The cool sensation of the Invisibility spell hadn't fully dissipated from his skin when Marcus's ferocious face filled all of Ryan's vision. That gleaming dagger sliced through the air with a sharp whoosh, stabbing towards the spot where Ryan had just been standing. If not for the Invisibility spell activated by the system in time, he likely would have been pierced through the chest.
"Damn it! Where did he go?" Marcus's dagger stabbed into empty air, sinking heavily into the solid wood wardrobe door with a solid thunk. He yanked it out violently, splinters flying. His bloodshot eyes swept frantically around the room. The previously feigned composure vanished entirely, replaced only by a madness twisted by desire and rage.
Ryan held his breath, standing rigidly in place. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, almost leaping out of his throat. He could clearly smell the cheap tobacco scent emanating from Marcus, mixed with a faint, elusive odor of decay—the unique smell left by the long-term erosion of dark magic on a body. The semi-transparent state provided by the Invisibility spell greatly increased his sense of security. But the system's alert suddenly rang in his mind: "Warning! The Faint Invisibility spell can only evade visual detection; it cannot mask scent or sound. The host must remain still and suppress breathing."
Ryan's heart tightened. He quickly adjusted his breathing rhythm, minimizing it as much as possible. He could feel Marcus's footsteps hovering nearby; every scrape of shoe soles against the floor hammered his nerves. Marcus's left hand unconsciously rubbed the strange tattoo on his wrist. In the True Sight's vision, that tattoo continuously emitted thick, dark energy, resonating distantly with the symbol on the wardrobe.
"Stop hiding! I know you're still here!" Marcus's voice was hoarse, as if sandpapered. He swung the dagger wildly around the room. An expensive oil painting was slashed with a long tear; the leather sofa armrest was hacked with a deep gash. "You have no control over that symbol's power. Be sensible and come out, and maybe I'll make it quick for you!"
Ryan ignored his shouts. His brain raced, searching for an escape route. The bedroom door was locked by Marcus; the window was the only way out. But jumping from the second floor would likely cause injury, and outside was the villa's backyard, most likely with security patrols. Yet, the current situation left no room for hesitation.
He cautiously shifted his feet, each step light as a cat's, carefully avoiding floorboard seams to prevent sound. Just as he neared the window, a slight creak suddenly came from underfoot—he had accidentally stepped on a loose floorboard.
Though soft, the sound was piercingly loud in the silent bedroom. Marcus instantly stopped, sharply turning his head towards the sound's direction. "Over there!" he roared, charging forward. The dagger swung even faster, the blade carving arcs of cold light in the air, several times grazing Ryan's body. The displaced air stung his skin.
Ryan was terrified out of his wits. No longer caring about hiding noise, he turned and sprinted towards the bedroom door. He knew he couldn't outrun Marcus; he could only hope for the villa's complex interior layout. The True Sight effect persisted. He could clearly see the dark energy around Marcus fluctuating violently as he ran. That dark magical aura grew denser, even making the surrounding air feel viscous.
"Trying to run? No way!" Marcus's voice was close behind. Ryan could feel that sinister aura catching up. He flailed his arms desperately, trying to create distance, but in his panic, he knocked over the coat rack by the door. The rack crashed down with a thud, suits scattering everywhere, momentarily blocking Marcus's path.
"Shit!" Marcus's angry curse came, accompanied by the sound of trampled clothes. Seizing the chance, Ryan pulled open the door and rushed out. The second-floor corridor was carpeted thickly, effectively absorbing footsteps. He ran frantically down the hallway, eyes rapidly scanning the surrounding rooms, hoping to find a hiding place.
The villa's layout was far more complex than he imagined. Over a dozen doors lined both sides of the corridor, each closed. Marcus's footsteps quickly caught up. He seemed intimately familiar with the villa's layout, pursuing Ryan's direction without hesitation. Knowing he couldn't run aimlessly any longer, Ryan randomly pushed open a door, dashed in, then closed it behind him, pressing his back against it with all his might.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Heavy impacts immediately sounded. Marcus slammed his body against the door violently. The door panel creaked and groaned as if ready to burst open any second. Ryan gritted his teeth, using all his strength to hold the door. Sweat dripped from his forehead down his cheeks, falling onto the carpet.
He took the opportunity to assess the room. It was a study. Bookshelves lined with various hardcover books; a massive desk occupied the center. Behind the desk was a glass door leading to a balcony—another escape opportunity. But he knew the moment he left the door, Marcus would catch him.
"Kid, you think you can hide?" Marcus's voice came through the door, tinged with mockery. "This villa is set with my Dark Magic Barrier. Even if you run out, you'll be trapped by it. Come out obediently and face your death!"
Barrier? Ryan's heart jolted. He immediately activated True Sight, looking out the window. Sure enough, he saw a faint black light curtain enveloping the entire villa, isolating it from the outside world. That curtain was covered in complex magical runes, an enlarged version of Marcus's wrist tattoo.
