"Alright, that's it for today, everyone," Keito announced, his voice steady as he addressed the room full of new recruits. "You'll officially be available for missions starting tomorrow. Take the rest of the day to rest up and prepare yourselves."
The room buzzed with quiet chatter as the recruits began to gather their belongings. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the building, sending a jolt of tension through the room.
"Did anyone else hear that?" someone asked, their voice edged with unease.
Keito waved a hand dismissively, though his eyes flickered toward the door. "Probably just some of the senior members messing around. Nothing to worry about. Let's all head out."
He turned to leave, but before he could step through the doorway, another explosion shook the building, louder and more violent than the first. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling, and the recruits froze in place, eyes wide with fear.
Keito's demeanor shifted in an instant. "Something's not right," he said sharply. "Stay here. Don't move."
He disappeared down the hallway, his movements swift and purposeful. The air grew heavy with anticipation as the recruits exchanged nervous glances. Moments later, Keito skidded to a halt at the end of the corridor, his breath catching at the sight before him.
Twelve hooded figures stood in the ruins of the blasted front gates. Their presence was ominous, their very aura radiating danger. One of them held out his hand, purple flames swirling around his fingers. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of fire, scorching the walls and further tearing apart the headquarters.
Nearby, a fellow assassin stumbled into view, his face pale with terror. "Mages!" he shouted, his voice ringing out like a warning bell.
Before he could say another word, one of the hooded figures gestured with a lazy flick of their hand. The assassin was lifted into the air, choking and clawing at his neck as though an invisible force were strangling him. With a violent motion, the figure slammed him against the wall, leaving a bloody stain as the assassin's lifeless body crumpled to the floor.
Keito's heart raced as he ducked back into the shadows, his mind spinning. He turned and sprinted back to the meeting room, bursting through the door with a grim expression.
"What's going on?" Akari demanded, her voice trembling.
Keito's gaze swept over the recruits, all of them looking to him for answers. He steadied his breathing and spoke. "We're under attack."
"Under attack? By who?" Ragra asked, his fists clenching.
Keito's face darkened. "Mages," he said grimly. "Twelve of them, at least. I don't know why they're here, but it doesn't matter. You need to hide—now. Stay out of sight and don't engage them. You won't stand a chance. Mages are on an entirely different level."
"But—" Akari started to protest, only for Keito to cut her off.
"No buts!" he snapped. "This isn't a drill. I'll try to hold them off or buy some time, but you're not ready for this fight. None of you are."
The recruits stared at him, fear and uncertainty etched into their faces. Another explosion rocked the building, closer this time. Keito gritted his teeth and turned to the door.
"Hide. That's an order," he said before stepping out into the chaos.
The Unodoz, led by Ragra, sprinted down the dimly lit hallways, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Adrenaline coursed through their veins as they searched frantically for a place to hide. The sound of distant explosions and shouts grew louder, a haunting reminder of the chaos unfolding behind them.
Meanwhile, Keito, his face etched with urgency, pulled out his phone and dialed the operations room. A calm yet professional voice answered on the other end.
"Operations, this is Lyra speaking."
"Lyra, this is Keito. It's an emergency. We're under attack—repeat, we're under attack," Keito said, his tone sharp and commanding.
"Under attack? By who?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Mages," Keito snapped.
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Lyra spoke again. "Mages… Understood. What do you need?"
"I need a status report on which assassins we have in HQ right now. From Tresa rank and above. I need them here immediately."
Lyra's fingers flew over her keyboard as she checked the system. After a brief pause, she responded. "We currently have four Cinqa, eight Quatz, and five Tresa on-site."
Keito's jaw tightened. "That's it?!" he barked, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Yes," Lyra said, her voice steady despite his tone. "Most of our forces are deployed on missions across the continent. These are the only high-ranking assassins available right now."
"Fine," Keito growled. "Broadcast an urgent message to all Cinqa and Quatz. Tell them to assemble at the main entrance immediately. I'll buy us some time and keep them occupied."
"Understood," Lyra said without hesitation.
Keito ended the call and pocketed his phone, his mind already racing ahead. Without wasting another moment, he sprinted down the hallway toward the sound of destruction. As he turned a corner, he came face-to-face with the mages.
Twelve hooded figures stood menacingly amidst the wreckage, their forms shrouded in shadows. One of them, a man with swirling purple flames dancing around his hands, stepped forward. The heat emanating from him was suffocating, and the air crackled with tension.
Keito took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "Why are you here?" he demanded, his voice firm. "What's your purpose?"
The mage with the purple flames smirked, his eyes glowing faintly beneath his hood. "We received information," he said, his voice smooth and confident, "that a certain berserker is here. A berserker who holds valuable information."
Keito's heart sank. Ragra. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Of course, they were after him. The only pure berserker who had been taken in from the Agency.
"Just hand him over," the mage continued, "and we'll leave quietly."
Keito's expression hardened, masking the turmoil within. "We would never hand over one of our own," he said coldly. "If you came here looking for a fight, you're going to get one. We've assassinated your kind before, and we'll do it again."
The purple-flamed mage chuckled darkly. "Brave words. It's an honor to be here, finally, to reap vengeance for our ancestors. My name is Ember, and I promise you'll remember it."
Keito's eyes narrowed as Ember's words dripped with venom.
"You assassins," Ember spat, "tried to wipe us out, erase us from existence. But we mages don't forgive, and we certainly don't forget. Your time is coming. You will all pay for the sins of your forebears."
Keito tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, his resolve firm. "Then come and try," he said, his voice low and steady. "But don't expect to leave here alive."
The tension in the air was palpable as the standoff began, the fate of the assassin organization hanging by a thread.
Ember smirked at the sight of the assassins surrounding him and his group. "So predictable," he muttered. He turned to the other mages, his voice calm but commanding. "You all know your orders. Go find the berserker. Leave this to me."
The mages hesitated for only a moment before nodding. Just as they began to disperse, assassins materialized from the shadows. Some perched high on the balconies, others stepping silently from behind pillars, their weapons glinting in the dim light. The mages were instantly surrounded.
A voice rang out from the corner of the room. "Need a hand from your baby brother, huh?"
Keito turned to see Malo, casually leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips.
Keito couldn't help but chuckle. "I hadn't even warmed up yet, but I won't say no to some backup."
From above, another voice joined the exchange. "They said mages were attacking us, but I thought it had to be some wild rumor. Never imagined they'd actually have the guts to pull something this stupid."
Keito glanced upward, spotting a figure crouched on the balcony railing, gazing down at the chaos below. His heart lifted at the sight. "Zero! Glad you made it."
Zero grinned. "Wouldn't miss this for the world."
The rest of the high-ranking assassins—Cinqa, Quatz, and Tresa alike—filled the room, their presence radiating authority and menace. The mages, though outnumbered, remained eerily calm, their confidence unshaken.
The air was thick with tension, both sides silently gauging one another. Ember's purple flames flickered brighter, casting ominous shadows across the room.
"You all think numbers will make a difference?" Ember taunted, his voice echoing in the vast hall. "You assassins have lived far too long in your little bubble. Today, we break it."
Keito stepped forward, drawing his blade with a sharp metallic hiss. "You're surrounded, Ember. This doesn't have to end in bloodshed."
Ember's smirk widened. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?"
The room was deathly silent, each side waiting for someone to make the first move. The tension was a coiled spring, ready to snap. Then, without warning, Ember's flames surged, and chaos erupted.