The first-class carriage trembled violently as the train thundered across the rails.
Outside the windows, the endless desert blurred into streaks of gold and orange beneath the afternoon sun.
Inside the carriage—
Steel clashed against steel.
Sparks erupted.
The sound of daggers colliding echoed through the bloodstained compartment.
Sayanaki's crimson eyes narrowed as she pushed against Crow's dagger.
The two assassins stood mere inches apart.
Neither willing to yield.
Neither blinking.
Neither retreating.
Crow smiled beneath his mask.
"You really are interesting."
Sayanaki answered by kicking him.
Crow twisted his body sideways.
Her foot missed by centimeters.
The moment he landed—
Sayanaki grabbed the pendant hanging around her neck.
Mana surged.
The accessory glowed.
A pale silver light spread outward.
Pendant of Imitation activated.
Three figures materialized beside her.
One.
Two.
Three.
Three perfect copies of Sayanaki appeared.
Same appearance.
Same weapons.
Same murderous eyes.
Even the blood on their clothing was identical.
Crow's eyes widened slightly.
For the first time since the battle started—
He looked surprised.
The four Sayanakis immediately moved.
No hesitation.
No warning.
All four attacked simultaneously.
The real Sayanaki charged from the front.
One clone attacked low.
Another attacked from the left.
The final clone attacked from above.
A perfect assassination formation.
Crow's smile vanished.
He was forced to defend.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Daggers collided repeatedly.
The carriage filled with sparks.
Crow parried one blade.
Dodged another.
Blocked a third.
A fourth nearly sliced his throat.
For the first time during the battle—
He was being pushed back.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
The floor beneath his feet groaned as he retreated.
Sayanaki noticed it immediately.
He's losing ground.
Good.
Press harder.
The four assassins attacked relentlessly.
Crow's cloak became riddled with cuts.
Several shallow wounds appeared on his arms.
Nothing serious.
But enough to prove something.
He could be hurt.
Suddenly—
Crow jumped backward.
[Assassin Skill: Dark Room Strangle]
Darkness exploded throughout the carriage once more.
The lights vanished.
The windows disappeared.
Everything became black.
Then the shadow spikes came.
SHKKK!
SHKKK!
SHKKK!
Massive spikes erupted from the floor.
Others descended from the ceiling.
A deadly maze of darkness and sharpened shadows.
Yet unlike before—
Sayanaki was ready.
"Split!"
The four Sayanakis scattered.
Shadow spikes exploded around them.
Several seats were pierced.
The walls were shredded.
The ceiling cracked.
But none of the spikes struck their targets.
All four assassins moved with impossible precision.
Each clone mirrored the real Sayanaki's movements perfectly.
Crow's eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The darkness faded.
The room returned.
The four Sayanakis immediately resumed attacking.
Crow blocked another strike.
Then another.
Then another.
His boots slid backward.
For the first time—
He laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Not mockery.
Not arrogance.
Excitement.
"So you have that item too."
The words made Sayanaki pause for a fraction of a second.
"What?"
Crow casually parried two incoming attacks.
Then he pointed toward his own neck.
Sayanaki's eyes followed.
There—
Hidden beneath his collar—
Was a pendant.
A pendant nearly identical to hers.
Her eyes widened.
Impossible.
Crow grinned.
"Looks familiar?"
The real Sayanaki immediately understood.
Clone creation.
The pendant.
The same type of accessory.
Crow slowly grabbed it.
"But yours is a little different."
Mana exploded.
The pendant glowed black.
A pulse spread across the carriage.
Then figures appeared.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Eight Crows materialized around the carriage.
Every single one looked identical.
Same crow mask.
Same black cloak.
Same daggers.
Same killing intent.
The four Sayanakis froze.
Even Sayanaki herself couldn't immediately determine which one was real.
Crow chuckled.
"Unfortunately..."
The eight Crows slowly spread apart.
Surrounding the four Sayanakis.
"...yours isn't like mine."
The numbers became painfully obvious.
Four versus eight.
A two-to-one disadvantage.
The hunters had become the hunted.
One Crow stood before her.
Another behind.
Two on the left.
Two on the right.
The remaining two positioned themselves near the ceiling supports.
Perfect encirclement.
No escape route.
No blind spots.
No opening.
The real Sayanaki finally spoke.
"...Annoying."
The eight Crows laughed simultaneously.
The sound echoed throughout the carriage.
Creepy.
Disturbing.
Inhuman.
"Annoying?"
