3 Midnight strolling

It is a cloudy evening. The branches of trees are swaying as the strong gust of wind shook the tranquility of the wilderness. The hymn of whiskers of the leaves creates a harmonic sound that is pleasurable but along with the terrible thunderclap from the upcoming tempest, fear would bring to an individual.

In an alley, gunshots can be heard.

"There's nowhere to run, jackass!"

A thug shouted at the man wearing a mouth mask. He is outnumbered, but even though, he still shows a confidence that is unlikely to wane. Alastor again shifted his weight, imposing his stunning gaze.

Here, in the Northern Sector of the Kayon City, pass out east of the Jules Market, some of the buildings and houses appeared to be abandoned and unkempt, but still, others are living in this slump. The silhouettes of people turn off their lights, afraid of what might happen.

Alastor shifted his weight, resting his feet while taking cover, cowering behind the box, preparing for the upcoming bash but his eyes are settling to find an escape route. The enemies were fifty of them, armed and ready to fire at any time.

His dark eyes involuntarily glance at the top and then to his back, instinctively wary of the incoming enemies. Their number is now rising, and this makes the chances at odds. The leader of the thugs first catches up to him and pinned him into this musky alley, pointing the gun at him.

"If you gave us the device now, we promise that we will kill you, painlessly." Alastor silently gazed at the man in front of him and analyzed the situation. The thug is now impatient and gritted his teeth, "I've got more than fifty men and every one of them is armed with military-grade weapons. If I were you, I would gladly surrender. Come out now!"

He noticed the movements moving from there and there – covering every possible escape route.

"Looks like you brought the brass ones."

"I'll make sure that every ounce of my bullets will pierce through your body well, not if you give the thing you had stolen." He threatened – eyes are flashing in discontentment of Al’s reply.

While talking to him, Alastor grabbed something out of his pocket as he slowly walked out of the narrow pathway and then threw it to the ground, it was a smoke bomb. It extended throughout the alley. Their eyes became teary and this also added to cause them blurred vision.

"What the hell? Damn you, bastard!"

The very still alley has now become a battleground. The thug leaned the gun forward aiming at the target then pulled the trigger, and the fifty men followed. The loud noises of gunshots volleyed into the smoke. The guns sputtered out in a few seconds. The thug raised his hand, stopping his men to shoot. The smoke begins to dissipate as the strong gust of wind passes by.

He orders one of his men to get closer and as he gets closer the shadow of Alastor emerges and knocks him down. Even though unclear, the silhouette implies the quirk of the enemy. The next thing he could hear is the clattering of the guns, then came next are the bodies flying at an inconceivable speed.

The entire alley was again filled with smoke.

"He's using the haze to gain an advantage." He said in a distaste tone.

One by one, his men backed away, intimidated by the enemy.

"Don't you dare run away, it's only one person!" He yelled at them.

Someone shouted, his voice seemed to be discouraged, "We would rather get a hard beating from our boss, rather than getting killed."

"Are you nuts?! He is going to kill ya if you don't do your job!" He reloaded his gun, wrapped it, and aimed.

Alastor is aware of the enemy’s numbers and that’s why he is not going to approach them directly. He has seven smoke bombs left in his carriage. He jumped at the top of a small building. This part of the city has many alleyways, making it easier for Alastor to hide

The enemy didn't even notice his presence and likely it’s convenient to Alastor. He snaps his neck and just as he grabs his handgun, bullets storm to his position.

He rattled and didn't even think twice about jumping down the building. His legs hardly met the ground, his balance was shaken, bones erupting in pain, but even though – he moved out, slowly – without taking a break, besides, it’s not like the enemies are gonna wait for him to recover.

The handgun he stole was rested as a backup weapon. His phone begins to ring and with a single press a static voice called out to his earplug.

"Tin, where are you now?" Alastor asked.

"I'm so sorry Alastor. The police are on the move. You have to escape by yourself, we have no choice but to go back to headquarters." Linda said.

"Don't sweat it. I’m already used to it. Is Ken alright?"

"Don't worry about me, man. Urgh" Ken grunts on the other side.

"Just stay put, okay? Anyways, you must hurry. The police are on the way and stay out of their sight.” She paused a second, “I’m sorry if we couldn’t be able to help you." Linda apologized.

"Hey. Don’t worry about it. I'll take care of these guys then after this, I'll be back. Just make sure that the items are safe. I’ll take care of these guys."

“Thanks, I promise somehow, I will make it up for you.” Linda last replied. The phone is now placed back in his pocket.

He takes cover as the thugs begin to shoot at him. He gripped the handle of his sword but then realized that it would turn likely to disadvantage because of the narrow path that could limit his movements. The smoke slowly dissipated. He prepares another smoke bomb.

At first, there were only light raindrops that could be only noticed, until the heavy drops followed, and finally, the weight that the gloomy clouds endured fell onto the earth. He breathed heavily and could feel the coldness of the rainy evening. The raindrops wetted his cloak. His hair was plastered down to his face.

The boots were damp and every thump of it there was a dull sound of a splash, at the same time, the water seeped through his socks, numbing, and distressing his movements. He wipes up the strand of his hair upward allowing his eyes to have sight even though the murky water is trailing down to his eyes down to his chin.

As the thugs are closing in, he throws the smoke bomb in front of the hooligan and then charges towards him.

For a second, they were blinded by the smoke and couldn’t see a thing but that didn’t last long but enough time for him to make a move. The opportunity was pursued, he gripped the arm then with his brute strength he seized it, breaking the bones.

