the era of calamities

Iko began breathing deeply.

<< Sigma Mode >>

A black mist surrounded him, his skin turning as dark as coal or rather, his entire body was now covered by a protective layer of those dark particles.

<< Doping >>

He inhaled the floating particles with voracity.

His heart contracted as if he had overdosed.

His eyes turned crimson, bloodshot.

When the substance completely invaded him, he crouched like a wild beast about to leap at its prey, both hands on the ground, feet braced like an athlete at the starting line.

He lunged like an animal at Renard.

...

Renard saw that his opponent was going all out, and he did the same.

<< Sigma Mode >>

Complex markings spread across his body like tattoos, extending to his axe, as if the two had become one.

With a cry, Renard charged.

...

The two clashed violently. The shock was so brutal that both were thrown backward.

But only a fraction of a second later, they leapt into the air, roaring in unison:

<< Destructive Strike >>

<< Black Claw >>

Iko was struck head-on, a deep gash opening across his chest, while Renard was grabbed by the shoulder with the claws that had formed on his opponent's hands.

Blood streamed from their respective wounds as they stood back to back, exhausted yet a victor had already been decided.

...

Iko's wound was deep. Normally, he should have already lost enough blood to faint.

But what kept him standing were the black particles he had injected into his body: they acted like a performance-enhancing drug, greatly improving his physical condition.

However, if those particles were injected into any body other than his, they became poison.

The victim would feel their organs suffocate, and eventually die, frothing white foam from every orifice.

Renard, affected by this drug, was not spared.

His grip slipped from his axe, his body weakened as he dropped to one knee, pressing firmly on his wounded shoulder.

"Poison?" he muttered.

He removed the breastplate of his armor to breathe more freely, but it did nothing.

Iko turned around.

With slow steps, he stopped just before Renard.

He stared at him with a victorious look, forgetting even his own pain.

"In the end, I overestimated you," he taunted.

Renard simply looked back, his fingers struggling to grasp his axe in vain.

Iko noticed the gesture and crushed his hand underfoot before picking up the axe and pressing it against Renard's neck.

As he raised the weapon to sever his head, a voice behind him stopped him.

"I'll take care of that, if you don't mind. After all, I was paid for it."

...

The one who had spoken stepped forward and stood beside Iko.

He wore a cloak covering his whole body and a black mask that revealed only dark eyes.

Looking at him, one could guess neither his age, nor his gender, nor even his emotions. His voice, too neutral, betrayed nothing.

Yet Iko showed no surprise.

The reason was simple: the man at his side was none other than the leader of the Jupiter clan, a criminal organization specializing in assassinations, whose power rivaled that of the Mercure clan.

The man was shrouded in mystery.

Even Iko knew little about him.

The only thing he was sure of: the man was skilled at his craft. After all, this wasn't the first time he had hired him.

This time, he had paid him generously to eliminate Orion's Intermediate-ranked knights and to support him against Renard if necessary.

Iko was proud to have even negotiated a discount on the price.

...

Lowering the weapon, Iko let it fall to the ground, then asked:

"Are you done?"

The man didn't answer. He simply laid down four severed heads he had been holding.

Renard's eyes widened as he recognized them.

They were the four elders of Orion, all at the Intermediate rank.

He wanted to scream, but he needed all his focus to withstand the effects of the poison in his body.

Only his gaze betrayed his fury as he stared at the murderer.

The latter paid him no attention. Instead, he drew from beneath his cloak a blade shaped like a long, thin needle, ready to strike Renard down with his own hands.

Iko understood his intent he wanted to keep his prey for himself.

"I've got a score to settle with him. Let me deliver the final blow."

The leader of the Jupiter clan shook his head.

"My code of conduct forbids it. I was paid for him as well. I'll be the one to take his head."

Iko growled.

("This guy...") he thought, but didn't insist further he wouldn't get anything out of this stubborn man.

"Do as you please."

...

The leader of the Jupiter clan raised his blade, ready to decapitate Renard.

Iko sighed as he saw the weapon descend toward Renard when suddenly, a head rolled to the ground.

However.

"No..." Iko muttered, rubbing his eyes.

...

The Jupiter clan leader touched his neck and felt a thin trickle of blood.

"What just happened?"

He could hardly believe he hadn't been decapitated.

Glancing at Iko, he realized from his expression that he wasn't the only one hallucinating.

Before the kneeling Renard stood a newcomer.

...

The man looked about thirty, with ears pierced by three pairs of earrings and jet-black hair cut in a military style. His body was thin and frail.

He had a rebellious air as he stood tall, wearing a black coat reserved for the Bureau of Archives and Exploration.

Iko didn't need to think twice: this was clearly an enforcer.

The sight of two crescent-shaped twin blades in his hands made the Jupiter clan leader realize what had happened.

As he prepared to strike Renard, this man had appeared, and at a speed he couldn't follow, had brought his twin blades to his neck before retracting them.

One thing was certain: at that moment, the man could have severed his head but chose not to.

...

San felt awkward. If he hadn't stopped at the last second, he would have killed the man.

"Humans are complicated... Calamities are so much easier to deal with."

He wasn't good at this kind of mission. His mistake had been failing to learn who he was supposed to help and who he was supposed to stop.

He hesitated before finally asking:

"Who among you belongs to the city of Orion?"

...

Renard breathed.

He forced himself to grab his axe from the ground, then stood with all his strength, determined to die as a knight.

"I am the leader of this city!"

"Even if you are three against me, I will not surrender!" he declared through gritted teeth.

The poison was still raging through his body; he struggled to remain standing. But his eyes shone with unshakable will.

Silence followed his declaration, and Renard took the chance to gather his remaining strength.

Meanwhile, the tension between Iko and the Jupiter clan leader kept rising, the atmosphere ready to explode.

As for San, he understood the situation.

Since Renard had declared himself the leader of Orion, and the other two had not objected.

The equation became simple for him.

He addressed Renard.

"Rest. I'll take care of everything."

Renard froze, not understanding. But San paid him no more attention.

In one instant, he stood before Renard. In the next, he appeared behind the Jupiter clan leader, his blades poised to take his head and this time, he would not stop.

...

The Jupiter clan leader reacted instantly, his needle-like blade clashing against San's twin swords.

In a second, they exchanged a hundred blows, sparks flying with each strike.

Iko didn't think twice and seized the opportunity to attack San from behind.

...

Major criminal organizations like the Mercure clan or the Jupiter clan owed their prosperity and longevity to the fact that they stayed under the Order's radar.

It was an unspoken rule in the underworld: draw the Order's attention, and your days were numbered.

Though they didn't fully understand the situation they were in, they wasted no time hesitating.

("If we let this guy escape, we're finished.") they thought.

...

Returning to the fight, Iko decided to finish it in a single strike.

<< Sigma Mode >>

<< Black Claw >>

He poured all his strength into this surprise attack. The Jupiter clan leader, seeing his intent, redoubled his efforts to give him the chance. His assaults grew more ferocious as he, too, activated:

<< Sigma Mode >>

<< Shadow Blade >>

His fine needle turned black, as if cloaked in shadow.

The two attacks seemed unavoidable when suddenly:

<< Doppelgänger >>

Two identical copies of San appeared behind the clan leaders, armed as well.