《The Oscillation (Vol. 2 Pre-Order Out!)》 A Change In Writing Schedule Due to life schedule changes, I will get straight to the point about the schedule and talk a bit later in the post. I know these posts can come with some dread. I hope you understand. o7 Monday: 1. Write The Oscillation. 2. Give The Oscillation to editors to edit through the night. Tuesday: 1. Go through TO edits made through the night & day. 2. Release The Oscillation in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. 3. Write Pokesync. 4. Give Pokesync to editors to edit through the night. Wednesday: 1. Go through Pokesync edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Pokesync in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write A Tail''s Misfortune. 4. Give A Tail''s Misfortune to editors to edit through the night. Thursday: 1. Go through A Tail''s Misfortune edits made through the night & day. 2. Release A Tail''s Misfortune in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write Undying Empire. 4. Give Undying Empire to editors to edit through the night. Friday: 1. Go through Undying Empire edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Undying Empire in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Do edits that need to be made that have been pointed out throughout the week by patrons/public readers. See the Patreon Message for further details ---> Here <--- Prelude: The Oscillation Rachel set the last cardboard box on her dorm room bed. Taking a deep breath, she sat down, sullenly looking over at her new roommate¡¯s side of the room. Cloe¡¯s half was bright and colorful, reflecting the bubbly personality she¡¯d experienced from the girl on their phone call. They¡¯d talked online earlier that week when she¡¯d been searching for spare dorm rooms at the University of Miami. Apparently, Cloe¡¯s previous roommate had dropped out, leaving an opening for her; hopefully, it wasn¡¯t due to Cloe herself. Rachel had primarily done all her classes online at home before this, but things had taken an unfortunate turn. Taking out her cell phone, she unlocked it, opened her voicemail, and listened to her father¡¯s message in Korean: ¡°Sung-Hyo, I know this is challenging, and you haven¡¯t lived on your own before, but we both know you and Alexa aren¡¯t going to see eye to eye. This has gone on for over a year¡ªsince your brother¡¯s wedding¡ªand the constant fighting has been taxing on everyone, though I know it isn¡¯t all your fault.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes. Not ¡®all¡¯ my fault¡­She¡¯s the one that always has to say something; I¡¯m not going to just let it slide. How can Nam stand her?! I get that her dad¡¯s a massive contributor to the company, but she¡¯s totally the opposite of our family! An agitated growl rumbled in her throat as her father¡¯s message continued. ¡°Your mother and I couldn¡¯t be prouder of the strides you¡¯ve taken in your martial arts and academic studies.¡± A short chuckle followed. ¡°Your grandfather loves to hear about your achievements every time we speak. He¡¯s wondering when you¡¯ll stop by again, and¡­maybe it is time for you to find something more outside of the family.¡± Mom¡¯s suggestion, no doubt, Rachel internally sighed. I¡¯m too busy for a social life¡­First, university credits while in school weren¡¯t enough, and now they want me to socialize!? ¡°In any case, we love you, and I know you¡¯ll continue growing in Miami. Of course, we¡¯ll want to see you at least a few times a month; it may be a three-hour drive, but a trip your mother will gladly make. We both know she¡¯d squeal at the opportunity to spend time with you in Miami. We¡¯ll talk later.¡± Breathing in deeply, she let it out in a large, slow sigh. ¡°Huu-haaa¡­¡± She fell back on the unmade mattress with a grimace; it was far less comfortable than her one at home. Pulling her shoulder-length black hair to the side, she streamed out a groan. It was March 26th¡ªSaturday¡ªand in two days, it would be the start of her junior year of college at 19 years old. If she pushed a little harder, she¡¯d have her bachelor¡¯s in legal studies by the end of summer, which was what she planned. There were benefits to being on campus, but her issue was the circumstances surrounding it. Her full lips tightened as Cloe walked through the door, her roommate¡¯s green eyes lighting up as she saw her with all the boxes stacked neatly on the floor. ¡°Rachel! Oh, wait, should I call you Rachel or, umm¡ªPark Sung-Hyo?¡± she tentatively asked, butchering her Korean name while reading a small piece of paper that hung on the door. ¡°Eh, yeah, Rachel is fine. It¡¯s hard for most Americans to pronounce Korean names, so my family has legal Western names, too.¡± ¡°Cool! Eh, Rachel¡¯s a pretty name.¡± ¡°So¡¯s Cloe,¡± she returned. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you face-to-face.¡± Cloe nodded with a beaming smile, her brunette hair bobbing. ¡°Thanks! So, umm, I just popped in to grab my laptop charger. I, uh, got all the way to English 1010 before realizing I forgot it! Stupid, right? Umm, by the way, you¡¯re pretty tall compared to most Asian girls I¡¯ve met¡ªoh, that was so rude of me! I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she muttered, talking faster than necessary. ¡°I¡¯m just a little nervous when meeting new people.¡± Laughing, Rachel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. There aren¡¯t many 176 cm Asian girls; I¡¯ve heard it most of my life.¡± ¡°Uh, hehe, metric¡­Umm, what¡¯s that in feet?¡± ¡°Haha. Right, right¡ª5''9" or so.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Cloe¡¯s eyes shifted to her bedside desk. ¡°Alright, well, I gotta head to class. Mind if we chat later?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine with me.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Grabbing her charger, Cloe stuffed it in her backpack and dashed out into the hallway with a wave, slamming the door behind her. ¡°Later!¡± Sighing, Rachel leaned back again, running her hands through her hair. Kind of awkward, but whatever¡­I guess it¡¯s a good time to finish some schoolwork a few weeks in advance since I have the time. She glanced at the clock; it was 11 a.m., meaning if she started unpacking now and did her schoolwork, she¡¯d have plenty of time to check out her old trainer¡¯s new gym and get a membership. Now, that was something to be excited about. Her mind trailed off once more to the cause of her abrupt dislodgement from the home she¡¯d grown up in; it blew her mind why Alexa was so anti-fighting, considering how vocally aggressive she was. Pulling her phone to glare at her lock screen¡ªher high school graduation two years earlier¡ªRachel centered on her parents¡¯ smiling faces. Alexa¡¯s a total bum¡ªnot driven at all. So, how can they get along with someone so lazy? It doesn¡¯t make sense! Gah, I can¡¯t even call her family; she¡¯s the complete opposite of us. Besides, what does she even do, locked up in Nam¡¯s room all day? Call me a bitch. Sure. I¡¯ll own it. And she¡¯s a lazy ass. Angrily scratching her left temple, Rachel pushed herself up with a growl, massaged her neck, and got to work unpacking. She didn¡¯t need a lot of clothes, despite her mother often trying to get her to go out shopping every other week. Rachel valued practicality more than most, and after setting up a few household goods and making her bed, she was done. She wanted to support herself if she was going to be on her own, so she¡¯d applied for a part-time job at a caf¨¦ since the tips there were supposed to be good; that would start late next week. Hopefully, her assertive personality wouldn¡¯t hurt that venture. She could pretend to be nice to idiots¡­if they kept their hands to themselves. Yawning while breaking down the cardboard boxes, she put them on top of the others before pulling out her laptop, quickly indulging in a light stretch to get her blood circulating. Sitting down, she logged into the school network and completed a few of her future assignments. Finishing sooner than anticipated, she looked at the top right corner of her screen before smiling. 4:20¡­I¡¯ve got a long evening at the gym today! She donned cream shorts, a black sports bra, and a white tank top before grabbing her gym bag and walking out of her dorm room. Moving down the halls, she met the bright Miami sun outside the building, happy to feel the hot, humid weather mixed with the salty sea breeze of the ocean city. Miami was nice. The walk through the massive crowds of tourists and locals was therapeutic; the city was host to a plethora of active people¡ªher kind of people¡ªwhich helped brighten her spirits, and seeing all the toned muscles made her more aware of her own impressive physique. She¡¯d worked hard to get her solid form, which probably was the cause of Cloe feeling a bit intimidated upon meeting her in person, and she could see Alexa being the same; sure, her brown-haired sister-in-law wasn¡¯t too fat or skinny, but she wasn¡¯t exactly toned, much less muscular. Arriving at the Muay Thai gym that was her destination, Rachel couldn¡¯t help but smile; Tyreese Cyrus¡ªher former coach from back home who had moved to Miami last year¡ª could be seen inside, making her eager to sign up. The nearly 2-meter Jamaican man spotted her soon after she arrived at the counter, shouting out in his thick accent. ¡°Aye, weh yuh ah seh, Rachel?! Girl, you lookin¡¯ good before getting all sweaty, eh? Hehe. How much time I gotcha for in da city?¡± Toothy grin showing her mood, Rachel jabbed a thumb at his woman preparing a membership card. ¡°Rock! Yo, I¡¯m staying in Miami now, so you¡¯ll see me a few times a week. I think I got a good three hours with you today.¡± Tyreese¡¯s dark skin almost shined; he waxed everything, including his head. At nearly 120 kg when she¡¯d known him, with rock-hard muscles, more than one person had made a joke about the link with his nickname. ¡°Whew, quite da session for meh little duppy conqueror, eh? You done hittin¡¯ dem books and ready for da bag? Den go wrap up and ready to mash dem paws!¡± Rachel gave him a smirk as they walked up to each other, clasping hands. ¡°Was hoping for some sparring today!¡± she pressed, anticipating he might be able to free up the time and trying not to lose face as he applied more pressure, curving their arms the opposite way. ¡°Ah, feelin¡¯ some blood in your ears, huh? Yeah, we can get down and scrappy! You need to work on that combo, eh? Still not got ¡¯er down?¡± he laughed, breaking away to fake a few punches as she flexed her numb fingers. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°You know I¡¯ve got it down,¡± Rachel snickered, giving her former coach a smirk. ¡°Got something new?¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± he mused. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the whapper!¡± he said while doing a quick left fake to right kidney shot. ¡°Give you the ol¡¯ burn, eh? Take you back to some string combos before the teep!¡± Rock had trained in Thailand for five years before returning to the States, and she¡¯d been with him since she was thirteen. Breaking away as he went to help a few of his in-training coaches, she went to the back to wrap her hands and put her stuff in a locker. She did her conditioning and training session with him upon exiting, learning the harsh reality: she was so out of practice since he¡¯d left. Rachel laughed at her coach¡¯s jabbing comments to break her concentration, bringing back memories; it was fun to see what he¡¯d come up with to make her frustrated while trying to dish it back and stay focused. ¡°You get pistol-whipped in the mouth every mornin¡¯? Small up yuhself!¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know; sometimes it¡¯s hard to see when I step back,¡± Rachel chuckled, dodging a few testing jabs. ¡°Do you have a pound of baby oil on your head, ugly ass?¡± His chest shook at the return. ¡°Yeah? Haha! Better than the egg yolk you put in your head every mornin¡¯. Eh?¡± ¡°Better yet,¡± Rachel took sharp breaths while ducking under a swing, giving a strike to his side, but she was forced to retreat as he threw a back elbow. ¡°I see they let you out early at the car wash today.¡± ¡°You sayin¡¯ I¡¯m washed up, huh?¡± he hummed, darting forward. She winced as he followed a right and left fake with a light jab to her face; she managed to catch the shift in his posture just in time, blocking it with the back of her hands as he threw his much greater weight class at her. ¡°Ya better focus! Any worse, and you¡¯ll be tongue-licking uppercuts, mi girl!¡± ¡°At least I didn¡¯t chip my tooth licking a crosswalk button!¡± ¡°I did do that!¡± he mused, allowing her room to try for another offensive. After training for three hours, she finally hit the showers, breathing heavily with sweat running down her body. She leaned left and right, letting the cool water slide down her smooth skin as her muscles burned; sessions like this were the highlight of her week. Since eighth grade, she¡¯d been training in Muay Thai, trying to release the stress she felt at home and school¡ªher therapists said it was from her past, but she¡¯d already dealt with that. They said she suppressed her emotions. She had to face them. Well, she had. She was fine. Her parents were semi-traditional, second-generation Korean immigrants, and she loved them a lot, but many people didn¡¯t understand their culture. Everything was measured, and she loved having challenging expectations to overcome. It was this that made her so frustrated with her supposed sister-in-law. The woman was a NEET¡ªnot in education, employment, or training¡ªand Rachel couldn¡¯t understand how her family accepted that. Her family was successful. Alexa was just a failure. Rachel¡¯s own mother and father were part of a consensually arranged marriage that had initially came with some troubles, though it had its caring moments, too. She knew they had their fights in private, but they loved each other, and while the business did play a role in their relationship at the start, it had grown beyond that so far as she could see. Drying off before dressing in the white t-shirt and shorts she¡¯d brought in her bag, Rachel left the gym to move along the busy sidewalk, mind returning to the fight they had. They¡¯re proud that I work hard, and Nam¡¯s helped expand the business further after marrying Alexa, but how could he marry that stupid snowflake? She has no clue how the world works or how to commit to anything¡ªand how can anyone hate martial arts?! She has to be jealous of me, or¡­ A low rumble reverberated in her throat just thinking about the obnoxious 21-year-old woman. She thinks she¡¯s so much better than me because her dad gives her whatever she wants, and she doesn¡¯t have to work for it. Americans¡­Look at me! I¡¯m amazing because I¡¯m a vegan. Oh, and martial arts are violent; therefore, I must be violent. That¡¯s right, Rachel; you¡¯re taller than a ¡®normal¡¯ Asian, and let¡¯s not forget you¡¯re so odd and too muscular for a woman. Well, sorry, Princess, I didn¡¯t ask to be born taller than you, and it feels good being in shape. Deal! Fuming, Rachel took a deep breath while stretching out her arms. Whatever; it¡¯s not like Mom¡¯s super on board with her staying in her room all the time. She usually disappears to take a bath whenever Alexa¡¯s around, so obviously, she doesn¡¯t want to deal with the brat. She¡¯s just a business deal since she likes Nam, and it would benefit the company. That has to be it because Nam can¡¯t possibly like her. Massaging the back of her neck with both hands, she stopped at a light as it turned green, shifting the bag on her shoulder. Once I finish school and get a law degree, then what can she say? She¡¯s worthless; all she has is her rich dad while I¡¯ll be working for a big firm. Rachel jogged to a local diner and ordered her usual go-to meal: spiced salmon and vegetables; the food wasn¡¯t as great as it was in her home city, but food was food. Eating quickly, she left a 20% tip before leaving to grab a superfood smoothie to go. She walked the rest of the way back to her dorm, finding Cloe in bed with her laptop. ¡°Oh, Rachel. Wait, did you go work out? Do you do that often?¡± she asked, sitting a little straighter against the wall. Setting her bag down, Rachel shrugged while doing more stretches, feeling her sports bra tighten against her chest. ¡°I practice Muay Thai in my free time.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s so awesome!¡± She set her laptop beside her, scooting to the edge of the bed. ¡°You look fit¡ªlike, really fit! I was thinking about doing something like that since I¡¯ve been gaining a little weight recently,¡± she grumbled, poking at her belly. Smiling, Rachel pulled out her desk chair to sit; this was a better conversation. ¡°You could just¡ª¡± she cut off as a scream sounded down the hall. All of a sudden, an inexplicable reverberation pulsed through her entire body, rebounding within her for several seconds before everything changed. In a split second, the room had expanded; she could see everything in focus within a 210¡ã angle. The neon glow of lights shining from the window in the corner snatched her focus with Cloe in front of her¡ªeverything was visible in crystal clarity. Her hearing opened like she¡¯d been submerged underwater all her life as something similar to her arms instantaneously appeared atop her head. Millions of sounds and conversations fed through her brain; bizarrely, she somehow knew they were hundreds of meters away, yet it wasn¡¯t overwhelming. She gave a start, realizing a new, small appendage had formed near her butt. It was like her entire body was fluid, shifting into something else. A new strength that she¡¯d never dreamt of arose within her muscles, exploding into a power that made her feel more alive than she thought possible. Half her weight vanished, leaving her scared she¡¯d float away, and her flexibility seemed to double as she stumbled back; she¡¯d never felt so light. Cloe¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°What was that¡ªwhat¡¯s¡­happening to you?¡± she gasped. Looking down, Rachel¡¯s throat constricted; her hair had changed. ¡°I have¡­white hair¡ªit¡¯s so long? What¡ªhow¡ªwhat happened to my black hair?¡± Her focus shifted from her illuminated locks to her fingers, sliding them down her left arm. ¡°My muscles¡­Why¡ªthey¡¯re gone?!¡± Shaking her head, Cloe covered her mouth, pointing at her dresser mirror. Rachel turned, seeing her reflection before facing it; her lips parted in disbelief. On closer inspection, her hair was a glowing, alabaster shade, surrounded by a light-pink hue that mixed with the beams of colorful rays shining through the nearby window. Her once shoulder-length, black hair had grown, falling to her butt. It was thick¡ªinsanely thick¡ªcausing her elastic hair tie to bulge. Her eyes were no longer brown, and it was hard for her to even conceptualize what she was now staring into. Her enlarged pupils were surrounded by four faint-pink petals, resembling a four-leaf clover; the black of her eye had turned maroon-red and was almost entirely overshadowed by a pink glow in the center. A white, radiant halo surrounded the pupil¡¯s outer ring, separating it from the other sections of her irises in an eclipse. However, the most pressing change was the two long bunny ears attached to her skull. She pulled back her pink-hued, white hair, searching for her normal ears in vain. Her ears were gone! The only thing that met her fingers was her skin and thick, silky locks, hiding the fact that her human ears were missing. Swallowing reflexively, she realized she could feel the bunny ears like her own fingers; they twitched, shifting with the same unconscious desire as her arms. Feeling the slight discomfort at her butt, Rachel turned to see a bulge in her gym shorts. Upon pulling them back, she stared at the puffy white tail. It wasn¡¯t a solid bone by its flexible range of motion; the tail likely had quite a few joints and was sensitive to the touch. Her entirely reshaped skull was evidence enough that something insane had happened to her biology. ¡°What¡¯s¡ªgoing on?¡± she muttered, bunny ears tensing as she heard multiple conversations around them that were more than a little alarming. ¡°Did you feel that?¡± ¡°What was that feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m on fire!¡± ¡°I¡­have a cat tail?¡± ¡°Yo¡ªuh, what happened to my arms? My arms, dude!¡± ¡°Dude! You got wings, man?¡± ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°Do you see that light?¡± ¡°The sky¡­it¡¯s cracked¡ªam I dreaming?¡± Rachel flinched as she heard gunshots in the distance. Panic was in people¡¯s voices, escalating around her as people screamed about monsters or yelled for help against aliens invading the planet. More shots followed, though from police or citizens, she couldn¡¯t be sure. Sirens started blaring everywhere as reports flew in. Rachel ran to the window and looked up into the sky, Cloe hesitating before joining her. Massive rifts were spread across the atmosphere, with uncountable cracks opening and closing as the heavens rippled, each one a different hue like stained glass. The sky was fracturing and repairing itself hundreds of times in the span of seconds; lights radiated through the fissures, but the strangest detail was how she could see everything at once, with alien worlds shining through the phenomenon. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Cloe whispered, dancing back before looking at her with fright. ¡°You changed, like¡­ You went from normal t-to a bunny, like¡ªlike, a dozen times. Now you¡ªwait¡­it¡¯s not changing anymore, and the lights¡­Are aliens attacking us¡ªare you an alien?!¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°No! I¡­I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, either. The sky¡ªit¡¯s normal now.¡± Only seconds after she saw it, the event passed, leaving the typical atmosphere in its place as the light pollution obscured the heavens, and the reverberations within her ceased. ¡°The sky¡­ It was breaking¡ªbright colors were coming through the cracks¡­Totally alien worlds¡­¡± Cloe turned back to her laptop as she heard the screams, sirens, and shouts around her. ¡°Umm¡ªlet me see if I can find anyone talking about it. Should we lock the door? Uh,¡± she gave her a forced smile, ¡°you¡¯re not playing with me, right¡ªthis isn¡¯t a joke?¡± Rachel gave her an incredulous look, gesturing to the window. ¡°How would I pull something like that off?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± she whispered, head ducking to her computer to search some sites online. ¡°Here are some live streams¡­Ugh, they¡¯re inside¡ªthey don¡¯t have a clue what¡¯s going on. One second¡­¡± Rachel walked over to watch the screen, still examining herself in the mirror; to describe herself as unique would be an understatement, and even her proportions had changed¡ªin a good way, some would say¡ªbut changed nonetheless. What the hell happened to me¡­And where did my muscles go?! B1 — 1. Lunar Hare Feeling oddly relaxed as Cloe searched for answers online, Rachel¡¯s attention was pulled away from her soft grumbles to the mass of voices fighting to be heard throughout the campus; it was as if everyone was in the same room, their words being crammed into her brain. It was challenging, and there were a few conversations she kept an active tab on, but her primary focus was on her own, now less muscular body. Her entire physiology had transformed in seconds, and that took precedence. She didn¡¯t feel weaker; in fact, it was the opposite. Testing her strength by lifting her bed, she discovered it was practically weightless. Flexing her fingers while setting it down, she caught Cloe¡¯s shifting eyes with her wide field of view, everything in her periphery showing in perfect clarity. The brunette was studying to see what she might do, and Rachel didn¡¯t blame her. She had practically turned into a different species. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could trust her own senses; how could she hear conversations over a mile away? Obviously, the answer was her stupidly long ears, which had replaced her human ones. They really were long¡ªnearly 45 cm from the base¡ªand fully prehensile; in addition, she¡¯d completely lost her human ears. Tilting her head to observe them in Cloe¡¯s mirror, she found it enthralling how the overhead light passed through them, making the inner skin glow orange. Their range of motion was incredible, and they were sensitive to the touch. Her attention was soon pulled to the tufts of fur protecting her ear canal¡ªit was softer than she would have thought. Examining her changed face, a frown came to her now fuller lips. She traced her higher cheekbones, giving her a more refined and almost haughty impression. A lot was happening in her eyes, as well; it almost appeared like a double solar eclipse of red moons with pink petals in the shape of a four-leaf clover surrounding them. It didn¡¯t help that her eyebrows were now white with a subtle pink glow, drawing attention to the celestial phenomena happening inside of her eyes¡ªit was now, by far, her most unique feature, which was saying something. Another noteworthy identification was the thick, white hair that was long enough to reach past her waist. She¡¯d never worn it this far down her back. Although, it did form perfectly around her figure, somehow not obstructing her wide, entirely in-focus vision. I¡¯ve turned into a monster girl, she internally groaned as Cloe forced a chuckle. ¡°You do look¡­stunning! You even have a glow. Does it feel weird?¡± ¡°Very¡­¡± Rachel muttered, feeling around her thin stomach; she had muscle, but it was toned, not the bulky, hardened steel it was before. That being said, she knew they could take more abuse now, which was frustrating to admit; she had liked her muscle. ¡°My muscles¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Heh. On the bright side, you could totally be the glamor girl in any magazine now! Oh, maybe you could get a job as a model! That¡¯d be crazy¡­ News channels are just as stumped as us, though¡ªI¡¯ve been looking¡ªand a ton of people look like they changed, not just you. A bunch of sporting events are being thrown into chaos¡­ You don¡¯t feel ill or anything, right?¡± ¡°Just hearing everything around us¡­ I can hear people talking a mile away,¡± she mumbled, scratching the base of her right ear as it twitched; it felt hot. ¡°I can even tell the exact distance¡­ A lot of people have changed¡ªprobably over a hundred.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Cloe straightened, glancing toward the window. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few minutes. Do you think it will happen again? Did everyone turn into animals?¡± Rachel shook her head, shifting the back of her shorts to allow her tail some wiggle room from the place it settled while going to the window to stare outside. A few people were gathering around a man who was on fire; he¡¯d settled down and was now laughing as people freaked out. ¡°People have powers.¡± ¡°Is that guy on fire?!¡± Cloe gasped, tossing her laptop to the side to rush to the window. ¡°Why is he¡­ Is he not on fire¡ªa body suit?¡± ¡°No. As I said, people are getting powers¡­ He can burn the lawn, though,¡± she muttered as he and a few others started to freak out at a growing fire; someone even came with an extinguisher, blowing him out with the grass. ¡°Can you find anything from the news networks?¡± ¡°Ugh. Not really¡­ Only a few that were covering big events are talking about it¡ªplaces where a lot of people were changing,¡± she said, returning to her laptop after one last look at the embarrassed man who had lost his clothes. ¡°Huh. Well, that¡¯s a view¡ªthe power to burn off your clothes, more like. Hehe. Umm. So, you have superhearing?¡± ¡°Among other things,¡± Rachel said, remaining by the window to observe the crowds gathering below, but most of their attention was focused on a girl that had partially turned into a bird, who was understandably freaking out about her lost arms. Rachel was suddenly thankful she¡¯d only lost human ears. It was surprising how many people were utterly unaware of the celestial phenomenon. Rachel tried to steer away from those watching ¡®adult films¡¯ or engaged in other similar extracurricular activities. A few individuals tripping on mushrooms made her ears itch with their slow monologuing. News about changed people was spreading rapidly due to the insane antics some were getting up to, such as the flame guy, who dubbed himself The Human Light, to cheers from his friends; most believed a flash cosplay convention had stormed the campus. Several interesting discussions made her left ear twitch. She pulled her head in the direction of the recreational facility, still a little stunned by the buzz of hundreds of voices that occasionally poked her brain. Rachel ran her fingers down her arm as goosebumps appeared; for some reason, she felt stronger than ever, and she knew she should be freaking out more than she was, yet panicking would get her nowhere. What would provide a direction was listening to several groups that embraced the change as some kind of fiction-made-reality event¡ªpeople who seemed to be onto something. ¡°Hmm¡­ Some boys are talking about figuring it out¡ªhe turned into a Faekin elf and his friend a Champion fighter.¡± Cloe¡¯s head tilted to the side, still scanning news feeds. ¡°Say what?! A boy turned into an elf¡ªis he hot? Wait, uh¡­you seeing this, or am I tripping?¡± Rachel moved to her bedside again as she brandished the screen where what appeared to be a three-meter-tall ogre woman was screaming and crying in the middle of a basketball game. Dozens of other changed people, who took on more animalistic characteristics, were trying to understand what had happened to them. A shiver ran from her tail to her ears, making Rachel hug herself, trying to shut out most of the voices to close in on the boys who were experimenting with their new ¡®powers.¡¯ The shouts and discussion filtered out on desire as she subconsciously fine-tuned her hearing; it was getting easier. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Cloe¡¯s eyes widened with concern, watching her fall on her bed and bring her pillow over her head; even with the slight improvement, it was way more stimulation than she¡¯d ever had before. ¡°You okay? you don¡¯t look okay¡­ Should we go to the hospital? Maybe they¡¯ll know what to do¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡± Rachel took a deep breath and let it out, shaking her head while tossing her pillow against the wall. ¡°I just¡­have a small headache¡ªI hear everything within a mile. I¡¯m trying to focus on these boys that discovered something¡­¡± ¡°Okay! Okay! Umm. I¡¯ll be quiet and keep looking online. Take your time! It has to be aliens,¡± she mumbled, going down a bit of a mumble tangent on the topic. The brunette pushed herself against the wall, bringing up her laptop like a woman on a mission, determined to discover what was happening. Rachel left her to the research, centering on the two boys; a cat-girl joined the mix¡ªseemingly a gaming friend¡ªthey were heading back to her dorm, excited about their sudden change. ¡°Yo, Zoe, the squad¡­ Whaa¡ªyou changed, too? And a loli cat-girl?! Haha!