He stole the gun, pointing it to the other hooligan. The loud bang resounded in their ears, the blood splashes onto his face down to his dark coat, streaming down along the rain. He already realizes that the smoke bomb will not last long because of the strong gust of wind, but still take the gamble to use all of it that will create a thick smoke that would be enough to buy him enough time to kill all of them.

They were alarmed and they began to approach the source in this hazy place with caution but wary of their comrades to avoid friendly fire. Alastor emerged and charged using the hooligan as a meat shield. They began to fire as soon as they saw the nose of the gun pointing at them. The guns volleyed to the body. Alastor randomly shoots at them, hoping that it would hit someone.

Luckily, some of them fell and were injured due to the gunfire. His meat shield on the other hand finally lost its purpose and shoveled it to the ground. The guns run out of bullets and they are currently reloading them. Alastor pursues the opportunity and switches to a handgun. The enemy was flustered at Alastor's aggressive approach.

He pointed it directly to his face. He shows no urge of repugnance nor fears the odds of facing them. The others began to rattle and couldn't concentrate on reloading.

The leader seems to be agitated about Alastor's change of tactics, "What’s with this guy? Suddenly jumping off with no hesitation, he either has nerves of steel or a tough mental condition. Either way, you will die here punk!"

He pointed his gun and then began to shoot. The others started to doubt whether they should shoot or not as it would likely turn into a friendly fire because of the enemy’s positions.

"Just shoot! Kill that bastard!" He encouraged me.

"But sir -" One of his men hesitated.

He had no compunction, "No more buts! The only matter now is his dead body!" He was aware that this is no ordinary man and yet he is still eager to catch him. His carcass is now boiled up and poised to snatch the victory.

The leader shoots at Alastor, disregarding his men. He did not even care about the fazing gaze of his lads and for the cause. Still, others seem to be motivated, while others seem to have no choice but to follow him. They eat their guilt and follow the order of the initiator.

While evading the gunshots, he closed his hands and began to mutter as if he was reciting, Cinque parete invisibile. In an instance, five transcended walls appear protecting him and keeping the enemies at bay, blocking the gunshots. They were nervous at what they had just seen.

The other men seemed to stop at the point they thought it would be useless, but the leader persisted. "Just keep shooting! Eventually, it would vanish!" He cried out.

They hesitated but still followed their leader.

"They're so persistent." Alastor found a pathway to his left and entered while the other party just blindly shot, attempting to break the walls. The smoke is now slowly dissipating, and it will be only a matter of time to witness who will win.

"Damn it!" He reloaded and aimed again, clutching back the charging handle for another round, reloading back, whenever the transcended wall tore apart.

Raindrops falling into his forehead, sloping down to his eyes – blurring his vision, he wipes it and continues to volley relentlessly the barriers that Alastor created.

He could neither see him nor were able to easily break the walls and then he realized that the walls he had to summon only reach a certain height.

He saw the metallic staircase at the back of a wide alley, he ascended, reaching the top. He’s still uncertain how to approach him, then one of his grunts came, calling him out, and handed him a grenade launcher.

He pulled the trigger and met its target. Silence takes place after it explodes.

"Have you blown into bits? That’s too bad."

There was no response.

The light breeze unveils the entirety of the scenery. He could see the bodies of his men lying off the ground, soaked in red liquid, but he could not see a glimpse of the body of the perpetrator. He must have missed him.

"That's not possible, a big explosion like that would chunk his body."

His confidence returned thinking about it. He could now imagine seeing his boss praising him. But something catches his glance, it's a shadow, a fast-approaching shadow from behind enlarging with a form of a sword in a silhouette cutting half his men behind.

"What he--!" He felt a chill creeping onto his spine and the pit of his stomach grew cold. His mouth opens in awe like a fish as his eyes are fixed on the figure of the man pointing the double edge sword at him.

The men that were standing near him are now cut in half. The blood that smeared the silver sword is now slowly being washed away along with the rain.

"Did you think that would kill me?" A gust of wind pushed the rain, following the rhythm of it. He was riddled about Alastor. Being able to wield magic and obscure combat skills surprised him. Not all the people here in Kayon City would be able to fight like that. Since they have stolen the items from the secured vault vehicle, he couldn’t comprehend how much they know about them.

This led him to one conclusion.

"Y-You’re a mercenary, aren’t you?"

Alastor paused in a minute as though he was ignoring the question. The other thugs were slowly moving close to them. He pressed the tip of the sword on his neck.

"You shoot, he dies." Alastor threatened, his voice filled with confidence.

"Not if we kill you first." Fear chased away his confidence as his men voiced out with aggressive boldness, certain enough to try to defy the odds. Alastor on the other hand is seemingly calm.

"You already see how fast I am. A single clutch would be enough to kill your leader, your choice."

He grunts and voices out in confusion, "Just what do you want?"

Alastor was just taking his moment and closed his eyelids as if he were focusing on something. He could hear the wailing sirens coming closer to them. His shut eyes open. "Waste your time." Alastor suddenly jumped down from the building and sprint towards the clustered constructions, leaping in an instant. He just ignored the thunderclap and continued his way.

They were about to chase him, but a voice calls out to them with such an authorizing voice. One of his men rattled, "Boss, it’s the police, they're here! What do we do?!"

"We're at a disadvantage, we'll get payback next time." The enemy's abilities are beyond their anticipation and if they continue to pursue him, they might get a heavy toll and add to it that the Canaries are in the scene. So obviously, they chose another day to fight.