Dungeon - 40th Floor:
Elfaria's brows shot up as the Devander leapt at her.
In a blink it crossed the boss room, towering over her before swiping down with its elongated claws.
Swish!
So fast!
She tensed as its nails neared her eyes, though her expression settled.
But compared to Zeo and Yuno… it's as slow as a snail!
Fwoosh!
The strike hit nothing but air as Elfaria ascended upward, carried by levitation magic.
The monster craned its neck toward her as she spun her ice empress staff.
Brr.
Dazzling blue light filled its vision as beams of ice rained down.
Creak.
Knees bent, muscles coiled, the beast sprang forward, weaving perfectly through the blasts like a streak of black.
In front of her again—like déjà vu—it swiped, this time in midair.
She didn't even pretend to be surprised.
Not turning to face it, she parted her lips softly.
"Scutum Jonas."
Vrr.
A snowflake-shaped shield materialized beside her head, meeting the strike.
Crack.
It shattered like glass, slowing the blow by only a fraction.
But that was all she needed.
Fwoosh.
Backpedaling midair, she slipped past the claws by a hair's breadth and leveled her staff at its temple.
The tip glowed.
"Stupere Alicia."
Another whisper. Another crack. The beast was struck point-blank.
"Grr."
Smoke covered its face as it was blasted backward with an annoyed grunt.
Crack!
Its dewclaws dug into the writhing crimson floor, leaving a miniature crater as it landed on its feet.
"Grr."
The Devander shook its head. No wounds. No blood. Not even swelling.
It had only been dazed for the briefest moment, but that was enough to sting its pride.
Elfaria's gaze followed from above, cold and unsurprised.
Although not a true Magebane, its resistance to magic bordered on immunity to the point it was treated as such.
She knew only an Upper Tier spell could injure it even slightly.
Even her weakest incantations rivaled the strongest of the average High Mage, yet against this foe they were meaningless.
"Phew."
She let out a short breath to steady herself and spun her staff again.
Vroom. Vroom. Vroom.
Dozens of magical arrays burst into being around her.
The Devander blinked in confusion. By the Mother—the Dungeon itself—it knew such a thing was not normal.
Even if brief, spellforms should take some time to manifest.
"Riville Calanbatium!"
"Stellas Natea!"
Tridents and beams of ice poured down like a storm.
Crack.
It swatted the spears aside, weaving through the lasers.
Mist thickened around it, blocking sight and making every movement harder.
It expected the assault to end, but the barrage kept coming. No exhaustion showed on Elfaria's face, and that taunt cut deeper than any spell.
Irritated, the Devander crouched low. With a sweep of its long arms, it caught two tridents.
Against its massive frame the ice weapons looked more like daggers.
Creak.
The floor split beneath its weight as its hidden nostrils twitched.
Then it craned its head sideways, lips curling in a malevolent smile, before bursting through the snow veil.
Emerging from the curtain, it relished the sight of Elfaria's eyes tightening in shock.
Without slowing, it stabbed upward with the trident in its right, aiming to pierce her chest.
"Tch!" She clicked her tongue and tightened her grip on the staff, swinging it into place.
Clank!
The trident struck the rod and stopped cold, the staff's superior make holding firm.
Still, the blow rattled through Elfaria's bones.
Her muscles burned with protest, but she forced herself to hold steady, mind racing for a counter.
The Devander allowed no pause. With its other arm it slashed down, the second trident like a sword aimed at her neck.
"Volvō Wreath!"
Vroom!
An orb of water surged to life before her, catching the strike.
It didn't just block—it wrapped around the weapon, swallowing it whole and locking it in place with crushing force.
Even the Devander—with all its strength—couldn't pull it free.
Now, with ice and water binding them both, predator and prey found their hands tied.
But the Devander wasn't as limited in limbs as she was.
"Bwah!"
Elfaria spat blood, shivering as she looked down in horror.
The monster's reptilian tail had run her straight through the stomach.
"Heh heh!"
Showing unnerving intelligence, the Devander cackled softly, savoring its victory. It was moved by its self-proclaimed superior intellect.
That joy vanished when Elfaria's frown twisted into a bloody smile.
Crack.
Naturally, this Elfaria was only Ars Weiss.
The clone shattered into shards of ice, flesh, and mist, baffling the Devander.
But the pieces spun back together, circling it like orbiting blades before shooting inward.
"El Glace Fross—El Ten: Mildas Froiderite."
Her ethereal whisper from behind sent shivers up its spine. Before it could turn, ice swallowed it whole, freezing it neck down.
The Devander hung mid-air, trapped by the same spell Elfaria once used to bind Zeo and Yuno.
This version lacked the time and precision of the Bloom. Given long enough, the beast could break free.
But time was what it didn't have.
Not when facing a foe of such calibre.
Creak.
Like an owl, its head twisted 180 degrees. Another Elfaria stood yards away, her eyes cold.
Above her floated a magnificent phoenix wrought of ice.
She raised a slender finger toward the Devander.
"Glacia Last Albis."
"Krahh!"
The phoenix shrieked and dove. Its maw stretched wide, larger than the Devander itself, and clamped down in a blinding burst.
BOOM!
