Hi, everyone.

Thank you for your support.

December is here, and school is picking up once more. I will continue to write, but my rate of updating is probably going to go down. Still, I will try my best.

Now, about the plot:

Yes, some stories are going to go off tangents, and that is what I planned. If you are confused on what exactly is happening, do not worry, because things will become clearer and clearer as time progresses, and I will drop hints here and there on what is going on.

Thank you again.

Great wishes.

Chapter 66 No, Profits

The wandering winds of the night are the most remarkable piece of decoration in this confused land. When the strange force uplifts the layers after layers of magnificent twilight, when we become the victims of our own imaginations, when we are relinquished by our most probable assumptions, then we are most vulnerable.

Brooding, brooding.

Bumbling, bumbling.

Beguiling, beguiling.

The night is the stage.

And actors are only here for profits.

…

"Koro, break his bones!"

The sound of metal-slashing can never be so tempting when comparing to the bulging noise from the enormous biological Teigu. As the master commands, the monstrous being launches charges toward the masked man, aiming to devour his entire body with those uncompromising set of teeth.

"Muscle potential scrutinized into rate of acceleration, rho estimated: twelve point three meters per second cubed, theta estimated: one hundred seventy-five point two degrees, phi estimated: eighty-two point four degrees."

Shifting his center of weight, the Black Reaper launches himself directly toward Koro, seemingly jumping right into the ravaging teeth; however, as the distance between the two contrasted killers decreases in an unobservable rate, Hei lowers his entire body at exactly one meter before the contact takes place, leaving a misplaced assault from the larger being to be received by nothing but empty air.

SLUNK!

As the sound of metal breaking through flesh is echoed, Hei brutally borrowed Koro's upcoming momentum to push the previously embedded electrical axe through the rest of that appendage. With the help of the axe's opposite force, the crimson liquid from the giant being is quickly dispersed onto the ground, painting a picture of horror.

"Very eloquent. I may as well treat you as an artist if you choose to join our cause."

Mentally estimating what the Black Reaper is going to do in his next move, Junius quickly sheathes the cane sword back to its ivory protection, and competently unlocked the constraint from the top of the cane. In an instant, the appointed mechanism within the weapon is released, and the young general effectively extends the short hand cane to the length of a metal staff.

"And why don't we, as artists, conduct some exchanges of techniques?"

CLANG!

With a deliberate thrust of his opponent's renewed weapon, the Black Reaper unexpectedly crosses both of his forearms, and receives the point of the metal rod with the little space formed by the intersection of his two throwing axes.

ROAR! CHINK!

Seeing that the masked man is locked in place by Junius' assault, the biological Teigu seizes this opportunity to make a powerful swing toward its target, which, to its mater's surprise, successfully lands onto the usually untouchable dark shadow.

"Right Radius cracked. Arm functionality decreases about forty-one point four percent. Vertebrochondral ribs damaged. Bodily acceleration stability decreases about twenty-six point five percent."

"Electron Manipulation, Type Gamma."

Ungracefully adjusting himself in the middle of the air, the Black Reaper reactivates the magnetic fields, and uses the metal protections inside his black attire to decelerate his landing process.

"Good job, Koro, Go! Kill him! Don't let him recover!"

Watching her Teigu's successful maneuver over its prey, the Imperial Police Captain is ravaged with excitement – finally, she will be able to bring this cursed Night Raid member to justice, just as she planned in the first place. Unshackling her own weapon, the brunette is ready to join in the fight with her biological Teigu, until she notices something peculiar on her metal boot.

"What is this?"

"Electron Manipulation, Type Alpha."

ZAP!

"WAHHHHHHH!"

As the scream of the Imperial Police Captain takes over the shivering night wind, a silver string can be reflected through the ivory moonlight – a string that connecting the brunette's right leg to nothing over than the Black Reaper's left hand.

So that's why he took the hit.

Feeling the extreme pain burning through her body, the young captain cannot help but discovers that she is losing her thoughts. She has failed. She knows Koro would shut down in the absence of a commander, but the excruciating electricity is preventing her to physically give out any other instructions for her pet. With a final glimpse of consciousness –

"J-J-JUNIUS…"

Her consciousness is taken over by darkness.

Conspicuously speaking, the confrontation between the Black Reaper and the pair lawful enforcers is rather unconventional. Rather than the decorous conflict of physical prowess and their natural reflexes, this contest is undoubtedly a continuous rationalization for Hei. It is indubitable that this man contains the primary aptitude from Li as the expert martial artist and bears the atrocious power from the infamous BK-201, but when he is facing such an illogical creature, a minimization of his contractor power can simply not do the job.

That is why Hei decides to bring down the wielder of the biological Teigu. From the structural analysis he made for the monstrous being at the beginning of this confrontation, the Black Reaper discovers that destroying the core of this creature would require an overcharging of its internal system, which is more voltage than his maximum potential, considering that he is still in the pre-mature stage for controlling the power of BK-201.

Seryu, on the other hand, is easier to handle. If he could successfully establish a connection between himself and the brunette, then a simple electric shock is all that is required to take her down. All Hei needed was a chance for the Imperial Police Captain to lower her guard. With a calculated impact, he has borrowed the momentum from the charging Teigu to enhance his flying velocity, which could cover his secret manipulation of the metal wire he set on the ground when Seryu's total attention was on him.

Particle manipulation, what exactly can it do? Direct electrons to create charges? Use these charges to assimilate currents? Manipulate the flow of electrons to generate magnetic forces? Perhaps there are more uses once Hei understands this contractor power more thoroughly, but for now, the four types of manipulation he uses are enough for him to taken down supernatural Teigu wielders.

Physically kneeling on the ground, the Black Reaper uses his left hand to investigate his injuries – the continuing usage of contractor powers is really starting to strain his body.

Yet, the ivory magician is approaching.

In this stage, it seems that Junius is completely holding this situation under control – the masked man needs time to recover from the damages, and he is almost still at full strength; therefore, an easy execution should take place in no time.

"Woah, you were altogether overdoing it. Can you handle it?"

Wait, what?

"Bodily injuries are within calculation."

"Right, but you did not need to take that hit from that beast, there are other ways to distract her."

"Other methods not as efficient."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Still, that was rather perilous."

"Uncertainty relatively low."

"You should explain the details to me next time if you want to do it again."

"Surprise enhances realism."

"Fine, then. Shion believes in you, so I guess I would do so as well. I need to take care of my duplicate. Mine struck it down with the Pumpkin, but I am sure Seryu did not notice what exactly happened."

"Acceptable. Eliminate all evidences."

"Absolutely. Now, here are the updates I gathered in the last month. I have legally acquired what is needed. This incident will expedite my progress. These are the coordinates."

"Be aware of secrecy."

"Implicitly."

With that being said, the Black Reaper helps himself to his feet, quickly dashes toward the forest, and dissolves into the realm of darkness.

The one-eyed general turns back toward the battle field, where the frozen Teigu and the bodies of the victims stand, and strides into the whiteness of the moonlight.

Only the actors know the plot.