After ensuring everyone was okay from the sudden impact, I turned my focus to the source of the destruction. The fog made it hard to see, but I caught a glimpse of a man's silhouette standing amidst the chaos.
As the fog cleared, I could make out his rugged features and leather jacket, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.
He looked like a bandit, and there was no denying that he was ugly, that's for sure. His physique was above average, even compared to bodybuilders, showcasing a strength that seemed both intimidating and imposing.
Behind him, a horde of people dressed similarly loomed, their ragged attire and menacing expressions confirming my suspicion—they were probably bandits like him too.
"if all of you want to live, follow my orders and nobody gets hurt!"
The tension in the air thickened as everyone, except for a few including me and Mistress froze, uncertainty plastered across their faces.
"Form a line in front of the captain, or everyone dies!" One of the underlings shouted, desperation in his voice.
Mistress didn't hesitate. In an instant, she sprinted forward, her hand slipping beneath her school uniform. Before the guard could react, a hidden dagger flashed. One swift motion—his head severed cleanly from his body.
As the underlings froze in shock, she wiped the blade calmly and fixed her gaze on the captain.
"Who's next?" she whispered.
She eliminated his underlings one by one with swift, precise strikes. Panic spread through the ranks until the captain finally stepped in, attacking her with a fierce blow.
She blocked it with ease at first, but the sheer force behind his strike made her arms tremble, struggling to maintain her ground against his strength.
"You've sealed your fate, you little pest"
She quickly reached for another hidden blade from her uniform with her free hand, slashing at him in a fluid motion.
The blade found its mark, but the cut was shallow, barely enough to draw blood, let alone cause any serious harm.
He stepped back, but she pursued him relentlessly, giving him no chance to catch his breath. With each swift slash, she kept the pressure on him, her strikes coming so fast that he struggled to mount a counterattack.
Each slash was precise yet ultimately inefficient, the faint sounds of the blades striking echoing in my ears as I watched the fight unfold closely.
"This damn brat won't let up," he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"I can't find a single opening to exploit; she's too fast. If I don't figure something out soon, I'll be forced to retreat, no don't even think retreating's possible right now."
"For now, I have to evade her attacks and wait for the right moment to strike back."
He finally managed to land a clean kick to her midsection, stunning her for a brief moment and creating a crucial opening. With a fierce grin, he lunged forward, ready to slash at her vulnerable position.
But just as his blade arced through the air, she reacted with incredible speed, dodging to the side just in the nick of time.
The adrenaline surged through her, fueling her instinctive movements as she pivoted and launched a powerful kick of her own.
Her foot connected with his chest, the force sending him crashing against the wall, where he collided with a thud that echoed through the room.
For a moment, both combatants paused, breathing heavily as they assessed the situation, the tide of battle shifting once more.
"One champagne bottle, please," she said, tapping the counter with impatience. The bartender nodded and slid a chilled bottle toward her, the glass glistening under the bar lights.
With a swift, practiced motion, she removed the cap, the cork flying off with a satisfying pop. She raised the bottle to her lips, taking a deep swig and swallowing a quarter of the bubbly liquid in one gulp, feeling the effervescence tickle her throat.
'What does this brat think she's doing?!' the captain thought, gritting his teeth as he glared at her in anger.
'Drinking in the middle of a fight and completely disregarding me like I'm nothing?!'
In a sudden burst of energy, she hurled the bottle directly at the captain's face. The glass shattered on impact, sending shards and champagne spraying across him, temporarily blinding him.
The momentary distraction gave her the edge she needed as she quickly hurled one of her daggers at him.
But he regained his vision just in time, sidestepping the blade with a quick movement; it embedded itself into the wall with a sharp thud, quivering slightly as if echoing the tension in the air.
But the moment he looked back at her, she was already by his side, poised to strike. In a desperate move, he stomped the ground, creating a small shockwave that sent vibrations through the floor and momentarily unbalanced her.
Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward, snatching the dagger she had thrown and swiftly slicing at her, the blade aimed with deadly precision.
She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst as the blade approached.
But just before it made contact, a flash of movement intervened, and suddenly the captain's arm was severed, the dagger clattering to the ground. In an instant, he was finished off, ensuring that Mistress remained unharmed.
"Are you okay mistress?"
I looked at her, searching for any signs of harm as the adrenaline faded. Relief washed over me when I saw she was still standing.
She brushed off her school uniform, patting away the dust as if the chaos hadn't affected her, radiating resilience as she regained her composure.
"How did you do it?"
Her expression turned serious, surprise flashing across her face as she stepped back, the weight of her question hanging heavily in the air, demanding an answer.
"What do you mean, Mistress? I'm not sure I understand your point."
I stirred, my brow furrowing in confusion as I struggled to grasp the meaning behind her words.
"When you severed his arm, I distinctly remember you didn't have any weapons on you before. There's only one explanation for this you're at a master level of skill."
***
Ranks, as the name implies, are a system that categorizes individuals by skill level. This hierarchy allows for easy identification of one's standing, helping to assess abilities, set goals, and recognize achievements across various fields.
There are eight ranks in the Martial arts system, with each rank determined by the abilities you unlock. Each level signifies a specific degree of skill and expertise, offering a clear pathway for progression:
1. Amateur: A beginner in the field.
2.Novice: Achieves a basic understanding of mana.
