“The Hunter from Venice”
Gabriel
Every breath felt like it was being forced through shattered glass. Every step was a burning resistance.
Gideon stood before us, his sword shimmering coldly in the candlelight of the old church.
His expression remained unchanged.
"You're coming with us."
Not a question. A command.
My fingers tightened around the grip, a useless reflex against the inevitable.
But I knew it wouldn't help.
We weren't strong enough. Not now.
Then—
The shot tore through the silence, the impact before Gideon's feet sent dust into the air.
Gideon froze.
I looked up.
There he was.
A figure in the shadows. A metallic mask, a long coat.
"Valerius wants them alive."
His voice was calm, almost indifferent.
No threat. Just an instruction.
Gideon slowly turned his head towards him.
For a moment, it looked like he wanted to argue.
But then… he lowered his sword.
I saw it in his eyes.
Reluctance.
But also acceptance.
The masked man faded back into the shadows, as if he had never been there.
Gideon exhaled softly.
"You're lucky."
He raised a hand, ready to have us all taken—
Then the church doors burst open with a deafening crash.
Michael
Something tore through the darkness. Not a shadow. A man.
Faster than I could react.
Gideon turned.
Too late.
The fist struck deep and hard into his ribs.
Gideon flew several meters back, crashing against a stone pillar.
My mind lagged behind.
There he stood.
The man I didn't know.
His clothes?
Dark fabric, the red vest with golden embroidery a silent statement.
His hands?
Covered in gloves, metal at the knuckles.
His eyes?
Amber.
And his grin?
Arrogant.
Casually, he rolled his shoulders as if this was all just a game.
"Bad news, my friend."
He raised a fist.
Sanctus Clavus flickered in the light, as if the fist itself was catching the moonlight.
"You're not taking anyone today."
Raphael
Gideon let out a guttural growl, pulling himself back up.
"And who the hell are you?"
The stranger shrugged.
"Salvatore Loredan."
He took his time saying it, as if he enjoyed hearing his own name.
"Hunter from Venice."
Without looking at us, he nodded in our direction.
"And from today, these guys are with me."
My pulse raced, loud enough that I could hear it in my ears.
I knew the name Loredan.
A Venetian noble family—a family of hunters.
Salvatore ran his tongue over his teeth.
"I suggest you turn around and leave before I really hurt you."
Gideon's expression darkened.
"You think you can defeat me?"
Salvatore smirked.
"Already did."
Gabriel
Gideon attacked.
A silhouette, distorted, faster than the eye could track.
But Salvatore was faster.
He didn't dodge.
He moved straight towards him.
And then he struck.
His fist hit Gideon's blade—directly against the metal.
A sharp sound rang through the church.
A light flickered to life, not of this world. Sanctus Clavus awakened.
Then—a crack, a split in the metal. Gideon's sword shattered in two.
Gideon stumbled back a step, the disbelief in his eyes reflected in the broken steel.
Salvatore tilted his head.
"Huh. Less durable than I expected."
Gideon narrowed his eyes.
He knew he was in trouble.
Then—the masked man moved. For the first time.
He stepped out of the shadows, slow, silent.
"Gideon."
His voice was calm.
"That's enough."
Gideon stared at him.
"We can—"
"No."
The masked man didn't let him finish.
His voice was final.
"Valerius wants them alive. And that will not change."
Gideon clenched his fists.
His gaze shifted once more to Salvatore.
Then to us.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"This was just the beginning."
He turned away.
And without another word, he disappeared into the darkness.
The masked man followed.
I felt my body finally give in.
The weight of the moment lifted from me.
But then—
Salvatore turned to us, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"So, boys—" His grin was pure arrogance.
"I hope you've got room for one more."