Page 34 of New World

His lips twitched despite himself. This time, he was the dumbass. He had led plenty of people into traps before, watching with mild amusement as they realized their fate too late. It was almost refreshing to be on the other side of it.

Almost.

A dry, mocking laugh echoed through the alleyway, slicing through the silence like a well-placed blade. Dorane turned, already knowing who he would see.

Cee 585 stood at the entrance, her cybernetic fingers flexing, her lips curled into an amused sneer. The dim alley lighting reflected off her metallic faceplate, the edges of her cybernetic enhancements catching the glow in eerie, jagged streaks. His lips quirked in wry amusement. He lifted his hands, palms up.

“What can I say? At least you’ll have more room to kill me here.” He tilted his head, feigning disappointment. “Though, I gotta admit, I’m a little let down, Cee. A laser pistol? Really? I expected something a little more creative from you.”

Cee’s cybernetic eye flickered. “Oh, don’t worry. I can be creative.”

Dorane cursed himself. He should’ve finished her in the bar. Hell, he should have finished her two years ago when he cut off her arm. Would have, too—if she hadn’t plummeted into that damn ravine.

She should have stayed dead.

But, like him, Cee didn’t seem to know how to die properly.

He rolled his shoulders, muscles coiling in anticipation as she holstered the pistol and reached behind her back. A moment later, the unmistakable crackle of energy filled the air as she drew her weapon.

Dorane grimaced at the dark purple glow of the laser sword, the edges flickering with an unnatural shimmer. He felt the heat radiating off it even from where he stood.

“Centarian poison?” he dryly observed, shaking his head. “Painful, but I hate to tell you this, it’s not deadly to me.”

Cee grinned at his expression. “What’s wrong? Don’t like the extra kick?” She twirled the blade effortlessly. “You should be honored, Dorane. Few get to experience a death this excruciating.”

Dorane sighed dramatically. “And here I was hoping for something quick.”

He reached into his coat, gripping his own weapon. Cee’s eyes widened slightly when he pulled it free—then narrowed dangerously.

The sleek, segmented metal gleamed in the dim light, the gold trim catching against the darkness of the alley. It extended with a quiet hum, locking into place with practiced ease.

Cee’s sneer deepened. “A Gallant Staff? You?” She let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “How did a lowborn piece of gutter trash like you get your hands on one of those?”

Dorane smiled at her baiting, rolling the Staff between his fingers. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She didn’t reply. She attacked.

The alley erupted into chaos.

Cee moved like a specter, her blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. Dorane blocked with fluid efficiency, his Gallant Staff deflecting the searing edges of her strikes. Sparks flew as metal met energy, lighting up the alley with each impact.

Cee was fast. But so was he.

They moved like two forces of nature—her attacks ruthless and relentless, his movements sharp and calculated. Each strike, each counter, each pivot was a deadly dance they had performed before.

Then—pain.

A sharp, searing burn sliced across his upper arm. Dorane gritted his teeth as agony flared through his veins, the Centarian poison latching onto his nervous system like fire. His fingers trembled for a split second—just long enough for him to stumble back, dropping the Staff.

Cee’s grin was pure malice.

“Finally,” she purred, advancing, her blade raised. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to?—”

Dorane frowned when Cee froze as if her damn cybernetics had locked. His face twisted with pain as he reached for his laser pistol with his good hand. Her fingers twitched. Then—her cybernetic hand jerked violently to her back, fumbling for something.

Dorane’s breath hitched when she pulled her hand back around. The glow of a star-shaped weapon gleamed against her metal plating. She jerked again, then again, and again, the blows happening in rapid session.

Cee whirled, her furious gaze snapping away from Dorane, her face contorted in confusion and rage. Dorane followed her line of sight. Time seemed to slow and everything around him faded: the excruciating pain, the threat of death, even the perfect opportunity he had to kill Cee before she finished what she came to do.

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