Chapter 13

Every move of the masked man was ruthless and aiming for Al's death. He constantly attacked Al's weaknesses such as his eyes and head. While Al barely avoided all of those thanks to how he efficiently using magic switching from dodging to using water bullets. He can only barely escape his attacks.

At this point, he had fallen into the man's pace. He tried to kick the man's leg but he moves backward and Al loses his balance. Making him kneel in front of him.

The man grabs Al's head uses his hands to keep him still, cornering him and strike with his knees to hit his temple. He felt his sight blurred from the throbbing pain. These series of movements were flowing. As he also dodges all his attacks including the water bullet, swords, and his weakling punches.

The next moment Al directly attack the man using his sword and the two men collided in the street. Swords flashed. The man's speed was extremely quick. He didn't let Al attack from a distance, always attacking him from a close range. Which is the weakness of the mages in general. Mages' attacks are most effective in the distance.

Al tried his best to hold on but together with his physical constitution, soon he found himself gasping for air. While the other didn't even sweat. Although he can use a sword, looking to the other person's use of the sword, it seems absurd to even compare the two.

The masked man continued to play with Al but in the middle of their fight, he felt imminent danger at the back of his mind. It was the instinct that had to develop through years of battling. He was sure he's in danger.

He watched the exhausted mage in front of him as he swings his sword. He can't even stand straight and catch his breathing. Clearly, he doesn't know how to properly use the sword but had some knowledge to wield it.

Hmmm...

The mage tried again, he waited for him to come to him and dodge then he hit the mage's sword using his anti-magic sword when the two collided, the mage's swords bursts into water. As soon as his attack landed, he held his hand.

The surprised mage tried to withdraw his hand but the man grabbed onto it, moving forward to get a lock on his pulse. At the same time, he did a cross-kick and Al's body was pressed to the ground by him. The man's left hand clasped his wrist while the right hand grabbed Al's neck and presses him on the ground.

But as the man put pressure the solid body of Al suddenly exploded and water bursts out. Surprised he whirled his head behind him and the forefinger of the mage awaits him.

"Boop." Al's finger pointed at the masked man's forehead and smiled at him. In a single touch, the masked man was paralyzed and could only move his eyes.

Al teleported behind him at a speed that couldn't be followed by the naked eye. He then grabs the magical item on the masked man at his side. When the man looked behind him the magical item was already in his hands and smile at him, as if he's been waiting for him the whole time.

Inside the bag, a golden fluid rushed in small waves that wrapped around Maru, he closed his eyes in anticipation and when he opened them again he was picked up by Al with one arm and threw him on his back.

"My hand please?" Astonished at the mage's power Maru passes his arm to him. He could only whisper to himself about what Al's magic, truly are.

Al attaches his arm to himself and stretches. Smiling towards the frozen opponent, "Goodbye."

He lifts his foot and stomps it to the ground.

They vanished.

As soon as the mage left, Symon who was left behind, felt his body that was frozen before, can be moved again.

He remembered, at the beginning when he sneaked on him to kill, the moment he's about to reach the mage, he began to detect a faint fragrance. Vanishing, indefinite but reappearing.

That time he was a bit rattled. It was the first time he had a smell of this scent. But each time he searched it out, the scent had disappeared. That's why he only slice through his arm and does not kill him instantly. He wasn't sure if it was coming from the mage or somewhere else but he felt like he needed to know, so he spared his life.

And when they engage in battle, he clearly felt a fresh and clean scent to enter his nose. The scent is very light but smelts good.

That scent was mixed with another scent, a familiar smell, a strong, masculine, and powerful. A scent that he's very familiar with. It's his scent. Maybe because it was from his coat that he wore but the way their scents blended together, somehow he find it amusing.

This feeling was a bit interesting.

When he steps forward, he saw two coins on the ground that was left behind by the mage. He bent down and grab the two coins to observe, it was just ordinary coins nothing special. He put it on his pocket, after a while.

Under his mask his lips curved into a beautiful arc.

. . .

slum

A person walks at the entrance of the slum. One hand inside his pocket and walk leisurely as if he's walking to his own courtyard. His white hair swayed as the wind blew. He had pale skin that looked transparent under the moonlight and eyes that were abandoned by any color. His irises have very little color which looked like pink or reddish.

This man is looking for another member of the Shadow. He whistles as he looks around and searched for the three people that have been missing for almost a week. He took a look at the dumpster near the entrance, when he opened it the three missing people lay there as if sleeping.

There's a barrier around the dumpster. Ono hit it once and it tore apart like broken glass. He took out the three bodies to examine. They all looked better than before they leave the mansion. That barrier not only to protect them but also heal.

Next, he goes to the old man sitting next to the signboard that said 'slum'. His boss said that this person is the key to breaking the spell without harming the people inside. He remembers that this old man is the one who created the slum or the illusion vortex inside the Slums.

The illusion could be triggered when you hear the rhythmic sound of the coins hitting inside the can or how the old man moves his hands. That's why even if Tahis was deaf and muted she could still fall to the illusion. But not severe as others because the illusions tackles your senses.

But for Ono, none of it was effective. Ono can nullify and diminish most, if not, all forms of magic and can even destroy a mage's ability to utilize magic. He's a human anti-magic. That's why he easily destroy that barrier.

But in some cases such as this illusion vortex, that evolved into an infinite loop of illusions, it was not easy as breaking that barrier. But he knew how to save them.

He just needed to ask.

"How long have you been waiting here?" Ono's voice was dignified and indifferent. It was deep and low voice. Contrary to the usual Ono's loud voice, that carried a unrestrained sense of shamelessness and normally harsh, resonant sound of the impudent Ono.

The old man looks up and there's nothing to be seen, he didn't answer and remained silent. He asks the wrong question.

"How much?" Ono

"A change." Said the Old man. Ono can't help but gave him a soft smile and carried a deferential posture. Once there was and one day there will be. A phrase that old man always says.

Or said.

"That much?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Ono probe his pocket for a change. He found a coin and put it on the can of the old man.

One person suddenly gasped and woke up.

"Welcome back~"

"O-Ono" Geros saw Ono's blurred face. He blinks as he clear his eyes.

"Little old man, this Ono just saved you." Ono's voice was frivolous and lively, as well as a bit annoying.

"Wha-what happened?" Geros looked around. Ono's face that once had worn a benign and modest appearance becomes full of unrestrained and brazen smile, when Geros' eyes cleared.

Ono is already wearing his mask.