Dorian sprinted through the bustling streets, weaving between the maze of vendors and townsfolk. The vibrant sounds of the market—shouts, laughter, and the clinking of coins—faded into a dull roar as he focused intently on escaping Oliver's pursuit.
Oliver leaped from rooftop to rooftop, his bow drawn as he aimed at Dorian. But when he saw Dorian's audacious grin, Oliver frowned in frustration.
‘Hahaha, Come on, I dare you to shoot me’ Dorian taunted in his mind, glancing back with a smirk while Oliver stood atop a distant building. In a calculated move, Dorian purposely blended into the crowd of people, making sure he stayed as close as possible.
‘If I shoot in a crowded street, there's a good chance I could hit a Lexarch. This could spark a fight between us and Dorian might use this chance to slip away’ Oliver thought with a frown.
Since the density of Lexarchs in Glowhaven was significantly higher than that of ordinary people, Oliver would essentially be shooting himself in the foot if he attempted anything dangerous in a crowded street.
Oliver weighed his options silently and then after a while, he positioned the arrow slightly above his target and poured a large amount of soul energy into the shot before releasing it.
Whoosh!
The arrow zipped through the air with remarkable speed. Then just as it passed above Dorian—
Boom!
It erupted in a dazzling explosion. The shockwave rippled through the crowd, momentarily captivating everyone's attention. And then just a second later, chaos ensued.
"What?!" Dorian exclaimed in shock as panic spread like wildfire. Normal townsfolk screamed and scrambled for safety. In a battle between Lexarchs, these people's lives were as important as an ant’s feces, and no one would care if they died as collateral damage.
While the ordinary folks were scrambling on their feet, the other Lexarchs in the area chose to stay back. Lexarchs were cautious people and would not involve themselves in others' fights without reason.
Dorian scoffed after realizing Oliver's strategy. He was trying to isolate him from the crowd by creating chaos. ‘You are too naive if you think a flawed strategy like this is going to work on me’. Dorian thought with disdain as he then started running as well and quickly joined the fleeing masses, blending in with the others to make it hard for Oliver to track him.
Boom!
Another arrow detonated above the crowd, sending people darting in every direction away from Oliver's position.
"Phew, they should all be headed for the town square now," Oliver breathed a sigh of relief, pleased that his strategy had not backfired. He smiled to himself, thinking, "Berkeley Pub is just around the corner so I can meet Theo there as well."
Oliver then jumped down from the roof and onto the streets before slipping into the sewers. He ran along the damp walls of the sewers until he reached a random spot and placed his hand against the wall. Instantly, the air around him started warping and he vanished from sight.
Oliver was making use of the Siren's Dream Paths that were strategically placed throughout Glowhaven by the Ravens. This allowed for instant travel between locations allowing the Ravens to quickly respond to situations. However, this system came with its drawbacks. Each use costs around 200 soul stones, making it impractical for transporting large groups.
…
Dorian continued running with the crowd until they finally reached the town square where everyone began catching their breath. Dorian glanced back but saw no sign of Oliver. 'Did he finally decide he had enough?' he wondered, breaking a few more soul stones in his hand and letting the fine dust seep into his body.
A triumphant smirk crossed Dorian's face as he thought, 'Even if he has a plan in place, by the time he reaches me, I'll have recovered enough soul energy for at least one lightning attack.' A deadly glint shone in his eyes; 'In just a few minutes, I'll show you why you shouldn't mess with me—Dorian, the Three Elements Lexarch.'
Just as Dorian reveled in his daydreams of victory, he felt a sudden grip on the back of his neck followed by an unexpected force that knocked him off balance and slammed him onto the ground.
"Who the fuck?!" Dorian cursed angrily at his attacker. But when he turned to see who was pressing him down, his heart sank into his stomach.
"You didn't expect this, did you?" Oliver said with a mocking grin on his face as he finally caught Dorian who had caused them nothing but trouble ever since he appeared.
