"Hey, Violet… long time no see," Dan Finsher drawled, laughter rumbling in his throat. "Hahaha… Last time we fought, you were just a brat. Now look at you—grown up… and pretty fine." His tongue slid across his lips.
Violet's eyes narrowed. She could feel the energy in the air—it wasn't radiating from him, but something nearby. Still, her focus stayed locked on him.
"Dan," she said coldly, her chain coiling with faint sparks of Kendra. "What are you doing here? Didn't ten years in lockup teach you anything?"
Dan's smirk twisted into a sneer. "Teach me? Hah! When did you ever think prison turns bad men into good ones?" His voice dropped, venom in every word. "That place was nothing but a gym… a forge to make me stronger."
His hand lifted, Kendra energy igniting. A sword of shimmering steel materialized in his grip, its edge humming with menace.
"And now," he growled, his eyes blazing with hatred, "the one who put me in there stands right in front of me. You."
"So, you wanna kill me?" said Violet. "You're not even a threat to me."
"Is that so?" said Dan.
Kendra erupted around Dan, surging violently. Miss Violet's eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
"You don't know how much I wanted to kill you when I was in prison," Dan snarled. "All I ever thought about was killing you the moment I got out!"
Dan charged with full power.
Miss Violet swung her chains—Dan noticed and dodged, diving to the side. The chain slammed into the ground—BOOM! A shock erupted from the impact.
"What was that? One hit from that is death," Dan muttered from the ground.
"You did get stronger," Violet said, pulling her chain back toward her. "I was going for the kill."
Dan was shaking just from looking at the chain slam, struggling to get up.
"Stop shaking," Miss Violet said coldly. "You brought this on yourself. You were given a second chance—but you chose the same path again. You will suffer the same fate… again."
Dan staggered to his feet, sword still trembling in his grip, his body shaken.
Violet's eyes locked on him coldly.
"Stop embarrassing yourself, Dan. Surrender. If I charge at you, I bet you'll piss your pants." Her tone dripped with contempt. "Pathetic."
Her words lit a fire inside him. Rage boiled over.
"I'll kill you, bitch!" Dan roared, charging forward, blade swinging wildly.
Violet's chains lashed out, snapping around him. Dan twisted and dodged, but the strikes still grazed him, tearing flesh and drawing blood. He gritted his teeth through the pain.
"Ahhh!" he howled, forcing his way straight toward her.
Violet's eyes widened slightly.
"I bet your chains can't help you up close!" Dan sneered, bringing his sword down with everything he had.
CLANG! His attack stopped—caught in Violet's hand, her palm wrapped in a glowing chain.
Blocked.
Dan froze for an instant, disbelief flashing across his face.
"I see you still have some pride left in you," Violet said, her voice cold and cutting. "But I'll make sure none of it remains when I'm done."
"Shut up!" Dan bellowed, fury twisting his features. He erupted with Kendra energy, shoving her back several steps.
"I'll kill you no matter what!"
Violet steadied herself, unshaken. "Is that so?"
Dan smirked. "Hah! I pushed you away—"
But his grin vanished as his body jerked to a halt. He looked down in shock. Chains were already coiled around his sword and arm, tight and unyielding. He hadn't even noticed her trap until it was too late.
"…What—?! When did—?!" he stammered, yanking desperately. "Let go of me!"
"You never stood a chance," Violet said coldly.
With one sharp pull, she dragged him forward, his sword and body both wrenched toward her. Her other hand rose, chains glowing like molten steel, ready to strike.
Dan's eyes widened in horror.
"I told you to surrender," Violet whispered.
SLAM! Her chained fist crashed into his chest. His shield shattered instantly, ribs splintering beneath the blow. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was hurled backward, broken and gasping.
Dan's body slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, dirt and stone scattering from the impact. He lay there broken, gasping for air, blood dripping down his chin.
Dan lay sprawled on the ground, mouth open in agony, his breath ragged and shallow. The pain was so sharp he couldn't even scream—only broken gasps escaped his lips. "Ahhh… uhh… uhh…" His eyes stared blankly at the sky above.
Violet walked toward him slowly, her gaze cold as she looked down at his pitiful state.
"I… I will kill you…" Dan wheezed, forcing the words out through bloodied lips.
