"Stay calm," Midori whispered, her eyes darting around, assessing the situation. "Don't do anything rash. Listen to them for now and assess the situation."
The robbers moved with an almost terrifying precision. They seemed to be experienced professionals, each one working with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. One of the robbers pulled out a strange device, which he set in the center of the area. It was a long metal cylinder about knee-high mounted on some kind of small tripoded chassis. The robber pressed one of the buttons, and suddenly, an odd humming sound began emitting from the device.
As they corralled everyone into a central area, my mind raced, trying to think of a way out. I was certain of it now. These weren't your average thugs; their movements were too coordinated, too confident. It was like they'd done this a million times before. Their faces were covered entirely by full plate face masks, and they all wore plain civilian clothes that would let them blend into a crowd.
Following their commands, we slowly raised our hands, keeping them visible. Midori and Talia looked tense, their eyes scanning the scene like they were looking for any possible way out. But with the robbers' guns trained on us and the crowd, there was nowhere for any of us to go.
One more gang member approached us, weapon raised and flanked by the man who'd held us up. "You three, to the center and on your knees. Now!"
I couldn't distinguish his features behind the metal mask, but his voice was cold and authoritative. It was also distorted, as were the voices of the other robbers. Following his orders, we moved toward the center of the room without hesitation, joining a growing group of frightened and confused people.
Talia was next to me, her face pale but composed. Midori settled on my other side with a tense but calculated look in her eyes.
Suddenly, one of the traders, a portly, middle-aged man with chocolate brown and white hair, a bald spot, and a handlebar mustache, began muttering under his breath. His hands moved subtly, weaving a spell. But, as a faint silver light began to form, the metal cylinder came to life, glowing blue and emitting a low hum. The trader's spell suddenly dispersed in a flash of light, and a robber was upon him instantly.
"Sorry, big fella. We've got a mana disruption field active. No magic," the robber stated flatly as he grabbed the man's arm and twisted it behind his back.
The trader yelped in pain, his attempted spell fizzling out into nothingness. "Now, we don't want to hurt anyone here," the robber stated nonchalantly. "Some of you might be skilled enough to get a spell going with some concentration, but I reckon our bullets will be just a bit faster. Don't anyone be a hero."
The room went silent momentarily, the reality of our situation sinking in even deeper.
They had definitely planned this out thoroughly; not only had they timed their attack perfectly, but they were also equipped with an anti-magic field that would prevent anyone from using their mana abilities to fight back or escape.
As the tension in the room grew, one of the robbers stood on a table. She wore a sleek, form-fitting, pure-black outfit that accentuated her agile form, a stark contrast to the more rough-and-ready attire of her associates.
A distorted female voice echoed through the room, amplified and twisted by some kind of modulation device. "Evenin' there, lovely citizens of Shoreline City," she began, her tone playful yet menacing. "I do apologize for this little interruption to your evening. My associates and I are simply here to collect a few errant... treasures. This is nothing personal, I assure you."
Her gaze swept over the crowd, her eyes hidden behind a mask covering her face. The mask was stylized like a wolf, and its features were exaggerated and menacing.
"My men will be collecting the items we desire, and they know exactly what to look for. If you all cooperate, no one will be hurt. If you do not, I'm afraid I will have to take... more drastic measures. You have been warned."
She stepped down from the table, turning her attention to the door. The robbers began to move through the crowd systematically, taking valuables, mana crystals, and chaos cores from everyone.
"My associates have the exits guarded. There is no escape and no way to contact the outside. So, I suggest you all sit back, relax, and let us finish our business." With that, the masked woman turned and walked away to join her fellow robbers, leaving the room in fearful silence.
"Rai-chan," I mentally reached out to my AI partner. "What's the situation outside? Can we get in contact with the authorities through you?"
The robbers continued their work efficiently, collecting valuables and weapons alike, and I couldn't help but wonder what their ultimate goal was. This seemed ridiculously risky - where would they even go? How realistic is it for them to get away with this in a core hub full of Magical Girls?
As if on cue, several explosions rang off in the distance.
