Hidden in the shadows, Poll watched as the group stopped and began a hushed discussion. His heartbeat quickened. Something felt off—not just the powerful mana radiating from the two figures but the palpable tension in the air. Suddenly, to his absolute shock, Eryndor emerged from behind a massive oak tree, his imposing figure illuminated faintly by the moonlight. His posture was calm but commanding, his sword resting loosely in his hand as though it were an extension of his arm
The confrontation was immediate. Eryndor's voice rang out, even and unshaken, cutting through the night air. "Who are you all?" he demanded, his tone as sharp as his blade. "Are you my enemy?"
Poll's eyes widened in disbelief. Father?! He nearly lost his balance from his perch. How the hell did he detect them? I spent hours setting up those traps!
He sat there for a moment, chewing on his lip. Okay... what now? His mind raced. Father has no idea that guy's the Demon Lord...
Poll mulled it over for a few seconds before sighing. Guess I better step in before things get messy.
With a deep breath, he straightened up and decided—time to make my grand entrance.
"Hey, Father! Be careful—that guy is Demon Lord Kaedros from today's meeting!" Poll Warned, emerging from the shadow
Inside, though? Absolute panic.
Okay, Poll, deep breath, play it cool. Don't let on how much you know—or how freaked out you are right now.
Eryndor turned slightly, his gaze landing on Poll. What the hell is he doing here? he wondered. But his face remained unreadable. Instead, a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Oh, really?" he said, sounding almost amused.
Poll blinked. Huh? Wait. That's it? He's not even surprised?!
"Yes, yes, Father! And the woman—she's Queen Celestia Aelthor!" Poll blurted, waving his arms like a madman.
His brain went into overdrive. Why is she here? Is she… cheating on the king?! No, no—wait, don't tell me... THE QUEEN IS RUNNING AWAY WITH THE DEMON LORD?!
Eryndor let out a slow sigh, rubbing his temples. "I know that."
Poll froze. "Wait... you knew?! So it's true?! They are having an affair! But how did you know—?!"
Before Eryndor could respond, a soft chuckle drifted through the air.
Queen Celestia, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, let out a small, amused laugh. Though her expression was hidden, the slight shift of her mask hinted at the smile underneath.
Poll's face twitched.
Ho.! She heard all that?!
Eryndor shot him a tired look. "What the hell are you thinking? I got a message on my badge. They're not here for that."
Oh.
Poll slowly lowered his hands.
But… the queen was still smiling behind her mask.
Welp. That was embarrassing.
Poll blinked. so they already planned this
Eryndor ignored the comment, his voice taking on a sharper edge.
"The real question is—how did you know?" He folded his arms. "And don't even think about lying, unless you'd like to be grounded... indefinitely."
Poll swallowed hard. Okay, stay cool. Think, think, THINK.
"Uh… I just… uh… guessed?" he offered with an awkward laugh. "You know, I've been reading a lot of strategy books lately, Father. Really sharpens the ol' deduction skills!" He tapped the side of his head with a sheepish grin.
Eryndor stared at him, unimpressed.
Before Eryndor could respond, Queen Celestia stepped forward, her presence effortlessly commanding the space. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "you've peeked my interest. Tell me, boy," she said, her voice laced with both amusement and curiosity. "How did you see through my disguise?"
Poll, regaining his confidence, flashed a grin. "Well, I am a genius, aren't I?" he quipped, puffing out his chest ever so slightly. Then, as if an afterthought suddenly struck him, he turned to the third figure. "Oh, and hello, Liana," he added smoothly, now recognizing her as the maid from earlier.
Liana, her expression unreadable inside mask, gave a slow nod. "Hello, young master," she replied, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
So, she was just acting that time, Poll thought, his mind buzzing. But why would a maid be mixed up in something this big? May be she isn't a maid but she was professional thoo...!!
He shifted his attention back to the group. "But… why are you all here?" he asked, trying to maintain an air of innocence while desperately piecing together the puzzle in his mind.
Liana's expression turned serious. "We're under threat, and our sources suggested this area would be the enemy's first target."
Poll tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Sources? Like… spy-level sources?" He waved a hand dismissively. "No, don't tell me. Classified, right? Fine, keep your secrets."
The Demon Lord, who had been silent until now, chuckled, his deep voice reverberating. "You're an interesting one, child. Most would cower in fear, yet here you are, chatting away."
Poll shrugged, leaning nonchalantly against a tree. "What can I say? I like to keep things… casual." Relax,Poll. If they think you're clueless, they'll underestimate you. Just stick to the plan—or the lack thereof.
Celestia's gaze lingered on Poll, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not as simple as you appear, are you?"
Poll put on his most innocent smile. "Simple? Me? Nah, I'm just a kid who happens to know things. Totally normal."
his mind racing as he looked at Kaedros. "But why is Demon Lord Kaedros here?" he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. Wait, no... That's too obvious of a question, Poll. Think of something more... insightful. Hmm...
The Demon Lord's response was cool, his voice as calm as ever. "Don't address us by our names. Refer to us by our number. I am Number 3."
Poll blinked, processing the statement. Number 3? What's with the numbers? Am I supposed to be impressed?
Wait...! Is he blushing, but he looks serious.
Before he could voice another thought, Liana chimed in, her tone amused. "And I am Number 6."
"Ah, that's... creative," Poll mumbled to himself. Guess I need to start counting. But where do I fit in this puzzle?
Celestia, a slight smirk on her lips, added, "Number 2."
Poll's eyes darted between the figures, his mind racing to piece together the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Okay... so they really think they look cool doing this?
