Kai barely had time to react before another cold slash tore through the air toward his throat. His instincts screamed—move!
He twisted, barely avoiding the fatal strike, but the silver-haired assassin's speed was monstrous now.
Her daggers flickered like ghosts, one slashing toward his ribs while the other arced for his neck.
Kai had no time to counter.
Clang!
He barely blocked the first dagger, but the second scraped his shoulder, drawing blood.
Pain flared, but he pushed it aside. She's too fast!
She had been holding back this entire time.
Her eyes gleamed with a cold amusement. "You're still standing? Impressive. But you won't last long."
Kai gritted his teeth. If he stayed on the defensive, he'd lose.
He had to turn the tide.
He suddenly lunged forward instead of retreating, throwing off her rhythm.
His knife flashed upward, forcing her to twist midair to avoid a direct hit.
But Kai wasn't aiming to strike.
Boom!
He activated Flame Burst Step, igniting the air with a sudden burst of heat. The explosion of force knocked them apart—giving Kai just enough space to prepare his counterattack.
Before she could regain her footing, Kai threw a handful of Starvine Powder toward her face.
A natural paralyzing agent—if inhaled, it would slow muscle reaction for five seconds.
She saw it coming.
Her daggers blurred, cutting the powder in midair, dispersing most of it.
But even a single breath of it would affect her movement.
Her foot hesitated for half a second.
Kai moved instantly.
He slashed low toward her leg, forcing her to jump. That was exactly what he wanted.
He twisted his grip and struck upward, his knife aiming for her exposed side.
She couldn't dodge midair.
But instead of panicking, she did something even more insane.
She let go of one of her daggers.
In that split second, she caught it with her other hand and redirected it toward his neck.
A perfect counterattack.
Both of them were now one strike away from landing a lethal hit.
Neither backed down.
Both blades closed in.
And then—
A sudden roar echoed through the forest.
Something massive was approaching.