There I was, Yeonju the Second, maintaining my poker face as the pizza delivery guy hit the deck. I'd made sure to infuse just the right amount of ki into my sword to ensure he was knocked out, not dead. Kira's instructions echoed in my mind. "Non-enemy combatants, knock them out," she'd said. Guess the pizza boy ticked that box.
I threw him over my shoulder and strode into the building, nonchalantly stepping over the dismembered bodies that littered the hallway. Shattered glass, wrecked furniture, broken mirrors.
Business as usual, I mused. A corpse, once propped on a blood-streaked table, lost its grip and toppled over. I barely blinked. Another left a sizeable puddle of blood, which I nimbly avoided. Wouldn't want to stain my Valentino shoes.
Fortunately for us, we weren't on cleanup duty. The mess was intentional; the client wanted a message sent. Quite the shame though, we could've nabbed some paintings before the blood spatter and turned a profit. They never said we couldn't take souvenirs.
A scream echoed down the corridor. Seemed like the team was having a blast, tearing into the enemy. Me? I got stuck with perimeter duty. Typical. Secure the perimeter, make sure no one gets inside. Yada, yada, yada. Except for sleeping beauty here, I was alone.
I'd handled the guards and dumped their bodies in the nearby woods. The ones at the front got the chop, and their remains stashed in a dumpster. Anything that wouldn't fit got chucked far into the trees. Easy job when most of them were below Martial Bronze 4th Stage.
I sauntered into the first reception area, the walls smeared with bloody handprints and flecks of viscera. Classic Ashley. The girl was a hurricane, and we didn't take her on jobs often; cleaning up after her was a royal pain.The main hall came into view, and I strolled in like I was walking a dog. 'Cept I hate dogs. Always been more of a cat guy.
As expected, Ashley was absorbed in her phone, probably drooling over the latest gym pose of a well known Albanian actor. Hector was busy wiping down his dagger, with gold laced silk cloth, like always. He had a thing for cloth; not that there’s anything wrong with it. He spent a quarter of his pay on different fabrics, they’re all neatly tucked away in a cupboard inside his quarters back at HQ. He enjoyed a clean weapon, I guess.
Viktor was on the phone, deep in conversation. Unlike Ashley, he looked engaged. Client maybe? Hard to tell from here. I tried focusing my ki a little, but...
He spun around and shot me a warning glare. The kind that screamed, "Back off."
So, I dropped my focus. Didn't want to get on Viktor bad side, or Mr. Grumpy might stiff me on my pay. Any other jerk and I'd have beheaded him, but a 1st Stage Martial Gold, like Viktor, who went toe to toe with Martial Masters and lived to the tell the tale. I don’t know who’d win. But I was itching to find out.
And finally, with a hunched back and hands clasped together, yet fingers fidgeting. I introduce you to Kira. Our leader. Our saviour. Sitting right there, on the far end of a dinning table that stretched over two car lengths, brooding. But damn she was beautiful
I strolled up to Kira and nonchalantly dropped the pizza boy on the floor. "I found him trying to get it in," I casually stated.
She glanced at me, then shifted her gaze to the pizza boy. She spoke, her voice tinged with curiosity, "Enemy?" I shook my head, clearly indicating otherwise.
"Hm, let's leave it for now. We have other concerns. Like this particular gentleman over here." She gestured towards a man dressed like a beaten-up turkey, an apple forcibly lodged in his mouth. Dark purple bruises covered his eyes and half of his forehead, with his lips cut and a trickle of blood. He was in his briefs, seemingly caught off guard while sleeping.
I couldn't help but ask, "Is this the target?"
Kira nodded in confirmation. "Artherius the 3rd."
Ashley looked up, visibly surprised. She realized too late that her phone had slipped through her fingers and scrambled to pick it up.
"That's a fucking Murim Clan Master boss. I thought this was a simple assignment to eliminate a rich tycoon and dismantle his business," Ashley exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the revelation.