"The police response is in disarray," Rai-chan reported. "The robbers have planted timed explosives and committed arsons in various strategic locations to distract the authorities. It seems like they had planned this out well in advance."
I felt my heart drop in my stomach. It looked like we were on our own.
My thoughts were interrupted as one of the robbers approached us, gesturing for us to present our valuables. I hesitated, clutching my bag with my two Chaos Cores inside.
They represented months of sweat, blood, and tears from my family, and I wasn't about to just hand them over.
But the robber raised his gun threateningly, and I knew I had no choice. Slowly, I picked up my bag and handed it to the robber.
"Good girl," he sneered before opening my bag and accepting Midori and Talia's. He rummaged through my bag, quickly finding the two Cores and taking them with a grin.
"Great. Another pair of these," the robber sighed, tossing the cores carelessly into a loot sack.
I grit my teeth, feeling anger boil up inside me. I could only watch helplessly as he took away months of my family's work right before my eyes. I wanted to fight back, but the robbers had us surrounded and outnumbered. I knew it would be suicide.
It felt like a punch to the nuts, watching the robber carelessly just stuff away something so precious to me. Those Cores weren't just valuable — they symbolized my family's sacrifices. They represented my poor father's long, grueling days and nights working in the garage. How he tried to hide the pain in his aging hands and his back from hours of fixing and tuning cars.
Memories of my dad teaching me the difference between a Philips head screwdriver and a flathead flashed by, as well as the countless hours we'd spent working together. I felt myself shake in anger as a tear escaped my eye.
The robber had callously taken all of that away with one scoop of his hand. I wanted to scream, yell, and lash out, but I knew I would pay a steep price if I acted recklessly. The robbers had made it clear that they wouldn't hesitate to use force.
Still… I couldn't just let this go.
I felt a burning determination within me, a refusal to let these criminals walk away with everything my family had worked for. I clenched my fists, and I began to feel my heart beating furiously in my chest as I brought one leg up.
Talia gave me a worried glance, putting a placating hand on my shoulder. "Ikki. Hey. Don't," she whispered urgently. "It's not worth it."
I knew she was right, but it didn't make the situation any less infuriating. "Talia... that was months of hard work for us," I replied, my voice strained with emotion.
The burning fire in my chest slowly began to subside. I knew she was right, and fighting would only worsen the situation.
"No," I sighed, steeling myself. "You're right."
The robber moved on to the next person, and I watched as he continued his looting spree. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan.
"Rai-chan," I thought. "I doubt they're out and about visibly, but is there any radio chatter about what's going on with that big Magical Girl meeting Midori mentioned?"
"Analyzing communications," Rai-chan responded. After a brief pause, she continued, "There is no direct communication regarding the Assembly Ceremony. It appears to be a highly secure event with strict information control. However, I have detected increased encrypted chatter among the Magical Girls' Support Operative networks, likely in response to the disturbances and robberies in the city."
I frowned, processing this information. The city had been caught completely off guard at the worst possible time.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I froze, glancing around the room nervously. There were only four people in my contacts list right now — Midori, Talia, Dior, and Ambassador Hinokawa. It had to be either Dior or Elio.
There was no way I could just grab it and open it right there and then, not with the robbers watching us like hawks.
"Ikki," Rai-chan started. "I have finished my Analysis of the hostile operatives in the room — their lack of vital signs is due to a potent field generated by an array of magitech cybernetic augmentations disrupting my senses. I may be able to disable a single operative with eighteen to twenty-five mana units within fifteen feet. However, you are down to 51% mana, so I suggest you conserve it if possible."
The numbers rolled around in my head, crunching and calculating. I had enough mana to take out one of the robbers, but then I would be completely drained. I was also certain Rai-chan could take out the lights as well. But could I risk it?
I glanced around the room once more, trying to gauge the situation. A part of me wanted to take the opportunity to make a move, but I knew that any sudden, poorly thought-out move could lead to panic and casualties. No, it wouldn't do.
My mind raced as I searched for an alternative solution.
"Can you project my texts onto my HUD?" I asked Rai-Chan mentally.
She paused for a moment before responding, "Yes. Displaying text on HUD now. I will also be able to relay texts through directly. Just visualize what you wish to send and link it through me."
