Rodriguez flicked his wrist. A machete appeared in his hand. As he spun it, he said, "Give me the case, legend."

  Before Gale could respond, footsteps from behind rounded the corner of the junction behind him. Six men filed into the wider area, blocking him from moving backwards. The six men parted evenly at the sides, and Victor Wang stepped in, now without his handcuffed briefcase.

  "Mr. Hunter," Wang said with a smirk on his face. "What a pleasure to finally meet you who have been disrupting my business."

  Gale stepped to the side of the wall, free hand touching the earpiece. Only static came through. Shit.

  Wang held up a device that looked like a phone. "Signal jammer. Very effective."

  Gale's eyes darted left and right. Either side, he'd have to force his way through, maybe even get hurt or worse.

  "Now now, you might say this was all a trap," Wang wagged his fingers. "Though I must say, the tech in the case was genuine, but the value of it lies in who it would attract. Glory's new pet, the twins, the leader of the Blue Witches, and even the one and only Glory himself all in one place, ready for reaping." Wang's watch beeped four times. "Right on schedule."

  Rodriguez laughed. "You should see your face. Did you really think your buddy Glory would trust a nobody with important missions?"

  Gale held the case to his chest even tighter, backing into the side wall until his back hit against it.

  "Oliver Glory has a habit of using people," Wang said, stepping closer. "Discarding them when they're no longer useful. Isn't that right, Rodriguez?"

  Rodriguez's knuckles whitened around his machete. "Three years ago. My wife worked at Lab 7. She was mundane. Then she got exposed to dust. Died while I was on a mission. That bastard didn't even tell me she died."

  "Ollie told me that everyone in that Lab knew the risk. It was for the better," Gale said.

  "So what?" Rodriguez said. "She died. He gave me money. Not even an ounce of pity. So I waited until the right moment."

  "Rodriguez has proven quite valuable in monitoring Glory's operations from the inside," Wang said.

  "So what? You betrayed a friend and told him everything?" Gale glared at Rodriguez.

  "A friend?" Rodriguez laughed. "My friend, Glory doesn't have friends."

  "And now, I have a gift," Wang reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black cube. With a flick of his finger, it expanded into a mesh of glowing circuits. "For Glory, and for you, Mr. Hunter. The man killing my dealers and interrupting my supply lines. You see. Things happen to those that mess with me. Bad things."

  Wang snapped his fingers. The air rippled. Gale felt a sudden weight, as if gravity had doubled. His knees buckled, grip suddenly let go of the Weber, dropping it onto the floor.

  "Interesting," Wang said, watching Gale struggle to stand. "Most Awakened can't even remain conscious under this pressure."

  [Warning: Victor Wang classified as Resonant class. Variant type telekinesis specialization. Threat level: High]

  Gale gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to straighten. The tunnel blurred before his eyes. The weight pushed down, shoving him toward the concrete.

  No choice now.

  He activated Phase Touch, pushing energy through his entire body and into the Weber below him. The world blurred as everything became translucent. Gravity field's pressure eased up, only half of it still there, allowing him to actually move.

  "What the fuck!" Rodriguez stepped back. "Don't let him do the disappearing act!"

  Gale kicked up the Weber and caught it by the hilt, lunged forward, phasing through Rodriguez. A chill ran through him as their bodies overlapped for a quarter of a second as he passed and sprinted through them to the tunnel.

  "After him!" Wang shouted.

  The tunnel forked. Gale went left. Each stride covered half of the tunnel's length.

  Behind him, footsteps pounded on the damp concrete. A whistling came from behind him, machete flying past his ear and hitting the wall ahead. It reeled back, flying towards his neck.

  Left. Junction. Fork. Footsteps came from the right. Left again. Door up ahead. Moonlight penetrated the edges of the door. He was almost outside.

  Gale burst through the doorway into the dry night air. The airport tarmac stretched before him, floodlights showing the empty space. No aircraft anywhere in sight. To the right of him, Ontario lake blocked by fences. By the edge of the tarmac, shipping containers stood stacked together. Three forklifts parked side by side. A single fuel truck by the shipping container.

  Then he saw them.

  Ollie and Lily crouched behind the forklifts, pinned down by gunfire.

  Clyde's rifle boomed through the open space. Shockwave trailing the bullet behind.

  The two lunged to the shipping containers just as the bullet hit the forklift, launching it to the fence.

  Ollie shot ice bullets that trailed a fog at Clyde.

  Beside him, Kyle's dagger buried onto concrete, and he blinked into existence, already aiming at Ollie. Three shots from Kyle's pistol.

  Grey marble spinning around Ollie blocked the shots.

  Lily shot a blue light lance at Kyle with her pistol. However, the shockwave from Clyde's bullet intercepted the blue light, dissipating all its energy.

  Behind Gale, Rodriguez stepped outside of the service tunnel along with Wang. "How do you think Ollie will feel when his legend dies right in front of him?"

  0035

  Time slowed.

  Ollie pressed himself against the shipping container, unable to fire his rifle, which was useless with non-lethal ammo. Lily beside him, creating a blue light barrier around both of them. Two grey marbles spun around her body, blocking stray fire from path agents.

