With Merlin's illusionary abilities, he could create a space the size of a small town, blurring the line between reality and falsehood. In other words, this KTV room—perhaps even the entire building—was firmly within Merlin and his companion's home turf. Truth be told, Merlin was actually grateful these assassins had shown up.
At the very least, it gave a certain fairy an outlet for emotions suppressed for thousands of years. As long as she wasn't singing, all would be well.
In a way, these assassins were Merlin's saviors. Therefore, it was only proper to return them to paradise—or, in their case, to the arms of Allah.
Akuta Hinako stood holding a bass guitar that had been snapped cleanly in half. She glanced at the assassin she had slammed against the wall, shrugged, and slowly removed the mask from her face, turning her gaze toward the other two assassins with visible interest. Heroic Spirits tended to withstand more punishment, which meant she could take her time loosening up.
When the assassin she had pinned against the wall tried to get up, Hinako stepped forward and shoved the broken bass directly into his mouth. The force drove his head back into the wall, nearly breaking through it.
Perhaps she was enjoying herself too much, because the fairy's next words were anything but refined.
"How dare you bastards interrupt my fun? Since you're here, you can be my sandbags while I work out!"
She grabbed a can of beer from the table, downed it in one go, then crushed the aluminum in her fist—her eyes narrowing at the two masked assassins before her. She glanced from their masks to the prop mask she had worn earlier for her death rock performance.
A strange smile curved her lips. "Nice masks. I think I'll tear them off and use them as stage props."
The two Hassan clones swallowed hard. Was this girl really human? She was like some feral Berserker straight out of a nightmare.
Still, no matter their fear, they had a mission—to kill the target before them. Retreat was not an option.
They exchanged a look, then rushed forward in unison.
Hinako flexed her wrists and charged head-on. She didn't even bother drawing a weapon—bare-handed combat was far more satisfying. Merlin, meanwhile, could only smile wryly as he stepped to the KTV door. His priority was to block the exits and maintain the illusion. Best to stay out of this; if he tried to help, the furious fairy might just hit him, too.
Inside the room, Hinako reached out with a swift grab, ignoring the blade that sliced into her palm and forearm as she seized one assassin's wrist. She didn't hesitate. Her fist smashed into the clone's head with inhuman force, sending it lolling to the side.
This was not her full strength—she had recently eaten a meal of Maoxuewang. While it wasn't as effective as drinking fresh blood, it had restored a large portion of her power, if only temporarily.
She slammed the clone to the floor, tore off his mask, and drove his own weapon into his throat. For a woman who had lived over two millennia, assassination techniques were simply part of her repertoire.
But as she withdrew her hand, she noticed something troubling—her arm was numb, and purple-green veins were spreading from the wound.
The clone smirked, shrugging. "Even if you're stronger than us physically, so what? We're assassins."
This one had a showy streak, and upon seeing that the poison had taken hold, he began to gloat.
"Your arm's already weak. Soon, your ears will ring, your vision will blur, your mouth will go dry, and your heart will race. Panic will set in. The faster your heart beats, the quicker the poison will flood it. Then comes the climax—your heart reaches the breaking point and bursts. Or, maybe you'll die first from a cerebral hemorrhage."
He twirled his dagger, taking a few steps back toward the ventilation duct. "Don't worry—the poison we use is painless. You'll just drift off, fade into unconsciousness, and die quietly. That's the last bit of mercy we assassins grant you, hehe."
One hand already on the vent, he waved mockingly—only to freeze as the girl smirked.
"That's it? Just a little poison? Hah…"
Magic power flared within Hinako, her body swelling with energy. "If I'm poisoned, I'll just burn it out. Feel my hatred—and my anger!"
Under the stunned gaze of the clone, Akuta Hinako detonated herself. The blast purged the poison from her body, obliterated the entire room, and erased the last assassin where he stood.
-End Chapter-
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