Chapter 150: One Versus Three

Inside the Starry Villa, silence reigned, broken only by the subtle creaks of settling wood.

Lena crouched low, every muscle in her body tense, her ears straining to catch any movement. Whoever had broken in was skilled, deliberately avoiding making any noise.

Her heart pounded, but her mind remained razor-sharp. With a deliberate movement, she slipped on her crimson glove, feeling her arm twist and transform as the artifact's power surged through her. Veins pulsed along her arm, as it grew in appearance and power. She reached into her robe, drawing several throwing knives and gripping them tightly.

Steeling herself, she navigated through the dimly lit corridors of the villa.

She knew every corner, every creaky floorboard, every room—this was her territory. Pausing at a doorway, she took a deep breath and, in one fluid motion, flung the knives toward the shadows with a turn.

The knives struck true, embedding themselves into the chest of one of the intruders. The smaller figure gasped, collapsing lifeless to the floor with a look of surprise.

The other two figures reacted instantly. The masked girl pulled out a short sword, her eyes narrowing with fury, while the hulking leader, "Big Boss," smirked as if the fall of his comrade meant nothing.

He pulled a mace from his side, then raised his arm, and the copper bracer on his wrist shimmered, transforming into a round shield. The air around him grew thick with a strange, menacing aura that emanated from a golden tooth that gleamed as he grinned.

"You picked the wrong house, today you've met your maker," Lena declared coldly, her voice steady and confident.

Big Boss sneered, "Shut up, bitch. Today, you’re getting humbled. This estate is ours now."

"You have no idea what you're getting into," Lena shot back, her voice dripping with disdain.

Big Boss’s grin widened, his grip tightening around the mace he pulled from beneath his robe. "Let’s see about that."

The masked girl charged first, her short sword aimed directly at Lena. The attack was swift but predictable.

Lena pivoted, aiming a punch toward the girl’s face. The girl didn’t dodge—she didn’t need to. In a flash, Big Boss stepped in, his shield raised to intercept Lena’s blow.

Tang!

The impact echoed through the hall like an explosion, the force of Lena’s punch reverberating off the shield.

Almost immediately Big Boss retaliated with a swing of his mace, aiming for Lena’s ribs. She reacted instantly, summoning the wooden sword artifact into her hand.

The blade materialized with a faint shimmer, blocking the mace with a solid thud. Sparks flew from the impact, and for a moment, they stood locked in a test of strength.

She had blocked his attack but the girl took advantage of this stalemate and thrusted her sword toward Lena who barely was able to move in time, as the short sword thursted towards her pierced a big chunk of her shoulder, sending blood upwards in an epic gush that colored the floor all around them.

Lena gritted her teeth in pain as she stumbled back. Her eyes watered, pain wanting to overtake her very being, however, adrenaline allowed her to remain focused and conscious.

Seeing the stumble. The girl looked surprised to have made an impact, while Big Boss moved to deal the finishing blow on the staggered Lena.

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But Lena was fast. She spun with grace, her wooden sword slicing through the air. The blade struck the masked girl across the chest, sending her sprawling backward.

Blood sprayed from the deep gash, staining the pristine floor and walls with even more blood. The girl collapsed, her breathing ragged and shallow.

Big Boss’s face twisted with rage. "You’ll pay for that," he growled, his golden tooth glowing ominously as he prepared for another attack with his mace.

Lena tightened her grip on the wooden sword, her eyes never leaving the hulking figure. "Bring it," she whispered, ready for whatever came next. She had to finish this quick, she was becoming lightheaded and quickly feeling weak.

"You think you’re tough?" he snarled, his voice a low rumble. "I’ve broken tougher bitches than you."

Lena didn’t flinch. She adjusted her stance, the wooden sword in her hand humming with latent energy. "And you think that little tooth of yours makes you special?" she retorted. "You’re just another fool in over his head."

Big Boss roared, lunging forward with his mace raised high. The sheer force of his swing was enough to shatter stone, but Lena was faster.

She sidestepped the blow, her movements fluid and precise. The mace slammed into the floor, cracking the polished wood and sending splinters flying.

Seizing the opportunity, Lena lashed out with her sword, aiming for Big Boss’s exposed side. But he anticipated the move, twisting his shield to absorb the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, but Lena held her ground.

"You’re quick," Big Boss admitted, his grin widening. "But let’s see how long you can keep it up with that injury."

He swung again, this time in a wide arc meant to crush Lena against the wall. She ducked, the mace narrowly missing her head as it embedded itself into the wall.

Without missing a beat, Lena retaliated with a low sweep of her sword, aiming for his legs. Big Boss jumped back, the blade grazing his thigh and drawing a thin line of blood.

"Not bad," he growled, pulling his mace free from the wall. "But you’re still gonna die here."

Lena smirked, her eyes flashing with determination. "You’ve got it backward," she said, readying herself for the next clash. "This is my home. You’re the one who’s not walking out."

Big Boss smoked again, the golden tooth in his mouth flaring with a blinding light. The room seemed to darken around them, the air growing thick with tension. Lena’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show any fear. This was her fight, her victory to claim.

Big Boss’s grin twisted into one of pure rage as his golden tooth flared to life brighter, casting an otherworldly glow across the room. With a guttural roar, the tooth unleashed a powerful shockwave.

The force slammed into Lena, sending her hurtling backward into the wall. She crashed hard, the impact jarring her senses as the wind was knocked from her lungs. For a brief moment, her vision blurred, and her grip on the wooden sword faltered.

Blinking rapidly, Lena regained focus just in time to see Big Boss charging at her, his mace raised high and his shield ready to crush any defense she might muster.

His massive frame barreled toward her like a freight train, the ground beneath him trembling with each heavy step.

Summoning her strength, Lena swung her wooden sword with all her might, the artifact shimmering with a fierce light.

BANG!

The blade collided with Big Boss’s shield in a deafening clash, the sheer force of their confrontation sending shockwaves through their bodies. The entire villa seemed to resonate with the impact, the air thick with tension and the smell of dust.

Before they could press the attack further, the ground beneath them quivered violently.

A low rumble grew into a monstrous roar as another earthquake struck, far more intense than any before. The Starry Villa trembled under the seismic assault, walls cracking and groaning as the foundation was tested to its limits.

Lena’s eyes darted upward as the ceiling above them began to splinter. Cracks raced across the wall he had just slammed into, and then chunks of debris began raining down around them.

Big Boss paused, momentarily distracted by the chaos, but Lena knew there was no time to hesitate.

Suddenly, a massive section of the ceiling gave way, collapsing between them with a thunderous crash. Dust and rubble filled the air, obscuring everything in a choking cloud. The villa groaned ominously as more pieces of the structure crumbled, the once grand estate succumbing to the relentless quake.

Silence followed, broken only by the distant rumble of the continuing earthquake. The dust settled slowly, revealing a scene of destruction. Piles of debris littered the floor, and the fate of those beneath the collapse was uncertain. Half of the villa seemed to have been damaged or collapsed.

Were they alive? No one could tell. The villa stood as a broken husk amidst the larger chaos of Reinhart, which faced even greater dangers as the earth’s fury intensified, shaking the town to its core.