A message from Dior appeared on my HUD, which was only visible to me. Her text was brief and to the point, as I'd learned to expect from her.
"Just got out of my orientation. Are you still at the Aetherium Market? Dior heard there's trouble all over the city and Downtown is a hotspot. Be safe."
I bit my lips, thinking about the situation carefully. Dior was a scholarship student, and the timing of her orientation lined up with the Assembly Ceremony. Was she connected to the Magical Girl community in some way?
There was also the possibility that she was a Magical Girl herself, which was... honestly, a really cool idea to entertain. But I didn't have time to dwell on that right now. If Dior could reach out to me, hopefully, she would be in a safe location.
"I'm caught up in it," I sent the message back to Dior through Rai-chan before sending out jagged responses. "Robbers have taken control of the Exchange. Hostages taken. I'm inside sneaking out a msg. Safe for now. Don't know how long. Everything else decoys for heist."
Dior's response came quickly, showing her concern. "This one knows the authorities and will try to get help. Stay hidden and safe, Ikki."
I blinked, staring at the message. It seemed Dior thought that I was hiding somewhere safe. I didn't want to worry her, but I couldn't let her think I was out of harm's way when I wasn't. I had to be honest with her.
"I'm one of the hostages," I sent back. "Leaving my GPS on."
There was a long pause before Dior's next message came through. "I will try to find help. Please stay low."
I nodded to myself, reassured by her response even though she couldn't see it. It was comforting to know that someone out there knew what was happening to us and was trying to help.
"Rai-chan, let Dr, Hinokawa know as well. I doubt he's in the area, but he might be able to reach out to the authorities for us and cut through the red tape," I said, feeling a glimmer of hope.
"Understood, Ikki. Transmitting a summarized message now," Rai-chan replied, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
I scanned the crowd, looking for any hint or sign of a weakness. The room was still in complete uproar, with people crying and robbers moving around, taking everything valuable they could lay their hands on. It was like a scene from a movie, except it was real, and I was right in the middle of it.
Just as I grounded myself and wrapped my head around the situation, a couple of the robbers started to drag people out of the crowd and hold them at gunpoint.
They were taking hostages.
My heart sank as they pointed at Midori and me. "You two, get up! You're coming with us."
Midori shot me a look, her eyes filled with defiance and anger, but she slowly rose to her feet.
We both stood up, our hands still raised as two of the robbers came forward to drag us over.
"No!" Talia cried out, standing up in a panic as she watched us being taken away. "Let go of her!"
The robber closest to Talia held up his hand. "Hey, easy there girl," he said menacingly. "Don't make me do something I don't want to."
Midori shot her a reassuring smile, even though the expression didn't quite reach her eyes. "It'll be fine, Talia," she said quietly. "We'll be okay."
Despite her bravery, I felt an intense fear rush through me as the robbers began leading us away. Talia stared on at Midori helplessly, settling back down in worry as we were brought to the back of the room
The robbers roughly guided us towards the back of the room, where several other hostages were already being held and funneled into an employee hall. I flipped my HUD off to conserve mana in case I needed to use it. I had no idea what was going to happen next. All I knew was that I needed to stay alert and prepared.
I tried to keep my cool, but my mind was racing. What did they want with us? Were they going to use us as leverage? My thoughts were interrupted when one of the robbers pushed me forward a little too harshly, and I stumbled, catching myself before I could fall.
We were herded into a small, cramped space by a set of double doors leading outside and had handcuffs placed on us. The steel cut into my skin, and I grimaced, the sharp bite of pain an unexpected reminder of our situation. A rope was strung through each of our handcuffs, and we were tied together, shackled in a line. We had been separated between five groups of four people, and Midori was being moved with me.
I glanced at Midori, who held her head high and kept her posture straight. I could tell she was terrified, but her strength gave me a reassuring feeling, reminding me that I wasn't alone. She was almost regal in her posture, and I wished I could be like that.
But, no matter how hard I tried, fear seemed to seep out of me like water.
