Isneeredathim.“You‘renomatchforme.I‘vetakendownempiresandconqueredrealms.Youthinkyoucandefeatme?“
ButasIlookedintohiseyes,Isawsomethingtherethatgavemepause.Asparkofhope,perhaps?Aglimmerofdefiance?
Theyoungmantookanotherstepforward,hisvoicegrowinglouder.“Wewon‘tbackdown!We‘llfightforourcity,nomatterwhatittakes!“
Iraisedaneyebrow,intriguedbyhisferocity.“Verywell,“Isaidfinally.“Let‘sseehowlongyoulast.“
Andwiththat,thebattlebegan.
ThestreetsofHongzhoueruptedintochaosasthepeopleclashedwithmyminions.Theairwasfilledwithscreamsandshouts,thesoundofsteelonsteelechoingthroughthealleys.Iwatchedfromadistance,myeyesscanningthebattlefieldforanysignofweakness.
Buttherewasnone.Thepeoplefoughtback,theirdeterminationunwavering.Theywerelikeants,swarmingoverme,bitingandclawingatmylegs.Istumbledback,myfeetbarelystayingonthegroundastheyclosedinaroundme.
Andthat‘swhenIsawher-afigurestandingontherooftopaboveme,hereyesblazingwithfury.Shewasthrowingsomethingatme,butIcouldn‘tseewhatitwas.Iraisedaneyebrow,intriguedbyheraudacity.
Theobjecthitmelikeatonofbricks,sendingmecrashingtotheground.Iscrambledtomyfeet,myvisionblurringforamomentasIstumbledaround.Butwhenmyeyescleared,Isawthatshehadtakenouthalfofmyminionswithoneswiftmotion.
Igrittedmyteeth,determinationburningwithinme.Thiswasfarfromover.