Leo braced himself against the rush of adrenaline, his heart pounding in sync with each step Dagger took. The need to reclaim his shield and prove his worth, especially in front of someone from the notorious Dagger, fueled his determination. Disregarding the height difference, he focused on his skills as a tank, ready to face whatever Dagger had in store.

Dagger moved with a fluidity that spoke of years of practice, his daggers glinting ominously in the dim light of the alley. He darted towards Leo, each strike calculated, aimed at vulnerable spots. Leo's arms moved like a seasoned defender, blocking the attacks with expert precision, using his strength to nullify the impact of the daggers.

Mia watched from the sidelines, her eyes alight with a mix of amusement and pride. "Come on, Dagger! Show him who's boss!"

Leo, his resolve unyielding, spotted an opening in Dagger's relentless assault. He seized Dagger's arm mid-swing, engaging him in close combat. Dagger struggled to break free, but Leo's grip held firm.

"Not bad, brat. You've got some guts," Dagger remarked, impressed by Leo's resilience.

With a swift maneuver, he managed to create some distance between them, evading Leo's grasp.

Seizing the opportunity, Leo lunged forward, aiming to disarm Dagger and retrieve his shield. But Dagger, agile and quick-witted, effortlessly dodged the attack, causing Leo to stumble momentarily.

Mia saw her chance. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she swiftly maneuvered behind Leo, aiming to incapacitate him.

But before she could strike, a sword suddenly thrusted to the ground just a inch away from ground. She turned her head in the direction the of sword and meet two cold eyes she felt a chill down in her spine and fell on the floor.

But before she could make her move, a sword suddenly pierced the ground next to her, making her jump in fright. She looked up, and saw two cold eyes staring at her from the shadows. She felt a chill down her spine, and fell to the ground, paralyzed with fear.

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She realized that he had been watching the fight all along, and that he would not let anyone interfere. She also realized that if she tried to do anything she would die.

Meanwhile, Leo regained his balance, refocusing on Dagger, both combatants locked in a silent agreement to continue the fight.

'I can do this. I have to do this.'

Leo's determination surged, propelling him forward once more.

Anticipating Leo's move, Dagger sidestepped and aimed a precise strike at Leo's exposed side. The strike connected, but fueled by adrenaline and resolve, Leo pushed through the pain, refusing to relent. He grappled with Dagger, their struggle escalating as they wrestled for control.

Mia watched the intense battle unfold, amazed at Leo's resilience. Amidst the clash, she noticed a genuine smile on her brother's face, as though he was relishing the challenge, almost as if he was playing with a friend.

The clash of wills and strength echoed through the alley, neither of them willing to give up. The outcome of the confrontation was uncertain, as they fought fiercely, their determination matching their skills.

They both paused for a moment, panting heavily, catching their breath. They eyed each other warily, looking for the slightest weakness.

Leo activated his skill and dashed towards Dagger. Dagger, caught slightly off guard, tried to dodge but miscalculated, resulting in a clash of their weapons with a resounding clang.

Leo's forceful movement knocked Dagger off balance by accident. Dagger stumbled backward, tripping on a loose brick, and fell to the ground with a thud.

Time froze for a moment, as Leo, surprised by the turn of events, looked down at Dagger lying on the ground, speechless.

Realizing his unexpected victory, Leo quickly grabbed his shield, his heart racing with a mix of relief and disbelief. He extended a hand to help Dagger up and said.

"Now you remember our challenge, right? You have to join our team."

"What do you mean you won by accident?" Dagger demanded. "This match is invalid. Let's do it again."

"What do you mean invalid? Even if we fight again, I'm sure I would win." Leo retorted.

They argued back and forth, until Mia's voice cut through the noise.

"Fine. We'll join your team." She said.

"What? But sis?" Dagger protested.

"Good." Leo smiled. "Wait...what do you mean by 'we'?"

"I'll join your team too." Mia said.

"No. I only came to recruit Dagger." Leo said.

"What? If my sister doesn't come, then I won't come either." Dagger said.

"Okay, fine. By the way, what's your class?" Leo turned his head to Mia.

"I'm a priest." Mia replied.

"A priest and you?" Leo raised his eyebrows.

"What? Do you have a problem?" Mia asked as she noticed Leo's expression.

"No." Leo shook his head avoid her eyes.

"Anyway, is he our leader?" Dagger pointed at Ethan, who was sitting on the terrace.

"Yes. He's our leader." Leo said proudly, with a bright expression.

But Dagger's expression was not bright. Assassins were known for their senses and judgment to calculate dangers.

And right now, his senses were telling him to run away from that man.