Chapter 9: Streets of Chaos
I quickly made my way out of the public training center, a place meant for the people of the city to practice and hone their skills. Given the spectacle I had unleashed earlier, it was inevitable that attention would follow, both good and bad. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I slipped into a disguise I had brought with me.
Of course, I wasn't truly worried. There were always twelve Shadow Guards following me from a distance, except when I was in private.
These Shadow Guards were no ordinary individuals. They were elite warriors, trained for decades to reach heights of power that few in this world could even dream of. They were strong, resourceful, and geniuses in their own right, yet their sole purpose was to protect me from harm. This arrangement, made by my family, was the source of my confidence, even when I inevitably attracted attention.
With my disguise in place and my guards hidden, I ventured through the vibrant streets of the city. The market was alive with energy, filled with goods from various regions of the High Republic and even other continents. On one side, combat-class shops displayed weapons of all shapes and sizes, their blades gleaming under the sunlight. On the opposite side, shops showcased contraptions and gadgets, many of which pulsed faintly with mana. Potions of every color hung neatly in rows, their magical properties enticing buyers.
One gadget in particular caught my eye—a contraption designed to turn a man's arm into a living weapon, essentially functioning as a live mana cannon. These types of trinkets were popular among those who lacked potential in mana arts.
In this world, the reality is stark. Among the global population, which I remember reading to be around 12 trillion—an astronomical number compared to my previous world—90% of people can use magic. However, about 95% of those magic users will never surpass a certain rank of power.
The official universal ranking system for magic users was something I'd heard about in various books, but I hadn't read any official documents detailing it yet. Even so, it was clear that most of these advanced weapons, potions, and sci-fi-like gadgets were designed for those who couldn't rise above the greater threshold of power.
Although the world seemed at peace, daily atrocities still occurred. As I wandered deeper into the market, a commotion caught my attention.
Pushing through the crowd, I saw the source of the disturbance: two boys, both around my age, and a striking girl with bright crimson hair. From their expressions, it was clear they were friends and were facing some kind of trouble.
A rotund man, who appeared to be in his fifties, stood before them, his face twisted with anger. He was likely human and seemed to be the one causing the commotion.
"You brats! You've wasted my precious product, and now you'll pay for it!" the man bellowed, his voice rough and full of rage.
One of the boys, a blonde-haired kid with glasses, stepped forward, his expression brave despite his fear. "But you clearly said we were free to see and even touch any of the items we liked. How is it our fault if your product got damaged when we merely inspected it right in front of you?"
"Yeah, old man! How the heck were we supposed to know your stuff was defective? You can't just blame us because we look like naïve kids!" the second boy added, his voice defiant.
Their words made sense, but the man was having none of it.
"Shut up! If you're not going to pay, you'll get what's coming to you!" he roared, conjuring a spell in his hand.
The crowd gasped in shock as the man prepared to attack the children. "Hey, someone stop him!" people shouted, but no one moved. Even the city's patrolling soldiers were nowhere to be found.
The crimson-haired girl, however, remained calm. Her demeanor was unnervingly composed, as if she had everything under control.
"Okay, it seems we can't come to an agreement. If it's violence you seek, I will give it to you in plenty," she said coolly, stepping forward.
Raising her arms, she conjured a glowing spell circle in the air. Her focus was intense, her crimson hair swaying slightly as mana surged around her.
Boom!
The man's attack backfired painfully, causing him to cry out in shock.
"YOU! You little brats… DIE!" he screamed, grabbing an artifact from his store.
The artifact was a Mana Sword, and from its appearance, it was a powerful one. The crowd around me froze in horror as they realized what was about to happen.
A rank-2 classified offensive artifact being used in the middle of a city without permission was an extreme danger. It was capable of causing massive destruction, especially in the hands of someone reckless.
"Okay, I guess I'll have to step in," I muttered to myself.
Before the man could activate the weapon, I moved. My body blurred as I closed the distance between us in an instant.
"Huh? What is happening? Ugh, ahhhh!" the man screamed like a pig as I appeared behind him. With a swift motion, I grabbed the sword from his hand and twisted his arm behind his back.
"You really thought attacking three kids in broad daylight was a good idea?" I said coldly, tightening my grip just enough to make him squirm.
The man cried out in pain, his earlier bravado completely gone. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their fear turning to awe as they realized what had just happened.
The three kids stared at me, their eyes wide with surprise.
"You okay?" I asked, glancing at them.
The blonde-haired boy nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah, thanks to you."
The crimson-haired girl smiled faintly, her calm demeanor unbroken. "You didn't have to step in, but I appreciate it."
"Well, it looked like he was about to do some serious damage. Can't have that happening," I replied with a shrug.
As the city guards finally arrived, I handed the man over to them, along with the confiscated Mana Sword. They thanked me profusely, though I could tell they were embarrassed by their delayed response.
The crowd began to disperse, but I noticed the crimson-haired girl watching me intently. Her piercing gaze was almost unnerving, but I met it with a calm expression.
"Who are you?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Just someone who happened to be passing by," I said with a faint smile.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, she extended her hand. "I'm Ashyln. These two are my friends, Leon and Greg."
I shook her hand. "A pleasure to meet you all. Stay out of trouble, yeah?"
With that, I turned and walked away, blending back into the crowd. My Shadow Guards followed silently, ensuring no one else would try anything foolish.
As I made my way back to the estate, I couldn't help but smile. This world was far more chaotic and unpredictable than I had anticipated, but that only made it all the more exciting.
"Damn who was that guy? And did you see him move he looked like phantom appearing behind the man so quickly" Said the boy with blonde hair who's name is Leon"
"Yeah he looked quite strong must be atleast a level 2 maybe even 3 judging from his confidence" Said the boy who spoke loudly earlier Greg.
"Yes he indeed seemed powerful, well It's a realm where we can reach if we try. I mean i believe we three can reach there eventually and we are just 7 year olds. Judging by appearance that boy might not be older than us" Said the girl called Ashylyn.