7

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Hello everyone, this is the author. If you have any criticisms or comments, feel free to share them.

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A week later, in a bar in a port city of Noxus, two hooded figures were talking at a table in the corner. "I already said we need to prepare in advance before setting out! We can't just show up and improvise on the spot," Mark said to Katarina, who actively ignored him while sipping a glass of beer and grimacing.

The bar had a dark medieval style; being a port city, many people from different regions passed through, enriching the atmosphere with diverse culture and music.

"This tastes terrible," she said nonchalantly, and Mark could only let out a long sigh of disapproval. They had been given the mission of aiding the Noxian advance in Shurima before the invasion began.

In a way, they were tasked with preparing the ground for the invasion, a simple mission where they had the time and resources to plan something properly before testing it.

The invasion was set to begin in three months, but as soon as they received the mission, Katarina immediately set out for a port city, looking for a ship to take them to Urzeris, the largest coastal city-state of Shurima near Noxus.

Mark barely had time to contact a few informants and gather equipment before following Katarina, afraid she might try to take the city on her own.

"Why are you so worried, Sir slave? Mere soldiers of a small city-state can't stop me. You just need to follow me, and you'll succeed in your mission!" Mark couldn't help but clench his teeth at Katarina's arrogant remark. Since they set out, she kept calling him "slave" to provoke a fight.

He soon calmed down and took a deep breath as he looked at her. Deep down, he knew her arrogance was not without reason; she had been trained from birth to become a great assassin.

But Mark could see the desire for glory and challenge that dwelled within her, not in line with her assassin role. "Very well then, I propose a duel. If you win, I will listen to you and help with your crazy plan. If I win, you listen to me and follow my plan." Mark issued an ultimatum, and Katarina stopped eating at that moment, looking at him mockingly.

"Do you really think you can beat me?" she asked, almost laughing, but upon seeing Mark's serious face, she stopped and showed a hint of anger. Clearly, she did not consider Mark worthy of her skills.

"Well, if all the great daughter of Du Couteau can do is boast, then there is no need for this duel." Declaring this, Mark got up from the table, leaving Katarina there, staring at him with rage.

Of course, after leaving the bar, he barely entered an alley on the side street before a dagger came flying at him, and he had to dodge to the side. Looking back at the end of the alley, he saw Katarina looking at him with a mocking smile, though he could see a hint of anger behind it.

The alley was connected to the main street, but in a Noxian city, as long as it didn't cause too much noise, fights and assassinations in alleys would be overlooked by the guards.

Raindrops were falling around them, soaking their clothes and adding to the tense atmosphere.

"I'll make you eat your earlier words, slave," Katarina said, and Mark, irritated, slowly drew his sword, vowing to himself that even if he lost, he would punch the pretty face of that spoiled girl.

There was no need for a count. In a swift motion, Katarina threw two daggers at him, forcing Mark to parry them with his sword, but in that brief moment, a crimson shadow passed by him, and Mark felt a sharp pain in his arm as blood began to flow.

He gritted his teeth in pain and looked at the wound on his arm. It was a superficial cut, but he had no doubt she could have cut deeper if she wanted to.

This was Katarina's special ability. In the lore, it was said that Demacian soldiers could only see the crimson shadow before bodies started falling to the ground, showcasing Katarina's ridiculous speed.

"I'm going to have some fun with you," Katarina declared, laughing as she rushed at Mark again.

Slash!

Another cutting sound was heard, and Mark's abdomen started bleeding, but without worrying about the wound, he positioned himself calmly and tried to prepare for Katarina's next attack.

Slash!

Another splash of blood filled the air as another cut appeared on his body, and Mark gritted his teeth with force. He couldn't keep up with her absurd speed.

Slash! Slash!

Soon, dozens of cuts appeared on Mark's body, but he stubbornly remained standing, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

Another cut soon hit his legs, forcing him to his knees. His clothes were completely stained with blood flowing from several of his wounds.

Katarina stopped in front of him with a look of disdain. "You know, I expected more from you. They said you were a fire mage, but you couldn't even use your magic," she said, mocking Mark.

"My father told me that if you got in the way of my mission, I could kill you. I just didn't expect to have to do it so soon," she said with a cold face, pointing her dagger at Mark's heart.

"Blame your own weakness for this," she declared and lunged at him. In that immense second, feeling death approaching, Mark suddenly felt everything slow down for a moment.

If someone observed closely, they could see his eyes glowing a blood-red color. His Sharingan had awakened. The real reason Mark had requested this battle was to put himself in a life-or-death situation to awaken his Sharingan, and he had succeeded.

"Now, spoiled girl, it's my turn to hit back," Mark thought as his eyes locked onto Katarina, who was advancing towards him. Despite her speed, Mark could follow her with his eyes, and using all his strength, he took a deep breath.

His muscles swelled for a single moment, and just as Katarina's dagger was about 20 centimeters from his chest, he reacted even faster than her, bending his torso down and grabbing Katarina's waist, applying a wrestling technique and slamming her to the ground.

The assassin clearly did not expect Mark to suddenly burst out with such strength and couldn't react in time before being pinned down by him. The next moment, she felt the cold steel of Mark's sword pressing against her neck.

The sound of rain and the patter of droplets echoed in their ears as their breaths paused for a moment. The chill of the environment seeped through their clothes, but neither of them felt it.

Their faces were mere inches apart, and Katarina saw the blood-red gaze with his one-tomoe Sharingan spinning rapidly.

Their breaths were ragged, but neither dared to lower their guard. Mark, looking down at her neck, noticed that Katarina had also placed her dagger against his neck, putting both of their lives in each other's hands.

"She truly is a professional," Mark thought, recalling that the moment he pinned her, she had placed the dagger at his neck. If this had been a fight to the death, both would have died by now.

The stalemate lasted a moment, but Katarina suddenly moved her head forward and brought her lips close to Mark's, startling him and making him jump back.

"What are you doing?!" Mark shouted, but she didn't answer and, taking advantage of the moment, reversed their positions and pinned him to the ground, pressing the dagger against his neck. "I win," Katarina declared with a mischievous smile as she saw Mark's flushed face.

"Damn it," Mark could only curse internally. "She tricked me."

That day, a rumor spread through the city about a noble couple engaging in illicit acts in the alley beside the bar.