The instant the double-barreled shotgun shot out, a raging bone dog lashed out towards Stussy, crushing the gun in between its dense maw. The slug grazed August's right ear only due to the bone beast's intervention.
"Stussy!" exclaimed Lucian as if he was watching a live broadcast, and turned his head to Miss Aurora in hope of some form of solace. However, the northerner remained placid, her gaze glued to the screen, without a word.
Her uncharacteristic silence urged Lucian to believe in his heart that Stussy would somehow make it out of the perilous situation. Shifting his gaze back to the projected screen, he watched the horrific scene continue to unfold.
August covered his bloodied ear with a grimace. His teeth clenched behind his skeletal mask as he vaulted over the bartop and gave Stussy a devastating punch to her abdomen.
Like a ragdoll, she crashed into the bottles of fine liquor on display behind her and painfully coughed up blood as she slumped to the ground.
"I should take your pathetic life, right now," August hissed, and then shook his head with a dreary sigh, "Skirk wouldn't be pleased with a corpse, so consider yourself lucky, Lady Kuro. The Moon favours you."
Stussy forcibly raised her head and stared at August with a pensive look before speaking in a hoarse breath:
"So… So be it. Take me to Skirk."
August lingered for a moment.
"See, look how easy my job would've been if you had just listened to me."
Reaching into his inner pocket, August pulled out a bronze pocket watch and wound the main knob. He turned to face the mutilated bodies of the bar-goers and gave a nod to his obedient dogs of bone.
Like donning clothes made of skin, one by one, the dogs returned to the bodies they erupted from, and no later than a minute, the bullet-filled gangsters stood back up. Their clothes torn and bullet holes displayed on their bodies, but they walked around and stood seemingly unscathed.
On silent orders, they acted.
Walking like marionettes, the weird humans removed small boxes from their suits and placed them on each corner of the establishment. Once they concluded their work, the Skull gang members surrounded August and stood stationary.
"What… are you… doing?" asked Stussy, blood flowing onto her headphones that slipped off her head from the gut punch as she forced herself to speak.
"I was sloppy," answered August bluntly. "It took me 7 minutes and 38 seconds to complete a 5-minute job. However, I didn't account for the patrons' retaliation… A scene like this would definitely make headlines. I intend to make this all appear like an accident."
Fear emanated from Stussy's blue eyes as she realized what the Skull gang head was planning. At the same time, Lucian grasped it, as well. The strange boxes that the zombie-like gang members were placing around the bar were bombs.
"Now then, let's take our leave, shall we?" August asked as if Stussy had a choice in the matter. After hearing no answer, August clicked the crown of the pocket watch, and the projection on the screen appeared distorted.
As in one moment they were there, and in the next, they had completely vanished from the scene.
Seconds later, the bombs ignited, and the screen projection stopped as the cameras were destroyed in the explosion.
Lucian groveled on the projection system in front of him, planting his head on the control panels. Veins pulsed from hand to arm as he clutched the system's surface, smiling through clenched teeth.
"Thank the Moon."
There was a silver lining—a sliver of hope that Stussy was still alive. Taking advantage of August's disability, she impersonated Lady Kuro and prolonged her life.
Holding back his tears, Lucian faced up and collected himself. With his many encounters with the Skull gang, he had never seen August or heard anything about him. However, from the terrifying power he displayed, there was no doubt he was second-in-command of the most fearsome gang in Stonekeep.
"Miss Aurora," Lucian's curiosity was piqued, "What do you make of everything that's happened?"
Aurora fell silent for a moment before answering.
"I now do not doubt in my mind that Skirk is a Rogue—an exceptional one at that. As for this August guy… He is none of my concern. I'll leave his termination to you, Luci."
Lucian stared at her, wide-eyed.
"Did we not watch the same recording? The powers he displayed are horrifying. I can handle a few street thugs, but I'm not beating a Rogue in a fight."
Aurora raised a brow, "Rogue? Wait, do you seriously think he's an Ascender? Kid, that right there is an insult to all Ascenders. Don't be fooled, he's mundane, just like you."
"Like me?" Lucian struggled to understand her words.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Aurora sighed and added, "If you paid close attention to him, you would've noticed that he's using two sacred relics: one higher-grade and the other intermediate-grade. The skeletal mask he's wearing is most likely used to control the bone dogs, and the pocket watch may have a time-warping effect, which explains why my Talent was countered."
'This is the intuitive mind of an Ascender!' Lucian couldn't help but praise her in his mind.
In the past, Lucian has read about sacred relics from the orphanage's library. Alongside the invaluable etherite crystals, a great deal of mystical artifacts were discovered in the Tower of Desire. They were used in conjunction with Talents to increase an Ascender's offensive and defensive abilities greatly.
These treasures of the towers were categorized into four sequential grades: Lower-grade, Intermediate-grade, Higher-grade, and Superior-grade. The higher a sacred relic's grade, the more valuable it became and the more formidable the power it possessed.
However, mundane humans were incapable of fully utilizing sacred relics and could only access a fraction of their true potential.
Before Lucian could open his mouth to ask another question, Lady Kuro entered the room, carrying a narrow black bag, and her expression struck him with cold fear. Strands of pure white hair swayed as she folded her arms over one another.
"I watched what transpired from the projection system in my office. Damn it. This is unlike Skirk's usual methods for getting me at all. Heh, I guess the old coot got sick of me turning him down."
She laid a hand on Lucian's shoulder and shot a serious glance at Aurora before adding, "I believe Stussy's rescue aligns with your goal to confront Skirk, correct?"
Aurora nodded and held her hips with confidence.
"Leave it to my new partner and me. But Lady Kuro, you seem more pissed off than worried about your dear employee. Why's that?"
Lucian answered in Lady Kuro's stead, "Because Stussy's a resident of Stonekeep. She won't break that easily, but that doesn't mean we should take the matter lightly. Skirk's been acting unusually right? We can't make conjectures based on his past endeavours."
No normal person lasted long in Stonekeep. Sure, Stussy was resilient and quick on her feet, but they were dealing with a Rogue.
"Besides, knowing Skirk, he would want to keep her alive. She's his only leverage over me, after all." Lady Kuro said before placing the bag she carried on a wooden table near them. "Before you embark for Boneyard, Lucian, take this. It'll prove beneficial for you."
Lowering his gaze on the dark bag, Lucian slowly pulled the zipper in anticipation, and what was revealed made his brow furrow.
An austere katana, wrapped in yellowing bandages that acted as a scabbard, the worn handle of the bandaged weapon was wrapped in black knots and displayed a golden diamond pattern.
He raised a hand to brandish the blade, but the old cloth slapped it away.
Like antagonized snakes, the ends of the wrapped bandages coiled upward and swayed around the blade.
Lucian was already hiding behind Aurora when the last of the serpentine bandages rose.
"Is… Is that a sacred relic? What power does that blade have? It's wrapped in strange bandages, so is it some cursed sword? Can it slice open the heavens? Surely it's higher-grade at least!"
Covering her mouth to conceal her obnoxious laughter, Aurora looked away in pity while Lady Kuro raised her white brow and answered frankly, "Don't get your hopes up. It's just an ordinary blade I permanently borrowed from one of my debtors. It's the irascible wrap that's truly special, though—lower-grade sacred relic: Mummy's home."