That familiar name made Carlotta stop in her tracks instinctively.
For the Montelli, the Order of the Deep and the Fisalia family were their greatest enemies.
Carlotta, as the esteemed second daughter of the family, was bound by the strictures of her status and upbringing. The nobility flowing in her veins, the refined elegance cultivated since childhood, they were like invisible shackles, constantly reminding her that she should keep her distance from members of the Fisalia family and avoid conflict at all costs, lest she bring unnecessary trouble and strife upon her family.
"But…"
"Going out of my way to annoy those guys a little… shouldn't be a big deal."
Looking at the pizza shop just ahead, a slight upward curve touched the corner of Carlotta's mouth. Then, she turned and left the block.
…
…
The moment the word "Fisalia" left Ray's lips, the movements of the remaining two men faltered almost imperceptibly.
Ray narrowed his eyes, keenly catching that fleeting hesitation.
"Just as I thought.You really are connected to the Fisalia family."
"But I don't get it. I'm just an ordinary employee. I'm not even Montelli by blood. What use is grabbing me?"
How could their family feud extend to ordinary people?I'm just a worker.
Ray truly couldn't understand it.
"Hmph! Heretics, defiers of the Sentinel! Even if you've thrown your lot in with the Montelli, you cannot escape judgment!"
"We have our reasons for taking you!"
Before the words had even finished, one of them lunged with ferocious intent, swinging his baton with a sharp whoosh as he charged at Ray like a rabid wolf.
"…Here we go again. Straight to violence without a conversation."
"Do you all just have anger management issues?"
Ray let out a long sigh.
He really couldn't understand people like this. They held their faith and doctrine as supreme truth, yet remained utterly indifferent to the warmth and realities of the mortal world, as if living in a separate, cold dimension.
Trying to reach an understanding with such a group through peaceful conversation was nothing but a fool's errand.
Perhaps, in their worldview, there was only one direct and straightforward method to get a point across and make them understand another's position.
"All right, if that's how it is…"
"Then let's use 'violence' as the answer."
His voice took on a sudden, sharp edge.
Moving with lightning speed, he yanked off his jacket.
He flung it at the charging man. The jacket billowed through the air, perfectly enveloping the man's head and obscuring his vision.
Blinded, the man stumbled. His steps became chaotic, his arms flailing wildly as he grasped at nothing.
Ray wasn't about to let this fleeting opportunity slip away.
He darted forward, closing the distance in an instant and positioning himself at the man's side.
Then he swung his right arm back, his fist cutting through the air with a whoosh before slamming with devastating force into the man's abdomen.
The punch carried enough power to feel as if it could pierce through flesh and bone, striking straight at the organs within.
A wave of excruciating pain, like a sledgehammer blow, radiated from the man's stomach. His body instinctively folded forward with a pained grunt.
Seeing his companion in distress, the other man let out a furious roar and lunged at Ray from the side, aiming a sneak attack.
Ray reacted instantly. His left foot slid back, his center of gravity shifting as he pivoted his body, neatly evading the sudden assault.
As the attacker overextended and lost balance, Ray's left hand shot out and grabbed the man's arm. He yanked it backward sharply while simultaneously driving his right knee upward with brutal force, smashing it into the man's face.
The impact was savage and precise. The man crumpled, unable to make a sound.
Meanwhile, the one who had finally managed to pull the jacket off his head barely had time to register his surroundings before Ray was on him. A swift kick to the knee sent a jolt of agony through his leg.
The man cried out, dropping to one knee.
Seizing the moment, Ray grabbed his shoulder and heaved, throwing him hard onto the ground.
In moments, both men were rendered helpless, sprawled on the pavement and moaning in pain.
"Bastard!"
"How is he this strong? The intel didn't mention this!"
"In that case… try this!"
The two who had been beaten down at the start finally managed to fight through the overwhelming pain. Lifting their heads, they saw their companions also defeated and groveling on the ground. Rage erupted within them like a volcano.
