SICARII

The squad barely had time to register the horror of Rico's death. Only six of them remained, and the odds were grim—seventeen enemies still stood in their path, including the ever-elusive Jag, who was undoubtedly watching from the shadows. The cave was thick with the sound of clashing steel, the air heavy with the scent of blood and the tension of survival. Each breath, each second, seemed to pull them closer to the brink of death.

Mionara fought in the heart of the chaos, his twin katanas ablaze, cutting through the dark like a whirlwind of fire. He moved with precision, each swing of his blades leaving searing trails of flame that illuminated the cave in brief flashes. His opponents circled like vultures, but Mionara's skill was unmatched. One of the enemies lunged forward, sword raised, but Mionara sidestepped the attack effortlessly. With a swift, calculated strike, he slashed his fiery blade across the assailant's chest, the heat so intense it cauterized the wound instantly. The enemy crumpled to the ground in a grotesque heap, their dying screams lost in the symphony of battle.

Nearby, Taizen faced off against a towering adversary, a hulking brute whose every strike was like the fall of a sledgehammer. The sheer force behind each blow threatened to break Taizen, but he danced around his enemy with practiced grace, his katana a blur as he parried and dodged. The enemy snarled, taunting Taizen with mock admiration, "You've got potential, boy, but it's wasted here."

Taizen's eyes narrowed, cold fury flashing behind them. Without a word, he darted forward with blinding speed, his katana slicing cleanly through the brute's neck in one precise motion. Blood sprayed into the air, a crimson arc against the stone walls, as the massive body collapsed in a heavy thud. Taizen wiped his blade clean, his expression hard as stone, but the brief flicker of sorrow in his gaze betrayed how much this battle had taken from them.

Mionara, catching sight of Taizen's handiwork, felt a surge of pride for his comrade. But there was no time for reflection. The battle raged on, and the enemies continued to press, unrelenting in their attack. Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, the remaining agents fought with renewed vigor, driven by the memory of their fallen comrades and the burning need for vengeance.

Fiona and Riona, the agile twins, were a blur of movement, their claws flashing like steel in the dim light. They moved with an animalistic grace, weaving through their enemies as though dancing to some deadly rhythm only they could hear. One of their foes lunged at Fiona, but she sidestepped, her claws slicing through flesh with deadly efficiency, leaving the enemy bleeding and gasping for breath before crumpling to the cave floor.

Riona's battle was fiercer. Her opponent was more skilled, managing to block her attacks and even land a brutal kick to her midsection, sending her stumbling back. But Riona was nothing if not resilient. Gritting her teeth, she sprang back into action, using her superior speed to her advantage. She circled her enemy, her claws flashing from every angle, overwhelming him with a relentless assault until he faltered, leaving himself exposed. In one final, merciless swipe, Riona ended the fight.

As the twins regrouped, panting from the exertion, they quickly scanned the battlefield. The remaining agents were locked in their own intense struggles, the cave now a cacophony of clashing steel and desperate cries. But a growing sense of dread hung over them. Jag was still out there, and worse, they could feel him approaching.

Taizen and Mionara had paired up, facing a group of enemies together. The duo moved with perfect synchronicity, their blades cutting down foes with lethal precision. At one point, an enemy slashed at Taizen, landing a shallow cut on his arm. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Taizen retaliated swiftly, while Mionara stepped in, flames roaring from his katanas as he blocked a follow-up attack. Together, they decimated the group, but before they could catch their breath, a rumbling noise echoed through the cave, louder and more menacing than anything they had heard before.

From the darkness, Jag emerged—larger, more terrifying than they had imagined. His presence was a physical weight, and behind him followed a new wave of enemies, each stronger than the last. Jag's eyes gleamed with malice as he locked onto Taizen and Mionara. Without warning, he charged forward, a blur of muscle and dark energy.

Taizen sidestepped the initial attack, his katana grazing Jag's arm in a quick counter. But the strike barely seemed to faze him. Mionara, seeing the danger, unleashed a wall of fire, separating Jag from his reinforcements. With a roar, Mionara lunged at Jag, flames dancing along his blades, but Jag was fast—unnaturally fast. He dodged and retaliated with a brutal punch that Mionara barely evaded. The force of Jag's attack cracked the stone wall behind them, and Mionara felt the heat of his own flames sear his skin as he dodged away.

Jag sneered as he absorbed the flames around him, his strength seeming to grow with each passing second. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice thick with contempt.

Taizen, seizing the moment, charged forward, katana poised to strike. But before his blade could find its mark, Jag's eyes went black. An ear-piercing scream ripped through the air, and with a surge of dark energy, Jag knocked Taizen back. He swatted Mionara aside as though he were nothing, sending him crashing into the cave wall with bone-rattling force.

At that moment, Fiona and Riona sprang into action, claws aimed at Jag's throat. But Jag was ready. With a wicked grin, he dodged their attacks with inhuman speed, laughing as he did. "You fools," he growled, eyes gleaming. "You think you can stop me? I am darkness itself."

In a single motion, Jag swung his arm, a wave of dark energy rippling outwards, knocking all four agents to the ground. Blood dripped from their wounds, their bodies bruised and broken, yet their resolve remained. Struggling to rise, they knew this was their final stand, and only one side would leave this cave alive.