Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

I stepped off the motorcycle, feeling the firm ground beneath my feet. The air around us was cool, filled with the damp scent of the forest. Tall trees lined the narrow road we had stopped on, casting long shadows on the ground. Fallen leaves swirled in the breeze, whispering softly as if warning us about what was to come. This road felt like a quiet tunnel cutting through the forest, far removed from the bustling city of Lilac we had just left behind.

I glanced over at Abigail, standing beside her motorcycle, looking relaxed despite the oddity of our situation. Her face radiated the confidence I had always admired, even in moments like this. She kept her eyes on the road behind us, where the car that had been following us was now out of sight.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "Why did we stop here?" breaking the silence. "Couldn't we just keep going and try to outrun them?"

Abigail turned to me with a slight smile on her lips. "I don't want my poor bike getting wrecked in a shootout," she replied with a light laugh, her voice as casual as ever.

I returned her smile, but deep down, I knew there was a more serious reason. Abigail wasn't someone who stopped without purpose. I glanced around—the thick trees provided perfect cover for hiding, an ideal spot for an ambush. This narrow, secluded road was the perfect place to either stop a pursuit or lure someone into a trap.

I looked back at Abigail. "Are you sure they'll come this way?" I asked, trying to be certain.

She shrugged, the smile still lingering on her face. "They've been following us long enough. I'd say they're determined enough to keep going." She glanced at her watch, then back at the road. "And they should be close by now."

I bit my lip, feeling the tension building inside me. "Are you sure stopping here was a good idea?" I asked again, this time more seriously.

Abigail just raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as if hiding something. "If we keep moving, we'll just give them more time to set something up. Here, we control the situation. Plus," she gave her motorcycle's saddle a gentle pat, "I really like this bike. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to it."

I chuckled, even though I knew she was half-joking. There was something about the way she carried herself that made me feel a little calmer. But even so, the anxiety inside me didn't fully fade.

We stood there for a while, the only sound being the rustling of the wind through the trees. The road was quiet, but in the distance, I could faintly hear the hum of an engine. My heart started to beat faster. I looked at Abigail, and though she remained calm, I could sense she was preparing for something.

"Who do you think they are?" I asked, trying to break the tension.

Abigail shrugged again. "Could be anyone. Old enemies, government agents, or maybe just people interested in the information about you. It seems like the Evernoir name is still valuable."

My stomach churned at the mention of my family name. For the past three years, I had been moving from place to place, trying to avoid the constant danger that shadowed me. But now, it felt like it was all catching up to me.

We stood there in silence, waiting. I tried to push the growing tension out of my mind. The wind blew softly, carrying the thick scent of the forest, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Suddenly, the hum of the engine grew louder, and in an instant, the car that had been following us appeared at the end of the road, moving steadily toward us. My heart pounded faster. The car wasn't slowing down.

"Arche, move!" Abigail called out, her calm voice now sharp with warning.

I jumped, quickly stepping off to the side of the road. The car kept coming, but it still wasn't slowing down. There was no sign that they were planning to stop.

"Are they trying to run us over?" I asked, panicking.

Abigail shook her head, grabbing my sleeve and pulling me further away from the road. "They're trying to distract us," she said calmly.

The car sped past us, giving us no time to react. As it zoomed by, I caught a glimpse of something strange—there was no one inside. The car was empty.

Before I could process what was happening, Neumann suddenly appeared next to me. His digital form hovered gracefully in the air, his voice clear and composed. "There's no one in that car, Arche. They're using it as a distraction. A group is approaching from the trees ahead of you."

I froze, turning to Abigail. "They're trying to ambush us through the trees!"

But Abigail had already figured it out. She gave me a quick smile and patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, I expected this."

"So... are we going to fight them here?" I asked, still feeling awkward about the sudden shift in the situation.

Abigail looked at me with a more serious smile this time. "Yes, and I need you to stay focused."

I reached into my jacket pocket, gripping the cold handle of my knife. Abigail, on the other hand, had already drawn her high-tech firearm—a sleek, compact pistol she always carried with her.

"You ready?" she asked, her eyes never leaving the trees ahead.

I nodded, though my heart was racing. "Ready, I guess."

"We'll face them together," she said, her voice softer now. "Remember, stay calm, and watch your surroundings."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. The trees in front of us began to sway slightly, a sign that they were getting closer. The sound of footsteps grew faint but clear.

With a determined look, Abigail stood in front of me, her weapon ready. I took a deep breath, gripping my knife tightly.

"Alright, let's see what they've got," Abigail murmured quietly, almost to herself.

Within seconds, the calm atmosphere shifted into mounting tension. Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for sure—we couldn't run anymore.

