With hundreds of shuriken raining down in a storm of violence, nobody was safe within the colorless environment. Screams and desperate cries erupted from every corner as patrons descended into complete panic.
Women, children, and men alike were cut down without discrimination, unable to escape the relentless barrage.
"Music to my ears."
Fox smirked as silence gradually reclaimed the battlefield.
Among the massacre, only the faint groans of the dying remained. Those unfortunate enough to survive the initial assault gasped for their final breaths.
"Jeez, don't you think that was a bit of overkill?"
No.444 casually asked while rubbing his sore wrist.
Remaining seated, Fox deliberately kept his distance from the young prodigy. Moments later, the countless shuriken phased out of existence.
"No need to worry. My Echo Chamber seals everything inside from the outside world. Once I have someone clean this place up, it'll be as though nothing ever happened."
Fox spoke confidently.
"If you say so. Before we leave, I need to collect No.55's badge from her corpse. She's my final target, after all."
No.444 grinned darkly.
His expression soon soured as he surveyed the unnaturally gray landscape littered with corpses.
Bodies were scattered among overturned tables, shattered plates, spilled drinks, and ruined meals.
"Ugh. How am I supposed to find her among all this garbage? No.320, go fetch No.55 for me."
Without hesitation, No.320 obeyed.
"Oh, and bring me No.00 while you're at it. Rumor says his death comes with extra benefits."
No.444 added.
The group quickly spread out to search.
After clearing the first floor without success, No.320 headed upstairs.
"I'll check the upper floor."
Receiving a nod of approval, he ascended the staircase.
Like before, he searched through the dead with complete indifference. Several yellow-clad fledglings had also been caught in the crossfire.
As he moved deeper into the building, a strange pile of bodies caught his attention.
"Why is this heap so unnaturally large?"
The moment his focus shifted, a kunai sliced through the air toward the back of his skull.
Noticing the attack at the last second, No.320 twisted around and deflected it with a Qi-enhanced chop.
Unfortunately, that reaction exposed his blind spot.
A short blade skewered his heart from behind.
No.320 died instantly.
Before his body even hit the floor, the assassin withdrew the blade and kicked the corpse over the railing.
The body crashed directly onto No.444's table below.
"What?!"
No.444 shot to his feet.
"Who goes there?"
"Don't be so shocked, No.444."
Zeke's voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Didn't you just send your mangy dog to fetch me?"
"No.00!"
No.444's eyes widened.
"Fox! Why is he still alive?"
"Because he slipped through the cracks."
Fox clenched his fists.
"But he won't remain so for much longer."
Suddenly, every instinct in Fox's body screamed danger.
Without hesitation, he leaped backward.
The corpse of No.320 exploded.
A massive blast engulfed nearly a third of the first floor.
A dense crimson mist rapidly spread throughout the Echo Chamber.
Fox narrowly escaped, managing to shove No.444 away from the center of the explosion before retreating himself.
Inside the thick fog, sight became useless.
A barrage of shuriken immediately descended upon him.
Getting a taste of his own medicine, Fox clicked his tongue.
'Tsk. Amateur.'
Activating Weaponized Blacksmith, countless forged kunai materialized around him.
The incoming assault was shattered almost instantly.
As a Stage 3 Disciple, Fox represented the standard expected of Instructor-level assassins.
Born into a family of blacksmiths, he possessed a unique technique that allowed him to summon any weapon he had personally forged.
Over the decades, he had accumulated thousands.
'What's your status, No.444?'
Fox transmitted mentally.
'Hurry up! I'm under heavy fire!'
'Just survive. I'll handle this.'
Meanwhile, No.444 cut his thumb.
Blood pooled together before forming a translucent acidic serpent that wrapped around his body.
Every incoming shuriken melted on contact.
Suddenly, a spinning Blood Scythe emerged from his blind spot.
The serpent absorbed the attack before No.444 even noticed it.
"You dirty bastard!"
He spun around frantically.
The fog soon cleared.
What stood before him left both Fox and No.444 speechless.
A second Fox.
A second No.444.
Both stared at their identical counterparts.
