The two of them stabbed each other with desperate intensity.
Both had expressions twisted in pain, yet their arms did not stop.
Though the gruesome visuals were somewhat omitted, the crimson splatters hinted at the brutal wounds.

Almost every pro player sets their pain sensitivity high.
It helps reduce the time needed to check the interface.

The severity of the injuries just sustained, or whether there was significant bleeding—
In intense battles, feeling the damage directly through the body is much faster than seeing it on the screen.
Typically, players start at 20% and gradually increase it, finding their ideal sensitivity.

But with advantages come disadvantages.
Above 20%, pain sensitivity can cause considerable discomfort depending on where the attack lands.
Thus, in pro matches, intentionally inflicting pain on the opponent has also become a tactical approach.

For assassins of that caliber... they’d likely mastered such skills.

“So intense.”

Luce’s observation slipped out.

It was exactly that.
The match had ended in Gawol’s victory, but even at a glance, the pain looked excruciating.
Just looking at her trembling right hand, Luce could guess her state.

The reaction was much more intense than anticipated. Maybe she was naturally more sensitive.
If so, the pain must have been truly agonizing.
Yet, even in such pain, Gawol smiled with relief.

There were probably only two types of people like that in the world.
One was someone who thirsted for victory to the point of desperation.
And the other was simply insane.

Luce leaned toward the former.

Commentator:
“Coincidentally, they’re up against each other again in the same arena.”
“Haruka seems to have adjusted her build, while Gawol enters with no changes from the previous match.”
“It’s a show of confidence. Gawol’s mentality is unbreakable—she won the last match and feels no need to change.”

Since it was the same arena, the opening played out similarly.
Both searched for the other, aiming to find their opponent first.
The difference now was that Haruka had brought a new trick.

Fine threads were strung along Haruka’s path, a common tool for assassins known as Silver Threads.

Commentator:
“Looks like Gawol has found her.”
“She’s moving in first.”
“The placement of those threads is concerning. It seems she hasn’t noticed them yet.”
“Luck isn’t on her side—without a light nearby, the threads are invisible.”

By the time the fifth thread was set up,
Gawol had scaled a pillar and pushed off, launching a sudden attack.

A flawless ambush as usual.
But seeing the threads too late proved to be a fatal mistake.
In her hurry to avoid them, her attack trajectory veered off course.

The dagger aimed at a vital spot narrowly grazed Haruka’s thigh.
The kunoichi’s fishnet stockings tore, and blood splattered, but that was all.
It wasn’t a satisfying exchange.

Meanwhile, Haruka gained time to form hand seals.

[‘Ninjutsu: Goblin Flame’ engraves the ‘Liang’ mark.]

Violet flames engulfed the assassin’s body.
Though she quickly escaped the flames, what awaited in her escape route was the kunoichi’s kunai, aimed at her abdomen.

As the kunai tore through her flesh, a prickling sensation surged through Haruka’s wrist—
—only to feel nothing.
Haruka’s eyes widened in shock as her blade passed through a body that dissipated like smoke.

A clone? At this timing? Then where’s the real body?
The unanswered question quickly found its answer.

A gloved hand emerged from the still-smoldering flames.
It grabbed Haruka’s ankle and plunged a dagger into it.
Though she managed to substitute with a log at the last moment, the injury she sustained couldn’t be undone.

A wide grin appeared on Luce’s face, and he let out a childlike exclamation.

“Did you see that? It was a risky move. How did she think of that so quickly? Even I would’ve been fooled!”

Commentator:
“What do you think of that skirmish?”
“Gawol regained control. The substitution technique has a long cooldown. If she gets caught again, it’ll be dangerous.”
“There’s a real chance for a repeat of the last match’s nightmare.”
“Yes, Haruka is more cautious now, setting up the threads even more densely.”

The duel of blades continued without end.

Gawol dodged flames by stepping on embedded weapons.
The dragon-shaped flames doggedly pursued her, but even with her speed, she managed to evade them.
The small-framed assassin dashed up walls, leapt off pillars, and rocketed from the ceiling.

Daggers and kunai clashed at tight angles.
Both fighters aimed for each other’s wrists while keeping a close eye on movements. Gawol’s left shoulder was momentarily exposed.
A split-second opening.

It was all the time Haruka needed.

[‘Ghost Step’ engraves the ‘Gui’ mark.]

The hand seals were executed mechanically. The weapon descended swiftly.
But as Haruka moved to tear through Gawol’s shoulder, she suddenly froze.

[‘Fox Claw’ engraves the ‘Ren’ mark.]

