Kaelen strode out of the warehouse district, his pockets slightly heavier from the cash he'd just received. The Krystal Master—a grizzled, wiry man with an eye that seemed to shimmer as if constantly analyzing the fragments in front of him—had appraised Kaelen's haul with the meticulous scrutiny of a jeweler inspecting diamonds. His verdict? Mid-range quality, but still valuable enough to fetch Kaelen around 60,000. Enough to start building his cover in the city, get himself set up, and—most importantly—fund his next steps.
But as he stepped out of the warehouse and onto the shadowed street, a sudden prickle on the back of his neck made him pause. Instinct kicked in, honed from years of training. His body tensed, his senses flaring, picking up on the faint, subtle shift in the air. He was being watched.
His hand drifted toward his side, fingers brushing against the handle of a blade he'd lifted earlier that day. He didn't turn around immediately. Instead, he kept his stride steady, eyes scanning the reflective surfaces in the dimly lit alley. A pair of figures moved in the shadows, keeping their distance, but edging closer with each step he took.
"Looks like we've caught a pair of shadows, Kaelen," the Voice murmured, a sinister thrill in its tone. "Shall we see what they want? Or better yet… let them find out what you're capable of."
He felt his pulse slow, steady, as his mind shifted into a calm, lethal focus. He turned a corner, moving into a narrow alleyway where the dim light barely touched, and let the shadows fall over him, waiting, listening.
The figures turned the corner after him, stepping into the alley. Two women, almost identical—twins, by the look of them, with striking silver hair that gleamed under the faint light of a distant streetlamp. Their skin was pale, smooth as porcelain, and their eyes glinted with an unnatural light that hinted at something more than human. Their movements were fluid, graceful, predatory. Superhumans.
One of them smirked, her voice cold and mocking as she addressed him. "Not many people walk out of the warehouse with cash in hand, stranger. You're either very stupid… or very lucky."
The other twin tilted her head, her expression mirroring her sister's, though her voice held a darker edge. "But we don't believe in luck. So here's the deal—you hand over what you got from that place, and we let you keep walking. Fair enough?"
Kaelen didn't flinch, his gaze steady as he met their piercing eyes. They were skilled—he could tell by the way they moved, the confidence they exuded. These weren't amateurs. He glanced between them, calculating, assessing. He'd dealt with superhumans before, back in the facility, but without his own powers, he'd need to rely on precision, speed, and sheer ruthlessness.
"Nice speech," he replied, his tone calm, almost indifferent. "But I've got a better idea. You walk away, and you get to keep breathing."
The twin on the left laughed—a sharp, cruel sound. "Brave, aren't we? I like that. But brave doesn't mean smart." Her eyes flashed, and in an instant, the air around her seemed to shimmer, crackling with raw energy that danced around her hands. Her sister joined in, her own hands alight with a dark, pulsing glow that seemed to suck the light from the alley.
The Voice in Kaelen's mind laughed, low and twisted. "Well, look at that. They're giving you a chance to warm up. Shall we… give them a show?"
Kaelen smirked, his grip on his blade tightening. His eyes flickered, tracking every movement as the twins advanced, their powers flaring in the darkness, casting eerie shadows against the alley walls. He shifted his weight, bracing himself, every muscle coiled, ready to strike.
The twin on the right lunged first, her hand outstretched as a surge of dark energy shot toward him. Kaelen ducked, the blast grazing past him, searing the wall where he'd just stood. He pivoted, his body moving with fluid precision, closing the distance in a heartbeat. His blade flashed, cutting through the air in a deadly arc.
She barely managed to dodge, her expression twisted in surprise as she staggered back. Kaelen didn't give her a chance to recover. He drove forward, striking with brutal efficiency—a kick to her knee, forcing her to stumble, followed by an elbow to her jaw. The impact sent her reeling, and he spun, pivoting to face her sister, who had already unleashed a torrent of energy in his direction.
He leaped back, the blast ripping into the ground where he'd been standing, sending shards of concrete flying. One sharp fragment sliced across his cheek, drawing blood, but Kaelen didn't flinch. Pain was a familiar companion.
The second twin snarled, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're fast," she spat, wiping blood from her lip. "But you're just a human. You don't stand a chance."
"Maybe," Kaelen replied, his voice cold and unyielding. "But I don't need to. I just need to end you."
He surged forward, his movements a blur as he closed in on her. His fists struck with pinpoint accuracy—two jabs to her ribs, followed by a swift knee to her gut. She gasped, doubling over, and he brought his elbow down hard against the back of her neck, sending her crashing to the ground.
The first twin recovered, her hands sparking with dark energy as she staggered to her feet. Kaelen barely had time to react as she unleashed another wave of energy, catching him in the shoulder. Pain seared through him, but he used the momentum, twisting his body to roll with the force, coming up in a crouch.
The Voice hissed in his mind, urging him on. "Finish them, Kaelen. They think they're untouchable. Show them what it means to face a weapon trained for war."
He moved like a ghost, weaving through their attacks, every movement precise, calculated. His blade found its mark, slashing across one twin's arm, drawing a scream of pain as her energy flickered. The other lunged at him from behind, her hands crackling with a dangerous charge, but he anticipated her, sidestepping and driving his knee into her gut with brutal force.
The two sisters staggered, bloodied and battered, their eyes wide with a mix of shock and rage. They had underestimated him, thought he'd be an easy mark, but now they were paying the price.
Finally, he stood over them, his breathing steady, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "I told you," he said quietly, his voice like steel. "Walk away. Or don't."
The twins exchanged a look, their confidence shattered, and with a reluctant sneer, they staggered to their feet, retreating into the shadows, their pride wounded but their lives spared—for now.
As they disappeared into the darkness, Kaelen sheathed his blade, wiping a smear of blood from his cheek. He'd need to move fast now. This encounter would draw attention—someone would come looking, whether it was the twins or whoever had sent them. He couldn't afford to linger.
"Nicely done," the Voice purred, a sinister satisfaction lacing its tone. "But remember—this city isn't as empty as you think. Those two won't forget you. And neither will their boss."
Kaelen nodded, already formulating his next steps as he slipped back into the city streets, vanishing into the night like a ghost. The game was only just beginning, and he was ready for whatever came next.