Restart:Untalented Man

"Huff...Huff...," Standing alone in the aftermath of the battle, Nerdwolf took a few moments to steady his breathing.

His chest rose and fell with each laboured breath.

Once his breathing stabilised, he muttered, "Let's see who you guys are."

Nerdwolf bent down and began to search through the pockets and clothing of one of the fallen assassins.

His hands rummaging for clues.

After a moment, his fingers closed around a small, circular badge that seemed out of place.

Nerdwolf brought it closer to inspect it, his brows furrowing before widened in shock and disbelief as he realized what he was holding.

"Blackout?!" he muttered. He knew about them and was aware that they were lurking around in shadows just like SIN agents.

But, he hadn't expected them to be so directly involved in this crisis.

Carefully, Nerdwolf pocketed the badge. This information is something worth reporting.

It's too bad that all of them died. Otherwise, he can extract information from them and use it to disrupt the status quo in significant ways or potentially get rid of Blackout's claw in this region for good.

Just as he was about to depart the gruesome scene, an unexpected voice pierced the air, a voice tinged with playfulness. "So, are you leaving their bodies to rot like this? How cruel..."

"!!?" The voice sent a shiver down Nerdwolf's spine, inducing an eerie fear that seemed to grip him to his very bones.

The suddenness of the voice and the unsettling tone it carried instilled in him a sensation of dread, making the hairs on the nape of his neck stand.

Nedrwolf swiftly turns around and squinted his eyes.

He saw a man standing not far from him, 'I... don't feel his presence at all.' he thought to himself.

His instincts had failed him. The man had seemingly materialized out of thin air.

Nerdwolf examined the man in front of him.

The man had pitch-black hair framing a face that seemed devoid of emotion. His unreadable eyes were as deep as coal. He appeared to be in his mid to late twenties, with a lean and athletic build.

Nerdwolf's mind spun rapidly, trying to figure out who this figure was.

After putting all the pieces together, he ends up muttering a single word, "Jack."

Jack, with a feigned surprise on his face, responded, "Oh! So you know me?"

Nerdwolf's gaze never wavered, and he replied calmly, "You're pretty famous in our circle. I didn't expect to meet you in person."

"Me either," Jack replied wistfully. "Usually I won't intervene but..."

He cut off his own sentence and cast a glance around him, specifically at the lifeless bodies of his subordinates scattered on the ground.

Nerdwolf, watching Jack's every single move, slowly grasped his hand around the hilt of his sword.

'Can I take him?' He couldn't help but wonder.

According to the information they had, Jack was someone whom each agent should be worried and looking out for.

The [Recruit] and [Informer] agent, in particular, was told to run if they ever encountered him.

He was a skilful enemy who had killed countless of their fellow agent.

As the tension continued to rise, Jack, with a seemingly laid-back demeanour, suddenly lunged forward.

"What the...!" Nerdwolf shocked.

Nevertheless, he managed to unsheath his sword in time and held his ground.

Clang!—

A loud clash echoed through the still air as their blades met. Nerdwolf's heart raced like crazy.

"Wow! I didn't expect you to block that." Jack said. He was genuinely surprised. "I guess your rank isn't that low. The SIN must be serious about eliminating the former republica leader if they deployed someone like you."

Unlike Jack's relaxed attitude, Agent Nerdwolf was doing his best to calm his racing heart. His laboured breaths echoed and his sweat poured down his brow like a river.

That sudden attack had been dangerously close.

Once Jack feels like Nerdwolf has calmed down, he launches another attack. His muscles coiled like steel springs, jumping off from the ground. His sword glints in the sunlight.

Clang—

The clash of their swords resonated.

Jack is overwhelmingly strong. His attacks were swift and precise, delivered with calculated intent.

He moved fluidly, proving himself as a seasoned warrior. His dark eyes gleamed with amusement.

Nerdwolf, on the other hand, was forced into a defensive position for most of the time. Fatigue gnawed at his limbs, making his movements sluggish.

Because of that, Nerdwolf's movement became gradually slower and slower.

Eventually, he ends up unable to evade all the attacks, causing Jack's blade to strike Nerdwolf here and there, drawing crimson lines of pain across his body.

The pain flared because of these strikes. Blood started to flow out of his body.

Nerdwolf could feel that Jack didn't seem to be giving his all. Instead, Jack was toying with him.

"This won't do," mutters Nerdwolf to himself, "I will end up dying in his hands."

Jack's expertise was apparent, and the dangerous game of cat and mouse they were playing couldn't continue.

He had to make a decision quickly. 

Gathering his resolve, he seized an opening in Jack's relentless assault. With a burst of strength, he executed a swift, calculated move that created just enough distance between them.

Jack's dark eyes flickered with surprise as he see Nerdwolf turned around and sprinted away, disappearing into the shadows of the surrounding trees before dashing into the city.

As humiliating as it is, Nerdwolf was determined to make a retreat.

He needed to disappear into the crowds of the city. The labyrinthine streets of Vofors, with their twists and turns, would make it difficult for Jack to pursue him.

Then, he needed to find a safe location where he could assess his injuries. He can't go directly to their base. That would invite trouble.

Standing alone in the middle of the road, Jack was left utterly baffled by Nerdwolf's sudden escape.

He watches the figure of Nerdwolf disappear in the distance.

"What the hell, man?" He grumbled. "You're leaving just like that? Isn't that a bit rude?"