he palace buzzed quietly with the hum of preparations. Flickering torches lined the grand corridors, their flames casting long shadows that danced on the ancient stone walls. Kev and Zack stood side by side in a private chamber, their bags packed but their minds far from rest.
Zack stretched lazily, cracking his knuckles with a playful grin. "Last night in the capital, Keal. We should celebrate—go out and make some noise."
Kev's eyes narrowed, calm but unreadable. "No distractions. We leave at dawn."
Zack rolled his eyes, smirking. "Come on, where's your sense of fun? One night won't kill us. Besides, I'm curious what kind of trouble we can find outside these walls."
The quiet unease in the room was palpable, but Zack brushed it aside with his usual banter.
out of anger keal said "fine"
Outside, silent figures slipped through the corridors, unseen and unfelt by all but the most vigilant.
The moon hung lazily in the sky as Zack practically skipped down the street, dragging a very unamused Kev behind him.
"I still don't understand why we're doing this," Kev muttered, adjusting his cloak as if it could shield him from the ridiculousness.
"Because, my dearest, grumpiest friend," Zack said dramatically, "this is our last night in the capital before we're shipped off to whatever warzone awaits. If I die tomorrow, I want to die with a smile—and preferably, lipstick on my collar."
Kev narrowed his eyes. "You've never had lipstick on your collar."
"Which is why I need to change that," Zack grinned, throwing open the golden doors of the infamous Velvet Mist brothel like he owned the place. Music drifted out, low and sultry, mingling with laughter and the scent of expensive perfume.
They stepped in, immediately assaulted by warm lighting, velvet curtains, and beautiful men and women lounging like royalty. A red-haired woman in a silk robe sauntered over, her voice like wine. "Zack... back again?"
Zack smirked. "Did you miss me, Roselle?"
"Like a hangover," she purred, before her gaze shifted to Kev. "And who's this dark cloud?"
Kev sighed. "I'm not—"
"He's shy," Zack interrupted, tossing an arm around Kev's shoulders. "Virgin heart, cold eyes, but deep down? Probably a romantic."
Kev elbowed him hard. "I will end you."
Roselle laughed. "You're cute. Brooding sells here, you know."
Zack gave a fake whisper to her, "He doesn't like people. But he secretly wants to."
"I do not," Kev said flatly.
Zack grinned. "Look at him, already blushing."
"I'm not—"
"You are."
Kev shoved Zack's arm off and walked ahead stiffly. "One drink. That's it."
"Two," Zack called, already accepting a tray of glasses from a server. "Live a little."
Kev paused as a woman with violet eyes passed him, her gaze lingering a second too long. She smiled faintly… then disappeared into the crowd.
"…Zack," Kev muttered.
"Yeah?" Zack said, already chatting up a trio of entertainers.
"Something's off."
Zack raised a glass. "You're always saying that. Try saying 'I'm having a good time' instead."
The Velvet Mist brothel pulsed with red light, draped in silk and sweet perfume. Zack leaned on the balcony rail of their private lounge, grinning down at the performers below.
"This, Keal… this is culture."
Kev stood beside him, arms folded, face blank. "This is a brothel."
"Exactly," Zack said, swirling his drink. "Where art, sin, and regret come to party."
Kev sighed. "We leave for the academy tomorrow. You could have rested."
"Rest is for cowards," Zack replied, grabbing a fruit from the tray. "Besides, this is our last night in the capital. We're celebrating."
Kev rolled his eyes. "You're celebrating. I'm babysitting."
Zack gasped dramatically. "Kev. That hurts. Deeply."
They were still bantering when the atmosphere changed.
The music died.
The laughter faded.
Below, the performers stood frozen, their eyes glassy, bodies stiff—like puppets without strings.
Then, silence.
Zack straightened slowly. "Okay… either this is an interactive horror show, or—"
A thud above. Then another.
Kev's eyes flicked upward.
The ceiling shattered.
Figures in black dropped like rain—masked, armored, and armed. The brothel transformed into a war zone in seconds. Blades glinted. Shadows danced. Screams erupted.
Keal shoved Zack back just as a curved blade slashed through the air where his head had been. Kev spun, ducked, and drove his fist into the attacker's gut, sending him crashing into a table.
"Ambush," Keal growled.
"No sh*t!" Zack shouted, scrambling behind a chair. "You think they take coupons!?"
More figures stormed in—over fifty. They came in waves. Kev could feel their strength—soldier rank, mid-level, some fast, some brutal. Too many.
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Movement]
Kev's body blurred. He weaved through blades, countered with savage precision. A jab to the throat. A sweep to the legs. A finishing blow to the temple.
He dropped five in ten seconds.
