The interrogation room is a mess. Papers are scattered, a chair lies overturned. It appears that the big man from before is the one who interrogated the rebel.
"Mark" is written on his officer badge. Mark slams his fist on the table, his face contorted with rage as he glares at the young woman, barely older than himself, across from him.
"Where is it?" he snarls. "Tell me where they are, and this can all end."
The young woman meets his gaze defiantly. There's a spark of defiance in her eyes, a flicker of something familiar that sends a jolt through the atmosphere.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she spits.
"Don't lie to me," Mark roars. He lunges toward her, slamming his hands on the table.
Her eyes widen in fear, but she doesn't flinch.
Just then, the door bursts open. An officer enters, urgency in his steps.
"Drake's here, Detective Mark," says the officer.
"Finally, that damn kid is here," Mark growls. "Watch her. I'm going to pull that brat in here," he tells the officer as he walks out of the room.
Mark strides down the corridor, his frustration evident in his heavy steps. He finds Drake leaning casually against the wall, a look of indifference on his face.
"Took you long enough," Mark snaps.
Drake pushes off the wall, his eyes meeting Mark's with a cold intensity.
"I told you, Yesterday is my day off."
Mark scowls, but there's a hint of desperation in his eyes.
"I need you in there. She's not cracking, and we can't afford to waste any more time."
Drake sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But this better be worth it."
They walk back to the interrogation room in tense silence. As they enter, the young woman's eyes shift to Drake, her defiance faltering for a moment. Drake takes a seat across from her, his expression unreadable.
"Let's start over," Drake says calmly. "I don't want to waste your time, and I'm sure you don't want to waste mine. So let's make this simple."
The young woman eyes him warily. "And why should I talk to you?"
"Because," Drake replies, leaning forward, "I can help you. But only if you help me first. Tell me where The Silent Dawn is hiding, and I can make sure you walk out of here with a deal."
She laughs bitterly. "You think I believe that? You're all the same."
Drake's eyes narrow slightly. "I'm not Mark. And trust me, you'll want to deal with me rather than him."
The tension in the room is palpable, the stakes clear. Mark watches silently, his frustration giving way to cautious hope. The young woman takes a deep breath, her resolve wavering.
"Alright," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But only if you could defeat me in artificial magic's battle."
Drake nods, his gaze steady. "Deal. Let's use the office gymnasium."
With her handcuffs still on, the woman leaves the interrogation room, Drake and Mark following closely behind. Even though Mark is against the idea, he knows he's at a dead end with his methods. He understands the risks but lacks any better solution for the situation.
In this world, magic is not a fairy tale. Scientists have discovered that humans are born with not just life but also spiritual energy, which is referred to as Magic. This magic is divided into six elements that create the universe: air, water, earth, fire, light, and dark. Normally, a human can't use this magic freely; they need artificial tools to help amplify and channel this energy. The number of artificial tools that can be used depends on how much spiritual energy the user can generate and the type of element the user has. The artificial magic tools come in many variations, including rings, necklaces, weapons, armor, and the latest invention : A chip implanted in the human body. An artificial magic battle involves magic users utilizing these tools to generate magic.
Mark remains silent, trusting Drake's initiative to get the job done. They arrive at the gymnasium, and Mark orders his subordinates to tighten security around the area as a backup plan in case the battle goes sideways or the woman attempts to escape. He then removes the handcuffs from the woman and instructs her and Drake to enter the arena to prepare.
The gymnasium is vast, its floor marked with boundaries for various types of combat training. Drake and the woman step into the center, facing each other. The air is charged with anticipation, and the onlookers from the Public Order Department watch intently from the sidelines.
Mark stands at the edge of the arena, his eyes darting between Drake and the woman.
"Here are the rules:
Rule number one: The first person to be knocked down or surrender loses. Don't anyone dare continue the battle.
Rule number two: You can choose any weapon provided by us at the weapon rack in the arena; outsider weapons are not allowed.
Rule number three: Any person that fails to follow the rules will face consequences," he calls out.
"And remember, this isn't just a test of strength. We need information."
Drake pulls a sleek metallic blade from the weapon rack. The blade hums softly as it activates, channels glowing faintly with green light, then a thin layer of wind warps around the sword, indicating its wind elemental energy. The woman, meanwhile, picks a spear from the rack, which bursts into flames as she channels fire energy into it.
They walk to the center of the arena, facing each other. Their gazes meet, the intensity of their auras palpable.
Drake nods, his expression unwavering. "Ready when you are," he says, his voice calm.
The woman's eyes narrow, determination replacing any traces of fear. "I won't hold back."
In an instant, the gymnasium is filled with a burst of elemental energy. Drake lunges first, his wind-infused blade slicing through the air with incredible speed. The woman counters with a swift, fiery thrust of her spear, the heat creating shimmering waves in the air.
"Is that all you've got?" the woman taunts, deflecting Drake's strike with a spin of her spear.
"Just getting started," Drake replies, his voice steady as he whirls around, the wind picking up around him.
Mark watches from the sidelines, his amazement growing with each passing second. "I can't believe I get to see Drake fight," he mutters to himself. "And this woman… her skill is superb."
The clash of wind and fire creates a mesmerizing display, each element pushing against the other. Drake's movements are swift and agile, the wind enhancing his speed and making his strikes almost too fast to follow. The woman, however, matches him with her own ferocity, the fire adding explosive power to her attacks.
"Impressive, but it won't be enough!" she yells, unleashing a barrage of fiery thrusts.
Drake keeps silent. He parries and dodges, his blade a blur of motion. His eyes narrowing as he channels more wind into his blade.
The battle intensifies, their movements becoming a blur. Mark strains to keep up, his eyes darting back and forth. At times, he loses track of their positions entirely, the speed and intensity overwhelming his senses.
"Let's see if you can handle this," the woman says, her voice filled with determination.
She rushes toward Drake, a massive explosion of fire propelling her forward with incredible speed.
Drake readies his stance, preparing for a frontal attack. But just as the distance between them closes to mere inches, the woman plants the tip of her spear into the ground, using it to vault herself high into the air.
Drake, caught off guard, leaves his defense wide open.
In that brief moment, the woman channels her fire energy, creating a blazing spectacle in the sky.
"PHOENIX FALL!!!!!" she screams,
leaving a trail of fire behind her as she descends. The flames form the shape of a massive firebird, diving down with the intent to obliterate its prey.
Drake looks up, eyes widening at the sight of the fiery phoenix. The arena lights up with the intensity of the flames, the heat palpable even from a distance. Mark watches in awe, momentarily losing track of the battle's intricacies due to the sheer spectacle.
"BOOOMMM!"
The force of the impact sends shockwaves through the arena, the clash of elements creating a deafening roar. For a moment, the gymnasium is filled with a blinding light as fire collides with wind.
As the light fades, Drake is revealed, holding the attack with his sword. The arena surrounding him is in ruins, his eyes glowing with a fierce white light.
The woman, shocked, stares at him.
"How could you?" she asks, her voice trembling with surprise.
"It's over. Please surrender," Drake says, his tone firm yet respectful.
With a resigned sigh, she nods in acknowledgment. Her body trembles, her mind blank, unable to believe what just happened.
Drake steps back, allowing her to rise. Mark approaches, relief and amazement evident on his face. The gymnasium falls silent, the battle over. Then, with a cold, commanding tone, Drake says,
"Now, tell us what we need to know."