Morning crept into the Deadlands quietly, its weak light struggling to cut through the gray clouds. Sunny was already awake, sharpening his blade out of habit. Being a Razor meant never letting your guard down not even for a heartbeat. A Razor who relaxed was a Razor who died.
He paused, staring out the small window as the sun slowly climbed.
If there really is a place outside the Deadlands… then maybe Sis and Bro could live there. A real home. A safe place for their child.
He exhaled deeply.
But I can't rush. I need to think. I need to plan. I can't afford mistakes.
Sunny didn't know that while he watched the sunrise, someone else was watching him from the shadows quiet, patient, and dangerous.
---
The day passed with the usual chaos: training, arguments, and dull errands. When evening settled, Sunny stood outside his sister's home, hand on the door… but he couldn't go in.
Maybe he was still angry at them for hiding things.
Maybe he was angry at himself for feeling guilty.
Either way, he wasn't ready.
He turned away.
Thunder rolled across the Deadlands sky.
"Tch. Really? Rain now?" Sunny muttered.
A flash of lightning cut through the clouds, followed by a violent downpour. Rain hammered the ground relentlessly, soaking him immediately. The once-busy streets were now silent completely deserted. Even Drifters avoided wandering in storms like these.
As Sunny walked, he suddenly noticed a faint light behind him.
He turned sharply.
A car.
An actual car.
Even after the Great Cataclysm, cars still existed, but only high-ranking individuals could afford or maintain one people like King Talon, the Viper, or nobles who had influence in the Deadlands. Strength ruled this land… but money still whispered power.
The car rolled to a stop right in front of him.
Sunny's instincts screamed.
This wasn't a coincidence.
The doors opened, and five men stepped out, surrounding him with grim expressions. Their swords gleamed in the rain.
Sunny cracked his neck.
"Well… I guess I needed to blow off some steam anyway."
They rushed him.
The first attacker swung wildly. Sunny tilted his head slightly, letting the blade pass before burying his foot into the man's stomach. The man flew back, crashing onto the wet pavement.
Another slashed at Sunny's ribs.
Sunny parried cleanly
Clang! then elbowed him across the jaw.
A third tried to flank him. Sunny grabbed his wrist, twisted sharply.
Snap! and kicked him into a wall.
Within seconds, the first four were on the ground, groaning in pain.
Sunny wiped rainwater from his face.
"That all you got?"
But the last man stepped forward slowly.
Different stance.
Different posture.
Different presence.
He carried a spear a weapon rarely seen in the Deadlands. And he held it with the ease of someone trained, not a common thug.
Sunny's expression sharpened.
"A spear, huh? Fine. Let's see what you've got."
The man didn't speak. He dashed forward, thrusting the spear with incredible accuracy. Sunny barely dodged the first strike as it pierced the ground behind him.
The man twirled the spear and attacked again fast, fluid, deadly.
Sunny blocked the strike with his sword but felt the impact rattle his arm.
"Tch… you're better than the others."
The spear wielder smirked and pressed the attack. Sunny stepped back, dodging the relentless thrusts. Each movement cut through the rain, water spraying with every clash.
Sunny's blade scraped against the spear's shaft skrrt! but the man spun it around, knocking Sunny off balance.
Sunny gritted his teeth.
He's good… better than I expected.
Another thrust came dangerously close, grazing Sunny's cheek.
"All right…" Sunny lowered his stance, gripping his sword with both hands. "No more playing."
His eyes sharpened, and his aura shifted the air around him trembling faintly.
Sword Art: Crashing Flow.
He stepped forward once.
Just once.
The spear man froze too slow to react.
CLANG!
Sunny's blade crashed against the spear, snapping it clean in half.
Before the man could recover, Sunny moved again
Fast. Precise. Unwavering.
SHIIING
His blade sliced across the man's arm and chest, sending him collapsing into the mud with a strangled cry.
Rain washed the blood away almost instantly.
Sunny exhaled slowly, letting his sword drop to his side.
He wasn't out of breath, but he wasn't calm either. Whoever sent these men didn't come to scare him they came to kill him.
Sunny looked toward the alley on the left, sensing something… someone.
His voice cut through the storm.
"You can come out now."