The robbers were talking among themselves now, discussing their next move. I tried to listen in, hoping to get some clue about their plans, but their voices were muffled, and I couldn't make out much.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. We had to stay calm and think this through. Panic wouldn't help anyone. I looked at Midori again, and this time, I gave her a small nod, trying to convey a message of solidarity and hope. She returned the nod, and we briefly made eye contact.
The woman with the wolf mask emerged from the crowd of kidnappers, and everyone went silent. She looked at us with an intense, predatory gaze, and I quickly averted my eyes, not wanting to catch her attention.
"What do we do with them, Hellhound?" one of the robbers said, looking at the captives with disdain.
The woman in the wolf mask stepped forward, glaring at us. "Take 'em with us. We'll use them as leverage if we run into any trouble," she said, her voice carrying a chill that made my skin crawl. "We can dispose of them once we're done."
My heart skipped a beat at her words. Were they really going to kill us? The thought made my stomach turn, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as the woman with the wolf mask turned her gaze on me.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
There was something familiar about her aura, something that made me uneasy. I couldn't place it, but it felt like I'd sensed it before. Maybe it was just my nerves playing tricks on me.
Her gaze lingered on me, and it felt like she was grinning behind the mask. Every instinct told me to run away, but I knew there was no escape.
The robbers started to move, and we were forced to follow. I stumbled, the rope pulling at my handcuffs as I struggled to keep up. Midori was beside me, her stride more graceful despite being connected to me. I realized then that she was definitely a martial artist or a dancer of some sort, and she was using her training to move efficiently, even with the constraints.
We were led to a back exit, and the cool evening air hit me like a punch in the face. It was dark, and the street was deserted despite the explosions that continued to go off in the distance. The fog had grown thicker, and it seemed like it was swallowing the city.
The robbers herded us into separate armored vans waiting nearby, and we were pushed onto the floor of the vehicle. I landed on my stomach, the impact knocking the breath out of me. I glanced up at Midori, who was studying our captors intently. She must have noticed my gaze because she met my eyes and smiled reassuringly.
I groaned, trying to roll over to look my captors in the eyes. I was trapped like a helpless animal, and my fear increased exponentially.
The vehicle's interior was cramped and dimly lit, the only light coming from a small bulb at the front. I lay there on the floor, my hands still tied behind my back, still trying to calm myself down and catch my breath. Midori was beside me, oddly calm, as she assessed the situation. We were tied to another man in his twenties with green hair, a cheap business suit, and pink eyes, who was staring fearfully at Hellhound.
The van's engine rumbled as it started, and I felt the vehicle move, taking us into the unknown. I glanced at Midori beside me, her face illuminated by the faint light filtering through the van's tinted windows. She seemed calm, but her eyes were like steel.
Hellhound, the woman in the wolf mask, sat across from us beside two sacks packed full of Chaos Cores and one of those mana disruption devices. Her masked gaze landed on Midori for a long moment. Then, she looked at me, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
"So, a kid from Earth huh?" she sneered, sizing me up and looking at the emblem on my chest with that same predatory gaze. "Bet you thought coming to Terra would be your big break, a chance to leave behind all the dirt and grime, am I right?"
I remained silent, hesitant to give her the satisfaction of a response. My heart pounded in my chest, but I focused on staying calm.
I grinned sheepishly, "Well, things don't always go according to plan do they? I mean, this is the third time in the last two weeks someone's tried to kidnap me. I guess it's become something of a habit."
The sarcasm caught her off guard, and she stared at me for a moment before responding. Her voice deepened, "You're a funny one, kid. But you better watch it. You don't want me to decide you're not worth the trouble."
Her threats hung in the air, and I didn't dare to say another word.
"Good. Then we understand each other." She leaned back, satisfied, and the van continued on.
Hellhound snickered before turning her attention back to Midori. "And look at you," she began mockingly. "There's something about you... a stench, even. How do I put it? You seem like a bitch who had everything handed to her on a silver platter, hm? I hate people like you. The worst kind of scum."
"Piss off," Midori somehow managed to say with a straight face and a slight twitch of her right eyebrow. "I mean, that's rich coming from someone like you who thinks they can take whatever they want and get away with it. I'm not the one doing the fucking kidnapping here."
