The Eminence in Shadow: The Dark Swordsman

Chapter 10: Moonlit Pursuit

Kirito sprinted across the rooftops, his nimble steps keeping pace with the elusive Zeta. She darted ahead, her lithe form effortlessly leaping from one rooftop to another. The moonlit night provided the perfect backdrop for their chase, casting long shadows as they weaved through the labyrinth of rooftops, their footsteps barely making a sound. Zeta's tail swayed gracefully as she led Kirito on a thrilling pursuit, her feline instincts guiding her every move.

"Hey, stop!" Kirito shouted, desperation in his voice. Zeta shot him a quick glance over her shoulder, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips as she replied, "You'll never catch me." She continued to gracefully bound across the rooftops, leaving Kirito trailing behind, determined to catch her.

Kirito couldn't help but grin in response to Zeta's challenge. While he was the type who wouldn't easily give up, he relished the thrill of the chase and the excitement in the air. With a determined look in his eyes, he muttered to himself, "Challenge accepted," and continued to sprint after Zeta, fully embracing the exhilarating pursuit through the moonlit rooftops.

As Kirito continued to chase Zeta across the moonlit rooftops, her initial playfulness began to evolve into a grudging admiration for his unwavering determination. Her agile movements were met with his relentless pursuit, and she couldn't help but be impressed by his persistence.

As they reached the edge of a building, Zeta made a quick decision. With a sly grin, she leapt gracefully into the abyss, disappearing into the dark alleyways below.

Kirito watched Zeta vanish into the darkness of the alley below and remarked, "It seems that darkness is your greatest ally." With a confident smirk, he continued, "But I'm here to bring a bit of light to that darkness." Channelling his power, he cast a spell that sent a brilliant flash of light illuminating the entire alley as he gracefully jumped down, determined to catch her.

Kirito felt a sudden, intense gaze upon him, and in an instant, he noticed Zeta's cat-like, gleaming eyes closing in for an attack. But just as she pounced, he executed a skilful move, disappearing in a blur of movement.

To her astonishment, Zeta found herself standing behind empty air with her daggers poised to strike. Kirito's clever manoeuvre had left her momentarily off balance.

As Zeta stood momentarily off balance, her eyes widened in surprise as she felt a sudden gust of wind from above. Kirito, his Elucidator gleaming in the moonlight, descended with incredible speed. With a powerful blow, he aimed his sword at the Zeta before him, ready to strike her down.

However, as his blade made contact, there was an unexpected squelching sound. To his shock, the Zeta he had just attacked seemed to melt away, revealing that it was not Zeta at all, but a cleverly crafted copy made out of Slime. Kirito's sword had sliced through the slime clone, causing it to disintegrate into a gooey mess.

Zeta, not far from the scene, watched as Kirito's attack dissolved the slime clone. She furrowed her brows, her sharp mind quickly analyzing the situation. "He really intended to kill me with an attack of that calibre," she murmured to herself.

But just as she was coming to terms with the danger, she heard Kirito's voice from right behind her. "You've got it all wrong," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I went a bit strong on purpose because I knew that wasn't you. Can't be too careful in a chase like this, right?"

Zeta, taken by surprise and startled like a panicked cat, let out an adorable hissing as she leapt into the air, her large cat ears perking up and her long tail fluffing out in shock. Her eyes widened, and she stared at Kirito with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment, resembling a startled feline caught in the act.

Kirito couldn't help but chuckle at the comical sight. "Sorry about that," he said with a mischievous grin. "I guess I overdid it a bit, didn't I?"

Zeta, still in a state of surprise and panic, lunged at Kirito with her daggers once more. With a swift, agile movement, Kirito gracefully dodged her attacks. As her daggers whistled through the air, he said, "We don't need to fight. I'm not here to harm you."