Chapter 53: The Shadowhunter

The echo of Varga's words still resonated in Akihiko's mind as he walked through the streets of Neo-Prague. The city was plunged into a strange calm, as if Viktor's death and the appearance of the mysterious killer had paralyzed the criminal underworld.

The neon lights reflected distorted figures in the puddles of the recent rain. Isabella and Kael walked beside him, both lost in their own thoughts.

"If this assassin is capable of moving without a trace and distorting reality around him, we're dealing with someone who doesn't follow the normal rules of engagement," Kael said, breaking the silence. "If we can't track him, we'll have to bring him out."

Isabella nodded. "And the only way to do that is by touching on what interests her most."

Akihiko stopped and looked at his companion. "So what interests you most?"

Isabella gave a grim smile. "Us."

The Trap

The plan was dangerous, but it was the only option. Akihiko and his team sent false information through underworld channels, claiming they had leads on the identity of Viktor's killer. It wasn't long before the news spread like wildfire.

The chosen meeting point was an abandoned factory in the industrial district of Neo-Prague. The place was in ruins, with old metal structures covered in rust and an air that stank of burnt oil and dust. Broken ceilings let in the dim moonlight, creating elongated shadows that danced with every movement.

"If this doesn't attract him, nothing will," Kael muttered as he checked his gear. He'd placed detection sensors on every corner, but something inside him told him the technology wouldn't be of much use this time.

Isabella positioned herself on a raised platform, her resonant threads ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of movement. Akihiko, at the center of the trap, held his katana with studied calm, though his instincts were on high alert. Something didn't fit.

Minutes passed. Then, an hour. Nothing.

Until the air changed.

The Face of Death

Absolute silence fell over the factory. There was no wind, no echoes, not even the distant murmur of the city. It was as if reality itself had been ripped from the place.

Akihiko felt a chill run down his spine. The sensation was familiar... too familiar.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged from nowhere. It didn't walk, it didn't run. It simply appeared, as if it had been there all along.

He was a tall man, dressed in a long, dark coat. His face was partially covered by a metal mask, but the most disturbing aspect was his eyes.

Black as night. Empty. Soulless.

"Interesting," the figure said in a low voice, almost a whisper. "I thought they'd keep hiding. But I see they want answers."

Akihiko raised his katana. "And we shall obtain them."

The figure tilted its head, amused. "Then come and take it."

And the battle began.

The Dance of the Shadows

Akihiko moved first, gliding with speed as his katana sliced ​​through the air in a diagonal slash. The figure disappeared in a flash, reappearing behind him without a sound. Akihiko barely had time to react before an invisible force shoved him forward, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Isabella cast her resonant threads, seeking to trap the figure in a vibration trap. But the moment the threads touched his body, they vanished as if they had never existed.

Kael tried to analyze their presence with his sensors, but his device's screen only showed interference. "It can't be... this isn't normal!"

Akihiko quickly stood up. His eyes focused on the assassin, who remained motionless, watching him with the patience of a predator.

"Your mistake," the figure said in an almost mocking tone, "is thinking this fight is on your terms."

Suddenly, the darkness of the factory lengthened and took shape. Liquid shadows burst from the ground, enveloping Akihiko and his companions in a whirlwind of absolute blackness. Isabella screamed as she felt her body being pulled in opposite directions, while Kael struggled against an invisible pressure that imprisoned him.

Akihiko closed his eyes. He couldn't fight what he didn't understand. But he had learned to adapt.

He focused all his energy on his katana, letting it vibrate with the essence of the void. And then, with a single movement, he cut through the darkness.

A violet flash illuminated the factory. The shadows dissipated for an instant, just long enough for Isabella and Kael to escape the whirlwind.

The killer took a step back. For the first time, his posture changed slightly.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Perhaps you're not prey after all."

Akihiko took a deep breath, regaining his balance. "We're not the prey. We're the hunters."

The killer smiled behind his mask. "Let's see how long that confidence lasts."

And he launched himself at him with impossible speed.