"…All marked targets confirmed."
💀
The words echoed above the noise.
Sharp.
Cold.
Deadly.
For one second…
The market froze.
Not completely.
Just enough to feel it.
That shift in the air.
That invisible crack…
Before chaos.
Then—
"MOVE!"
Boots slammed against stone.
Weapons flashed.
Civilians turned.
Confused.
Too slow to understand.
Too close to danger.
Kael's heart slammed against his ribs.
Hard.
Fast.
Wild.
"…They're coming," he muttered.
Ryn cracked his neck.
(Snap.)
"…Yeah… no kidding."
The blue-haired swordswoman moved first.
Not attacking.
Not yet.
She grabbed Kael's sleeve suddenly—
Hard.
"Run."
One word.
Cold.
Direct.
Kael didn't argue.
Didn't hesitate.
They moved.
Fast.
Through the crowd.
Bodies slammed into them.
People shouted.
"What's happening?!"
"Move!"
"Get out of the way!"
Behind them—
A soldier lunged forward.
Hand reaching—
Trying to grab Kael.
Too close.
Ryn spun around mid-run.
(SMACK.)
His fist slammed into the soldier's jaw.
Fast.
Clean.
Precise.
The man collapsed instantly.
Unconscious.
Ryn smirked while running.
"…First one's free."
Kael stared at him.
"…You're insane."
"…You noticed?"
💀
The leader's voice cut through the chaos:
"Left."
Short.
Sharp.
Absolute.
They turned instantly.
Through a narrow path between stalls.
Wood cracked.
Cloth tore.
Fruit crushed beneath their feet.
Kael nearly slipped.
Barely kept balance.
Pain stabbed through his ribs again.
"…Tch—!"
Too slow.
Still injured.
Still weak.
Behind them—
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"
More soldiers pushed forward.
Forcing civilians aside.
Chaos spreading like fire.
A child cried.
A woman screamed.
Crates fell.
Dust rose into the air.
The market was collapsing into madness.
Kael's lungs burned now.
Each breath heavier.
Slower.
More painful.
The swordswoman noticed.
Without speaking—
She shifted position slightly.
Keeping herself between Kael and the closest threats.
Protecting his blind side.
Silent.
Natural.
Like instinct.
Kael noticed that too.
But said nothing.
Ahead—
The crowd began thinning.
Less noise.
Less bodies.
More space.
More danger.
Ryn glanced forward.
His grin faded slowly.
"…Boss…"
The leader stepped beside them now.
Eyes scanning ahead.
"…We're almost out."
Kael followed his gaze.
And froze for half a second.
The market…
Was ending.
Stalls disappeared.
Buildings opened.
And beyond—
Wide space.
Empty.
Silent.
Open ground.
Too open.
💀
"…That's bad," Kael muttered.
Behind them—
Boots thundered louder now.
Closer.
More aggressive.
Soldiers emerging from side streets.
From rooftops.
From shadows.
Closing in.
Hunting.
Ryn slowed slightly.
Rolling his shoulders.
Preparing.
"…We can't run forever."
The leader stopped walking.
Completely.
Calmly.
Slowly.
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a cigarette.
Placed it between his lips.
(Ssshhh…)
Flame sparked.
Smoke rose.
Calm.
Cold.
Controlled.
Behind them—
Soldiers poured out of the market.
Spreading.
Forming a wide arc.
Weapons drawn.
Eyes locked.
Targeting.
Kael's heartbeat pounded louder now.
"…How many…?"
Ryn glanced around.
Counting quickly.
"…One… two…"
A pause.
His grin disappeared completely.
"…Yeah… that's not good."
The blue-haired swordswoman stepped forward slightly.
Blade sliding free—
(SHIIIIIING.)
Steel flashed in the light.
Cold.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
The leader exhaled smoke slowly.
"…Fifteen…"
A pause.
"…Maybe twenty."
💀
Silence fell across the open ground.
Wind brushed across dust.
Boots slowed.
Soldiers spread wider.
Forming a circle.
Closing every escape.
Kael swallowed hard.
His body still weak.
Still shaking.
Still not ready.
Yet…
He stayed.
Didn't step back.
Didn't run.
Because deep inside…
He understood.
There was nowhere left to run.
Only fight.
The soldier who first saw the mark stepped forward.
Calm.
Confident.
Cold.
"…All targets contained."
A pause.
Weapon raised.
"…Final warning."
💀
Ryn cracked his knuckles.
(Snap.)
The swordswoman adjusted her stance.
Silent.
Focused.
Deadly.
The leader flicked ash from his cigarette.
Slow.
Unbothered.
"…We don't take warnings."
💀💀💀
Wind passed between both sides.
Dust rising.
Silence tightening.
And Kael realized—
This…
Was the last second before violence.
💀
End of Chapter 24