"My, my. What a foul mouth for a little rich girl trying to play tough," Hellhound retorted mockingly. "But you can't fool me. You've got that air about you, you know? Like you've never had to struggle for anything in your life. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth."
Midori's eyes blazed with a fire that was hard to miss, despite her prone position. "Who are you to judge me, perched up there; knowing absolutely nothing about me?" she shot back, her voice steady but filled with a quiet intensity. "You've no idea what I've been through and the losses I've suffered."
Hellhound chortled, a harsh, distorted sound that sent chills down my spine. "Loss? What could someone like you possibly know about loss? Glaring up at me, with those perfectly trimmed nails, hair, and teeth. What have you ever really experienced? What do you truly know?"
Midori's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and pain. "You think my life's been easy because of how I look or speak?! You have no idea what I've been through, the losses I've suffered. I've seen things, been through things that would break even you. I didn't choose this life; it was thrust upon me. You couldn't make more of an ass out of yourself, and you just robbed the goddamned Mana Exchange and grabbed over a dozen people to use as meatshields. I would give any and all up for a few more years of peace and quiet with my loved ones. Go fuck yourself."
For a moment, Hellhound seemed taken aback by the intensity in Midori's voice, but she quickly masked it with a sneering posture. "Please. Spare me the drama and the sob story."
The air in the van was thick with tension. I glanced at the other hostage with us. He watched the exchange with wide, fearful eyes, his body tense and rigid. He seemed like an ordinary guy like me — thin and timid, caught in a bad situation.
He wore a suit that looked slightly too big for him, and his hair was a mess like he'd been running his hands through it nervously. His eyes were a striking shade of pink, almost unnaturally so, and they flicked from Hellhound to Midori, then to me, filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty.
Hellhound's attention briefly shifted to him, and the man flinched under her gaze. "And what about you, pretty boy? Got anything to say?" she taunted.
The man swallowed hard, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I... I'm just a clerk. I don't know anything about this... Please, I just want to go home."
Hellhound laughed, a cruel, hollow sound that echoed through the van. "A clerk, huh? Wrong place, wrong time. Tough luck."
The man's eyes brimmed with tears, but he said nothing more, his gaze dropping to the van floor.
My heart ached for the man, but at the moment, I felt numb. I had no idea what Hellhound's plan was or why she'd chosen to rob the Mana Exchange and kidnap a whole bunch of random people. All I knew was that it wouldn't end well, whatever it was.
"What's your name then, little clerk?" she asked, her tone all too casual like she was deciding whether or not to have him for lunch.
"M-My name is Taro. Um. Pleased to meet you m-ma'am."
Hellhound crossed her arms, unamused. "Pleased to meet me?" She laughed. "Right. I'm sure you are. Well, Taro, let me give you a piece of advice. You should be careful with your words. You don't want to rile up the wrong people. Understand? I can be a bit cranky sometimes."
Taro nodded timidly, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. "Yes ma'am. I understand. Been around enough not to," he spit out. "Please, I don't have anything to do with this. I just want to go home."
Hellhound considered him for a moment before laughing and turning her attention back to Midori and me.
"You know, it's interesting," she mused like she was talking about the weather. "We've got a little cross-section of Shoreline City right here. A kid from Earth trying to climb the social ladder, a rich bitch playing at being tough, and a scared little clerk who loves to bow and grovel."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with menace. She leaned back against the van wall, observing us with a predator's gaze. "You three represent everything I fucking despise about this city. The opportunists, the privileged, and the weak. Pathetic and disgusting, the lot of ya. If it were up to me, I'd bury all three of you right here and now and never think twice about it."
I felt my fists ball up in anger but forced myself to remain still.
"But unfortunately, you have value. To me, at least. So don't worry. I'm not going to kill you—not yet, at least. But know that if any of you step out of line, I'll be more than happy to make sure you regret it."
Her words sent a chill down my spine, and a cold fear slowly settled in my gut. She meant it. She really meant every part of that comment.
I had to come up with something quick.