Dorian’s eyes were wide like a pineapple. "H-how did you catch up to me so quickly? I would have known if you were following me!"
Oliver smirked. "You really don’t need to know that? What matters is that I have you right where I want you."
Dorian narrowed his eyes, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "Listen, Oliver, we don’t have to do this. I have no bad blood with you. Just let me go and both of us can walk away scot-free"
Oliver raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "And why would I do that?"
"Because," Dorian said, trying to keep his voice steady, "I can help you. You probably don’t get paid enough working for the Ravens. I will give you much more than them. I will even personally help you become a Rank 2 Intermediate Lexarch. You know I have connections and resources to pull it off. If you let me go, I promise to be of help to you, okay?." Dorian said with a convincing tone.
Oliver's face turned contemplative, his grip on Dorian loosening slightly as he considered the offer. The tension in the air was palpable as Dorian waited, his heart racing with anticipation.
After what felt like an eternity, a playful smile spread across Oliver's face. "Nice try, Dorian," he said with a teasing tone. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on your generous offer."
Dorian's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, Oliver, you're not thinking this through. Just imagine the power you could have—"
Oliver chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I can imagine plenty. But let’s be real—trusting you is like trusting a cat to guard a fishbowl. And besides, my current gig’s got its perks—like finally catching you!"
Dorian felt frustration bubbling beneath the surface. 'Curses! If only I had a bit more soul energy I would wipe that smirk off your face!' he thought angrily.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed through the air, causing both Oliver and Dorian to snap their heads towards the sky. A brilliant red ball of light illuminated the skies, pulsating for a moment before fading into nothingness.
As the light dissipated, the crowd's attention shifted to a group of stern-faced individuals who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. They wore fitted black vests with crimson stitching and a distinctive emblem—a stylized shield—on the left side. Underneath, high-collared dark gray shirts peeked out, and their trousers were a blend of black and red.
Each Enforcer sported polished boots and some wore fingerless gloves, while others had holsters strapped to their thighs.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd:
"Aren't those the Enforcers' uniforms?" a woman whispered to her companion.
"What are they trying to pull down here?" a gruff voice responded.
Another onlooker chimed in, "I've never seen so many of them in one place before. This can't be good."
The atmosphere quickly grew tense at the arrival of the Enforcers. Down here in Glowhaven, their appearance was usually not welcomed with a warm greeting from others. Most residents of Glowhaven had a negative or even hostile view of them.
In the crowd, some of the more daring Lexarchs began readying their relics in anticipation of a fight. Their expressions were turning slightly excited at the thought of a fight since the Ravens wouldn’t care if a bunch of Enforcers died on their territory.
In the center of the Enforcers stood Vinnie, his hands casually tucked into his pockets and a cowboy hat perched atop his head. His eyes, cold and intimidating, swept across the crowd before he spoke in a low and menacing tone:
"All of you…outta my site!"
The moment Vinnie's words resounded, the other Enforcers unleashed an intense wave of suppression. The sheer force of their presence caused everyone in the vicinity to involuntarily step back; some even cowered.
Almost all of the Enforcers were at least Rank 2!
This revelation sent shockwaves of fear through the crowd.
"You know," one murmured nervously, glancing around, "my stomach's not feeling right today. I better get checked up by a healer. I-I better not see you again Enforcers o-or I’ll make you regret coming down here!" He stuttered trying to sound tuff but was instantly scared away by a single glare from one of the Enforcers.
Some of the Lexarchs in the crowd started making similar excuses as they slipped away from the Enforcers.
"I just remembered I left my relic at home! Can’t risk it going missing!"
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"Oh look at the time! My wife’s gonna kill me if I’m even a second late!"
Within seconds, people began to disperse rapidly, not willing to risk provoking such a formidable force.
In mere moments, the town square emptied, leaving only the Enforcers, Oliver, and the pinned-down Dorian. Oliver's grip on Dorian faltered as he eyed the Enforcers with a look of anxiety.
