Arthur's steps slowed, the silence of the alley enveloping him. His heart thudded loudly in his chest, the sound almost deafening in the quiet. Thump, thump! He clicked his tongue softly, the realization dawning on him that he was caught.

The pressure from behind was unmistakable—a -rank. Arthur knew he could defeat them, but not without alerting everyone else. The mana in the air was thick and charged, a result of the fierce battle between the two -rankers inside the restaurant. Their power clashed with a ferocity that shook the very foundations of the building. To them, "going overboard" had a different meaning entirely.

Arthur quickly calculated his options. If it had been a -rank, he might have escaped using Lucent Harmony. But against a -rank, that wasn't an option. He had to confront his pursuer.

He turned slowly, his blue eyes locking onto the figure that had caught him. The man was tall and imposing, with a cold, calculating gaze. His aura radiated the undeniable power of a -rank, and his stance indicated he was ready for a fight.

Arthur took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Can I help you?" he asked, his voice calm and measured, masking the tension that gripped him.

The man smirked, clearly unimpressed. "You have something that doesn't belong to you," he said, his tone dripping with menace. "Hand it over, and maybe I won't kill you."

Arthur's mind raced. He needed to buy time, to think of a way out of this. He couldn't let the artifact slip from his grasp now. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding," he said smoothly, trying to keep the man's attention focused on him. "I was just—"

"Save your breath," the man interrupted, stepping closer. "I saw you take it. Now, hand it over."

Arthur's eyes flicked to the side, noticing a pile of crates stacked against the wall of the alley. He could use them to his advantage. "Alright," he said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Just let me reach for it."

The man's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Slowly."

Arthur moved deliberately, his hand inching toward his coat. In a sudden, fluid motion, he grabbed the edge of a crate and hurled it toward the man. The crate shattered, its contents spilling out and creating a temporary distraction. Arthur used the momentary confusion to dart to the side, slipping into the shadows.

The -rank recovered quickly, his eyes scanning the alley for any sign of Arthur. "You think you can hide?" he snarled, his mana flaring as he prepared to strike.

Arthur's mind worked frantically. He needed to create a diversion, something to throw off his pursuer long enough to escape.

Suddenly, a booming sound erupted behind him, reverberating through the narrow alley. He barely had time to react as Luna's urgent voice echoed in his mind, 'Arthur!'

Instinctively, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the -rank pursuer's powerful charge. The man's momentum carried him forward, and Arthur used the opportunity to turn in mid-air. Sigils flared to life on his arm, glowing with a fierce, ethereal light. He siphoned mana from his core and the ambient air around him, forming a mass of energy in his left hand.

With a swift, precise movement, Arthur thrust his hand forward, his fingertips brushing the shoulder of his pursuer. The impact sent a shockwave through the alley, and the -ranker crashed to the ground with a grunt of pain and surprise.

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'Idiot let his guard down,' Arthur thought, though a flicker of self-reproach followed. 'Well, so did I.'

He hadn't expected such a direct and forceful attack, especially from someone of -rank. The man's abilities were formidable, catching Arthur off guard with their raw power. He knew this confrontation was far from over; a single strike wouldn't be enough to keep his pursuer down for long.

Arthur glanced around, his eyes quickly scanning for any advantage. The alley was cluttered with crates and debris, casting long shadows in the flickering light from the shattered streetlamp. His mind raced, calculating the angles and possible escape routes. He needed to stay one step ahead, to outsmart and outmaneuver his opponent.

The -ranker groaned, pushing himself up with a pained expression. His eyes burned with a sea of anger. "You won't get away that easily," he growled, his voice filled with venom.

Arthur didn't respond. Instead, he focused on the mana swirling around him, gathering it for another burst of speed. He had to make every move count, every second crucial in this high-stakes game.

He took off, sprinting toward a stack of crates. With a powerful leap, he vaulted over them, using his enhanced agility to navigate the obstacles with ease. Behind him, he could hear the -ranker giving chase, his footsteps echoing through the alley.

Arthur's breath came in short, controlled bursts as he pushed himself harder, his muscles burning with effort. He spotted a narrow gap between two buildings, just wide enough for him to slip through. Without hesitation, he dove into the gap, using the confined space to his advantage.

As he emerged on the other side, he glanced back, seeing his pursuer struggling to navigate the same route. It bought him a precious few moments, but he knew it wouldn't last. He needed a plan, something to tip the scales in his favor.

Drawing on his experience and training, Arthur began to formulate a strategy. He couldn't rely solely on his strength or speed; he had to use his intelligence and cunning. The artifact was too important to lose, and failure wasn't an option.

'Luna, help me formulate a God Flash from this angle,' Arthur mentally transmitted to Luna. He couldn't form the spell by himself, not while he was being chased.

Executing a God Flash while climbing a vertical wall before jumping off—something he had never attempted—could potentially incapacitate his pursuer.

Killing a human.

The mere thought of it caused a wave of nausea to churn in his stomach. He despised the idea, but in this situation, hesitation could mean his own death.

'Focus, Arthur,' Luna's voice cut through his turmoil, steady and resolute. 'We'll do this together.'

Arthur's muscles coiled as he prepared for the climb. He reached out, his fingers finding purchase on the rough brick wall. With a burst of strength, he propelled himself upwards, his body moving with a fluid grace honed through countless hours of training. His senses heightened, every sound and movement around him becoming acutely clear.

The -ranker pursued him relentlessly, their footsteps echoing with a determined rhythm. Arthur could feel the surge of mana building within him, guided by Luna's precise instructions. Each step of the climb brought him closer to the point where he would need to execute the God Flash.

As he reached the top of the wall, Arthur paused for a split second, gathering his energy. The world seemed to slow down, the sounds of the city fading into the background. He could feel the thrum of mana coursing through his veins, ready to be unleashed. With a quick flick of his wrist, he summoned his sword from his spatial ring, the blade appearing in his hand with a soft shimmer.

With a powerful leap, Arthur launched himself off the wall. Time seemed to suspend in mid-air, his body twisting gracefully as he turned to face his pursuer. His eyes locked onto the -ranker, who was still scrambling up the wall.

'Now!' Luna's voice echoed in his mind.

Arthur raised his sword, the sigils on his arm glowing with an intense, blinding light. The God Flash erupted from his blade, a searing arc of energy that cut through the air with lethal precision. The beam struck his pursuer squarely, slicing the -ranker in half with a scream of agony. The two halves of the body fell to the ground, lifeless.

Arthur landed with a thud, his heart pounding in his chest. The world snapped back into focus, the sounds of the city rushing back in a cacophony of noise. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The sight of the fallen -ranker was a stark reminder of the cost of survival in this ruthless world.