The cage was quiet, the atmosphere calm and silent as everyone slept soundly. Liam suddenly opened his eyes and cautiously glanced around to make sure everyone was sleeping. Once he confirmed it, he quietly left the cage.
Liam had killed ten guards so far and he needed to kill five more to complete the quest. Since nighttime was the best to hunt the guards, Liam was ready.
His goal was to hide in the same place near the tree and boulders by the well and wait for the guards to throw the bodies of the hostages who had either died from hunger or been killed by the guards or other hostages.
However, as soon as Liam left, someone called out to him, asking where he was going.
It was Hye Rin.
"Lee, where are you going?" Rin's voice was soft but clear in the stillness of the night.
Liam turned around and smiled nervously at her. "Rin, you're awake."
Rin nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Where are you headed?"
Liam hesitated for a moment before replying, "I was just going back to my cage. I'm all recovered now, so I thought it's best to go back."
Rin bit her lips, her brow furrowing in thought. "But why? Each cage had ten people, but since some hostages died, the numbers have decreased. Now, it's just me, Soo Min, and the Joon brothers in our cage. The commanders haven't said anything about the cages, so one can stay wherever they want."
"I know, but my cage also only has three people left. And since I sometimes practice in the middle of the night, I didn't want to disturb and wake you or the others up. That's why I was going back to my cage."
Rin looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of deception. "Are you sure that's the only reason, Lee? You seem... different."
Liam met her gaze steadily, trying to keep his expression neutral. "Yeah, I just don't want to be a bother. You all need your rest, and I need to keep practicing. It's important for me to stay sharp."
Just as Liam was about to leave, Rin called out to him again.
"Lee, wait," she said softly. "I can't sleep. I'll come with you to your cage."
Liam turned back to her with a serious expression. "Rin, I might not practice and just sleep, so it wouldn't be wise for you to come with me. Plus, the people in my cage are strangers to you, and they're all males. It's not safe for you to sleep there."
Rin stayed quiet and didn't respond.
Liam then added, "You should stay with Soo Min."
Rin didn't know what to say or do. Her mind was all fuzzy, and she was confused. She knew she wouldn't be able to achieve the first stage and that she would most likely die the day after tomorrow.
Liam didn't want to hear that. He had been holding it up until now, but he couldn't anymore. He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her straight in the eyes. "Don't worry, Rin. I'll find a way for you to reach the first stage within a day."
No one would believe something like that, but Rin trusted Liam. She didn't ask any questions and simply nodded.
Liam then told her, "Go rest, Rin."
Hearing that, Rin became gloomy again. It was as though she wanted to say something to Liam but couldn't for some reason.
Liam wanted to go hunt the guards before their posts changed. He didn't know the guards' formation or anything. If the guards got rid of the hostages' corpses, he would lose his potential kills. However, he couldn't leave Rin in such a state.
After pondering for a while, Liam asked, "Rin, do you want to go for a walk with me?"
Rin looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and gratitude. She nodded slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Liam smiled back, relieved. "Alright, let's go."
Together, they quietly left the cage and walked side by side under the moonlit sky. Rin kept glancing at Liam from the corners of her eyes, her face a bit flushed. She kept looking at Liam's hand too, as though she wanted to hold it.
She gulped down and gathered some courage to speak up. "Lee, would you like to—"
But before she could finish, Liam suddenly pushed her against the wall and covered her mouth with his hand.
Rin was surprised at first, but she didn't mind. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for whatever Liam was about to do with her.
She waited for a few seconds, but when Liam didn't make a move, she opened her eyes, only to find Liam standing with a dead body of a guard lying on the ground. Liam had a sword in his hand, still dripping blood.
[+100 XP]
Rin was surprised but she didn't ask any questions. Liam then summoned another sword from his inventory and handed it to Rin.
"Here, take this," Liam said, his voice low and urgent. "We need to be ready for anything. Let me know if you see someone.
Rin nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and determination. She gripped the sword tightly, feeling the weight of it in her hand. She looked at Liam, and waited for his next move.
Liam scanned the area, his senses on high alert. "Stay close to me, Rin. We need to be careful. There might be more guards around."
Rin nodded again, her heart pounding in her chest. She stayed close to Liam, her eyes darting around, watching for any signs of danger. They moved silently through the camp, sticking to the shadows.
Liam's mind was focused on the task ahead. He knew he had to be careful and keep an eye out for any guards. The night was dark, and the camp was quiet, the perfect setting for his hunt. He had to complete his quest, no matter what.
As they moved deeper into the camp, Liam spotted another guard patrolling the area. He signaled to Rin to stay back and approached the guard silently from behind. With a swift and precise strike, he took down the guard before he could make a sound.
[+100 XP]
Liam quickly looted the guard's body, adding the items to his inventory. He then turned to Rin, his voice low and steady. "We need to keep moving. Stay alert."
The swords made it so easy for Liam to kill the guards. Some might call him a coward for using such cheap methods, but it didn't matter in the least. What mattered was staying alive by all means. He had a mission to complete, and he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way.
Liam and Rin moved stealthily through the camp, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. They stuck to the darker paths, avoiding the well-lit areas where they might be spotted.
As they rounded a corner, Liam spotted a lone guard standing near a cage with his back turned to them. He raised his sword, his grip tight and steady. With a swift and precise strike, he plunged the blade into the guard's back, feeling the resistance as it cut through flesh and bone. The guard let out a muffled groan before collapsing to the ground, leaving blood pooling beneath him.
[+100 XP]
They moved deeper into the camp, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. As they approached a dimly lit alley, Liam spotted another guard leaning against a wall, his eyes closed as if he was dozing off.
Liam raised his sword and, with a swift and powerful strike, he decapitated the guard. The head rolled to the side, blood spurting from the neck like a fountain. The body slumped to the ground, and twitched for a few seconds before going still.
[+100 XP]
Now, Liam only had to kill one more guard to finish his quest.
They searched and searched but didn't find a guard who was alone. They spotted a few but they were in groups, so they avoided them. And whenever they saw a patrol group, they changed their path.
Sometimes, they went into nearby cages and pretended to be asleep. It was a matter of time before the patrol guards found the dead bodies of the guards Liam had killed. And before the guards became alert and gathered around, Liam had to get his last kill as soon as possible.
'Come on… just one more kill and I am done with this quest!'