Chapter 644: Enforcer (1)

Each time the mechanical barriers, easily capable of accommodating hundreds, rapidly rotated, a strong gale proportional to their weight swept through.

In its wake, the surrounding mobile districts swayed violently, losing their balance and collapsing.

BOOM!!

Once the movement became entangled, the collisions between the crumbling barriers continued incessantly, one after another.

The waves of destruction, spreading without pause, began to shatter all the mobile districts and barriers around.

Beyond the helplessly collapsing barriers, Lennok, on his bike, accelerated, dodging dozens of mechanical scorpions.

VROOOM!!!

Following the Sidesquad agents, came the special cavalry of the Mechanized Troops, their entire bodies modified with machinery and optimized for vertical maneuverability.

To achieve optimal combat efficiency in complex urban areas, cyborgs whose entire bodies had been modified beyond human limits began to channel magic from all directions.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!!

They fearlessly clung to the crumbling barriers and buildings with their sharp scorpion legs.

Through the rockets and machine guns attached to their long, curved tails, they indiscriminately targeted the bike, unleashing a barrage of bullets.

DU-DU-DU-DU-DU!!!

The gunfire tailing him was evaded by auto-driving, and rockets or projectiles too difficult to absorb were handled by manipulating the barriers.

A mechanical barrier, tilted diagonally above the speeding bike, absorbed a series of explosions like an umbrella before disappearing.

CRACK-BOOM!!

However, Lennok’s expression, as he manipulated the mobile district’s administrative authority, was far from comfortable.

‘I can only intervene in the movement of the mechanical barriers and district blocks for a short time. It’s not a fundamental solution.’

Although he had dealt with the Sidesquad agents by crashing two mobile districts together, it was merely a temporary measure.

The very fact that he was conducting a chase using such methods indicated that Lennok’s condition had not recovered enough to sustain combat.

Domain deployment. Battle with the Archangel. Memory foresight beyond the Ascension Gate. His escape from the seafloor barrier, enduring changes in water pressure, and his subsequent flight.

Though he endured by borrowing the power of various spells and elixirs, Lennok’s body was at its limit just sitting on the bike.

He was only enduring the pursuit by manipulating his magic with a relatively sound mind and will-thought, aided by Davi.

[Facial scan impossible within a 30m radius. Infrared penetration beyond the iron mask failed.]

[Riding an unregistered two-wheeled vehicle. Specific output measurement failed.]

The special cavalry of the Mechanized Troops, rapidly moving behind Lennok, exchanged information as they observed him.

[Proficient in utilizing local terrain features. Presumed to be manipulating mobile district administrative authority.]

[Skilled in high-angle maneuvers and pursuits. Consistent with the report from Pylo Shimmer, the Enforcer agency branch manager.]

WHIRRR!!!

The optical sensors of the troops’ cavalry glowed a vivid red, imbued with killing intent.

[Highest threat level detected.]

[Calling snipers. Commencement of lethal force now.]

At that moment, Lennok’s magic sense barely caught a projectile that had broken the sound barrier from a considerable distance.

Davi displayed incredible driving skill, braking abruptly and lifting the rear wheel to narrowly evade the sniper shot.

BOOM!!

With an explosion, a nearby floating block flipped over, and the bike spun in place.

The thick tires twisted, making the bike swivel half a turn in place.

[Master!!]

“I know.”

He pulled out his sniper rifle, rested it on the bike’s handlebar, and loaded a bullet.

[Aim Correction]

[Trajectory Guidance]

[Recoil Control]

[Trigger Acceleration]

[Penetration Enhancement]

CLICK!!

He looked through the scope of the rifle, stacked with over five types of firing support magic.

He met the gaze of the opponent, who was loading a sniper rifle far in the distance, through the lens, and almost simultaneously pulled the trigger.

BANG!!

Two sniper shots crossed paths: one from a stable stance over a thousand meters away, the other from a rotating bike in responsive counter-fire.

But it wasn’t Lennok who had his scope shattered and blood splattered.

[Spell Imbued: Bound Burning]

BOOM!!

The moment Lennok’s shot hit, the sniper’s head snapped back, and the block itself was engulfed in flames and plummeted.

Beyond the block, falling like a giant fireball, the mechanical scorpions swiftly closed the distance towards him.

[Sniper failed. Command is transferred to the field.]

[First, disable the bike. Prepare the EMP.]

CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!!

