Chapter 51: Ghost Adventure Spirit Orb

Chapter 51: Ghost Adventure Spirit Orb

Lanterns lit up New Valentine like stars as the sun sunk beneath the horizon. If new Valentine were a man, itd be an insomniac dosed up on alchemical pills. Twitching and erratic all through the nightfilled with enough juice to keep going until the morning. It was a city of two faces, with a sun-loving mixture during the day for tourists to enjoy beaches and pleasant year-round weather. Then there was the night, where bars and clubs blasted music across the streets.

Beauty and sin mixed together in a single delicious cocktail that nobody could get enough of.

The unique part of the Lantern Festival was that it cemented the marriage of the two parts of the city and tore down the boundary. It carried the regal and traditional attitude of the day into the depths of the night, lighting the path to sin with Lanterns. It was an unholy union of pride and debauchery nominally celebrated life and the Immortal of Light.

Now that we had Bruno, we left the west side of New Valentine. The city started to flare to life as the festival took full swing. A barrage of multicolored lights and lanterns filled every street, along with costumes, complete with mock paper dragons. The festival would keep going until dawn, as everyone did their damnedest to stay sober enough to make it to the first ray of light.

Our bikes swerved past a party spilling out into the streetcars were driving poorly. Yep. Seemed about right.

It was almost tragic that I didnt get to spend the night with my friends like wed planned. I imagined me and Eve in a drinking contest or Bruno picking a fightSuzaki helping me down the street after I got drunk. But no, it wasnt meant to be. Thered be time another year.

Kayson shot past the Lantern District and into Downtown, leading our troop eventually to Uptown; by then, the fireworks popped in the sky.

For a second, the noise almost startled me into crashing against Suzakis bikeId thought it was a gun. My exhaustion drove the paranoia, and I mightve known that, but it didnt stop it. That and the worry for my brothers safety was a bad combo.

Kayson stopped us near a small butchery. It had a crimson sign displaying the world Closed for the holidays. I snorted. Bit late for a steak, aint it? I tried to force a bit of a laugh into my toneanything to ease the tension humming in me or break Bruno out of that brooding silence. Ever since we left the Sect, Suzakis words weighed him down. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Funny. But no. Kayson leaned on his handrails, spiders sparking to life on his fingertips. They crawled down the sleek metal handlebars to scurry towards the butcher shop. Ive been keeping tabs on the Alchemist the Fourth Division took. One of their squads is stationed here, and they occasionally send out warriors with duffel bags. Those go directly to a couple of select Captains from other Divisions.

They shoved him in this shithole? Eve spat on the ground.

That rat is far too good at what he does. Eve snorted. Hows he bankrolling all this?

Kayson sighed. Hes obscenely wealthy. But let's not get into that; well find victory here through a shock attack. Sweep in fast, throw them off, and then overrun them before they understand or can contact help. He moved over and patted Bruno on the shoulder. You strong enough?

Bruno shook his head, something was still off, but he gave a thumbs up. Of course! Theres none more glorious than I. This is a fitting job for me.

Going in with ya, big guy. I added.

Eve runs in first, you guys begin the attack, then Suzaki and I come in last. My Thread Spinner is poised in prime locations to distract the enemy and provide us an edge. I also brought these. Kayson pulled out small orange ear plugsthrowing them to everyone but Eve. Dont be afraid to make as much noise as possible, with the fireworks going off, well be able to get in and out before anyone notices.

With that, all of our roles settled. For a grim moment, we stared at the door. This was crossing another dangerous line, but at least we were doing it together. I felt almost keen to face off against my old Division; getting that poor bastard out of there was just the icing on the revenge cake. I rubbed the back of my head, trying to psych myself up for the fight. I needed to push harder, be stronger. My team needed me.

Bruno slammed the door open and ran into the building with a giddy laugh. I Manifested Fickle Fatethis time, I got lucky and conjured three Crows. I let one stay on my left shoulder while I sent the other two ahead to latch onto Bruno. He made an ideal target since bad luck likely wouldnt end a fight for him, but a dose of good luck would probably take out whoever he punched after.

With my preparations made, I ran in behind him. I was his shadow. Eve came after me, and I shoved my ear plugs in, which turned everything into a dim muffle. We darted past glass tables filled with meat and refrigerators stocked with food.

Bruno threw open another door to the back, finally lighting up the place as overhead fluorescent lights flooded outward. I dodged a dead cow hanging from a meat hook, wincing as I looked at the animal.

Eve got ahead of Bruno as the dull shouting erupted ahead. Theyd noticed and were calling themselves to action. I steadied myself on the hanging cow, the cold flesh freezing against my palm as Eve opened her mouth and screamed. Id still feel a backlash to my Soul, and I didnt want to put myself in a bad position after it ended.

Luckily it was a brief sound bomb, and then Eve cut herself off. Bruno was already rushing forward to start the fight.