Asuka Asano, trained assassin of the Red Dragon clan, trekked through Nekros in search of Amelia Fireheart. The skies above the heart of the Netherrealm churned with a sickly crimson colour, a colour seen in almost all of the Netherrealm's palette. She walked past a large stronghold being built in the centre of the busy capital, seeing much work being done on the stone structure. Asuka had heard whispers that this would be used for accommodation to many Oni who wished to move into the Netherrealm, after the new ruler of the Netherrealm had lifted the ban on Oni being banned from entering the city.

Asuka certainly wasn't used to seeing so many Oni around, but she had no issues with the unique Netherrealm species, but she had to watch out for Oni Beasts so she wouldn't get in the way of their large path. She had made countless trips to and from the Netherrealm in the past with Amelia Fireheart, her younger and even more adventurous girlfriend. Her other half found herself in the chaos of the Netherrealm more than she was back in Earthrealm.

Asuka likewise enjoyed the demonic realm, but she wasn't too fond of the bustling crowds. If she was dealing with an assassination contract, then it would play into her favour. But here she was simply looking for her beloved. The city was a bizarre one to traverse through since the changes made once Iris became ruler. The mere concept of a city in the Netherrealm was inspired by Earthrealm, but the buildings always reflected a gothic architecture. Dark colours, spikes, foreboding patterns, the emphasis on torture and suffering that frightened most outsiders… but not Asuka.

Asuka missed the old Nekros, it was not a realm she wished to reside in, but it was exactly her sort of place for a tourist trip. Her girlfriend relished the vibes of Hell even more, familiarising herself with every building of the city. Knowing this, Asuka expected her to be out finding entertainment somewhere in the city. The gothic aesthetics had been overshadowed by the more modern Netherrealm structures, still built out of materials like blackened stone and obsidian, but decorated with brighter reds and some used materials found from other realms like Earthrealm or even Outworld. Nekros had transformed from the evil heart of the Netherrealm to a busy hub, both with all the activities that went on in the city and the unorderly mesh of aesthetics that strained the eyes.

Asuka knew the inconsistencies would only worsen, as Oni was still built out of traditional materials. The stronghold that she saw under construction was already more of a familiar style to what Asuka was used to, but featuring additional materials that only the Oni tended to use like literal bones. She had also noticed new market stalls being set up on the already busy streets, the majority being run by Oni. One waved a piece of flesh, presumably of a human, in front of Asuka. She shook her head nervously but politely before continuing to walk down the marketplace.

Although she liked seeing the return of aesthetics like corpses on pikes and lampposts on the sides of streets, Asuka had a nervousness when it came to a version of Nekros ran by Oni. Legend of their cannibalism had spread throughout the Netherrealm, and judging by the marketplace, this wasn't just misinformation spread by other biased Netherrealmers.

"I really don't want to be eaten today…" Asuka muttered to herself. "Where the fuck are you, Fireheart?"

"Fireheart?!" an Oni's voice called out the name upon overhearing it. They were of the Fleshy subspecies, tagging the side of a store with a haunted furniture theme. "Amelia Fireheart?"

Asuka stepped back as the Oni emerged from the dark alley. "You know her?"

"Sure do," the Oni replied as he juggled a can of spray paint in his skinned hands. "She's fun, ain't she?"

"In what way?" Asuka raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"Nevermind," Asuka shrugged as she approached the Oni confidently. "How do you know my name is Amy?"

"Half the realm probably knows her by now!" The Oni exclaimed. "She brings all sorts of goodies from Earthrealm; like these colour dispensers!"

"Spray paint," she corrected him. "I didn't think an Oni could be an artist."

"Why?!" the Oni raised his voice. "Because we're lesser beings?!"

"I meant no offence!" Asuka quickly began to defuse the situation.

"Look at my masterpiece!" the Oni gestured to their graffiti on the wall. A blend of shades of blue and green in an oval shape that attempted to reflect Drahmin's mask. "Lord Drahmin is proof that we should've never been held beneath other Netherrealmers!"

Asuka couldn't control her laughter at the graffiti, the 'art' reminding her of a child's scribbles. "I was going to apologise, but holy fuck!"

"What?!" the Oni turned to them with an angry look.

"You consider yourself an artist?!" Asuka asked between howls of laughter. "A pawless Hellcat could do better!"