'...Today is not my lucky day,' Dorian thought, lamenting his fate.
…
"Alright, let me get this straight," Vinny said, crossing his arms as he scrutinized Oliver, who stood with his head bowed. "You were trying to ambush this Dorian guy but ended up getting ambushed yourself?"
Oliver nodded, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he avoided Vinny's gaze. Dorian stood beside him, chin raised high, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
Vinny, with his dark brown hair slicked back and hazel eyes glinting with mischief, continued, "And even after your teammate warned you over the chatterbeast, YOU all thought it was a bright idea to charge in headfirst?"
Each time Vinny emphasized 'you,' he raised his voice dramatically.
"Then YOU decided to sit back and let your teammates take all the risks while YOU played spectator. And after all that, YOU left them vulnerable to be captured by any enemies that could be lurking around because YOU were too fixated on catching Dorian! Am I right?"
Oliver remained silent, too embarrassed to defend himself. Dorian felt a swell of pride at finally having someone acknowledge that he had simply underestimated his opponent; otherwise, he would have easily wiped the floor with them.
Vinny chuckled, shaking his head in exaggerated disbelief. "Wow, I can't believe there's someone this incompetent in the Ravens! Tsk tsk tsk! If I were you, I’d give myself three solid slaps before even thinking about apologizing to those brave teammates who put their necks on the line for you."
The other Enforcers face-palmed at Vinny's antics, a mix of amusement and exasperation on their faces.
"Alright, that’s enough out of you," Vinnie said firmly, placing a hand on Vinny's shoulder.
Vinny shrugged, still grinning. "Just keeping things lively, you know? Besides, someone had to give Oliver a reality check with how proud he felt of himself for catching a Rank 2 Intermediate Lexarch"
From the back of the group, a tall Enforcer with a buzz cut and a serious expression chimed in. "You know, Vinny, if you spent half as much time training as you do cracking jokes, you might actually be able to become half as good as Vinnie here."
Vinny turned to him with a mock gasp. "Where’s your sense of humor, Carter? A little laughter goes a long way in this line of work!"
Carter rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. "Yeah, well, laughter doesn’t help when you’re facing down a Rank 2 Lexarch."
"Lighten up, Carter" Vinny shot back playfully. "Besides, we’ve got Dorian in our hands. The guy who knows where the Black Hand’s main base is!"
Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Huh, what? I’m transferring to you guys now?"
"You best believe it!" Vinny said with a grin.
Oliver, standing to the side, was getting deeply anxious over how things were playing out. If Dorian was taken from him by the Enforcers, that would be a huge loss for the Odd squad and even the Ravens. The Enforcers would most definitely use the location of the Black Hand's base as a bargaining chip to get something out of the Ravens in the future. The Ravens would likely have no choice but to give in since the Black Hand has been a thorn in their side for a long time.
Just as Oliver was sinking into despair, he suddenly heard a voice come from behind him.
"Hoho, I think not, you quirky shit."
Oliver's eyes widened as he looked back. His jaw dropped as he saw a man with wavy hair looking at the Enforcers with a smirk on his face while tens of Punishers, their long brown coats adorned with the symbol of a Raven, stood behind him.
The group of Punishers were not weak compared to the Enforcers as most of them were Rank 2 as well!
Vinny's grin faltered for a moment at seeing so many punishers before returning full force. "Well, well, well! Looks like we've got ourselves a party now!"
Vinnie, the strongest member of the group, a Rank 2 Intermediate Lexarch, stepped forward, his casual demeanor replaced by a steely gaze. "This doesn't have to get messy. We all want the same thing here."
Then, suddenly the leader of the group of Punishers, a tall woman with piercing green eyes, stepped forward. "And what might that be, Mr. Enforcer? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're trying to poach our catch." She said, looking down at Vinnie with a sly smile on her face.
