-- Aster --

Chaos exploded all around where I had just been standing, I was able to move the exact moment the shield fell, and the shock wave from the explosion pushed me away just enough to dodge out of the way of the follow-up magic, and other range attacks. Though I doubted half the crowd even realized I had moved as they were still launching wild attacks at the dais.

My feet touched the wall of the building behind the stage. My jaw dropped when I saw the stage still perfectly in one piece. I couldn't even see a single scratch even with my advanced eyes. The sight distracted me enough that I forgot to move the right way and the people quickly found me.

What is with me today? I kicked off the wall, just as the people began to reorient themselves, letting off more bursts of power. My kick cracked the wall but their spell destroyed it. I winced thinking about the damage to who's every place that was, I hope they had insurance. I looked back to see an entire wall missing and that was my mistake, as I lost sight of the crowd and how far away they were from me.

My body bowled into the sea of people, hard. I heard bones breaking as I hit, and the crowd was knocked over creating a wave of bodies. At first, I was afraid one of the bone snapping sounds was mine but let out a sigh when I found no pain. Gathering my surroundings I found, I was now in the one open spot in the entire square, and everyone was ready to strike. I felt no fear only the elation and thrill of this entire venture. Though one thing did give me pause. The fuck is with this level of power. Is hitting thirty exponential or something?

I had spent too much time on the ground not moving, as a bolt of electricity flew hitting me in the back. My muscles locked up. Thankfully, I had just learned how to free myself from something like this I surged my power through my body, quickly freeing myself. It wasn't fast enough as the people were now able to attack and I was nice enough to open a spot for them to swing.

Bending back a sword sing barely misses my neck. I prepare to jump as a hand grabs my leg, nearly knocking me over. If I hit the ground I didn't think I would be able to get back up. I kicked down hard breaking the man's arm freeing myself, only to be punched hard in the face physically lifting me in the air and across the crowd. This was my saving grace as I looked back I saw a sword fall taking the other man's arm and a trail of Ice spikes shooting out of the ground.

Thank you, random punching guy.

My face was hurt but I was alive and flying away, as soon as my foot hit the ground, I jumped for all I was worth to reach the top of the city. If I can get to the road I can open up some distance. I'll come back for the guards.

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Just as I'm about to make it up to the thieves road a sniper bullet strikes me in my leg, actually making me spin and knocking me off course. The only positive was the wound healed near-instantly closing before I hit one of the market stalls.

Fuck! the road isn't going to work. I would be too exposed up there, even with my speed. Especially, with all the snipers.

Get up aster you don't have even a millisecond to pause.

Keep moving. I was covered in broken bits of stone wood and pieces of...fresh produce? I couldn't help but be incredulous at hitting something so stereotypical.

Really?

Why is there a fruit stand in the middle of the city?

No time go! I chided myself for getting distracted again.

I burst out of the destroyed stall ramming into the people standing right ahead, as a giant boulder shot right above me finishing off the rest of the stall.

When she was teaching me how to cut magic I thought I would at least see it first.

I was flying across the square, relying on pure instinct to dodge all the attacks aimed at me. I need to get away from these people. My foot landed on a person, I kicked off hearing a snap as I gained air. At the moment I was above the crowd I tried to gain my bearings and found I was near one of the main exits.

Luckily for me, this one was guarded by only two of the guards and one of them was even eating a doughnut. Seeing this I couldn't help but think this might be the perfect opportunity to tag one of them. I still needed to make 6 tags and like an idiot, I didn't make them ahead of time.

Seeing this chance, I began to form a little arrow and flew towards the two officers. My mind moved faster than my body instinctively guiding me through the crowd when I caught a shimmer with my eyes. Set up in between the buildings blocking off the road was a massive net. Each thread is so thin I would have missed it without the momentary shimmer.

Clever. They knew I'd be able to see it.

Seeing that, made me realize why the two guards were so relaxed. They thought even if I went this way the net would take care of me. A vicious smile appeared on my face as I pulled my dagger, coating it in power. I twisted in midair cutting a hole just the right size for me.

I let out a laugh at the look of shock on the face of the guards and seeing the people in the crowd getting tangled in the net. The millisecond my foot hit the stone, I took my chance and flew at the doughnut guard.

To my senses, they were all moving in slow motion, not able to keep up with my movement, and I pumped more power into my tag. I had formed it in a rush and wanted to make sure it would stick.

Even moving at these speeds the guards were already moving to intercept me. I had to give it to the officers, their reaction was quick. Fire began to form in front of me as one of the mage officers conjured a ball of plasma. Seeing the power gather I extended the cutting edge and swiped through the spell ending it. I saw the mage collapse from the feedback. Not a second later I reached the doughnut guard and stabbed him in the shoulder.

"One"

With him tagged I used him as a springboard throwing him into one of his colleagues. I felt something sharp and looked down wincing seeing that an arrow pierced into my arm. Shit, I stood still too long. I kept moving, running down the roads of a city. A city on the hunt.