¡± ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m not a loli¡ªI just¡­I shrunk a bit¡­¡± ¡°Nice!¡± the elf boy cheered, pumping his fist into the air. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment all my life, baby. Aye, Adam, I¡¯m a Faekin elf mage, bro¡ªI¡¯mma be pumpin¡¯ out that dps¡ªwhere¡¯re the monsters?! I¡¯m ready to pop off!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! What about you, Loli Zoe?¡± ¡°You are not calling me that!¡± ¡°Aye! Aye! No need to get feisty¡ªouch! You got claws; watch it!¡± ¡°Heh. Yeah, so cut the teasing! Uh¡­ How do you tell¡ªI just got a tail and ears like¡­five minutes ago¡ªgive me a break, guys. Umm, can we hurry? Having my tail tucked down in my shorts is really uncomfortable!¡± ¡°We can do that,¡± Adam muttered. ¡°I gotta get a band-aid and stop this bleeding anyway¡­ Thanks for the cut. Healing, Will?¡± ¡°No can do, bud. I don¡¯t even know what spells I got. We need to figure that out next. Oh, Zoe, you just need to ask The System what you are. Asking questions seems to get us some answers¡ªI¡¯m still figuring it out. Uh¡­you doing good with that belt, Zoe?¡± ¡°Bah! It won¡¯t go any tighter¡ªwhy did the System take off a few years¡­ It¡¯s like I¡¯m in middle school again. Eww¡­ I¡¯d rather not.¡± ¡°Aye, it is what it be, girl,¡± Adam snickered. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you look close enough to what you did before so we could recognize you.¡± Will cleared his throat. ¡°So, eh-heh, what do you think, guys? I¡¯m totally hot now, right?¡± Rachel could almost picture the sly smirk that creased the cat-girl¡¯s eyes with her playful tone. ¡°It¡¯s, umm, an improvement.¡± ¡°Yo, bro, let¡¯s not catch a case here, askin¡¯ an underage loli that sus question!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not underage!¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon! Who¡¯s teasing who, now?¡± ¡°Heh. You asked for it!¡± Zoe snickered, likely glaring at Adam. ¡°Wait¡­ I¡¯m a Beastkin domestic cat?! Scuffed! I want a reroll!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Get rolled! Maybe you could be puss in boots?¡± ¡°Hey, I actually love that movie.¡± Rachel stared up at the ceiling, headache subsiding while absently combing through her long white hair, examining the pink hue each strand radiated. Okay, System¡­ What am I? A Mythickin Lunar Hare. ¡°Huh.¡± Sitting up, she tilted to the side to let her wide field of vision take in the grounds outside; the fire guy had gotten some replacement clothes and was making a spectacle out of showing off his fire tricks. Some were freaking out, and others were embracing it. ¡°A hare?¡± she muttered to herself, fingers sliding down her right ear. ¡°What was that?¡± Cloe asked, glancing up from her screen. ¡°Just learning from everyone experimenting around campus,¡± she replied, shifting to the window to lean against it. ¡°Hmm?!¡± ¡°What?! What?!¡± Cloe straightened, looking at her to the window, yet Rachel¡¯s focus darted to the dark sky, tinted by light pollution; the sun had fallen below the horizon, and the moon¡¯s rays touched her skin, causing a glow and strength to embrace her. I¡¯m a lunar hare¡­ I gain power from the moon? Rachel¡¯s gut tightened when her phone vibrated, snapping her mind away from the topic; pulling it out, she swallowed. Mom? What will she and Dad think when they learn I¡¯ve changed into¡­this? Will they even believe it¡¯s me? Gesturing to Cloe to quiet down as she peppered her with questions, Rachel held an arm against her stomach to stop the squirms. Full of trepidation, she answered. ¡°Mom¡­ How are you?¡± she asked in Korean. Her mother¡¯s ordinarily soft voice was filled with concern, using Korean. ¡°Sung-Hyo, tell me you¡¯re okay; there¡¯s been some kind of attack at a mental hospital in Miami¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be fine, Chan-hee¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, Gwon! We¡¯re leaving for Miami¡ªnow! Rachel, are you okay?!¡± Rachel¡¯s tail and ears bristled as her mother¡¯s heated voice shut her father down; she¡¯d never heard her shout at him like that. ¡°I¡¯m, umm¡­ I might have¡­changed a bit¡­¡± she trailed off, not knowing exactly how to explain what she was going through, but her mother plowed right through. ¡°We can talk about it when we¡¯re in Miami¡ªGwon, we¡¯re leaving!¡± ¡°Chan-hee, Nam can produce energy creatures¡­ Shouldn¡¯t we deal with¡ª¡± ¡°Nam is safe at home¡ªwe both know Miami is going to be overrun by chaos soon, and my little girl is¡ª¡± The call cut as a sharp vibration ran through her phone. Thoughts dashed after the call, she lowered her phone to see the emergency message that was sent to it, while the news radio stream Cloe had pulled up paused their questions regarding the changed people with powers. Presidential Alert State of Emergency Declared All States This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Stay calm, stay indoors¡ªfurther instructions will be sent. If in public, proceed to a safe location. Martial law has been instated. The Military, National Guard, Center for Disease Control, FBI, and other agencies are being mobilized. Again, stay calm and proceed to a safe location. The reporter came back over the air. ¡°An IPAWS message was just sent nationwide; stay indoors, and if you are out, please proceed to a safe location. We expect the police to be overwhelmed with calls, and networks may go down due to traffic. Stay safe; we might be under attack¡­¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°We are getting further information that the President will be making a public statement when more information becomes available; the CDC, US military, National Guard, FBI, and many other agencies are also being mobilized. I repeat, the CDC is being mobilized. Masks, people, and seal the windows and doors¡ªit could be a biological agent released into the atmosphere. We will keep you aware of the situation as it unfolds. Stay indoors, and if you are out, proceed to a safe location.¡± Rachel¡¯s face matched her hair after the call with her parents. ¡°The CDC? Is this a terrorist attack¡­ A virus?¡± Cloe jumped to her feet, took one look at Rachel with wide eyes, and ran out of the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Rachel collapsed against her bed as emergency sirens went off in the distance. She couldn¡¯t blame Cloe¡¯s reaction; a part of her wanted to run, too, but something kept her focused and alert. It had been twenty minutes since the lights cracked the heavens, and already she could hear people panicking; a small group was planning a looting trip, expecting to get away with a lot of goods due to the rising pandemonium. She listened to the chaos around her unfold, mainly listening to Zoe and her oblivious friends as they remained in their own little world. They didn¡¯t pay the sirens much mind, other than theorizing it could be a monster break; according to them, they needed to learn their skills, so they wouldn¡¯t die. There were no monsters, though, other than the human kind; she could hear cars crashing, guns firing, people shouting, and explosions, all within a mile of her. Curiously, Rachel¡¯s mind was occupied by thoughts of her mother¡¯s unusual reaction. Was it unusual? Had her mother also gone through a change? Apparently, Nam had, which was interesting. The signal on her phone went dead shortly after the presidential alert, which could have been from traffic or sabotage; the result was the same: she couldn¡¯t contact her mother. The campus internet was still up, and she knew you could call through WiFi, but not how to do it. Her gaze wandered to the laptop Cloe left, watching the news play out for a time, processing the noise around her; things were becoming insane rather fast, showing fires in some areas and armed gunmen storming ammunition stores only an hour after the news started to spread. The military was mobilizing, and first responders were already showing up at the college, setting up a relief shelter and processing area for the CDC; it would still be another hour or more before the proper personnel showed up, so Rachel soaked in all the information, creating a complete picture of what she should do. Her attention was pulled to a new group of Chinese fiction lovers with answers that had pushed ahead of Zoe¡¯s D&D friends. She sat against the wall, listening in to the hundreds of students searching for the same things, offering her a wealth of data to compile as each person discovered their own personal details. She listened to the fantasy, anime, and novel enthusiasts as they theorized. They were far too optimistic, considering what was happening beyond the relatively tame environment of the campus. Rachel had already heard some horrors and seen a news report from Cloe¡¯s laptop that showed Washington State being overwhelmed by a mass of zombie-like fiends led by a vampire lord¡ªself-proclaimed. Panic was setting into major cities. However, some of the fantasy enthusiast predictions were chilling¡ªthey predicted this was basically the apocalypse; luckily, the military was acting fast. The police and the National Guard were locking areas down and bringing those changed into protective custody since some crowds were hunting them. Miami State University was one of those safe zones they were setting up. Chaos was taking to the streets, whether from people¡¯s beliefs they were alien invaders, devils from hell, or that some random country had launched a bioweapon and that the infected needed to be culled for the masses to survive. Murder and anarchy were only escalating, and naturally, certain parties were taking full advantage of the circumstances to enact their will on others. Rachel didn¡¯t want to believe this could get worse, but there was a tightness in her gut that told her this was only the beginning, and that she had to understand her transformation if she wanted to survive. It was lucky she had her ears because the think-tank of fantasy nerds was uncovering a lot of secrets. It took two hours of pacing, leaning against the window, and lying on her bed before she¡¯d collected all the basics from the scattered college kids, putting their brains to good use in decrypting the mysteries involving their sudden powers. Certain things were becoming more apparent as time went on, and details regarding her transformation came in bursts of knowledge. It was similar to how she could move her ears¡ªinstinctual¡ªtherefore, most would eventually come to the same understanding of their powers as these enthusiasts, it would just take time. Adam believed they were still in a phase of adaptation, and Rachel had to agree; each person had something somewhat unique to them, yet there were also commonalities that she kept track of by opening up a document on her own laptop and compiling the information. Cloe¡¯s computer continued to play the news in the background. From those that transformed, she compiled a list of what they told their friends they¡¯d become, and there were categories that stood out to her. In order of the most common to the least: Champion, Beastkin, Faekin, Aberrantkin, and finally, Legendkin and Mythickin. There was only one Legendkin she¡¯d heard within the campus, and she was the only Mythickin. Myths and Legends did have a nice ring to it that made Rachel believe it was of a higher tier than the others. There certainly appeared to be something unique about her compared to those who filled in the other categories, and there was only one way to prove it. She knew, without a doubt, something else was going to come¡ªit was a disturbing pulse that tugged at her chest¡ªand she had to be ready, or she¡¯d die. Testing something she heard, Rachel crossed her legs on her mattress, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. Following one of the lessons her grandfather taught her about meditation, she controlled the air that went in and out of her lungs, somehow relaxing despite the tension compressing her from all angles. I want to disable automatic Feat placement, she repeated, following the advice of Zoe¡¯s group, and information flooded her mind as the world vanished. Her eyes opened while shut, revealing a void environment with a white, circular platform, where she stood; it was the strangest sensation, and the world outside, with all its noise, disappeared. ¡°What are my¡­ Huh.¡± She didn¡¯t even need to complete the sentence before a simple black-and-white screen popped up, displaying everything she¡¯d heard from the others who had already gone through this process and guided their friends. It had her name, age, gender, race, height, weight, and just about everything else involving her physical attributes; the information continued to fill out as if actively scanning her, and, out of curiosity, she asked for her measurements¡ªshe¡¯d need them if she were going to shop or know what bra size she needed to upgrade to once out of her sports bra. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not creepy at all,¡± she whispered as it showed what she desired. Her focus moved to a 3D model of herself that appeared ahead of her, showing a duplicate of what she¡¯d looked like before the change; it was so surreal seeing herself in full 3D. ¡°An increase in butt fat, chest size, and bone structure¡­ Why take away my muscles¡­¡± Her jaw tightened as the answer came¡ªthe explanations were settling into the fibers of her bones as she examined the sheet¡ªthe transformation reflected the inner desires of the person, for better or for worse. Rachel instantly rejected the thought, even if she knew it was true. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I wanted to look slimmer but retain my strength? Bull. I love muscles,¡± she growled to the aether, walking around the model of her former body with envy; there had to be a mistake. ¡°Is there any way to build up my muscle mass again? Shit. There¡¯s really no way?¡± She screamed out a long sigh of frustration, glaring at her toned arms; it was better than nothing, but she¡¯d worked hard to have her previous figure. It took her a bit more time to release the agitation she felt while returning to the holographic status sheet. It was obvious she was built for speed and high-intensity combat, yet her body wouldn¡¯t last long fighting at that output; in a way, it did reflect her Muay Thai fighting style. Stats were divided into Primary and Secondary while having a grading system for how effective putting points into them would be: Force: Power - High Strength - Below Average Defense: Toughness - Above Average Resilience - Below Average Dexterity: Speed - Extremely High Agility - Extremely High Quickness - Extremely High Energy: Constitution - High Stamina - Average Endurance - Below Average Tenacity: Elemental Resistances - Above Average (Solar Extremely Low) Physical Resistances - Above Average Control Resistances - Average Penetration - Average It was a strong start for a close-range combatant, and it would suit her well in competitions¡ªif she were still allowed to compete, that was. Rachel¡¯s attention went to an armchair that appeared at the thought of sitting, and she rested on the cushioned seat, shifting her attention to the Base Feats that were a core part of her kit, it seemed. The first thing she noticed was the difference between Grades; most were at the first stage, yet two were at the maximum Grade of ten, shown as a numeral X. Base Feats: [Primal Force X] - S-tier - Mythickin [Lunar Pride X] - S-tier - Lunar [Lunar Pool I] - F-tier - Lunar [Divine Lunar Surge I] - F-tier - Blessed Lunar [Divine Beast Empowerment I] - F-tier - Blessed Lunar [Lunar Coat I] - F-tier - Lunar [Lunar Cap I] - F-tier - Lunar [Bestial Instincts I] - F-tier - Hare [Bringer of Misfortune I] - F-tier - Hare [Primal Force] increased her growth rate, while [Lunar Pride] acted as a moral framework that affected her mannerisms; she understood the advantage of [Primal Force], but [Lunar Pride] was a bit of a conundrum, being at the highest Grade. She didn¡¯t like the idea of something controlling her, but upon inquiry, it became clear it was designed around her own ideals; what good it provided remained somewhat of a mystery. In a way, if it was negative, it was her working against herself. Rachel knew she was prideful¡ªshe¡¯d walk through fire to prove she wasn¡¯t afraid¡ªand that she¡¯d fight anyone, no matter the odds; that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t stack them in her favor as much as possible. She¡¯d have to see how [Lunar Pride] affected her day-to-day life to grasp its negatives and positives fully. [Lunar Pool] was self-evident; it stored up the lunar rays she absorbed, but something she hadn¡¯t expected was that it could be evaporated by sunlight. The Divine Feats were an interesting touch since they involved a mysterious divine benefactor that enhanced them by a minor degree. [Divine Beast Empowerment] heightened her natural senses to include supernatural phenomena, while [Divine Lunar Surge] gave a base multiplier to her [Power] and [Toughness] Stats by 1.2% for every percent of Lunar Energy in her pool, maximizing at 120%. In addition, while in direct moonlight, she gained 25% to her total Stats; the overpowered part about it was that it was multiplicative, working with other multipliers, such as [Lunar Cap]. [Lunar Cap] provided an extra 10% bonus to all of her Stats when her [Lunar Pool] was full, meaning her build was best suited not to drain it. [Lunar Coat] dealt with her hair, tail, and ears; despite what she¡¯d thought earlier, her ¡®fur¡¯ was practically as strong as steel, as were her three new appendages, yet they were still sensitive to pain¡ªor pleasure. [Bestial Instincts] was more of an instinctual understanding of her probability of winning a fight by sizing up her opponent, a 6th sense that told her how to approach a scuffle. It also had a rather concerning detail about not feeling remorse for killing another person; in a way, these Feats were a reflection of herself, as she learned from [Lunar Pride], so it was a window into her soul. On the other hand, [Bringer of Misfortune] had her scoot to the edge of her chair; the base Hare ability gave her a keen understanding of the law of misfortune, and also could passively drain luck from someone within a two-meter radius. So¡­ I¡¯m a bad hare, hmm? Rachel mused, enjoying what she was seeing. Oh? I can select three more swappable Feats¡­ Nothing that drains my [Lunar Pool] since I need to keep it at 100% for a week to advance its Grade. What¡¯s this¡­ Cerridwen Branch? Scanning the dozens of Feats that all required the use of her Lunar Energy to sustain, her mind settled on three that didn¡¯t have the seemingly standard Hare or Lunar Branch category. She had no idea who or what Cerridwen was, but it would be something she searched for when this was done. They were too good to pass up, so she selected two from the odd branch, leaving [Lunar Deadening] for later, which erased the reactionary stimulation to pain in moonlight, leaving only the knowledge, and chose one active Feat from the Lunar Branch: Equipped Feats: 3/3 [Lunar Burst I] F-tier - Lunar [Mental Acceleration I] F-tier - Cerridwen [Strategic Mind I] F-tier - Cerridwen She needed a way to do a solid, big hit if she needed it, which [Lunar Burst] provided, acting as a charging attack that drew in her Lunar Energy and released it in a lunar-charged, elemental explosion; its current cap was 5% of her [Lunar Pool], and it came with an hour cooldown, which basically meant it could only be used once a fight. [Mental Acceleration] was the fascinating one, hastening her mind to process information at a rapid pace. She¡¯d need it with how fast she¡¯d discovered she could move¡ªespecially when in high-speed combat. [Strategic Mind] was a no-brainer; it enhanced her mind to retain information and draw connections she might not typically see. The best part was that both of these Cerridwen Feats didn¡¯t require Lunar Energy to activate. She could only have three Feats equipped, which told Rachel that she may gain more as she leveled, as her current level was one. The System wouldn¡¯t tell her anything about what was to come from the following levels, so her time was best spent on other things. Desiring to leave the white, void-like space, the world opened up again with her clearing vision, and the hundreds of voices returned. Staring at the clock on Cloe¡¯s computer, Rachel hummed; ten minutes had passed since she¡¯d entered that inner place. If she needed to go there again, she had to be mindful of where she meditated because everything in the outside world had been blotted out. Rachel rose to her feet, studying the current situation and soaking in the new information; the CDC and National Guard were starting to mobilize on campus, setting up areas to learn more about what had happened to them. She had to debate whether to join them or not; certainly, some of her fellow students had a point in not trusting the government when it came to this kind of situation. Still, as she listened to those taking charge, she determined they truly wanted to get to the bottom of things, and Rachel did want to meet a unique person like her to understand his own changes to compare to hers. Listening to what the scientists discovered and being able to ask her own questions seemed to be the right play. Almost four hours after her change, Rachel donned a less stifling sports bra, frowning as her thicker thighs filled in her Muay Thai shorts more than she was used to. Am I that vain? Mmh. Yeah, I guess I could be¡­ I¡¯d think more toward muscles, though. I mean, how can I fill these out more with fat¡ªI miss my muscles¡­ Sighing, she scratched the back of her neck and used a hair tie to pull her locks into a high ponytail. What did she need to do? She needed to have answers for her parents when they arrived. After hearing her mother¡¯s tone, memories of her childhood resurfaced, and she started to realize a few things she¡¯d buried with the calm, community-serving model of a matriarch her mother was; there was a sharper side to her mom that set her tail on-edge, and she didn¡¯t want that aimed at her. Rachel paused at the door, head lowering a tad while thinking back to her mother¡¯s reaction; it reminded her of the times when she was nine when her mother went into a full breakdown after being in an accident involving a drunk driver that her cousin didn¡¯t survive. She¡¯d been locked in her room for weeks after the funeral, and with [Strategic Mind] active, Rachel recalled the incident where her mother had snapped at her dad; in fact, there were several instances now connecting that turned everything she thought she knew about her family dynamic on its head. Pushing down the uncomfortable feelings, she left to position herself in the same lineup as Zoe and her friends; they¡¯d been unwillingly pulled into the CDC¡¯s net as they began ushering those who were changed into areas to be processed for blood work and a full physical to determine if this was a threat to the general public. Martial law was in order, and the military was cracking down, but it would take some time to fully mobilize and organize. Rachel knew she had to use the time to get what she wanted: answers. B1 — 2. Meeting A Legend Walking briskly through the dorm halls, Rachel found nearly every door open with girls chatting with one another. Despite the numbers on campus, only five people within the building, including her, had any sort of abilities. [Strategic Mind] was working wonders as her ears cast a wide net, gathering keywords that could help her come up with a plan; yet, at the same time, logic told her this wasn¡¯t normal. Surely, she should be freaking out; her entire life had been turned on its head, but instead of going in circles like many others, she was focused, working toward goals. The amount of information she was able to process after gaining [Mental Acceleration] and [Strategic Mind] was incredible and frightening at the same time. Odd things kept pulling her attention, such as Polly, a woman in her late 20s, who was chatting excitedly with her roommate and a bunch of this floor¡¯s girls while showing off her fox summon. Rachel now knew most of the names of the people in the dorm, and, more importantly¡ªor alarmingly, depending on how she looked at it¡ªshe could differentiate between them by the sound of their voices. Polly had fun dismissing and resummoning the, as she put it, ¡®Spirit Beast¡¯ as he rubbed against the hands of the other girls, cooing over how cute he was. The woman was a Champion who could summon spirits, and the fox she¡¯d bonded with had fire abilities it could call upon by using her mana. They¡¯d entered a world completely unfamiliar to her, but Rachel was learning and adapting. The change has affected my mental state. Without a doubt, she internally reasoned. I shouldn¡¯t be this introspective or level-headed. She briskly moved past the door, not wanting to linger and get questioned. One of the women spotted her, though, and something she said made her slow, tail stiffening. ¡°Hey! Hey! I just saw a bunny-girl in the hallway¡ªuh, she just took off¡ªshould we go talk to her?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t know. Polly¡¯s one thing, but do you know who it was?¡± ¡°Nu-uh. She was glowing, though, and had white hair¡­ Maybe she was someone on the floor that just really changed.¡± ¡°Umm-hmm. If they didn¡¯t stop by to chat¡­what if she¡¯s Cloe¡¯s new roommate?¡± Rachel redoubled her pace, but her locked jaw drew her attention. I¡¯m a hare¡­ Why am I so angry that she thought I was a bunny? It makes no sense, but¡­ I want to correct her. The answer came instinctively moments later, putting a bitter taste in her mouth; [Lunar Pride] was the cause, and it was affecting her actions. Fight it! she hissed to herself, smacking her forehead with the palm of her hand and pushing forward. Refocusing her mind to resist [Lunar Pride], she used [Strategic Mind] to reground herself. All the dots gradually started to link inside her crowded mind; at the end of the day, Rachel didn¡¯t want to be seen as a weak, defenseless bunny. As she turned the corner to reach the stairway further down the branching hallway, she discovered a pattern in her thought processes: it was her Feats. [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration] gave her the means to recall and analyze the information her ears collected. In turn, her senses were enhanced by [Divine Beast Empowerment], while [Lunar Pride] was what gave her the burning drive to push herself and do something. [Bringer of Misfortune] gave her the gut feeling about what she should do next to avoid disaster, rather than throwing her passion into any random project. It was a complicated machine of interactions that kept her calm, focused, and walking toward a specific goal. The interesting part was that she set that goal, not [Lunar Pride] or even [Bringer of Misfortune]. While the former could negatively affect her, such as with the agitation of being underestimated or called a rabbit, it also ensured she never stayed stagnant, which was critical in this kind of situation. Everything she heard drew a grim future that she had to prepare for; her parents would be in danger if she did nothing. A whirlwind of events played out in her mind, with hundreds of people investigating this sudden transformation, giving her a plethora of puzzle pieces to fit together into an actionable plan. Overall, the change to herself was inconsequential compared to the danger circling her, and that understanding kept her on the move. She couldn¡¯t get caught by the National Guard until she managed to meet the only Legendkin in the area; the answer as to why wasn¡¯t clear, but her sense of misfortune told her to trust her gut. Soon, it would be a battle to maintain order in Miami with competing interests, fears, government, conspiracy theorists, and private militias, among countless other factions, each taking this change a different way; a clash was inevitable. Everything would dissolve into utter chaos, and her parents were headed right for it. Catching glances and whispers from those who saw her swift exit, Rachel ignored them, pulling out her phone to search the web while she still had access. She looked up several names on the school WiFi since the towers were temporarily shut down due to overuse, growling at how slow it was to pull up the results. Of course, she soon heard from the onsite military that that was an excuse for the real reason: to stop the spread of public panic. ¡®Lunar hare¡¯ is too broad of a term to research¡­ Cerridwen is the Celtic goddess of rebirth, transformation, and inspiration. She¡¯s the only one connected to my Feats, which can¡¯t be a coincidence. Why would she bless me, if she¡¯s even real at all? Perhaps these Feats are based around the deity? Rachel¡¯s ears shifted left with her eyes, staring at a wall on her descent to the first floor, yet, with her new eyes, she could still see the screen and where she walked in complete focus. There were three prison breaks across Miami from the detention center, rehabilitation center, and Florida Department of Corrections. Things were escalating, and the police were overwhelmed in the area due to hostages and those with abilities, especially one with defensive ice powers. The National Guard was having trouble getting through traffic, with it backed up from over four hours of panic. Luckily, Miami had a wealth of military infrastructure with Army, Navy, and Air Force recruitment centers. In addition, the Homestead Air Reserve Base was being scrambled with all available personnel as orders came from the Pentagon. It would be a race against time, and many criminals seemed to also grasp what many of the college nerds had; their powers could grow, and it was a sprint to see how much stronger they could get before the government could fully mobilize. Tactically, this was the prime moment for them to gain experience by killing people while authorities weren¡¯t organized, but murder wasn¡¯t the only means of gaining experience. Thankfully, she had learned there were dozens of methods one could use to develop, be it achieving something great, use of abilities, or meeting specific requirements, meaning she wouldn¡¯t have to become a criminal. Still, it would become a guerilla war out in the streets that would likely be suppressed within the next few days, but law enforcement didn¡¯t have enough personnel or warning to operate optimally. Many