Chapter 41: Mission Over
Lola didn’t see an attack, but her instincts, honed over years of life-or-death contracts, screamed at her to move. She threw herself to the side, landing in a crouch as the ground behind her erupted.
A deep, ten-foot-long trench was gouged into the ground, a clean slice as if an invisible giant had swung a massive blade. Dust and pebbles sprayed outwards.
Lola stared at the fresh scar in the road, her heart giving a hard thump against her ribs.
’What the hell was that?’
She looked back at Nox. The vibe around him was heavy now, a palpable weight in the air. He stood there, the dark scar on his chest pulsing faintly, and then he was gone. There was no blur, no shadowy flicker. One moment he was twenty feet away, his sword held loosely. The next, he was directly in front of her, his blade raised high, coming down in a brutal, one-handed chop meant to split her in two.
Surprise jolted through her, but her body reacted before her mind could fully catch up. She brought both daggers up in a crossed block, the impact jarring her all the way to her shoulders. The kid was strong, far stronger than he had been moments ago. The force of his blow drove her back a step.
She twisted her body, using the momentum to kick out, her boot connecting squarely with his chest again.
He flew backward, but this time he didn’t crash. He hit the ground, rolled, and was back on his feet in an instant, his movements unnaturally fluid. He charged again, the Blade a wild, unpredictable arc.
Serian could only watch, her sword half-lowered in disbelief. The human who had been on the verge of death was now pressing a high-level mercenary. His technique was a mess—he was all rage and force, no finesse—but his speed and sheer resilience were terrifying.