The dimly lit underground valley is filled with the sound of silence as I stood in front of the hooded man. My hands rested loosely in my pockets, my stance relaxed. Alpha was in front of the masked man, her sharp gaze fixed on the bandits ahead.
The hooded guy, the one who had delivered the stolen documents, took a step forward. With a cocky smirk, he pulled out a knife, twirling it between his fingers. "It's just a girl," he sneered. "I'll make this quick."
I tilted my head, unimpressed. Before he could even take a single step toward me, I moved.
In one swift motion, I was in front of him. My palm collided with his face, gripping it tightly as I pushed him downward with force. His body slammed into the ground, the thud echoing through the space. He didn't even have time to react before his body went motionless, fainting on the spot.
The bandits flinched at the sight, their postures shifting into a defensive stance.
"Now," I said, brushing imaginary dust off my hands, "who's next?"
Alpha didn't wait for an invitation. With a flash of dark energy, she leaped forward, her movements a blur. The first bandit she approached barely had time to draw his weapon before her fist connected with his chest, sending him skidding backward.
I followed her, stepping in between. The dimly lit valley lit up with bursts of aura as attacks collided and shattered the quiet night.
Alpha and I moved like a well-trained, tag team that no one could stand against. I ducked under a bandit's sword swipe, grabbing his arm and twisting it until I heard the satisfying crack of his joint giving way. Before he could cry out in pain, Alpha appeared behind him, slamming her foot into his back and sending him flying into another group of bandits.
"You're getting slow, Alpha," I teased, sidestepping a punch from another attacker.
She smirked, wiping the blood off her knuckles. "You're just too fast Master. Try to leave some for me."
Another bandit lunged at me with a dagger, his movements sloppy and desperate. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it until he dropped the weapon, then delivered a sharp kick to his chest, sending him sprawling.
Meanwhile, the masked man, who had been standing back and watching the chaos, began to run away with the documents in hand. I noticed him out of the corner of my eye.
"He's trying to escape," I muttered.
Alpha didn't even look in his direction. With a flick of her wrist, a dark chain materialized in midair, slamming into the ground just inches in front of the masked man. The chain's force cracked the stone beneath it, the sound boomed through the valley. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn NoveI~Fire.net
The masked man stumbled, falling backward in terror.
Alpha's voice was calm but deadly. "You're not going anywhere."
The fight continued, the remaining bandits growing more desperate with each passing moment.
"Take thiss!!!!" One of them charged at Alpha with a sword, his face twisted with determination. She sidestepped his swing effortlessly, her fist connecting with his gut in a powerful uppercut.
The force of her punch sent the man staggering, and as his head turned toward me, I delivered a roundhouse kick to his face.
The impact sent him flying into a crumbling wall, his body collapsing in a heap
"I thought you wanted some left for you," I said, looking at Alpha.
She rolled her eyes. "Nah, let's just end this fas-"
—Suddenly, the sound of sirens pierced through the air. The valley was soon bathed in red and blue flashes as knights stormed the area, their weapons drawn.
The bandits froze, panic washing over their faces. Some tried to crawl away, but the injuries we'd inflicted made it impossible for them to move quickly.
Alpha and I exchanged a glance. The knights were getting closer.
"We can't stay here," I said.
She nodded, but her eyes lingered on the masked man, who was still sprawled on the ground with the documents beside him. Her hands clenched into fists, frustration etched across her face.
"We can't take him," I said, my voice firm.
"Alpha," I said in a commanding tone, stepping in front of her. "We're leaving. Now."
Her jaw tightened, but she gave a reluctant nod.
As we vanished into the shadows, the masked man took his chance to escape, disappearing into a different part of the valley.
One of the knights, a tall man clad in silver armor, paused as he surveyed the scene. His eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of Alpha's retreating figure in the distance.
"Was that… a Shadow Mystic?" he muttered, his tone a mix of awe and suspicion.
Alpha and I reappeared in a safe zone, a high tower overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking, the city lights twinkling like stars below us. But the tension between us was different.
Alpha paced back and forth before suddenly punching the ground, her fist leaving a small crater in the stone.
"I failed," she muttered, her voice laced with anger and regret. "I should've been able to stop him."
I leaned against the edge of the tower, sith crossed arms, watching her with a calm expression. "You stopped the bandits," I said. "That's more than enough for one night."
She shook her head. "It's not enough. The masked man got away. Those documents are still out there. I—"
"Alpha," I interrupted, my tone sharp. She stopped and looked at me.
"I'm the leader," I said, my voice commanding. "And I'm telling you to calm down. We'll handle it. But not tonight."
Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a heavy sigh. "You're right," she said softly.
I stepped closer, placing a hand on her cheeks. "It's a step forward. That's all that matters."
She nodded, still looking a little downcast.
"For now," I continued, "stay hidden. The knights are on high alert, and the last thing we need is for them to track us down."
"And you?" she asked.
"I've got a tournament to win," I said with a smirk.
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
We both stepped back into the shadows, leaving the tower behind.