15-20 seconds of usage.

Unlike his other skills, which he could perform with relative ease, Parallel Processing seemed to take a lot out of him, and although he had learnt how to control the move now, and prevent it from accidentally activating whenever he felt like his life was in danger, he still could not neutralize the backlash from using it, which made it a liability in battle.

'What was I even thinking when I decided to learn this skill-move? It's overpowered, yes, but it's useless when my body is so frail–' Leo cursed, as he could not believe the stupidity of his past self for learning such a ridiculous move that was more of a liability than an asset.

Nonetheless, having learnt how to control it was good enough for now, as at least he could rest assured that he would not accidentally activate it in battle anymore.

"So I need to be smart with it huh?" He muttered, recalling what Hen said, as he threw his dagger towards another practice dummy 25 meters away, before using the skill move [Blade Switch].

Almost immediately, he reached the location of his thrown dagger, as he plunged it into the neck of the practice dummy before using [Kill Strike] yet again, as he exploded yet another dummy head.

*BOOOM*

An explosion rattled the entire practical combat training field, as Hen clicked his tongue in disapproval from a distance.

It seemed like Leo had decided to disregard his advice on exercising restraint, which made him feel disappointed as an adult.

However, that disappointment aside, he was really excited to see Leo in action as he performed his skills, as although he did not speak it out-loud, he pretty much had his mind blown away with how crisp Leo's fighting basics were.

Whether it was stance, balance, or form. Leo had nailed everything down to perfection.

Every movement that he made naturally linked up to the next, which made it seem like he was floating on a battlefield, rather than moving on it.

His dagger throwing accuracy was better than some of the professors at the academy, as although the way he gripped the dagger and threw it was not the standard they taught at this school, it was something unquestionable, as in the several hours of practice that Hen had watched Leo perform, he had yet to see him miss a target by even a millimeter.

Whoever his previous teacher was, had to clearly be a very accomplished assassin, as Leo was clearly an exceptionally well taught talent.

However, although his strengths were exciting to witness, his weaknesses were also glaringly obvious to a veteran like Hen.

From his perspective, the boy did not understand the concept of stamina conservation and had clearly never fought a fight that lasted longer than an hour.

He got tired too easily and constantly fought at his 100%, rather than controlling the tempo as and when needed.

He also did not have the necessary physical strength to go toe to toe with a swordsman or any other short ranged fighter from amongst the second year students.

As with his strength being average amongst even the first years, he was a mile behind the second years for the same.

And, if by chance he fought an opponent that was both faster than him and had a good defence, then Hen saw no qualities in him that would suggest that he could take him down.

As overall, Hen found Leo to have:-

A lacking stamina

A lacking defence

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And average physical qualities made him easy pickings for a seasoned fighter from second year, which was why Hen expected him to lose badly come Sunday.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 85: ArroganceTimeless AssassinC85: Arrogance

(Sunday, 5:30 AM – Professor Marvin's Physical Training Class)

Like every other morning at Rodova Military Academy, Sunday also began with mandatory physical training for all students.

Technically, it was optional.

But that was only on paper.

Professor Marvin had made it painfully clear that missing his class was not an option unless you were on your deathbed—and even then, he might still expect you to crawl onto the track.

So, as expected, every student was present.

But while it seemed like just another day at the academy, something about today's morning was definitely different.

The air buzzed with an unusual energy that was heavier than the usual morning grogginess.

Eyes constantly flickered toward Leo and Su Yang, as although their presence had always drawn attention, today in particular it seemed like the stares lingered longer, and the whispers carried a sharper edge.

Because today was the day the big fight was supposed to happen.

"Big Brother, I hope you're ready for the big fight later this morning—" Mu Ryan said, stretching beside Leo, her voice laced with genuine concern, as Leo clenched his fists in response.

"I don't need reminders," he replied flatly, as he was already aware of what was coming.

The fight against the seniors was looming over him like a storm. And with every passing second, the pressure only grew stronger.

"I hope Professor Marvin doesn't drain you dry this morning. Your fight's at 9 AM, after all, and three hours of intense training beforehand won't exactly leave you in top shape," Mu Ryan pointed out, as Leo's jaw tightened at her words.

He already knew that.

He did not need her to spell out the obvious.

Ideally he should not be training before a big fight, however, skipping Marvin's class was not an option, and holding back in training was not one either.

Professor Marvin was a damn demon who did not give a shit about anyone's schedule, much less their personal struggles, which was why asking him for leniency was akin to organizing a dance performance before an audience of blind monkeys.

So yeah, Leo was well aware that burning himself out before a crucial fight was a terrible idea.

But what pissed him off more was hearing someone else point it out.

Because acknowledging a problem was one thing.

Having someone else rub it in? That was another.

"Mu Ryan…. Please leave me alone and fuck off— I really need some peace and quiet this morning and if you can't shut up, then please go bother Mu Shen today," Leo said, as Mu Ryan puffed her cheeks in anger at his words.

She was only trying to look out for him from her perspective, however, what she failed to understand was that Leo did not need to hear her concerns before the fight.

He already knew them loud and clear, and was anxious enough as is.

Which was why he did not need her to make him any more nervous than what he already felt.

