The assassin smiled and rushed in.
Kir was barely able to lay one hand on Kangetsu as he drew her from his storage.
The alley was too narrow for sweeping attacks, so he left her in the sheath as he readied himself to block.
But the assassin's intent was not just to attack.
Kir felt the surge of mana from above again, travelling down the stone building and into the wall behind him.
Just as the assassin started to close, blades of stone began to grow from the wall.
The longest of them stabbed for his spine, only to scrape along one of the bony plates as it pushed instead of stabbing him. Several of the other blades managed to strike small wounds, but Kir tucked forward and rolled under the strike of the first assassin, blocking one knife with Kangetsu and whipping his tail out to wrap around the elf's ankle.