Hitman with a Badass System
chapter-1011

Lord Information, the wise and serene elf with flowing blonde hair, sat in his study behind a magnificent mahogany table adorned with flickering candles in delicate holders. The room was a sanctuary of knowledge, with book racks lining the walls, filled to the brim with ancient tomes, weathered scrolls, and carefully preserved parchments. The shelves overflowed with the accumulated wisdom of countless generations.

In this sanctuary of knowledge, Lord Information was engrossed in his studies, surrounded by a sea of scrolls that he meticulously perused. His sharp eyes danced across the ancient text, absorbing the profound knowledge and insights contained within. As his fingertips delicately unfurled each scroll, the room suddenly quivered, a faint tremor that only he could perceive.

Lord Information, attuned to the subtle vibrations of the world, sensed the disturbance and paused. With a composed demeanor, he tapped his slender fingers upon the smooth mahogany table in a rhythm known only to him—a coded language between him and the enchantments that surrounded him. The table responded, and two intricate runes, resembling eyes, glimmered with ethereal light.

As the runes sparked to life, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Hidden mechanisms whirred into action, revealing a small potion nestled within the heart of the table. The vial glinted with a silvery radiance, catching the flickering candlelight. Lord Information's calm gaze fixed upon the glistening orb as its secrets were unveiled.

With a gentle yet purposeful touch, Lord Information reached out, his fingertips hovering above the gleaming orb. His aura of wisdom and calmness remained unshaken, even as anticipation coursed through his veins. The room was hushed, the only sound the soft rustling of parchment and the beating of his own heart.

The room reverberated with a subtle hum as the silver orb emitted a soft, melodic tone. Lord Information, his heart brimming with reverence, rose from his chair and gracefully sank to one knee upon the floor.

"Humble servant of the Divine Goddess Seraphine, I offer my greetings," Lord Information spoke, his head respectfully bowed. Unbeknownst to the world, Lord Information was among the hidden devotees of Seraphine, the Goddess of Information. Seraphine's power derived from the vast accumulation of knowledge provided by her followers.

Within an intricate network of information, Seraphine acted as the central hub. Whenever her devotees sought knowledge, she would gather information shared by others and provide it to those in need. This unique connection allowed Lord Information to possess exclusive and invaluable insights that eluded the grasp of ordinary mortals.

"Arise, Thelian," Seraphine's voice resonated from the luminous orb, addressing Lord Information by his true name, Thelian Whisperwind. Only Seraphine and Thelian himself knew this deeply personal connection.

"Andohr, the High God, has granted me permission to aid Noah Winston, Thelian. It is time for the long-awaited meeting of the two brothers upon the battlefield," Seraphine declared.

Thelian, upon hearing these words from his goddess, felt a shiver cascade down his spine. He had witnessed the immense power wielded by the Dark Lord, and the devastating aftermath that unfolded whenever he clashed with the mortal realm. The thought of the Dark Lord, a god in his own right, engaging in a cataclysmic battle with his twin brother Noah, also a god, sent chills through Thelian's soul.

"The Dark Lord has acquired two god-killing arrows forged by Qin Jiu, and Noah possesses two as well. Unfortunately, the Dark Lord has obtained the upper hand in this regard. To vanquish the Dark Lord, Noah must wield all eight arrows at his disposal. Since acquiring the Dark Lord's arrows is not within our grasp, we must assist Noah in locating the rest while the Dark Lord is absent from the mortal realm," Seraphine urgently conveyed, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

Thelian listened intently, understanding the critical importance of their mission. The fate of the world hung in the balance, and it was his divine duty to guide Noah on this perilous path. With Seraphine's guidance and the wisdom he had amassed, Thelian would ensure that Noah possessed the tools necessary to confront the Dark Lord, their fateful encounter drawing ever closer.

"Now, Thelian, I shall entrust you with the vital information regarding the possible locations of the remaining god-killing arrows. It is imperative that you personally deliver this map into Noah's hands. I am well aware that the Dark Lord's minions are keeping a watchful eye on you, but you must not falter in this crucial task," Seraphine declared.

As she spoke, a golden map adorned with glowing points materialized on the table beside the shimmering orb, illuminating the room with its radiant presence.

"Divine Goddess, please forgive your humble devotee for daring to question your wisdom, but as far as my understanding goes, Noah will be unable to defeat the Dark Lord without all eight god-killing arrows. With the Dark Lord already in possession of two arrows, Noah's chances of victory seem slim," Thelian voiced his concerns.

Seraphine responded with unwavering serenity, addressing Thelian's query.

"The same holds true for the Dark Lord. Without all eight arrows, he too will be unable to vanquish Noah. Thus, the outcome of their battle will depend on Noah's skill and resourcefulness in somehow wresting the Dark Lord's two arrows from his grasp, thereby harnessing the combined power of all eight to deliver the final blow," Seraphine explained.

"In which realm will this ultimate confrontation take place, divine goddess?" Thelian inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"If everything transpires according to Andohr's plan, the final battle shall unfold in the realm of Akilan," Seraphine revealed, her words resonating with a sense of destiny and inevitability.

"Thus far, you have displayed remarkable skill in maintaining your guise as an information merchant. Neither the Dark Lord nor Noah suspects your true allegiance to me. I implore you to continue concealing this fact for as long as possible, even after delivering the map to Noah. Should the Dark Lord emerge triumphant in his battle against Noah, only the divine pantheon would possess the power to vanquish him. However, given the current circumstances, the pantheon is unable to intervene directly in the mortal realm. Therefore, it is crucial that all our devoted followers remain vigilant and keep a watchful eye on the Dark Lord for as long as we can," Seraphine advised, her voice resonating with a sense of urgency and caution.

