BANG
Boom!!
A precise shot struck the initial rider who had been swinging his arm in an attempt to force open the door.
He tumbled off his motorcycle, almost as if an invisible force had punched him.
Simultaneously, the skidding motorcycle rebounded swiftly, effectively blocking the advance of the pursuing riders.
The other riders swiftly maneuvered to avoid the fallen bike, while Lennok clenched his fist with even greater determination.
“Davi.”
[Boom.]
Whoooosh!!
Amidst the oncoming pursuers, the fallen bike detonated with pinpoint accuracy. In an instant, it consumed more than five of the pursuers in flames.
“……!”
The motorcycle riders, seemingly jolted awake by the fiery eruption in the darkness, collectively shifted their gaze towards Lennok.
Undeterred by their hostile stares, Lennok promptly reloaded his weapon and squeezed the trigger.
Bang!!
In a heartbeat, a helmet on one of the pursuing riders shattered, and blood sprayed into the night.
Once again, a rider succumbed, their bike tumbling alongside them.
However, this time, the remaining pursuers had distanced themselves by at least ten meters, and in the interim, the train surged forward once more.
“…….”
At last, the riders exchanged quick glances, comprehending Lennok’s intentions.
Take out a bike approaching too closely, causing it to veer out of control and explode.
If they’re hit, the repercussions are exponentially greater. If they evade, they can’t pursue.
Regardless of the method, the outcome is the same: the motorcycle loses control and becomes a fiery explosion.
So, what’s the countermeasure?
The pursuers swiftly arrived at a conclusion.
Clink! Click!
Each of them retrieved their equipment from the bikes and trained it on Lennok.
Lennok, sensing the palpable tension, offered a wry smile.
“I expected this much, but I don’t know how quickly Casia will return.”
Ultimately, safeguarding the train until it reached the autonomous region was the paramount objective.
While Lennok had successfully diverted the attention of the pursuers with overt tactics, protecting the fast-moving train single-handedly was no small feat.
He excelled at dispatching foes without minding his surroundings.
But could he safeguard the operational integrity of a rapidly advancing train while contending with dozens of spellcasters?
It wasn’t impossible, but it demanded Lennok’s utmost caution.
The utilization of his domain necessitated careful deliberation.
While the control over magic it provided was a formidable weapon, the overwhelming exhaustion it induced could incapacitate even Lennok momentarily.
Consequently, Dylan and Mila faced Irina in the fight with the exploration team, because he had just deployed the domain and was suffering from the recoil.
While Lennok organized his thoughts, the situation continued to unfold rapidly.
During this brief interlude, almost as if through telepathy, a multitude of motorcycles began closing in on the train.
Simultaneously, at both flanks of the train, the two lead motorcycles executed sharp turns, tilting their frames—actions one would never expect during a pursuit, as they’d typically create obstacles.
What occurred next exceeded even Lennok’s expectations.
Wooosh!!
The two lead motorcycles tilted their frames, fashioning an improvised ramp.
Subsequently, the following dozen motorcycles ascended into the sky, utilizing these altered motorcycles as launch pads.
“……!!”
Lennok stood in awe of the near-miraculous driving skill exhibited in using a comrade’s motorcycle to vault through the air.
While he had encountered various superhumans in the past, witnessing such a technique for the first time captivated his attention.
However, there was a singular reason they resorted to this method to forcefully board the train.
At this very moment, their primary objective was to eliminate Lennok, the obstacle impeding their mission, and continue their pursuit of the target.
From the back of a motorcycle darting beneath the moonlight, a rider brandishing a shotgun bellowed, “Die, you bastard!”
Bang!
The shotgun blast, accompanied by a thunderous roar, was wholly nullified by the shield hastily conjured by Lennok and vanished.
“Though it was fun to watch, it’s a mistake to float in the air.”
Lennok, who had tethered a magical chain to the four airborne motorcycles, promptly retracted it.
“Ugh!”
The four motorcycles that had collided mid-air were instantly pulverized, transforming into a massive heap of scrap metal.
[Magnetic Control]
Immediately thereafter, the mound of scrap metal, intermingled with the riders’ bodies, was propelled towards the underside of the train in the form of an enormous screw.
Shifting his gaze toward the other riders attempting to accelerate at the train’s fore.
Crash!
The pile of scrap metal crushed the three leading motorcycles, sending them spiraling into the air.
Lennok, who had asserted dominion over all the metallic elements through his mana-fueled magnetism, muttered while extending his hand.
“If you thought you could divert attention with just this, you’re lacking.”
Crack!
Components, screws, and bolts from the motorcycles indiscriminately hurtled out, piercing through intact motorcycles and lacerating the flesh of their riders.
The pursuers, who had been increasing their speed, were unable to withstand the metallic projectiles embedding themselves in their bodies, and began to disintegrate.
“Agh!”
“It hurts, it hurts!”
Unexpectedly, people seldom consider that the tools they wield can turn against them with such vengeance.
Lennok had always been inclined to exploit his adversaries’ vulnerabilities in combat, and lately, he felt this inclination even more acutely.
In a city as rugged and oppressive as this one, the prevailing atmosphere was one of trust in nothing but the weapons you held in your grasp.
He had to harness these instincts to his advantage; losing sight of this reality would be a grave mistake.
As he organized his thoughts, a man who had fallen at Lennok’s feet coughed up blood and chuckled.
“Kuh, it’s not over with this… don’t think you can easily evade the pursuit of the Biker Gang…!!!”