"Good Morning Cadets," A male voice then cut through the room, as Professor Marvin entered the training hall at 5:30 on the dot.

"Today is Sunday, so today we will go even harder than usual in training, because you don't have any other lectures to attend after this one—" Marvin said while walking towards the students, as Leo felt his heart sink inside his chest when he heard those words.

Usually, he did not mind training harder than usual.

However, today was really not a good day for him to be participating in such an intense training session.

"Everyone, go put-on a 30Kg vest, and Mu Shen you will put on a 50Kg one.

Skyshard, Yang, the two of you are excused from today's training.

Yu Shen has requested I don't exhaust you today because of your big fight coming up later this morning.

And as a show of respect for the circuit's team captain, I'm excusing you from your morning training, however, both you boys will work extra hard next week to make-up for this lost day!" Marvin declared, as Leo almost couldn't believe his ears when Marvin excused him from today's training.

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Marvin was infamous within the academy for having once made a cadet with a broken foot and a big plaster run 20 laps on crutches, which made his behaviour today seem completely uncharacteristic.

However, the fact that he let the two of them off the hook was definitely a good thing, as Leo accepted his mercy with grace.

"Thankyou for your consideration, Professor. I will surely work harder for the coming week—" Leo said, as he stepped out of the file, however, Su Yang did not follow suit.

"Respectfully Professor, I refuse to accept any concessions that have been handed out to me on request of Captain Yu Shen.

I hate his guts, and my pride refuses to accept any hand-outs from him.

Please allow me to join today's training session, as I would rather fight at half my strength, than accept mercy from my opponent," Su Yang said, as Leo immediately shot him a dirty glare.

'Fucking noble, and his big fat pride—' Leo cursed under his breath, as he shook his head in disappointment.

In battle, one took every advantage they could get, regardless of whether it was an advantage offered by a friend or an enemy.

However, clearly Su Yang did not believe the same, as his brain had been rotted by the anger that he felt against Yu Shen.

The prideful idiot voluntarily stepped up to train, which made even Professor Marvin pinch the top of his nose in disbelief.

"That declaration was so incredibly manly, that words fail me.

However, it's also stupid.

You won't get any excuses if you lose the fight because of fatigue, Yang.

You could have opted to not train, and while I respect your decision to not accept any hand-outs from your opponent, it's also on you now if you lose.

You can't blame circumstances anymore," Marvin said, as Su Yang replied with absolute silence.

He knew the consequences of his actions well, and still chose to stick by it.

"Very well, go take a 10kg vest, I'll give you that much concession of my own volition. It's not because of the captain." Marvin said, as Su Yang stomped a salute.

"Sir, thankyou, sir–" he said, as he went on to pick a 10Kg vest, as he joined the rest of the class for this morning's training session which included drills like squats, duck walk, wire crawling, sprints, crunches, burpees and more.

Overall, it was a session about 20% harder than what they performed on a routine basis, as by the end of it, there was not a single candidate, including Su Yang who could remain standing on both feet.

Everyone was absolutely exhausted beyond reason, with the only respite for Su Yang being that Marvin tossed him a bottle of high quality stamina potion at the end, which helped him quickly recover much of his lost strength.

It was 8:30 am now, and with the fight scheduled to start at 9:00 am, everyone started to slowly move towards the Practical Combat Grounds, eager to see how two first years fared against the much more experienced seniors.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 86: PrecautionsTimeless AssassinC86: Precautions

(Rodova Military Academy, Practical Combat Grounds, 8:45 AM)

At 8:45 AM, Leo stepped onto the practical combat grounds, his usual military-issued robes replaced by his black Assassin attire—a rare choice, which he usually only wore during specialized stealth and mobility classes.

He had chosen this attire because he felt a sense of freedom moving within it, that he did not feel with the tight military clothes, and also because it helped him conceal weapons underneath the folds of the robe.

By the time he entered, a sizable crowd had already gathered at the practical training grounds, with the crowd's whispers immediately surging as they spotted his visage.

"He actually showed up? Damn, I thought he'd take the smart route and bail."

"Does he really think he can win? I mean, he's strong, but against a circuit team member?"

"No chance. The circuits team isn't some joke. There's a reason only ten second-years made the cut."

"But he's a Monarch-level talent. You never really know until you see them fight."

Leo heard them all. Every snide remark. Every whispered doubt.

But he gave them nothing.

His expression remained unreadable, his posture relaxed yet purposeful as he walked further into the arena, his sharp gaze scanning the field.

There was no real optimism in the air surrounding him. The crowd wasn't here to cheer for him—they were here to watch him fail.

Out of the hundreds gathered, only a handful seemed to believe he had even the slightest chance.

Mu Ryan.

Mu Shen.

And that was about it.

However, it did not matter.

He hadn't come here to prove anything to them.

He had come to win and to avenge.

"Good, you showed up on time…. If you had not, I would have been forced to drag you from your dorm room by your hair—" A male voice came from behind Leo, as when he turned he found Yu Shen entering the combat grounds, with the entire second year team behind him.

"Are you scared? Rookie? You should be— you're gonna face 'Khyaal' here today.

