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Ryu's POV
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With time slowed, I look at the assassins in front of me.

All 3 of them seemed to be holding a dagger, each with a unique and jagged curve that seemed very awkward to use.

Despite this, they each held one with confidence in a backwards grip.

From the way they walked, they seemed ready to dash forwards at any moment.

I couldn't see much else, since the black cloak they wore covered most of their body, including their faces.

The one in my left dashes first, moving quite fast, despite my perception of time being slowed.

They bring the dagger up to my neck and try to slash, but I bring my fist up first and hit his wrist, sending the dagger flying out of his hands and I could hear it clatter on the floor a few metres away.

However, the assassin doesn't waste time and swings his leg around for a kick, and I barely block it by bringing my left leg up.

The impact sends waves of pain up my leg, and I think I could feel my shin crack slightly, but I ignore it.

After blocking the kick, I go for the assassin's face with a punch, and I hit directly in the center.

It seems to disorientate them and I take the chance to send a kick into their stomach, knocking them to the ground.

The other two also don't waste time and dash towards me at the same time.

The one that was in the centre brings his dagger to the same level as the first, going for my neck, while the other goes for my stomach.

I jump backwards to avoid the slashes, but they push forwards again with thrusts, aiming for my chest.

With a step to the left, I manage to dodge the two blows and send a kick towards the assassin in the left.

Before it could hit the stomach, however, the assassin catches my foot in his hand and pulls it towards him.

I stumble towards the assassin and feel a slight gash on my hip as the other goes for me.

The one who had grabbed my foot had now put his dagger just ahead of his stomach, directly in line of where I was falling.

I attempt to divert the dagger with my knee, and barely manage to make it avoid the center of my torso.

It plunges into my hip, and pain erupts from it.

I cough up a slight bit of blood, but it doesn't seem like it hit any major organs, so I should be fine.

But now I can't keep my balance, which they take advantage of by kicking me away, hitting the wound.

The pain disorientated me for a few moments, and as it clears, I see a sword reaching over my shoulder, piercing the neck of the assassin that had slashed my side.

I look over my shoulder to see the King wielding the sword he had at his side.

"For a mere bandit's brat, you did well." (King)

He pushes me aside and walks in front of me.

He becomes a blur, and before I can register that he moved, his sword was already out of the assassin that stabbed me and was entering the neck of the third assassin, who I had kicked.

I stand in awe for a moment, before taking my gaze away from the King.

Dashing towards the dagger that was on the floor, I turn my attention towards the Crown Prince.

There seemed to be around 4 or 5 assassins on that side of the hall, with Knight being their opponent.

Entering a run, I stumble slightly as the pain from my stab wound hits again, but I regain my balance quickly and make my way towards Knight.

It seems like she had already defeated one, since she was holding one of their daggers, and as I moved closer, I could see one on the floor, leaning against the wall unconscious.

Getting closer, I see two of the now 4 assassins dash towards Knight, and I manage to interrupt one of them with a slice to the stomach, causing them to fall to the ground, bleeding profusely.

"Took you a while." (Airi)

"Sorry, had some interruptions." (Ryu)

I nod down towards my side to show my wound.

"That's pretty bad. You sure you can fight?" (Airi)

"I can." (Ryu)

"I see..." (Airi)

"I've got the right." (Ryu)

"... Alright. Go for it." (Airi)

After hearing her affirmation, I dash towards the assassin in the right, swinging the dagger towards his legs.

He jumps up slightly, as to avoid the attack and brings his dagger down on top of me, but I dodge it by dropping to the ground and rolling.

He then takes the advantage by pulling another dagger from his cloak and throwing the other.

Deflecting the one which was flying towards me, I had little time to react to the attack that was coming from underneath.

The assassin had followed the dagger which he had thrown and started another attack at the same time.

By a stroke of luck, however, the attack hits one of the gems that had been embroidered on the suit I was forced to wear, glancing off it and leaving a deep gash in it.

I take the opportunity and thrust the dagger I was holding into the assassin's neck.

He drops to the floor, choking on his own blood, and I lock eyes with him.

Eyes full of shock, horror and sadness glared back, searing themselves into my mind.

The man died while our eyes were still locked, and the gurgling noise I heard ceased as well, in time with the lifelessness that took over his gaze.

I tear myself away from the man's eyes and look towards Knight, only to find her pinned on the ground, the assassin above her with the dagger held to her neck.

Doing the first thing I think of, I pick up and throw the dagger that was in the man's neck towards Knight.

It pierces the assassin's ankle and he rolls over in pain, only to be finished off with a slice to the neck from Knight.

I look around the hall, ensuring there were none left, and take a deep breath, calming myself.

As soon as I do, pain worse than before hits me from the stab wound and my mind clouds over.

My legs feel weak under me and I can barely stand up straight from the dizzyness I feel.

I feel my legs crumble under me and I start to fall to the ground, only to be caught by Knight.

"Shit, you've lost a lot of blood." (Airi)

"I've, had worse." (Ryu)

"Seriously?" (Airi)

"... Probably, not." (Ryu)

Thinking back to my previous injuries seems to make the pain ease slightly, but it comes back quickly as Knight tries to stop the bleeding my putting pressure on it.

"Arrgh!" (Ryu)

A groan escapes my mouth as she does, but she doesn't take the pressure away.

"Astrid! Astrid! Over here!" (Airi)

Knight calls to Healer, who seemed to be working on Vice-Captain after he had been poisoned.

"Haah, how the hell does he manage to get himself injured everytime there's a fight?" (Astrid)

"It's my, speciality." (Ryu)

"Oh, so you can make jokes." (Astrid)

"...? Of course, I can--" (Ryu)

Ah, I see.

I'm getting comfortable.

"Ha, hahaha..." (Ryu)

"Oi, don't laugh, you'll make it worse." (Astrid)

It's too funny.

I never thought I'd manage to get comfortable with some knights.

"Haha, haha..." (Ryu)

Maybe it's fine. Maybe I can relax.

As I think that, I lose consciousness due to the amount of blood I had lost.

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Author Notes
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Another chapter done!

I'm going to be honest, that line from Astrid about Ryu getting hurt constantly is like an insult to me.

For some reason, I love to see characters in books and films and other shows getting hurt, only to power through the pain to finish something. I'm not sure why, but it kind of motivates me?

But anyway, I loved writing this chapter, and I was done a lot faster than usual, since they usually take about 2 hours to write, this one only took about an hour, so hopefully the quality is the same.

Thank you for reading this chapter though!