Oliver felt a mix of relief and apprehension wash over him. The punishers had finally arrived, but now they were caught between two powerful factions. Dorian, meanwhile, looked from one group to the other, it seemed he would not going home today.
Vinnie looked at the tall woman who exuded a seductive aura with a troubled look. While he was a Rank 2 Intermediate, she was a Rank 2 Superior!
There was no doubt if a fight were to break out, the Enforcers would be at a disadvantage.
Vinnie took a deep breath, his expression hardening. "I know you think you have the advantage, but don’t mistake my caution for weakness. We’re not going to let you take Dorian without a fight."
The leader of the Punishers chuckled, her piercing green eyes locked on Vinnie. "That's cute, Mr. Enforcer. But let's be real—you're out of your depth here." She took a step forward, her aura pulsing with power as a battle-crazed smile appeared on her face.
Vinnie instinctively took a half-step back, his jaw clenching. "Don't underestimate us. We've got more than just brute force on our side."
The Punisher leader leaned in slightly, her voice low and taunting. "You might want to reconsider your position. I don’t think you fully grasp what you’re getting yourself into."
The group of Enforcers tensed, their relics already glowing with energy in their Mind Cores. The Punishers standing at the back also got in a ready position. The air crackled with tension as both sides prepared for a potential clash.
Just as the situation seemed to be tipping in the Punishers' favor, a sudden gust of wind swept through the square. Golden leaves swirled in a elegant spiral, coalescing into a human form. As the leaves settled, they revealed a woman with short, light golden hair that seemed to glow in the fading sunlight.
Mia, the Vice-Captain, stood between the two groups, her presence commanding immediate attention as she intoned with a gentle but authoritative voice:
"Gentlemen, ladies—I hope I'm not interrupting your little playground squabble. But if you're done measuring egos, perhaps we can discuss this like the professionals we're supposed to be."
The Enforcers visibly relaxed, relief washing over their faces at the sight of their Vice-Captain.
Mia was a Superior Rank 2 Lexarch and now both sides were equally matched!
Mia turned to Vinnie, a kind smile softening her features. "Thanks for holding down the fort, Vinnie. I'll take it from here."
Vinnie nodded, a mix of respect and gratitude in his eyes. "Glad you could join us, Vice-Captain."
Mia turned her attention to the tall Punisher woman, her golden hair catching the light as she moved. Her voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of steel. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure. I'm Mia, Vice-Captain of the Nightwatch Enforcers. And you are...?"
The Punisher woman's battle-crazed smile softened into a more calculated smirk. "Aria Charmed, at your service. Right-hand to Markus Gray, the Captain of the Punishers. I must say, your entrance was quite... theatrical. Do all Enforcers have a flair for the dramatic, or is that just you?"
Mia's lips curved into a subtle smile. "Only when the situation calls for it. Now, shall we discuss our mutual interest in a civilized manner, or do you prefer to continue this posturing?"
Aria chuckled, her piercing green eyes never leaving Mia's face. "Oh, I do enjoy a bit of posturing now and then. But you're right, we have business to attend to. Though I must warn you, I don't play well with others."
"That's fine," Mia replied coolly. "Neither do I. But I do know how to negotiate. So, let's talk about Dorian and how we can resolve this without unnecessary bloodshed."
Aria stepped forward, her aura flaring aggressively. "Let's cut to the chase. Dorian comes with us, no conditions. He's ours."
Mia raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "And on what grounds do you make that claim?"
"Simple," Aria sneered. "One of our guys nabbed him first" She pointed to Oliver, "Finders keepers, wouldn't you say?" She smiled slyly.
Mia's lips curved into a subtle smile. "Interesting. So if I were to... find your wallet on the ground, it would be mine to keep?"
Aria's eyes narrowed dangerously. "That's not the same thing, and you know it."
"Isn't it?" Mia countered smoothly. "The law doesn't recognize 'finders keepers' as a valid claim, Aria. Especially when it comes to people."