"Rai-chan, can you get me a visual on our surroundings?" I reached out mentally.
"Checking now," Rai-chan responded. My HUD lit up with a schematic view of the streets around us, displaying a chaotic scene on the traffic cams.
The city was in disarray, with emergency vehicles trying to navigate through the congested streets, their sirens blaring. I could see the aftermath of the explosions that the robbers had set off as distractions, with plumes of smoke rising into the night sky. The five vans had split up, and I had no idea where the other hostages were.
The van continued to drive through the city, taking convoluted twists and turns. Every turn and stop made my heart race, and I wondered if this would be where they decided to get rid of us.
The chaos outside provided the perfect cover for the robbers to escape with their haul, and it seemed like they knew exactly what they were doing. The van suddenly made a sharp turn, and I could feel the vehicle slowing down. I tensed up, my body bracing in anticipation for what would come.
Hellhound was still watching us with a twisted smile on her face. "Almost there! You know, I think I'll keep you three around for a bit longer," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You'll be useful, one way or another."
I felt a surge of fear but pushed it down, focusing on the situation. We were in a bad spot, but I wasn't about to give up.
"Rai-chan, any chance you can tap into the city's traffic control system? We need a diversion," I asked, grasping at straws.
"I can attempt to access the network, but it will require a significant amount of mana," Rai-chan warned. "You are currently at 48% capacity and I estimate this will take approximately thirty units to work."
I hesitated. Using that much mana could leave me vulnerable, but it might be our only chance.
"Do it," I said, steeling myself for what might come next. I felt a drain on my reserves as Rai-chan began to access the system, my body trembling with the effort.
As Rai-chan worked silently in the background, I turned my attention back to Hellhound. She seemed to be enjoying the power she held over us.
The van suddenly lurched to a stop, causing everyone inside to jostle against each other. "What the hell?!" one of the robbers shouted from the front
Cars were honking incessantly, and people were getting out of their vehicles, looking confused and frustrated. A few seconds later, I heard the screech of sirens all around us.
"Holy cow! Rai-chan, what did you do?!" I whispered, my heart hammering in my chest.
"I managed to use my access to the city's traffic control system to block off this street," Rai-chan replied, her voice almost lost in the chaos outside. "I have also alerted the authorities to our location by intentionally leaving glaring footprints in the hack. I believe it is our best chance to get out of this alive."
Hellhound had scrambled to her feet, gazing through the small in front before shouting orders to the other robbers. "Dammit! Take us down that side street. Everyone grab what you can and get out of here! We need to move, now!"
The robbers scrambled into action, grabbing bags of loot and heading for the van's exit.
Hellhound drew a pistol and palmed the portable mana disruption cylinder, before turning her cold, menacing gaze towards us. "You three, get up. You're coming with us."
We were dragged out of the van, stumbling into the chaos of the jammed side street. Sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer by the second. Three robbers other than Hellhound poured out of the front van, each carrying a duffel bag.
Hellhound motioned for her henchmen to move, and they pushed us forward, their expressions hidden by their masks and the shadows of their hoodies. It looked like we were somewhere near the docks on the city's west side, with the sounds of water lapping against the shorelines mixing with the distant sirens and shouts. The air was heavy with the smell of salt and diesel, the dampness of the fog adding an eerie chill to the night.
"Keep moving," one of the robbers hissed, pushing me forward roughly. I stumbled but managed to stay on my feet, glancing at the other hostages to make sure they were okay.
Midori kept her head up with a serious expression, while Taro seemed utterly terrified, his eyes darting back and forth in fear. I gave him a reassuring smile, and he gave me a weak nod.
It'd be difficult for the authorities to find us through this fog, and the sounds of the city were muffled, making it harder to pinpoint our location. Hellhound led us toward a small, nondescript leisure boat docked at one of the piers.
Midori and I shared another look — I didn't know if she could use magic or how good she was at martial arts. However, I did have a strong feeling it was now or never. If we didn't do something now, we'd probably never get another chance.
As we moved, I noticed how Midori subtly shifted her weight, testing the strength of her handcuffs and the length of the handcuff rope. She was planning something, I could tell. I didn't know what, though.
