Adler watched Slip transform his figure yet again, but something was different. His stature fell forward with a sunken, disheveled face at the end. A dark, worn robe formed over the bony body, barely keeping itself from the ground even from the low height. Adler was not foolish enough to let the appearance fool him. A person might be strong without muscles and fast even with age. His body could not take another full activation of Divina Machina for a while, but that did not stop him from activating some of his mystic mutations and enchantments. He could afford a maximum of two at once besides Manus Dei. A decisive strike was all he would need. There were still other intruders he needed to take care of, after all.

With no time wasted, Adler strengthened his limbs and shot forward with a burst of speed. It took no time at all. His fist pierced through Slip's chest in one fell swoop. Yet, something was off. There was no sensation of flesh in the punch. All he could feel was his own lungs suddenly forced empty. He stumbled back, gasping for air. His head rose to inspect his opponent, only to find a large, gaping hole in Slip's chest.

"Straight for my core, huh? Predictable," He said and mended his body back into shape. "Too bad I can change it's location across my body."

Adler recovered soon enough, thanks to his mixed blood. "It doesn't matter where I strike. I will turn you back into a metal chunk."

"Kill me if you can, but you can't kill my spirit. I have plans for it, like haunting you."

A report sprung into Adler's memory. MIB performed an experiment in co-operation with Yisima University of Huangok under the alias of Atlas Academy. The experiment served as a means to exchange ideas and techniques of both parties. Thanks to established good connections, Huangok had promised to let them study the eastern style of Ward and Pierce called Qi. MIB was pleased, as Qi masters were much harder to source than western mages, mostly due to the Huangok government. The experiment ultimately gave mixed results and was deemed inconclusive, but a rumor emerged from it, floating in the ranks of MIB operatives. While Qi techniques behaved similarly to Ward and Pierce, they proved to actually provide better defense and attack than them if properly mastered. The academy was said to have fired the previous defense instructor as even he could not block a Qi strike. Adopting the technique was never going to happen. The elders were still wary of eastern teachings and Qi itself being more about spiritual enlightenment than conventional training. Still, they found a more pressing issue regarding the techniques.

"So that's what it will take," Adler mumbled to himself. "Fine then."

There was no time for Slip to quip. Adler burst forward with cold, calculated ferocity. Slip responded with a parry and counter. He pushed Adler's arm away and went in for a strike straight to his heart. Yet, he was blocked. Adler sacrificed his arm, guarding it against his chest. It snapped in two and ripped the flesh underneath, leaving it hanging only by its skin. Yet, Adler persisted. While Slip was shocked by his risky stunt, he guided his hand for a jab. Slip noticed a moment too late. He tried to flick it away, but that was just what Adler wanted. He gripped his hand and activated Manus Dei. Slip could instantly feel his mana leaking away, leaving the limb paralyzed. Simultaneously, Adler's metal arm began to form frost around it. While Diarmuid could only hypothesize its meaning, Slip was well aware. Dispersing mana was in short the effect of distributing the energy they contained into the air to render them harmless. The unfortunate side effect was that Adler was not immune from it himself. While using the mystic mutation, he would disperse his own mana. As energy is the movement of particles, a loss of energy decreases the temperature of the area, and with his hand being a constant target, it would suffer frostbite upon prolonged use. Eventually the fingers themselves needed to be amputated and replaced with prosthesis. And once again, Adler was ready to sacrifice his body for the mission.

Slip had to act fast. He could not focus his Qi to strike again and the paralysis would only spread each moment he hesitated. Instead, he too, made a desperate gamble. With a swift chop, he cut off the paralyzed arm. Adler watched the arm turn back to metal and clank to the ground. Meanwhile, Slip back off with his smile long gone.

"You're crazy, you know that?" Slip said, stopping the bleeding by turning the wound into a stump. While he could mend and transform his body quite freely, generating more mass needed time and resources, much like healing a normal wound.

