In an alley in the Helios Slums.
Amau Sueko stared at the girl who had suddenly appeared. Before she could even process what was happening, the situation had turned around.
The men who had been about to attack her all shifted their attention to the girl with light brown hair.
A slender girl whose day job apparently involved journalism couldn't possibly be a match for three strong, fully grown men.
But what happened next completely overturned everything Amau Sueko thought she knew.
The girl's azure eyes took on a faint red tinge, and her entire demeanor changed as though she had become a different person.
The instant the man with the dagger charged, the girl ducked beneath his attack, then lashed out with a sharp kick.
Her kick struck his hand, sending the dagger flying and leaving his hand red and swollen.
A flicker of hesitation crossed the girl's eyes at the sight, but then the man beside him charged in, likewise clutching a dagger and swinging viciously at her.
She took him down the same way, kicking his dagger away. This time, however, his hand wasn't nearly as swollen. Clearly, she had deliberately held back.
Neither man seemed particularly grateful. Clutching his hand, the first man scrambled over to retrieve his dagger, but instead of attacking immediately, he watched the girl warily.
Clearly, her earlier strike had made quite an impression.
The other man, however, retrieved his dagger and charged straight at her again without a word, as though he hadn't noticed anything amiss.
A flash of irritation crossed the girl's eyes at his actions.
This time, she didn't hold back, planting a kick directly into his stomach.
The man crumpled in pain, his dagger slipping from his hand onto the ground.
Seeing his companion go down, the previously