Superiority Standing

Rumbling and gunfire, they weren’t what Yori expected this rescue to fall into. Fighting was expected, but it had become far worse. Even without the ability to sense mana, there was so much spellcraft being slung he could taste it. Was this what the war was like?

Behind him, he heard the walls groaning. Whatever happened, it wasn’t clear if the place would hold up for long. This was far more deadly than he planned. But they were all cutthroat criminals; he should have figured it would be a bloodbath. He needed to reach Miho quickly. Her sister didn’t need to be in this maelstrom any longer.

Suddenly, a torrent of ice smashed through the wall, splitting the floor into chunks. Yori had to jump just to find footing as the escalation only got worse. Bounding from broken slab to slab, he cleared to the other side, finally reaching the backdoors of the auction house.

He put a hand on the door just as he sensed something behind him. In a blur, a hand stretched out for his face. Yori couldn’t see the person, obstructed by their hand. He slipped down, rolling out of the way. ‘Someone spilling out from the fight?’ Turning up his head to find the attacker, his eye widened in surprise as he recognised a familiar superior-looking face, his torturer from the other day. ‘Dammit, just my luck…’

“You’re quite suspicious, having that much mana running through you.”

“Do you have a habit of assaulting guests?”

“Guests aren’t permitted in the back with the merchandise.”

Yori clenched his fists at the word. “Fighting’s broken out. I wanted to check that my goods were safe.”

“Steal, I think you mean.”

“You’re quite suspicious.”

“It’s my job.” With that, they snapped out their hand, unleashing a wave of mana at Yori. It was locked on him immediately and, at close range, gave no chance to evade. The wave washed over him, dispelling the effect of the magic items on him. That immediately gave the scarred man a knowing smirk. “The government dog, Yori Saioji. I’ve been looking forward to our second meeting.”

Yori groaned as he was forced into the confrontation. They were a military-grade sorcerer. There was no longer a chance of escape. “You’re like a clingy ex. “

“And after we shared such a night. I did so enjoy our time.”

“Creepy too.” The plan had Miho doing the fighting. He still carried several items on him, but he wasn’t set for a fight like this. Even still, his mind started running through the different scenarios. There was only one outcome now. Win and find Miho.

The man tugged on his sleeve like he had to look presentable for something. They were going to fight; it would only get worse. “I do wish you’d not act like we don’t know each other. We became so well acquainted, dog.” His tone of familiarity became almost unnerving. Yori wasn’t scared of him, but definitely worried. He needed to get to Miho.

“If we’re going to fight, then let’s do it. Otherwise, I’m just going to leave. I don’t fancy stalkers.”

“No, pleasure for the little things.”

“I don’t make a habit of chatting with the people I capture.”

“A professional. Very well, Dai Koga is the one who shall kill the Guardian.” Sharply, the presence around the sorcerer changed. The air nearly quaked from the mana pouring out of him. Yori went on the defensive, having never seen him fight. But before he could even react, a spell came out almost instantly with a gesture of his arm. “Chain Lightning!”

The gold thread in Dai’s glove glowed as the lightning jumped from him to Yori like a whip. It wrapped around his waist and arm, pinning down his right. He tried to pull his arm free, but it was locked down tight. Though the lightning element didn’t burn as badly as he expected. Clearly a binding spell rather than an attack, but what did he have planned next?

Dai placed his hand on the floor, binding the chain and freeing himself. He pulled on the glove, giving a snug fit once more. “I do appreciate a man of business. So many sorcerers just focus on getting the strongest spells forged for them, robbing them of flexibility.” The glove shone once more as mana gathered. “You can do far better work when you have the right spell for the right job.”

The glow of a spell forming from the glove focused on Yori. He couldn’t think, just act. Biting his thumb, he crudely struggled to draw an array in blood over the chain lightning tying him . His eye caught the fireball, pulled together with it, nearly assembled. Haste made his counterarray terrible, but it weakened the effect enough. Yori used his strength to break free just as the fire spell launched to consume him.

Flame and smoke engulfed him wholly. Yori groaned in pain, but through the smoke, a faint red glow traced around his arm. With the curtain of gray blowing away, Yoro held his previously bound arm up in front of him, with his body turned behind it. The suit on him burned where the protection didn’t fully succeed, but particles of spent mana flaked off. “Dammit, that was too close.”

“Impressive skill. Crafting the defensive array into the counter. That is the Saioji’s famous training at work.” For most targets Yori went after, they would have been rattled by what they witnessed. While not spellcraft, molding mana out of blood for crude counters to magic had been the only way they could claw their way to the field of sorcerers. And it required tight control of mana, otherwise it was just bloodletting. It looked comparably ritualistic to the refined and almost scientific precision of magic. A curious contradiction, but one Yori pushed aside.

Yori darted in, ignoring the twisted praise Dai handed. The man’s catalyst, by his own admission, wasn’t a pre-programmed one. And that made him far too dangerous to remain slinging spells. He might not have military-grade spells to use, as a drawback, but he had the reserves and experience that came with such talent.

And while he knew the man could mold mana for enhancement, Yori felt more confident that he could keep the battle in his favor. He got promptly blocked by Dai with a single hand. It was just meant to close, but he could see how effortless it was for them. ‘Dammit, he’s spent a long time on this side if he’s trained up this much…’ The man was a well-rounded sorcerer with martial and magical refinement, a true threat.

But he was committed to the course. No escape and no change, he just needed to take him out. It wasn’t going to be a simple effort like he was used to dealing with low-ranked sorcerers. Each strike was blocked or deflected. Flakes of mana showered from Dai as they continued their exchange.

Tightly packed in the hall as though they only had a meter of freedom, they barely moved from their spot. Deflections rolled into new strikes. Failed blows pushed their positions to flip. Both quickly measured their opponent’s distance and reach. Each, a test and an attempt to find faults in the other. They needed a hole to break the stalemate.

Yori made a wide sweeping strike as a blinding move so that his other hand could dig into his pocket. The burnt coat started to break a little, but he found the loop. Activating it with his mana, he dropped low to do a low sweep while tossing up the ring. He already started to flip into a handstand as the magic item snapped to the ceiling, altering gravity.

As they both fell, he already had himself righted and struck out at Dai. Despite the change, they didn’t look bothered. Though he could tell from the deeper block that he did surprise him with that. They rolled away to correct their orientation, with Yori chasing. “You know how to keep things lively. I won’t ever grow bored with you!”

A sigh came out of Yori as there was a smirking grin on Dai. They really seemed to thrive in challenges. “I already rejected you. Wish you’d learn your lessons.” Their fighting continued, moving less constrained on the ceiling. Yori pushed himself to utilize the environment more. He needed to create some opening. Miho needed him.

He was late!