Morning fog lingered over the town as Robin moved silently down the streets. Her arms were folded behind her back, limbs ready to extend at a moment's notice. Every shadow, every movement, every sound was accounted for. She didn't rush—she never did. Precision mattered more than speed.
"Keep your focus," Ethan's voice echoed faintly in her memory. "Awareness comes first. Everything else follows."
Kaya and Vivi had split off earlier, covering different areas. Robin was on her own this time, clearing a small residential district lined with abandoned homes and broken fences.
The quiet felt wrong. Too wrong.
The Enemy Appears
From an alley to her left, a figure emerged.
Tall. Lean. Muscles coiled like a spring. His eyes glimmered with cold amusement.
Robin's arms flexed instinctively. "Higo," she muttered. She recognized the man as one of the captain's top executives—the one assigned to her.
Higo smiled thinly. "So you're the famous arm girl," he said, his tone mockingly casual. "I was told you were clever, but let's see if that's true."
Robin didn't respond with words. Her arms moved. They shot out, wrapping around the nearest wall, latching onto the shadows of the street. She was already assessing his reach, his stance, his patterns.
Higo's smile widened. "Quiet type. Good. Let's make this interesting."
Testing the Limits
He lunged first, fast and precise. Robin's arms extended to intercept, striking his shoulders, legs, and arms in a flurry of coordinated attacks.
Higo barely staggered. "Not bad," he said, stepping back. "But predictable."
Robin tilted her head. "You're underestimating me."
He chuckled. "I'm not. I just enjoy seeing how far you can push."
They clashed repeatedly. Robin's arms moved like living weapons, striking and defending simultaneously. Higo blocked with skill, countering with his own fluid strikes.
The battle was tense, a test of timing, strength, and observation. Robin noticed a pattern in his attacks—he favored the left side slightly more. She adjusted, striking precisely at the right moments, forcing him to retreat occasionally.
A Narrow Escape
Higo feinted left and suddenly leapt high, trying to land behind Robin. She reacted instinctively, extending her arms upward to grab the edge of a crumbling roof, swinging over him. Her momentum carried her across the street, landing lightly behind another pile of crates.
Higo's eyes narrowed. "Clever."
Robin wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "I've been practicing," she said simply.
He lunged again, faster this time, aiming to catch her off guard. Robin spun, extending two arms toward his chest and one to his arm, locking him in place temporarily. But Higo twisted violently, breaking free.
"You're good," he said, panting lightly. "Better than I expected."
Robin didn't answer, keeping her focus. She could hear her own heartbeat, steady but intense, each pulse a reminder that she had to maintain control.
Vulnerability and Opportunity
Higo circled her cautiously now, clearly reassessing. "You've improved, but can you handle this?"
Before she could respond, he feinted low, then rolled to the side, launching a swift kick at her midsection. Robin barely bent back in time, feeling the wind of his strike brush her.
Her mind raced. He was testing her, baiting her, trying to create an opening.
She realized the pattern: his strikes were fast, precise, but slightly repetitive. He relied on anticipation over brute force.
Robin's arms reacted. One shot to block a swing, another to deflect a kick, a third to push him slightly backward.
Higo stumbled but recovered, smirking. "Persistent."
Robin's lips curved faintly. "Not just persistent. Careful."
Counterattack
Robin's eyes scanned the narrow street, noticing broken crates, loose debris, and walls she could use. Using the environment, she timed her next move perfectly.
Higo rushed forward. Robin extended both arms to the ground, pushing off, propelling herself toward a loose crate. She swung it toward him, forcing him to jump back.
The movement wasn't meant to injure—but to destabilize.
Higo landed on his feet and laughed. "Resourceful. You have potential."
Robin exhaled slowly. "Potential isn't enough. You'll need to see what I'm capable of."
She launched a flurry of controlled strikes—arms wrapping and striking in coordinated sequences, pushing Higo further back. He blocked some, evaded others, but the accumulation of precise attacks started to wear him down.
Tension and Observation
Higo's eyes flicked toward the horizon for the first time, as if noticing something beyond Robin's presence. He shook his head, refocusing on her.
Robin noticed the shift. "You're distracted," she said. "If you can't focus, you'll lose."
He growled softly. "I'm not losing."
But Robin could see the small openings now—slight hesitations, minor delays in his strikes.
Ethan's Watchful Eye
From a distance, Ethan observed. He didn't interfere. Not yet.
"Good," he muttered quietly. "She's pushing him. He underestimates her, but she's learning to exploit that."
He adjusted his stance slightly, ready to intervene if Higo became too dangerous. But Robin had control. Her arms extended, defensive then offensive, keeping him on edge.
The First Blow
Robin feinted a strike to the side, baiting Higo. He reacted, stepping toward the wrong side, exposing a small opening.
Robin's arm shot out like a whip. She struck his shoulder, forcing him back against a wall.
Higo grunted. "Not bad…" He held the wall to keep his balance. "But this isn't over."
Robin's eyes narrowed. "Neither am I."
She adjusted her stance, energy focused, ready to push further.
The Fight Continues
The battle continued—fast, controlled, and exhausting. Robin's precision allowed her to keep up with Higo's strength and speed. She was still amateur compared to him, but her training, observation, and adaptability gave her a slight edge in anticipation.
Higo noticed her improving with each movement. "Persistent… clever… adaptable," he muttered. "I like this. But you're still a child."
Robin's arms shot out again, striking a wall near him to create debris that hindered his movement. He grunted, dodging what he could, but the distraction gave her room to maneuver.
Each strike from Robin was calculated—her arms extending, wrapping, striking, and pushing him in ways that forced him to adapt constantly.
Closing the Gap
Robin's breathing was steady, even under pressure. Sweat dripped down her face, but her eyes stayed sharp. She knew she couldn't finish Higo yet—not alone—but she could test him, tire him, and force him to reveal more about his patterns.
Higo finally stepped back, breathing hard. "You're… good. Better than most."
Robin didn't speak. She extended her arms defensively, prepared for the next move.
"Enjoy this while it lasts," Higo said with a low growl. "It won't be enough to stop me for long."
Robin's eyes followed him closely. "We'll see about that."
From the shadows, other executives observed, whispering among themselves. Higo's performance intrigued them. Their plan to overwhelm the girls wasn't failing, but Robin had shown skill they hadn't expected.
Ethan watched from his hidden vantage point. He wasn't worried. Not yet. But he knew the captain's arrival could change everything.
The fight wasn't over. It had only just begun.
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