The rifle in her hand transformed back into a pistol, and she returned it to her AI space. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Mira looked down at the commotion in the bar with a cold gaze.

The customers trying to stop the bleeding, the owner of the bat looking for the assassin.

Then she looked away, already walking out of the place with calm.

Just then, pressure.

The pressure crashed into her like a tide, causing her to furrow her brows.

Her body reacted on instinct, ducking low.

Time seemed to slow as her body bent and a dagger tore through the space her head was just moments ago.

She looked up at the person who had attacked.

The person had a crazed smirk on his face as he looked down at Mira.

Mira did not wait. She rolled on the floor, her leg sweeping through in a round kick.

The attacker jumped over it, then backflipped, landing a few feet away from Mira.

Mira’s hand found her dagger in her belt as she rose.

Their eyes were locked together for a moment, then boom.

The earth beneath them shattered as they lunged.

Mira came in first, driving her dagger towards the attacker’s head.

The attacker bent, just enough for the dagger to miss.

He came in low, dagger already thrusting at Mira’s ribs.

Mira sidestepped, the tip of the dagger grazing her skin.

She had already moved.

A fierce glint appeared in her eyes as her leg lashed out at the attacker’s head, then his ribs, then his ankle.

The kicks flowed into the next.

The attacker blocked the kick aimed at his head with his elbow, caught the one aimed at his ribs with the flat of his blade.

His knee buckled as his ankle was hit.

While he reeled from the attack, Mira moved again, her dagger streaking through the air at his neck.

His dagger slashed up, pushing Mira’s dagger arm back from the force.

A metallic chime echoed through the air as blades kissed.

Mira let the momentum carry her, spinning with the force instead of fighting it. Her free hand shot out, fingers curling around his wrist before he could pull back.

Her leg shot at his head in the same instant.

The attacker’s other hand caught her leg.

The force sent him skidding, but he held on.

Both fighters looked at the other, then, as if in tacit agreement, released themselves.

Mira’s dagger thrust forward, at his neck before he could even find his balance.

He twisted, barely.

The blade kissed the side of his neck, drawing a thin line of red he did not seem to notice or care about.

He looked at Mira with the same crazed smirk as before.

Then he lunged, his dagger hands switching.

He thrust at Mira’s side.

Mira moved, her dagger already slashing down at the point.

He flicked his wrist instantly, his dagger flying back to the original hand.

He did not wait. He slashed at her chest.

Mira’s eyes widened at the maneuver.

Her body jerked to the back, narrowly avoiding the slash.

The attacker pressed forward, piercing at her open ribs.

Mira’s elbow drove down, at the dagger’s flat.

The dagger was thrown off course, making the man’s body stumble forward.

Mira’s leg shot up, smashing against the man’s jaw.

He was sent flying into the air, blood spraying from his mouth as he plummeted back to the ground.

Mira’s eyes were locked on his figure. It was not moving, but she knew for sure, it was an act.

Even an initiate rank would not be killed by such a fall.

His hand, long, shot upward, pointing at the stars like he was admiring their light.

"Aren’t the stars beautiful tonight?" He asked calmly, his voice devoid of emotions.

Mira did not respond.

Her body tore forward, dagger streaking downward at his head.

The dagger pierced into the earth without resistance.

Mira looked up, only to see the attacker standing away from her, at the edge of the rooftop, head facing up to look at the sky.

"Dying under its light would be an honor, right?"

He asked again, turning his head to face Mira.

A smile was plastered on his face, cold but gentle.

The face made Mira angry, but she remained coolheaded, observing his movements with caution.

Then, seeing he had dropped his guard, she tore forward again, aether covering her body and blade as she slashed at his nape.

Her blade struck empty air.

He was gone again.

"According to the information I got, you were the weakest of all of them, so they sent me to you."

As he said this, he sidestepped, avoiding another attack from Mira.

His hands were tucked calmly in his pockets as he looked at Mira.

"I thought I would have killed you easily, but it seems weakest among them does not necessarily mean weak."

As he said those words, his eyes shimmered with several lights.

"Let me introduce myself formally," he said.

"I am the Third Fang of the Crimson Fang, Marcel."

He bowed lightly like a noble.

Mira could not care less about his introduction.

She knew one thing. If she did not kill him now when he was not focusing, there might be no other chance.

But it was too late already.

Marcel locked eyes with her.

Mira froze, her body stopping mid run.

A scythe appeared in his palm and he shot forward.

Mira ducked beneath a wide slash.

The space above her groaned from the precision of the attack.

She drove her dagger at his jaw.

Marcel was no longer there.

He appeared behind her, the shaft of his scythe already descending towards her head.

Mira rolled away, rising in the same motion as she burst forward again.

Aether surged wildly within her.

Marcel smiled as she entered his range.

He swung his scythe downward.

Mira twisted out of its path, the scythe’s blade whistling past her.

Her dagger slashed downward, at Marcel’s open chest.

Marcel’s other hand moved in a blur, catching her dagger with his own dagger.