Chapter: 91. The Moment You Become My Enemy (3k)
“The communication channel is disturbed.”
The hurried footsteps echoed through the building.
Sou whispered as he quickly turned around, rushing towards the fire escape in the back.
He didn’t waste any time; while sprinting, he swiftly removed the communicator from his ear, skillfully folded it, and tossed it onto the ground, the shattered shell reflecting a faint glimmer on the concrete floor.
Next, he pulled out the terminal device he had in his pocket, decisively folded it, and with a soft sound, dropped it on the ground of the fire escape.
At this moment, Hongsenji also displayed surprisingly agile movements that contrasted with her appearance; her petite figure followed closely behind Sou like a nimble beast, keeping pace with his full sprint.
She glanced down at the debris on the ground and seemed to realize something immediately, promptly following suit—quickly removing the communicator from her ear and the terminal from inside her jacket, copying his actions to break them on the spot and discard them in the corner of the hallway.
She did not ask any further questions.
Because she understood what kind of person Sou was.
This man would not do anything superfluous.
His actions at this moment must have had his own reasoning and judgments.
Hongsenji followed silently.
Sou pushed open the iron door leading to the rooftop, the heavy metal door scraping with a deep sound in the dampness.
A chill, mixed with light rain and night wind, hit his face.
On the rooftop, fine strands of rain fell like silver threads from the pitch-black sky, soaking the ground and the helipad.
In the distance, the takeoff and landing lights of a helicopter flickered through the rain curtain, the red and white lights alternating and reflecting on the water-stained ground.
Hongsenji stepped out behind him, paying no mind to her hair and clothes getting drenched by the rain.
“The opponent’s capability in electronic systems is likely far beyond our imagination,” Sou explained to Hongsenji. “Our previous actions and plans were probably compromised because they hacked into our equipment.”
“If we are to successfully capture the target, we can no longer rely on these devices.”
After calmly stating this, Hongsenji seemed to have already anticipated it.
“Is this how Xingzhi Academy was invaded?” Hongsenji asked solemnly, her expression serious.
Though she had suspected from the beginning that their opponent had powerful hacking skills, she never dreamed they would be far superior to their “gloomy homebody.”
When the joint team was established, they had made ample preparations.
Not only had they specifically fortified the security system and built independent channels, but they also enlisted ace-level psychics from Rizhi Academy to assist the joint team.
However, even so, the joint team’s network was still easily breached.
“Most likely,” Sou nodded slightly.
At first, he couldn’t confirm if the puppet master behind all of this was truly “Nihikari.”
But now, the conjecture in his heart had become clearer and clearer.
After the “Stellar Society Incident,” the super AI referred to as the “β System” was likely still operating in the shadows.
If that entity known as “God” could easily intrude into their communication channels and even block the entire team’s communication system, it wouldn’t be impossible.
“It seems that we have no choice but to take action ourselves to prevent the target from escaping.”
The communication was cut off, and the other members of the action team couldn’t respond in time.
The “Insurance Man,” responsible for the outer blockade, and the “Plumber,” who was stationed near the secret tunnel exit, would likely not make it to the scene in time.
At this moment, the only ones who could take immediate action to prevent the target from leaving were Sou himself, who “sensed the aura of demise,” and Hongsenji, who stood beside him.
“This is Tokyo at night! To avoid exposing our actions, we didn’t even evacuate the ordinary citizens—” Hongsenji realized Sou’s thoughts and couldn’t help but remind him.
The opponent was an ace-level psychic, especially that “Iron Knight,” whose combat style was very conspicuous.
If a battle broke out in the city center, the entire city would fall into chaos, and the existence of the supernatural world might be exposed as a result.
However—
Sou’s eyes showed no signs of wavering; the golden magical glow flashed in his pupils.
Pitch-black flames silently ignited at his feet, spreading like a dark tide that devoured light.
In the next moment, he leaped directly from the edge of the tall building into the darkness of the street.
“Hey, hey, hey! Wait! I can’t fly!!”
Hongsenji’s eyes widened, unable to help but shout in panic.
—————–
“We’ve been exposed.”
Renji, sitting in the driver’s seat, stared ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, his tone as cold as ever, as if merely stating an inconsequential fact.
This caused Tianyu, sitting in the back seat, to raise her eyebrows slightly.
She was controlling the shadows beneath the opponent’s feet, binding Gengzhi’s movements.
“So fast… Truly worthy of being the elite chosen by the Special Circumstances SEMAs and the three major academies…”
Tianyu murmured, and though she said this, her face showed no sign of panic, as if everything was within her expectations.
Raindrops lightly tapped the car window, blurring the neon lights of Tokyo’s streets.