3. Intermediate: Develops internal mana control.
4. Expert: Mastery of external mana control.
5. Master: Gains the ability to store anything using mana.
6. Grandmaster: Unlocks the use of Sword Qi.
7. Legend: Combines Sword Qi and mana.
8. Over-rank: Achieves perfect control over both mana and Sword Qi. and beyond.
***
"So, how did you manage to accomplish it? I find myself here, three years older than you, and yet someone younger than me has already attained the master level. It's quite perplexing, to say the least. What's your secret? What did you do differently to reach this level of skill while I'm still struggling to catch up?"
Irritated, she demanded to know how he reached the master rank. Frustrated that someone three years younger had surpassed her, she sought to understand what he did differently.
"i trained really hard, harder than you can imagine"
I replied, giving her a straightforward answer. Despite my honest response, she still looked irritated, but she didn't question me any further.
"Mistress, might I have the privilege of asking you something?"
She remained irritated but sighed and nodded, allowing me to proceed. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face, revealing her willingness to listen.
"what?"
her tone sounded just like her expression, bitchy.
"Why didn't you utilize your skills or your abilities during the fight? If you had tapped into those, you could have defeated him in no time at all. It seems illogical to hold back when you have such power at your disposal."
My tone was filled with curiosity, and she looked at me with piercing eyes, silently weighing my question as if deciding whether to share her thoughts.
"Isn't it obvious? It's sword practice. I mentioned before that I'm striving to reach master level, and every moment counts. We can't afford to waste any more time; let's get out of here. Staying here serves no purpose at this point."
I nodded in agreement and followed her closely. Once we were out of sight of our classmates, I finally removed my wig and contacts, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I shed that layer of disguise.
"Aren't you going to take off that skin mask, too?"
I was taken aback by her unexpected question, my surprise evident as I hadn't anticipated her bringing it up. It caught me off guard, making me wonder how she could see through my carefully crafted disguise.
"What are you talking about, Mistress? I'm not sure I understand what you mean by a skin mask."
I tried to deny it, feigning ignorance about what she meant. My expression remained blank, as I acted completely oblivious to her suggestion.
"Before you took this job, didn't you do any research about me?"
As we continued walking, I racked my brain, trying to recall what I had learned about her. Suddenly, it clicked: her ability was called blood manipulation.
As the name suggested, she possessed the ability to control blood, manipulating it at will. With this power, she could regenerate herself or others, create body parts, and scan anyone's anatomy. She could even conjure blood from thin air. Her ability to heal others and reprogram biology made her formidable, but her inexperience and low energy limited her potential for now.
Ability Rank: SS / Legendary.
"I can't say for certain what you look like, but I know that's not your real face."
I gave up trying to hide it and decided to be blunt with Mistress. There was no point in dancing around the issue any longer; honesty felt like the best approach.
"I find myself unable to unveil my face due to personal circumstances. I hope you can appreciate the importance of maintaining my privacy."
I said, trying to make her understand the importance of keeping this aspect of my life private.
"Do what you want," she replied coldly, her tone leaving little room for discussion.
As I walked behind Mistress, I began to take in my surroundings. It was 5 PM, and the sun was slowly setting, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. The streetlamps flickered to life, casting a warm, inviting glow that illuminated the empty streets.
Beautiful light spilled from the windows of nearby houses, creating a cozy atmosphere that contrasted with the encroaching twilight.
A gentle breeze carried the soothing sound of the sea swaying in the distance, harmonizing with the rustling leaves. The sweet scent of blooming flowers wafted through the air, adding to the enchanting ambiance.
As we strolled further, I couldn't help but notice the shadows lengthening, giving the scene a serene yet slightly mysterious quality.
The world around us seemed to be in a quiet transition, reflecting the calm before the night unfolded.
It wasn't long before we reached the manor. The gates swung open for us, and the guards bowed respectfully as Mistress entered. We finally approached the grand door just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a serene twilight over the estate.
I walked Mistress to her room before heading to mine. As I opened the door, I noticed my little brother sleeping peacefully in bed. I quietly approached, sitting on the edge and gently rubbing his head.
"Rest as much as you want; it's going to be peaceful from now on," I whispered softly, hoping to reassure him even in his dreams.
I changed into my pajamas and slipped under the covers, joining him on the bed. The warmth of the blankets enveloped me as I settled in beside him, feeling a sense of comfort and tranquility.
"Good night Taiyo"
I closed my eyes, finally allowing myself to rest after a long day. It felt as if the tensions of the world were slowly melting away, leaving behind a sense of relief.
The events of the day replayed in my mind, but I pushed them aside, focusing instead on the quiet sanctuary of the moment.
For the first time in hours, I felt the weight of the world lift from my shoulders, allowing me to surrender to sleep and embrace the peace I had longed for.
***
[12 Am]
I jolted awake to the sounds of distant screams piercing the stillness of the night, accompanied by the acrid smell of smoke filling the air.
Confusion washed over me as I sat up, heart racing, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding around me.
The comforting tranquility I had just known was replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread, urging me to act quickly.
"What the hell!?"