"You're still breathing," Violet said flatly.
Dan coughed, then forced a crooked grin, a faint laugh rattling in his throat. "H–ha… ha… You think this matters? We've already surrounded the village. There's no escape… we'll kill all of those brats."
Violet's eyes hardened.
CRACK! Her boot slammed into his shattered chest. Dan howled in agony, blood spurting from his mouth.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Violet froze for a moment, her sharp instincts flaring. This energy…
Duke, Derius, Lysa, and Samaira hurried through the narrow streets, houses pressing close around them as they neared the fountain square.
"We're almost there," Derius whispered, glancing back at the others.
"Yeah," Duke muttered, anxiety tight in his chest. "Miss Violet… I hope she's okay."
"She will be," Samaira reassured him.
"I need to grab my bow from the tent near the fountain," Lysa added quietly.
"Fine," Derius nodded. "But remember—don't make a move unless Miss Violet gets injured or outnumbered. Clear?"
"Yeah," Samaira agreed.
They reached the edge of the fountain square and crouched low behind a crumbling wall. Derius raised a hand, signaling for silence. "Stay low. We don't want anyone noticing us."
The four of them peeked out.
"It's… Miss Violet," Duke whispered, eyes widening. "And… that demon?!"
"No," Derius said firmly. "That's Dan. He was strong too… but Miss Violet defeated him." His voice was heavy with both shock and respect.
Duke's lips tugged into a faint smile. "I knew Miss Violet was strong."
"Yeah," Samaira and Lysa said together, sharing his relief.
Derius's expression darkened. He scanned the shadows, his gaze restless. "Don't celebrate yet.
The four of them leapt from rooftop to rooftop, keeping to the shadows as the fountain square came into view below. The night air rushed past them, boots thudding lightly against tiles as they landed in practiced rhythm.
"Keep moving," Derius whispered. "From up here, we can see everything."
They vaulted onto the final roof and crouched low, peering down into the square from their vantage point. The fountain's cracked stone glimmered faintly in the moonlight.
"There—look!" Duke hissed. His eyes widened. "It's Miss Violet… and that demon?!"
"No," Derius said, narrowing his eyes. "That's Dan. He's strong—but she defeated him." His voice carried a trace of awe.
From above, they could clearly see Dan's broken body sprawled on the ground, Violet standing tall over him.
Duke let out a relieved breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I knew Miss Violet was strong."
"Yeah," Samaira murmured in agreement, crouched beside him.
Lysa nodded but kept scanning the square.
Derius's jaw tightened. His gaze swept across the rooftops and alleyways surrounding the fountain. "Stay sharp. The Demon Monk is still out there. Don't assume this fight is over."
The four of them remained hidden on the rooftop, their hearts pounding as they watched from above.
The group crouched low on the slanted rooftops, boots scraping lightly against the tiles as they moved from house to house. The mist thickened around them, curling in pale tendrils that seemed alive. From their vantage point, they could see faint flickers of movement near the fountain below—but not clearly enough.
Derius narrowed his eyes, scanning left and right. "Tch… I can't see properly. There's too much mist. When I last saw that monk… he was covered in it."
Duke turned his head sharply. "Wait—you mean the mist itself is his power?"
"Partly," Derius muttered. "From what I remember, the Demon Monk floats with a dark-blue Kendra aura surrounding him… and his slashes are invisible until they land."
Samaira stiffened. "Invisible? Then how are we supposed to dodge something we can't even see?"
Lysa's voice trembled as she clutched her cloak tighter. "That's… terrifying. What if he's already aiming at us?"
Duke clenched his fists, his eyes hardening. "No… there has to be something. Nothing is truly invisible. If it exists, there's a way to sense it."
Derius gave him a quick glance, a faint spark of agreement in his tone. "Exactly. We'll have to watch carefully, monitor his aura—any flicker, any shift. That'll be our warning."
Lysa adjusted her quiver and stepped back. "Then I'll go get my bow. I left it in the tent near the fountain. I'll be quick."
Duke leaned forward slightly, his jaw tight. "Be careful. Don't let him see you."
"Let's focus on Miss Violet," Duke said, his jaw tight. "At least we can see her."