Gritting their teeth, they pulled out their terminals without hesitation. Fingers flew across the screens, frantically inputting commands to summon their Echoes.
Instantly, the air rippled with a mysterious disturbance. Two towering figures slowly coalesced from formless frequencies.
These entities mimicked the proud, imposing stance of noble retainers, standing before Ray and radiating a powerful sense of threat.
"Blade Nobles?"
Ray unconsciously spoke the names of the two Echoes.
If the Vitreum Dancer was the iconic Echo associated with certain noble houses, then the Blade Noble was, without a doubt, the formidable signature mark of houses aligned with the Fisalia's prestige.
"…This just got tricky."
Ray clicked his tongue and took an involuntary step back.
As a member of Averardo Bank's Defense Department, he was no stranger to fights. But his usual opponents were just petty thieves with sticky fingers, people who didn't require anywhere near his full strength to deal with.
Because of that, he rarely had to battle Echoes.
Let alone Echoes linked to the Fisalia family.
What now?
He instinctively glanced down at his hands. He had no decent weapon on him.
Facing two combat-type Echoes with just his bare fists was like an ant trying to shake a tree, the odds were miserably slim.
He might even get seriously hurt.
"Heh heh. Starting to sweat, kid?"
"Be smart. Come with us quietly. Once we're done with our business, we'll let you go."
Seeing Ray's momentum stall under the pressure of the Echoes, the Fisalia men grew smug and arrogant. Their expressions turned haughty, their tone increasingly domineering.
Hearing this, Ray merely smiled, a faint, amused curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
He tilted his head slightly, his tone light, as if discussing a trivial matter."Do you know how much they dock your pay for a single day's absence from the bank?"
"Besides," he continued, "I'm only a few days away from getting my perfect attendance bonus this month. I really don't want to lose it because of whatever nonsense you've got going on. That just wouldn't be cost-effective."
"Looks like you prefer the hard way! Grab him, don't let him escape!"
The Fisalia man's eyes bulged with fury, his voice a distorted roar as he viciously barked the attack order to the Echoes beside him.
At that, the teasing smile vanished from Ray's lips, replaced by a grave expression.
The two Blade Nobles shot forward like lightning, a sharp whistling sound accompanying their charge.
The blades in their hands glinted with cold, menacing light, carving lethal arcs through the air as if tearing the atmosphere itself apart.
The Echoes moved with terrifying speed and precision, their strength far surpassing that of any human. Each attack carried overwhelming force, forcing Ray to give it his all, not daring to relax for even a second.
After all, the power of an Echo was not something an ordinary person could contend with.
Their speed, strength, and skill were on another level entirely.
'Can't keep dodging forever. My stamina will run out. I have to go on the offensive.'
Finally, in the heat of the clash, Ray spotted a fleeting opening.
One of the Blade Nobles, after delivering a heavy sword swing, leaned forward slightly, its balance momentarily compromised. The other Blade Noble was positioned to its side and rear, unable to cover the gap immediately.
'This is it.'
Ray pushed off the ground with his toes, his body shooting toward the off-balance Echo like an arrow.
But the Blade Noble was, after all, an Echo, possessing combat instincts and reaction speeds far beyond human limits.
Just as Ray was about to close in, the Echo swiftly adjusted its posture. Its feet slammed against the ground, propelling its body backward several steps and easily evading his assault.
At the same time, the other Blade Noble reacted instantly. It lunged forward, its sword slashing viciously toward Ray's flank.
WHOOSH—
A wave of suffocating pressure crashed into him.
His dark pupils reflected the world, the pitch-black night, the silent street, and the sharp edge of the blade.
Time seemed to freeze. Even the wind fell still.
Yet within that suspended instant, deep inside those pitch black irises, faint golden light began to flow, slowly, almost imperceptibly.
Until a sharp, deafening gunshot shattered the silence of the night.
.....
Happy New Year!🎉🎉