Battle Royale [2]

In the effervescence of a chaotic avenue, Sam slid between the cars with a surprising agility, his gigantic sword in hand, handled with an ease that defied the laws of physics. His red eyes burned with a fierce intensity, focused on an invisible target.

Suddenly, with the skill of a predator, Sam jumped from the avenue, spotting the silhouettes of three girls who ran desperately. The movement of his sword was a spectacle in itself, spinning between his fingers with a lethal grace before plunging into a stealthy attack.

"Where are we-" One of the girls started to speak, but before she could finish, Sam had already executed his ruthless attack. With a brutal blow, he split the girl's body in half, an act as fast as it was terrible.

Sam landed on his knees, in a pose that mixed heroism and brutality, his sword stuck in the ground next to the divided body.

The other two girls, shocked and paralyzed by fear, barely had time to react. Sam, with an elegant spin of the sword, executed a horizontal slash, splitting both in half in a single and devastating movement.

"You eliminated the leader," announced a holographic screen in front of Sam. "Points collected: 5."

Sam, raising his red eyes, observed impassively the bodies of the girls. But, in an instant, they began to dematerialize, turning into a bluish energy that disappeared in the air, leaving only the memory of their mortal presence.

"Hey, Sam!" Brad's voice echoed from above, reaching Sam amid the chaos of the avenue. He appeared jumping from a nearby building, his gaze fixed on Sam. "Did you defeat the three alone?" The surprise in his voice was evident, mixed with a hint of admiration.

Sam, wiping the blade of his gigantic sword with a practical gesture, answered without looking at Brad, ignoring his question. "We need to find Ellie fast, before she gets into some trouble."

Brad descended next to Sam, letting out a sigh of discontent. "Why do you, as a leader, insist on risking yourself for that girl? She decided to go alone," he questioned, a trace of frustration in his voice.

Sam stared at him with a cold look. "She is my friend. Since when do I need more reasons to care?" The coldness in his voice made it clear that for him, loyalty and care for friends were non-negotiable.

Brad, realizing the seriousness in Sam's tone, raised his arms in a gesture of surrender, trying to appease the situation. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to imply that," he said, trying to explain himself. "I'm just worried that she might delay us or put us in danger."

Sam, however, barely heard Brad's words. His thoughts were far away, lost in the horizon, as he tried to predict Ellie's next moves. "She probably went after Blake," he murmured, more to himself than to Brad. "But considering the mental state that Blake is in, it's very possible that he will kill her, whether intentionally or not."

The concern was evident on his face. Sam knew that Blake, since the incident in the dungeon, was no longer the same. The possibility of a confrontation between Ellie and Blake was something he could not ignore, as he knew that the consequences could be disastrous.

"Let's go on!" Sam exclaimed, his voice loaded with determination. He resumed his run, moving with an impressive speed that seemed to defy the laws of physics, especially considering the weight of the gigantic sword he carried.

Brad, behind him, let out a deep sigh, mixing resignation and admiration for his teammate. With a visible effort, he started to run, trying to keep up with Sam's fast pace. The disparity between their speeds was noticeable; Sam seemed to almost fly over the pavement, while Brad struggled to stay close. Sam's determination to find Ellie and the difference in skills between the two became more and more evident as they progressed.

---

Running swiftly through the deserted streets, taken over by the wild nature, a thought motivated me: "I just need to be faster than Chloe and defeat the other participant. A favor from her would be an interesting victory."

As I turned a corner, I spotted two silhouettes. They were two boys, both armed with katanas. "Interesting, but where is Chloe? Did I get here before her?" I thought, with a smile of self-confidence.

Despite my eyes scanning the scene, Chloe's figure was absent, an intriguing enigma in the midst of that competition.

The two boys, positioned in the middle of the avenue, noticed my presence and unsheathed their katanas, preparing for the confrontation. That's when, in a surprising move, Chloe emerged from the shadows, appearing next to one of the opponents with an impressive agility.

"Ah, so that was your plan, Chloe… Wait for my arrival to create a perfect moment of distraction," I thought, admiring her cunning.

Chloe, with a deadly dexterity, spun her spear, aiming a blow at the head of one of the boys. But, in an almost superhuman reflex, the more robust boy of the duo managed to block the attack, saving his partner. His skill and speed were remarkable, a worthy opponent for the cat and mouse game that Chloe and I were playing.

The boy who blocked Chloe's attack stood out not only for his skill, but also for his peculiarity: he kept his eyes completely closed, as if he trusted entirely in his other senses. His long black hair fell softly over his shoulders, framing a calm face. "Oh? The very Chloe Sunshine came to try to defeat me?" he asked with a genuine interest in his voice.

Chloe, with an enigmatic smile on her lips, chose not to answer verbally. Instead, she spun her spear with an impressive skill, unleashing a series of fast and deadly attacks. The boy, showing wisdom and speed, pushed his partner out of danger and prepared for the counterattack. With his katana, he faced Chloe's offensive, and the sound of their blades clashing created a symphony of steel. The movements were so fast and precise that it was almost impossible to discern their silhouettes, only two silver flashes meeting in a deadly dance.

Without hesitating, I took advantage of the distraction caused by the confrontation between Chloe and the boy with closed eyes to advance towards his partner, apparently the most vulnerable target. However, at the moment I was about to unsheathe my sword, the fighter who faced Chloe, displaying a surprising agility, blocked her attack and, in a fluid movement, turned quickly in my direction. "Death" - that was the sensation that emanated from him. Instinctively, perhaps even moved by a sudden fear, I dodged his diagonal attack, escaping by a hair's breadth.

"Impressive..." he murmured, apparently surprised that I had managed to avoid his lethal blow. With an elegant and controlled gesture, he put his katana back in its sheath and said: "Two against one. How unfair..." He paused dramatically, a confident smile outlining his lips. "For you."

Looking at the boy in front of me, an epiphany hit me. "Ah, this guy..." I murmured to myself, an ironic smile forming on my lips as I regained my posture. "With that appearance and that very special way, it can only be Yuki Sakamoto." My voice distilled a characteristic sarcasm, while a spark of recognition shone in my eyes.

The idea of a traditional sword fight against Yuki seemed foolish to me. "He would easily surpass me," I thought, without losing the smile. I looked at Chloe, who watched everything with an impressive calm, assessing the situation with a serenity that contrasted with the tension of the moment.

The next instant, Yuki drew his sword with a speed that defied the eyes, aiming a direct attack at me. With the skill of a dancer, I dodged his blow and, almost in a reflex, I drew my own sword for a counterattack. But, in an unexpected move, Yuki's partner intervened, blocking my attack with precision.

Chloe, on the other hand, did not let the opportunity escape. With a smile that blended excitement and challenge, she advanced towards Yuki. Her spear spun in her hands with a lethal grace, each movement a reflection of her dexterity and confidence. "It looks like the party is just beginning," I thought, my smile widening in anticipation of the challenge that unfolded.

[...]

Author's Notes:

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