Northern Dipper had been building up momentum for a long time. Now, as he erupted without warning, he moved with astonishing speed, reaching the early Integration-stage assassin in an instant. His right hand flashed out, Ghost Hand's dagger slashing straight for the man's throat.
"Who?"
The early Integration-stage assassin sensed something wrong the instant Northern Dipper drew near, and his expression changed drastically. He had not sensed anyone beside him at all before this—how had this person suddenly appeared at his side?
But at that moment, his assassin's instincts took over. He immediately abandoned his pursuit of Mars, tilting his body aside to evade the vital point at his throat.
Slash!
Ghost Hand still struck the assassin, but he had avoided the fatal spot. The blade nevertheless sliced across his neck, blood spraying into the air as black patterns immediately spread out from the wound on his neck.
"Argh!"
After a scream, the assassin instantly retreated. At the same time, his early Integration-stage cultivation erupted as he struck a palm toward the direction from which the dagger had come.
Northern Dipper did not linger. The moment his attack landed, he retreated at once, barely avoiding the Integration-stage assassin's retaliatory strike.
However, just after Northern Dipper made his move, the mid-Integration-stage assassin attacked as well. Rather than continuing to pursue Mars, he charged directly at Northern Dipper.
He was deeply puzzled. In such absolute darkness, how could someone approach them without making a sound? Judging from the battle, the other party had clearly discovered them long ago and chosen the most critical moment to strike. Such a person was far more worth hunting than Mars.
Northern Dipper's expression immediately changed after being locked onto by the mid-Integration-stage assassin.
With his strength, he could ambush an early Integration-stage assassin. But facing a