The long night was slowly passing. Noir hid in an abandoned room on the outskirts of the city, not too far from the organization's headquarters. The walls were covered in moss and mold, the ceiling leaked, and raindrops fell onto the floor, creating a monotonous patter.
She sat slumped by the window, her back tiredly leaning against the wall, breathing heavily. Her hands still trembled after using the power that had nearly killed her. In the sparse room, she dragged her weary body to the bathroom to find some water to wash the blood from her face. Looking into the broken mirror hanging on the wall, Noir saw her own pale face, one eye calm and blue, the other red and burning like it was on fire.
"How much longer can I endure this...?" she whispered.
She stepped out of the bathroom and sat down on a rickety chair. Suddenly, she heard a cat meowing softly. The stray cat had slipped through the crack in the door and sat quietly watching her. Noir chuckled softly, slowly reaching out to touch it, gently stroking its fur. It rubbed against her hand as if seeking a little affection from a stranger. For Noir, it was the first time in many years that she felt a little bit of normal warmth. But that peace lasted only a moment.
Outside, footsteps echoed. The rhythm was steady and heavy, as if someone was deliberately trying to make her hear them. Noir immediately tensed up, and the cat, sensing danger, curled its tail and ran away.
The door swung open. A tall man stepped inside. He wore a black cloak, his face half-lit, half-shadowed by the streetlight filtering through. In his hands were a pair of metal gloves glowing a faint blue. His eyes flashed with a cold, calculating light.
"Noir…"
"I finally found you." *he said*
Noir stood up, her blue eyes flashing, seeing fragments of brief memories from him. The times they trained together, the cold-blooded missions, sharing meals, and running away from pursuers together, and now... his current thoughts.
/Hunt down Noir, no mercy./
/Claim the reward that could ensure a life of luxury./
She curled her lips slightly, gripping her dagger tightly.
"That was quick. Before I could even catch my breath, you lot showed up. Truly worthy of the Void."
"And you... have you also become their hunting dog?"
"No wonder your sense of smell is so sharp it's beyond reproach." *sarcastically, staring straight into his eyes*
His eyes reddened with anger, his gloves flashing with electricity that made others' hair stand on end. He replied resentfully,
"Shut up, bitch. Don't think you're the only one with power."
"The organization that created you can also kill you."
"You think running like that will let you escape? They've put a bounty on your head worth tens of millions of dollars."
Noir said nothing. *looked at him*
"So if you're so good, fight me. Let me see how good a pawn like you really is." *clenched his fists*
She smiled faintly, murmuring
"Oh, a dog that likes to bite people..."
The man didn't respond. He raised his glowing gloves, electricity surging through them.
"My mission... is to end you." *charging forward*
Noir tilted her head slightly, her red eyes blazing. The darkness in the room shattered by the thunder outside. Two pairs of bright eyes locked, signaling a deadly battle with no escape.
He lunged forward as if to devour her, each blow landing with such force it left several large holes in the floor. Noir moved swiftly to dodge his deadly strikes, then used her dagger to attack his vital points, but he quickly noticed and dodged in time. Her body had endured a major brawl earlier with the organization, so her strength was now significantly diminished. The man knew this well and continuously cornered her, aiming for a single blow to capture her alive and claim the generous reward. But no matter what, she was someone the organization had trusted for over 20 years. She knew her own abilities better than anyone else. Her left eye flashed red.
"GO TO HELL, YOU BITCH!" *he yelled as he struck her*
Noir remained calm and fought back, breathing heavily. He took advantage of her momentary lapse, punching her in the stomach and sending Noir crashing through the wall. She rolled several times, blood trickling from her mouth. She quickly stood up, wiped the blood from her lips, and stared at him with a cold expression. He laughed mockingly.
"Well, Noir."
"Not bad!" *stepping forward*
Noir said nothing, clutching the knife tightly, and lunged straight at him.
The battle continued...