"System, can this barrier be broken?" Ryan asked anxiously in his mind.
"Dark Magic Barrier (Elementary Level) detected. Host's current level is too low to break directly. Recommend attempting to locate the barrier's weak point or using magical artifacts to disrupt it," the system's mechanical voice responded swiftly.
Magical artifacts? Ryan immediately thought of the Beginner's Magic Manual from his newbie kit, but he had no time to study its contents. Just then, the door's impact sounds suddenly ceased. Was Marcus giving up? Ryan wondered.
He was about to peek through the door crack when he felt a sinister aura seeping through the gap. Then, black runes identical to the barrier's suddenly glowed on the door, emitting a faint red light. The door's lock mechanism began making a fizzing sound, as if being corroded by some force.
"Bad! He's using dark magic to open the door!" Ryan thought, alarmed. He hastily backed away a couple of steps. Knowing the door would soon open, he had to find the barrier's weak point quickly. He ran to the window, using True Sight to scrutinize the black light curtain enveloping the villa, hoping to find a flaw.
The runes on the curtain were dense, interwoven, forming a complete energy network. Ryan's gaze swept rapidly across it. Suddenly, in the direction of the villa's backyard, he noticed one area where the runes' glow was noticeably dimmer, and the dark energy there seemed thinner.
"Found it!" Ryan's heart leaped with hope. At that moment, the door made a click—the lock was completely corroded. Marcus kicked the door open with a snarl and stepped in. "Kid, game over!"
Ryan didn't hesitate for a second. He turned and dashed towards the balcony. Pushing open the glass door, he leaped from the second-floor balcony. Landing, he deliberately aimed for a grassy patch. The soft lawn cushioned most of the impact, but a sharp pain shot through his knee, nearly preventing him from standing.
Marcus followed closely, jumping from the balcony as well, landing steadily without any sign of injury. The power of dark magic enhanced his physical abilities far beyond normal. "Trying to escape through the barrier's weak point? You're quite clever," Marcus said, stepping towards Ryan, his eyes filled with cat-and-mouse mockery. "Pity, you're still too green."
Ryan forced himself up despite the knee pain. He knew there was no retreat; he had to face this head-on. He activated True Sight, staring intently at the dark energy around Marcus, trying to find a weakness. In True Sight's view, Marcus's wrist tattoo was the densest source of dark energy—likely the core of his power.
"Stop struggling. You're no match for me." Marcus brandished the dagger, launching his final attack. Ryan sidestepped, the dagger grazing his shoulder, tearing a long slit in his clothes. Seizing the chance, he reached out, grabbing for Marcus's wrist, aiming to disrupt the tattoo.
Marcus, unprepared for Ryan's counterattack, was caught off guard. The moment Ryan's fingers touched Marcus's wrist, a searing, painful sting shot through them, as if touching a red-hot branding iron. Marcus's tattoo glowed red, releasing a powerful force that blasted Ryan backward, sending him crashing heavily to the ground.
"Seeking death!" Marcus was thoroughly enraged. He raised the dagger, thrusting it viciously towards Ryan's chest. Ryan closed his eyes, despairingly awaiting death. Suddenly, he heard a tremendous boom. The black light curtain surrounding the villa violently rippled, then instantly dissipated.
Marcus's movement froze abruptly, disbelief on his face. "My barrier... how could it break?" He turned towards the villa's main entrance, his eyes filled with terror. Ryan followed his gaze. The villa's main door had been kicked open. Several figures rushed in swiftly. The leader wore a black trench coat, emanating a powerful aura—clearly not an ordinary person.
"Marcus, you have violated the Equilibrium Council's edicts by using dark magic privately and kidnapping a wealthy individual. Surrender now!" The leader's voice was ice-cold, carrying unquestionable authority. Marcus's face paled; he knew he'd encountered formidable opponents. He glanced at Ryan on the ground, then at the newcomers, a flash of ruthlessness and unwillingness in his eyes.
"Catch me? Not that easy!" Marcus suddenly turned and sprinted towards the woods in the villa's backyard, his speed astonishingly fast. The leader snorted coldly, ordering those beside him, "Pursue! Don't let him escape!" Several immediately gave chase, leaving only one person behind.
That person walked slowly over to Ryan, looking down at him appraisingly. Ryan looked up. The person wore a silver badge on his chest, engraved with a complex rune somewhat similar to the system's symbols. "Who are you? Why are you here?" The person's voice was cold, laced with strong scrutiny.
Ryan struggled to stand but found the pain in his knee intensifying. Looking at the person before him, his mind swirled with questions: Who were these people? What was this "Equilibrium Council" they mentioned? Even though Marcus escaped, he knew this case was far from over. And where would these people take him? To what kind of unknown world?