11: ANOMALIES, ASSASSINS AND COFFEE

“THE HORNED ARE CONSIDERED THE FASTEST….OF THE ANOMALIES. THESE ENIGMATIC BEINGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR GRAY, KERATINIZED SKIN AND IMPOSING HORNS. THEIR MOST STRIKING FEATURE, HOWEVER, IS THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO EXTRUDE AND/OR FIRE BONY PROTRUSIONS FROM ANY POINT ON THEIR BODY, WHICH THEY EMPLOY BOTH AS AN DEFENSIVE MECHANISM AND AS A DEADLY OFFENSIVE WEAPON…”

{A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING}

The flame bolt from the handblazer tore off the Horned's arm, sending it crashing into the floor next to Sanji.

Neon took aim again, but in that split second, it flipped over and aimed at him with the other palm. He ducked just in time as a bone missile whistled past his ear.

"How the hell are these things so fast?"

The beast had sprung to its feet. Reaching down, it grabbed Sanji and hauled him up into the air.

"Hey!" Barked Neon. He pointed the blazer at the Horned. "Hey, let him go!"

His finger hovered above the trigger while he gritted his teeth, contemplating. If he shot at it, Sanji could be caught in the fire. If he didn't….

He heard the soft crack of tearing flesh, followed by breaking bone. He heard it because he had turned up his hearing, and had been listening in case another Anomaly was around.

Instead, he heard Sanji being impaled by the bone from the Horned's hand and the sound of breath leaving his body.

There was no use holding back anymore. Clamping his teeth together, he fired the shot.

The creature tilted its head, dodging the shot without looking. It tossed Sanji to the ground, then turned, flaring its nostrils as it readied for a charge.

ℹ️ ASSESSMENT ℹ️

THREAT: ANOMALY

TYPE: HORNED

RANK: BETA-LEVEL THREAT

ℹ️ WARNING ℹ️

MALICIOUS INTENT DETECTED

He dropped the weapon. His voice was dead calm. "Activate special ability."

The tekhans intensified their glow once then and died down, reducing their hold on his energy manipulation. With little restrictions now, he reached out, seeking the power flow in the atmosphere that was the maegen energy.

The Anomaly was swinging an arm. It was slowly making him a target.

He reached out. Time seemed to wind down to a stop. Everything buzzed loudly while he stood in the midst of it all in his silence.

He found the flow, and he tapped into it.

The bone missile flew at him.

He wielded the energy and allowed it course through him. He allowed it mix with the power in his veins.

The air was shimmering now. The needle sharp bone was caught in midair, right in front of him.

Then he clapped his hands, faster than the beast could blink, releasing a shock wave. The blast traveled forward in a direct line, rapidly splitting the beast in two.

ℹ️THREAT ELIMINATED ℹ️

COMBAT POWER MAXIMIZED

He didn't know how long he stood there, purging the smell of burning flesh and bone and blood from his head. Trying not to stare at his body.

When he finally called in the Wardens from the Noderyn branch, he realized his hands were shaking.

"Heh. This wouldn't be a problem for you, would it, Hikaru?" He muttered.

Then he sat next to Sanji's body.

The man lay peacefully, even with the bone sticking out of his torso. The dark scent he had picked up around him had faded, replaced now by that of the two Anomalies.

Slowly, reluctantly, he stared at the creatures. They were both massive, both faster than any Anomaly he had faced, acting with more purpose.

Just where were they from? Why were they this advanced? Beta-level threats? And where was the Arkeian Akira said she had captured? Was this some sort of trap?

He shifted his gaze back to Sanji. The creatures had both attacked him like they were following orders. Not the hunter. They had gone after the defenseless man. It was entirely odd.

"I didn't get you that water," he muttered, "'Course it doesn't mean much anymore, eh?"

"They made me...."

Neon jerked up, his eyes widening slightly as he realized it was Sanji who had spoken, though it was the barest of whispers.