He sighed internally. Whatever. Let's break it down.
The next figures introduced themselves in turn. "I'm Number 4," said one, with a slight bow. "And I am Number 5," added another, their tone full of formal gravity.
Poll rubbed his chin thoughtfully, holding up his hand and counting on his fingers. "So, there are 10 of you here… who's Number 1? And who's Number 10?"
The Queen's expression hardened, the air thickening around her. "Number 10…?" Her voice dropped low. "Wait… are you saying there are ten of us total?"
Poll nodded, his mind clicking into place. "Of course. I counted ten enemies on the map I projected."
"Wait… are you saying you're not…?"
The Queen's eyes narrowed sharply, her voice dropping to a low growl. "There are only seven of us here."
Everyone's demeanor shifted, the atmosphere becoming tense.
Seven? So, I miscounted? Poll thought, processing the discrepancy. Great, just what I needed—now my device is broken too.
Eryndor's hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, the rest of the group following suit. The air hummed with anticipation as they scanned the surroundings.
"Stay on guard," Celestia ordered, her voice commanding.
Poll raised his hand, his concentration on his mana readings. His brow furrowed in confusion. "Hold on. What the hell? Two of their mana signatures just... vanished." His mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Vanished?
No, no, no. Not killed.
Well, mana works something like this—
Mana Level: X:Y.Z (SMF/UMF)
X represents the total amount of mana an individual possesses, varying from person to person.
Y indicates how many 10 mana bit are currently in use (where 100 Xn equal 1 mana bits and 10 mana bits equal 1 ETH of mana).
Z measures the regeneration speed of mana over time.
SMF (Suppressed Mana Form) refers to the controlled state of mana, while UMF (Unleashed Mana Form) represents its full, unrestricted potential.
And one more thing... this system isn't perfect. Sometimes, people surpass their limits, pushing beyond what these values can measure. I designed this system purely for external analysis, but real combat situations can be... unpredictable.
When someone dies, their mana usually dissipates slowly over time. But those two... their Xn values dropped to 0:0.0 UMF instantly like Vanished.
Teleportation is impossible. ETH concealment? Maybe, but not instantly. That leaves only one possibility—they were absorbed
But by what? Poll's eyes narrowed in suspicion. His map wasn't showing any signs of them.
His thoughts were interrupted when two bodies fell from the branches above, both clad in the same uniform as Celestia's group. Poll's heart skipped a beat. What the hell is going on?
Before anyone could react, the air itself seemed to tremble. A figure emerged from the shadows, her presence warping the very essence of the environment.
A mask concealed her face, but the malevolence radiating from her was undeniable. Dark energy coiled around her like living tendrils, thickening the air with a suffocating, oppressive weight. Every step she took seemed to pull the world into a deeper abyss.
Intricate black patterns slithered across her skin like cursed veins, shifting and pulsing as though feeding off the despair around her. The markings exuded a sinister glow—neither light nor flame, but something far more dreadful.
Behind her, two others followed, their bodies adorned with similar ominous symbols. Unlike their masked leader, their presence was weaker, their auras flickering like dying embers against the infernal storm that was her.
It was as if the very concept of hope withered in her presence.
Poll's mind spun. she just pop out of nowhere. What the hell is that—some sort of cursed tattoo?
Demon Lord Kaedros spoke, his voice cracking with something that sounded like panic. "What the hell? Why is she here? Be careful—her name is Tiara. She's a Supreme Guardian… but corrupted. A Supreme Guardian twisted by the influence of Mana corruption."
Poll's thoughts exploded. A Supreme Guardian?Mana Corrupted?
Wait, that is a thing? He quickly ran through his mental catalog of possible scenarios.
Shit...!! How did I forget Mana corruption?
[MNA Analytics Report – Analyzing Mana Extinction Data…!!]
• Unique Mana Frequency: 784.452:320145.67
• Mana Level: 328:25.3 SMF
• RGB Mana Signature: 245-189-132 (Unusual Variance Detected)
• Dominant Element: NO DATA (Inconsistent Readings)
• Secondary Element: NO DATA
• Weakest Element: NO DATA
Note: Readings suggest intentional suppression. Anomalies detected in mana flow consistency. Further analysis recommended.
First disappearing signatures, and now this... Aaaa!!
I really need to stop overthinking things, but—damn, they are powerful."
First numbers, then Everyone froze, expressions of horror spreading across their faces. Poll glanced around, confused by their reactions. Why is everyone so freaked out? I mean—come on she is women, I can read her mana—she's stronger but not that much, he thought.
Then it dawned on him. Oh yeah, my traps are attached to them.
Stepping forward, Poll called out, "What do you want, and why are you here?"
Eryndor grabbed his arm, hissing, "Don't get too close, idiot!"
The assistant placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply. "My lady."
Tiara gave him a small nod in acknowledgment.
Then, the assistant took a step forward, his gaze locking onto Eryndor.
With slow, deliberate strides, he advanced—his crimson eyes glowing ominously in the shadows.
His voice was like a chilling whisper that slithered through the air.
"I am Vekris, the Dark Flame Emperor—loyal servant of my lady, Tiara, Queen of Darkness.
I command you… Kneel. Tremble before me… and drown in despair!"
His words were heavy, distorting the very air itself, as if crushing the world beneath their weight.
Poll jolted in shock—What the heck?!
I bet he's remembering those lines all night.
Quickly pulled himself together. His eyes sharpened as he muttered coldly,
"Not happening."
Let's see what they've got.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, Poll channeled his magic through the mana traps attached to the Vekris, using his gravity manipulation.
"Kneel down."
***