would die, and there was always the possibility that the criminals learned the other methods of gaining EXP. I can¡¯t be left in the dust¡­ I have to be at the head of the pack if I don¡¯t want to get swept under the tide. Heart thumping with the news feeding into her ears¡ªhearing the cries, prayers, and collision of vehicles¡ªRachel reached ground level. The Coast Guard was just now setting up a base of operations at the University of Miami by using the waterways and boats; the campus was huge but had areas where they could create checkpoints and funnel people into the appropriate places, with CDC taking priority in understanding the change. Rachel quickly scanned the data on Cerridwen¡¯s wiki page, [Mental Acceleration] allowing her to process things at a rapid pace. Oddly enough, there was nothing about the moon. Exiting and searching further, she discovered a site that linked her to the moon, poetry, music, luck, Earth, death, and fertility; furthermore, one source connected her to the underworld and a keeper of the cauldron of knowledge. Although some people have mentioned gods and goddesses may be involved with this change, and while my Feat has the name of a goddess, that¡¯s far from proof they actually exist. For all I know, this could just be modeled after the deity. And what the hell is an isekai¡ªsome kind of anime trope? ¡°Ugh¡­ Japan,¡± she grumbled, running her fingers through her hair and pausing at the base of her long ears. Gods, sure, I have ears and a tail; maybe Cerridwen is real and made me into a hare. Shit, anything seems possible after¡­this. Yet¡­no one has mentioned any by name or empowered Feats. And great, now people are praying to something called ¡®System-chan,¡¯ like saying the magic word will reveal all the answers¡­ She slowed, ears tilting and brow furrowing as two boys began praying in a different direction. Please, ¡®isekai¡¯ me instead of putting me in a ¡®system apocalypse¡¯ world? Wonderful, it¡¯s a verb. Run me over truck-kun¡­ Let¡¯s go run into traffic¡­ What?! Why would a god answer some weirdo talking about sending trucks to murder them? Cult-think much. Wow. Yeah, let¡¯s stick with listening to the people not wishing for death. I can¡¯t be the only one blessed, right? Why would I be singled out? None of this makes sense¡­ Rachel rolled her eyes and ignored the not-so-subtle catcalls of a few boys in the lobby, wanting to know if she¡¯d changed like the guy on fire outside. Have I been like this all my life? she internally mocked, pushing open the doors to enter the night. Oh, absolutely! I¡¯ve had a tail growing out of my ass since I was a kid. And ears? Those only came during puberty. How stupid¡ª The moonlight touched her again, dashing Rachel¡¯s thoughts and making her fingers reflexively tense; her phone¡¯s frame bent and the screen cracked, going black. The reflection showed her nose twisting with aggravation, lips parting to reveal her glossy human teeth. Shit¡­ I¡¯m way more powerful than I thought under the moon. Those who were coming closer to engage her came to a dead halt as she tightened her grip, crushing her phone and compacting it into a mangled mess before tossing it into the nearby garbage can. It was useless anyway and would send a message to not follow her, or maybe it was just her releasing stress because everything was changing so fast. She picked up her pace, heading for one of the recreational buildings Zoe¡¯s friends had been escorted to on their way to her dorm; unluckily, they¡¯d run into the Coast Guard. It was hard for anyone who didn¡¯t have super-hearing to dodge the patrols as the men and women tried to get everyone to stay indoors to wait for further instruction. It was martial law, which meant lethal force was in effect to keep the peace, and local military officers were swiftly taking command. Rachel didn¡¯t have time to mess with them playing catch-up, though. She knew too much at this point, and far more concerning struggles were to come from the discussions between the lieutenant currently in charge of setting up the base here at the university and his superiors. She listened closely to the officers¡¯ conversations and movements, using various angles to evade the troops. Rachel found her way into the recreational building, pretending to follow the orders to go into one of the rooms with those that had physically changed since everything was a mess at that point¡ªBeastkin were mostly in this area, which made it easy. CDC was trying to isolate those who showed animalistic characteristics, those without, and those who took on more monstrous appearances in order to discover the cause. Blood work was already being done to determine if it was biological, yet it wasn¡¯t looking to be the case. The military was preparing to hijack most of the infrastructure to link with other research branches across the United States to share their findings, but it would still take a few hours, and there were bound to be kinks to work out. The government was only in the beginning stages of figuring out how these abilities functioned. It was a bit funny that college kids were ahead of the game, but there was a reason: it did function similarly to fiction, and it was hard for grounded, logical thinkers to forget reality and delve into the impossible. If Rachel wasn¡¯t experiencing it firsthand and had been able to link together everything these ¡®clueless teens¡¯ were piecing together through her combination of Feats, she wouldn¡¯t have believed you could enter a black void to select from a list of abilities through meditation. Now, she didn¡¯t have time to question; she just acted. Opening the door and letting a woman with the lower half of a snake slither through, hugging herself and looking scared, Rachel put on a confident face while scanning the room. ¡°Is there a Zoe here?¡± She knew exactly where the girl was but had to keep up appearances. Her attention shifted to a CDC woman, who tripped on the stairs leading up to them, unaccustomed to the suit she¡¯d been given to prevent contamination; the runners were sent to ask those that change to identify what type of ¡®Kin¡¯ they were¡ªbasics at this point to Rachel. Zoe sat awkwardly in the corner, seemingly having social anxiety in front of a lot of unknown, changed people, which made sense since she was linked to a domestic cat, being skittish. The girl tentatively raised her hand. ¡°U-Umm¡­ My name¡¯s Zoe?¡± ¡°If you could come with me. Quickly¡ªwe¡¯re on a clock.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! Yeah! I¡¯m coming!¡± Zoe stumbled up and jogged over to her, while several women in the gender-separated area asked her questions that she brushed off. ¡°A woman will be in shortly to ask you further questions; we¡¯re still discovering the cause. Please be patient.¡± Relieved mumbles passed between a few of the Beastkin that it was nice that someone who had changed was working on it, as well. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t a false hope since a decent number of scientists seemed to have also been affected by the lights¡ªthe current working theory on the cause. Rachel let Zoe by, and everyone averted their gaze, shivering when she swept the room before closing the door. She hadn¡¯t expected everyone to be so compliant, but when someone came in acting with authority, it was normal for those with weak wills to cave and fall in line. She, however, wasn¡¯t normal. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Umm. You don¡¯t look like, well, like a normal Beastkin¡ªlike everyone else in there,¡± she tentatively chuckled, probably looking for some way to break the ice. ¡°Do you¡­know what you are? I¡¯ve discovered a few cool things¡­¡± The woman in the suit rounded the corner and froze upon seeing them. ¡°Who¡ª¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Rachel swiftly cut her off, showing absolute confidence as she took on a busy attitude while name-dropping her superiors; the wide-eyed woman glanced between them at a loss as if being driven over. ¡°Excellent that you¡¯re here, Lydia. Allison sent you up with the papers?¡± ¡°Uh, y-yeah¡­¡± Nodding with a smile, she put a hand on her back and pointed at the door to direct her to get moving. ¡°They¡¯re quieting down, but still looking for answers. Any further news other than the Kin discovery? Heh. I¡¯d like some answers myself, as you can see. You see, Allison sent me ahead to ease their minds, so I don¡¯t know the updated data.¡± Zoe quieted down, tail lowering and ears pulling back as the CDC worker tried to mentally catch up with the sudden question. ¡°Huh? Oh! Umm, n-nothing concrete yet. Sorry. Hehe. Have they, umm, said anything?¡± she asked, grip tightening around her papers while glancing between them. ¡°Are you going to report something new?¡± Rachel forced a smile, ears pulling to the side and distracting the woman. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will be classified or not; they might not even tell you they sent me¡­ Sorry.¡± She swiftly shook her head, backing away with a nervous chuckle. ¡°No, no, I get it! So many crazy¡ªeek!¡± Rachel reached out to stabilize her as she almost tripped backward in her suit. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°S-Sorry!¡± Lydia stammered, face going red with embarrassment. ¡°No, you¡¯re fine. Haha. I hate getting in those¡ªso stuffy, right?¡± ¡°Y-Yeah! Sorry, I don¡¯t want to hold you up! Umm, anything I should know or you can tell me?¡± Prompting Zoe to continue down the hall, she spoke hurriedly. ¡°Thanks, Lydia. Uh, there are a few categories we can use to separate them further; I¡¯d focus more on those that are called Aberrantkin since they appear to have more¡­problematic instincts. Following?¡± She nodded emphatically, and Rachel finished it off. ¡°Great! Guards should be sent to that area just in case something happens, and treat them delicately; some are very anxious. Can you pass along the information?¡± ¡°Of course! Thanks for your hard work¡­ This is crazy¡­ Your ears?¡± Rachel forced a smile while walking backward. ¡°Please, Doctor, we are on a tight clock.¡± ¡°R-Right! Haha. Sorry¡ªthat¡¯s the bad, curious part of me coming out¡­ Oh?!¡± The doctor made a startled noise as Rachel moved her ears in a heart shape and waved her goodbye. ¡°Keep up the good work; behind all those scary scales or fangs are scared girls¡­ Try to be gentle.¡± ¡°First, do no harm!¡± the doctor chimed, returning her wave. Moving with purpose, she turned away and motioned for a silent Zoe to follow, bringing them to the next floor; yet again, she found herself questioning her bizarre new acting skills. It felt strangely natural to mold into her environment to blend in, and a curious note was that [Lunar Pride] wasn¡¯t triggered in this way. So many things to test. Turning the next corner once on the next landing, her posture and pace showed a reason to be there, which had all the patrolling soldiers dismiss them after a nod, and anyone that gave her a second glance, she made short comments to put their guard down; it was simple¡ªtoo simple. When did I learn to act like this? Does it come from some instinct Feat? Hmm. These next ones will be hard, though¡­ They¡¯re questioning everyone they pass. ¡°Hmm¡­ In here.¡± Zoe frowned when she abruptly drew her into a bathroom down the hall, holding a finger to her lips to tell her to be quiet; understandably, she became nervous. ¡°Uh¡­ You aren¡¯t with the CDC¡­are you?¡± she asked, ears pulling back and frightened, cat-like eyes darting left and right, wondering if she should run, no doubt. ¡°A kidnapping event¡ªalready?¡± ¡°No,¡± Rachel answered truthfully, keeping her volume extremely low, figuring the girl could hear her with her twitching cat ears and showing a humorous smile at her last comment. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to kidnap you; I just need your help. We can¡¯t do anything while stuck inside the CDC. Besides, don¡¯t you want to be a heroine?¡± Tail wrapping around her right leg, Zoe backed away a bit. ¡°How do you know who I am¡­ Who are you? Red flags all over the place¡­¡± Giving her a small, reassuring smile, Rachel pointed at her ears, causing the girl to draw her own conclusions. ¡°Oh. You¡¯ve been listening to everything?¡± the brown-haired girl hissed, vision moving to the door and realizing they were dodging patrols; Adam had jokingly told her they should escape the Coast Guard before they¡¯d been easily caught in their patrol net. ¡°Is there something bad happening?! Is the CDC corrupt¡ªthe villains? We need to save my friends!¡± ¡°Shhh,¡± Rachel whispered, shaking her head at her frantic tone. Zoe snapped her mouth shut, pulse increasing as her focus shot to the door. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re where the unknown is living and real¡­ We don¡¯t have time to waste playing on the sidelines,¡± Rachel said, motioning for the cat-girl to keep close while exiting the bathroom and continuing their path through the halls to the library. ¡°The real threat isn¡¯t our change but the world evolving to it; Miami is going to be a war zone in the coming days.¡± Swallowing, Zoe jogged to keep up with Rachel¡¯s brisk walk; she had long legs and was over fifteen centimeters taller than the timid girl. ¡°Why did you choose me¡ªis there something about my powers or something?¡± she asked with hope. Rachel suppressed a chuckle, telling her the blunt truth. ¡°You were the easiest to get to who had the fantasy knowledge I needed. I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t say how strong a Beastkin domestic cat is.¡± ¡°Aww¡­ It¡¯s okay. Wait, does that mean I¡¯m the first one to figure all this stuff out?¡± ¡°In the top ten of useful information,¡± Rachel said, looking down a branching hallway; her target was at the end of it, but a few more pieces of news made her mouth tighten and slow her pace. She honed in on a report to the Coast Guard lieutenant in charge of this area as the commander over the whole of Miami city contacted him. ¡°Lt. Thompson, be aware that we¡¯re receiving reports that alien threats have been identified using crystal gateways; they employ giant domes of light¡ªsimilar to the pictures you saw that cracked the atmosphere. These forces are hostile and are to be dealt with on sight.¡± Thompson swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck while lightly rapping his knuckles against the desk before him. ¡°Commander¡­what are the possibilities that they¡¯re just changed citizens, sir? CDC is gathering them into areas to be tested. Will they become hostile?¡± ¡°As of now, Lieutenant, we¡¯re unsure¡ªdetails are scarce¡ªbut our top priority is safety; lockdown your area with lethal force, if necessary. Also, a potential vampire is coming to your base of operation; keep her under close observation¡­ You know what¡¯s happening in Washington right now.¡± ¡°Sir, if she can make ghouls, or whatever they are, like the man in Washington¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s been compliant, and I have a team investigating the situation involving her; this girl is one of the few Mythickin we¡¯ve been able to identify. I¡¯m just letting you know she¡¯s being secured in your area. She has an entire Green Beret platoon escorting her under Lieutenant Mateo Garcia Herrero; he¡¯s seen action in the Middle East and runs a tight ship. ¡°Be aware, the Pentagon has just sent word that an Army Colonel will be taking over command of Florida Operations soon, and other military bodies are being pulled into a secure call to coordinate our brigades. He will want a detailed report of your opinion on the vampire, so pay close attention to her every action. Details regarding her¡­complicated family issues and the scene of the crime are being forwarded via a SWAT team.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Thompson released a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll have an area cleared out for them to house her away from the general public. When can we expect her?¡± ¡°In the next hour. Careful, Lieutenant, we¡¯re in uncharted territory, and from the information I¡¯m getting, we aren¡¯t dealing with just one species of aliens from these crystals and domes. We can¡¯t let this get out of hand or let chaos break down social order; show a strong hand, son¡­ ¡°I know it¡¯s hard. Safety is our priority moving forward, and a SEAL squad is stateside nearby for any special assignments. You and your men aren¡¯t alone. Keep me updated¡­and may God help us all. Out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll inform the units. Out.¡± Rachel drew in her bottom lip, vision flitting to a wall as she scanned for more news regarding this vampire; she¡¯d heard from news reports that Seattle was in the middle of a horrible bloodbath with an escaped Mythickin vampire that was turning hundreds of people into ghouls to spread death, disease, and chaos. This place is getting more dangerous by the second! Please, Mom, Dad, be safe. Her fear was soon replaced by [Lunar Pride] as the Feat instead focused on this new threat; still, maybe she could learn something from these other Mythickin¡ªmore than the others that had changed, at least. Great¡­ The only other Mythickin I hear about are mass murderers and criminals. It¡¯d be smart to keep what I am to myself for now. I¡¯ll have to meet this vampire chick to see if she is empowered by any goddess or god. Lt. Thompson hung up when his superior ended the call; he walked to the window, swapping his walkie-talkie to another channel as he whispered to himself, ¡°Aliens, mutated people, now vampires¡­ We don¡¯t know what¡¯s attacking us, but we are under attack. What a week for this to happen¡­ Shit.¡± He cursed when chatter came through his radio. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve found a small child that¡­that looks like, a-uh, a water dragon? She¡¯s asking to be taken to water, or she¡¯ll die¡ªshe¡¯s struggling to even move and is having a hard time breathing, but she was insistent that she was a, uh, good sea monster.¡± ¡°Great¡­ She¡¯s probably another Mythickin; take her to the pool, and keep a team with you¡ªdon¡¯t hesitate to put her down if she makes the slightest threatening movement.¡± ¡°A dragon, sir¡­ How?¡± ¡°Put a damn 50-cal near the pool, an RPG¡ªI don¡¯t care. Just¡­protect your men, Petty Officer!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Rubbing between his eyes, he snarled, ¡°How am I supposed to know who is friendly and enemy when we have so little to go on? Prisoners gaining powers, aliens¡­ Who are aliens, and who are simply people that changed¡ªis there a difference, or were they always among us, waiting for this opportunity to make a move? No. I can¡¯t get paranoid. Follow orders¡­ Just¡­follow orders.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zoe hissed as Rachel drew her down the hall, actually sounding like a cat as her claws lengthened. ¡°A fight?! I¡¯ve never been in a fight¡ªI don¡¯t know how!¡± ¡°No¡­ Put those away,¡± Rachel said, making the girl blush and hide them behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s¡­hard when I¡¯m scared. Sorry¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡± she reassured, holding out her hand to let her hesitantly take it; thankful to have human contact, her claws slowly retracted. ¡°You were right again, Zoe.¡± Her heart began to settle as Rachel distracted her frantic mind. ¡°About? ¡°Your monster gateway theory turned out to be true,¡± she whispered, working around her jaw while continuing to follow the discussions between military leaders as they coordinated on the radios, giving her information across Florida and the rest of the world. ¡°This isn¡¯t isolated; the entire world was affected¡­ It¡¯s going to be an arms race to see who can maintain order.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯m getting a little scared,¡± Zoe whimpered, visibly doing her best not to let her claws out again. ¡°What can we do? If dragons pop out of these gateways, can we even fight them? Probably not¡ªI¡¯m just saying¡ªwe¡¯ve only just got our powers.¡± Rachel decided not to tell her about the sea dragon in the pool as she continued her rambles. ¡°Maybe, umm¡­are you like an S-tier roll, and I got an F-tier one? This sucks! Oh, maybe it will be the weak waves or invasion kind of start! Let¡¯s hope, anyway¡­ Am I talking too much?¡± she asked, seeing the look on Rachel¡¯s face. ¡°Heh. A little. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect you. Okay?¡± Her fingers tightened, and her voice settled. ¡°Thank you¡­ You¡¯re so in control¡ªand I¡¯m a total mess¡­¡± She let out a big sigh, visibly trying to destress. ¡°Heh. I guess I really am a helpless cat, huh?¡± Rachel took a deep breath and stopped just outside the door to the library, squeezing Zoe¡¯s hand to get her to look up at her. ¡°It¡¯s okay to panic a little¡­ It¡¯s normal. I¡¯ve been in a lot of Muay Thai competitions, so this isn¡¯t all that frightening to me. Until you feel safe, you can stay with me, okay?¡± Shameful tears showed in the girl¡¯s eyes, but she smiled and nodded. ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re more the heroine than me¡­ I know, what if I¡¯m like¡­your apprentice? Can you teach me to fight¡ªbe, heh, like my wise and powerful mentor? I don¡¯t want to feel pathetic,¡± she whimpered again, trying to restrain her tears and sniffles. Sucking in air through her teeth, Rachel let it go through her nose in a slow stream. ¡°Hmm. I can¡¯t promise you anything like that, Zoe¡ªI¡¯m a fighter, not an instructor¡ªbut I will teach you what I can. Good enough?¡± ¡°Good enough. I know I¡¯ve said it a few times, but¡­thank you. Uh¡­ What¡¯s your name? I can¡¯t believe I haven¡¯t asked.¡± ¡°Rachel.¡± Reigning her emotions in, Zoe withdrew her hand as a sign of strength and tightened them into fists at her side. ¡°Okay, Rachel-sensei, I¡¯ll listen to everything you say¡­ Eh, too much?¡± ¡°Eeh,¡± Rachel chuckled with a weak shrug. ¡°Whatever helps you.¡± ¡°Sweet. Umm. So, what¡¯s in here?¡± Rachel gave her a sly smirk. ¡°A Legendkin. Interested?¡± The cat-girl¡¯s big eyes opened wider. ¡°Ooh. Very! What do you gotta do to get a fancy title like that?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Opening the door and letting Zoe shut it behind them, Rachel took in the room; inside was a man who had escaped notice for being changed since Legendkin didn¡¯t have any striking features¡ªat least, that was Rachel¡¯s initial opinion since no one had bothered him¡ªbut one look told Rachel he should have been under severe suspicion. The muscular, tall¡ªand, might she add, handsome¡ªfire-haired man was sitting at a table, examining a short sword in front of him, illuminated jade-green eyes shifting to her with interest; a spear leaned nearby in the back corner. ¡°Hello,¡± Rachel cheerily greeted, holding her hands behind her back while proceeding, casting her gaze so as not to appear like she was judging him head to toe, but she most certainly was with her entire vision in perfect focus. ¡°This is an interesting place to be exploring your new abilities. Oh? Isn¡¯t that something?¡± she whispered, feeling power unlock within her.
[Level Up - Level 2] [1 Stat Point Added; 1 Available]
She hadn¡¯t caught his name since he hadn¡¯t given it to anyone in the last few hours, but she had heard him mumbling to himself while writing down various things he¡¯d discovered on a sheet of paper. Zoe remained behind her, ears lying flat against her head and tail going stiff, making Rachel¡¯s furrowed brow turn to her as the cat-girl mumbled, ¡°He¡¯s¡­so pretty¡­¡± A sharp hiss came from the man as he covered a beauty mark under his left eye, causing the girl to stumble and blink as if charmed. ¡°Ugh¡­ Hmm? You weren¡¯t affected?¡± he asked, a confused smile turning to her. ¡°Care to share how you resisted the curse? I¡¯d like a cure.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Zoe blinked, face turning beet-red. ¡°I, uh¡­I don¡¯t know what came over me¡ªit¡¯s just¡­he was like¡­a total god! No-ho-ho¡­ I¡¯m so weak!¡± she cried, covering her eyes and dropping into a crouching position. ¡°Stupid! Stupid! Stop thinking about it!¡± I¡¯m resistant to his charm; my [Control Resistances] are only Average, and without any points, but maybe [Lunar Pride] is doing the work? Rachel moved in front of the crying and embarrassed girl, yet the man kept his hand over the beauty mark, which apparently was his curse. ¡°I can¡¯t say why, myself, but maybe we can figure that out together. Care to chat? I¡¯m intrigued by these ¡®Quests¡¯ you¡¯ve been mumbling about.¡± His gaze went straight to her slightly forward ears. ¡°Guess those long things aren¡¯t just for show. Two heads are better than one. Umm¡­ You don¡¯t have any foundation or¡­whatever women have to cover up their face?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯m sure we can find something around here,¡± Rachel returned. ¡°Want to get rid of that mark under your eye¡ªcan you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he laughed, showing he was more than willing to experiment. ¡°I learned about the power it has over women¡ªwhich is totally creepy and unwanted when I already have a fianc¨¦¡­ Wow, that just kind of came out,¡± he said, rubbing his hairless chin and leaning against his chair. ¡°What would she think of me asking a random girl to use her makeup? She¡¯d probably laugh.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it for her,¡± Rachel snickered, pulling Zoe up and turning her back to the man. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Embarrassed for life, but¡­I guess. Why is he so pretty¡ªseriously?¡± she hissed so low that only Rachel could hear. ¡°It¡¯s not even fair¡ªhe¡¯s like¡­straight out of a dating sim, I swear.¡± The man got up, taking the paper with him as he moved behind a shelf. ¡°I¡¯m game. Uh¡­ I¡¯ll stay out of sight until you have something¡ªink or gum even; I¡¯m not picky.¡± Glancing at the man¡¯s toned back as he hid himself, Rachel hummed, pulling the girl to the librarian¡¯s desk to see if there were any products stored in the drawers that they could use. ¡°I mean, sure, he¡¯s super hot¡ªthe muscles are the real deal; perfect, and not too bulky¡ªten out of ten, but I¡¯m not going to trip on my face¡­ Mmm. Poor choice of words,¡± she realized a second too late, even with [Mental Acceleration]. ¡°I¡¯ll never live this down in my own head,¡± the embarrassed girl sniffled. ¡°No, just¡­forget about it, which is totally impossible, and why do I want to look again? Curiosity killed the cat, but for real¡­¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit amused by how animated and awkward Zoe was. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay. No one has to talk about it, and he doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of guy to make fun of you; in fact, he sounds sincere and like he doesn¡¯t want to do that to women, which¡­is surprising, right?¡± ¡°Actually¡­totally surprising,¡± Zoe whispered, mind pulled away from the incident. ¡°If Adam had that power, he¡¯d totally gather a harem.¡± ¡°Haha. Let¡¯s find something to, heh, seal his curse.¡± Zoe¡¯s ears rose again. ¡°Now you¡¯re speaking my language; our first quest, search for makeup!¡± ¡°By the way,¡± he called out to them, ¡°my name¡¯s Anthony. Can I get a name, bunny-girl?¡± Jaw tightening and tail stiffening, Rachel eased up and kept a playful note in her voice to throw him off-guard. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll tell you if you can guess what I am, Anthony; oh, and a hint¡ªI¡¯m not a bunny.¡± Zoe giggled at her twitching smile and ears; it was the first time she¡¯d seen her frustrated, which seemed to ease her tension. ¡°A game? Well, I¡¯m sorry if I offended you! I¡¯m up for a guessing game, though! Way to make this fun, not a bunny.¡± The comment made her smirk as she found a container of foundation; he wasn¡¯t without humor, at least. ¡°Success!¡¯ Zoe cheered. ¡°Quest complete.¡± B2 — 1. Fight The Sun Sweat beaded off Rachel¡¯s brow, the heat of the dying sun nowhere near capable of shaking DC of its chilly March wind. She slowed to a stop near the grass of the rec center near the White House and dropped to her back, Alexa and Little Nia joining her, trying to collect themselves. A chuckle came from Barbara, Anthony, and, shockingly, her big brother, all standing on the sidewalk without a drop of sweat on them. Rachel felt like she¡¯d never worked out a day in her life, and her pride took a hit upon seeing Selvaria puff to a stop near the three. How was Selvaria, the uber-weighty sea monster, still standing when she was on her butt? ¡°W-We going another mile?¡± the Leviathan gasped, taking deep breaths and bending over, her hands pressed against her knees. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think I have another one in me.¡± Nam flashed a grin at the three of them on the grass. ¡°C¡¯mon, Lexi, just a bit more, and you can beat my sister!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± the blonde gasped, her fingers clutched against her chest. ¡°I am¡­ s-sorry¡ªso out of shape¡­¡± Anthony snorted, hands held behind his neck as he looked down at them, gasping for air or, in Rachel¡¯s case, feeling her muscles burn in ways she hadn¡¯t since she was thirteen. ¡°C¡¯mon, Rach, I had money on you. The sun can¡¯t be this bad on your cardio. Scarlet had her five dollars on Nia, too.¡± ¡°I tap out!¡± the little girl groaned, wearing her brand-new jogging outfit. ¡°Ugh. Why does the sun affect me, too, Captain? Why do¡­ do we need to test out the thing¡ªthe no energy¡ªblah¡­ I want to throw up!¡± Arm held over her eyes as she swallowed the lump in her throat, Rachel forced out a laugh and peeked out to see Barbara offering her a hand. Taking it, a rumble shook in her throat while being helped up before stretching out her tired muscles. ¡°Mmmgm! Thanks. I didn¡¯t know you could keep up with Legends, Nam,¡± she joked, accepting a towel Anthony offered her as Selvaria trudged over to a fountain to absorb some liquid. ¡°Next time, Mom will probably show me up¡­¡± Her brother reached down to help his wife to her feet, turning her around to massage her shoulders and making her groan; the blonde had only just started training, but she seemed adamant about it. Nam was careful with his wife. ¡°It¡¯s good that Mom and Dad are able to spend some personal time together, and Grandpa grabbing Mason to spend a few months with him might be best. He was failing out of school, anyway; he¡¯s already been kicked out of two private schools.¡± Rachel rolled around her own neck, a little jealous of her sister-in-law having someone to work the knots out every night. Nia offered yesterday when they¡¯d started this testing phase, but the kid had absolutely no idea how to give a massage. ¡°I see where your mind is: no concern for your little sister.