The outer streets of Black Tortoise.
"Who the hell is attacking me?"
A masked woman clutched her stomach, breathing hard as her eyes darted warily through the shadows. She had only wanted to sneak in, take a look at that glowing tree, and maybe pick up a few valuables if luck was kind.
The first half of her journey had gone smoothly. She'd easily climbed over the sleeping ancient beast, slipped past the city wall, and landed inside the city.
But disaster was waiting. The moment she set foot on the street, an unseen force had struck — someone attacked her without a word, and she couldn't even tell where the blows came from.
Boom!
A heavy punch hit her square in the stomach.
"Ugh—"
The masked woman doubled over, vomiting out her dinner onto the cold stone road.
"It's the fifth one," Alina muttered, seeing the intruder collapse. She deactivated her stealth armor and became visible again.