He leaned forward tentatively. "What?"

"They...made...me..."

He was gone. Neon couldn't hear a heartbeat or a breath anymore.

He closed his eyes as he got to his feet, cursing under his breath, blotting out the image of the man's lifeless body.

Almost immediately, an idea came to him in a flash. Taking out a knife, he reached for the Anomaly on his right.

7.01 AM, KAICHI CAFE, NORTH BLOCK, RADALTHRA

A man in a navy blue jacket sat alone at a small table by the window. The early morning sun cast a glow on the dewy street outside and on his face behind the wet glass. His eyes were a deep shade of brown, his nose was long but crooked and his lips were set in a grim line, interrupted by a scar along the edge.

The cafe had just opened, but no one was around save for the barista who had gone into the back room. The man sat alone with his cup of black coffee, cradled in his gloved hands like a treasure.

Someone walked in behind, jingling the shopkeeper bell above the door. He remained still, staring out the window. The rain had started drizzling again, sending soft drops bouncing off the pavement while he watched them absently.

"It's a lovely morning, isn't it?" Said the newcomer to his left.

He released a slow sigh, disturbing a strand of hair that lay on his nose and creating a mist on the window.

"I suppose it is."

"May I sit?"

He shrugged lightly in reply and sipped his drink.

The man who sat in front of him wore a black fedora hat and the lower half of his face was obscured by a plain mask. He wore gloves as well, but he proceeded to take them off as soon as he was settled. He left the hat on.

"You look well, Mr Toshiro."

"There's no one here by that name," he replied, squaring the man with a dull gaze, "What do you want?"

He snorted. "Of course. Cassel now, is it?"

He didn't reply. He sipped his coffee silently.

"Well, Mr Cassel, I have a job for you."

He held up a finger, pointing. "There's a crumb on your cuff."

A frown appeared above the mask. "Pardon?"

"A crumb. On your cuff. Get it off."

The Contractor chuckled and brushed the inconspicuous white speck on his sleeve.

"Sharp as always, I see. Well, I suppose you can put your skills to good use once again."

He reached into his pocket and dropped a small box on the table. Slowly, he opened it, revealing two silver cards engraved with intertwining symbols at the edges and a gold circle standard in its center.

"That's thirty million denns in wealthcards. You get the rest when you've done the job."

Cassel took another sip. "Have you got a name?"

He saw the corner of the Contractor's eyes wrinkle slightly and knew he had smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask." He leaned forward. "But it won't be easy, I should warn you."

His eyes remained bored. "Have you got a name?"

"Two, in fact." He straightened. "Reon. Hikaru."

The first sliver of expression flashed across Cassel's face but the Contractor noticed it before his hooded eyes fell back on.

"I told you it wouldn't be easy. It is safe to assume that you…have a history?"

"What about it?"

The Contractor held up a hand. "I merely have concerns about hesitation on your part, as does…"

"Then why give me the job?"

The man paused. Cassel was staring directly at him, his face a blank plate, his eyes boring holes into his skull. It was difficult to not be intimidated by this former Maegen Hunter.

"Honestly? Because you're one of the best. Because you're the most accessible assassin hunter on our radar. Also because you're directly sought after by my superiors."

Cassel nodded and took up his coffee cup. "I'll have to do something about that, I think."

He drank the rest of the liquid soundlessly and laid it down carefully along the table's edge. He placed a twenty-bill under the cup, then rose to leave.

"You should tip the waiter. He does a pretty good job," he pointed out.

"THE job has to be done in two days," said the Contractor.

Cassel nodded. "I'd better not be late for work, then."

He slipped the box into his jacket and turned to leave.

"Suppose you pull this off," The Contractor chipped, "Would you consider retirement?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Just a curiosity ."

Cassel tilted his head, staring at the door in front of him for a while, with his back still to the Contractor on his way out.

"There's another crumb on your collar," he said at last, "Get it off."

Then he pulled the door open and stepped into the rain.