As the two sides stood face-to-face, Luna snapped her fingers, triggering the assassins to charge at Roland and Leo. The two split the 50 assassins evenly, each taking half, and began their brutal massacre.
Roland unleashed his ferocity, severing limbs like tree branches. Bloodcurdling screams echoed as the ballroom floor was painted red. Luna and Kyren stood watching, smiles of satisfaction crossing their faces as they observed the bloodthirsty beast before them. The assassins soon realized Roland was using a skill from his Codex. Of the 25 he faced, only 20 remained standing.
< Skill in Use! >C - Nightmare Strike: The Black Knight can briefly manifest a terrifying image or illusion that induces fear in weaker foes. This effect causes confusion and hesitation but doesn't incapacitate enemies entirely. The illusion is easily broken by determined opponents or those with high mental fortitude.
Seizing the opportunity created by the skill, Roland vaulted over a charging assassin's head, landing amidst a group of five. With a fluid circular motion of his sword, he decapitated all five in a single, masterful strike. Their lifeless bodies crumpled to the floor as the remaining 15 assassins pressed on.
Roland dodged their slashes and parried their blades with ease. Spotting a nearby table, he dashed toward it, grabbing a chair and hurling it into the group. He then vaulted over the table and kicked it with full force at the recovering assassins, reducing their number to 10.
The remaining assassins faltered, their composure shattered by Nightmare Strike. To them, Roland appeared as a demon cloaked in pitch-black smoke, blood swirling ominously around him. Kyren and Luna, with their stronger wills, saw through the illusion effortlessly.
Wasting no time, Roland cut down the rest. Hearts were torn, limbs ripped apart, and some assassins, overwhelmed by terror, ended their own lives to escape their fate.
Roland turned toward Leo, who was holding his own. With relentless speed, Leo parried and counterattacked, giving his opponents no room to breathe. As their numbers dwindled, Leo activated his own Codex skill.
< Skill in Use! >A - Sanctified Ricochet: Bullets fired by the White Sharpshooter can bounce off surfaces, leaving behind a trail of radiant light that damages enemies in the area. The ricochet effect has a chance to purify enemies, weakening their dark powers.
Leo's bullets ricocheted around the room, hunting down and eliminating the remaining assassins. One final bullet zipped toward Roland, who effortlessly tilted his head to let it pass. It continued on its path toward Kyren and Luna, aiming for a perfect headshot. However, a barrier conjured by one of the Codex users blocked it just in time.
From their defensive positions, it was clear that one Codex user specialized in barriers while the other wielded a katana.
"Ha! Seriously?! I would've racked up so many more kills!" Leo exclaimed, tapping his foot impatiently and clenching his teeth in frustration.
"Calm down, Leo. We still have these four to deal with," Roland said coldly, his gaze fixed on Luna, who returned it with equal intensity.
"Do you two have no regrets for taking so many lives?" Luna asked with genuine curiosity.
"You should know better, pup," Leo retorted. "We were friends once, Luna. How many missions did we complete together? How much blood did we shed just to survive under your Père?" His tone was icy, and the tension between them was palpable.
"Yes, we were friends," Luna snapped. "Until you two betrayed my family. None of this would've happened if you had just stayed loyal and kept your heads bowed!" Her frustration spilled over as she shouted, only to be interrupted by three bullets speeding toward her, once again deflected by the barrier user.
"What did you call us when we were young, Luna? Hypocrites. Yes, that's the word," Roland interjected. "We take lives, yet we fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We're all awakened Codex users, and from where I stand, we're all monsters. Your father wants to annihilate 90% of humanity in secrecy, and we will not let that happen. Humanity will not endure a new dark age just to satisfy one crazed old man's ambitions!" His words were filled with conviction as he charged at Luna, Kyren, and their allies.
Luna and the katana wielder met Roland's charge head-on, while Leo faced Kyren and the barrier user. Leo's battle proved to be the more challenging of the two.
"Your sharpshooting skills may be the best in Europe, Leo," Kyren said calmly, "but you can't hit what you can't see." He vanished from sight, reappearing behind Leo to strike with his blade.
Leo narrowly blocked the attack, countering with a shot that was again deflected by the barrier user. Frustration etched across his face, Leo maintained a defensive posture, waiting for an opening.
Meanwhile, Roland faced a relentless combination of Luna and the katana user. Luna had donned a masquerade mask, creating a doppelgänger that obscured her true position. The katana user, a master swordsman like Roland, managed to land a clean strike, slashing an X across Roland's chest. But Roland had anticipated this and activated another Codex skill.
< Skill in Use! >B - Unyielding Resolve: The Black Knight is immune to fear, pain, and mental manipulation. Their unbreakable will allows them to continue fighting under extreme duress. This skill grants immense endurance and pain tolerance, but fatal wounds still result in defeat. Time remaining: 00:45.
Ignoring his injuries, Roland grabbed Luna and the katana user by their arms, hoisting them off the ground before smashing them down with brutal force. He tossed Luna aside and turned his fury on the katana wielder, beating him with his bare hands until his face caved in.
Leo, however, was in dire straits. His right arm had been critically injured, leaving it numb. Kyren closed in for the final blow, only to be impaled in the arm by the katana Roland had thrown. This gave Leo the opening he needed to unleash another skill.
< Skill in Use! >
A - Radiant Shot: The White Sharpshooter fires a single, focused bullet that bursts into blinding light on impact. This light blinds enemies temporarily, leaving them vulnerable or enabling a swift escape. The bullet can pierce defenses and inflict heavy damage.
The barrier user attempted to block the shot, but the bullet pierced through, shattering the barrier and obliterating his head. The resulting burst of light illuminated the room, blinding everyone momentarily.
When the light faded, Luna and Kyren regained their vision, only to find that Roland and Leo had vanished. The two had escaped—wounded, but alive.