The plasma blade cut through the air.
Dante moved with terrifying speed, the glowing weapon slicing toward Kai's chest in a single lethal arc.
But something had changed.
Kai's vision sharpened.
Time didn't actually slow—but his brain processed everything faster.
The angle of the blade.
The shift in Dante's shoulders.
The pressure of the assassin's forward step.
Kai moved.
He twisted sideways.
The blade passed inches from his jacket, scorching the fabric.
Gasps rippled through the underground market.
No one expected someone to dodge Dante.
Especially not on the first strike.
Kai stumbled back slightly.
His heart pounded.
"Oh wow," he muttered.
"That actually worked."
Dante tilted his head slightly.
Red cybernetic eyes flickered.
"Reaction time increased."
Kai grinned nervously.
"Yeah. I've been working out."
Dante lunged again.
This time faster.
Kai barely reacted in time, ducking under the second swing. The plasma blade hissed above him, slicing a metal pole in half.
Sparks rained down.
Kai jumped backward.
"Okay," he breathed.
"He's still ridiculously fast."
ORION responded immediately.
"Opponent reflex speed: 2.4 times greater than yours."
Kai frowned.
"That's not encouraging."
"However," ORION continued, "predictive assistance is available."
Kai blinked.
"…Predictive what?"
"Combat analysis."
A faint blue overlay flickered across Kai's vision.
Lines traced Dante's stance.
Arrows projected possible attack paths.
Kai's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Dante rushed forward again.
This time Kai moved before the attack even came.
He stepped left.
The plasma blade sliced through empty air.
Kai's fist flew forward.
CRACK.
His punch landed against Dante's jaw.
The sound echoed across the chamber.
The crowd gasped.
Dante slid half a step backward.
Not hurt.
But surprised.
Kai stared at his own hand.
"…I hit him."
Mira shouted from the workshop entrance.
"YOU HIT HIM?!"
Kai laughed.
"I HIT HIM!"
Dante slowly straightened.
His expression didn't change.
But his red eyes glowed brighter.
"Adaptive enhancement detected."
Kai wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Look, man."
He raised his hands defensively.
"We can still talk about this."
Dante said nothing.
Instead—
His back plates shifted open.
Metallic components slid outward.
Mechanical limbs unfolded from his spine.
Four additional cybernetic arms extended behind him.
Each holding a blade.
The market fell silent.
Kai stared.
"…That seems unfair."
ORION responded calmly.
"Opponent entering advanced combat configuration."
Kai groaned.
"Of course he is."
Dante moved.
Blades flashed in every direction.
Kai's predictive overlay exploded with warning signals.
LEFT.
RIGHT.
DUCK.
Kai moved instinctively.
He dodged the first slash.
Then the second.
The third barely missed his throat.
Kai rolled across the floor.
One blade carved a deep groove in the metal ground beside him.
People scrambled away from the fight.
Vendors abandoned their stalls.
The underground market turned into chaos.
Kai scrambled to his feet.
"ORION!"
"Yes?"
"I need better odds!"
"Processing."
Dante attacked again.
Kai jumped back just in time.
The blade sliced through a vendor's empty table.
Metal fragments scattered everywhere.
Kai grabbed a loose pipe from the ground.
It wasn't much.
But it was something.
Dante lunged.
Kai swung.
The pipe slammed against one of the assassin's mechanical arms.
CLANG.
The impact barely slowed him.
"Okay that didn't work," Kai muttered.
Dante's blade flashed toward his throat.
Kai ducked—
But another blade came from the side.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
The blade cut across Kai's arm.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
Kai staggered back.
Pain shot through his body.
"Damage detected," ORION said.
"Yeah I noticed!" Kai snapped.
Dante advanced slowly now.
Like a predator enjoying the hunt.
Kai clutched his injured arm.
His heart pounded.
"ORION…"
"Yes?"
"Any bright ideas?"
"Analyzing combat data."
Dante raised all six blades.
Kai braced himself.
Then ORION spoke again.
"Combat protocol available."
Kai blinked.
"…What protocol?"
"Experimental neural boost."
Kai didn't like the sound of that.
"What does it do?"
"Temporarily increases your neural processing by an additional 200 percent."
Kai stared.
"That sounds amazing."
"It may cause severe neural strain."
Kai hesitated.
Dante stepped closer.
Blades ready.
Kai sighed.
"Yeah I don't have time to worry about brain damage."
"Activating protocol."
Kai's implant surged with energy.
A powerful electric pulse shot through his spine.
Suddenly—
Everything changed.
The world slowed dramatically.
Every movement became crystal clear.
Kai could see dust particles floating through the air.
He could see the micro-adjustments in Dante's stance.
He could even hear Mira yelling in the background.
Kai whispered one word.
"…Whoa."
Dante attacked.
Six blades moving like lightning.
But now—
Kai moved faster.
He slipped between the strikes.
Twisted around the assassin's arm.
Drove his elbow into Dante's chest.
CRACK.
Metal plates dented.
Dante staggered.
Kai spun and kicked the assassin's leg.
The joint buckled.
Dante dropped to one knee.
The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.
No one had ever seen Dante struggle.
Kai stepped back, breathing hard.
The neural boost burned through his brain like fire.
"ORION," he whispered.
"How long can I keep this up?"
"Approximately twelve seconds."
Kai nodded.
"Great."
He looked at Dante.
"Let's finish this."
Dante slowly rose again.
His glowing eyes locked onto Kai.
And for the first time—
The assassin looked cautious.
Kai smiled.
Then charged forward.