¡± More chuckles from the others followed as Alexa tentatively asked, ¡°How are you feeling? It¡¯s hard to tell between you having Lunar Energy and without. Is ten days enough time to start exercising again?¡± Barbara went to her nearby parked SUV to pull out some water for all of them as Rachel thought about her response. Selvaria returned to snag one, still looking dehydrated in her smaller, teenager form; due to her size and, to some degree, her age, changing based on her water levels, the woman opted for more elastic clothing. Rachel accepted a bottle and guzzled half of it before looking back at the rec center doors, where Scarlet and Coral waited inside for them to finish; the Halloween bun did take a small amount of solar damage, but it was primarily due to her ghostly attributes more than being a slime bun. ¡°Physically, I think I¡¯m in top shape¡ª¡± ¡°Your pace says otherwise,¡± Anthony cut in. ¡°Even when you had Lunar Energy last night, you were choking at times.¡± Rachel scowled his way as the redhead pulled out the two basketballs that Barbara brought for after the workout, wanting to play a game. Nam caught the ball that was tossed to him, dribbling a few times. ¡°He has a point, Sis. Sure, you¡¯re not collapsing out of bed like you were last week, but you¡¯re hardly up to a military mission if you can spontaneously collapse out of nowhere jogging.¡± ¡°Which is why I wanted to test my strength without moonlight,¡± she added, helping Nia relax by sitting down to massage her legs and making the girl¡¯s ears sag over her face. ¡°I¡¯d like to do a Quest with you guys in another three days or so, and I¡¯ve got the private Congress and Senate discussions coming up, where I¡¯ve been called to speak. I can¡¯t sit still anymore and go over my notes.¡± Anthony tossed Nia the ball, making the girl¡¯s ears fly up. ¡°Then prove that you won¡¯t be a liability because the Quests recently have been pretty combat-intensive. Barb and Selv will tell you. It¡¯s put a lot of things into perspective regarding your whole private military company idea.¡± ¡°Wait, do I get to join and not Big Nia?!¡± the bun excitedly asked as she got up, causing Rachel to sit back as the girl used two hands to dribble. ¡°I want to try making it into the hoop.¡± ¡°You can play a one-on-one game against me,¡± Selvaria said with a big grin. ¡°I¡¯m not good with the fast stuff, and we can practice together.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Nia cheered, tossing the ball into the air to catch. ¡°I¡¯ll get good enough to beat The Captain!¡± ¡°Good luck with that, Lt. Little Bun,¡± Rachel chuckled. ¡°As for the Quests that you¡¯ve been doing, I¡¯ve heard the scope, and it¡¯s more or less bandit pruning¡ªnothing huge. We¡¯ll see how I feel in a day or two. Let¡¯s get ready for the game and meet up with Scarlet. Maria and Fiona are supposed to be back from Miami tomorrow, right?¡± Barbara put her quarter-empty bottle of water under her arm to press the button on her SUV¡¯s door, triggering the automatic close before locking the vehicle. ¡°So far as I¡¯ve been told. They¡¯re bringing her lawyer friend back with them, apparently, although¡­ I don¡¯t know how much use she¡¯ll be for you,¡± she added with a strained smile. Rachel scratched her temple and followed them into the building, her crippling weakness dissipating greatly the second she was out of the sun¡¯s rays. ¡°Yeah, Fiona said she went through a bad breakup, and due to her self-image, it¡¯s been tough on her; her other friends aren¡¯t helping, saying she looks like a gorgeous fox girl now, but that doesn¡¯t address how she feels. In any case, I figured having something to preoccupy her mind might help with her heart. Fiona said they¡¯ll look over the legal arguments Congress and the Senate will bring up that Tom gave us, but I¡¯ve studied it myself over the last few days.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Anthony hummed, trying to ignore the many looks they received from the crowds going inside or leaving the rec center. ¡°You were an undergrad, going into law. I guess you have some experience with it. Oh, and I wanted to have a chat with you about your mom later, Rachel.¡± Rachel snorted, accepting the ball from him to dribble a few times and passing it to Barbara. ¡°My mom¡ªokay, weird? And while I was ahead in my grades, I was still at the start of my course, so I only know some terms. It¡¯s not confusing to me if that¡¯s what you¡¯re implying.¡± Dammit, why is even that hard to admit? It¡¯s fair not to be as advanced at that level! Damn you, [Lunar Pride]. ¡°Haha. Lunar Pride, huh?¡± Anthony winked, making her ears lower and cheeks color, but he nudged her with an understanding smirk. ¡°I get it¡¯s rough. I actually wanted your help with my Level 10 stuff since you¡¯re the expert. Chill later tonight?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Rachel grunted, trying to let go of the tightness that gripped her chest. ¡°Only if your girl¡¯s fine with you hanging out with another woman.¡± ¡°Amelia? Naa. She¡¯s cool with you. In fact, heh, she called you both hospital buddies earlier today when we were live chatting. She appreciated the time you spent talking to her over video calls over the last few days. It¡¯s been good for her to have someone else to shoot the breeze with.¡± Rubbing her elbow, Rachel sighed, remembering how weak the man¡¯s sweetheart was, slowly dying of cancer. ¡°Any luck on a cure in the Quests?¡± Everyone was silent as the Legend somberly shook his head, though he still showed a smile. ¡°Not yet, but maybe this woman in the woods we¡¯ve heard about has some kind of remedy. We¡¯ll see. Thanks for asking.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Rachel cleared her throat, moving past her thoughts to continue the previous topic. ¡°As for Erika, she can help catch me up to speed ten times faster than me trying to do it myself. Anyway, we¡¯ll continue to discuss it on the court, along with your weird shoo-in involving my mom, but I will be good to go on a Quest in three days. Bet.¡± Her brother kissed his wife on the forehead as they were breaking away to their separate locker rooms, making her smile; he was a lot more affectionate than she remembered. However, it was Barbara who stole her attention when they went through the doors to the girls¡¯ side. ¡°You still haven¡¯t been contacted by Arthur, Charlemagne, or Jeanne, have you?¡± Rachel pulled her hair back to reapply her ponytail, the end swinging a bit as Nia answered the Saint. ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± she chimed, rubbing her ears, ¡°the Arthur guy left us a message that he wanted to meet for dinner tonight! Rachel accepted it, so we get fancy food and wine, but, uh¡­ after that creepy lesser god¡ªyeah¡­ I don¡¯t know if I want any.¡± ¡°Hear, hear,¡± Anthony yelled from outside, probably just catching the end of their conversation. ¡°That dude sucks!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Nia roared back, throwing up a fist. ¡°He hurt Nike real bad and cursed me¡ªdude sucks!¡± Rachel smiled at the emotion and copied vocabulary the girl used when talking with people. ¡°We will not be drinking in the first place since we¡¯re both underage, and we don¡¯t have licenses to prove otherwise. The UK¡¯s drinking age is 18, while here it¡¯s 21, but Arthur probably doesn¡¯t know our age.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Nia¡¯s cheeks bunched up, once again throwing her fist in the air. ¡°Now I want to drink the stuff because they say I can¡¯t! The law sucks, too!¡± Rachel¡¯s stomach hurt as she laughed with the others at how quickly the kid could change her position on a matter. ¡°As for Jeanne and Charlemagne, I think they¡¯ve been pretty busy with French affairs because that¡¯s all I hear them talking about whenever they¡¯re in earshot¡­ A lot of politics and mostly in a language I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Not my thing then,¡± Selvaria mumbled in her monotone voice, dangerous tail swinging back and forth as they entered the locker room, spotting Scarlet playing with Coral on a bench. ¡°Ooh! I want to hug the squishy slime bun. Coral, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Fififi!¡± the bun chirped, flying toward the Leviathan to make scary faces that the girl mirrored, making them both laugh while Nia hid behind a row of lockers. ¡°Why does she always have to be spooky?!¡± the kid cried to her in private. ¡°How can I not be scared of her when she is scary?!¡± Give it time, Nia, Rachel soothed, bumping fists with the grinning fanged girl as she neared. She¡¯s been nicer to you lately. ¡°Only because you told her to be¡­ I¡¯m her leader; I shouldn¡¯t have to be scary for her to listen to me.¡± Letting the bun complain in silence, Rachel went to the locker to change out her running shoes for her court shoes. ¡°Get lonely alone?¡± Scarlet shook her head, sweeping her black locks into a ponytail to mirror hers. ¡°Nope! Coral kept me company. She can be a little stinker and mess with people¡¯s stuff in the lockers, though. I¡¯m pretty sure she did something to a few people¡¯s phones.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past her,¡± Rachel mused, glancing right to see Selvaria and the orange blob comparing teeth. ¡°I have a lot planned for tonight, so you may need to keep an eye on Coral for me a bit longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy to help,¡± the raven-haired girl chirped, yet her cheer dampened after handing over her phone. ¡°I, umm, I bet you heard already, but Tom said that my father¡¯s funeral is going to be¡­ tomorrow. The flight to Miami is only two hours from here, and it¡¯s, umm, it¡¯s hard to believe that nearly three weeks have passed since, well¡­ since everything happened.¡± She caught the looks of the other women in the area as others came in and out, more or less minding their own business; in the past three weeks, a lot of things were beginning to normalize, including many aspects of the economy. In fact, new discussions were being had in the news, online, and in government about technologies, including magical instruments. Powers were a giant topic, as well. ¡°Oh,¡± Scarlet added, trying not to look down, ¡°and you got a call from an unknown number. Isn¡¯t it linked to your old phone, so it should come up with the name, right? I didn¡¯t know if you wanted me to answer it or not, so I let it go to voicemail.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Rachel said with a smile, swiping the phone for it to activate through facial ID; she had to update her picture after her transformation, which was both funny and depressing to think about. ¡°I bet it¡¯s Jeanne since the craziness with France¡¯s political scene is starting to settle down, but it sounded pretty intense with those uprisings from past figures.¡± Barbara hissed, checking her newly fashioned braid. ¡°Yeah, there were some bloody riots that caused some political tension with some woman claiming the French Parliament killed her husband¡ªshe smuggled a bomb into the National Assembly. Crazy shit, but we¡¯ve had our fair share of far-left and far-right terrorist attempts in the past week. I¡¯m glad things are starting to calm down, in part thanks to some of your ear work, Rachel.¡± Rachel sighed and rubbed between her eyes. ¡°I hardly did anything. Several crackpot conspiracy theorists thinking the government was filled with lizard people from the underground city of whatever-they-called-it is nothing compared to what the Secret Service has been dealing with recently. Anyway¡­¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. She nudged Scarlet with a reassuring look. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll make it work with the funeral tomorrow. I¡¯m sure Maria and Fiona would want to come, too, with how close you¡¯ve been getting with them over the past bit, what, with all these Quests you guys have been doing. I¡¯m jealous.¡± The reaper showed her fangs, yet her eyes became downcast. ¡°I know this is all last minute; my dad had a will, and the lawyer was just cleared of suspicion. As for the Quests, I don¡¯t do much¡­ just transport people and have x-ray vision to help spot things. I¡¯m no hero or anything¡­ Anthony¡¯s the one that tells everyone what we need to do, but it¡¯s nice seeing people have hope when they¡¯re saved.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, Little Fang,¡± Selvaria said, holding up a thumb. ¡°We¡¯re totally the superhero monster squad. Without you, I¡¯d be dead from running everywhere¡ªno, literally, I¡¯d be dead.¡± Scarlet almost choked with laughter. ¡°Wow, Selv! You make me sound like an all-terrain vehicle. Ouch. Designated transport girl, reporting for duty!¡± The Leviathan shook her head, Coral¡¯s ears flapping with the blob resting atop it. The monster girl jabbed her finger at the confused saint, spinning the basketball in her hands. ¡°No, that¡¯s Ms. Artillery here. She¡¯s got the tanks, ships, and guns. I keep telling her she needs a plane.¡± ¡°Wha¡ªhow insane do you want me to be?¡± the auburn-haired Legend balked. ¡°I only just got that tank due to the Level 10 Limit Break Feats we got from our last Quest, which I can only summon for a limited time, by the way, and now you expect me to fly your fat tail around? You already dented my ship¡­ twice. I don¡¯t even know how to repair it yet.¡± ¡°Accidents,¡± the Leviathan dismissively waved off, ¡°and my tail isn¡¯t fat¡­ I think it¡¯s quite slim and pretty. Just you wait until I unlock my scale color change Feat. I¡¯ll be super cool, and I¡¯m thinking about this strobe-light scale flash attack¡ªlike an electric flash bang¡ªI saw it on a wildlife deep-sea documentary. It¡¯s cool.¡± Rachel¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter at their rapidly shifting topics, Alexa doing her best to remain totally out of it. ¡°Sounds cool. Okay, I¡¯m going to figure out what¡¯s going on with this call and confirm a few things for tonight and tomorrow. Be out to school the Legends in basketball soon,¡± she said with a wink at Barbara. ¡°You and Anthony as team captains? Throw me on whichever team you decide.¡± Nia jumped up, arms flying into the air. ¡°I want to be captain once; I¡¯ve only been a lieutenant! When¡¯s it my turn?¡± ¡°Haha. Not the same, Little Bun,¡± Scarlet snickered, guiding her out and shooting a thankful smile at her. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you recovering, Rachel¡­ I know it hasn¡¯t been easy to sit still.¡± Rachel waved them off, flipping her phone around in her fingers and forcing a laugh when Selvaria heard a few women talking about a rock climbing area in the rec center, voicing her desire to try it out. ¡°Yeah, be out in a minute¡­¡± They filed out with a few other women, seemingly going for the rock climbing area of the rec center. Now alone, Rachel hung her head and drew in her bottom lip, hissing out the stress of the pain in her muscles. Nia wasn¡¯t happy, but she wasn¡¯t saying anything, as ordered. Shifting to a bench by the wall to rest her back against it, she flexed her tingling fingers. In truth, this trouble wasn¡¯t caused by her recovering spirit, or, at least, it had very little to do with it. Her gaze drifted to her toned arms and thighs; this was her first test exercising inside the sunlight, and it showed her dependency on moonlight. Scarlet knows my body hasn¡¯t recovered enough¡­ She¡¯s trying to off-handedly tell me she¡¯s worried without tipping anyone off. When Maria gets back, I won¡¯t be able to hide it, either, but she can just heal me anyway, so that doesn¡¯t matter¡­ Dammit. The real reason for her knotted muscles wasn¡¯t how challenging it was to operate in any physical activity in the sunlight, though; last night, before Maria and Fiona left, the whole group got together to discuss her invitation to the company she wanted to build. She¡¯d already talked to them each personally on the topic, and she forced herself not to listen to give them privacy, which was hard. That was probably one of the reasons Anthony wanted to talk to her, but why bring her mom into the equation for his Level 10 Feats? Vision narrowing, she rubbed her face, trying to let the tightness in her chest go. It¡¯s almost like I¡¯ve never worked out in my life when I¡¯m in the sun, which might help my base, actually¡­ If I train up in the sunlight, then maybe I¡¯ll be able to increase my Base Stat Grades. It¡¯s worth a shot, and it does give Alexa and me something in common to work toward. Now¡­ if only I could get into anime or manga to¡ª She shook her head, redirecting her mind again. No, that¡¯s Selv, Alexa, and Scarlet¡¯s thing. I don¡¯t need to share in everything they do. They¡¯re not into sports or fighting, but Anthony and Barbara are, which gives me something with them. We can have different interests and still be friends. I just need to find something else we can share besides leveling. Later¡­ Rachel unlocked her phone again and looked at the number on the ID, ears tilting to the side and lifting an eyebrow. Arizona area code? Weird. The only person I know from there is¡­ Tapping the voicemail, her tail went stiff as a familiar voice came from the speaker, one she hadn¡¯t thought about since the start of The Oscillation: ¡°Umm. Hey, Rachel, it¡¯s, umm¡­ it¡¯s Zoe¡ªyou know, heh, loli cat-girl that hates goblins¡ªwow, yeah, uh, that seems so long ago. Ugh. Get to the point, pussy cat!¡± she angrily chided. ¡°Right, so¡­ I got your number from your old roommate, and I don¡¯t know who else to call¡­ All my friends went home, no one in my family is picking up their phone, and¡­ mmgm, and the credit card my parents gave me got¡­ canceled? I don¡¯t know! They don¡¯t believe I am who I say I am, and I can¡¯t get anything to go right¡ªit¡¯s like¡­ I¡¯m cursed or something,¡± she groaned. ¡°I¡¯ve called, like, literally everyone else, and I borrowed money from this guy that a friend told me could get me some short cash¡ªno-ho-ho! I¡¯m not calling for money¡ªI swear¡ªI just¡­ I don¡¯t know who else to call, and my dorm room got blown up by a rocket launcher during that Crystal attack! How does that happen?! I¡¯m so screwed¡­ Sorry. I know you¡¯re probably saving the world¡­ Sorry¡­ I¡¯ll just¡­ hang up now. Sorry to bother you.¡± The call ended with her whimper and a desperate voice telling Rachel the cat-girl was at her wit¡¯s end. It wasn¡¯t like she owed Zoe anything or knew her that well more than the adventure they¡¯d gone on. At the same time, she did count as an acquaintance, and the girl had helped her in the initial change that had laid the foundation for everything she¡¯d done. So, maybe there were some feelings stirring within her to offer what help she could. Still, she didn¡¯t know almost anyone in Miami herself, other than her Jamaican trainer, but someone else had massive connections around the seaside city. Flipping to the messenger app, she forwarded Zoe¡¯s number to Maria, reading the message in her mind. Hey, Maria, when you get off your flight, give me a call. I¡¯ve got someone in Miami who¡¯s going through a rough time and may have a loan shark on her tail. She needs immediate help. You know a lot about the social care stuff and have connections in the city, right? Could you give me a call to see what we can do? The funeral for Scarlet¡¯s dad is tomorrow, so we¡¯ll be flying back. I can meet up with her, but it¡¯s not like I have much I can do. Do you have any advice for me? If not, I can ask my mom since she does a lot of community stuff, just not in Miami. Let me know. Knowing the cat-girl was probably biting her tail and a total wreck, she gave her a call. A few rings passed before she answered. ¡°Rachel! I, umm, this is you, right? Yikes. I don¡¯t have the wrong number, do I?¡± ¡°Hehe. You¡¯ve reached Julia Forbs,¡± she said with a fake Southern accent. ¡°What can I do fer ya?¡± ¡°Ugh. Sorry¡­ Wrong number,¡± the cat groaned. ¡°Zoe, I¡¯m playing with you. It¡¯s Rachel,¡± she laughed, practically seeing the girl¡¯s cat ears fly up across states. ¡°Oh! Oh, uh, yeah, you¡­ got my message?¡± Leaning left and right on the bench, Rachel suppressed a yawn. ¡°Yeah¡ªand I can¡¯t talk long, but I get you¡¯re in a bad spot. I messaged someone I know who might be able to help; unfortunately, they¡¯re on a flight back from Miami. She should touch down in an hour or so, and I¡¯ll be flying back for several hours tomorrow. Are you okay?¡± Relief came from the college girl¡¯s voice. ¡°Thanks, Rachel¡­ I feel so useless and stupid. I can¡¯t believe I borrowed money from this guy, but I thought I could pay it back when my parents called or this issue with my card got fixed. Now he¡¯s following me everywhere¡ªit¡¯s creepy¡ªand telling me I can work it off at this weird cat-girl caf¨¦?¡± A frown touched Rachel¡¯s eyes as she glanced at a few teenage girls who came into the locker room before they swiftly moved out of sight at her attention. ¡°That seems rather targeted.¡± ¡°Right? It¡¯s like, I get there are cat girls now, but hiring only cat girls in the first month of everyone changing? Yeah, it¡¯s super shady, and the class friend who told me about him now blocked me. I¡¯m a little scared¡ªand not just because, heh, I¡¯m a frightened Domestic Cat, I swear!¡± ¡°No, I agree, it¡¯s weird. I¡¯ll send my contact your number in case she wants to get the details directly from you. You¡¯re in a public place?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Zoe mumbled, lowering her voice. ¡°It¡¯s the caf¨¦ I frequented near the school, but they¡¯re going to close in the next few hours, and the place the college temporarily gave me is four blocks away¡­ ugh, and I only have another week before I have to find my own place. I really don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Rachel softly reassured, sitting straighter and separating herself from the emotional point of the conversation. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can, alright? I¡¯ll give you a call later.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ And thank you, Rachel. I know this is more stress you probably don¡¯t need. Thank you¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get through it,¡± Rachel said, bringing them both into it to further give the girl strength before hanging up. Flipping to the unicorn¡¯s number, she forwarded Maria the information with the strange details Zoe had given her. Knowing the unicorn, she figured the woman would want to confirm everything herself and go to the source rather than waste time talking to her about things Rachel had no clue about. Reaching up to scratch the base of her left ear, she sighed. Life really was a mess of events for her. There was always another crisis to handle. Although, strangely, she wasn¡¯t finding herself that put off by the prospect of being the person whom people saw as reliable. She got up and forced her tired, semi-rested muscles to do a few rounds of basketball. It was a little bit of a jab in the gut to learn Alexa¡¯s zero-muscle ass had been chosen before her, but considering her performance jogging and her brother being on the team that selected his wife, she could let it slide. Plus, she got on Barbara¡¯s team, which meant she had the opportunity to guard Anthony and confront his smug face. The last match ended with her on her back, eyes closed with a towel over her face, Anthony snickering nearby as everyone else started playing PIG. ¡°You keep telling me you want to do a Quest, but you¡¯re laid out in a game of basketball, Ears.¡± Rachel grunted in response, peeling back the cool towel to level a glare at him. ¡°It¡¯s not like I only have an Average Stamina Stat, or have you forgotten that you put points into it, Mr. High Stamina¡ªuh, forget that,¡± she growled. ¡°And I haven¡¯t got a lick of Lunar Energy in me. So why don¡¯t you just bite my tail because I still finished three matches against you at my lowest.¡± ¡°Correction,¡± he chimed, ¡°lost three matches to me, Ms. Refined Endurance. What did you boast about again¡ªBelow Average to Above Average, right?¡± Using her ears to sweep off the towel now that her face was cooled, Rachel forced her aching muscles to lift her onto the stands to join him. ¡°What¡¯s up with you wanting to talk with my mom and me together?¡± she pivoted, following Nia¡¯s clumsy dribbles as Scarlet let the happy bunny win. Anthony leaned against his knees, his tone becoming more serious. ¡°Because, as you told me I probably would, I¡¯ve gotten some god looking to give me a Blessed Feat.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Rachel instantly asked, causing the man to rub between his eyes. ¡°Who?¡± He repeated. ¡°Only Taranis, the Irish god of thunder¡­ I don¡¯t want to accept it without learning a bit more about the real him, and I heard Scarlet and Nia talking about your mom being able to talk to them. I wanted first to see if you were cool with that before approaching your mother.¡± Internally flicking her outfit¡¯s ear, she caused the surprised bunny to trip and slide across the floor, meeting the huffy bun¡¯s glare as Scarlet helped her up. ¡°Ouch! What was that for?!¡± she yelled across the room. ¡°Sabotage!¡± Try not to talk about sensitive topics when other people are around. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Nia¡¯s face scrunched up into a pout as the others glanced between them. ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t have to flick my ear. I didn¡¯t do nothing bad on purpose; I¡¯m a good bunny. Humph.¡± Letting her sulk and get back to her game, Rachel leaned against the back bleachers, keeping her eyes on their group, Selvaria and Coral joining Alexa, her brother, and Barbara in their game of PIG. ¡°To be honest, I haven¡¯t seen my mom use her powers¡­ I¡¯ll run it by her after I get back from my dinner date with Arthur.¡± Anthony showed a half-smile as he nudged her with his muscular arm, causing a jealous twitch to hit her ears. ¡°Going after a married man, hmm, and one more than three times your age? I guess you need to get your tail from somewhere.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± she chuckled, hitting him back and enjoying a more friendly atmosphere with someone who was more like her; between Barbara and Anthony, she was finding a lot of stress relief in hanging around people with similar interests. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to show me how to use my hammer when we go on the next Quest.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He gave her a side-long look. ¡°You know I¡¯m a spear and sword man. I don¡¯t have expertise with hammers, and I doubt you¡¯d find many masters nearby to learn from. Like I said, I think you should just pick up a Hammer Expertise Feat if one shows up.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ You can help me with weapon basics, though, so stop stalling. You just don¡¯t want me on the Quest,¡± she shot back with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, give me a few days, and I¡¯ll be good.¡± ¡°So long as you can prove it to me.¡± Anthony got to his feet and stretched out, showing phenomenal flexibility for his size. ¡°I¡¯ve got to pick up some sweets and a get-well card for my girl to make her smile. You heading back to get ready for the dinner date?¡± Rachel jabbed a thumb at her focused bun, trying to make three-point shots without much success, Scarlet acting as her cheerleader. ¡°When I have Nia, I can be ready with the snap of a finger. She¡¯s amazing. So, no, I¡¯ll be doing other things. You go do your cute shopping trip for your girl. I¡¯m sure it will brighten her day.¡± ¡°Send me a text,¡± he said, referencing the meeting with her mother before bumping fists and exiting through the locker room. ¡°Later, guys!¡± Everyone turned to wave him off, Barbara confirming another meet-up tomorrow before their flight to Miami for the funeral. Rachel¡¯s attention was snatched by her phone, catching Maria¡¯s number. She answered it while watching Nia jump up and down at getting her first three-pointer. ¡°Yo, what¡¯s up? You get my message?¡± Maria¡¯s agitated voice met her, still at the airport by the sounds of the crowd. ¡°Aye, what kind of chica est¨²pida takes money from Ballesteros¡¯ boys; your gata want to be pimped out on the block? Gah.¡± ¡°Deep breaths,¡± Fiona soothed from beside her. ¡°You know how desperate she sounded. She didn¡¯t have anyone to help her, and she couldn¡¯t get ahold of her family¡­ It¡¯s hard right now.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± the unicorn released a long stream of air. ¡°I get you relate, Fi, but it¡¯s not easy, ya know? There¡¯s a lot of shit happening between Ballesteros and the other gangs in the area. They¡¯re tightening down funds for what looks like a war. Look, Liebre Lunar, I sent Felix and Elena to pick her up in my whip; we¡¯ll sort the shit out when we get there tomorrow. Damn, I¡¯m tired.¡± Not even waiting for her to answer, the white-haired gangster hung up, making Rachel smile. She figured Maria couldn¡¯t turn down a person in need; despite her tough exterior, she was as soft as they came. Her lips fell upon seeing the message from Arthur that had come in while they were playing. He¡¯d moved up their meeting by an hour, and surprisingly, Tom would be joining them; they needed to leave soon if they were going to make it. Doing one last stretch, she prompted Nia to let her know they were going to be heading out soon. It was time to see what Arthur and the good general were up to because Merlin had provided the dignitary a charm that protected their conversations from being overheard whenever they were together. She expected the Montana incident to come up since its glow had steadily increased over the past two weeks; it was probably going to open soon, and she wasn¡¯t a hundred percent yet. That all could change tonight, though, and Anthony¡¯s request gave her the excuse to see if her mother could bridge the gap between her two powerful lunar bunny Soul Items. She needed the Positive Energy they could provide. Bidding everyone farewell, they went outside. Nia changed her into their semi-formal purple skirt and white blouse outfit before saluting her and transforming into her adult counterpart; Nia chose a reverse color outfit that mirrored hers to provide a contrast as the limousine pulled up to take her to the appointment. Nia¡¯s cautious eyes darted to her as it stopped, the driver exiting to open the door for them. ¡°You don¡¯t think Relica is going to make a surprise appearance?