It self-destructed.
The Dungeon trembled.
Floors thirty-five through forty-five shook as the blast rolled through stone and soil.
Above, monsters scattered in panic, climbing to higher levels.
Below, reactions varied. Some lingered with wary interest. Some ignored it entirely.
And one "monster" in particular smiled wide, deciding to investigate—after finishing her meal.
When the dust cleared, the Devander still lived.
But it was no longer unscathed.
Scales had been blasted off. Its chest and knees were shredded.
Blood leaked from countless pores, others frozen shut with frost. Its body shivered, knees buckling under its injuries.
More than fear, it felt grave confusion.
The Mother had gifted it knowledge of prey—mages, both Elves and Rhizanth.
It was told that only their strongest spells could ever harm it.
Judging by the sweat on Elfaria's face, that attack was indeed one of her best.
But that wasn't what unsettled it.
The confusion lay elsewhere.
To cast supreme spells, prey needed chants—long incantations, words that betrayed intent.
Those words were signals to strike them down before the ritual completed.
Yet the prey above had unleashed such power without a single chant beyond the spell's name.
The Devander would never doubt its mother.
The Dungeon could not be wrong.
So… why?
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Mercedes Caulis - Second Stratum:Ice Faction Manor
In her office, Elfaria's clone sat at an icy desk.
Rather than handle paperwork, the Ars Weiss copy seemed distant.
Its eyes glazed, lips parted, whispering words in a transcendent tone so soft only she could hear.
"White ice arise!"
"…May witches mourn the heroes lost!"
"…The throne of solitude now declares itself protector!"
"…With a solemn visage, the wise sage hums an eternal hymn for…"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Dungeon - 40th Floor:
Seeing the Devander's near-comedic bafflement, Elfaria almost chuckled, guilt flickering faintly.
Is this cheating…?
Having someone else chant for her, far from danger, undetectable by the enemy—it was certainly low.
Even for her.
She shook the thought away. The Devander was only the beginning.
Her true aim was higher. Her ambitions, greater.
Floor forty-five. The Floor Boss there.
She wanted to one up the Two-Face that kidnapped her.
And against that beast that even he had yet to beat, she swore she would not rely on such tricks.
Her staff lowered, merciless cold twisting her expression once more.
"Time to end this."
The Devander tensed.
Was it going to die here?
It had only been born minutes ago.
The Mother had promised it glory, declaring it would rule, that it stood atop the food chain.
It did not fear death.
But it feared falling in disgrace, disappointing its Mother.
At the tip of Elfaria's staff, motes of mana gathered, linking with the tela and spiraling into a mighty coil of ice.
She suddenly paused.
So did the Devander.
Vroom. Vroom. Vroom.
That familiar heat, that pulsing heartbeat, echoed through the grotesque chamber—the birth of another monster.
And it came from every direction.
The walls writhed as the Mother gave birth once more.
Sizzle!
Gastric acid and slimy fluids spilled out, filling the room with nauseating steam.
Dozens of reptilian bipeds crawled from the womb.
Dinobori.
They looked smaller than usual, less imposing.
Elfaria didn't care. To her they were always pests.
Insignificant to the point she didn't even register the difference.
Her eyes narrowed for another reason.
So fast? …It's barely been three minutes since the Devander absorbed the Traces!
The Dinobori themselves seemed confused.
Why has Mother spit us out prematurely?
And why here, between these two monsters, instead of somewhere safe?
The Devander, however, smiled.
If it could cry, it would weep with joy.
Yes… Mother will never forsake me!
Brr.
It blurred forward, and before Elfaria could blink, every newborn Dinoboros was dead.
Heads rolled. Blood sprayed.
The corpses fell in heaps as the Devander crouched, chest arched skyward.
Creak.
Its core sprouted from its chest, just as its brother's had during the Terminalia.
Fwoosh!
Black miasma streamed from the corpses into the core.
Elfaria snapped back to focus and raised her staff.
"Oh no you don't!"
The Ice Empress staff glowed, gathering the Traces.
For a moment, the inky particles froze midair.
But then, as if dragged by a superior force, invisible to all, the miasma continued pouring into the Devander's core.
Elfaria blinked.
The staff was outplayed?
The realization shook her, but there was no time to dwell like a novice.
She refused to let the beast heal—or worse, evolve further.
So she chose the old-fashioned way.
She aimed at its core and unleashed an icy beam, intent on killing it outright.
Just as she intended before the interruption.
The Traces could be taken afterward.
Yet, as had happened all week, nothing went her way.
The Devander was defenseless.
Or it should have been.
Vroom.
The Dungeon itself writhed.
Vines, walls, and floors twisted together, cocooning the Devander in protection.
Twak.
Elfaria's beam bounced off harmlessly.
Her jaw slackened.
The Dungeon is alive.
"The Dungeon is the mother of all."
That was an old saying by the Mage Queen, taught in Paradise through nursery rhymes and storybooks.
Investigated, studied, and researched by the academy, Upper Institute, and countless scholars throughout history.
But producing monsters aside, never had there been such a blatant proof of sentience.
Not until now.
Elfaria was about to see what Mercedes had warned of first-hand.
The Dungeon was alive.