"I've had enough of your disrespect!" The Oni yelled as he reached into his pocket for a small crooked knife. "Times have changed, you cannot disrespect the Oni!"

"I'm not even from here!" Asuka clarified. "I'm not against your people, you're just a shit artist!"

"I'll kill you!" The Oni bellowed as he lunged at Asuka with the crooked knife, his fiery eyes blazing with rage. Asuka dodged, her laughter abruptly halting as she fell into a defensive stance.

"Alright," she muttered, shaking out her hands, "I was just giving you some constructive criticism."

The Oni snarled and swiped at her again. Asuka ducked under the strike and delivered a swift kick to his stomach, sending him stumbling back.

"I need to work on my de-escalation skills" she admitted whilst stepping back to keep her distance. "Like how you need to work on your art!"

In her retreat, she bumped into something solid—a hulking figure that rumbled a low growl. Turning slowly, Asuka looked up to see an Oni Beast, its massive horns scraping the edges of the shop's awning. It snorted, smoke curling from its nostrils as it glared down at her.

"Uh... hey there, big guy," Asuka said, forcing a nervous smile.

The Oni Beast bellowed, swatting at her like she was a fly. She rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding its massive fist. The impact shattered the pavement where she'd been standing.

"Great, now I've got two of you to deal with!" she yelled, dodging another swing. "Maybe I do have a problem with Oni!"

The first Oni, seizing the opportunity, tried to tackle her from behind. Asuka spun around, drawing one of her golden pistols and popping a quick shot into the back of the Oni's leg. He stumbled again, but the noise caught the attention of other nearby Oni, some approaching from the marketplace to investigate the commotion in the street. Soon enough, a chorus of angry growls and shouts erupted.

Asuka glanced around, realising with dread that a half-dozen more Oni were closing in on her. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Hey!" a voice yelled as they kicked open a door and stepped outside the very same store that was being graffitied. The figure was an overweight Demon, carrying a flamethrower in their two large red hands. "What did I tell you, Oni scum, about leaving my store alone!"

"Lord Drahmin's already made it official!" one Oni tried to argue. "Our kind shall not be barred from anywhere again!"

"We go where we please!" another bellowed.

The horde of Oni soon turned their focus to the demonic shopkeeper, their flamethrower activating as the pack charged at her.

In the middle of all the chaos, Asuka began sprinting down the street. "This was not what I signed up for!" she shouted, firing gunshots wildly at any Oni who tried to chase after her.

"Shit!" Asuka swore as she kept running as fast as possible. "Gotta find Amy!"

Asuka began to think of where she'd likely be whilst still racing through the streets, the frighteningly armoured guards in the city beginning to give her suspicious looks. When they sighted the conflict a few roads down, however, their piercing eyes shifted away from Asuka. Whilst running, a sudden thought clicked in Asuka's mind, bringing her to a screeching halt.

"The strip club!" Asuka blurted out in the open, gathering even more unwanted attention. "Of course she'd be there!"

After a few minutes hiding out in an alley, having a smoke as she waited to be sure the coast was clear, Asuka headed down to one of her personal favourite attractions and one of the few additions she did appreciate to the new Nekros; a sleazy Demon club. A perfect night out for her.

After reaching the club, she was stopped by bouncers. A pair of hulking Oni Beasts dressed in ill fitting tight suits that they had stolen from suppliers from exterior realms. Asuka sighed as one gestured with a large claw to hand over her beloved pair of golden Desert Eagle guns.

"Hang on," Asuka held onto her weapons. "You Oni better not have kicked out those lovely Demons!"

The two bouncers turned to each other, both with fed up gazes. Turning back to Asuka, one knelt down to address her.

"Unlike the rest of you Netherrealmers, we don't ban people for being different to us," the bouncer informed her. "We just applied to a new job offer, you can see why we received it immediately."

Asuka gulped. "I'm actually an Earthrealmer…" she corrected the bouncer quietly, seemingly politely before her loudmouth got the better of her. "So I really don't care about whatever race war went down here, I just wanna look at some baddies!"

"We have Oni staff and customers," the other bouncer chimed in. "We won't let you pass with such attitudes."

"You motherfuckers eat people!" Asuka yelled. "There's bigger reasons for your kind being exiled than it being because of your ugly looks!"

