Chapter 14
"So we're inside." Mystic said, as they appeared in the building, that was in front of them a while ago.
"Next time…" Archon tried to catch his breath, likewise he was keeping it for a long time, "If you use this thing again, I'll never go with you on other missions."
"Still can't get used to it." Mystic chuckled.
"If you want I can show you what I feel during it…" Archon was about to say something, but couldn't as they heard a voice behind them.
"What the?! Intruders!" two criminals turned their heads and saw a massive orc, who was accompanied with four other demons.
"Well, after all it'll be good to get limbered up a little." Archon said with a smile preparing his clawed gloves, but Mystic still was standing stock-still. The demons ran toward them and Archon did the same, with one jump he quickly appeared behind the group, with one move he cut the neck of some demon and when the other one with a loud roar tried to get Archon he quickly jumped away from the demon, landing onto his feet gave him an opportunity to dash toward the group and with the same speed jumped onto another orc stretching his arm, he could pierce the eyes of the demon with his claws. The demon cried for a brief period of time, but then stopped as the claws of the glove entered deeper.
"Damn bustards!" the demon that saw the intruders roared, "You, call for a help!" he ordered to some demon, that immediately ran to look for some help, but he couldn't as a something has cut him apart.
"I'm sorry, but we don't want to fight you for a long time." Mystic said with a stretched hand.
'Are they Taimanins?' the orc thought, as he saw that one of his comrades was sliced in two with the power of the wind. It didn't take long for the members of "The Third Law" to deal with last demons, when the last of them fell down breathlessly, Archon asked Mystic.
"Do you sense something?"
"Well, I sense somewhat weak signal." Mystic responded.
"What do you mean?" Archon was surprised, "You told that you felt it with confidence, "Do you want to say that the seal isn't here?"
"I don't know, but I know that we must investigate this place." Mystic said seriously and then they heard strong steps that were in a hurry, two men quickly hid themselves in the corners of the corridor, many demons ran near with them, but they didn't pay any attention on the two criminals. When demon ran they left their covers.
"It seems that Tardis had paid their attention. Do you really think that he won't need a help?"
"Tardis is strong enough to deal with some mere demons." Mystic just said, "But I still don't understand why the sense became so weak?"
"Give me your hand." Archon asked the man, Mystic didn't ask any questions and stretched his hand, Archon took it and closed his eyes after several second he opened them and asked his comrade again, "Have something changed?"
"No, the sensation is still the same. The better decision for us is to split up." Mystic suggested, "I will go there and will go there." Mystic pointed the directions; Archon merely nodded and ran by his direction.
He met some demons on his way some of them were pretty strong and some of them were weak. Demons tried to get him, but he was too fast for them and his unordinary weapon gave him an advantage too, it gave an opportunity not to use too much of physical power. However one orc could grip Archon in a hug. "Finally got you." the orc started to squeeze Archon, but the man wasn't nowhere he pressed his hands toward the orc's stomach and closed his eyes, the orc fell down onto one knee little by little his grip started to weaken, 'What the hell is this?' the orc thought he tried to squeeze the man till the death, but his arms limply let him go. When Archon was free he did a whirl cutting the neck of the orc that was powerless. 'It was close.' he thought looking at the demon who now was a corpse. He spitted and went further. Farther he went more demons he met, still he tried to kill stealing, so some of them didn't notice him, suddenly he heard a voice in his head, 'Archon, If it's possible I'd like to have some help on the, hunters have arrived.' Archon responded him, 'Hunters? I can't do this right now. I have some business with demons too.' he responded to Tardis and then dodged a lunge of some demon. He started to fight another bunch of demons Archon admitted that these ones were stronger than previous ones. This time he used his power more, he weakened his opponents, but couldn't do it properly, because of their speed so his enemies came to normal pretty quickly, he knew that demons and humans had lots of differences and to weaken them demanded more times than to weaken human. He was dodging their attacks like a hurricane and his attacks were done with the same devilish speed, when he dealt with some of them he heard someone's steps, he admitted that they didn't belong to a human and when they were close to him he parried a lunge of some demon and saw a woman with a spear and red hair. 'Not now.' he thought seeing the woman.
