[Han Ji-a's POV]
Ye-jun's last words still rang sharp in my head.
Time for the bird to carry the spider. Go.
Damn idiot. He said it with that half-grin of his, like charging straight into hell was some kind of hobby.
Roger swooped, feathers brushing my arm as shadows beneath my feet coiled like chains, pulling me forward. I let the darkness swallow half my body, slipping into the walls, vanishing from the line of sight.
Behind me, boots thundered. Su-Bin's men shouted:
"Get her! Don't let her reach the cages!"
"She's with the freak—cut her down!"
The first one lunged from the corner. A jagged machete arced down at me. My katana was already there. Steel rang, sparks burst. I pivoted, sliding past, my blade barely kissing the fabric of his sleeve. His breath hitched when he realized I could've cut his arm clean through.
I wasn't here to kill. Not unless I had to.
