I covered my eyes and threw the cylinder. Even behind my arm, the resulting explosion was painfully bright, leaving a corona of pulsing violet around my vision. I sprinted out of the converted training area, leaping over training equipnt and catching a glimpse of myself in the wall mirror, looking mussed and harried.
My side stung. Blood darkened my shirt, the self-inflicted wound bleeding far more heavily than expected.
The lobby was abandoned, pulsing red cast by the eerie rotating ergency lights. A few people called out to as I ran. Foster was in plain sight, waiting by the elevator, Cook over his shoulders in a firemans carry. The elevator doors opened. Hes right behind
White-hot pain radiated through , as a bolt pierced my back. I staggered and nearly fell, clinging clumsily to the concierge counter for support. Id been careful to ensure the bolts didnt strike anywhere vitalthe application of was the only reason Azure was able to circumvent the summon rules and hit at allbut it still hurt like hell.
Foster dumped Cook into the open elevator and drew his service weapon. The muzzle flashed three tis as he fired, Azure darted to the side kicking off a wall and sliding along the tile ground, firing another bolt that struck in the shoulder.
I swapped into The pain shrunk to an incessant buzz that put my teeth on edge, but it was far more manageable now.
Co on Foster yelled, his shout capitalized by another shot from the 1911. I staggered towards him.
flared. I reacted too late. Six thin, surgical looking knives, barely larger than needles, struck my chest in a semicircle. They didnt pierce deeplybarely more than a half inch, but I felt a strange buzzing that seed to radiate between them. A familiar figure, short, in black and red armor stepped out from the shadows beside the elevator, his face covered by a chro-mask.
The sa person from the cathedral.
The person who was probably Ellison, unless my guess was wrong.
Chro-mask charged at , crimson energy charged in his palm.
An image flared of the dead User at the cathedral, with the gaping hole in his chest surrounded by six shallow knife wounds.
Understanding dawned. If he hit with that, I was done.
Even as my body scread, I let guide , caught Chro-masks arm and stepped in, using his montum to throw him over the concierge desk. His back struck the counter, and he toppled over, the maneuver buying precious seconds.
A bolt struck in the gut. The pain overwheld , and I fell to my knees.
Foster fired twice more, once at Azure, once at Chro-mask, who ducked back down behind the desk. He pulled the trigger again and the gun jamd. God damn it. He gave up on clearing the jam and pulled a black-tal kukri out of Cooks inventory.
But he was too late. Azure stood over , casually loading a bolt and pressing the crossbow to my head. Last chance Matt. I know either you or Kinsley have the legendary core. Tell where it is, and Ill end her quickly.
I leaned forward and spat. The wad of saliva dripped down Azures thigh, and he stared at it in distaste. Fuck. You.
Have it your way. Azures finger tightened on the trigger.
I closed my eyes. There was an audible twang as the crossbow went off, the arrow ricocheting harmlessly off the marble.
Talia tore the crossbow from Azures grasp. Sae ran alongside her, her chitin feet clicking against the hard surface. She leapt over and slamd her fist into chro-masks helt, knocking him back against the desk. He pulled two bludgeons from his back and lashed out at Sae, the weapons glowing with red energy.
Out of nowhere, several civilians ard with baseball bats charged from their hiding places and attacked Myrddin.
Sae grabbed roughly under the arms and hauled towards the elevator. How is it, she grunted in my ear, I always end up dragging you around?
Sae? I asked, surprise in my voice.
Who the fuck is that? Foster shouted.
Dont shoot! Shes a friend, I called back.
Sae pulled into the elevator with Foster covering us, while Chro-mask struggled against Talia and Azure incapacitated one of the civilians with a mana garrote. I had to hand it to the civilians. Despite an absence of abilities and a lack of User status, they were giving Azure hell.
Talia slipped in at the last mont before the doors slid shut, and the elevator began to rise.
I thought you were dead.
Almost was. Would have been, if that bastard had his way. Sae grunted, leaning against the elevator wall and catching her breath.
