The alley became a trap in one second.
Previously narrow, now it felt closing. The walls on left and right were no longer just space boundaries, but choice limits. Crow stood in the middle, one opponent in front—the fast type whose rhythm he had already disturbed—and one behind, heavy steps that he didn't need to see to recognize who owned them. That hunter didn't rush. Didn't need to. His presence alone was enough to close possibility.
Crow drew a slow breath, forcing his mind to stay clear amidst increasing pressure.
Two opponents.
Two types.
Two approaches.
One body almost depleted.
"Unit coordination active," the voice behind him sounded flat, belonging to the first hunter. "Target shows resistance above initial estimate."
"Confirmed," answered the one in front, lighter, faster. "Combined approach recommended."
Crow smiled thinly, even though his breath was still heavy.
"Good," he said softly. "That means I'm troublesome enough for you to be serious."
No response.
But small changes in their posture were enough.
They were no longer testing.
They would finish.
(Warning: Multi-target coordination detected.)
(Survival probability: < 18%)
"Eighteen percent…" Crow murmured softly. "Not bad."
He shifted his foot slightly, correcting his position. In a confined space like this, mistakes weren't about big or small. One wrong angle, one late step—that was enough. He had no room for big improvisation. What he had was only the right small decisions.
He didn't look back.
He didn't need to.
He knew the dangerous one wasn't the fast one.
But the stable one.
The attack came from the front first.
Fast.
Direct.
Crow was already moving before it happened.
He retreated half a step, turning his body to avoid the attack trajectory, then pushed with his shoulder—not to fight, but to disturb his opponent's movement direction. Their bodies touched for a fraction of a second—enough to disrupt balance, not enough to bring down.
But that wasn't the goal.
Because from behind—
the second attack came.
Heavier.
More direct.
Crow reflexively ducked.
The air above his head was split by something unseen but felt.
If he was one second late—
his head would be gone.
He rolled sideways, away from the straight line between two opponents. His back almost touched the wall, but he forced his body to keep moving, looking for any space as small as possible to get out of their attack pattern.
"Effective coordination," said the hunter behind.
"Minor disturbance," answered the one in front.
"Yes, of course," Crow murmured, his breath beginning to get heavy again.
They weren't speaking to him.
They were speaking to each other.
And that meant one thing:
They were already accustomed.
He couldn't defeat them with strength.
He couldn't defeat them with speed.
So he had to defeat them with something else.
Crow suddenly stopped moving.
A decision contrary to his own instinct.
Both his opponents immediately reacted.
The one in front attacked.
The one behind closed the path.
But this time—
Crow didn't completely dodge.
He advanced.
The wrong move—
at the right time.
He slammed his shoulder toward the front opponent, accepting part of the impact he should have avoided. Pain immediately spread, but he didn't stop. With distance now too close, he forced his opponent to lose room to utilize his speed.
"Distance," he murmured.
At the same time, he raised his hand.
Not hurried.
Not panicked.
He called it again.
That darkness appeared.
Heavier than before.
Deeper.
The air around them vibrated.
(Ability "Rift" — Increased partial activation)
(Stability: Not guaranteed)
The front opponent's movement slowed.
Not much.
But enough.
Crow spun his body, using that moment to push his opponent out of the straight path.
But the hunter behind—
wasn't fully affected.
"Disturbance detected," he said. "Priority: quick elimination."
The attack came again.
This time—
Crow couldn't completely dodge.
The impact hit the side of his body.
Hard.
His body was thrown against the wall.
The sound of impact echoed narrowly in the alley.
His breath was cut off.
For several seconds, he couldn't move.
(Status: Deteriorating)
(Life stability: 31%)
"Yes…" his breath stuttered. "This is more appropriate."
He forced himself to stand again.
Slower.
Heavier.
Both opponents didn't give time.
They moved together.
Crow saw that pattern now.
One attacked—
one made sure there was no way out.
He couldn't stop two directions.
So—
he had to break them.
Without thinking long, he raised his hand again—
not forward—
But to the ground.
That darkness spread.
Wider than before.
Not as an attack.
But as area disturbance.
(Ability "Rift" — Limited expansion)
The floor beneath them felt… wrong.
Not changed.
But unstable.
The front opponent's step was disturbed.
Slightly.
The back opponent stopped for a fraction of a second.
Enough.
Crow moved.
He didn't attack.
He didn't defend.
He broke through between them.
A risky move.
Very.
But precisely because of that—
unexpected.
He passed through the narrow gap that opened for less than one second, his shoulder almost touched by both sides, but he managed to get out of the locked position.
He ran.
Not forward.
Toward the hunter.
The wrong step—
for the wrong opponent.
But Crow didn't attack.
He approached—
then turned direction at the last second.
Using his opponent's body as a barrier.
The attack from behind—
hit his own comrade.
Impact.
Brief.
But enough.
"Coordination disturbed," said the voice behind.
Crow didn't wait.
He was already moving again.
Out of the alley.
Into a wider road.
Brighter lights.
More open space.
But that wasn't an advantage.
That just changed the type of danger.
Crow stopped several meters from the alley mouth, his body swaying, his breath unstable. He glanced back for a moment.
They were already out.
Both of them.
Without significant injuries.
Of course.
(Survival probability: 9%)
Crow laughed softly.
"Now that's realistic."
He raised his hand again.
Slower this time.
Not because of doubt.
But because he was beginning to understand—
that every use had a price.
And that price—
was almost depleted.
But he still did it.
Because now—
he had no other choice.
The air around him changed again.
Heavier.
Deeper.
And for the first time—
not only the space around him was disturbed.
But also—
himself.
(Warning: Ability limit almost reached)
(Suggestion: Stop usage immediately)
Crow smiled thinly.
"Not now."
His gaze locked onto the two opponents in front of him.
And for the first time—
they didn't immediately move.
Because something—
was beginning to feel different.