A day had passed, and Mira, Leo, Roland, and Maria were gathered in the same room. The group sat in three leather chairs, with Leo being the only one seated on the bed. Mari tended to his wounded arm, her hands glowing faintly as she worked to heal him. Their discussion had taken a sharp turn, with Maria and Leo shouting at Roland.
"ARE YOU INSANE?! HAVE ALL THOSE CUTS GONE TO YOUR HEAD?!" Maria yelled, her voice sharp and fiery.
"I'm healing as fast as I can, but you want to rush into this?! Roland, I understand that if you go through with this, you might force that bloody Jackal to give up his power. But he has protection, and I've heard rumors that he's awakened—just like us!" Leo argued, his voice filled with exasperation. Roland, however, didn't flinch.
For a moment, Roland remained silent. Then, without warning, he lifted his leg and slammed it down, shattering the wooden table before them. Maria, Leo, and Mari stared at him in stunned silence.
"I didn't tell you all this to argue," Roland said, his voice cold and unyielding. "This isn't about weighing risks and rewards. We need to send a message. Violence is the only language these bastards understand."
Maria sighed, shaking her head. "Where's your usual coldness and rationality?"
"I'll rest once the Jackal is dealt with," Roland replied. "Until then, I'm heading out tonight to gather information on him. Thanks to Mari, I know where some of his lackeys are hiding."
"Can't you wait a bit longer? My arm is almost healed," Leo tried to interject, but Roland waved him off dismissively.
"Your arm will need therapy. It was nearly severed, remember?" Roland hissed, his patience wearing thin.
"Alright, fine," Maria conceded, though her tone was begrudging. "But if you're going to do this, take these." She reached for a suitcase, opening it to reveal a set of earbuds. One of them was black. "These will keep you in communication with us. We'll provide building plans and suggest the best entry points. Unfortunately, our tech isn't advanced enough to give you fancy overlays showing enemy locations or bullet trajectories."
"This will do," Roland said, fitting the black earbud snugly. "Will the frequency hold, or can it be hijacked?"
"There's a small chance," Maria admitted. "But I chose a secret channel, and I colored the earbud black to blend with the night. It should reduce the risk."
"Ah, yes…" Roland murmured, his tone nonchalant. But Maria glared at him, her hands on her hips.
"Say thank you, you damn brat! I raised you better than this!" she snapped, tugging his ear.
"Ow, ow! Alright, I'm sorry! Thank you!" Roland yelped, trying to pry her fingers away.
"So, you're really heading out tonight?" Leo asked, as Mira silently continued her healing work. Her fatigue was evident, but she pressed on.
"Yes," Roland replied firmly. "I'll hit a few key locations until I find the Jackal—or force him to come to me." He stood, gently ruffling Mira's hair. "You should rest, Mira."
With that, he left for his room to prepare for the long night ahead.
Hours later, Roland was ready. The night carried the same ominous air as the one when he had nearly been killed. He made his way toward Wedding, a neighborhood teetering on the edge of being classified as a slum. High unemployment, immigrant dominance, and poverty characterized the area—fertile ground for the Jackal's operations. But Roland intended to change that. Once the Jackal fell, this territory would be under his protection.
From a rooftop, Roland observed the scene below. His last confrontation with the Jackal had spooked his men, and now a group of them scurried into a dilapidated building. Silent as a shadow, Roland slipped inside through a crack in the roof.
"Schieße! The Jackal is pissed!" one henchman stammered, his voice trembling.
"No kidding! He's summoned everyone. The boss says he'll contact us soon—in the basement," another replied.
Before they could move, Roland dropped down, swiftly decapitating them both with Nocturne. Their lifeless bodies slumped to the floor as Roland pressed onward, his steps measured and deliberate.
Each floor bore the marks of his assault. Some of the wounded clung to life, but most lay still. Ensis, emerging from his tenebrous form, appeared beside Roland.
"What are you doing?!" Ensis exclaimed. "I told you not to do this! Your sanity is slipping—you'll go insane!" Ensis begged Roland to calm down.
"I'm done pretending with these scum," Roland growled, his tone glacial. "I'll only stop when the Jackal's head is on a pike and sent to Kyros." He forced Ensis to return to his tenere form.
Reaching the basement door, Roland kicked it down, descending a narrow staircase. At the bottom, he found an underground warehouse filled with counterfeit money, drugs, and women in scandalous attire. The sight disgusted him.
Without hesitation, he triggered the fire alarm, sending water cascading down from the sprinklers. Chaos erupted as he destroyed the goods and dispatched the guards who tried to stop him.