Aria's face flushed with anger, clearly not used to being outmaneuvered. "Fine. Then tell me this: why do the Enforcers even care about the Black Hand's base? They're the Ravens' problem, not yours."
Mia's expression remained neutral. "We have our reasons."
"That's awfully vague…" Aria’s voice dripped with suspicion.
Mia replied coolly. “It's all you need to know for now. Our interest in this matter is legitimate, I assure you."
Aria clenched her fists, frustration evident in her posture. "You Enforcers and your secrets. Always thinking you're above everyone else."
Mia remained calm in the face of Aria's growing agitation. "We're not above anyone. We simply have a broader perspective than you guys”.
The tension between Mia and Aria was increasing with neither of them willing to back down. But then suddenly, both women snapped their heads in the same direction, their long-distance relics warned someone was coming their way.
A faint, garbled echoed in the distance: "...elp...ou...ittle...its...ome...ack...ere!"
“Eh? What’s that sound?” Vinny said as he leaned in, trying to hear more clearly.
The rest of the Enforcers and Punishers turned their heads too, straining to make sense of the commotion. Mia's eyes narrowed as she spotted something in the distance.
A greyish-white tiger-like beast was barreling towards them at full speed. Behind it, a massive wave of sand pursued, carrying an injured man who was shouting a colorful array of slurs. Tens of other people were leapfrogging from building to building in hot pursuit.
Vinny squinted, utterly confused. "What the hell is that?"
As the bizarre procession drew closer, they could make out more details. On the beast's back, a panicked voice repeated in rapid succession:
"Help help help help help help help!" Theo cried, clinging to the beast for dear life.
Behind him, Seren sat cross-legged, filing his nails with an impassive expression as if he were on a leisurely carriage ride.
The supervisor, surfing atop the sand wave, was turning blue from anger with his creative cursing. "You @#$%ing little #@$%s! I'll turn you into #@$%ing fertilizer when I catch you!"
As they approached, more absurd details became apparent. One pursuer was carrying a comically oversized butterfly net. Another had somehow acquired a flute and was attempting to play a threatening tune while running. A third was dressed in a full suit of medieval armor, complete with a giant rubber chicken as a weapon, making his building-to-building jumps particularly awkward.
Theo, noticing the gathered group in front, yelled out, "Pardon me! Coming through! Official Lexarch business!"
Seren finally looked up from his nails, raising an eyebrow at the crowd. "Oh, lovely. We have an audience for this circus."
As they drew closer, Theo's eyes widened in recognition. His heart nearly stopped as he realized it was none other than the Enforcers and the Punishers standing before him. With a surge of panic-induced strength, he yanked on the beast's fur, desperately trying to bring it to a halt.
The beast skidded to a stop, its claws leaving deep gouges in the ground as it came to rest mere inches from Mia. Theo, pale-faced and sweating, found himself staring directly into Mia's piercing gaze.
Meanwhile, the supervisor, still cursing up a storm, suddenly realized he was headed straight for the group. His eyes widened comically as he also realized who was in front of him.
In his flustered state, he tried to ‘brake’ his sand wave. The sand wave stopped instantly but physics had other plans. The sudden deceleration catapulted the supervisor forward in a spectacular somersault, while a massive cloud of sand billowed behind him. As he tumbled through the air, the sand arced gracefully over his flailing form, descending upon Aria like an impromptu sandstorm. His momentum carried him further still, depositing him unceremoniously at Aria's feet.
The supervisor groaned, sand covering every inch of him. As he winced in discomfort, he glanced up, only to find Aria standing above him, now coated in a fine layer of sand and glaring down with cold eyes. "Congratulations," she said icily, "you’ve just made my day even worse."
As the dust settled and the absurdity of the situation sank in, Vinny grinned widely.
"Well," he chuckled, "looks like the party just got a whole lot more interesting!"