"It is only desperation if you do not succeed," Adler endured through the broken arm and frozen hand.

"So, how are going to do this? Arm wrestle it out?"

Adler raised his hand, all purple and jittery. "This is all I need."

Slip knew time was on Adler's side. His zou blood would heal him slowly but surely and with enough rest, he would be able to activate Divina Machina. Adler had no time to rest as his internal transponder activated. As a pseudo mystic mutation, its signal could pierce through bound fields and transfer sound between great distances.

"Talon squad 4 leader, respond immediately." The MIB Overseer commanded him.

Adler pressed a spot on his neck. "This is Adler of squad 4, what is the matter?"

"Is your squad in control of the situation?"

The question confused Adler deeply. "...Yes. Is there a problem?"

Slip glanced at the situation like a child waiting for their parents to finish talking over the phone.

"We received reports of your agents commencing in battle at the main plaza against an unknown threat. There are also reports of further intruders infiltrating Paradis."

"We encountered another group of intruders as well and an AMMO escapee. We are currently apprehending them."

"I see. We were unable to contact the agents in battle outside. Do you need assistance?"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

A long silence fell to Adler's lips. A direct call from the Overseer mandatory to answer, regardless of the situation. A silent answer could only mean two things: Treason or death.

"Do you read, squad 4?"

"Excuse me. I will make a roll call."

"Understood. I will leave the channel open."

Adler changed the channel. "Talon squad 4 roll call!"'

"Kestrel here."

"...Harrier here."

He waited for a moment for an answer, yet nothing came.

"Shikra, Rufous, Griffon, respond!"

"Griffon is KIA," Harrier said.

Adler gulped. "How do you know?"

"I am looking at him," She carefully lifted his head from the ground. "Rest easy, I got this."

"Trouble in paradise?" Slip listened on the conversation.

The responsibility was weighing down on Adler's back like a ton of bricks.

"What should we do, Adler?" Kestrel asked.

"Keep the bound field active. We WILL eliminate these intruders."

"Understood," Harrier gently swiped Griffon's eyes shut and laid the head next to the body.

Slip saw no chance to attack or hide, using the time instead to form back his arm using mass from his torso.

"Come in, Overseer." Adler changed the channel back.

"Reading you loud and clear, squad 4."

"Two of our agents have gone MIA, and one confirmed KIA."

"Understood. Requesting backup."

"No." Adler interrupted.

"What was that?"

"Negative. Squad 4 will finish this task."

"We cannot take that risk."

Adler bit his lip. "Then, at least let us finish the intruders inside the academy."

"Do you think you are capable of that with only three operators?"

"Yes," Adler answered immediately.

The Overseer could hear the absolute resolution through the low quality audio. "Understood, squad 4. Squad 2 will take over outside. They will provide assistance or take over if the situation calls for it. Over."

"Understood. Over and out," Adler let go of the button.

"Had a good call?" Slip asked.

Adler activated Divina Machina. It was over in less than a second. Slip's head dropped to the ground like a horrified bust of a statue. Adler watched the body and head intently. The hands twitched ever so slightly. He reacted by piercing the heart. The body fell to the ground as well, bleeding only for a moment before turning into metal.

"Please die for me, Slip." He said, looking down at the cold metal.

The body did not answer, merely bleeding on his shoes. Adler could only wait for so long before lunging into action, seeking for the others. He did not have much time, but he made sure to finish his task, whatever it takes.

On the lower floors, Hortensia watched her surroundings with baited breaths. Her eyes turned to the sound of lone footsteps echoing from where she came. With her back against the wall, she took out a mirror and glanced around the corner. There she saw Emil walking with a somber face.

"Emil!" She came to greet him. "Thank god you're alive! Did you get away?"

"Sort of," He shrugged it off and kept walking. "But we need to keep going."

"Alright," She followed.

His empty gaze felt cold, almost like a mere touch would turn you frozen.

"Is everything alright?" She asked.

