[Book II Chapter 142] SANA: I want it now

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Leaving Teng Ling to Nang, they rushed and commandeered a high speed lift. Since they’d were starting towards the bottom of Neon’s docks, it’d take several minutes to reach the surface. Once inside, everyone turned to Lucy.

“There are at least thirty fang ninjas in Nordric, perhaps more. In ten minutes, they will begin opening rifts.” She explained.

“How many claws does Kaygren have?” Free complained. “He must regrow them quickly!”

“Wise is raising the alarm and gathering everyone he can.” Lucy continued. “It won’t be simply the revenants this time. Kaygren will show up, together with a number of his fellow sovereigns.”

“This is major invasion.” Dylan stated. “Bigger than anything before. Could It be a reprisal for the assault on Mount Gull?”

“It’s also madness.” Darius added. “It won’t take long for Neon’s big five marshals their forces. Not to mention that many immortals are already on their way back from Messanic.”

“True, Kaygren can’t afford bring over enough sovereigns to win this.” Lucy agreed. “The problem is how much of city will be leveled before they are repelled. Nordric is overflowing with refugees.”

The conversation paused as they considered to the possible casualties. “Can you predict where the fang ninja are?” Dylan offered. “We could take some out.”

Lucy shook her head. “They are employing a linked enchantment. If one is incapacitated, the others will act immediately.”

“If they are going to open rifts anyway,” Free countered, “shouldn’t we do something besides wait?”

Lucy grimaced, at a loss on how to respond. Then her eyes fell on Sana huddled in the corner of the lift, listening quietly. “Maybe there is way…” She mumbled. Sana had a bad premonition.

Lucy knelt besides her. “You grabbed Panacea’s pedal through an impervious shield, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” She admitted, having learned to answer the necromancer truthfully. “Why is that important?”

“Fang ninjas keep their fangs in a special dimensional pouch only they can open. That’s why no one has ever been able to recover one, even in cases where their holders are apprehended. However, you might just be able to do it.”

“You want me to steal the claws?” Sana understood.

“Yes, I can direct you where to go.” Lucy agreed.

Sana shook her head. “I’d have to get really close to have any shot of it working. They’ll notice me.”

Lucy went silent. “You can speak your sublime vagary’s name this time.”

I thought so… Margaret had told her something terrible would happen if she ever did this. Although she’d known it was probably a lie, she’d gone along with the fiction, realizing, at some level, it be a disaster without the restriction. She knew if she used it once, she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

“Are you sure?” Sana asked. Margaret would be upset, but she understood this was too important to dell over.

“If you do this, I will forgive you for keeping secrets from me.” Lucy said.

Sana latched on to these words. She’d been dreading her inevitable punishment. “Alright.” She agreed.

“Good.” Lucy said. “I’ll mark their locations in your wrystal, so get as many as you can.”

Sana took off once the lift stopped and found her first target in the dark corner of a side alley. She stalked him from two rooftops away. I wonder if this is close enough?

“I want it now.” She whispered. Immediately, a sharp-tipped object appeared in her hand. The claw was transparent and glowed softly. It felt like a fragile copy of the original. She popped it into her dimensional pouch and headed to the next mark on the map.

Her collection efforts proceeded smoothly and soon she’d committed seven more thefts. It was taking no time at all. Without pausing, she snatched her eight prize from a cloaked figure by a fountain. However, her confidence faltered upon reaching the ninth victim.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A large masked man stood atop the chapel of a church of Idia, not bothering to hide. Her instinct told her he was different and threatening. She froze when he gazed at her.

Her terror gradually receded as nothing happened. Right, he won’t start anything in the middle of a major city. Plus, I haven’t done anything to upset him. She retreated a city block away until she no longer sensed his gaze. Turning, she contemplated briefly. I might as well…

“I want it now.” She muttered as softly as she could. When she sensed the claw in her palm, she dashed off only to have a horrible premonition grip her.

Before she tracked down the next shinobi. Lightning strikes shot up all over the city. No sooner had the thunder faded, a deafening roar rang out. Kaygren stood near a rift, sending out destructive arcs of electricity. I must rejoin the others. She’d done her job as best she could, but such a foe was beyond her.

She was backtracking when her foresight flared in warning, and she barely dodged the shadow which descended on her. What…? It was the large ninja from earlier. He pounced again at an incredible speed, snatching her wrist. He’s an immortal!

