Groan and scream, blades clashing to one another as a shield blocked the strike of Misty Fang’s slices but was pierced by the spear wielded by Piercer. The lizardman was about to counter the incoming attack by Fang’s dagger but was interrupted as he sensed someone behind him, aiming to stab his heart. He moved, but a grunt was let out because of the pain coming from his pits. Six Sense has managed to attack him despite his effort trying to dodge her.

While the lizardmen were distracted, the young Priest swirled her staff as she moves forward with a voice of a mage she admires keeps repeating in her mind, ‘(Being a priest doesn’t make you weak. You elevate others to become stronger, but you can be selfish at times and use your power for yourself.)’

Her eyes shines brightly as she took another step and slam her staff to the ground, light burst from her staff, enveloping her body, “Poison Art,” taking a deep green vial and spray it above her, the scattered liquids turn the white light into its color as it is taking shape, “Spectral Darts!”

30 darts in total split into three waves of poison and flew directly to all of the lizardmen. Missed, block, but those that struck them went deep into their skin, and they quickly feel its effect.

[Spectral Darts / Tier 1 – Basic/ Mana / Conjure a number of elemental darts that dealt Physical Damage. Quantity Adjustable / Cooldown: 4 Seconds / Costs: Up to 300 Mana / Requirement: 15 Intelligence]

[Poison Art / Rank 1 / Infuse Mana-related spells with any poisoning elixir]

[Bottle of Venom / Common / Dealt slight damage over time. Decreases Physical Damage Resistance. Lasts 2 hours]

Veins popped out of the lizardmen’s skin. Enraged, they yell out loud as they bring everything they got for the final stand. Meanwhile, behind the fighting battle, Siola is facing off against 4 lizardmen all on her own while guarding two people simultaneously. Squeezed on each other as they float behind her, controlled by [Telekinesis].

A lizardman struck from above, but Siola stepped back at the right moment.

*Boom*

His attack shattered the ground. Veins on his eyes as he shifted his glance to Siola, his cheek pressed by her finger-snapping, “Mist Explosion.”

*Bwooooosh*

The deep mist made it almost impossible to see afar. Siola however, has left the mist. Embers were dripping from her hands, but she chuckled and aimed her staff instead, “This should be enough for them four-legged fish.”

She concentrated the Mana output she gave to the tip of her staff, focusing on the form, and she charged her spell. Adding 5x the amount of Mana it originally needs, the maximum her staff can hold, and then, she opens fire, “Firebolt.”

*Bwooosh*

Faster than one she has cast before and the impact was much greater. In less than 3 seconds, she managed to fire another one, and the more she cast, the faster it gets while maintaining the same power. Until the mist fully disappear, an endless number of firebolts were sent. All four of the lizardmen have laid down on the ground with many parts of their body, charred.

Looking at the result didn’t bring her joy, nor the process of it was done. With it, the cracked colorless globe deep within the nothingness started to restore itself.

! {Character Quest has been Adjusted}

~ {Dormant / Rank B / Assist – April – in obtaining the desired guidance of arcane / Reward: 255.000 Exp / Additional Reward: April will be available as a follower}

“Hmm?”

…

Exhausted, Piercer rested on top of the defeated lizardman’s chest. A few cuts on his body. Misty Fang told Kian to use [Healing Hands] on him. He himself is also injured but he waited on Siola to use the [Heal Array]. The woman in question is busy talking with the captives however, with one of them – the man – groveling on the ground.

“S-She’s my daughter, my lady.”

“Or so you said, I don’t see any resemblance though.”

Swallowing his saliva, “It’s true. We just want to go back to Sonata and sell our goods, but those lizardmen just came out of nowhere and stole them.”

“And where are those goods, I wonder. Far as I can see, I don’t see a cart anywhere around here.”

The girl behind her took a step, worried about the other, but the man pulls up his hand – telling her to stop moving. Siola noticed it and walked closer to her. Same height, but Siola tilted her head as if she looks down on her. In her mind, ‘Fuuuuuuck, she’s cute. Am I actually losing to an NPC? Damn, I only accept those who are pretty, not this!’

The girl is nervous not knowing what the other had in mind.

‘If Kurira was here, she’d say laugh at me nonstop. And if I were to lay my hand on her, it would be like me denying my defeat. Hmph!’

Although, she doesn’t notice her cheeks puffing up to the max and are on full display, after seeing that, the girl realized that she and the man are not really in danger. It eases her beating heart.

Horgan arrived with the cart, noticing what has happens to his party members and the dead lizardmen lying on the ground, “Oi, April. Fang’s in a bit of an iffy there. Think you can help him?”

“Hmph!”

The girl has never been so confused by the woman. Seeing Siola casually whip balls of light out of the thin air and surrounds Misty Fang and the others with them made the girl lightly whisper, “A skillful mage but also proficient at healing magic?”