Hector, equally shocked, voiced his agreement, and even I was caught off guard. The only one who remained seemingly unperturbed, yet turning his head to listen, was Viktor.
Kira let out a sigh and stood up. "Yes, we are tasked with eliminating a tycoon, who also is a Clan Master who happens to have a thriving arms trafficking business in central Africa. He supplies weapons to local warlords, and if we take him out, the flow of arms stops.”
She paused, a dry smile spreading across her face. “But, here’s a twist. Our client? He’s one these warlords and apparently he was promised an hefty delivery of weapons that never showed up. Guess what happened next? He lost a lot of men. Isn't that right, Artherius?"
Artherius, his mouth sealed shut by the apple, could only manage slight squirming and movements, confirming Kira's words. She removed the apple, a decision that, in my opinion, she shouldn't have made. Given the rant that would follow.
"You bastards!" he screeched.
Oh, I already detest his voice now.
"You don't know what you've done! You've made big enemies, big enemies," Artherius exclaimed, his voice filled with anger and desperation.
Kira, always calm and collected, couldn't help but crack a smile. "Yes, we know Artherius," she responded, her voice dripping with confidence.
"No, you don't," Artherius shouted, his voice echoing in the room. "None of you have any idea what's going to happen next. Not just the Artherius clan, but the entire Murim Alliance will be after you. Both the orthodox and unorthodox factions will hunt you down, relentlessly. You won't find peace, shelter, or anyone willing to help. You're doomed! Do you really think you can poke the bear and get away with it?"
His words struck a nerve, and frowns appeared on our faces, except for Viktor, and our boss. Each of us knew, from past encounters, the immense power of the Murim Alliance and its current leader, the Martial Supreme. They controlled a significant portion of Murim, though its exact size remained a mystery. Their forces comprised over a million soldiers who fought in the last war against the demon clan.
The Murim Alliance consisted of numerous clans, but only eleven held the highest positions, including the Artherius clan. However, it seemed that after today, there would only be ten, and poking the bear would lead to their downfall. We had officially poked the bear.
I could sense hesitation in my voice, as well as in Ashley's and Hector's. Artherius noticed and cracked a wicked smile.
"Oh yes, regret it all you want. There's nothing you can do about it. You have poked the fucking bear, and now he's going to crush you al-," he screamed abruptly, forcing me to cover my ears. It was an annoying sound, not in a mundane way.
Kira coolly cracked a few of his fingers. Artherius screamed in agony. He desperately tried to alleviate the pain by moving, but the tightly bound ropes prevented any escape. We watched as he writhed in torment, his screams filling the room.
"Fuck, he screams really bad!" Hector exclaimed, unable to bear the piercing sound.
Ashley pleaded, "Put that apple back in his mouth," in an attempt to silence him, but our concerns fell on deaf ears. It seemed that our boss was lost in her own thoughts, unaffected by the piercing scream. She continued cracking Artherius' fingers, one by one.
"It's ironic how clan leaders believe they deserve retribution when they've been wronged, but when they wrong others, it's perfectly acceptable," she said, her voice laced with bitterness.
She proceeded to break a few more fingers on Artherius' other hand, the screams growing louder and more agonizing.
"The sheer arrogance of thinking that those who seek justice against you deserve punishment," she uttered, her voice dripping with cold anger. "You, who crush others with your vile strength."
Then, stopped cracking and let is screams turn into sobs. silencing his screams momentarily. Leaning closer, she whispered in his ear, her voice filled with a chilling resolve, "But remember, those at the top never stay there for long. It's only a matter of time before their tyranny is brought down, just like I did to you tonight."
A mere minute ago, this man brandished threats of retribution from the Murim Alliance. Now he lay on his back, crying and tending to his broken arm. Transformed into a sniveling weakling. This was how strong, our boss Kira was. But what was more remarkable was how easily his “vicious” demeanor had crumbled with just a couple of broken fingers.
