Timeless Assassin

"Tell me honestly. Who are you really behind that mask?" Su Pei asked, as Dupravel couldn't help but chuckle at his childish question.

"Commander, respectfully….. If I wanted to reveal my identity to you, I would have done so when we first met. What makes you think that I'd change my mind mid battle?" Dupravel asked, as he once again began running away, forcing Su Pei to keep up.

However, now that Su Pei doubted his real identity, he no longer chased him with the same murderous intent as before, as he couldn't help but wonder as to why someone like Dupravel Nuna would defect to the Cult?

"You remind me of an old beast I once knew. A Blackserpent Guildmaster by the name of Dupravel Nuna. Word is, the Cult executed him not long ago.

But looking at you now, I can't shake the feeling that you're him.

What I don't understand is why a man like you would ever side with the Cult?

You hated the Cult to your core the last time we met.

You even killed their former Dragon, Noah Ashburn.

So why? Why are you standing with them now?" Su Pei asked once again, as somehow he couldn't shake off this gnawing feeling in his chest.

Wasn't loyalty to one's clan and faction supposed to be the ultimate goal of life?

Weren't you supposed to keep supporting your faction even if they mistreated you or suppressed you?

Then why? Why was Dupravel, who was one of the faces of the anti-cult movement, now fighting on their behalf?

'I need him to talk to me…. I need to understand what made him turn his back on the universal government.

Because that way…. Maybe, just maybe, I'll finally be able to understand why my second son chose to abandon the Su Clan.' Su Pei thought, as he sped up once more and decided to use his domain spell again.

[Heavenly Domain: Weight of the Ancients]

He unleashed the spell once more, as he created a massive crater on the city street and managed to make Dupravel buckle to his knees yet again.

"Stop, please, I beg of you. Tell me who you are and have a conversation with me, and in return, I swear I will allow you to land one clean blow on me, which I will not dodge." Su Pei offered, as Dupravel felt his eyes widen with shock.

He could hear the desperation behind Su Pei's voice, but he could not understand the reason behind it.

Why was the Monarch so desperate to hold a conversation with him?

Just what possibly did he wish to talk with a man trying to kill him?

The answer to these questions, Dupravel did not know.

However, what he did know was that an opportunity to land a clean blow was too good to miss.

"Alright, I'll answer your questions if you survive the blow first.

How does that sound?" Dupravel countered, as he did not trust the man enough to hold his word after he had given him what he wanted.

"No…. You're a snake and a member of the Evil Cult. You have no honor. I cannot trust your words." Su Pei retorted with the same argument, as Dupravel simply shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Fine by me, I never wanted to talk in the first place—" he said as he turned to sprint yet again, only for Su Pei to beg him to stop yet again.

"WAIT!"

Su Pei commanded, as Dupravel hesitated.

"Fine, I'll let you have your blow first…. Just promise to answer my questions later." Su Pei conceded, as once again Dupravel was left stunned by his choice.

Just how desperate was this man to hold this conversation?

What was it that he needed to know so badly?

"Very well…. If you survive, I swear on my honor to answer you to the best of my abilities— but that's only if you survive." Dupravel said, as he closed in for a blow, his killing intent erupting to its peak.

[The End Slash]

Dupravel used his ultimate beheading move, the end slash.

It was a monarch level technique capable of decapitating even dragons with a single strike.

However, much to his surprise, a powerful blue barrier blocked his blow right before the tip of his blade could touch Su Pei's neck, as a hidden life saving artefact seemed to have been triggered.

"You cheat!" Dupravel snarled, as Su Pei grinned ear to ear.

He had fulfilled his end of the bargain.

He had granted Dupravel a clean striking opportunity without putting up any defence, however, he had said nothing about lifesaving artefacts coming into play.

"Oops, I guess I forgot to mention about my lifesaving artefacts.

Well, in any case, you're honor bound to answer me now.

Don't worry, I won't cheapshot you while you're talking.

I do have honor of my own," Su Pei said, as Dupravel let out a long sigh and lowered his weapon.

"Yes, your assumptions about my identity are not false. I am exactly who you think I am, so move on, what's your second question?" Dupravel said without any emotion, as Su Pei nodded like he had expected this much.

"Why? Why join the Cult?" Su Pei asked without ceremony, as Dupravel let out a complex grin behind his mask.

"Why….?" He repeated, his tone filled with sarcasm.

"The question you should ask….. is why not?

Because, even after serving the righteous faction like a dog for my entire life, in the end I got nothing but betrayal.

My Precious Twin Fang Planet was destroyed.

My Blackserpent Guild….. was forcibly disbanded.

My best friend Antonio….. killed.

The treasure of MY guild, which I obtained myself from killing the previous dragon, was plundered before my own eyes…. And instead of being killed alongside my guild, I was instead given a new assassination mission.

This time in the heart of Cult Territory.

But even there I was set-up.

Mauriss played me and sent me to what was an assured death.

So is it any wonder why I switched sides?

I was treated no better than a disposable tissue inside the righteous faction, so I joined the Cult in hopes of earning my freedom, and finally living as a free man once I do." Dupravel replied, as Su Pei's eyes widened in surprise at his words.

Dupravel's response resonated with him at a deep level.

More than he cared to admit.