Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

The members of the Black Crescent Guild were quick to close in, surrounding Mai Lee in the heart of the bustling market. They were well-trained, efficient, and dangerous. But none of them expected the person they had just targeted to be anything more than an easy prey.

Mai Lee's eyes flickered over the gathering crowd, assessing each member with the precision of a hunter. There were five of them: a tall, muscular figure wielding dual swords, a woman with a bow slung across her back, a wiry man whose hands crackled with magical energy, and two others dressed in light armor, their movements fluid and graceful.

The moment the woman with the bow notched an arrow and aimed it directly at him, Mai Lee's body shifted, almost as if he anticipated her every movement. With a sharp motion, he fused the newly acquired Silent Strike with his current skills. His speed increased, and in an instant, he vanished, reappearing just behind the bow-woman. Before she could even release the arrow, his hand was on her wrist, twisting it painfully. The bow fell to the ground with a dull thud.

"Too slow," Mai Lee murmured, his voice a cold whisper.

In the same motion, he turned to face the others. The man with dual swords was already charging at him, his blades gleaming with deadly intent. But Mai Lee was already a step ahead. With the Shadow Step still active, he flowed like water, moving just beyond the range of the swords and reappearing behind the attacker.

The man turned, his expression furious, but Mai Lee was already too close. With a single swipe, Mai Lee used the Silent Strike to disable one of the swordsmen's arms, forcing him to drop his blade with a pained grunt. Mai Lee's movements were clean, efficient, and almost surgical in their precision.

The mage attempted to cast a spell from a distance, his hands glowing with arcane energy. But Mai Lee wasn't bothered. The new abilities he had absorbed allowed him to sense the arcane fluctuations in the air, giving him an advantage in predicting the mage's next move. He dashed toward the mage with a speed that took everyone by surprise, his hand cracking through the air, seizing the mage's wrist before the spell could be completed.

Fusion Successful: Talent "Arcane Suppression" Acquired.

Another notification flashed in his mind, and with it, he felt the new talent surge through his body. Without hesitation, Mai Lee focused the arcane energy he had just absorbed, turning it against the mage. With a flick of his wrist, the mage's mana exploded outward, leaving him stunned and unable to react.

One of the remaining guild members—one of the two agile warriors—made a break for it, trying to escape into the chaos of the crowd. Mai Lee couldn't let that happen. He activated Shadow Step again, reappearing in front of the fleeing figure. Before the warrior could react, Mai Lee's foot swept out, knocking them to the ground. The warrior struggled to rise, but Mai Lee was already standing over them, his hand raised to strike.

But he didn't.

Instead, he knelt down, looking into the warrior's eyes with an unsettling calm. "Who else is with you?" Mai Lee asked. His voice was soft but carried an undeniable weight of authority.

The warrior gritted their teeth but didn't answer. Mai Lee could see the fear in their eyes, the knowledge that their life was in his hands.

"I won't ask again," Mai Lee said, his voice turning colder. "Who else?"

The warrior finally spoke, barely above a whisper. "The guild's leader… He's in the shadows… watching."

Mai Lee's brow furrowed. The guild leader was here? Watching? That was unexpected.

He stood up, grabbing the warrior by the collar and lifting them to their feet. "Take me to him," he ordered.

The warrior hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine. But you won't make it out alive."

Mai Lee smiled darkly. "I'll take my chances."

The warrior led him through narrow alleyways, past hidden doorways and through bustling streets. As they walked, Mai Lee couldn't shake the feeling that the Black Crescent Guild had been expecting someone like him. They had set a trap, but they hadn't accounted for his abilities—or his ability to adapt.

Finally, they arrived at a small, inconspicuous building tucked away in a corner of the city. The warrior pushed open a door, revealing a dark room lit only by the glow of several candles. At the center of the room, a tall figure sat, draped in shadows. The figure's presence was commanding, even from the distance.

"Welcome," the figure spoke, his voice smooth and velvety. "I've been watching you, Mai Lee."

Mai Lee's eyes narrowed. "So, you're the leader of the Black Crescent Guild?"

The figure chuckled, the sound echoing in the quiet room. Slowly, he rose from his seat, his form coming into view. He was tall, wearing a long black cloak that billowed as he moved. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity.

"I am indeed," the man said. "And I've been quite impressed with your talents. But you've made a mistake, coming here alone."

Mai Lee's smile remained cold. "I don't need anyone else to take down the likes of you."

The guild leader raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Mai Lee's confidence. "I see. You're either very brave or very foolish. But either way, you'll regret crossing me."

Mai Lee's mind raced, analyzing the leader's every word and movement. The man was confident—perhaps too confident. There was something about his presence that made the air feel thicker, heavier. But Mai Lee wasn't intimidated. He had come this far, and he wouldn't back down now.

He activated Arcane Suppression, cutting off the flow of magic in the room. The leader flinched, but his smirk remained.

"You think you can stop me with just that?" The leader laughed, though there was an edge of warning in his tone. "You don't know who you're dealing with, Mai Lee."

Mai Lee's eyes gleamed with determination. "Let's find out."