And 'Khyaal' is a mountain of a man!" Yu Shen said, as he gestured towards the biggest and tallest brute standing behind him, who looked like he was at least 7'6" tall.

"Of-course I showed up on time. Who do you think you're talking to?

Leo Skyshard is many things, but a spineless coward is not one of them" Leo said coldly, as he fearlessly made eye contact with Yu Shen, before turning his gaze to Khyaal, who he stared down as well.

"Spunky" Khyaal said in a deep giant-like voice, as he simply chuckled at Leo's attempts at intimidating him.

It was clear that he did not take Leo as a serious opponent, which enraged Leo even more.

"What did you call me? You big fat oaf?" Leo asked, as Yu Shen gave him a mean shoulder push.

"Easy there tiger…. Don't bite before the fight starts, else my team will fuck you up.

We're being respectful here.

Otherwise, do I need to remind you of what happened back at the mess hall?" Yu Shen said, as Leo almost felt his blood boil in rage at that statement.

Yu Shen was clearly fucking with him, however, Leo knew very well that he couldn't do anything about it.

Yu Shen was very careful in not breaking any school rules when he provoked Leo, which made it hard for him to justifiably retaliate.

"Oh look, there's the second one.

Haha, he's shooting dirty glares at us…. That one's funny" Yu Shen said, as he pointed towards Su Yang, who was squatting on the ground not 20 meters away, with a tight grip on his sword.

Su Yang had those crazed eyes of a murderer, and he looked like he was ready for the opening bell to unleash all his pent-up rage.

"Well, no point in even talking to that one.

I guess we'll go find a seat for ourselves, won't we boys?" Yu Shen asked, as his teammates voiced their agreement.

"Excuse us, rookie… we will sit and enjoy your downfall from the best seats in the house" Yu Shen said, as he deliberately brushed his shoulder past Leo as he moved past him, with his teammates doing the same.

All 10 of them bumped shoulders with him on their way to the stands, as slowly but surely Leo reached the limits of his mental calm.

'Relax…. You must Relax… this is exactly what they want.

You must not let him get under your skin' Leo told himself, as he desperately tried to calm his raging blood down, however, it was easier said than done.

He could almost visibly see his heated breaths as they left his nose, as they had turned to vapours.

He too was ready to explode with his daggers out right this very moment, however, 10 minutes still remained till the Major and the officiating staff showed up.

As Leo was forced to bottle-up his feelings until then.

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(10 Minutes Later – 9:00 AM Sharp)

By 9:00 AM, the anticipation in the arena had reached a fever pitch.

It wasn't just Major Hen who arrived alongside his officiating team— as he was accompanied by a lineup of figures that instantly commanded respect.

Professor David.

Professor Powell.

Lieutenant Muiyan Faye.

Principal Alric Dainhart.

Professor Marvin.

And nearly a dozen other instructors, some of whom Leo didn't even know by name, all arrived at the Practical Combat Grounds one after another.

"Holy shit even the principal is here—"

One student noted, as it became evidently clear to all that this wasn't just a regular show-case fight anymore. That it was a proper spectacle.

As the gathered faculty took their seats, a secondary wave of arrivals followed behind them, in the form of Rodova's entire medical team.

Leo's gaze flickered across them, noting just how many of them had been summoned, only to realize that there were far too many for him to even count.

A dozen high profile healers, A dozen doctors and at least 3 dozen nurses seemed to be at-hand for this fight and it did not seem to be a coincidence that so many of them were here.

It was clear that principal Alric was the one who had summoned them and that he was the one who was not keen on taking any chances.

These were his star students that were fighting today—-

His circuit team members against his monarch level talents, and hence Alric seemed to wish to ensure that no matter what, none of them were permanently injured in today's bout, for which, he summoned every available doctor to the combat arena.

"I'm telling you, Hen… if any of the boys lose a limb, or become permanently retarded because of a blow to their heads, I'm going to fire you from your job, and hound you to the point you don't even get a pension after retirement.

I'm trusting your referees to interfere as and when needed, but it's your neck and job at the line here.

Officiate a safe match, else be fired" Alric warned, as Hen chuckled heartily at the principal's words.

Deep down he knew that Alric wasn't bluffing, however, he had absolute faith in his referees.

They were the ones who were going to be closest to the action, and he trusted them to intervene if things ever went south.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 87: TheatricsTimeless AssassinC87: Theatrics

(Rodova Military Academy, Practical Combat Grounds – 9:05 AM)

Once everyone was settled and the medical staff had finished setting up their emergency operating stations, Major Hen stepped into the center of the marked combat field, his presence alone enough to command everyone's attention, as he raised his right palm, signaling for silence.

"Alright, quiet down—" His deep voice carried across the arena, as the excited murmurs gradually faded.

"As you all know, Sundays are reserved for educational combat analysis, and today will be no different.

Today's fights will be observed, reviewed, and analyzed by me after they are concluded, as although our original plan was to hold matchups between the best of the first-year students. However—" Hen paused, as he glanced toward a familiar figure in the stands, "Captain Yu Shen approached me with an alternative proposal, and I gladly accepted it."

Hen said, as he gestured towards Yu Shen in the crowd, who gladly flashed his signature smile and waved to the crowd, basking in the attention.

