Deviant: No Longer Human

In the dimly lit corridors of the power plant, the chase was reaching new heights.

Shadowfox, her silver hair streaming behind her, nimbly navigated the industrial maze.

"Corner her there!" Ivan shouted, pointing towards a narrow passage lined with rusted pipes. His team, a mix of hardened mercenaries, quickly fanned out, moving to encircle Shadowfox.

One of the mercenaries, a burly man with a scarred face, lunged at her, his knife glinting in the dim light. "Gotcha now!" he growled.

But Shadowfox was a step ahead. She twisted in the air, her body contorting impossibly as she evaded the attack. Her counter was swift - a well-placed kick sent the man sprawling.

"Damn it! She's slippery!" another mercenary cursed, firing off a shot that ricocheted off a nearby boiler.

Shadowfox's breathing was steady despite the exertion. Her movements were fluid, "You'll have to do better than that!" she spoke, her voice echoing through the space.

Ivan, growing frustrated, took aim with his own weapon. "End this now!" he commanded, his voice laced with impatience.

As bullets whizzed past her, Shadowfox utilized the environment to her advantage. She leaped onto a boiler, using the height to survey her opponents quickly. Then, with a graceful dive, she rolled behind a series of tubes, momentarily out of sight.

"Where'd she go?" one of the mercenaries muttered, scanning the area with a wary eye.

The tension was increasing, the sound of their own breathing loud in the silence that followed. Each of them knew that the slightest noise could give away their position.

Suddenly, Shadowfox emerged from her hiding spot, disarming one of the mercenaries with a swift, precise motion. The clatter of the fallen weapon was soon followed by the mercenary's grunt as he hit the ground.

From his observation point, Wang Xiao watched the scene with an analytical gaze. 'She's quite skilled to be an assassin,' he noted, impressed by her ability to turn the tide despite the odds.

His interest in the situation deepened, his initial curiosity turning into a keen observation of tactics and skill.

Shadow Fox's heart suddenly raced as she realized her position. The barrier she was next to was not just any barrier—it was a small boiler, now hissing and emitting steam, signaling potential danger. "Not good..." she muttered under her breath, her eyes quickly scanning for an escape route.

At that moment, Ivan's tactical mind grasped the opportunity before him. His eyes lit up with a mixture of cunning and triumph. "Everyone, fire at the boiler!" he barked, pointing towards the structure near Shadow Fox.

As Ivan's command echoed through the air, a barrage of gunfire rained down on the boiler.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound was deafening, a chorus of bullets drumming against metal.

Shadow Fox's eyes widened in horror as she realized her escape was cut off. "No...!" she gasped, her voice barely audible over the sound of bullets.

The boiler, now riddled with bullet holes, could no longer contain the pressure building within.

With a thunderous *BOOM*, it exploded, sending a shockwave rippling through the area.

Shadow Fox, caught in the blast, was propelled through the air like a ragdoll.

Her body slammed against a concrete wall with a sickening *thud*.

"Argh..."

She crumpled to the ground, a sharp pain radiating through her. Coughing up blood, she struggled to regain her senses, her vision blurred and ears ringing.

The mercenaries, sensing victory, approached her with cruel laughter. "Looks like the cat's out of play!" one jeered, his voice filled with malicious laughter

"Should've picked a better hiding spot, darling," another taunted, as they closed in on her weakened form.

Lying against the wall, Shadow Fox tried to push herself up, her breathing labored. 'This isn't good...' she thought desperately, her mind racing for a way out. Blood dripped from her lips, each cough a sharp reminder of her dire situation.

Ivan, leading the group, had a smirk on his face. "You gave us a good run, but it's over now." His tone was cold, devoid of any mercy.

____

Shadowfox lay pretending to be unconscious, her mind was working with a clever strategy. 'The moment they gets close, I'll strike. This ends now.' Her hand inched toward the dagger at her ankle, her movements deliberately slow and covert.

Feeling someone lift her, Shadowfox's eyes flew open, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. In one fluid motion, she thrust the dagger towards her assailant's heart.

Squish...

Her triumph turned to disbelief as Wang Xiao appeared before her, his hand bleeding from blocking the strike. "Are you stupid...?" he asked, his tone a blend of bewilderment and irritation.

"How!?" Shadowfox gasped, her eyes wide. 'Impossible! How did he...?'

Clank!

Wang Xiao's swift action forced the dagger from her grip. "You!" Shadowfox's frustration boiled over. She launched a flurry of punches and kicks, but Wang Xiao deftly countered each move.

"Easy there," Wang Xiao said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he effortlessly restrained her. "You're not in a position to be picking fights."

"You bastard!" Shadowfox's frustration was palpable as she continued her futile assault, her fists pummeling against his chest.

Wang Xiao, for a moment, stood speechless, almost as if he were dealing with an overly aggressive cat. Then, with a decisive chop to her head, he ended the struggle.

Bam!

Shadowfox winced, her world spinning before darkness claimed her.

"So troublesome..." Wang Xiao muttered, looking down at her unconscious form in his arms. 'Was she always this aggressive with men, or is it just my charm?'

His gaze then shifted to the mercenaries suspended in the air, their faces etched with horror and disbelief, frozen in place.

With a casual flick of his hand, Wang Xiao unleashed a force that reduced them to a blood mist. Then, leaping into the air, he made his escape. The metal of the roof twisted and contorted, creating an exit through which he disappeared, carrying Shadowfox away from the scene of the massacre.

As Wang Xiao vanished into the night, the power plant behind him became a scene from a dystopian nightmare. Engulfed in a fiery inferno, its towering structures crumbled, succumbing to the ragging flames.

A battlefield charred with ashes, was left behind, leaving no victors in it's path!