The night reeked of blood and smoke. Shin tore through the streets, boots splashing in puddles, the sound of his steps bouncing off stone walls. Behind him, mercenaries closed the gap, their yells lost to the rumble of the storm above.
His breath came fast, muscles burning, but he kept moving. The city was a maze of alleys, shadows, and death waiting around every corner.
"There! Cut off his escape!" a voice shouted.
Shin cursed under his breath. He ducked into a narrow alley, pressing his back against the damp stone, heart pounding.
The chase had stretched longer than expected. His enemies were persistent, well-trained, and determined to see him dead.
His fingers tightened around the smooth surface of his orb. Its faint pulse of magic was his only comfort. Energy stirred within, waiting to be unleashed.
A shadow moved at the alley's entrance. No time.
With a flick of his wrist, the orb morphed into the hilt of a dagger. The moment his pursuer stepped forward, Shin struck.
A flash of silver. A strangled gasp. The mercenary crumpled. Blood pooled at his feet, mixing with the rainwater as thunder rumbled above. But the noise had given him away.
Shouts erupted from the street. More were coming.
Shin gritted his teeth and launched himself onto a stack of crates. The top wobbled beneath him.
"Oh, come on—" He barely caught himself before scrambling to the rooftops.
Arrows hissed past, splintering wood and embedding into the walls. The city sprawled ahead, alleys twisting like a labyrinth. A lucky shot shattered a wooden railing as he vaulted over it, sending splinters into the air.
If he could reach the docks, he could disappear. The plan had been simple. One last job, one last kill.
The plan had failed.
"He's up here!" a guard shouted.
A blade whistled past Shin's ear. He twisted mid-air before landing in a roll, shingles cracking beneath his weight. A gust of wind carried the scent of smoke and rain, the storm above matching the chaos below.
A mercenary lunged with a spear. Shin pivoted, the tip grazing his sleeve as he twisted away. The spear struck the rooftop with a dull crack, sending shattered tiles cascading into the alley below.
He countered. His dagger shifted into a short sword as he severed the spear's shaft before driving his blade through his attacker's chest. The mercenary's body slumped, rolling off the roof with a sickening thud.
Another enemy swung a heavy axe. Shin ducked, but his foot landed on a loose shingle. "Not now!" he yelped, slipping backward.
Twisting mid-fall, he barely caught the ledge of the roof below. The axe crashed into the rooftop above, sending a chunk of stone and debris tumbling down. A slab of tile barely missed his fingers as he hoisted himself back up.
He rolled to his feet as another attacker advanced. A swift kick to the knee sent the mercenary staggering. Shin finished him with a clean thrust, his blade punching through fabric and flesh. More arrows rained down, puncturing the roof around him with dull thuds.
He kept moving. A rooftop gap loomed ahead. He sprinted, leaping just as fire magic exploded behind him. The heat seared his back, the force nearly knocking him off balance. The blast shattered the chimney beside him, sending bricks crashing into the streets below, dust and smoke billowing into the air.
The docks were in sight.
A final wave of enforcers blocked his path. No way around. He had to fight through.
He dashed forward, weaving between strikes. His blade flashed under the moonlight. One fell. Then another. Blood spattered across the rooftop, dripping into the alley below.
The mercenaries grew desperate. A dagger-wielding attacker lunged. Shin twisted, catching the man's wrist and using his momentum against him, flipping him onto the rooftop. The impact sent a shockwave through the tiles, cracking them beneath their weight.
A war hammer slammed down, missing by inches. The sheer force caved in part of the roof, sending debris crashing into the building below. Shin countered, slicing through the attacker's exposed side before moving on.
A trio of reinforcements appeared. One hurled a bolt of fire magic. Shin sidestepped, the heat licking at his skin as the projectile struck a nearby chimney, blasting it apart in a fiery burst.
His orb reshaped into a spear, crackling with stolen flames. He drove it through the first attacker's chest, the heat searing through armor. The mercenary screamed, body convulsing before falling limp.
The spear shifted into a greatsword. One brutal slash. The remaining foes collapsed, their bodies sending broken tiles and shattered wood cascading down into the streets.
Panting, he wiped blood from his brow. More were coming, but they were too late. The ship was lifting anchor.
Summoning the last of his strength, he sprinted down the pier and leaped. His fingers barely caught the railing. For a moment, he dangled above the waves. "Terrible time to fall," he muttered. With a final grunt, he hoisted himself onto the deck.
He collapsed, chest rising and falling rapidly. His body sagged, muscles burning. The weight of exhaustion crashed over him. Could it really be over? Just for a moment?
No blades in the dark. No whispers of betrayal. Just waves and salt in the air.
And yet, sleep refused to come.
His body ached, but his mind was worse. The adrenaline hadn't faded. Every muscle remained tense, waiting for another fight. He rolled onto his side, gripping his orb tightly. If they sent this many men, the hunt wasn't over.
Not yet.
A month and a half at sea, and they were nearing Laginaple. He had left Japan behind, burying his identity beneath an alias. Here, he was just another traveler. A faceless wanderer. And for now, that was enough.
Stretching, he swung his legs off the hammock and stood. Careful not to wake the others, he made his way to the deck.
Dawn painted the sky in deep purples and gold. The vast world of EssaTerra stretched before him, shaped by gods and stained by war.
It was said the celestial rulers, the God-King Rudaliz and Goddess-Queen Lusamina, had forged the land with their divine essence. Mana and Ki flowed through all things, from the smallest blade of grass to the mightiest warriors.
But for all its beauty, EssaTerra was a realm of conflict. Empires clashed. Ancient evils lurked. The scars of war had never healed.
And now, something stirred once more.
Shin tightened his grip on the railing as Constina Port came into view. Merchant vessels dotted the harbor, a city teeming with life beyond them.
Voices carried from the docks. The scent of spices and roasted meats mixed with the salty breeze. Towering citadels stood against the morning light.
It was nothing like home. Here, magic and steel coexisted. Airships floated above, while swordsmen and mages walked side by side.
He pulled his hood up. No one knew him here. No one would recognize him.
"Fresh start," he murmured.
As the ship docked, a recruiter called out. "Hunter's Guild is looking for able hands! Good coin for those willing to work!"
Shin's gaze lingered. Money. That was the first step. He had the skills. He had the drive. And the Hunter's Guild would give him exactly what he needed.
Work. Anonymity. A chance to carve a new path in a world where the past still reached for him.
He adjusted the orb in his palm and stepped off the ship, vanishing into the bustling crowd.