I looked around again — Hellhound was firmly in front of the formation, and we had a robber on our left and right flanks. Midori was all the way on the right, with Taro on the left and me at the center of our formation. The last guard was behind us, shoving us along with his rifle drawn.
Suddenly, Midori stopped, gasping and panting with her hands on her knees as if trying to catch her breath. The robber in the back growled and moved in to push her along as the other two turned around, looking slightly annoyed. I tensed up, ready to act if needed.
"Tch, damn spoiled brat. What are you, a princess?" he muttered. "Get a move on!"
Before anyone could blink, Midori flipped backward, causing me to lose my balance and fall to a knee as the rope pulled tight against my wrists.
She twisted her body back at 45 degrees in a fluid motion, using the handcuff ropes as a weapon. It happened so quickly that the guy approaching her didn't even have time to react as his foot landed directly over the rope. With a twist of her hips and legs, the rope twisted behind his knees, causing him to stumble and go crashing to the ground.
As the man fell toward the ground, Midori threw out a lightning-fast, precise up kick at the rifle, causing it to go flying away from his grip. The other robbers, startled, raised their weapons, but Midori was already on the move, pulling the fallen robber's combat knife from his belt as she rolled.
I dimly realized that the handcuffs around her hand had clattered to the ground, and she'd managed to cut the rope between her and me in one smooth motion.
"Move!" I shouted to Taro, pushing him to the side, tackling him to the ground, and off to the side. The chaos was immediate, with the robbers trying to regain control of the situation.
Midori blurred and sprinted toward the nearest robber with the knife gripped tightly in her hand. I could only stare in shock as the two opened fire, and hunkered down low as I felt a few whiz over my head. Midori zig-zagged through the bullets, a step ahead of their aim. She closed the gap in an instant, and I cringed as her knife found its mark in the closest man's throat.
But the man didn't collapse in a pool of blood as expected — instead, he seemed to be short-circuiting, sparks flying from the spot where Midori had struck.
Midori didn't hesitate. She quickly drew her arm back and flicked the knife at the other standing henchman, catching him through the chest. In the ensuing chaos, I noticed Taro making a break for it, running towards the safety of the buildings where we'd come from. I couldn't blame him; this was no place for a clerk.
The thug staggered back, but he seemed to be still functioning, his movements slow, jerky, and labored as if he was running on some kind of autopilot.
"Proxy drones!?" Midori briefly shouted, eyes widened in surprise as she drew the fallen man's combat knife and hit the deck in a side roll, avoiding another volley of gunfire.
I scrambled to my feet, filing away the revelation. The robbers weren't human. That certainly explained their lack of vitals.
The last henchman rolled to the side, reaching for the gun Midori had kicked away. I caught the movement and sprinted over, kicking the weapon away before it could be used. He grabbed onto my ankle and yanked me onto the ground, and I used the momentum to roll over, planting my boot against his face and kicking him away.
The thug's grip loosened, and I scrambled away, grabbing for the rifle. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I aimed the weapon at the robber.
I hesitated momentarily, finger trembling on the trigger as the adrenaline pounded in my veins. Was I really going to do this?
Realization quickly dawned in the half-second that'd passed — I had to pull the trigger. With a quick breath, I focused on the target and fired, spraying at the target in front of me.
The gun jerked in my hands as the eerily realistic robot's head exploded, sparks and metal parts flying in all directions. For a moment, an eerie silence engulfed the pier.
Right. He was just a drone.
A gunshot rang out, and I jerked my head in surprise. Midori yelped in pain as she jumped to the side, red spurting from one leg. The henchman with the knife in his chest had reoriented himself and had fired off a burstt at Midori before collapsing.
In a flurry of motion, Midori dropped to one knee and flipped over onto her stomach, dodging another volley of bullets from the last remaining henchman. She clutched at her right thigh and hip, where blood was rapidly spilling out from the wound, as she crawled for cover behind a pile of discarded crates. I turned my rifle at her attacker and squeezed the trigger, unleashing a torrent of bullets at him.
The henchman's limbs spasmed with each bullet, sparks flying everywhere, and he slowly crumpled to the ground, twitching.
