This Witchcraft of yours, Hunting the Prophets, Dungeon Master

The Feds had been sieged by the contractors, with the promise of information on some of the things that could get you up the ranks. While I was at it, my subordinates started hunting for prophets. Of course, I didn't expect to find whoever was helping Carmen. Before her Distortion, she didn't have any powers, so there was someone who had the knowledge of when to strike, how to strike, and in addition to that, special abilities. I remember when the base that Hydra attacked was blocked by magic. And I was also immobilised today with time aspect magic. I do have someone in mind who can do that kind of thing. And I really hope it's not him.

Besides, the hunt for the Prophets was necessary for the sake of trying to work out some kind of further strategy. I had to figure out how their powers worked and try to pick out what was different about me from the locals to create a kind of "fog of war". These guys are too curious. I should cut off their oxygen.

In the meantime, I'll create a new Anomaly, since a lot of Light has arrived.

Retreat.

While Kyle Smith was busy with the Anomaly, his subordinates, having received information about prophets or those who pretend to be prophets, went on a hunt. They started with New York, as that city had a more developed structure of the organisation. As a result, they managed to identify eighty-two objects that were supposedly prophets. And each one had to be checked out. 

- So where is she, Rosa? - asked her partner, a pretty brunette of medium height with Asian features, wearing discreet, comfortable clothes in grey tones.

- Almost there, Soo Min," the similarly dressed brunette replied indifferently, exhaling the smoke from her cigarette. - 'Better, prepare a suppressor. There's no telling what our client might pull.

- Whatever you say. Anyway, if it's a prophet, maybe we should have taken more men.

- There's not much point, and most of us are busy. Right now, we just need to scout around, that's all. If there's resistance, we'll put up bug zappers and retreat. If all goes well, we'll politely invite them over for tea and crumpets," Rosalie said, getting ready for a fight just in case. 

They were in a not-so-rich neighbourhood of Queens, going to check out a tip about a prophetess living there. As they crossed the deserted alleyway, they heard the sounds of a guitar coming from a second-floor window.

- Hm, it seems to be from the flat of our client, - informed her partner Rosa.

- Besides prophecies he plays guitar? Cool. And what is the nickname of this prophetess? They often pick up something special," Su Ming said with conviction, twirling her hand.

- Prophet Mungurl.

- What? Ha-ha-ha, what a nickname!

- I agree.

After climbing the stairs, they stopped at the door to the flat they wanted. Rosalie signalled her partner to get ready and knocked. A guitar was strummed on the other side, followed by a mumbling sound. After a tense minute, the door finally opened and the women saw the woman they were looking for. At least the description matched what they saw. 

Curly, blond hair with grey hair just below her shoulders, an unremarkable face and a figure wrapped in homemade clothes. The image of this fifty-year-old woman was completed with cotton wool in her ears. Meet such a person on the street and you would instantly forget. 

- Who are you? I don't know you! Go!

- Are you Prophet Mungurl? - Rosa interrupted, ready to grab her gun and use the superpower suppressor.

- Um, yes," the woman replied in surprise, scrutinising the unexpected guests. - I am Prophet Mungurl! And you're fans of my work, are you? 

- We are. We're crazy about your work," Rosalie said, instantly orientating herself and elbowing the brunette.

- Ahem? Yes, yes, we're crazy fans of your work.

- So why are you standing on the doorstep? Come on in. Now that you've found me, I'm gonna sing you my new masterpiece. You'll be the first to hear it! - the woman proudly proclaimed, letting the women of the Refraction pass.

- Will she sing? - Su Ming whispered in her partner's ear.

- We'll find out right away," the brown-haired woman replied just as quietly. - Maybe she can see the future while singing.

Inside the flat was filled with various junk, and most of the walls were filled with posters of music artists and Mungirl herself. The owner of the flat proudly pointed to them and gave the dates of her concerts. Remarkably, both of Kyle Smith's subordinates had never heard of the singer before. 

The woman took Soo Min and Rosa to a room where there was a guitar on a couch. The woman took the instrument and said with aplomb:

- Prophet Mungurl's new song! Performed for the first time! Please love and applaud! You drank whiskey! 

You've had a whiskey, take care of your pussy.

You've had a whiskey, now take care of your pussy!