“Take it you’re one of em merchants, eh? Heading to Sonata?”

“Y-Yes,” the man stood to answer, “My name is Gorn, and she’s… Lila.”

“Hunh, ain’t that a mighty coincidence. Hop on, we’re goin’ there too.”

Siola went to check on Misty Fang who is staring into the distance. Fastened the healing process on his arm using [Healing Hands]. He said as he points forward, “Just beyond that hill, is a place where many Travelers gather.”

Nervousness in his voice, he took out the necklace, “As much as I would like to object, I too have something to settle there.” Holding it tightly, he muttered lightly, “Oh, Witch of the Dawn. Lend me your strength. To face what is in front of me. And to overcome it.”

Siola looked at the weary expression he makes, after he made his prayer, she asked, “You worship Soline Arlond?”

“I believe in her benevolence and ideal that every person no matter their race and status can rise to greatness,” he turns his head to Siola and said, “I was born tainted. My own race despises mixed blood like myself and humans disliked being with a race associated with a beast they kill.”

“Fang…”

He smiled. Patting her shoulder as he said, “You may be the descendant of Demonic Plague’s victims, but I know you as April, a comrade… and a friend.”

“A friend.”

“Are we not?”

Her heart flutters. Although he can't see it, happiness showed on her face, “A friend!”

The colorless globe within the emptiness within began to crack immensely. Letting out extremely thin light but it shines ever so brightly.

! {Character Quest has been Adjusted}

~ {Dormant / Rank S / Assist – April – in obtaining the desired guidance of arcane / Reward: 255.000 Exp / Additional Reward: April will be available as a follower}

Misty Fang patted her head but the face she makes as she’s looking at the notification with widened eyes is not that of happiness anymore.

…

“Oh, Ooooh?! Miss April is a Master ranked mage?!” shouted the girl, Lila, with enthusiasm, “I-I wanted to be a mage too but I can only cast a few spells and am quite bad at them.”

With Misty Fang driving the cart, Horgan began to tell all sorts of things to people they just met and starts to brag about his party members. But the only one that interests Lila is none other than the topic of Siola. Being the same age, she assumed, it felt like she has fallen far behind even though Horgan repeatedly told her that “April” is pretty much an exception to all things.

The woman in question however still looking down, trying to figure out the system behind her Character Quest keeps changing.

‘Is it bugged again? It kept changing, so there’s definitely something going on here.’

Last night, she returned to Prison Realm to cool down and took all of her crafted equipment. And now, it’s kept not inside her bags, but in her Inventory. Pondering to a resolution, ‘I have a feeling something big is going down soon. Whether it’s my task or this thing in front of me. Better be prepared, in case things went south.’

Misty Fang suddenly stopped the cart, “We are here.”

Eyes peeled, Siola went outside to see. In the far distance is a city that is split by a river. Farms outside of several layers of great stone walls. Paved roads, built houses, and a big castle in the middle. The city is spread across many miles from the center.

Piercer took a step, holding his head high as he said, “The most prosperous land of all. With a ruler who managed to bring the regional war to a stalemate.”

Siola took a deep breath of fresh air and exhale it slowly, “Sonata Kingdom.”

The soothing atmosphere sweeping by brought a sense of discomfort. No matter where she places it, the feeling can never dissipates. The journey that she has started was a milestone in another’s progress.

...

In a place only known by a few. Darkness throughout. An entity resembling that of a human is chained in front of a wall. White haired. On her knees, both ankles pinned by two war pikes. Her feminine yet muscular body was unmoving still because an enormously large divine cross punctured a hole through her chest, and it sunken deep into the ground. A cursed blade pierced the center of her head.

The chains, anchored deep within her flesh were pulled so tightly, and with the combination of other contraptions, they rendered her unable to move even a single limb. But then, mini cubic polygons started forming in the shadows. Upon stepping close, from head to toe, one can see the complete resemblance of Siola Mithra but with additional features, the one and zeroes running through her eyes, and the unknown symbols on both sides of her forehead.

A picture of Siola and her personal information is laid out in front of the chained woman in the form of a floating blue screen, and it was then, the still mouth of hers tilted to a grin.

Slowly in a croaked voice, “You. Bring, her. To me.”

“I want, to... see, her. In, the flesh.”

Changing shape to a larger form of Siola, the woman formerly known as Mage of the Abyss. Replica. The blue floating screen narrowed down as it changes into a countdown.

{180 Days / 21 Hours / 21 Minutes}

“six, months?” her grin widened, “Sounds… like an hour, to me.”

Returning deep into the shadows, parts of the entity resembling Siola turned and separated into a grid of polygons once again before disappearing entirely. Leaving the chained woman alone, in the darkest depth of the abyss.