“…What’s it to you?”
After a brief silence, Iberis snapped back with a sharp tone.
“Kuk kuk. True, it’s none of my business. But that weak heart of yours is your weakness. The fact that you’ve come to fear death, that’s your downfall!”
Livio cackled as if Iberis’s response didn’t matter. In a fight between someone who’s okay with dying and someone who wants to live, the former would inevitably have the upper hand. Ceasing his laughter, he unleashed a barrage of fireballs at Iberis.
“Whew, tsk…”
Iberis created an ice storm to crush all the fireballs raining down on him and disperse the remaining smoke in the area. Forcefully manipulating mana caused bile to rise in his throat.
“A weakness, you say? I don’t think so…”
Ptooey. Iberis spat out saliva mixed with blood and muttered quietly.
“What?”
“You’re right. Thanks to my beloved, unlike before, I want to live now. For a very long time, healthily, properly as a human being.”
Iberis’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he thought of Lucas. He acknowledged the desire deeply rooted in his heart. As he did so, his churning stomach settled and his dizzy head cleared.
“To do that, I’ll need to clean up the trash that turned my life into a gutter.”
A faint killing intent settled in his clear silver-gray eyes. For the sake of the future, not the present, Livio was an evil that needed to be removed. Iberis drew up his mana and calmly regulated his breathing. He had driven out all the drug-laced smoke from earlier, but there was nothing he could do about what had already penetrated his body.
The only option left was to subdue Livio before the drug’s effects progressed further. He forcibly gathered his scattering mana and closed the distance with Livio.
* * *
“Are you alright?”
“Huh? Yes!”
Billy, who had been in a daze, startled back to his senses at the voice coming from above. Only then did he realize why he had been sitting there blankly. It was because of the chain of explosions that had occurred moments ago.
“I can help you up if you can’t stand.”
“No, I’m fine, Captain Illum.”
As he staggered to his feet, a landscape full of collapsed building debris came into view. Standing up, Billy bowed his head to the man who had saved his life. The man had a clean face that didn’t match the surroundings covered in hazy dust and black smoke. The same was true for his white uniform with the name ‘Luke Illum’ written on it.
“I owe you my life again after last time. Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, Captain, I would have died for sure.”
“It’s nothing. You’ve had it rough, being assigned here so recently.”
Lucas responded gruffly, as if he had only done his job.
“It’s not hard at all, I came here because I wanted to!”
Billy smiled brightly as if it wasn’t difficult at all. He was a guide from the European branch who had transferred to N-Zone just two weeks ago.
A few months earlier, Billy, who had been attacked by Carlos along with Lucas, had been frowned upon for making several statements during interviews that tarnished the branch’s image.
Eventually, he voluntarily applied for a transfer. Thinking he’d lost face with the European branch people, and wanting to be under the guide he admired since things had come to this.
Although it had been hectic with the Livio Logan escape incident breaking out soon after his assignment and participating in the operation, working with Lucas was enjoyable.
“Captain!”
“What’s the damage?”
At that moment, Brenda approached the two. She immediately answered Lucas’s question.
“There are about ten people with minor injuries, but no one seriously wounded. It’s thanks to you casting the mana shield just in time, Captain.”
Brenda expressed her gratitude with a relieved expression. As the size and strength varied depending on the amount of mana possessed, creating a mana shield to protect dozens of people at once was a skill only possible for an S-class guide like Lucas. If it weren’t for him, many more would have died or been injured in the explosion.
“What about the enemy?”
“We’ve captured all except for a few who died in the explosion and some we killed during the battle. It’ll be over once the Major subdues Livio Logan.”
Brenda’s gaze turned to the scene where fierce combat was still ongoing. In the sky, where black ash and pure white snowflakes mixed and swirled, dark red mana and silver mana flashed alternately.
“It’s taking longer than expected.”
