The Assassin | KITTYZ

Chapter 11: Rise of Tension

HAERIN'S POV

The clash of metal against metal echoed through the clearing, each strike sending vibrations up my arms. Hanni was relentless, her movements precise and fueled by a fire that threatened to consume us both. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows that danced around us as we fought.

I gritted my teeth, parrying a blow that would have taken my head off. Her strength was impressive, but I could see the weariness in her eyes, the hesitation in her strikes. She was pushing herself beyond her limits, driven by something deeper than revenge. And I couldn't help but wonder if it was the same thing driving me.

As our swords clashed again, I caught a glimpse of Minji out of the corner of my eye. She was standing a few paces away, her eyes wide with worry. She was still too weak to fight, and I knew she wouldn't survive another blow. The thought sent a surge of anger through me, fueling my resolve.

I needed to end this, and quickly.

But Hanni wasn't making it easy. She was fighting like a woman possessed, her every move a testament to her skill and determination. And despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, I couldn't help but admire her for it.

"You're good," I muttered, blocking another strike. "But you're not good enough."

Hanni's eyes flashed with anger, and she pushed forward with renewed vigor, forcing me to take a step back. Her blade grazed my shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood, but I didn't let it slow me down. I couldn't afford to.

"You don't know what you're dealing with," she spat, her voice laced with venom.

I met her gaze, holding it with a calm I didn't entirely feel. "And neither do you."

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a battle of wills as much as a battle of swords. The air between us crackled with tension, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on us both.

But before either of us could make a move, the sound of rustling leaves broke the silence. I tensed, my senses on high alert as I searched the shadows for the source of the noise. Hanni hesitated as well, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the tree line.

A low growl rumbled through the darkness, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps. We both turned toward the sound, our swords still raised, ready to face whatever threat was approaching.

Out of the shadows emerged a group of figures, their faces obscured by the darkness. But I recognized them immediately—palace guards. Only then I had realised that we had crossed the border between North Korea and South Korea, and the palace guards have already been alerted. They moved with the same rigid precision, their eyes locked on us as they approached.

"Looks like we're not alone," I muttered under my breath.

Hanni's grip on her sword tightened, her eyes flicking between me and the approaching guards. I could see the conflict in her expression, the way her mind raced to find a way out of this situation.

"We can't take them all," she whispered, more to herself than to me.

"No, we can't," I agreed, my voice low. "But we can make sure they don't take us either."

Hanni glanced at me, surprise flickering across her face. "You're willing to work together?"

I shrugged, though my heart was pounding in my chest. "For now. It's either that or we both die here."

She hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded. "Fine. But this doesn't mean we're allies."

"Of course not," I replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Let's just survive the night."