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Chapter 44 - Red & Black: Part Two

A bit earlier in the night, Constantine and Kento stood in Elias Ravencroft's opulent office. The atmosphere was tense as Elias leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

"Morgana Nightshade is hiding out near the port district," Elias informed them, his tone grave. "Your mission is to eliminate her and leave no survivors. She's also waging a war against the Slavator family, Kento. I don't know how this aligns with your…personal goals but do with that information whatever you may." he said.

Kento nodded, the weight of Elias's words settling on him. "Understood. We'll get it done."

Constantine, standing beside him in a borrowed black suit with a red tie, glanced at Kento. He could see a change in his eyes. Elias's words had struck a chord within him.

As they left The Underworld, Kento and Constantine made their way to the port district, transported by two of Elias' vampires, holding them by their armpits and flying silently through the air. The air was cool and carried the scent of salt and machinery. After landing, they moved quietly, blending into the shadows until they reached the warehouse. Constantine had no idea on how to move stealthily so he imitated what Kento did, using his powers to compensate for his lack of finesse.

From a concealed vantage point, they surveyed the building. Guards patrolled the perimeter, each armed and alert. Various Nightkin, including vampires and werewolves, mingled with human mages, their eyes scanning the surroundings.

Kento whispered to Constantine, "We need to take out the guards silently. We can't risk alerting Morgana or her inner circle."

Constantine nodded, his eyes glowing with a faint red hue as he channeled his aether. "Got it. Let's make this quick."

They split up, each taking a different section of the perimeter. Constantine moved in a flash, using his lightning-infused super speed to appear behind a guard, swiftly killing him with a precise stab through the neck. The guard crumpled silently to the ground. He sprinted towards the next group of guards, dispatching them with Murasame before they had the chance to react.

Kento, on the other hand, utilized his expertise in stealth and illusion. He approached a pair of guards, casting a subtle illusion that made him appear as one of their own. He slipped between them, dispatching them with swift, silent blows. He used his illusions to taunt the wraiths, making them manifest and possess the corpses of their comrades; wraiths had no physical form but they could possess others, either living or dead. In their intangible form, they could cast spells, which they couldn't do when possessing a body. However, in exchange, they gave the bodies they possessed superhuman strength, speed and endurance, making up for it. Kento signaled Constantine to attack them; now that they were corporeal, they were no match for his speed and the sharpness of Murasame.

They circled back to their vantage point, making sure that the perimeter was now clear. Constantine glanced at the warehouse. "What's next?"

"We go inside and greet our host," Kento replied, his voice slightly amused. "Remember, we leave no survivors."

Constantine nodded. He had never killed before. He was shocked at how easily he was able to take out the guards. This worried him, but now wasn't the time to entertain these thoughts – they had a job to do. They once again approached the warehouse cautiously. Constantine's heart pounded in his chest as he thought about Morgana and what she had done. The urge for revenge was strong, but he knew he had to stay focused.

As they climbed to the roof, they positioned themselves near the skylight, peering down into the room below. They could see Morgana with two of her subordinates, staring at them in disbelief and preparing spells.

"We strike fast and hard," Kento whispered. "Ready?"

Constantine nodded, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Ready."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" they heard Morgana scream at the. from below.

With a final glance at each other, they prepared to make their move, jumping through the glass. Constantine and Kento descended swiftly from the skylight, landing with precision on the floor of the warehouse. Morgana's eyes widened in recognition and alarm. "A Salvatore!" she said, dumbstruck. Without a word, she turned and fled through a trapdoor in the floor, leaving her subordinates to handle the intruders.

Kento and Constantine quickly assessed the situation. Kento's gaze locked onto Selena, while Constantine faced off against Darius.

Kento moved first, his daggers glinting under the dim light as he approached Selena. She responded by summoning a whirlwind of fire, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Kento dodged nimbly, his movements a blur as he avoided the flames. He countered with an illusion, creating multiple versions of himself that circled around her. Selena hesitated, unsure of which Kento was real. Seizing the moment, Kento struck from her blind spot, his dagger slicing through her defenses.

Selena retaliated with a blast of fire, but Kento twisted away, his speed and agility unmatched. He closed the distance again, this time delivering a series of precise, rapid strikes that overwhelmed her. With a final, decisive blow, he pierced her heart, ending the fight.

Meanwhile, Constantine faced off against Darius with a manic grin, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. The werewolf snarled, his claws elongating as he prepared to attack. Constantine moved first, teleporting behind Darius and slashing with his sword. Darius spun around with supernatural speed, his claws deflecting the blade. Constantine laughed, a wild, unsettling sound, and didn't relent. He used his lightning-infused super speed to deliver a flurry of blows, each strike more frenzied than the last. Sparks flew as his sword clashed with Darius's claws.

Darius lunged, his claws aiming for Constantine's throat, but Constantine teleported out of reach, reappearing behind him. His eyes flashed purple as he unleashed a small bolt of lightning, the energy crackling through the air and striking Darius in the back. The werewolf howled in pain but quickly recovered, charging at Constantine with renewed fury.

Constantine parried the attack, his movements erratic yet precise. He danced around Darius, striking with an almost manic glee. His laughter echoed through the warehouse, unsettling both his opponent and Kento. Finally, he saw an opening. Infusing his sword with a surge of aether, he delivered a powerful slash that cut deep into Darius's side. The werewolf staggered, blood pouring from the wound. Constantine didn't give him a chance to recover, teleporting above him and driving his sword down into Darius's skull, ending the fight.

Kento, having just finished off Selena, glanced over at Constantine with concern. The manic energy radiating from him was unsettling. He approached Constantine cautiously, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You okay, Constantine?" Kento asked, his voice steady but his eyes searching.

Constantine's wild grin faded slightly, replaced by a look of confusion. "Yeah, just... let's finish this." he said, refocusing.

Kento nodded, his concern lingering but unspoken. They turned their attention to the trapdoor, ready to pursue Morgana and bring an end to her schemes once and for all.