Sand Toss

The plan itself was rather simple.

Distract the sniper with the drone, and use this opportunity to throw a brick at him, knocking him out.

The implementation of it, however, was far more difficult. Not only did I lack experience in flying drones, but also couldn't alert the sniper too early. If he saw a drone flying in his direction from my location, he'd be bound to get suspicious. He might just teleport out of the place. And my goal was to distract him, not to make him run away.

Moreover, I needed to draw his attention away enough so that he wouldn't notice a brick flying at him in time to react. I was over a mile away, so the task wasn't easy and required a lot of precision.

Basically, everything about the plan was a bit risky. But whatever, if it doesn't work out, I'll just improvise as I go.

I attached a paper bag to the drone and made it take off. I flew it low, at a safe level below the rooftops, so that the sniper wouldn't be able to notice it.

Good thing it wasn't raining, otherwise the paper bag would get completely soaked and I wouldn't be able to use it. And a bag from any better material wouldn't meet my needs so well.

I took out a pair of binoculars and quickly jumped out of hiding, taking a peek in his direction. It seemed he was still in the same spot. I stopped the incoming bullet in the air and took cover again. Thankfully all the people around were too focused on the bridge that has just collapsed, so no one was paying any attention to me. I couldn't afford anyone trying to interfere or cause a commotion.

Steering the drone, I made sure to show up myself every now and then, to keep his attention on me and force him to remain in the same spot, always ready to fire. This way, the drone arrived unnoticed on the other side of the river. I made it approach the sniper from behind.

Through the camera installed on the drone, I saw the sniper look up, probably annoyed by the buzzing noise. He didn't seem to suspect I was the one controlling it though, so his guard was down.

I made sure the drone was positioned right above the sniper and jumped out of hiding again. I looked at the drone through my binoculars.

Doing anything from such distance was rather difficult at this point, especially a task requiring so much precision, but not entirely impossible. Focusing on the attached bag, I lifted my middle and forefinger pressed together, and moved them sideways in a quick, slashing motion.

The paper bag split open, spilling all of its content right onto the sniper, who was still looking up. He was so surprised he didn't manage to block it in time. It worked even better than I hoped, as a lot of it fell right into his eyes.

My plan was inspired by a move I've seen in multiple fights in different media, where one of the fighters tosses sand into their opponent's eyes. Except that instead of sand, I decided to use some chili powder.

Blinded and writhing in pain, the sniper was unable to shoot at me or even use his communication device. However, I was unable to get a clear shot at him as well.

I jumped back on the remains of the bridge and sprinted to the other side of the river. As soon as I got to the sniper, I kicked him in the head, knocking him unconscious. Well, in the state he was in, that was probably a mercy.

Before doing anything else, I carefully surveyed my surroundings, but I haven't sensed anything unusual. Now that the sniper was unconscious, the unsettling feeling I always felt when my attackers were around was gone. Was he really on his own this time?

It was almost too easy. He didn't seem to have any new strategy prepared to deal with me. Did he just rush to attack me because of all the destruction I was causing? If so, then maybe I can continue to lure them out this way.

I grabbed the communication device that was lying on the ground right next to him.

I was curious and wanted to examine it in detail, but I couldn't really take it with me to where I was planning to move the sniper. The chances of it having some sort of tracker in it were way too high.

I should just dump it in some inaccessible location, and retrieve it later.

Still, I couldn't help but take at least a quick look at it for now.

At first glance, there wasn't anything special about the device. It really seemed just like a walkie-talkie, maybe one of the fancier ones. So how did it work?

As I was examining it, I could sense the space suddenly contracting. Out of reflex, I threw the device away.

It got sucked in before it even managed to hit the ground.

I haven't pressed anything.

If I were to guess, it could mean that the trans-reality travel is done externally, using the device as a center of a sort. If I were to hold onto it, I would likely get transported together with it.

I glanced at the unconscious guy next to me. Maybe they were just trying to retrieve him, as he has been unresponsive for too long?

Regardless of what it was, it was best to get away from this place as soon as possible.

There was still a possibility of the sniper having another tracker on him, so before anything else, I undressed him completely and disintegrated his clothes. Then, I placed my hands on his back, trying to feel if there was anything inorganic within his body, but I found nothing.

Satisfied, I grabbed the guy and jumping on the rooftops, I made my escape.

I sneaked into an industrial basement a few levels underground. It was one of those places nobody usually goes to, aside from occasional maintenance.

I tied him tightly to one of the chairs I prepared in advance and left the place. I was getting hungry, so I wanted to get some dinner before trying to make him talk. After all, interrogating him would probably take quite a while.