"Listen to me! I was framed! Whitening killed Kail! A girl in a white robe did it!" Fyar shouted, his voice tense. He gripped the hilt of his katana tightly as he continued to back away, deeper into Kail’s office, which now reeked of blood.
He held his free hand out in front of him, a gesture to keep them at bay. His eyes darted around, scanning every corner of the room, searching for an escape route. The stone walls around him felt like they were closing in, suffocating him.
"The boss trusted you, Starfall! You’re worse than trash! Bastard!" One of Kail’s closest subordinates, a man with a thick beard, didn’t believe him. His face was red with rage as he screamed in a hoarse voice.
The shouting drew more attention.
"What’s going on?!"
"Oi, why are you shouting!"
"What’s wrong with Starfall?!"
More of Kail’s men began to arrive, crowding the doorway. Their expressions changed from confusion to pale shock as they took in the scene inside the room. Kail’s head lay on the floor in a pooling puddle of drying blood, and Fyar was standing there with his weapon drawn.
"Boss?!"
"What happened?!"
"STARFALL YOU BASTARDD!!"
Fyar screamed again, his voice nearly breaking with frustration. "Listen, FUCKING LISTEN TO ME!! It wasn’t me! He was killed by someone else! J-just think about it, why would I do something like this to the man who was paying me?! What do I gain from killing him?! hah!!"
But his words had no effect. Logic had no place in the face of their grief and fury.
"FINISH HIM! HE KILLED BOSS KAIL! KILL STARFALLFUCK HIS ASS!"
The shout echoed, becoming a unifying command. A dozen gang members charged into the room, swords and axes drawn, the light from the hallway glinting off their metal blades. In seconds, they had surrounded Fyar in the cramped office.
FUCK it, FUCK it, SHITTT it! I can’t win against all of them empty-handed! FUCKKK! Fyar bit his lip. Slowly, he drew his katana completely from its sheath at his waist. The sharp gleam of the sword caught the dim light of the room.
He pointed it forward. "Back off, you bastards! Back off! Let’s just talk this out, okay?! I don’t want to kill you! Let’s just talk!"
"SHUT UP, LITTLE SHIT!" Kail’s lieutenant yelled. He pointed at Kail’s head on the floor with his axe. "You standing over his corpse!"
They gave him no more time. They lunged forward in unison.
Fyar had no choice. His mind raced.
Whatever happens... happens.
He surged forward, kicking the heavy wooden desk with all his might. The table tipped over towards the door, blocking the first few attackers. At the same time, Fyar leaped onto the overturned table. He kicked wine bottles and tin goblets into the faces of the charging men, creating a moment of confusion as they shielded themselves from the flying objects and shattering glass.
As an axe swung towards his legs, Fyar moved.
Swish!
His katana flashed in a single, precise motion, severing the man’s hand at the wrist. Fresh blood sprayed into the air.
"ARGGHH! You son of a bitch, Starfall!"
Fyar then leaped off the table, landing in the gap between two men. He didn’t use his blade. A hard elbow strike smashed into one man’s jaw, a soft crack echoing as he fell. A palm-heel strike to the second man’s throat sent him stumbling back, choking.
But the others had recovered. A mob of Kail’s men attacked him with spears and axes from all directions. Fyar quickly brought his katana up, parrying and slashing at every incoming attack. His blade severed several more hands, creating more sprays of blood that now splattered against the stone walls. The once-dull gray walls were now covered in streaks of red.
Thud!
An attack got through. A sharp, hot pain shot through his left shoulder.
Damn it, one of them hit me! Fyar growled, fighting through the pain.
Swish! He quickly slashed again, cutting another hand that was trying to stab him.
"STARFALL! YOU REALLY ARE A MURDERER!" the lieutenant screamed from the back of the pack.
I have no other choice. Before their reinforcements arrive... Fyar muttered under his breath, "Neutralize!"
Instantly, a new surge of energy flooded his body. His movements became faster, his strikes stronger. Several of Kail’s men were now down on the floor screaming in pain, while the others continued to fight blindly.
Fyar saw an opening and ran out of the office.
"DON’T LET THAT MAN ESCAPE!"
At the exit leading to the main hall, three men blocked his path. Fyar used the flat of his katana to slam into the first man’s knee, forcing him to his knees in pain. He spun the hilt of his katana, smashing it into the second man’s temple and knocking him unconscious. The third man swung his axe, aiming for Fyar’s neck.
Fyar’s movements became faster. He parried the swing, then, with a precise twisting motion, he slashed his sword across the man’s wrist. The cut was deep enough to make the man drop his axe and scream in pain.
Fyar finally reached the door. He shoved it hard and ran out, back into the main hall of the headquarters. Several gang members who had been gambling there were shocked to see him emerge covered in blood, and they too began to draw their weapons.
One of Kail’s men chasing from behind screamed, "HE KILLED THE BOSS!"
"W-what?!"
"You dog!"
Those who had only been watching now joined the fray. Fyar kicked a gambling table, sending coins and cards flying into the air, creating more chaos. He kept running, shoving the heavy main door of the headquarters open, and finally burst back out onto the crowded streets of Dark Town.
Behind him, enraged shouts echoed. "GET HIM! MURDERER! GET THAT BASTARD!"
Fyar ran without any clear direction, his breath ragged, the pain in his shoulder beginning to throb intensely. He was focused only on getting away. He ran through a grimy market. Merchants and shoppers screamed in panic as they saw a large group of armed thugs chasing a masked man.