Rain hammered the city like a drum, washing the streets in silver streaks under flickering neon lights. Lucien Vale's boots splashed through puddles as he darted between shadowed alleyways, senses sharpened to every whisper of movement.
Above, a familiar laugh echoed. "You're slower than I thought, Vale," said the girl from the rooftop—her coat fluttering like wings as she landed lightly beside him.
Lucien smirked. "You're the one who's late again."
Before she could retort, a monstrous growl erupted from the darkness. From the alley ahead, a towering demon stepped into the neon glow—scales black as midnight, claws like curved blades, eyes burning with malice.
Lucien didn't hesitate. With a swift flick of his wrist, his twin pistols appeared, firing in perfect rhythm. Bullets ignited the air, slicing through the creature's thick hide.
The girl—his unpredictable companion—flipped forward, drawing a blade that shimmered with enchanted energy. "I was getting warmed up," she said with a grin, spinning into the fray.
Together, they moved like shadows—Lucien's precision and her fluid, daring strikes blending seamlessly. The demon roared, swinging its massive claws, but neither flinched. Sparks flew, rain hissed, and the air was electric with energy.
At one point, their eyes met mid-battle. A flicker of something—amusement? admiration?—passed between them. Then the moment was gone, replaced by another clash, another strike.
Finally, with a final coordinated attack—Lucien's bullets pinning it, her blade striking the heart—the demon collapsed, smoke curling from its shattered form.
Breathing heavily, Lucien sheathed his pistols. "Not bad," he admitted, a rare hint of praise.
"Not bad?" she teased, brushing rain from her hair. "I practically carried you through that one."
He couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "Maybe next time, try not to outshine me so much."
She laughed—a light, melodic sound that cut through the tension of the night. "Oh, I plan on it."
But as they walked through the wet streets, unaware of the deeper darkness stirring in the shadows, both of them knew: this was only the beginning. The real hunt—and the real danger—was coming.