Elara's face became gloomy. She appeared in front of Rin in an instant and swung her dagger in the, her blade cut through the airin a deadly arc . A metallic sound accompanied by a low metallic clank was created. Rin's eyes widened as she looked at the fallen object - a bullet.
_She slashed a freaking bullet in half._
Rin was stupefied until Elara's shrill voice snapped her out of her daze. "Get out of here now! I will handle them."
That was when Rin finally acknowledged the presence of the newcomers. There were seven pale–armoured figures, all holding different weapons. The next moment they paved an entrance as a new figure emerged - a man with middle-length curly hair, a pale face, a gentle, handsome appearance, and piercing brown eyes which seemed to bore into one's soul.
Rin hesitated. But soon, another thought washed over her feelings of doubt.
_She is so weird already, and she killed those people without breaking a sweat. I guess killing these won't cause her any trouble._
Rin wanted to stay but quickly realized that she wouldn't be of much help but a burden instead. Plus, no matter how Elara treated her, she was her savior, after all. Not wanting to be a burden, she immediately decided to flee.
One of the pale figures rushed at her, but ultimately met his end in the hands of Elara as he was instantly decapitated. No one dared to approach anymore until Rin fled from the house.
Elara's expression became grave as she chuckled self-mockingly. "You really came for me. My goodness, this is an honor."
The man smiled, ignoring her sarcasm. "I must admit, I have missed you so much... Evlin!"
"You won't call me that again when I am done with you," Evlin yelled angrily as she charged with her dagger. In a flash, she appeared in front of him and slashed viciously at his face. A loud clang resounded in the building as two steel weapons clashed.
Elara's hand trembled while her face twiched with difficulty. However the man remained calm, holding his sword, his head tilted slightly. "Find her," he commanded, and three of the pale figures rushed off in different directions.
"I won't let you do this," she yelled, her aura flanking her dagger with a thread like energy. She swung her dagger at him continuously, sending red light thin particles flying at him.
However, the man's sword deflected all her attacks but Elara was relentless her movement were a blur.
Unfortunately, the other pale figures weren't lucky as soon as they were caught in her continuous attacks, they were easily turned into minced flesh.
Elara's frustration grew as she swung her dagger relentlessly, but the man blocked every attack with ease. Her movements became more aggressive, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She swung wildly at his head, her dagger aimed straight for his face.
The man's sword flashed, and for a moment, it seemed like Elara's attack would connect. But then, he reached out with lightning speed, clasping her sword with both hands. Blood trickled from his grasp, and a cruel smirk spread across his face.
"Elara your skills have become rusted a bit quickly. " He whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of Elara's labored breathing.
"Haven't you learned you don't come close to me."
As he spoke, his body began to glow with a crimson light, and Elara's eyes widened in alarm. She sensed danger and instinctively leaped back, but it was too late.
The man's body exploded with energy, unleashing a massive shockwave that sent Elara flying across the room. The entire building shuddered, and the sound of crashing masonry filled the air. A loud bang echoed through the streets, and the house began to crumble, its foundations shattered by the force of the explosion.
. . . . .
Rin ran continuously, her breath coming in loud gasps. The sound of the explosion still rang in her ears, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was following her. She thought of Elara, and worry crept into her mind. 'Elara, please be safe.'
Her legs began to slow, and fatigue overwhelmed her. She stopped, hands on her thighs, panting heavily. Her legs ached with exhaustion. Suddenly, a silver silhouette flashed past her, blowing her hair back. It vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Rin's eyes scanned the dark alley, alert and frightened. She couldn't run anymore; she was too tired. She felt like she'd been found anyway. Determined, she picked up an iron rod lying nearby, ready to defend herself.
The silver figure rushed past her again, and Rin's eyes narrowed. She turned and swung the rod, hitting something solid. The figure stumbled back, fell, and got up quickly. The side of its temple was pressed in and bleeding, but its skin began to heal itself. It was one of the armored pale figures.
Rin's expression twisted in dread as realization dawned on her. _Could it be Elara was one of them too?_
The pale figure charged at her, and Rin knew she was no match for its speed. She dodged, but it was too fast. It appeared in front of her, and she swung the rod, only to be disarmed by a swing of its hand. It reached out to grab her, but Rin reacted quickly, her fist connecting with its jaw.
