Day: 13th of Jan year 5027

location: town of bounty hunters, the central nation

Ken and Saiko leave Rin's shop disguised as the two bounty hunters Licht and Zack and walk towards Ken's car that's hidden outside of the town

-Hey Licht-

Saiko hears someone calling from behind them followed by Ken cursing in a hushed voice

~ Ah shit, why did he have to be in town ~ he whispers to Saiko ~ remember, leave the talking to me ~

Ken then turns around to face the bounty hunter calling for Licht

~ What do you want Drake ~

Saiko turns around and sees a middle aged human bounty hunter facing Ken, The bounty hunter has long black hair and is wearing camouflaged cargo pants, he is shirtless and his upper body is covered in tattoos.

the two that stand out the most to Saiko are the ones on his shoulders.

On his right shoulder, there is a tattoo of a one eyed man surrounded by crows and wolves, and on his left shoulder a horned man rests his back on the side of a massive wolf with an even more massive snake that curls around them and around the entire arm

- Cold as usual huh? Just wanted to talk to my friend, besides since when are the two of you a team? - the bounty hunter sneers

~Since now ~

Saiko notes to herself 'Looks like he prefers to use traditional weapons '

Drake had two belts around his chest and one around his waist with all sorts of weapons, ammunition, and small pouches hanging from them, not mention the massive sniper rifle hanging from his back

'Between the 3 belts and the many pockets of his pants, I wonder if there is anything he doesn't carry on him, A certain bat obsessed billionaire would be proud '

Saiko chuckles to herself quietly, but that chuckle was not missed by Drake, but he doesn't comment on it

The middle aged bounty hunter crosses his arms and responds to Ken sarcastically- Oh really well glad I am the first to know that –

He then looks at Saiko -Though I thought you said you wouldn't team up with anyone -

~That changed ~ Ken responds

- Hey, I don't like the way you are talking to my master -

Saiko shifts her eyes towards the kid who just called Drake his master.

The kid who Saiko would later learn is called Leo, seems to be in his teens; maybe around 16 years old and he seems to have cold eyes.

Unlike his master, he seems to be using modern spell guns specifically he has two pistols one on each of his hips

Spell guns were developed after the comet impact 3000 years ago commonly referred to as the cataclysm.

The earliest versions of spell guns were made by the magic scientist Diane, but they were later developed to a much higher degree

The mechanism of spell guns can be summed up into two main parts, The first works in a way similar to the digital grimoire allowing the storing of spells with their required mana regardless of the magic affinity of the user.

the second is an aetheric accelerator that launches the spells at very high speed at the target but not all guns can handle all spells. for example, spell pistols can only handle low intensity spells like a fireball or lightning bolt but if you want to use a high intensity spell like lava ball you need a spell rifle

Drake lifts one hand up to stop his student then looks at Ken

-Look buddy I am not talking to you I am talking to Licht, so you better stop speaking for him, got that? -

Saiko hesitates for a moment worried she will expose them by misspeaking she was never a good actor nor a good liar, but it seems she can't avoid speaking anymore, if she doesn't this may turn into a fight

_That’s enough let's not start a fight over this _

- Tell that to your new friend over here, why did you team up with him out of all people anyway? - Drake asks in a mocking tone

_Well, he may have his flaws but he is good_

-Whatever man, anyway I heard that your mission had a big reward and I don't see you carrying anything so where did you put all that money? -

- The bank ?- Saiko answers confused with the odd question

Drake looks confused for a second then smiles cheerfully

- Well Licht, I am pretty sure your brother will be happy about all that money, how is he by the way -

Saiko hesitates for a bit not wanting to lie but finds no other way _ he is fine _

Ken facepalms and thinks

' We are caught '

-hmm, I see, I see -

Drake nods then pulls out a gun from his side and shoots Saiko in the stomach

.

.

.

Saiko takes a step back almost falling but catches herself.

She coughs a bit of blood holding her stomach where she was shot and gives a weak silent laugh as the spell gets deactivated and she takes her real form

_ That hurt _

Argus had moved quickly and blocked the bullet and although the bullet didn't penetrate Argus, still the force of the point blank gunshot transferred to Saiko's body and did a lot of damage to her internal organs.

