The Spies

“Are you sure this is a good plan, Sir Toma?” Kaori Yensheng asked, her voice steady but laced with uncertainty.

Toma shrugged, leaning against the cool stone of Kaori’s turret, eyes scanning the sprawling city of Mikana below. “Hmm, I hope so.”

Kaori arched a brow. “Do you even have enough mana for this?”

“Of course I do,” Toma said, though his next words betrayed him. “Now… how do I pour mana again?” He asked for what felt like the third time.

Below, the city was a hive of chaos. Residents and visitors alike were dragged from their routines, herded toward emergency evacuation points. Voices rose in anger and fear. Complaints echoed through the streets, some desperate, others resigned.

Just as the uproar threatened to boil over, a clear, melodic voice cut through the noise. Heads snapped toward the sound, and silence spread like wildfire.

It was the Martial Saint herself, floating effortlessly beside a man.

Her presence silenced the crowd instantly. Whispers rippled through the crowd, tales of her legendary strength and calm authority. She spoke little, only repeating what the disciples had already said: “It’s an emergency.”

Kaori’s eyes flicked to Toma. “Okay, I hope this works.”

Toma closed his eyes and focused, fingers trembling as he summoned mana. The surge was overwhelming. His vision blurred, heart pounding.

*Phew. Lucky this is my dream. I must have unlimited mana.*

A massive magic circle ignited beneath them, glowing with radiant energy. In an instant, the majority of people and disciples vanished, teleported away to safety.

Only Toma, Kaori, Shizuka, Kaien, Irilith, and one inner disciple—whose name Toma had already forgotten—remained.

Or so it seemed.

From the swirling shadows, three cloaked figures emerged, their presence chilling the air.

Toma smirked. “Just as expected.”

{Flashback}

Shizuka, Kaien, Irilith, and Kaori leaned in, eyes locked on Toma as he laid out his plan.

Irilith folded her arms, jaw tight. “You’re playing with fire. Mr Toma.” 

She still wasn't used to calling him just Toma.

Toma shrugged, trying to hide his nerves. “Well, I’m not exactly normal."

Kaori’s gaze was sharp but not unkind. “That’s a gamble even I wouldn’t take lightly.”

Kaori’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how much mana that would require?”

The others exchanged stunned glances.

“Even if it’s possible,” Kaien said slowly, “the sheer amount of mana needed… it’s insane."

"Dangerous. Even I would hesitate to attempt something like that.” Kaori added.

A heavy silence settled. The weight of what Toma was proposing hung in the air.

“..Telling me you want to teleport everyone in Mikana at once?” Kaori asked, disbelief creeping into her voice.

Toma nodded, trying to keep it cool. “Yeah, every single person. Instant evacuation. Once everyone suddenly leaves, they wouldn't blow up the city, instead they would try to kill whoever did it, bringing your spies to the light...”

{Present Time}

"I can't believe it actually worked."

...

..

.

The sun hung high, casting harsh light over the sprawling city.

The three cloaked figures waited—silent, ominous, and unmoving.

Without a word, the two on either side shimmered and fractured, splitting into multiple identical copies that fanned out like dark shadows across the square.

But the figure in the middle remained still, calm, and unyielding.

With deliberate slowness, he reached up and peeled back his hood.

A shock of fiery red hair spilled free, framing a face that was almost human, almost.

Pale skin stretched taut over sharp cheekbones, fanged teeth glinted beneath curled lips, and tiny, jagged horns jutted from his forehead.

The demon’s crimson eyes locked onto Toma.

“So, you are the one who poured such an immense amount of mana into a single teleportation circle,” he said, voice low but dripping with menace.

Toma met the gaze steadily.

The demon smiled—a cruel, knowing curve of his lips.

“You must be destroyed.”