The bouncers growled in unison. "I eat mushrooms and rocks," the bouncer clarified in a low but angry tone.

"My bad, dude," Asuka stepped back, gagging at the Oni's breath. After taking a moment to calm herself, she asked, "can I please just go in?!"

"Sorry," the bouncer apologised as they leaned against the wall. "Like our people have had to do for thousands of years, you'll have to find somewhere else."

Asuka's usual cocky grin faltered for a moment before she replaced it with a wide, insincere smile.

"Look," she began, trying to sound casual, "I get it, alright? You guys have your rules, and I respect that. Totally respect it. But I'm a paying customer. Big spender! I tip well, better than those cheap Netherrealm types, I bet. You don't want to lose out on that, right?"

The bouncers didn't budge. The larger of the two crossed their massive arms, their suit straining against their bulk. "We don't need your money."

Asuka's grin stiffened. She wasn't used to rejection, and certainly not from Oni who had barely passed as civilised until recently. She glanced at the club's entrance, her heartbeat quickening at the faint sound of music and laughter from within. It was pulling her, calling her, but these two stone-faced beasts were in the way.

"I need to get in!" Asuka insisted.

"Why?" the slightly smaller Oni shook their head, growing tired of her desperation.

"I need to see someone, okay?" Asuka explained. "And it's not one of the dancers!"

"Then you can wait for them."

"Y'know what?! Fuck you both!" Asuka yelled before turning to the Oni with a peculiar diet. "I can tell you eat rocks, dumbass, your brain is one!"

"That's an insult?!" The pair of Oni burst into laughter. "Get lost… final warning."

"Here's my final warning," Asuka quickly drew her guns, one for each bouncer. "Let me in or you'll both be losing your third eye."

Before Asuka could make good on her impulsive threat, the distinct sound of metal scraping against stone echoed down the street. A flash of light caught her eye, reflecting off a massive blade that was suddenly brought down between her and the two Oni.

"Asuka," a familiar, stern voice cut through the tension. "Put the damn guns away."

Asuka blinked, her focus shifting to the figure who had just stepped in between her and the Oni. Amelia stood there, her chainsaw sword held firmly in both hands, the engine growling low as if ready to spring to life. The blade gleamed ominously in the dim light, its serrated edge a not-so-subtle reminder of what it could do.

"Amelia," Asuka said, forcing a grin as she tried to mask her frustration. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Drop the act," Amelia replied, her tone firm but calm. "What the Hell are you doing?"

"I-" Asuka hesitated, her grip on her Desert Eagles tightening before she finally exhaled sharply and lowered them. "I was just... negotiating."

"With guns pointed at their heads?" Amelia arched a brow, her chainsaw sword still held between them.

"They were being assholes!" Asuka protested, gesturing at the bouncers. "And you know how I feel about assholes!"

"You're being an asshole!" Amelia raised her voice. "Why were you even trying to get in that shithole?!"

"I thought that… you'd be there," Asuka tried to explain, but Amelia shook her head. Amelia knew she had been lying to herself.

"Why the fuck would I go to a strip club?!" Amelia asked bluntly with a look of disgust on her face.

"Y'know we met at a club-" Asuka tried to remind her.

"A normal club!" Amelia clarified. "You're unbelievable!"

"Same thing!"

"It so isn't!"

"Fuck…" Asuka sighed as she looked down, holstering her guns. Amelia lowered her own unique weapon. "Maybe I just had some… urges, okay?"

"No shit," Amelia rolled her eyes. "Why didn't you actually go to find me?"

"I was but then I had a change in plan," Asuka admitted.

"Whatever," Amelia dismissed her excuses. "Just apologise to these gents and I'll take you to where I actually hangout."

"What? Apologise? To them?" Asuka gestured dramatically at the bouncers.

"Yes, them." Amelia took a step closer. "Don't be a child about this, you're much older than I am."

Asuka grumbled under her breath but turned to the bouncers. "Fine. I'm sorry, alright? Sorry for... the guns and the rock comment or whatever."

The smaller Oni crossed his arms, his expression skeptical but slightly amused. "Was that so hard?"

"Yes," Asuka muttered.

"Okay, that's enough," Amelia said, resting her sword on her shoulder, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at Asuka. "What's going on with you?"

"Let's just go," Asuka decided.

"Now you want to leave," Amelia giggled. "Fine. Follow me, I'll show you this pub I've been going to lately."

