Chapter 45: Kill Your Past
Marcus played the defensive as the figure charged first, twin daggers gleamed once more as it lunged. Their polished, shadow-forged edges shimmered with an eerie gleam, catching the flicker of flame still lingering in the air.
Danger signals flared on Marcus' left and right kidneys, his instincts already preparing him for where the attacks were aimed—precise, surgical strikes meant to cripple. Old reflexes surged like a tide, muscle memory kicking in before conscious thought.
"Too bad, that won't work!"
Marcus chuckled as he weaved left and right to each dagger respectively, his movements smooth but deliberate. He had trained with Luke before, and worked with him through countless contracts. This wasn't a challenge—it was familiar.
"Did the system really think you'll be an issue?"
He spat the words with a sneer as he counter-attacked, delivering jab after jab, his fists glowing faintly with heat as they blurred through the air, giving the figure no room to breathe, no chance to retaliate.
Each of Marcus' punches was met by the dagger's shadowy steel. Sparks flared with each clash, brief flashes in the gloom. But each strike had weight—measured, purposeful—and the figure's guard started to slow, falter, the shadows around its limbs thinning ever so slightly.
Each punch made the figure slower and slower the more Marcus pushed on, his rhythm like a drumbeat—steady and suffocating.
"No need for advanced assassin techniques at all!"