9 Chapter 9

"Now then we still need some milk, but we're almost done shopping."

Aaron announces as he leads Blazer and Sailor down the street. The street is fairly crowded as families walk by running errands or enjoying themselves. Aaron gazes at them with a nostalgic expression.

"Oh, crap."

"What is it?"

As Blazer swears at himself Aaron looks back over his shoulder. Blazer sets down his bags as he pats himself down.

"Ah, I forgot my wallet back at the last store."

"Don't worry about it, the milk can wait."

"Ah, thanks."

As we made our way back over to the store Aaron stopped and looked at an alley between buildings.

"Aaron? Something wro-"

Before Blazer could finish his sentence, Aaron disappeared from the spot he was just at as he lunged towards the alley.

"Reinforce 4, Strengthen 4."

Aaron rapidly chanted a series of spells as he threw the shopping bag he was holding at the alley. The light veins on his skin extended to the bag. The bag glowed as it approached a person who was standing in the alley.

"What?"

"The he-"

The people in the street looked at Aaron with a questioning and irritated gaze as it looked like Aaron was a delinquent with magic.

Before any of them could voice out their complaints an explosion resounded from the alleyway where Aaron had thrown his bag.

"Get down!"

Aaron yelled out as he swung his other bag at the alleyway. As the bag approached the alley a beam of light flew out from the alley and impacted against the bag. People in bodysuits with glowing rifle-like guns began to pour out from the alley.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

The people in the street screamed and began to run away as the people in the alley continued to pour out. The people raised their rifles and pointed them at the fleeing people.

"Over here, ass."

Aaron shouted as he grabbed their weapon and struck the person with his fist, sending them crashing into their comrades. Aaron studied the weapon he stole and began to frown.

"Oi, oi, these are military grade magic rifles. Regular thugs wouldn't be able to get their hands on these."

The people in bodysuits all pointed their rifles at Aaron as they began to glow.

"Well then, you guys must be enemy soldiers, guess I should leave some of you alive for interrogation."

As the rifles discharged energy beams, Aaron rushed forward and slid through the legs of the soldiers.

"Hostages are one thing, but no military worth its salt permits friendly fire. Of course, the mission probably takes precedence over your lives."

As if to confirm his words, the soldiers further away aimed their rifles at him while the ones near him dropped theirs and tried to grapple with him.

Aaron smiled to himself as he grabbed behind his waist and pulled out two combat knives. The soldiers near him disregarded his actions as they rushed forwards.

Aaron slipped out from their grasp as his knives fluttered, leaving cuts all over their bodies. Even as they bled from cuts along major arteries the soldiers didn't even seem to notice them as they continued to throw themselves at him.

"Heads up!"

Following a shout, the soldiers closer to the street were assaulted by arcs of electricity. The soldiers that were struck collapsed as they convulsed from time to time.

"I know I told you guys to be careful, but you probably been a bit quicker about that."

Leaping out of the encirclement Aaron landed next to Blazer and Sailor.

"Sorry, it took us a bit to call the authorities."

"How long till they show up?"

"Local police aren't equipped for this kind of threat. They said it would take them a bit to gather suitable personal."

As Blazer informed Aaron of the situation the soldiers began to split up as a small portion stayed to deal with them while the rest headed towards the fleeing civilians.

"Well then, looks like we're stuck with these guys. You two stay here and deal with these guys, when you're done head towards me."

Aaron leapt over the soldiers as he chased after the main force. The detachment let him go as they focused their attention on the Ians.

"Well, didn't expect to get a trial by fire."

"Kind of makes you wonder about Aaron though. He looks right at home in conflict like this."

"He is a mediator after all. Most of them are part of the military."

"Ha, ha, ha. Should we go with the default?"

"Yeah, we haven't practiced the others much."

Finishing their conversation, the Ians leapt aside as the soldiers began to bombard them with energy beams.

Blazer flew up as he created a magnetic field. The metal harness that he wore under his clothes reacted and held him up in pseudo flight. Blazer began to fire off arcs of electricity as he flew around dodging the beams from the soldiers as they did the same.

Sailor took refuge behind a car. Looking out from his cover he confirmed that the enemy's attention was focused on Blazer. Sailor placed his hands together and focused. Electricity began to arc and gather between his hands, forming an unstable fluctuating orb.

"Heads!"

Sailor shouted at Blazer. Blazer nodded as he flew up higher. The soldiers noticed that Sailor was doing something and began to fire on the car.

"Haaa!"

Crying out Sailor pointed his hands towards the soldiers. The orb wavered and flew towards the soldiers. The orb expanded and became a wave as it passed through all the soldiers. As the wave passed all the metal on the soldiers was pulled along. As their guns, suits, and other bits was pulled the soldiers were sent flying and were knocked out.

"Huff, huff, what do we do with them now?"

Panting, Sailor asked Blazer as he collected himself. Blazer was similarly worn out and thought about the problem for a second.

"We can toss their rifles somewhere far for now. We don't have anything to restrain them with, so it would be better to stop the ones that chased after the civilians."

Sailor found that Blazer was being reasonable, so he nodded in agreement. The two of them created another magnetic field as they deployed pseudo flight with their harnesses.

The two of them flew off towards the direction the soldiers had left, following the sounds of explosions and screaming.