The wind had risen.
The gentle breeze flowing around the siblings suddenly surged into a violent gale. It solidified into a wall of compressed air, deflecting the incoming bullets.
"The bullets, they just bounced off! What the hell is that?"
"Who cares what it is, keep shooting! It's Progress Day today. We absolutely can't let these troublemakers reach the Upper City."
"You three, get to the front and block them with riot shields!"
The scene before them surpassed their understanding of conventional threats, but years of training kept them from panicking outright
They ordered their hired thugs to form a defensive line with riot shields, while they switched their rifles to full-automatic mode.
Perhaps due to ongoing pressure from Zaun's technological advancement, the enforcers' equipment had been significantly upgraded compared to standard issue gear. Ironically, the threat of being outclassed had forced modernization.
Though they weren't armed with Hextech weapons like Caitlyn's rifle, the firearms in their hands were modified versions of the VK-47 Flatline, robust, dependable, and deadly.
Now in full-auto mode, the rifles in the enforcers' hands spat fire. In the middle of the staccato drumbeat of gunfire, da-da-da-da, dozens of bullets flew toward the siblings.
But their technology was no match for magic. Dozens of bullets vanished into the wind wall without a trace, utterly useless against Janna's divine protection.
Wherever the siblings passed, it was like a localized hurricane sweeping through the street. The defensive wall of riot shields formed by three thugs was instantly blown apart, the men tumbling like leaves in a storm.
"Damn it all!"
The siblings moved too fast.
The enforcers were still fumbling to reload their rifles and had no way to stop the approaching figures. To avoid being swept away by the storm themselves, they had no choice but to step aside, watching helplessly as the siblings blazed past their position.
By the time fresh magazines were slapped into place, the siblings were already long gone. The enforcers pulled their triggers wildly in frustration, but the bullets could only strike empty air and concrete walls.
"Captain Marcus, Captain Marcus, do you copy?"
The lead enforcer realized the severity of the situation.
The name Ionia had spread across the continent following recent conflicts with Noxus on the eastern front, bringing tales of mystical warriors and impossible abilities.
Piltover, being a global trade hub with extensive intelligence networks, had naturally heard detailed reports of the bizarre abilities displayed by Ionian defenders. It was said they all seemed to possess some form of supernatural talent.
In special cases, some could even awaken powerful magical abilities.
What the siblings just demonstrated, manifesting a wind barrier that completely ignored modern firearms, looked exactly like those reported Ionian techniques.
"I'm here. What happened out there?"
Captain Marcus could hear the urgency and barely controlled panic in his subordinate's voice through the crackling radio.
"Two Ionians broke through the blockade using what appears to be combat magic. I suspect they've awakened supernatural abilities, they can control wind currents and move at inhuman speeds. Our bullets had zero effect on them."
The enforcer quickly reported the situation.
"Which direction did they go?"
Marcus felt his pupils contract. Indentured workers held deep, festering resentment toward Piltover's system, and magically awakened ones represented an exponentially more dangerous threat.
If they reached populated areas seeking revenge for their treatment, the consequences could be catastrophic.
"Toward the central district. They're headed straight for the government quarter, it's a direct route from their current position."
The enforcer also realized how serious this development was. These suspected magic users represented a clear and present danger to the city's leadership.
If they reached the central district where Piltover's elite resided and caused magical chaos during Progress Day, everyone involved in tonight's operation was finished.
They'd all have to be grateful if summary execution was the worst punishment they faced.
"Damn it all to hell. Pursue immediately and report every development to me personally."
"I'll notify Sheriff Grayson to initiate citywide lockdown, sound the general alarm, and activate the central district's defense systems."
Marcus ended the communication. While the other indentured workers had been successfully suppressed, he immediately redirected all available personnel to reinforce the government quarter.
At the same time, he reported everything through official channels to Piltover Security's Sheriff Grayson, knowing this situation was far beyond his authority level.
Indentured labor was perfectly legal under Piltover law, and the enforcers' actions were completely in line with the city's version of justice. He had nothing to hide.
Wooo-wooo-wooo...
Moments later, a piercing alarm rang through the peaceful night sky across all of Piltover's districts.
"Level 2 security alert! All personnel to stations! Move, move, move! Get to your positions on the defense towers immediately!"