Myrddin? I pulled the six small knives from my chest, wincing as they ca free.
Yeah. He set us up, Matt. Sae seethed. She wasnt a natural actor, but what she lacked in nuance she made up for in intensity. Been hunting him ever since I got out of the trial. Wasnt sure I could take him, so Ive just been following him around. Followed him here and figured he was coming after you, and I couldnt wait anymore.
I grunted in pain as Foster removed the two arrows from my shoulder and back. He looked preoccupied, but I could tell he was listening. Asshole spun so serious bullshit, said you guys were ambushed when you ca out of the trial. That so randoms killed Jinny, took Nick, and that you retreated into the trial before it collapsed.
Oh, that all happened. Sae scowled. But Myrddin was with them. Tried to hand us off like a horse trade.
If you were in the trial before it collapsed, that where you got the dog? And the uh
Hideous makeover? Yep. System loves twisting the knife.
Not to interrupt this reunion, but Foster looked between us. Anyone know who that second User was? Myrddin ever ntion a partner?
We both shook our heads. Sae redid her ponytail and gave a aningful look. First Ive seen of him, but Ive been keeping my distance. Matt?
He was always tight-lipped. Far as I knew, he was always flying solo.
There was a groan as Cook sat up. An angry red-line from the garrote ran the span of his neck. His eyes focused, and he looked between all of us, then finally to Foster. What the fuck happened? Whose mutt is that?
The hair on Talias neck stood up. Foster spoke before I could. Myrddin got the drop on you. I was contemplating leaving your ass, but Matt created a diversion for to pull you out. Then it all went to shit. I kept my silence as Foster caught him up to speed, playing my injuries up more than I would have otherwise. Cook kept looking at suspiciously, as if he couldnt quite believe what he was hearing.
Once Foster finished, Cook breathed out. Ill be damned. Miles got it wrong. Or right, depending on how you want to look at it. He glanced at Sae. Thanks for the assist, bug girl.
Sae bristled. Who the fuck are these people, Matt?
Before I could respond, the elevator doors opened. Waller and Hawkins were standing side by side prepared to fire, Waller with a glowing orange spell locked and loaded, Hawkins with a sighted Glock.
Foster? Waller asked, his tone laden with stress.
Theyre not a threat.
Waller let the spell go, staring at as Sae looped my arm around her shoulder and walked out. We need to get him help.
Foster nodded grimly. Gut shot wont kill him quickly, but the longer it goes untreated, the bigger the problem becos.
Waller stalked towards Foster and took him aside. It was Myrddin. Youre completely positive?
Myrddin and one more. Foster confird. Ranged-lee hybrid. Wheres Miles?
Securing our exit. Hawkins said. She looked at warily, but so of the sympathy shed shown during the inquisition had reappeared.
In truth, I was barely paying attention to the proceedings. My mind was on Ellison. How had he known when to act? Kinsley and I had been exceedingly careful ever since the Taskforce had ford. Our planning session had taken place entirely within her domain, which was airtight. No one could enter or leave unless she allowed it. Either we had a mole or
But you dont think its weird? That the crying got worse the week before the teor?
If Ellison knew in advance about the do, it was possible that wasnt the extent of his knowledge. If his class gave him so sort of future-sight, it was a reasonable assumption that it reached farther than a week ahead. That would go a long way to explaining why he hadnt bothered to help fortify our region. If he already knew it would be fortified. It also explained why hed distanced himself, just before I got the ability to spy on anyone I touched. There was a chance he knew everything.
So, why was he trying to kill ?
The special class disappeared. Azures panicked voice blazed through my mind.
Where are you?
On my way up the fire escape. He was right behind , then he just disappeared. Are you sure you dont want to stop?
I grit my teeth, trying to make a decision. Keep going.
Wait. I see him. He scaled the wall and just carved through one of the windows of the penthouse floor
Azures warning ca just in ti.
I slipped from beneath Saes arm, just before one of the vacant penthouse doors exploded in a ss of wooden shrapnel.
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