Once properly mastered, it could significantly increase a Blood Warrior's combat ability and even allow someone to challenge opponents above their normal level.
"According to this, people without Martial Arts Talent might be able to imitate the basic form of a Low-level technique, but they'll have great difficulty truly mastering it. Medium-level techniques demand even more."
Ryan continued reading.
"Although Silas possessed a Medium-level knife technique, unfortunately, he didn't have Martial Arts Talent."
Thinking back to the battle, Ryan couldn't help feeling somewhat fortunate.
If Silas had possessed genuine Martial Arts Talent and completely mastered Shadow Claw, the assassination attempt would have been far more dangerous.
---
Late at night, inside a private villa some distance from the main district, Connor Blake sat on a sofa with an ugly expression. The drinking party downstairs had been going on for hours. Music, laughter, and the occasional drunken shout could still be heard through the walls.
Standing not far from Connor was Marcus, one of his friends and the person who had originally introduced him to Shadow. At this moment, Connor was extremely annoyed. Three full days had passed, yet there had been no news from Shadow.
"Marcus, what kind of bullshit assassin did you recommend to me?" Connor's voice was cold. "Three days. There's been no news at all. Did that bastard take my money and run?"
Marcus frowned. "That shouldn't be possible. Shadow is greedy for money, and he always demands payment in advance, but his reputation has always been good. Once he accepts a commission, he completes it."
Connor sneered. "Then where is he? Ryan isn't some family patriarch surrounded by guards all day. He's just a martial academy student. You're telling me Shadow can't find an opportunity to kill him in three days?"
Marcus hesitated. "Maybe he took another commission at the same time. Or perhaps he's waiting until Ryan lowers his guard."
Connor's expression remained ugly. "He'd better be. Otherwise, I'll let Shadow understand exactly what happens when someone takes money from the Blake family and fails to deliver."
Marcus shook his head. "I think you're worrying too much."
Connor waved his hand impatiently. "Enough."
Marcus understood and stood. "I'll ask around tomorrow."
He turned and left the room. Connor remained sitting there for another moment before reaching for the wine beside him.
Neither man knew that Shadow would never answer them again.
...
Several hours later, the villa had finally fallen silent.
The party was over. Most of the young men and women inside had drunk far too much and simply collapsed into whatever bedrooms were available.
Across the street, Ryan stood beneath the darkness of a tree and watched the villa quietly. It was already deep into the night, and almost no movement remained inside.
Ryan adjusted the dark clothing covering his body and pulled his mask firmly into place. His paired sabers rested at his waist, while a dagger was hidden beneath his clothes.
Then—
Shadow Talent activated.
Ryan's figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.
He crossed the street. The courtyard fence presented almost no obstacle, and Ryan passed through the shadows beside it before appearing silently inside the property.
No one noticed.
He approached the villa. One of the rear windows had been left partly open, which wasn't surprising considering the state everyone inside was in.
Ryan opened it carefully and slipped through. His feet touched the kitchen floor without making a sound.
He remained still, listening.
Heavy snoring came from deeper inside the building.
Ryan moved through the kitchen. The living room beyond was empty, with wine bottles and glasses scattered everywhere.
He ignored them and continued forward.
The first bedroom door was slightly open. Ryan looked inside and saw a man sleeping soundly beside a woman.
Neither had noticed him.
Ryan entered quietly, his dagger appearing in his hand. The man never had the opportunity to properly wake before Ryan struck.
The sudden movement disturbed the woman beside him. Her eyes slowly opened, confusion appearing on her face.
Before she could understand what she was seeing or call out, Ryan struck again.
The room became silent.
Ryan withdrew and proceeded to the next room. Another guest was sleeping alone.
The result was the same.
Quick and quiet.
Then Ryan reached the third bedroom.
He pushed the door open, and the scene inside made his expression twitch slightly. Three grown men and two women were crowded together on one large bed, apparently having collapsed there after the party.
Among those three men was Marcus.
Connor's friend.
The man who had recommended Shadow.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he was here as well.
Marcus and the others were sleeping heavily. Ryan approached the bed and reached for his dagger, then paused.
Five people.
Killing one quietly didn't guarantee the other four wouldn't wake.
His hand moved instead toward the saber at his waist. The blade came free as Ryan stepped forward.
The first man barely stirred before Ryan struck him, but the saber caught and failed to come free immediately.
Ryan didn't waste time trying to pull it loose. The dagger appeared in his other hand.
Marcus had begun waking.
His eyes opened, and before his drunken mind could understand why a masked figure was standing beside the bed, Ryan was already upon him.
Marcus never managed to shout.
Ryan immediately turned toward the third man. By now, he had awakened completely.
"What the—"
Ryan drove forward.
The dagger struck before the man could properly defend himself, but this time the weapon caught as well.
Ryan released it.
The two women were awake now. For several seconds, they only stared at the masked intruder standing beside the bed.
Then one of them screamed.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Ryan's expression tightened.
So much for remaining unnoticed.
He tore his saber free.
One of the women desperately tried to scramble away while the other, panicked and confused, grabbed the first thing within reach and tried to fight back.
Ryan avoided the wild attack easily. She had just awakened, had been drinking heavily, and possessed neither proper equipment nor anything approaching Ryan's current combat ability.
The struggle lasted only several seconds.
Then Ryan turned toward the door.
"Who goes there?!"
"Someone broke in!"
The screams had awakened the villa. Doors opened throughout the hallway as confused voices filled the building.
Ryan pulled his second saber free.
Two men rushed out of a nearby room almost simultaneously. They barely had time to see the masked figure standing in the corridor before Ryan moved.
Slash!
Slash!
The first man's attack was knocked aside, and Ryan's other saber immediately followed.
The man fell backward.
The second tried to strike Ryan from the side. Ryan turned into him, and another rapid exchange followed. Steel rang through the hallway before the second man went down as well.
Ryan glanced at them.
Neither was Connor.
More people had appeared at the doors. Some were men, some were women. Most were still half asleep and confused, while a few had weapons.
Ryan didn't care.
He wasn't here to kill everybody.
He was here for Connor.
Anyone who remained out of his way was irrelevant. Those who attacked him would face the consequences.
Several people immediately retreated when the masked attacker looked toward them.
Ryan continued forward.
Then—
A faint sound came from above.
His instincts suddenly screamed.
Ryan threw himself aside.
BOOM!
A greatsword smashed through part of the upper floor and railing where Ryan had been standing moments earlier. Wood fragments scattered across the hallway.
Ryan raised his head.
A young man stood above him, gripping a greatsword with both hands.
Connor.
The earlier screams and fighting had sobered him considerably. Before coming out, Connor had already activated the distress signal he carried. The Blake family would soon know that something had happened.
Connor stared down at the masked intruder.
He couldn't see his face.
All he could make out were dark clothes, two sabers, and a pair of eyes behind a mask.