Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

          Anton almost finished the set-up of the mechanics when Balat came back into the barrier again.

        "What took you so long?" Anton asked, arching his brow. This man was away for more than just an hour, considering what he had to do that seemed quite a long time.

        "I was delayed with some issues," he said. "And it did not look good to go into the washroom so frequently."

        Anton nodded, considering the excuses fair enough. "So, is everything going well?" he asked, welcoming the keeper to help him in the set-up. There were many things he did not know if he set up right even after he was taught many times. what could he say, he was never of the brightest mind.

        "So far, good. But an unknown variable appeared," Balat said and sat on a small stool. "It appeared the council sent some dogs here, though they were showing their agenda as the biannual inspection. I'm sure they were here for the same thing as us."

        A frown appeared on Anton's face, and he looked at Balat. "Are we still continuing with the plan?" he asked.

        Balat answered, continuing to check if there was something wrong with the setup. "Yes. Even though it is an unpredictable variable, Lord Rudyard would not just let them take away his stuff. Moreover, we don't need much time for success, considering how much risk, capital, and not to mention the effort, we gave to this give and how important it to the revolution, stopping with just this is the worst decision we can make."

        Abruptly, the power supply was cut from the washroom and everywhere else. A frown appeared on both of their brows. There was no signal yet why Nirav cut the power line? They got the answer immediately as the signal for danger beeped from the crystal. Then the red omega cube that Balat has vibrated.

        Squinting his nose, the innkeeper answered the call. "Nirav?" he asked

        "Something's wrong," Nirav's voice came at once. "It was not I that cut the power supply, someone else beat me to it."

        "What?" Balat bit his lips. "Do you know why they did it or who?"

        "No, they use the main room or the other place from where I'm standing," Nirav said immediately. "You guys be ready with the teleportation and call Master Ryat. I'll look to see what is going on."

        The call was cut as they could not use the technology for more than 10 seconds at once. Balat and Anton exchanged glances and Balat called Rosie first.

        "Rosie, do you see something peculiar?"

        "Other than the power supply cutting without warning?" Rosie's voice reverberated from the cube. "I see a few men leaving for a deeper region. I'm not sure if they were going where Wrik is currently, but they could access there."

        Balat's expression darkened, and he called Ryat who was at the other end of the teleportation devices.

        "All off the heist." This was what Ryat said after hearing everything out.

        "But—"

        "Balat, we can not go further. It would further endanger Wrik and Nirav for nothing."

        "Got it," Balat said and brought out the small signal crystal. He crushed it at once and got back to checking the equipment.

       . . .

        Wrik did not stop even finding the broad man before him. He revolved mana further and tried to slip away from the sides. Of all things, he would not want to get into a battle here.

        How could the masked fellow let go of this suspicious man? Who knew he might have the thing that he was looking for. An invisible, formless aura released out of the man and he looked at the figure clad in white.

        A frown appeared on Wrik's brows. He knew at once that this won't be easy. The thing that guy released just now seemed to be a mental attack. It tried to invade his mind with the intention of doing something ominous to him.

        The light in his eyes shone brighter, and he pushed further off the bracelet's ability, eliminating the invading aura. His speed burst forth and within the astonished gaze of the broad, masked man, he crossed her.

        Leaving the path surrounding the tunnels, Wrik chose the other way to get out. The almost steady path to get out, but he knew his path would not be smooth sailing. Even though there was no man that could stop him before, the one behind me was chasing him with barely a little slower than him.

        Without considering a thing, Wrik crushed the crystal, telling everyone that he was in danger. If it was just this single man and he was in some other space, he would not mind attacking this guy, but the situation is far more complicated than that. If he delayed even a minute he did not know how many men would be there to intercept him.

        With his outrageous perception, he felt a projectile coming at him from behind. He worked his body weight towards the left and pushed forth a pressure to jerk to the left. The projectile, he thought, was a short throwing knife, it went past him as the man behind him threw a couple more.

        Wrik dodged all of them, but doing so slowed him down a little and it was enough for the chaser to reach his arm's distance.

        "Shit," cursed Wrik and pulled his neck behind. A cold blade moved above his face, missing his helmet by less than a finger. That was not all. If this goes on, then he might hit something. His speed slowed down further, and he barely managed to escape from hitting the fall.

        He was about to pick up his speed again when he saw the broad man before him with blades in both arms. The blades seemed to be attached to his body and radiating blue light of thunder. They were something far better than gauntlet swords as the mana current was overflowing from it. He made swings with his both arms not towards me but above the ceiling.

        The stone broke in a good portion and fell behind him, sealing the escape root. Even the displacement of the skill cried of the man's control. Wrik did not know if he would be capable of doing it even with half a dozen swings. It was not just about power but control, the way the man twisted the release of mana current was almost impossible for him.

        Wrik pulled himself together. It was not time to be impressed by another person's swordplay as his opponent came at him bearing the blue sword.

        Wrik unsheathed his sword as well and infused everything with him. He waited for the man to reach close distance towards him and released everything with a swing.

        The man blocked with the two blades and took half a dozen stepbacks. He took the stance again, giving Wrik another look. Clearly, he was not expecting such force from the start.

        The man came again, and the blue lightning in the gauntlet sword pulsed, making bits of overflow. Wrik blocked both of them with his sword and learned only his mana and pieces of equipment were better compared to his opponent, who has far better physical strength and experience as well.

        The man brought forth more strength, and the current in the blades pushed forth and made a mark on the breastplate before throwing him off.

        "Give me the item and I'll consider letting you go," the man said and Wrik stood up instantly.

        "What are you talking about?" Wrik said it was a waste of time. Inside he was building up momentum again with the inhuman boast in the mana revolution. "And who are you, actually?"   

        "You know very clearly what I'm talking about?" the man said. "That thing does not belong to you. Give it back and you might have a chance to live."

        "How about you say that after capturing me?" Wrik snorted and rushed towards the mana. he had not released the momentum he was building. he ended a short moment to catch this guy off guard before dealing with something that he would not be able to stand up from. 

        A cold glint appeared in the eyes of the man and he welcomed Wrik's sword and both arms. he did not know what this man in white, trying to accomplish, nor he need to think. all the resistance this man in white could put forth was futile. 

        Blue light flashed before Wrik's eyes a couple of times and then the speed of the swing got faster and faster. he did not have a problem with the sight with the help of [Eye of Insights], but it was impossible for him to follow the arcs of attack of his opponent. 

          the blue lightening struck his helmet and just when he was to block another blood, he found there was no ground below his foot and he fell on the ground. the man was about to made another attack, and it was right at his skull when he was wide open. if this connect it could very much break the helmet and smite his skull.

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