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"You're Hexia Tilan, right?" He spat out the cigarette butt, twisted it under his foot with a friction so intense it made one's heart tremble, and the steel floor even bore some scratches.
The girl retreated a step, looking at the black-haired youth in front of her, her magic power rapidly circulating within, reaching out along her body.
Dragon Sequence 4・Unknown (Rating: Rare Radiant Gold Level)
In Hexia's vision, the magic power of the Dragon Sequence around the black-haired youth appeared almost tangible, issuing threads as if to ignite the air itself, imposing a suffocating heat.
"I am Hexia Tilan." The girl struggled to calm herself, quickly thinking of ways to deal with the situation.
Running away wasn't an option, Hexia had once been told so by someone familiar, but unfortunately, she had never managed to do so until after a brush with death, which gave her just a bit of resolution and courage.
"Oh, quite honest, admitting it just like that."
The black-haired youth raised his head, his dark fringe parting to reveal intimidating golden eyes that cast a wave of oppression and fear through the cramped space.
The handbag fell to the ground, the originally white bag slowly soaked by the puddles on the floor, staining it a layer of grey-black.
Hexia turned her head and started running, the familiar corridors and corners shaking in her field of vision as she quickly thought of the nearest station of the Autonomous Units tasked with riot control.
The closest one was on the upper floor to the north, near a small supermarket, next to which was an unmanned police booth housing the Autonomous Units.
But then, a ferocious punch from behind interrupted her thoughts.
She was flung into the air like a rag doll, crashing into the corridor's wall, wracked with agonizing pain as if her body was falling apart.
In the world-upending pain, she slid down the wall and rolled on the floor twice before coming to a stop, her body covered in abrasions and bruises.
"Huh, that's it?"
The black-haired youth pocketed his hands, stepping towards her, looking at the girl in agony on the ground.
"Such fragility." After saying so, he kicked out once more, and Hexia was sent flying again, tracing a long parabola in the air, rolling over the steel floor seven or eight times before stopping.
Her arms and wrists were full of cuts and blood, and her knees had scraped off a layer of skin, the dark red blood moistening the girl's thighs.
"Boring."
The black-haired youth approached again and then stepped on the girl's left hand, eliciting a miserable scream that even included the sound of bones breaking.
Over ten seconds later, he lifted his foot, looking down at the girl on the ground sweating coldly, convulsing and struggling, a hint of contempt and irritation flickered in his eyes.
Such a boring creature, how could master have fallen to such a person...
The other made a sudden move, leaping and kicking off the wall, flashing past Hexia's view before slamming down with his foot, sending Hexia crashing through the old railing and flinging her out.
Without the protection of the railing, the girl fell into the darkness below, quickly becoming invisible.
Looking into the deep elevator shaft, the dark-haired youth also ceased his actions, regretting that his last move might have been too swift.
Don't die so easily...
Then he too jumped down.
...
Chilled water infiltrated Hexia's body, forcefully pulling her back to consciousness. In pitch darkness, she felt herself continuously sinking into the deep, stagnant water.
All light and sound faded away, her limbs began twitching numbly, only able to despairingly sense her ongoing descent.
Water filled her lungs, the sharp pain made her struggle in agony, but no sound could escape her lips, and her ears were filled with the murky sound of water.
Hexia couldn't swim and was unable to under these circumstances, a cold chill creeping up from the bottom of her heart and spreading through her limbs.
Death was drawing near...
Consciousness blurred amidst sharp pain, fear, and futile struggling, her limbs flailing helplessly unable to grasp anything solid, just the murky frigid water flow.
Whimper... cough cough... intense coughing impulses came from her chest and lungs, but the despair was that there was no way to alleviate it.
At last, her struggles weakened, her limbs stopped flailing, her taut body slowly relaxed, and then gradually sank down.
Blue eyes stared blankly into the darkness above, gradually losing their luster...
It's all over, Hexia...
The darkness spread further, finally shrouding everything, Hexia could no longer see anything, just the cold water sounds by her ears.
Knowing she was about to die, she calmed, no longer holding any hope or prayers.
Such is life, she supposed...
She slowly closed her eyes, the only light in the darkness, a pale blue dot, also flickered and dispersed.
...
Temisia didn't know what feelings she had when she entered this pitch-black night. If only it hadn't been so painful and regretful.
I truly envy my sister; she's always been so calm.
If I can survive, I want to be like her, not running from anything, not lying to myself anymore, facing everything with honesty.