One Crow stepped forward.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Another Crow smiled.
"Most people call it hopeless."
The third spoke.
"You're the first one still standing after seeing it."
The fourth tilted his head.
"Most die before then."
The fifth raised his dagger.
"Let's see how long your confidence survives."
The moment the final word left his mouth—
Everyone moved.
BOOM!
The carriage exploded into motion.
Four Sayanakis.
Eight Crows.
Twelve assassins collided simultaneously.
Daggers flashed.
Sparks erupted.
The confined train compartment became a whirlwind of steel and violence.
One Crow attacked from above.
A clone blocked.
Another Crow stabbed from the side.
The real Sayanaki intercepted.
Two more Crows attacked together.
One clone disappeared instantly after taking a direct hit.
The illusion shattered into particles.
Three Sayanakis remained.
Crow laughed.
"One down."
Sayanaki ignored him.
Her dagger moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Merciless.
She stabbed through one Crow's chest.
The Crow exploded into shadow particles.
A fake.
Not the real one.
"Damn."
A second Crow appeared behind her.
Sayanaki twisted.
The dagger barely missed her neck.
A few strands of crimson hair floated downward.
Close.
Far too close.
The battle intensified.
Every second another clash erupted.
Every second another attack narrowly missed.
The train shook violently beneath them.
Seats were destroyed.
Windows shattered.
Walls cracked.
Blood splattered across the floor.
Neither side gave ground.
Neither side slowed down.
The fight had become pure chaos.
And somewhere amidst the storm of blades—
Both assassins realized the same thing.
This battle wasn't ending quickly.
Not while both of them were still standing.
The storage carriage rattled violently as the train raced toward the Inner Rim.
Wooden crates shifted.
Metal containers shook.
Vegetables spilled across the floor from overturned boxes.
The confined storage compartment had become a battlefield.
Hinabi stood between stacks of supplies, her breathing steady.
Across from her stood Clause.
The former Burning Pride officer cracked his neck.
Electricity danced across his knuckles.
Unlike Kiraya's battle atop the train.
Unlike Sayanaki's duel with Crow.
This fight wasn't elegant.
It wasn't tactical.
It wasn't subtle.
This was a fight between two former comrades who knew exactly how dangerous the other was.
Clause smiled.
"Still carrying yourself like a vice captain."
Hinabi's expression remained cold.
"You lost the right to call me that."
Clause shrugged.
"Still upset?"
The casual tone irritated her more than the ambush itself.
Not because of the betrayal.
But because he genuinely didn't seem to care.
The dungeon incident.
The sword through her side.
The collapse of Burning Pride.
Everything had simply been another step forward for him.
Nothing more.
Clause raised his fists.
Lightning crackled.
"You know, I always wondered."
His smile widened.
"What would've happened if you'd joined us."
Hinabi immediately answered.
"I would've punched you sooner."
Clause laughed.
Then vanished forward.
[Warrior Skill: Thunder Jab]
Lightning erupted.
His left fist shot forward.
BOOM!
A bolt of electricity exploded toward Hinabi.
The cramped carriage illuminated blue.
Hinabi immediately sidestepped.
The lightning blast missed her face by inches.
CRASH!
The attack struck a steel container.
The entire container exploded apart.
Pieces of metal scattered throughout the carriage.
Clause clicked his tongue.
"Still fast."
Hinabi extended one hand.
Mana gathered.
Red energy spiraled around her fingers.
Several glowing magic circles appeared in front of her.
Ancient runes rotated.
Crimson light illuminated the compartment.
[Mage Skill: Crimson Lotus]
The magic circles expanded.
A massive wave of scarlet flames erupted forward.
The blast resembled a blooming lotus flower made entirely of fire.
Heat filled the carriage.
Wooden crates immediately caught fire.
Clause's smile vanished.
The attack rushed toward him.
Most players would've dodged.
Others would've blocked.
Clause did neither.
He stepped forward.
And caught it.
Both hands slammed into the flaming spell.
BOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire carriage.
The train groaned.
Windows shattered.
Flames erupted everywhere.
Clause's boots dug into the floor.
Wood splintered beneath him.
For several seconds—
The warrior wrestled directly against the magical blast.
Then—
He roared.
Muscles bulged.
Lightning exploded from his body.
The crimson flames were physically pushed aside.
Hinabi's eyes widened.
Impossible.
Clause grabbed the spell itself.
And redirected it.
"Too slow."
The warrior twisted his body.
The flames were thrown toward the eastern wall.
