top of the mountain felt like a different world.
Thick fog rolled across the ground, lit up every few seconds by flashes of lightning.
Flame finally reached the summit, gasping for air.
Right there in the middle of a rocky altar, a The single plant was growing.
It was glowing with a soft, pale green light, completely unaffected by the wild wind and rain.
The medicinal herb.
Flame let out a breath of pure relief and reached out to grab it.
SHING!
The sharp sound of a blade cutting through the air shattered the quiet.
Flame’s instincts kicked in instantly.
He threw himself backward just as a razor-sharp sword sliced through the air, missing his nose by an inch.
A figure clad in dark ninja gear dropped from above, landing right between Flame and the herb.
Only their eyes were visible behind a dark mask.
“Step away from the sacred herb, intruder!” the figure barked.
The voice sounded surprisingly young.
“I need that herb,” Flame said, his voice hard.
“Move, or I’ll make you move.”
In an instant, the peak erupted into a fight.
CLANG!
Flame drew his hidden daggers, blocking a heavy strike from the rival’s sword.
Sparks flew in the dark, lighting up the anger in their eyes.
The masked ninja was incredibly fast.
A handful of sharp throwing stars flew at Flame.
He spun, knocking three away with his blades, but a fourth sliced his shoulder.
He grunted in pain, moving in close to land a heavy punch, but the rival blocked it smoothly.
They traded blows over and over, their weapons clashing against each other over the sound of the thunder.
They were both highly trained, and within minutes, both of them were covered in cuts, bruises, and mud.
With a heavy thud, the rival ninja caught Flame in the chest with the hilt of the sword, knocking him flat on his back.
Flame gasped, the air knocked out of him.
His head spun.
But as the masked figure stepped closer to finish him off, Flame thought of Reian’s pale face.
He couldn’t give up here.
Using his momentum, Flame forced himself up and lunged into a swift counter-move.
He slipped right under the rival’s guard and struck upward, his fingers catching the edge of the mask and slicing right through the fabric straps.
The mask shattered and fell into the mud.
Flame froze.
The wind caught a cascade of long, dark hair, blowing it away from a pale, flawless face.
The fierce rival ninja wasn’t a guy at all.
She was a girl—and she was beautiful.
Her sharp eyes glared at him, but she was panting heavily, her cheeks flushed from the fight.
Flame’s heart skipped a beat.
For a second, he forgot about the storm, the poison, and everything else.
A girl?!
his mind short-circuited.
She’s…
amazing.
hope you enjoyed the fifth chapter!