In the hazy night, the shadow of the high-rise buildings distorted in the curtain of rain, and the whole city seemed to wear a heavy filter.
Beside her, Gengzhi was tightly wrapped by dark shadowy threads, unable to move.
His once confident face was now filled with suspicion and unwillingness, fixed on Tianyu.
“Why are you looking at me with that kind of look?”
Tianyu tilted her head, a seemingly innocent smile appearing on her lips. “I’m saving you, you know.”
What she said was incontrovertible reality.
If it weren’t for the series of plans she had devised beforehand, Gengzhi would never have realized he was being investigated by the three major academies, nor could he have emerged unscathed from clashes with several ace-level psychics.
He had agreed to this meeting in order to create greater chaos and slip away amidst the confusion.
However, he never expected that all of this was also part of the opponent’s scheme.
At least now he understood the true purpose of the opponent approaching him—
It was about the “package” he was ordered to steal during the “Blood Moon Incident.”
Moreover, it seemed that compared to the identity of the shadowy figure giving him orders, the opponent cared more about the whereabouts of that package.
In other words—
As long as he didn’t divulge any information related to that package, the opponent wouldn’t let him fall into the hands of the investigation team sent by the three major academies for the time being.
This slightly relieved Gengzhi; this piece of information was his trump card in negotiating with the girl before him.
For him, he had never held any loyalty to the organization behind him.
As long as he could preserve his life, he could unreservedly disclose all the secrets.
However.
Just as Gengzhi prepared to speak and negotiate with Tianyu before him.
Renji, sitting in the driver’s seat, suddenly spoke in a deep voice.
“Brace yourself, he’s coming.”
Before the sound had faded away.
In the next moment, it seemed as if a black flame had fallen from the sky, crashing onto the street before the sedan.
Hiss—!
Renji had already sensed something unusual and decisively slammed on the brakes; the tires screeched violently against the slick asphalt, producing a piercing sound, and the car jolted, barely stopping in front of the towering black fire column.
A scorching wave of heat surged forth, and the ground in front of the car was blasted into a charred crack.
The flames contained a magical fluctuation unique to Sou.
Gengzhi’s pupils dilated sharply, his entire face losing color.
He was all too familiar with this magical fluctuation.
Without a doubt, it was the S-rank psychic of Tsuki Academy—”The Black Flame Sovereign.”
He never expected that, in order to investigate him, the three major academies would actually send an S-rank psychic.
Sweat broke out on Gengzhi’s forehead, a wave of despair washing over him.
If the opponent was truly that legendary psychic—then neither he nor the two unknown individuals in the car would have any chance of winning.
However, in sharp contrast to his feelings, the reactions of the other two in the car were quite different.
There was no panic, nor shock.
Upon seeing that black flame pillar shooting up into the night sky, Renji merely exchanged calm glances with Tianyu through the rearview mirror.
“Do you want to handle this, or should I?” His tone was indifferent, as if merely asking who would be on duty tonight.
“Leave it to me.” Tianyu replied lightly. “You take this guy and leave.”
“What?! Are you crazy!” Gengzhi shouted in alarm, almost jumping from his seat. “That’s the Black Flame Sovereign! No one can take him on and come out alive!”
“Ah, I know who he is…” Tianyu replied softly, her tone showing no signs of retreat.
Her amethyst eyes quietly fixed on the figure slowly emerging from the black flame pillar.
“I have an old score to settle with him; it’s time to settle it.”
As soon as her words fell.
The shadow beneath her suddenly came to life, writhing and rolling as if possessing consciousness, instantly engulfing her entire being.
In the next second.
Tianyu’s figure appeared outside the car, standing between that black flame and the sedan.
In the night rain, her silhouette was sharply defined by the interplay of streetlights and firelight.
Meanwhile, Renji showed no signs of concern.
His gaze narrowed, decisively turning the steering wheel to steer the vehicle into a side road.
The tires splashed through the water puddles built up by the rain, sending up sprays that scattered in the night.
“Should I say… long time no see, senior Tsukimi?”
Tianyu spoke.
Her tone was as cold as if it could freeze the air, entirely different from the one he remembered.
It was a voice full of hostility and distance, devoid of any emotion.
“Tianyu… how could it be you…”
On the other side, when Sou finally saw the figure blocking his path, his brow involuntarily tightened.
In that instant.
The light rain seemed to pause, time felt as if it had rewound.
Their gazes met, and for that moment, it was as if they were transported back to that night many years ago—
For both of them, that was the beginning of everything.
Just as Tianyu had said.
There indeed was a score between them; it was time to settle it.
“Honestly, I’ve rehearsed in my mind countless times for the moment I would become your enemy…”