Asuka trailed a few steps behind Amelia, her head bowed as they navigated the twisted streets of Nekros, the dark buildings looming over the couple. Many of the locals in the city whether they were Demon or Oni waved to Amelia who smiled and returned the kind gesture. Asuka looked up to this sight, admittedly puzzled by it. Asuka was a regular tourist to the Netherrealm, but she rarely saw such genuine displays.

Around the corner stood a narrow but tall hotel, a rare sort of building in the Netherrealm. There was a smaller building behind it with a garden separating the two in a sizable square area, but the bar itself that interested Amelia most was attached directly to the hotel itself. Despite being a fairly new structure, the bar had seen better days. A massive hole that had yet to be filled in revealed the middle of the bar, a makeshift entranceway from an infamous conflict that had occurred recently.

"What went down here?" Asuka questioned as Amelia stepped inside through the hole in the wall.

"The previous owners were Brotherhood of Shadow," Amelia explained as she scouted the room for a table they could sit at. "Got into some fights with Oni."

"What happened to them?"

"They got kicked out the city, or so I've heard," Amelia revealed as she spotted an empty table. "There's a spot!"

"Kicked out?" Asuka echoed as they approached the table together. "And those dickhead bouncers were telling me that Oni don't force people out-"

"Would you shut up?!" Amelia demanded as she forced her to sit in a chair. "They're banned for being on Team Iris, not for being Demons."

"So you like the new ruler, huh?"

"Drahmin's inoffensive so far," Amelia shrugged as she sat down herself. "Only big change is letting Oni in the city, and I don't see an issue with that."

"I can think of plenty," Asuka murmured.

Amelia planted her face in the palm of her hand. "Would you quit it with the racism?" she asked firmly.

"Racism?" Asuka repeated. "They're beneath-"

"Stop," Amelia glared at her with an uncharacteristic seriousness. "I get you're just being oblivious, not malicious, but you gotta know that you have no clue about them."

"I'm a regular visitor!" Asuka protested.

"A tourist," Amelia nodded. "You've almost never even left Nekros, you can't judge them."

"Sure," Asuka sighed. "I didn't come here to discuss Hell politics."

"Yeah we both nice why you came," Amelia referred to the club.

"It's been… a few days," Asuka clarified, looking down at the table which had numerous carvings on it. "Y'know how I get!"

"I know," Amelia nodded.

"And this one Demon last time I visited…" Asuka's face brushed just thinking about her "She was… wow…" Asuka paused, staring down at the table, her fingers idly tracing one of the carvings. "She made me forget… for a little while."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, her expression softening just slightly. "Forget what?"

Asuka's smirk faded, and she gave a dismissive wave. "Nothing. Never mind. Just saying she was hot, that's all." She forced a laugh, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Well I'll change the subject now before I hear T.M.I," Amelia looked away, a grim look on her face.

"We agreed to an open relationship!" Asuka reminded her. "You can't get jealous that I'm such a chick magnet in any realm I go!"

"I don't care who you fuck, I don't want to hear it," Amelia clarified.

"Well if you can ever get with anyone other than this slut," Asuka pointed a thumb towards herself, "then I'd be happy to hear all the details."

"Well actually," Amelia leaned forward as her tone lowered to a whisper. "I had a… let's just say pleasant night with an Oni this week."

"It wouldn't happen to be that dude you gave spray paint to?" Asuka gave off a look of concern, her teeth gritted.

"You know him?" Amelia was surprised.

"I might have upset him a little bit," Asuka of course understated the severity of the incident in her explanation.

"Baby, I have a reputation to uphold here!" Amelia warned her. "I love you, but you've gotta stop whatever… whatever shit you normally do here."

"I don't normally have to deal with those wannabe ogres!" Asuka snapped.

"This is what I'm talking about," Amelia shook her head, disappointed. "They're legit people, the vast majority are completely native to this realm and they've all had really tough lives. Maybe now that can change, so I'm around to help make them comfortable."

"Sorry that I'm ruining your cool Hell neighbour vibes, good samaritan!" Asuka sarcastically apologised.

"Just don't be a cunt," Amelia requested as she stood up and glanced over to the bar. "I'm gonna get us a couple pints."

"Sounds good," Asuka smirked as she coolly gestured a finger gun at Amelia as she headed off to make the order.

