Gangsters:Rise To The Top

The Phantom Archer – A Fight in the Fog

The air around Mri grew heavy.

His shoulder throbbed where the arrow had struck, but he ignored the pain. Pain could wait. Right now, he had a fight to win.

The Phantom Archer stood across from him, their bow lowered, unreadable behind a dark mask. They had already proven their speed and precision.

But Mri was done playing defense.

He yanked the arrow from his shoulder in one swift motion, blood dripping onto the damp earth. His aura flared.

"You're strong," the archer said again. "But not strong enough."

Mri smiled. "We'll see about that."

---

The Battle Begins

Before the last word even left his lips—

The archer vanished.

Mri's instincts screamed, and he dodged just in time to see another arrow pierce the air where his heart had been.

Too fast.

Mri spun, but the next attack came from above.

The archer had leaped into the air, already firing another shot.

Mri crossed his arms, aura hardening into a barrier. The arrow struck the shield but didn't shatter it completely—it pushed him back several meters.

He barely had time to recover before the next wave of attacks began.

Three arrows in rapid succession—one at his legs, one at his chest, and one at his head.

Mri ducked, rolled, and deflected the last one with his forearm, but the sheer force sent him staggering.

The archer didn't let up.

They were already moving, appearing behind him again.

Mri smirked.

"Predictable."

He spun with a burst of speed, grabbing the archer's bow mid-draw.

For the first time, the hunter hesitated.

Mri used that moment.

With his free hand, he threw a crushing punch toward their stomach.

But in an instant—they disappeared.

A whisper of wind, and suddenly—

A blade was at his throat.

---

Mri's Past Awakens

A sharp, silver knife rested against his skin.

The archer was right behind him now.

"Checkmate," the hunter whispered.

But something stirred in Mri's mind.

A memory. A sensation.

This moment… This feeling… He had been here before.

Years ago.

Back when he had been the General of The Three Souls in Dibrugarh.

A battlefield. His enemies had surrounded him.

A knife at his throat.

That day…

He hadn't lost.

And he wouldn't lose now.

--

Mri's Counterattack

The second the blade touched his throat—Mri moved.

With a sudden burst of unseen speed, he twisted his body, grabbed the hunter's wrist, and threw them over his shoulder.

The archer flipped midair and landed gracefully—but Mri was already in front of them.

For the first time, the hunter's body language changed.

A fraction of a second too late—they hesitated.

Mri's fist collided with their stomach.

The impact sent them flying.

They crashed into the ground, rolling across the mud.

Silence.

Mri exhaled, his aura still glowing around him.

The archer groaned, holding their ribs.

Mri walked forward, towering over them.

"Not bad," he said, flexing his fingers. "But not good enough."

---

The Truth Behind the Archer

The archer coughed, pulling off their mask.

Mri's eyes widened.

It was a girl.

Her dark hair clung to her face, and her amber eyes glowed slightly in the dim light.

She wiped blood from her lip and smirked.

"Looks like you're stronger than I thought."

Mri frowned. "Who are you?"

She hesitated.

Then—

"I'm not your enemy."

Mri tensed.

The girl sighed and sat up, stretching her sore muscles. "This isn't what you think it is."

Before Mri could ask more, a loud explosion rocked the swamp.

BOOM!

The ground trembled, and in the distance, a red flare shot into the sky.

Mri's heart pounded. That was where Jasmine was.

Without another word, he turned and ran toward the smoke.

The archer watched him go.

Then, reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small radio communicator.

Click.

"Sir, he's stronger than we expected."

A voice crackled through the device.

"Understood. Maintain surveillance. He still doesn't know the full truth."

She sighed, watching Mri disappear into the fog.

"Yeah. He doesn't."