We Showed up early to the meeting spot so we could ready ourselves. Elysif was waiting a block away in order to summon her familiars from a safe distance while Iscarat stood behind us ready to activate the gate. Scott looked at his pocket watch just in time to see it strike eleven. As it did we heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the bridge.

The Masked Man and being pulled by a rope behind him was the changeling. The changeling's shoulder still looked messed up from where I stabbed him and he was in the same body as he was before. His hands had also been bound in rope and a gag had been placed in his mouth. The changeling was snarling at the masked one with rage in his eyes. But couldn’t seem to get any closer than a few feet from him. Like some invisible barrier was blocking him.

“I see you aren’t late.” the masked man said.

“Of course not, we are men of our word.” Scott replied.

“Then who is the old man? Did you think he would be of any use to you?”

“Call it insurance in case you don’t want to follow through.”

“At least you’re not stupid. Send over Barret.”

“The changeling first.”

“Of course.” he replied and with a wave of his hand he dropped the rope that held the changeling. From below the changeling a blade shot up piercing him between the legs and protruding through his neck. We all stepped back in shock and the changeling's body turned to an ash like dust.

“I thought you said he would be handed over to us?”

“Yes, but I never said in what form. You can pick up the remains when we are done if you so wish.”

“Fine.” Scott said and motioned for me to walk over to him. I did so as casually as I could but couldn’t help but scowl at the Masked man. Who in turn just glared at me. I think he was scowling back but I couldn’t see his face through the mask. When I got within half a meter I heard Iscarat begin a chant.

I grabbed the masked man’s wrist who stared at me in shock. Pulling out my knife I attempted to ram it into his throat. Iscarat was still forming the gate under us which was a mistake on my part because a blade came out of the ground at me. I jumped back but the blade was just fast enough to sever my arm completely off. The blade along with my arm fell onto the cobblestone bridge away from me.

“So this was a trick. I guess I’ll have to go to plan B.” The masked man said as he summoned several blades from the cobblestone. They shot out at me in which I dodged, but still received a few minor cuts as my arm grew back. While his attention was focused on me Scott ran at him with almost thunderous speed. THe masked man however saw him and summoned several blades to protect himself.

The blades covered the entire left side of his body as a shield while blades shot up to attack me on his right. Scott shot around to his right side in order to strike him but as he did more blades shot up around his right side to protect him. Scott smashed through two layers of flat blades but pulled back after cutting himself on the third layer of blades.

I dodged more blades that came at me and drew my gun. Then it happened. The gate opened and we all could tell. The bridge and even the water flowing below was glowing with a red light in the shape of hundreds of runes. The reach of the light expanded to cover the entire block then faded as the runes were burned into everything the light had touched. Even the water had unmovable char colored runes above it.

At the edge of the gate several familiars appeared. Each one was shaped like a knight's armor but all had a strange bluish tint to them and stood roughly three meters tall. They guarded every point of escape and wielded ethereal halberts. The masked man watched as the blades returned to the stone beneath us then looked at the familiars guarding the area.

“You had a good plan. It is far superior to most but you didn’t account that I was prepared for this.” he said holding out his arms on both sides. Scott charged at him at the same speed as before and threw a punch at the masked man's face. It was followed by a massive shockwave.

Scott stared in disbelief. He had caught his fist. Scott attempted to throw a punch with his other hand and the same thing happened. He caught it and a shockwave was sent through the area. “You may have enhanced yourself with runes but I have several items that enhance my speed and strength with runes. You could say I have equal power to yourself.” He said softly into Scotts ear before kicking him in the stomach hard enough to send him flying back several feet.

I fired three shots, one after the other at the masked man but they didn’t affect him at all. He looked in my direction and walked over to me. I attempted to fire another shot but he grabbed the barrel and ripped the gun away. Then he grabbed me by the throat and lifted me up until my feet couldn’t touch the ground.

“You can’t hurt me. I was planning on beating you with my power alone but I had to use my trump card. This coat lets me absorb physical attacks as power then release it at any point through any means I want. When I kicked him I released the force of his punches back at him. Now I am going to show you what the power of two bullets feels like.” he said chucking me at the knee wall of the bridge. My body folded over it upon impact and I released my dinner into the water below.