"Suspects are two Ionians with confirmed magical abilities, if verbal warnings fail, you are authorized to shoot to kill. Under no circumstances can they be allowed to breach the central district perimeter."
A large number of enforcers mobilized. On the streets surrounding the central district, there stood numerous imposing structures that resembled fortress towers rather than civilian buildings.
Constructed from massive amounts of reinforced alloy, the buildings were entirely matte black, resembling steel pillars driven into the earth, each topped with a rounded bunker structure.
As the alarm blared across the city, hidden floor panels in the bunkers slid open, revealing several Hextech machine guns glowing with blue light.
This was the external defense system of the central district, personally and meticulously designed by Jayce.
Though Piltover didn't yet possess true artificial intelligence technology, its current defense systems represented the pinnacle of automated warfare requiring minimal human coordination.
The bunkers of the outer defense system were equipped with one-way energy shields for protection, and their reinforced walls featured strategically positioned firing ports. Combined with the firepower of the Hextech machine guns, it was extremely difficult for ordinary forces to break through the blockade.
"What the hell happened? Why did they activate Level 2 security? Even the central district's external defense grid is coming online?"
Jayce came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the street. He was intimately familiar with Piltover's defense systems, and he recognized the distinctive sound of the emergency alarms.
Level 2 security was second only to Level 1 wartime alert, it could only be activated when facing a major threat to the city's stability and leadership.
"It must be related to the explosion in the industrial zone. If we hurry—"
Before Caitlyn could finish her sentence, her communications device beeped. A middle-aged woman's voice came through.
"Attention all enforcers: Captain Marcus has confirmed that two Ionians, suspected of possessing active magical abilities, are currently fleeing toward the central district."
"The targets display extreme hostility toward Piltover and are highly dangerous. If warnings fail, you are authorized to use lethal force without hesitation!"
"I repeat, lethal force is authorized. Do not attempt to subdue magically enhanced targets through conventional means."
Caitlyn's pupils contracted. She glanced at Jayce.
"That's Sheriff Grayson's voice. This is no ordinary incident, we have to move now."
"Right," Jayce nodded grimly, adjusting his grip on the massive hammer.
The two picked up their pace again. Before long, they heard the distinctive sound of intense gunfire echoing through the streets ahead.
Then, they saw two figures charging straight toward.
The pair were wrapped in a layer of white airflow that distorted the air around them, moving at an incredible speed.
Behind them, the enforcers in pursuit were barely visible in the distance, their shouts and gunfire growing fainter by the second.
"Stop! Submit to investigation or we will open fire!" Caitlyn shouted.
She disengaged the safety on her Hextech rifle, and brilliant blue energy began to course through the weapon's crystal matrix.
Jayce transformed his warhammer into its cannon configuration, the weapon's muzzle humming with energy, crosshairs locked on the incoming targets.
Both of them realized: these two individuals were the direct cause of tonight's chaos and destruction.
"That's Caitlyn ahead! Stop! Listen to them! Don't resist, they're here to help!"
Powder's voice issued a timely command over the comms.
The siblings obeyed the instruction immediately, but their momentum was too great, by the time they managed to halt their sprint, they were already within ten meters of Caitlyn and Jayce.
At that dangerously close range, both Piltovans risked missing their targets entirely if they were forced to open fire, and collateral damage became a serious concern.
"Hands up! Dispel the magical effect around you immediately! Make no suspicious moves, or I will shoot to kill!"
Caitlyn approached with caution, rifle raised and finger resting on the trigger. Jayce positioned himself behind her and to the side, ready to provide backup fire if needed.
When dealing with magic-wielding suspects, you could never be too careful.
The siblings offered no resistance whatsoever. They obediently raised their hands above their heads, and the white airflow that had protected them gradually dissipated.
Caitlyn quickly stepped forward and secured the siblings with the restraints at her waist.
Then she noticed something deeply disturbing, these two individuals, supposedly powerful Ionian mages capable of deflecting bullets, looked like walking corpses rather than mystical warriors.
Their faces were gaunt and pale, their bodies severely malnourished and covered in layers of industrial filth and human waste. Their clothes were little more than tattered rags.
These are supposed to be noble mages with supernatural powers? Are we absolutely certain they're not escaped slaves from some Noxian labor camp?
She began to suspect there might be a far bigger story behind these two.
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60 Advance Chapters!
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