"You're tough," Roxie admitted, his grin returning despite the blood dripping down his arm. "But you're just delaying the inevitable."

Selene's lips curved into a faint, icy smile. "Am I?" Her dagger gleamed under the sunlight, her silver eyes locked onto the two assassins standing before her.

Roxie's orb pulsed like a miniature sun, sending arcs of green energy flickering into the air, while Crix's clones fanned out, their synchronized movements a disorienting dance.

"You're full of surprises," Roxie said, wiping blood from his chest where Selene's dagger had carved through. His grin faltered as he studied her steady posture. "But even you have a limit."

Selene cocked her head a little to the side, without blinking. "Do I?"

Crix's clones surged forward again, encircling her with blades gleaming in the distorted forest light. Selene tightened her grip on her dagger, her movements fluid as she weaved between the illusions.

One clone lunged for her left side; she parried the strike and kicked out, her boot shattering another into mist. Her dagger flashed, carving through a third clone as it dissolved into nothingness.

She felt the air shift behind her. Without looking, she ducked just as the real Crix's blade sliced past her shoulder. Using the momentum of her dodge, Selene pivoted and slammed her elbow into his ribs, sending him stumbling back.

"That's the real one," she muttered to herself, her mind racing.

"Think you're clever?" Crix sneered, his voice laced with pain. His clones, their movements now unpredictable but relentless, advanced to block her path.

Roxie launched another energy orb, the projectile streaking toward Selene with a crackling roar. She sidestepped, the explosion sending tremors through the ground and scattering debris into the air.

"Your tricks won't save you," Roxie growled, forming another orb. His glowing weapon pulsated with unstable energy, larger and deadlier than the last. "Let's see how fast you really are."

Selene lunged forward, her dagger cutting through the mist of another clone as she raced toward Roxie. I need to take him down before he gets that off.

Roxie hurled the orb, and Selene darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the searing energy as it detonated beside her. The shockwave threw her off balance, but she recovered quickly, using the momentum to close the distance between her and Roxie.

Her dagger slashed toward his throat, but Roxie ducked, his club swinging upward. With water-like movements, Selene twisted and drove her knee into his stomach. With a gasp, Roxie stumbled back, his smile turning into a frustrated grimace.

"Stop toying with her!" Crix barked in anger.

Suddenly, Selene's vision wavered for a split second.

Her balance faltered as her body screamed in protest. What's... happening? She glanced down, spotting the crimson stain spreading across her side. Blood dripped steadily from a wound she hadn't noticed in the chaos.

Roxie straightened, his orb reforming in his hand. "Tired already?" he taunted. "Looks like I was right—you do have a limit."

Selene gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand upright. Her dagger felt heavier, her limbs sluggish. Not yet. I can't stop yet. Her aloof expression cracked slightly as she gathered her thoughts and steadied her breathing.

"Crix," Roxie said, his confidence returning. "Let's end this."

Crix nodded, his clones surging forward once more.

Selene moved instinctively, her body reacting even as her vision blurred. She slashed through the illusions, each swing of her blade precise despite the weight dragging her down.

Crix appeared amidst the chaos, his blade aiming for her weakened side. Selene blocked with her dagger, the clash of steel ringing sharply. "You're persistent," Crix muttered, his strength bearing down on her.

Selene's knees buckled slightly under the force, but she twisted her wrist, breaking his grip and forcing him to stumble. Summoning what remained of her strength, she drove her dagger into his thigh, drawing a pained yell.

"ARRRGGGGHHHH!"

Roxie's orb made a menacing sound as he got ready for another strike. "Enough games!" he roared, the unstable energy in his hand expanding until it pulsed like a miniature storm.

Selene's legs felt like lead, but she planted her feet firmly, her gaze locked on Roxie. This has to end now.

Roxie hurled the orb with a deafening roar, the projectile hurtling toward her like a comet. Selene's vision blurred, but she focused on the glowing mass, her instincts guiding her movements.

At the last moment, she dived and rolled forward, the orb exploding just behind her. The shockwave propelled her forward, and she closed the distance between her and Roxie in an instant.

Her dagger plunged into his side, the blade slicing through armor and flesh. Roxie cried out, his grip on his club faltering as he staggered back. Selene twisted the blade before pulling it free, her expression cold as ice.

"Stay down," she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her limbs.

Crix lunged toward her, his blade flashing. Selene turned, her dagger deflecting the strike as she delivered a brutal elbow to his chest. He gasped, dropping his weapon as he fell to one knee.

Selene swayed, her vision tunneling. Blood dripped from her side, pooling at her feet. Just a little longer.

She tried to move forward but staggered, taking a deep breath to steady herself, her dagger gripped tightly as she glared down at Crix.

The assassin's clones flickered around him, their forms unstable as his focus wavered from the pain in his thigh. Blood seeped through his armor, his breath ragged as he struggled to rise.

"You're persistent," Crix spat, his voice laced with venom. "But you're bleeding out. How much longer can you keep this up?"

"Long enough," Selene said coldly.

Crix lunged toward her, his blade aimed at her throat. Selene sidestepped, her movements fluid despite the weight dragging her down. Her dagger flashed upward, slicing through the tendons in his wrist.

He cried out, his weapon falling uselessly to the ground.

Selene didn't pause.

She spun around him, her dagger plunging into his back with a sickening crack. She twisted the blade, cutting deep into the muscle as Crix's body convulsed.

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