"Stop, you scoundrel!" two priests yelled, their voices cutting through the evening bustle as they sprinted after me.
Their sandals slapped against the stone road, robes flapping wildly as they tried to keep pace. Townsfolk scattered to either side, startled by the chase. A fruit cart was nearly toppled as one of the priests shoved it aside, apples spilling and rolling across the cobbles.
"Haha, as if I will stop for you," I said, laughter bubbling out of my chest as I vaulted off a barrel, catching the lip of the nearest rooftop with one hand. My boots found purchase on the tiles, and I sprang upward, landing smoothly, the city spread out beneath me like a flat, dull map.
The night air bit cooler up here, tugging at my scarf. I could feel my tail swish behind me in satisfaction, the chase only stoking my energy further.
"You have stolen property of the church. Return it right now!" The first priest shouted, his breath already ragged as he somehow managed to follow, jumping onto the rooftop behind me. His balance was clumsy, arms flailing for a moment before he steadied himself.
"Stole? That was not the property of the church, and you know that," I shot back, smirking over my shoulder. I leapt across to the next rooftop, tiles clinking beneath my boots. "Hmm, or are you guys in league with the Pandas?"
"Pandas?" one priest gasped, almost stumbling as he landed. He looked sideways at his companion in total confusion.
"Don't look at me. I have no idea what she is talking about," the other said, shrugging mid-run, sweat gleaming on his brow.
"You guys really are oblivious," I called, coming to a stop atop a higher roof. From here the whole city unfolded below—the smoke of dinner fires curling upward, bells tolling faintly in the distance. I looked down at them as if they were idiots who had crawled up from the gutter.
"What did you just say!" they both shouted together, skidding to a halt and staring up at me with indignation.
"I said you guys are oblivious. How don't you know your enemies are black pandas, huh!?" I tilted my head, letting the insult drip in my tone. My tail flicked once for emphasis.
"Uuuuh, she kind of has a point, you know," the priest on the right muttered, scratching his cheek nervously while eyeing me.
"...are you for real right now?" The other snapped, staring at his companion's stupidity. His hands clenched into fists, frustration evident even under the holy robes.
"How stupid can you be, taking your eyes off the scoundrel!" A harsh voice cut through the air, and in a blur, a bishop landed behind them. His robes were trimmed in gold thread, and the sigil on his chestplate caught the fading sunlight. He passed them in a blink, his movements sharper and faster than theirs combined.
'Hmm, he is quite fast. I guess I need to start running now, I thought, adrenaline sparking as I lunged into motion again, hopping to the next building and accelerating. My feet hit tiles in a rhythm that felt like music—one-two-three, vault, land, roll.
"Damn, she was just playing with us," the bishop growled, his eyes narrowing as he realized I had only been toying until now.
"Hey, don't be like—" I began with mock innocence, but my words were cut short as my gaze flicked behind him. Shadows detached themselves from the alleys, five black figures leaping effortlessly onto the roofs. Their silhouettes cut against the twilight, and my stomach sank with grim recognition.
"Shit, watch out from behind!" I yelled, halting abruptly before sprinting straight toward the bishop.
'I seriously don't want to save these dumbasses,' I thought bitterly, tightening my jaw, 'but I would rather sit with an angel cult than a devil one.' My hands moved instinctively, mana flowing and shaping into two sleek katanas that shimmered in the dying light. The weight of the blades settled into my grip like greeting old friends.
"Hah, I won't fall for that," the bishop sneered as he raised his sword, believing it was a trick. His stance was proud but sloppy in its arrogance.
"Your dumbass!" I shouted, fury spiking at his idiocy. My body blurred with a flash step, slipping past him in an instant. Metal screeched as my twin blades crossed, intercepting a hidden strike aimed for his spine. Sparks flew, and the clang echoed sharply across the rooftops.
"What the—!?" The bishop exclaimed, spinning in shock as the shadows behind him solidified into men with blades already dripping intent.
"Idiot, get your sword out and help you—" My words died on my lips as I caught sight of the two priests who had chased me earlier. They weren't even given a chance. Their bodies crumpled on the rooftops, throats cut clean, eyes staring wide at nothing.
"Tsk, too late. Run!" I barked, pushing the bishop away before seizing his collar. Without hesitation, I yanked him with me and sprinted, his boots dragging over the tiles as he tried to keep up.
'If that guy didn't hold back, he would've shattered my katanas with that stab. They're definitely stronger than the previous group, I thought grimly, dismissing the swords in a shimmer of light before they became liabilities.
"What are you doing!? Let me go!" the bishop shouted, thrashing against my grip.
"Mister Bishop, shut the fuck up and listen quietly," I snapped, voice low and edged. My tail lashed once behind me. "Those people are stronger than we are, and we're outnumbered. If you're wondering who they are, they're the ones that destroyed your little church a few days ago."
His eyes widened, but then something unexpected shifted in his expression. His panic smoothed, and a calm, almost clerical stillness replaced it.
"I see. Okay, so you want to work together for now," the bishop said evenly, surprising me enough to nearly stumble.
"You calmed down really fast there," I said, raising a brow even as I smirked.
"It's part of the job. However, don't expect me to let you go even after this," he warned, adjusting his grip on his sword.
"...sigh. "Dumb angel lovers," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Whatever, we can work together, but I'm certain they're after me actually. So, you can leave." I kept running, hoping he'd take the chance.
"You want me to leave? They are people who attacked the church. As a bishop, it is my duty to take revenge," he said firmly, voice tightening with holy resolve.
"Well, good. Then go get reinforcements," I replied casually—right before pivoting and Sparta kicking him square in the chest. His eyes went wide as he sailed backward, a strangled yell tearing from his throat.
