Chapter 139: Capture

The evening sun was beginning to disappear behind Zenith City’s western skyline when Corvin dragged himself out of the wreckage of the collapsed building.

His breathing was ragged, and blood streamed from several wounds across his body, staining the shattered scales covering his arms. Around him, the industrial district had been transformed into a battlefield.

Entire warehouses had collapsed, sections of the road had been torn apart, and enormous clouds of dust continued rising from the ruins.

He had prepared this location specifically to trap Adesewa, surrounding it with explosives and experienced Awakeners.

Yet almost everything he had prepared had been destroyed, and the woman responsible was approaching him with an expression that suggested she had barely exerted herself.

Corvin gritted his teeth as he forced himself upright. His B-Rank Divine Rune allowed him to transform individual parts of his body into those of powerful beasts, granting him extraordinary physical strength, speed, and durability.

Under ordinary circumstances, even opponents possessing superior Star Ranks would struggle to penetrate his defenses.

Unfortunately, the woman standing before him was anything but ordinary. Every attempt to create distance had failed, and every exchange had ended with his body suffering another devastating injury.

Worse still, Adesewa had displayed such precise control over her movements that he couldn’t determine how much strength she was withholding.

"You’re remarkably stubborn," Adesewa remarked as she stepped over a broken concrete pillar. "Most people would’ve surrendered after losing this badly. Are you planning to continue until there’s nothing left of you?"

Corvin spat blood onto the pavement before straightening his shoulders. "You think you’ve won because you’ve managed to injure me? Don’t underestimate someone who’s survived this long in our profession."

Adesewa regarded him without amusement. "Your profession seems to involve murdering people who can’t defend themselves. I wouldn’t consider that particularly impressive."

The insult struck deeper than Corvin expected. With an enraged roar, he activated his Divine Rune to its fullest extent, forcing several transformations to occur simultaneously.

His shoulders expanded beneath layers of overlapping scales, while enormous claws emerged from both hands.

Thick muscles swelled along his legs, and his feet developed powerful talons capable of gripping concrete. Additional armor spread across his chest and neck, giving him the appearance of a monstrous warrior assembled from several different beasts.

The transformation placed an enormous burden on his body, but he no longer cared about conserving strength. If he couldn’t defeat Adesewa now, he doubted he would receive another opportunity.

Corvin launched himself forward with such force that the pavement exploded beneath his feet. His claws swept toward Adesewa from opposite directions, producing violent shockwaves that sliced through the remains of a nearby warehouse.

Adesewa avoided the first attack and caught his second wrist, but Corvin immediately twisted his armored body and drove a massive knee toward her abdomen.

She blocked it with her forearm, and their collision released a thunderous impact that shattered the surrounding road. Corvin followed with another savage combination, forcing his transformed limbs beyond their normal limits as he attempted to overwhelm her through relentless aggression.

For several exchanges, Adesewa allowed him to attack while observing the transformations. His claws possessed impressive cutting power, his armored limbs could withstand considerable punishment, and his enhanced legs allowed him to accelerate with remarkable speed.

Nevertheless, each transformation carried limitations, and his attempts to compensate for those weaknesses were becoming increasingly obvious.

His heavier armor reduced his flexibility, while the tremendous strength concentrated in his limbs encouraged movements that left his balance vulnerable.

Against an inexperienced opponent, those shortcomings might have gone unnoticed. Against someone who had spent decades surviving battles with dangerous Awakeners and Mana Beasts, they were impossible to conceal.

"Your transformations are powerful, Corvin," Adesewa acknowledged as she slipped beneath another claw strike. "But you’re relying on them to compensate for mistakes you should’ve corrected years ago."

Corvin snarled and attempted to retreat, intending to create enough distance for another charge. The markings of Agassou brightened across Adesewa’s arms, and the relationship between hunter and quarry changed immediately.

The distance separating them contracted before Corvin could complete his withdrawal, bringing Adesewa directly into striking range.

Her fist struck his armored abdomen with devastating precision, shattering several layers of scales and sending him crashing through the remaining wall of an abandoned factory.

Before he could recover, she closed the distance again and drove her heel into his shoulder, breaking the transformed limb beneath its protective armor.

Corvin screamed as his Divine Rune struggled to maintain the damaged transformation. He attempted to strike with his remaining claw, but Adesewa seized his wrist and twisted until the bones beneath the scales fractured.

She then drove him into the ground with enough force to create a crater several meters wide. The resulting shockwave demolished a nearby concrete barrier and sent fragments scattering across the ruined street.

Corvin tried to rise, only for Adesewa to place her foot against his back, preventing him from moving. His remaining transformations gradually receded, leaving behind a bloodied man whose limbs could no longer support his weight.

"Enough," Adesewa ordered, applying just enough pressure to keep him restrained. "You’re going to answer some questions, and whether you survive the next few hours depends on how cooperative you decide to be."

Corvin struggled weakly before finally surrendering. "You might’ve beaten me, but you have no idea who you’re dealing with."

Adesewa crouched beside him, her expression remaining cold. "Then perhaps you should start explaining."

---

By the time Cassian and the others reached the ruined factory, the remaining assassins had either been captured, killed, or driven from the surrounding streets.

Marcus immediately secured the approaches while Bastian helped restrain Corvin with equipment designed for dangerous Awakeners.

Safiya examined the prisoner’s injuries and administered enough treatment to stabilize his condition, carefully avoiding anything that would allow him to resume fighting.

Although she possessed considerable healing capabilities, she had no intention of restoring the strength of someone who had spent the previous hour attempting to murder their captain.

Cassian surveyed the devastation surrounding them before approaching Adesewa. "You certainly made an impression, Captain. Marcus says the fighting could be heard several districts away, and we’ve already received reports that O.R.D.O. are investigating the damage."