*BEEP BEEP*

  Specialty Affinity shard absorbed. — Shattered hand Shard

  Contains the attuned powers of combat gained over a lifetime of rigorous training of the hand.

  Note: Specialty affinity shards are magical items created under unique circumstances, generally granting abilities with special effects, abilities with specialized roles, or abilities with more power than is normal.

  Unlocked Gun Core ability — Powder Strike

  Allows the summoning and subsequent ignition of gunpowder within the hand. The explosions from powder strike will not be able to harm your hands though they may harm other parts of your body.

  Ozzy read through the ability with great interest, ideas sprouting in his mind as he thought of all the ways he might be able to use it. It was a serious ace up his sleeve, a hidden weapon that he’d be able to use when his ranged options failed.

  Looking inwardly he recognized that the mana cost was much lower than even the cost of a singular revolver round. He could probably even use the attack for five minutes straight without running out of mana. There were several drawbacks he could immediately think of however. For one he’d probably have to be holding onto or be in contact with something for it to actually cause any damage. Sure he could give someone powder burn or flashbang them but any actual damage would likely be relegated to things like palm strikes, grabs, and slapping movements.

  He might be able to turn his hand into a claymore now that he thought about it though. Just load up on a bunch of ball bearings and cup them in his palm then boom. DIY magical hand claymore.

  Ozzy was pulled out of his musings as one of the warrior helped pull Eclastiedes into a piggyback position, and the two healers who had been helping him moved to help their now fallen and smoking companion who’d tried to steal Ozzy’s shard.

  “We do not claim thieves or betrayers among our ranks, leave him!” He said, spitting a bloody glob of spit at the fallen warrior. “Let’s move!”

  Just like that they were off, stealing off towards the edge of the platform to grab a lift. As they moved it quickly became apparent that Ozzy and Emil were the only two core users there without movement abilities, and they had to not only run double time to keep up, but get help several times as two of the faster warriors had to jump back consistently and help them. Pulling them ahead of the group with a burst of mana where Ozzy and Emil would inevitably begin to fall behind again.

  They played that song and dance three times before making it to a lift and going up. There Eclastiedes finished his healing was finally able to stand on his own, and gave them a little context as to the nature of their fight. Eclastiedes and his group had basically tricked Mikeala and her patrol into heading all the way over to this side of the platform. It was almost nearly opposite to the Edge Slinger territory and with the distance the platforms were across it would take them two hours at a minimum to get across if they made it in a straight shot. Though the five minute head start the edge slinger patrol had on them basically meant it would be nearly impossible to catch up to them, especially if they tried to lug Ozzy and Emil around. That was where the wayepath came in.

  The wayepath was one of several magical means of travel in the city, though Ozzy still wasn’t familiar with the others. Eclastiedes explained that it was like leftover magical residue from the original formation and expansion of the massive trees that made up Myreluck, and that by using it they’d be able to step through a bit of that residual magic goop on one side and pop out from another bit of goop way on the other side.

  They were portals the one responsible for forming this place had never intended to make. Yet they were invaluable in the speed and efficiency they offered the city, both as revenue streams and means of transportation. Offering travel unmatched throughout Myreluck at a premium price point.

  After getting off the lift it was another mad dash to the wayepath, though this one was thankfully much shorter and as a byproducts of the expansion they existed only on the outer reaches of the platforms generally around the outer trunks.

  Laying eyes on the way station was like looking through the eye of a needle out at the cosmos. It was a warp in the air and it magnified an impossible amount of detail into a teeny tiny space at the center of the bubble shaped warp in space.

  Set up around the wayepath several men and women sat at ready within the bounds of a small guard setup, watching the surroundings like they owed them money. The only entrance was a single path which lead up a set of smooth stone steps to reach the warp, and standing right beside the entrance was one of the tall lanky humanoids he’d seen on the first platform. It was as heavily armed as the rest of the guards around the warp though noticeably more relaxed.

  “Good day Tarel, we’re going through and in a bit of a hurry how much?” Eclastiedes asked, strolling up to Tarel like he was an old friend.

  “Eclastiedes, good to see you, it’s been what? Four months? And not too much for a friend, let’s call it four mana stones a person.” He said, looking for all the world like he was doing Eclastiedes a favor.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Tarel you are the single most gracious and generous man alive. Deal.” Eclastiedes said, clasping hands with the man, and grinning ear to ear as he began to pull mana stone after mana stone out of a dimensional bag, handing each to Tarel who put them in his own bag.

  At the back of the group Emil went practically slack jawed. The amount of wealth he had just watched handed over and called a good deal was practically life altering. He couldn’t imagine just how much money Eclastiedes would have to give up to consider something a bad deal.

  With the transfer complete Tarel stepped aside, letting the group continue onwards as he shouted a farewell to Eclastiedes. One by one they walked up, each passing through without so much as a word until it was left to Ozzy and Emil.

  “Can’t believe I’m taking one of the wayepaths.” Emil said, his tone a mix of both awe and trepidation. “See you on the other side.” He said, and with a deep breath stepped on through.