So much for a Murim Clan Master, those self-proclaimed powerful martial artists who boasted of splitting rivers and bending canyons. They were even rumored to possess healing powers capable of resurrecting the near-dead. Yet it seems there are things even they cannot do. Endure torture. Throughout the whole of Murim these guys ruled with an iron fist. Maintaining a hierarchy of strength.
But when the tables were turned, when they found themselves on the receiving end, they pleaded for mercy just like this Master was doing now.
"Please, please just stop," he pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation. "I'll give you anything—money, men, wine. Anything you want, just name it."
Kira maintained her stoicism to Artherius persuasion. But beneath it, even I could see it, a simmering anger. Mistaking her cold anger for hesitation, the Master continued to babble.
"I-I have access to a large number of resources. I'm the patriarch of the Artherius Clan. We may not possess the financial or military might of the other clans, but we hold invaluable secrets of powerful medicinal techniques and cultivation practices. If you're not interested—"
His words were cut short as Kira tightened her grip on his arm, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Do you know who I am?" Kira's voice was laced with an edge of menace.
The man seemed taken aback by the question, his eyes widening in recognition. It was likely the first time he had laid eyes on her face.
"Looks like you don't know," Kira taunted, relishing the moment. "Let me help you remember. The Martial Supremacy tournament, the summer of 2001."
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Artherius's eyes widened further, disbelief etched across his face. "No, that can't be. You're supposed to be dead. This isn't real."
"It's as real as it gets," Kira growled, her voice dripping with vengeance.
"Please, spare me," Artherius pleaded, desperation tainting his voice. "I didn't approve of it, I swear to God. I-I was forced. Yes, yes, I was forced by the Supreme and his cronies."
Kira reached into her pocket, retrieving a worn-out piece of paper. She unfurled it before Artherius, his gaze drawn to the document.
"This paper doesn't mention anything about being forced by the Supreme," she pointed out, her voice cold and unforgiving. "Look, it even bears your own signature."
At this point, despair washed over Artherius. I didn't need to sense his ki to know. It was written all over his face. It seemed that our target and our leader shared a history, which piqued my interest. But in the grand scheme of things, it was just another skeleton in the closet. We all had our secrets, locked away with the intention of never opening that door again.
It appeared that our leader was confronting her own demons, but I couldn't care less. Our mission was clear—to eliminate him and retrieve the briefcase. Speaking of which, where was it?
"Uh, guys," I awkwardly interjected, diverting their attention. "Where's the briefcase?"
They appeared perplexed for a moment. Then Ashley chimed in, her voice dripping with annoyance, "it's right there, dumbass," as she pointed to the empty space beneath the table. "What the... where's the briefcase?"
"Don't tell me we lost the briefcase," I sighed, my frustration evident.
Ashley raised her voice, irritation evident in her tone, "we didn't lose the briefcase. It was right there. I put it there, and even the boss saw it."
The tense atmosphere lingered for a moment. Kira, Hector, and I let out heavy sighs, while Viktor wore a look of disgust.
"Well, we have to find the briefcase; otherwise, we won't get p-" I was interrupted by a loud scream that echoed through the room.
"MAAASTER!"
All of us turned our heads in unison, following the sound. There, on the second floor, stood a man in his red striped boxers, panting as if he had just finished a marathon.
"I've got the briefcase!"
Damn, how did we miss him? I channeled my inner strength, focusing my ki energy into my hand, causing blue waves to engulf my entire arm until it transformed into a visible, blunt blade. With a flourish, I sharpened the edges by manipulating the flowing ki and sliced off the top of a nearby chair. I wanted to test it out and also look cool while doing so.
Not many people can embody the physical form of Ki, usually only Martial Gold’s can. It just goes to show how close I am in breaking through to Gold. I equipped the Dance of the Cheetah. A foot technique, in which the practitioner performs leaps and bounds cover large distances quickly.
Drawing ki from my core, I cycled the energy through my legs, invigorating my leg muscles with its power. I leaped forward, covering a five-meter distance in just two seconds, and hurled a blue slash at the naked man in midair.