Asuka slouched in her sight, sighing as she slowly reached for his pistols. Dropping them carefully on the carved-up table, she reached into the pocket of her long kimono-inspired jacket, pulling out a piece of cloth to polish her cherished firearms. After a few minutes of polishing, she looked up and wiped her forehead after realising she had been sweating. She ignored it, dismissing it as a result of her angered outburst. As she put the cloth away, a glass of beer was set down loudly by Amelia.

Amelia took a sip of her own drink before sitting down. Asuka gazed up at her girlfriend as she sat down, the couple smiling at each other. Amelia's smile became unveiled as she removed her dark bandana. Asuka found it beautiful, and she continued to stare at Amelia, her unique appearance impossible to ignore. Amelia's hair, a fiery mohawk with streaks of orange and yellow, seemed to mimic flames dancing atop her head. Her tattered outfit consisted of ripped pants and a cropped top, both reflecting a rebellious and unkempt look whilst still matching the fiery colour palette befitting of her chosen surname.

"Stop being creepy," Amelia laughed at her girlfriend, noting her staring.

"Sorry," Asuka apologised as she looked down at her drink. "I was… daydreaming."

"We'll fool around later," Amelia promised, knowing exactly what she wanted. "Okay?"

"I'm sorry for being a jerk earlier too," Asuka continued with the apologies. "You know me and my temper, and there's a lot of… distractions."

"How did they ever make you a Red Dragon?" Amelia wondered aloud.

"I can be serious," Asuka straightened herself. "Any assassination I'll shut the fuck up for most of it, unless I need to turn my charm on."

"Speaking of," Amelia tapped the table lightly. "Are you even an assassin still?"

"Of course!" Asuka scoffed as if it was an absurd question.

"I mean when was the last time you were tasked with killing someone?"

"The bosses mainly want me taking out Black Dragons," Asuka reminded her. "In case you haven't noticed, we're firmly winning that war."

"So they just let you sit around and fuck the entire workforce in the meantime?" Amelia laughed before taking another sip. "Yeah right."

"I'm sort of a teacher now," Asuka revealed which made Amelia almost choke on her drink.

"You of all people?!" Asuka was flabbergasted. "How?!"

"Believe it or not, I'm the top assassin in the entire clan," Asuka claimed. "Who is better qualified than yours truly?"

"Someone who isn't as immature as you?" Amelia asked.

Asuka leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defensively. "Hey, don't forget I used to give you good advice. You didn't always have your act together, I was the one who said you need to relax on the adventuring."

"And I'm grateful for it," Amelia thanked her. "I've had a lot of success since I chose to live here."

"So don't act like I'm completely useless," Asuka spoke sternly.

"I don't," Amelia sighed as she reached out to rub Asuka's shoulder whilst she drank from her glass. "But you mention you used to give good advice… 'used to' is the key phrase here, Asuka. You used to be the one I looked up to. You're close to double my age, and now? Tonight I had to save your ass from being… well, childish. You've got some serious catching up to do."

"You used to get in plenty of trouble," Asuka rolled her eyes. "I bet you still do!"

"It's like we're two sides of the same coin," Amelia shook her head.

"We're two halves of the same side," Asuka corrected her analogy. "Rebellious madwomen who are angry at the world."

"There's your fucked up wisdom that I miss!" Amelia exclaimed.

"We haven't seen each other in months," Asuka pointed out. "Maybe I didn't change at all, maybe you just forgot who you love."

Amelia's eyes narrowed at the comment. "Don't bullshit me, Asano," she demanded. "We expect little of each other, but that tantrum you had with those Oni? That's unlike you."

Asuka flinched at the comment, but instead of firing back, she exhaled deeply, staring at her drink. "I haven't been my best lately," she finally admitted, her voice quieter. "I know that. I don't need you or anyone else to spell it out for me."

"Then what's the problem?" Amelia pressed, her tone softening. "What's got you so off your game?"

Asuka hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "It's… everything. The stress, the expectations, the pressure to step up and be Red Dragon material. Over two decades later and I'm clearly still not. And spending months away from you hasn't helped. You kept me grounded. Without you, it feels like I'm just… I dunno."

Amelia studied her, her stern expression shifting slightly. She let out a long breath and finally said, "Asuka, you don't have to keep going like this. I don't get this loyalty to the Red Dragon… at all."