I looked around frantically — I'd lost track of Hellhound somewhere during the chaos. I scanned the pier but couldn't spot her. Adrenaline pumped in my chest, and my blood thundered in my ears. Did she get away?
"Oh, what a pleasant turn of events." Hellhound's voice cut through the silence, her tone mocking as she clapped slowly. "I must say, I'm impressed. You're full of surprises, aren't you? I certainly didn't expect that performance you'd put on."
She stepped forward, her wolf mask glinting in the dim light. She had a pistol out and pointed directly at Midori's side, who'd already cut her cardigan and formed a quick and sloppy improvised tourniquet around her leg.
I quickly raised my gun and shouted at Hellhound, literally shaking in my boots with adrenaline. "Don't move! Drop your weapon!"
I was never confident with my aim, and they were a good 30 meters away. Even with the rifle I was using, I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't miss and hit the wrong target.
Hellhound simply shrugged, smiling underneath the mask as if nothing was wrong.
"Oh, are you going to shoot me? Child, have you been keeping track of the bullets in your magazine? You don't have enough left to do much of anything. You can run away now, or accept your defeat like a brave little soldier. I won't give you a second chance once I'm done here."
She didn't even turn to look at me, her eyes still trained on Midori as she spoke. A surge of rage spread through me as I raised the rifle and pulled the trigger, calling her bluff.
It clicked, the sound of an empty chamber echoing in the air. Hellhound smirked, slowly turning her head to face me.
"Tut, tut, my little soldier. I'm afraid you ran out of luck. Better run."
My heart dropped. This was it.
"Now, let's just finish the job here," she sneered as she trained her aim on Midori.
But Midori didn't flinch. Instead, she straightened up despite the open wound, her eyes burning with a fierce determination.
Hellhound's finger tightened on the trigger, and I could see the malicious glee behind the mask. "Any last words? Don’t think you’ll be able to dodge this one."
Midori's response was dry and short to the point as she rolled her shoulders. "Yeah. Go to hell."
"Rai-chan!" I reached out mentally. "I need to run a Hijack on her. I don't care if I have to run into the negatives and risk my life doing it, just do it now!"
She answered immediately, "Ikki... You do not have the mana reserves remaining. Her defenses are far too sophisticated at this range to breach with your remaining energy. On top of that, the portable disruption field will make it far more difficult to succeed with a Hijack."
But I was already moving. "I said do it!" I grunted quietly, a fierce determination grounding me as I lunged forward. "The costs go down exponentially with distance, right?!"
Midori closed her eyes as if waiting for the fatal bullet. Hellhound raised her handgun, aiming directly at Midori from a couple of paces away.
Time seemed to slow as I watched Hellhound's finger tighten on the trigger as I ran for it. My heart pounded in my chest, fear and adrenaline coursing through my veins.
"Midori!" I shouted, but my voice was lost in the fog. There was no way I could make it in time.
The gun fired, and I watched stopped and stared in horror as she unloaded four shots at Midori's torso.
But then, something incredible happened. Midori pivoted, and with a flick of her wrist, she sliced through the air in a flurry. The bullets were deflected, veering off course and striking a nearby container with a loud clang. The flat of the combat knife sparkled with a faint light reflecting off the fog, the edges still pristine despite deflecting Hellhound's gunshots.
Hellhound stared silently in shock, her mask of confidence slipping for the first time as she glanced briefly at the mana disruption field in her hand before looking back up to Midori in visible bewilderment. "Fascinating. What the hell are you?"
Slowly, Midori opened her eyes, revealing a fierce, unyielding gaze and smirk that burned through the foggy night. I almost swore her blue eyes briefly flashed purple under the light of the neon signs and burning buildings in the distance. The misty backdrop made for a dramatic stage — the firelight flickering against the sea-like fog and smoke as her cardigan and hair billowed and flapped in the salty breeze.
Midori's voice was steady as she responded. Her face was visibly laced with pain but unwavering as she put on a tired, confident grin and settled into a shaky combat stance.
"Me? Well, I'm just a normal girl who wants some peace and quiet."