He swiftly dodged, narrowly evading the lethal attack as it whizzed past him. However, in doing so, he lost his balance and tumbled forward, causing an explosion behind him. Drawing even more ki into my legs, I executed a small burst, flipping in the air, and unleashed another slash towards him.
This time, he used the briefcase as a shield to deflect the attack, but it still pushed him down forcefully onto the floor. The briefcase fell open, revealing its contents.
"Don't damage the briefcase! That's what we're here for!" Ashley shouted from across the hall.
I scowled, feeling defensive. "I didn't know he was going to use it to protect himself."
But it seemed I wasn't the only disgruntled person making their complaint known.
"Silas, you moron," his voice now hoarse from all the screaming and shouting. "You should've just quietly left with the briefcase."
"I'm sorry, master," Silas, the man in question, began. "I didn't know it was more valuable than your life. I'll clean this up and disappear immediately."
Safely landing on the balcony near the second floor, I peered down at Silas. Just as I was about to apprehend him, until Kira pulled a fast one.
"Hold it," she warned, a hint of mischief in her voice. "I've got your master here, at my mercy. Hand me the briefcase, and he lives. If you don't, then he dies."
Silas, visibly shaken by the threat, raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll give you the briefcase. But please, let him go."
"Silas, you fucking idiot. Don't give her the briefcase. She'll kill me, even if you do. Take it and run away."
As I watched Silas, it became clear to me that he was a complete imbecile. The way he proudly flaunted the briefcase, oblivious to the danger he was putting himself and his master in, was nothing short of moronic. Loyalty means absolutely nothing if you're a bumbling fool. What good is unwavering allegiance when it only leads to your own demise and the demise of your master?
I was starting to agree with Artherius. Judging by Kira's behavior around Silas, it was clear that she wanted him dead, regardless of the situation. And lo and behold, she just proved me right. She opened her velvet coat, revealing a small dagger, and pressed it against Artherius' throat.
"You hand over the briefcase, and he lives. Refuse, and he dies. The choice is yours. Save your master or save yourself," she threatened.
I positioned myself at an angle, hoping to find a blind spot where I could strike without him reacting as quickly as he had before. He was incredibly fast, almost like he was using some kind of technique or channeling his ki. His hand movements were a blur.
I looked to Kira for confirmation, but she shook her head. It seemed she wasn't confident in my ability to strike without endangering the safety of the briefcase. I assumed the contents of the briefcase were highly important, given that it had turned into a hostage situation. We usually don't resort to taking hostages, but this package was unusually delicate.
Hector and Viktor were within striking distance. Even if Silas tried to escape, we could injure him while he ran, with his back turned and retrieve the briefcase. It seemed like a solid plan, and both of them agreed as they nodded in my direction. It looked like we were all on the same page. Great minds think alike, I suppose.
Silas cautiously stepped forward. "Okay, I'll give it to you, but please don't harm my master."
Kira nodded in agreement. "Hector, Viktor, take it from him."
"No!" Silas shouted. "I'll come over there and hand it to you myself."
"Don't make any hasty decisions," Kira warned.
"If I can't make it over there, then... then..." Silas opened the briefcase and grabbed what appeared to be a syringe filled with green liquid. "Then I'll destroy this," he threatened.
"If you destroy it, I'll kill all of you," she growled.
Artherius, with his bruised and battered face, managed to crack a smile. It was a grotesque sight, considering the state of his face. I knew then, she’d just given her hand away. She wanted to kill him, but even she knew that the mission comes before personal vendetta. But the way she was handling this was unprofessional, unlike anything she’s done before
"That's right. If they don't let you come here, then destroy it," he said.
Kira pushed the blade further into his throat, and a trickle of blood dripped down his collarbone.
Be careful what you say, Artherius. My blade will cut you faster than your servant can walk."
"Hmph! I'm as good as dead anyway. It's either you or the Supreme if I let that syringe be taken away.
