Chương 27: Battle for the scroll (FILLER)

Tony pulled a strange, compact device from his satchel as soon as they exited the guild hall. It looked almost like a small compass, except instead of a needle, a glowing crystal floated inside its center, spinning slowly. Julio stared at it.

"... What is that?" Tony held it up proudly.

"This?" He tapped the device.

"It's what we need if we're gonna track those thieves down." Julio's eyes widened.

"You can actually track them with that?"

"Yep!" Tony pointed ahead.

"The Naxallite I planted on them is sending a signal to this." The crystal suddenly spun violently before pointing down the street. Tony grinned.

"Found 'em." Mochi cracked his knuckles.

"Alright."

"Let's get your scroll back." Tony took off running.

"Follow me!" Mochi, Amelia, and Julio immediately followed. The chase was on. Several miles away, Avery pushed open the doors of the Black Cats Guild Hall. She stepped inside with the golden scroll tucked safely under her arm. A smug laugh escaped her.

"That was too easy." She held the scroll up.

"You two were great, Mamoon and Falla." Two members of the guild stood nearby. Mamoon grinned.

"Of course, Captain."

"We've practiced Phantom Lock for this exact purpose." Falla's eyes immediately locked onto the scroll.

"Captain!"

"Can I see it?"

"Please?"

"Please, please?" Avery rolled her eyes.

"Fine." She tossed the scroll toward him. Falla caught it eagerly.

"Whoa..." He carefully examined the elaborate golden casing.

"It's actually beautiful." Several other guild members gathered around. One whistled.

"How much do you think this thing is worth anyways?" Another leaned closer.

"That casing looks like pure gold." Avery crossed her arms, already imagining the possibilities.

"At least a few platinum Gilm, I'd say." The guild members' eyes widened.

"Seriously?!"

"With that kind of money..."

"We could buy properties!"

"Maybe even establish another guild branch!" Laughter erupted throughout the room. Avery smirked.

"Exactly." She snatched the scroll back from Falla.

"I came here to show you all that we found some good shit." She raised the scroll triumphantly.

"And now..."

"We're gonna come back with a whole lotta money too." Mamoon cracked his knuckles.

"Sounds good to me." Falla nodded excitedly.

"Absolutely!" Avery turned toward the exit.

"Mamoon."

"Falla." She gestured toward the door.

"Let's bounce."

"Yes, ma'am!" Mamoon said.

"Right behind you!" Falla added with a confident grin. The two followed Avery out of the guild hall. The remaining Black Cats members continued celebrating behind them, completely unaware that someone was already tracking their every move. Moments later Avery pushed open the door to a small pawn shop tucked between two buildings. A little brass bell jingled overhead. Ding!

The shop was cramped and dusty, with shelves packed with old weapons, jewelry, antiques, magical artifacts, and all sorts of strange objects whose purposes were impossible to guess. Behind the counter sat an elderly man with round spectacles, calmly reading a book. He looked up.

"Hello there."

"Are you looking to sell something?" Avery's grin returned.

"Indeed I am." She stepped toward the counter and dramatically showed him the scroll.

"This." She pointed proudly at its ornate casing.

"This baby is 100% Pure gold." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. The old man raised an eyebrow.

"Pure gold, you say?"

"Interesting indeed."

"Allow me to get a closer look." Avery placed the scroll across the counter. The old man took it and carefully examined the casing. He turned it over. Tapped it. Scratched the surface with a tiny tool. He even pulled out a magnifying glass.

"Hmm..."

"Interesting indeed." Avery leaned over the counter, practically vibrating with excitement.

"C'mon, boss man!"

"How many platinum Gilm are we getting outta this?"

"It must me alot huh?" Mamoon and Falla stood behind her, already imagining how they'd spend their cut. The old man finally placed the scroll back onto the counter.

"I'll give you..." He paused.

"... 30 copper Gilm." Silence. Avery's smile froze.

"... Thirty." The old man nodded.

"Thirty copper Gilm." Avery's eyebrow twitched.

"... Copper Gilm?"

"That's what I said young lady." Avery slowly smiled.

"Boss man..."

"Your eyes might be getting a little worn out."

"You might wanna check those things again."

"Because last time I checked..." She tapped the scroll.

"Gold isn't worth that little." Mamoon leaned forward.

"Yeah."

"That casing alone should be worth a fortune." Falla nodded.

"At least a few platinum Gilm!" The old man stared at them. Then sighed.

"... That's because this isn't gold." Avery's smile disappeared.

"... What?" The old man tapped the casing.

"This isn't gold." Mamoon's eyes widened.

"... What?" Falla's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?!" Avery grabbed the scroll.

"You're telling me this isn't gold?!" The old man nodded.

"That's exactly what I'm saying.." He held up the magnifying glass.