"So you're really here!" Maria said preparing her spear; she saw that Archon was fighting alone against several demons; it didn't take much time for her to join the battle. One big demon wanted to attack Archon, but Maria protected her brother with her spear.
"Wow, never thought that my sister will protect me someday." Archon said with a malicious smile.
"Don't be malicious." she pushed the demon and cut him with her spear, "First I'll deal with these creatures, and then I'll deal with you."
"I'd like to see at it." he said with the same smile. Their teamwork was surprisingly perfect; while Maria protected her brother he was attacking all demons. One demon could knock her weapon out of her hands and was about get her, but Archon in time helped her, he appeared between them and cut the demon. The monster fell down and in next moment a spear pierced his chest. A little by little they dealt with all demons in the place they were. When the last of them fell down breathlessly, Maria looked at Archon and was about to prepare her weapon.
"Sis, maybe you'll give me an opportunity to catch my breath?" Archon asked Maria.
She told nothing but attacked him, Archon blocked the blade of her spear with his gloves, but Maria quickly wrested her weapon out of his hands and did another lunge with its hilt, but Archon blocked it too. She admitted that Archon lowered his pace and started to fight a bit slowly.
"Are you mocking me?!" she shouted at her brother, "Why are you decreased your pace?"
Archon said nothing, but continued to fight her, with the same speed, suddenly they heard another steps and from the air he noticed a woman above his sister with white hair who was holding a spear too and was targeting at the man with claws with it, 'A huntress?' he thought and dodged her lunge with several summersaults.
"It seems that I'm in time." Chikeko said with a relief.
"I thought that you will stay with your students." Maria said with a strange note in her voiceб it seems that she was surprised and irritated at the same time.
"Your partner said that it would be better for me to help you, and at the same time he will help them." Chikeko responded.
"I see." Maria deeply sighed, 'Ilya, prepare for a good thrashing.' she was angry at the boy.
"So this is our enemy?" Chikeko asked, the woman.
"Yes." she merely replied, "Don't let him touch you."
"Why?" Chikeko asked her.
"It's long to explain, just don't let him do so, and everything will be fine." and then both of them ran to the man who had scars on his face.
'It seems I must fight more seriously now.' Archon thought and then said in his mind, 'Tell me that you found something.'
'I'm sorry but, I still searching for the seal, and at the same time fighting demons.' he heard Mystic's calm voice.
'Have Tardis told you that hunters have arrived?' he asked Mystic dodging Chikeko's spear at the same time.
'Yes I know this, try to hold them for a little, while I'm trying to find its location.'
'I'll try.' he said and dodged his sisters attack.
It was a bit more difficult to Archon two fight two opponents at the same time; he quickly understood that they were stronger than the demons he fought before. Their attacks were unexpected and Archon liked that, these two women that have never worked with each other, quickly understood how to fight together. Chikeko did big swing with her spear and Archon admitted it he quickly got behind the Taimanin, and put his hand on her shoulders, and after a second the woman started to fall on her knees, but Maria wasn't dwelling away and helped her new comrade. Archon released Chikeko and jumped away, in order not to be wounded by his sister.
"Yes sister, you've became faster, it's becoming more difficult to fight you." Archon said with a smile, but this smile was somewhat strange, it wasn't malicious like it was before.
'Sister?' Chikeko didn't understood, 'So, they are relatives?' Chikeko thought trying to get up, but it she did it with a great zeal. Maria put her hand on her back, and after a second Chikeko felt that this sudden tiredness disappeared all of a sudden.
"Well it was pretty hard to fight you and Oleg previous time." Archon continued to speak with his sister, but she didn't respond, only listening to him, "Maybe together, you would even defeat me."
"Listen, I have got a plan, try to distract him for a while." Maria looked at Chikeko with wondered eyes and Chikeko added, "Nothing special, just distract him." Maria nodded and ran at Archon, they started to fight, and meanwhile Chikeko has separated her spear in two, and then took the part with the blade behind her back and leaned the second part to her lips and started to play music.
'A flute?' Archon noticed that woman started to play on it, at the same moment his head started to feel strange, Archon started to stagger a little.
