The local police kept everyone from the crime scene. Max, Corben, and Waller moved up to check things out. A few Senior Agents eyed the trio oddly. But had know idea who they were.
Just told to leave the rookies alone.
"Try not to get yourself killed and things will be alright. I doubt you see any action." Mr.Bones said towards Corben and Max. Waller already saw some action. "Keep casualties as low as possible."
The trio shot off. Moving in loose formation. But close enough to Max that they could feel his magical protection over them. Allowing the two to use their spiritual energy more on the surroundings.
Every shifting shadow, and bumped in the alley was caught by them. They made a fair time covering ground. Max leading them directly to the worse area after 10 minutes. One of his contractees was in the area. Using a spell to make detection really hard. Even from him.
A few magical constructs were taken out along the way.
Enough to get rid of the jitters for Corben. Waller became more comfortable as well. Already catching on to the fact that this was a much dangerous mission than normal.
"Hold here!" Max stopped at a wall. The remains of building really. Smoke going into the sky. Something large and powerful melted the building to almost nothing. Feeling the energy wave off, was enough to identify the type of magic. "Do not use any dark type support. It will just make it worse."
They nodded. Knowing Max's senses took note of their actions.
In the street were a bunch of people. Cloaked figures pinning people to the ground as they absorbed the little traces of magic they had. The bodies looked awful and aged by a lot. They were stealing the "potential of magic" from the people. Which would age them and make them weaker despite their actual ages.
"She has to be here! Find her before it is to late!" The lead mage barked. The other mages stopped absorbing the magical essence of the people and fanned out. The magical constructs following behind them. They grumbled on able to become better. "Useless weaklings."
As the big wig looked at the people, he moved to start draining them. A sinister smile on his face. They would help him until they find their target.
*Shing!* A sword appeared out of the air and slashed a few inches from the evil mage. He floated back out of the way. Out of the shadows, a female teen walked out, it was Zatanna Zatarra.
Beaten up a little and not happy. They had been hunting her for awhile. For some reason, she thought it a good idea not to tell anyone. A stern talking was coming her way later. Max reached out to the young sorceress mentally.
She made no gesture towards him but made not to watch her words since he was in agent armor.
"Ah, my little jewel, there you are!" The evil mage said. The hood coming off revealing his burned up face. Max knew of this man. It was Liam Cassidy. The head of the Cassidy Family, who took magic from artifacts to make them safe. But that is not the current thing going on. He was anything but good right now. "My master will be pleased."
"You wish!" Zatanna's eyes flared with magic. A white-blue glow wrapped around some cars. With a flick of the wrist, they were launched towards Liam. "You won't get me like my mom!"
As the cars flew in the air towards Liam, Waller, and Corbin moved in slinging their rifles behind. The evacuated the people by breaking the magic holds on them. The gloves they wore lit up to break the magic apart.
Magic cancellers even low-level ones were good when use correctly. Rescue detail was up to them. Which they were happy for. Dealing with the melted face was not in the cards. Even Waller didn't want to deal with the creep.
*Boom! Boom!* Both cars exploded against a magical shield. This drew the attention of the other agents in the area. As well as the mages. But the agents moved quicker to intercept.
"You will pay for that!" Liam snarled as the smoke cleared. Seeing Max, he was only momentary shocked. Then it turned to fear. Unable to read the magic on Max beyond the equipment or see through the armor really wore. "What are you?!"
"Help! That is all that matters." Zatanna started to mutter an incantation. "And your end!" She started to cut loose with Max here. 'Finally some help. I really wish John was here.'
*Pow!* Max fired the rifle. Each shot carrying his magic to do more damage. The first round causes Liam to flinch in fear. It hit against his magical barrier, breaking it instantly.
*Pow!* The next shot hitting the shoulder. A mana slug inside that burned golden. A purifying round that tried to free the man. But, it faded quickly. Letting Max know exactly what he needed.
"Hurry and move those people out of here!" Max hollered. Liam was barely human left. No soul inside as he traded it away. Which means to Max, he was a willing participant. "Traitor to humanity!" The next shot was levied towards the heart.
*Schup!* Liam started to use his magic to escape. He could not risk holding magic in reserve against Max or Zatanna togethor. A few constructs minions made it back.
"Deploy!" Max sent out to turrets from his back. They transformed into walking drones. Three legs to stand on with an anchor that stabbed in the ground. The guns were tri barrel that opened fire immediately. "Kill anything that come into the area!"
"Acknowledge!" The turrets responded. Opening fire full auto. The rounds exploded on impact with hot plasma. Inside were small magic rounds. Perfect magical construct killer.
Zatanna was still casting away. Ripples of magic changing the surroundings a little. She started to float off the ground from the power.
*Pow!* Max shot at Liam again. Running directly at him as he fired. Liam floated around sending bolts of black fire. A few shots sent to Zatanna evaporated instantly. Her output vastly higher than his.
'The magic gem in her is more powerful than any other. She must be captured and drained for the master.' Liam eyed Max intently. 'And this one, what is he?!' Eyes burning as spells tried to unravel who Max was. 'I still cannot get through!'