"Take a closer look."

"It's fool's gold." The three stared at him.

"..."

"..."

"..." Avery's eye twitched.

"Fool's..."

"Gold?"

"Correct." The old man calmly returned to his book.

"It's practically worthless." He glanced toward the scroll.

"Thirty copper Gilm is actually rather generous if you ask me." Avery's face began turning red. Mamoon looked horrified. Falla slowly looked at Avery.

"... Captain?" Avery's fist began trembling.

"Those..."

"... Bastards." She slammed the scroll against the counter.

"WE WERE TRICKED?!" The old man flinched. Avery snatched the scroll back.

"Those bastards were acting like this thing was worth a fortune!" Mamoon's expression darkened.

"So..."

"We stole a worthless scroll?" Falla clenched his fists.

"After all that?!" Avery's teeth clenched.

"That little group..."

"They knew exactly what they were doing." She stuffed the scroll under her arm.

"They're going to pay for this." Avery stormed toward the door. The three marched out of the pawn shop, furious. The old man watched them disappear down the street. He slowly lowered his book.

"... Kids these days." He glanced at the scroll's fading reflection through the window.

"... Though..." He frowned.

"That casing did look remarkably convincing." Outside, Avery continued stomping down the street.

"I can't believe it..."

"All that work..."

"For thirty copper Gilm?!" Mamoon sighed.

"At least we got the scroll." Avery stopped. She slowly looked down at it.

"... Yeah." Her eye twitched.

"Now we just need to figure out why the hell they wanted it so badly."

"BEFORE I TEAR THEM APART!" Mamoon whispered Falla".. She's very heated isn't she?" Falla whispered back"She missed out on a big fortune, who wouldn't be pissed?" Avery, Mamoon, and Falla stepped out of the pawn shop, with Avery still fuming. Avery barely made it a few steps before.. Someone shouted"HEY!" She stopped. Standing at the end of the street were Mochi, Amelia, Tony, and Julio. Mochi's arms were crossed. Amelia stood beside him. Tony's tracking device was still glowing in his paw. And Julio...

Julio's eyes were fixed directly on the scroll. Avery's expression immediately soured. She pointed at them.

"YOU!" Mochi raised an eyebrow.

"Us?"

"I just came back from the pawn shop!" Avery held up the scroll angrily.

"And they said this piece of shit is worth nothing!" She shook it furiously.

"Why?!"

"Why were you acting like this thing was actually worth something?!" Mochi and Amelia remained silent. Julio slowly stepped forward.

"To be completely honest..." He looked at the scroll.

"I didn't know its true value myself." Avery's anger faltered slightly. Julio continued.

"All I wanted was to remove it from existence." Avery narrowed her eyes.

"If that's the case..."

"Then why are you even here?"

"You could've just gone home."

"You don't have the scroll anymore." Julio stopped a few feet away from her. His expression remained completely serious.

"Because I can't be satisfied knowing it's simply missing."

"I know it still exists somewhere in this world."

"And as long as it does..."

"... I won't be satisfied." He extended his hand.

"So I'm only going to ask once."

"Hand it over." Avery stared at his outstretched hand. Then... She smirked.

"Oh, look at Mr. Tough Guy here." She tucked the scroll underneath her arm.

"It may be fake..."

"But there are plenty of people who'd think otherwise."

"So sorry..." Her grin widened.

"You're not getting it back any time soon." She cracked her knuckles.

"You're gonna have to fight us for it." Mochi stepped forward smirking.

"Fine by me." Amelia moved beside him.

"We'll deal with them." Mochi looked back at Julio.

"You get back." Julio nodded.

"Understood." Avery looked between Mochi and Amelia. Then burst into laughter.

"Wait..."

"You're his bodyguards?" Mochi shrugged.

"Something like that." Avery pointed toward them.

"Then let me ask you something."

"What rank are you two?" Mochi answered without hesitation.

"We're F-Rank." Avery's laughter immediately grew louder.

"F-Rank?!" Mamoon snickered. Falla looked between the two of them.

"Seriously?" Avery wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

"You know we're massively outclassing you, right?" She gestured toward herself and her teammates.

"I'm a C-Rank."

"Mamoon and Falla are both experienced fighters."

"And there's three of us against two of you."

"You really think you can win?" Mochi's expression didn't change.

"A rank is just a title." He stepped forward.

"It doesn't mean anything when it comes to strength." Amelia nodded.

"Exactly." Avery's smile faded.

"... Oh?" Mochi took his stance.

"You're about to find out why." Avery sighed.

"Very well." She rolled her shoulders.

"Mamoon."

"Falla." She pointed toward Mochi and Amelia.

"Let's go." Mamoon grinned.

"Finally." Falla cracked his neck.

