Hajime was slowly recovering from the injury he had sustained.
The [Grimoire] within him had changed him in more ways than one since he had awakened.
Goto's stepson had become more perceptive and skilled at reading the people around him.
He could more easily control his frustrations, inhibit his guilt, take pleasure in killing his enemies, and erase his fear of death.
But the greatest change that the book had made to its owner was the enhancement of his body's natural healing ability.
Sure, a hole near his heart wouldn't disappear in a few days, but the fact remained that the pain he was experiencing was fading more and more. Soon it would vanish, leaving behind a sense of discomfort.
"(My wound is improving... if it continues like this, I won't have to use my powers to stop the bleeding.)"
Hajime knew he had to conserve his [mana] and concentration. A tough battle awaited him; even Kuro, who didn't show it, was nervous at the thought of facing Ivan.
That [mage] was no beginner or third-rate warrior. He was a skilled killer and adept in combat.
They had managed to escape the apartment only because Kaori's older brother had caught him by surprise. They wouldn't have such luck again.
"We're almost there." (Kuro)
"I know. Do you have a plan?" (Hajime)
"Aside from not dying? We hold out until Cloe and Fumio-sensei arrive."
The two boys emerged from the sewers and reached an abandoned old factory outside the city.
It was the ideal place for a showdown. Here, no one would be able to alert the [White Corps] to what was happening.
"At least it's dimly lit. We can hide among the shadows and try to mount a surprise attack." (Kuro)
"I'll come from above, and you from below?" (Hajime)
"Sounds good to me, just try not to get hit again this time." (Kuro)
"Shut up! That happened only because you were slow to react, and I had to save your ungrateful ass!" (Hajime)
"Right, if you say so; just stay quiet, or he'll spot us right away."
The duo took their positions in strategic hiding spots, from where they would have a good view of the factory entrances. They didn't have to wait long for their enemy to arrive.
Ivan had punched through the asphalt of a street when he realized that his targets were moving through the sewers. The man smiled at the thought that, if they hadn't still had his threads attached to their clothes, they might have escaped him.
"(Clever tactic, to flee through the sewers, but not against the [Black Corps] or the [Black Ghosts]. Who the hell are these two... there's another faction in play?)"
The body of the 30-something [mage] trembled with the desire to unleash his power against his adversaries. But the clever, tactical part of his brain was reminding him to find a way to understand who he was dealing with.
"(They have clearly manipulated informants to lure me out of my home... did they know about my tests? I can't kill them both in that case... however, I can beat those two thieves until they tell me who they work for!)"
Ivan felt that tonight was going to be his lucky night. He would have a good fight, and maybe, he would change employers, freeing himself from Mokuro Goto's influence.
Without further ado, the man smashed through the concrete covering the tunnel he was walking in, emerging to the surface in front of an abandoned factory.
"Well, well, well! My heart beats with joy! [Iron Skin: Legs]!"
With a leap, the [Black Ghosts] jumped several dozen meters, breaking through a wall of the building as if it were made of air.
"Hello again, little thieves!"
"[Overwrite]; [Physical Enhancement], [Blood Katana]!"
"[Shadow Step]!"
Kuro and Hajime wasted no time; the first melded with his shadow and advanced downward, from his enemy's blind spot: straight from behind him.
Meanwhile, the second descended from above, katana in hand, ready to slice an arm clean off.
"[Iron Blades]!"
One of Ivan's hands turned to iron as it shot out like a small spear. He easily blocked Hajime's [Tepes I].
At the same time, his left hand transformed into a metallic whip, which he used to grab Kuro's three-bladed scythe, who had just emerged from his shadow.
"Weaklings!"
With a kick, the silver-haired teenager was sent flying several meters away, painfully from the blow.
"...damn... he hits harder than Fumio-sensei!"
While his partner was thrown first into the air, having not released his weapon, and then forcefully slammed to the ground.
The air in his lungs burst out instantly from the impact he suffered, along with a bit of saliva and blood.
"(Shit! He's really strong!)" (Kuro)
The two did not waste time staying on the ground. They charged in unison, having learned to do so after countless training sessions together.
Hajime and Kuro, in perfect execution, just like when they faced Fumio, began to attack from different angles, opposite each other. Their enemy responded by transforming both of his hands into metal blades, resembling the forms of two spears.
Ivan's stern gaze softened into a playful smile. He was truly enjoying this fight.
Despite being on the defensive, he had yet to suffer a scratch, thanks to the power of his [magic], which automatically turned his skin to iron every time [Tepes I] or [Carmilla I] came close to injuring him.
In contrast, his two opponents were not so fortunate. Even with [mana manipulation]: [armor], the cuts they were receiving, no matter how small and insignificant, would soon hinder them in a battle of endurance.
"(This is not good! The wound I have on my chest is bleeding again now that I'm moving so vigorously! I won't be able to keep up this pace for long!)" (Hajime)
"(Where are the reinforcements! This bastard won't run out of [mana] or stamina before we do! We need to change strategy!)" (Kuro)
Signaling to his partner, the boy with black hair jumped backward, launching small spheres at the 40-year-old.
The silver-haired teenager quickly followed suit.
The small spheres exploded, producing a bright flash, followed by a sharp noise.
Those objects were a product used by the [White Corps] during their raids, in tight spaces within buildings.
They were non-lethal weapons designed to stun criminals for a few minutes. The effects on normal humans were very efficient; against a [mage], especially one as strong as Fumio, a [Beta Rank], the effects lasted barely 5 seconds before fading away.
When Ivan regained his sight and hearing, his two opponents had vanished into the shadows of the abandoned factory.
"Very clever, but as long as you don't figure out how I follow you, you can't escape me! You've entertained me; how about you come out so we can talk!"
The voice of the 30-something man was the only sound echoing in the old building. The [mage] had enjoyed himself today, but now he wanted to negotiate.
It was clear as day that he was not dealing with fools playing a game bigger than themselves.
No, they were trained, well-trained; he could beat them, but he would really have to exert himself to do so.
"I know you're waiting for reinforcements! But they won't help you if you're dead! You want this, right!?"
Ivan took the thumb drive from his clothes. The small, fragile device had not been destroyed in the previous skirmish only thanks to its owner's caution.
"Nothing? How do you want this to go!"
With a swift move, the man swallowed the thumb drive without a second thought. There was no reaction from the surrounding environment; Hajime and Kuro were silent as corpses, despite their shock.
"I know you're not with Goto; that tyrant would have sent an entire team to torture and kill me if he knew about the evidence I just swallowed! Maybe you work for the [White Corps]?! Is that possible? Not everyone who knows accepts the situation on this island! Or perhaps a third group!"
As he spoke, the man began to roam around the factory in what seemed like a casual manner.
"Well then, no answers, little thieves!"
One of Ivan's arms turned into a whip, lunging with extraordinary speed into a shadow in a corner.
"Gotcha!"
With strength, the [mage] yanked Kuro from the darkness, who didn't have time to react. Meanwhile, his partner was so focused on the scene that he didn't realize the same fate was about to befall him; the second arm of the [Black Ghosts] wrapped around his throat.
"And we're at two! Now, will you talk!? Or do I need to break one of your necks?!?"