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Neela and Alvaro soared through the vast expanse of the evening sky, their wings carrying them gracefully over the world below. The sun began its descent, casting a warm golden glow across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Wispy clouds scattered across the canvas, creating a breathtaking tapestry against the fading light.

As they flew, Neela and Alvaro looked down upon the sprawling forest that stretched out beneath them. The dense canopy of trees, adorned in shades of emerald and jade, appeared like a lush carpet blanketing the earth. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor.

As Neela and Alvaro soared through the vast sky, a heavy silence hung between them. Alvaro, who worked as a double agent for the Dark Lord, felt a growing unease in the absence of conversation. The risks he took by serving both sides weighed heavily on his mind. Among the members of Noah's elite unit, Neela's unwavering loyalty to their leader made Alvaro particularly cautious. In recent weeks, he had sensed that Neela might have noticed something amiss, suspecting his true allegiance.

Attempting to gauge her suspicions, Alvaro cautiously broke the silence. "Is something bothering you, Neela?" he inquired, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Neela's response was initially curt. "Nothing," she replied. Alvaro, positioned behind her in flight, couldn't discern her expression. However, after a brief pause, Neela spoke again, suggesting they take a break to conserve their energy. She guided them towards a tranquil mountaintop, its peaceful ambiance contrasting with the turmoil in Alvaro's heart.

Serving the Dark Lord had brought Alvaro considerable wealth, but it also entailed grave risks. The presence of the fallen gods and the increasing influence of the Skyhall in the mortal realm meant that enemies of the Dark Lord were multiplying by the day. Alvaro understood that severing ties with the Dark Lord would result in dire consequences, possibly costing him his life. He found himself caught in a perilous web, entangled too deeply to extricate himself easily.

Neela's gaze lingered upon the expanse of the crystal ocean, stretching far into the distance under the shimmering moonlight and starry night sky. The beauty of the tranquil scene was momentarily overshadowed by the weight of her thoughts. With a deep breath, she mustered the courage to address the growing doubts that plagued her.

"You've changed, Alvaro," Neela spoke softly, her words hanging in the air. The impact of her statement sent a jolt through Alvaro's heart, making it skip a beat.

Trying to mask his unease with a playful tone, Alvaro responded, "What do you mean? Are you just messing with me?" He forced a chuckle, hoping to deflect the seriousness of the situation.

Neela remained still, her back turned towards him, as she grappled with her inner turmoil. Though lacking concrete evidence of Alvaro's betrayal, her instincts screamed that something was amiss. Three weeks prior, a death squad loyal to the Dark Lord had ruthlessly attacked a supposed safehouse that Neela herself had fabricated, leading her fellow elite unit members to believe Noah was hiding there. The safehouse's existence had been shared only among the elite soldiers, making the targeted attack all the more suspicious.

Furthermore, Neela had uncovered a startling revelation during her investigations into the wealth and backgrounds of her comrades prior to the Dark Lord's assault on their guardian guild. It had come to her attention that Alvaro had recently acquired opulent manors and vineyards across the Awor continent. The timing and nature of his newfound affluence raised her suspicions further.

In addition, whenever Elara Valren dispatched a group of elite soldiers to apprehend nobles suspected of colluding with the Dark Lord, they were met with unexpected resistance. Despite the Dark Lord's obliteration of their guardian guild and the massacre of their fellow guardians, Neela remained steadfast in her loyalty to Noah, the Supreme Guardian.

Yearning for her instincts to be proven wrong, Neela turned to face Alvaro, her expression a mix of concern and urgency. "Alvaro, please, you have to be honest with me. We're friends. If there's something you need to tell me, please do so before we meet with Noah." Her words hung in the air, the weight of their significance palpable in the silence that followed.

Neela's eyes welled up with tears as her fists clenched in frustration and anxiety. She could see Alvaro's lips trembling and a peculiar glint in his eyes. The signs were clear: Alvaro was undoubtedly concealing something, and it weighed heavily on Neela's heart. But before he could speak, a sudden surge of fear shot through her body, causing the hair on her neck to stand on end.

"Look out!" Alvaro's voice rang out urgently, his instincts kicking into action. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged forward, propelling Neela out of harm's way. Time seemed to slow as Neela's senses sharpened, registering the imminent danger. In the blink of an eye, an arrow materialized from the shadows, hurtling through the air with deadly precision.

Alvaro's selfless act of protection came at a terrible cost. The arrow found its mark, piercing through his chest with a sickening thud.

Neela's gaze shifted upward, her tear-filled eyes widening in terror as she witnessed a haunting sight unfold before her. Emerging from the shadows of the evening sky were figures cloaked in ominous dark robes, their presence emanating an aura of malevolence. The air crackled with an unsettling energy, sending shivers down Neela's spine.

As the figures drew nearer, a chilling realization washed over her. From beneath the depths of their black hoods, gleaming white fangs glistened with a predatory hunger. These were none other than the minions of the Dark Lord, the dreaded vampires who served as his relentless enforcers. Neela's heart sank as she comprehended the dire truth—they had been ambushed.

The vampire minions descended with an eerie grace, their dark forms gliding through the air like phantoms. Their eyes burned with an unholy crimson glow, fixated on their wounded prey. Neela's instincts screamed at her to flee, to escape this deadly trap, but her determination to protect her fallen comrade and unravel the mysteries surrounding Alvaro's true allegiance anchored her in place.