It was Edel where Batori and Quinlen faced each other. Anyone could see that Batori had the home field advantage in this fight, as more Edel reinforcements would eventually arrive. Batori gave Quinlen an acid stare.
“You think you’re in a position to have such a big mouth?”
Despite Batori’s provocation, however, Quinlen’s demeanor remained composed.
“Do you think you can hold us down with the Edel soldiers or the Blood Assassins?”
“…What?”
“My men and I are the elite unit of the great Keith Empire. You’ll be dead before your reinforcements arrive.”
Quinlen was not afraid to fight in the middle of enemy territory. The soldiers that infiltrated Edel were highly skilled and handpicked by the Emperor to rescue Amanda. No number of Blood Assassins could hope to win against them.
Batori ground his teeth at the man’s bold impudence.
“Then I’ll see for myself if you have such ability.”
“Be my guest.”
Batori made a gesture, and the Blood Assassins behind him dashed forward. Despite their numbers, their swift footsteps did not leave a sound. The Keith soldiers showed no fear, and Quinlen confidently held his ground.
Chaaang!
The two forces clashed, and Quinlen gave a short command to his nearest support.
“Tell the other units the signal we just saw.”
Hopefully, there were troops nearby that could go ahead of Quinlen and secure Amanda’s safety as soon as possible.
“Understood.”
The man bowed and immediately peeled away from the fight. Suddenly—
Hwiiig!
Quinlen instinctively twisted his body, and Batori’s sword flashed at the spot where Quinlen was just a moment before. Batori’s eyes glistened at Quinlen’s cat-like maneuver.
“How dare you look down at me.”
“As you can see, I can avoid you without even looking.”
The edge of Batori’s mouth twitched at Quinlen’s taunt.
“You used to be less mouthy in the past. When did you get to be this bad?”
“Don’t pretend to be friendly.”
Chaang!
Batori’s attack was too quick for the eye to follow, but Quinlen blocked it as if he had read the other man’s mind. Since both were assassins, their fighting styles were much more stealthy and quick than the average knight, meant to precisely target their opponent’s weak spot.
Paas!
Quinlen delivered a swift kick to Batori’s chin. The other man rotated his body to absorb the attack, then he stepped back at a distance, swearing as he wiped blood from his mouth.
“That’s pretty good.”
“…”
Quinlen’s face was determinedly blank, and he did not deign Batori a response. It was Batori that spoke again.
“Why don’t you join my side?”
“No thank you.”
“Don’t you think it will be better if we join forces? Anyone who has ever been targeted by us has never lived.”
Batori was admittedly impressed by Quinlen’s incredible abilities. Perhaps because they were the same kind of fighter, Batori could keenly see the skill behind Quinlen’s every move. Assassins, unlike ordinary knights, specialized in silently and quickly taking lives. Quinlen would be even more intimidating in the shadows, as Batori was.
Quinlen frowned at the other man.
“You talk a lot of nonsense.”
“I liked you from the beginning.”
It was true. Batori had a good feeling ever since he first met Quinlen. He pointed his sword at Quinlen in preparation for an attack.
“It’s really a waste that I’ll have to kill you then.”
Chang! Chaang!
Batori delivered blow after blow, but Quinlen blocked each one and swung his sword at Batori. But Batori was also not easily beaten. In the blink of an eye, their swords clashed a half dozen times. Between that, Quinlen spoke.
“If we don’t kill you anyway, we’re going to be killed. What’s the point?”
Batori smiled at Quinlen’s way of thinking.
“You’re just like me. Unfortunately, we’re not on the same side…and I need you to die here. I wish I didn’t have to leave you as an enemy.”
“That is if you can kill me.”
Quinlen thrust his sword, but Batori countered it, forcing his weapon sideways.
Quinlen and Batori were engaged in a battle decided by a hair’s width of a difference in ability, but not so for the others around them. The Blood Assassins were slowly falling to the ground one by one. Just as Quinlen claimed, the elite soldiers of the Keith Empire were far superior. They could not linger long in Edel though, and the Keith soldiers began to surround Batori. It soon became a one-sided fight.
Puuk!
Someone’s sword cut through Batori’s side. Another sword flashed from a different direction and pierced him. Unable to withstand attacks from multiple sides, Batori was forced to fall.
“Heog heog.”
Batori breathed roughly through his mouth, a smile on his face as he stared at Quinlen. Despite the grin on his mouth,a sadness in his expression could not be hidden.
“…I could have achieved more.”
Had it not been for Amanda’s interference, he could have succeeded in assassinating Oliver. Luke would have been crowned emperor and Batori would have the future he wanted. Now that he met his death in a place he never thought possible, he could not help but feel bitter.
Quinlen walked over to the weakened and helpless Batori. The man lifted his head, but he smiled as usual.
“I’m glad you’ve beaten me now, but if the masters we served changed positions, it would turn out different.”
“I know.”
“Good. I don’t know what it will be like at the end, but at this moment, you were stronger.”
“…”
“Do you have any intention of saving me? I don’t have any sense of loyalty, but you can make the offer I made you…”
“You shouldn’t have touched her.”
“Wh-what?”
Swiig.
Quinlen held up his sword to Batori’s neck and delivered the last words he would hear from another person.
“Her Majesty the Empress.”
Seogeog!
Quinlen’s blade cut Batori’s throat. Blood spurted from his mouth, but he made an effort to speak.
“I didn’t want to live like this…one day you will die just like me…”
He took his last living breath and his body collapsed sideways. Quinlen turned around with an expressionless face and replied in a low voice.
“I know.”
Death has always been near Quinlen since he was very young. Whenever he killed someone, he imagined that he would die just like that. But these days…
Death actually scared him a little.
He stared at his blood-stained sword, and immediately looked up to see the elite Keith soldiers in front of him. He opened his mouth and spoke in a level voice.
“I’m going to find Her Majesty where I saw the signal.”
The most important thing right now was to find Amanda, and there was not much time left.