The Last Gate: Rise of the Analyst

The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the abandoned building as Jun Xin leaned against the cold wall, catching his breath. Hana stood a few feet away, arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on him.

"So," she said, her voice cutting through the silence, "are you going to explain why an assassin is chasing you, or do I have to guess?"

Jun Xin studied her for a moment, unsure how much he could trust her. But after the events of the night, he knew he couldn't afford to stay silent.

"I don't know who sent them," he admitted, his tone cautious. "But it's not the first time someone's been after me."

Hana arched an eyebrow. "That's vague. Try harder."

Jun Xin sighed, brushing his messy hair out of his eyes. "I work as an analyst. My job involves uncovering patterns and finding anomalies in Gate data. Lately, I've been seeing things that don't add up. I think someone doesn't like me digging around."

Her expression didn't change, but Jun Xin caught a hint of interest in her gaze.

"You're not just an analyst, are you?" she asked. "The way you handled yourself back there—most analysts would've been caught in the first minute."

He shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I've learned to think on my feet. Comes with the job."

Hana didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. Instead, she shifted her stance, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Whatever you've uncovered, it's dangerous," she said. "And if these people are after you, they won't stop until they get what they want."

Jun Xin's jaw tightened. "You think I don't know that? But I can't just walk away. If I do, who's going to expose them?"

For a moment, Hana didn't respond. Then she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts alone won't keep you alive."

"Then why did you help me?" Jun Xin countered.

Hana hesitated, her expression guarded. "Because you're not the only one who's seen too much. These people—they're bigger than you realize. And if we don't stop them, they'll keep controlling everything from the shadows."

Meanwhile, the masked figure prowled through the city, their every step precise and calculated. They moved with an unrelenting focus, scanning the streets for any sign of their target.

Their communicator buzzed softly in their ear. "Report," the distorted voice commanded.

"The target escaped but is likely nearby," the figure replied. "He's resourceful but inexperienced. I'll locate him soon."

There was a pause, then the voice returned, colder than before. "You underestimated him. Don't let it happen again. We can't afford failure."

The figure's jaw tightened beneath their mask. "Understood."

They cut the connection and resumed their search. Jun Xin had proven more elusive than expected, but they wouldn't let him slip away again.

Back in the abandoned building, Jun Xin paced the room, his thoughts spinning. He glanced at Hana, who was leaning against the wall, her expression unreadable.

"Do you know anything about them?" he asked.

Hana hesitated, then nodded. "A little. They're part of an underground network—powerful, well-connected, and ruthless. They're not just involved in Gates; they're tied to politics, corporations, and even law enforcement. People who cross them tend to disappear."

Jun Xin's stomach tightened. "Great. So I've managed to annoy the worst people possible."

Hana smirked slightly. "Pretty much."

He stopped pacing and faced her. "If they're so powerful, how do we fight them?"

Hana's expression grew serious. "We don't—at least, not directly. The only way to bring them down is to expose them. We need proof—something solid that can't be buried or ignored."

Jun Xin nodded slowly. "I've been collecting data, but it's scattered. I need time to organize it, to figure out how it all connects."

"Time is something we don't have," Hana said. "They'll come for you again, and next time, they won't hold back."

Jun Xin clenched his fists. "Then we'll have to stay ahead of them. If we can find out who's behind this, we can turn the tables."

Hana studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But if we're going to do this, we need to move fast. Staying here is too risky."

The sound of a distant engine broke the silence, followed by the crunch of tires on gravel. Hana's head snapped toward the window, her body tensing.

"They've found us," she said, her voice low.

Jun Xin's pulse quickened. "How? We didn't leave a trail."

"They have resources we can't imagine," Hana replied. She grabbed a small bag from the corner of the room and slung it over her shoulder. "Come on, we need to go."

They slipped out the back door, sticking to the shadows as they moved through the narrow alleys. The sound of approaching footsteps sent Jun Xin a jolt of fear, but Hana remained calm, her movements calculated.

"This way," she whispered, leading him toward a side street.

They had barely made it halfway across when a figure stepped out from the darkness, blocking their path. It was the assassin, their blade glinting faintly in the dim light.

"You've run far enough," the masked figure said, their voice cold and steady.

Hana pulled a small dagger from her belt, her stance shifting into a defensive position. "You take one step closer, and I'll make you regret it."

The assassin didn't respond. Instead, they lunged, their blade slicing through the air with a deadly strike.

Hana met the attack head-on, her movements fluid and controlled. She parried the blade, countering with a swift strike aimed at the assassin's side.

Jun Xin watched in awe, He wanted to help but he knew he'd only get in the way. Instead, he scanned the area, looking for anything he could use.

His eyes landed on a stack of metal pipes leaning against a wall. Grabbing one, he ran toward the fight, positioning himself behind the assassin.

"Hey!" he shouted, swinging the pipe with all his strength.

The assassin turned at the last second, raising their blade to deflect the blow. The impact sent a jarring vibration through Jun Xin's arms, but it gave Hana an opening.

She moved swiftly, her dagger slicing across the assassin's shoulder. They staggered back, but their movements were still unnervingly precise.

"We can't keep this up," Hana said, glancing at Jun Xin. "We need to get out of here."

Jun Xin nodded, his grip tightening on the pipe. "Got any ideas?"

Hana's eyes darted to a nearby alley. "There's a fire escape at the end of that alley. If we can reach it, we can lose them."

"Let's go," Jun Xin said.

They bolted toward the alley, the assassin close behind. Hana reached the fire escape first, scaling it with practiced ease. Jun Xin followed, his hands slipping on the cold metal as he climbed.

The assassin reached the base of the ladder, their blade slashing at the supports. The fire escape shook, but it held.

Reaching the rooftop, Hana pulled Jun Xin to his feet. "Keep moving," she said, leading him across the rooftops.

They didn't stop until they reached a building on the district's edge, its rooftop offering a clear view of the city below.

For a moment, they stood in silence, catching their breath. Then Hana turned to Jun Xin, her expression serious.

"This isn't over," she said. "They'll keep coming until we stop them for good."

Jun Xin nodded, his determination hardening. "Then we'd better make our next move count."