Elsewhere, under the dense shroud of night, two disheveled figures darted through narrow alleys. Watcher 23 and Watcher 25 were panting heavily, their faces pale with the shock of a narrow escape.
"Why did you retreat?" A low, commanding voice echoed behind them, freezing both in their tracks.
Standing before them was Watcher 17. He appeared as a regular office worker, clad in a sharp suit that exuded professionalism. Yet beneath his composed exterior was an undeniable air of authority and sharpness that could not be ignored. His cold, scrutinizing gaze swept over the two, carrying the weight of judgment.
Watcher 23 stammered, trembling, "Sir… the ability users… there are too many of them now!"
Watcher 17 furrowed his brow, his expression darkening as he pondered. His gaze drifted into the distance. "The increase in ability users was expected. Sooner or later, they were bound to converge."
After a pause, he turned back, his voice cold and resolute, each word like a blade slicing through the silence of the night. "This is precisely why we must eliminate them all. You understand, don't you? In the ancient world, when that individual—"
He stopped abruptly, a flicker of something inscrutable flashing through his eyes. Masking it quickly, he changed his tone. "—when certain powers gained control, the devastation that followed was immeasurable. Now, a man and a woman among the ability users have powers beyond anything we can handle. If we let them grow unchecked, it's only a matter of time before history repeats itself."
His voice carried suppressed fury, but his gaze betrayed a hint of deep-seated fear.
Watcher 23 and Watcher 25 exchanged a wary glance, a faint sense of unease stirring within them. They had always followed orders without questioning the legends or warnings behind them. Yet, they instinctively understood now was not the time to show any hint of doubt.
"At least this time, you chose an unpopulated area for combat and avoided harming civilians," Watcher 17 said, his piercing gaze unwavering. "If I hadn't intervened in time, you'd have had more than your lives to worry about explaining."
Watcher 25 forced a sheepish smile, silently thankful. He recalled the warning from a junior member earlier—how fortunate it was that Watcher 17 had been patrolling nearby. In a hushed tone, he murmured, "We owe it to your timely arrival, sir…"
"What's next?" Watcher 23 ventured cautiously, his tone laced with trepidation.
Watcher 17 scoffed, his voice as cold as ice, cutting through their nerves. "We regroup. Another direct attack is pointless."
Turning to the horizon, his expression hardened. "They're gathering forces. This isn't just a random collection of ability users. It's something more… deliberate. As if…" His voice dropped ominously. "They're forming the foundation of a new power structure, reminiscent of the Seventh Leader's regime."
A chill ran down the spines of Watcher 23 and Watcher 25. They couldn't fully grasp the implications of his words, but the gravity of his warning was unmistakable.
"But for now," Watcher 17 said, his voice lowering, "we leave."
"Why?" Watcher 23 asked, confusion flickering across his face.
Watcher 17's expression grew grim. "Ahead lies a ruined city inhabited by…" He hesitated, then muttered, "madmen."
"Madmen?" Watcher 25 chuckled dismissively. "Just lunatics?"
But the humor died in his throat as he met Watcher 17's stern gaze.
"They may not have abilities," Watcher 17 said gravely, "but their strength surpasses all convention. In terms of sheer power… they're stronger than me."
Watcher 23's eyes widened in disbelief. "No abilities… but that powerful?" Anyone else might have dismissed the claim as a joke, but Watcher 17's reputation for integrity left no room for doubt.
Breaking the tense silence, Watcher 17 motioned for them to follow. "Let's move." He led them swiftly through the forest along a concealed path toward another outpost.
Upon reaching the safe house, they were greeted by a mix of unfamiliar and familiar faces—other Watchers who had survived the recent rooftop skirmish. They were huddled around a table, deep in discussion.
Watcher 20 stood as 17 entered. "Why the sudden retreat?"
"Because that ruined city has its demons," Watcher 17 replied, his tone unyielding.
Watcher 20's expression shifted to one of fear, as if recalling a harrowing memory. "You encountered them too?"
Watcher 17 nodded. "But I didn't approach their territory. I withdrew at the edge."
Watcher 23, still incredulous, pressed, "What's in that city?"
Watcher 20 pointed silently behind him. Following the gesture, Watcher 23 froze in horror. Watcher 21 sat in the corner, his right arm reduced to bare, gleaming bone. The flesh and muscle had been stripped away with surgical precision, the wound so clean it was as if an invisible blade had severed it.
The room fell into a suffocating silence. Everyone understood the significance of Watcher 21's ability—it was among the finest for combat. To see him so easily maimed was nothing short of terrifying. Worse yet, this had been inflicted by individuals without any known abilities.
The oppressive atmosphere was shattered by Watcher 17's voice. "No matter what they are, they're still ordinary people. Our mission is to deal with ability users. We don't stray from that objective."
His words hung heavily in the room, a stark reminder of the dangerous waters they now waded into.