The darkness and musty odor of the underground tunnel enveloped Ryu. The only light came from the faint sparks of a flint he had painstakingly lit moments before. It illuminated the damp tunnel walls and a narrow passage that stretched endlessly into the darkness. The crude map "Shadow Fox" had given him was spread out on the cold, earthen floor. His dirt-stained finger traced the complex and daunting path.
The periodic sound of dripping water and his own heavy breathing were the only sounds breaking the eerie silence. The wounds on his side and thigh still throbbed with every movement. Although Kiana's medicine had helped to alleviate the pain and stop some of the bleeding, his strength was dwindling with each passing moment.
"I have to keep going..." Ryu murmured to himself, trying to bolster his fading spirit. The information on the paper he had obtained swirled in his head. "Da Vinci... Artificer... target of the Empire..." A heavy responsibility weighed on his shoulders. He had to bring this news back to warn everyone at Ashwind Post, no matter the cost.
He carefully folded the map and stored it away before pushing his battered body to its feet. His beloved katana was held in a slightly trembling hand, ready to face any danger that might lurk in the shadows ahead. As Shadow Fox had warned, this tunnel held more than just darkness and silence...
He began to walk forward, slowly but steadily, each step taken with extreme caution. His sharp eyes scanned for any abnormalities. The light from the flint flickered with his movements, creating terrifying, dancing shadows on the tunnel walls.
Meanwhile... back in the death alley above, over the tunnel where Ryu was struggling to survive...
The death alley of Siren's Haven was still thick with the scent of blood and killing intent. Fenril stood panting slightly, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings furiously. The little swordsman he had marked as his new "toy" had vanished without a trace, leaving only frustration brewing in the heart of the Nebula Empire's hunter.
"You..." Fenril hissed through gritted teeth, his earlier composure beginning to be replaced by a simmering rage ready to erupt. "Where did that whelp run off to? Tell me!" Though he asked, he didn't expect a favorable answer from the woman before him.
Raven merely shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? Maybe he was smart enough to find a way out of this mad dog's city." Her voice remained mocking. "Or maybe... you were just too 'slow.'"
Fenril turned to face Raven fully, his crimson eyes narrowing dangerously. The frustration of being outmaneuvered by two "kittens" was evident in his cold gaze. "You think I'd let prey escape so easily! This is all your fault!" he roared lowly, before lunging at Raven again. The pitch-black sword in his still-functional right hand lashed out like the claws of a demonic beast.
Raven didn't panic. She raised her twin pistols, ready. Her appearance was no accident, and her decision to interfere with this "wolf" was not an act without thought. "Your opponent is me, you cowardly mutt who only preys on children!" she retorted, continuously firing to disrupt Fenril's movements.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A volley of metal bullets tore through the air towards Fenril. He roared in fury at being repeatedly provoked, frantically parrying the bullets with his black sword. Sparks erupted each time metal clashed. The stone floor of the alley began to show increasing signs of damage from the escalating battle.
"Not bad... for an ordinary human!" Fenril snarled. He shook his previously shot arm slightly; blood still seeped from it, but it only served to awaken the raw hunting instincts within him. "But this isn't enough to stop 'Fenril'!"
He changed his attack pattern. From his previous emphasis on speed and brute force, his movements now concealed greater sharpness and precision. Every sword strike was calculated, blocking Raven's escape routes and finding opportunities for deadly counters. The pitch-black sword in his hand seemed alive, moving freely and unpredictably. Sometimes it was too fast to follow; other times, it was so heavy Raven could barely withstand it.
Raven fought on, gritting her teeth. She used her superior agility and wits to survive, leaping away, climbing walls, or even rolling under Fenril's sword slashes by a hair's breadth. Her twin pistols continued to roar periodically, each bullet fired with precision, aiming to inflict wounds or at least throw Fenril off balance. She repeatedly shot at his injured arm or aimed for his eyes and joints, his weak points.
"Hmph! You annoying insects!" Fenril cursed furiously as a bullet grazed his cheek, drawing blood. Though only a superficial wound, it made his patience begin to wear thin.
Their clash was as violent as a raging storm. Bricks and mortar from the damaged walls scattered across the area. The sound of clashing metal echoed through the narrow alley. Raven began to breathe more heavily, sweat drenching her leather attire. She knew she was clearly outmatched in terms of strength and destructive power. Fenril was too strong, like a demon in human form.
Just as Raven was about to reposition herself to find a new attack angle, Fenril seized the opportunity! He slammed his foot onto the ground with such force that the stone beneath buckled slightly, before lunging at Raven with even more terrifying speed!
"This is the end!" Fenril roared, his black sword raised high, ready to strike down this arrogant woman!
Raven's eyes widened! She knew evading this attack would be incredibly difficult! But in that split second between life and death, her survival instincts kicked into high gear! She ducked low rapidly, simultaneously reaching into her boot!
Shlick!
A thin, razor-sharp dagger, hidden there, was drawn with incredible speed! She didn't use it to parry Fenril's sword but instead slashed it forcefully across Fenril's uninjured shin!
"ARGHHHH!" Fenril screamed in unexpected pain! Though the wound wasn't very deep, it momentarily broke his attack rhythm! The descending sword veered off course slightly!
Raven didn't let this chance slip away! She used all her strength to kick Fenril squarely in the chest!
Thud!
Fenril's body staggered back several steps. He glared at Raven with eyes blazing with an unprecedented fury. "You... you dare!"
The long and fierce battle began to take its toll on both of them. Raven had several abrasions and was visibly tiring. The ammunition in her guns was running low. As for Fenril, though still powerful, the wounds on his arm and newly injured leg caused pain and somewhat hindered his agility.
Fenril paused his attack momentarily. He panted slightly, his crimson eyes fixed on Raven, who was trying to regain her footing, with a gaze colder and more brutal than before. "Enough... of this fun and games." His voice dropped to a chilling low. The wolf's patience had run out.
Suddenly! The atmosphere around Fenril changed drastically! The air, once cold with killing intent, now became heavy and oppressive, almost suffocating. A faint, blackish-red, brutal aura began to emanate from his body, slowly but steadily. A chilling, heavy killing intent, like an invisible mountain, crashed down on Raven with immense force! Small cracks began to appear on the stone floor beneath Fenril's feet, as if unable to withstand the enormous pressure!
Raven's eyes widened in utter terror! Cold sweat broke out! Her instincts screamed a life-threatening warning! This level of pressure... how was it possible! She felt as if she were facing a demon from the depths of hell, no longer a human! Her legs began to tremble uncontrollably under the pressure.
The last image was Raven's face, filled with dread and despair. She gripped the pistols in her hands tightly, but knew full well that her weapons might be useless against the power before her. The moonlight that had once illuminated the scene seemed to dim instantly...
[End of Chapter 18]