And it wanted her dead.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Emma Clever:
No.
"Ian, I…" My throat closed. My knees trembled. "I tried… I did everything I could."
But I couldn't save you.
P-please forgive me. I'm begging you!
His name slipped out like a prayer, but the answer I wanted never came.
Only her voice. Shade's voice as she stepped out from the shadows.
"So this is what torments you."
M-Miss Monica?
W-why?
H-how?
Y-you're the traitor?
I need to tell someone. Anyone—
"Pretty brutal, even for me."
She stepped closer, distracting me.
I felt myself slipping and drowning.
My control and agency, swiftly leaving me.
All I needed was one more push to shove me off the edge.
And she was more than willing to help.
My chest tightened. My breath hitched. Don't say it.
"To let your own little brother die so you could live on, spotless and untainted. Sickening."
"N–no…"
It hurt. More than any wound. That memory, that truth, tearing through me like a blade I'd kept sheathed all these years.
"It's time you give up, don't you agree?"
N-no! D-don't listen to her Emma!
I yelled at myself.
I screamed from the bottom of my heart.
I-I need to find Great Mage Yuno! I-I need to find Mr. Sylor!
But her cold breath silenced even that thought.
"You have no right to roam free."
I froze.
"You're a dirty thing. The prissy little tower has no place for you. Not if they find out what you did. Who you really are."
The color slowly drained from my eyes.
"But don't worry, cute little Emma. You're my type, so I'll give you a place amongst us. Trust me you'll fit right in."
My resistance crumbled.
"Just surrender yourself to me. Alright?"
Chains coiled around me. Cold metal forged of darkness clamped my wrists and dragged me down.
"You worked so, so hard to get here. It's just too bad, isn't it?"
I shook my head, tears blurring the world. But her words burrowed deeper.
"Because of you, the Tower… and your friends…"
My breath faltered.
A drop hit the floor. My tears, falling against my will.
Plip.
"…will be obliterated."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Urbus Regarden:
"Well then—come play with me, little kiddies! You'll make the cutest new pets!"
Emma, chained and dragged behind, stumbled unconscious as Shade stepped forward cackling.
Will and Lihanna stood ahead, watching closely.
Will covered his nose. The Belledors… no doubt she's the one who's been making Emma gather those flowers.
But for what? Some twisted game? It didn't matter now.
Lihanna sized the heretic up and parted her lips.
"Puppet spells are a forbidden school of magic. All of its practitioners were supposed to be executed. Who are you?! Identify yourself."
"The name's Shade, sweetheart."
Her grin spread as she yanked the chain. Emma flew into her grasp, a sandbag pulled tight against her. Shade pressed the tip of her wand under the girl's chin.
"You incompetent mages always fail to finish the job. One fish managed to escape your net. Isn't that obvious?" She laughed again, sharp and mocking. "And here I thought you were the smart one, little miss knight."
Lihanna's expression didn't shift. Her eyes narrowed. She knows me.
That couldn't be right. If this was Gohtia, there was no reason an organization as accomplished as that would waste resources on scouting on some nobody like her.
Had Emma been forced to give up that knowledge?
Or perhaps rather…?
Unlike Lihanna, Will was direct. He twirled his sword, the silver edge catching the light of the great barrier, but he didn't charge. Not yet. A friend was still hostage.
Instead, he scrutinized her coldly while adjusting his goggles.
"I'll ask you straight. Are you part of Gohtia? If not, then who? What do you want? And how do you intend to enter the tower?"
Shade licked her lips and chuckled.
"Ohh. I like your guts… Learner."
Will twitched, but she pressed on.
"But Blady Boy… when were you under the impression that I haven't already been in the tower?"
She waited for despair, something to feed on, but Will only sighed.
"I thought so. I just hoped it wasn't true. But you settled that doubt. Thank you."
Shade's smile faltered. These bastards… they have the same eyes.
For a moment, Yuno's shadow overlapped with Will under her gaze.
Always acting as if they knew everything. Always watching.
Always composed.
Always perfect.
Always acting so mysterious.
She wanted to see that confidence shatter to dust.
She schooled her expression under her signature craziness, standing to full height with Emma still in her arms.
"I can tell you've got sooo many thoughts running through your head, brat. But don't think it'll be so easy to drag every bit of dirt out of me."
She licked her lips.
"Appearances be damned, I can be tight-lipped when I wish."
Her mouth lowered toward Emma's neck, tongue sliding across the girl's bulging veins as her eyes never left Will.
"'Could there be others around?' 'Could there be more puppets?' 'Could this be a trap?' Blady Boy's all questions, but no answers."
Thump!
She tossed Emma behind her like a ragdoll. Both Will and Lihanna's eyes darkened, but Shade only relished it.
Her gaze swept the suspiciously empty street. The blinds on surrounding buildings were drawn.
No shouts, no civilian unrest, no neighbors stirred despite the noise.
Her smirk deepened as she wiped her mouth.
"Well then, don't let me stop you! Keep asking, keep digging, let your familiar sniff around! Let's see who can outsmart who!"
"Mreow?!"
The Carbuncle, Kiki, froze—surprised to be noticed for once. But the moment passed. Her nose twitched again, busy searching for a familiar scent.