The cavalry, crawling like ghosts along the mechanical barriers, rapidly approached.

Without bothering to hide their cold killing intent, they systematically narrowed every possible path for the bike.

The moment they felt the distance was close enough, the mechanical scorpion’s belly opened wide, and a pilot leaped out, swinging a blade.

FLASH!!

A slashing attack, infused with magic, unleashed only when they were certain they had the initiative.

In terms of time, it was a high-level technique that accelerated and perfectly amplified magic in less than a blink.

Proof that all soldiers of the Mechanized Troops, having undergone body modification, were excellent magic users and cyborgs unburdened by humanity.

[EMP activation in 5 seconds.]

[Force the bike engine to shut down and secure the target.]

The troops’ communication network rapidly exchanged information in split-second intervals, timing their movements precisely for a combined assault.

Different soldiers, as if sharing a single mind, divided their movements and mixed their directions in split-second increments for a joint attack.

Eight blades and four gun barrels precisely targeted the bike’s tires, engine, rear joints, and exhaust pipes.

SWISHHH!!

A single hit would have been a fatal first strike, capable of instantly exploding the bike.

But Lennok didn’t even turn to look at the Mechanized Troops’ cavalry closing in from all sides.

With an impassive face, he suppressed his magic and simply twisted the bike’s throttle with all his might.

[Ignition Booster: 5-stage Accelerated Overlap]

[Exhaust Overload Output]

[Residual Power Discharge]

At that moment, the monster bike’s chassis joints burst open, spewing forth a breath of explosive flames from within.

WHOOSH!!!

As the surrounding area was engulfed in crimson inferno, the bike propelled itself, accelerating as if bouncing into the air.

A sonic boom erupted, pushing back the soldiers charging from all directions, and with his weight, he powerfully crushed the armor of a mechanical scorpion that had been targeting his tire.

CRACK…

[……!!!!]

Using the stiff, screaming agent as a springboard, the bike leaped once more.

Immediately after, the agent’s suit shattered as if exploding, scattering fragments in all directions.

BOOM!!

[Gah!!]

[That acceleration in thin air… Is it using a fighter jet engine?!]

He heard the stunned exclamations of the soldiers, thrown back by the sonic boom, through the communication network.

But Lennok ignored them and immediately pressed the bike vertically against a mechanical barrier, speeding along it.

[EMP activation confirmed. No overload detected. It failed.]

[Impossible. That bike has a higher capacity than the EMP output?]

[What kind of engine is it using…!!]

Though the soldiers, belatedly regaining their composure, began to pursue the bike, the mechanical barriers, which had been rotating all around, began to curve and close as if on cue.

The mechanical barriers, as if deliberately hiding and concealing Lennok, blocked the soldiers and narrowed their paths.

CRASH, BOOM, CRASH!!

Lennok, having completely outmaneuvered the pursuit at the cost of a brief collision, glanced back and muttered,

“That was easier than I thought.”

[Perhaps that means my driving skills are exceptional?]

“That too, of course… but their attitude was somehow strange.”

Lennok mused, replaying the killing intent of the soldiers he had shaken off just moments before.

“If Hermes knew my true identity, he wouldn’t have ordered me captured. He would have stalled for time or ordered me killed outright.”

Lennok had worn an iron mask in front of Hermes and hadn’t given him any chance to discern his presence or magic pattern.

Though he had momentarily faltered after seeing the Director-related memories beyond the gate, Hermes himself had reached his physical limits at that time.

Considering that, Hermes hadn’t realized Lennok was Lyman.

The very fact that he tried to capture Lyman was proof that he hadn’t noticed Lennok’s true identity.

“He doesn’t think I’m Lyman.”

Lennok’s eyes glowed quietly.

“But he’s half-certain that Lyman is my collaborator. So, if they were moving towards the Upper Workshop District, it makes some sense.”

Hermes had sought to kill Narcissa Solmer with Oason’s assistance, and in that process, he also knew that Oason was concerned about the magic gun.

If he had received a report that the magic gun had disappeared from inside the Heart-Star Vault, it wouldn’t be strange for him to think that Lennok’s identity was somehow connected to Lyman.

“…I need to get back to the workshop quickly. Mouser probably knows roughly when the Section Movement will end and the schedule will be sorted out.”

Although he had already tracked and approached the Upper Workshop District, the combined forces of the Sidesquad and Mechanized Troops pursuing Lennok had forced him to take a long detour.

