The Eminence in Shadow: The Dark Swordsman

Chapter 50: Frost And Fury

Shō moved in a blur, his katana flashing through the air like a streak of lightning. Vasilisa's eyes widened, but before she could react, she felt the cold steel graze her skin. A sharp sting flared across her forehead as a few strands of her hair floated gently to the ground. Shō came to a halt, his blade poised, his expression unreadable as he stood several paces away, his eyes locked onto her with an icy intensity.

Vasilisa staggered back, stunned. (How did he-?) She caught sight of her fallen hair scattered on the ground, and her fingers instinctively flew to her forehead. When she pulled them away, they were wet with blood. A thin crimson line dripped down her face. Her heart pounded as she lifted her gaze back to Shō. The coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine, as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice. "This boy... is vicious," she whispered, her voice barely audible, the realization sinking in. Shō was more than fast-he was lethal.

Shō tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving Vasilisa as he raised his katana and spoke in a cold, measured tone, "Have you woken up already?"

He pointed the gleaming blade directly at her, his voice lowering as his lips curled into a barely-there smirk. "Or should I be more direct?"

Vasilisa's lips twitched into a smirk of her own as she wiped the blood from her forehead with the back of her hand. "You just went for the kill."

Her stance shifted, her rapier gleaming in the light as she pointed it toward him. "I wonder what would happen if you were more direct."

In an instant, Shō vanished.

Vasilisa disappeared a heartbeat later.

The arena shook as they reappeared in the centre, their blades meeting with a deafening boom. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the force of their strikes rippling through the air. Both fighters stood locked, their faces inches apart, eyes burning with deadly intent.

"Your way of using that rapier... feels forced," Shō muttered, his eyes narrowing as their swords locked in place. "On top of that, you're holding back."

Without warning, Shō shifted his weight, his foot lashing out in a brutal kick aimed at Vasilisa's side. She reacted just in time, raising her forearm to block the strike, though the impact sent a shock of pain through her arm.

Shō looked at her, his tone taunting. "Mocking me like this? Tell me, what's a good reason I shouldn't kill you right here and now?"

Vasilisa grunted, pushing his foot away before springing back, creating distance between them, and smirking defiantly, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "Dunno, maybe 'cause I'm a girl trying to fight you."

Shō chuckled mockingly, the sound chilling in the air. "Are you truly this stupid?" he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. Then, with a cold edge, he continued, "I can clearly tell you're a guy, you bastard."

Vasilisa froze, caught off guard by his observation. How did he know? Panic flickered in her chest, her mind racing with confusion.

Before she could regain her composure, Shō was upon her in an instant, his presence a storm. "Your guard is down again," he said, his voice low and menacing as he lunged forward, his katana held firmly with both hands, aimed directly at her heart.

Vasilisa barely had a moment to react. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she instinctively twisted to the side, feeling the rush of air as the blade sliced past her. The sharp clang of metal against metal echoed in her ears as she barely managed to parry his attack, the force reverberating through her arms.

"Is that all you've got?" she shot back, trying to mask her fear with bravado, though her heart raced with every movement he made. The stakes were higher than she had ever imagined, and she needed to think fast.