The weapon struck, but it left only a shallow wound.
Had it been any deeper, it would’ve been Haruka’s own wrist severed.

Blood trickled down, staining the silver threads.
She hadn’t recalled setting those threads here. The culprit was clear.
Several strands, likely hers, were now entangled with Gawol’s dagger.

She must have stolen some threads during the skirmish.
Assassins can manipulate silver threads just as well.
The exact amount she stole was unclear.

Before she could assess the situation, a fierce kick struck her in the solar plexus.

Commentator:
“Quick! Haruka loses her balance as Gawol closes in!”
“But they need to be careful. Only the ‘Soul’ mark remains. With an area curse, it could turn the tide instantly if all four marks are activated.”

It all happened in a flash.
As Haruka formed hand seals, three wounds appeared on her side.
The alert blared: deadly bleeding poison was left behind.

If this continued, it could end up like the previous match.
She couldn’t afford to lose the marks she’d gathered so far.
A reversal was necessary.

The threads had always been a means to protect herself while gathering marks.
There was no point in holding back now.
Haruka drew in the remaining threads, blocking Gawol’s path.

The sharp web forced Gawol to take a step back, giving Haruka a moment to launch her gambit.

[‘Curse of Weakness’ engraves the ‘Soul’ mark.]

All four marks were in place.
This time, there was no immediate way to counter.

The moment had arrived.
As the assassin crouched and assumed a defensive stance, the kunoichi’s silhouette blurred.
A sharp sound rang as their blades collided.

[‘Salmu’ receives the power of Demon Phantom Soul and strengthens.]

Haruka summoned three strikes.
The first one was barely deflected, but Gawol’s wrist had already started to throb.
The partial block cost her, and her health dropped to about 10%.

With her burns and attrition from earlier exchanges, the situation was dire.
Just two more strikes could turn the match.

Now, it was Gawol’s turn to use the threads she had gathered.
She positioned herself against a pillar, spreading a mass of threads to cover her flank.
Only the front remained open.

Commentator:
“Haruka launches her final attack!”
“Gawol must defend. Salmu is notoriously tough to block, but even partial defense could save her.”

Haruka calculated her move.

The dagger shielded her neck and heart.
A clear sign that she wouldn’t expose her vital spots.
With her skill, she could react in time.

A small adjustment would do.
The second Salmu shot toward Gawol in an instant.

The crescent-shaped blade aimed to ruin the assassin’s left arm.
Haruka intended to incapacitate it completely, but Gawol’s nightmarish reflexes foiled her.
The injury caused significant bleeding but didn’t hinder movement.

“She reacted? This skill isn’t even designed to be dodged…”

While disbelief echoed outside the arena, Haruka’s mind worked more calmly than ever.

With Gawol focused on protecting her exposed left, conventional wisdom dictated a continued assault.
The third Salmu could push her over the edge.

But what next?

Her opponent was still fully functional.

She had already exhausted her resources, while the assassin still had options.
The fight had to end when she had the advantage.

One more unexpected move.
The sky was still available.

As the third Salmu descended from above, the commentators and even Luce widened their eyes in astonishment.

Commentator:
“Wow! When did she prepare that?”

The sight that stunned everyone was the kunoichi bound in silver threads.
She struggled to free herself, her movements broadcast live.
Though dulled from earlier use, the threads still tore through her clothes, leaving wounds behind.

Gawol smirked and pulled her dagger, hoisting Haruka upward.

“Ah, when she showed the threads earlier! They didn’t seem to have recovered as much as expected. So, the threads that were gathered earlier must have been...!”

Haruka’s face fell into a blank expression.
The more she struggled, the deeper the threads dug into her.
The fight was over. All that remained was the victor’s execution.

Gawol looked up at her from below, grinning widely.

She could see it.
From Gawol’s perspective, it was clear as day.

“A rabbit?”
“Ack!”

The kunoichi’s terrified gasp echoed as she struggled in vain against the threads, which bit into her skin like the jaws of a beast.
Her limbs flailed helplessly, but there was no escape. The assassin’s cold, calculating smile held the promise of a swift end.

With a swift pull, Gawol’s dagger sliced through, and Haruka’s body fell limp, suspended by the threads that wrapped around her.
The final moment passed, her defeat hanging in the air like the echo of the blade’s cold whisper.

[Round 4-2 Victory.]
[Proceeding to the next round in 3 minutes.]

The announcer’s voice chimed in, confirming the win. Gawol lowered her gaze, releasing a satisfied sigh.
She stood there, alone in the battlefield’s silence, bloodied but victorious, the grin on her face as sharp as her blade.