Chapter 10: Pawns in the Game

The glow of energy around the figure grew brighter, bathing the alley in an eerie, flickering light. Ishizaki tightened his grip on his knife, the faint hum of Blade Resonance vibrating in his hand.

"Who the hell are you?" Ishizaki asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through his veins.

The figure tilted their head, a faint smile playing on their lips. "Call me Saryn," they said. "Not that names matter much to dead men."

Ishizaki bristled at the casual arrogance in their tone. "You work for the overlord?"

Saryn's smile widened. "Work for? No, no. Let's just say our interests align… for now."

"Hostile intent detected," Solus said. "Target is classified as a high-level Q-Energy user. Probability of success: twenty-eight percent."

"Not helping," Ishizaki muttered under his breath.

Saryn chuckled softly, taking a step closer. Their energy flared, rippling through the air like heat waves. "You've got potential," they said. "But raw power without control? That'll get you killed faster than you can blink."

The Battle Begins

Saryn moved first. In an instant, they closed the distance between them, their energy-coated hand striking out like a blade. Ishizaki barely had time to react, his enhanced reflexes kicking in as he twisted to the side.

The air cracked with the force of the blow, and Ishizaki felt the shockwave ripple through his body. He staggered back, his heart pounding as Saryn straightened, their energy pulsing around them like a living thing.

"You're quick," Saryn said. "Good. Let's see how long you can keep up."

Ishizaki didn't wait for them to move again. He darted forward, his knife slashing through the air in a glowing arc. Saryn deflected the strike with ease, their energy flaring as they countered with a kick that sent Ishizaki skidding across the ground.

"Your form is sloppy," Saryn said, their tone almost bored. "But I suppose that's to be expected."

Ishizaki growled, pushing himself to his feet. "Keep talking," he said. "We'll see who's standing at the end."

A Desperate Counterattack

The fight continued, each clash more intense than the last. Saryn's attacks were precise and relentless, their movements almost effortless. Ishizaki fought back with everything he had, his enhanced reflexes and Blade Resonance keeping him in the fight, but it wasn't enough.

"You're losing," Solus said. "Your current capabilities are insufficient to counter the target's techniques."

"Got any better ideas?" Ishizaki snapped, his chest heaving as he dodged another energy-infused strike.

"Combine Energy Surge Mode with Blade Resonance," Solus replied. "The amplification will provide the necessary force to penetrate the target's defenses."

Ishizaki hesitated. He could already feel the strain of his enhancements—his muscles burning, his vision blurring at the edges. "You're sure that won't kill me?"

"Probability of survival: fifty-six percent."

"Better odds than usual," Ishizaki muttered. "Fine. Do it."

The surge of power hit him like a freight train, his entire body burning as the combined enhancements took hold. His knife glowed brighter, the resonance intensifying until it hummed like a living thing.

Saryn's eyes widened slightly as Ishizaki moved, his speed blurring as he closed the distance. Their energy flared in response, but Ishizaki was faster. His blade struck out in a flurry of precise, devastating blows, each one cutting through Saryn's defenses like paper.

The final strike connected, carving a deep gash across Saryn's side. They stumbled back, their energy flickering as blood dripped onto the ground.

Cliffhanger – A Sinister Revelation

Saryn straightened slowly, their expression unreadable. Despite the wound, they didn't seem angry or afraid—only… amused.

"Impressive," they said, their voice calm. "You're stronger than I expected. But strength without purpose? That's just chaos waiting to happen."

Ishizaki's grip on his knife tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Saryn's smile returned, faint and enigmatic. "You think you're fighting for something. Protecting those kids, defying the overlord… but you're just a pawn in a much larger game."

They stepped back, their energy surging as they raised a hand. A pulse of light erupted from their palm, blinding Ishizaki and forcing him to shield his eyes. When the light faded, Saryn was gone.

"Signal detected," Solus said. "Source unknown. Content encrypted."

"What does it mean?" Ishizaki asked, his voice strained.

"Insufficient data," Solus replied. "Further analysis required."

Ishizaki exhaled sharply, his chest heaving as he glanced at the alley where the kids were hiding. Whatever Saryn's warning meant, he didn't have time to figure it out.

Not yet