"Yeah… let's hope she clears the mess she created," Derius muttered under his breath.
Duke shot him a sharp look, holding back the retort that burned on his tongue. I need to control my anger… he thought, forcing his fists to unclench.
Derius met Duke's glare, his own thoughts colder. I don't like Miss Violet, but I do want her to save us. This is her mess to fix.
The mist swirled heavier around them, and every shadow on the rooftops seemed to move.
"Hey… what is that energy?" Violet muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the mist. Something unnatural pulsed around her.
"Heh–ha…" Dan coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, a crazed grin stretching across his face. "It's your death."
"I guess you're not used to this…" Violet said coldly, her chained hand beginning to glow — preparing the killing blow.
But before she could strike—
Slash!
A blinding arc cut through the fog, aimed straight for her. Violet's eyes widened. She twisted her body just in time, barely dodging, but the blade still kissed her side.
Blood sprayed.
Her teeth clenched as pain flared. Instantly, she pressed her glowing hand against the wound, weaving thin blue threads of Kendra energy that stitched across her flesh.
Just like Derius said… those slashes…
Her gaze sharpened into the mist. Another presence was here.
Another slash ripped the air in front of her. She twisted aside just in time, but this time dozens more followed—each one faster, sharper.
She didn't flinch. Kendra energy warped violently around her, condensing in spirals of force.
Wind Shelter.
The barrage of slashes collided with the invisible barrier, sparks and ripples flashing in the air. Some slipped through, grazing her skin, leaving shallow cuts across her arms. She narrowed her eyes.
This time—it was serious.
Back to the students.
Terror gripped them.
"The monk… he's clearly stronger," Derius muttered, voice grim. "I told you—we should have run."
Duke's face was pale, his jaw tight with worry. Even Samaira's hands trembled on her glaive.
"T-there's… something coming," she whispered.
Duke followed her gaze. A cold shiver crawled up his spine, goosebumps rising on his arms.
Miss Violet's sharp eyes locked forward. A figure was emerging.
Then—
A high, whistling sound cut through the night.
The monk appeared.
His eyes were hidden beneath a white bloodstained bandage. His torn mouth stretched into a wide, bloody grin. Crimson dripped slowly down his chin. Kendra energy pulsed around his body like a living storm.
"He floated closer, legs crossed in meditation, gliding through the air with eerie calm."
"…I told you," the monk said calmly, his voice chilling in its steadiness. "You should have let me handle this."
His head tilted toward Dan.
"I… wanted to kill her myself."
Dan coughed out a bitter laugh. "Don't kill her—just damage her. Enough so I can finish her off."
The monk floated towards him . His wrist twisted, flesh tearing open as thick blood poured down, splattering across his hand. He raised it and let the blood fall into Dan's mouth.
Dan flinched as it burned its way down his throat. A faint glow wrapped around his wounds—slowly, agonizingly.
"…Your healing is slow," the monk murmured, voice low and calm.
"It's… her powers," Dan hissed, glancing at the girl. "She's dangerous. But not as dangerous as you, my friend."
He struggled up, grimacing. "Tch… still hurts… even after drinking this much of your blood."
Miss Violet's sharp voice cut in, though she spoke mostly to herself.
"He's overflowing with Kendra energy. It's… unbearably dense. And he can heal with his blood…" Her expression hardened. "Is he… truly a demon? Do such things exist?"
Her gaze locked on the monk.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
The monk raised his palm, calm as still water.
"I am his friend."
"Yes," Dan said quickly, forcing a crooked grin. "I forgot to introduce him. My apologies for the… inconvenience."
Violet raised a finger to her lips.
"I wasn't talking to you. You're not even worth the interruption between us."
Dan's face twisted with rage. "Bitch," he growled, stepping forward—only to freeze mid-step.
"What's wrong?" Violet tilted her head, her voice sharp as a blade. "Your feet stopped moving?" Her glare hardened. "Stay out of this, Dan… or I'll tear you apart myself."
A shiver ran through him. His bravado faltered, and fear crept into his eyes.
"K-Kill her… kill her!" Dan stammered desperately.
"Calm yourself, my friend." A serene voice cut through the tension. The monk floated forward, cross-legged, a calm smile resting on his lips. "I am here."