7 Dispersion

"We are facing unit 3 of Marienburg city. I caught them on some of the security cameras, I'll transfer the images into your minds."

As usual, whenever we are in an area with cameras Yellow excels at gathering information.

A series of images appeared in my mind. Four combat robots were walking in front, equipped with short blades and shotguns they were the ideal vanguard. At the back, a pair of mages walked while surrounded by six steel golems. These golems were badly made, huge chunks of steel in a loosely humanoid form and they needed a mage to directly command them, otherwise, they would simply stand still.

In the middle of the group were the three combat mages and a robed figure. The robed figure was probably the variable placed into this unit.

"Let's see if I can find out a little more about this little variable of theirs."

I sent out my magic sense to ensconce the whole group that was already halfway up the elevator. They completely failed to notice the fact that they were being scanned by me. Now, on to reveal all the mysteries hidden below those robes.

A high mage with good aptitude and... oh, this was going to be fun! This brat was from the magic academy and if my memory served me right... Yes, the name's Cedric, graduated four years ago but only barely made it into the elite class. I recall that his weapon consisted of two daggers connected by a chain, imbued with water element powers the chain could undulate in mod-strike and forgo most defenses. An excellent choice for a fight in narrow corridors, unlike the combat mages who each carried a grade 3 broadsword with a searing edge.

I shared my findings with the rest through a mental transfer. We had all placed aside our electronic devices, placing them into the safety of our separate spaces. Storage items were for weaklings.

"Yellow, take down their communication and surveillance, then let them fight their own robots. Abel, take care of the golems, and collect the weapon. No survivors, if we don't send a clear message they are just going to send more cannon fodder our way. We'll regroup in Ariena in three days' time."

With that said, the five of them teleported out of the city and went their separate ways. I'd had also received my order and refocused my full attention on unit three that had just left the elevator and was just one long corridor away from the suite.

Pity, that was one corridor too many for them.

I sank into the shadow gate below me and moved towards the back of the unit. I could see them now, not much different from using my magic sense but still a bad sign for them.

"Unit 3 to command, we have entered the top floor and are about to breach the potential hideout. Awaiting further instructions..."

The middle combat mage had just given his report and was carefully scanning his surroundings while he waited for a reply. A reply that would never come.

"Command, this is unit 3, please respond...

Damn it all, we have lost contact with command."

The unit immediately became nervous and the mages all looked at the one with the communicator. Had the not done that they might have noticed the combat robots spinning around and aiming at them.

A volley of enchanted shotgun rounds was launched at the combat mages. The shrapnel pelted them and left some shallow wounds. The fact that their achievements in the titan body secrets had reached a certain point saved their lives. However, now they were faced with four combat robots that wanted nothing more than to exterminate them.

Seeing that the chaos had reached its zenith I stepped out of the shadows right behind the two mages who were about to send their golems to engage the combat robots. I hit the back of their necks and directly broke their spines. Their lifeless bodies slumped to the ground and the golems all ceased to move.

Meanwhile, the three combat mages had attempted to confront the robots. However, they had been so engrossed in getting rid of the danger in front of them that they hadn't thought of where they were. The three broadswords ended up hitting the ceilings and walls instead of the robots. This short delay earned them another round of shrapnel to the face.

Behind them, the robed figure took off his robe, threw it at one of the robots, and turned to face me. The robe flew at the robot like it had a mind of its own and wrapped the robot up, immobilizing it.

"Grade 3 equipment huh, the pay for this job must be lousy."

"In the name of the high council you are under arrest! Surrender now or we will have to use force."

"And what pray tell am I being arrested for, Officer?"

"Did you forget that you just killed two people?"

"I plead self-defense. I rented this property and you trespassed while highly armed."

"We are the police!"

"That does not mean that you are above the law. If you had a legal arrest warrant you would have had to declare your intentions before trespassing."

"When in pursuit of dangerous criminals we don't need an arrest warrant!"

"Dangerous criminals? What crime have I committed?"

He became hesitant. We hadn't committed any crime so far and thus, from a legal point of view I had at most used excessive force while defending myself, nothing more.

While we had been talking, the situation behind Cedric's back had worsened drastically. Despite one combat robot being temporarily incapacitated the others were crushing the already wounded combat mages.

"Cedric! What are you and those golem mages doing back there? Come and help us, these robots are way stronger than usual!"

Obviously, these robots were running on one of Yellow's codes now. Their combat efficiency had at least doubled! Cedric broke free from his contemplating and realized that he had zoned out.

"Enjoy your beauty sleep, officer?"

Somehow the word officer seemed to provoke the guy. Bad idea to so openly reveal what made him tick.

"I still have a meeting to attend to so could you hurry it up, officer?"

Fury was clouding Cedric's judgment and he threw caution into the wind. He grabbed the chain daggers at his waist and threw one of them straight at me. I could feel the magic coursing through the chain, ready to fuel the unique change in trajectory that the dagger would undertake moments before reaching me.

I exerted some strength and flashed forward. Before the dagger changed trajectory I reached it and grabbed hold of it while sending my magic into it. Before Cedric could make heads or tails out of what had just taken place the daggers were completely under my power.

I sent a gentle wave of magic down the chain and made the dagger held in Cedric's hand move. The dagger escaped his grip, turned in mid-air, and penetrated the poor fool's heart.

"It would seem like their reinforcement has arrived..."

The message should be clear enough if one unit was wiped out, no need to drag more people into this mess. Time to get serious!

I invaded the minds of the three combat mages and snuffed them out like candles. Their bodies slumped to the ground like a puppet with its string cut.

Leaving such a gruesome scene wasn't really appropriate, considering that the media would arrive here shortly I had to clean up a little.

I cremated the corpses using fire magic while making sure their belonging remained intact.

"May the earthen one see your bravery and gift you strength in your next life, may the eternal one guide you on your travels, and may the lasting one bless your mind and soul."

And with that, I teleported out of the corridor just as the elevator opened and a different unit stormed in.