Zack grabbed a bottle and smashed it over an attacker's head. "Do I look like a noble? Go stab a duke!"
The assassins didn't speak. They came like a tide—twenty more surrounding Keal.
He vanished again.
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Eye]
The world slowed. Lines appeared—predicting motion, intent, weakness.
Kev flowed.
Elbow to one's chin. Dodged a dagger. Kicked another into a table.
But they kept coming.
Kev bled now—cut along the ribs. His breathing grew harsher. Too many. His legs began to slow.
"Kev!" Zack called, pinned near the bar, fending off two with a broken stool.
Kev turned toward him—eyes wide—
And that's when she appeared.
Kira.
She stepped through the red curtains like a phantom. Clad in black, blades in both hands. Her eyes locked on Kev.
Then she moved.
Fast. Silent. Deadly.
Kev blocked the first strike barely. The second slashed his shoulder. The third grazed his cheek.
She twisted around him like smoke—her tattoos glowing faintly with ink-like magic. Shadows clung to her blades.
"Why are you here?" Kev growled, panting.
She said nothing.
Just struck.
Kev caught her wrist—but she vanished into ink. Reappeared behind him.
He staggered as her blade pierced his side.
He dropped to one knee.
Zack, cornered, screamed, "KEAL"
Zack hand glowed ready to blow his cover to save keal
Kev looked up.
He saw Zack's face blood on his cheek, still grinning despite the madness , thinking it was Zack's.
And then he remebered zackline voice he got mad
He gritted his teeth.
"…Not again."
> [Core Triggered: Cell Manipulation]
> [Energy Amplification Initiated]
> [Limit Breach — Skill Evolution in Progress]
> [LEVEL UP: GENERAL - LOW]
> [NEW SKILL AWAKENED: SHADOW EYE - LASER EYE (Rare)]
His body pulsed. Light burst from within his eyes—blinding.
Kev stood.
The air trembled.
> [Activating Skill: LASER EYE]
ONE beams of condensed light shot from his eyes, sweeping across the brothel. The first wave of assassins disintegrated—flesh turned to ash. The beams sliced tables, walls, bodies. Screams filled the air.
Kira leapt back, barely dodging. Her mask cracked from the heat.
Kev stood tall, blood staining his side, eyes glowing faint silver.
He turned slowly to the remaining attackers.
"I said…" he breathed, voice low, "stay away from him."
They hesitated.
For the first time—they hesitated.
Zack stood up from behind the bar, blinking. "Dude…"
Kev didn't reply.
He turned toward Zack and nodded.
Zack grinned.
"…You're such a drama queen."
Kev barely blocked the first strike. The dagger felt like it cut into his very shadow. She moved faster than before—her attacks now laced with some kind of rhythm, as if dancing through shadow.
Zack yelled, "You gonna flirt or fight!?"
Kira moved around Kev like a whisper. Kev ducked, but she was gone.
Got it. Here's the revised Scene 4, ending exactly as you described:
---
Scene 4: Kira's Strike
The smoke hadn't cleared, but the tension had shifted. Kev stood, his breath shallow, body bruised, and one arm trembling from overuse of Laser Eye. Across from him, Kira stepped from the shadows—composed but no longer flawless. A gash ran down her side, dark ink dripping like blood. Her eyes held rage, but also calculation.
The other assassins hesitated, watching their strongest be wounded.
Zack, crouched behind an overturned bench, whistled. "Wow, Kev, you really know how to impress a lady."
Kev didn't smile. His shadow pulsed. "She's not done."
Kira raised her hands again. Ink twisted and formed a jagged spear, swirling mid-air.
> [Unique Skill Activated: Ink Manifestation – Spear Form]
She launched it. Kev barely dodged, but the spear grazed his ribs, cutting through his side like paper.
He grunted, spinning and reappearing behind her using Shadow Movement, then striking with a direct blow to her abdomen.
She gasped—air forced out of her lungs.
For a second, just a second, her stance broke.
Kev's hand flared with shadow energy, about to finish it—
But then—
A sudden wave of killing intent flooded the room.
The other assassins—at least twenty—stepped forward, weapons drawn.
Two flanked them, dragging heavy steel halberds.
Another stepped into view—his presence radiating Soldier Peak level pressure.
Kev's knees buckled slightly. Kira, bleeding, had retreated to the side—but her eyes narrowed. Watching.
Kev was panting, wounded, and low on energy. He tried to summon his shadow again, but it flickered.
Zack's voice broke the silence.
"Keal!"
He rushed toward him, panic in his voice.
Kev turned slowly. Blood trickled down his chin.
Even has he leveled up
He was outnumbered.
Outmatched.
And completely spent.
Zack reached for him just as the circle of assassins closed in from all sides.