The sirens grew louder—deep, metallic, echoing through the fractured streets.
Arc Modeus felt them in his teeth.
Titanborn cursed under his breath, scanning the rooftops for incoming troops. Mindwright pulled a soaked paper slip from his coat—an emergency boundary map—and Blinkstep bounced nervously, boots splashing.
They weren't afraid of a fight.
They were afraid of the law.
"Central Forces aren't like street guards," Mindwright muttered, voice tight. "These squads have Stage-5s. And Legal Enforcement Arts."
Titanborn spat rainwater. "So we smash them if they try—"
"No," Mindwright cut sharply. "If we show combat intent, they'll mark us as ability-hostile."
Arc barely heard them.
He stared at the knife in his hand.
The handle was wrapped in old cloth, the blade sharpened so perfectly that it looked unnatural in the lamplight. The blood on the tip glowed faintly with residual Art energy.
Elias hadn't just killed that Beastborn.
He'd killed a strong one.
Blinkstep glanced at the knife and whistled low.
"This feels like bait. Why give you his murder toy?"
Arc's puppet giggled with a crackle of wood.
"He wants us to move. He wants to see where we run."
Arc looked up.
He agreed.
The Sky Cracks Open
A thundering boom echoed overhead.
A massive drone—black, angular, with a spinning mana core—descended over the street. Its searchlights swept across the shattered ground.
A mechanical voice roared:
"ILLICIT ART ACTIVITY DETECTED.
KNEEL IMMEDIATELY."
Titanborn growled. "I'm not kneeli—"
Mindwright grabbed his arm.
"Stop. Fighting will make us fugitives."
Blinkstep exhaled. "Bad news: I see boots incoming."
Down the street, through the sheets of rain, figures in dark armor marched in formation. Their armor hummed with muted mana pulses—proof they were trained Art users.
Arc's puppet shook violently.
Arc whispered, "They can't sense him."
Mindwright's head snapped up. "What?"
Arc held up the knife.
"This is why they're here. They think I did this."
Titanborn stepped forward, cracking his neck.
"So we tell them the truth."
Blinkstep snorted. "Oh sure, 'Hey, officers, a skinny kid with no powers cut a Beastborn in half and vanished into the rain!' Very believable."
Mindwright rubbed his forehead.
"They won't listen. They have quotas for Art incidents. They'll assume we fought each other."
Arc slipped the knife into his coat.
"You three leave."
Titanborn barked a laugh. "Absolutely not. They'll kill you."
Arc didn't blink.
"I'll handle them."
Blinkstep squinted. "Puppet-boy… are you crazy?"
Arc looked at the distant lights moving toward them.
"Someone has to stall."
Mindwright stepped closer. "Arc. They'll arrest you. Or worse."
Arc lowered his head.
"If they take me… he'll come back."
Silence snapped between them.
Titanborn's expression changed.
"Arc…" he muttered. "You think this hunter kid cares if they take you?"
Arc held his puppet tighter.
"He left the knife for me."
Mindwright's breath caught.
Blinkstep stopped smiling.
The rain seemed to quiet around them.
Arc whispered:
"If I move wrong, he'll be watching."
Footsteps Approach
Central Forces turned the corner, weapons raised.
A woman stepped forward—tall, armored, eyes glowing orange with Stage-4 energy.
"Hands where we can see them!"
Titanborn stiffened. Blinkstep's hand twitched toward his dagger. Mindwright's mind spun like a machine.
Arc stepped forward alone.
"I'm the Marionettics user," he said quietly.
"I'll go with you."
Titanborn growled, "Arc—!"
But Arc raised a hand without looking back.
"It's fine."
The officer eyed him. "State your identity."
Arc stared blankly.
"My name is Arc Modeus."
Her visor lit up. A scan ran across his body.
She frowned.
"You're unstable. Your puppet has cursed resonance. You will be detained."
Arc nodded.
Titanborn clenched his fists. Blinkstep bit his cheek. Mindwright whispered a curse.
Two armored troops stepped forward.
But before they reached Arc—
A faint clatter echoed behind them.
Metal striking stone.
Everyone froze.
The officer turned sharply.
Another knife sat on the street.
Fresh.
Sharp.
Pointed toward them like an arrow.
Titanborn whispered, "No way…"
Mindwright's pulse spiked.
"That wasn't you, Arc… right?"
Arc shook his head.
Blinkstep's mouth went dry.
"He's here?"
Arc didn't turn around.
He stared forward.
He didn't need to look.
The puppet in his hand whispered:
"He doesn't want them touching you."
The officer swept the street with her visor.
"Who is here?! Show yourself!"
Arc whispered under his breath:
"He won't."
Titanborn's voice broke the tension.
"This is insane… he's baiting the military now?"
Mindwright felt the hairs on his neck rise.
"No. That knife wasn't thrown at them."
Arc exhaled.
"He threw it at us."
A message:
Move. Now. Before the army closes the net.
Blinkstep stepped back. "Alright—I'm taking the hint. Let's run."
Arc didn't move.
He whispered:
"He's guiding us."
Mindwright's voice trembled.
"Why would he steer us away from the military?"
Arc answered softly:
"Hunters don't like losing their prey."