"Attack him now!" Chikeko shouted to Maria and continued to play the flute; Maria understood what the woman was doing and did as she ordered.
Archon was staggering, but still was in time to parry all his sister's attacks, however some attacks were missed and he received some scratches, but they weren't dangerous, 'I must shit that woman.' He looked at Chikeko. He gathered all his power and ran to the white haired huntress.
'Impossible! Is he so strong?' Chikeko was surprised with his stamina and strength of will. Archon jumped and prepared his glove to attack the woman, but Chikeko dodged his attack still playing the flute, but when she was in air someone kicked her at her stomach too strongly that the woman flew off and hit about the wall letting fly her flute.
"Just in time." Archon said shaking with his head, to the newcomer, "By the way have you found something?" he asked the man in the hood.
'Mystic.' Maria thought, 'Things become worse and worse.'
"No, but I sense a strange energy from above." he said calmly.
"And what can it be?" Archon asked his comrade again.
"Tardis told that there appeared a strange warrior in white armor." Mystic did a pause, "I think it must be him."
"So, what should we do?" Archon decided to ask him directly.
"First, deal with them." Mystic said turning his head to Maria and then to Chikeko who had already got up and put together her spear again, two blades suddenly appeared in Mystic's hands.
'So you want to fight serious, huh?' Archon thought, but looking at the blades.
And then Mystic ran to Maria, and Archon decided to fight Chikeko.
"Man, he is tough." Pavel said catching his breath.
"It's good that this demon is not attacking us." Ilya added to Pavel observation.
"But somehow, we must deal with him." Ren concluded their thoughts.
Three hunters nodded and Pavel decided to attack the person with armor first. This time Pavel tried to attack him faster, but the warrior used his two swords perfectly and protected himself not missing even a single strike. Then Ren joined the battle, her attacks were much faster than Pavel's because of her short blade, but they were less powerful, and the man decided not to attack for a moment, but to block them. While they were fighting him Ilya suddenly jumped and fired with two rays of light, one of them was parried by his sword, but another one reached its target, straight to the chest. The warrior fell down onto and a good dent appeared on his chest.
"Is e done?" Ilya didn't believe that they finally could deal with this annoying person.
Ren decided to get closer to him and look was he still alive or dead, but when she came closer the person with one summersault got on his knees, and gave Ren a strong strike at her stomach with his leg. Ren flew off to the fringe of the building, then the warrior disappeared in with and appeared between Pavel he did the same attack, but this time he applied more energies and Pavel appeared near with Ren Ilya tried to get help them, but their enemy dodged all shooters attacks, he grabbed Ilya's collar and threw the boy away.
"Has he become stronger?" Pavel said getting up, the Russian by raised his head and saw that the enemy was near with Ren with prepared sword to pierce her, Pavel ran straight at the man and jumped at him he could overturn him with himself. Ren noticed that and got up picking her weapon. The warrior pushed Pavel with two legs and that made the boy to fly straight behind the building, "Pavel!" Ren shouted turning her head; the warrior used her misstep and did the same with the tanned girl, Ren flew to the ridge of the roof and fell behind it, but could cling for its ledge, 'Dammit!' she rapped out an oath clinging for the ledge, her weapon fell out of her hands, but the next amused her. When she lowered her head she saw how their former enemy, the Pegasus, was holding Pavel's hand and was flying to the roof. Tardis released the boy when they were on the rooftop, and at the same time Pavel, grabbed Ren's hand and pulled her out to him.
"Thank you." Ren said exhaling.
"Here." Pavel said stretching her short blade to her, "Somehow could grab it." the girl nodded and took it.
"Can I have a little help?!" Ilya shouted dodging warrior's swords. Pavel picked his sword and looked at Tardis.
"I'll attack him from the air." the demon said taking wing into the air and fly straight to the warrior, the person saw him and quickly turned to the demon losing his interest in the boy with guns, 'When I appear near to him he is trying to fight me first, interesting.' Tardis decided to check his observation. The demon circled the fencer and flew higher, dodging his lunge, but the warrior quickly released a lighting out of his hand, Tardis saw it and tried to dodge it, and suddenly the lighting was stopped by a ray of light saving demon's life. He looked onto the roof and saw a boy with guns, who save his life, 'Not, bad child.' Tardis thought, and fly closer to hunters, "Listen!" Tardis shouted, he is attacking me when I'm close to him, try to use it.
