CHAPTER 33: TRAP

It was to be expected, confrontation was a choice. Still, Hadrian had imagined a mage would stand their ground.

Tsk. Chase or not?

Hadrian looked at the fog tendrils that had still not broken off. His legs sprung and he followed.

The force path mage was faster than both of Hadrian’s current mage vessels. Hadrian barely kept up.

I’ve still not lost him. It must be on purpose on his part. A trap? Hehe, it’s fine. I can always lose these vessels. Sometimes, no plan is better than any plan and the true test of one’s abilities.

His main vessel and Alia vessel were on the furthest end of his current range. Just to be safe, though it would make his other vessels weaker, he kept the cores in his main and Alia vessels while the rest only channeled the essence.

These illusory dust particles are a first.

Looking down on the fog tendrils, he could still see them flickering in and out of his vision.

The mage kept his pace, moving through people like they were wheat. Hadrian did his best to avoid people, but with how many there were, it could not be helped.

The usual strong smells were all but gone, only strong wind batted his face. Hawk Hadrian kept up better, but it was more focused on peering into the other people’s essence sea, trying to spot other mages and the trap.

"You heal fast." Coming to a stop, the mage said to the Hadrian vessels he’d broken off the jaw.

Is this it? Or has the agitation finally gotten to him?

People nearby, those who seemed to recognise the mage, began dispersing while the rest dispersed as the others did.

"The longer you take, the worse it’ll be for you." The Hadrian vessel said to the mage.

Though the mage tried keeping a calm face, Hadrian could see through it. Still, Without exhausting the essence potency, it would be a long time. The only way to do that would be to have the mage use it up till it needs replenishing.

Hadrian could not simply kill them, or bring them to the state close to death without having them use up the potency of their essence. In this case, they would die before he grasped them.

Hawk Hadrian perched on a nearby roof, observing the small clearing they had created for themselves.

The sun cast short shadows on the dry mud road. Nearby wooden stalls were abandoned. Standing about twelve metres away from each other, the mage eyed down the three skinny men.

I can’t wait for long.

Hadrian thought. Some of his rat vessels that had made it out the sewer charged at the mage. They were meant to be distractions.

The mage wasn’t as agile as the space path mage but he was faster. With his chaotic movements he did manage to stomp some of the rat vessels.

Reinforcing the vessel channeling the space path essence with the muscle state of his other vessels, Hadrian charged at the mage, closing the distance in seconds.

Flicking his wrist, a short dagger appeared on the vessel’s right hand. Its aim was for the mage’s guts.

The force path mage easily deflected this, grabbing the vessel’s right arm, intending to break it. The space was suddenly filled with stinging hot dense mist.

The mage’s eyes narrowed. The mist mostly only impaired his vision. The hot irritation he’d heard of was mild.

Like a doll, the force path mage threw the Hadrian vessel. He brought his hands together in a great clap, dispersing the mist.

The second Hadrian vessel was already coming at him from his left. He had to admit, his agitation towards the third vessel that kept its distance had grown. However his attackers seemed weak.

How did they defeat him? he wondered.

All his senses had been augmented. Not the thumping of his attackers feet or the tapping of the rats paws missed him.

Though their methods were different, both space and force path mages had exemplary spatial awareness. So, when the hawk descended upon his face, he’d already sensed it.

Before its talons landed on him, his fists dug into the bird. He remained focused on the other two attackers coming at him.

Tsk. Anytime now.

With the mage’s right fist inside his hawk vessel chest, Hadrian substituted most of the weight state of all his vessels to the hawk.

Caught by surprise, the mage was brought down to one knee.

The Hadrian vessels channeling the space path essence landed a dagger strike on the mage’s ribs, though it was shallow.

The other Hadrian vessel, channeling elemental essence, grabbed the mage’s eyes with its hot iron hands.

Choosing to channel the essence rather than carry the core truly has such a great effect of weakening.

The mage dug out his fist from the hawk and in quick motion struck the two Hadrian vessels. Currently, at the minimum mass state, they were sent flying to the wooden stalls.

They regained their weight states and balance quickly. The Hadrian vessels took poses ready for another attack.

The mage’s eyes were red and swollen. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, anger on his face.

He wasn’t looking at the two Hadrian vessels that had attacked him, however. His focus was on the third Hadrian vessel. The one calling at his essence. Of course, he did not know this, but it was like an irritating itch at his centre.

The Hadrian vessel smiled. The mage let out a hot breath through his nostrils.

Suddenly, Hadrian was hit with a drowsy feeling, his vision blurring for a moment.

It wasn’t just one of his vessels, but all. This was like the effect that grasping at the essence tendrils had on him.

His vessels staggered.

Looking down at the mage’s essence tendrils, his brows pinched. Those earlier flickering illusory dust like particles had gotten more restless.

Seeing his attackers stagger, the mage smiled. He let out a chuckle.

"Like I told you, we had our guesses.... "

Hadrian’s visions got blurry, his eyes rolling back and he fell to the ground.