chapter 44
The ground continued to fracture beneath them—
—but neither stepped back.
---
Steel collided again.
Green and red tore through the air in violent arcs.
---
This time—
the assassin moved first.
---
Not with his blade.
---
With his leg.
---
A sharp pivot—
A kick sliced through the air like a blade itself.
---
The Princess raised her guard—
too late.
---
Impact.
---
The force slammed into her side, sending her skidding across cracked stone. Ash scattered beneath her boots as she forced herself to stop.
---
She steadied.
Lifted her gaze.
Focused.
---
Princess: "Tch…"
---
The assassin tilted his head.
---
Then—
He vanished.
---
A blur—
A presence above—
---
Another kick dropped from the sky.
---
She blocked—
Too slow.
---
The impact drove her down, the ground beneath her collapsing inward.
---
Assassin: "You've improved."
A pause.
His voice lowered—
almost thoughtful.
---
Assassin: "But improvement isn't enough."
---
Another strike—
faster.
Sharper.
---
Assassin: "You don't defeat me…"
A step closer.
Assassin: "…unless it's your fate to."
---
She slid back.
Breathing steady.
Grip tightening.
---
Princess: "Fate?"
A faint smile.
Cold.
Defiant.
---
Princess: "Then I'll rewrite it."
---
Their blades clashed again—
But this time—
her focus shifted.
---
Not fully on him.
---
Her eyes flicked—
Just once—
---
Past him.
---
Far beyond the battlefield.
---
A glow.
Faint.
Steady.
---
Green.
---
Healers.
---
Her mind sharpened instantly.
---
That's it…
That's why they won't fall.
---
For a brief moment—
Her eyes met Guinevere's.
---
No words.
---
Just intent.
---
A glance.
A shift.
A deliberate opening.
---
Guinevere narrowed her eyes—
Then understood.
---
Guinevere (low): "…Got it."
---
She moved.
---
Not forward—
Sideways.
---
Silent.
---
Her blade flashed once—
cutting down an approaching assassin—
then she slipped through the battlefield like a shadow between flames.
---
In the distance—
The cloaked figures remained.
Still.
Glowing.
Watching.
---
One turned—
Too late.
---
Guinevere's blade pierced through—
The healer staggered—
but didn't fall.
---
Her expression darkened.
---
The healer lifted a weapon.
Then another.
---
They weren't just support.
---
They were guarded.
---
Back at the center—
The assassin shifted.
---
Sharper.
---
His gaze flicked—
just once—
toward the rear.
---
He noticed.
---
Assassin: "You're distracted."
---
Before she could react—
---
A kick.
---
Not fast—
Overwhelming.
---
It shattered her guard—
slamming into her ribs—
launching her backward.
---
The world spun.
Heat.
Ash.
Impact.
---
She hit the ground—
hard.
---
And this time—
He didn't follow.
---
He turned.
---
Toward Guinevere.
---
Guinevere felt it instantly.
---
Pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
She turned—
Too late.
---
He was already there.
---
Steel collided.
A shockwave burst outward.
---
Her eyes widened—
then narrowed.
---
Blue flames erupted around her.
---
Wild.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
---
Guinevere: "You picked the wrong target."
---
She attacked.
Relentless.
Strike after strike—
No defense.
Only offense.
---
But—
He matched her.
---
Easily.
---
Kick—
Blade—
Turn—
Counter.
---
Her movements slowed—
just slightly.
---
Her eyes sharpened.
---
This style…
---
A strike—
Blocked.
A spin—
Interrupted.
---
I've seen this before—
---
A flicker.
A memory—
almost there—
---
She cut it off.
---
Guinevere: "Tch… no time."
---
The battlefield tightened.
Assassins closed in.
---
She was surrounded.
---
Blades from every direction.
---
She didn't retreat.
---
She smiled.
---
Wide.
Dangerous.
---
Guinevere: "Come."
---
Steel flashed.
Blood scattered.
---
She became a storm.
---
But even storms—
slow.
---
Even monsters—
bleed.
---
A blade cut her shoulder.
Another grazed her side.
---
Then—
An opening.
---
An assassin lunged from behind—
---
A shockwave exploded.
---
Green light tore through the battlefield.
---
The Princess returned.
---
She intercepted—
Blade locking.
---
Breathing heavier.
But her eyes—
Unbroken.
---
Princess: "I'm not done."
---
The assassin turned back to her.
---
And this time—
He didn't hold back.
---
Their clash shattered the ground.
---
Step—
Strike—
Kick—
Counter—
---
Faster.
Harder.
---
Until—
---
Her footing slipped.
---
A crack.
---
The ground gave way beneath her.
---
She fell—
toward molten light.
---
Time slowed.
---
Then—
---
A hand caught her.
---
Firm.
Certain.
---
Pulled her back—
Close.
Too close.
---
An arm around her waist.
---
A voice—
Low.
Instinctive.
---
Assassin: "Princess."
---
Everything stopped.
---
The battlefield vanished.
---
Heat.
Noise.
Gone.
---
Her eyes widened.
---
That voice—
---
Princess (whisper): "…No…"
---
Her heart stuttered.
---
Princess: "That's—"
---
She pulled back—
just enough to see him.
---
The mask.
Still there.
Still hiding.
---
But she wasn't looking at it.
---
She watched—
His stance.
His breathing.
The shift of weight before he moved—
---
Again.
---
Again.
---
Again.
---
Familiar.
---
Too familiar.
---
Her voice trembled.
---
Princess: "Those movements…"
A breath.
Princess: "…those eyes…"
---
Silence fell between them.
---
Just for a second—
But it was enough.
---
She froze.
---
Princess (whisper): "…John."
---
And in that moment—
---
Everything changed.
...CHAPTER 44ENDS...