Selene stepped back, her breathing steady as she watched Saria struggle to rise. "You're done," she said coldly.

But before she could finish the fight, Crix and Roxie stepped forward.

"That's enough," Crix said in a low and firm voice. His clones materialized around him, their blades drawn. "We're not losing her."

Roxie's glowing orb expanded in his hand, crackling with dangerous energy. "Yeah, playtime's over."

Selene's silver eyes flicked between them with an unreadable expression. Two more. One with illusions, the other with raw power. They'll be harder to deal with.

Crix's clones attacked first, swarming Selene in perfect synchronization. She pivoted, her dagger flashing as she slashed through the nearest clone, only for it to dissolve into mist.

Another clone lunged from behind, and Selene spun, her elbow catching it in the jaw. It too vanished, leaving her surrounded.

They're distractions, Selene realized, her mind racing. But the real one...

Her instincts flared, and she ducked just as a blade whistled past her ear. She turned sharply, spotting the real Crix, and lunged toward him. Before she could strike, Roxie intervened, hurling his energy orb.

The projectile exploded against the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Selene off her feet.

She hit the ground hard, her vision swimming for a moment. When she regained her bearings, Crix and Roxie were standing over her, their weapons ready.

"You should've stayed unconscious," Roxie said with a smirk.

Selene glared up at them, her detached demeanor cracking slightly. They're stronger together. I need a new strategy.

As the assassins closed in, Selene's hand tightened around her dagger. Her body still buzzed with energy, and she felt an odd certainty that this fight wasn't over—not yet.

She steadied herself, her fingers curling tightly around her dagger. Her cold silver eyes met Crix's hidden gaze and then flicked to Roxie, who casually twirled his crackling energy orb.

Her detached expression returned, though her body still hummed with energy.

"You still think you have a chance?" Roxie sneered, his energy orb pulsing brighter. "Face it, priestess. You're outmatched."

"Am I?" Selene replied evenly.

Roxie chuckled, raising the orb higher. "Cute."

Crix's clones moved in perfect unison, circling her. They lunged one after the other, forcing her into a defensive stance. Her dagger flashed as she parried their strikes, each one vanishing into mist as she made contact.

The real one is waiting, watching for an opening.

She shifted her weight, using the momentum of a clone's missed strike to spin and deliver a sharp kick that shattered another illusion. Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, each motion flowing into the next.

Roxie took a step forward, the orb in his hand expanding dangerously. "Enough stalling." He hurled the energy ball straight at her, its green light streaking through the air.

Selene twisted out of the way, the orb exploding against the ground where she'd been standing. Dirt and debris rained down, but she remained unfazed.

Instead, she used the cover of the dust cloud to reposition herself, her senses on high alert.

Crix's clones lunged again, but this time Selene anticipated their attack. She dropped low, sweeping her leg in a wide arc. Two clones dissolved into smoke as they crumbled under her strike.

"Not bad," Crix's voice echoed, but the source was unclear. "But you're not fast enough."

Selene's instincts screamed at her.

She spun around, barely dodging a blade aimed for her back. Crix had finally revealed himself, his grin visible beneath his mask. He lunged again, but Selene sidestepped, slamming the hilt of her dagger into his ribs.

Crix grunted, stumbling back, but his clones surged forward to cover him. Selene was forced to retreat under the coordinated assault, her breathing steady despite the relentless pace.

Her mind raced as she analyzed their movements.

They're working too well together. Roxie's power keeps me on edge, and Crix uses it to his advantage. I need to break their rhythm.

"Looks like you're slowing down," Roxie taunted, forming another energy orb. This one pulsed erratically, its unstable energy crackling in the tense air.

Selene glanced at him, then back at Crix. She felt the hum of energy in her body, like an engine revving, waiting for her command.

Taking a deep breath, she shifted her stance, her eyes narrowing.

The orb flew toward her, larger and faster than before. Selene didn't dodge. Instead, she leapt toward it, her dagger slicing through the unstable energy. The orb exploded midair, the force propelling her forward toward Roxie.

"What the—" Roxie began, but Selene was already on him.

She drove her dagger toward his chest, but he raised his club just in time, the metal ringing as it deflected the blade. The shock sent vibrations up her arm, but she didn't let up.

Roxie swung his club in a wide arc, aiming to knock her back, but Selene ducked and countered with a kick to his knee. The assassin staggered, his grip on the club faltering.

Crix appeared at her side, his blade aiming for her throat. Selene twisted, catching his wrist with her free hand. With a sharp tug, she pulled him off balance, slamming her elbow into his masked face. The impact cracked the mask, revealing a sliver of his jaw.

"Stay down," Selene said coldly, her grip tightening on Crix's arm.

"Not a chance," he hissed, his free hand forming a dagger from thin air. He slashed at her side, forcing her to release him and backpedal.

Roxie regained his footing, his orb reforming in his hand. "Enough playing around," he growled, his voice losing its earlier humor. "Crix, let's finish this."

The two assassins moved in sync, their attacks coming from opposite sides. Selene deflected a swipe from Crix's blade, pivoting to avoid Roxie's club. She lashed out with her dagger, nicking Roxie's shoulder, but the assassin barely flinched.

"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?"

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