♪ Maybe this is your 40th shot ♪

Or maybe it's your hundredth

This is the fatal shot

# It's got a la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

But a crazy thought

It's gone to the roof

The fatal drink

♪ Was unnecessary ♪

You've had a whiskey, take care of your pussy now

You've had whiskey, whiskey, take care of your pussy.

You've had whiskey, whiskey

# Take care of your pussy now #

You've had whiskey!

- Ahem, ahem! - Rosalie interrupted her insistently.

- Huh? What is it? - asked a confused Mungurl, stopping.

- It's a lovely song, but I want to ask you something.

- What is it? How did I, Prophet Mungurl, know that I was supposed to sing songs? Well, I'll tell you all about it!

- It's very interesting, but we'd like to know something else. Namely, can you see the future? 

- Why would you ask that? - Mungurl asked perplexed.

- You call yourself a prophet," the brunette snorted.

- Well, it's only natural! I am the world-famous Prophet who was ahead of my time and wrote the greatest songs in the universe! - proudly declared the woman, strumming her guitar. - That's right!

- Is this whiskey song also one of those great songs? - Su Ming asked with interest while her partner stood there with a sour expression.

- Yes! I'm Prophet Moongirl after all! And Prophet Mungirl doesn't sing rubbish!

- Indeed," Rosalie said, frantically pulling out a new cigarette, but remembering that they were in the room, she sighed sadly. Discreetly checking the readings on the supernatural detection device, she turned to Mungurl, holding back a grimace. - Well, we'd love to hear your masterpieces, but work is busy. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. We should get going.

- Aren't you going to listen to my legendary masterpiece, "Walking and Smoking"?! Perhaps you'd like to stay for tea?

- Alas, the service calls. But that's all right, we'll spread the word about you in our organisation. I think there will be people who will like your work," Rosa promised with a grin, glancing at her partner.

- Yeah? Okay. I'll be waiting. But don't let them delay, or they'll miss Prophet Mungurl's performances and then what will they do?

- They will. Have a good day.

- Goodbye, Su-min said.

- Yeah, goodbye.

Both women hurriedly left this flat and went outside. Rose immediately lit a cigarette and took a drag.

- Yes. Curious lady," she said, exhaling the smoke.

- Very curious. And anyway, where do analysts look? Did they Google these prophets? - Su Ming was indignant.

- Probably a trivial mistake. And try to check all of them without personal contact to see who really sees the future and who does not. Besides, after the attack, most of our people are busy. The freebies, like us, went to check out the information. Well, at least it wasn't boring.

- Yeah," the brunette said sarcastically. - Where do we need to go next?- It's not far. We can be there in five minutes. Let's go.

- If it's going to be the same character as this chick, why don't you do it without me?

- You'll be fine,'' the brown-haired girl said as she put out her cigarette and got into the car. After waiting for Su Ming to get comfortable inside, Rosa continued. - Hopefully, the next girl will have the abilities we need. At least, she's kind of moonlighting as a fortune teller. Okay, send the management the result of the meeting with this Mungurl. Yeah, that's quite a nickname.

End of digression.

Before creating a new Anomaly, I thought I'd see how things were going with the search for peeping Toms. The guys have already managed to get in contact with ten objects, of which only two of them really knew how to do something. And that one of these two was a wizard-slacker and, in fact, fooled people's heads. The second was a seer, but only able to see the very near future and only by carefully tuning in to the client. She couldn't see anything just like that. But at least there was an object for research. Voluntary, of course. We offered Alicia Davis (that was her name) decent conditions, and the lady didn't have to do anything but let herself be studied by instruments and scientists. Still, I should have found someone more serious. 

At the same time, I gave orders to place time defence bases on the territory. Since our enemies are able to do such things, we should acquire appropriate means of counteraction. Especially if they are available. Having given out the necessary orders, I got busy with the Anomaly.

Gathering the Light in myself, I began to search for fear in myself to look it in the eye, so to speak. It didn't take long and a humanoid silhouette began to form in the holding cell.

- Decadence drove him first to satiety and then to madness.

I don't get it, but it's very interesting. 

In the meantime, the silhouette had acquired colours and a full-fledged form. In front of me stood a representative brunette man, with a pedigree face of about my height, in the prime of life and a black moustache. The caftan he wore even looked expensive.