"As most of you are aware, today's fight will be an unusual one. First-year juniors will be facing off against second-year seniors—a matchup typically reserved for the end-of-semester trials."

Hen's gaze briefly flickered toward the fighters in question. Su Yang, Leo Skyshard, Minerva and Khyaal.

His eyes lingered on each of them for just a moment before continuing.

"For all first-years present, this is an opportunity to witness the very best of your class go up against seasoned upperclassmen—fighters who have endured the rigorous training of Rodova for a full year.

Who will win? That's for us to find out. But regardless of the outcome, there will be lessons to learn."

His voice took on a sharper edge.

"We will break down the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And every single one of you will walk away from here more enlightened than before."

With that, Hen turned and walked out of the arena, his part in the introduction complete.

However—just as he reached his seat, he paused for one last announcement.

"Today's fight will be conducted under official inter-school circuit rules.

That means—no body armor. No strike restrictions.

However, lethal force and the use of paralytic poisons remain strictly prohibited." He said, as he swept his gaze across all fighters, his voice firm.

"Break those rules, and you'll face immediate disqualification and severe consequences. So don't even try and test me–" He threatened, as only after making that last threat did he look satisfied, as he took his seat in the stands.

Then, in a single, commanding word, he said—

"Begin."

—---

Cheers erupted across the arena when Hen signalled for the fight to begin, as the assistant referees began walking out to the field.

But before the energy could settle, or the official process for the fight could begin, Yu Shen stood.

And with a loud, theatrical flourish, he raised his hands, calling for attention.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—"

His booming voice cut through the chaos, forcing the roaring crowd to turn their focus toward him.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF I MAY HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR A MOMENT—"

The audience quieted, their curiosity piqued, as Yu Shen smirked.

"I know many of you believe that Leo Skyshard and Su Yang are destined to join Rodova's esteemed interschool circuits team.

I mean—why wouldn't they?" He chuckled.

"They're Monarch-level talents. The pride of this academy!" Su Yang exclaimed, as his words sent ripples through the audience.

Even Leo could sense it—the subtle shift in the atmosphere.

A shift that Yu Shen had masterfully orchestrated.

"Now, don't get me wrong—I, too, believe that these two juniors will, without a doubt, join the circuits team... Someday."

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The way he emphasized that last word sent an unspoken message.

Then, his expression hardened.

"But whether they join as first-years…" His smirk widened, "That is something they will have to prove.

And make no mistake—nothing will be handed to them."

A murmur spread through the crowd, as Alric's face immediately soured.

The principal wasn't impressed by what Yu Shen was trying to pull off here, as he saw straight through his childish tricks.

Yu Shen was trying to create public pressure on Alric with his speech, so that if he now handed over those spots to Su Yang and Leo, it would be him who would look like a biased principal.

"The esteemed Rodova Military Academy is not built on favoritism.

It is built on meritocracy.

And meritocracy alone."

Yu Shen's voice rang with conviction, his words sinking into the crowd.

"So today, I, Yu Shen, declare this: If these two geniuses can defeat their opponents in a fair fight—

I will welcome them onto the circuit's team with open arms.

They will participate in every training match against our rival military academies throughout this academic year and they will join our team exercises in preparation for the circuits."

A tense silence followed.

Then—Yu Shen's eyes gleamed.

"But if they fail—" He let the words hang in the air, drawing out the tension.

"Then they will wait. Just like everyone else.

And at the end of the year, when the final circuits team is selected—

They can try again."

The crowd erupted.

This—this was exactly what they wanted to hear.

Rodova wasn't some elite club where names alone earned positions.

Rodova was a battlefield.

And only the strong survived.

"If they perform—" Yu Shen's voice cut through the cheers.

"They are welcome."

"But if they don't—" He paused, letting the tension simmer.

Then, he smiled.

"They. Will. Not. Join. My. Team."

The arena exploded into deafening roars.

The stake for this fight had been set, and the crowd went wild to know that justice was being upheld here.

Alric, Su Yang and Leo were not pleased by this speech at all, however, there was nothing either of them could do about it.

Protesting in front of a cheering crowd would only make them look like biased fools and hence, they could only bide their silence for now.

"My, My…. I quite disliked Yu Shen before today, but he might become my favorite student of all time after today!" Professor David said with a smile, as although he hated the Yu family young master with a passion up-till last year, he was really happy to see him put Leo and Su Yang in their place today.

Yu Shen!

Yu Shen!

Yu Shen!

The crowd cheered, as the Captain bowed to every section of the cheering crowd before finally taking his seat.

Then—

The referees once again began walking towards the center, as they discussed something amongst each other, before taking their positions around several spots of the market combat arena.

"First Fight. Su Yang versus Minerva–" The head referee standing in the centre declared, as the crowd roared even louder at his words.

*SHINGG–*

Su Yang unsheathed his sword with one clean motion, as he banged his chest with his weapon and walked towards the combat arena, with anger plastered all over his face.

In contrast, Minerva, his opponent, walked towards the arena with a serene calm on her face, as she did not so much as check the tightness of her bow string.