Will stared at the woman, unamused and slightly dismayed.
Either this crafty, conceited, and seemingly unassailable mage has done her homework, or she truly knows us.
But I've never felt her Ki before. That and her overall energy reminds me of Headless and his pal.
Did they tell her something? Not that I'm exactly lowkey… but just how much does she know of what we're capable of?
Will's grip around his blade tightened.
It doesn't matter. She may be part of Gohtia or something else entirely, but it doesn't matter. A good warrior uses their full strength to even squash an insect. No matter who she is, or what she's up to, it doesn't change the fact that we must strike with everything we've got!
Shade seemed to have had her fill of the pointless stare-down as she spread her slender arms wide.
"Are you kiddies ready to get this show on the road, or not? 'Cause I am!"
Clank.
The chains twisted as Emma slowly rose again, eyes devoid of light, like a real puppet.
Will entered his stance as Lihanna pointed her wand forward.
Shade clicked her fingers in delight.
Snap!
"C'mon then! Let's get this tag team match started!"
Emma pointed her wand forward as a corrupted black magical circle appeared over her shoulder.
Verdes Lana!
A spiraling torrent of wind shot from the array toward the opposite pair.
"A black wind spell?!" Lihanna yelped as she dodged left.
"It's a dark magic spell!" Will replied, ducking right. "Her body's being influenced by the puppet magic… Shade's probably a dark mage!"
The duo darted down the street, sprinting on opposite sides as Lihanna called out.
"But combining attributes like that? I've never heard of any multos doing it. Is such a thing even possible?!"
"The evidence is in front of you!" Will snapped back, trying to get his friend to focus, even as his gaze trailed over the attack.
That must've been what got Julius! Is this how Emma became a puppet? Did Shade pump her magic through her body? Or are we missing something?!
Bzzt.
Lightning danced over Lihanna's body, her hair sizzling like some war goddess as she propelled forward, quicker and mightier.
"Will! You help Emma!"
"On it!"
Shade watched them with an unbothered smile as she parted her lips.
"Twirl. Twine. And take."
She produced a long needle from her mouth and slammed the handle down on the cobblestone floor.
"Berzeme Sique: Mavelus Kadzuul!"
Lihanna's brows shot up in surprise as she began scaling the building on her left, running across the wall as if gravity didn't apply to her.
A secret art?! I've never heard of a House Berzeme!
She didn't get to think about that for long as a black streak trickled across the floor, surrounding her like a silhouette.
An identical one did the same with Will, and from it sprouted several chains with arrow-headed sickles that shot to entangle and impale them from all sides.
Did these chains just come from our shadows?!
This was truly a brand of dark magic they weren't familiar with.
Not in the least.
The boy and girl twisted and turned, slowing slightly but not stopping their charge as they veered around the chains.
They could escape the first wave, but not their shadows.
More and more kept coming, consuming all of their attention.
Lihanna clenched her jaw as she spun around another arrow.
I can't even attack! I've never seen magic like this before… it has to be some sort of esoteric technique!
Shade ran a casual hand through her hair, observing as if she were a spectator at a play.
Not someone fighting for her life.
"You tower folk really piss me off, y'know that? Goin' around all high and mighty, always so sure your way's the right way!"
She pointed at them with her middle finger.
"But not even you conceited mages of the tower can erase your own shadows! Twirl! Dance with the very shade that stalks your every move!"
Tsk. Does she ever shut up!
Both Will and Lihanna were getting tired of the monologuing villains.
Clank!
Deciding moving was a waste of time, Will stopped in place and swung his sword at the chains.
Not letting Shade take advantage of his exposed position, Lihanna kept charging forward, weaving through the chains to keep all eyes on her.
Dhs.
Clank.
Thump.
Twack!
Walls scratched. Windows shattered. Yet she always slipped past, escaping contact by a hair's breadth.
Through careful observation she read the attack pattern, keeping her movement minimal to avoid losing balance or overcommitting, while conserving stamina.
Shade twitched madly.
"Damn girl! Quick little thing, ain't ya?!"
She twisted slightly as Lihanna ran behind her.
"That spell usually runs right through mages who've never seen it before! You Thunder rats are a real pain in my chains!"
"Gh."
Distracted for a moment, Lihanna barely avoided losing an eye, but a small cut streaked across her cheek.
I hope there's no poison in that…
She sighed inwardly as her expression hardened.
Vroom.
Several golden arrays popped into existence around her, each firing spear-headed bolts of lightning.
"Thaddeus Leo!"
Shade spun her wand, not bothering to dodge as she looked over her shoulder and hummed.
"Oh Emma~!"
Dash!
The puppet girl darted between the attack and her puppeteer, smiling darkly against her will.
Zephros Klo!
A black dome of wind spiraled around them, deflecting Lihanna's bolts away.
Will snarled. "Using Emma as a shield?!"
Lihanna clenched her fist in ire. "You wretched fiend!"
Shade took it as a compliment. She yanked Emma toward her again, the girl going limp as Shade gripped her collar.
"Pretty nifty, don't ya think? I don't have to worry about my mana going dry when I have my lovely puppet to lend me hers. Much better than pesky guardians if you ask me."