¡± I highly doubt it, Rachel returned through their private connection, slipping into the seat and smoothing out her skirt, but if she is¡­ then it may get a little heated. Something big is happening, though, and they¡¯ve kept it secret. We¡¯ll know soon enough. The door shut, and they pulled away from the curb. B2 — 2. A Tentative Alliance Legs crossed beside the window, Rachel observed the DC residents going about their business in their sporty jackets, scarves, and gloves, showing how big of a difference it was in the capital compared to the perpetual sunny weather of Miami. With the limousine¡¯s roof open, the cold winter weather left her hot breath visible, yet the occasional beam of early moonlight reaching her mitigated the frosty bite. In a way, she liked the contrast to her perpetually hot tropical home. When in the daylight, she could feel her resistance plummet, allowing her to feel the chilly breeze of DC, and it put some things into perspective. Actually, her past two weeks, conscious and unconscious, had provided her a new outlook from the fast-paced, solitary lifestyle she¡¯d led before The Oscillation. Her gaze wandered to the nearly full moon overhead, peeking out of the sparsely clouded heavens to meet Nia and her. Despite the temperature being 3¡ãC, she wasn¡¯t as cold as she should have been due to her restored Resistances, now that she was out of the sun. In part, she figured it was the work of the fashionable bunny woman sitting across from her, legs crossed and looking somewhat bored. Nia rested her cheek against the back of her hand as both their ears shifted left and right, zeroing in on various topics that caught their interest. She could sense more about her partner in crime as the Soul Item drew closer to her spirit, wrapping around it nearly as tightly as her body. Keeping her thoughts private, a small smile lifted the corners of her lips as she passively studied the Living Denier. Nia was so self-conscious, and being somewhat of a reflection of herself, it made her ponder if others saw the same in her. Smaller ears darting her way with the young woman¡¯s mirrored eyes, a slight frown touched Nia¡¯s mouth. ¡°And what is with that attentive look, Captain?¡± Breathing out a soft chuckle, Rachel leaned against the cushioned armrest and let the glass cool the side of her head. ¡°And what look would that be, Lieutenant? I can¡¯t see myself from your eyes¡ªwell, humph, at least I can¡¯t as of yet¡ªso I¡¯ll need you to be more specific.¡± ¡°Ha. Ha. Very funny, Captain Hops,¡± she mumbled, absently fidgeting with her skirt while glancing away. ¡°That buttery, embarrassing look that you can get that my child-side squeals inside at. I get the impression you¡¯re plotting something cute when we should be thinking about the vehicle that pulled in behind us¡­ as if we wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Smile becoming a half-smirk, Rachel closed her eyes and adjusted her ears. ¡°No need to be self-conscious, thinking I¡¯m enjoying your child side more than your adult; Little Nia is self-conscious enough for the both of you, thinking that all I want is her bigger, reliable, and badass older self. It¡¯s almost paradoxical since you know better.¡± Cracking open an eye, she saw a slight upward tilt come to the bun¡¯s lips as she stared out at the late-night club hoppers on the sidewalk. ¡°Fair enough. You have a lot more social skills than some members of your family fear,¡± she returned, making Rachel¡¯s smile vanish. ¡°That has to be my mom talking. She really thinks I have no game, huh?¡± Flashing her teeth, the bun showed a devious side-long stare. ¡°It depends on the topic. You¡¯re phenomenal when it comes to negotiating and planning, yet other areas could certainly use improvement¡­ Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Humph. Well, bite my tail off, Soldier,¡± she mumbled in return, cheeks coloring a tad at the thrown shade. ¡°My mom will never be satisfied until I bring home a guy she can fawn over¡­ I can see the reason for the crusade she¡¯s been on recently,¡± she grumbled, recalling the nudging comments she¡¯d received since Nam and Alexa¡¯s wedding last year. ¡°I¡¯m just too busy for those kinds of relationships right now.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Rachel¡¯s vision became slits as she glared at her smug, smirking bag of clothes, acting as if she saw something she didn¡¯t while staring out of the tinted window. However, she was fine with letting the topic die as she turned her mind to what the smiling bun mentioned earlier about being followed. Things hadn¡¯t gone the way she¡¯d planned when Arthur had sent her a message that he¡¯d be sending a limo. She¡¯d expected him to be inside and that Merlin¡¯s ward was hiding them. Well, that had been the theory until they found the vehicle very much empty on its arrival, which was somewhat agitating; not being able to pinpoint someone through her trusty ears was becoming an issue she needed to solve. Rachel managed to catch Tom¡¯s voice shortly after they¡¯d entered the limo, giving her a clear picture of Arthur¡¯s plan since the general¡¯s presence vanished shortly after, which had drawn her gaze to the north; it had only been for a second when he likely went out of range of Arthur, but by the process of elimination and her discovery that the warding magic didn¡¯t extend to their vehicles, she had a solid suspicion that the pair were in the SUV that had just pulled in behind them since she could hear it but not the driver or passengers. Arthur thought he was being crafty, but there was a surprise waiting for them at the restaurant. Their uninvited guests filled her with cautious curiosity, judging by the chatter that came from the place the UK Legend had selected for their meal. Arthur had selected it for the buzz it would generate in the media, yet that also left her with a lot of information, and the king may have bitten off more than he could chew. Nia gave her a look, making Rachel sigh. All joking aside, if I¡¯m going to make a private military company, then I have to play politics. It¡¯s important to develop relations with other nations and diplomats, as well. There¡¯s a lot more opportunity in being internationally recognized than tied down to one country. ¡°Sure, Cap,¡± the young woman across from her mumbled, mirrored illuminated irises drifting to the street again, ¡°but are we capable of handling attention like this when your organization hasn¡¯t even been fully approved or had more than two people pledge to join?¡± Three, including you, she corrected with a grin. Scarlet and Selvaria are hardly small talent, and my family will support us. ¡°Yes¡­ but, Captain, you¡¯re providing your thoughts on the matter in Congress and the Senate in a few days, which could change the whole paradigm. I just feel you¡¯re being a little more¡­ hopefully optimistic than what I¡¯ve come to expect, I guess? Plus, these are hardly neutral parties that we are dealing with.¡± I know, Rachel returned with a sigh, pulling around her unbound hair while considering how best to craft it for the meeting. It¡¯s always different having you as an adult rather than a child with how divergent your worldviews are. This is the name of the game, Soldier. This battlefield isn¡¯t the same as the Legend Quest; they want something from us, and we want something from them. It isn¡¯t kill or be killed, so we need to watch and learn these rules fast. Fingers spreading for her palm to press against her cheek, Nia grunted in their private conversation, keeping her focus on the cityscape. ¡°I like it better when we have clearer targets and enemies. This idea of dubious alliances, frienemies, and working with Relica sets my tail on edge.¡± Her tight-eyed glare darted to her. ¡°And I told you my younger self wouldn¡¯t be able to keep important secrets. Coddling me isn¡¯t going to teach me any lessons.¡± Ahh, Rachel nodded and smiled. So that¡¯s part of the reason for your agitation. Look, Nia, the others find you adorable, and admittedly, you can be very sweet and earnest. Give yourself credit where credit is due. I know none of this is your scene, and you want to have an easily identifiable target to beat with a hammer, but remember: right now, your battle is getting into the hearts of my family, which you¡¯ve done phenomenally at this far. ¡°If you say so¡­¡± her slightly slimmer rabbit doppelganger grumbled; Rachel had to wonder if her mother had talked about eating more, which could work since outfits were her primary diet. ¡°I¡¯ll remain silent and observe, then. It¡¯s not my place to make these decisions anyway. I¡¯ll watch your back and see if there are any suspicious parties trying to listen in on us.¡± Holding up a fist for her partner to bump with a resigned sigh, Rachel chuckled. You¡¯re doing better than you think, Lt. Bun. Now, should I go with a bun, or would that clash with that poofy tail of yours? She laughed as Nia folded her shirt to pinch her arm, making her rub the smarting area. Haha. A braid, then? Nia¡¯s mood improved at the mention of fashion. ¡°No, I like the idea of a bun. In fact, why not use the matching phoenix-themed, u-shape hairpins your mother bought us? I can craft it the opposite way so it highlights our contrasting styles.¡± Go for it, Rachel chimed, happy to have her outfit make fashion choices, especially when Nia was far more refined in her taste and understanding of the topic. You¡¯re my expert, Lieutenant. And¡­ I think I know where our dates are¡­ Her twin rolled her eyes before her vision darted to the rearview window. ¡°Your mother is doomed with a daughter like you.¡± Oh, bite my tail! Rachel shot back with a huff. I¡¯ve got game. ¡°Anyway,¡± the bun mumbled, ¡°is there a reason why they¡¯re traveling on their own instead of joining us? It seems we would be the topic of a private discussion, or they¡¯re trying to make us believe that¡¯s the case.¡± Legs crossing the opposite way, she chortled, regaining her composure. Enjoy the attention, Nia. You¡¯re the one that likes fashion and glamor, so show off your style if you want to ¡®show me real game,¡¯ or is it all talk? ¡°Pfft. Like I have skin in the game,¡± she snorted, pointing at her real body that tightened around Rachel¡¯s tail for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m just spouting the concerns your mother subtly impressed on me through her off-handed questions.¡± It¡¯s relentless! Rachel sighed, shifting uncomfortably while trying to shrug off the topic. This meeting is actually perfect for kickstarting our public image after the Miami body cam footage was released to the public. Yes, I¡¯m sure there will be a buzz of speculation that follows after this, and one could be a spy since that is what you are hinting at, but that is with every celebrity meet-up from this point on. We have enough showings without the negative press, and now we¡¯re greasing elbows with foreign dignitaries. ¡°I suppose,¡± Nia whispered, dropping her teasing remarks. ¡°I still don¡¯t like all the cloak and dagger shit. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re friends with these people¡­ Something just feels off about this. What are you feeling, misfortune-wise?¡± Leaning against the side cushion again, Rachel scanned the brightly lit evening stores as they neared the restaurant, welcoming more business with the spotted crowd of physically changed individuals. There are too many directions we can go and threads to count compared to when we were in Miami. It¡¯s as if everything blew apart into a million angles after the Legend Quest. Until we narrow down our paths, all I¡¯ll get are vague impressions that could shift at a dog¡¯s bark¡­ One string of events made her pause before discussing it with her Soul Item. ¡°But,¡± Nia pressed. But this trip to Miami tomorrow for the funeral is big¡­ There¡¯s something that will come out of it that will make a massive difference. I¡¯m not sure if it is positive or negative for us, and the same can be said for this meeting. My gut feeling toward the Saints and Arthur has been flipping by the day, to the point I can¡¯t make my decision. I have to feel my way through the discussion to be sure. ¡°Haaa. Well, hopefully, that will change tonight.¡± Silence took them as Rachel studied her uncomfortable outfit. It was hard to explain how close they¡¯d become in the last few weeks. Perhaps that was due to her literally wearing the young woman or their tied spirits, but it was nice to have someone reliable and relatable nearby, someone whose reliability could bring comedy, adorable cuteness, or provide a pair of eyes to watch her back. It also helped that she could literally feel the joy her moon bunny outfit got when she was called upon to support her in even the simplest of tasks; they were partners, and she¡¯d never felt that way about anyone before. Whatever comes, she whispered, showing a genuine smile, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here, Lt. Bun. Nia snorted and returned to grin. ¡°Hell or high water, Capt. Hops; we¡¯re in it together. I¡¯ll keep an ear out, so you can focus on the dinner.¡± Giving her a casual, two-fingered salute, the bunny returned it, fixing their hair into the proper, contrasting bun that Rachel could never have done. It was time to go to war. Their trip to the restaurant was faster than she anticipated, and her three-inch heels met a red carpet as she exited the vehicle; a small group of photographers were outside, snapping pictures to sell to gossip sites as the cold wind pressed their skirts against their legs. Several A-lister celebrities had made an appearance for the opening of the high-class establishment. It felt somewhat uncomfortable to have so many cameras on her, but this was the life of anyone in the political scene, and she had to get used to it if she wanted to reach anyone who had influence. She did her best to remain neutral, Nia walking beside her as she proceeded down the carpet for a pair of doormen to greet her. However, just before they swung them open, she paused with a half-smile and turned to see Arthur and Tom exiting the SUV behind them. Tom wore his full military uniform, complete with a rainbow of medals and his four stars pinned to his shoulders, while Arthur had his fitted, slim-cut suit that showed off his frame. No women were with them as they approached, the photographers whipping into a buzz when they met. ¡°Rachel,¡± the handsome blond greeted with a showy smile and posh British accent, ¡°what excellent timing.¡± Chuckling, she returned his nod as the doormen opened their way. ¡°Arthur, Tom. Did you two invite the French delegation?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± The general frowned as the woman standing inside ticked something off on her tablet before offering a charming welcome, the clash of silverware and chatter of restaurant patrons coming into focus. ¡°Mr. Pendragon, Mr. Dallas, your seats are ready.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t catch a shift in demeanor from the Legend at the revelation; she¡¯d expected at least a word of acknowledgment, but perhaps that would come soon enough as they were guided to their third-level tables that overlooked a rose garden. Sitting at the table nearest to them were two fashionable figures, dressed for the occasion. Their seater stopped as they lagged at the table, spotting wine already in the pair¡¯s glasses, showing they¡¯d been there for a short time. Jeanne was radiant with her sparkly blonde hair, thicker than the woman¡¯s bicep and drawn back into a simple knot braid that hung over the back of her chair, the black ribbon at the end nearly touching the floor. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The woman¡¯s headband matched her simple, knee-length dress, being chiffon blue, and the gown was a button-up down style with a matching waistband. The Legend¡¯s lilac purple cardigan was held by her shoulders, and a tan and dark brown purse showed her taste in elegant and plain attire. On the other hand, Charlemagne was in more of a modern classic style, wearing a light-brown suit jacket with a cyan shirt that hosted brown buttons. His coffee slacks matched his expensive watch, and his ruffled dark hair went well with his deceptively soft smile; Rachel could see him fitting in well with royalty. Historically, he was supposed to have blond hair, though, which she guessed shed further light on Barbara¡¯s theory about pop culture and history mixing. ¡°What a pleasant surprise, Ambassador,¡± Arthur greeted. ¡°How did you manage to foresee I would move the time up an hour and choose this restaurant? And, Jeanne, you look radiant in blue.¡± The legendary European emperor offered a cordial smile as he held out his hand, his French accent coming through. ¡°Arthur, I debated crashing this dinner or your breakfast tomorrow at the Continental, yet this serves to be far more interesting of a conversation. Relica isn¡¯t the type of company I enjoy keeping, in any case.¡± Rachel caught Nia¡¯s narrow-eyed stare as Jeanne forced a pained smile; it seemed the priestess wouldn¡¯t be joining them. Things had taken a turn, yet misfortune was curving within this meeting, and if she acted out, it could turn out badly for all of them. Doing her best not to let the sour topic tie a rope around her throat, as it had done to a particular Lesser God, she held out a hand to guide the surprised blonde saint to her feet, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. We could go back and forth, tossing out darts and comparing sizes, but I have places to be tonight. Join us.¡± ¡°Well, I do enjoy the cadence already,¡± Jeanne chimed, pulling off her cardigan to fold over her arm while picking up her purse by the strap. ¡°I¡¯ve really wanted to have a proper conversation with you, Rachel, but France has kept us¡­ busy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± she returned, forcing herself not to resist as the woman suddenly hugged her with a cheery, positive, and welcoming atmosphere that caught her off-guard, her hot lips meeting either side of her cheeks. ¡°Wow, you just¡ªyou French really are something.¡± ¡°Is it too much?¡± she asked, accent thickening and grabbing her elbow as Nia watched her like a hawk. ¡°I¡¯ve so looked forward to this meeting I got carried away; I haven¡¯t been outside of France long, and I sometimes forget you Americans can be quite, eh, distant?¡± she asked, looking for the right word. ¡°Haha. Cold seems too harsh a word.¡± Not sensing the slightest shy twitch in Jeanne¡¯s muscles as she pulled away, giving her space, Rachel refrained from scratching her tingling cheek. ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s the first kiss on the cheek I¡¯ve gotten, excluding family. Let¡¯s try to keep it to handshakes.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± she said with an authentic and accepting smile. ¡°My apologies; I grew up in a very open household that enjoyed the sharing of one¡¯s emotions. Anyway, please, tell me how you are doing. I hear your recovery has been progressing smoothly, and the Miami reports have shown how truly heroic you were.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± They turned their attention to Arthur as they sat at their table, their server scooting the other table closer to bridge them and not acting as if anything was out of the ordinary, raising some red flags. ¡°As Rachel said, let¡¯s cut with some of the pleasantries. Merlin prepared this for us to talk without the worry of being overheard¡­¡± He reached out to flip a rather large hourglass on the table, causing the black sand inside to fall, before nodding at their hostess, showing she was one of Merlin¡¯s spies. The second it flipped a pulse of mystical energy shot out, creating a rippling effect in a five-meter diameter. ¡°We have thirty minutes to discuss things; Rayla here is an associate of Merlin who has infiltrated this establishment. She is the only one that can come and go from this barrier.¡± He sat back as Rayla started taking Tom and Charlemagne¡¯s drink orders, his gaze fixated on her. ¡°Galahad nearly died this week, Rachel; Lancelot and I were able to complete a quest to obtain an elixir that has bought us more time, but your Hell Force is far more potent than we anticipated. Can you stop the corruption from spreading?¡± Jeanne folded her fingers in her lap, going silent as she listened, with Tom and the dark-haired man browsing their menu without looking up. Nia joined them, but her ears were high, showing how alert she was for the slightest twitch of danger, letting her handle the talking. Maintaining a lax demeanor, Rachel opened her own booklet of options, taking the time to consider her response. Jeanne and Charlemagne were Saints, yet both were also war legends who were quite brilliant, which meant they had a more realistic view of conflict. Jeanne d¡¯Arc had a rather short-lived life, yet from what she¡¯d studied of her history in the past several days, this woman was bound to be quite frank in her beliefs and feelings. There was also mention of a prophecy, historically attributed to Merlin, that could be related to her saving France. She could be in contact with the archangel Michael or with the Legends of Saint Margaret or Catherine. As she¡¯d read online, Emperor Charlemagne was one of the most influential and prolific leaders in history, having almost never lost a war and kickstarted the Carolingian Renaissance in Europe, showing his highly cultured and military mind. The man¡¯s very name was synonymous with what many nations modeled their word ¡®king¡¯ after, cementing his greatness along the same lines as Caesar. Arthur was a far more obscure Legend, who she couldn¡¯t predict. Still, she had to maintain a hard stance. ¡°First,¡± she said, pointing at the water option on the menu to their server, ¡°I would like to preface this topic with the understanding that I have no ill will toward Galahad. He was doing his job. Props to him for surviving an attack meant to kill. Merlin is the one whom I have some disdain for robbing me of Relica¡­ who tried to assassinate me as a child, emotionally scarred my mother for life, and murdered my cousin¡­ and she boasted about it.¡± The blonde woman hummed, taking a sip of her previous wine glass while showing a grimace. ¡°That does put things into perspective. Vengeance is understandable, though I prefer a just trial and proper sentencing, be that death or another punishment. That being said, I am not one to judge how you choose to present yourself before God¡¯s throne. Right or wrong, we all make our choices.¡± Tom chuckled. ¡°Not a topic to laugh at,¡± he added, ¡°but that is far more liberal of a take than I would have thought from you as a saint, Jeanne.¡± Charlemagne rubbed his chin, intelligent brown eyes drifting between them. ¡°So, in your blind rage at the time, congruent with your channeling of Negative Energy, you acted on impulse. I doubt that you can stop whatever curse Hell¡¯s flames left on the young man¡­ unless you absorb that power into your spirit again, which seems unlikely, given your current state. Although¡­ there is the idea of a transfusion.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Rachel¡¯s eyebrows drew together, Arthur following her gaze to the calm Legend¡¯s spontaneous inclusion. ¡°You want me to give him a transfusion? My blood is entirely different than a normal person¡¯s. As a side note, it even tastes like mint.¡± Jeanne cleared her throat and shook her head, braid bobbing against her chair. ¡°While that is a fascinating detail, there is more to it than that. Perhaps your blood could be toxic to him on its own, yet there is a Divine Energy emanating from you that is impossible to miss for Legends like us,¡± she stated, crossing her legs and shifting to get a better angle to talk to her. ¡°Charlemagne and I have been doing many of our Quests together to better understand certain principles, and Michael answered my prayers in a dream¡­ We know you have the Goddess Nike within you, which is how you survived the energies of Hell.¡± ¡°Nike?¡± Arthur mumbled, his vision sliding to Tom, who let out a low sigh. ¡°So that is one of the secrets you¡¯ve been keeping¡­ The Greek goddess of victory is literally inside you? It all fits now. Charlemagne, are you saying the Greek concept of Ichor is true, and that Rachel literally has the blood of gods inside her right now?¡± The liquid in Rachel¡¯s mouth dried up as misfortune spun in circles now that she had that information, and one thought shot to the surface. However, Charlemagne showed his forethought and intelligence network as he voiced the connection she¡¯d made aloud for all to hear, making her gut tighten. Sitting comfortably in his chair, the man sipped his wine, gazing into the crimson liquor. ¡°It is very faint. However, the potency of it goes beyond words; drinking straight from the source could be equated to drinking from the Holy Grail¡­ Something I would caution any mortal to refrain from since they couldn¡¯t hope to process such divinity¡­ without a filter, that is. ¡°This method could work to sustain Galahad, buying more time, or¡­¡± He paused, meeting Rachel¡¯s glare. ¡°¡­Or it could also help Anthony¡¯s fianc¨¦ Amelia to the point of running and walking again¡­ at least for a time.¡± This man was far, far too perceptive and knowledgeable, yet that was a part of his legend, being one of the greatest kings in history. ¡°There¡¯s a catch,¡± Rachel growled. ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling us¡­ Why are you telling us this without requesting anything in return? This is all too convenient.¡± Jeanne played with her empty glass on the table, showing a sad smile. ¡°Because it is the right thing to do and a condition I gave to Saint Charlemagne for delivering the good tidings the archangel gave me. He likely wouldn¡¯t have shared it if I hadn¡¯t insisted.¡± Her vibrant blue eyes sparkled with sincerity as she shifted to press her hands against her thighs, giving nothing but positive vibes. ¡°I misjudged you, Rachel, and for that, I apologize and ask your forgiveness. I understand you are no saint, but you are also no devil. Good deeds are rewarded, and I would like to foster goodwill between us.¡± Arm rising to press her fingers against her breast, she said, ¡°I do have a request that you may deny if you so choose. I would like to help in the recovery of Nike, and I have the Positive Energy that can be used to stabilize what your mother has started. She has quite the skillful hand to have done what she has already.¡± ¡°Again,¡± Rachel growled, trying to fight past her suspicious nature and pride to overcome these challenges herself, ¡°why would you help me when I have no intention of reciprocating? Are you hoping to get something out of Nike? I know you¡¯re Saints, but I¡¯m no sucker. You want goodwill between us¡­ for what? No games.¡± Smile becoming forced, the pretty blonde shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m trying to do this for nothing! I want to be totally transparent¡ªwell, as much as I can be,¡± she mumbled, clearly not happy with something that passed between Charlemagne and her meeting eyes. ¡°Michael told me that you would be a critical piece in protecting my home in the future and that the Wings of Victory are needed.¡± Tom leaned forward, having quietly listened until now. ¡°Needed for what? We¡¯re allied with France, so a big enough attack against the EU would pull in the US. Do we have specifics?¡± ¡°No,¡± Charlemagne whispered, pouring his own glass of wine before swirling it in a circle. ¡°What I can tell you is what you three already know¡­ a bigger picture is being painted behind the scenes, and the Scarlet Hand has its fingers in it. The organization has become fractured by Rachel¡¯s unconscious actions, though, which is a feat worth noting,¡± he said, raising his cup to her. ¡°That being said, I have friends¡­ rivals, even, in other countries who have access to knowledge in areas none of us are privy to¡­¡± His glowing brown eyes darted to the general. ¡°¡­Which is how I know the Montana Crystal will be a massive catastrophe if it is left unchecked. It will open in two days¡¯ time, and you¡¯ll need to call in every countermeasure you¡¯ve been contemplating, including Fable.¡± ¡°Fable?¡± Rachel asked, recalling something Astra had said but wanting confirmation as to how it was relevant, she pressed the topic; the emperor was bringing more pieces to the table. ¡°If you want transparency, then you¡¯re going to have to give us more than that.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Tom said with a sad chuckle, ¡°but I¡¯ve learned that Charlemagne isn¡¯t here for transparency, Rachel. Jeanne is, and it is there that the two butt heads at times¡­ it¡¯s probably why he brought her since she can build connections he cannot.¡± The blonde woman crossed her legs and folded her arms. ¡°Humph. That is most likely the case and something I have some issues with myself. But this isn¡¯t a topic that needs to be rehashed. We both have our own views on things. Yes, I agree with Charlemagne that he does see a bigger picture, but that doesn¡¯t change my position on what I think is right. A difference in approach does not mean we are opposed. My offer remains, Rachel.¡± Leaning back, Rachel¡¯s focus swapped to the general. ¡°¡­To make this brief, I¡¯m willing to help Arthur if it gets us closer to Ireland and negotiating to get to the World Tree. ¡°As for Charlemagne¡¯s prediction on the Crystal, if it is correct, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be ready in two days to fly to Montana and fight. So, calling in your other teams that I know you¡¯ve been gathering might be good. Maybe I will be ready in three to four days, but I want to be sure of it by doing a Quest with Anthony and Barbara, whoever¡¯s turn it is. Thoughts?¡± Tom looked at Arthur, fingers intertwined and deep in thought at everything the pair had added to the discussion. He sighed and rubbed between his eyes. ¡°Hopefully, Montana will be handled by the time you are ready, but if not, then you¡¯re in reserve. Why would the Crystal open on the day Congress and the Senate are supposed to debate about this private military option¡­ None of this can be a coincidence. Dammit. I feel like we¡¯re dancing to someone¡¯s tune.¡± Charlemagne chuckled, waving his hand. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind me,¡± he said at everyone¡¯s stare. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about some ¡®Black¡¯ humor, General. I¡¯m sure you get the irony to your statement.¡± The bald military man snorted and ran his hand over his head. ¡°Black¡­ Fable¡­ You¡¯re far more informed than you first let on, Ambassador. As for your question, Rachel, Fable is an already established PMC, like Blackwater or the UK¡¯s G4S, only far less publicized; they like to keep a low profile, and¡­ shockingly, many operatives they had changed during The Oscillation. It¡¯s being investigated.¡± He leveled a suspicious look at the dark-haired Frenchman. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have more to add to that conversation?