From the rooftop of a nearby building, a pair of cold, calculating eyes observed the battle below. The man stood in silence, his expression unreadable. He looked exactly like Kaelen.
The distant clash of steel and the crackling energy of Electra's sai filled the air as the battles raged on. Su Yan and Viper moved like two shadows, their weapons colliding with deadly precision, neither able to land a decisive blow.
Viper's daggers sliced through the air, but Su Yan dodged with ease, countering with a sharp strike to her ribs. Viper winced but refused to fall. She retaliated with a spinning kick, barely missing Su Yan's jaw as he leaned back just in time.
At the same time, Brick and Electra's fight remained a deadlock. Despite her monstrous transformation, Brick couldn't overpower Electra's agility, and Electra's sharp, lightning-fast attacks weren't enough to bring Brick down. Claws scraped against steel, electricity flared, and still—no one had the upper hand.
The mysterious man's gaze never wavered as he watched Su Yan. His lips curled into a small, knowing smirk.
"Interesting…" he murmured to himself.
What was his connection to Kaelen? And why was he watching Su Yan so intently?
The night was far from over.
Viper wiped a trickle of blood from her lip, her golden eyes burning with fury. "You're getting cocky, Su Yan."
I twirled my blade, smirking. "No, I'm just realizing you're not as dangerous as you used to be. What happened? Lost your edge?"
Viper growled, tightening her grip on her daggers. "You'll eat those words!"
She lunged, her blades flashing in the dim light. I dodged the first strike, deflecting the second with my forearm before delivering a sharp kick to her side. She staggered but recovered quickly, spinning and slashing at my face. I barely ducked in time.
"You're getting slower, too," I taunted.
Her eyes narrowed. "And you talk too much!"
She unleashed a flurry of rapid slashes, forcing me on the defensive. Our fight remained locked in a deadly rhythm, neither gaining the upper hand.
Electra smirked as she flipped backward, dodging Brick's powerful claw swipe. "Is that all you got, wolf girl?"
Brick cracked her knuckles, her werewolf form towering over Electra. "Tch. You talk big for someone who's barely scratched me."
Electra twirled her sai, electricity crackling around her. "Maybe I should up the voltage."
She dashed forward, aiming for Brick's legs, but Brick jumped, flipping over her and landing behind her. She swung a heavy punch, which Electra barely managed to evade. Sparks flew as Electra's sai scraped against Brick's claws.
Both women stood, panting slightly, glaring at each other.
Electra grinned. "You're tough. But I don't break easily."
Brick smirked. "Neither do I."
Their battle continued, strength against speed, power against precision—still an even match.
I caught Brick's eye across the rooftop. For a moment, we understood each other without words. It was time.
Without hesitation, I feinted to my left, baiting Viper into an opening. She took it, just as planned.
Brick, using her insane strength, launched herself off the ground. At the same time, I ducked and spun low, sweeping Viper's legs out from under her. She barely had time to react before Brick's clawed fist slammed into her, sending her flying backward.
Electra, noticing Viper's struggle, tried to intervene—but Brick wasn't done.
Brick threw me toward Electra with full force, and I used the momentum to drive my blade toward her. Electra barely dodged but left herself open. Brick followed up with a devastating right hook, hitting Electra square in the jaw and sending her crashing into a vent pipe.
Both Viper and Electra groaned, struggling to get up.
Brick cracked her neck and smirked. "Huh. Not bad for our first time fighting together."
I grinned. "Not bad at all."
For the first time, we were perfectly in sync—and it felt unstoppable.
A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping onto the rooftop where Dylan stood, his hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat. His sharp eyes never left the intense battle unfolding across the way.
The newcomer approached him quickly, speaking in a low voice. "Boss, Overseer's hideout is being surveyed by Team 2. What are your orders?"
Dylan didn't react immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Tang Su Yan, analyzing her movements, her coordination with Brick, and the sheer power they had just displayed.
After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.
"Gather more intel."** His eyes darkened. "I want to know exactly which hideout Overseer is keeping Tang Su Ah in."
The man nodded. "Understood."
Dylan exhaled slowly, watching as Su Yan and Brick stood victorious for the moment.
"It won't be long now…" he murmured to himself, a smirk forming on his lips.
The rooftop is ours.
Brick and I stand side by side, our breathing heavy but steady, while Electra and Viper lie beaten, their bodies bruised, their confidence shattered.
Electra wipes a trail of blood from her lip, her electric sai flickering weakly. Viper, on the other hand, struggles to stand, her daggers barely hanging in her grip. They have lost. They know it. We know it.
I twirl my blade, stepping forward. "What's wrong?" I taunt. "Aren't you two so sure of yourselves a moment ago?"
Viper's eyes burn with hatred, but she says nothing.
Electra clicks her tongue in frustration. "Tch. Guess we underestimated you two."
Brick lets out a short, amused chuckle. "Damn right you did." She cracks her knuckles. "But we're just getting warmed up. Why don't you stick around for round two?"
Viper grinds her teeth. "Another time."
Before I can react, Electra throws down a small metal device. A sudden explosion of blinding light engulfs the rooftop. My instincts kick in—I shield my eyes, but by the time my vision adjusts…
They are gone.
Brick growls beside me, her claws still extended. "Tch. Cowards."
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders. "They know they can't win. Running is their only option."
The adrenaline courses through my veins, my hands still itching for a fight. But for now, the battle is over. We have won.
I glance at Brick, who is still scowling at the empty rooftop where Electra and Viper have disappeared. It's our first time fighting together… yet we move in sync, our attacks perfectly aligned, as if we've been partners for years.
I smirk. "Not bad, huh?"
Brick scoffs but smirks back. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head."
----
The soft glow of candlelight flickered in the dim chamber, casting shifting shadows across the veiled woman's delicate features. Her presence was ethereal, almost otherworldly, yet her voice carried the weight of destiny itself.
"Dylan… where did you go?"
Dylan emerged from the shadows, his expression indifferent, but his sharp gaze never left her. "I had business to attend to."
The Prophetess turned slightly, her eyes distant, as though she were seeing something beyond the present moment. "And Su Yan? Have you seen her?"
Dylan's jaw tightened. "What about her?"
The Prophetess sighed, the weight of her vision pressing on her fragile shoulders. "She is at a crossroads, Dylan." Her voice was gentle, filled with something rare—concern. "If she is guided with care, she may bring an end to this chaos. But if she is led astray… the destruction she could bring would be beyond our control."
For the first time, Dylan saw something in the Prophetess's expression that unsettled him. Fear. Not of Su Yan, but for her.
"She is not a weapon, Dylan," the Prophetess continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "She is a soul burdened by forces she may not even understand. If the wrong hands claim her, she will not only be lost—she will be forced to become something she was never meant to be."
Dylan exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. "So what do you want me to do?"
The Prophetess stepped forward, her delicate hand resting lightly over her heart. "Protect her. Guide her. Show her that her path does not have to end in ruin." Her voice softened. "She is not beyond saving."
Dylan scoffed lightly but not unkindly. "You make it sound like I'm the right person for the job."
The Prophetess's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "I have seen many futures, Dylan. And in most of them, you are standing by her side."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Finally, Dylan let out a slow breath and gave her a knowing look. "Then I guess I better make sure the wrong hands don't get to her first."