Hitman with a Badass System

(Several days before the battle between Evan and Michael)

The journey from Awor continent to Elon was incredibly vast, spanning a great distance that took many cultivators several days to traverse. Most preferred to use teleportation portals to shorten the trip, but Victoria, instead, decided to embark on a long flight lasting several days. She wanted to enjoy the breathtaking sights along the way before eventually arriving at Salesi's safe house in the Cassidion forest. From there, she planned to use a teleportation portal to reach her final destination.

As evening descended, the sky transformed into a magnificent canvas adorned with twinkling stars, shining brightly like precious jewels. Three large, luminous blue moons hung gracefully in the sky, casting a gentle glow over the world below.

Victoria soared through the air as she flew above a vast and majestic canyon. The walls of the canyon were towering and rugged, displaying a breathtaking blend of red and orange hues as the setting sun painted them with its warm rays.

Moving swiftly, Victoria left the canyon behind and approached the emerald green Cassidion forest. The forest welcomed her with open arms, its giant trees stretching high into the sky. The canopy above was a kaleidoscope of lush foliage, forming a natural roof that filtered the soft sunlight and created a soothing, dappled effect on the forest floor.

The spacious ground between the trees was a haven of vibrant life. Soft, green grass carpeted the forest floor, adorned with colorful wildflowers that added a touch of beauty to the landscape. The air was filled with the sweet scent of nature, and the forest seemed to sing with the harmony of chirping birds and gentle rustling leaves. It was a place of peace and serenity where Victoria could find solace and comfort amidst the wonders of nature.

Unbeknownst to Victoria, she was being closely trailed by two individuals. One of them was a mysterious figure shrouded in black robes, with the upper body of an eagle, revealing him to be a beastman. This enigmatic figure was none other than Stormwing, a deadly member of Salesi's death squad.

Stormwing had been tasked by Salesi with a sinister mission - to assassinate Victoria and make it appear as if her death was a mere accident. To accomplish his dark purpose, Stormwing carried a pouch filled with a potent alchemical substance, a gray powder specifically used to lure a bone dragon. The very same bone dragon that had seemingly escaped the Immortal Council's control.

Meanwhile, unknown to both Stormwing and Victoria, a silent and watchful presence trailed them from the shadows. It was Michael, who had been tracking their movements with great caution. Michael was well aware of Salesi's intentions, and he had anticipated her every move. When he had asked Gaya to leave Victoria's home, he knew it would lead Salesi to make a dangerous assumption - that the Dark Lord would use Victoria's life to manipulate Evan.

Michael's keen insights and meticulous planning had successfully lured Salesi into his trap. Now, as he followed Victoria and Stormwing, he waited for the perfect moment to intervene and thwart Salesi's wicked plot.

From the vantage point of a massive tree, Michael observed Victoria setting up her camp for the night. He remained silent and concealed, hidden within the dense foliage of the tree. As he watched her, Victoria's words drifted up to him. She expressed relief that the Dark Lord's reign of terror was finally over.

"I never felt like this in months. Glad everything is over with the Dark Lord," Victoria murmured softly to herself. She swiftly prepared her camp, changing into more comfortable clothes. Respectful of her privacy, Michael looked away, refusing to invade her personal space.

With her camp arranged, Victoria conjured a gentle spell to ignite a warm campfire. Seating herself before the crackling flames, she placed her long sword by her side and closed her eyes, entering a state of peaceful cultivation. Unbeknownst to her, Stormwing was silently descending from the skies, landing on a distant branch, unaware that every movement he made was being meticulously observed by the Dark Lord.

As Stormwing approached, he carried a handful of Bone Dragon bait, a potent substance used to attract the deadly creature. With a subtle movement, Stormwing released the gray powder into the air, allowing it to disperse around Victoria's camp. The bait had no discernible scent, ensuring that Victoria remained unaware of the impending danger that lurked in the air.

"My job here is done," With a sly grin concealed beneath his hood, Stormwing believed his task was complete. He swiftly departed from the forest, cautious not to be caught between the Bone Dragon and Victoria. Fully aware of Victoria's limited cultivation at the Core Strengthening stage, Stormwing knew she would be defenseless against a formidable Fusion stage Bone Dragon.

From his hidden perch, Michael kept a keen eye on Stormwing's every move, his mind racing with calculations and strategies.

Moments after Stormwing's departure, a distant rumble echoed through the forest, catching Michael's attention. He knew that such a sound was impossible, for the sky above was clear and devoid of any storm clouds. Recognizing the peculiar noise as the Bone Dragon's thunderous wings, Michael understood that the powerful and deranged creature was heading straight for Victoria's location.

Unaware of the imminent danger, Victoria continued her peaceful cultivation on the ground. The tranquility around her soon gave way to an eerie darkness as the colossal creature approached, its monstrous form casting an ominous shadow on the forest floor. The trees quivered violently in response to the Bone Dragon's immense power.

Suddenly, Victoria's eyes snapped open, a surge of instinctive alertness coursing through her. She sensed a formidable presence nearby, a feeling of danger that sent shivers down her spine. However, she was unable to detect Michael, the Dark Lord, as he skillfully concealed himself within the darkness, a master of blending in and remaining hidden.

