Viktor couldn’t take it anymore. “Where was this bloody kid,” he mumbled under his laboured breath. He endeavored to straighten his back, but every movement sent waves of agony through his body, but despite the wound the Martial Gold had etched on his body, he refused to show sign of any weakness. Instead he clenched his jaws and readied himself for another attack.

The fighters looked at each other once more, eyes locked on. They both stayed perfectly still as the breeze swept across their battleground, clearing out the last of the smoke. Viktor controlled his breathing. He grimaced as the air went inside, but he bared with it. Then they both moved, as the duel commenced once more.

Viktor fired off the last of his few rounds in the clip, missing his target each time as Martial Gold deftly parried the bullets with calculated precision. The Russian's narrowed eyes betrayed his growing apprehension. If he wasn’t injured, this could’ve been a fight to win. Though they were both Gold’s, Viktor was slightly stronger, but the Injury reduced his strength to that of a 2nd Stage Silver. There was a huge gap in strength and he was holding on for as long as he could.

However, he knew he had to somehow immobilise him to provide an opportunity for the kid.

In a daring move, Viktor lunged forward, seeking to close the distance and gain an advantage. However, Martial Gold's katana swept with unerring accuracy, slicing a deep gash across Viktor's other chest. He didn’t wear any armour. His suit jacket and shirt provided minimal cover, protecting him from the Katana. The Russian gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain, and fought back the urge to stumble. Determination etched on his face, he pressed on.

Taking advantage of a brief pause in their heated battle, Viktor fired off his last bullet. It whizzed through the air and Martial Gold deftly sliced it in two with their katana. The momentary distraction allowed an opportunity for a gun to come flying at Viktor from the side. He was hit by the force of the gunfire and stumbled back a few steps, temporarily dazed. In one swift move, he managed to knock away Martial Gold’s sword and send it tumbling across the chamber floor.

Viktor's heart leapt with excitement as he saw an opening in his opponent’s defense. He seized the opportunity, digging his fingers into the Gold’s thick arms and straining to push him back. The Gold responded ferociously, raining a flurry of blows onto Viktor’s shoulder and back. Despite the punishing barrage, Viktor was able to block most of the hits and stay steady. Summoning all his remaining strength, he gradually tightened his grip on his adversary until he felt himself gaining the upper hand. The attack began to slow down until finally, Viktor had the advantage.

“Fine, if you won’t let go, I’ll just have to try this.” began the Martial Gold. “Demon’s retribution!”

His back muscles and arm muscles tensed. His hands clasped together above his head, preparing for a strike known only to an individual who reached Gold in the Cheomyeon Clan. A Cheomyeon Clan speciality known as augmenting Ki around certain parts of the body, that allows the user to exponentially increase their power for a final attack. A suitable finisher for a fight about to end.

His grip tightened around his clasped hands, the red Ki radiating off him like the heat of a furnace. There was a deliberate slowness in his movements, an eerie tranquility amidst the storm, like the calm center of a hurricane. His body lowered, knees bending, preparing to unleash the pent-up fury in a single devastating blow.

Viktor's world narrowed, time stretching into an agonizing crawl as he held onto the Martial Gold. As The Gold's hands came hurtling down, a memory, an echo from the past, flashed before his eyes.

A large, calloused hand resting on his head, a warmth that seemed so alien in the cold, dreary world he now occupied. The face attached to the hand was obscured, lost in the murky waters of time, but the voice I recognised was clear as day. "I'm sorry, son," the voice echoed, a whisper in the wind, yet powerful enough to drown out the chaos around him.

In that moment, Viktor found a peace he hadn't felt in a long time. He closed his eyes, the memory of the gentle pat, the sorrowful apology resonating within him. He felt the grip on his body loosen.

The impending attack that was to come ceased in its deadly course. Bewildered, he opened his eyes, easing his iron grip on the Martial Gold.

What he saw left him stunned and relieved. Behind the Martial Gold was Josh. His hands were stained with fresh blood, a bloody dagger clutched tightly in his hand. The blade was buried in Gold's back, the blow delivered with surgical precision.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Just in time!" he yelled, his voice bouncing off the cold, metallic surface of the shipping containers.

Few minutes before.

Frantic desperation gripped me as I looked everywhere, the sounds of gunfire and clashing steel created an eerie soundtrack to my search. I was hidden in the shadows of the shipping containers, peering out to look at the Martial Gold and Viktor. They were fighting to their best, each time the Martial Gold came close to killing him, he evaded death.