Her pitch-black sclera darkened further as her glee grew.
"I've got my own precious guardian willing to sacrifice her life to protect me… and giving me all of her too! I'd be a bad master if I didn't squeeze her for all she's worth after she offered herself so selflessly, hah hah hah!"
Bwoom!
She fired several blasts of darkness. Will and Lihanna dodged with increasingly spiteful, angered frowns.
Emma's not an actual guardian, so it's not like she has a core we could target. And she's unconscious, so knocking her out is pointless…
Bwoom!
Will veered through another gust of darkness.
This really doesn't bode well for us… but I think I learned something!
His magenta eyes narrowed.
Those chains coming from Shade… and entangling Emma… that's the key—
"BOOM!"
Will and Lihanna stiffened as Shade chuckled.
An eruption of black flames exploded beneath them, filling her with delight.
"Hya ha ha ha ha hah!!!"
Vrr.
Will and Lihanna skidded back behind the black smog.
The lack of injuries was proof enough of their tower gloria's protective strength.
Lihanna offered her partner a side-glance.
"Have you noticed, Will? As esoteric as this magic is, for some reason this fiend hasn't used any puppet spells against us."
He nodded.
"Right. We'd be finished if she did. The complete absence probably means there are hidden caveats she has to satisfy first…"
The boy wiped sweat from his brow as he straightened.
"That's also why she killed Julius instead of turning him into a puppet. She lacked the right conditions to capture him. I'd bet the same applies to us, so long as the fight drags on."
Lihanna chuckled weakly. "Unless she just has a sick habit of playing with her food."
Will laughed bitterly. "I don't even want to consider that. But if it's true, we'll make her regret her arrogance."
Shade waved her chains like jewelry as the smoke cleared.
"Aw, what's the matter? Done already? Too bad… but speaking of guardians… Emma, would you be a dear and summon yours? I'll back you up with my shadows."
Vroom!
Four whitish-green armored knights floated into existence, the air curling around them.
Lihanna clenched her wand tighter.
"Will, I—"
"Hey." He cut her off, and she turned, surprised by his smile.
"Don't worry about me. You know I can keep up."
Her eyes widened before softening into a grin.
"You know, I've been meaning to tell you… I think we make an amazing team!"
Will crouched low. "As do I!"
Without another word Lihanna closed her eyes in concentration, and Will followed suit.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Lihanna Owenzaus:
"Reinforcement magic?" I repeated the term back.
Anna-senpai nodded across from me as we continued our midday stretches on the training grounds.
"Yes, my cute little kouhai. That's what we'll start with."
I scratched my cheek. "Are you talking about that internal enchantment you used during the Terminalia?"
Anna-senpai snapped her fingers.
"Precisely. But calling it an enchantment can be a bit misleading."
I blinked. "And why's that?"
"Because, Kouhai, when we mages talk about enchantments we usually mean to coat. Coat a weapon in magic. Coat a wand. Coat our skin. Coat. Coat. Coat."
I blinked again, hesitating. "Okay…? And?"
Amusement danced in Senpai's eyes, but she didn't keep me guessing for long.
"But that's literally all surface level. It just means covering something in magic. Reinforcement magic is different—it means channeling magic inside an object or body."
"For example, when I directed lightning into my body, you probably thought I was enchanting my organs, bloodstream, bones, yadda yadda, right?"
I nodded.
She carried on.
"But I'm not just coating what's inside me. I'm reinforcing what makes up those things. Not just my blood cells, but the cells that make those cells, and the cells that make those. I'm channeling my magic through every fiber of my being. I don't just concentrate it around, I channel it inside, you understand?"
I was beginning to.
"Y-yeah… but how do I do that… without, you know… fainting?"
I finished with a blush, remembering my humiliating attempt during the invasion.
Anna-senpai smirked.
"Well, if you were a kid—a brat—I'd take it slow. I'd tell you to study how we circulate magic through the body, learn your physique, and build it up carefully… but something tells me you want results now, not in the year of the rat."
I blinked. "Huh? The year of the what?"
Anna-senpai coughed awkwardly and waved me off. "N-nothing. Just a saying from my hometown. Anyway, the point is—you don't wanna wait a long time, right kiddo?"
I nodded.
Senpai grinned.
Then she slipped into a martial arts stance and beckoned me with her fingers.
"Good. Then bring it on!"
I stared at her in bewilderment.
She sighed.
"Kiddo, you're a knight, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Then put up your dukes and come at me!"
"B-but why—"
"We don't have time, so I'll just beat it into you!"
She cut me off. Her smile turned just a bit too chilly, sending a shiver down my back.
"Don't underestimate muscle memory. I'll hit you in places you never thought could hurt. Places you didn't even realize existed. I'll show you pain you've never imagined. And that way you'll quickly grasp every nook and cranny of your body."
"A proper reinforcement will be a cakewalk after that. Now bring it!"
"..."
I was starting to regret my choice of mentors.
But hey… no pain, no gain. Right?
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Will Serfort:
Once again I was in that white room. The place where the Elfie of long ago held out a book—her book, my book, our book—towards me.
Our Wistoria.