¡± Sipping his wine, the man shook his head. ¡°I believe we know roughly the same on that topic, General. Mmm. Perhaps there are Scarlet Hand ties there, but it is distant if it is the case. That being said, I can¡¯t leave Jeanne here for more than a few more days before we return to France; we¡¯re in the calm before the storm. How much longer until the UK and Ireland are at war, Arthur?¡± Rachel almost choked on her water, and Nia was the one to speak out. ¡°What?! War? Fiona is worried enough about her family in Ireland!¡± the bunny growled, ears bowing. ¡°Is that why she can¡¯t get in contact with them?¡± Arthur ran his fingers through his blond locks. ¡°I¡¯d like to know where you¡¯re getting your intelligence from¡­ if you¡¯ve made the sure conclusion that war is imminent. We can¡¯t get information in or out; it¡¯s radio silence inside, and an invisible barrier has surrounded the entire country, transporting people and anything else that comes into contact with it, to a random location around its borders.¡± ¡°A country-wide Crystal?¡± Rachel asked. ¡°No,¡± the king instantly responded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have the dome or colors. No, this is something else that Merlin says is magical in nature¡­ and powerful. He compared it to the likes of the World Tree in London. We can¡¯t be sure what is happening on the inside, but after the Montana incident is concluded, the President has agreed to offer the US¡¯s support in the matter.¡± Hands meeting in her lap, Rachel slowly nodded. ¡°That¡­ does align with my promise to help Fiona reach her family¡­ but I can¡¯t tell her that, or it may spark her to panic and try to fly there herself, which¡­ may actually be possible for her. Ugh,¡± she caught Jeanne¡¯s look of disapproval, yet she didn¡¯t voice it. ¡°In any case, this is all good to know, but I need to focus my mind on the immediate. And, Jeanne, I will tell Fiona enough,¡± she said, surprising herself at the declaration; it could have been Lunar Pride flipping on her since she would beat the tar out of someone who kept that kind of info from her if the roles were reversed. The blonde¡¯s tight features softened. ¡°I am enjoying our company together already. What about the Ichor? I will need to sustain its properties during the transfer, and I may also require your unicorn friend to help me.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Rachel shrugged. ¡°I mean, if you include the healing of Nike, it¡¯s actually more favoring me¡­ but only if you repeat all of this and can convince Maria.¡± The unicorn would be able to tell if there were any lies hidden amongst the information. ¡°So¡­ does this mean we all have somewhat of an alliance?¡± Arthur glanced at the falling sands, half gone inside the hourglass. ¡°There are other things I wish to discuss¡­ holes I want to be filled, such your interest in our World Tree, but you¡¯ve already proven yourself a target and great adversary against the Scarlet Hand.¡± He gestured to the Frenchman across from him. ¡°As Charlemagne said, you¡­ somehow unconsciously caused a huge breach in the organization that left Merlin baffled since he¡¯s tried to penetrate the group without much success for quite some time. I don¡¯t see why we shouldn¡¯t help each other in dismantling it. Friends with secrets,¡± he said, extending his arm across the table. Rachel grinned and shook his hand. ¡°To the misfortune of our enemies; I think we¡¯ve found some common ground. Now, what should I eat on the UK taxpayer¡¯s dime?¡± she asked with a dark chuckle, not wanting to pass up the opportunity to live a little more lavishly as she studied the quite expensive menu. ¡°There are so many options to choose from.¡± A frown creased her lips as a jabbing string of misfortune struck her. ¡°¡­Nia, do not order the clams. For some reason, the entire place might blow up if you do.¡± ¡°A little extreme,¡± Jeanne chortled. ¡°I suppose I will stay away from them as well. Does this mean that I am free to join you for the next day or two?¡± Rachel scratched her left ear and set down her menu with a heavy sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll need to get Scarlet¡¯s permission, but I don¡¯t think it will be that hard. Welcome to Omen, well¡­ temporarily.¡± Nia chuckled, returning to the menu. ¡°And if the organization actually existed.¡± The blonde showed a radiant smile. ¡°Thanks for having me.¡± Rachel¡¯s guard spiked as Nia¡¯s face suddenly went white upon flipping the page, catching all of their attention. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, scooting over to see what was written on the leather booklet with Jeanne. Nia gulped and pointed at the menu. ¡°Captain¡­ why is there a dish named Rabbit Foot Stew? Don¡¯t tell me they actually¡­ eat rabbits?!¡± ¡°Pfft! Hahaha!¡± Rachel doubled over at her outfit¡¯s serious and searching eyes. ¡°Yes, Nia! Yes, we eat rabbits!¡± ¡°¡­Savages¡­ I¡¯ve lost my appetite,¡± she mumbled with an audible sniff, closing the book. ¡°Would you just chop off¡­ Never mind¡­¡± Smiles came from the others at the lighter topic; well, at least to them. Rachel figured she was about to ask if they¡¯d chop off Moongmor or Mei¡¯s feet for a stew. Her outfit had a lot to learn about their world still. B2 — 3. Soul Vulnerability Engaging with the four-star general and three Legends throughout dinner, Rachel listened carefully to every twitch their muscles made, Nia handling the broader surroundings. Small pieces of information were passed between them, and every new topic gave her further insight into these highly influential figures. In the remaining fifteen minutes of their isolated field, she probed for further facts regarding the three governments and what each faction wanted from her or what she could provide. She was an outsider to this larger, geopolitical stage, yet had accomplished her initial goal of having a seat at this table, which was something to be proud of, given she¡¯d only been a first-year law student before. That being said, most of her leverage came from external forces, such as fickle deities and knowledge, which, once learned, severely diminished her overall bargaining power. There was far more to be gained from this meeting; she just needed to pay close attention to the finer details passed between the three nations, specifically France¡¯s angle, since Charlemagne¡¯s goals were still murky. Russia was going through a massive underground war between Legendkin figures of its past, much like the rest of the world, and it was impossible to know how the northern bear¡¯s government would be reorganized or how much of a threat they¡¯d be. Tom seemed to believe Russia would split into small nations based on the support each faction could gather, and a cold civil war might break out. As for China, neither the US, France, nor the UK knew what was actually happening since much of the internal affairs had been locked down, including the countrywide firewall that isolated China¡¯s internet traffic. No communication had made it out until earlier this morning, which had Tom on edge and piqued her curiosity. Rachel¡¯s gut tightened at the prospect of what might happen in Asia as the general laid out what information they knew about the most powerful nation in the region. South Korea had a massive amount of US support right now with the potential conflict that could arise from its northern counterpart, yet luckily, things seemed relatively stable for her parents¡¯ homeland. How long that peace lasted could drastically change at the drop of a hat since South Korea had very long and tense relations with Japan. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the current political uprising within the island nation could cause a lot of Koreans concern. The imperial family and prominent historical revolutionaries were gaining widespread traction as they took to social media to spread their messages about rekindling their glory as a nation. The youth appeared especially receptive to the concept of a culture change, either returning to past heights or forging a new one. On the other hand, as of today, the most powerful governing body in Asia had apparently stepped down from its seat of power. Rachel had to focus on that bit of news, and even Charlemagne and Arthur were blindsided by the general¡¯s intelligence. ¡°There¡¯s no shot,¡± Rachel mumbled, setting down her fork and staring at the sober general. ¡°All spies from France, the UK, and the US go missing, no communication in or out for weeks, technology over the area is blocked, and now, spontaneously, the Chinese Communist Party has ceded their state power? It doesn¡¯t make sense; it¡¯s the CCP, for crying out loud.¡± Tom sipped at his wine and rolled around his neck. ¡°The director of central intelligence dropped it on us this morning, and he believes the leak was intentional since our spy gave a coded message with it that indicated the agency branch was compromised.¡± ¡°To whom?¡± Rachel asked. ¡°How does that even happen in this day and age? You¡¯re saying someone conquered China in the past three weeks and installed their own government, all while dismantling foreign spy resources in the nation?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± the general mumbled. ¡°We don¡¯t know what to make of it¡­ but what we do know is that only this video has been able to come out of Beijing, using a sat-link to a US satellite before the origin point went dark¡­ and it came from inside the Forbidden City. There are some insane technological barriers around China¡¯s entire network, as well.¡± He slid over his phone for them to look at the video he started, the volume muted as he explained; dozens upon dozens of people kneeled in a giant room, where the golden Dragon Throne sat, situated on its dais. Standing at its foot was a beautiful, black-haired woman, her thick locks pulled into a high ponytail. Her white, red-trimmed shenyi outfit instantly snatched Nia¡¯s attention as she radiated power. Expressing an imperial presence with raw orange energy encircling her, the woman didn¡¯t speak a word. At the base of the dais was the CCP chairman, on his knees and addressing the camera. Tom¡¯s voice was low as Rachel studied the figure; no doubt, this woman was a Legendkin who had completed her Legend Quest. ¡°This is a formal address to the Chinese people from the CCP¡¯s chairman, where the party has yielded its authority to this woman that he identifies as¡­ Empress Wu Zetian, First Empress of China.¡± Charlemagne rubbed his chin while observing the simple yet elegant outfit the empress wore. ¡°An ominous turn for such a powerful nation, and in less than a month after this change. I¡¯ll have to reach out.¡± Arthur ran his fingers through his blond hair before leaning back. ¡°I am more focused on the same not happening to the UK with the Legends of past monarchies looking to take the stage, and that doesn¡¯t include Ireland or Scotland starting a war.¡± ¡°If only that were the half of it,¡± Tom mumbled, letting Rachel study the video, the Legend of Empress Wu sitting on the throne. ¡°India may see a return to the caste system, while Pakistan and Iran are dealing with a huge influx of insurgencies. ¡°Israel has its own internal strife that is being handled surprisingly well, but they are consolidating their power with the Arab coalition calling for a rise to war¡­ but that doesn¡¯t seem likely with the conflicts happening in each nation, Egypt especially. We aren¡¯t even talking about Germany¡¯s past leadership that¡¯s no doubt working in its underbelly and Italy¡¯s unrest.¡± He rubbed between his eyes. ¡°Which you have a vested interest in, Charlemagne, since you were born in Germany, despite your current French activities.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears flew up. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re actually German?¡± ¡°In der Tat,¡± the dark-haired man replied in a perfect accent before returning to his refined French between a sip of his wine. ¡°I have contacts and affiliations far outside of France, yet it is where I am primarily located. The National Socialist German Workers¡¯ Party and their other Nazi affiliates are a concern amongst many groups, which is why they have all stayed quite below the radar. How goes things from grievances from your country¡¯s past troubles, General?¡± Tom sucked in his lips before smacking them and downing a large portion of his glass. ¡°Native Americans or other tribes of South America, North America, and Canada are holding giant rallies at this time, but we¡¯re getting ahead of it due to the quick information provided to us by Rachel. We were able to act quickly. Although¡­ ¡°Something I somewhat overlooked was the various racist and cult groups that would rear their heads or start moving in the shadows. Overall, they¡¯re minor compared to what other nations are dealing with. It is being handled as quietly as possible, and they aren¡¯t as widespread as some of the other movements in other nations¡­ with the exception of South America, where things are escalating.¡± ¡°A world in turmoil,¡± Rachel sighed, handing his phone back. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re out of time.¡± The last grains of sand trickled out of the hourglass; it flashed a light blue before cracking and spilling its contents. Their isolation field was drained, and their thirty minutes were up. Rayla, their server and Merlin¡¯s spy, promptly cleaned it up; no one in the restaurant even seemed to have noticed their private bubble. Silence passed between them as they thought about the sobering topics they¡¯d discussed. Rachel¡¯s thoughts were still on the colossal change happening in China. She¡¯d been proud of how quickly she¡¯d been able to consolidate her power and connections, yet there was always someone else to give you a run for your money; Empress Wu had to be close to her level, but she¡¯d managed to take command over arguably the third or second most powerful nation in the world. Nia¡¯s narrowed eyes darted to her. ¡°I¡¯m hearing a lot of talk from people around DC about this place called China, and how no word has come out. People are worried about loved ones. Is it really that big of a deal if this woman takes sole control?¡± Who knows? Rachel whispered, spotting Rayla return to the kitchen to bring out their dinner. We may be able to get answers tonight. For now, let¡¯s try to enjoy ourselves. The discussion turned more personal as Tom asked about the Knights of the Round, snatching Rachel¡¯s attention; it became much of the topic for the remainder of the meal. Arthur had called the men who used to serve under him in the military to gather. He was rallying his political and financial influence, as well, but many saw his flight to the US as a dangerous one. It would be a hard fight when he returned. When all was said and done, Rachel had a relatively pleasant time with the Legends. It was indeed a different kind of evening than she¡¯d ever had, yet it felt good to be a part of something that actually mattered. Upon getting up to leave, her and Nia¡¯s ears darted to the elevator as a disturbance came from the middle-floor dining area. ¡°M-Monster! What did you do to my wife?! W-Why is everyone changing into monsters?!¡± ¡°Wha¡ªyou¡¯re the Troll, man?¡± ¡°Sweetie?! P-Please, calm down!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Woah! Woah! Chill!¡± Nia was ready to act, but Rachel held a hand in front of her chest, stopping her and causing the others to pause as they prepared to leave. Hold up. We¡¯re not suited for this kind of thing. Let¡¯s see how they react¡­ Vision narrowing, her gaze darted to Jeanne. ¡°A commotion downstairs¡ªsecond floor¡ªa man is claiming his wife, and everyone else, is transforming; he¡¯s becoming violent.¡± The saint¡¯s brow set and a holy aura embraced her as she acted without a second¡¯s hesitation. Speed increasing dramatically, she hiked up her dress and leaped over the tables to the emergency stairs, a large, furled banner materializing in her hand. French accent thick, she shouted, ¡°I will subdue him before harm comes to the citizens! Call the authorities.¡± Holding her hands behind her back, Rachel tilted her head toward the three men with a small smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help the woman?¡± Tom donned his military jacket and started buttoning it up. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even make it in time to see the action. It¡¯s probably already over.¡± Sure enough, Rachel shifted her weight to stare at the floor, where the saint had already engaged the troll. Her swift and unhesitant action of rushing to do good, even in another nation, where her actions could be scrutinized, told her everything she needed to know about the blonde. She wasn¡¯t concerned about laws or what was acceptable; Jeanne did what she thought was right. Charlemagne fastened his suit coat and brushed back his long black locks with a smile as the guests nearby tried to figure out why a woman in a blue dress had just jumped across half the room over their heads. ¡°Hmm. Jeanne is a very effective warrior when it comes to de-escalation. If you were hoping to see my abilities, then I¡¯m going to have to disappoint you.¡± His glowing brown eyes gleamed with curiosity. ¡°I have a sneaking suspicion that this has something to do with those clams of misfortune you told our dear Nia about.¡± Arthur popped out his sleeves while eyeing the frowning bunny. ¡°I had wondered when that would come up again. A Troll Faekin that went berserk¡­ Am I to assume that if Nia were to eat it, then she would have the same reaction?¡± Her lieutenant¡¯s ears flew up in alarm, the bun¡¯s eclipse-like eyes darting to her. ¡°Tell me that¡¯s not the case. I have Control Resistance due to the point you sank into it. I abhor the thought of turning against you.¡± Rachel showed a small smirk and shrugged at the three men. ¡°All I know is that we avoided some insane misfortune by evading clams, but if Nia had gone berserk and used some of my abilities that she¡¯s in control of¡­ It could have been very bad. Why don¡¯t we find out?¡± Feeling a little frisky and far better now with Lunar Energy in her pool, Rachel decided it was about time she tested out her new Feat. She flickered, leaving an afterimage as Nia mirrored her. ¡°See you below.¡± [Blessed Lunar Grace: Active] [Flash Step: Charges Consumed 5/5] Using Chang¡¯e¡¯s Feat, Rachel instantly teleported through the floor, Nia keeping their skirts twisted against their ankles to land between two tables on the second landing. A hulking, three-meter-tall Troll Faekin was locked in place, Jeanne¡¯s spear-like banner plunged through his chest; the flag was unfurled, alabaster chains exiting the shaft to bind him in place. Jeanne instantly locked eyes with her as she calmed down the restaurant staff and patrons. ¡°Do not be concerned; my spear did not harm him physically! I have chained his spirit and will purify him of the evil magic clouding his soul. Please, remain calm!¡± A gentle aura filled the space from the blonde¡¯s radiant presence, first checking on one of the male servers who had come between the troll and presumably his stunned brunette wife. He was on the ground, groaning and cradling what appeared to be a broken arm and dislocated shoulder. ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t breathe¡­¡± he choked, Rachel¡¯s ears twitching as she heard his ragged lungs trying to fight some kind of pressure. The middle-aged, brown-haired wife of the troll seemed to be calming down as the saint de-escalated things. Rachel¡¯s focus snapped to the white chains as she heard the links around the troll quiver slightly. [Divine Beast Empowerment II] showed her a miasmic, reddish tint growing from the man as he hissed out steam, blue skin gradually turning crimson as foreign energy continued to build within him. [Beastial Instincts II] further gave her insight into the rising threat the troll was becoming. Jeanne ignored the enraged man as if he was of no concern at all, giving the citizens hope that things wouldn¡¯t escalate. Yet, that clearly wasn¡¯t the case as her unfurled banner began to illuminate, beating back the expanding Negative Force¡ªand surprisingly quickly¡ªall while she continued to help the injured man. ¡°Here, take my hand¡­ Everything is going to be okay.¡± She showed a cheery radiance that seemed infectious, her illuminated hand gently pressing against the guy¡¯s chest; he winced as a crack came from his arm and shoulder, yet he didn¡¯t cry out, and they both began to heal. ¡°I have cured the lasting damage, but you will still have some fractures and bruising. Please see a doctor as soon as you are able.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah¡­¡± he coughed, breathing normally again. ¡°Thank you¡­ Who are you?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°No one important,¡± she chimed, her thick braid swaying as she helped him to his feet and turned to the brunette. ¡°Would this be your husband, Ma¡¯am?¡± Rachel took one of the nearby empty chairs at a table, Nia hesitantly joining her as they watched the saint work; several people had noticed their teleportation, yet were too enthralled by the troll and holy woman to bother them. Sirens picked up in the distance as another staff member got through to the police. Tom¡¯s call directly to the FBI director would spark a bigger response. Brushing back her somewhat messy brown locks, the woman cleared her throat and nodded as events played out around them. ¡°He¡­ may not be pretty to look at, but he¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s such a nice man¡ªattentive. I don¡¯t know why he suddenly a-acted out like that.¡± Jeanne moved in to hug the woman, the embrace jogging her out of her panic and helping to ease her thumping heart. ¡°He will be fine, Ma¡¯am. Please, take a seat so you don¡¯t collapse. It is not his fault.¡± Rachel rested her cheek against the back of her hand, spotting her other three dinner guests exit the elevator and join the crowd. The saint placed her hand on the shaft of her spear, brow set as she used her other hand to press against the red-skinned troll¡¯s enlarged chest; his heart had grown in size and beat faster by the second as he struggled to free himself from the chains. ¡°Charlemagne,¡± she whispered as the man casually strode forward to stand by her side, ¡°there is a pernicious force infusing into his very soul, seeking to corrupt and twist him into something¡­ Infernal.¡± ¡°A demon?¡± Arthur asked, joining the pair as Tom ushered everyone toward the stairs to evacuate while leaving the troll¡¯s wife close enough to see what was going on with her spouse. It seemed that the possibility that this was a possession was swiftly spreading between customers and staff; it didn¡¯t help how flashy she and Jeanne had been. The blond man stood nearby, ready to take action if needed, not that Jeanne seemed to be in any danger of losing control. ¡°And what are the chances this happened when we were in attendance, Charlemagne? Was it meant for us?¡± Rachel piped up from her table. ¡°Personally, I¡¯ve felt, seen, and experienced Hell Force, as many of you know, quite intimately. This isn¡¯t that. It¡¯s something new, and I doubt it was planned for us. My guess, we were in the right place at the wrong time. Hehe. Blame my misfortune. That being said, I¡­ think I¡¯ve felt this energy before,¡± she said, gaze drifting to Nia to offer her own take. Her white-haired bun was examining her nails as if bored. ¡°It is similar to some of the monstrous creatures that were in the coliseum, only far less potent, for obvious reasons.¡± ¡°Not a demon,¡± the dark-haired emperor hummed, walking around the chained troll as Jeanne began to gradually overwhelm the Negative Force with her aura, chanting a prayer under her breath. ¡°A monstrification of some kind¡­ possibly an experiment, which means the observers would be nearby.¡± Arthur sighed and shifted his gaze to her. ¡°You¡¯re the sensory experts, Rachel.¡± Ears falling forward a tad, Rachel chuckled. ¡°They covered their tracks well, and misfortune isn¡¯t helping me on this one other than avoiding the same fate. I doubt they were inside the restaurant unless this was a total surprise for them as well, because no one gave the impression in the immediate area that they knew this was going to happen¡­ Unless you heard something I didn¡¯t, Nia?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nothing that would indicate they were taking notes or expecting it.¡± Charlemagne nodded. ¡°It would do little good to speculate without further investigation, which¡­ I expect the US FBI and Homeland to coordinate on?¡± he asked, spotting Tom already on the phone and making calls while motioning for the remaining occupants to leave via the stairs. ¡°This is certainly one way to end our night together. Thoughts, Jeanne?¡± The blonde puffed out her cheeks as her chains vanished, and she smoothly slid the spear out of the troll¡¯s chest without a mark. Arthur easily caught the man¡¯s weight and helped him down while his wife rushed to his side, trying to remain strong and asking him if her husband would be alright. Jeanne¡¯s light dimmed, and Rachel felt a noticeable decrease in her perceived threat levels; it had been more taxing than she had made it look. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right¡­¡± she whispered, adjusting her dress top. ¡°It was far too potent to be anything less than someone of a similar level to us.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Rachel smirked and waved at the three Legends. ¡°We have different standards. Don¡¯t mind me. My expectations are tainted by Hell.¡± ¡°Yes, well, be that as it may,¡± Jeanne sighed, ¡°it is something worth investigating because if we had come minutes later, I doubt I would have been able to restore him to his normal state¡­ Healing is not my specialty.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears rose as the blue-eyed blonde directed a cheery grin her way. ¡°In any case, thank you for informing me in time to save his life and any further damage he may have caused. I believe we made for a wonderful team!¡± ¡°I like a woman of action,¡± Rachel returned, rising to her feet and smoothing out her skirt. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think I should plot to recruit you to the team somehow. I¡¯m positive I could get you a US citizenship,¡± she added, flashing her teeth. Fixing her hairband with a chortle, the blonde returned the smile. ¡°I am flattered by the offer, but France is my home. That does not mean we cannot cooperate! I suppose we are to leave this for the general?¡± Arthur made sure the wife was okay before rising to his feet to look between them. ¡°I¡¯d like to move on to our next destination as soon as possible. Charlemagne?¡± Clasping his wrist behind his back, the Legendary emperor of Europe studied the troll for a few seconds in silence. ¡°¡­I shall remain here with General Dallas to inquire further on this matter. There are a few things I wish to confirm before returning to our hotel. Jeanne, please, enjoy your time away from my schemes.¡± The change in formality was a plus for Rachel as the blonde laughed. ¡°Yes, Charles, but I fear I have left one schemer for another. Maybe Rachel will be more¡­ flexible.¡± Rachel moved to join the two golden-haired Legends, feeling rather good about how this meeting had gone. ¡°It depends on the subject. Well, why don¡¯t we save a knight? After you,¡± she said, gesturing at the UK dignitary. ¡°Let¡¯s slip out before we get caught up in a police report or something. Tom can handle the paperwork.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­¡± the bald man mumbled, only just making it back after directing the crowd to the lower level. ¡°I get the sneaking suspicion that I¡¯ll be cleaning up after your messes a lot, Rachel. I¡¯m starting to see a pattern with how your misfortune abilities work.¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon, General,¡± she teased, shooting him an impish grin, ¡°haven¡¯t I proven myself to be more than an asset to allow a little misfortune? Look what you might be able to learn from this incident alone. Maybe I end up in all the wrong places, but don¡¯t I also bring about all the right results?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ partly what I¡¯m afraid of,¡± the man whispered as she left with the two Legends. They made small talk about the incident as they slipped inside Arthur¡¯s black SUV and continued on their journey; however, her mind looped back to the video of Empress Wu and the CCP. There was an unbelievably large string of misfortune that opened up to her upon the reveal that stretched far into the future. Something big was happening in China. Rachel grew a tad impatient as forty minutes passed before they reached their destination, the agents driving them wanting to take several detours to be sure no one was on their tail. At least she had the chance to get better acquainted with the two golden-haired Legends, giving her a better insight into how The Oscillation hadn¡¯t selected them randomly. Jeanne was 19 years old, the same as her, but the girl had been mortified once learning that she¡¯d been drinking on an illegal license that Charlemagne had provided her. She hadn¡¯t even checked the false identification until the topic came up, and, evidently, it said she was 21. It went without saying that the girl had rarely left France. On the other hand, Arthur was nearly 60 years old and had a wealth of military experience under his belt; that wasn¡¯t going to keep him from enjoying his newfound youth, but he also had responsibilities to handle. On a more personal note, he loved racquetball, which Rachel wasn¡¯t opposed to trying at some point. The king was married, and Jeanne¡¯s innocent probing revealed it to indeed be to the Legend of Guinevere. The king had no issues discussing his wife, talking up her beauty and dedication in staying by his side. Although, Rachel did catch a subtle shift in his undertone when some specific topics came up. Their relationship seemed to be a complicated one. Nia kept her ears trained on other topics, and not all of them external threats. When they stopped in front of an old, abandoned building outside of DC proper, she caught a curious look in the bunny girl¡¯s eyes. Something caught your ear? ¡°Hmm.¡± Her twin glanced back toward the city, somewhat bored with how peaceful their ride had been since she couldn¡¯t find any threats. ¡°There is a fashion show happening right now, and I¡¯m listening to the conversations people are having on the items¡­¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Ah, the fashion show¡­ basically, the fancy restaurant you would have rather gone to to devour outfits instead of the horrific, bunny leg-cooking place we dined at. You¡¯re taking it too personally; they aren¡¯t bunnies like Moongmor or Mei. ¡°I can¡¯t help my brain wandering without an enemy to focus on. I¡¯m still trying to process the, uh, wiki page you showed me on rabbits¡­ or those weird ¡®anime¡¯ pictures that Scarlet and Alexa enjoy. I half feel insulted. What do these people mean when they say I¡¯m very messy and that I shed a lot? Rude.