Potion Proliferation Arc: Chapter 9.
The hidden potion laboratory has become a messy battleground. All light sources were snuffed out due to the highly intense battle inside. Several vials and exotic ingredients were scattered all over the ground.
It was dark yet hardly an issue for the combatants, except for one. Lyle Cass had difficulties seeing in the dark. He could only barely discern several faint slashes in the distance. Mary Anne Grace's battle with the other darkened assassin was almost a blur.
Lyle Cass reached for the faintly glowing yellow potion but was intercepted by the darkened assassin, quickly throwing a knife, and shattering the potion's vial.
"That's enough. I don't want you to die from potion sickness before I've had my fun with you."
The darkened assassin added while playfully juggling his daggers. Treating the battle akin to a small game hunt rather than a proper fight. They then disappeared in an instant.
"Oomph!" Frizz grunted as a powerful kick connected to his chest, pushing him against a tall wardrobe and shattering it since it was mostly decayed.
(This really hurts! What the hell!?)
He thought, almost collapsing to the ground while barely blocking another powerful straight kick. Spotting the unmistakable glint of a thrown knife, he sharply moved his head aside.
The knife barely missed, and his left cheek lightly bled.
⟐⟐⟐
Mary Anne Grace's fight was faring better. She was parrying several dagger stabs left and right while gracefully dodging thrown sharp objects.
(To think that a small trip to the library would bring me here. Two assassins and the most surprising of all, the class showoff is here.)
Her swift movements and rapier mastery were enough to keep the darkened assassin at bay. However, even then, she was mostly fighting defensively.
(Now, this is troubling. This assassin is skilled when it comes to feints and fakes. Not only that, a rapier against two long daggers isn't ideal. This is a bad match-up.)
She thought while finger flicking another thrown knife with her free hand. The darkened assassin took advantage of the small distraction since she was focused on her thoughts.
(If I take too much time then Mr. Showoff will die. He's severely outmatched but that other assassin is currently toying with him. That arrogance will buy some time.)
She thought, stealing a glance at her classmate, Lyle Cass whose face was bruised due to being kicked multiple times. *Shing!*
Her rapier counterattack was deflected, leaving her wide open. The darkened assassin dashed forward, not wasting an open opportunity.
*Whack!* The darkened assassin was sent back. Mary Anne Grace delivered a straight left jab. She then sheathed the rapier and cracked her knuckles.
(Close-quarters combat it is.)
"Ha! Let's see you fight without a rapier!" The darkened assassin laughed, amused.
⟐⟐⟐
"Guh!"
The side-effects and drawbacks of activating multiple martial skills came down to Lyle Cass. A painful headache followed by a shortness of breath. He fell to his knees, lowering his head.
The darkened assassin limited himself with leg attacks, toying with the target. His eyes squinted in glee, not only was this assassination a job but also a hobby.
"I love- love weaklings like you."
(Holy shit, this is so realistic. The pain is so goddamned real! This simulation is too amazing!)
Lyle Cass thought, breathing hard and feeling every damage on his body. He couldn't help but be joyful and terrified at the same time.
"Man..... you're a disappointment."
The darkened assassin said and sighed, scratching his head with the dull spine of a dagger and clicking his tongue. From his perspective, his target was down for the count.
"What a shame! You didn't even do anything. Seriously, were there no useful effects in those three potions you gulped?"
The darkened assassin taunted while looking down and sighing. Lyle Cass felt the sand in right hand, the floor of the laboratory was unfinished. It had a lot of cracks and gaps. He then slowly crumpled the sand in his hand.
"There is one glaring issue with your darkened form. It reveals your glaring eyes."
Lyle Cass muttered, buying time while the darkened assassin paused. Curious in what the target had to say about his shadowed form.
"The feeling of ending the life of your target while they stare straight into your eyes. It's arousing and exciting." The darkened assassin admitted, his voice happily shaking.
"Sure, but it also leaves it vulnerable."
Lyle Cass added, throwing the sand to the darkened assassin's eyes, blinding him. He hurried to pick up a small stool, using it as an improvised weapon.
"AH! You cowardly piece of shit!"
*Whack!* The darkened assassin was then hit in the head by a stool, disorienting and staggering him.
"Power Boost! Greater Power Boost! Strength Ward!"
Lyle Cass shouted, activating two martial skills and sending a powerful straight punch to the darkened assassin's chest. Briefly catching the attention of Mary Anne Grace. *Whomp!*
The darkened assassin was instantly knocked out cold and sent back, hitting and staggering the other darkened assassin. Sensing the opportunity, Mary Anne Grace rushed several quick disarming jabs, aimed at the vital points.
The darkened assassin wheezed then finally collapsed, lying atop the unconscious body of his partner. Two students have defeated the two Cute Puppy Assassins.
Lyle Cass collapsed, huffing and puffing. His vision and consciousness slowly faded, staring at the earthy ceiling. Several soft clicking of a heel drew nearer then stopped.
Mary Anne Grace, the rapier queen, was looking down while opening a healing potion and then pouring it into his face, some of the potion even went inside his nose.
Lyle Cass stood up, the bruises on his face faded while his stamina was somewhat replenished. He wheezed and coughed while clearing his nose.
"At least pour it in my mouth! What's wrong with you!?"
"Tell me everything that happened here. Now."
Mary Anne Grace ordered while dusting off her uniform and covering her mouth. The whole laboratory had a lot of airborne dust.
Lyle Cass was having difficulties breathing, his face may have healed but his body didn't. It was still injured and hurt all over.
"That herbalist teacher, Alanna Steppes, has an illegal potion-making laboratory. I saw her with an illegal ingredient and that led me here. If it weren't for you, curiosity would've killed the cat."
He explained, eyes darting uneasily. He was unable to maintain eye contact since her gaze was intense and piercing.
(Why is she wearing a school uniform on a Sunday? Wait, now that I think about it, she hardly dresses anything else.)
"I see, she's a cat abuser." Mary Anne Grace nodded, misunderstanding the metaphor. "That will add to the list of her crimes."
"What?" Lyle Cass muttered.
The duo then snapped in high alert upon hearing several descending steps. The duo hid behind an overturned desk, peering straight through the table's hole.
"Damned assassins, not even telling me that their job was done. I paid for quality service!"
It was Alanna Steppes, the herbalist, coming back to her hidden lab. Her expression lightened upon seeing her laboratory still in one piece. However, it turned to terror upon stepping on the unconscious bodies of the two hired assassins.
"N-n-no. They were the best! They promised they were the best!" Alanna Steppes hurried back to the stairway but was grabbed by the back of her neck. She tries to free herself but it was useless.
Mary Anne Grace's grip tightened, further dissuading her from trying to loosen the iron grip.
"How'd she get there so fast!? From here to the stairway, that was at least 15 meters!"
Lyle Cass said in surprise, amazed.
"Teacher Alanna Steppes. I will restrain you in part of a citizen's arrest. You are assumed guilty for the following crimes: Potion Prohibition Avoidance, Harvesting and Carry of Illegal Ingredients, Intent to Sell Banned Potions, and Animal Abuse: Feline."
Mary Anne Grace added the offenses while restraining Alanna Steppes' limbs with a rope.
"Animal Abuse? What?"
Lyle Cass and Alanna Steppe both confusingly asked in perfect unison.