The center Executioner did not answer Kanos's question. Even with an invisible shadow thread pressing deep into his throat and drawing fresh blood, the masked man let out a low, vibrating chuckle. It was the laugh of someone who still fully believed he held the absolute upper hand.
"You really think a cheap trick like this can hold a Number Caste?" the Executioner spoke. His robotic voice echoed inside the cramped, ruined basement. "We are the immune blood cells of this world. We erase viruses like you."
The Executioner suddenly squeezed his eyes shut behind his silver visor. He stopped trying to move his arms or legs. Instead, he simply activated a vocal command through the system interface in his head.
"System Override," the Executioner chanted loudly. "Absolute Mana Nullification."