  The twins moved forward. Kyle teleported everywhere, not staying in one place while Clyde provided cover.

  Kyle whipped his dagger at Lily. Gray marble swatted it away, glowing red hot. Before it could turn back to grey, a booming round hit the grey marble directly, shattering it to dust.

  Ollie brought up his rifle around the container's corner as the remaining gray marble spun around him.

  Another boom. Perfect accuracy directly hit the grey marble, shattering the last one into bits. The long gun barked again. Shockwave hit Ollie's centre mass, biting into his tac gear and sending him flying all the way to the fence.

  Lily jumped out of the shipping container. Blue lances enveloped her stun rounds, aimed at Clyde.

  Clyde took cover, and a dagger dug deep into Lily's shoulder. Kyle kicked off Lily's shoulder, sending her spiralling downwards, and whipped his dagger back to Clyde, immediately blinking away.

  [Host prowess insufficient. Immediate escape is recommended.]

  The tech covered by his chest suddenly became useless as Gale watched Ollie and Lily both knocked out.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  What was the point of all this shit? The tech wouldn't help any of them if they were all dead.

  Screw the tech. Screw the mission.

  Gale spun, pulling the case from his jacket. He threw it at Wang's face. The man flinched, raising his hands.

  In the same motion, Gale touched his storage box interface. The Weber pistol materialized in his left hand, Weber still in his right.

  The Weber kicked in his hand. One thwip.

  The bullet grazed Kyle's arm as he blinked away.

  Gale launched himself to Clyde's position on top the fuel truck.

  The man turned. Rifle's scope aimed at him.

  Time compressed. Distance closed in.

  Weber swung just as Clyde fired. The bullet hit Gale's ribs, but his blade cut Clyde's barrel.

  Metal parts clanged to the floor. Clyde drew his pistol.

  Too slow.

  Fist to the stomach. Clyde arced to the tarmac. Pistol dropped. Dagger whistled behind him, aimed at the neck.

  Gale swung his Weber downwards, changing his direction mid-air. Blade lengthened to spear. His foot hit the corner of the truck. Launched himself into the air and swung at the dagger, shattering it into pieces.

  As Kyle reached into his pocket, Weber pistol already aimed. Kyle ducked. The ray hit a path agent instead, boring a hole right into his thigh.

  A machete flew by Gale's ear as he landed and then curved backwards at his neck. Phase Touch engulfed the edge, cutting the rope of the machete and making it lose its momentum.

  A pistol rang from where Clyde had been.

  Gale ducked once more, but a dagger already coming at his head. Weber swung at the dagger, sparks flew as the second shattered.

  Another pistol shot came from Clyde, hitting him square in the liver. Tac gear covered his skin, but the punch sent him reeling as he staggered backwards.

  Kyle's boot connected with Gale's chest. Air rushed from his lungs. He stumbled back as the pistol in the man's hand fired multiple shots into Gale's shoulder, enough to penetrate kevlar.

  Static came through his earpiece, Ollie's voice.

  "Gale. I'm sorry. Should've seen it. Should've planned better. We were outgunned from the start."

  Wang laughed, holding onto an earpiece himself. "Finally, something we agree on, Glory."

  0040

  It can't end like this, right? They were so goddamn close.

  No. It can’t end like this.

  There was only one option left.

  A vial materialized in Gale's right hand. He squeezed the lid to break it open and drank it.

  The surge of essence from the vial flooded his pathways. Billions of lines, shapes, and patterns bloomed into his skin. Vision shifted. Colours inverted. Night became day. The world became sharper.

  Keep letting go. You know you want to. It's the only way. Kill all of them. Kill everything. Let it all go. Destroy those that get in your way.

  [Warning: Deeper extension of Breath of the Void not recommended in lower Core Classes.]

  Kyle's boot on Gale's chest faltered. He threw his dagger over at Clyde's direction and blinked away.

  Clyde shot another pistol round directly at Gale's neck.

  Gale moved. Weber batted away the pistol round.

  Thwip.

  A ray of light shot through the crate that Clyde hid in, grazing his flank.

  Another dagger already whistling from the side.

  Twhip.

  The ray disintegrated the third dagger while Gale was already mid lunge at Kyle. In one step, the flat of Weber hit Kyle's flank, launching him skidding along the tarmac.

  Clyde shot three rounds, blue tracers. This time, homing bullets.

  Gale put up his Weber, blocking the three shots that came from three different directions. Each bullet numbed his hands.

  Kyle recovered. Both twins circled, watching him. No words passed between them. They darted between each other and Gale.

  "Seize him!" Wang shouted, snapping his fingers three times. The air around Gale got thick. Gravity tripled. Bones ached as his muscles tore from the crushing weight that cracked the tarmac beneath his feet.

  Rodriguez walked toward Ollie.

  Ollie tried to raise his rifle, but Rodriguez just kicked it away and grabbed him by the throat. Pressing his machete to Ollie's neck, he said, staring at Gale, "Drop your weapons or Glory's throat opens right now."

  The twins stopped moving. Kyle threw his dagger at the floor. Clyde did the same to his pistol.