"Let's do this." Amelia raised her hands. Mochi lowered his stance. Tony quickly backed away with Julio.

"Uh..." Tony glanced at Julio.

"Maybe we should give them some room." Julio nodded.

"Yeah, let's leave it to them." Avery's fingers began glowing with purple energy. Mamoon and Falla spread out to either side of her. Mochi glanced toward Amelia. Amelia glanced back. Neither needed to say anything. They both understood. They were going to get that scroll back. Avery suddenly lunged.

"GET THEM!" Mochi grinned.

"Here we go!" The street erupted into chaos. Avery immediately shot forward, her fist aimed straight at Mochi. Mochi raised his forearm just in time to block the blow, but the force sent him skidding backward.

"Whoa!" He dug his shoes into the ground. Avery smirked.

"Not bad, you took that better than most." Mochi grinned.

"That all you've got?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Avery swung again. Mochi ducked underneath it and drove his fist toward her stomach. Avery twisted away in time. Mochi's fist barely missed. She countered with a kick. Mochi was launched back but he managed to catch himself.. Avery smirked while raising a hand"Magic skill: Cataclysmic claw Her hand flared with magic energy as she launched herself at Mochi However, Amelia suddenly stepped in.

"Not so fast.."

"Magic Skill: Cracker Wall!" A golden barrier of crackers formed between them. Avery's claw slammed into it. The barrier trembled. Amelia winced. The barrier hardly held as Avery was launched backwards..

"She's extremly strong!" Amelia's breathing was heavy Mochi looked at her.

"Then let's hit her together then!" Amelia nodded.

"Right!" Mochi charged. Amelia followed directly beside him.

"MAGIC SKILL: TWIN BURST!" Mochi was enveloped in red aura as Amelia was in blue They shot two beams as they fused into a purple one Avery's grin widened.

"Oh?" Avery jumped aside as the beam continued going to Mamoon and Falla They grinned saying..

"Magic skill: Master theif! Together they pulled a giant bag from thin air and scooped up the twin burst attack"Easy.." Mochi and Amelia's eyes widened in shock"Did they just scoop up the twin burst like it was nothing!?" Mochi wasted no time spun around, jumped into the air"Magic skill: burning mochi!" He shot the attack Avery blocked the blast with her forearm but Amelia was already there. A fist struck Avery's side.

"GH..!" Avery stumbled falling to the ground.. Mochi's eyes widened.

"You got her!" Avery rubbed her side. Then she started laughing.

"Hahaha!" Mochi frowned.

"What?"

"Why's she laughing?" Avery looked between the two of them.

"Okay..." Her grin became genuine.

"You two aren't half bad." Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"I'm serious." Avery lowered her stance.

"For F-Ranks, you're putting up one hell of a fight." Avery's expression sharpened.

"But..." She glanced toward Mamoon and Falla.

"... you've forgotten something." Mochi's grin disappeared.

"What?" Behind him.. Mamoon and Falla suddenly moved. They dashed forward with incredible speed..

"Magic Skill: Phantom Lock!" A massive purple shockwave erupted from their hands. Mochi's eyes widened.

"Wait..!" The wave swept across the battlefield. Amelia immediately tried to move. Nothing. Her body completely froze.

"... What?" Mochi struggled. His muscles tightened as he tried forcing himself forward.

"Move!"

"Cmon body!" Nothing happened. His arms wouldn't respond. His legs wouldn't move. Even his fingers were locked in place.

"Not this again!" Amelia gritted her teeth.

"I can't move!" Avery slowly walked toward them. Her expression was smug once again. Mamoon chuckled.

"Got them again." Falla laughed.

"That was easier than last time." Mochi strained against the spell.

"LET ME MOVE!" His body refused to listen. Amelia's eyes darted toward Mamoon and Falla.

"They're the ones maintaining it..." Avery nodded.

"Yep." She casually walked between the immobilized fighters.

"Phantom Lock."

"Once you're caught..." She tapped Mochi's shoulder.

"... you aren't going anywhere." Mochi glared at her.

"That's such a cheap trick." Avery's eyebrow rose.

"Cheap?" She laughed.

"It's called using your abilities properly." Mochi tried moving again. Nothing. His expression hardened.

"Damn it..." Avery shook her head.

"Don't worry."

"You impressed me." She looked toward Mamoon and Falla.

"But you made one mistake." Mochi stared at her.

"... What?" Avery's grin returned.

"You thought I'd have a 2v1 with you" She stepped closer.

"But a voyager must use everything in their arsenal to win..."

"It's three against two..."

"... and neither of you can move." Mamoon and Falla stood behind her, maintaining the purple aura. Mochi's teeth clenched. Amelia's expression became worried. And Julio, standing safely behind Tony, stared at the scene.

"... Mochi." For the first time since the battle began... Mochi had no answer.