"Is this a joke, Yu Shen? You send a woman to stand in my way? What, are you too scared to fight me yourself?" Su Yang roared in anger as audible gasps could be heard across the arena at his comment.

Gender discrimination was considered to be a backward practice in modern society, however, with the best fighters across history being mostly men, the bias was hard to erase completely.

"Don't worry, this WOMAN is more than enough to handle the likes of you, Yang" Yu Shen shouted back from the crowd, as a loud 'OOOO—' rang from the audience.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 88: Obliterated.Timeless AssassinC88: Obliterated.

Once Su Yang and Minerva took their starting positions, a heavy silence washed over the arena.

The crowd, brimming with anticipation, leaned forward in their seats, eager to witness the clash between the proud first-year and the seasoned second-year.

Su Yang stood poised, his sword gripped tightly in his hands, his golden eyes locked onto Minerva with pure, unfiltered rage.

Across from him, Minerva stood calmly, her bow resting lightly in her grasp, her stance unshaken, her breathing slow and measured—completely unbothered by the storm of emotions radiating from her opponent.

The contrast between them was glaring.

Su Yang was a wildfire, burning, untamed and hungry for destruction, while Minerva was an ice-capped mountain—unmoved, unaffected, and untouchable.

For a while it became a contest to see who would flinch first, however, before that could happen, the referee standing between them raised his hand.

"BEGIN!" He declared, as immediately Su Yang launched forward like a cannonball, the sheer force of his movement kicking up a cloud of dust behind him.

*Shine*

His sword gleamed as he raised it high, ready to carve his opponent apart before she could even react.

But—

WHOOOSH!

An arrow shot from Minerva's bow before he even took five steps.

Not at him.

But at the ground in front of him instead.

CRACK!

The moment the arrow struck the earth, a towering wall of ice erupted between them.

A massive, translucent barrier, thick and solid, blocking his path in an instant.

"WHAT?!"

Su Yang's pupils shrank, but his reaction was instant.

With a furious roar, he swung his sword.

SLASH!

The thick ice shattered like fragile glass under the sheer force of his strike, splintering into countless shards.

But—

As the ice crumbled before him and his path was cleared—

Minerva was gone.

As his head snapped up, she was no longer standing where she had been just moments ago.

And Instead—

She was already at the farthest edge of the arena, her bow already drawn and multiple arrows nocked between her fingers.

"How—"

Su Yang barely had time to process the impossibility of her speed before—

FWISH! FWISH! FWISH!

Arrows rained down upon him—

Fast. Precise and Unrelenting.

His body reacted before his mind did, his sword whipping through the air to deflect the incoming projectiles.

CLANG! CLANG! THUD!

As he managed to knock a few aside—

But not all.

One arrow sliced his cheek. Another grazed his shoulder and a third embedded itself into the dirt beside his foot, missing him by a hair.

"What the hell?" He mused, as he barely manages to take a step forward, when—

FWISH!

Another barrage came flying and his step faltered.

'Shit!' He thought, as he was forced to defend once again, as he found himself on the receiving end of a relentless barrage.

Any time he tried to move forward, Minerva let loose another wave, forcing him back into a defensive stance, and to make matters worse, each new arrow was faster than the last, whistling through the air at impossible angles and aimed at every weak spot that she could exploit.

He wanted to close the gap—needed to close the gap—

But he couldn't.

Every time he even thought about moving, an arrow was already there to stop him.

And it wasn't just speed.

Her accuracy was supernatural.

There were no wasted shots, and every arrow she launched carried a lethal intent.

'How am I even supposed to fight her?' Su Yang wondered at that moment, as the only solution that came to mind was to unleash his sword attack the [Mountain Splitting Slash] in hopes that it would buy him enough time to close-in the gap.

However, the second he tried circulating the mana in his body, he somehow failed at conjuring anything, as it seemed like an external field was preventing him from mobilising mana.

"Got you—" Minerva said at that moment, as Su Yang looked around at the arrows scattered around him on the ground, and realised that they were the mana absorbing type.

He was in the centre of an arrow formation that would make it impossible to mobilize any of his skill moves unless he could get out of it, however, Minerva simply wouldn't let him move.

"DAMN IT!"

Su Yang gritted his teeth, his body shifting, twisting, and weaving between the endless onslaught.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, the energy shifting drastically from excitement to disbelief.

This wasn't a fight.

This was a humiliation.

And everyone could see it.

"This is brutal…" one spectator whispered.

"Minerva isn't even breaking a sweat."

"Damn… I thought Su Yang was stronger than this."

The words stung worse than the arrows themselves.

But the worst part?

They were right.

He couldn't touch her.

Couldn't even get close to touching her.

Every attempt was futile.

Every move was countered before it even began.

And the longer this dragged on, the more exhausted he became.

His breath grew ragged.

His muscles ached.

His movements slowed.

But Minerva—

She remained the same.

Calm. Steady. Untouched.

About 12 minutes after the fight began, Su Yang's vision started to blur slightly, sweat dripping into his eyes.

His arms felt heavier than before. His legs screamed in protest.

And that was when it truly sank in.

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The gap between their strengths—

It was massive.

She was on an entirely different level.

He wasn't even fighting her.

He was being toyed with.