"I owe it to them," Asuka claimed as Amelia shook her head in disagreement. "I'm serious. They normally kill anybody who even sniffs around Black Dragon business, but me? They saw how much I despised them, and gave me a chance when nobody would."

"You talk like this yet instead of getting the info you came here for, you're fighting with Oni," Amelia pointed out. "You're a confusing woman, Asuka Asano."

"That's just it though," Asuka spoke as she glanced away from Amelia, staring at the floor. "I got a good gig in a top role, yet I haven't managed to earn a slice of respect from the top guy's like Mavado."

"The hot Spaniard?" Amelia asked and Asuka nodded. "I think you'll earn his respect after this trip."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't call up the Red friggin' Dragon with some small news," Amelia remarked as she pulled out a map from her jacket pocket and unrolled it on the table. Pointing to a spot a fair distance west of Nekros, Amelia spoke, "Fort Mal was built around here… I met the bloke behind the name."

"What?!" Asuka gasped. "That's Mavado's dead boyfriend, how'd you find him?!"

"He's been stopping at this hotel in between arms dealing," Amelia revealed as she rolled the map back up. "He's cool so I told him to stop by the pub tonight and we'll talk about taking a trip to the fortress to see if there's any others."

"I thought this idea Mavado had of fetching dead Red Dragons whilst cool, would just lead to me fetching some mentally broken goons," Asuka admitted before rubbing her hands together. "But this is juicy."

"Got your attention now?" Amelia smirked.

"What are we waiting for?!" Asuka questioned as she leapt out of her seat. '

"This'll get me some fucking respect!"

"Easy, tiger," Amelia cooled her off. "It's dangerous."

"I'm an assassin," Asuka repeated again, Amelia still uncertain that she was still capable. "Let me prove it."

"How you were acting around those Oni was even worse than your usual antics," Asuka confessed. "That being said, I did come off as harsher than intended."

"Something troubling you too?" Asuka asked genuinely as she sat back down.

"A bit frustrated," Amelia admitted. "Some asshole has taken the whole idea of transporting Earthrealm goodies over here a bit too far."

"How so?" Asuka was puzzled considering Amelia had been complimenting a literal arms dealer just moments prior.

"Drugs," Amelia groaned. "The real bad kind."

"Come on, Amy, it's Hell!" Asuka reminded her. "It was inevitable that substances were gonna get worse than this cheap beer!"

Amelia aggressively slammed both her hands on the top, staring into Asuka's eyes. "You know how I feel about that shit," she spoke in an unusually serious tone. "This guy needs to be taken care of, make Hell his permanent home, no more going back to Earth for his meth."

"You're asking me to kill him?" Asuka's eyes widened as she realised. "How romantic of you."

"You want a distraction whilst I find our guy? Well there you go."

"Sure," Asuka said as she prepared to leave. "Where is he?"

"In the nearest corner of the city," Amelia revealed. "He hangs by the walls and it's hidden behind a couple buildings."

"I know what you're on about," Asuka assured her as she began walking out the bar. "Give me a few minutes."

Asuka adjusted her jacket before stepping into the dim, winding alleys of Nekros. The city walls loomed in the distance, the ones that once served to keep species like Oni out of the city. These towering blood stained walls cast long shadows over the narrow streets. Asuka moved quickly, confident in her stride. It didn't take her long to locate her target.

The dealer's hideout wasn't hard to find, it was a makeshift setup nestled between two crumbling buildings. Dim, flickering red lights and muffled bass beats seeped out from a half-closed metal door, signaling the den of vice within. Asuka could make out the faint sound of laughter and haggling over substances that were new to the Netherrealm. Oni on the path outside were busy engaging with samples of the drugs the den provided.

Two guards stood in front of the doorway. Asuka was immediately reminded of the bouncers from the club, but these guards were also Earthrealmers. Keeping her head down, Asuka walked past the testers, discreetly pulling a bag of the stuff away from an Oni's shaky grasp. They hissed at Asuka as she tossed it to the ground. The nearby Oni began to rush at the dropped bag, fighting for its contents. This distracted the guards who approached the horde to break them up. This gave Asuka an opening to slip past the guards and enter through the door.

Another guard was inside, a large boot placed on a stool as he tied his laces, back facing Asuka. She slowly pulled out a Desert Eagle before pressing the cold, gold barrel of the gun against the guard's head.