“Biker Gang, huh?”
Were these motorcycle-riding individuals boasting about their turf or something?
It had to be a gang with an exceedingly straightforward name.
Lennok slowly nudged the man with his boot and responded as he pushed him off the train’s rooftop.
“I know.”
Vroom!
If the Biker Gang was indeed targeting Casia and orchestrating all of this, it was likely they had additional forces in play.
Even though Casia was unversed in combat, originating from a laboratory, and physically frail, engaging in direct combat would prove arduous.
It wouldn’t be surprising at all if they had other contingents waiting to conclude matters without any casualties.
And if news of Casia’s journey towards the autonomous region had leaked…
‘It wouldn’t be strange at all to be waiting after passing the train.’
“Over there!”
At that moment, it seemed Casia, who had gone to check on the engineer, had returned. Her voice calling for Lennok reverberated from beyond the window.
Casia scanned the train’s surroundings and then gazed up at the roof with a perplexed expression before inquiring,
“Have you already dealt with all the pursuers?”
“Because you were too slow to get here, that’s what happened.”
“……Sorry about that. But there was a reason why it took so long.”
“Go ahead.”
Casia spoke with a solemn countenance,
“We need to stop the train right now.”
“Why?”
“I just got word from the engineer. The junction located on the way to the autonomous region, and a nearby relay station, have been attacked.”
“……”
“The chances are high that the people who attacked the train are from the same group. And if they have tampered with the relay station, then there’s a very high chance that……”
“They might have also tampered with the tracks.”
“Exactly. If we don’t stop now, the train could completely go off course-“
Vroom!
Before she could finish her sentence, the train violently shuddered and tilted to one side.
Lennok, who had employed his magical prowess to maintain stability, remained unscathed, but Casia, leaning out of the window, was violently jolted.
Struggling to regain her footing, she spoke with a flushed face,
“It seems we’re already too late.”
Lennok shared the same realization.
The junction they had just passed had been deliberately altered by the biker gang.
From this point onward, the train was gradually deviating from its course toward the Philemon Autonomous Region.
Whoosh!!
To compound their troubles, dozens of figures approached rapidly from the rear of the train.
It seemed the biker gang harbored no intention of relenting after a single pursuit.
“To come after us this persistently… You must have a very close relationship with the Teyna Research Institute.”
“……”
Lennok released a heavy sigh and momentarily shifted his gaze from Casia.
“I will change the direction. Take care of those coming from behind.”
“If that’s possible, that would be great, but… Do you have a viable way?”
Casia inquired.
“Ultimately, to change the course in this situation, we need to stop the train and move it backward, which is impossible with people chasing us.”
“……”
“Rather, it might be more reasonable to wipe out all the pursuers here and then proceed to the relay station on foot to find another means of transportation.”
“No, it is possible.”
“How exactly can you…”
“We haven’t been off track for long. We can still do something about this.”
Based on his recent exploits with magnetic magic, Lennok discerned that manipulating metal was indeed within reach.
Mentally assessing the situation, Lennok promptly adjusted his mana and embarked on a journey towards the train’s foremost carriage.
***
“Ah… how did things turn out like this…”
Casia let out a profound sigh as she observed Lennok striding toward the train’s front.
Boarding the train bound for the autonomous region to procure a medicinal herb for Director Baila’s treatment had initially seemed straightforward.
However, the current disturbances far exceeded what she could manage on her own.
It wasn’t difficult for her to deduce why a biker gang was relentlessly pursuing her at this juncture. The laboratory she worked in, under Director Baila’s leadership, had made substantial breakthroughs, intensifying conflicts with rival research institutions.
The notion that capturing Casia, the director’s secretary, might be part of their plan weighed heavily on her mind. Alternatively, it wasn’t far-fetched to consider that they were targeting her as she journeyed to deliver groundbreaking technology to the autonomous region.
“……”
The more Casia contemplated the present circumstances, the colder she felt her blood run.
Yes, this city had always been like this.
Under the sheltered protection of a wizard society, she had been able to focus on her research. But the moment she stepped into the light, she was confronted with this kind of brutality.
Individuals who didn’t engage in reason or discourse.
A city teeming with lawbreakers who would stop at nothing to achieve their desires.
“……Tsk!”
Tears threatened to well up, but Casia forcefully sniffled, regaining her composure.
She couldn’t afford to stop here. For the sake of the director, she had to fulfill the task assigned to her.
However, she couldn’t help but ponder the man who had recently ascended to the train’s roof.
In this absurd pursuit, he exhibited no signs of agitation; instead, he mercilessly dispatched the entire biker gang. It was difficult to imagine that he was a wizard like herself.
Judging by the fluctuations of mana she had sensed while conversing with the engineer, he must have eliminated dozens and yet remained unfazed.
Could this be what the exemplary wizards the director always spoke of were like?
Perhaps talent also encompassed the fortitude not to waver in such tense circumstances.
“Now is not the time.”
She didn’t comprehend the nature of the man’s solution, but presently, she had to thwart the pursuing gang, as he had suggested.
The prospect of altering the train’s course could only be considered after dealing with the biker gang’s interference.
Just as she was about to channel her mana toward the approaching gang,
Drrrrrrrrr!!
“Ah?!”
A peculiar sound reverberated, and the train abruptly began to sway.
Struggling to maintain her balance as she swayed, Casia swiftly looked up and gasped in astonishment.
“My God, this is…”
Dozens of tracks materialized from the night sky, shifting to create a new path ahead of the train.