Not to far away, the agents were still keeping the other mages bogged down. The magical essences they took from the people gave the mages a little bit of an edge over time. The people they took it from started to fade fast.
"We are losing them over here!" Waller yelled over her shoulder. The man in her arms turned pale. Eyes rolled in the back of his head. "This is way to fast." Laying him down, she sent a distress signal out for evac.
*Bzzzt!* Interference came in on the comm. Corben pulled a few more over. He spotted an enemy mage coming around the corner. Someone broke through.
"Contact!" Corben slung his rifle and fired. His shots going wild but at least causing the mage to take cover. It's magical shield blocking must shots that would have hit. Not having a target anymore he pulled a small device from his chest. "Shield up! 3 minutes!"
A little energy shield went up. The actual time frame was five. But the enemy didn't need to know that.
*Pow!* Max fired once more. But not at Liam, at the jeep underneath him. The vehicle exploded magnificently. Sending the evil mage high into the air.
"Grr!" Liam growled frustratedly. Magic from him in waves as he pulled in magic. He rightened himself up in the air. The magic he pulled from his cohorts feeding his power. If they couldn't take care of government agents, what good were they? "The gem is mine!"
"Ahh!"
"Please no!"
Screams came from the surroundings. The other mages almost dying from the pull of magic. But something inferred with it. A bluish-white glow wrapped them up. Cutting off the connection to Liam as well as to the people.
"Hogu hamar metsaguyni zhkhtumy." The negation of the greatest for the soul. Zatanna finished the spell. The people were nor free from the hold. Liam started twisting in pain and agony. "Ha... ha... that took a lot out of me."
As she recovered, Max sent her word mentally to run. He felt the presence of stronger agents coming. Ones who actually had magic. The turrets turned to them on protocol. But they did not fire just yet.
"Liam, it is over." An agent shouted out. A two-man team made it over from above. With more coming down next. Boots exuding a little jetstream. The agent looked around for whoever cast the spell just now. That power was more than they ever came across before. Zatanna already booking it down an alley. "Go after the escapee!"
*Pow!* Max shot at Liam. Ignoring the order outright. He was going to kill the traitor on site.
"What the hell are you doing!" Another agent yelled. A mystical barrier deploys as they got in the way to shield Liam. "You can not kill him!" Max ignored and fired twice more.
Mentally he commanded the turrets to train sight on the down mage before he could recover. Opening fire immediately an opening arrived.
"He is a traitor to humanity and stole the magical essence of normal people. Orders are clear, he dies. Draining humans and Committing Sacrifices is a grave offense." Max said. "You do not order me or my team either. Stand aside, or stand down...." A few electric kunais in hand pointing at them from his other hand. ".. or never stand again."
Corbin and Waller took a position behind a vehicle closer. The people were out of danger with the magic of Zatanna effecting them. Both were ready to fight the senior agents. Something was odd about these agents however.
They knew the orders from Mr.Bones and still tried to order them about. Even ordering them to go after someone who is not a current priority. Liam was high on the takedown list from his actions. Especially after feeding on regular people so openly. Then there was the damage to the property.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" The senior agent spoke arrogantly. He couldn't let Liam die here. To much was at stake with his family otherwise. It was worth defying orders. "You sure you want to.."
*Koom Koom Koom!* The tri barrell of one of the turret opened up on Liam. Liam, bodied rolled on the ground as the second started firing. The body was pushed out of the way of the agents into the opening.
"Damn it!" The Senior agent ran in the way. More agents came over with the other mages cuffed and secured. Having know idea what was going on. "That team is under control..." he yelled to the new comers. "Subdue them!"
"That guy has a screw loose!" Waller yelled. She turned to the other agents and aimed. "You fire, it will not end well. Ask the others what is going on!"
In the heat of fire, the agents however followed the Senior Agent. A firefight ensued. Max moved back towards the others as he fired. Taking shots to his front but not dropping.
The three held fast against the different teams. But anger started to rise as Liam got up in the confusion. The turrets were taken down from focus fire. Exploding in a blue haze.
With the escape of the evil mage, Max lost it. The rifle was handed to Waller to use. She was actually trained to deal with the higher ouput. Right before Max could pop out and go on the melee offensive, a helicopter dropped a spotlight down on them.
Mr.Bones hanging out of the side with a megaphone. Behind Max and the team, the van came up. Luna hopped out fully geared. Two pistols in her hand.
"All of you, stand down now!" Mr.Bones ordered. Max visibly bristled in anger. His spiritual sense couldn't find Liam at all. The only good thing was that Zatanna got away and the people were still alive. "Agent Cassidy, relinquish your weapon at once."
The senior agent did just that. He expected this, but his family came first. And Liam was still his uncle. Despite what was going on currently.
For family, the man just endangered a lot of people. His team understood. But not Max and the others. All those who had their Magic Essence drained were loaded up and brought to a quartine zone.
Zatanna severed the connection but not perfectly. Liam needed to be killed to break the hold. Currently, they were stable. But that could change any minute.