¡± I¡¯m sure you do feel a certain way! You¡¯re on a forum about pet owners, and you have to stop thinking you¡¯re taking L¡¯s for all of bunny kind; besides, I¡¯m sure you saw just how many people love bunnies as companions! You just can¡¯t connect typical ones with yourself. ¡°Humph. I may be Living Denier, but I¡¯m also a Lunar Bunny¡­ Some people think I¡¯m a total myth! How can they deny I exist when I do?¡± Haha! You are in deep. Come out of the rabbit hole. Nia slammed the door with a light glare at her. ¡°One of those sayings about rabbits? Yes, rabbits dig holes. Skin me! Gah¡­ And what is with this expression ¡®breed like rabbits¡¯ when we have a very sophisticated mating system?! Experts, my tail.¡± Letting the bunny cope with the media depictions of bunnies, Rachel followed the agents into the building. Jeanne and Arthur took either side of her, Nia bringing up the rear, still swiping through websites talking about different kinds of rabbits. Once going past several checkpoints and down an elevator, making the internet cut out, Nia handed her phone back, now in a sour mood. Jeanne struck up a conversation with the bun, trying to invoke a more positive mood by having her describe what she thought about bunnies; it was a good pivot. Their conversation died upon reaching Galahad¡¯s room, and the agents left them to their privacy, explaining that the doctor would be in shortly after checking on another patient. Rachel moved to the man¡¯s side to take the armchair since she¡¯d be providing blood soon enough, trying to relax as Nia vanished in sparkling light to try out various outfits she¡¯d heard about at the fashion show; some designs the bun described seemed wild, but maybe she just wasn¡¯t getting the right mental picture. Meanwhile, the two golden-haired Legends stood at the foot of the bed, somber faces viewing the near-dead knight. Her wide field of vision took in the whole room with a single sweep, sensing the pernicious pollution she¡¯d injected into Galahad¡¯s spirit like a poison; it felt like it hung in the air like a fog with how potent the Hell Force was. ¡°Unlike the other Force, this¡­ smells demonic. I wasn¡¯t even thinking about what I was doing when going after Relica.¡± A swirling miasma of Negative Energy leaked out of him, his skin sunken and sickly as Yomi¡¯s influence twisted into his spiritual center; rotten vapors flowed out with every breath the unconscious man took, doing his best to keep the insidious element at bay. Arthur¡¯s eyes tightened. ¡°Are you strong enough after the last incident, Jeanne?¡± The woman hugged herself, a shiver passing through her frame as she studied the demonification in progress. ¡°My strength matters little in this exchange; I am only here to direct the Ichor like a funnel, which doesn¡¯t require much¡­ I am speechless, Rachel. To think you channeled this kind of¡­ hazardous pollutant is difficult to swallow.¡± ¡°You should have seen Yomi itself,¡± she said with a short laugh, ¡°or¡­ met Izanami in the flesh. Ironically, I think you might sympathize with her more than you think.¡± Jeanne offered a strained smile. ¡°On the contrary, I believe all demons and fallen angels can be saved. Even devils, born in the corruption of Hell, can be redeemed¡­ if they seek it. It is never easy, but it is a pursuit worth making.¡± ¡°And then you have me,¡± Rachel said, throwing open her arms to invite their gaze. ¡°I mingle with the damned and divine! What does that say about me?¡± The blonde¡¯s blue eyes softened. ¡°It says you are like everyone else, including me: a complicated soul, seeking a better life. Our paths may differ, but our pursuits remain the same, and it is there we may find common ground.¡± Crossing her legs and smoothing out her skirt, Rachel streamed out a hot puff of air. ¡°You really are a different kind of Saint than Barbara or Charlemagne,¡± she whispered, ears lifting and looking toward the door as the doctor put in his credentials to enter. ¡°Barb¡¯s chill, Charles is the schemer, and you¡¯re the blonde trying to get along with everyone.¡± ¡°Aww. That¡¯s nice of you to say! I have enjoyed my time with Barbara, as well, and she has been very adamant about me not calling her a saint. It is something Charles and I have discussed as of recent.¡± ¡°Cool. Cool. Hmm. Let¡¯s hope this works¡­ because I know a certain bedridden girl who would like to plan her wedding and a redhead waiting to pop the champagne when I tell him the news. What do you need, Doc?¡± The doctor showed a positive attitude while displaying the kit under his arm; Jeanne and Arthur listened as he explained. ¡°From what General Dallas told me, you have much thicker blood than the average person, so I¡¯ve brought a large tube and needle. This should only take a moment. But, umm¡­ I was told there would be some kind of¡­ magical element to this transfusion? This is all very new to me,¡± he laughed. Jeanne grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to insert herself between her and Galahad. ¡°I will hold the tube and maintain the Ichor¡¯s holy properties without it dispersing into the aether¡­ It could attract unwanted attention otherwise if I do not consolidate it.¡± Rachel hummed, extracting more from the statement than Jeanne probably meant to reveal about Charlemagne¡¯s plots, no doubt, or maybe she did it on purpose. Either way, the revelation told her that if she bled, then the Ichor could attract some kind of supernatural sharks or undesired attention. She had to be careful. Arthur seemed to catch it as well by his thoughtful expression. The doctor slid right past the topic and inserted the needle, handing Jeanne the tube as he did the same for Galahad. Silence ensued as they watched her shimmering white blood slowly move down the plastic, a light golden outline from Jeanne keeping the divine elements concentrated. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Rachel asked, feeling Nia stir within her as the procedure began. A shrug came from the physician. ¡°Typically, a transfusion can take one to four hours, depending on which parts of the blood you receive and how much blood you need, which are both pieces of the equation I¡¯m missing. I assume until the patient is better from what little I was told.¡± Arthur was by the boy¡¯s side, arms crossed tightly against his chest. ¡°I can already sense his natural defenses strengthening¡­ Jeanne, you don¡¯t need to do more. I¡¯d rather you conserve your strength by only being the Ichor¡¯s guide rather than trying to offer your own support.¡± ¡°Guilty,¡± the French woman said with a strained chuckle. ¡°I have always been one to try to go above and beyond. I will satisfy myself by getting acquainted with the, eh¡­ blood itself¡­ Rachel, she is so weak¡­ Far more damaged than I believed.¡± The doctor looked utterly confused, yet Rachel knew the blonde was talking about Nike, trying to keep the need-to-know information subtle. ¡°We can discuss it later,¡± Rachel muttered, feeling a tad uncomfortable as she felt her own strength being sapped. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ leaking Lunar Energy, but I guess that¡¯s to be expected.¡± Jeanne shook her head, a small light brightening in her dazzling blue eyes. ¡°No, it is being converted! This will help her recovery rate.¡± Rachel frowned. If Nike was absorbing her Neutral Lunar Energy, then she would do the same with Positive Force. It would be something she¡¯d have to bring up to the Moon Buns after this procedure when she met up with Anthony and her mother. Nike could be one of the reasons why she¡¯d felt so physically weak recently; the Personification had been sapping strength from her, much as Rachel had been draining spiritual restoring energy from the divine woman. Telling the two Legends that she¡¯d be absent for a time, she retreated into her inner world with Nia to study the unconscious Personification of Victory. There was a lot to consider when it came to sharing her spirit with someone, including Nia. Her thoughts returned to the clam incident, where the troll had gone completely out of control. Yes, her relationship with Nike was symbiotic right now, but what if the clam¡¯s monstrification force had managed to slide past Nia¡¯s defenses and gain direct access to her, and thereby Nike? Suddenly, that simple incident didn¡¯t look so simple. Yet, it went even deeper than that. Studying the silver-haired Personification, she noted the pink robe Nia had crafted for her, modeled after some online fanart Scarlet had shown her. The woman¡¯s wings had hardly grown at all, but that wasn¡¯t surprising with how badly Dionysus had ravaged her. She looked so helpless and vulnerable, but Jeanne¡¯s subtle comments had opened up a whole new line of thought in Rachel. ¡°Nia,¡± she whispered, fist pressed against her nose as she leaned against the chair¡¯s armrest, ¡°there may have been a chance that we unleashed a corrupted Nike on the world¡­¡± Her clone glanced away from the mirror she¡¯d been using to see how she¡¯d look in all the fantasy outfits Alexa and Selvaria had shown her. ¡°I see. So, I was right in thinking that those Infernal clams would have affected me¡­ We need to up our spiritual defenses.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than that,¡± she returned, shifting to the opposite side of the chair and rubbing her temple. ¡°¡­We have Nike inside of us¡­ Think about it. Why is Charlemagne so invested in being here in DC right now? Why did he push Jeanne to join him? Why did an archangel tell Jeanne that Nike would be needed?¡± The bun brushed away her fantasy outfit to return to modern shorts and a T-shirt as she went to the opposite chair beside Nike¡¯s bed. ¡°The dimensional wall¡­ Wow. I can¡¯t believe we didn¡¯t think of that before,¡± she mumbled, running her fingers through her hair before shaking it out. ¡°That¡¯s why all the gods were invested in you¡­ You smuggled Nike through the barrier; she¡¯s the sole 5th-dimensional entity on this side.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Rachel hummed, unsure how she was supposed to feel about that. ¡°Was this Cerridwen¡¯s plan from the start? Is that why Izanami took such a keen interest in completing the Legend Quest? Chang¡¯e seemed quite concerned about Nike¡¯s state, despite them having no contact before this¡­ So was the angel that blocked Dionysus from interfering further with his restriction.¡± Nia drew her knee up to rest her chin. ¡°Sure, the Positive Energy beings might see it as a win to have someone from their side on the field, but she¡¯s far from inside their faction. Maybe when she recovers, she can create a bridge on this side to the higher dimensions?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rachel mumbled, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s just something to keep in mind. We have a literal world destroyer or savior living within us that could influence things on a scale none of us can fully grasp.¡± She had visions of the corrupted Personification of Victory directing a meteorite to devastate their planet, twice the size of the one that destroyed the dinosaurs, or her grace shining down to uplift heroes across the world to her cause. ¡°I¡¯m sure when she does get well enough to speak, we¡¯ll have a lot to discuss. Until then, we keep pushing to build up our world influence¡­ because Jeanne¡¯s angelic messenger was right¡­ Something big is coming, and we¡¯ll need all the help we can get.¡± Volume 2 Amazon Pre-Order Up (10/30/2024) Well, it''s 10/26/24, and I''ve tried to wait for most of the entire day to give people a chance to read Volume 2, having given six extra days to what I had planned. Vol. 2 has been compete and available to read for about 3 months now. The artwork is done and the book is out for preorder. I hope you all enjoyed the volume! If you could give it a review or support me for the entertainment, then that would be be helpful. I also hope you are enjoying Volume 3. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Please give a thanks for Val helping me to edit it. I am going to start removing the Vol. 2 chapters from the public now. Pre-Order is Live on the Oct. 30th! Amazon Pre-Order Link Cover: B3 — 0. Collapsing World Zoe¡¯s heart raced as she dodged the goblin¡¯s swinging club, the forest around them alive with the cacophony of battle; here, in her internal world, she was amazing! The dense foliage echoed with the growls and snarls of goblins, mingled with the shouts and cries of her three comrades. The moon hung high, its blue light filtering through the canopy, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. Rachel was a blur of motion beside her, her silver hair reflecting the moonlight as she swung her hammer with deadly precision, each blow resonating with a satisfying crunch of goblin bone. Scarlet was flitting between targets, blood dancing around her, the crystal sparkling amidst the lunar rays. And, a new addition to her nightly training was magical girl empowered Alexa! ¡°Watch out, Zoe!¡± Rachel shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. She pounded the skull of another goblin, her movements fluid and fierce. ¡°Another pack coming in from the north. Alexa¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Alexa¡¯s voice was strong and clear as she floated above the fray, her magical girl outfit shimmering with ethereal light. With a flourish of her wand, she sent blasts of energy into the advancing goblins, the air crackling with power. A gust of wind surged from her, creating a protective barrier that shimmered. ¡°That should last five minutes!¡± Zoe¡¯s claws extended instinctively as she lunged at a goblin that had gotten too close, her feline reflexes saving her from a deadly blow. She¡¯d seen it coming but wanted to see how worried Rachel would get. She could feel the strain in her muscles, the burn of exertion¡ªbut she was keeping up. She could sense the rhythm of the fight, the push and pull of the battle. Every move was calculated, every strike precise. Her ears were up, tail weaving with her movements for balance, and she was as swift as Rachel! Only¡­this was Anthony¡¯s first Quest Rachel, but Rachel nonetheless. The forest itself seemed alive, branches swaying as if in response to the violence below. The scent of pine and earth filled her nostrils, mingling with the metallic tang of goblin blood. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, roots and fallen leaves making each step a calculated risk. She could hear the rustle of leaves and the distant howl of nocturnal creatures, all blending into the symphony of combat. Rachel¡¯s hammer swung in a wide arc, connecting with a goblin¡¯s head and sending it sprawling to the ground. ¡°Zoe, to your¡ª¡± ¡°Wait! Stop. Stop. Stop¡­¡± Zoe groaned, a goblin¡¯s blade inches from cutting off her tail. The whole world froze, and she backed up, ear twitching while surveying the hundreds of goblins that lay around the clearing, a new company rolling in that Alexa was holding back. Alexa¡¯s transformation was from a conversation they¡¯d both had before bed. Zoe¡¯s agitated eyes darted to the hammer in Rachel¡¯s hands, the blood flying around Scarlet, and the totally fictional Alexa flying overhead, flinging overpowered magic like she was Fiona. Spinning around, she let loose a low growl, spread out her arms, and plopped onto a mattress that appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Why am I buffing everyone with things they shouldn¡¯t even have at this level? It¡¯s cool¡­but it¡¯s not helping me.¡± She pulled up her data sheet and flipped through the screens, her nose creased as she said the same dull phrase over and over again. ¡°Rank S¡­Grade One. Rank S¡­Grade One. I¡¯m Level 9, and I don¡¯t even have a single Grade Two Feat! I suck¡­ Rachel was popping off and getting Grade advancements like crazy. I bet she has a Grade Three Feat at this point¡­and is a way higher level. I went on all of Anthony¡¯s Quests with the girls¡­but I really didn¡¯t do much.¡± Feeling unfulfilled and as if she¡¯d hit a hard cap, she rolled over on the mattress to flick back through the Feats, everyone still frozen around her. ¡°Know what I need? A freakin¡¯ Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat Feat. I have all the info that Rachel has¡­well, granted, there may be some new stuff when she gets out, but¡­ I need to do something to unlock an Achievement Feat¡­or is that only for Legendkin and Mythickin? C¡¯mon, think! You do this every night, Zoe, so figure something out! You¡¯re supposed to be a gamer¡­ Nothing works, though.¡± Nibbling on the inside of her cheek, she considered everything Rachel and the others told her. Most of them got their huge upgrades through high-stress situations. Although Rachel did get favoritism from a ton of gods and goddesses. Then again, she kind of put herself in the position to get that favor. A new thought popped into her head, sparking a big grin. ¡°What if¡­I tried to will a Feat into being? This internal world space responds to anything I try, so¡­ Why not give it a shot?¡± Wiping away the battle scene with the goblins, Zoe¡¯s tail flicked nervously as she took a deep breath, knowing exactly what she wanted¡ªone of the most OP abilities in all of fiction! Summoning the memory of one of her physics professors, she listened to him give a super fun lecture that included someone having such a concept as a superpower. The middle-aged man¡¯s voice was engaging and deep, drawing her back to her school days, daydreaming about living in an anime. ¡°Schr?dinger¡¯s cat is the theoretical concept of a quantum particle being both alive and dead, hidden and unhidden until it is observed. The idea that a feline might exist in a state of superposition, or a certain superhero who can be anywhere and everywhere unless observed is an interesting concept, is it not?¡± Zoe¡¯s ears twitched with excitement as the short scene came to a close. Sitting up on the mattress, she closed her eyes and focused, chanting softly, ¡°I want [Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat] Feat¡­ I want [Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat] Feat¡­¡± She repeated the words like a mantra, willing the power into existence. Her heart raced as she concentrated, feeling the ambient energy of her internal world shifting and responding to her desire. It was working! She could feel it! Or¡­it could be her stomach; she¡¯d had an upset stomach lately when she allowed her mind to wander back to her MIA family members. A strange sensation washed over her, like the pulse of the universe gently brushing against her consciousness. And then, the chime of a bell rang across an endless expanse. She opened her eyes, expecting to see some sort of change, but¡­there was nothing. She sighed in frustration and slumped back onto the mattress. ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t work,¡± she muttered, her ears flicking irritably. She paused, her tail curling around her, and considered a different approach. ¡°Okay, ¡®manifest your destiny¡¯ didn¡¯t work. If I can¡¯t just make the Feat appear¡­ Maybe I can ask for a way to get it. Or a mentor to teach me. Or¡­anything¡ªjust anything at this point.¡± Closing her eyes again, Zoe took a deep breath. ¡°Give me a way to obtain the [Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat] Feat. I want something to help me keep up and not get left behind by everyone! Give me a sensei. Give me anything that can help me achieve it,¡± she fervently whispered. ¡°Anything¡­¡± She heard another soft chime, like the tinkling of a bell, and her eyes snapped open. Sitting in front of her was a Chinese elementary girl with ink-black locks curling under her jaw and large, greenish-yellow eyes. She wore a short, red summer cheongsam with golden bow-ties sewn around the edges, her twin, crimson-tipped tails flicking with curiosity. ¡°Eh! It worked?¡± Zoe gasped, matching the Chinese kid¡¯s tilted-eared stare. The girl looked around Zoe¡¯s inner world, a mixture of intrigue and slight confusion on her face. ¡°Uh. Hi!¡± ¡°Nilly doesn¡¯t know how Nilly got here,¡± the girl said, her voice high-pitched and playful. She blinked at Zoe, her feline eyes narrowing. ¡°This isn¡¯t Nilly¡¯s space. Nilly¡¯s been on the swirly doom spinner ride but Nilly hasn¡¯t been on it yet.¡± A lightbulb clicked on in the girl¡¯s expression. ¡°Ooh. Fox friend¡¯s special path! Yes. Yes. Nilly sees. Nilly sees. Auntie Rose. Nilly heard ripply space dreams of a kitty. Did little Kitty-Cat call Nilly for help? Nilly¡¯s strong, you know!¡± she winked, Zoe trying to keep up. ¡°Nilly¡¯s a sneaky-sneaky kitty. Mom of the Kittens is Nilly; just call Nilly, Mommy Nilly! Nilly can help because Zoe is a scared little kitty, and Nilly is the big mama kitty!¡± Zoe¡¯s heart pounded, her throat going dry as she leaned to the side to spot the girls swaying split tails¡ªshe knew what this creature was. ¡°You¡¯re¡­Nilly? You¡¯re a Nekomata?¡± she stammered, unable to believe her eyes. ¡°Are you real? Am I just imagining this and summoned you out of nowhere to make me feel better?¡± Nilly tilted her head, her ears twitching. ¡°Nilly isn¡¯t a Nekomata. Nilly¡¯s never been here. Nilly¡¯s always been here. Nilly is Nilly! Why is Kitty-Cat surprised? Nilly is super strong! Nilly can see everything. Nilly knows all the things,¡± she proudly proclaimed. ¡°Okay,¡± she mumbled, matching her energy. ¡°And where did Nilly come from?¡± ¡°The big ocean battle of spinning doom! Nilly needs to gobble up the sardinia armada so Nilly doesn¡¯t go poof. So Nilly knows of Scarlet¡¯s little playtime with scary-ma-things. Eh¡ªEldritch-a-ma-bobs? Mhm! Mhm! Nilly knows! Nilly knows,¡± she repeated, leaning in way too close to look at her. ¡°Zoe wants Nilly¡¯s help?¡± Zoe¡¯s mind raced, trying to process the unexpected appearance of this mysterious cat-girl. ¡°So Nilly¡¯s like¡­a cat goddess?¡± Nilly snorted, body shaking as she fell back and rolled around the mattress. ¡°Nilly isn¡¯t a little tiny kitty cat! Nilly is the biggest kitty cat! Funny little kitten. Funny, funny!¡± ¡°Right. Uh, I¡­I was trying to get a new Feat. Something really powerful called, eh, Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat. Have you¡­heard of it, Cat Mom? I thought maybe I could, I don¡¯t know¡­create it or find someone to teach me how to get it. Do¡­you know how I can get stronger?¡± Nilly¡¯s eyes widened, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. ¡°Oh! Nilly likes that. Little Seed kitten wants a special power! Seed Kitten wants Nilly¡¯s powers like Karma has lots and lots of fun other powers. Nilly can help, maybe¡­¡± She jumped up and Zoe¡¯s mind blanked as she looked around, seeing Rachel in some fancy blood library, pouring over some papers before tossing them into the fire. ¡°Where¡­are we? I¡¯ve never been anywhere like this. Is this¡­live?! Is that really Rachel?!¡± Nilly¡¯s big eyes narrowed with a secretive smile. ¡°Nilly is very good at finding things and teaching things and getting to places Nilly shouldn¡¯t go. Nilly is the best! Everyone knows Nilly.¡± Zoe swallowed nervously, feeling a mixture of hope and apprehension. ¡°You can help me? Really?¡± ¡°Nilly can do anything!¡± the girl declared, puffing up her chest. She skipped over to Rachel to start looking at her from every angle. Every time Zoe blinked, she was in a new position, sometimes around the library looking at books, and sometimes sleeping on the couch, her movements fluid and graceful. ¡°Ooh! Nilly sees lots of Seeds. Greater Seeds, Hidden Seeds, Little Seeds, Secret Seeds¡­ Little Seedling Kitten wants to be a helpful kitty. Nilly knows many secrets. Nilly can give Kitty-Cat some of Nilly¡¯s power. Nilly can change Little Seed into Founder Kitty Seed. But first¡­¡± The Chinese cat girl vanished with the rest of the library. They were now in the center of the white base platform of her inner world, and the Nekomata¡¯s lips peeled back to show monstrous fangs, her wide, frightening eyes locked on her. With each word, the girl aged, new earring loops appearing with each increase in age before she stood right in front of her, now the same age as her. ¡°Nilly needs to know¡­ Why does Zoe really want this power? Nilly wants to know.¡± Zoe hesitated before the terrifying girl¡¯s close face. Do I really want to do this? Rachel¡¯s made deals with devils and Hell Lords¡­ Okay, that¡¯s a horrible example! I just¡­ ¡°I want to be stronger,¡± she finally said. ¡°I want to help my friends and protect them. And¡­and I want to prove to myself that I can be just as powerful as Rachel and the others. I don¡¯t want to be left behind¡­to be forgotten.¡± Nilly¡¯s expression softened slightly, and she nodded, her tails weaving in the air behind her. ¡°Kitty-Cat has a good heart. Nilly likes that. Nilly doesn¡¯t want to be forgotten, either. Nilly will help. But Kitty-Cat must listen and learn. Nilly¡¯s lessons are not easy¡­ Nilly is a scary, petty, and evil kitty¡­ Nilly is a mean, mean kitty mom to those who hurt Nilly and Nilly¡¯s kittens. Can Zoe be like Nilly? Can Zoe eat everything like Nilly?¡± Zoe gulped as the cat leaned forward, centimeters between them, locked inside the cat¡¯s swirling, manic eyes. Zoe gulped, finding it hard to breathe, but she couldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity. Finally, someone was taking an interest in her¡­ She had someone who could help her. ¡°If someone hurts my friend¡­I¡¯ll do whatever is necessary.¡± Zoe didn¡¯t even blink, and Nilly was a meter away, a middle school girl now. She clapped her hands, her face lighting up with excitement. ¡°Good! Nilly likes her newest kitty friend¡¯s spirit. Cat moms take care of their kittens! Nilly will change her new kitten¡¯s Little Seed. Welcome to the Cat Family!¡± Zoe couldn¡¯t react as Nilly was abruptly in front of her, a finger flicking against her forehead; now, she was a mature, gorgeous woman, showing a mischievous smirk. ¡°You¡¯ll forget about me, but I¡¯ll be around¡­ New kittens are the most adorable things. Welcome my Cat Family, little one.¡± Zoe felt a tugging sensation, a strange pulling that disrupted her focus. Nilly¡¯s adult face blurred and faded. She blinked, confusion washing over her as the vivid, terrifying encounter dissolved. She opened her eyes to find herself in a cozy guest room, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. A strange bell sound lingered in the air before a concerned man¡¯s face loomed above her. ¡°You aren¡¯t¡ªhey, hey!¡± ¡°What are you doing in my room?!¡± Claws extending and a hiss rumbling in her throat, she leaped back with feline grace, ready for a fight before realizing it was one of the marines that were stationed to guard them. He held up his hands in defense, backing away to give her room. ¡°I apologize for entering without permission, but you weren¡¯t responding to my knocks, and I¡¯m not sure what shit to expect with any hostiles, considering the report I was given.¡± Zoe¡¯s cheeks turned pink, realizing it was likely her [Catlike Nature] Feat that had alerted her to his shakes, despite being in her inner world that generally blocked out all outside activity. They darkened further upon realizing she was in a sports bra and silky sleeping shorts. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, uh¡­ Why did you need me?¡± she tentatively asked, cat ears twitching. She snatched her discarded t-shirt on a sitting chair to throw on as the soldier turned away respectfully. ¡°Did something happen?¡± The tall marine man responded with a serious expression, acting as professionally as most of the military men that she¡¯d recently encountered. ¡°Captain Barbara has an urgent message for you and you weren¡¯t picking up, so I was sent to see if there was an issue.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Sorry about that,¡± she mumbled, her tail stiff and heartbeat still thumping. ¡°Is everything alright, sweetie?¡± Molly appeared in the doorway as Zoe shuffled past him to get to her phone on the nightstand; her husband was close behind her. Message delivered, the soldier promptly turned, nodded to Molly, and left to return outside to his station. ¡°Just relaying a message, Ma¡¯am. I apologize for the early morning intrusion.¡± Zoe showed a strained smile after snatching up the device. Rachel¡¯s parents lingered in the doorway, looking to her for answers; she heard others in the house rising for the morning. ¡°Thanks for inviting me to stay with you since I don¡¯t really have anywhere to go, Mr. and Mrs. Park. I was just in my internal world and¡­had a hard time waking up. Captain Barbara needed to get a hold of me, I guess.¡± Molly¡¯s brown eyes lit up as she stepped inside. ¡°Is it about your parents? Did her friend get in touch with them?¡± Zoe shrugged, feeling a little hopeful herself. ¡°Probably. I can¡¯t see any other reason why she¡¯d want to get in touch with someone like me. Is¡­Jeanne still here?¡± she whispered, opening the blinds to look at the fancy back pool area, reminding her how Rachel¡¯s parents were fairly wealthy business owners. Sam crossed his arms and joined his wife, following her gaze through the window. ¡°She went to sleep three hours ago, when I woke up to take a few business calls. She went to sleep on the deck since she¡¯s guarding the back. You should be able to see her banner¡­there, shielding that half of the house from anyone entering.¡± ¡°That¡¯s comforting,¡± Zoe gulped, ears peeling back further and tail drooping at how much less useful she was than the legendary Frenchwoman. ¡°Thanks for worrying about me and taking care of me¡­ I feel like I¡¯m not really helping at all. No, forget I said anything!¡± she quickly pivoted upon seeing the worry that touched the pair¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is, eh, Felix awake?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Molly pulled her into a tight hug that made Zoe want to cry; she wanted to feel her mom¡¯s hug more than anything. ¡°We¡¯d expect another family to do no less if Rachel was in your position, Zoe, and you¡¯ve been a wonderful support to Alexa. You two have so much in common. And no, Felix is still asleep; he tried to stay up another night in case his sister called.¡± Sam¡¯s gentle smile caught her attention as he nodded and pulled back a little to give them space. ¡°You¡¯ve got sharp ears and instincts, as well, Zoe. Jeanne told me yesterday that you¡¯re stronger than the average Beastkin she¡¯s met. Have a little faith in yourself. Rachel chose you out of everyone else in your college to support her, and my daughter doesn¡¯t select just anyone to help her.