- Perseverance

Hyunji immediately sprang into action.

She had known it would be coming, this ambush. With a bounty as high as her brothers, the hunters would need leverage. Still, she hadn't expected so many.

At least eight hunters had formed a circle around her, weapons drawn. But there were others. Others who lurked in the shadows, watching the events unfold.

Already, Hyunji didn't like her odds. She was a rookie. These hunters had experience under their belts. With experience came skill. They would be much stronger than the puny gangsters she'd dealt with earlier.

Her new blade glimmered in the moonlight as she swung it through the air. Vibrations bounced through her arms as her katana collided with the first enemy's longsword.

Two more bounty hunters charged on either side of her, and she rolled out of the way.

Jade pushed past her and began bobbing and weaving through the enemies. Some tried to reach out and grab him while others tried to slash with their weapons.

Hyunji watched as he swiftly escaped their clutches and dashed down the street. She smiled. The kid was really fast. Now she only had to worry about herself.

"Give it up!" Said the first bounty hunter, stepping forward. "We're all working together on this one. 10 of us, 60,000 Ƈ each when we find your brother."

"You're outnumbered, completely," said another.

"Your new weapon isn't going to save you," said a more familiar voice.

Hyunji glanced over her shoulder. "You too?"

"I haven't had a good bounty in over a month. How else will I get dinner on the table? 60k would be a gamechanger," said the woman, pushing back her hood. Her blonde hair unraveled, and she stepped forward, almost shyly. "I'm sorry, Hyunji."

"He's my brother," Hyunji said quietly, almost pleading. "Please don't make me fight you, Cass."

Cassandra sighed. "I don't think you'll get the chance, honey."

Hyunji felt the air change. Instinctively, she moved her body no more than two inches. It proved to be just enough as the longsword slid past her side.

She spun around, kicking the sword out of her attacker's hand. With two quick slashes, she cut across the man's face, leaving two deep gashes that formed a bloody X.

The hunter collapsed, but more jumped over his body as they charged at Hyunji.

Turning the katana in a number of different angles, she managed to block a barrage of heavy attacks.

Six attackers. Where had the other three gone?

Cassandra stood as still as a statue, observing the battle.

Hyunji disarmed another attacker, cutting their hand off at the wrist. The hunter grunted in pain and clutched at their bleeding hand. Backing up, he raised his hand in quiet surrender.

While blocking another attack, Hyunji kicked the hand in Cassandra's direction, where it flopped to a halt at her feet.

Cassandra looked down at it in disgust. "What's this?" She called out, as she prodded the hand with the toe of her boot.

Hyunji blocked another attack and shoved the hunter backward. "It's a gift. Just for you."

The side of Cassandra's mouth twitched. "You think you're funny?"

A bounty hunter punched Hyunji in the side of the face, and then again in the ribs. She dropped to the ground, letting go of the katana.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, she grinned. "Yes. Yes I do."

Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out her gun, skilfully exchanging the old magazine for a fresh one. Spinning in a circle, she shot each of her attacker's in the legs.

Turning, she pointed the gun at Cassandra. "Come on Cass…hands up."

A small smile played across Cassandra's lips. Raising a gloved hand, she pulled at the leather material. "As you wish."

Hyunji fired, unloading every last bullet from the clip. Without hesitation, she reached down and snatched up her katana.

When she looked back up, Cassandra was still standing in the same spot. The bullets flew around her, forming a spherical shape. They had kept their speed from when they first left the gun and now formed a golden, glimmering shield.

Cassandra's silver hand spun around in a circle, controlling the movement of the bullets.

"You ready?" Cassandra asked.

Before Hyunji could answer, the bullets flew toward her.

Time slowed, and the projectiles almost stood still.

The world around Hyunji felt more real, more present. She could feel her boots on the ground, the katana in her hand. Her concentration became more focused, sharper.

And she could hear everything. From the trickling blood running down the side of her mouth to the whirring frequency of the bullets as they spun toward her, she felt intensely aware of what was happening.

Cassandra stood still, her silver hand outstretched. In between the hand and the bullets, the air was warped and bent.

A magnetic field, Hyunji thought.

The bullets approached.

Raising her katana, Hyunji began to slash.

With each cut, time sped up.

Each successive bullet reached her faster, but she managed to cut each of them. The pieces clattered around her, and Hyunji stepped forward.

Cassandra looked surprised. "Where the hell did you learn that?"

Hyunji smiled. She wasn't so sure herself. But she didn't mind it either. "Doesn't matter. Let's get this over with."