"Your boss," she whispered. "Where is he?"

"Just upstairs…" The guard revealed quietly as he raised his hands.

Seeing a knife in his back pocket, Asuka snatched it before swiftly jabbing it in the guard's thick neck. Blood spewed everywhere, but Asuka was unphased, she began walking on her tiptoes upstairs as the guard bled out, gargling as he did so.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she immediately raised both Desert Eagles. A line of a couple Oni stood before a table, with another couple of guards on either side of the room. Spreading her arms out, Asuka shot both guns, a bullet for each guard's head. Her precision was perfect. She then pushed past the Oni before aiming the gun at the drug dealer.

"What the fuck?!" the dealer exclaimed angrily. He went to stand up from his seat, but Asuka shot him in the shoulder and forced him back down. "Shit! Okay okay!" Agh… the Hell do you want?!"

"Someone doesn't want your kind of product in this city," Asuka explained to him. "This entire realm is off limits."

"Off limits?!" the dealer looked baffled as he clutched his bullet wound. "This is Hell!"

"Bad enough without some methheads," Asuka said coldly, keeping her gun trained on the dealer. She took a step closer, the old floorboards creaking ominously.

"I have a family!" the dealer told her, hoping to be spared.

"I've ruined a lot of families, bud," Asuka said as she leaned forward. "Maybe I can spare you, if you tell me what this whole business is."

"It's just me and my mates," the dealer claimed in a panicked tone. "I'll head back home if you let me go!" he promised. "You won't see me in this realm again!"

Asuka groaned as she heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. She knew it was the guards from outside. "Well, I hope you're telling the truth!" Asuka exclaimed before putting a bullet between the dealer's eyes. Falling back in his chair, the dealer's corpse tumbled to the floor.

The last pair of guards hastened their ascent, Asuka vaulting over the table and flipping it on its side before they reached the second floor. The Oni that were still in the room rushed to the dealer's corpse, trying to loot his drugs.

"Piss off, druggos!" Asuka yelled, accidentally catching the guards' attention.

"Kill 'em!" one guard's voice boomed as the other's shotgun made its own boom.

The table shattered from the spray of shotgun shells, Asuka rolling aside. Seeing the Oni trying to steal the drugs, the guard with the shotgun began gunning them down instead. This distraction allowed Asuka to catch him off guard with another clean headshot. The final guard charged at Asuka, his large frame managing to push her into a window, her head slamming through the glass.

"Get the fuck off me!" Asuka grunted as she struggled, the guard swatting her Desert Eagles away.

Asuka grunted as the guard's massive hand wrapped around her throat, pinning her against the jagged remnants of the shattered window. The shards of glass glinted ominously in the dim light, the warm Netherrealm air rushing past her as she struggled to gain leverage.

"Wrong move, asshole," she hissed through clenched teeth, her legs swinging up and slamming into the guard's chest with all her might. The sudden impact caused the guard to stumble backward, loosening his grip just enough for Asuka to twist herself free.

Landing on her feet, she grabbed the guard's arm as he tried to lunge at her again, using his momentum to pull him forward. She spun behind him, planting her knee into the back of his legs, forcing him to kneel. With a feral intensity, she clasped both hands around his head and pushed downward.

The guard's face smashed into the jagged glass of the broken window frame with a sickening crunch. His screams were cut short as the shards pierced his skull, blood streaming down profusely. Asuka didn't let go, pressing harder, her hands trembling with effort but her expression unyielding. The grotesque sound of bone scraping against glass echoed in the room as the guard's body went limp.

"No fucking way," Asuka exclaimed as she let go, the guard's bloodied form slumping to the floor. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, her breathing ragged. "He's Black Dragon!"

The detail that interested Asuka was the logo on the back of the guard's leather jacket. She couldn't be mistaken. Rushing over to the dealer himself, Asuka rolled his corpse onto its front to reveal a matching jacket sharing the infamous clan's logo. Asuka clenched her fists. Her focus shifted to a door in the corner of the room, the doorknob rattling as someone turned it. She rolled back and picked up the shotgun that one of the guard's had dropped, immediately opening fire when the door opened. Another Black Dragon died. Grabbing a bag that served as a sample of the drug being sold, Asuka legged out of the den and rushed back to the bar…