Chapter 10 Abyssus

Now huddled in Brennen's embrace, Clare, once a tempest of uproar, now cowered, her eyes wide with apprehension as she peered beyond.

Bam!

The tranquility shattered, just like the bedroom window that succumbed to the force of another gunshot.

Glass fragments pirouetted through the air, and a fresh bullet orifice graced the wall with its presence.

In the midst of fear's grip, Clare trembled, her bosom fluttering in sync.

Brennen, unable to resist, lowered his head for a lingering second glance.

A chill ran down Clare's spine, prompting an instinctive cover for her chest. "No peeping!" she warned with a dash of humor. "Look again, and I might just take those eyes of yours!"

Leaning against the wall, Brennen sat up.

After casting a reassuring glance at Clare, he uttered, "You're safe now; stand up."

Still trembling, Clare rose with caution. But just as she found her footing, Brennen executed a surprising move, delivering a swift kick to her leg, sending her back to the floor.

Before a scream could escape Clare's lips, another thunderous bang reverberated, and a new hole appeared on the wall.

In an instant, Brennen transitioned from calm to action.

He swiftly aimed out the window and fired, the muzzle emitting a wisp of smoke.

Through the scope, he witnessed a figure crumple in a pool of crimson.

Clare, now gripped by extreme fear, gradually pieced together that she had been used as bait. Shock and anger surged within her.

Addressing Brennen with a mix of surprise and fury, she exclaimed, "Hey, delivery guy! What the heck is happening?"

Brennen maintained his silence, deftly plucking a peculiar bullet from the damaged wall.

This one bore a hexagram pattern, a mark distinguishing it from the ordinary.

"Did you happen to cross paths with someone from Eastern Auromo?" Brennen inquired, his gaze probing.

Avoiding eye contact, Clare retorted, "I have no clue what you're on about."

Casually tossing the distinct bullet onto Clare's lap, Brennen elucidated, "That's a special round from the Abyssus, the colossal league of assassins in Eastern Auromo. You don't trifle with them. If you've got nothing to share, I'll be on my way."

In an instant, Clare's plea filled the room, "Please don't go! I'm terrified!"

"If fear's got you, spill the beans!"

Brennen declared with intensity.

With a swift motion, he pulled the slide, causing the spent shell to leap out.

It was a display of bravado, considering he had only instructed Archie to prepare two bullets.

Now, facing an empty chamber, danger loomed.

Clare's complexion drained of color. "I once invested in a research team. Just a month back, they concocted a breakthrough medicine. One Eastern Auromo bigwig wanted to snatch my core tech, but I stood my ground. They sent death threats, and these goons must be their messengers."

The explanation seemed plausible, and Clare, in a sudden realization, pieced together something crucial.

Observing Brennen wielding a firearm, Clare inquired, "What brings you here? And why the gun?"

Maintaining an air of mystery, Brennen concocted, "My identity is best kept in the shadows. Some truths are better swallowed without being spoken."

"Delivering food is just a front, isn't it?" Clare swiftly deduced.

Brennen, responding with a cryptic smile, murmured, "Let's just pretend today didn't happen, alright?"

In compliance, Clare nodded.

After a moment of contemplation, she queried, "Does Emmie know about this? Should I clue her in?"

"Lock it up inside. Don't let a soul know I swung by. If you spill, you're all walking into trouble," Brennen warned with a steely gaze.

Clare, nodding in compliance, vowed to keep the encounter under wraps.

Observing Clare's transformation from arrogance to compliance, Brennen couldn't suppress a smirk.

"Hush!" Brennen signaled suddenly, prompting Clare's confusion.

Downstairs, footsteps echoed, drawing Brennen stealthily towards the door.

He took a cautious peek just as a gunshot pierced the air.

The bedroom door disintegrated, shattered into countless pieces.

Terrified, Clare curled into a protective ball, clutching her head.

Brennen, now bereft of bullets, held a gun that had morphed into a mere, useless bludgeon.

His eyes shifted from the scattered glass shards to Clare.

In an unexpected turn, he requested, "Hand me your bra."

