Street Fight

The cloaked figures blocked all the paths of retreat. There were at least ten of them, maybe more in places that Aayla couldn't see. She frowned deeply. There were many groups that liked to do criminal acts in hooded cloaks. Who were these people? Whatever they wanted, it wouldn't be good.

Jacki kicked the drunkard away. She didn't know who he was and didn't want anyone untrustworthy to stick around. He was either unrelated, the bait for their team or the group's target, and should go no matter what.

If he was unrelated, the drunkard might live if he stayed quiet. Otherwise, Jacki didn't really care about his life or death. She didn't care at all about completing the police's mission.

"Originally, it was my duty to help Sir Forolan see reason at Nafriton. That arrogant woman kept messing them up though. She's even more annoying you in some aspects. I'm so pleased to have an opportunity to fix what she messed up."

The stout figure stepped forward and removed his hood. A familiar face with blond hair and sharp green eyes appeared before them. Albeit slightly leaner, that person was Marc Lupton. Chris immediately stepped in front of Daren.

"Let me guess, you work for the True Order now?"

"I always have," Marc said with a smile. "This nation needs a good cleansing."

Mana surged around the groups as everyone prepared for battle. Chris narrowed his eyes. This could get ugly. They were outnumbered over two to one. He needed to keep them talking as long as possible to buy some time. Hopefully, the police would notice that something was wrong.

"And you think that the blood and suffering of innocent civilians is a good 'cleanser'?"

"Are you referring to those talentless wastes? Please, they deserve it after they took over our country for their own selfish gain. Those types of people can barely use lifestyle magic yet brag about being citizens of a magical nation. Chinebar has long ceased to be a nation for wizards."

"They deserve death and destruction for maintaining the republic's ideals of liberty and freedom?"

"As expected, only such drivel could come from a lapdog of the current corrupt system. They only believe in those ideals as long as us wizards obediently do their bidding. Those people don't belong here. They deserve to pay for setting back progress and taking away our country."

"Is that why you enslave them? Drive them from their homes and use them as lab rats?"

Aayla's ears perked up. Lab rats? She never heard about the True Order performing human experiments before. The magical community strictly monitors that. The True Order wouldn't dare to do something like that, right?

"The True Order simply believes that those without talent should properly pay for the protection, guidance and wisdom from those that they seek to live under. The chosen wastes are not lab rats; they are fortunate souls chosen to be reborn. We're not barbarians."

He didn't deny it? They seriously do human experimentation? Aayla nervously scanned the exits, looking for a way out. Her instincts told her that getting caught was not a good option.

Marc's face lit up with a grin. "I almost forgot. Another Nafriton former student is here to join us. Don't be alarmed. His former violent tendencies and all that conservative nonsense has been driven out of his head."

Another cloaked figure stepped out from behind Marc. Flamelike hair and lifeless golden eyes peered out from underneath the hood. A strange pattern was branded onto his face. If he wasn't breathing, Aayla would have thought that the person was a life-like puppet.

"Lysander Foryl?! What did you do to him?!"

"My teacher's teacher has to completely rebuild his personality from the ground up. Such a shame, really. Lyse could have avoided so much pain if his parents had taught him better from the beginning."

"You sick, twisted monsters. Personalities and thoughts aren't something that you just overwrite. Do you have any idea how many laws and taboos that breaks? Even other terrorist groups won't stand for this."

"I'm sure they'll understand. Those with talent need to be properly guided. Harsher methods were unfortunately needed with Lyse. He didn't respond to them well. After two decades of substandard moral education, conservative lies and nonsense were deeply ingrained in him."

The fact that these wackadoodles were absolutely insane sunk into Aayla's mind again.

"This chat has been nice, but let's finish up."

The sky turned dark as if dusk had arrived. A heavy pressure smashed onto the group. Daren coughed as he fell to his knees.

"No one is coming to save you. We've set up some barriers to block sound and mana emissions. They also suppress the mana of anyone not on their whitelist. Finally, one of my colleagues sent you here and ensured that your patrol won't be expected for at least another hour."

Aayla narrowed her eyes. Was it the police officer? Darn it. She thought he was strange. The Full Moon Bracelet turned into a shield on her wrist.

"I advise you all to surrender now to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering."

Instead of responding in words, Chris stepped forward to punch Marc. Lysander intercepted his arm then fought back. Marc sighed and stepped away from the fight.

"Lyse, please take care of Chris. The rest of you be gentle! We need to catch Sir Forolan in good condition."

"Aayla! Use THAT now! The barrier shouldn't be enough to suppress it."

A flaming sword burst to life in Lyse's hand. He immediately attacked Chris and tried to cut him in two. Chris dodged the initial swing. His knee drove right into Lyse's stomach. Fire spit out of Lyse's mouth, forcing Chris to fall back.

Then spells started flying. The close quarters forced the battle into a dangerous situation for the team. With enemies all around them, there was nowhere to flee. Vines burst from the earth and chains materialized out of thin air to bind them.

The New Moon bracelet greedily devoured all of them before they could touch Aayla. Flames extinguished, vines withered and chains shattered into dust. Aayla expanded the radius as far as it could go. The sky around them began to tremble and shake as cracks appeared.

"What are you idiots doing?! Stop her!"

"Our spells aren't working boss!"

"Then get physical you numbskulls!"

Jacki had already started moving. She took a knife out of her boot then jumped into action. In a flash, the rebels guarding one exit had been taken down. Chris slammed Lyse into the wall. Lyse slummed to the ground stunned.

Marc hastily pushed his minions in front of him as he retreated. He knew very well about Chris's combat prowess. The minions on the roof hastily tried to climb down the walls. Without magic, most of them ended up falling and groaning miserably on the ground.

"Jacki, take those two and go! I'll meet up with you later."

"Got it!"

Jacki slung Daren over her shoulders and pulled Aayla as she ran over the fallen insurgents. Marc cursed and ran after them. He was not letting Daren Forolan slip through his fingers again.

"Those on the rooftops, follow me from up there. The rest of you kill this idiot right here if he refuses to surrender! The boss wants him alive, but I don't."

Chris sneered as he pummeled the rebels. He would deal with them soon enough. Suddenly, a burst of killing intent made his blood run cold. Chris barely leaned to the side in time to dodge a knife that nearly stabbed into his neck.

Lyse wiped off the blood trickling down from a wound on his head. With a roar, he jumped back into battle. The battle wouldn't go that easily for Chris.

In the meantime, Jacki led Aayla and Daren down the alley way. They seemed to run into more rebels at every turn. The cracks in the sky above let sunlight stream in, but they wouldn't widen any farther.

"Aayla, can you increase the output of your artifact to take down the barrier?"

"Not unless you want it to go out of control."

SMACK!

Aayla bashed the head of a confused enemy wizard who realized that his magic was gone. More rebels appeared in front of them as another group climbed down from the roof above. Now, they started bringing out weapons.

The enemy's numbers grew too large for Jacki to take on. No matter how many she kicked or stabbed, new ones would take their place. With the alley and rooftops closed, there was no where else to go. Would they be captured here?

Daren finally started fighting back as well. Flashes of light burst from his hands every now and again. With each flash, an enemy would fall. He could still barely use his magic. Suddenly, Aayla had an idea.

"Daren, how much magic can you still use?"

"Just a bit. I think that your bracelet is cancelling out the barrier's effect somewhat."

"Great. Let's make ourselves another exit and ditch these weirdos."