Bang, bang, bang.
Three muffled shots rang out, and three bodies lay sprawled on the ground.
Lucille looked at the handgun, frowning. "Still not quiet enough. It might draw attention."
"You're already amazing, Lucille," Sudiya said, her tone tinged with admiration. "I never thought changing the mana input could alter the bullet's sound. Now it's barely louder than a stone hitting the ground."
"It's still not enough," Lucille said, shaking his head. "We're encountering more people. Even if they don't know our exact location, they've likely figured out our general direction."
"Lucille…" Sudiya looked at him with concern.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Lucille said firmly. "You won't face any danger."
"No, I just…" Sudiya started to protest, but her words cut off as two figures emerged from the alley's corner. She fell silent, ducking behind Lucille.
"Well, well, look what we found!" the man on the left said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "What a pretty little thing! Quick, I want to take her back!"
"Don't forget your mission, Baya," the man on the right said, eyeing Lucille and Sudiya warily, ready for any sudden moves. "They've got a Tier One Duty Wielder."
"Pfft! What's that matter? Tier One Duty Wielders are trash!" Baya spread his arms theatrically, taunting the pair. "So many people can't find the Little Princess. What are the odds we do? Let's have some fun while the chaos lasts!"
"Hey, you," Baya sneered at Lucille. "Here's your chance. Shoot out your own limbs with that gun, then toss it to us, and I'll let you live. How's that?"
Despite the insulting words, Lucille's expression remained calm. Sudiya leaned close, whispering in his ear, "Lucille, what's their level?"
"Tier Four, maybe Five," Lucille replied instantly. "Probably Five, but… Tier Six isn't out of the question."
"What?" Sudiya's face paled. "How do we fight that? One of them could take us both, right? Lucille, let's run. Grab my hand, and I'll teleport us. Hold on tight!"
"It's fine," Lucille said calmly, shaking his head. "I told you, I'll keep you safe."
"Then… do you have a plan?" Sudiya asked, her face whitening further as Baya charged toward them. Though terrified, she trusted Lucille and stayed put, resisting the urge to teleport.
She imagined Baya's dagger slicing toward Lucille. Untrained and overwhelmed, she squeezed her eyes shut, hiding behind him.
Just as Baya thought he had them, Quick, who had been motionless, sensed something wrong. "No! Their mana fluctuations! They're not just Tier One!"
But Baya, mid-leap, couldn't change course. He heard Quick's warning but dismissed it, focusing on driving his dagger into Lucille.
One more second, and he's dead by my blade!
In that single second, Baya's expression shifted from confidence to confusion, then to sheer terror.
He watched Sudiya's figure vanish, replaced by a stranger—an overwhelmingly powerful presence.
[Condition One: Sudiya bears a Swap Mark]
When Night Star gave Lucille the Mana Crystal, she had also placed a Swap Mark on Sudiya.
[Condition Two: The mark lasts no longer than a day]
Lucille's haste in moving Sudiya wasn't just because of Baudin's group. He also wanted to act while Sudiya's mark was still active, as a final precaution.
Now, the conditions were met. Swap Position!
Night Star appeared in Sudiya's place.
Baya stared in horror, his heart filled with regret.
Damn it! Why is there a Tier Six—no, a Tier Eight mage?!
Are high-tier Duty Wielders common as cabbages now?!
He just wanted some fun. Why did he run into someone like this?
Before he could process it, ice spikes pierced his brain.
He was dead.
Baya never imagined that while toying with what he thought were ants, a mage would appear, exploiting his greatest vulnerability.
There was no medicine for regret.
Quick couldn't change Baya's fate. He watched as Baya crumpled to his knees, then slumped lifelessly to the ground.
"That… idiot…" Quick gritted his teeth, pressing a sapphire Duty Crystal into his waist. A massive shield materialized in his hand. Gripping it tightly, he advanced slowly. "Idiot Baya… I warned you… Whatever. I'll join you soon enough."
His pace quickened, faster and faster, until he charged, clad in heavy armor and wielding his shield.
Night Star sensed clearly: he was indeed Tier Six.
But to her, he was still too weak.
A pure white gem gleamed on the back of her hand. Dressed in pristine mage robes, she effortlessly lifted a heavy staff, aiming it at Quick.
"Dark Mire."
"Venomous Gold Pool."
"Frost Seal."
"Bone-Rotting Pain."
Spells poured from her, targeting Quick's feet or body. To a mage, a lumbering knight was a perfect target. Even without tier suppression, Quick stood no chance.
This was a suicidal charge, and Night Star obliged.
The two men might have been brothers in arms, but that didn't erase their heinous deeds. Had they not crossed paths, fine—but since they had, Lucille saw fit to deliver justice.
He stepped forward, drawing mana from the Mana Crystal and channeling it into the handgun, forming bullets ready to fire.
Under Night Star's relentless spells, Quick's charge slowed, then faltered. Exhausted, he stood still, propped up only by his shield.
It was his last ounce of strength. He could only watch as Lucille approached, raising the handgun.
"That woman, fine," Quick said, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "But this thing… you think it can hurt me?"
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
Lucille fired five shots. Quick's body tipped backward, collapsing like a fallen mountain with a thunderous crash.
He had underestimated Lucille's "special bullets."
A warm current flowed through Lucille, strengthening his body, mana, and soul—an addictive sensation, urging him to kill more.
Kill! Grow stronger!
Kill until you stand at the world's peak!
An ordinary person might have succumbed to the urge.
But Lucille shook his head firmly, easily suppressing the temptation.
He remained unshaken.