Ian stopped, turned, and pressed his back against the cold stone wall, his iron sword held horizontally before him.
His chest heaved slightly, and every breath carried the scent of blood.
That sudden burst of exertion had aggravated his internal injuries, which hadn't fully healed.
"Just a little brat at the Awakening Tier..." The tall man said, approaching step by step with his machete.
"He even smells like Starlight... some fish that slipped through the net from one of the great families?"
He licked his lips, greed flashing in his dark red eyes.
"Eating you... might let me live a few more days..."
"Boss, be careful," the short one warned from the side. "This kid was fast. He might be more than he seems."
"More than he seems?" The tall one sneered. "No matter how skilled he is, he's still just Awakening Tier."
He stopped three paces from Ian.
The machete dragged on the ground, making a harsh, grating sound.