Fortunately, Sana had lifetime experience of escaping dangerous situation. Darkness flowed over her arm, and slipped out of the iron grip. Her pursuer leaped after her and reached out again. Yet every time, she twisted away from his clutches.

With a grunt of frustration, the shinobi threw out a dozen shirukens. Sana desperately deflected and evaded. He’s only aiming for my head and feet… He must be afraid of damaging the claws! This caution might help her survive briefly, but she doubted she could get away.

Where could she find help? Sana backpedaled desperately under the brutal assault. Then her heart sank when the fang ninja made a series of hand signals. There would be no way she could deal with this… She closed her eyes as a thick wall of blades flew towards her.

After a second or two wondering why she wasn’t dead, she risked a glance. Three figures in black were facing off against the fang immortal. In the background, a massive battle raged across a city.

“These are ours.” One of the newcomers, a male voice, stated. “You stand no chance of recovering them.” Faced with the truth in these words, the shinobi clenched his fists in frustration and retreated.

“Thank you for saving me…” Sana said apprehensively as the necromancers turned to face her. “I’d like to go now.”

“Of course.” Said a woman with a tone of false sweetness. “Just hand over that dimensional pouch first.” The swirling colors in her eyes alerted Sana she was in serious trouble.

“Don’t come close, or I’ll crush them.” Sana held the pouch

This angered the woman. “Don’t you want to walk away from here alive?”

“Enough Eva.” Said the last cloaked figure, a woman who gave the impression she could see right through her. “Aldric’s approach will yield a better outcome.”

The man sighed and pointed. “Do you see that a large gray building?” Sana glanced over to see the structure in question shatter in a blinding explosion.

She glared at the man. “You did that?”

“All morning I have been wandering Nordric, subtly carving my runes into the wall without drawing attention. I managed to cover ten city blocks, an amount I’m quite pleased with.”

“That little display drew attention.” The normal-eyed woman sneered. “We don’t have much time.”

This made Sana realized that, with all the chaos elsewhere, their immediate surroundings were strangely peaceful. No demonic beast appeared interested in approaching. They must be doing this.

“Give us one of them.” The man said grimly. “Or watch a hundred thousand die before your eyes.” Sana tensed, her mind racing. “Hurry up and decide.”

This was too much responsibility. She hate it. Sana grimaced. “If… If I do… You’ll——”

“Dispel all my magic and leave without harming anyone.” The man finished. “So what will it be?”

With a trebling hand, Sana brought out a claw and tossed it. The necromancer caught it with a smiling face.

“Sana, what did you do…” Lucy said sadly, landing on the rooftop. Dylan, Darius, and Free were behind her.

A second later, another group arrived. Sana recognized one of them as Lucy’s boyfriend, Wise. “We were too late.” He said softly.

“Indeed.” The necromancer cradling the claw said triumphantly. “You have know idea how long we’ve been trying to get our hands on one of these.”

“What about your promise?” Sana shouted, her stomach in knots.

“Oh, that?” The necromancer put the claw away and snapped his fingers. A hundred buildings flashed blue, releasing a wave of glowing embers into air. Despite the brightness, there was no sign of destruction.

“Eva, let’s go.” He added. His companion tore reality apart, creating a doorway which shone with a mixture of colors. They stepped through.

One of Wise’s companions, a man covered in patchwork leather, sprinted to the closing portal and grabbed its edges. “This is chaos magic. I can force it open again.” He yelled. In a few seconds, the doorway was back to its original size. “Do we follow?”

“There’s no ambush on the other side.” Wise stated. “Eva Fox’s magic is imprecise, and that only leads near their destination. However…”

“We only have one immortal with us: Roxanne.” Said the girl in black next to Wise. “And those were three former Mask of Xarst.” She’s Rose, and the one next to her is Dawn. They were also in the picture Lucy showed me.

“We head through.” Free declared, glancing at Dylan. “Trust me.” Before anyone could object, she jumped into the whirling colors. Darius immediately followed her.

“Damn it!” Dylan swore joining them. The others did too. Soon it was only Lucy and Sana on the roof.

“Did I mess up?” Sana asked timidly.

Lucy shook her head. “You did what you could given the circumstances. Now please escort me somewhere safe, demonic beasts are coming.”