Anti magic Association

Chapter 7 - Chase after time

Time is money is a saying most people heard before. The idea of perceiving time as more important than money. Being able to spend time wisely is more important than being able to spend money wisely. Making a timetable, and squeezing the little time they have into so many activities. Not Setting priorities properly and stressing over work. However, they never think that time will never move in a linear line. if time moves in a loop, then is time still more important than ever? if you have infinite time due to that loop, what will you choose in that time frame before it restarts?

from Yuki point of view at around the same time before the three enter the building

"what is that sound" "An intruder?" "ask the captain for orders"

as Yuki sets off the magic pressure bombs,  she finds some guards shouting and frantically evacuating the researchers out of the building. Some other guards went out to find the intruders.  Misaka, Takashi, and Aiko waited until all the researchers had exacuated before entering the research facility leaving yuki behind to divert their attention to her. 

Being far away from the explosions and knowing the range of the anti-magic machine, yuki was able to run before the guards noticed her. The tension in the air was thick as Yuki sprinted through the maze of corridors right after the explosion. the muffled sound of boots hitting the ground behind her growing louder by the second. Her lungs burned as she ran, twisting through the alleyways, her heart pounding in her ears.

"Stop right there!" a guard's voice bellowed from behind.

Yuki's legs felt like they were moving on pure instinct now. She darted to her left, narrowly avoiding the sweep of a spotlight from one of the towers. Her foot slammed against the wet pavement, nearly slipping, but she recovered, pushing forward with renewed urgency.

The sound of footsteps closing in sent a surge of adrenaline through her. Two guards appeared around the corner, guns drawn and pointed in her direction. Without thinking, Yuki skidded to a halt and ducked behind a stack of crates.

"There!" one of the guards shouted.

A beam of light swept past the crates, illuminating Yuki's hiding spot for a split second. She had to move, now. Pushing off the ground, she darted through a narrow gap between the crates and a rusted metal fence. She could hear the clatter of equipment as the guards rushed after her.

Her heart raced as she spotted an opening ahead—an old maintenance hatch just wide enough for her to slip through into the sewers. She slid to her knees, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the latch. Her fingers slipped once, then twice, as the guards' voices drew closer.

"She's here! Close in!"

Finally, with a click, the hatch opened. Yuki squeezed through the gap and down the ladders, just as a volley of gunfire erupted behind her, the bullets pinging off the metal walls. Her heart hammered in her chest as she crawled through the narrow, suffocating tunnel, the voices of the guards growing fainter behind her. 

For a moment, she thought she was safe.

But then, a loud bang echoed through the sewer tunnel. The guards has jumped instead of each the ladders One of the guards had fired a warning shot, and the sound reverberated through the small space like a thunderclap. They were right behind her.

"Don't let her escape!"

Panic gripped her as she saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Freedom. She forced herself forward, her legs aching, her hands scraped raw against the metal walls.

Just a little more.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel behind her. The guards were closing in fast, but Yuki didn't look back. She pushed herself harder, squeezing through the final gap as she reached the end of the tunnel.

Bursting out into the open, she stumbled to her feet, gulping down the cool night air. But she couldn't stop now. The chase wasn't over.

With the guards only moments behind, Yuki raced toward the next corridor, her mind whirling with plans to evade them once again.

When she finally made it up to another manhole, she was met with a horrifying sight. flames engulfed the area and a man standing in the middle. Yuki's legs give up upon witnessing his gaze, hands on the floor trying to escape the scene.

"Hey, Are you an enemy or an ally?" He looked her way menacingly

"Huh"

"I guess it doesn't matter." He came closer to me. "No one would come to this district unless they are from the government or you're just an idiot."

She shakes her head not wanting to die then. 

"I am not from the government, I am from the Anti-magic association... you have to believe me"  She shouted at him out of fear 

"Anti-magic association, where did i see that before" 

"So you know us... AH," he covered Yuki's mouth not wanting any more unwanted attention.

"Tsk, reinforcement is here already. I have no time for this" He mumbled under his breath before carrying Yuki like a princess. Gunshots can be heard before them. He carried Yuki swiftly, his grip tight yet surprisingly gentle as he rushed her away from the blazing chaos. She couldn't stop trembling; fear gripped her like a vice, but her mind was racing just as fast. Who was this man? And why did he seem so unfazed by the flames and destruction all around them?

They turned into a narrow alley, far from the scene of destruction, where the chaos barely reached. The man set her down against a cold stone wall and crouched in front of her. His eyes scanned the area before he finally spoke again, his voice low and gruff.

"You're from the Anti-magic association, huh? What a weird group name! You know a person named Takashi?" His tone was accusatory as if he didn't trust her. And why would he? This district was a war zone.

"How do you know who Takashi is? do i know you by any chance?" She was confused and scared about this mysterious person. 

"You don't have to know why i know him. just know I'm not your enemy But whether I'm an ally or not depends on if you are willing to cooperate with me."

"I...I don't even know you. You might just kill me the moment i let my guard down. You killed those 4 people back there, didn't you" She pulls out her gun and point it at him

"Ever heard of the shadow rebels" He asked her while looking away. "A few guards of the Osta research facility came out of the blue and attacked us so I killed them"

"I heard of them before. They are the biggest Anti-magic group in Japan. if you are part of them, it make sense for you to be here" She said while letting putting down her gun a bit.

He laughed at my statement "Part of them? I'm just a third party they hired. I was the one who killed them before they decide to kill me too"

Before she could ask what he meant, the sound of distant footsteps echoed through the alleyway. The man quickly stood up, his demeanor becoming serious once again.

"Stay quiet, and don't move." He stepped forward, positioning himself between her and the approaching footsteps. His hand hovered over the hilt of a sword strapped to his back, ready to defend both of them if necessary.

Yuki felt her breath hitch. Whoever this man was, he wasn't just any ordinary fighter. The way he moved, the ease with which he'd carried her through the flames, and the calm in his eyes told her he had seen worse—much worse.