Kai locked eyes with the silver-haired woman. The atmosphere grew tense. Unlike Zhao Ren, who was already struggling with his wound, this woman was still at her peak.
She didn't rush in recklessly. Instead, she adjusted her stance—her grip on the dagger shifting subtly.
Kai's instincts screamed danger. She was fast before, but now she was even faster.
Without warning, she vanished.
A blur of silver.
Kai barely reacted in time. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the dagger that aimed straight for his ribs.
But she wasn't done.
She followed up with a precise second strike, her blade flashing toward his neck.
Kai dropped low, feeling the dagger skim the air above him. With no time to counter, he kicked off the ground, putting distance between them.
She didn't chase immediately. Instead, she studied him, her expression finally showing a hint of respect.
"You're better than I expected," she murmured.
Kai wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "And you're faster than you look."
She smirked. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not using my full strength yet."
Kai's stomach tightened. She was still holding back?
Before he could react, she moved again—faster than before.
Kai barely caught the movement, but his body reacted on instinct. He twisted, using his knife to deflect her dagger at the last second.
Clang!
The impact sent a sharp vibration through his arm. She was strong.
But Kai had one advantage—his cooking techniques weren't just for food.
He activated Flame Burst Step, a movement technique derived from heat control. A sudden burst of speed propelled him backward, escaping her range.
Her eyes flickered with interest. "Cooking techniques in battle? I've never seen that before."
Kai smirked. "There's a first time for everything."
She didn't seem angry. If anything, she looked excited.
"Then I'll show you something new as well."
Her dagger trembled slightly, and suddenly—it split into two.
Kai's eyes widened. A dual-blade assassin.
This fight just became even more dangerous.