Yuki disappeared in an instant—whoosh!—her sword slicing through the air like a flash.
BOOM!
Yuki get infront of them and swung her sword a powerful shockwave blasted through the area, sending everyone flying!.
Everyone… except for one woman standing in the corner.
She didn't move. Didn't even react.
Yuki didn't look at her and vanished again—fwssh!—leaving behind a deep crack in the ground.
Hinata stepped forward, her eyes locking onto the woman.
Her boots made a soft click… click… as she walked.
"What's your deal?" she asked coldly.
The woman tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes calm and unreadable. Around her wrists, two long bracelets hung loosely, making a soft clink as she moved.
Then, she smiled slightly.
"My deal?" she repeated in a soft, smooth voice. "Nothing much. I just took a job, that pay is good enough for now."
She paused for a moment.
Then, her smile grew as she looked at Hinata. "But you… your a big deal."
The air grew tense.
She took a slow step forward—clink!—her tone still calm but slightly amused. "If I take your head instead of that woman. Anyone would pay a lot for your head."
"Is that so?" Hina muttered coldly. Slowly, her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, the metal shifting slightly in its sheath. "Then let's do this. What's your name?"
The woman's smirk didn't fade. She lifted her chin slightly, her purple eyes glowing faintly.
"Xiānzǐ."
----
On the other side, when Yuki vanished after sending everyone flying—
BOOM!
The mountain shook as the one of the woman body smashed into the rock, leaving a deep crater. Dust and broken stones rained down, cracks spreading across the surface. She coughed up blood, struggling to move—
But before she could react—
FWSSH!
Yuki appeared above her in an instant, eyes cold and deadly. She gripped her blade with both hands and dropped down like a meteor.
SHLKT!
The sword stabbed straight into the woman's chest, the impact slamming her deeper into the mountain. The rock split apart, sending shockwaves through the ground.
KRKKK! BOOM!
The force crushed her body into the crater, dust and rubble bursting into the air.
Yuki's boots pressed hard against her stomach, pinning her in place. The woman let out a weak, painful gasp—
But Yuki didn't stop.
She grabbed both of the woman's arms and—
CRACK! RIP!!
A sickening sound echoed through the battlefield as flesh and bone tore apart. Blood sprayed onto the broken rocks while the woman screamed in agony.
Her body twitched in pain—her eyes filled with terror.
Yuki's expression didn't change.
Without hesitation, she stabbed the severed arms straight into the woman's skull—
SHUNK!
The body jerked, then went completely still. Blood ran down the shattered rock, pooling beneath her.
Yuki stepped back, her blade dripping red. Her cold gaze remained steady.
Yuki turned and looked around the forest.
FWIP!
Suddenly, a bullet came at lightning speed—
CRACK!
It hit her in the face. Her head snapped back, and she lost her balance for a second.
BANG!
Another bullet followed, hitting her on the right side of her stomach. Blood spilled out as she narrowed her eyes.
Then—
she vanished.
For almost a minute, everything was quiet.
No sound. No movement.
She wasn't hiding—she was moving through the forest, trying to find the shooter's exact location.
Then—
FWSSH!
She suddenly appeared in front of the man holding the sniper.
In her mouth—
A bullet.
Held tight between her teeth.
She spit it out.
TINK.
The bullet hit the ground.
Her cold eyes stared straight at him.
Yuki's hand was already moving—blade raised, ready to strike.
But that man reacted fast.
THWACK!
He slammed the barrel of his sniper rifle into her stomach—
Right where the earlier bullet had hit.
"Kuh—!"
Yuki gasped, her eyes widening as pain shot through her body.
WHOOSH!
Her body was launched backwards, crashing through branches and breaking bark.
But she didn't lose control.
SKRRR—SHK!
She twisted mid-air and thrust her sword into the ground, dragging along the dirt and rocks as she finally slowed to a stop, crouched low with one knee pressed to the earth.
Before she could even stand—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
More bullets came flying at her—each one glowing faintly, charged with that man's energy.
WHING! WHING! CLANG!
Yuki's sword flashed, deflecting each bullet with sharp, clean strikes. Sparks flew with every block. Her eyes narrowed, focused, reading the angles.
Her arms trembled slightly from the force, but her grip never broke. The last bullet she blocked sent a small shockwave through the ground beneath her.
And Yuki stood again—eyes locked on the sniper, blood still dripping down her side—
Yuki crouched slightly—
Then vanished.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath where she stood, a burst of dust left behind.
In the blink of an eye—
She appeared right in front of the man.
Her left hand gripped her sword, but she didn't swing just yet.
Instead, she raised her hand and struck with a fast chop toward the right side of his neck.
CLANG!
He blocked it with the body of his sniper rifle, metal clashing against her blade.
A smirk crept onto his face.
But Yuki smirked right back—
CRACK!
Her right fist slammed straight into his face.
"Gah—!"
Blood burst from his nose. His head jerked back and his vision blurred.
Before he could recover—
Yuki switched her sword into her right hand,
SLASH!
She cut off his right arm in one clean move. Blood sprayed as he let out a sharp scream.
Then, without a pause—
SHLKT!
She thrust her sword deep into his left side, piercing through his stomach.
FWSSH—SHHHK!
With a brutal motion, she swung the blade upward—
slicing through his chest—his face—splitting him clean in two.
His body fell apart, blood painting the grass below.
Yuki stood there, sword dripping, her eyes cold and quiet.
"I heard you follow the rules," a voice spoke from behind.
"So what's this? Killing two people just because they came after your head?"
Yuki turned slowly.
Three figures stood in the clearing—
One man and two women.
The one who spoke was the woman holding a golden staff, her expression calm but cold.
Yuki's eyes narrowed.
"You five are on the international wanted list—
For killing innocents and doing illegal work."
Her voice was sharp.
"I'm just cleaning up the trash."
The woman raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"But aren't you a little too strong for an S-rank?"
Yuki didn't flinch.
"You probably know the rank I officially registered…"
Her tone grew even sharper.
"But I haven't updated it in three years."
A moment of silence passed—
Then the golden staff woman smirked.
"Let's get this over with."
The three stepped forward, shifting into fighting stances.
Yuki placed her left hand gently over her side—
Right where the sniper bullet had struck earlier.
Blood still seeped faintly through the fabric.
Then—
CRACKLE.
A thin layer of ice spread from her palm, freezing the wound in place.
Steam rose from her skin as the cold sealed the pain.
Her eyes lifted again.
That same sharp gaze.
Unshaken. Ready.
[Chapter 14 end]