41: No Immunity - Part 1

The system chimed in Liam's mind, its tone emotionless yet somehow reassuring.

[Notification: Your assault was a success. The individuals following you are now dealing with the aftermath of your counterattack. Current status: Secure.]

Liam exhaled in relief, his body finally relaxing as he walked briskly down the street toward his home. 

He thought he had shaken off his pursuers for good and allowed himself a small smile. It felt good to outmaneuver people who clearly had no idea who they were dealing with.

But his moment of security was short-lived.

[Alert: New threat detected. You are being followed again.]

Liam froze mid-step, his pulse quickening as he glanced over his shoulder. The streets seemed empty, devoid of any obvious threats. Still, the system's warnings were never wrong.

"What now?" 

Liam muttered under his breath, irritation lacing his tone. He had gone to great lengths to throw his stalkers off his trail, using magic to mask his movements and create confusion. Yet here he was, being tracked again.

[Analysis complete: The individuals are using your phone's signal to track your location.]

Liam's stomach sank. 

"Seriously? My phone? Of all things..."

The realization only added to his frustration. He could hardly afford to ditch his phone—it contained critical information and was tied to his system. But he couldn't let these strangers keep following him, either.

His mind raced as he weighed his options. Finally, he made a decision.

"Fine. If they're this persistent, I'll deal with them now."

It was better to handle this situation before reaching home. He didn't want to risk exposing his location or dragging anyone else into this mess. He also remembered the spell he'd learned recently—one that could erase memories. 

If necessary, he could use it to ensure these people forgot everything about him.

With his plan set, Liam took a detour, steering his path toward a secluded area he knew well. It was a narrow, unlit street on the outskirts of the city, a place where few people ventured after dark. Perfect for what he had in mind.

He parked his steps at a small clearing near an abandoned building, scanning the area to ensure no one else was around. Satisfied with the isolation, he stopped walking and waited.

It didn't take long for his stalkers to catch up.

From the shadows emerged the pair—a man and a woman, both dressed in dark clothing that only added to their sinister appearance. The man's eyes were sharp and calculating, while the woman wore a smirk that radiated overconfidence.

"Well, well. You're a hard one to track, I'll give you that."

The man said, his voice low and measured. 

"But not impossible. Though I have to admit, you gave us quite the workout back there." 

The woman added, her smirk widening. 

Liam stayed silent, his expression unreadable as he studied them. The system pinged quietly in his mind, providing him with a quick analysis of their physical and magical capabilities. They were skilled, no doubt, but nothing he couldn't handle.

"Who are you, and why are you following me?" 

Liam asked, his tone cold and direct.

The woman chuckled. 

"Why we're following you doesn't really matter, does it? What matters is that you're coming with us. We've got some questions, and you're going to answer them."

Liam's eyes narrowed. 

"And if I say no?"

The man's grip on his weapon tightened. 

"Then we'll make you."

Liam sighed, shaking his head. 

"I don't think you understand what you're getting into."

Before either of the twins could respond, Liam raised his hand slightly. A faint shimmer of magic flickered in the air around him, almost imperceptible but undeniably present.

The woman's smirk faltered. 

"What—"

But she didn't finish her sentence. With a sharp gesture, Liam released a wave of energy that knocked both siblings off their feet. They scrambled to recover, but Liam didn't give them a chance.

Using the element of surprise, he cast a binding spell that rooted them to the ground, preventing any movement. The twins struggled against the invisible restraints, but it was no use.

"You should've stayed in the shadows."

Liam said, his voice calm but edged with authority.

The woman glared at him, her overconfidence replaced by genuine fear. 

"W-What are you going to do?"

Liam stepped closer, his expression unreadable. 

"Nothing too drastic. Just ensuring you forget this little encounter."

He began chanting softly, weaving the memory-erasing spell into existence. The twins' eyes widened as they realized what was happening, but there was nothing they could do to stop him.

Within moments, the spell took effect. Their struggles ceased, their expressions going blank as their memories of Liam and the night's events were wiped clean.

Liam released the binding spell, allowing their unconscious bodies to slump to the ground. He took a deep breath, his body relaxing once again.

"Next time, don't follow strangers." 

He muttered before turning and walking away, leaving the twins behind.

Liam walked away from the twins, his mind already focused on getting home and escaping any further trouble. He didn't notice the subtle shimmer in the air behind him, nor did he hear the faint whisper of magic being cast. 

Leglois, ever vigilant and quick to act, had placed an emergency spell, one designed to incapacitate Liam if necessary.

As Liam walked, a sharp sting suddenly pierced his neck. He whipped around in surprise, his hand instinctively reaching for the source of the pain. A small dart was lodged in his skin, and his vision began to blur almost immediately.

"What...?" 

Liam tried to mutter, but his body was already starting to grow heavy. The dart had been coated with a potent sleeping agent, and it wasn't long before Liam's knees buckled beneath him.

His last coherent thought was a warning from the system.

[Warning: The user does not have immunity to this drug.]

Before Liam could react further, his body gave way to the effects of the drug. His limbs became unresponsive, and his head fell forward as the world around him turned dark.

The last thing he heard was a soft voice in his mind, though he couldn't make sense of it anymore. The system's voice was a distant echo now, as he slipped into unconsciousness.

[User is currently unconscious. Awaiting further analysis...]

The ground seemed to rush up to meet him, and then everything went black.

_____

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