Seraphis moved through the dimly lit halls of the Assassin’s Guild, her boots making
soft, deliberate clicks
against the wooden floor. Her steps were filled with purpose as she approached the staircase leading to the
Guild Master’s office
on the second floor.
After her little "performance" the night before, things had been surprisingly
quiet
. No one dared whisper doubts about her authority, and she could feel the tension in the air. People were
watching her differently now
—with wariness, maybe even a hint of respect.
As she reached the second-floor hallway, she
cracked her knuckles
and smirked.
“Alright, old man,” she muttered to herself, lifting her foot, “
time to break another—
”
But before she could
kick
the door open—
It was already
slightly ajar.
She blinked, lowering her foot.
“
Tch.
” She clicked her tongue. “Damn that old frog…
he actually left it open.
”
With an amused shake of her head, she
pushed the door the rest of the way open
and stepped inside.
An Unexpected Guest
The moment she entered the office, Seraphis immediately
noticed something different.
The Guild Master, Hale, was sitting at his desk as usual, sipping tea—
but he wasn’t alone.
Across from him, lounging on the
black leather couch
, was a woman Seraphis
had never seen before.
But she
knew exactly who she was.
Long,
raven-black hair cascaded down her back
like silk. Her piercing
golden eyes
shimmered with amusement as she glanced up at Seraphis. She wore a sleek, dark outfit—
practical yet elegant
, with an array of hidden weapons strapped to her slender frame.
And on the left side of her collar, embroidered in deep crimson, was the unmistakable insignia of an
SSS-rank assassin.
Seraphis’ gaze
narrowed slightly.
The woman was
legendary
—a ghost in the underworld, a shadow that
few had seen and lived to tell the tale.
Her name was
Theia Rivenblade.
And she was one of the
strongest assassins in the world.
A Curious Encounter
Theia gave a small, knowing smile.
“Oh, hello there.”
Seraphis arched a brow. “Hello there.”
Hale, watching the exchange, let out a
quiet chuckle
but said nothing.
Theia leaned back into the couch, crossing one leg over the other. “So,” she said, tilting her head, “
what are you up to?
”
Seraphis crossed her arms. “
Business.
” She glanced at Hale. “
Why is she here?
”
Hale smirked. “
She’s visiting.
”
Theia chuckled. “More like checking up on things.” Her golden eyes
glinted with curiosity
. “And I was told about you.”
Seraphis’s expression didn’t change, but her fingers
tensed slightly.
“Oh?”
Theia smirked. “You caused quite the stir, didn’t you? I heard you’re rising through the ranks at an
unnatural
speed.”
Seraphis remained silent, waiting.
Theia leaned forward slightly, her smile widening. “So,” she said, “
want to spar?
”
A Test of Strength
Seraphis blinked, caught off guard for the
briefest moment.
“Spar?” she repeated.
Theia nodded. “Yes.
Spar with me.
”
Seraphis narrowed her eyes. “And why exactly do you want to spar with me?”
Theia gave a light chuckle. “You’re
pretty young for an assassin.
And yet, you’re already an
A-rank
—almost at
S-rank.
What are you? Fifteen? Almost sixteen?”
Seraphis’s expression didn’t change. “What of it?”
Theia’s golden eyes
gleamed.
“I just want to see if the rumors are true.”
Hale sighed and took another sip of tea. “Don’t kill each other,” he muttered.
Seraphis exhaled, cracking her neck.
A fight against an SSS-rank assassin?
She wasn’t foolish enough to think she could
win.
But…
She’d be
damned
if she backed down from a challenge.
She smirked. “Fine.”
Theia’s smile widened. “Good. Let’s go.”
The Battle Begins
The training hall beneath the Assassin’s Guild was vast, lined with wooden floors and reinforced walls to withstand even the most
intense battles.
Theia stood across from Seraphis, a gleam of excitement in her golden eyes.
Hale sat on a raised platform nearby, watching.
“No killing,” he reminded them.
Theia smirked. “Of course.”
Seraphis
rolled her shoulders,
her fingers twitching as her metal playing cards
hovered at her side.
Theia’s fingers brushed against the
dagger
at her hip.
Then—
BOOM!
The moment the fight started,
Theia vanished.
Seraphis’s eyes
widened
as a
blur of movement
appeared behind her. She twisted
just in time
, her cards
whipping up like a barrier
CLANG!
A dagger
clashed
against them, sending sparks flying.
Theia was
fast.
Ridiculously fast.
Seraphis barely had time to react before Theia
vanished again
, appearing at her side.
SWOOSH!
A blade
whistled toward her neck.
Seraphis barely ducked in time, her heart
hammering.
She’s playing with me.
The thought sent a surge of
adrenaline
through Seraphis’s veins.
Fine.
If Theia wanted a fight—
She’d get one.
Pushing the Limits
Seraphis’s
metal cards shot forward,
forming a
spinning cyclone
around her.
Theia
dodged with ease
, her body moving like a
shadow
, phasing in and out of existence as if she wasn’t bound by normal human limitations.
Seraphis gritted her teeth.
She’s testing me. Seeing how I react.
Fine.
She
lashed out
, her cards
splitting apart, twisting in the air like a storm of blades.
Theia
smirked
, weaving through the attacks
with absurd precision.
“Not bad,” she mused. “But you’ll have to do better than that.”
Seraphis
grinned.
“Oh, don’t worry. I will.”
She flicked her wrist—
And her
cards suddenly shifted form.
They
merged together
, transforming into a
giant, gleaming scythe.
Theia’s eyes flashed with intrigue. “Interesting.”
Seraphis
lunged.
The scythe
sliced through the air
, aimed straight at Theia’s midsection.
Theia
sidestepped at the last second
—but Seraphis was ready.
Her
other cards snapped forward
One grazed Theia’s cheek, drawing a thin line of
crimson.
For the
first time
, Theia looked
genuinely surprised.
Seraphis grinned.
The End of the Match
Theia suddenly
vanished
—and before Seraphis could react—
BAM!
A foot
slammed
into her stomach, sending her
skidding back
across the floor.
She barely managed to stay on her feet.
Theia let out a low chuckle. “You’re
better than I expected.
”
Seraphis smirked. “And you’re
just as fast as the rumors say.
”
Hale clapped his hands once. “That’s enough.”
Seraphis exhaled, her heartbeat
pounding in her ears.
Theia gave her a
genuine smile.
“I think,” she said, “I’d like to see
how far you’ll go.
”
And somehow—
Seraphis had a feeling this wasn’t the
last time
they would cross blades.