If he didn’t turn back slightly and return to the workshop district now, the effort of shaking off the pursuit would be wasted, and he’d soon be chased again.

However, Lennok’s gaze, passing through the constantly moving and rapidly changing landscape of the Mechanical City, was drawn elsewhere.

‘Though the section movement of the Mechanical City appears chaotic, there is clearly an underlying flow.’

It was a fact he had vaguely realized while seizing control of the mobile district’s administrative authority with Davi’s ability.

The ongoing section movement of the Mechanical City was by no means proceeding without any plan or route.

The sheer size and scale of Machina meant that observing just one part of it couldn’t reveal the entire flow, but there was definitely a pattern and a rule.

And if a flow exists, there’s a high probability that a focal point where that flow converges also exists.

‘If the section movement isn’t just a city function for convenience, but closer to a special procedure or ritual…’

He might be able to find out where Hermes intended to create the new Ascension Gate.

But Lennok temporarily set aside such thoughts and swiftly leaped over a mechanical barrier, returning to the moving Upper Workshop District.

After several bursts of speed to evade the Sidesquad agents, he quickly reached the vicinity of the Upper Workshop District.

In the process, he had damaged some moving blocks, structures, and parts of the mechanical barriers.

But in a process where the entire city moves and changes chaotically, it probably wouldn’t be seen as a fault.

Thinking this, Lennok landed directly on a street within the Upper Workshop District.

SHUDDERING!!!

The cityscape twisted and changed, and the blocks beneath his feet vibrated incessantly.

Stowing his bike away and concealing his presence, he walked quickly towards the workshop.

He paused briefly upon seeing Cyberd’s half-destroyed workshop, but seeing lights on inside, he immediately moved on.

Not long after, Lennok’s workshop came into view in the distance.

Though it swayed amidst the turbulent sections, and parts of the facility were broken, its basic form remained, and the lights were still on.

Carefully opening the slightly ajar door, he stepped inside to find Mouser sitting at his workbench, his back turned.

CREAK…!!

As Lennok quietly closed the door, Mouser, startled by the sound, whipped his head around.

“Ly-Lyman!!”

“Master Mouser.”

Lennok said, bringing a finger to his lips.

“There might be eavesdroppers. Let’s keep our voices down for now.”

“…”

However, Mouser said nothing in response, instead pressing his lips tightly together, his face pale.

This was an uncharacteristic attitude for the elderly master, who usually never lost his composure.

Just as Lennok, sensing something amiss from his reaction, furrowed his brows.

“All listening devices have been removed, so you don’t need to worry.”

A chilling voice came from behind Mouser.

“The Upper Workshop District’s facilities, though outwardly clean, are decades old and outdated. So, the methods for eavesdropping or surveillance are well-established.”

“…”

Lennok’s gaze grew chillingly cold at the calm tone.

Though Lennok had suppressed his magic sense to conceal his presence, such stealth meant even he himself couldn’t instantly perceive her presence.

And her acuity, arriving at Lennok’s workshop at this very moment to speak privately with Mouser.

But what made Lennok tense was not the opponent’s exceptional ability or judgment.

It was the instant realization that this cold voice now speaking belonged to someone Lennok remembered.

A voice as cold as ice. A mysterious woman whose chilling expression matched her voice looked at Lennok, holding a blade to Mouser’s throat.

Beside and behind Mouser lay the blood-splattered bodies of Sidesquad agents, their eyes rolled back.

The air was tense, indicating a battle had just taken place here.

“Sit, Lyman.”

She casually tilted her head.

“There’s something I need to hear from you.”

“…Maiya Lonsdale.”

In the past, a presence Lennok had occasionally encountered on behalf of Pandemonium at critical turning points.

She had never been at the absolute center of an event, yet conversely, she was never far off—an observer.

A monster who acted as an agent for Pandemonium’s will at key locations like the Hanghasa Labyrinth and during the interim settlement, and a peak-level ability user who had transcended Hierarchy, reaching a state of extreme mastery.

The Mechanical City’s greatest Enforcer. A failure of the Ascension Gate.

Having lost all honor and standing, she had fallen and was now an exile who enforced Pandemonium’s will.

Maiya Lonsdale had returned to the Mechanical City.

“Now that Hermes has appeared and advanced the Section Movement schedule, I want to ask you something.”

Her blade, resting on Mouser’s throat, didn’t waver in the slightest, even as she turned her gaze to Lennok.

“Did you look beyond the gate and return?”