How is he here?
Such words were the first that popped up in Lucian's mind; he thought that this man was arrested along with the Guild Master of the Black Rose Guild, whose fate was something he was not in the slightest interested to know.
"Why do you seem surprised, young man? Don't you think it should have been me to put on such a face, considering that you have been impaled by my spear and yet here you are, breathing and puffing some instrument?"
Lucian's expression remained stoic. And just like what his sister thought of him, he's the kind of person that even if his serene mind raced frantically due to dire or unprecedented situations, his face would barely show it.
"...I'm surprised since I thought you followed your master to hell. But I guess even dogs could bite their owners just to crawl out from the boundless pit."
This man in his early thirties, with black eyes and short black hair, donning a casual piece of attire as though he was here to leisurely stroll the place, chuckled at Lucian's remark.
"You have a way with words. I didn't take you for a romanticist. In any case, you have to come with me, not that you'll do so willingly. And since it has come to this, I find introduction necessary."
At the same time, unlike the previous abrupt attack under the starry night sky that catapulted Lucian off this very rooftop, the man pulled a different spear from the void and pointed it at the one casually holding a wooden flute.
"I'm Marcus. How about–"
However, instead of letting him finish speaking, Marcus sensed something on his feet tying him down—a pair of sickle-like burning chains!
But, as a testament to his experience aside from being a mere bodyguard previously assigned to provide protection to the Guild Master's father of the Black Rose Guild, Marcus reacted instinctively, coating his entire body with considerably thick bluish mana.
Like a fortified iron wall, his pale body was enveloped with toughness, not even a bullet could graze or penetrate it. That being said, in that split moment, Lucian's offensive surprised him, albeit momentarily.
This young man has a disguise skill... He's similar to an illusionist of some sort. But what's this?
Only then that Marcus realize that the chain binding him did not come from the very person who remained seated in the corner while facing him, whose thoughts were only known to himself.
And the next moment he knew...
Just as he was about to turn around reflexively, a punch from the Burning Catcher, Lucian's first ever summon, thanks to the hellish punishment area of the [Daily Quest], marked with the [Death Bond (F)] for the second time, twisted Marcus' face.
Bang!
Such a strike sent his body on the floor as the Burning Catcher, as if to muster more strength, jumped before punching him.
Cracks on the rooftop were created, and the echo of the battle was blocked not by anything special but mere sounds of the crowd downstairs—a busy morning indeed.
***
Lucian did not give Marcus any second to recover as he mentally commanded the Burning Catcher, who sensed his will and the malice of the opponent against its master, to pummel the man who had seen his appearance, which could complicate matters as someone deeply connected to the Squad Captain of the Mist Squad.
Bang!
The thunderous punches continued while Marcus' body was wrapped with scorching chains, and as Lucian remained seated in the corner, his mind raced.
He knew this from the start...
I can't win, at least not when confronting him directly.
However, something caught his attention the way Marcus spoke earlier, causing him to ponder.
What does he mean by I have to come with him? Wasn't Rowan, the Black Rose Guild's master, already out of the picture?
It was then that Lucian realized it. Although it was his mere presumptions, it's highly likely to be the case. But he refrained from voicing it out, choosing the role of acting unaware, that Marcus was perhaps working for someone else.
No, not just him, but maybe even Rowan has someone more powerful behind him. Someone far more sinister involved in possibly awakener-related criminal activities.
As his thoughts raced, a burst of mana exploded.
Marcus, now more serious, knocked the Burning Catcher away as he diagonally swiped the pointy and sharp weapon tightened in his grasp.
His Master-Grade Class known as Spearwarrior specialized in spear arts, and of course, it didn't mean he was deprived of any defensive capabilities as a warrior of melee combat.
After the Burning Catcher seated on top of him received a blunt blow, Marcus, whose lips dyed with crimson, stood up firmly and unhesitantly lunged an attack against the man who now raised his body.
He's a summoner! Directly getting rid of him will vanquish the monster in his arsenal!
Marcus made a quick and sound judgment.
Whoosh!
In one to two seconds, Marcus arrived, his spear aimed to thrust Lucian. In the next moment, true to its unmatched speed, the Burning Catcher caught its master to the side, dodging the incoming attack aiming to subjugate Lucian for some reason.
But then, Marcus twisted his body, and the momentum of his rush didn't dissipate. And from frontal thrust, the swipe of the spear followed.
What's more, now coated with mana, Marcus murmured,
"Spear Arts, Black Moon Arc."
As though the entire area was momentarily consumed by darkness, a serene burst of mana cleaved towards Lucian's direction, only then that Marcus realize that the target was never there.
"...Where–"
Lucian appeared behind him, and behind him also was the Burning Catcher holding the chains as if it were part of its body, its very existence.
"...are you looking at?"
At that moment, Lucian grabbed the burning chains, sizzling his own skin, and swiftly wrapped it around Marcus' neck, whose entire body remained coated with a wall of mana.
T-this man!
Even if he was wrapped with mana, Marcus still struggled at the emitting flames of this peculiar monster resembling that of a normal human, but with a body made of unending flames, and with eye sockets emitting fiery blaze.
His eyes locked on the scorching skin of the chain holder, unable to believe the tenacity that Lucian had.
I-Isn't he burning himself?! What a tenacious bastard!
Nonetheless, despite Lucian's efforts, Marcus laughed it off.
"Ha... Haha! Are you done?"
Being choked, Marcus instinctively tried to free himself. And since he was protected by a mana layer, his hands weren't burning, which surmised one thing...
This man doesn't even know how to circulate his own mana... I don't know who's he working for or what affiliation he belongs to, but he's just a naive bastard who thinks he's powerful.
Marcus managed to assess Lucian's awakener life at that brief moment while trying to free himself. Of course, he would be able to do so easily if he brute-forced it.
However, the burning flames coating these chains were repelling the mana he was emanating.
If he's not careful, the moment a gap was created, his entire neck would be vulnerable and swallowed.
Just as he carefully began to exert more power, Lucian responded to his question that sounded a complete mockery.
"No, I'm not done yet."
Looking up, Marcus saw Lucian's cold purple eyes.
And behind this young man, the Burning Catcher too was looking down at him.
"Pull us now!"
"...?!"
The Burning Catcher, who was the true owner of the blazing chains, pulled its master and the malicious awakener coming for them.
The next thing Marcus knew...
Being all tied together, he was mercilessly dragged from the very top of the hospital as the Burning Catcher ran at supersonic speed and unhesitantly jumped off the towering building along with its crazy master.
One could say that it was a double suicide attempt.