I could feel the cold wind brush against my neck, and the sound of footsteps through the trees grew louder. They were close. My adrenaline surged as thoughts raced wildly through my head. I knew this fight was inevitable. The only thing left to do was to prepare.

"Abigail…" I whispered, my voice shaky.

"I know," she replied quickly, without turning. Her eyes stayed fixed ahead, watching the direction our pursuers would emerge from. She was ready, as always. Meanwhile, I was still struggling to control my nerves.

Then, out of the shadows of the trees, I saw them. Three men, fully equipped in military gear, moving with the speed and precision of special forces. Their weapons were trained on Abigail, ready to fire. But before I could think further, I spotted another—a man sprinting directly toward me, a stun weapon in his hand, clearly targeting me.

Panic.

That was my first reaction. The man raised his weapon and fired without hesitation. I could hear the high-pitched hum of the stun round zipping toward me. But before I could even react, something stirred inside me. My other self.

"Let me take over," that voice echoed in my mind. The voice of the other side of me, the one that always emerged in moments like this.

I didn't think twice. "Do it," I responded instantly, without hesitation. I knew that if anyone could handle this, it was him.

Immediately, I felt the shift. My body tensed, my movements became sharper, and my focus honed in as if the world around me slowed down.

"Neumann, full visual support," my other self commanded calmly.

Neumann, the digital girl hovering beside me, was already prepared. Her expression turned serious as she responded swiftly. "Activating full visual support. Bullet trajectory detected," she reported.

I could see it clearly now—the path of the stun round headed straight for me. With a swift motion, I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the shot. The man's eyes widened in shock as he realized his attack had missed. He fired again, but this time, I was ready. In one fluid motion, I raised my knife and deflected the round, sending it ricocheting in another direction.

Without wasting any time, I charged toward him.

The man took a step back, tension written across his face. But he wasn't afraid. He drew a close-range stun baton, ready to engage. He stepped forward, swinging the weapon toward me with brutal force. I could see every movement clearly, thanks to the visual feed Neumann provided. His attacks seemed to slow down in my eyes, giving me ample time to dodge and block.

I parried his first strike with my blade, sidestepping his follow-up. He moved quickly, but I was faster. Every movement of mine was perfectly coordinated, aided by the live information Neumann streamed into my mind. I could see the frustration building in his expression as he realized how effortlessly I was countering him. But instead of backing down, he became more aggressive, his strikes turning more vicious.

"He's getting serious," I muttered, my voice lower than usual.

"He's trying to make you slip up. Stay calm," the other side of me responded in my mind.

I dodged another one of his brutal swings, but this time, his speed had increased. Several of his strikes came dangerously close to hitting me, and before I could fully react, one landed on my arm, sending a sharp pain coursing through it. I staggered slightly, wincing as the ache spread through my limb, but I couldn't stop.

The man smirked, sensing an opening. He pressed forward, capitalizing on his advantage. Another strike hit my shoulder, pushing me further on the defensive.

But I wasn't going down that easily.

I adjusted my stance, catching my breath, and started thinking faster. "Neumann, let's mix magic into this close combat," I ordered.

"Magic configured. Elemental setting active," she replied swiftly. I felt the surge of magical energy flow through my hand, infusing my blade with newfound power.

The man struck again, but this time, I was ready. I dodged his attack and unleashed a concentrated burst of wind magic from my left hand. The force hit him squarely, pushing him back several steps. He was startled, clearly not expecting me to use magic so quickly.

I advanced, attacking with a seamless blend of close combat and magic. My blade spun rapidly, each slash accompanied by a small explosion of elemental force. The man tried to dodge, but my movements were too quick, too unpredictable.

"Didn't think I could use magic like this, did you?" I taunted as I landed a strike on his arm.

He winced, retreating with growing panic. "Damn it, he's stronger than we thought!" he muttered, frustration leaking through his voice.

He tried to fight back, but I could now read his every move. The wind magic coursing through me enhanced my reflexes, making each of his attacks easier to counter. He was growing tired, his movements slowing down.

I swung my blade in a swift arc, closing the distance between us, and channeled a stronger gust of wind magic. The man tried to dodge, but he was too slow. The magic hit him hard, knocking him to the ground.

He stumbled, trying to get back up, but it was clear he was outmatched.

I stepped forward, preparing for the final blow. "You shouldn't have tried to chase me," I said coldly, the voice of my other self sharper than usual.

***

Abigail stood firm, eyes fixed on the approaching pursuers. They were too close to provide a safe shooting distance, and two of them had activated their plasma shields, moving in a flanking formation. They were clearly professionals, moving with speed and precision. But Abigail was faster.

