SICARII

The standoff stretched on, every second feeling like an eternity. Mionara stood perfectly still, his blades glinting faintly in the dim light of the hallway. Across from him, the two TAK members mirrored his intensity. The wiry one with the daggers shifted his weight slightly, his eyes narrowed and calculating. The bulkier one with an axe in one hand and a shotgun slung in the other stood like a statue, his jaw clenched. Neither side moved, the tension thick enough to cut.

It began to feel like hesitation—both sides testing the other's resolve, neither willing to make the first mistake.

Mionara's grip on his swords tightened. He allowed the silence to stretch for just a heartbeat longer, then, with a sharp inhale, he made his decision. Fire erupted along the blades of his swords, casting flickering orange light across the narrow passage.

The TAK members shifted instinctively, eyes widening for a split second. That hesitation was all the opening Mionara needed. He lunged forward in a blur of motion, his fiery swords cutting through the air like streaks of molten steel.

The wiry TAK member reacted first, spinning to the side and bringing up his daggers in a defensive cross. Mionara's first slash connected with the twin blades, sparks flying as fire met metal. The force of the strike drove the TAK member back a step, but he twisted, fluid and snake-like, aiming a retaliatory slash at Mionara's ribs.

Mionara pivoted with preternatural speed, his second blade whipping around to intercept the attack. The daggers clanged against his sword, and with a twist of his wrist, Mionara knocked one of the daggers from the TAK member's hand. It skittered across the floor, the sound sharp and hollow in the tense corridor.

The bulkier TAK member seized the moment, charging forward with his axe raised high. Mionara ducked under the sweeping blow, flames trailing from his swords as he spun and slashed at the man's side. The blade caught the edge of the TAK member's vest, searing through the fabric and into his flesh. The smell of burnt leather and singed skin filled the air as the man bellowed in pain.

But he wasn't down yet. With a roar, he swung the axe in a wide arc, forcing Mionara to leap back. The wiry TAK member, now armed with just one dagger, darted in from the side, aiming for Mionara's exposed flank. Mionara twisted mid-air, bringing one sword down to block the dagger while the other came up in a fiery arc. The blade slashed across the wiry man's forearm, drawing blood and forcing him to retreat with a hiss.

The bulkier TAK member used the distraction to unsling his shotgun. He pumped it with a deafening clack-clack and fired. The hallway exploded with noise as the fiery blast tore toward Mionara.

But Mionara was already moving. He dove to the side, rolling smoothly to his feet and closing the distance between him and the gunman. The TAK member fired again, the blast barely missing as Mionara ducked under the spread. Flames roared along Mionara's swords as he surged forward, slamming one blade against the shotgun and knocking it out of the man's hands.

With a flick of his wrist, Mionara reversed his grip and drove the second blade upward. The flaming tip grazed the TAK member's chest, leaving a burning gash that sent him staggering backward.

The wiry TAK member lunged again, his movements erratic but precise. He feinted left, then spun right, aiming a slash at Mionara's throat. Mionara parried effortlessly, the flames on his sword flaring brighter as he drove the TAK member back with a series of rapid strikes. Each blow was precise, unrelenting, pushing the TAK member further down the hallway.

Sensing an opening, Mionara spun into a low slash, his blade cutting across the wiry man's thigh. The TAK member crumpled to one knee, his remaining dagger slipping from his grasp.

The bulkier TAK member, clutching his bleeding chest, roared in fury and charged again, this time abandoning all semblance of strategy. He swung his axe wildly, each strike powerful but telegraphed. Mionara sidestepped one blow, ducked under another, then surged forward with a burst of speed.

His swords crossed in a fiery X as he slashed upward, the twin blades carving into the man's torso. The TAK member's momentum faltered, his knees buckling as he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Mionara stood over the fallen TAK members, his chest heaving as the flames on his swords flickered and died. Blood dripped from his blades, pooling on the floor. He turned his head slightly, listening for any other movement in the tunnels.

The silence that followed was absolute.

As Mionara's fight with the two TAK members unfolded, Taizen was already locked in combat with his own opponent. The TAK member, a towering figure with a pistol and dagger in hand, pressed the attack immediately. Taizen's katana clashed with the man's blade as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a bullet that shattered the stone wall beside him.

The TAK member smirked, his eyes glowing with the power of his inner ability. With a swift motion, he fired again, but this time the bullets were different—there was water swirling around them. They moved faster, more erratic, and Taizen had to move with even greater speed to avoid them. The bullets seemed to follow his movements, the air vibrating with their velocity. As one shot clipped his sleeve, Taizen's heart skipped. The added power of the water-infused bullets made them more penetrating, and the walls around him began to crack with every impact.

He dodged left as another bullet ripped through the air, the force so strong it sent water splashing against the walls. Taizen's katana deflected the next bullet that came too close, but the TAK member was relentless. With his pistol still blazing, the TAK member now wielded his dagger with fluid, deadly precision, aiming for Taizen's side. The combination of gunfire and blade attacks was overwhelming, forcing Taizen into a defensive position.

With every movement, the ground shook as shots rang out. Taizen couldn't afford to let up for even a second. The TAK member's dagger swung viciously toward his face, forcing Taizen to backpedal. A bullet grazed his cheek as he moved, narrowly avoiding the next wave of fire. He needed to close the distance; he needed to take the TAK member out before he could land a fatal blow.

With a growl, Taizen launched himself forward, sidestepping another bullet and countering with a swipe of his katana. His opponent parried, but Taizen's speed was too much. He landed a blow on the TAK member's shoulder, but the man retaliated immediately, slashing at Taizen's chest with his blade. Taizen blocked, but the force pushed him back, and the TAK member was quick to fire again.

This time, Taizen moved quicker, twisting his body and ducking beneath the oncoming bullets. He closed the distance again, his katana flashing as he launched a series of attacks. The TAK member was fast, though, using his inner to increase his reaction time and counter every move. The battle was becoming more frantic with every passing second, bullets and blades dancing in a deadly symphony.

Taizen's heart pounded in his chest as the TAK member continued to press the fight, his blade flashing like lightning. He could feel the power of the water-infused bullets pushing him back, threatening to overwhelm him. He had to end this soon. His movements grew sharper, faster—every strike calculated to wear his opponent down, every dodge a step closer to victory.