Arnimos and John stopped in an alley quite a distance from the bar, they took a second to catch their breaths.

  "That was close," John said. "Didn't expect such a strong guy to show up this soon,"

  "What were those powers?" Arnimos said. "They were pretty strong,"

  "Must be a skilled bounty hunter," John said. "And it's likely we've not seen the last of him,"

  As they spoke a cloud of billowing sand blew into the alley then coalesced into the Vishashi, he took a moment to catch his breath then looked at the two.

  "It appears we won't be able to get through any place without being attacked," The Vishashi said.

  "Yeah," John said. "What supplies did you manage to pick up?"

  "Just some firewood," The Vishashi said. "Enough to keep Night away for awhile,"

  "Then we should move out," John said. "Let's not get caught up here for long,"

  "Shouldn't we try to deal with the Taniberas?" Arnimos said. "We don't want him pursuing us,"

  "He's more skilled than us," John said. "Beating him won't be easy,"

  "Especially since my Dichotomies are exhausted," The Vishashi said. "I had to use my Ultimate,"

  "We saw," John said. "Let's get out of here before-"

  "Going somewhere?" Rulst-Kal said.

  They saw as he seemed to step out of one of the walls of the alley. John drew his pistol and Arnimos raised his hammer as the man stepped out, he raised a hand and pointed at the Vishashi causing a box to appear around him.

  "One threat down," Rulst-Kal said.

  The crack of a gunshot resounded as part of the Taniberas's flesh was blown off from the Fear Made weapon. He began to faintly glow as flesh remade itself.

  "Stop resisting and make this easy," Rulst-Kal said. "Hate wasting effort,"

  Arnimos swung the hammer down but it struck a small section of wall that suddenly formed. Rulst-Kal crouched and placed a hand on his sword then drew it in a swift slash, a cut appeared on both Arnimos and John's chest. John fired another shot but it was intercepted by a section of wall. Arnimos felt as his Dichotomies lashed at his mind, tearing at the edges as energy began to build and wounds began to heal.

  John dashed forward and fired another shot, another interception. Rulst-Kal began to raise a hand but John threw himself to the side and fired again. A chunk of the man's hand was blown off. Rulst-Kal's hand began to heal as he swung the blade again causing a cut to form along John's arm.

  Arnimos charged forward and swung the hammer which was blocked by a section of wall but then he dropped it and threw himself at Rulst-Kal, the move was unexpected allowing him to tackle the Taniberas. Arnimos brought back his fist and delivered a strong strike to Rulst-Kal's face. He brought his fist back again but then Rulst-Kal grabbed Arnimos and shoved him away with supernatural strength.

  John fired a shot as Arnimos was pushed back, another chunk of flesh exploded. John stepped forward and fired again, this time a section of wall intercepted the shot. Rulst-Kal kicked himself up and swung his blade out at John, a cut formed along his chest. John raised his revolver and fired another shot, as the section of wall intercepted it he raised his other arm and activated a Skill. His arm turned into a thin jet of water the he whipped at Rulst-Kal. The Taniberas jumped back but not quick enough and earned a shallow gouge on the leg.

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  "You are too much trouble," Rulst-Kal said. "I'll be back,"

  Rulst-Kal touched the wall of the alley and he and the box holding the Vishashi merged into it. John fired a shot as he did but it simply made a hole in the wall. He looked back at Arnimos who was standing up and grabbing his hammer.

  "What was that?" Arnimos said. "How did he do that?"

  "Good question," John said. "Better question is where is he taking out Vishashi,"

  The two rushed over to where Rulst-Kal merged into the wall, they felt it and looked over it but saw nothing.

  "It must be his Dichotomy," Arnimos said. "Not only can he summon walls to protect himself and trap us in box, he can teleport somehow,"

  "This is just peachy," John said. "How are we supposed to find him?"

  Arnimos pressed a hand against the wall, something felt off. He closed his eyes and focused, he could feel a faint trail of DE on the wall. He opened his eyes and could see the faintest trail of purplish energy leading somewhere.

  "I see something," Arnimos said. "I think it's the path he took,"

  "How'd you reckon that?" John said.

  "Feels like there's DE here leading somewhere else," Arnimos said.

  "You're just a bag full of tricks," John said. "Let's follow quickly then, before he gets too much of a chance to recover,"

  Arnimos nodded and the two followed the trail. It seemed to jump between buildings and trailed along walls, something related to his fear perhaps? They followed it through winding paths and barren streets until they reached what seemed like a small courtyard where Rulst-Kal sat in the center with the box standing beside him. Rulst-Kal looked at them and seemed a bit shaken then stood up.

  "You got here quickly," Rulst-Kal said. "How'd you figure out where I was so quickly?"

  "Don't matter to you," John said. "Now, how about you hand over the Vishashi and i'll let you leave this place alive,"

  "Bold words from you," Rulst-Kal said. "Now how about i offer you a chance to surrender and-"

  Rulst-Kal snapped his fingers and a handful of men appeared in the windows of nearby buildings with weapons.

  "My boys won't have to get violent," Rulst-Kal said.

  "Think we're going down so easy?" John said. "Not a chance,"

  "What about you, kid," Rulst-Kal said. "Wanna run off?"

  "An Archon doesn't run," Arnimos said.

  "Sure..." Rulst-Kal said. "Wait-What-"

  Arnimos raised a hand and let his Dichotomies run wild, madness ripped at the edge of his mind and a fear which could stop his heart filled his mind. He felt his throat closing and body developed a cold sweat as he heard the single ring of a key. Arnimos focused his mind and drove the energy inwards, it swelled inside his soul.

  Rulst-Kal was distracted for a second, just what John needed. He drew his revolver and fired, the shot took out a chunk of his leg. Rulst-Kal fell to a knee.

  "Blast him!" Rulst-Kal said.

  The men in the windows aimed their weapons, they would certainly take John out. The world slowed down as all these men aimed Fear-Made weapons at him, this was gonna hurt. He looked over at Arnimos who seemed to begin exploding with power, it would've been best to keep their trump card hidden but now was as good a time as any.

  Energy filled his Luxicon Dichotomy then he let it all out into the environment around them, a blast of wind blew over the area and the thin layer of sand on the ground was annihilated. The men in the windows winced as cracks formed along their weapons, Rulst-Kal took a step back and shielded himself. Cracks formed along his blade and the box disappeared exposing the Vishashi to the world.

  John dashed forward, Rulst-Kal raised his arms to block but John ran past and picked up the Vishashi then kept sprinting away.

  "Get out Arnimos!" John said. "Let's meet up later,"

  Arnimos was taking deep breaths and on one knee.

  "You got it," Arnimos said between breaths.

  Arnimos rose and ran with what he could muster, they didn't give pursuit. What had just happened had surprised them too much. Arnimos ran blindly through alleys and streets, he'd have to encounter his friends eventually.