A Dance with Death

Chapter 29: A Dance with Death

The air inside the canyon was thick with tension. A silent breeze carried the scent of dust and steel as Raizen Varos and Izen stood ready, facing the assassins who had come for their heads. The setting sun cast long shadows, making the canyon walls look like towering giants looming over them.

Twelve assassins.

Each one was highly trained, their eyes cold and calculating. These weren't mere mercenaries—they were killers, sent by those who wanted Raizen dead.

Raizen smirked, gripping his sword tighter. "Twelve against two? I expected better."

The lead assassin, a tall warrior with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "Arrogant as always, Raizen Varos. Your bounty is too high to ignore." His tone was measured, professional—no emotion, just duty.

Izen cracked his neck. "You should've brought twenty."

The leader didn't respond. Instead, he flicked his hand—a silent command.

The battle began.

The Assassins Strike

The assassins moved in unison, their attacks swift and lethal. Two of them lunged toward Raizen, daggers flashing in the dim light. He sidestepped, his sword meeting theirs in a sharp clash. Sparks flew as his blade deflected their strikes with practiced ease.

Behind him, Izen was already engaged.

A spear came hurtling toward his chest. Izen twisted, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike before grabbing the shaft mid-air. With sheer strength, he yanked the assassin forward and drove his knee into the attacker's ribs. The sickening crunch of bones breaking echoed in the canyon.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Two more assassins moved in, one from the left, another from the right. Their attacks came simultaneously—a flurry of blades aimed at Izen's vital points.

Izen dropped low, sliding beneath their strikes, and with one swift motion, he slashed upward, cutting across one assassin's chest. The man staggered, blood spilling from the wound. The second assassin barely had time to react before Izen spun around and smashed his fist into his jaw, sending him sprawling.

Raizen, meanwhile, was enjoying himself.

Raizen's Wrath

An assassin appeared behind him, blade aimed for his neck.

Raizen didn't even turn.

He ducked just as the blade sliced through empty air, and in a single movement, he drove his sword backward—the tip of his blade piercing the assassin's stomach. The man gasped, blood dripping from his lips as he fell.

Another assassin tried to take advantage of the opening—a mistake.

Raizen spun around, his crimson eyes glowing with power. He blocked a downward strike, then kicked the assassin's knee, shattering it instantly. The assassin screamed, but it was cut short when Raizen's blade cleaved through his chest.

Blood splattered the canyon floor.

Still, the assassins didn't falter. They were professionals—they didn't fear death.

But Raizen wasn't done yet.

Transformation: The Crimson Reaper

His body surged with energy, dark red flames bursting around him. His aura became heavy, the ground beneath him cracking under the force of his power. His once black armor now gleamed crimson, his eyes burning like embers.

This was the true power of Raizen Varos—the Crimson Reaper.

The assassins hesitated. They had underestimated him.

Izen, seeing Raizen's transformation, grinned. "Looks like you're getting serious."

Raizen smirked. "Let's finish this."

The End of the Assassins

The assassins tried to regroup, but it was already too late.

Raizen vanished.

In a blink, he reappeared behind one assassin, his sword slashing through his spine before he even had time to scream.

Another one lunged, but Raizen caught the man's wrist mid-air, twisting it with inhuman strength before driving his knee into his gut. The assassin coughed blood before Raizen ended him with a swift decapitation.

Izen wasn't idle either.

He grabbed a spear from one of the fallen assassins and threw it with full force. The weapon tore through the air like a missile, impaling another assassin straight through the chest.

The remaining assassins began to panic.

They had miscalculated.

The man they were sent to kill wasn't prey.

He was a monster.

The Last Assassin

Within minutes, only one assassin remained—the leader.

He staggered backward, watching his entire squad slaughtered in front of him. He knew he had no chance. Escape was the only option.

But Raizen was faster.

Before the assassin could flee, Raizen appeared in front of him, sword raised.

The assassin gritted his teeth. "Go ahead. Kill me."

Raizen paused.

His blade hovered inches from the man's throat. But instead of delivering the killing blow, he smirked. "No."

The assassin's eyes widened. "What?"

Raizen leaned closer, his voice cold and sharp. "Go back to whoever hired you. Tell them… I'm coming for them next."

The assassin hesitated, then nodded, fear finally seeping into his expression. Without another word, he turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows.

The Aftermath

Silence filled the canyon.

The ground was littered with bodies, the air thick with the scent of blood and death. Raizen exhaled, his transformation fading, the crimson glow around him disappearing.

Izen stretched his shoulders. "That was fun."

Raizen wiped his sword clean. "Let's move. We need to return to Lord Varun."

Without looking back, the two warriors left the battlefield, their next move already in motion.

To be continued-