Snow landed silently atop a rooftop overlooking the scene below.
Five figures stood beneath the moonlight.
Two unmoving.
Three remaining in a tense standoff.
Snow stepped forward calmly.
Then dropped.
A thirty-meter fall meant absolutely nothing to him.
He landed soundlessly behind Angelina and directly in front of Michael.
The night wind brushed past him quietly.
Snow slowly lifted his gaze.
His deep blue eyes glinted beneath the moonlight as he lowered the mask covering part of his face.
First
He looked at Michael.
Then the corpses.
Finally
The last assassin standing before them.
"Should I go ahead and kill him?"
Angelina's voice echoed mentally.
Snow's gaze remained calm.
"…No."
A faint pause.
"Take him alive."
"I've reconsidered."
Angelina nodded once.
Her claws slowly retracted as shadows gathered around her hands, forming dark gauntlets almost instantly.
The assassin smiled faintly.
Then drew two daggers.
Rough scale-like skin spread across portions of his body while his eyes narrowed into reptilian slits.
A long forked tongue slid from his mouth.
"Let's play…"
His voice sounded almost excited.
Demi Release…
Snow observed silently.
He's stronger than the others.
"Angelina. Be careful."
"Yes, Master."
The assassin did not wait for her to move. He lunged first
Fast.
One dagger slashed toward Angelina's chest.
She leaned backward smoothly, narrowly avoiding the blade.
Green liquid splashed across the grass instead.
The ground hissed violently as it melted.
Venom.
And not the weak kind.
"Heads up."
The assassin grinned wickedly as his second dagger curved toward her chin.
Angelina twisted mid-motion, flipping backward while kicking him directly beneath the jaw to create distance.
Then
She vanished.
Using his shadow, she appeared directly behind him with her claws aimed at his spine.
But the assassin was experienced.
The instant danger touched his senses his head jerked backwards.
His cheeks expanded violently.
He spat venom directly toward her face.
Angelina's eyes widened slightly before she teleported away at the last second.
She reappeared from the shadows several meters away.
"…Hah."
She steadied her breathing.
Resetting her stance calmly.
"You really don't talk much, do you?" the assassin mocked.
His reptilian eyes shifted toward Snow briefly.
"Pretty lady… we can pretend none of this happened."
"Hand the kid over and I'll let you little heroes walk away."
"I'm afraid that isn't possible."
Angelina's voice became colder.
Then
Her aura changed completely.
Purple eyes with sharp cat-like slits appeared beneath the moonlight.
The shadows surrounding her twisted unnaturally, becoming heavier…
More alive.
The assassin shivered instinctively.
"…Partial Release?"
His smile faded.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"This mission is way above my pay grade."
Behind them, Michael released a shaky breath.
Even Snow nodded slightly.
Satisfied.
The assassin suddenly turned and ran.
But Angelina had already disappeared.
Before he could take more than two steps.
She was behind him.
Ready to knock him unconscious.
Then
The assassin smiled.
Like a hunter springing a trap.
He flipped backward suddenly and hurled one of his daggers.
Not toward Angelina.
Toward Michael.
"Oh no…"
Angelina instantly grabbed the assassin's leg, slamming him brutally into the ground.
But the dagger had already flown past her.
The assassin coughed blood while laughing weakly.
"I knew I couldn't win…"
"But why should everything go your way?"
"At least I'll take someone with me."
He looked upward.
Expecting panic.
Rage.
Despair.
Instead
Angelina simply smiled.
Calmly.
"I told you already."
Her purple eyes glowed faintly.
"I'm not the master."
A faint chill spread through the area.
"My master…"
A smile formed on her face.
"Is far more terrifying than I am."
The assassin's eyes widened.
He slowly turned his head.
And froze.
Snow stood silently beside Michael.
One hand casually holding the boy's head in place.
A poisoned dagger was embedded deep within the wall behind them.
If Snow hadn't moved.
Michael would already be dead.
"…Damn."
The assassin laughed bitterly.
"I should've realized sooner."
His gaze locked onto Snow.
"…Who are you?"
Angelina's smile widened slightly.
"That…"
She glanced toward Snow respectfully.
"Is my master."
"That is Snow."
The assassin chuckled weakly.
"It's not over, boy."
"They'll find you eventually…"
Moments later
His body went limp.
Dead.
Angelina immediately pulled him up, checking his pulse carefully.
Her brows furrowed.
"He's dead."
Snow walked closer.
"Poison?"
Angelina shook her head slowly.
"I'm not sure, Master."
Snow remained silent for a moment.
"…A mistake on our part."
He placed his hand over the assassin's corpse.
A small gate opened silently beneath it.
The body vanished instantly before the gate closed once more.
Snow turned toward Michael.
"From your actions tonight…"
"I'm assuming the academy has no way of monitoring students directly."
Michael nodded quickly, too shaken to speak properly.
"Angelina."
Snow glanced toward her.
"Take us to his room."
"Yes, Master."
Shadows expanded beneath Angelina's feet.
She grabbed both Snow and Michael before dissolving completely into darkness.
The group moved rapidly through shadow after shadow across the academy grounds.
By the time they reached Michael's dorm room
Sweat covered Angelina's forehead.
Transporting others through shadows consumed far more energy than normal movement.
Meanwhile
Back at the battle site
A young boy suddenly appeared atop a nearby wall.
Around Snow's age.
His emerald eyes shimmered beneath the moonlight.
He looked around excitedly.
"Now what happened here…?"
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Four different auras clashed here…"
His smile widened further.
"Hehe…"
"Looks like this academy is going to be pretty fun."
The wind stirred softly.
And moments later
His figure disappeared into the darkness once more.