If he destroys it and you kill me, then so be it. I'd rather face your wrath than the Supreme's. Something you've experienced before, right?" Artherius taunted.
Kira's face contorted with anger. It seemed she had a troubled history with the Martial Supreme. Interesting.
Suppressing her anger, she withdrew her knife from Artherius' throat and motioned for Silas to come to her.
"Hector, Viktor, step aside," Kira instructed. They complied and made way for Silas.
He walked cautiously, his grip tight on the syringe, holding it close to his chest with both arms. He positioned himself about a meter away from Kira, still clutching the syringe as if anticipating a sudden move from her. However, Kira extended her hand and opened her palm, signaling that she wanted the syringe first.
"First, cut him open," Silas ordered. "Otherwise, I'll destroy this."
"Don't play games with me. You're well within my reach, and I can easily catch it and kill you. I'm a Martial Gold, Bronze boys like you are nothing but flies beneath my feet," he boasted.
"That may be true, but I possess a technique passed down to me by my father. It's so fast that not even a Martial Supreme could keep up with it. Your friend here tried to kill me, but I swiftly blocked his attacks. Are you sure you want to try again? This briefcase won't last," Silas confidently responded.
Kira's cold stare returned. "Lies."
"If you think I'm lying, you can test it out," Silas said innocently.
She paused, sizing him up for a few moments, then drew her dagger with an impossible speed that even I, a Martial Gold, couldn't follow. Silas flinched, thinking she was about to attack, but instead, she grabbed one of the ropes and began cutting it, freeing the man.
Artherius couldn't contain his happiness, and short bursts of giggles escaped his mouth. He must have had a plan all along. Maybe Kira suspected it too. Either way, this man was as good as dead, whether we had the syringe or not. So why was he so pleased? Until, of course, he figured out a way to escape.
"Excellent, Silas. You've made your master proud. I never knew you had this level of cleverness in you," Artherius praised.
A groan emanated from nearby, catching Kira's and my attention. It was the pizza boy, starting to wake up. Artherius seemed to pay him no mind, and Silas did the same. Once all the ropes were cut, Artherius hopped off the table and positioned himself behind Kira. She gestured to Silas once again, signaling him to hand over the syringe.
"Master, come over here while I give her this," Silas said.
"Of course, of course," Artherius responded.
He took a step closer to Silas and whispered something in a low voice that I couldn't make out. Then, in the next moment, everything turned upside down. Kira swiftly flipped the dagger and jammed it upward, lodging it beneath Artherius' mouth. Silas let out a piercing scream, "MAAAASTER!"
I readied my ki blade while Hector and Viktor moved with precision. Hector still wore his knuckle brass and aimed a ki jab at Silas, but he sidestepped.
He aimed a hook, but Silas swiftly ducked, evading the attack. In response, Silas unleashed a powerful uppercut, connecting squarely with Hector's chin. The force of the blow sent Hector hurtling towards the ceiling. Hector was fortunately a 3rd Stage Martial Silver and regained composure midair. He tapped into his ki energy, channeling it into his leg muscles, and skilfully used the ceiling as a springboard to propel himself downwards.
Viktor, observing the unfolding situation, cautiously approached. “It doesn’t look like he’s a Martial Bronze, could be a Martial Silver 1st Stage, so be on your guard," he warned with a thick Russian accent.
With a swift motion, Viktor produced silver-plated guns adorned with an intricately etched eagle design on their handles. He aimed and fired bullets at Silas, hoping to neutralize the threat. However, Silas effortlessly dodged the incoming bullets with his lightning-fast movements.
"He's employing some sort of speed techniques," cried Hector from his elevated position. "Focus on predicting his trajectory and aim accordingly!"
Viktor heeded Hector's advice, carefully calculating Silas's movements. He anticipated Silas veering to the right and promptly fired several shots in that direction. Hector, positioned above, rained down his technique, Fiery fists of Dawn. Multiple red translucent energy fists rained down at the projected path of Silas's movement. However, to their surprise, Silas performed a sudden backflip, eluding the barrage of bullets and fists. Despite successfully evading most of the gunfire, one bullet managed to strike Hector's left arm, whilst his dominant right left a deep crater in the ground upon impact.
