The guard’s cry cut through the air like a blade, shattering the tense silence of the dungeon. It echoed through the stone corridors, and almost immediately, more sounds were heard - heavy footsteps, the clang of weapons being drawn from scabbards, cries of alarm.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKMFWSkzgc
Kimoko hissed under her breath, quickening her movements. The blade of her knife dug into the lock of Estella’s shackles, and she prayed that the lock would give way quickly enough.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfrOvow07M
Kigami drew his sword, turning toward the corridor. His eyes narrowed, and his body tensed like a predator ready to pounce.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66GSC62N54
“Hurry!” he growled through clenched teeth.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDypWNRhyBr
Estella clenched her hands into fists, ignoring the pain in her wrists. Her heart was pounding, but her mind remained sharp. Almost…
A metal snap.
The shackles gave way.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXS0LA2AmW
Kimoko helped her to her feet, but there was no time for a sigh of relief. The first guards appeared in the corridor—four, each armed with a curved sword and armor that gleamed in the flickering torchlight.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7041Hk0T4
“There they are!” one of them roared.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9zBD3w9Ip
Kigami was the first to move. His sword flashed as it cut through the air at incredible speed. He struck with brutal precision, blocking a blow from one guard, then raised his blade and drove it into a crack between the armor plates of another. Blood sprayed onto the stone walls.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eidZFXYok
Kimoko pulled Estella with her, backing toward a side passage.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKZSIh6dUg
“We have to get out!” she snapped.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyIeXLhqEe
“Not that easy,” Estella hissed, catching her balance. She felt like every muscle in her body was begging for a rest, but she didn’t have that luxury.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd46ge9DF28
One of the guards managed to get around Kigami and charged at her. Estella, despite the pain, reflexively dodged the blow. His blade whistled past her face.
Kimoko reacted instantly – her dagger cut through the air and sank into her opponent’s throat.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNhzAomAGK
She didn’t have time to admire her accuracy.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CHIcPaQop
More steps. More guards.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s4oCqCeKp
And then, amidst the chaos, another sound rang out.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEISqESyig
Slow, calm steps.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5iFkfTAa9
A cold voice echoed through the air, penetrating them to the marrow of their bones.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EX2OHQ2Fz
“What a beautiful surprise.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIbzmI69xy
Kimoko felt her stomach tighten.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtSOPetVQV
Nikita.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCh81HdCSv
The demoness stood at the end of the corridor, leaning carelessly against the wall, as if the whole commotion was just entertainment for her. Her eyes sparkled, and four hands moved lazily, one resting on her hip, the other brushing the hilt of her sword, the third tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear, the fourth…
The fourth rose slightly, a silver, pulsating flame swirling in her fingers.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2BQEDdy9D
“Did you really think it would be that easy?” Kimoko felt a cold sweat run down her neck.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF53mLWks3
“No.” The girl replied in a quiet but confident voice.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfeSxMQAgu
Nikita smiled slightly, almost amused.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsDOmPZ3Fc
“At least you’re honest,” she murmured, twirling the silver flame between her fingers. “But you know what fascinates me the most?”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxvz1P3bjD
She took a step forward.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDLDdHZ1Mo
“Your stubborn hope.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2fRJFtvU2
She threw a fireball in their direction.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBfcr5cNif
Kimoko reacted quickly. She yanked Estella back, and Kigami deflected the attack with his sword, scattering the energy into the walls. The stone glowed with a silver glow for a moment before it was swallowed by darkness again.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGkcocNBYi
Nikita tilted her head.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJxBFML4VE
“Oh? So you didn’t just come here to die.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqInk4FDEri
“Estella, stay back,” Kimoko said quickly, spreading her legs in readiness for battle.
“I am not defenseless,” Estella snapped, but she was too exhausted to protest.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5SUy8YvsS
Kigami said nothing. In a split second, he was in front of Nikita, his blade slicing through the air in a perfect, deadly arc.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIUQAjouMt
The demoness parried the attack with infuriating ease. Her sword flashed, her movements smooth, as if fighting was a dance for her. Kigami struck again, but Nikita dodged, spinning around him, and her hand, the one that had been playing with a strand of hair earlier, caught his wrist.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXfZxYC6BL
Before he could react, a fiery pain shot through his arm.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJq61nLd14
He jumped back with a hiss, but the silver heat pulsed across his skin like a brand.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuELMQOh1t
“Strong,” Nikita muttered, dusting off her sleeve. “But predictable.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSJSkZZ0I8
Kimoko didn’t wait. She threw a knife at the demoness, aiming for her arm.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskj3bla20z
Nikita turned at the last moment ,the blade barely grazed her skin.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYuLj1yBBW
“Really?” she sighed theatrically. “Is that all you can do?” Kimoko didn’t answer. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFTHAOoqvx
“You know what?” she began slowly, keeping her distance from Nikita. “We may not be as strong as you. But we don’t have to defeat you…just slow you down.”
Nikita let out an evil laugh, her steps slow as she approached the girl. “Slow me down?” Nikita repeated, amusement sparkling in her eyes. “Oh, darling, you clearly don’t know who you’re messing with.”
