Chapter 60: The Shadow's Edge
The clash between Rin and the Revenant intensified, both combatants moving in a deadly dance of blades and shadows. The Revenant's strikes were as fluid as water, his movements impossible to track as he seemed to melt into the darkness of the room and reappear in the next instant. Rin, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of controlled power, his strikes sharp and precise, forcing the Revenant to retreat and reassess.
But Rin could feel it—something wasn't right. The Revenant wasn't just a master of stealth and speed; he had something more, something Rin hadn't encountered before. There was a rhythm to the assassin's movements, a pattern hidden beneath the chaos, and Rin needed to uncover it before it was too late.
"You're good," Rin said, his voice steady despite the sweat dripping down his face. "But I've faced worse."
The Revenant didn't respond. Instead, he lunged forward again, his blade flashing through the air with inhuman speed. Rin's eyes followed the movement, his instincts kicking in as he raised his weapon to deflect the strike. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through his body, but he held his ground, pushing back against the Revenant's overwhelming power.
"You keep saying that," the Revenant's voice came from somewhere in the shadows, "but you're not as strong as you think."
Rin narrowed his eyes. This was it—the Revenant was toying with him. The assassin wasn't just fighting to kill; he was testing Rin, probing for weaknesses. It was a dangerous game, and Rin wasn't sure if he was ready to play it.
His grip tightened on his sword, and he took a deep breath, focusing on the present. He needed to stop thinking about what the Revenant could do next and focus on what he could do. He wasn't some rookie getting caught in the shadows of his opponent. He had faced worse, and this time, he wouldn't falter.
Suddenly, the Revenant emerged from the shadows, his blade aimed directly at Rin's chest. Rin's heart skipped a beat as his instincts screamed at him to move, but his body was slower than his mind. The blade grazed his side, cutting through his armor and leaving a shallow but painful wound.
"Dammit," Rin hissed, the pain jolting him into action.
He didn't have time to dwell on the wound. The Revenant was already retracting his blade, preparing for another strike. Rin's eyes locked onto the assassin's movements, every muscle in his body screaming to react faster, to outsmart the Revenant before it was too late.
Without warning, Rin darted forward, closing the gap between them with startling speed. The Revenant's eyes widened for a fraction of a second—enough time for Rin to take advantage of the opening. With a swift motion, Rin parried the Revenant's strike and swung his sword, aiming for the assassin's exposed side.
The Revenant moved with unnatural speed, barely evading the blow. But Rin didn't stop. He pressed forward, his strikes relentless, determined to land a hit.
"You think you can catch me that easily?" the Revenant's voice was filled with disdain. "You're still just a kid playing in the big leagues."
Rin's grin was a sharp, determined thing. "I don't play."
With a roar, Rin surged forward again, this time using his body's full momentum to drive the Revenant back. The assassin's eyes flickered with something like surprise, but Rin could see the hesitation in the Revenant's movements. For the first time in this battle, the Revenant was on the defensive.
Rin didn't give him an inch. He pressed harder, each strike calculated and precise. The Revenant was forced to retreat, his cloak swirling around him as he sought the shadows once again.
"You're good at hiding," Rin called out. "But eventually, you have to come out and fight."
The Revenant didn't respond. Instead, he disappeared, vanishing into the darkness of the room as if he had never been there.
Rin cursed under his breath. The Revenant's ability to melt into the shadows was something he couldn't replicate. It was like the assassin was part of the night itself, slipping between the world of the living and the unseen.
But Rin wasn't about to let that stop him. He knew what to do—he had dealt with enemies who relied on stealth before. His senses were sharper than ever, and he could feel the slightest shift in the air when the Revenant moved.
The room was quiet, the only sound the distant echoes of the gunfire and chaos outside. Rin's breath was steady, his body coiled, waiting for the next move.
Then, without warning, the Revenant reappeared in front of him, a blur of motion and death. His blade sliced through the air, aiming for Rin's throat.
Rin reacted instantly, raising his sword just in time to deflect the blow. The force of the strike pushed him back, but he held firm. The Revenant was relentless, each attack faster than the last, each movement more dangerous.
But Rin was no longer just reacting. He was anticipating.
He sidestepped, ducked under a slash, and countered with a brutal swing of his own. The Revenant parried the blow with an elegance that seemed almost too graceful, but Rin's strike wasn't meant to be blocked—it was meant to force the Revenant into a position where he had nowhere to go.
The Revenant's foot slipped as he tried to maintain his footing. It was a small mistake, but enough to give Rin the advantage.
With a roar, Rin lunged forward, aiming to end the fight. His sword arced through the air with the full force of his body behind it. The Revenant's eyes widened, and for the briefest moment, Rin saw something flicker in them—a flash of recognition, a split-second of vulnerability.
It was all Rin needed.
His sword cut through the Revenant's defense, slashing across his chest. The Revenant's body jerked back, his cloak billowing out as the assassin stumbled. Rin's heart hammered in his chest as he saw the dark figure falter, his movements slower now, his focus disrupted.
This was it. Rin had him.
But just as he was about to deliver the final blow, the Revenant vanished again, melting into the shadows once more.
Rin stood frozen for a moment, his breath ragged, his sword poised for the kill. He had been so close. So close.
"You're... not bad," Rin muttered, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "But you're not fast enough."
He had felt it—that moment of hesitation, the shift in the Revenant's focus. And that was enough. He wasn't going to let the assassin escape again.
Rin adjusted his stance, his mind already working through his next move. He could feel the Revenant's presence, like a shadow creeping closer, preparing for the next strike.
This time, Rin was ready.
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To Be Continued...