You Deserve Death

"Gotcha."

Kato's voice dripped with satisfaction as he twisted the katana deeper into Alex's back.

He had been waiting for this moment.

While Akio had kept Alex's attention, Kato had used stealth to vanish from sight—moving like a shadow, silent and unseen.

By the time Alex realized what was happening, it was already too late.

Steel pierced flesh.

The blade drove clean through his chest, the cold metal gleaming as it emerged from the other side.

Alex's body tensed.

His breath hitched.

Then he felt pain. Sharp and unforgiving.

Kato yanked the sword free with a sickening squelch, and Alex stumbled forward, blood splattering onto the ground.

He coughed violently, crimson dripping from his lips.

Kato burst into laughter, running a hand through his hair in disbelief.

"And here I thought you were something special…"

He sneered, tilting his head. "Turns out you're just a fraud."