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.
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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.
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Kigami drew his sword, turning toward the corridor. His eyes narrowed, and his body tensed like a predator ready to pounce.
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“Hurry!” he growled through clenched teeth.
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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.
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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.
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“There they are!” one of them roared.
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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.
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Kimoko pulled Estella with her, backing toward a side passage.
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“We have to get out!” she snapped.
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“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.
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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.
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She didn’t have time to admire her accuracy.
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More steps. More guards.
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And then, amidst the chaos, another sound rang out.
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Slow, calm steps.
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A cold voice echoed through the air, penetrating them to the marrow of their bones.
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“What a beautiful surprise.”
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Kimoko felt her stomach tighten.
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Nikita.
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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.
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“Did you really think it would be that easy?” Kimoko felt a cold sweat run down her neck.
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“No.” The girl replied in a quiet but confident voice.
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Nikita smiled slightly, almost amused.
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“At least you’re honest,” she murmured, twirling the silver flame between her fingers. “But you know what fascinates me the most?”
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She took a step forward.
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“Your stubborn hope.”
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She threw a fireball in their direction.
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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.
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Nikita tilted her head.
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“Oh? So you didn’t just come here to die.”
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“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.
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Kigami said nothing. In a split second, he was in front of Nikita, his blade slicing through the air in a perfect, deadly arc.
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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.
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Before he could react, a fiery pain shot through his arm.
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He jumped back with a hiss, but the silver heat pulsed across his skin like a brand.
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“Strong,” Nikita muttered, dusting off her sleeve. “But predictable.”
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Kimoko didn’t wait. She threw a knife at the demoness, aiming for her arm.
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Nikita turned at the last moment ,the blade barely grazed her skin.
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“Really?” she sighed theatrically. “Is that all you can do?” Kimoko didn’t answer. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
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“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.
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“Charming.”
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And then she lunged at Kimoko.
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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.
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Kigami didn’t wait. His sword flashed as he attacked from the side, aiming straight for Nikita’s ribs.
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The blade stopped just a hair from her skin.
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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.
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“Pretty good, brother” Nikita admitted, stretching her fingers. “But it’s not enough.”
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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.
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“Plan B?” she said quietly.
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Kigami nodded.
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Kimoko took a deep breath and moved.
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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.
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That was enough.
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Kimoko darted to the side, passing the demoness and disappearing into the hallway.
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“What?” Nikita blinked, then her face twisted in rage.
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They weren’t fighting.
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They were running.
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And if she didn’t stop them now…
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Her eyes narrowed.
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“Clever,” she growled, silver flames dancing across her hands.
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“But are they clever enough?”
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Nikita had no intention of letting them escape.
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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.
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Kimoko ran, not looking back. She could hear the hiss of flames, feel the heat chasing her heels, but she couldn’t stop.
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Kigami had a mission.
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He was going to get to Estella. She just had to give him time.
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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.
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Kimoko stopped abruptly, but it was too late.
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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.
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She swung, her knife cutting through the air, aiming for his throat.
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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.
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She didn’t wait.
She plunged the knife under his ribs and pushed him against the wall, hearing his quiet groan.
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She didn’t have time for remorse.
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She moved on, but then…
The corridor exploded with silver light.
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Kimoko turned around abruptly, feeling a wave of heat hit her back. With such force that the girl fell to her knees.
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Nikita.
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The demoness walked towards her, slowly, almost calmly.
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Her eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness, and her four hands were spread, ready to attack.
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“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.”
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Kimoko didn’t answer. She felt her heart pounding in her chest.
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Nikita reached for the sword at her belt.
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“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.
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It was Estella
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Kimoko froze. Her breathing quickened.
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And Nikita?
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Nikita smiled.
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“Oh, it looks like your friend got into trouble.”
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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.
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“What will you do now, little huntress?”
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