“Indeed…”
Lucas agreed with Brenda’s words, tensing the corners of his lips. Undisguised worry clouded his golden eyes as he watched the area where Livio and Iberis’s intense battle continued. Even from a distance, his skin tingled. It was due to the waves generated each time their mana clashed. The heat and cold they emitted caused the wind to alternate between hot gusts and cold gales.
“This isn’t good for the injured. Let’s move those with severe wounds to the military hospital, and treat the minor injuries at the base.”
“Understood.”
“Put mana restraints on the captured fugitives and load them into the transport vehicles. The Investigation Bureau will handle the transfer from there.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even as he gave instructions to Brenda, Lucas’s gaze remained fixed on the turbulent sky. As the situation somewhat settled, he enhanced his eyesight by overlaying mana on his eyes. He wanted to confirm the source of the uneasiness that had been chilling his heart.
“…?”
Lucas frowned as he saw Iberis’s pale face at the edge of his vision. He had expected subduing Livio wouldn’t be easy, but Iberis’s complexion was too poor. It was a precursor to mana outburst.
“Already?”
His brows furrowed further at this incomprehensible phenomenon. Since last spring, Lucas had been checking when the aftereffects appeared every time Iberis went on a mission. As a result, he could calculate the average time Iberis could use his ability without strain.
Of course, Iberis would have exerted more force than usual to face an S-class esper. Still, it wasn’t time for a mana outburst yet. Over the past few months, as his physical condition improved, his ability usage time had increased and the intensity of aftereffects had decreased.
The reason for this anomaly soon became apparent. Lucas’s gaze sharpened as he shifted his focus to Livio. His face, with blue veins protruding from areas not covered by the portable gas mask like his neck and forehead, was grotesque.
“…He used an enhancer.”
As a military doctor, Lucas easily recognized what Livio had done.
“What? Livio Logan did?”
A startled Brenda raised her binoculars. However, the mana heat waves, steam, and sand dust generated by the two’s fight made it difficult to secure a clear view. Without the technique to overlay mana on the eyes like Lucas, observing them was impossible.
“Yes. Unable to defeat the Major, he seems to have used an enhancer. Quite a lot, too.”
Lucas clicked his tongue softly as he grasped the situation. Still, it didn’t make sense. Enhancers were drugs that temporarily boosted physical abilities and combat power, but they had nothing to do with Iberis’s mana outburst symptoms.
Whatever trick he used, Iberis is in danger if left like this.
Without hesitation, Lucas picked up the nearest sniper rifle. Brenda seemed to say something in surprise at his action, but he had no mind to respond. As soon as he recognized Iberis’s crisis, Lucas’s mind was filled with thoughts of helping him.
Intervening in a fight between S-class espers was tantamount to suicide, but if skilled enough, providing support from afar was possible. Of course, a mistake would only hinder Iberis, so Lucas had just one chance.
Click.
Lucas brought his eye to the scope after loading the gun. It was a habitual action, useless in the current situation. He maximized his eyesight and calmly aimed at Livio. Then he gathered mana at the muzzle.
To penetrate the gale-force winds, the two fighters’ mana mixed in the air, and the body of an S-class esper using an enhancer, ordinary force wouldn’t suffice. Moreover, Livio was constantly moving while fighting Iberis.
Therefore, Lucas compressed his mana as much as possible. Meanwhile, he waited for the optimal timing. Though worried about Iberis’s rapidly deteriorating condition, he focused all his attention on the sniper shot. Scraping together every ounce of patience, he calmly waited for the right moment.
Now.
Seizing the moment when Livio slowed down after receiving Iberis’s attack, Lucas pulled the trigger without delay.
“Kuhak! What is this…”
The bullet condensed with an S-class guide’s mana cut through air and mana, precisely piercing its target. As Livio faltered from the unexpected ambush and pain rising from his leg, silver mana poured down like a beam of light.
“Argh…!”
Livio, unable to dodge in time, reached out to defend but was too late. As the chilling energy penetrated his chest, his entire body stiffened. Immediately after, a hand emerging from the pure white light grasped Livio’s neck.
“Got you.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