BOOOOM!
The entire side of the carriage exploded.
Metal bent outward.
A massive hole appeared.
Desert wind immediately rushed inside.
Hinabi stared.
She knew Clause was strong.
She hadn't realized he had become this strong.
Clause rolled his shoulders.
"Come on."
Lightning crawled across his body.
"You're supposed to be one of the talented ones."
Then—
The lightning intensified.
[Warrior Skill: Lightning Accel]
CRACK!
His body disappeared.
Not because of illusion.
Not because of teleportation.
Pure speed.
Hinabi's eyes widened.
Too fast.
Clause appeared directly in front of her.
His fist already moving.
She barely raised her arms.
BOOM!
The punch landed.
The impact rattled her bones.
The lightning coating his body surged into hers.
Pain exploded through her arms.
Her health dropped.
100%.
98%.
Only two percent.
Yet the pain told a different story.
The skill wasn't designed to hit hard.
It was designed to keep pressure.
Clause grinned.
"You see?"
Another step.
Another punch.
"Mages."
BOOM!
She blocked again.
Lightning surged through her body.
Health dropped.
97%.
96%.
95%.
Clause didn't let her breathe.
Didn't let her think.
Didn't let her cast.
"Mages like you need distance to function."
Another punch.
Hinabi slid backward.
Another.
She blocked.
Another.
The storage compartment shook continuously.
Crates exploded.
Vegetables scattered everywhere.
Lightning illuminated the carriage.
Clause's attacks came relentlessly.
Like a storm.
Like an avalanche.
Like a machine built for close combat.
Hinabi understood immediately.
This was his objective.
Close the distance.
Never allow a spell.
Never allow a setup.
Never allow a mage to become dangerous.
Clause spun.
His leg whipped around.
BOOOOM!
The kick slammed into Hinabi's guard.
The impact launched her backward.
She crashed into several wooden boxes.
Potatoes.
Cabbages.
Tomatoes.
Everything exploded around her.
The boxes shattered.
Vegetables rolled across the floor.
Clause didn't stop.
The instant she landed—
He attacked again.
[Warrior Skill: Thunder Jab]
Lightning erupted.
A concentrated blast shot toward her position.
Hinabi's eyes narrowed.
Finally.
An opening.
Mana surged.
A new spell circle formed.
Flower petals materialized around her.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Deadly.
[Mage Skill: Lotus Barrier]
An energy shield appeared.
A giant lotus made of magical energy unfolded before her.
The petals layered over one another.
The barrier glowed crimson.
The lightning struck.
BOOOOOOM!
The carriage shook violently.
The barrier trembled.
Cracks appeared.
Yet it held.
The lightning dispersed.
Clause clicked his tongue.
"A barrier."
Hinabi slowly stood.
Dust covered her clothing.
Several bruises had already formed.
Yet her eyes remained calm.
For the first time since the fight began—
She had created distance.
Exactly what she needed.
Clause noticed it too.
And for the first time—
His smile faded slightly.
Because now the fight was entering Hinabi's territory.
Meanwhile.
Several carriages away.
Rio sat calmly beside Silla.
Ryota remained standing nearby.
The train continued shaking from the battles occurring throughout the train.
Explosions.
Shockwaves.
Magic.
The sounds echoed from multiple directions.
Sugolith casually tossed another peanut into his mouth.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The mercenary leader glanced at Rio.
"You know..."
Crunch.
"...most guild leaders would be helping their members right now."
Rio remained seated.
Completely relaxed.
Unbothered.
Outside observers would've thought she wasn't even involved in the battle.
Sugolith raised an eyebrow.
"Not worried?"
Rio looked out the window.
The Inner Rim was getting closer.
Lights illuminated the horizon.
Then she smiled.
A calm smile.
The kind that only appeared when she was absolutely certain of something.
"I don't need to."
Sugolith stopped chewing.
Rio folded her arms.
"They'll win with their own strength."
For a brief moment—
Silence filled the carriage.
Even Sugolith looked surprised.
Not because she was arrogant.
Not because she underestimated the enemy.
But because she genuinely believed it.
Completely.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
Sugolith slowly laughed.
"Heh."
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
"Your guild really is full of monsters."
Rio's smile widened slightly.
"No, Just people refusing to give up when things become difficult"
And somewhere throughout the train—
Kiraya battled light itself.
Sayanaki fought a nightmare hidden within shadows.
Hinabi prepared to unleash the true power of a mage.
And none of them knew that the train battle was only beginning.