The faint scent of damp wood filled the air as Alina stepped into the leader's domain. The room was vast, the walls lined with crates and barrels. A single hanging lamp illuminated the space, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. The gang leader stood at the center, surrounded by six guards armed with crude weapons but an intimidating presence.
"You've got guts, walking in here alone," the leader said, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Alina twirled her dagger in her hand, her expression unreadable. "I wasn't planning to stay long."
The leader chuckled, a deep, mocking sound that resonated through the room. "You'll regret those words."
Raven leaned against a wooden pillar, catching his breath. His side burned where one of the guards had managed to graze him with a blade, but the wound was shallow. The reinforcements were down, but he knew Alina had likely reached the leader by now.
"Time to move," he muttered, straightening.
The monocle flickered as it scanned the area, directing him toward Alina's location. He couldn't afford to let her face the leader alone—not because he doubted her strength, but because the gang's operation felt larger than expected.
The gang leader moved with surprising speed for a man of his size. He lunged at Alina, swinging a heavy mace that whistled through the air. She ducked, rolling to the side and springing to her feet with feline grace.
"You're quick," the leader said, smirking. "But let's see how long you can keep it up."
His guards closed in, attempting to surround her. Alina darted forward, striking the closest guard with her dagger. The blade found its mark, and the man crumpled to the ground.
Another guard swung a club at her head, but she sidestepped and countered with a swift kick to his knee, dropping him. Her movements were precise, efficient—she fought like a predator, each strike calculated to incapacitate.
Raven slipped into the room just in time to see Alina dodge another swing from the gang leader. Two of the guards were already down, their bodies sprawled on the floor.
"Having fun without me?" Raven called out, drawing the leader's attention.
Alina shot him a quick glare. "Took you long enough."
The leader's smirk faded as he sized up Raven. "So, there are two of you. No matter—you'll both die here."
"Big words for someone about to lose everything," Raven retorted, gripping his dagger.
Raven and Alina fell into a rhythm almost instantly. She moved like a whirlwind, drawing the guards' attention with her agility and relentless attacks. Raven used the distraction to slip behind the remaining guards, striking with deadly precision.
The gang leader roared, his frustration mounting as his men fell one by one. He swung his mace wildly, but the two assassins stayed just out of reach.
Raven's monocle highlighted a weak point in the leader's armor—a gap just below his left arm. "Alina, go high!" he shouted.
Alina didn't hesitate. She leaped onto a nearby crate, using it as a springboard to launch herself at the leader. Her dagger struck true, piercing the gap in his armor. The leader howled in pain, dropping his mace as he clutched his wounded side.
Despite his injury, the leader wasn't finished. He lashed out with a backhanded strike, catching Alina off guard and sending her sprawling.
"Alina!" Raven shouted, rushing to her side.
The leader laughed, blood dripping from his wound. "You think you've won? This is just the beginning."
The room shook as the crates around them began to splinter. A strange, dark energy radiated from the leader, enveloping him in a sinister aura.
"What the hell is that?" Raven muttered, pulling Alina to her feet.
"Some kind of dark cultivation," she said, wiping blood from her lip. "He's drawing power from something—or someone."
Raven's monocle flickered again, displaying a new alert: "Artifact detected. Corruption levels critical."
"Of course," Raven muttered. "That thing we saw upstairs—it's powering him."
Alina glanced at him. "So what do we do? We can't fight him like this."
Raven clenched his jaw. "We need to destroy the artifact. You hold him off—I'll handle it."
Alina hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Don't take too long."
The gang leader's aura intensified, his movements becoming faster and more erratic. Alina darted around him, dodging his attacks and looking for openings to strike.
"You're nothing but pests," the leader growled, his voice distorted by the dark energy.
Alina gritted her teeth, focusing on keeping him distracted. Her strikes were deliberate, aimed at slowing him down rather than defeating him outright.
Raven sprinted back up the stairs, his monocle guiding him to the artifact's location. The blue glow was brighter now, pulsing like a heartbeat.
As he entered the room, he felt a wave of oppressive energy wash over him. The artifact seemed to sense his presence, its runes glowing menacingly.
"No time to waste," Raven muttered, drawing his dagger.
He struck the artifact, but the blade barely scratched its surface. The energy surged, pushing him back.
"Come on," he growled, activating his monocle to analyze the artifact. The display showed a weak point at the base of the pedestal.
Raven adjusted his stance, focusing his strength on the weak point. He struck again, this time with all his might. The pedestal cracked, and the artifact's glow faltered.
The energy in the room surged one last time before dissipating entirely. The artifact shattered, its pieces crumbling into dust.
As the artifact's power faded, the gang leader's aura dissipated. He staggered, his movements sluggish and disoriented.
Alina seized the opportunity, delivering a devastating strike to his chest. The leader collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
Raven returned just in time to see the final blow. "Nice work," he said, breathing heavily.
Alina smirked, though her exhaustion was evident. "Took you long enough."
The room fell silent, save for the sound of their labored breathing. Raven scanned the leader's body with his monocle, confirming that the mission was complete.
"This simulation was way too realistic," he muttered.
Alina nodded. "But it was worth it. We're stronger now."
As the system chimed, signaling the end of the simulation, the two assassins exchanged a glance. The mission had tested their skills and pushed them to their limits, but now it was finally time for the rewards.