The trio nodded and prepared to attack their enemy again. This time Ren was the first one who decided to attack him, her attack became more powerful, the man tried to block them, and suddenly he turned his head and saw Tardis who flying to him, the man jumped away, trying to dodge her attack and to get the Pegasus, but Pavel used this confusion and hit the warrior at his chest, the warrior fell down again, and then got up.
"Is he even a human?!" Pavel exclaimed, he was annoyed and tired from fighting this knight.
"Guys!" the heard Ilya's voice, "I think I can try to shoot his armor through, but I must prepare the shot!"
"Pavel." Ren said, "Let's try to attack him together while this demon will distract him."
"Okay." Pavel smiled seeing that Ren decided to attack the knight together with him. The both dashed to him and started to fight him. If not Tardis the warrior could block their attacks better, but the demon distracted his attention perfectly, after a little time the warrior appeared in the middle of the roof and pierced one of his swords into the surface of the roof, and as he did it a sudden lighting hit the roof, and then another one that hit the place near with Pavel.
"It seems that he still has some tricks." Ren noted.
The knight took out his sword and dashed to Pavel, the boy blocked his lunge, but then the knight change his target and appeared from Ren's right, and the place where Pavel was hit by lighting from the sky, 'Wow that was close.' Pavel said dodging the lighting. Tardis flew to help Ren, the warrior turned his head and disappeared again leaving only spark, he appeared above Tardis and at the same moment he landed onto the Pegasus. The demon didn't withstand the load and fell down onto the roof rolling for a bit. He wanted to finish Tardis but Ren and Pavel were in time to help the demon.
"I'm ready!" they heard Ilya's voice.
Tardis got up and tried to flap with his wings, as he admitted the right wing was injured slightly, as he sensed a painful feeling in it. He decided not to take wing this time and to fight the knight on the ground. The knight prepared to attack him, but in the last moment Tardis used his hand to create a strong puff of wind. The warrior didn't expect it and couldn't dodge it. He fell down and when he was about to get up Pavel and Ren, grabbed his arms in order to stay their enemy long. "Now!" Ren and Pavel shouted in unison. Ilya understood that it was his chance, and aimed the knighted and after a second two strong and bright light rays were released out of his guns. The boy even couldn't to remain standing and flew away. Ren and Pavel quickly jumped away from the warrior, the knight raised his head and wanted to dodge it, but he wasn't able to do it because Tardis used his wind from the air and didn't allow him to make even a single move. The shot reached their aims one has shot through his chest and another one his stomach. The warrior fell down on his knees.
"Have we dealt with him?" Pavel asked, hoping that someone knows the answer.
"I don't know, but that attack was really, strong." Ren admitted looking at Ilya who tried to get up, but did it with high effort, 'It seems that this attack took a lot of powers from this girl.' she thought.
The warrior was sitting on his knees not moving, Ren decided to get closer a bit, Pavel did the same, in order to help Ren if it will be needed, "Aquta… lervet…" the warrior said, and fell down onto the ground.
"What?" Pavel didn't understand what the knight said, and looked at Ren, but she only shook with her head. The next what happed impressed all of them even Tardis, the warrior started to disappear likewise it was a ghost.
"What the hell it was Ren was surprised?" Ren couldn't hide her amusement, "And what did he said?"
"Aqu… vet…? Something like this?" Pavel tried to repeat it but couldn't. Then he turned to Tardis, "By the way we have one unfinished work here."
'You're right." Ren turned to, with her short blade in readiness. Tardis looked at them and was amused.
"Do you still want to fight?"
"Well, we thank you for your help and everything, but you're our enemy, so nothing personal." Pavel said preparing his sword.
"I think we will finish for today." Tardis said and took wing in the air, Ren and Pavel tried to get him but their attempt was failed, "It was a good experience for me to fight side by side with you young hunters, I hope you'll become more powerful when we meet next time." Tardis said and flew away from the battlefield.