A glint caught my eye, a silver ray of hope. I recognized it instantly, a dagger, discarded next to the lifeless body of Leslie. It was a grim tableau, her lifeless form sprawled out in the open, the dagger gleaming ominously next to her. It wasn't much, but it could give me the edge I needed.

However, I hesitated to venture out. Doubt creeped in. The dagger was out there, in the open, exposed to the prying eyes of Martial Gold. If he saw me, if he turned his attention from Viktor to me, it would be the end. I could already imagine his cold, merciless eyes tracking my movements, his katana swinging in a swift, deadly arc.

Time seemed to stretch out into infinity as I stood there, trapped in a tempest of indecision. It was a gamble, a roll of the dice with my life hanging in the balance. I had to make a choice, and fast.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed the fear aside and bolted out from my hiding spot. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a deafening drumroll in my ears. My legs felt like they were encased in lead, but I willed them to move, faster, ever faster.

In the split second it took to reach the dagger, I saw the world in a kaleidoscope of color and chaos. The determination on Viktor's face as he battled Martial Gold, the swirling tendrils of smoke cloaking the docks, the harsh, cold gleam of the dagger. I reached down, my hand closing around the hilt of the weapon, and hoisted it up.

Relief washed over me, brief but intoxicating, as I clutched the weapon. With a final burst of energy, I sprinted back into the columns of shipping containers, the sounds of the ongoing battle fading behind me. The Martial Gold was still preoccupied with Viktor, his attention firmly locked on the deadly dance they were engaged in.

A new problem presented itself as I slid into the shelter of another shipping container, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. The dagger was too big, its ominous hilt jutting out awkwardly, refusing to fit into the confines of my pocket.

A feeling of helplessness started to seep in, gnawing at the edges of my relief. I was armed now, but the weapon was as much a liability as it was an advantage. A million scenarios played out in my mind, each one a dance on the edge of a razor blade. It was a conundrum I had no immediate answer for.

Then as if on instinct my mind moved to the blinking notification in my peripheral vision. I willed it open.

You have achieved 20% synchronisation with the system.

Features unlocked: Inventory

I willed the inventory screen open and I was presented with empty square fields. Then I acted upon a distant memory, as if I already knew how to do this, I willed the dagger onto the screen and it vanished from my hand. Instead a pixelated dagger filled one of the square boxes.

Does this mean that my dagger is now stored? If I want to remove it, how do I do so?

Yes the dagger is now stored. However, to remove it, you must allow it to appear in the hand of your choice.

Got it.

I stood in the cover of shadows, my pulse pounding in sync with the cacophony of combat that filled the night air. The docks were thick with smoke, the scent of burning gunpowder intermingled with the briny tang of the sea. My gaze was fixed on the tableau of violence playing out in the spectral light, a deadly dance between Martial Gold and Viktor.

My breath hitched as Viktor somehow managed to grip the torso of Martial Gold. His arm encased around him, the glow of a streetlamp making their interlocked forms seem like a grotesque sculpture in the smoky darkness. A gasp tore from my throat, muffled by the chaotic symphony of battle.

In a heartbeat, Martial Gold's hands clasped together, power and determination seeping from every inch of his being. I could almost see the energy building, a lethal strike poised to rain down on Viktor.

My mind screamed at me to move, but my feet felt cemented in place, my body weighed down by doubt. Could I make it in time? Was I fast enough, strong enough to stop him? A cold, analytical part of my brain argued, suggesting I let Viktor die, make my attack later when Martial Gold was off guard.

The idea was tempting, strategically sound, yet it left a bitter taste on my tongue. I shook off the cold tendrils of doubt, focusing instead on the rhythm of the fight. My muscles coiled tight and my mind cleared itself of all thoughts except the one goal - attack.

I broke into a sprint, a silent shadow moving amidst the chaos. The world seemed to blur as I ran behind the men. Martial Gold was so fixated on Viktor, his entire being was focused on him. Looks like Viktor had touched a nerve and I used that advantage as I positioned myself behind him.

I felt a chill of anticipation as I drew my blade, the cold metal a powerful weight in my hand. My heart hammered in my chest, a rapid-fire rhythm that drowned out the clamor of battle. With every step, I drew closer, my pulse echoed the silent countdown in my head.

And then I struck.

Martial Gold stiffened as my blade pierced his back, the force of my assault driving him forward. A strangled gasp echoed in the air, barely audible over the relentless drumming of my heart. I withdrew the blade. Viktor drew a smirk.

“Just in time,” he said loudly through my drumming heartbeat. They collapsed on the floor on top of the lifeless Gold.

I looked at the scene in front of me and I knew that without a doubt that nothing would ever be the same.