Chapter 24 : Catch… This Hand


    The plan was ruthless in its simplicity.


    It was pretty much a planned, coordinated ambush.


    The first attacker was the deciding factor. He would be testing the water basically. If it worked and killed Aron, then it would be good and well but if it failed, then its next task is to be a distraction.


    He forced the prey, Aron, to lock onto him, to track his erratic movements, to keep his guard up in the wrong direction. The prey would then pay his attention toward the attacker.


    That moment of focus? That slight shift of attention?


    That was all the second attacker needed.


    Strike while the iron is hot.


    So when the prey, aka Aron, was distracted, the second person use the golden chance and launched the fatal strike.


    The execution was flawless, the second assailant moved with deadly speed, emerging from Aron’s blind spot with a blade aimed straight for his ribs.


    Aron was watching the rooftops, and a danger came from beside him.


    Another supposedly guaranteed kill.


    Alas…


    “Damn it…”


    By all measures, it should have been a perfect kill.


    All of this happened in a matter of heartbeats, every move was executed in rapid succession, a great blend of stealth, accuracy and fatality to ensure one outcome: death.


    Or at least, it should have been, from what they were thinking in their minds.


    “....”


    The first assailant glanced at his partner. A single stiff nod was made by the former.


    The second attacker returned the gesture, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade. He understood.


    A silent acknowledgement. No words were exchanged as none were needed.


    Whooossh


    This time, they weren’t going to rely on a single distraction. They weren’t going to leave any opening.


    They moved. Both moved at once. At the exact same moment.


    They lunged toward Aron from opposite directions. One from the front, the other from behind, their blades glinting under the dim lights of the alleyway.


    If Aron blocked one, the other would strike. If he dodged, they would adjust.


    This time, there would be no way out!


    “Alright, give me what you got…”


    Aron grinned as he looked over the two people that were trying to attack him once more.


    “Come!”


    The moment Aron shouted, it was as if a shockwave of intent rippled through the air.


    He put his blade forward, with legs tightened half crouched, and his left hand with its shield attached on his left hand backward toward his left shoulder.


    His stance was low, like a spring waiting to release. His blade pointed forward, sharp and menacing, while his shield was drawn back, positioned like a coiled serpent ready to strike rather than just a tool for defense.


    “Die!”


    Like two shadows converging from opposite directions, they launched powerfully, their footfalls swift and measured to minimize sound as they closed in on Aron simultaneously.


    Srriinnngg


    The first attacker veered toward Aron’s left, where the shield had intercepted the previous strike.


    He reached Aron’s left side first, sweeping his blade low in an attempt to slash through Aron''s legs and cripple his movement. By adjusting his stance, lowering his center of gravity to deliver a sweeping, low strike meant to limit Aron’s mobility, cutting him off before he could evade.


    The second attacker took the opposite angle, approaching from Aron’s right with a faster, more aggressive thrust aimed directly at his midsection. Unlike before, this wasn’t meant to be a killing blow.


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    This was like a crippling attack.


    One to force Aron into a position where he couldn’t dodge and couldn’t maneuver, where his own defensive reflexes would be turned against him.


    A shield could only protect one side. A counterattack could only target one enemy.


    If he blocked left, he’d be open right.


    If he dodged right, he’d be caught by the sweep from the left.


    A simple equation and a trap…


    Whaamm


    But Aron had already moved.


    In a split-second, his left foot pressed down, his body twisting as his blade swept toward the attacker on his right. Not to parry, but to intercept. While the shield was somehow able to land a mark on the assailant’s body before the attacker was even able to land his blade.


    Claankk


    Baammm


    Gah!


    Kuh..!


    A brutal clash of metal erupted in the narrow space, sparks flying as Aron''s weapons met the thrust head-on.


    The sharp guttural cries of the assailants filled the narrow alleyway as Aron struck back with force.


    The first assailant, the one on his left, took the full impact of Aron’s shield, his body jerking backward as the solid force sent him staggering, nearly toppling over. His balance wavered, his vision blurred for a split second from the sheer force of the impact.