  "Interesting," Wang walked to the middle of the battlefield. "Path twins still care about an adjacent division."

  Gale's knees buckled, forcing him to kneel.

  Wang's steps came closer until he was just in front of Gale and crouched down to meet him face to face.

  "I must say," Wang said, "I'm impressed. Most men would be flat on the ground under 10x gravity. What are you, exactly?"

  Gale's pupils dilated as he tightened his grip on Weber's hilt.

  Kill. Kill. Kill. Silence the corruption. The whispers grew by the second.

  "I said drop them!" Rodriguez pressed the machete harder. A thin red line appeared on Ollie's throat.

  Gale stopped. The weapons fell from his hands clattering against the tarmac. The lines, shapes, and patterns pulled back into his spine. Vision returned to normal, but the adrenaline stayed.

  Wang came closer. From his pocket, he drew a small silver pistol.

  "You know," he said casually, "I've heard stories about you. The mysterious hunter that hunts in the night. The legend of the Blue Witches, bringing them salvation from the Red Hollows."

  Wang aimed the gun at Gale's head. "But that's the thing about legends, Mr. Hunter. They should stay as legends. Dead."

  Wang's finger tightened on the trigger.

  A heartbeat stretched into forever.

  The ring on his hand grew hot, almost enough to burn his finger. Its red stone pulsed once. The air rippled like heat waves, and the temperature of the whole airport climbed several degrees.

  Wang paused, his eyes moving to Gale's hand.

  Reality split.

  The space above Gale tore open. A semicircle made of fire exploded from one end of the tarmac to the other, creating an inferno where they met the ground.

  Wang squeezed the trigger.

  When Gale closed his eyes, waiting for the pain, the space between him and Wang exploded.

  The gun flew off Wang's hands. Bones and tendons stuck out of his hand. Even though Wang's clothes caught on fire, to Gale, this whole place felt more like a warm cozy camp fire permeating through his whole body.

  "Master Hathie."

  The voice came from his right. Gerard stood there in the same butler suit he wore when he saw him last, except this time, he wore white gloves lined with red threads.

  Rachel was beside him, her hair floating in the heat currents, looking the same as the fire that surrounded the whole area.

  Wang forced a smirk. "Ann Family."

  Rachel stepped forward, blocking Wang from Gale. The fire swirled around her like a pet. "Victor Wang. Your operation ends tonight."

  Wang took several steps back, bumping into one of his remaining guards.

  "Withdraw," he ordered. "Everyone retreat!"

  The guards hesitated, looking between Wang and the new arrivals.

  "Screw that," Rodriguez spat from the side. The machete pulled back to strike Ollie's throat.

  Gerard moved. Not ran—moved.

  One second beside Rachel, the next beside Rodriguez. His hand cut through the air.

  A beam of fire followed his fingers. It sliced through Rodriguez's wrist. Clean, precise, and cauterizing the wrist immediately.

  The machete and the hand holding it fell to the ground.

  Rodriguez screamed, stumbling backwards, holding onto the stump of a hand.

  The twins recovered. Kyle threw his dagger at Gale. The blade flew straight at Gale's throat.

  Gerard caught the blade mid air by the edge. The metal turned white and dripped down the butler's hands like mercury.

  Clyde fired his gun. The bullet never reached its target. Gerard appeared before him, palm hitting Clyde's chin. The twin's head snapped back, eyes rolled up and then collapsing to the ground.

  Kyle fished out another dagger from his pocket, but before he could, Gerard met him with a simple punch to the chest. The impact lifted Kyle off his feet, launching him, landing on the grass and skidding to the fence.

  Wang backed up, hands tracing patterns in the air. "You have no jurisdiction here. This is Path territory!"

  "The Ann house's jurisdiction," Rachel said, "is Toronto."

  Wang finished the pattern. A circle of light with intricate circles and polygons appeared in the air. A deafening wave blasted towards Gale and Rachel.

  Gerard stepped in its path. He didn't dodge or block. He punched.

  His fist hit the invisible wave. The wave broke apart like glass.

  Wang turned back and ran. Too late.

  Gerard flicked his hands. Two beams of fire shot out. They cut through Wang's legs just above the knees. The man fell, screaming. The wounds sealed instantly, smoking as the fire burned them closed.

  The rush of adrenaline in Gale started fading. Pain came back at him. The wounds all over his body throbbed with each heartbeat.

  As he collapsed, Rachel rushed to him.

  "You idiot," she said as Gale saw her reddened eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You absolute idiot."

  "Nice to see you too," Gale tried to smile.

  "Shut up." Her hand covered his wounded shoulder. Heat flowed from her fingers. Goddamn, it hurt.

  Gale's vision narrowed. Edges darkened. For some reason, this scene was all too familiar. It was Rachel who saved him as his vision faded while he fell from the giant tree.

  "Stay with me," she softly slapped his cheeks. "Gale? Gale!"

  0045

  Her voice faded.

  The last thing he saw was fire and Rachel's tear-filled eyes.

  Then nothing.

  - 610/700 Followers

  Bonus chapters are dropped the following day whenever the goal is hit!