When they made sure that the demon flew away, they ran to Ilya who was measured his length on the roof. Pavel lifted the boy slightly and asked him, "Hey, are you alright?"
"Yes." Ilya muttered, and then said with raised voice, "We must help to captain and your ally!" the boy tried to get up, but couldn't as he was depleted and barely could move even with a finger.
Ren looked at Pavel and then at Ilya, "Maybe someone must stay with her?"
"I'll be fine." Ilya responded and then added, "Don't worry I don't disappear." the boy that looked like a girl tried to joke, but it wasn't good, "Just go, don't worry about me." Ilya and Ren nodded and ran to help the ladies.
While Pavel, Ren and Tardis were fighting the mysterious knight, Maria and Chikeko were opposing to two criminals. Both sides were exhausted, but still were continuing to fight. None of sides wanted to lose and applied all force that they only could find. Maria was fighting Mystic, but it was difficult for her, because he was much stronger for her. Chikeko's situation was a bit better, she found that Archon was as skillful as she was, maybe a bit stronger, but still she was able to fight him, and her music could give some effect on him. The only thing the musician teacher didn't like was his weapon. With her spear it was difficult to attack him, so she decided to block his attack and attack him when the situation is good. For Maria everything was worse, she couldn't find an opportunity to counterattack the man with the hood and the cloak. If not her armor, her body would have lots of cuts and bruises.
'Damn I'm not able to defeat him alone.' Maria thought dodge another Mystic's lunge. Maria tried to grab Mystic's arm, but the man was quick and nimble, he avoided all her attempts to do it, she knew that Mystic knows her powers and preferred to keep himself on a distance from her. She even couldn't increase Chikeko's powers, because it could cost her life. Their thought were common, Chikeko in the same way, could use her abilities in battle one by one, because she opened herself to her enemy, that's why both of them thought about someone third.
'We defeated the knight.' Archon and Mystic heard the voice in their head.
'Tardis, have anything happened?' Archon asked interesting in what happened after the Pegasus victory.
'No. I think that this person wasn't the seal.' Tardis replied, 'Maybe we did a mistake?'
The only one who was calm was Mystic he didn't knew what to do, from the first side, they found the what reminded the energy of the seal, but from the other hand it wasn't the thing they were looking for. 'Well, I'll think about it more detailed, when we return.' and then said to his partners, 'Retreat, we have nothing to do here anymore.' and parried Maria's lunge.
'By the way the kids are going to you.' Tardis warned the two.
'Then we must finish here quickly.' Mystic responded, their dual got him tired and he decided to deal with Maria faster. He jumped and threw his blades straight at her, the blades were parried, but after this Mystic quickly appeared in front of Maria he grabbed her hand and starched it Maria heard like something cracked in it, but could stay calm and not to make even a single sound Mystic hit her at her chest, the woman fell down, she tried to get up, but couldn't as she felt a strong pain in her arm.
Archon, on the other hand couldn't fight her faster, Mystic understood it and decided to help him. When the two of them started to fight Chikeko, the white haired woman started to give her ground. She admitted that Mystic was much stronger opponent then the one with gloves, and she was sure that he didn't show all his potential. Chikeko decided to go in defense, because it was useless to look for an opportunity to attack them. Suddenly she saw how Mystic was near with her, Chikeko tried to swing with her spear in order to attack him, but Mystic swung with his arm and a puff of strong wind pushed the teacher off, she wasn't able to withstand such unexpected attack and fell down too. And at this moment they heard steps that became closer and closer.
"I'm sorry ladies, but we must retreat this time. I'd like to fight you a bit longer, but the orders are first." and then a strong puff of the wind cover two criminals and then they disappeared with the wind itself.
'Damn, they're much stronger than I expected.' Chikeko thought getting up.
"Sensei! How are you?" Pavel and Ren shouted in discord, "What with Maria Sergeievna?" Pavel added, worrying for the red haired woman.
"I don't think that she is fine." Chikeko answered and then added, "I think her arm is broken."
"Don't worry I'm fine." the woman was trying to get up when she heard the voices of young hunters, but still she did it too slowly.
