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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRWP7IK72f
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKvVU5UvHo
Kigami drew his sword, turning toward the corridor. His eyes narrowed, and his body tensed like a predator ready to pounce.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC79h7kDiQ
“Hurry!” he growled through clenched teeth.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgMLvclfNR
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx0rzGyEg7
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCSrhyD7by
“There they are!” one of them roared.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbzgct2c0I
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzrkK47Dzp
Kimoko pulled Estella with her, backing toward a side passage.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9kpHyT6dw
“We have to get out!” she snapped.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2urnS3LZIG
“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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQddZVmWfVL
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkgJao7zX6
She didn’t have time to admire her accuracy.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdocBrinYfv
More steps. More guards.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4n5v0Cxk1
And then, amidst the chaos, another sound rang out.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdqI1jzAR0
Slow, calm steps.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR0VU3E8ES
A cold voice echoed through the air, penetrating them to the marrow of their bones.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBfJhw49Fp
“What a beautiful surprise.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEjHcbKMuw
Kimoko felt her stomach tighten.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ8ybHAWJe
Nikita.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpnIIwMgpi
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvrtg7LmsS
“Did you really think it would be that easy?” Kimoko felt a cold sweat run down her neck.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqOeGhnxF3
“No.” The girl replied in a quiet but confident voice.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tYtHzxNqx
Nikita smiled slightly, almost amused.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvAsfn3svy
“At least you’re honest,” she murmured, twirling the silver flame between her fingers. “But you know what fascinates me the most?”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUqgzzfl0S
She took a step forward.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7t127NTw2
“Your stubborn hope.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MTWSRDAr8
She threw a fireball in their direction.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpepQZRgvs
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMOCEWhbuh
Nikita tilted her head.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p8vcFx5Lg
“Oh? So you didn’t just come here to die.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhTD3kcWBN
“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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50ywWgaAwt
Kigami said nothing. In a split second, he was in front of Nikita, his blade slicing through the air in a perfect, deadly arc.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgCzsE7ced
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyp0IepXBB
Before he could react, a fiery pain shot through his arm.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFfwvJLWzt
He jumped back with a hiss, but the silver heat pulsed across his skin like a brand.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGkYqS2XYG
“Strong,” Nikita muttered, dusting off her sleeve. “But predictable.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1Xw1Musju
Kimoko didn’t wait. She threw a knife at the demoness, aiming for her arm.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkadZFFWPyo
Nikita turned at the last moment ,the blade barely grazed her skin.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTUNKMvWDW
“Really?” she sighed theatrically. “Is that all you can do?” Kimoko didn’t answer. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7qdp4Edyn
“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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtRrFIhEcz
“Charming.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDIKDlvbGc
And then she lunged at Kimoko.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxWYoaC5JP
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dmTmnvzI4
Kigami didn’t wait. His sword flashed as he attacked from the side, aiming straight for Nikita’s ribs.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbtdgqBexR
The blade stopped just a hair from her skin.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz4n831oIg
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw1ZDaKO1b
“Pretty good, brother” Nikita admitted, stretching her fingers. “But it’s not enough.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL1dfcsN0p
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa4jHpXbEL
“Plan B?” she said quietly.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpMB327XZU
Kigami nodded.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFvunl79HR
Kimoko took a deep breath and moved.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz0uE0t1K1
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKDZrcP0xl
That was enough.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhP5LfTFsN
Kimoko darted to the side, passing the demoness and disappearing into the hallway.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lZhJLPLE7
“What?” Nikita blinked, then her face twisted in rage.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqrxbxo9BD
They weren’t fighting.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUEI96vu8P
They were running.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3a7GZljYU
And if she didn’t stop them now…
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm4KldixJH
Her eyes narrowed.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyVkxTTcn6
“Clever,” she growled, silver flames dancing across her hands.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Q2Z6YCia
“But are they clever enough?”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz8YNH1kZJ
Nikita had no intention of letting them escape.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpsK1l2lcX
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXZ4ZAqBFd
Kimoko ran, not looking back. She could hear the hiss of flames, feel the heat chasing her heels, but she couldn’t stop.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJubVTAWKCO
Kigami had a mission.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQubWTIUohR
He was going to get to Estella. She just had to give him time.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMRG3SO6vx
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMohK5BIHys
Kimoko stopped abruptly, but it was too late.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa10C1Kr7Sq
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoi0cG1RMc
She swung, her knife cutting through the air, aiming for his throat.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrXelLIcmV
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS9xxL2JpF
She didn’t wait.
She plunged the knife under his ribs and pushed him against the wall, hearing his quiet groan.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJERChUSgYV
She didn’t have time for remorse.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97gji8ZlLP
She moved on, but then…
The corridor exploded with silver light.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHe8vUeIiR
Kimoko turned around abruptly, feeling a wave of heat hit her back. With such force that the girl fell to her knees.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJfnwS5AQK
Nikita.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJxlocILzQ
The demoness walked towards her, slowly, almost calmly.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdXafPK1W5
Her eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness, and her four hands were spread, ready to attack.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPzgVYAptV
“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.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiqC4PHMMQ
Kimoko didn’t answer. She felt her heart pounding in her chest.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoyOtkwwkq
Nikita reached for the sword at her belt.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5e4s6sLoW
“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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3kyrXPadF
It was Estella
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gGV54pIoR
Kimoko froze. Her breathing quickened.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9CfOzRrJz
And Nikita?
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwDlCr2hei
Nikita smiled.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOi6p7TiqI
“Oh, it looks like your friend got into trouble.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHTGnETsRU
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.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ptkBZWKJo
“What will you do now, little huntress?”
ns216.73.216.65da2