Hector clutched his left arm. Despite the agony, he managed to muster a smile of acknowledgment towards Viktor, impressed by the power behind those bullets. In response, Viktor shot him a smirk, reveling in the chaos.
Silas, fuelled by an overwhelming rage over the loss of his master, hurled the syringe towards Kira amidst the swirling clouds of dust stirred up by Hector's fierce punches and energy barrage. The thick haze obstructed her vision, leaving her with only a split second to react. Acting on pure instinct, she grabbed the drowsy pizza delivery boy and flung him at Silas.
Employing the lightning-fast Flight of the Cheetah technique, Kira propelled herself towards Silas, who was suspend mid-fall, latching onto his neck and pinning him forcefully against the wall adjacent to the staircase. The impact of their collision left a small crater in the stone and wood.
With a vice-like grip on his neck, she immobilized him, her fingers pressing into his throat and exerting pressure. She forcefully raised his right hand above his head, further restricting his movement. Struggling for breath, Silas pleaded, his voice strained, "Please... stop. It hurts."
"Where is the syringe?" she demanded, her voice filled with urgency.
Glancing downwards, she noticed that both of Silas's hands were empty. She began frantically searching his clothing, hoping that he had stashed the syringe in one of his pockets during the chaotic scuffle. "Damn it!" she roared in frustration, realizing that the syringe was nowhere to be found.
A loud groan interrupted my thoughts, diverting my attention. It was the pizza boy, and he was finally awake.
"Wuh, what is going on here?" he slurred, struggling to gather his bearings. He sat up straight, his head still bobbing from the concussion I had given him earlier. Rubbing his eyes, he slapped himself across the face, as if hoping it would bring him back to reality. His confusion was evident as he blinked repeatedly, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
"Wha-what is going on here!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with panic. I could sense beads of cold sweat forming on the back of his neck. Then, a sudden yelp escaped his lips.
"What the fuck! Why is there a dead man next to me?"
As Artherius's eyes lost their glow and turned white, a small pool of blood formed, some of it staining the pizza boy's hand. He checked himself, frantically patting his body to see if he was dreaming. His search came to an abrupt halt when he felt something in his arm. It was the damn syringe, and it was empty. Oh shit. It must have happened during our scuffle.
He was on the verge of tears. "What! What is this? What happened to me? What's happening here? Am I drugged?" His gaze locked with Kira's, and it was clear that she had noticed his predicament too. Her anger intensified, and she let out a roar before throwing Silas. He was sent flying through the walls, crashing out of the mansion and landing like a rag doll on the gravel.
The sight of Kira throwing Silas pushed the pizza boy beyond his emotional limit, causing him to faint. Taking a deep breath, Kira counted slowly till ten, gradually regaining her composure. She clenched her fists tightly and then let them hang naturally as she calmed down. And then, the orders were given.
"Yeonju, grab the kid. Hector, Ashley, burn this fucking place to the ground. Viktor, get the cars ready. We're moving out." Using her ki, she pulled the dagger from Artherius's corpse, wiped the blood on her coat, and securely sheathed it back in her inner coat.
I swiftly grabbed the kid and headed toward the waiting cars outside. Hector and Ashley emerged, armed with gasoline, dousing the entire place. I noticed Hector with his favorite lighter. I knew it was his favorite because I had never seen him use any other. Instead of buying a new cheap lighter, he always preferred to refill this one. It must have held some sentimental value for him.
Just as I reached the car, the mansion was engulfed in flames. I placed the boy in the back seat and settled next to him. Hector hopped into the driver's seat, ready to get us out of there. The rest of the gang was already in the front car, and as the first debris came crashing down, we made our escape.
I watched in a stone-cold face as the once glorious Artherius Clan, one of the strongest clans in this strange place called Murim, burned to the ground right before my eyes.
All in one night.