Ken takes off his mask as well and changes back to his normal appearance, Drake looks at him looking a bit surprised

-ken! Of course, it had to be you I always thought you were a shady individual but even for you that's a new low. why did you steal the artifact? -

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

~I liked how it looked ~ It was now Ken’s turn to mock and he liked it

- Is that so? Guess I won't have to feel bad for capturing you. Still, it seems you didn't give your partner all the needed information Licht never uses banks. the guy has serious trust issues, so it's impossible for him to have someone else keep his money Additionally his brother is dead. That was a trick question to confirm my suspicions-

~ Well, I had to change my plans on my way here, Originally, I was going to be alone so, it is what it is I guess ~ Ken shrugs then continues ~I wish we had time to catch up but we have to go now if we want to be able to escape ~

By now most bounty hunters in the town became aware of Saiko and Ken's presence and they began to surround them.

They moved stealthily and hid like a pack of wolves circling their prey. However, Ken being a bounty hunter himself knows their tactics and how long it would take the information to spread and for them to surround them.

Drake sneers - Oh, and you think I will just let you go just like that -

Ken smiles confidently ~ Of course, you will, after I show you this, that is ~ Ken pulls out the demon skull from his pocket

Drake looks at the demon skull curious and confused but still on guard.

The eyes of the demon skull glows and fire off multiple bolts of lightning.

Drake immediately jumps away in an attempt to dodge the lightning already expecting trickery from Ken.

but alas it's futile, had it been anything else Drake would have been able to escape but lightning is attracted to metal, and in this case, the metal in the weapons of the two bounty hunters.

The lightning bolts chase after the master and student bounty hunters and electrocute them.

Two screams of pain echo throughout the town then the two bounty hunters drop to the ground motionless

~ HA, losers ~ Ken laughs then kicks the motionless body of the middle aged bounty hunter

Saiko looks at Ken both impressed and disgusted by his actions _ is this really necessary? They are already dead _

Ken stops and runs his fingers through his hair and calms down slightly

~ he bugged me with all his mocking and he wasted my precious time. also, he is not dead .....probably. he will probably have a few burns and a few other problems but most people who are struck by lightning survive and this is not as strong as actual lightening, so they should be back in action in no time after a visit to the hospital....unfortunately, maybe I should finish him of~

- GET THEM - one of the bounty hunters in hiding who got stunned by what they just saw snaps out of his daze when Ken suggests finishing off Drake and Leo and shouts.

The rest of the bounty hunters snap out of their daze at the call of their colleague and come out of hiding and fire at Ken and Saiko with all kinds of weapons and magic spells they have

The silver cat snaps into action and jumps in front of Ken to cover him, then Reading her intentions Argus rushes out of her hand forming a black shield between her and Ken, and the barrage of bullets and spells

Ken smiles ~ See Argus is very useful~ he then points to a water tank on the roof of one of the buildings that looks like a hotel~ I want you to get there and break that tank ~

_ What about you? How are you going to deal with all the attacks without argus _

~ oh me I am going to be invincible for a few seconds let's see how long it takes them to figure it out ~

Ken uses some of the nanobots from the demon skull to make a floating face, he then adjusts his mask and puts it on the floating face.

The mask then projects an illusion of Ken except this one is empty there is no physical body behind it, he then takes out his digital grimoire and picks an invisibility spell turning himself invisible.

~ I will run with you for a while and wait for you at the bottom of the hotel while my copy will act as a distraction ~

Ken runs and Saiko follows him the as barrage of spells and bullets from the bounty hunters continues.

The copy of Ken runs in a different direction many of the hunters focus on Ken due to their anger at him but the spells and bullets go through the illusion like he is a ghost

-What the ??- one bounty hunter questions his eyes

- IT'S A FAKE - a more seasoned bounty hunter shouts - FOCUS ON THE GIRL –

The cat tribe and especially the silver cat tribe are not as physically strong as most therian races although their strength is still higher than most humans. However, what they lack in terms of strength they make up for with their heightened senses and agility.

The whiskers of the cat tribe are able to sense vibration in the air alerting them to incoming attacks and nearby movement even if they can’t see it.

Their large movable ears are much better at picking sounds and the direction the sound is coming from.