"...Yes." He answered with the dot ending the conversation to a halt.

"Did something happen?"

Emil thought for a moment. "Hortensia, have you ever killed anyone?"

"You mean people? No. Just punched a lot out cold."

"But you would if it was do or die?"

"Well, obviously I'm not just going to lay there and die."

Emil glanced at her concerned face.

"I wouldn't feel good about it, sure, but it can't be helped," She added.

"What if it was a choice?"

"Like what?"

"We came here of our own volition, knowing that we would break the law. These people are just doing their jobs. How is it right to kill someone like that?"

"Wasn't it you who said that this is the only way to get the artifact? And it's not like we're here to loot and slay."

"Catori killed someone right as we got in." The cruel memory flashed in Emil's mind.

"Well, that was his choice, wasn't it?"

"But he came here because of me," Emil cut in.

"So? What can you do about that? Kill him?"

"What? No!" Emil shook his head with confusion.

"Then what do you need to worry about it?"

"It's not that but...Look, if you came against one of those agents and you had a choice between surrendering or killing them, what would you do?"

Hortensia thought for a moment, pondering intensively. "Well, that depends."

"On what?"

"Like, what would happen to me if i surrender?"

"I heard they cast long sentences with and without physical labor."

"Then no."

"You would kill him?" Emil raised his brow.

"Well, if I can't just take them out, then yeah."

"And you would be okay with that?"

"What's it worth regretting my choices?" She shrugged. "You can't take them back. Everyone makes mistakes."

"You would call killing someone a mistake?"

"You can't know until you try," She shrugged her head even lower.

"How can you take such a risk?"

Hortensia's mood dropped.

"I thought you weren't like that," She said under her breath.

"Like what?"

"Everyone knows you're one big scaredy-cat-"

Emil tried to hold strong, but her words hurt more than any knife or guilt.

"But the reason why we're still here is because you won't let that stop you."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had to check, and what he saw was the most sincere smile he had seen since Orel. It was not big, with teeth shining and cheeks red like apples, but a meek, small beam with the warmth of a sun-dried pillow and mellow like fresh marmelade. Even if everything turned out to be wrong, a mistake of the highest order, Emil knew with no doubt in his heart that it, at least, was true.

"You got us to new places and through things I wouldn't have imagined. Obviously, you made mistakes along the way, both big and small, but you kept going despite that." Hortensia blushed slightly. "Sometimes it's brave to be scared, you know?"

"Thank you," Emil's voice cracked and he turned away. "Let's continue."

While he made no sound, Hortensia could see a trail of tears he left behind.

"Sure," She nodded.

The moment was interrupted by a distant rumbling reaching their ears. Something was crashing through the way they came. A large, hulking mass trashed its way toward them, growing ever larger.

"Hide, Hortensia!" Emil readied his hand to draw. "We can't let them catch all of us!"

"Fine, but I'll have to save you next time!" She said while running away.

"You will pay for this!" A roaring voice announced.

The two were equally confused by the avenger, though Hortensia did not have enough time to think about it. Thankfully, she was able to run up a nearby flight of stairs. With her safe and sound, Emil turned to face his second adversary.

"There you are," She stopped, fuming with hatred.

Her build towered over Emil, strapped in a skin-tight bodysuit keeping her bulging, rampart muscles in check. Though her face was warped by both the muscles expanding and the damage she incurred, Emil recognized her, though still not knowing her name.

"Do I know you?" He asked.

"You killed him," Harrier said, blinded and deafened by rage.

It finally clicked for him. The only thing surpassing his guilt was horror. The seething mass of muscle in front of him filled him with fright. She must have been the one that found Aston and Martin and beat them single handedly. His only desperate bet was on his draw. He would only have time for one, if even that. All of his misplaced luck had to concentrate here, or else it would be the last thing he would do. He pulled and turned it.

"Lucky Draw number zero: The fool!" He announced in solemn desperation.