The pit in Athena’s stomach sank even deeper as Jess attacked first. Every time Jess attacked first in practice, Athena always won.

No, she’s attempting more advanced Snake form than she can handle. This is not good. Although lowered, Athena tightened the grip on her gun, ready to save the kid in a moment’s notice. In a way, she saw Jess as the daughter she never had, and protecting her was always a top prioirity.

Jess slashed the assassin’s left shoulder. Quick as lightning, she drew back, shifted her grip, and jabbed at the right side of her abdomen. The assassin anticipated this, flipped her knife to reverse grip, and parried away the thrust. With a backhanded Shard slash, she swiped across Jess’s unprotected chest. The tip of her blade lacerated Jess, and she stumbled backwards.

Instinctively, Athena lurched forward, but Seth held out an arm. Athena pleaded at him with her eyes, but he shook his head. He waved his hand at the winking bombs, and his message was clear. We intervene, we all die. She sighed and raked a shaky hand through her hair. Jess was not ready for this. She would lose. Gavin watched helplessly, nunchucks ready to go. Cooper stayed next to Evan, who’d just regained consciousness.

Jess powered through the pain and went into Snake defense, shielding her core with her blade, other arm out for balance. The assassin stepped forward with each lunging jab, shifting directions and force as fast as a pit viper, yet still holding the blade in a typical Shard reverse grip. Jess retreated with every deflection, unshaken, mind focused on her finding the gaps. Snake offense always left one area uncovered during a thrust. But she saw glimpses of Shard defense in the Snake offense, and it perplexed her. How can someone use two forms at once?

The assassin lurched low, and Jess seized her opportunity. She leapt to the side, tossed the knife to her other hand, and slashed across the assailant’s mask. Crying out in pain, the assassin clutched her face and tumbled to her knees. The mask fell off her face like a curtain parting, revealing a young female figure.

Jess breathed heavily, dagger facing her opponent. “I win. Yield.”

Hand clutching a slash across her eye, the girl looked up, revealing an all-too-familiar face. Whispers echoed among the Resurgents behind them. Jess’s heart stopped, and her body swayed uncertainly. Grief clogged her voice. “M-Mara?”

Mara glowered at her, tone icy cold. “How do you know about me?”

Jess’s lip trembled. “But you…you died…PolyMorphic…”

“What are you talking about?” Mara demanded. In one quick movement, she sliced Jess across the forehead. Jess toppled down, and Athena’s self-control snapped. She fired two shots, striking Mara in the thigh.

Mara cradled her knee, grinding her teeth with pain. “You just made a big mistake.” Holding the detonator aloft, she jabbed the button with her thumb, and the forest erupted in a blinding chaos of fire.