In the middle of the room was the figure of a man in thin clothes covered with blood. Everyone present looked at him with caution because this guy had just killed one of his companions. Amid all that hostility, a sweet voice full of concern spoke.
"You're alive. I am so happy. Please forgive me. What did you have to suffer because of me" Fighting against the desire to cry, Lia expressed her sincerest apologies.
"Don't worry, Lia. I told you, you aren't going anywhere with that bastard and I'm going to keep that promise." He declared it with a smile as he pointed to his killer.
"HAHAHAHA. I told you I knew you were special. Your real name is Thanatos. Tell me what organization you work for?"
"I work only for myself. How about now you tell me your real name, Sebastian?"
"Unfortunately, telling my name to someone who is already dead is useless. Mr. Adel, do you not think it is time to end this intruder, for the reputation of the Red Dragon."
"Yes, you're right, kill him. Don't leave a single bone in his body unbroken. Show him why no one messes with the Red Dragon."
The men all yelled at the same time and rushed into the attack.
Within a couple of seconds, the weapons were approaching the body of Thanatos. Surrounded by swords, maces, axes, and even someone in the back, someone shot an arrow with a bow directly towards his head.
They are too slow.
In one fell swoop, he broke the arm of the nearest man. He immediately moved in front of two others and, with his claws, decapitated them both at the same time. From one kick, he burst the ribs of another and took his axe, which he threw quickly towards the archer, hitting him in the chest.
A big, burly man tried to hit him with his fist, but before he could reach him, a kick broke his neck by turning his head over. Another attempt to pierce his chest with something resembling a rapier, but without realizing it Thanatos took his hand and changed the direction of his arm, skewering the weapon in his own face through one eye and reaching the brain. All the attacks were in vain.
Adel couldn't believe it. In less than a minute, he saw that 15 of his men had been defeated. Most ended up dead, and a couple with extremely serious injuries that would cause their death in a few minutes. Although they had all attacked at the same time, this was the result: no scratch could reach that man.
"You set a trap for us" Adel said, as he looked at Sebastian. "One of the other syndicates hired you to eliminate our headquarters. They waited until we were all gathered, and at the right time, you and your companion would kill us." He pointed the tip of his sword at the traitor.
"You say I lied to you all this time" Sebastian's face changed and, for the first time, showed an expression of displeasure. "The Hand never lies when it does business. I am a representative of The Hand, which means I can never lie. If you again insinuate that I have deceived you at some point, I will cut off all your fingers and force you to eat them raw" The killing intent was clear.
"It is not my fault that your men are a lot of weaklings, but at least I have to keep my word" He jumped forward and fell on top of the bar. "My name is Sebastian. I don't have a last name"
"Damn, you didn't believe me when I told you my real name."
"It wasn't a suitable name for someone as special as you. Thanatos is much better. You are so special that I will take you to my teacher, who will be interested in knowing how you are able to revive yourself. Quiet life as a subject of experiments is not so bad" The mocking smile had returned to his face.
"You are not going back to your teacher because this building is going to be your grave." With an equally broad smile, Thanatos replied, and in one leap, the real battle began.
He quickly threw a punch where Sebastian was, but with a jump he dodged. The bar ended up taking the devastating blow and breaking in two. Without delay, Sebastian brandished his blades against his opponent's neck. He was too fast to dodge, so Thanatos could only block with his arm. This would mean a big wound or, in the worst case, he would cut his arm in two.
However, the smile never left Thanatos's face.
"[Strengthening]" Magic covered Thanatos arms and with a shine as thick as armor. They reinforced his skin, and the dagger bounced without causing any damage.
Surprised by the defense, Sebastian quickly backed away before receiving a kick that almost hit his right side.
"Interesting, but why did you only cover your arms and not your whole body?"
"Who knows? Maybe I have a trick waiting for you."
The truth was quite the opposite. Although a few hours had passed, he had not recovered all his mana. The spell [Disguise] and the use of [Strengthening] on his arms was all he could do. He ran out of mana for other spells at that time. But the important thing is that his opponent didn't notice.
"I just need my arms to defeat you. You have already revealed your tricks"
The battle continued. Relentlessly, Sebastian attacked with his blades at high speed from different angles, but Thanatos was not far behind, blocking and dodging the blows. The sound of iron bouncing back echoes throughout the building. From above or below, left or right, the knives did not stop trying to pass the defenses and cut off the head of their opponent.
Although he moved like a snake, dodging and hitting at the same time, Sebastian could not deliver the final strike.
"We are going to increase the pace. What do you think, Thanatos?" In just one second, its speed increased.
