3rd person POV
The underground was shaking. Explosions echoed everywhere.
Masses of dead bodies everywhere. Almost all of them-dead. Some were alive but critically wounded, waiting for their death.
In the middle of it, Ran was on the ground, barely breathing. His shirt was soaked in blood, a deep cut across his gut was worsening with each second. His hands were trying to hold it shut, but it was too deep.
If he pressed a finger on it, he could feel his intestine.
Kugh!!
He is vomiting blood almost dead. His eyes closing and his heartbeat fading.
Hardt hovered a few feet away. His long coat blew in the wind that he was controlling. Invisible blades of air circled him, sharp and fast. His eyes gave murderous glint and his mouth was widening in amusement.
"You're no match for me kid."
Ran didn't answer. He couldn't. He just coughed up blood, still trying to move.
Dawn ran to him, falling to her knees beside him.
"No... No, please!" her moist eyes almost falling tears.
"Don't die! You're not supposed to die!"
His hand moved a little.
With all his strength he touched her cheek, and spoke in low deep voice.
"Fucking..... run!!!"
Then his head tilted, and his body went limp.
Dawn froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, eyes wide, hands shaking.
Something inside her broke.
A sharp sting hit her right eye. She screamed, gripping her head.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Then everything around her changed. Her vision turned red. Her heartbeat sped up. She felt like her whole body was burning from the inside.
Her right eye glowed a deep crimson.
The Crimson Veil had awakened.
Her broken dagger was still hanging at her side. It suddenly changed reforming itself into a sharper, stronger blade.
"Tch!! this will be annoying."
Hardt monologued taking his fighting stance.
Adrenaline surged through her. Every part of her body moved faster. Her strength, speed, and reaction time jumped to a level far beyond any human could imagine.
Her mind stayed focused, even though the pressure would make a normal person faint instantly.
The magician raised his hand again. "Such a shame! I have no choice but to kill you." he muttered.
He launched a fast-moving ball of compressed air toward her.
But Dawn wasn't there.
She had already moved.
In the blink of an eye, she was behind him. Her movement was so fast it left a gust of wind behind her.
The magician turned, eyes wide in surprise. He raised a shield of swirling wind.
Dawn didn't stop.
She slashed through the wind shield like it was paper. Her new dagger glowed red as it cut clean through the air barrier. The magician gasped and jumped back, trying to gather more wind to strike again.
But the air wouldn't listen to him anymore.
Dawn's power had disrupted it. His own magic was slipping out of his control.
She didn't give him time to recover.
Dashing forward again, she dodged a flurry of wind blades. One sliced across her shoulder but she didn't flinch. Her dagger came up fast. She aimed the magician's chest.
His eyes went wide. Mouth open. No sound came out.
But with his god like reflex he sacrificed his right arm.
Kgh!!
He let out small pained noise.
Dawn pulled the blade out and kicked him back. He hit the ground hard.
Hardt clicked his tongue. "You're still breathing? Fine. Let's fix that."
Dawn was already on the move. Her dagger ready. Her Crimson Veil still active—her right eye glowing bright red.
Every step was faster than the last, but she was starting to slow down. The power was pushing her body beyond its limits.
Hardt noticed she was slowing down so he changed his approach.
He let her come in close.
And when she did, he twisted the wind behind her.
A wind blade cut across her stomach deep and clean.
"Bullseye", he saiid with satisfaction
Her eyes widened.
Blood sprayed out.
She dropped to one knee, gasping. The pain was sharp, deep, but she didn't fall. Not yet.
Hardt backed away, sill on guard.
"You are tough all right."
Dawn looked down at the blood spilling from her gut. Her hand pressed against it. Her vision blurred but she forced herself to stay upright.
She turned her head to look at him. the man lying in a pool of his own blood, barely conscious.
Her legs shook as she began crawling toward him.
"I learned... a bit of healing."
she whispered.
"Not enough to save myself... but maybe just enough... to close your wound."
Every move sent a wave of pain through her body. She dragged herself inch by inch. Her dagger slipped from her hand, but she didn't care.
She reached him. Finally.
She rested her hand over his open stomach, blood mixing with hers.
Her voice shook. "This should… seal it... stop the bleeding. I just need a few seconds…"
Faint golden light glowed from her fingertips. The magic flickered but she was barely holding it. Her body was shutting down. She couldn't breathe right. But she kept going.
"Come on… work…"
She siad frustratingly.
And then, as the light faded, she collapsed beside him.
Her breathing slowed.
But before the darkness took her, she spoke.
A soft small voice almost inaudible.
"I was treated like a tool… back in the Montello family. Just a knife for them to use. Orders, missions, silence. No warmth. No choice.
But you… you were different.
You saw me. Not just a weapon. You talked to me. Fought beside me. You made me blush… even when I tried not to.
I know what kind of person you are. Ruthless to your enemies… but kind to the people you protect. You cared. Even if you didn't show it much, I could see it… through my Crimson Veil.
I've only known you for a short time… but even if it's foolish… I want to give you my life.
Live. Please... live. That's all I want."
Her eyes closed.
The battlefield around them was still raging. The man staring at the scene nonchalantly.
"What a waste!"
He said turning around, ready to leave.
Leaving a broken assassin and the man she tried to save.
Her dagger dropped from her hand. She fell to her knees beside the man she cared about. His body was still. His blood but he was not moving.
Tears rolled down her face.
"You weren't supposed to die... I was supposed to protect you…"
But there was no answer.
Just the wind blowing through the broken courtyard.