Chapter 196: A Vale of a Problem
But Ty, fueled by a deep sense of justice and a hatred for needless death, didn't hesitate. Black flames erupted from his feet as he charged into the fray, responding internally with resolute conviction, "I don't care about that. I just hate the idea of senseless death. I'm not naive enough to not understand that it happens, but that doesn't mean I can stand by and let it happen."
His actions were driven by an innate sense of right and wrong, a stark contrast to the cold indifference of the creature within him. As he moved, his body seemed to be one with the dark flames, propelling him toward the conflict with a purpose that went beyond personal safety.
In his heart, Ty knew that standing against such violence was part of who he was, regardless of the risks involved. His resolve was clear: to intervene and prevent further loss of life, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
As Ty propelled himself forward with the booming black flames, every eye turned towards him. The man with the gun, clearly annoyed by the interruption, aimed his pistol at Ty. "Really, more problems?" he muttered.
In that split second, Ty braced himself. 'It's just a bullet, I can dodge this,' he thought confidently. But as the gun fired, a blue-tinged bullet spiraled towards him at an unexpected speed, and time seemed to slow down around Ty. He realized too late, "Why is this faster than I expected!?"
Desperately, Ty threw up his hand, attempting to form a shield of black flames. "It won't form fast enough," he realized with a curse. At that critical moment, a thud of a boot landed heavily into his side, forcefully shifting his body. This sudden movement caused the bullet to graze through his shoulder instead of hitting him directly. Blood sprayed out as Ty was sent rolling into a nearby wall.
Meanwhile, the remaining three guards, still focused on the thief, unleashed a barrage of energy. The thief, now exposed in the open street, cursed as he frantically tried to shield himself from the relentless attack. The scene was chaotic, with Ty injured and the guards fiercely engaging the armed assailant amidst the echoing sounds of combat.
Lying on the street, Ty groaned under the acute pain in his shoulder, his vision momentarily blurred by the intense light of the ongoing battle. As he struggled to regain focus, a figure with bright pink hair loomed into view. The woman, looking down at him, spoke with an authoritative tone, "Sir! You know it is highly illegal to get yourself involved in criminal chases.
Stay down so you can be arrested once we deal with the dead body."
Ty's mind raced with recognition. 'It's the same woman from that day! But she doesn't recognize me?
Is the Lieutenant's disguise that effective, or is she just not observant?' he wondered, still trying to process the situation.
As the blinding light began to dissipate, the Lieutenant appeared behind the officer named Jin, catching her by surprise. "Lt?! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, clearly not expecting his presence.
The three police officers stood watch, their attention now divided between the smoldering aftermath of the battle and the unexpected arrival of the Lieutenant. In the background, the remnants of an earth shield hinted at the intensity of the encounter.
The situation was tense and complex, with Ty caught in the middle of a legal and moral dilemma, injured and misunderstood, and the Lieutenant's sudden appearance adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
As the earth shield crumbled away, revealing no sign of the thief except for a small puddle of blood and a severed hand, the scene turned even more chaotic. One of the police officers closest to the shield's remains suddenly cried out, "I think he tried to get away!
Get the hou—" His words were cut short by a gruesome cough as a shard of earth impaled him from behind, causing blood to spurt from his mouth.
A dark-haired man, his face smeared with blood, stood behind the wounded officer, his hand still on the officer's back. Yun Jin, witnessing this horrific act, screamed "No!!" in horror and disbelief. She quickly drew her bow and shot an arrow towards the assailant. In a desperate act of self-preservation, the attacker threw the dying officer in the path of the arrow and attempted to flee.
At that critical moment, the Lieutenant appeared behind the fleeing man, surrounded by a faint aura of white light and a barely visible image of a lotus. Ty, despite his injury and confusion, caught a glimpse of this enigmatic display.
The Lieutenant's sudden appearance and the strange, subtle symbols accompanying him added a layer of mystery to his character, hinting at powers and depths Ty had not yet fully understood.
The situation escalated rapidly. The Lieutenant, with decisive action, delivered a swift chop to the neck of the dark-haired assailant. The impact produced a chilling crunch, and blood spilled from the man's mouth. As the assailant turned to face the Lieutenant, a sly smirk twisted his features. Then, contorting his body in an unnatural way, his back emitted the gruesome sound of splintering bones.
His eyes bled a dark, oozing liquid as he spoke in a deeply distorted English, "This world will belong to us soon enough."
The Lieutenant, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly grabbed the man and punched him hard in the stomach, sending him soaring into the air. He yelled for everyone to get down. Moments later, a massive explosion erupted in the sky, illuminating the night with a blinding flash. The chaos that had engulfed the street momentarily subsided in the wake of the explosion.
Ty, still trying to comprehend the rapid turn of events, muttered in disbelief, "What the hell was that?!" The night had taken a surreal and terrifying turn, leaving him with more questions than answers about the powers and conflicts he had become entangled in.
Yun Jin, her gaze fixed on Ty, demanded, "I'm not sure what just happened, but you're coming with us for questioning. That was some strange power you used. What's your name?"
Just as Ty was about to respond, the Lieutenant interjected, appearing suddenly in front of them. "Don't worry about who he is; he's with me, and that's all you need to know," he stated firmly, trying to diffuse the situation and assert control.
Yun Jin, however, was not easily swayed. "While that might be the case, this isn't your district, and his actions interfered with our operation. I want him questioned," she insisted, standing her ground.
The Lieutenant's frustration was evident, but Yun Jin remained firm in her stance. The exchange was interrupted as the Lieutenant abruptly changed the subject, seeking to gather more information. "What did he steal anyway?" he asked, focusing on the broader implications of the incident.
Yun Jin, momentarily taken aback by the shift in conversation, responded, "That's a good question. He attacked one of our outposts, killed three people, and stole a duffel bag from someone in a black blazer."
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