- Woe to our family," the man said in a deep, well-pitched voice, looking straight at me.

- Yes, indeed," I agreed, grinning with the left side of my mouth. - It's a woeful thing.

This guy is probably even stronger than Dahaka. I guess I'll have to become a Dungeon Master. 

- I'm even interested in taking a swing at you.

- Arrogance can sometimes kill more than a sharpened blade," Anomaly said without taking her eyes off me.

- I won't even argue. Come on, goodbye. 

In the meantime, we should rest after such a busy day. I teleported home and was about to have dinner when I was interrupted by a message about a collision with a group of mages. The two of my subordinates had encountered three mages, and not the weakest of them. Perhaps I should look into the matter personally, now that I had the opportunity. 

Using my clairvoyance, I teleported directly to my two employees, a brunette and a brown-haired girl. In front of us stood a trio of mages dressed in very interesting robes. The main one in yellow, her assistants in green. Each of them felt quite strong, but the middle one outnumbered her companions combined. And there was a curious medallion on her chest. I've been waiting for you to show up!

- Who are you and what do you want with my subordinates? - I asked a question to the tense trio.

- So you are the ones who are actively looking for prophets? - The woman in the middle asked in a pleasant voice, gleaming her eyes from under her hood.

- That is correct. And you didn't answer my question.

- We are masters of the mystic arts from Kamar-Taj. They call me the Ancient. But something tells me you already know that. Do we need to know what it is you do to hunt mages? And would you care to introduce yourself?

- Call me Head, like the rest of us. We're not looking for mages specifically, but for a parasite that's been meddling in our affairs for years. By a strange coincidence, this parasite is able to predict the future, possesses magic and controls time, - I said as if it was nothing and stared at the mages, waiting for their reaction. - You wouldn't happen to know such a thing, would you?

The subordinates behind her back looked at each other in surprise.

- The sorceress remarked in a cheerful tone. While our companions were tense, she and I were relaxed enough. - I won't hide the fact that my abilities fit that description, but this is our first meeting.

- Well, I guess one of Earth's top defenders shouldn't lie. Otherwise, it will badly affect the purity of the aura," I told her, folding my hands behind my back.

- Ha ha ha! Yes, I guess so," she agreed kindly.

- 'Then, now that this matter is settled, we'll be off. We still have important things to do.

- Don't you think you're in too much of a hurry, Head? - The Ancient One asked in an ingratiating tone. - There's even a saying: If you hurry, you make people laugh. Can we talk a little longer? 

- Some other time. 

- I must insist. And you haven't really told me what you want. Would you leave an old woman unsatisfied? - With firmness, hidden behind irony said the magician, preparing for battle.

- Hm, and why do I think that I have some magnet for problems? - I tiredly asked the universe, having created a cloaking barrier.

- Maybe you sinned a lot in your past life?

- Not that much," I said and turned to the girls. - You take care of those magic tricks, and I'll dance with the boss.

- Got the Boss!

- OK.

- That was rude," the Ancient One said disapprovingly, creating magic circles around her hands. Her subordinates followed suit.

- Yes? Then I apologise!

With an effort of will I created a seal of white colour and sent a shooting construct at the magician. That was the beginning of the battle. My girls rushed at the mages, drawing their weapons. Each had a pistol and melee weapons, not counting the portable suppressors with bodily modifications. They decided to use firearms first to get close enough to cut off the mages' energy feed afterwards.

After making sure that Rosa and Sumin were fine, he focused on his opponent. And she did not sit idly by throwing all of us into the mirror dimension. I was fine with that, as I didn't want to have a full-scale fight in a place full of people.

Using a spell, the Ancient One launched a small but very dense vortex at me, which I shattered with an energy blade. But the woman was not going to stop there and created a dozen of magic circles, from which I was hit by purple chains, which gave off something very strong and unstoppable. Are those the same chains of Sittorak? Dangerous. It even partially managed to break through my barrier, but I managed to break the magic seal itself in time, dispelling such a creepy thing. My vis-a-vis was surprised, but with a grace honed over centuries, she dodged the energy blades fired back at her. 

No, she has too dangerous powers at her disposal, so, as Lelik willed, I'll hit hard, but carefully. It's time to end this dance! I destroyed the spells created by the Ancient, and then I shackled her with my own chains, going to activate the suppressor. Now let's talk...

