In the throes of a fierce battle, Sougo found himself pitted against a peculiar adversary whose prowess was such that he could level a building. The face-off was proving a tad strenuous for Sougo. His opponent, nimble and evasive as an elusive shadow, constantly sidestepped his onslaught. Nonetheless, Sougo remained undeterred.
His strikes were swift, almost ethereal, and his adversary, though slippery, couldn't entirely dodge his blow. A superficial gash appeared on the man's cheek.
"Ha. Quite entertaining," the man sneered, a twisted smile on his face. "I'm glad I kept Toragol in the dark about this. It's been some time since I've enjoyed a worthy challenge."
"Toragol?" Sougo's left brow arched in surprise. "You're in his employ?"
"He's the most insufferable patron I've ever served. Arrogance often breeds stupidity, but in his case, even rats exhibit greater intellect. He's nothing more than a pampered, overindulged brat. But enough about him, I'm here to indulge in some... amusement." His syyon hummed with a brighter glow as he advanced.
With a mere stamp of his foot, the earth quaked, splitting open and causing the adjacent buildings, along with Sougo, to wobble.
The ensuing devastation was so immense that Roznok and Mika felt its reverberations, their concentration shattered.
"What in the world was that!?" Mika exclaimed, peering out the window.
Roznok, arms crossed, appeared unperturbed as though he had anticipated the event. Through his shadow, he was already aware of the situation's location.
The northern part of the town was in ruins. Luna stormed in, breathless and frantic, bearing news of Sougo's peril.
Mika attempted to soothe her, but when he turned to speak with Roznok, he found he was already gone, having disappeared into his own shadow, leaving them alone in the office.
Meanwhile, Sougo's battle was arduous. His adversary's agility was akin to a man able to swim through mud, making it almost impossible for Sougo to land a solid hit.
In his frustration, Sougo summoned his wind magic and decimated the ground beneath them, but his foe didn't flinch, continuing to move with an intimidating grace.
"Powerless for the first time, are we?" The man smirked, reemerging from the rubble.
As the man lunged for a second strike, his movements were abruptly halted by enigmatic chains of shadow. He was yanked back and met with a brutal kick to the abdomen that sent him flying.
Roznok had arrived to aid Sougo.
"As this town's guardian of order, it is my duty to protect its inhabitants, including foreign visitors." Roznok declared, taking his place beside Sougo atop a demolished structure.
"Leave this to me."
Roznok descended from the building and approached the man.
"So, you're Toragol's hired assassin. A member of the Sylkas, I presume?"
The Sylkas were a notorious organization of hitmen. Their mission, like all assassins, was to eliminate individuals as per their assigned contracts. The Sylkas were an elite faction, only the most skilled and deserving had the privilege of membership. While some following their god's orders.
"Ah, you recognized my insignia, I presume?" The man's lips curled into a smug grin, basking in the fear he believed his affiliation with Sylkas inspired.
The shadows around Roznok began to undulate and swell, power radiating from them in waves, scattering like orbs of darkness. His aura deepened, growing darker and darker as if he was summoning every ounce of his might.
"My first impression of this town was one of peculiarity," he said, his voice resonating with a quiet intensity. "Their refusal to fight back was baffling. But now, it all falls into place. You, it seems, have been the puppet master, holding their lives in the palm of your hand."
His brows furrowed, a deep-seated anger flaring in his eyes. "It's interesting," he continued, "my shadows perceive you as an ordinary man. You must be quite adept at concealing your malevolence."
Roznok's understanding of the situation was now clear, the pieces falling into place. The terror that had held the townsfolk was this man, Toragol, and his coercion through bribery. The money, such an immense amount, was not something a town's governor could afford easily.
"So, why here? This town is far from wealthy. Why not a city?" he questioned.
"True, my employer isn't wealthy," the man responded, a smirk playing on his lips. "But he's made quite a fortune from the world government. I've been bleeding him dry, but his dimwit mind remains blissfully unaware. The townsfolk are no different, simply following him for his status and trust from the world government."
With no further exchange of words, the man lunged for Roznok, swift and deadly. But Roznok stood as calm as the eye of a storm.
The man had a blade in hand, aiming for Roznok's throat, but he was abruptly halted. Shadowy chains, conjured by Roznok, restrained him. These were not ordinary chains; they could not be broken by sheer force.
Despite his initial struggle, the man freed himself and approached Roznok more cautiously. But Roznok's shadows were inescapable. The man was held in place by his own shadow, now under Roznok's control.
Roznok advanced, his foot colliding with the man's gut with a force that would shatter internal organs. The man doubled over, hacking up blood, his earth magic powerless against Roznok's shadow manipulation.
Roznok towered over the fallen man, pulling his head back by his hair, his voice hardened by fury. "Tell me, how many lives have you ruined? How many sins have you committed? Now that I've bested you, I trust you won't mind being our subject for Toragol's arrest?"
"Swallowed in mud!" In a desperate, last-ditch attempt, the man slapped the ground, and the earth liquified into mud, swallowing everything in its path.
It was a futile effort. Roznok transformed his arms into a flurry of raven feathers, spinning rapidly to dispel the mud. Sougo utilized wind magic, conjuring a whirlwind that cleared the surroundings. They stood unscathed, their resolve undeterred by the man's final attack.
The man made a desperate attempt to flee, but Mika's crackling bolts of lightning brought him to a swift halt. Paralysis overtook his body, but his senses remained alert, allowing him to see Mika and Kimaru standing over him. The duo had been the compass guiding Sougo to him.
"So, you're the puppet master behind this reign of terror, huh?" Mika's hands rested on his hips, his voice laced with a grim satisfaction. "Well, sorry to break it to you, buddy, but your reign ends here. Now that you're out of the picture, Toragol won't be able to keep the villagers in fear. Makes it easier for us to convince the world government."
Roznok, however, still seemed restless, a lingering dissatisfaction coating his features.
"Ahem, we have more work ahead," Roznok interjected, laying out their next course of action. "This 'side' problem has been taken care of, but our 'main' problem persists. We need to deal with Toragol." It was clear that with sufficient evidence, they could now take down Toragol with ease.
Roznok swiftly secured the man with chains, confiscating his Syyon and clasping magic-removing handcuffs around his wrists.
"Before we proceed, I need to thank you," Roznok began, addressing Mika and Sougo. "Your assistance over the past three days has been invaluable. You've been a tremendous asset, and I'll see to it that your efforts are rewarded. But for now, our focus must be on Toragol's mansion and his two sons." It was evident that their mission was reaching its climax; Toragol's downfall was imminent.