Mickey spun his nunchakus around, jumping back from three Foot Clansmen at once.

"Hey! One at a time! I'm not instant noodles, you can't unwind me!" — he cried, leaping over a low kick and knocking two of them aside with his legs.

His movements were quick, sharp, but each one was filled with fear for the others. You saw him glance at Leo from time to time — that meant he was nervous.

April hit her right, cold. One of the Foot tried to sneak up behind her — she turned and stabbed him with her stun gun, the discharge flashing blue.

"Not today!" — she screamed, delivering a second blow straight to the throat of the next attacker.

Leo moved like a storm — silent, deadly precise. The katana cut the air with a metallic whistle. One Footman fell. The second was disarmed. The third was immobilized.

But even he wasn't flawless today — Shredder was overwhelming with his power, his presence. Leo kept glancing at you out of the corner of his eye, as if making sure you were okay.

You were breathing heavily but evenly, pushing another enemy back with your knee in the chest, then twisting his arm so that he fell to his knee. A palm strike to the temple left him motionless.

But the fight was too chaotic, too multifaceted. You had to save April from a blow to the back, fend off attacks, help Mikey up when he slipped on broken glass...

And it paid off.

And here: Shredder vs. Splinter.

It was a clash of titans.

Shredder's attacks were heavy, but precise, each blow like a shot.

Splinter, however, glided like the wind, dodging blades and delivering short, sharp blows with his stick.

"You're weak, rat," — Shredder croaked.

"But not enough to let you win," — Splinter replied.

And all was well...

...until one of the Foot soldiers threw a shuriken at Splinter's side.

The hit was weak, but enough to tip him over.

Shredder struck with his shoulder.

Splinter was thrown to the very edge of the roof. The asphalt beneath his paws broke. He fell—

—but at the last moment, he grabbed the edge with his fingers, holding on with one hand, dangling over the abyss.

Shredder didn't even look in his direction.

*Shredder surveyed the battlefield.

Mikey — busy. April — busy. Leo — surrounded by three feet, unable to escape.

And his gaze falls on you.

You were distracted for just a second — helping April up after she'd been knocked down.

That second was too costly.

First, you heard footsteps — slow, heavy, even.

As if it weren't a person walking... but a predator.

step...

step...

step...

The others didn't notice.

Mikey jumped back, fighting off three at once — his screams mingled with the screeching of metal. Leo tried to break through to you, but two Foot soldiers held him back, the third attacked from above, forcing him to block. April just stood up, catching her breath.

Everyone was busy.

No one.

No one saw Shredder slowly raise his hand — and the blades of his gauntlet shot forward with a predatory snap.

Splinter pulled himself up, gasping for air, and managed to throw himself back onto the roof. The ground beneath him lurched, but he held on.

He looked up— and saw you...

...and Shredder standing right behind you.

Splinter's eyes widened.

"WATCH OUT, Y/N!!!"

His scream rent the air.

But it was too late.

You had just started to turn your head — when a sharp, icy pain pierced you.

From your back to your stomach.

Metal passed through you like fabric. The air was knocked from your lungs. The world jerked, distorted. You couldn't even breathe.

Shredder lifted you up with his gauntlet — your legs dangled in the air. You felt blood trickling down your skin.

He tilted his head, looking into your eyes through the mask.

"Too slow."

And with a jerk, like throwing trash, he threw you aside.

You hit the concrete slab with a sound that reverberated like a ringing ring in your skull.