Chapter 104 - Innocence

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He moved silently, each step calculated and deliberate. The city lights above flickered like distant stars, but to Hoshino Wan, they were more like beacons for the enemy—constant reminders that danger could be lurking around every corner.

His gaze swept across the scene, lingering on the Schiksal Valkyries stationed at strategic points. Their presence was both a threat and a challenge, but Wan wasn’t one to back down. He could feel the intense pressure building within him, the Houkai Energy surging relentlessly inside his body. He gritted his teeth, suppressing it as much as he could, but it was like trying to contain a storm in a teacup. The energy was boundless, growing uncontrollably despite his best efforts to keep it compressed.

'Damn it...' He grunted quietly, the pain twisting through him as his body swelled slightly from the strain. The Houkai Energy was a double-edged sword—his greatest strength, but also a beacon that could easily give him away. He couldn’t afford to be detected, not now, not when he was so close.

Still, he pressed on, keeping a low profile as he moved cautiously through the shadows. Every step felt like a battle in itself, not just against the Schiksal forces but against the power within him that threatened to expose his presence.

"Any report?" one of the Valkyries asked, her voice low and tense as she scanned the area, her eyes sharp and focused.

"There doesn’t seem to be any," another responded, her tone equally cautious.

"And what about the four units that were sent to section A?" the first Valkyrie pressed, her concern evident.

"I’m not sure," the second Valkyrie admitted, a note of uncertainty creeping into her voice. "None of them are responding to my communications."

Wan’s eyes narrowed at the exchange. 'Good,' he thought, slipping further into the shadows. The less they knew, the better. But he knew he couldn’t afford to relax—not for a second. The city was a battlefield, and in this game of shadows and light, one wrong move could be his last.

Wan crept closer, every step a battle against the searing pain that pulsed through his body. The agony of trying to compress an infinite well of Houkai Energy was relentless, like trying to crush a star into a grain of sand. His breath came in sharp, controlled bursts, each exhale a testament to his iron will.

The Valkyries were just a few feet away now, their voices low and unaware of the storm brewing in the shadows. Wan’s eyes darted around, searching for anything he could use to his advantage. His hand closed around a loose piece of debris—a small, nondescript object, but it would serve its purpose.

With a swift, fluid motion, he hurled the object with calculated precision. It clattered loudly across the ground, drawing the attention of one of the Valkyries. As she instinctively turned towards the noise, Wan struck.

He moved like a phantom, swift and silent, grabbing her from behind before she could react. His grip was firm, unyielding, as he pulled her into the shadows. His aim was clear: neutralize her before she could alert the others.

Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, the suppressed Houkai Energy threatening to tear him apart from within. But he couldn’t afford to lose focus now. His survival—and the success of his mission—depended on staying in control, even if it meant enduring the unbearable pain coursing through him.

Wan moved with lethal precision as he neutralized the first Valkyrie, his hand clamped over her mouth to prevent any sound from escaping. With a swift motion, he applied just the right amount of pressure to a nerve point, sending her into unconsciousness without causing lasting harm. He gently lowered her to the ground, ensuring she wouldn’t make a sound when she hit the pavement.

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