The present moment was thick with tension.
The assassin crouched low behind a wall, chest heaving, heart racing.
That suit-wearing bastard… he lied, they thought bitterly.
He said Knightmare was strong — not a monster. This guy doesn't fight like a person… it's like facing a beast that doesn't think, doesn't hesitate to kill.
Still, they clenched their fists.
But I'm not weak. I can take him…
CRASH!
A fist tore through the wall where they were hiding — only a last-second dodge saved them.
Too slow.
Knightmare's hand whipped out and grabbed them by the throat. With a brutal roar, he hurled the assassin through a nearby window.
SMASH!
Glass exploded in all directions as their body hit the pavement hard.
"Okay… never mind," the assassin coughed, dazed. "They're physically way stronger than me."
They tried to push themselves up—
BAM!
Knightmare's boot connected with their face like a sledgehammer kicking a soccer ball.
The assassin flew backward and crashed into a wall.
"You're gonna tell me…"
Knightmare stomped his boot down, pressing against the assassin's neck.
"EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW!"
"TELL ME!"
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Another explosion tore through the space, forcing Knightmare to leap away.
He landed in a crouch, shielding his face from the blast and debris.
Somebody's helping the assassin… or more likely…
His eyes narrowed.
They're the one causing these explosions…
He glanced at a puddle evaporating nearby.
It's the liquid… they can turn even a drop into a bomb.
From the smoke, the assassin emerged, unharmed by their own detonation.
They sighed with relief.
"Aw… you managed to slip out. Shame. I almost got you."
Knightmare didn't respond.
He turned and ran — without hesitation, without a word.
The assassin blinked.
"...Wait. Huh? HEY! Where the hell do you think you're going?! You coward!"
Frustrated, they focused — moisture gathered on their palms.
Their sweat began to fizzle and—
BOOM!
They launched themselves forward like a rocket, propelled by their own explosive sweat, soaring through the air as the chase began.
Knightmare ran fast, dodging every glowing liquid projectile hurled at him.
Each miss detonated behind him, ripping up pavement and buildings alike.
"This is about to be an entrance!"
Knightmare grinned under his mask—
CRASH!
He dove through a restaurant window, glass scattering across the floor as he rolled into the building. The assassin followed hot on his heels.
"You can't hide forever!"
Their voice echoed through the now-empty eatery.
They crept forward, scanning every shadowed corner—
SLAM!
Knightmare tackled them from the darkness, slamming them into a nearby room.
The door slammed shut behind them.
"Oh… I wasn't planning on hiding," he said darkly.
"Pfft, please."
The assassin rolled their eyes.
"I'll just blow this place up, get some space, and finish the job."
They raised their hand to summon their explosive sweat—
Nothing.
"...Huh?"
They tried again.
"...What? Why… why can't I sweat?"
Knightmare's footsteps echoed as he approached slowly, menacingly.
His tone was low — cold.
"You fool. This entire setup… was my plan."
He paused, gesturing around.
"This room — it's a meat storage unit. Refrigerated. No heat, no sweat."
Realization dawned.
The assassin's eyes widened in horror.
"Y-You… you lured me in here?"
Knightmare nodded.
"It's the perfect counter. You rely on your ability — not your fists.
And now we're in tight quarters, no escape…
Just you and me."
He grabbed them by the collar, lifting them off the ground.
"...Oh no."
CRACK!
A brutal headbutt.
SLAP!
A backhand that sent the assassin reeling across the room, crashing into the wall.
THUD!
A front kick to the face — blood flew from their mouth as they hit the floor, gasping for breath.
Knightmare didn't stop.
He grabbed them again — lifted high into the air—
BOOM!
A devastating powerbomb slammed them into the ground with enough force to shake the entire cooler room.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Hours Later…
The assassin stirred.
Their body ached, every bone screaming in pain.
They blinked groggily, finding themselves in a hospital bed, clean sheets covering their bruised frame.
Standing beside them, arms crossed, was a familiar figure.
Unmoving. Unforgiving.
Knightmare.
His voice was calm — disturbingly so.
"Well, well, well… looks like Sleeping Beauty decided to wake up."
He stepped closer, voice lowering to a sinister whisper.
"Shame, really. I was too busy beating the life out of you to notice… I was turning a young, bright-eyed girl into a corpse."
The assassin's eyes widened.
They said nothing — just yanked the blanket over their face in shame and fear.