But I didn't take it. Instead, I ruffled her hair, earning a cute smile as I walked past.
I was searching for speed.
I remembered what Mister Finn had told me. It hadn't clicked at first, but Great Mage Zeo made me understand.
Don't ask. Take.
That's what Mister Finn meant by observe, understand, and replicate. To steal what belongs to someone else and make it mine.
I might have felt bad, if I were taking from anyone but him.
I was only following his philosophy.
I'd seen him go all out against Great Mage Yuno and Elfie. I'd been his punching bag for almost a week.
And he still felt eerily familiar.
Not just a stranger, but someone I had a bond with. A connection.
Nothing about him repulsed me. Even his whims and attitude only left me a little annoyed.
A silhouette appeared in front of me.
It wasn't as complete as the Elfie behind me. More like an outline of thunder. Yet it smiled at me—fangy, hungry, and full of approval.
I raised my sword.
And he slapped an electrified palm down on its base.
Twack!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Urbus Regarden:
Will and Lihanna's eyes snapped open together. In real time, all that had passed was no more than a blink.
Literally.
Shade froze.
Lihanna was electrifying.
Bzzt.
Lightning crackled from head to toe, same as before, but this time it was different. Purer. Deeper. Complete.
Her blue eyes had turned a cruel gold—so much so that Shade almost thought Dua had returned from the dead.
But that wasn't the most terrifying thing.
Will's blade had become pure thunder and lightning.
"Primed: Dzalgia Wis!!" the boy intoned.
Shade felt cold sweat run down her spine.
Th-that's Thorzeus Fasce's mana… he can use that too?! Just what is Wis?!
She knew she had to crush him here and now. For Gohtia's sake—or more importantly, her own.
Wiping her face, she forced a manic grin and pointed a trembling finger at him.
"D-don't get so cocky, boy! That's just a cheap replica!!!"
Even she barely believed the words.
Will only nodded.
"You're right. It doesn't even possess a fraction of Great Mage Zeo's strength."
The bond between them was still shallow. Until Will could truly grasp Zeo on a fundamental level, this was all he could manage.
Shade's smile widened. "S-see? Even you know you're—"
"But." Will cut her off, tightening his grip. "Even a knockoff of a Vander's power is more than enough to deal with a two-bit thug like you."
Shade flushed red. "W-why you—?!"
Vroom!
Two golden streaks of light shot forward.
She didn't even react as they blew past her—taking Emma's guardians with them, shattering them to bits.
"?!"
Sweat trickled down her chin as she swiveled around.
"W-what is this?!"
Instead of flying down the street, a magic circle appeared midair. Lihanna trampolined off it, bouncing straight back toward Shade.
Will… he kicked open air itself. A crack split the sky, releasing an air cannon that ricocheted him backward as well.
Shade's pupils blew wide as the monstrous duo closed in without mercy.
"Patras Ior!"
Lihanna fired a bolt of lightning from her wand.
Will swung downward, unleashing a thunderous sword blast.
"E-Emma!!!"
Shade squeaked as her puppet once again threw itself in front of its master.
"Galleus Weese!"
Emma raised a barrier of dark wind.
Useless.
Just like Zeo once did to Yuno, Will cleaved the storm in two like hot butter.
But unlike Zeo's strike, that wasn't the end.
Because Will wasn't alone.
Lihanna's bolt tore through the opening without pause.
BOOM!
Emma's body was thrown back, the chains binding her snapping apart in the blast.
Will and Lihanna winced at the sight, guilt pricking them—but they pressed on. It had to be done.
With Emma out of the way, Shade was all that remained.
The devilish woman ground her teeth.
Damn it! How are they faster and stronger than the other Thunder Rats?! They're newbies, for god's sake!
She froze. She had actually invoked God.
And for the first time, Shade wondered if divine intervention was the only way she could win.
Swift.
Her wand snapped forward.
"Capture them, my chains!"
Clank!
The chains shot forward toward Will and Lihanna one again.
But, unlike before where they could only dodge or block—this time they shattered them like clockwork, leaving Shade empty-handed.
"C-crap!"
Shade stiffened.
I can't catch either of them… but that's the least of my worries if I don't even have chains left!
Vroom!
In an instant, Lihanna and Will surrounded her from both sides. They barely acknowledged their foe, exchanging a shared smile, moving as one unit.
I know exactly what Lihanna wants to do!
Maybe it was my heightened senses, or my sparring sessions with Anna-senpai—but somehow I could anticipate Will's moves before he made them.
I can read his thoughts and respond in kind… is this the realm true warriors live in?! The world he and Anna-senpai see… It's exhilarating!
How addictive, how satisfying, it was to move in perfect harmony with a comrade.
Twip.
Lihanna aimed her wand at Shade's temple, freezing her in place. At the same time, Will slammed his sword into the ground, sending a current through Shade that shattered her last visible chain—and her wand.
"Grah!"
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor. Lihanna towered over her, expression cold and indifferent.
"Face it. You lost. Emma's free from your influence. You have nowhere left to run."
"..."
Shade's pupils trembled in despair.
Did I just lose… to some brats?!
And the situation grew even more dire.
Thump.
Footsteps echoed closer as a group of five approached.
