The Eminence of Not-Shadow

Chapter 4 - Fragments of The Past: Part II

[Alpha POV]

John Smith.

A different person entirely from Shadow in terms of fighting. Instead of wielding a sword in his hand, he wields thinly shaped wires on both hands. Each wire is meticulously planted, with no wire being wasted on trapping people. People who have been sent against him almost stood no chance in even damaging him. Some did not live to see tomorrow.

Regardless, Epsilon and I continue heading to the reported location of John Smith with other Numbers as backup support as well.

Eventually we encounter the beginning of one of his many wires.

"He has surrounded the entire block with wires. Somehow, he has even made sure that the sky could not be used as a way to attack him. The only way in..."

Epsilon points to a nearby road, a familiar road.

"Is through that. It is the only place where wires will not immediately harm you. You can attempt to break the wires, but I found it to be incredibly difficult. Even then, another wire will take its place after a moment."

"Lastly Alpha-sama...the mist form we have learned from the vampire's blood in the Lawless City is useless against him. The second that we use it, the wires surrounding us unleash a strange magic that results in the partial cancellation of the magic."

"And how did you escape?" I ask, given that the damage inflicted upon her is visible, but she wasn't trapped like the rest of the Numbers.

"Ah."

She moves back slightly.

"Ahahaha...even if it is you Alpha-sama, I wish to not say it."

"I see. John Smith was unaware of your mastery skills in magic?"

"You can say that I guess..."

There must be something else to it, but I won't push for now.

"Very well. While my mission is to defeat this imposter, your mission is to save those Numbers trapped within the wires. Given you can break those wires, I can take it that you can save them while I fight him?"

"Yes, if you give me enough time, then I can find those Numbers can help them escape."

I prepared my sword, and like what Epsilon suggested, we headed towards that familiar road, leaving the Numbers behind to defend our only way out.

—

The road has not changed at all from the last time I was here. The buildings and carriages appear to be the same, oddly enough. Actually...

"It all looks too familiar."

"Alpha-sama?"

My senses are affected slightly by magic, but I can infer that it is not a complete illusion. This was the same street after all. We eventually arrived at that corner.

"Before I escaped, John Smith was last seen beyond this wall. He was reading something, although I am unsure if he is there now."

"No, he is. I can detect a high presence of his mana."

"Ah! I can see-"

"Reveal yourselves. Your presence is known to me."

An all too familiar voice spoke from around the corner.

"Epsilon, you know the plan. Please save the other Numbers."

"Yes."

Epsilon and I slowly walk from that corner, and face John Smith.