Reboot: Mechanic

Gerald's grasp closed on empty air, his fingers passing through the dissipating mist like smoke. 

He paused for a moment, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination. 

'Damn it, what a slippery snake!' Gerald cursed silently.

It was clear that Kralos Tal's escape wasn't going to be as simple as a physical pursuit.

As the dark mist continued to disperse, revealing nothing but the empty space it once occupied, Vanessa and Shi Tian exchanged wary glances.

"He got away," Vanessa muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. It was clear that Kralos Tal's elusiveness wasn't something they had anticipated.

Meanwhile, Shi Tian's mechanical arm hummed softly, the residual energy from the battle still coursing through it. He made a few glances around the area, his analytical mind processing the situation.

"He won't be gone for good," Shi Tian finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "He'll be back, and at that time, he will be even more difficult to deal with."

Kralos Tal's final threat before his retreat was not to be underestimated or ignored. 

He might have failed this time, but it was clear that Kralos Tal's appearance won't stop just here. He will definitely attempt to finish what he started, making sure his record was clean and flawless. 

Gerald's fists clenched, and his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the surroundings.

He wanted to sense Kralos Tal's presence, if there was any left at all. 

Alas, Kralos Tal seemed to be proficient in his offensive ability as well as his escaping ability. There wasn't even a tiny bit of presence left behind for him to trace. 

"We'll be ready if he dared to come back," Gerald said, his tone resolute. "Next time, I won't let him slip through my fingers."

"Anyway, why did you show up here, Gerald?" Shi Tian asked, finally having a chance to inquire about his presence here.

"I'll explain to you later, but now we must leave. The military is arriving fast here, and we shouldn't idle here." Gerald warned in a low tone. 

Shi Tian nodded his head. Even though they were the victims, with how deadly the battle had become and the casualties remaining unknown, it was best to leave the scene for now.

If they were caught here, then it would have spelled a lot of trouble compared to escaping first. 

After all, they won't be able to do much to them once they aren't caught on site. 

The incident here more than likely involved someone influential in Gearits City to pull such a scheme within the inner walls. Thus, they knew better than to attempt to make the matter bigger than it had already been. 

With a mutual understanding, the trio began to disperse. 

In the meantime, Vanessa lowered the swirling Magicule barrier she had created, allowing the earthy vines and energy vortex to slowly fade away. 

As for the patrons inside the Horology Restaurant, they were still in shock from the intense battle and cautiously began to emerge from their cover.

Sometime later, after the trio had left, military personnel arrived at the scene.

"What happened here and who was responsible for this." One of the commanding soldiers demanded for a response, seemingly angry and astounded by the devastating battle scene. 

A few seconds went by, and someone knew they had to respond to the soldier. Otherwise, things wouldn't end well for them, even if they weren't involved with the scene. 

Robert Cook, the manager of the Horology Restaurant, was forced to step forward, his expression a mix of frustration and helplessness.

"I don't have all the details yet," he began, his voice tense. "There was a sudden confrontation involving powerful individuals. They wreaked havoc and caused all of this destruction."

As much as Robert Cook wanted to curse the crap out of these so-called militaries, who only decided to show up once everything was over, he could only reply respectfully. 

Earning the ire of the military would be an idiotic move to do, especially when he was merely doing the bidding of more powerful people. 

The commanding soldier's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. The shattered windows, the torn-up ground, and the remnants of energy clashes told a story of a battle far beyond the ordinary. 

He turned to one of his subordinates. "Start gathering information and take statements from witnesses. We need to piece together what exactly happened here."

Just when the soldiers attempted to begin to secure the area and question witnesses, another voice interrupted. 

"I don't think you are allowed to survey the area, Otis." A domineering male echoed from behind, and to Robert Cook's shock, it was another military group. 

But this time, Robert Cook recognized who the person was compared to the commanding soldier. 

'T-That's Theobold, the first commander of the Flameheart Vanguard military. What is such a famous figure doing here?' Robert Cook exclaimed inwardly. He was unable to fathom how such an incident would catch the attention of Theobold.

Meanwhile, the commanding soldier, Otis, narrowed his eyes at the unexpected arrival of Theobold. 

Theobold's presence seemed to shift the air itself. His reputation as the first commander of the Flameheart Vanguard was widely known, and his authority carried significant weight. 

However, Otis wasn't going to let Theobold do as he pleased, much less command him when they are practically in the same military rank. 

"Theobold, this isn't the wilderness but the walls within Gearits City. I don't think you have any authorization here nor do you have the right to order me." Otis said scornfully, seemingly displeased by Theobold. 

Theobold expression remained neutral, but there was a subtle air of authority around him that demanded attention.

"Otis, I'm here as an observer," Theobold responded calmly, his voice carrying an underlying tone of command. "There's more to this incident than meets the eye, and I have reasons to believe it's connected to matters beyond the city walls. I suggest you cooperate."

Otis's scowl deepened, but he seemed to be reconsidering his stance. 

Theobold's reputation and the implications of his involvement were enough to give anyone pause.

Before Otis could respond, Theobold's gaze shifted, and he looked towards the shattered entrance of the Horology Restaurant. 

"It appears that some influential individuals were involved in this chaos. I'm interested in finding out who they were."