I Transmigrated Into a Game World as a Former Top Player

Xander moved with extreme caution.

Ever since entering the church, every step and breath had been calculated to perfection.

Even so, he remained wary. A Ranger’s stealth was inferior to a true Thief’s, suffering a 40% penalty within city limits. If the cleric possessed high perception, his ambush could fail and turn into a difficult brawl.

Xander wasn’t overly concerned about a tough fight. In such a confined space, he held certain advantages.

What worried him more were the Blight Envoy’s spells. Though few in number, they were troublesome.

Those curses weren’t immediately lethal but could drastically weaken a target’s attributes temporarily. That kind of debuff would complicate matters.

A one-strike kill would be ideal.

Xander slowed his movements and came to a complete stop.

The youth was pinned to the ground roughly ten steps away. If the Envoy advanced just a few more paces, he would enter Xander’s optimal attack range.

Using Hide might be safer!

Xander forced his body still and activated [Hide].

He pressed himself against an empty pew like a coiled spring, ready to explode forward at any moment.

The posture was straining, but it offered the best chance for a successful ambush.

The Blight Envoy continued forward.

His gaze remained fixed on the pinned youth!

To any cult, imposters pretending to be believers were intolerable. Kind gods might show forgiveness, but the Blight Sovereign had never been merciful.

He needed to display his power.

The dark silk in his hand was an uncommon item granted by a higher priest. Once wrapped around the youth, it would inflict unimaginable torment.

In the end, the victim would desperately try to end their own life... right in front of the other followers.

He had witnessed such scenes many times, but this would be his first time conducting one personally. He felt a trace of excitement.

---

One more step.

Xander gripped his curved blade tightly, his right foot ready to push off the ground at any instant!

But the Blight Envoy suddenly halted.

A new shadow had appeared in the basement passageway!

"You’re late!" the Envoy said, clearly dissatisfied.

Xander’s pupils contracted sharply.

Damn it. He stopped at exactly the wrong moment.

If the Envoy had taken one more step, Xander could have ended him in a single breath!

That single pace left Xander in an extremely awkward position. If the cleric reacted, the situation would become messy.

Who the hell is this?

Xander turned his head slightly to look.

The newcomer was thin with quick footwork, entering through another passage.

He approached the Envoy and spoke indifferently, "It’s not that late. Those foolish knights are already on their way."

"Are you abandoning your new followers?"

Knights?

Xander was stunned. Before he could process it, the torchlight revealed the man’s face.

Even distorted by the flickering light, Xander recognized him instantly.

Enemies truly do meet on narrow paths...

Xander smiled bitterly inside.

It was that Shadow Spider Assassin!

Tanchapel was large, yet he had encountered this man three times in such a short period.

The first meeting was in the Bleakridge Mountains. For reasons Xander still didn’t understand, the assassin had let him go with a warning.

The second was outside Miller’s residence. If Xander hadn’t deceived him then, the situation could have turned dangerous.

This was their third encounter—during a Blight Sovereign ritual!

Not good! This guy has extremely high perception!

If he detects me...

Xander’s heart tightened. His hiding technique had already been seen through once in the wilderness.

This assassin possessed an advanced Thief class with high perception and dexterity. His blade work was exceptionally vicious.

If the two of them joined forces, Xander might suffer greatly this time!

He didn’t dare move.

Stealth was inferior to Hide. Remaining motionless gave him a chance to stay concealed. Any movement carried a 99% risk of detection by the Dark Murderer!

Why did it have to be him!

Xander shook his head inwardly and began preparing himself. Using the Draconic Might potion again would be wasteful, but survival came first.

---

"Don’t worry, I’ve already decided," the Blight Envoy said, narrowing his eyes. "Besides the two seedlings with particularly firm faith, the rest... humph."

The Dark Murderer clearly understood the plan. The remaining followers would become sacrifices.

He shrugged and took a step forward, seemingly about to speak.

But his shoulder suddenly twitched!

It was an incredibly subtle movement!

Yet Xander, who had been watching his every action intently, caught it immediately!

Discovered!

That was the telltale motion of drawing a blade. Xander had carefully observed the man skinning a brown bear alive during their previous encounter and noted details of his dagger technique.

There was no choice. Since he had been detected, he could only fight!

In an instant, Xander’s shadow exploded from his hiding spot, lunging toward the Blight Envoy.

At the same time, the Dark Murderer transformed into a swift, lethal shadow and charged forward ruthlessly!

Crack!

The Dark Murderer’s blade slashed down on empty space, shattering several pews!

Surprise flashed across his face. "Eh?"

That sneaky bastard had actually predicted his attack.

This is getting complicated.

Meanwhile, Xander had already closed in on the Blight Envoy. The latter was startled but not panicked.

The Envoy was clearly experienced as well.

That extra step of distance gave him enough room to react!

But he didn’t retreat. Instead, he unleashed a simple [Putrefaction Whirlpool]!

Xander narrowed his eyes and leaped sideways, landing gracefully on a nearby chair to avoid the swirling mass of foul energy!

[Putrefaction Whirlpool] was a 1st Circle cleric spell favored by Blight Sovereign followers. Its effects were nasty. Contact with skin would cause rapid festering.

While not deadly, it would severely impair Xander’s combat ability in the short term!

He had no choice but to dodge!

But avoiding the spell increased the distance between him and the Envoy.

Xander landed smoothly on the other side.

"It’s you? The Masked Twin Blades?!" the Dark Murderer shouted, both startled and delighted.

He looked at Xander with clear excitement. "I’m very pleasantly surprised."

"I remember our last meeting. Today I’ll definitely chop you into pieces... No. Remember that pitiful brown bear? You’ll suffer the same fate!"

On the other side, the Blight Envoy watched him like a predator eyeing prey.

"Trying to ambush me? Who sent you?"

Xander frowned.

An old enemy and a new one. This was truly troublesome.

The two of them had him surrounded. Breaking out of the encirclement in a short time would be extremely difficult.

Moreover, both were 2nd Rank class holders, while Xander was only a Level 5 Ranger.

Even one-on-one, they would be challenging without the potion.

"Leave this one to me!" the assassin said, glancing around. "I have old scores to settle with him!"

The Blight Envoy frowned. "Finish it quickly. We don’t have much time."

"Rest assured. Since I accepted your coin, I’ll handle your problem! I always keep my word."

As the assassin’s voice faded, his body shot forward like a cannonball!

His speed was terrifying!

Xander could barely keep up!

Clang!

He barely blocked a slash with his common curved blade!

A sharp pain shot through his wrist. The opponent’s strength didn’t quite overwhelm him, but it came dangerously close!

Both used twin blades, but the Dark Murderer’s mastery was at least at the [Master] level!

Xander was still at [Beginner]!

Weapon proficiency took time to develop and couldn’t be rushed. It required constant tempering. Though Xander had been extremely familiar with twin blades in his previous life, that experience only helped with control and technique, nothing more.

The gap between Master-level curved blade mastery and Beginner-level was enough to crush him!

Clang! Clang!

Xander struggled to block the relentless assault, rolling across the floor several times to dodge.

But at that moment, the Blight Envoy stepped forward, preparing to join the fray!

"Damn my luck!" Xander muttered gloomily.

The situation had become even more dire!

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