"Maria Sergeievna, let me help you." Pavel came closer to her and helped to get up. The boy took her for her good hand and said, "I think it'll be much better."
"What has happened here sensei?" Ren was amused, from seeing that both women had serious wounds.
"Just met enemies who were stronger than we are." Chikeko sided taking out her spear and picking Maria's one, "I'll tell you everything later."
"What with Ilya?" Maria interfered into their dialogue.
"He is on the roof top." Pavel merely replied.
"Alone?" Maria was surprised of such insolence.
"Well the demon flew away and the warrior was defeated, that why we hurried to help you." the Russian boy explained his act; he knew that Maria Sergeievna was very strict and hate thoughtless actions, "Don't worry I think he is alright." Pavel added with a smile.
'So it is the woman that helped them during his first mission here?' Ren thought.
"Let's not fight each other." Chikeko stopped Maria's lecturing, "First thing we must to do is to return to the roof, and check is the girl alright or not." Ren, Maria and Pavel nodded and went to the roof. If Ren and Chikeko could reach it quickly, for Pavel who was helping to Archon's sister, it took a bit more time. While they were heading there Pavel and Maria didn't breathe a word, he saw that the woman was thinking about something, her face was frown and the boy decided not to worry her as he didn't want to be lectured again.
When they finally reached the roof top the saw how Ilya was lying and watching at the night sky. "Oh captain you're alright!" the shooter was glad to see his captain, "Are you alright?!" Ilya asked worried when he saw that Maria didn't move with the arm, the boy that looked like a girl tried to get up, but couldn't as his body felt a big tiredness and in some places it was even hurt.
"Don't move!" Ren tried to lay down Ilya onto the surface of the roof.
"It seems that you released too much power." Maria noticed as she got closer to him.
"I'm sorry." Ilya said with a smile, "But the case demanded me to do so, that man had a firm armor."
"Maria Sergeievna." Pavel joined the conversation, "He is right, if not Ilya, we would still fight this person."
"By the way, where's he?" Chikeko asked wondering, she even didn't notice that there were no signs of the presence of that knight.
"I don't know, but he disappeared." Pavel said.
"What do you mean?" Chikeko didn't understand what Pavel meant.
"Well, when Ilya shot at this person he said something strange and then started to disappear." Ilya didn't know how to explain it better.
"It's true sensei." Ren approved the words of her classmate.
"I see." she sighed. "I think we must return now."
"Shouldn't we look for remained demons?" Pavel was wondered with such order.
"No, in our current state we won't do much, and I can't risk with your lives." she answered him.
"Well, then we leave too." Maria said trying to push Pavel slightly and walk on her own.
"What?!" Ren, Pavel and Chikeko shouted as one.
"Are you seriously?" Chikeko asked the woman, "You have serious wounds! The girl is exhausted and can't and can barely to get up and your arm is not good at all!"
"I told you that there's nothing to worry about." Maria insisted, but this time Ren interfered.
"Sensei is right; it's too reckless for you to go on your own. In such state even ordinary demons will deal with you quickly, not speaking about the one's we met."
"Maria Sergeievna." the boy joined to the talk, "They are right, why you don't go with us?"
"Are you seriously?" Maria looked at Pavel, "We're on the territory of the other country, what do you think will happen with us if our presence will be revealed."
Pavel fell silent he really didn't think about this, if he and Oleg Semenovich have a permission to be in Japan, Maria and Ilya had no it at all.
"Don't worry, I think Igawa-san will think something." Chikeko tried to calm Maria, but by her eyes, she saw that it didn't work.
"Captain." Ilya decided to join their talk, "Maybe their right? I don't think that your abilities will work on me this time, I think it's not a bad idea after all."
Maria didn't know what to do, she didn't want to go with Japanese hunters and reveal herself to their government, but still she could endanger her partner and herself. She didn't want to agree, but they were right, in such state, they are easy targets and it would be really reckless to negate it. She thought a little more and then decided, to follow them.
"It seems that I have no other choice, but to agree with you." the woman accepted their offer.
When everything was settled, Pavel offered to Ren to help to Maria, and the Russian boy settled Ilya on his back. They were waiting for their transport, and when it arrived they all entered it and headed to the base.