Wands raised, Lunais and Jhorua led the charge.
"We brought backup just like you told us!"
"So that's the mage that killed Julius."
Julius wasn't part of the Ice Faction. None of their seniors would help, not that they could be trusted with everything going on.
The only person in their faction left to turn to was Mimily.
The other two were Brann and Niall, former Thunder Faction members of the 401st cohort.
They hadn't committed to returning to the academy, so they lingered in the tower as Colorless.
When they heard what happened to Julius, they were eager to help.
They glared at Shade, fury burning in their eyes, wishing nothing more than to riddle her body with holes.
Will's Wis faded as he checked on Emma, holding her gently while narrowing his eyes at Shade.
"We have you surrounded. You have no hostage—it's over."
Shade tilted her head back, cracked her neck, and whispered skyward.
"So you planned this out the whole time? Clever rats."
Lihanna didn't flinch at the mockery. Her reinforcement faded, returning her complexion and eyes to normal, but her guard stayed firm.
"You will tell us everything you know. From inside a holding cell."
"Heh."
Shade chuckled.
Lihanna was certain she misheard.
Heh haha!
Again it came, building until she howled with laughter.
Lihanna's brows furrowed.
"What's so funny?"
Has she gone insane? Or just more than usual?
"HAH HAH HAH!" Shade's voice rang wild. "The gods really do exist… and they favor me! This is proof we're the ones on the right path!"
The seven classmates exchanged uneasy glances.
Will stiffened, Ki flaring in alarm.
"H-Hey, look out!" he shouted past Shade.
Lunais, Jhorua, and Mimily froze.
Is he talking about us—
They turned.
On the right, Brann leveled his wand. On the left, Niall mirrored him.
Neither looked conscious. Their eyes rolled back, drool dripping from slack mouths as they cast in eerie unison.
"Grahh!"
The trio screamed as blackened lightning struck from both sides. Their bodies twitched violently before falling unconscious.
Without pause, the possessed duo unleashed another blast—this time aimed at Will, whose arms were full with Emma and Lihanna.
"No good!"
"Shit!"
Forced to evade, Will and Lihanna dodged away.
And that gave Shade her chance.
"Hah hah hah! I have to thank you two, really. Who'd have thought my enemies would be the ones to bring me my toys!"
Lihanna's pupils dilated.
"Brann and Niall are under the influence of puppet magic?! But how?! They haven't been caught by chains!"
Shade raised a brow. "You thought the chains were the trick to this?" She smirked and let out a deranged laugh.
"You model students are as adorable as you are moronic! Your smarts are your undoing!"
Lihanna clenched her jaw. "A misdirection?!"
Or is she bluffing?!
Meanwhile Will plugged his nose.
I sense no lies from her. The chains aren't the key… it's this heavy scent of Belledors again… that's it! It's scent!
As soon as he made the connection, he faltered.
Wait. That might be another ruse.
Unlike Will, Lihanna couldn't keep her thoughts contained.
Perhaps using reinforcement magic too soon had scrambled her head, leaving her a little delirious and fraying her composure.
"I don't understand! How could this be possible?! Brann and Niall just arrived! Did you infiltrate the academy as well?! When were they influenced?! And where?!"
Shade smiled darkly, sending shivers up their spines.
"Yeah, I've been working on this for a long time, but I didn't touch the academy. As much as I like kiddies, it's a waste if they're weaklings. You're not cut out to be my toy if you can't even make it to the tower…"
Her grin widened. "A tower I've been active in waaay before you rats joined."
She spread her arms like a conductor leading a wicked symphony.
"I've spent so much time gathering puppets. Now I have a wonderful collection of obedient minions! The traitors among you stand before you—but it's too late to stop me!"
"With my magic, I will crush the tower down to its very foundation!"
Zap!
Brann and Niall's dark lightning, boosted by Shade's power, twisted together and fired at Will and Lihanna.
"Tch!" Will clicked his tongue, setting Emma down before stepping forward and slicing the attack apart.
"So you're a senior member of the tower?" He smirked back at Shade. "Thanks for narrowing the list down. Even if you escape, it's only a matter of time before we find you."
Shade stared, then laughed as if he were the biggest joke in the world.
"Blady Boy… who said anything about running? Today is my victory."
Will raised a brow, but the blasts kept pouring in, locking him in place.
Dammit, I can't move… not with Emma right behind me.
Seeing his struggle, Lihanna forced herself forward. Kiki, watching from afar, did the same.
Snap!
Shade clicked her fingers. Black chains yanked the carbuncle and thunder knight into the air, binding them tight.
"Mreow?!"
"Gah?!"
"Mhmp!"
The chains coiled over their mouths, choking their protests. Their limbs tangled, their magic sealed.
"Kiki! Lihanna!"
Will shouted in panic, cleaving through another beam. Brann and Niall were running low on magic—that was good—but he had a new problem.
His Ki flared as he glanced back.
"Emma?!"
Her veins bulged, tears streaking down her face. Wand shaking, she pointed it at his back.
"W-Will… p-please j-just… run…"
She tried to resist, slowing the spell's build-up, but couldn't stop it.