The knives began to hit his opponent. First on the thigh, then he brushes the chest, cheek and abdomen. He was slowly gaining ground in the fight with those small wounds.
However, it could not be neglected. The blows and claws rained down in the same way against Sebastian. In fact, it was not in a very advantageous position. Seeing how he finished with the syndicate members, he knew that one blow was enough to break a bone, and those claws were sharp enough to cut off a limb, even in their leather armor.
He became stronger in just one afternoon. I'm sure something happened. What secrets do you hide-
A punch almost hit him in the head, but instead broke the wooden floor. He couldn't be distracted or what would burst into pieces would be his skull.
Lia was stunned by the battle. Although she had seen these two fight before, for a moment, right now they were fighting seriously. She could barely discern the movements of each one. Although she knew that this was all a scene of violence and death, she couldn't help but be amazed. You are strong. You really are very strong, Edgar. Please win. With her hands clasped together, she prayed for his victory.
Next to Lia was Adel, who had another outcome in mind. Experience as a fighter told him how the scales would tip. It was clear to him that both were strong. If he tried to fight any of them 1 on 1, he would die 99 out of 100 times. He was proud of his sword technique, of his special ability that he spent years creating. He had even become a boss of the Red Dragon. But those things were useless in the face of the force he was witnessing. Everything I did, I'm still far from my goal. A rage within him manifested.
"AH... AH... AH..." It was difficult for him to breathe. The wounds were accumulating and he was running out of energy.
"What happened, Thanatos? Are you tired? So soon. Or is it all the cuts I inflicted on you that are taking away your energy." His smile was still intact, but this time he was really sincere. He was having fun.
"No, I just decided it's time for me to end you"
"You like to be arrogant. That makes you think that-"
"You can't use that skill twice in a day." He interrupted him.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because you would have finished the fight much faster than the first time. But you've been jumping like a frog all over the place. That's the only proof I need. That's why I said, "I'll finish you now."
He took one of the tables and threw it at him with all his might. Sebastian jumped off the trajectory and prepared for the attack, but...
A chair hit him in the side and sent him flying. I knew the reach of his arms and kicks, but I didn't expect him to take a chair. That extra range was enough to hit him. He tried to adopt a defensive posture, but he didn't have time. The claws of Thanatos were on his face.
You fell into my trap. In fact, everything had been Sebastian's trap. He could use [Dodge] two times on the same day. The reason he hadn't done it sooner is because Thanatos hadn't thrown big moves that would leave him uncovered like in the first fight. That is why he kept his distance and caused small wounds to wear him down and cause mental pressure.
With those wounds and your tiredness, the first thing you think about is finishing the fight quickly. It's natural. I win when you wear yourself out, or I win when you try to finish me off by playing everything, just like you're doing now. Thanatos's impatience was going to cost him his life again.
"[Dodge]" With those words again, the claws slipped away without damaging his face.
With an elegant movement, he approached his rival, and his knife went through the jugular artery. I was supposed to have beheaded you. You managed to dodge that; you really got stronger.
"[Retribution]"
Just by saying those words, a huge wound appeared on Sebastian's neck, so big that his head almost fell to the ground. What is this? How did he do it? Blood gushed from his neck like water on an open tap. His legs lost their strength and he knelt in the middle of the room.
The one who fell into the trap was me. You wanted me to use [Dodge]. That's why you declared your victory and launched an unprotected attack. All to use your own ability and return the damage. But if you didn't use it before...
"At least I know you had to invent a new ability to beat me, OUGH" He couldn't keep talking through the vomiting blood.
"Just die already, Sebastian." He said it with a smile of respect as he too bled to death.
With a smile of satisfaction, the apprentice of The Hand, Sebastian, fell dead. Followed by Thanatos, who would bleed out in a few minutes.
"EDGAR!" Lia immediately ran to his side, trying to cover the wound. "Don't die please, you have to live, you saved my life. I have to save you" She didn't know how; the young woman had no idea how to heal such a large wound. Maybe if she had her sewing kit on hand, it might be enough to take it to a doctor.
"No- Don't call me that"
"Edgar?"
"New life means a new name to me. Today I have been reborn. UGH"
"Don't talk, I understand. I'll save you. Just stay with me please." Her bloody hands couldn't help but let the blood out. At that moment, Adel pushed her back and raised his sword.
"Don't hurt him, leave him" Lia tried to move him, but she didn't have enough strength. Her blows were like those of a child, with no effect.
"All my life, I have sought the path of strength. But reality always reminds me that I'm not special. I still have no true power. Today I saw two monsters fighting. But you said you only work for yourself. Then let me follow your path behind you. [Flame]."
At that moment, his sword shone, and the battle ended.