Like a cat playing with a trapped mouse.

"ENOUGH!" Su Yang roared, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.

His body was bruised, battered, and bloodied from all the arrows that had slipped past his defenses, his breath heaving, his once-pristine uniform now tattered.

And yet—his grip on his sword remained firm.

"Stop firing arrows at me from a distance like a damn coward and face me properly!"

His voice echoed across the arena, filled with frustration, fury, and desperation.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause.

Then—

Minerva tilted her head slightly, lowering her bow just enough to meet his glare.

And then—

She laughed.

A quiet, airy chuckle that sent another wave of humiliation crashing over Su Yang.

"Face you properly?" She echoed, her voice carrying a clear note of amusement.

Then, with a smirk, she said—

"Sorry."

Her bow raised once more, the tip of her next arrow glinting under the sun.

"As a woman, I'm too scared to fight men in close range."

FWISH!

The next arrow struck Su Yang clean in the chest, knocking him flat onto his back as the referee immediately stepped in to call the match.

"Match over! Winner: Minerva!"

The arena erupted.

Some cheered wildly. Others laughed. Some sat there, stunned into silence.

But the result was undeniable.

Su Yang had lost.

And he had lost badly.

—-------

"MEDICS…. MEDICS—" Alric screamed at the top of his lungs, as the medics rushed to Su Yang's side that very instant.

Blood had already started to pool around the wound in his chest, however, before he could even lose a hundred ml, the arrow was pulled out, and a whole medical team began to work hard to heal his injury.

"I lost—" Su Yang muttered aimlessly, the arrogance in his eyes replaced by a clueless stare, as the reality finally sunk in.

He had been manhandled by Minerva, and that wound to his pride, hurt a million times more than the one in his chest.

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Show menu Novel BinNovel Timeless Assassin Chapter 89: Last Minute ChangesTimeless AssassinC89: Last Minute Changes

(Leo's POV)

Unlike the neutral spectators in the arena, who viewed Su Yang and Minerva's fight as mere entertainment, Leo saw it through an entirely different lens.

He wasn't just an observer.

He was the next fighter.

And what he had just witnessed baffled him to his core.

From the moment Minerva fired her first arrow to the instant Su Yang shattered her Ice Wall, barely half a second had passed.

Half a second.

And yet, in that infinitesimal window of time—she had already moved nearly twenty meters from her original position.

Leo hadn't seen how she did it.

All he had perceived was a blur.

A flicker of motion—so fast, so seamless—it defied logic.

Was it a movement skill? A high-level footwork technique? Or was this just her natural speed?

He had no answer.

But what he did know—was that it was terrifying.

And if that wasn't enough, her battle awareness was even scarier.

Every single arrow she loosed was deliberate. Calculated.

Some were meant to restrict Su Yang's movements.

Some were meant to injure him.

And the rest—were aimed at forcing him into a trap.

At first, Leo thought the arrows landing around Su Yang were just stray shots. But now, it was painfully clear.

She had orchestrated everything.

The positioning of her shots. The angle of his deflections. The way they landed around him—

It wasn't random.

It was a carefully laid-out mana suppression formation—a setup that completely disrupted Su Yang's ability to channel his skills. Discover hidden content at NovelBin.Côm

And the worst part?

She had clearly planned all this before the fight even began.

She had walked into the arena with specialized mana-absorbing arrows, anticipating exactly how Su Yang would react, and countered him before he even threw a single strike.

Meaning—Su Yang had lost this fight before he even fought it, simply because hed opponent had read him like an open book.

"What a freak..." Leo mused, as he swallowed hard.

This wasn't just about raw power.

The second-year circuit team members weren't just faster, stronger, or more skilled than their first year peers.

They were also more experienced.

They had fought against both their own teammates and opponents from other military academies. They had encountered countless strategies, countless tactics, and because of that—they had an answer for everything.

Their movements weren't just instinct.

They were knowledge.

They were execution.

*Sigh–*

Leo exhaled slowly, his mind racing.

'If my opponent is even half as intelligent as her, I'm screwed.' He thought, as a chill ran down his spine.

He observed coldly as the medical team carried Su Yang off the battlefield after his condition stabilized.

And once they did, the head referee stepped forward, raising his voice over the lingering buzz of the crowd.

"Leo Skyshard. Khyaal. Step forward." He instructed, as the arena erupted into cheers once again, as all eyes turning to the new fighters walking out.

"Give them hell, Big Brother!"

"The pride of the first-years is in your hands!"

Mu Ryan and Mu Shen's voices rang through the noise, but Leo barely registered them.

His heartbeat was pounding far too loudly in his ears for him to hear much of anything.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Was all he could hear, as his hands began to tremble violently.

Fear—

He was scared, as his body felt unnaturally warm, yet cold at the same time.

He could feel the blood rushing to his head, his nerves tightening like coiled steel as he realized that the worst outcome of this fight was not that he could lose his life, but that he could be humiliated like Su Yang was, and forced to endure his academy life afterwards.

'No…. No matter what, I must not be dominated single handedly in this fight. I might not remember who I was, but I surely don't want to be a sorry loser' Leo thought to himself, as slapping his cheeks he began jumping from toe to toe, almost out of some deep buried instinct, as he tried to loosen the muscles of his body, and prepare them for explosive movement.

