Part 1: "The Elder's Gambit"
Miko ducked as the first hunter lunged at her, the clash of weapons ringing through the office. Bai was already in motion, his movements fluid and lethal, dispatching two attackers with a wave of energy that sent them crashing into the walls.
Arata remained seated behind his desk, watching the chaos with unnerving calm. "You're impressive," he said to Miko, his voice carrying over the commotion. "Your parents would be proud."
"Don't talk about them!" Miko snarled, her daggers flashing as she parried a strike and countered with a swift blow to the hunter's side.
"Do you even know the truth about them?" Arata asked, his tone almost pitying. "What they sacrificed for you?"
"I know enough," Miko shot back, her movements quick and precise as she disarmed her opponent.
Bai glanced at her, his golden eyes narrowing. "He's stalling. End this now."
Miko hesitated, her focus torn between the fight and Arata's words. She moved toward him, but before she could close the distance, he raised his hand.
"You're out of time," he said, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
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Part 2: "The Trap Unveiled"
A low hum filled the air, and the floor beneath them vibrated. Bai's head snapped toward the corner of the room, where a panel in the wall slid open to reveal a glowing device.
"What is that?" Miko demanded, backing away as the hunters regrouped.
"Insurance," Arata said calmly, rising from his chair. "You didn't think I'd let you walk in here without a backup plan, did you?"
The device pulsed with light, sending a wave of energy through the room. Miko staggered, her knees buckling as a sharp pain shot through her body.
"It's targeting your enhanced DNA," Arata explained, his voice devoid of emotion. "A failsafe, in case you became… problematic."
Bai gritted his teeth, his movements sluggish as he fought against the energy. "Miko, you need to destroy it. Now."
"How?" she asked, clutching her daggers as the hunters closed in.
"Figure it out," Bai snapped, his usually calm demeanor cracking under the strain.
Miko forced herself to move, her vision swimming as she lunged toward the device. The air around it shimmered, making every step feel like wading through quicksand.
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Part 3: "The Serpent's Strength"
As Miko struggled to reach the device, Bai faced off against the remaining hunters. His energy flared brighter than before, the strain evident on his face.
One hunter swung a blade at his side, but Bai caught it with his bare hand, the metal sizzling against his skin. With a sharp twist, he disarmed his attacker and sent them sprawling with a pulse of energy.
"Miko," he called, his voice strained. "Now would be a good time to prove you're more than an experiment."
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself forward despite the crushing pressure. Her daggers glowed faintly, the energy within them resonating with the device's pulse.
Reaching the console, Miko plunged one dagger into the center of the device. Sparks flew, and the hum grew louder, reaching a deafening crescendo before the machine exploded in a burst of light.
The force of the blast knocked her back, but the oppressive energy dissipated.
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Part 4: "A Glimpse of the Past"
As the smoke cleared, Arata stood unscathed, his expression unreadable. "You're stronger than I anticipated," he admitted, stepping toward Miko.
She struggled to her feet, her daggers still in hand. "You've lost."
"Have I?" Arata asked, his voice calm. "You've only seen the surface of what's to come. Your parents understood the stakes. They knew the price of progress."
Miko's grip tightened. "Stop talking about them like you knew them."
"But I did," Arata said. "They worked for me. They believed in my vision. And so will you, when the time comes."
Bai stepped forward, his energy still crackling around him. "She's not yours to manipulate."
Arata's gaze shifted to Bai, his expression hardening. "You should have stayed in the shadows, snake. You're an anomaly that shouldn't exist."
"And yet, here I am," Bai said, his voice cold.
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Part 5: "A Narrow Escape"
The sound of approaching reinforcements echoed down the hall. Miko and Bai exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that the fight wasn't over—but it wasn't theirs to finish tonight.
"We need to move," Bai said, grabbing Miko's arm.
"I'm not leaving without answers," she protested, but Bai's grip was firm.
"You won't get them if you're dead," he said sharply.
Together, they bolted toward the shattered window, the wind whipping through the room. Bai jumped first, landing with inhuman grace on the rooftop below.
Miko hesitated, casting one last glance at Arata, who stood watching them with a faint, knowing smile.
"Run, little hunter," he said, his voice carrying over the chaos. "You can't escape what you are."
Miko leapt after Bai, landing hard but unbroken. As they disappeared into the night, the weight of Arata's words lingered, a shadow they couldn't outrun.
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