Stunned, Clare arched an eyebrow, retorting, "In the midst of all this, that's what you're fixated on?"

Brennen's demeanor shifted to seriousness. "No time for nonsense. Just give it to me!"

Clare instinctively shielded her chest, shaking her head.

"I said give it to me!" Brennen snapped.

Gritting her teeth, Clare reluctantly removed her bra, tossing it Brennen's way with a muttered, "Shameless!"

Snatching the bra, Brennen promptly extracted the rubber band, assessing its stretchiness.

Finding it slightly wanting, he glanced at Clare again, stating, "Hand over your panties too!"

Blushing intensely, Clare protested, "You can't be serious!"

"If you fancy surviving, speed it up!" Brennen insisted.

Clare's face turned crimson almost immediately.

"Hold on! Turn around first!"

Brennen obliged, and soon Clare tossed her panties, hastily wrapping herself in a nightgown.

Her long, slender legs peeked through, alluring yet overshadowed by the urgency of the situation.

In the midst of the chaos, Brennen had no time to appreciate the unexpected view.

He extracted the rubber band from her underwear and tested its elasticity.

Brennen seized a shard of glass, feigning a cautious look outside.

Another gunshot echoed from the adversary.

Seizing the brief respite before the next shot, Brennen swiftly pivoted, stretching the rubber band in that direction.

Mimicking a slingshot, he released his grip, propelling the glass shard with precision.

The shard found its mark, slashing the assassin's carotid artery.

Stumbling backward, the assassin was met with Brennen's predatory pounce. A knee shot up, connecting with the opponent's face.

Brennen then interlocked his hands, seizing the assailant's head, and executed the Demolition technique with a resounding crack.

The wounded assassin, mouth bleeding, crumpled to the floor in defeat.

Brennen, catching his breath, leaned against the wall.

Glancing around, he noticed Clare standing at the door, her petite mouth hanging agape in sheer amazement.

This delivery guy's combat prowess had surpassed all her expectations.

Even the family's extravagantly paid bodyguards didn't wield such formidable skills.

Beneath Clare's semi-transparent purple nightgown, her flawless figure hinted at a subtle allure.

The garment's hem reached halfway down her thighs, showcasing her smooth, slender legs-a genuine masterpiece.

Emilee's closest friend, Clare, undeniably possessed an authentically appealing appearance and an enviable figure.

Feeling Brennen's unapologetic stare, Clare promptly shielded her chest. "No sneak peeks! Another glance, and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Brennen, catching her semi-naked surprise, couldn't help but quip, "Your chest isn't exactly a panoramic view, you know."

Annoyed, Clare snapped, "Now's not the time for size debates. Is the danger over?"

Brennen retrieved a gun from the fallen assassin, scrutinizing the tattoos that adorned his body.

A hexagram on the wrist, a fallen angel on the back, and six coin-sized hexagrams on the shoulders-they spoke a cryptic language of danger.

"A six-star fallen angel," Brennen muttered to himself.

"What in the world is a six-star fallen angel?" Clare, now clothed, approached with curiosity.

Brennen clarified, "Abyssus is Latin, meaning hell. This assassin organization, Abyssus, boasts elite killers whose hierarchy spans from one star to nine stars. And they're led by the nine-star fallen angel, known as Satan or Lucifer.

Sending a six-star fallen angel your way means whatever you folks researched and created holds substantial value."

Clare absorbed the information with a bewildered expression.

"That thing holds immense importance! It can manipulate human genes," Clare revealed, leaving Brennen momentarily stunned.

"No wonder," he murmured.

Clare, still visibly shaken, inquired, "Is the danger truly over?"

Brennen, leaning casually against the wall, couldn't help but admire Clare's elegant figure.

"There's likely one more person," he admitted.

With an intense glare, Clare snapped, "Quit staring!"

Grinning, Brennen diverted his gaze. "Feisty!"

Blushing anew, Clare adjusted her nightgown. Her limited wardrobe in this place led her to mutter, "Shameless! I really don't understand why Emilee..."

Before she could finish, Brennen swiftly covered Clare's mouth and pressed her against the wall.

"Shh! Someone's approaching!"