"Haha. I was right to call you spunky! Look at you go! I bet you're real quick on your feet… small boy!" Khyaal said, as he took his starting spot, and fiddled with the massive double handed longsword in his hands.

Leo said nothing in response, as he tried to steady his breathing and stop the trembling in his arms.

To do so, he closed his eyes and tried to sideline all the other emotions that he was feeling, as he tried to enter a state of pure calm and focus.

"It's okay, don't tremble little man, I won't kill you–

I might break your arms and legs, and a few ribs, but you'll make it out alive–" Khyaal said, in his hoarse giant-like voice, which made his warning sound even more scary than it normally would.

However, Leo still did not react.

Remaining calm, he only focused on settling his nerves, as although it took him a couple of breaths to regain his composure, he did manage to regain it right before the fight began.

"Fighters, ready?" The referee called out once Leo opened his eyes, as he alternated his gaze between the two combatants.

"Ready—"

"Ready!"

Khyaal and Leo said in response, as the referee gave them both a curt nod.

"Begin—" He said finally after that, as with a sharp drop of the his palm, the match was officially underway—

*Cheers*

At the start signal, the entire arena erupted into cheers, as most of the spectators expected Leo to burst forward the moment the match began and to take the fight to Khyaal in an aggressive, fast-paced assault, which would have been the obvious move to make.

However—

Leo did not.

Instead, he remained still.

With his feet planted firmly in place, and his posture loose but controlled, he locked onto Khyaal's every movement.

For the first few seconds, neither of them moved as a strange tension settled over the arena.

"What's he doing?"

"Why isn't he attacking?"

The murmurs of confusion rippled through the audience.

And then—

Khyaal smirked.

"Ohhh? No flashy footwork? No spunky opening move?" His deep voice rang out, loud enough for the crowd to hear.

He tilted his head slightly, his hulking frame remaining relaxed as he gestured toward Leo with an open palm.

"Why so hesitant, Skyshard? Standing so far away like that—shouldn't you be rushing in already?"

To the untrained eye, his words might have seemed like mockery.

A taunt, meant to bait Leo into recklessly closing the distance.

But Leo saw it for what it truly was…. Which was a desperate callout!

Khyaal had prepared for a charge.

He had expected Leo to immediately rush forward and engage in close-quarters combat, so much so that he had likely built his entire opening strategy around it.

It made sense for Leo's primary weapon was a dagger.

And if he had sent spies to watch his training, which Leo highly suspected he did, based on how Su Yang's fight had turned out.

He would know about how, he had no moves like [Exploding Dagger] that would help him fight from a range.

This meant that—his opponent already knew that he had no choice but to engage in close combat when the fight began, making it very likely for him to burst forward the second the fight started.

'No…. Not today—' Leo thought, as he could see through his opponent's strategy now.

Khyaal had likely spent the past few days planning a strategy that crushed Leo the moment he charged forward towards him.

But now—

Leo wasn't moving.

And that?

That threw everything off.

It was a good strategy, and Leo would have likely walked into his trap had he not observed Su Yang's fight unfold before him, however, because he did, Leo realized that something was fishy.

Minerva had read Su Yang too perfectly for it to be a coincidence.

It was like she already knew what he was and was not capable of.

And if Minerva had spied on her opponent, then Leo had to assume that Khyaal did the same for him.

He did not know when he did it–

He did not know how Khyaal did it—

However, Leo felt assured that his enemy knew every move he had under his belt, and hence it was impossible to surprise him.

From here on out, if he had any hopes of winning the bout, he needed to fight extremely unconventionally.

As that was his only chance at victory.

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After about forty-five seconds of Leo not moving a muscle, the crowd's excitement began to wane.

What started as murmurs of confusion quickly turned into boos and jeers, as the impatient spectators grew restless at the lack of action.

"Fight already!"

"Stop standing and do something!"

"What is this, a staring contest?!"

The noise surged, but Leo remained unaffected.

His instincts told him that charging at his opponent was not a smart option in this fight, and hence despite the crowd pressure he held firm, and did not move a muscle.

"Booo! Skyshard you coward, Booo—"

"Come on Khyaal, he's just a kid! What are you so afraid of?"

"Khyaal charge damn it! The kid literally weighs half as much as you!"

The audience continued to pester, as Leo could see how Khyaal looked disturbed because of it.

The jeering grated against his nerves, as slowly but surely he felt himself being forced to abandon his carefully crafted strategy.

"Alright then, little bunny," Khyaal growled under his breath. "If you won't come to me—"

"I'll come to you."

He declared, as with a thunderous stomp, he launched himself forward.

*WOOSH–*

Despite his massive frame, his acceleration was absurd, as the sheer force of his movement sent dirt and gravel flying in his wake, his colossal longsword gleaming in the morning sun as he closed the distance between himself and Leo in mere seconds.

*BOOM!*

Khyaal's first swing came down with terrifying force, but Leo dodged it with his nimble feet.

*BAM–*

The blade slammed into the ground, carving through the stone floor of the arena like it was butter, leaving a deep fissure in its wake.