She whimpered at the pain in her knuckle, sure he had broken it. Her hand was seized, and she was slammed against the wall. Rin whimppered as blood stained her lips.
The pale figure tightened its grip, its eyes filled with a frightening sense of hunger and madness. His fangs elongated, and it leaned in. Rin's eyes closed, ready for the inevitable.
"Stop," a stern command stopped the pale figure abruptly
. . . .
The pillar moved, revealing a bloody figure sprawled across the ground. Elara dragged her weak, injured body, barely able to move. Her body wasn't healing due to intense injuries. She muttered in a silent but sad tone, "Rin... I failed you...but you... have to live no matter what." Elara was locked in her own thought filled with sadness and regret.
The man looked at her sadly, his voice low and steady. "Evlin, it really didn't have to be like this."
Elara lay silently.
"I will send you off now," he said, lifting his sword.
A squelching sound was created as the sword came down and blood splattered into the broken pillars of the house.
"Rest now Evlin."
. . . . .
He turned to see a masked figure with green-striped dark hair, black jacket, and pants. "And why should I listen to you? I guess you're another supernatural. Let me remind you, you're in the way of our mission, and you know what that means. Get out of here now before I change my mind." He spat in disdain .
It was obvious he didn't take the newcomer seriously.
Rin's eyes flickered between the two, hoping to be rescued.
"I don't have time for this," the masked figure said lazily. "Just hand over my prey and be done with it."
Rin's face fell when she heard the word prey which meant she was going to be recaptured instead of being rescued. A chill ran down her spine as she tried to interpret what he meant.
Two other figures appeared behind him, the pale skinned figure smirked . "So, do you dare be so arrogant now?"
"Wait, did he just say prey?" one of the pale figures chimed in,
"Yes, I heard it clearly."
The pale figure holding Rin snorted, its grip tightening around her. One of the newcomers burst into laughter, "You must be crazy to think you can snatch her from us. That must mean you're either stupid or seeking death."
His tone turned cold and menacing, "And that means you're not getting out of here alive."
The masked figure sighed, "This is getting frustrating. Brace yourselves, I will be sending you off now."
The three pale figures instantly became enraged. Then one of the pale figures stepped forward "What did you say? I will personally have your head, then I will–"
His rants were cut short as the masked figure suddenly vanished. A gust of wind blew over them, and he froze. Red lines appeared in his neck and stomach. The next second, his body dissected into three parts and fell to the ground in a heap. He was killed in just a split second.
The pale figures' faces shifted from shock to panic. The masked figure moved again. Rin froze to the wall in fear as she saw the figure who held her decapitated in an instant. No blood splattered, just the thud of a head followed by a body.
The last pale figure, already on his heels, stopped abruptly as the masked figure appeared right in front of him. Fear froze him on the spot.
The masked figure narrowed his eyes at him, his voice monotone, "I said hand over my prey. That never meant I said you could leave."
A bit of sarcasm added to his voice, "And also, after I send you off, don't forget to tell your so-called king about our existence, because he would be joining you soon."
The pale figure's fear was instantly consumed with anger. Since he was going to die anyway, why listen to the brat's nonsense? He unsheathed his sword, "Fuck you!"
He yelled as he charged madly at the masked figure. The masked figure suddenly rushed forward, and in a flash, he was already behind the pale man. It was as if he phased through.
The pale-skinned man froze as his body began to separate. In a matter of seconds, he was dissected into multiple parts and turned into a heap of his own flesh.
The masked man turned to look at Rin, who instantly shuddered. She quickly picked up a crossbow from one of the corpses, "Do... not... do not come any closer," she yelled.
The man calmly walked towards her, every step deliberate. Rin instantly fired, but it only took a slight movement of his shoulder to dodge it. Rin fired wildly, but every arrow passed through, not really hitting him.
In an flash, he vanished and appeared behind Rin, he chopped her head slightly with his hand. Rin suddenly felt numbness on her neck accompanied by extreme dizziness, her legs became wobbly. Her vision became blurred until it became blank.
As Rin's body slumped to the ground the man's expression remained emotionless.