The sound of blades clashing is heard. The long, thin blade guided by Merc deflects sideways a blade headed for his head, the sword sliding across the blunt side of his blade, pushed aside. Throwing a punch, he forces the enemy to step back and dodge. He stops for a moment, grasping his sword with both hands, an extension of his arm made out of his very aura and soul. He's alone, and there's five of them... he wasn't sure who they were or for what reason they were after him. Gripping the sword tighter, with a smirk, he turns his head to who seemed to be the leader of the group, noting in his mind the rest are circling him like sharks. He asks a question with a voice so cold, it felt as if, for a few moments, the air itself had become colder than ice.
"Hey, I'm sure you won't tell who sent you. But really... what did they offer you to try and kill ME? Wealth? Protection?
Oh, wait, let me guess! Follow my steps? Cease with the mercenary work, like I have?"
The leader simply points the blade at Merc. Following the signal, a man lunges in, faster than any man or woman could wish to be, aimed at Merc's very neck. Just before it hits, a pink shield hits. Having the shape of a heart, it was unmistakable and unique. With a frown, he relaxes the grip on the blade for a split moment, forcing the blade upwards. In a wide slash, he attacks the supposed leader of the band. The blades clash for a brief moment, with sparks flying. With his blade deflected to the side, another attacker attempts to attack from behind, their sword going to pierce his spine. Merc turns around, standing right between the two, raising his left arm. The blade collides with a plate of an unknown steel wrapped around his wrist, pure black in color. The force behind the enemy's strike enough to stagger Merc backwards right into the leader, who swung their blade to behead the boy. Ducking down, the sword held in Merc's left arm momentarily turned into nothing but a red glow gathering around both his palms, moments later forming a pair of daggers. With the frown on his face, he comes face to face with the two of them moving in, attempting to stab from both sides. In a quick leap, ending up and above the two, Merc throws the two daggers in each of the attackers, aiming for their chests. The leader has dodged with the elegancy and speed of a man hardened by years of combat, but the companion of his being unlucky, struck by the dagger in the shoulder, collapses down on the ground, and moments later, Merc himself crashing down on the man, crushing their bones. Merc turns to face the leader, his sword slowly forming back in his left palm, its warm handle lessening the pain that had echoed throughout his entire body with every move and jump he had made. Irritated, he asks once more.
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"Why? Why keep attacking? You could've saved your people, were you to back down."
The leader scoffs, staring Merc down, their red eyes drilling the icy blue ones of Merc.
"Save? You'd hunt us down like animals, kill us without remorse or any second thought. I'd rather die trying."
It was now Merc's turn to scoff, resting the sword against his shoulder. Seeing as his enemy is stalling, he wasn't sure why or for what reason... but Merc knew he should use the opportunity to try and find any weak points, any weaknesses his enemy might have. Keeping his voice cold and emotionless, Merc asks once more.
"So it's on your own behalf, isn't it? Why? I've paid the price for what I've done in the past, there's no reason to keep haunting me."
The man scoffs in pure disgust and anger, staring at Merc, shouting out at him.
"No reason, huh? Well, I will tell you... there is. You—all of you—are the same. Same! You think you can keep running from the past... but no. We... always... come back after you."
The man rolls up their sleeve, showing a mark engraved into his skin. Mark that had Merc raising his sword, his expression filling with anger. The man's face covers in a grin.
"Ha... you remember, aren't you? We helped them. We helped kidnap your little worthless friends, helped hunt down those who survived, and now we are here for you. The last survivor."
A body flies past, slamming into a wall, the dead man's neck loudly snaps, the body falling down on the concrete floor, the familiar pink jacket walking out of the shadow, Abby's pink eyes staring the two down...