Kimoko took a step back, carefully watching the demoness’s every move. She knew Nikita wouldn’t attack right away. No, she was playing, studying her opponent, letting him think he had a chance…until it was too late. “I don’t need to know,” she replied quietly, her hand tightening around another knife hidden at her belt. Nikita followed her every move as she saw what the girl was planning, she smiled predatory.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiwDjwm2Ck
“Charming.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVomPuz7iSu
And then she lunged at Kimoko.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAcgS1nDRj
The demoness was fast - too fast. Kimoko barely managed to dodge the blow. A silver flame shot through the air, leaving a trail of heat behind it. The girl jumped back, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gHLGg7RrP
Kigami didn’t wait. His sword flashed as he attacked from the side, aiming straight for Nikita’s ribs.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbR9OeUULd
The blade stopped just a hair from her skin.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RyXqN2vV
Nikita’s four hands moved simultaneously - one grabbed the hilt of the sword, stopping the attack in place, the second swung to strike Kigami in the chest, the third reached for her own weapon, and the fourth…
The fourth rose into the air, and fire exploded in the air.
Kigami pulled his sword out at the last moment and dodged, but his arm throbbed with pain from the heat that almost reached him.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6agBx4NAm
“Pretty good, brother” Nikita admitted, stretching her fingers. “But it’s not enough.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8cXA7x6Yf
Kimoko exchanged a look with Kigami. Their chances were getting smaller with every second. They couldn’t defeat her. Not now. But they could trick her.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIQzYySVIO
“Plan B?” she said quietly.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ckEXAfo32
Kigami nodded.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2dSdLuhRM
Kimoko took a deep breath and moved.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsfj2c9JQj
She attacked from the left, thrusting into the fight with a speed Nikita hadn’t expected. The demoness parried the blow, but then…
Kigami disappeared. It was as if he had melted into thin air. Kimoko smiled when she saw his shadow moving along the wall.
In a split second, he left Nikita’s field of vision, moving like a shadow among shadows. His job wasn’t to fight. His job was to get to Estella.
Kimoko smiled as Nikita’s gaze flickered for a split second, searching for her second opponent.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjthoNGjsX
That was enough.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rMoECNyCQ
Kimoko darted to the side, passing the demoness and disappearing into the hallway.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JYt77KYwp
“What?” Nikita blinked, then her face twisted in rage.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQjDgEnFdi
They weren’t fighting.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgutn3IQkOn
They were running.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiaO5TIcUl
And if she didn’t stop them now…
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYtUXzjEBh
Her eyes narrowed.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGMXwKv4f9
“Clever,” she growled, silver flames dancing across her hands.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB6TZz6wTE
“But are they clever enough?”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Oiz1eyAX
Nikita had no intention of letting them escape.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzy5jgCv6e
She raised her hand, and silver flames spread across the hallway walls, turning the stone into a glowing trap. The air shimmered with heat as the demoness moved forward, her steps quick, precise.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVkeoID9aF
Kimoko ran, not looking back. She could hear the hiss of flames, feel the heat chasing her heels, but she couldn’t stop.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oMkoxaxky
Kigami had a mission.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHznFIrxJji
He was going to get to Estella. She just had to give him time.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ZVsE1u0P
She ran to the intersection of corridors, her heart pounding in her chest. To the left were the stairs to the upper levels of the fortress a dead end. To the right…
To the right was a shadow.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFKQ2bklwF
Kimoko stopped abruptly, but it was too late.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutlcLG1bj7
A guard emerged from the darkness tall, dressed in dark armor, his eyes flashing with an inhuman light. His hand reached for his weapon.
Kimoko had no choice.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz9okns2p5
She swung, her knife cutting through the air, aiming for his throat.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAClpI7D6E
The guard blocked the blow, but at the same moment Kimoko made a quick turn and kicked him straight in the knee. There was a dull crack, and the man staggered, growling in pain.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3quH8Q18ey
She didn’t wait.
She plunged the knife under his ribs and pushed him against the wall, hearing his quiet groan.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpqFxV7XWc
She didn’t have time for remorse.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5MjD2d36I
She moved on, but then…
The corridor exploded with silver light.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQcQfKWRyn
Kimoko turned around abruptly, feeling a wave of heat hit her back. With such force that the girl fell to her knees.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwqLNm8dgA
Nikita.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QZdOZXzWD
The demoness walked towards her, slowly, almost calmly.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBfUDMYLMH
Her eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness, and her four hands were spread, ready to attack.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ixmy1wFJO
“You’re running away, but you don’t know where,” she said quietly, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I wonder if you even have a plan, or if you’re just improvising.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhO9bxOqeU
Kimoko didn’t answer. She felt her heart pounding in her chest.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9fqFmF6oD
Nikita reached for the sword at her belt.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudbqU9ILHr
“Maybe I shouldn’t play with you,” she sighed. “Maybe I should just kill you.” Kimoko backed away from her on her knees, but suddenly…
A scream rang out from somewhere in the distance.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeEloDErls
It was Estella
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx05QC8JtM4
Kimoko froze. Her breathing quickened.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TIm0jKUif
And Nikita?
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TZTHY1AIp
Nikita smiled.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW791q8Pay
“Oh, it looks like your friend got into trouble.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIAf6UVIPw
The demoness tilted her head, and silver fires danced on her hands. Her lips twisted into a terrifying smile, a smile she had seen more often.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8hpKMiHbo
“What will you do now, little huntress?”
ns216.73.216.65da2