"Haaaaa!" The bishop's cry echoed as he flew into the distance, robes flapping like a broken banner. A wet cough followed, and a thin line of blood sprayed across the sky before he vanished from view.
'He should survive that, right?'... 'I hope so,' I thought, scratching my cheek awkwardly. The amount of blood had been a little more than I intended.
"Heh, was he getting in the way?" one of the devil cultists taunted, landing lithely on the rooftop behind me. His hood shadowed his face, but I could feel the sneer in his voice.
"Hmm, in a way, he actually was getting in the way. But it's more about reducing the number of witnesses," I answered calmly, tilting my head as if genuinely pondering. My tone was conversational, but my stance was coiled, ready.
"Heh, there are witnesses to your death, demon fox," another cultist said as he appeared to my left. In seconds, more landed—eight, nine, ten shadows until I was encircled. They spread across the roofs like wolves tightening a ring.
"My death?" I smirked, narrowing my eyes as I rolled my shoulders. "I guess I might die. Nah, that's impossible. You guys are too weak for that."
Inside, my thoughts whispered a sharper truth: 'Well, I might not die, but I have no chance of winning this fight.' My gaze slid past them for a heartbeat, catching the sun sinking low, painting the sky in blood-red streaks. The sight made the moment feel heavier, as though the world itself was bracing for violence.
"Damn, you fucks actually ruined a perfect date I could have had with Kayda," I mumbled, eyes narrowing further.
"Sir, should we look for the bishop as well?" one of the cultists asked their captain.
"No. As she said, we might not be able to kill her, but with the numbers we have, we should be able to capture her at least," the captain answered, stepping forward. His daggers glinted wickedly, twin fangs ready to taste blood.
'Huh? Capture me? That will be even harder, I thought, brow arching. My smirk grew, masking the quiet calculation already forming behind my eyes.
"Yes, sir!" the cultists chorused, shifting into stances. The air thickened with killing intent, the sound of blades scraping free like an orchestra tuning to a single, dreadful note.
"Hmm, so only ten? I'm certain I heard more running around," I whispered under my breath, eyes darting briefly over the rooftops beyond.
"What did she just whisper?" one cultist asked nervously.
"I don't know. I didn't hear anything," his companion replied with a shrug, but his grip tightened on his sword.
"Whatever. Get ready, guys; let's take her down!" The captain barked, charging forward.
"Heh, bring it on," I said, letting my clothes shift in a shimmer of light—my usual gear, familiar and lethal. Sports bra tight against my chest, scarf fluttering at my throat, cargo pants strapped with hidden pouches, ankle boots ready to grip or kick. Beneath the scarf, I quietly molded an ice shield, thin and curved, a secret barrier in case someone went for my head.
"She is quite hot," I heard one cultist mutter to himself, earning a glare from his nearest companion.
"Sorry, but I am taken for now," I quipped back, flicking my wrists. Ten throwing knives shimmered into existence, five in each hand. With a sharp snap, I launched them. The blades cut through the air with a high whistle.
"Ugh!" one man staggered, a knife buried in his shoulder.
"Damnit!" another cursed, clutching his thigh as blood seeped out.
'Only two? Really? 'They're good,' I thought, eyes narrowing. The rest had dodged cleanly, their reflexes sharper than the last groups I'd faced.
"Don't get distracted. She is excellent with weapons," the captain shouted, swinging his sword down at me.
Clang!
"You might be right about that," I said, my own conjured blade catching his mid-swing. Sparks spat out between us, briefly illuminating his smirk.
I shoved against him, twisting free, and jumped upward, dodging three blades that scythed through where I'd been standing. Twisting midair, I landed hard on the back of another cultist. His breath whooshed out as his face slammed into the tiles.
"Ugh!" he groaned, body sprawling.
"But that intel gives you nothing," I said coldly, driving both blades down into his back, cutting the sound from his throat.
"You never know," the captain countered, flashing beside me in an instant, his dagger aimed at my ribs.
"Tsk," I clicked my tongue, abandoning one sword and rolling away, the other blade still lodged in the corpse.
"She's unarmed! Get her!" one cultist yelled, rushing in with overconfidence.
"Wait!!" The captain barked, but it was too late. The man's head spun off in a crimson arc, my scythe humming as it slid free from the ether, already drenched in blood.
"Tsk, tsk, you guys are too normal," I muttered, resting the heavy weapon across my shoulder.
"Where did that come from!?" a cultist stammered, staring at the wicked curve of the blade.
'Six left. I wonder where Kayda is. She did say she would distract the church so I could get the pillar, but why hasn't she come to find me?' I thought, unease creeping in—until a distant glimmer sparked across the rooftops. A clash of light and magic flared far away.
"Aah, I see. So you guys already have someone to hold Kayda busy," I said, voice low but tinged with worry.
"Of course, we have all the preparations needed," the captain boasted.
"Well, your preparations aren't without flaws," I growled, settling into a stance. The scythe angled behind me, one hand free in front, fingers flexed like claws.
"We will see about that," the captain replied, lunging at me again.
'Hmm, he does have something planned, but what can he do with six people?' I thought, parrying his blow, that sparks were biting the air. My eyes flicked constantly, tracking the movement of the others.
"You really don't know what we're capable of?" The captain sneered, lips twisting. "Do it now!"
Slink!
Pain exploded through me.
"Cough—wow, that was actually unexpected," I croaked, blood spraying from my lips as I looked down. Five swords pierced through me at once from all angles, sliding between ribs and jutting from my chest. My knees buckled, the world dimming at the edges.
"I actually thought we wouldn't have been able to kill you," the captain said with chilling calm, stepping close. His dagger punched through my heart in a deliberate, final thrust.
The world tilted. The sky's burning red blurred into darkness.