"Go!" Roland commanded the women, his voice stern yet composed. They scrambled to escape, their freedom restored.
At the far end of the workshop, he reached a reinforced door. With a powerful kick, he forced it open, revealing a room where the Jackal's holographic image conversed with his district leaders.
The leaders barely had time to react before Roland cut them down. The Jackal grinned, unfazed, and puffed on his cigar.
"Kyros' hunting dog finally came," the Jackal said with a laugh. "I wondered if you were still alive after that stunt you pulled at Kyros' place."
"You seem oddly calm for someone about to lose their head," Roland retorted, his grip tightening on Nocturne.
"Of course," the Jackal replied, reclining in his chair. "By the way, I hope you didn't kill the ladies. Such a waste."
"So, you weren't here," Roland said coldly. "Too rich for the slums now?"
"Naturally, kid. Opportunists like me rise when we can. And people like you? You don't understand that."
"I understand why people like me stop monsters like you," Roland shot back.
"Ha! Hypocrite. Look at yourself—64 men dead tonight. They were desperate, just trying to survive. You ended that."
"They chose their path. Innocence isn't a shield for evil deeds."
The Jackal smirked. "When you find me—and I know you will—be ready. A duel of monsters awaits!" His maniacal laughter echoed before Roland slashed the projector in half.
Frustrated, Roland stalked out of the building. The Jackal's words echoed in his mind, chipping away at his fragile sanity. If he didn't rest soon, he knew he would lose himself completely.
The rain had grown heavier, each drop falling like a weight on his already burdened body. Thunder roared across the sky, and Roland's legs gave out. He slumped against a lamppost, letting himself sink to the cold, wet ground. With a resigned motion, he cast Nocturne aside, the blade embedding itself into the cracked concrete street. The rain washed over him, mixing with the crimson stains on his clothing, diluting the blood until it flowed away in rivulets.
His hand pressed against his eyes as his head hung low, the exhaustion in his posture unmistakable. Every fiber of his being screamed for rest, yet his mind would not relent.
"Ensis... open my status window, please," Roland murmured, his voice barely audible above the storm.
Ensis emerged from the shadows, his ethereal form silent as he complied. The faint glow of the status window illuminated the darkness, casting an eerie light on Roland's weary face.
{Status Window}Strength (STR): 120
Energy (ENG): 140
Sanity (SNT): 1
Codex (COD): 150
{Current Unlocked Abilities}
B - Unyielding Resolve: The Black Knight is immune to fear, pain, and mental manipulation. Their will is unbreakable, enabling them to continue fighting even in the direst circumstances. However, fatal wounds—such as the removal of their heart—result in immediate defeat.
B - Darkened Armor: The Black Knight wears armor imbued with dark magic, granting immense resistance to both physical and codex attacks. The armor regenerates over time but consumes energy and Codex power the longer it's active.
C - Nightmare Strike: The Black Knight manifests a brief, terrifying illusion that induces fear in weaker foes. While it may cause confusion or hesitation, determined opponents or those with high mental fortitude can resist its effects.
D - Cursed Aura: The Black Knight emits an aura that causes mild discomfort and unease to those nearby. Although it doesn't directly harm enemies, it wears down weaker foes over time, diminishing their focus and resolve.
D {?} - Black Sword (Nocturne): The Black Knight summons the harbinger of nightmares, Nocturne—a mysterious sword of unknown origin. Its true nature remains veiled, save for one cryptic line: "The day light and darkness find the harbinger of change, Nocturne will obey."
{Locked Abilities: 4}
Roland stared at the glowing display, his eyes narrowing as he saw the dangerously low state of his sanity. He was walking a thin line, one he might not recover from if he pushed much further.
Suddenly, a burst of static crackled in his ear, jolting him out of his thoughts.
"Roo... ROLAND! ARE YOU THERE?!" Maria's voice came through the earbud, sharp and urgent.
"I'm here," Roland replied, his tone subdued as he tried to steady himself. "What is it?"
"The girls are on their way to pick you up. When they arrive, you're getting in that car—without a single word of objection," Maria ordered, her voice brooking no argument.
Roland let out a long sigh, the rain continuing to pelt him. "Fine," he said quietly, his resolve momentarily giving way to her demand.
A minute later, a sleek black car pulled up, and two women from the brothel stepped out. They helped Roland into the vehicle without a word. He leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes as the car sped through the rain-slicked streets.
When they reached the brothel, the sight that greeted Roland was less than welcoming.
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