I moved my head quickly to the side and watched the blade hit the ground. I kicked the attacker so hard and watch it stagger off me. I stood up and was about to go when I felt an intense pain was beyond description. I looked back to see that it had buried the tip of it's blade at me back. The agonizing pain isn't only from the stab, but radiating outward through my entire core. Every breath sent fresh waves of torment through my back. Every movement made the wound tear wider. As the assassin pulled the sword back for another strike, I threw myself sideways, my hand grabbing the nearest object I could lay my hands on and hurled it at the assassin's head. Although ot deflected it with casual ease, this bought me a second. I scramble backward, finding more to throw at it but it keeps dodging them while still advancing steadily. I ripped the lamp from its mounting and threw it at them. The oil splashed across the floor, creating a slick barrier between us. This fina

Casimir stood before the hidden armory, his expression carved from stone. The sophisticated weapons gleamed in the lamplight which is also one of the fascinating things that looked far too advanced for this supposedly primitive underground city. "You have many enemies, High-Lord Casimir." Jace spoke, breaking the tense silence. "Who do you think is the one......specifically." "High-Lord Vex, obviously." Casimir's jaw tightened. "He was here earlier, making threats. Then there's this scientist named Shen who has Aldo been campaigning against my policies for months. I have a feeling that the two of them must be working together in making sure to bring me down." "So, that's two targets." Jace's hand moved to one of the weapons, examining it. "We could storm their residences simultaneously and hit them hard and fast. Maybe that way, they'll be forced to release Katseye as a way to protect themselves from further damage." "No." Casimir's voice was firm. "That would put my daughter i

A gunshot cracked through the air. The mutant's head exploded, spraying dark fluid across the rubble. Its body collapsed mid-charge, momentum carrying it forward to slide to a stop at Jace's feet. Three figures emerged from a side passage which are vigilantes with their weapons still smoking. "What the hell are both if you doing here?" the lead vigilante demanded, his eyes scanning the both of us and the destruction. "It is dangerous here, you need to evacuate this area immediately!" "My parents," Jace said, his voice breaking. "They are supposed to be here. I'll just need to find them and then we will be on our way—" "Nobody's going to make another step forward." The vigilante gestured at the ruined buildings. "You turn around and run off to the bunker little kid, this entire place is overrun." "You don't understand—" "I understand perfectly. And you're not going in." The vigilante's tone softened slightly. "Look, I get it. But if you go in there, you're just adding anot

There was chaos everywhere as they all began pushing each other to go. This action caused a little girl to fall. I had to rush in to save her before she get trampled on. "What's going on here?" Casimir demanded, pushing through the crowd. People recognized him and slowly parted to make a way for Casimir. Their fingers pointed to one direction and as Casimir got closer, he saw where the problem was. Standing in front where vigilantes with expressions of helpless rage. We reached the blockade and Casimir's face had gone cold. "Why aren't you letting them through?" His voice carried absolute authority. One of the vigilantes, which seemed to be the leader, from his bearing, met Casimir's glare without flinching. "High elites are sheltering inside. An order was given that they should find another bunker elsewhere." The words hung in the air for a heartbeat. Then Casimir's fist shot out. The punch caught the vigilante clean on the jaw. The man's head snapped back and h

They dragged me through passages that looked cramped for three persons to move at the same time. My feet have given out a long time ago as I'm being taken somewhere that I'm sure is far from Casimir while my mind somewhere else entirely. Vex walked ahead of us, humming softly to himself. He looked rather pleased with how events had unfolded without much hassle as he expected. We reached a corridor where we came to a halt "Let's stop here." Vex demanded. "You can release him now." They released me and stepped back, awaiting for the next instruction. "I'll call if I need you." He dismissed the soldiers with a wave. They all turned to walk away, leaving Vex and I alone in the empty passage. Vex opened the door before him and stepped aside for me to go through. Why does he want to talk to me in a secluded place such as this? Does he want to harm me? "I'll rather we talk here." "The walls have ears." He paused. "Beside, you are in no position to negotiate with me." When the