Genji and Magnus clashed in the center of the circle without hesitation. Genji's katana sliced at Magnus's head, missing by only a hair.
This bastard's style—wide swings with a three-second buildup, then burst attacks with shorter cuts. If I keep the pressure on, he'll never find the rhythm to breathe, Magnus thought, closing in.
Genji's sword cut the air, but Magnus's trench knife grazed his forehead. Magnus followed with a left hook to the jaw, missed the right, then slammed another hook into Genji's knee, making him stumble.
He's smothering me to shut down my bursts? Tch. He fights like a barbarian. No refined style, no training—just raw instinct. But that tells me everything I need to know, Genji realized with a grin.
He leapt back, but Magnus pressed forward, fists hammering. They darted around the circle, trading blows until—
"Close combat isn't only for fists," Genji growled.
He flipped his katana, ramming Magnus in the chest with the flat. Magnus staggered back, stopped cold.
"You should never crowd a swordsman, brawler!" Genji snapped, unleashing a torrent of swings.
Magnus blocked and dodged, but steel still cut him—hip, shoulder, thigh, chest, chest again.
"His swordplay's sharper… Damn it, I'm losing ground!" Magnus cursed.
Genji smirked. He knows it. I'm full throttle now, no gaps. Even if he spots one, I've built the distance he can't cross with that toy knife. The only way out is retreat, and I'll never let him. Who brings a trench knife to a katana fight anyway?
Sweat and blood sprayed the dirt as the fight raged.
"Come on! I thought it was all about the mission!" Genji taunted. "I thought 'damn near' wasn't enough! Ha! You're damn near a goner!"
Magnus parried one more strike, glaring through blood. His chest rose and fell, his voice dropping into a growl.
"Just letting you know… my squad already killed your other two members."
Genji froze. His blade stopped mid-air. His expression shattered.
Wait… Talon and Isabella are dead? Ligard's already gone… You're telling me I'm the only one left? Tears blurred his vision. His grip faltered as memories of his squad flooded back.
"I knew that would break you."
Magnus grabbed Genji by the collar and pummeled him—once, twice, five brutal strikes to the nose. Then he cocked back his right fist and smashed it into Genji's skull. Blood spattered.
"You see now? Your squad didn't follow the Three Fs. Love and caring for teammates? That's for pussies!" Magnus snarled, kneeing him in the face and tossing him across the circle. Soldiers scattered as Genji's body skidded.
"If you freeze up mid-battle, you don't deserve to lead. Leaders keep moving—even if it means trampling their own men. All that matters is the mission!"
Soldiers gripped their rifles tighter, watching as Genji rose, trembling, using his katana for balance. His ribs screamed, teeth gone, face bloody—but his eyes burned with fury.
"Talon, Ligard, Isabella… they were my squad. My friends. That's exactly why I can't take this lying down!" Genji roared.
Magnus cracked his neck, trench knife dripping red. "Finally lost your calm demeanor. Rage will only get you killed."
"You were right about one thing, bastard. There's still a mission. When I'm done with you, I'll kill every last one of your squad!" Genji vowed, voice breaking with rage.
"Shut the hell up," Magnus spat. "You'll die here."
They charged.
Genji's blade blurred in all directions, faster than ever, cutting arcs of steel. He pressed closer, each step dripping sweat and fury.
He thinks this fight's still the same as before. But he's blind now—blinded by rage. That's the difference between him and me.
Magnus surged straight in, left arm extended, trench knife tight to his chin.
"You damn fool!" Genji shouted, slicing upward with precision.
Magnus's arm flew into the air severed, blood spraying.
"I knew it—you're just a barbarian! Nobody rushes a sword—"
His throat went hot. Genji's words cut short as Magnus's trench knife drove into his neck.
"You won't complete your mission… because you care too much about everything else. You're pathetic," Magnus growled.
Genji coughed blood, body trembling. He baited me. He gave me that arm. He let me take it, just so I'd open myself up for the kill…
He looked toward the soldiers, desperate—only to see them all lying dead, throats slit. Roxie stood behind the corpses, blades dripping.
She… when? I was so blinded by rage that I never even noticed her.
Magnus dragged the blade through Genji's throat, into his mouth, severing his tongue.
"Arm, leg, mind, even my soul—I'll sacrifice it all if it means the mission gets done!" Magnus roared.
He flipped Genji over his shoulder and slammed his skull into the dirt. Bones crackin' like glass.
Genji's life flashed before him. His fury ebbed. This battle tested every fiber of my being. I can say I'm dying without regrets. Not my team's death, not the mission, not even my own failure. None of that angers me anymore. The only thing that does…
Magnus glared down at him, expression cold, unchanging.
…is that this hard-ass bastard never smiled. Not once.
Genji drew one last rattling breath—and then nothing.