At the fortress entrance, Magnus and Genji stood face to face inside a circle of fifty armed soldiers. Assault rifles aimed in from every angle, yet neither man flinched.
Genji, his right hand resting lazily on the hilt of his katana, tilted his head as he watched Magnus press a finger to his earpiece.
"So do you do this often? Just stand in the middle of guaranteed death? Staring at me like a disappointed father for damn near an hour. Actually… probably two now that I think about it. I lost count," Genji muttered, scratching the back of his head.
Magnus lowered his hand, his glare sharpening.
"You say all that, but you still haven't made a damn move," Magnus rumbled.
Genji's eyes narrowed at the shift in demeanor.
Thought so. Surrounded by fifty rifles, yet this bastard refuses to flinch. He's treating me like I'm the only real threat here. He thinks the soldiers won't shoot… unless—
Magnus, meanwhile, had his own assessment.
This swordsman thinks I'm some random fool. Wrong. The fact that none of these soldiers fire proves it—he wants me alive. Wants to capture me, interrogate me, learn why I'm after Tony Sparrow's family. But…
In one fluid motion, Magnus drew a .44 Magnum revolver. At the same instant, Genji yanked a pistol from behind his back.
I have to make the first move! they both thought.
Both fired.
The bullets collided in midair, exploding into fragments that rained down like sparks.
"This motherfucker!" Genji barked with a smirk.
"Damn it—same exact timing," Magnus growled, his tone laced with irritation.
The soldiers began to shift forward, guns raised.
"Stop!" Genji barked.
They froze instantly, but Magnus already had his revolver trained on him.
"Woah, chill out, hardass," Genji chuckled.
Magnus's expression darkened.
"You know," Genji continued, tossing his pistol aside, "I've already defeated every top swordsman Japan has to offer. Haven't seen anyone competent enough to keep up since my squad started traveling the world."
He unsheathed his katana, letting the scabbard clatter to the dirt.
"One v. one. No holds barred. Melee weapons only. Show me something."
Magnus studied him, intrigued, then dropped his gun.
"Fine by me."
He reached behind his back and pulled out a trench knife, its brass knuckles gleaming under the floodlights.
Genji bent his knees, blade pointed forward, both hands near his cheek in a classic stance.
"Rahhh!"
He sprinted forward, boots digging into the dirt. His thoughts sharpened.
A trench knife? Modern steel, better grip, sure—but at the end of the day, it's just brass knuckles with a blade. He's got nothing outside close range. I've got the reach. I have the advantage!
Genji swung his katana down with brutal speed.
Magnus didn't flinch. He thrust his left fist forward, catching the blade on the trench knife. Steel rang against steel. Magnus's stance tightened as the sheer power of the strike rattled through his body.
That swing's power!
He shoved the katana aside, then whipped his right fist around in a punishing hook. Genji slipped under it, countering with a slash toward Magnus's gut, but Magnus stepped back just in time.
"Not underestimating me? Good. I told you—no holds barred!" Genji taunted.
"Don't get cocky," Magnus growled.
He surged forward again, launching a heavy left hook. Genji leaned away and unleashed a flurry of strikes from every angle. Magnus blocked, dodged, and parried—barely keeping up. A sudden misstep left him open, and Genji's blade cut across Magnus's chest, drawing blood.
"You're slipping," Genji mocked.
The two clashed around the circle, their weapons flashing under the lights.
"Do you really believe you've caught up to me already?" Magnus snarled.
"Better question—was I ever behind you?" Genji shot back.
He unleashed another relentless series of slashes. Magnus's eyes suddenly widened.
"You're open!"
Magnus lunged, his left hand clamping around Genji's throat.
"Ack!"
"RAHHH!"
Magnus roared, pulling his fist back and slamming the brass-knuckled trench knife straight into Genji's mouth. Blood and teeth flew as Genji's body went crashing backward.
"Da—!"
Before he could finish, Magnus leapt forward, knees driving into Genji's ribs.
"Fuuuck!" Genji cried out, writhing.
Magnus rolled off, glaring down as Genji coughed and spat. Four teeth clattered to the dirt. Blood dripped from his lips, yet Genji chuckled through the pain.
"Why didn't you finish it? That was your chance. Oh, let me guess… you see these soldiers around us. You know if I die, you die too," Genji smirked, staggering back into stance.
Magnus tightened his grip on the trench knife, blood dripping from his hand.
"Looks like we fight until both of us are too ragged to stand, since you want me alive so bad," he rumbled.
Genji's smile faded into steel focus. "I got aggressive, left a tiny window open, and you caught it. Impressive. My offense is damn near perfect."
"Damn near will never be enough for me. A mission can't be completed with damn near. That 'almost' will be your end—you and your mission," Magnus barked, his tone lethal.
The two men paced in a slow circle, eyes locked, soldiers holding their breath around them.
"I won't make the same mistake twice," Genji vowed.
Magnus lowered into his stance again, blood dripping down his chest.
"Good. Neither will I."