    At the same time,


    Sching


    Aron’s blade spun through the air in a deadly half-circle arc, redirecting its momentum as it swung toward the second attacker who had just recoiled from the initial clash.


    The second assailant barely managed to twist away, the tip of Aron’s sword whistling past his chest by mere inches.


    He gritted his teeth with his eyes narrowing. They had expected this fight to end quickly, yet Aron was overwhelming them.


    Their synchronized assault, one they had executed countless times before, had been shattered in seconds.


    Aron didn’t give them time to breathe.


    His foot pressed down as his body followed through.


    With fluid momentum, he pushed forward, his shield now positioned at his side and his blade ready for the next strike.


    "Once more!"


    The second assailant''s voice cut through like a blade. His body tensed, his grip on his weapon tightening as he unleashed out his skill.


    "Decisive Strike!"


    A sharp crimson glow traced the length of his weapon, a deadly aura gathering around the blade. With a sudden burst of unnatural speed, he lunged forward, his attack aimed straight at Aron’s chest.


    "Fury Blades!"


    The first assailant mirrored the attack, his own weapon flaring up with violent energy, slashing through the air in rapid succession from a distance.


    Klaanng


    Aron’s sword met the first attack head-on, his blade clashing against the incoming thrust with enough force to send a metallic shockwave through the alley. Sparks erupted as the impact shook both fighters from the sheer momentum.


    The second assailant gritted his teeth, pushing forward, trying to overpower Aron with brute force. But Aron didn’t even budge.


    Fwoosh Fwoosh Fwoosh


    A flurry of strikes rained down from the side. The first assailant’s Fury Blades carved through the air in rapid succession, each one meant to tear through any opening in Aron’s defenses.


    Clank Clank Clank


    Aron’s shield swung up just in time, meeting the storm of attacks like an immovable wall. Every strike crashed against his shield, yet none broke through. Aron barely even moved from the onslaught as his stance grounded like stone.


    The first assailant’s eyes widened.


    “Catch… this hand!”


    Aron didn’t wait for them to recover.


    The moment the second assailant tried to stabilize himself, Aron lunged forward with his shield already raised a bit high.


    Baamm


    With a heavy swing from his left arm, Aron’s shield smashed into the second assailant’s face.


    "Guh—!"


    The force sent him reeling backward, his feet barely managing to stay on the ground. His body twisted midair before he crashed hard against the alley wall, leaving a noticeable dent.


    Sraasshh


    Aron’s carved through, striking the first assailant cleanly across the chest.


    "Gah—!"


    Blood splattered midair as the first assailant staggered backward, his health bar dropping low.


    Aron didn’t waste time. His eyes locked onto the first assailant, who was still staggering from the last strike. With a quick step forward, Aron twisted his torso. The first attacker panicked when he saw that.


    “Hold for me!”


    Craaankk


    The first assailant barely managed to raise his weapon in defense. But Aron’s power was clearly overpowering him.


    "Guh—!"


    The first assailant’s arms buckled under the force, his feet skidding backward from the sheer impact.


    “Captain- Ugh…”


    The second assailant gritted his teeth. He wanted to move. He had to move.


    But…


    "Damn it… why does my body feel so damn heavy?"


    Somehow, he felt that his head throbbed and his vision blurred. He could still see Aron standing tall, his blade dripping with the first assailant’s blood.


    And yet, his body refused to respond. His legs felt like they were weighed down by chains.


    Was it… the whack from the shield earlier?


    "Damn it…!"


    His fingers tightened around his weapon.


    He forced himself to move with a loud shout.


    “Ghaaaa…!”


    But Aron wasn’t done yet with his business.


    His stance moved again. And before the first assailant could recover…


    Baamm


    Aron bashed his shield directly into the man’s stomach.


    "Ack—!"


    The wind rushed out of his lungs. His body folded from the force as his balance was completely broken. What greeted him though was Aron''s sword came crashing down.


    "RRAGH—!"


    Slaassshh


    A devastating arc tore through the first assailant''s torso, sending him flying backward with his health bar plummeting. And the sound of his body hitting the ground echoed through the alleyway.