Part Twenty-Eight: No. 9062

Atop the rooftops of ancient stone buildings, Liam and Hano sprinted silently. Their movements were swift and fluid, leaving not a single trace behind. Liam's eyes scanned the darkened city below, sharp and calculating. As they neared the central part of the city, the suffocating gloom began to lift slightly, giving way to flickers of torchlight and flickering lanterns.

Liam suddenly raised a hand, a silent signal. They halted in unison, then dropped down into a narrow alleyway, landing without a sound. Both peeked cautiously toward the street, where a group of soldiers marched past in hurried formation.

Liam leaned back against the cold wall, expression grim.

"They must have heard or seen the commotion and are probably sending their men to address the situation," Liam explained, voice low but tense.

Hano's eyes dropped to the cobblestones as her mind worked. Her brows furrowed.

"Maybe..." she muttered. "Maybe they only know about Rhyver..."

Her voice hung in the air like a whisper of hope.

Liam's eyes widened slightly as realization struck.

"You might be right," he replied, a breath of relief breaking through. "This can explain as to why we haven't noticed or felt any of the special mage forces showing up."

He nodded to himself.

"Maybe the situation isn't as bad as we thought it might be."

Just as the words left his lips—

A figure appeared, hanging upside down right in front of Liam, his face barely a breath away. His icy blue eyes pierced through Liam, a wide smirk plastered on his face. Twin horns curled from his forehead backward, sharp and polished, ending in jagged arcs above his scalp.

Liam froze.

"Or maybe the situation is just as bad as you thought it might be," the stranger said in a teasing tone.

Hano reacted in an instant. With a flash of steel, she lunged, twin katanas slicing toward the hanging intruder. But as her blades struck, the figure dissolved into a flurry of snowflakes, scattering across the alley like winter dust.

Hano grit her teeth, scanning rapidly.

"We've been caught," said Liam, his body shifting into full alert.

"Let's go!" he shouted.

They shot upward and raced across the rooftops once again, fleeing into the skeletal skyline of the city.

A sudden howl echoed behind them.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

A massive wave of snow surged in their wake. At its crest stood the same figure, arms spread, hair whipping wildly. His tight uniform shimmered in the moonlight, and his face beamed with manic delight.

"C'mon! I want to have some funnnn!!!" he shouted, running a hand through his black hair before leaning back dramatically and exhaling.

"I've been searching for you guys non stop!!!" he added, voice high and giddy, too giddy. Almost childlike. Almost.

Liam glanced back at him for a moment, expression steeled.

"He is one of the special mage forces..." he declared.

"Judging by his magic and childish behavior, he should be Gaby."

Hano gave a slight nod, acknowledging his deduction. Then, without warning, she stopped in place, crossed her blades, and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, centering herself. Then, like lightning, she launched forward.

"X Slash!"

Her twin blades carved through the snow wave in a cross, the slashes tearing massive X-shaped gashes through the magic.

Gaby let out an angry groan as his towering wave began to collapse.

"C'mon! That took a lot of mana to summon!!!" he whined.

BAM!

A gunshot rang out. A bullet pierced clean through Gaby's forehead.

Liam stood firm, pistol raised, a smirk forming on his lips.

The wound began to close slowly, the snow flakes entered the gap, filling it up completely, like brand new. Gaby turned his head, his expression now slightly sour.

"Not cool... dude..." he muttered.

Liam's grin widened.

"You should be taught some manners, kid."

And with that, Liam vs Gaby had begun.

Meanwhile, Hano's feet landed softly on a nearby rooftop, eyes sharp and ready. But just as she prepared for another move, a strange green mist began curling around her. Her pupils shrank.

"What's this...?" she whispered, eyes darting.

The gas thickened, clinging to the air. The atmosphere grew heavy, suffocating. Her breaths became shallow. Her vision blurred.

"Hmhmhm... it seems like it's easier than I initially thought," said a voice, hazy, echoing, coming from deep within the green fog.

Hano's knees buckled. She was seconds from losing consciousness, until she snapped her body straight, gripping her blades tightly.

"Killer Sphere!"

In a storm of motion, she spun with lethal precision, slashing in all directions. Her blades moved so fast they formed a defensive sphere, slicing through the gas and scattering it in waves. The air cleared around her.

She landed in a crouch, chest heaving, blades ready.

A tall man emerged from the dissipating haze.

He wore the same dark uniform as Gaby. His skin was a pale green, his features sharp and drawn. Long curly black hair brushed his shoulders as he tilted his head, a lazy smile on his face. His tired, heavy-lidded eyes locked onto hers.

He began to clap slowly, deliberately. His whispery voice cut through the quiet.

"Impressive."

"I don't need your praises..." Hano snapped, her tone sharp and cold.

"What a shame..." the man replied, ceasing his applause. He began circling her with slow, measured steps, like a predator observing prey.

"You humans never stop to amaze me," he mused, tilting his chin upward.

"Your fighting spirit is like a wild horse. It's like you all prefer to die rather than be told what to do. Humans seek freedom like it's a part of their DNA."

Hano didn't respond. Her stance remained tight, focused, eyes tracking his every move.

"Today I want to have the opportunity to test that."

He stopped moving and stared directly into her eyes.

"I, Boris, the member of the Special Mage Forces, challenge you to a death duel!"

Hano's expression hardened. Her muscles coiled like springs.

The battle, Hano vs Boris, was about to begin.