It's time to finish this dance.

Wait, what? I just... Ah, I think I got it.

- It's funny," I said, actively flipping energy constructs with the woman. - Is this a time loop?

- Wow! It's not often you get opponents who can remember what happened in previous iterations! - respectfully remarked the Ancient One, simultaneously dodging the energy arm with laziness.

- How long has it been?

- This is the third," the woman admitted, glancing at the mages.

They were not doing so well. Thanks to their enhanced bodies, along with the element of surprise, my subordinates even outnumbered their opponents, albeit not without trouble getting to one of them. The suppressors were switched on, and the surprised male mage barely managed to dodge the knockout. His partner, quickly realising what was going on, began to teleport away from the pursuing Rose, trying to help her comrade at the same time. She used a spatial burst and found herself right in front of the sorceress. The clash was an extravaganza. Immediately, Su Ming knocked out the man as well. It was the Ancient One's turn. 

I used direct reality manipulation to pull us out of the mirror dimension and dispelled the woman's time loop. I was about to use a proven method of capturing wizard girls, namely binding them with tentacles (chains instead), when I was interrupted. 

- Unbelievable! So, I can really see the future! - came a pleasant girl's voice behind me.

- What? Aurora? - The Ancient One asked with genuine surprise in her emotions, looking behind me.

Having strengthened my defences as much as possible, I turned round, shifting to the side so that I could observe both of them more easily. Behind me stood a girl in ordinary clothes, about eighteen years old, with pale skin, blue-black, long hair, and bright violet eyes in a regular, oval face. And she was definitely an unusual person. I could sense the power hidden in her.

- Um, Aurora? But my name is Elizabeth," the girl said perplexed.

- Then maybe that was your mum's name? - The Ancient asked again, thinking hard.

- No. Her name is Helen. But that doesn't matter now! It's you I've seen many times! And you, too, just not as well as in real life," Elizabeth said, pointing her finger at me.

So, we've found the seer. Now we have to lure her to the Dark Side. 

- Now I know for sure that everything I've seen is true! I'm not crazy! - continued the girl, in a joyful tone, gesticulating vigorously. 

- "Head, this is just the object you're looking for," Rosalie mentally informed me.

- "Excellent. And she's not an empty shell, by the looks of it. Now we need to get her comfortable with you, so don't gesture." 

- "Got it!" - the women replied in two voices.

- So you can see Elizabeth's future. Quite a curious ability," he praised her, not forgetting the Ancient One, who was considering something carefully.

- But many people think I'm crazy! - the brunette said grudgingly.- It happens. But I think we should...

- We should talk, the three of us, in the Sanctum Sanctorum," the Ancient One said suddenly, finally losing her temper.

- We've been over this before," I told her, suppressing my irritation. - Sitting down with you is not on my list of things to do anytime soon.

- That's not a suggestion. As the Supreme Mage of Earth, I must check whether you are dangerous to the planet and its population," the woman said, glancing at her downed companions.

- And how will you do that alone? - I asked her, infusing Light into Dahaki's E.P.O.S. to boost the defences. Something tells me they're going to try to time me again now.

- That's why I'm a magician, to find a way out of difficult situations.

A wave of my hand and the next thing I knew, the whole place was bathed in green. My subordinates, along with Elizabeth or Aurora, froze in place, and I could even move.

- Out of respect for your undoubtedly important business, I didn't want to use all the power..." I said slowly, overcoming the effects of the spell. - ...But if you don't understand that, I won't hold back any longer.

The ancient didn't answer, only frowned harder and poured more power into the spell. But it was too late, as I prepared to activate the reality control and erase all the effects.

But for the umpteenth time, I was interrupted. A magical transfer circle appeared on my left, and a woman who looked exactly like Elizabeth, only twenty years older, stepped out of it. Without saying hello or goodbye, she, holding a rod of some bizarre shape, created a magical seal of green colour and began to "shove" the time released by the Ancient One into her young copy. 

Waiting until I was free, I struck the brunette with all my might. Only her body shattered into thousands of glass shards, evaporating into thin air. What a believable illusion. She even felt like a real person. 

With that lady gone, I turned my gaze to Elizabeth, whose body was covered in a green glow.

- What is it? - I asked the Ancient One, who was using magic to scan the girl's body.

