Kai's body moved instinctively. He grabbed Lian and dove behind a stone bench as another arrow whizzed past, embedding itself into the old wooden door of the storage building.
"Poisoned arrows," Lian muttered, her breath uneven. "Whoever this is, they aren't playing around."
Kai peeked over the bench. The attacker was well-hidden, but the angle of the shots suggested they were positioned on the rooftops.
"We can't stay here," Kai said. "They have the advantage."
Lian nodded. "We move on my mark."
Before she could count down, Kai shot forward.
He activated Crimson Wolf's Fury, and his body blurred as he dashed toward the attacker's position. If they wanted to hunt him, he'd become the predator instead.
A figure clad in dark robes shifted on the rooftop, drawing another arrow. But Kai was already there. With a powerful leap, he landed beside them.
The assassin reacted instantly, flipping backward to create distance. But Kai wasn't letting them escape. With a burst of speed, he closed the gap, swinging a powerful strike.
The assassin barely blocked with a dagger, but the force sent them skidding back. Their hood slipped, revealing piercing silver eyes beneath a mask.
"Not bad," the assassin murmured, voice calm despite the situation.
Kai didn't waste time with words. He lunged again, this time faking a punch before sweeping his leg low. The assassin leaped to avoid it, but in midair, Kai twisted and slammed his palm into their chest.
The impact sent them crashing onto the rooftop, their breath escaping in a sharp gasp.
Kai moved to finish it, but the assassin suddenly threw a small glass vial onto the ground—a smoke bomb.
Thick, dark fog exploded around them. By the time it cleared, the assassin was gone.
Kai clenched his fists. Who were they? And why were they targeting him?
Lian arrived moments later, looking around. "They got away?"
Kai nodded. "For now."
Lian sighed. "This proves it. Someone wants you dead. And I don't think this is the last time they'll come after you."
Kai stared at the empty rooftop, his determination hardening. If someone thought they could control his fate, they were wrong. He would find out who was behind this—and he would make them regret ever targeting him.