The cat tribes also possess a higher than normal amount of white muscle fibers which gives them fast burst like movement but makes them get tired more quickly than humans. However, that issue doesn’t exist for Saiko as her white muscles were altered and are now red in color.

Finally, the cat tribes, and especially the silver cat tribe have the fastest reflexes among Therians as their eyes have a wider field of view, and their nerves transmit signals faster.

Relaying on her sharp senses and high agility Saiko is able to dodge most of the attacks and what she couldn't dodge was blocked by Argus as she parkours her way from one building to another jumping from balcony to balcony and from wall to wall until she makes her way to the roof of the hotel.

Meanwhile, a still invisible Ken fully forms the demon sword and stabs it into the ground then uses some nanobots to make a small floating platform for himself to sit on then waits.

Saiko reaches the roof of the hotel and jumps towards the water tank and extends her arm preparing to claw at the tank, as she does Argus reacts to her intentions and rushes to her forearm and hand forming a massive black claw around her hand and hardens at the tips of her claw letting her rip through the metal tank like it is made of paper.

The water in the tank is freed from its cage and rushes toward the ground flooding the town and everyone in the streets.

Ken yawns as some water splashes against him.

he then smirks mischievously as he makes the demon sword electrocute the water flooding the town and in turn, electrocute all the bounty hunters in the town who were touching the water

Screams erupt followed by wicked laughter as all the bounty hunters collapse on the ground

Ken appears, no longer invisible as his wicked laughter echoes in the now silent town

~ YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF FOOLS, IDIOTS, YOU FELL FOR THE SAME TRICK YOU JUST SAW DRAKE FALL INTO ~

Saiko lands next to him _ Do you have to do this? and I was just saying you are a good person _

~ Hey they tried to kill us first. Besides, come on they just saw their friend get electrocuted and didn't take any countermeasure against it. it's funny~

Saiko sighs _ We have different definitions for that word _

ken shrugs and starts walking ~ I mean comedy is subjective so ~

Saiko follows after him _ is it okay to leave them like this ?_

~ The cops will be here soon they will deal with it. Besides, the people inside the homes are still fine ~

_ By the way, shouldn’t I get treatment? I probably have internal bleeding _ she asks

~ No need, in fact, you should be feeling better already ~

_Well, I guess you are not wrong, I am feeling oddly okay, why is that?_

Ken’s lips curl up ~ That’s because Argus stopped the bleeding and covered the damaged parts to allow them to heal back properly ~

_ How does that work? _ she asks while raising one eyebrow

~ let me give you an example to explain it, let’s say one of your arteries were ruptured, Argus would move to the damaged artery, connect the two ends then covers them so no blood leaks out until they heal back up together ~

he turns toward Saiko and his expression turns to a stern one ~ however, it doesn’t make you heal any faster, and there is a limit to how much it can hold your body together; so don’t go thinking you are invincible ~

_ Wow, that’s amazing, Why didn’t you make Rin give you one as well? Wouldn’t you feel much safer with it ?_

Ken shrugs his shoulders ~ Well, first, your Argus is the only Argus in existence it was the first one made. Second, it’s still in its testing faze we didn’t know how sapien bodies would react to Argus, and I didn’t want to be the first one to test it ~

_oh, I see _ Saiko pauses for a moment then exclaims with anger _ WAIT, YOU MEAN YOU USED ME AS A LAB RAT _

Ken chuckles ~ It’s more accurate to call you a lab cat, and you are welcome to remove Argus from your body, but I wouldn’t recommend it since it’s holding your internal organs together right now ~

_UGH_

On the roof of a building at the edge of the bounty hunter town.

A girl sits at the edge of the roof and watches Ken and Saiko from a distance that would be too far for any normal person but not for her.

Her eyes which have two pupils each, that she inherited from her family can see the two thieves easily.

The girl was dressed in a black suit that looked to be a mix of traditional formal clothing and ninja attire.

Her long black hair flowed behind her except for a portion that was held in a bun by a hairpin and 4 braided strands that wrapped around the back of her head before meeting in the middle and flowing down along the rest of her hair.

a black face mask covered the lower half of her face leaving only her ominous black eyes visible.

The girl sat there watching the two thieves like a predator eying its prey as they made their way to the car hidden outside the town and drove away.