"Nghhh!" Will ground his teeth, ready to risk turning and disarming her—when another laugh froze him mid-motion.
"Hah hah hah. Kiddies are the best. Too bad about Albis Vina though!"
Will froze.
He whipped his gaze toward Shade, trembling, eyes sharp.
"W-what did you just say?"
Twack.
Shade tapped her own head, snickering.
"Oh, my bad. She's not Albis Vina anymore. Just the tower's sloth, hah hah hah."
"Oi." Will's voice dropped, iron in his tone. "I asked you a question. What did you just say about Elfie?!"
"Hmm?" Shade blinked at him as if only now remembering, then smiled mockingly.
"Oh right, Blady Boy has a love story with that little bitch—"
"I asked you a question—"
"Poor little girl. Suffering alone in the tower for six long years, while her weak little boyfriend wasted her youth at the academy."
Shade licked her lips.
"Though I have to thank you. You're the source of her love… and her greatest sorrows."
Will's throat tightened.
He saw red, but reason cut through the haze.
S-so that's the other requirement! It's trauma—
"WILL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Lihanna cried, freeing her mouth for a moment.
"BEHIND YOU—MMPH!"
Will's pupils dilated as he spun around, but too late.
Emma's eyes rolled back as tears streamed down her face, a black orb aimed at his chest.
"S-sorry."
It was the last thing she whispered before collapsing unconscious.
Shade whistled with glee. "Got you~!"
Bwash!
A ripping gale of dark wind struck Will point-blank.
The same spell that had turned Julius into a doughnut.
Crack.
His body slammed into the side of a building.
Blood spread from his chest as he slumped, unconscious.
Lihanna froze, chains tightening, her voice gone still.
W-Will?
Shade laughed as though it was the funniest sight in the world.
"Hah hah hah! Too easy! Love rocks! One mention of that sloth and the boy turned to putty! And now look—taken down by the puppet he tried to protect!"
As Lihanna's eyes welled, Shade pointed at Emma.
"It was the same with her. One reminder she killed her little crush, and her resistance broke completely!"
Clank!
Clank!
Clank!
"Ngh-mmph!"
Lihanna and Kiki fought the chains, but their magic was being drained and bound. Neither had the raw strength to resist.
Shade wiped tears from her own laughter.
"You maniacs are a riot! Little Emma had snot pouring out of her nose when I turned her. I can't wait to see how you two look!"
"Mmph!"
Clank!
She gestured over her shoulder at Brann and Niall.
"Oh, and thanks again for these two. Thunder brats are a nightmare to turn, but thanks to their little heart-to-heart with you, they scurried away right into my hands. Insecure, self-loathing gems—served on a silver platter, hah hah hah!"
"Grah!"
Shade tapped Lihanna's shoulder as she strolled past.
"No need to be anxious, little knight. You'll get your turn. But Blady Boy comes first."
Chains lowered Will from the third story where he'd crashed, dangling in front of Shade like a trophy.
"I was annoyed when they saddled me with bringing you back on top of toppling the tower… but I have to admit, you're worth it, Lover Boy. Even if making you a puppet is a total pain in the ass."
She put her hands on her hips, scrutinizing him.
"Gotta dig deep for the trauma to hook my chains. But if your girlfriend's any indication, you'll be just as easy."
Her wand leveled at him. "Now let's see what nightmares plague you."
Lihanna bit her lip, praying.
Will! Please wake up! Open your eyes! Please!
Shade began to chant.
"Dive. Burrow. Control. Berzeme Sique: Mavelus Haller!"
Intricate arrays flared beneath Will. From each circle, inky streams surged upward, coiling around him and pouring into his body.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Overlooking the scene below, Finn walked across the roof with his hands buried in his pockets.
The dwarf smiled softly as his eyes settled on the broad back of the figure sitting at the edge, legs dangling into open air, unnoticed by Shade.
"I'm surprised, Big Guy. Knowing you, I thought you'd rush in and deal with the little troublemaker the moment you saw her. I was worried I'd have to convince you to stand down."
Asta replied without turning.
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you? Aren't you worried your sword's going to break?"
Finn chuckled and joined him at the ledge.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Something like this isn't enough to shatter my sword."
Asta nodded, eyes never leaving the chaos below.
"For once we're on the same page. Will doesn't need help with small fry like this."
Finn's smile stretched thin. "That's true. But you still seem eager to cut down that pest."
His gaze flicked to Asta's clenched fist.
The guide lowered his voice.
"So what's stopping you, Big Guy?"
At last Asta turned, meeting Finn's eyes with a flat, emotionless stare.
"I will kill her."
"But?"
"But in a moment. I've got a feeling I'll finally get some answers… about what monster's hiding inside Will. I don't want to ruin that."
Finn paused, then slowly smiled again.
"Your intuition's as sharp as ever. I can't promise you'll get answers, but you'll definitely see something worth remembering."
Asta narrowed his eyes but said nothing, attention sinking back to the battle below.
Finn broke the silence first.
"By the way, Big Guy."
"Hmm?"
"How'd you sneak out of the tower without anyone noticing?"
"Trade secret. How do you come and go?"
"…Can we trade for something else?"
"Sure. Tell me all about you."
"…Never mind."