Skirmish

As John and Robert stepped into the narrow and filthy alleyways of the poor side of town, the overwhelming stench of garbage and waste hit them like a wave.

The ground was slick with slime and trash, and the walls were covered in grime and visible cracks.

The sight before them was a stark contrast to the clean, well-lit streets of the city center they were used to.

Shadow, their ever-watchful companion, was perched atop a nearby rooftop, scanning the area for any potential threats.

His sharp eyes were alert and his movements were precise as he searched for signs of danger.

Suddenly, as they rounded a corner, they were confronted by a group of rough-looking men. Their faces were twisted into sneers, and their hands were gripping dangerous-looking weapons. John and Robert knew immediately that they were in trouble.

The men had them surrounded, with three behind them and four in front.

One of them, a burly man with a rough beard and a scar on his cheek, stepped forward and spoke in a gruff voice,

"If you are smart, you drop your belongings now and don't move or say anything."

John met the man's gaze with a mix of defiance and disdain.

"We are not fools, and we will not be intimidated by the likes of you," he said, his voice firm and steady.

Robert stood tall next to him, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"We don't have time for this, we will not be deterred by your petty attempts at robbery," he declared, his eyes blazing with determination.

The thieves exchanged wary glances, sizing up their opponents.

They could see that these were not ordinary men, but warriors of some kind, with a fierce resolve and a strong will. They knew that they got them outnumbered, but they also knew that they had weapons and the element of surprise on their side.

A tense standoff began, each side waiting for the other to make a move. The air was thick with tension, and the only sound was the echo of footsteps against the dirty walls of the alleyway. The men were clearly getting impatient, and the tension was palpable as they shifted their weight from foot to foot, their weapons at the ready.

John and Robert stood their ground, their eyes locked on their adversaries. They knew that the situation could turn deadly in an instant, John knew that killing those men might jepordize the mission, but they refused to back down.

They were determined to complete their mission, no matter what obstacles stood in their way.

John and Robert exchanged a quick glance, a silent communication passing between them. They knew that they had to act fast, before the thieves had a chance to make their move.

With lightning-fast reflexes, John lunged forward, his fist connecting with the thief's jaw with a resounding crack. The thief stumbled backward, his blade falling from his hand.

Robert, not to be outdone, followed suit, his own fist flying forward and connecting with another thief's nose, sending him reeling back in pain.

The thieves, caught off guard by the sudden attack, began to panic, their bravado evaporating like mist in the morning sun.

They turned to flee, but found themselves blocked by two masked men in front of them.

One of the masked men, delivered a chilling ultimatum.

"You do what you are told or die, the Black Hand has no room for failures."

With their path to escape cut off by the two masked men, the thieves found themselves trapped and faced with the only option of fighting John and Robert.

Their hopes of fleeing evaporated as they realized they were now faced with a formidable force. John and Robert, who had proven themselves to be skilled fighters, were not going to let them get away without a fight.

The thieves knew they had no choice but to fight back, and they charged at John and Robert with a fierce determination.

The air was filled with the sound of clashing metal and the echoes of fists pounding flesh. The thieves were skilled fighters themselves, but they were no match for the combined might of John and Robert.

The fight was intense and brutal, with both sides trading blows and struggling for dominance. John and Robert moved with fluidity and grace, each anticipating the other's moves and working in tandem to take down their opponents.

One of the thieves charged towards Robert with a knife, but Robert was quick to dodge his attack and strike him in the jaw with a powerful uppercut. The man stumbled backwards, dazed and disoriented.

John, meanwhile, was dealing with two other attackers, deflecting their blows with his powerful arms and landing punches that sent them reeling. He moved with grace and precision, his eyes never leaving his opponents.

The men were relentless, though, and soon they were on the offensive again, their knives flashing in the dim light of the alleyway. But John and Robert were not to be underestimated, and they fought back with everything they had.

Robert delivered a series of quick jabs and kicks, his movements fluid and agile, while John used his superior strength to grapple with the men and knock them to the ground.

The air was thick with tension as the two sides faced each other, neither willing to back down.

The fight was intense and brutal, with both sides trading blows and struggling for dominance.

John and Robert kept moving with fluidity and grace, each anticipating the other's moves and working in flawless cooperation to take down their opponents.

Despite their best efforts, the thieves were overwhelmed by the sheer force of John and Robert's attacks.

One by one, they fell to the ground, still alive but their bodies battered and broken.

In the end, there was no question who had emerged victorious in this fierce battle.

The masked men started to advance towards Robert and John, the tension in the air thickened.

John turned to Robert and voiced his suspicions,

"It looks like our old foes, the Blackhand, were behind this ambush."

"Watch out Robert, it seems that both of them are ascendants. Be cautious and defensive in your approach, rather than fully engaging with them."

John's warning sent a shiver down Robert's spine as he realized the gravity of their situation.

Robert's hand tightened around his revolver as he prepared for the impending battle.

The tension in the air was palpable as the group of masked men closed in on them. John's calm demeanor and confidence were reassuring, but Robert couldn't help but feel a tinge of nervousness as he faced off against such powerful adversaries.

As the group of masked men advanced, one of them spoke with a chilling certainty.

"This is our lucky day, John "The Deathstalker" in the flesh, one of the big trump cards of the order, delivered to us... to die."

But John's response was swift and confident.

"Do you think I got that title by chance?"

He smiled with a sense of pride and self-assurance that only came from years of experience and battles won.

Robert was surprised by John's title, he knew he was an ascendant but he did not know he was that famous.

Just as the situation seemed to be reaching a boiling point, a shadowy figure suddenly emerged from the darkness, moving swiftly and stealthily towards the masked men.

Robert was surprised by this sudden appearance, but he recognized the figure as their silent companion, Shadow.

He had been watching them from the rooftops and had now decided to intervene.

The masked man sensing danger behind was paralyzed by the unexpected threat, and John with lighting speed sprang into action to take advantage of the situation.

Grabbing the man's throat and put his revolver below the man's chin, pointing upwards and ready to fire.

With a quick, decisive motion, John pulled the trigger, and the bullet tore through his head and the masked man's brain was reduced to a gruesome, scattered mess, leaving behind a bloody mess.

Robert watched in awe as the man's brain scattered with the sound of the gunshot.

The fight had begun, and Robert knew that he needed to act defensively, not engaging fully.

He was ready to defend himself and his comrades, but he also knew that the odds were against him, as he wasn't an ascendant, so the chances of getting injured were high.

The other masked man was shocked by the sudden turn of events, but he did not falter.

He continued to move forward, his eyes blazing with anger and determination.

Robert and John knew that they were facing a formidable opponent, but they were not afraid. They had faced many challenges before and had come out victorious.

As the other masked man came closer, they raised their revolvers at him and were prepared to fire.

The air was thick with tension, and the silence was broken only by the sound of footsteps echoing off the walls of the alleyway.