"Wait – what do you mean there's a price on his head?" Kinuko asked, her eyes narrowing at the merchant.
"Yeah," Akeno cut in, her voice sharp. "Are you saying people like that are going to keep coming after Shiro?"
The Merchant shrugged, unfazed. "I didn't say anything for sure. But If someone sent an assassin after him, odds are there's a bounty. It doesn't mean he did anything wrong. Those damn nobles don't need a reason – they just need a name. And next thing you know you're running for your life."
Kinuko's jaw tightened. "That makes zero sense." She spun on her heel.
"Where are you going?" Akeno asked. She didn't even pause. "After Shiro. Just stay here."
And with that, she pushed the door open and vanished into the street.
...….
"Let's keep this going," the mysterious man said, voice calm but sharp.
"Was just bout to say the same," Boros replied, cracking his knuckles as he dropped into his stance.
They launched at each other – fists flying, feet slamming into the dirt with enough force to scatter the ground beneath them.
No blocking. No dodging. Just raw hits traded blow for blow, each one matching the other's power with their own.
Boros skidded back, wiping blood from his mouth. "Tch…. not using your blades anymore?" he smirked. "You were pretty cocky about them earlier."
The man narrowed his eyes. "You bring out the fun in me, stranger."
"Fine then." The man drew his blades in a flash, steeling humming the air.
"Come at me."
The man lunged, blades flashing. Steel sliced the air as he struck at Boros, who instinctively crossed his arms in an X to block – like he'd forgotten metal dosen't care about skin.
Slash. Blood bloomed.
Boros hissed, sprang back, and circled back fast along the perimeter. Then he launched forward – crack! – a clean hit to the man's ribs.
But he caught another slash on the way out. He didn't slow down.
Back in again – another hit, another wound. It was like he didn't care how much he bled.
The man tilted his head, his stance relaxing slightly. "Keep letting me cut you like that….." he said, raising a blade to point at Boros,
"…..and you're gonna regret it." Then with a smirk he said,
"Or do you just get off on pain?"
Boros slid back into stance, fists up. The man mirrored him, blades gleaming. "Oh? I thought you were tryna kill me," Boros taunted, a smirk creeping in.
"Your mistake," the man said coolly and then they charged.
Steel met Ice.
Boros iced over his fists mid-run, the frost snaking across his knuckles just in time to absorb the man's rapid attacks.
Every hit was blocked, answered blow for blow. The man matched him in equal precision, turning aside Boros' punches like it was a routine.
Then the man paused – just for a second – nose twitching like he caught a scent on the wind, a slow grin spread his face.
Boom.
He slammed the ground, sending up a cloud of dust that swallowed everything in a choking haze.
"Uggh, a little warning next time, jackass," Boros coughed, waving the grit from his face.
"What? – did he just run?"He squinted through the fog, then caught movement, his eyes narrowed.
"Shit."
He took off.
By the time the man broke the smoke, Boros was already there – blocking his path. Behind him stood Kinuko.
Boros frowned. "I thought you were fighting me."
The man just grinned, eyes flicking to Kinuko – who now had a white-knuckle grip on Boros's arm.
"Doesn't mean I can't deal with whoever gets in the way."
He raised his sword.
Boros cursed under his breath, yanked Kinuko back – but in that split second, his back was wide open.
Slice. Pain tore across his shoulder.
"Tch – damn it," he growled, bolting into the trees with Kinuko in tow. They didn't stop until the trees swallowed the light. He dropped her gently to the ground.
"Shiro – are you okay?" she gasped, reaching for him.
"Don't give me that crap," Boros hissed, voice low. He scanned the woods, listening for footsteps.
"This is your fault." His tone cut like a blade.
"I told you – stay back with Akeno. Protect the old man." Kinuko lowered her eyes.
"Y-yeah, I know, but….. I was worried about you. I didn't want you to – please don't be mad…."
Boros exhaled hard, jaw tight. "Look. I can't fight that guy and keep you safe. Not at the same time."
He placed a hand on her head – gentle, but firm."So stay here. And listen to me this time."
Then he turned and vanished into the trees.
"Yo!" Boros burst from the treeline like a bullet, zeroed in on the man.
The man smirked, gripping his blades."Oh? I thought you'd ran off."
Steel flashed. He slashed – but Boros twisted mid-air, rolled past the strike, and nailed him with a kick to the ribs.
The man stumbled, but recovered quick, sliding back into his stance. Boros didn't hesitate.
He charged again, stopped on a dime right in front of him.
Boom.
He planted his feet and unleashed a barrage of blows – fists flying like thunder.
Each hit connected.
But that was the trap.
In the split second Boros eased up, thinking he had the upper hand.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Blades carved across him – arms, chest, back – ripping into flesh with surgical precision. Blood sprayed.
Boros staggered, blinking through the pain. Then he heard it.A piercing screech, like a beast screaming. The man's blades vibrated violently, glowing with a sinister red aura.
Boros jumped back, wiped blood from his eyes.
"What the hell is that?" The man relaxed his stance, blades humming with that eerie red glow.
"I'm guessing you're wondering what's going on." He held up his swords."This beauty right here? Her name's Khareth."
He flashed a grin. "She's got a temper and, she's an Awakened Weapon."
Boros narrowed his eyes."Awakened? What the hell does that mean?"
"It basically means she's alive. And she's got abilities," the man said tapping the blade like it was a pet.
"Khareth feeds on life force. The more blood she drinks, the stronger she gets."He chuckled.
"That screech earlier? Yeah, that was her telling me she's done waiting. She wants every last drop outta you."
Boros slid back into his stance, jaw clenched.
'So that's what he meant about regretting every cut,' he thought.
He smirked, blood still dripping from his arms. "Also, real talk – can you stop calling your sword 'she?' it's creepy as hell."
"I don't think you should be worrying about that!" the man shouted as he lunged at Boros.
They collided – full force.
No more defense. Just blood for blood.
Steel tore skin.
Fists cracked bone.
Neither of them held back now just trading damage like they were trying to out-bleed each other.
Boros broke off, darting along the perimeter to create space. But the man was right on his heels.
"Tch. He's faster," Boros muttered.
He skidded to a halt – and came face to face with twin blades, just inches from his skull.
No time to think. He threw up his arm – let the blades sink halfway into his ice hardened forearm. Trapped.
"Got you."
In one brutal motion, he twisted, slammed the man to the ground and unloaded four skull shattering punches straight to his face.
Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.
The ice melted.
The man coughed violently as blood spilled from his mouth, struggling to get back on his feet.
Boros stepped forward, flexing his arm.
"I'm done with back and forth bullshit," he growled.
"Let's finish it." He rolled his shoulders, eyes burning.
"Time to get rid these weights."