https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-826-Torliado-s-Tearful-Overtime-Part-2-/12934385/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-827-Lance-and-Torliado-s-Enthusiastic-Crowd-Part-2-/12934387/
Chapter 827: Lance and Torliado's Enthusiastic Crowd (Part 1)
Chapter 827: Lance and Torliado's Enthusiastic Crowd (Part 1)
In the Brilda Port District during winter, a biting cold wind blew, carrying with it a fine snow that blanketed the area.
Snow-covered containers were stacked haphazardly, and thick clouds cast a shadow over this hidden gray zone in the corner of the city.
"Damn it!"
In this steel maze of containers and narrow alleys, a tall figure was fleeing for his life.
At this moment, Maquiel was doing his best to evade the relentless pursuit of the Imperial Special Operations Division agents behind him.
Maquiel had a fit and agile physique, moving with the agility of a leopard. He wore a light gray winter coat stolen the night before during his prison break, making him blend seamlessly into the cold winter environment, almost invisible.
He weaved through the containers, sometimes climbing to higher ground, sometimes disappearing into the shadows.
Maquiel still couldn't figure out why his home had a copy of Professor Landry's research imprint document. He was caught red-handed by Red Falcon Nicola and the elite members of the Countermeasures Department, evidence in hand.
Now, he was growing more and more suspicious that Daxs had framed him!
No matter how he explained it to Red Falcon Nicola, this hound of a man, the latter refused to believe that Daxs was an inside man. He was determined to capture Maquiel and bring him to justice.
Maquiel cursed silently in his heart.
As he turned the corner of a deep alley, he caught a glimpse of several dark figures rapidly closing in on him from the corner of his eye. In the cold wind, he could hear their heavy breathing and the crunching of their boots on the snow.
The ones chasing him were the elite members of the Countermeasures Department of the Imperial Special Operations Division.
Maquiel was well aware of how difficult it was to deal with this group of well-trained Imperial Special Operations Division elites.
They wore deep blue tactical uniforms and were equipped with the most advanced magical conductor weapons from the Empire's Weapons Department.
Leading them was a tall figure with a compact short haircut, the squad leader.
"Search carefully. Daxs Chancellor has ordered that Maquiel must be captured today and not allowed to disrupt the Moon Goddess Festival."
The squad leader gave instructions through the communication magic card while pursuing Maquiel.
His voice was hoarse yet commanding, echoing through the desolate port.
The agents followed the squad leader's orders and began a systematic search of the industrial area.
They were familiar with Maquiel's characteristics, and Commander Red Falcon Nicola had already anticipated Maquiel's hiding route. As soon as Maquiel made a move, they would surround and capture him.
Every time they cornered Maquiel, the cunning fox, he managed to slip through their fingers using his exceptional counter-reconnaissance skills and clever utilization of the environment. However, Maquiel's options were becoming increasingly limited, leading him towards a dead end.
"..."
Maquiel's figure hugged the swaying steel frame, then disappeared into the narrow gap between the containers.
His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, searching for any cover or escape route he could use.
Loose snow flew under his feet, but he maintained his balance, moving swiftly through this dangerous steel jungle.
The entire wharf was filled with howling winds, and the rust-colored containers looked even more ominous under the gloomy sky, with crows occasionally letting out shrill cries.
Several minutes later.
Maquiel finally managed to temporarily shake off the relentless pursuit of the agent squad and hid in the corner of a narrow, deep, and dark alley.
Leaning against the mottled brick wall, his strong body resembled a wolf evading hunters.
"Where's the backup... Why haven't they arrived yet..."
Maquiel clenched his teeth, suppressing the anxiety within him.
It wasn't unusual for vampires to be unable to support him during the day, but he had received word that a vampire's partner would be there to assist him.
He quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for the next escape route.
Using the faint morning light, he analyzed his environment.
The towering abandoned buildings resembled silent giants, and complex pipelines intertwined like a spider web, winding through the structures.
Maquiel's gaze finally settled on a small path leading to the distant harbor, lined on both sides by dilapidated and rusted containers, entangled with withered vines. It was one of the last remaining paths that offered a glimmer of hope.
However, his intuition told him that moving in that direction would also be dangerous.
There was a possibility that the Empire's agents had already set up an encirclement.
But if he didn't move, he would soon be surrounded here.
The longer he waited, the tighter the encirclement would become.
Judging by the scale of the pursuit and the agents' determination, they were determined to capture him today at all costs.
Maquiel forced himself to calm down.
As the captain of the action team, rational thinking during critical moments was often more important than reckless action.
As long as he escaped and made his way to Bloody Moon City, he would eventually have the opportunity to bring down Daxs Duke and Red Falcon Nicola, making a comeback!
With determination, Maquiel quietly rose and, like a light gray lightning bolt, swiftly disappeared into the unknown path.
As soon as he moved, the footsteps of the agents behind him gradually grew louder, as if they were his shadow.
