Editing BlazBlue:Bloodedge Experience Part 2 Chapter 11 (section)

===Part 1===

The vibrant western sun disappeared behind the towering buildings, and in its place, the eastern sky began to take on the colors of night. The gradual change in the color of the sky was like a deep breath, inhaling the day and exhaling the night.

The bustling downtown area, centered around a large building above the Shinkawahama Station, was adorned with a variety of restaurants and shops lining the main street. However, a few blocks in, there was a narrow alleyway that seemed a little too deserted to be called a downtown area, shrouded in shadows.

In such a dimly lit, cheap street, the streetlights began to flicker on as Valkenhayn ran ahead, guided by Relius.

“Relius! Explain what’s going on! Where are we heading?” Though Valkenhayn was overwhelmingly faster than Relius when it came to running, the uncertainty of their destination forced him to maintain an irksome pace just behind Relius, who was a step ahead. Frustrated, he shouted at him.

The black shadow they had just seen in the vacant storefront of the building was the result of magic. Although neither Valkenhayn nor Relius had confirmed the sorcerer’s identity, it was easy to deduce that it was the work of Spinner Superior, a magician who had recently appeared in Shinkawahama and had previously been involved with Kiiro.

However, Relius didn’t seem inclined to pursue the writhing darkness that was likely the magic of Spinner Superior. Instead, he suddenly ran off in a completely different direction after leaving the building.

It was clear that Relius had already lost interest in this matter and was not about to return. He must have some purpose. Otherwise, there was no way he would run on his own without proper instructions.

"Didn't I already tell you? 'We have something to do.'" 

"I'm asking you what that something is. If your mouth can move more smoothly than your usual puppet, tell me where and what you intend to do."

“...It’s about the job.”

"What?" His words were too short. Valkenhayn asked again in a threatening tone.

Relius, glancing around, suddenly turned a corner, causing Valkenhayn to momentarily hesitate and quicken his pace slightly. With his blindfolded eyes looking ahead, Relius lifted his chin slightly.

“Spinner Superior is setting up a barrier in this area to strengthen his magic. As long as the barrier isn’t destroyed, the surrounding area is practically his body. Therefore, we will destroy it. Once the barrier disappears, Kiiro will attack Spinner. Until then, the boy and the vampire from earlier will keep him occupied.”

The cold, emotionless voice stated clearly. The boy and the vampire chasing Spinner and the darkness were merely bait to buy time. Their purpose was to destroy the barrier, allowing Kiiro or themselves to reach Spinner. If they were dead, so be it. And if they were alive, that was all there was to it.

Valkenhayn unconsciously frowned. He felt no sympathy for the group from earlier. However, he often found Relius’s statements like this quite unsettling. How did that man see the world? He was sure that he would never be able to share that feeling, no matter how long his life was.

“Where is the barrier?”

“The first one is up ahead. I’ll search for the rest while you’re destroying it.” Relius spoke without hesitation. Valkenhayn understood that destroying the barrier was his responsibility.

“How do we destroy the barrier?”

“Just physically destroy the places where the magic is applied. That should be your specialty.” Relius’s blunt tone sounded more like sarcasm than anything else. Annoyed, Valkenhayn snorted and brushed the comment aside, which he could only sense as being thrown at him.

The dimly lit side streets were beginning to glow with white light. The night’s veil slowly descended.

Ignoring the occasional curious glances from passersby, Relius and Valkenhayn ran quietly through the city, which was just starting to embrace the night.