The earth shook.

The audience gasped.

And Leo's heartbeat skyrocketed.

'Holy shit—' Leo thought, as although he had expected the senior to be powerful, this was on another level.

Even without direct contact, he could feel the air splitting as the attack missed him by mere inches, the shockwave whipping against his skin like a near-miss from a guillotine.

"Ha–" Khyaal grinned, as without a pause, he wrenched his sword free from the ground and swung again—sideways this time.

*WHOOSH*

Leo ducked as the arc of steel passed over his head like a stormwind, the sheer momentum behind it sending out a pressure wave that made his ears pop.

'Fuck… I'm fucked' Leo realized, as he found Khyaal unreasonably fast for someone his size.

His frame was massive—his reach almost double that of Leo's—And his strength?

Easily three times greater.

Which gave him the ability to T.K.O Leo with a single hit, if he landed it clean.

'I can't afford to exchange blows with him,' Leo realized, his mind racing as he continued to evade, weaving between Khyaal's massive swings like a shadow dancing through a minefield.

*Boom*

*Crack*

*Bam*

The ground shattered beneath each missed strike.

The earth split when his sword struck the floor.

And the air itself screamed when his swings narrowly missed their mark.

The sheer destructive capability of Khyaal's sword was unlike anything Leo had ever faced before.

And that wasn't even the worst part.

The worst part was that despite his destructive spree, Khyaal wasn't actually fighting carelessly.

Every movement—every attack that he launched—was measured, and even when it looked like he was swinging wide, he never actually left any openings for Leo to exploit.

The guy was an absolute unit.

His footwork was solid, and his defense was impeccable, as psychologically, it felt like Leo was facing a fortress on legs.

'The fucker is like a literal armored rhino that is impenetrable, relentless, and lethal.' Leo thought, as he understood that if he tried to forcefully attack this rhino, he would be undoubtedly crushed in an instant.

So instead—he waited.

Dodging. Weaving. He kept moving just outside of Khyaal's destructive range as he stayed alive in the fight, refusing to take any unnecessary risk.

"Khyaal is eating him raw!"

"This fight is going to end the same way as the first one!"

"Ohhh, this is a massacre—"

The crowd mused, as to the average audience member it seemed like Leo was struggling hard.

However, where the audience members saw struggle, Yu Shen saw genius as unlike them he could understand Leo's strategy for what it truly was.

"...Clever." Yu Shen mused, as a smirk tugged at his lips.

He understood that Leo wasn't just blindly dodging Khyaal's attacks—

No, he was buying time.

He was adapting and waiting for his chance to turn the tide.

Su Yang had lost his fight before it even started because he played into Minerva's hands.

But Leo?

Leo had recognized that Khyaal had set a trap for him and instead of stepping into it—he had forced Khyaal to change his approach.

'He's got a good head on his shoulders,' Yu Shen admitted.

'Most first-years would have crumbled under the pressure of the crowd. But this one—he's patient. He's disciplined. And above all—he's aware.' Yu Shen acknowledged as he felt impressed by Leo's performance.

Leo had no delusions of winning in a contest of raw power and instead, he was focused on surviving, as he bided his time and waited for an opening.

However, the question was…. For how long could he do it? Find your next adventure on NovelBin.Côm

Or was Khyaal never going to provide him with the obvious slip-up that he was looking for?

—-------

"You're a cautious little bunny, aren't you?"

Khyaal's voice rumbled with amusement as Leo dodged yet another massive swing.

Leo remained silent, refusing to take the bait, as he continued to run and backtrack.

His mind was running at overdrive, searching, scanning, analyzing—

Looking for any opening.

But there were none.

Khyaal's defenses were rock-solid.

No overextensions. No wasted movements.

No weak spots.

It was like fighting a tank.

'Damn it… there has to be something I can do.' Leo thought, as he tried to come up with an innovative plan, however, before he could formulate a counter-strategy—

Khyaal smirked.

"Alright, little bunny…" he said, as his grip on his sword tightened.

"You've had your fun. But it's time to end this now—" He declared as with a sudden explosive movement, he changed the tempo of the fight.

"[Berserkers Rage]" Khyaal mouthed, as suddenly, his veins started to pop out and his skin started to turn extremely red, as if the blood flow to his skin had increased tenfold.

*WHOOSH–*

As he swung this time, he chopped off a handful of Leo's hair, which fell to the ground right before his eyes.

His swing speed and recovery time had both improved significantly after he activated the skill, as Leo felt an impending sense of danger.

[Mirror World]

Leo activated a decoy skill in response, as he summoned roughly 50 clones of himself, each running haphazardly, with the real Leo blending amongst them seamlessly.

To the naked eye, it was impossible to discern the real Leo from his clone, however, Khyaal was not fooled for a second.

He moved towards Leo's real body without hesitation, and launched yet another sword slash, which Leo dodged by the thinnest of margins.

*BAM*

"Basics of perception class chapter one. [Full Vision]" Khyaal declared, as Leo's pupils dilated.

Khyaal had used a standard academy perception technique to determine the real one amongst the fake, as although one could be fooled if they saw through the naked eye, to the mana eye it would always be clear as to who he really was.

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