Just as Maquiel was planning a new escape route in his mind, a sharp tearing sound suddenly pierced the air.
New military-grade ammunition made of anti-magic steel grazed past him, hitting the container behind him and spraying rust as it exploded.
"Damn it, Nicola, you brought out this new equipment," Maquiel cursed softly, instinctively dodging to the side and narrowly avoiding the second shot.
It seemed that the agents had discovered his whereabouts and were lying in wait on top of the containers.
With his incredible reflexes and agility, Maquiel dodged left and right amidst the sniper fire.
Maquiel knew he had to find cover and get out of the sniper's line of sight.
He suddenly rushed towards a pile of old containers, smashing open the heavy container door and weaving through them.
With a loud screech of metal, Maquiel squeezed into the container, barely evading another round of sniper support from the Empire's agents.
Maquiel breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the cold container wall and feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
Deep in the alley, several figures in the combat uniforms of the Imperial Special Operations Division quickly caught up.
The short-haired squad leader coldly scanned the surroundings, giving instructions through the communicator.
"Colonel Nicola, requesting backup. Squad Two, be on full alert. The target has moved to Zone Four, repeat, the target has moved to Zone Four. Sniper team, take your positions immediately. You must capture him at all costs."
The sound of machinery and footsteps intertwined, sounding especially harsh in the quiet winter morning.
The citizens of Brilda were unaware of the intense battle unfolding in the gray zone of the port district.
Maquiel's superhuman physical abilities made him almost impossible to capture with the naked eye, and his escape was unexpected.
Instead of breaking through to the outskirts of the port district, he recklessly sprinted towards the bustling downtown area.
"Is he crazy? He's running into the busiest part of the city!"
The squad leader was momentarily stunned when he first saw Maquiel's route, but quickly realized his intention.
If a commotion was caused in the downtown area, not only would the mission be considered a failure, but they themselves might face severe punishment.
"We must stop him before he enters the busy district!"
The agents accordingly accelerated their pursuit.
Maquiel, however, was intimately familiar with this area. He nimbly weaved through the intricate alleys and tall buildings, leaping onto old fire escapes and traversing narrow culverts.
Boom! Several muffled explosions reverberated, and thick smoke instantly engulfed the alleyway. The blast wave caused bricks and tiles to fall from the walls, and the snow on the ground was swept away, drawing white arcs in the air.
The sudden increase in firepower caught Maquiel off guard, and he was heavily struck, rolling on the ground several times before he could regain his footing.
He cautiously raised his head.
"Nicola..."
Maquiel crouched in the shadow of a shipping container, his chest heaving violently, and white mist escaped from his tightly clenched teeth.
He surveyed his surroundings, and more than a dozen agents from the Countermeasures Department had surrounded him.
These squads had finally reunited.
"Maquiel, it's over. Come with me peacefully, or suffer here," said the leader, Red Falcon Nicola, stepping forward from the back of the group. His hat brim was still pulled low, and the magic conductor weapon, Radiance, flashed a cold metallic light on his arm.
He gestured to the agents beside him, ready to open fire and suppress Maquiel at any moment.
"Hehe..."
Maquiel responded with a laugh, "You damn lowly creatures, you have no idea what you're up against!"
Power roared within him, and his excited nerves were ignited by the hope of survival.
The next second, a blaze erupted between the shipping containers! Maquiel suddenly launched an attack, pouncing on Nicola like a raptor hound, determined to kill him.
Nicola didn't intend to take the hit head-on. He took a step back, and the squad's magic barrier was activated.
The elite agents joined the battle, and the imperial standard magic device unfolded around the containers, forming a large, pale blue crystalline net that completely blocked Maquiel's offense.
An invisible pressure field enveloped Maquiel, making him feel like his limbs and bones were entangled in invisible shackles, and his movements slowed down.
"You brought a gravity field too?!" Maquiel roared at Nicola.
"You have no chance of winning," said Red Falcon Nicola, as the agents behind him controlled their magic mechanical dolls, quietly setting up an optical illusion array. The colorful mana projections filled Maquiel's vision, making it difficult for him to distinguish reality from illusion.
The agents' figures appeared and disappeared in the light and shadows, making it impossible for Maquiel to get a grasp on them.
A sense of urgency filled Maquiel's heart.
Before he could think of a countermeasure, a combat agent at the top of a high shipping container, holding a mechanized heavy cannon, clasped their hands together. A light wing rapidly expanded within the cannon's recess.
The cannon's glow was like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, carrying the weight of a thousand tons as it smashed down towards Maquiel! The impact reverberated throughout the port, shaking the ground and echoing like thunder between the containers.
Dust and debris filled the air.
A crater several meters in diameter appeared in the center of the battlefield.
The bottom of the pit was muddy, and the scorched earth, steaming, almost completely submerged Maquiel's figure.
"..."
Red Falcon Nicola remained vigilant, his eyes like those of a hawk fixated on its prey.
Maquiel slowly rose from the pit.