Her gaze locked onto the third man in the back, his weapon poised to fire. Without hesitating, Abigail raised her gun and shot with lightning speed, as if distance didn't matter to her. The sound of the gunshot echoed in the air, and the bullet found its mark, striking the man squarely in the head. He dropped to the ground, teetering for a moment before lying still.

"One," Abigail murmured, almost counting her achievement. A small smile crept onto her face.

However, the two men who were now closing in didn't give her many options. Close-quarters combat was unavoidable. Abigail quickly holstered her gun and drew her dagger in a fluid motion. Now they stood face to face: two men with plasma shields trying to corner her, and Abigail in the center, radiating confidence.

As the first man lunged forward, Abigail leapt ahead. With one agile movement, she vaulted over the plasma shield, catching him off guard, and in a flash, she slashed at him. Yet, their advanced combat gear absorbed much of the blow, leaving only a shallow cut.

Even so, the two men were visibly shaken but didn't back down. They powered down their shields and, without hesitation, drew their firearms. The first bullet shot toward Abigail, but she was ready. With a swift motion, she conjured a magical barrier. A transparent layer of magic shielded her from the hail of bullets, rendering their attack futile.

"Is this the best you can do?" Abigail taunted with a smirk.

Feeling outmatched, the two men quickly changed their strategy. One pulled out two glowing energy daggers, while the other wielded an energy staff that rapidly expanded into a massive, high-tech war hammer. They attacked with renewed determination.

Abigail narrowed her eyes, observing them intently. "Oh, this is interesting," she grinned. She jumped gracefully into the air, evading the incoming hammer swing with surprising speed. The hammer struck the ground with a deafening crash, leaving a dent in the earth. But Abigail had already landed safely, skillfully dodging the following dagger strike.

She moved swiftly and gracefully, like a deadly dance. The man with the dagger launched a flurry of rapid, brutal attacks, but Abigail was always a step ahead. She elegantly dodged, either jumping back or sidestepping, avoiding each slash with a sly smile on her lips. "You'll need to be faster than that," she chuckled.

Meanwhile, the man with the hammer continued his relentless onslaught. Yet every time he swung his weapon, Abigail was already gone. "Is it heavy?" she taunted again, dodging yet another swing and landing lightly on the ground before leaping away.

The battle continued, and despite the two men's best efforts, they couldn't lay a finger on Abigail. Her speed and agility overwhelmed them, while she began to feel a bit bored.

"This is too easy," she thought, eager to bring this to an end.

When the man with the hammer swung his weapon again with all his might, Abigail spotted the perfect opportunity. With a graceful leap, she soared into the air, perfectly dodging the attack and landing on top of the hammer, crouching lightly on the massive weapon. The man's eyes widened in shock.

Abigail's smile widened. "Two," she said softly before drawing her firearm and firing directly at the man's face. The shot hit its target flawlessly. The man collapsed, hitting the ground with a loud thud, lifeless.

Now only one remained.

The dagger-wielding man appeared terrified, but he wasn't ready to give up. He stepped forward, more brutally intent on attacking Abigail at a faster pace. But Abigail was still quicker. She dodged effortlessly, parrying each strike as if he were moving in slow motion. With one swift motion, Abigail severed both of his hands with her dagger, eliciting a scream of agony from him.

The man fell to his knees before her, hands bleeding profusely. Abigail looked down at him coldly before raising her gun, aiming it at his head.

"And three," she said before pulling the trigger, finishing the fight with one precise shot.

She holstered her gun, wiping her hands clean as if she had just completed a minor task. Her gaze shifted toward Arche, who still looked uncertain. He hadn't finished his own fight yet.

"Arche!" Abigail called out, her tone firm but not loud. "Are you okay?"

Arche, still under the control of his other self, was locked in a fierce battle with the man before him. He seemed to be holding his own, but something was holding him back. Perhaps it was the hesitation to kill his opponent. As a prince, he had been raised with a strong sense of ethics and morals. But in the battlefield, that could become a weakness.

Abigail stepped closer, not directly intervening but moving within sight of the unfolding situation. "You have to finish this, Arche," she said, her voice softer now. "Or he will finish you."

Arche glanced slightly, anxiety flickering in his eyes, but he knew Abigail was right. This fight wasn't about moral choices. It was about survival.

Neumann appeared beside him, providing visual cues, but doubt still lingered. The man before him, though injured, remained a threat.

Arche gripped his dagger tighter. He inhaled deeply, trying to summon his resolve. He knew he had to win this fight, not just with skill, but with a heavy decision—to overcome the doubts within himself.

***