"Is my luck so bad?"
Jasper stood against the wall and observed the light spot representing Mr. Montfort joining the battlefield. The continuous sound of bullets echoed, suggesting more than just a firearm in play.
The perspective effect of [Eye of Truth] weakened on the three types of permanent extraordinary items. Through the bedroom wall, Jasper could no longer see [Hunter's fruit plate]. The blue feather remained concealed under a towel, blocking its aura. Yet, at this moment, a dim golden statue-like object moved with the light spot representing Mr. Brown.
"I can probably guess what's going on, but if that's the case, that would be so unlucky..."
An even more unfortunate event unfolded soon after. Jasper believed hiding himself would suffice, trusting Mr. Montfort, who had the most points of light. However, after another explosion-like sound, a man burst through the door and soared in, rolling awkwardly on the ground before stopping against the wall.
As they raised their heads, the two locked eyes.
Bang~
White smoke trailed from the muzzle, and with a pounding heart, Jasper exhaled and lowered the pistol.
"I feel sorry."
He uttered to the lifeless body, which wore a surprised expression, red and white matter flowing from the small hole in its forehead.
"At least my marksmanship is pretty good."
Jasper fought to suppress the fear of killing, swiftly assessing the corpse. The light spots representing abilities dimmed, and a faint yellow light emanated from the jacket pocket.
"The color is so weak? A temporary item strengthened through a ritual, spell, or weapon?"
He guessed but refrained from wasting time searching the body. Ensuring the man's light spot was extinguished, Jasper swallowed his fear and rushed out with the gun.
Outside the door, Mr. Brown lay on the ground like a tattered bag, light spots fading. Montfort struggled against threads emerging from the stranger's body, movements as stiff as a puppet.
That's why Jasper rushed out to help.
Bang!
Jasper pulled the trigger again, firing that particular bullet. The stranger couldn't evade and was hit in the right arm, the wound healing before his eyes.
"Be careful; he's a member of the [The Legion of Light Sorcery]."
The [The Legion of Light Sorcery] was a bona fide illegal association, as Jasper heard Montfort mention. A group of gifters who believed "human beings can become light" to avoid an impending "catastrophe that will end the world." Illegal not just because all members were unregistered Gifters, but also because they worshipped a cruel and malevolent god.
"Where's Ronnie?"
The stranger grinned, displaying a terrifying smile to Jasper.
"Dead."
Jasper replied impassively. Reloading the bullet and firing again, he aimed for the heart but hit the head. The man remained alive, turning his head to regard Jasper with interest.
"That loser is dead? Great."
His line entangled Montfort, but Montfort, in turn, restrained his movements, leaving Jasper unworried about being pummeled to death.
"May the [Mastermind] bless you and let your knowledge illuminate the path forward for mankind."
Putting the ceremonial silver dagger in front of his mouth and praying in a low voice, Jasper activated his [Agility] ability and rushed toward Montfort. The black threads broke immediately with a wave of the dagger.
He swiftly retreated, only to find Montfort entangled with the stranger again. The stranger without the black string was obviously no match for Montfort.
"Careful!"
Jasper suddenly reminded him, noticing the yellow object in the stranger's pocket suddenly glowing.
Shortly after, a strange song emanated from his ears. The singer seemed to be a young woman. The song was low, light, and eerie, yet held a different kind of allure, akin to a poppy flower.
Montfort fell to the ground, and Jasper, feeling dizzy, had no choice but to rush over, extending his fists:
[Simple boxing]
He didn't intend to easily dispatch the stranger; he just wanted him to step back, giving him a chance to save Mr. Montfort.
Unexpectedly, as their fists connected, an immense force came from the opposite side. Jasper flew back, colliding with Montfort's body.
"The right arm is broken!"
The singing persisted, but the pain helped Jasper regain his senses.
Ignoring him, the stranger advanced toward Mr. Brown's body, providing Jasper the opportunity to retrieve a small piece of metal from the seam of his shirt with his left hand.
"Explosive spell!"
He roared in his mind, infusing spirituality and throwing the hot metal piece out, then embracing Montfort and lying on the ground.
After a loud explosion, everything fell silent.
After a brief coma, Jasper awoke in a heat wave. Surrounding buildings were ablaze, and the area had transformed into a sea of fire. A massive black hole marked the spot where the stranger and Mr. Brown's bodies had been.
"Damn fake and inferior products. Wasn't it claimed that the effect is discounted?"
Jasper cared little for scolding profiteers, immediately getting up and returning to the burning house. In the sea of fire, he hurriedly unearthed something wrapped in rags from beneath the floor in the corner and stuffed it into his arms. Judging from the quality of the soil, this item had been buried for a considerable time.
After assessing the scene, he returned to try to rouse Montfort.
"What's going on here?"
Montfort soon woke up, equally startled by their surroundings.
"The cultist attempted to examine Mr. Brown's body, and then the body exploded."
Jasper explained in horror.
"Go quickly; our identities cannot be exposed."
His panting Montfort requested Jasper's assistance, picking up Jasper's silver dagger and drawing a strange symbol on the ground. He then took out a paper bag folded into a triangle from his arms and dropped it onto the symbol.
"May the goddess bless you!"
Biting his finger, Montfort pressed the symbol and uttered a soft shout. The paper package spontaneously ignited and disappeared in a strange blue flame.
"Okay, the news is out!"
Using the silver dagger to scratch out markings on the ground again, Montfort asked Jasper to search for things that were "still intact" in the charred corpse pit. The two then supported each other and struggled to escape from the fire.
The nearby alleys were intricate, and combined with the chaos from the fire, no one paid attention to the two men whose clothes were singed.
Jasper assisted Montfort while using his abilities to heal them both.
For the first time, he was grateful that his ability was healing, as when the two passed by the water carriage blocked at the entrance of the alley, both could walk normally.
"Will many people perish in this fire?" Jasper hesitated, a sense of unease lingering after his recent escape from the flames. Lowering his voice, he turned to his father as the intersection swarmed with onlookers, fleeing residents, and firefighters in black suits.
"Don't fret; the residents in that dock area are away at work this time. May the goddess protect them," Montfort reassured him amidst the chaos.
Jasper gazed back at the smoke and commotion, not regretting his recent actions. Casting the spell was necessary to escape the clutches of the cultist who would never have let him go.
However...
His left hand remained clutched in his arms, where he had retrieved a metal harmonica and a wrapped wooden sculpture from the explosion crater. The former, a cultist's prop for eerie chants, and the latter, left behind by the deceased Mr. Brown, without a trace of his body.
"I need to get accustomed to this world," Jasper sighed to himself, silently following Montfort through the intersection's crowd, leaving behind the yells, cries, and roars of the distressed people, disappearing around the corner.