The Rogue Agent

The air still hummed with tension after the ambush. Korir wiped the sweat from his brow, panting heavily. He had been pushed to the edge during the fight, but the worst part? It felt like the attackers had known his every move. There had been something unsettling about how organized they were, how perfectly timed their strikes were.

Sefu stood beside him, his calm demeanor contrasting with the chaos of the scene. His hand was still gripping his blade, the faint glow of his Nen flickering in the shadows. "Stay alert," he muttered, eyes scanning the area. "This was just a distraction. The real target is still out there."

Korir nodded, his mind racing. What was this all about? It didn't make sense. Who would send such an organized group after them?

After subduing the remaining attackers, Korir and Sefu made their way deeper into the woods, following the faint trail left by their pursuers. The tension was thick between them—Sefu's silence spoke volumes.

As they reached a small, hidden clearing, Sefu finally spoke, breaking the silence. "There's something more going on here, Korir. These were no ordinary operatives. We've been compromised." He looked over at Korir. "A rogue agent from Toma is working with both the Obsidian Fang and Mombasa Mabas. They've been leaking information... and they've been running circles around us."

Korir clenched his fists, feeling his blood boil. A traitor inside Toma? He couldn't believe it. He had always believed in the integrity of the organization, but now, his trust was shaken. If Toma itself had a mole, how could he know who was truly on his side?

Sefu turned toward him. "We're going after them. This ends tonight."

The chase led them to a derelict warehouse on the outskirts of town. Inside, Korir could feel the presence of someone—someone powerful. A voice echoed from the shadows.

"You're late," the rogue agent's voice echoed, dripping with sarcasm. "I expected you sooner, but you're not as quick as I hoped."

A figure stepped out of the darkness, wearing the signature Toma cloak, but there was something wrong about them. The rogue agent's eyes glinted with a coldness that was unfamiliar to Korir. The figure was wearing the symbol of Toma... but it was wrong. The colors were off. The style was slightly different. This wasn't just a rogue. This was someone from deep within Toma's ranks.

Korir's heart sank. This is someone we trust, he thought. His worst fears were realized.

"Korir, this is the person I was telling you about," Sefu's voice was cold, and his eyes never left the rogue. "They've been betraying us. We need to end this."

But as the fight began, a new revelation hit—Sefu wasn't the only one who knew the rogue. Korir's eyes widened as he recognized the rogue agent. It was someone from the higher ranks of Toma. A high-ranking officer...a commander, no less. Someone trusted to uphold Toma's interests was now working for the enemy.

The rogue agent, seemingly unfazed, moved with incredible precision. Their ability was unnerving—like they could shift between time and space, an almost perfect counter to Korir's own Time Shift. As the rogue dodged and countered with ease, Korir struggled to keep up. The rogue's power felt unnatural, something more refined, something more experienced.

Korir's heart raced. He tried to push himself further—forcing his Time Shift ability to the limit, but it wasn't enough. He was struggling. His 42% mastery still wasn't enough to keep up with someone who had years of experience.

Then, the rogue spoke again, almost mocking him, "You're like me, aren't you? You're still learning... still searching for your true potential." Their voice oozed with disdain. "But you'll never catch up."

Korir's eyes narrowed. I won't let you get away with this.

He dug deep, trying to recall everything Zero had taught him. The memories of their training filled his mind, and for a split second, he felt a surge of power. His Time Shift flowed more smoothly. He dodged the rogue's next attack and countered with a move that had Zero's influence all over it.

Sefu watched closely, nodding in approval. "That's the spirit, Korir."

But just as Korir was about to land a decisive blow, the rogue agent smirked. "You're good... but not enough." With a flash of their power, they used a technique that seemed to bend reality itself, creating multiple clones of themselves, each with a fraction of their power. The real rogue agent vanished into thin air, leaving Korir and Sefu surrounded.

Korir stood, panting heavily, his body still feeling the aftermath of the fight. The rogue had escaped—this time. But something didn't sit right. He felt the weight of betrayal heavy on his chest. He turned to Sefu.

"Who could've known? Who inside Toma could've been behind this?"

Sefu's expression darkened. "There's someone at the top of Toma we haven't accounted for... someone pulling the strings. The higher ranks are more corrupt than you think. And the rogue agent? They were just a pawn. This is far from over, Korir."

Before they could discuss further, the rogue's voice echoed one last time, "You think this is just about you? No, Korir. This is bigger than Toma. This is about all of us."

A shadowy figure appeared behind Korir and Sefu, observing from the distance—a player in the game, one they hadn't yet met, but whose presence would soon change everything.