Fade sighed as he finished off the last of the pursuers. He didn’t expect to have used all of his needles. Though he could use his hair as a medium for [Enhancement], that would’ve been effective against normal people, but not against martial artists of this level, it wouldn’t even be able to penetrate their skin. 

After Fade gained inner energy and practiced with it he learned quite a few things. Those with inner energy have naturally stronger bodies. Unlike with mana were you would need to actively circulate it throughout your body and use a spell to strengthen yourself, inner energy could do that passively. 

When Fade didn’t have inner energy, he needed to use his [Enhancement] spell to strengthen himself so that he would be able to do things like jump higher and move faster. Yet now even without using [Enhancement] the inner energy within him has transformed his body. He might look the same on the outside, but his strength had increased drastically. 

Now he could do superhuman feats without even using [Enhancement] and his body had become harder. It was like a barrier was formed on his skin. 

.

Knowing the defensive qualities of the bodies of martial artists, Fade knew that he couldn’t use the same trick he did with the gang bosses. He needed to use his [Enhancement] spell on actual tools now. He had asked Harold to buy him the materials he needed. He now had several needles in his person, and the wires on his gloves were made of Graphene. Aside from those he was carrying various weapons hidden within his trench coat. 

After he had accepted that he was no longer the same legendary assassin as he was before, Fade went back to his roots. He was now treating himself as if he was still that young weak assassin he was at the beginning. So he did things as he did back then and had numerous weapons in his person. 

…

After Fade was done killing those that he needed to kill he was about to leave when he suddenly felt intense killing intent from behind him. Fade quickly did a sidestep and easily evaded the attack and saw who the newcomer was. It was none other than the current head of the Yui Clan, Yui Minato. 

“What is a filthy assassin doing in my territory? You’ve even killed my clan members, how dare you!” 

Minato was enraged as he took out his sword. Fade was already preparing his escape, as he was not commissioned to kill any other people except for the ten pursuers. Minato who was three meters away slashed at Fade who grew confused as to why Minato would attack using his sword with such a distance between them. Fade did not know why but his body moved quickly to the side. He then saw that the tree that was behind him was sliced in half. 

Fade was surprised by that move as this was the first time he saw someone use an external application for inner energy. That was pretty much similar to a sword wave the knights from his previous world would use. 

Minato was also surprised by how Fade evaded the blow after seeing it for the first time. Not many people who have seen the Yui Clan’s secret technique for the first time could dodge it. Though most clans had a similar technique called a sword wave, the Yui Clan’s secret technique was a more refined version of that. 

Using the sword as a medium the inner energy flows out as a precise invisible beam of energy. Compared to a normal sword wave this attack was faster and thinner not to mention its range was longer. Though the range of this attack depends on the user of the technique, the secret technique of the Yui Clan could go farther than any sword wave from other clans. The farthest recorded strike was performed by the legendary founder of the Yui Clan, and it reached more than two miles. Not to mention the strength of the technique, it could easily slice through reinforced steel. 

…

Even though he was surprised, Minato quickly changed tactics and charged at Fade. He could not use the secret technique too much since his inner energy reserves weren’t much. If the opponent was able to evade it even after a surprise attack, that would mean it won’t work. So He decided to fight Fade in close quarters combat. 

Seeing Minato charging at him, Fade waved his hands and the wires on his gloves started spreading around them. Fade then quickly used [Enhancement] on the wires to strengthen them. Minato slashed at the wires but to his surprise, he was not able to cut them, he then made his inner energy flow into his sword. This time he was able to cut the wires with some difficulty, then when he looked forward Fade had disappeared from his sight.

‘He couldn’t have gone too far.’ 

Minato closed his eyes and did not move an inch. On the other hand, Fade was hiding on a tree branch while using, [Shadow Threading]. He didn’t escape since he needed to distract Minato long enough so that John and the others could flee. 

‘I guess I should just subdue him and render him unconscious.’

As Fade decided on his next course of action he saw Minato open his eyes. Minato looked directly at Fade. Minato used the secret technique one more time slicing the tree Fade was standing on. 

Fade had easily predicted this move of Minato’s and evaded the strike with ease. As he was about to land on the ground, Minato came charging at him. Fade evaded the piercing strike by shifting his head to the side, he then used his legs to grab hold of Minato’s arm. Fade then twisted Minato’s arm that was holding the sword dislocating his shoulder. Fade then took some distance away from Minato.

“You better stop now, if you don’t want to get hurt more. You are no match for me.” 

“Are you looking down on me assassin?! If you’re so capable why won’t you kill me?!”

Minato was enraged by how much Fade was looking down on him. Even though he could not see Fade’s face due to the mask, Minato was imagining him looking at him like how the third elder looked at him when he left. Just thinking about that just made Minato even more enraged. 

“I really did want to kill you, but my employer doesn’t want that. As a professional, I do not just kill whoever I want.” 

“… Is your employer John?” 

“I have no obligation to answer you.” 

“How about you work for me instead and I will pay double of whatever that employer of yours is giving you.”

“Hmph, you’re not qualified to hire me.”   

When Minato heard what Fade said he could no longer hold his anger in. He picked up his sword using his left hand and charged at his opponent. Fade sighed as he saw the approaching Minato, he easily dodged the incoming strike. Fade then used [Enhancement] on his hand and did a chop on the side of Minato’s neck. Using the right amount of force and his knowledge of the human anatomy, Fade was able to precisely hit the vagus nerve rendering Minato unconscious. 

He looked at the fallen Minato and shook his head. Once he was sure that Minato was unconscious, Fade disappeared from where he stood.