Cho stumbled under the weight of the now collapsing boxer, Barr sticking out of his chest like a sore thumb. As the daemon embedded himself deeper into Tre'yan's flesh, Cho held him steady even as he tried to regain his balance from the massive hit to his left. He staggered backward a few steps and fell on his ass in trying, making him grumble softly as he slowly lowered the latter's unconscious form to the ground.

The ghostly crowd around them grew silent after their brief jubilation. The fallen emperor stood and silently judged the fighters even as he began to fade away. The gates at either end of the arena began to crank open as the last of the ghosts disappeared into the night.

Cho didn't really notice.

He unclipped his smartphone from his wrist and, seated next to the boxer's body, took a selfie of himself with the knifed body in the background. Once done, he tapped his phone a few times and sent the photo to the Corporation. They would be pleased, of course, but that wasn't the half of it.

His contract merely stipulated "defeat Tre'yan". Didn't mean kill him.

Cho clipped his phone back to his wrist and turned to face the body.

[b]"Y'know, if you can hear me, you put up a real good fight. Got me twice, and got me really good."[/b]

He reached forward and gripped Barr again.

[b]"Now it's time to wake up and face your next fight. A man of your talent and skill ain't done rocking the world yet."[/b]

With a heave, Cho yanked the knife out of the fallen boxer's chest. He knew the daemon could heal as well as hurt, though he didn't exactly enjoy it.

[b]"Barr, heal him."[/b]

[color=c79dd7]"What?"[/color]

[b]"You know what I said."[/b]

[color=c79dd7]"Oh alright fine. If this comes back to bite you in the ass later, don't say I didn't tell you so."[/color]

Barr glowed a gentle, rosy red, and slowly, the two wounds on the boxer's body knitted together and closed. He'd be the picture of perfect health in no time.

Just then, his phone beeped. The Corporation was pleased, alright, and had deposited their payment in his waiting multiverse account. Another job well done.

[b]"Well, nothing else to do but to leave."[/b]

[color=c79dd7]"Yeah boss. Let's go before anything else happens."[/color]

He turned to leave, slowly walking towards the rest of his gear. Tac bounced a little on his bipod as his boss approached to put on his combat vest.

[color=9ec5e2]"Boss that was awesome!"[/color]

Cho nodded and smiled a grim little smile as he picked up Hek and holstered him.

[b]"Yeah well it was hard fought. Nearly died to the bugger."[/b]

[color=ba2525]"But sire lived. Another story to tell, perhaps?"[/color]

[b]"Yeah, maybe."[/b]

Cho slung Kris onto his chest and picked up his sniper rifle.

[b]"But first, I've got something to give to the guy."[/b]

In one smooth motion he racked the bolt-action of the rifle, ejected one unspent cartridge and caught it in his free hand. The Shredder round in his palm growled softly and snapped its little jaws at him as he walked over to Tre'yan and gently wedged it in the boxer's hand wraps.

[b]"If you can hear me, know this: if you ever get into trouble like this again, you shake that bullet. Tac'll feel it, and I'll come running. You're a good fighter, and like I said, this was nothing personal. I actually like watching you fight. 'Sides, my contract stated that I had to defeat you, not kill you. I had no reason to do the latter."[/b]

With that said, he stood and turned to leave, his body slowly fading into the shadows as he disappeared, off to take his next job. Perhaps not with the Corporation though, they gave him really unreasonable targets sometimes.