Chapter Eleven: Fools Errand

While Yozora wreaked havoc on the main compound. T.LAC moved like a shadow, his mind focused on one mission: finding Mara. His thoughts raced as he recalled the aerial view from earlier, the layout of the compound etched into his memory.

The compound is laid out like an addition sign, he thought, his sharp eyes darting around as he moved. Four towers—north, south, east, and west. But the north tower is closest to the airfield. If Jezebel’s holding Mara anywhere, it has to be there.

Without wasting a second, T.LAC broke into a sprint. His movements were fluid and soundless, his body a blur as he cut through the darkness toward the north tower.

As he neared the door to the north tower, T.LAC’s instincts kicked in. His senses sharpened. Something was off. His hand reached for the door when, out of nowhere, two kunai whizzed toward him from behind. In a seamless motion, T.LAC rolled to the side, dodging the blades effortlessly. He snapped to his feet, summoning his weapon with a whisper.

"Raimu: Sharanga."

The sleek, ethereal bow materialized in his hands, but before he could fully assess his surroundings, a voice echoed from the shadows.

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“Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!”

A massive dragon made of pure flame surged toward T.LAC, its jaws wide and roaring with intense heat. He darted to his right, narrowly escaping the scorching blast. The flames licked at the ground where he once stood, the heat making the air sizzle.

“Raimu Fumi: Vector Cascade.” T.LAC muttered, firing a volley of ethereal arrows into the shadows, each arrow slicing through the air, to flush out whoever was lurking in the darkness.

But instead of retreating, a voice, cool and mocking, seemed to come from every direction at once.

"Still the same old T.LAC, lacking in the basics. Didn’t our master teach you better?"

The voice sent a shiver down T.LAC’s spine, its familiarity unsettling him. He scanned the area, turning his head in every direction, trying to pinpoint its source—but there was nothing. The mocking tone continued, circling him like a predator.

"Who are you?!" T.LAC yelled, frustration and confusion bubbling to the surface. "What master?!"

His hand moved to his head as the weight of his missing memories bore down on him. The confusion, the lack of clarity—it was all becoming too much. He searched the shadows, his eyes wild with desperation.

"Dammit!" he muttered through clenched teeth. "What the hell happened in the past?"

Suddenly, the voice spoke again, but this time it was right behind him, cold and dripping with disdain.

"Pathetic. Poor little Lack... behind you."

T.LAC’s eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, a swift hand struck the back of his neck with deadly precision. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning as his body crumpled to the ground. The last thing he heard before losing consciousness was the voice, now a whisper laced with cruelty.

"You’ll find me when you’re no longer weak... when you finally understand true power."

As his body gave out and his mind slipped into unconsciousness, T.LAC’s final thoughts echoed in his mind.

Mara... Zora... I’m sorry.