- It literally permeated the girl's essence through time. But why? It's very dangerous.

- Don't worry, if you know what to do and how to do it, the danger is reduced to zero, - came a velvety female voice from behind. Without turning around, I struck again with destruction, achieving the destruction of another illusion. - What a warm welcome.

- Who are you and what do you want? - I turned to the stranger who had appeared out of thin air, while trying to find where she was hiding. Definitely, this lady can't be far away.

- I think you've already guessed it yourself," the woman replied with a charming smile.

- You were helping Carmen," I said affirmatively, still searching. - Why?

- Our goals are the same....

No, she's just talking through her teeth. 

- The contract of clarity! No one can hide while becoming more powerful in return.

The use of the Implied Contract had torn an invisible veil from the neighbourhood, exposing what was hidden beneath. The brunette stood next to her copy and magicked something. Even the Ancient One hadn't noticed until the last moment. 

As I watched Elizabeth at the same time, I noticed that her body flashed green again as a result of Aurora's actions, and a large orange spark blossomed on her forehead, absorbed into her head without a trace.

Once again, destruction struck immediately, seeing the brunette elder barely able to defend herself with an energy barrier, and the brunette junior simply disappeared in a flash of green. The Ancient One trying to restrain her familiar didn't accomplish anything either. Without waiting for another attack, Aurora created a teleport and disappeared from here, and my blow turned several metres of space into dust.

- What slippery stuff," I said. - Honoured Ancient, can you track this Aurora?

- ...No," she said after about thirty seconds, shaking her head. - She turned out to be much more skilful than she had shown during her training.

- And where did her young copy go?

- If I understood correctly, she went to the past. Then it all fits. Aurora appeared in Qamar Taj twenty years ago, just at that age. She didn't show any impressive skills, gradually learning the mystical arts. And about five years ago, she left Kamar Taj to practice magic. Since she was free to go wherever she wished, I did not prevent her," the Ancient One said, checking the status of the knocked out mages. Since it was obvious that the fight was over, I didn't stop her, giving the same order to my subordinates.

- Well, at least now I know who's been in my way all this time," I said. - Let's go. There's nothing more to find here.

- Please wait," the Ancient said, helping her companions to regain consciousness. - After what had happened, I only had more questions. Don't you? 

- You've answered the basic ones. We'll deal with the rest on our own.

- I suggest we meet in a few days. We should clear up any loose ends and decide how to proceed. After all, as High Sorcerer, I have certain obligations to protect the Earth. I'd like to make sure you're safe for the planet. What do you say to this proposal, Head? - The Ancient One asked, looking at me intently. 

If I refuse, the mages will become my enemies, too. Even if they don't win, they will cause a lot of problems. And I don't want to kill the defenders of the Earth. It's dangerous to go to the place where their forces are concentrated, but the other option is even worse.

- Hmm. Okay. When and where?

- Sanctum Sanctorum, in-- Four days. By then, I'll have cleared some things up and spoken to the people who've been in contact with Aurora. I think you'll be interested in learning about your enemy.

- Is it normal to just give out information about your former student like that? - I asked the woman with genuine curiosity.

- If the situation were different, I wouldn't have told you about Aurora," the Ancient admitted with a frown. - But what's going on is strange. Why would she put herself at risk, and why would she put herself in the past? What is Aurora's purpose in gaining such power? And there are so many more questions.

- Well, I think I understand your position now. I'll see you later, then.

- Here, take this," the woman interrupted me, coming closer and holding out a small metal medallion with the mark of the Kamar Taj mages. - This amulet will show you the way to our abode and allow you to pass through the spells.

- Thank you.

- See you soon.

- Goodbye.

I summoned my maidens and teleported with them to one of the secondary bases, leaving my subordinates and the amulet behind. I travelled to another dimension to see how the search for the Prophets was going. In the meantime, they were able to find one more. Three were ruled out as nothing. Now we know who's been bothering us all along. We just need to find a way to counter them.

Such a busy day seriously exhausted even me, so when I learnt that everything was quiet in Baghdad, I teleported home. There, while I had the chance, I decided to use the Yonsim I'd had ready for a couple of days and look at my parallel copies.

I took the box in my hands and activated it, causing energy windows to appear in which the faces of my doppelgangers were reflected. I even wondered what they had achieved...

***

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