  Ozzy followed a step behind him, and cringed as what felt like his entire being slipped through that minuscule perspective into the outside world. It was like getting spaghettified, and in as little time as it took for light to reach from one side of a room to another he was standing on the other side of the warp and staring at the back of Emil’s head.

  “That felt weird as hell.” Emil said, his voice the same mix of emotion.

  “Everyone here?” Eclastiedes called.

  “All here.” Ozzy yelled back, feeling like it was probably his job since he was at the back of the line.

  “Let’s move!” Eclastiedes shouted, as once again they hustled for the edge of the platform.

  ***

  They made a quick pace to their destination, their group splitting into three groups three men a piece to cover the main entrances of the edgeslingers district. Eclastiedes sending his men away and remaining with Ozzy and Emil.

  Apparently their mustachioed friend was tier one, the same as Mikaela. Though she had been far his superior by means of straight combat capability. Mikaela’s patrolmen however? They would be as chaff in the wind before him.

  Which left Ozzy as overwatch. After explaining his long range capabilities to Eclastiedes the man had suggested Ozzy take up a position where he could overlook the border. That way if they had anyone slip through he could take them out before they got through. Though the act of shooting someone on the border wouldn’t be much different than setting an alarm off in front of their gates.

  Settled in and hidden they waited, there were six core users they had to keep from reaching the border, and if all went according to plan the six would be split up enough that Ozzy’s group of nine would be able to easily take them.

  In the case the edge slinger patrol went in force to one group however Eclastiede’s men had been instructed to fight retreating battled towards Eclastiede’s and Ozzy’s position, where they would once again even the odds of the fight.

  It was far from a flawless plan, and if even one of the patrol decided to hang low somewhere on the platform before making it back to the Edge Slinger’s district they would either have to comb an entire city platform or sit waiting at this platforms equivalent of the gates of hell till they decided to come back home.

  Thankfully it only took 45 minutes for the first of their quarry to show themselves.

  ***

  Ozzy spotted three of the edge slinger patrol hurrying up the street they were currently watching. Constantly looking over their shoulders and bumping into people, almost like they expected their enemy to be behind them. Ozzy couldn’t help but cringe, it was hard not to feel sorry for the bastards. They had no idea what was waiting for them at the street bend.

  Below Ozzy, Emil and Eclastiedes were both waiting hunched over and inconspicuous, looking like just about every other sorry beggar or street rat that made the corners and alleys their homes. Unlike the common beggars however they were highly aware of everything going on around them, and after Ozzy used their incredibly complex and sophisticated messaging system (a pebble he threw at Emil’s head) they knew their quarry were coming; and as the first of the edge slinger patrol came around the bend Emil enacted the first part of their plan.

  Stepping out into the street like a crazy person Emil waved his hands and yelled at the patrol to stop. Screaming incoherently about some church and how the end of the world was coming. As humans were so aught to do the patrolmen stopped as their curiosity got the better of them. They were all equal parts confused and invested in the crazy mans ramblings. So invested were they in-fact that none of them seemed to notice the cloaked figure moving from the side of the street to stand behind them.

  Light flared throughout the street, followed by the signature crack-boom of thunder as Eclastiedes cast a spell so devastating it literally cooked the man he’d fired at. The opening attack served two purposes, as not only did it kill the strongest fighter of the small group but concussed and threw the other two men to the ground, where Emil fell on them with flashing steel and impunity, slaughtering them before they had any thought as to what was going on.

  The three patrolmen were dead before anyone on the street could even react, Emil and Eclastiedes fleeing the scene of the crime to join Ozzy at his vantage point at the same time as the random passerbys began to flee, covering their escape with a human stampede.

  “Good work Emil, three down three more to go.” Eclastiedes said, patting the big hunter on the shoulder as he sat down on the floor, leaning against the half wall Ozzy was currently looking out over.

  “I hope the rest come this way. I don’t like not guessing if they walk by the other teams or not.” Emil said by way of response, nodding appreciatively at Eclastiedes.

  “I have faith in the ones who remain, they’re all strong.” Eclastiedes said, breathing heavily from his massive mana expenditure and rapid flight to the roof.

  “If they need help they’ll move this way, don’t think too hard about it. So long everyone just sticks to the plan we’ll be fine.” Ozzy said, jinxing them as he fidgeted anxiously with the safety of his rifle.

  “Someone not following the plan is what I’m worried about Ozzy. You’re not the one with their entire life riding on this, remember?” Emil growled, glaring at Ozzy as he spoke.

  Ozzy didn’t respond, figuring he didn’t have anything to say that would placate the angry hunter. He didn’t blame him either, if anyone had been dealt the short straw in all of this it was Emil.

  Not only had Emil stuck his neck out for Ozzy this entire time but given him a place to stay and a means by which to make a living. All Ozzy had done in return was endanger the very things he held close and get him in a fight he never wanted to be a part of.

  He’d have to make it up to his friend somehow, but first they had to kill the rest of the patrol.

  “Do you hear that?” Eclastiedes asked.

  Each of them began holding their breaths as they listened intently. Until Ozzy heard the telltale signs of a core user battle.