His jacket was torn and tattered, but he had sustained only minor injuries. His eyes, brighter than ever, seemed to be on the verge of spewing fire.
Nicola was well aware that a 7th-rank Maquiel couldn't be fatally wounded so quickly; it would take a prolonged battle to wear down his life force to a capturable level.
Flashes of fire occasionally erupted from the factory district of the Brilda Black Hand Gang, illuminating the dark sky.
According to the treaty with the military, if a criminal entered the Brilda Black Hand Gang's territory, the gang was not to interfere with the military's mission.
Although the gray zones outside the capital's city-state barrier were historical remnants, years ago, after the "Bloody Wash Day" pacification and reconciliation, these areas became officially recognized neutral zones in the Kreithian Empire.
"Nicola, I must kill you!" Maquiel shouted, fighting fiercely amidst the encirclement of the magic agents.
As time passed, he became increasingly frustrated.
Red Falcon Nicola and his agents worked in perfect harmony, their layered defense made Maquiel's actions increasingly restricted, making it difficult for him to defend and counterattack.
Maquiel clenched his teeth, desperately searching for an opening, but wherever he looked, he only saw the dark muzzles of the combat agents' cannons and the barriers formed by the magic devices.
A flash of silver light passed by, and in the blink of an eye, it had penetrated the squad of agents surrounding Maquiel.
Before the crowd could react, this bizarre liquid metal, like a released beast, wreaked havoc among the Countermeasures Department personnel.
Piercing screams rose and fell, and blood splattered the iron walls of the containers.
The attacked agents resembled bitten cakes, their bodies and lower limbs suddenly vanishing, leaving only their mutilated torsos devoid of life.
The other agents who reacted in time suffered only minor injuries.
"Defend and hide!" Red Falcon Nicola shouted sternly, his face filled with horror.
The agents quickly withdrew, creating distance from the terrifying silver liquid, and assumed defensive postures.
The magic devices in the agents' hands emitted ominous lights, illuminating the bloody arena.
Maquiel was equally shocked, but he soon burst into maniacal laughter.
Footsteps approached from the other end of the container.
A figure in a silver-white robe walked slowly, followed by several similarly dressed high priests.
He stood there, raising a single hand and controlling the silver alchemical beast with his fingers. Draped in a pure white robe, he resembled a statue of divine evil, and the whiteness was not a symbol of purity but a sickly pallor, akin to the color of death.
Around his neck, a black pearl necklace swayed with life, gently clinking against his chest. In his hand, he held a silver staff, its body coiled like a snake's spine, with a crow spreading its wings at the top.
The figure in the lead dragged his robe behind him, leaving a long trail in the snow.
"Nicola, do you feel it? This chill is your death knell for today."
His voice was deep and pleasant, like the midnight bell, with a hint of enchantment.
"I heard you've been looking for me, so I'm here to see you today."
With the appearance of this group, the air became viscous and heavy, carrying a hint of acid rain with each breath.
The combat agents of the Imperial Special Operations Division instinctively sensed the danger. The squad leader's combat goggles displayed the identification information of the silver liquid lifeform from earlier—
[Decay Son Montilio]
[Category: Summoning Card]
[Grade: Orange Epic]
[Attribute: Alchemical/Corrosion]
[Class: 7]
[Effect: Immune to 90% of physical attacks. On contact attacks or being contacted, it will cause a devouring effect on living beings and split into new small individuals, lasting for 1 hour.]
[Note: Become one with me and be reborn.]
"Decay Son Montilio..."
The squad leader's pupils contracted, and his face turned grim.
As a member of the Countermeasures Department, he had been following Nicola to investigate recent murders, and he knew this guy all too well.
The Rebirth Church, a long-wanted fugitive on the wanted list, had boldly come to them on the day of the Moon Goddess Festival.
"As expected, you're all in cahoots."
Red Falcon Nicola looked at this scene, his icy eyes filled with anger.
He had been chasing the Decay branch for a long time, and their target was clearly not just revenge on the Imperial Special Operations Division.
The Decay branch's true intention today was to rescue Maquiel and, in the process, slaughter the Imperial agents.
"Red Falcon, are you happy to see me?"
Decay Son Montilio's lips curled into an almost unnatural arc.
With a light wave of his pale fingers, the silver liquid on the ground immediately gathered and wriggled, spitting out a half-body-sized split body, which was none other than the face of the combat agent swallowed earlier.
"Don't resist, surrender. Embrace death and find eternal peace."
Montilio spread his arms, revealing a smile that was neither a smile nor a laugh.
The grand priests behind him also prepared to eradicate the Countermeasures Department.
"..."
Red Falcon Nicola didn't panic. He slowly scanned the surroundings, and the wounds and fatigue from the battle were clearly visible.
"It's not up to you to decide between us."
Nicola spoke coldly, and the elite mage agents formed a defensive formation, aiming their weapons at the fanatical believers of the Rebirth Church.
Maquiel's fate was no longer a priority at this moment).
(End of Chapter)
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