"What kind of absurd illusion is this?"
The two No.444s spoke in unison.
"Calm yourself. This cheap trick is—"
Both Foxes stopped speaking at exactly the same time.
Even Fox felt a flicker of admiration.
'I see now.'
'No wonder Lee values this kid.'
The illusion was impressive.
Unfortunately for Zeke, Fox still possessed superior cultivation, experience, and combat skill.
He intended to exploit that advantage.
Both Foxes sidestepped simultaneously.
Chained sickles shot toward their opponent's ankles.
Both attacks missed.
The chains instantly redirected upward.
Another stalemate.
Weapons clashed repeatedly as the mirrored battle continued.
On the opposite side, the two No.444s unleashed venomous whips.
The attacks tangled together.
Both followed up by conjuring charging rhinoceroses made entirely from poisonous Qi.
The collision created a toxic shockwave.
Neither wanted to risk contaminating Fox, so the battle gradually drifted away.
Eventually, they smashed through one of the restaurant walls.
The poisonous fog continued spreading.
Inside it, the real No.444 was rapidly reaching his limit.
"This can't be possible!"
His eyes widened.
"Everything I do, he does too?"
His breathing became erratic.
"It's impossible! I'm one of a kind!"
His gaze locked onto the duplicate serpent wrapped around the fake No.444.
The sight finally broke him.
"I'll show you all!"
His Qi exploded violently.
Long hair rose into the air as toxic energy flooded the surroundings.
The serpent fused into his body.
A deadly gas poured from every pore.
"What's wrong, phony?!"
No.444 laughed hysterically.
"I don't see you copying this!"
Across from him, the duplicate stumbled backward.
Unable to imitate the berserk transformation.
The fake No.444 collapsed shortly afterward.
This only fueled his madness further.
Fox immediately sensed the danger.
If No.444 remained unchecked, the entire operation could spiral out of control.
'No.444!'
Fox transmitted.
'444!'
No response.
Only laughter.
Sighing, Fox decided to end the battle.
Leaping high into the air, he activated his strongest technique.
"Forged Dragon."
Every weapon in his arsenal merged together.
A colossal metallic dragon emerged overhead.
The construct roared before unleashing a storm of weapons.
The duplicate Fox could only defend.
Using the opening, Fox rushed back into Heaven in Hell.
The poison was already affecting him.
He estimated less than a minute remained before it became fatal.
Nearby, the fake No.444 had reverted into a young woman.
Fox moved to incapacitate her.
Then everything changed.
No.444's Qi vanished.
The young prodigy collapsed to his knees.
Blood poured from his mouth.
"How...?"
His voice trembled.
"Am I dying?"
He clutched his stomach.
"It feels like something is eating me alive..."
Fear overtook him.
The poison aura weakened rapidly.
Fox rushed forward.
Placing a hand on No.444's back, he investigated internally.
His eyes widened.
A Blood Centipede.
The parasite was devouring its host from the inside.
'What?'
Shock overtook him.
'Why would a Blood Centipede lose control now?'
Before he could understand the situation, No.444's body went limp.
His eyes remained open.
Filled with blood, tears, and disbelief.
He was dead.
"Dammit!"
Fox roared.
His frustration stemmed less from grief and more from the catastrophe awaiting him.
His future had been tied directly to No.444's success.
Before he could process the loss, a blade flashed toward his chest.
Fox narrowly avoided a fatal strike.
The attacker stood before him.
Bloodied.
Wounded.
But still standing.
The fake Fox.
Or so it seemed.
Fox blocked the incoming short blade with his palm.
At the same time, he countered.
His own weapon pierced through the attacker's hand and pinned it to their thigh.
For a brief moment, both fighters froze.
"What kind of monster are you?"
Fox shouted.
A hidden dagger suddenly emerged from the attacker's mouth.
Fox reacted instantly—
Too late.
His head separated cleanly from his body.
The corpse remained standing for a brief second before collapsing.
As blood erupted from the severed neck, the false body dissolved.
The illusion finally shattered.
Stepping from the shadows behind the corpse, Zeke lowered a Qi-imbued katana.
"The vengeful kind."