As the Bone Dragon drew nearer, the ground trembled under its immense weight, and the air seemed to grow colder, carrying the scent of danger that Victoria couldn't ignore. Little did she know that this creature had been driven to madness after being imprisoned for decades, and it was now on a destructive path, seeking to unleash its fury upon any living being it encountered.

Michael silently observed the scene as the Bone Dragon descended through the thick canopy, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, much like a raging storm. Its skeletal form, devoid of flesh, gave it an eerie and sinister appearance. With its crimson red eyes emanating a palpable killing intent, the dragon's immense size instilled fear in Victoria's heart.

The Bone Dragon's eyes locked onto Victoria, a live and breathing human, and its roars echoed through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath them. The dragon's hatred for humans, stemming from its long captivity, fueled its aggression upon seeing Victoria. It lunged at her with a ferocious snap, aiming to devour her in a single gulp.

Victoria's instincts kicked in, and she swiftly evaded the Bone Dragon's massive jaw, narrowly escaping its deadly bite. Panic surged within her as she realized her sword was left behind at the now extinguished campfire. With each step the dragon took, the forest around them crumbled, uprooting trees like mere twigs.

Desperate to defend herself, Victoria tried to cast spells, but before she could muster enough energy, the Bone Dragon's bone claws struck her with devastating force. She was sent hurtling through the shattered trees, leaving her body battered and bleeding. In agony, Victoria coughed up blood, her dress torn and covered in mud.

Her leg and arms broken from a single strike, Victoria reached for her space ring that had fallen off her finger during the fall. Crawling backward, she sought her only hope of survival – a teleportation scroll within the space ring. However, the Bone Dragon was relentless, closing in with each thunderous step. Fighting back tears, Victoria clutched a broken branch with her good hand, trying to stand despite her injuries.

"I am sorry Evan," In the midst of pain and despair, she whispered an apology to Evan, reflecting on the cruel twists of fate that had led her to this dire moment.

"Come on, you ugly son of a bitch!" Victoria roared in defiance, refusing to yield without a fight. Though facing a seemingly insurmountable foe, she refused to give up her will to survive.

The Bone Dragon sensed Victoria's fear and reveled in her suffering, enjoying the taste of vengeance against humans. As it advanced towards her, she clenched her fists, ready to face her doom with courage, despite knowing she stood no chance against the colossal beast.

Just as the dragon's jaws were about to close around her, a sudden figure appeared, landing boldly between Victoria and the monstrous creature. It was Michael, the Dark Lord himself. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the chaotic situation.

"Ever heard of mouthwash?" Michael taunted the dragon before delivering a powerful punch that sent the creature tumbling to the ground. Victoria's eyes widened in shock and terror, unable to comprehend the sight before her. She had believed the Dark Lord to be dead, but here he stood, very much alive and powerful as ever.

"Let me take care of this bug," Michael declared with a confident smile, assuring Victoria that he had everything under control. Before she could react, he raised his hand, releasing a knockout potion that quickly overwhelmed her senses. Victoria collapsed to the ground, her fears and worries momentarily subdued by the potion's effects.

After gently knocking out Victoria to ensure she remained safe, Michael turned his attention to the suffering Bone Dragon. He could sense the deep scars of torture etched into its very being, which ignited a spark of empathy within him. Determined to end the dragon's torment, Michael chose to end its life swiftly and mercifully.

With a solemn expression, Michael leaped onto the dragon's bone head, looking into its crimson eyes filled with hatred and pain. He understood the dragon's history of suffering at the hands of humans, and he didn't wish to cause it any more pain than it had already endured.

Summoning the Soul Eater skill, Michael placed his hands gently on each side of the dragon's face. In an instant, a connection formed between them, and they locked eyes. Michael's immense power overwhelmed the dragon's feeble resistance, allowing him to absorb its soul without inflicting further harm.

As the process unfolded, a faint white wisp of smoke emerged from the depths of the dragon's eyes, gracefully coiling into Michael. It was a poignant moment, witnessing the dragon's pain slowly dissipate, and its soul finding peace in the embrace of the Dark Lord's power. Michael's expression softened, as he knew he had granted the creature a final release from its suffering.

"Now it's time to turn Evan against Salesi," Michael said with a sinister smile, his mind already plotting the perfect revenge. Little did Salesi know that Michael had outsmarted her, recording the conversation she had with Stormwing about assassinating Victoria. Despite Salesi's protective artifact, Michael ingeniously devised a long-range camera using arch energy crystals and Elidyr's runes to bypass her defenses.

The camera captured every damning word, and Michael stored the evidence in a recording crystal, a commonplace item in this world. With Victoria now safe from the assassination attempt, Michael held the key to exposing Salesi's deceitful scheme. He felt a sense of triumph, knowing that with this recording, he could easily turn Evan against Salesi and make her pay for her crossing paths with him. The thought of watching Salesi's downfall brought a wicked glint to Michael's eyes as he reveled in his cleverness.