¡± ¡°True,¡± Zoe whispered, thinking back on the time she¡¯d spent with Rachel just after The Oscillation. ¡°Domestic Cats do have some interesting things in mythology and folklore and stuff, so¡­who knows. Anyway! Thanks for cheering me up,¡± she grinned, feeling a bit better. ¡°Of course,¡± the dark-haired Korean mother returned, squeezing her hand. ¡°I think now is a good time to start cooking everyone¡¯s breakfast, including the marines that are defending us! Plus, I think we have some new neighbors moving in,¡± she mumbled with a slight frown, looking at the wall. ¡°The Graysons did seem uncomfortable learning about Rachel¡¯s involvement in the Miami incident and her working with the government.¡± Sam rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Vince was always on some anti-government shit. Honestly, I¡¯m glad they¡¯ve moved. It will make the local discussions lean less toward conspiracy theories. He probably believes that ridiculous talk about those who changed being aliens.¡± ¡°Maybe our girl is an alien,¡± Molly chimed with a wink that made her husband laugh. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen our girl so flustered as when I play with her tail or ears. Our girl has a new weakness I can exploit!¡± Zoe couldn¡¯t help a smile, waving the two parents off. They were so different from Rachel; sure, they were busy-bodies, like, super active, but they were also very kind and supportive. Molly was pretty overprotective, though, and Zoe noticed she¡¯d always be worrying about someone close by¡ªshe was a mother, through and through. Now alone, Zoe swiped at the phone screen, groaning as she saw several missed calls and voicemails. She hovered over the voicemail option before her nervous stomach got the better of her and she shivered. Trying to work herself up to it, she quickly pulled on a hoodie to cover her pajamas, threw up the hood, and slipped on some jogging shorts with a slit cut for her tail. Zoe stretched again, her throat dry and body still tingling from the dream. She could hear the faint sounds of Molly and her husband talking in Korean while the woman worked the kitchen downstairs, their voices comforting in the early morning quiet. The soft hum of a moving truck and distant chatter told her that some neighbors were moving in next door. I want to call back¡­ I want to know, but¡­but if they haven¡¯t called me in over a month, then¡­ I don¡¯t get it. Why wouldn¡¯t anyone in my family call? Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn¡¯t eaten much last night. She headed out of the guest room and into the large upstairs hallway. On her way downstairs, she looked at the expansive grand-front gathering area, leading out to the party area in the spacious back. The house really was massive, with at least 6,600 square feet of ocean-side property. It didn¡¯t feel real staying at the extravagant house and neighborhood. Cocoa Beach was unreal. Her ears twitched at the various sounds of the house waking up. As she reached the bottom step, she could see Molly bustling around the kitchen, her husband sipping coffee at the table. ¡°Morning, Zoe!¡± Molly called cheerfully. ¡°Any news?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m going to go on a walk and call her,¡± Zoe replied with a questioning look. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s okay?¡± Molly¡¯s eyes softened at her raspy throat. ¡°Just make sure to have one of the marines outside follow you. I hope it¡¯s good news. Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. Okay?¡± Zoe silently nodded to not let the emotions get the better of her, and she slipped out of the roomy kitchen space and house. Motioning for one of the marines stationed around the front driveway, she let them know she was going on a walk. She took a deep breath, letting her heart steady now that she was alone, and pressed the redial option for Captain Barbara. One arm holding her stomach, she waited for her to pick up. As the phone rang, she looked at the big moving trucks next door, a sense of anticipation and hope mingling with the remnants of her nonsensical dream. Everything can be fine! There were a lot of troubles and craziness that happened after The Oscillation. All my friends are basically MIA, off with their own family, and some of them couldn¡¯t get in contact with them for like two weeks¡­ It¡¯s not impossible. Just¡­weird no one in my family is picking up. When Captain Barbara¡¯s voice finally came through the line, Zoe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Captain Barbara? It¡¯s Zoe. Umm. You called?¡± ¡°Yes, Zoe,¡± the Legend paused, seemingly holding her phone against her chest while responding to another soldier. ¡°Right. Hmm. I wanted to update you on a few things. Are you alone?¡± Pain erupted in Zoe¡¯s chest, her retracted fingernails pressing into her tight belly as she forced a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­something a girl wants to hear. I¡¯m guessing there were some¡­issues involving my family.¡± She glanced around, trying to prepare herself and fight back tears from falling. ¡°I¡¯m out on a walk alone¡ªwell, there¡¯s the marine soldier following me, but yeah. I¡¯m alone.¡± Barbara¡¯s voice was soft and filled with a heavy note. ¡°I¡¯d rather you be around someone, if I¡¯m being honest. Can you return to the house and have Molly, Alexa, or Felix sit with you?¡± Slowing to a stop, Zoe found it hard to unlock her jaw, feeling as if a giant rubber band was looping around her chest. ¡°...Ahem, yeah. Yeah, sure. I can do that¡­ Just give me a second.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop a few tears falling down her cheeks on what felt like an endless journey back to the house, her feet dragging and ears low. ¡°Everyone was going to a big family gathering¡­ I guess¡­ No, just give me a second.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Zoe¡¯s fingers trembled as she fumbled to unlock the front door, her breath coming in shaky gasps. The marine soldier gave her a concerned glance but maintained a respectful distance. She forced herself to take a steadying breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure as she stepped inside. ¡°Molly, Sam,¡± Zoe called, her voice cracking. ¡°Can you come here for a second?¡± Molly appeared almost immediately, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her brow furrowed. ¡°What is it, sweetie?¡± ¡°Captain Barbara wants to tell me something important. She¡­she asked me to have someone with me,¡± Zoe whispered, her voice barely holding it together. Understanding dawned in Molly¡¯s eyes, and she quickly wrapped her in a comforting embrace. ¡°Of course, sweetheart. We¡¯re right here. Sam, come on.¡± Sam joined them, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they guided her to the front room chairs. They sat down together on the plush couch, with Molly on one side and Sam on the other, both offering silent support. Zoe put the phone on speaker, body quaking now. ¡°Okay, Captain Barbara. I¡¯m¡­ Ahem. I¡¯m with Molly and Sam now.¡± Barbara¡¯s voice was gentle but firm as Alexa came down the stairs, not having any clue about what was happening. ¡°Thank you, Zoe. I wanted to update you on your family. There was a tragic incident involving a gas leak at your house¡­ I¡¯m so sorry, Zoe. There were no survivors.¡± Zoe¡¯s heart stopped, the words not fully registering. ¡°What¡­ A gas leak? No, that can¡¯t be right. There must be some mistake. My whole family was at that gathering.¡± Molly tightened her grip on Zoe¡¯s hand, tears welling in her own eyes. Sam¡¯s jaw clenched, his face reflecting the same disbelief and sorrow. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Zoe,¡± Barbara continued, her tone heavy. ¡°We¡¯ve been investigating it for the past two weeks. There doesn¡¯t appear to be any foul play, as crazy as that seems, but we can¡¯t rule anything out completely. It¡¯s just¡­there¡¯s no sign of anything other than a tragic accident. I wanted to give you more¡­but I can¡¯t.¡± Tears streamed down Zoe¡¯s cheeks, her body shaking with sobs. ¡°How¡­how can my entire family be gone? It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Molly pulled Zoe closer, her own tears falling as she stroked her hair and Alexa looked like she¡¯d been punched in the gut. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, sweetheart. We¡¯re here for you. We¡¯ll get through this together.¡± Barbara¡¯s voice remained steady, though it was clear she was deeply affected by the news she had to deliver. ¡°I know this is incredibly hard, Zoe. If there¡¯s anything we can do to help, please let us know. We¡¯re here for you, as well. Rachel should be back later tonight, if everything works out, but I doubt she¡¯ll be able to stop by the house with her busy schedule.¡± Zoe could barely speak through her tears, her world collapsing around her. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what to do. They were everything¡ªmy whole family¡­ How?¡± Sam squeezed her shoulder gently. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out, Zoe. You¡¯re not alone in this. Rachel brought you into our lives, and we¡¯ll be here for you as long as you need us.¡± The weight of the loss was crushing, the pain unbearable, and the reality almost too much to comprehend. Zoe''s mind spun in a dizzying spiral of disbelief and sorrow. She stared at the phone, still processing Barbara¡¯s words. ¡°How can everyone be gone? How could it be true?¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°All of them¡­ My cousins, my aunts, and uncles¡­ Not one of them survived?¡± Molly tightened her embrace, her tears mingling with Zoe¡¯s. ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetie. It¡¯s unimaginable. We¡¯ll help you get through this, one step at a time.¡± Zoe¡¯s head pounded, yet her grief was mingled with anger and a desperate need for answers gnawing at her insides. As the reality of the situation settled in, a soft, familiar chime echoed in her mind, almost drowned out by her racing thoughts. Her ears twitched, picking up the faint sound of a bell. Turning her head, she blinked in surprise as she spotted a small, red-tipped, two-tailed cat sitting calmly on the sofa across the room. It watched her with large, greenish-yellow eyes, its expression unreadable. ¡°Discover the truth. Go there and peer through time. After all¡­you were there. You were everywhere.¡± Zoe¡¯s breath hitched, and she wiped her eyes, unsure if she was hallucinating from the stress. Before she could react, the cat vanished into thin air, leaving only a lingering sense of her presence. A sudden, fierce hunger for the truth gripped her. The cat¡¯s presence stirred something within her. She couldn¡¯t accept that it was just a tragic accident. [Seed Evolution In Progress] [Domestic Cat Founder] [Achievement Feat Unlocked] [Adjacent Kit of Nilly X] [Hunger of the Nekomata X] [Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat I] [Feats Locked for 48 Hours While Seed Adapts] ¡°I need to know what really happened,¡± Zoe said, her voice stronger than before. ¡°I can¡¯t just¡­accept it like this. I need to go to my parents¡¯ house and find out the truth.¡± Sam and Molly exchanged worried glances, but Sam nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll help you, Zoe. Whatever it takes. We¡¯ll join you when Rachel comes back. Give yourself time to process.¡± Alexa, who had been standing silently by, stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug from the opposite side. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this together¡­ Zoe, your tail?¡± Zoe gave a start, glancing back to see her tail had split, now showing red tips. It didn¡¯t remain long on her thoughts, though. Even her locked Feats rang hollow to her at this moment. She had a feeling something was off, now more than ever. She didn¡¯t know how to react. Was there a right way to react?
Molly sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall as the sun faded beyond the horizon. It had been a long, painful day for everyone, especially Zoe. The young girl had spent most of it in tears, supported by Alexa and Felix, who did their best to comfort her. Molly had barely left her side, offering whatever solace she could, but there was nothing that could replace the hole in her heart¡ªshe knew that all too well. Despite all I know¡­everything I must allow to happen, there are somehow still unknowns that creep into our lives. I¡¯ve tried so hard to mitigate the fallout, yet things are progressing as if I¡¯d done nothing at all¡­ It¡¯s futile. Isn¡¯t that what you said, Mother? The radio clipped to Molly¡¯s belt buzzed, drawing her attention. She picked it up and listened to the marine sergeant stationed outside. ¡°Mrs. and Mr. Park, the new neighbors have arrived. They¡¯d like to meet you; I¡¯d say they may be worried about the military presence in the neighborhood, but they do have food. I¡¯d be cautious. Should I send them away?¡± Molly glanced at Sam, who had just entered the room. She was a little blown away that they now had to look out for poison from the neighbors. ¡°Should we?¡± His eyes mirrored her exhaustion and concern, but he gave a nod. ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s go meet them. It might be good to have a brief distraction and meet whoever is living next door. Hopefully, they won¡¯t be a conspiracy nut like the last one.¡± She walked over to Zoe, gently touching her shoulder. ¡°Sweetie, Alexa and Felix are here with you. Sam and I are going to step outside for a bit to meet the new neighbors. We won¡¯t be long, okay?¡± Zoe nodded, her eyes red and puffy. ¡°Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Park. It¡¯s¡­ I¡¯m really thankful to¡­to¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡± Molly gave her a reassuring smile before heading to the door with Sam. Nam and Jeanne, who had been a comforting presence throughout the day, joined them. As they stepped outside, the cool night air was a welcome change from the stuffy, tear-filled house, no matter its size. Molly took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day¡¯s events still heavy on her shoulders. Sam placed a comforting hand on her back as they walked toward the gate, Nam and Jeanne behind them, talking lowly. They walked toward the gate, where a young Filipino woman and what looked to be her seventeen-year-old sister stood, holding trays of food. The older woman stepped forward with a warm smile, speaking with a slight accent. ¡°Hello, we¡¯re so sorry to intrude so late, but it took a while to get everything moved inside and situated. We¡¯re the new neighbors!¡± Molly returned the smile, feeling a bit of the day¡¯s weight lift. ¡°Thank you so much for coming over to introduce yourself. It¡¯s been a tough day, and this is very thoughtful of you. I¡¯m Molly, and this is my husband, Sam. Nam is my oldest, and Jeanne is a friend staying with us.¡± Each of them gave a nod or short greeting once named. The older sister nodded, her smile unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m Carmelita, and this is my little sister, Bernila. We just moved in next door; the price on the house was too good to pass up, and the sale went through so fast! We were¡­kind of nervous. And then all of the military stuff,¡± she mumbled, gulping and looking back at the host of vehicles. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to intrude, but we wanted to introduce ourselves.¡± The pair handed over the trays, filled with a variety of Filipino dishes. Molly¡¯s heart warmed at their kindness, but knew they shouldn¡¯t eat it. If Jeanne was present, then she didn¡¯t feel all that worried about the pair attacking them, and the blonde showed a beaming smile. ¡°Thank you, really. It means a lot. Are you living with your parents or do they live overseas?¡± she asked, glancing at the large mansion next door before returning to the two young sisters. ¡°Would you like to come inside for a bit to chat?¡± Carmelita shook her head gently. ¡°We don¡¯t want to impose, especially on such a difficult day¡ªoh, sorry.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Molly whispered. The older sister stressed a smile and took a step back, rubbing her elbow as Bernila gave her a small frown and responded. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t hide it, Carmelita. You got powers from The Oscillation to see things from far away and you saw them talking about some rough stuff.¡± ¡°Bernila! That¡¯s¡­ Now we look suspicious,¡± she groaned. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to intrude¡­ I was just really concerned with all the military stuff. I apologize!¡± she said, swiftly bowing her head, her twin braids nearly touching the ground. Molly felt a shiver at the admission; having nosy neighbors certainly wasn¡¯t a plus, given the situation. Knowing her husband, she jumped in before his temper got the better of him for intruding on their lives. Molly gave Carmelita a warm, yet firm smile. ¡°That is¡­troubling to hear, but I can understand your situation and our own daughter tends to have some big ears. I get your concern, Carmelita, and I appreciate your sister¡¯s honesty and willingness to admit to intruding. But please, in the future, respect our privacy. I¡¯m sure you can understand how sensitive things are right now.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m sorry for such a bad first impression. It¡¯s just¡­difficult for people to trust those who have changed. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re not one of those people with prejudices¡­like our last neighbors.¡± Sam¡¯s brow furrowed as he glanced around at the armed men, ready to take action at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°It¡¯s been a rough day for all of us. The military is here to ensure our safety. Our daughter works closely with them, so please don¡¯t feel threatened by their presence. It¡¯s for the safety of everyone in the neighborhood.¡± Bernila shuffled her feet, glancing at her sister before speaking up. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­with everything that¡¯s been happening, we¡¯ve been really on edge. We saw some shady people lurking down a few streets earlier.¡± Carmelita nodded. ¡°I¡¯m really worried about my little sister¡¯s safety, and I¡¯ve been trying to scope out the area to see if, well, if everyone is okay with changed people. Do you¡­do you have anyone in the water scuba diving by chance?¡± Molly¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the mention of shady people and scuba divers. Before she could respond, Jeanne stepped forward, her expression turning from bright as the sun to the scene from a blood-soaked battleground. ¡°We don¡¯t have anyone in the water. That¡¯s definitely a cause for concern. You both should get inside your house and lock up. Molly, I think it¡¯s best if you gather everyone and head to the panic room until we can do a thorough sweep of the area.¡± Carmelita¡¯s face went pale, and she quickly nodded. ¡°Thank you for understanding. We¡¯ll go inside right away. The place has a pretty thick panic room, too. Can you tell us when everything is clear? Uh¡­here¡¯s our number¡ªis that alright to get right now?¡± she asked with slight panic. Molly tapped the woman¡¯s phone with her own to trade contact information, turning to the blonde, her expression troubled. ¡°Jeanne, do you really think it¡¯s necessary? It isn¡¯t uncommon for people to swim in the ocean.¡± Jeanne¡¯s eyes were hard and focused. ¡°Yes, I do. With the information they¡¯ve given us, we can¡¯t take any chances, especially with what is happening around Rachel right now. Let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Molly nodded, turning to Sam. ¡°That makes sense. Let¡¯s get Alexa and the kids into the panic room. Nam, can you help?¡± Nam nodded, his expression tense. ¡°Of course, Mom.¡± They swiftly headed back inside, the sense of urgency clear, yet something didn¡¯t feel right to Molly. This isn¡¯t supposed to happen¡­ Molly found Zoe still sitting with Alexa and Felix, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She knelt down beside her, gently touching her arm. ¡°Zoe, sweetie, we need to go to the panic room for a little while. Jeanne and Nam will help us get there. It¡¯s just a precaution, okay?¡± Zoe nodded, her voice small and shaky. ¡°Okay. What¡¯s going on?¡± The tension in the air was palpable as Molly and Sam led the way towards the panic room. Zoe clung to Alexa¡¯s hand, her mind still reeling from the devastating news about her family. Nam walked ahead of them, his eyes scanning every corner, ready to create his energy constructs at a moment¡¯s notice. Jeanne moved through the open back balcony, her eyes fixed on the docks. ¡°They somehow slipped past my barrier¡ªI can tell they¡¯re strong,¡± she muttered, her voice barely audible. ¡°Nam, protect everyone. I¡¯ll handle the rest out back.¡± With that, she leaped from the balcony, her lithe form disappearing below. The sudden sound of gunfire echoed through the neighborhood, causing everyone to flinch and pause as the radio sounded. ¡°Armed men in civilian vehicles engaged¡ªtires blown out. They appear to be gang members, possibly affiliated with the Miami gangs¡­ They¡¯re surrendering without a fight. Keep an eye on the roofs and nearby buildings. Move to support Jeanne¡­¡± A surge of blinding light and clash of metal came from below, the Legend engaging what seemed to be several opponents. Nam¡¯s jaw tightened as he focused on forming his constructs, the orange energy-like men taking shape around them. ¡°We need to move fast, Dad,¡± he urged, his voice steady despite the chaos outside, but she knew he must be struggling after the incident at the police station when he¡¯d first gained a seed. Molly¡¯s hand quaked in her husband¡¯s. Fate has made a serious move somewhere that countered Rachel¡¯s misfortune. It¡¯s the only answer. There¡¯s something bigger happening in the background if she¡¯s involved. As they hurried down the hallway, Molly¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. She kept a protective arm around Zoe, who was visibly trembling. Nam kept close to his pale-faced wife. ¡°Stay close, everyone,¡± she whispered, trying to keep her voice calm. ¡°Everything will be okay.¡± They reached the entrance to the panic room, and Nam positioned his constructs at strategic points to guard them. Molly took a deep breath, relieved that they had almost made it to safety. But just as they were about to enter, her heart stopped. From the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy figure phase through the wall, dressed in black, blending into the dim light. Her breath caught in her throat as the ninja-like assassin hurled a green-illuminated projectile¡ªit was aimed straight at her. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Molly¡¯s mind screamed for her to move, but her body felt paralyzed¡ªthis had never happened in the past. Why couldn¡¯t she move? It wasn¡¯t any normal Feat. No, this had to be Divine influence. She was stronger than this! She¡¯d trained for this¡­ Yet, she could only watch in horror as the deadly projectile hurtled towards her. Nam, reacting with lightning speed, moved into the path of the projectile, his constructs rushing to form a protective barrier. The green projectile struck Nam''s construct, shattering it into shards of energy before going right for her son¡¯s throat. ¡°Nam!¡± she screamed with Alexa. A radiance of white light erupted from beside Nam, feathers filling the hallway, and her son stumbled to the side, dragging Molly to the floor. A faint golden light radiated in the hallway, yet Molly¡¯s gaze was fixated on the green-edged throwing star, frozen in space as if locked in time. The black-dressed man was already in front of Molly, fractions away from sinking a knife into her skull. A frenzied energy seemed to lock everyone in place, saving her. Did Alexa have wings? A low hiss rattled the air, and Molly could see the assassin¡¯s brown eyes widen in horror as a small girl with a split, emerald-flaming tail somehow instantly appeared between them¡ªZoe. B3 — 1. A World On Fire Rachel stepped off the helicopter, her senses bombarded by the whirlwind of noise and wind; yet, the most concerning part was the strings of misfortune shifting against her. Something sinister and long-reaching was moving in the background. The relentless blades cut through the air, their roar drowning out even the faintest of sounds for most, but not her, as they headed toward a section of the closed docks where Saint Barbara awaited. Hands stuffed in her shorts pockets, she squinted against the downwash, her ears tilting in various directions to catch snippets of conversation. The familiar scent of saltwater mixed with the faint hint of aviation fuel filled her nostrils, and the early morning Miami air, cool yet carrying the promise of heat. Dawn was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows across the pier; the sky, a canvas of pale purples and pinks, slowly brightened as the sun prepared to rise. The air was crisp, with a light breeze carrying the tang of the ocean. Scarlet would need to get into shelter soon, and the Marine captain had prepared for that with a blacked-out limousine they¡¯d redesigned for her own unique use; Barbara had already told them that Omen would get a bill, which was fair. Rachel took a deep breath, her small tail swaying slightly with each step as she absorbed the atmosphere, the slight humidity already beginning to cling to her skin. The Cerberus Sisters and Nia were currently asleep in Scarlet¡¯s blood bed that trailed behind the hardened vespertine reaper¡ªthe Legend Quest had been the right choice. Scarlet was the first to move, jogging over to the place where the helicopter dropped off their loads. ¡°I¡¯ll grab my father and strap it to the limo!¡± she yelled over the whirling blades, not that she needed to with Rachel¡¯s sharp hearing. Rachel nodded, watching Scarlet¡¯s swift movements, her black hair whipping in the wind. She could sense the weight of the coffin even before Scarlet reached it, the burden both physical and emotional on the girl¡¯s face that marked their week-long Legend Quest. It was still crazy to think it had only been two days on the outside. Barbara stood nearby, sunglasses perched on her nose, her posture radiating authority and readiness. She acknowledged Rachel with a nod. ¡°Welcome back to shore,¡± the Legend said, her attention no doubt on the red-haired pirate as Cahira hopped out with a grin, stretching out and surveying the military ships patrolling the divide between Miami Beach and Miami. ¡°We have a lot to do in a short time, so let¡¯s get going.¡± Selvaria, Anthony, Fiona, and Maria disembarked in turn, each reacting to the intense wind and noise in their own way. Naturally, Fiona was hiding inside Maria¡¯s front to escape the beating blades. Separate vehicles were ready to take each of them to their pre-negotiated locations, and Barbara didn¡¯t seem happy about something by her frown. She was sure it would come up soon enough. As Rachel moved forward, she noticed signs of damage to the docks¡ªscorch marks on the concrete, bent railings, and scattered debris. The remnants of a recent skirmish were evident, a testament to the vampire attack, but not as much as she¡¯d anticipated. Dracula¡¯s assault had been a diversion, in any case. Barbara had already concluded there was another organization working the Dracula angle that President Leo had confirmed; other than that, it was classified and out of their hair. The group gathered around Barbara, exchanging greetings and light-hearted jabs to ease the tension. Rachel¡¯s ears tilted, picking up fragments of conversation from the dock workers and military personnel nearby. They spoke about the attack, or if it could even constitute that, with the warships that had met them before they reached the docks. ¡°Aye, looks like we missed a party,¡± Maria commented, her voice raised while following her toward the auburn-haired Legend. Her eyes scanned the damage, anxiety probably building and wondering if her block was safe. ¡°We splittin¡¯ up. Right, liebre lunar?¡± ¡°Just a minor skirmish,¡± Barbara replied, her tone more clipped and professional than Rachel had expected; something big must have happened. ¡°No civilian casualties since another secret unit handled a bunch of stuff in the background and we handled their ships before they docked.¡± She brushed her hair to the side and gestured at the cars she¡¯d brought for them as a crowd further up on the docks watched them, reporters already clamoring to be updated. Rachel¡¯s attention was drawn to a figure standing a little apart from the group, her posture stiff and uncertain. It took her a moment to recognize Selvaria¡¯s mother, Teri, her presence a shock to everyone. Selvaria froze, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and confusion. ¡°Anyway, Anthony, that car will take you to your girl. The one over there is for Cahira, Selv, and Fi, but I¡¯m guessing the kaiju is going to be a bit busy¡­¡± She trailed off as they watched Selvaria¡¯s eyes grow big as her mother waved from a distance away. ¡°Mom?¡± Selvaria¡¯s monotone voice was barely audible as she jogged to join her. ¡°Why are you here? You¡¯re supposed to be with Rachel¡¯s parents¡­¡± Teri moved forward, pulling Selvaria into a tight embrace. ¡°I had to come,¡± she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°I needed to see you, to know you¡¯re safe. And¡­there¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Milo¡­he passed away while you were gone.¡± Selvaria¡¯s eyes started to water, a rare touch of emotion in her voice as she contemplated losing her best friend. ¡°Oh¡­ Okay. I, umm¡­ I see¡­¡± Selvaria and her mother shared a moment while the rest of the group turned back to Barbara, not understanding what was going on with the sea dragon¡¯s loss; there was a slightly somber atmosphere, but they still cracked jokes about vampires, thankful to be back after the ordeal. Rachel began calculating how things might change, yet soon realized Milo was Selvaria¡¯s dog. Devastating, but something she could handle, and he was old. She¡¯d need some time with her mother, which wouldn¡¯t cut into the UK trip. ¡°Vampires, eh? It¡¯s a pleasure to come ashore, Cap!¡± Cahira said with a grin, jumping forward to hug the much taller Marine captain. ¡°The blood suckers always be causin¡¯ trouble. Bet they didn¡¯t expect to run into the bleedin¡¯ US Navy! Don¡¯t touch America¡¯s boats, they don¡¯t like that shit. Am I right?!¡± Barbara chuckled, her stern facade softening slightly. ¡°No, we don¡¯t. And they won¡¯t be back anytime soon. I hear you¡¯ve been brought into Omen¡­but don¡¯t make trouble for us and start stealing anything.¡± The redhead blinked and flashed her teeth with an innocent smile while breaking away. ¡°Never, Love! I¡¯ve got a clean deck, lassy, and why would a reputable merchant like meself be needin¡¯ to steal when I¡¯ve got a sugar mama frontin¡¯ the bill of adventure?!¡± she asked, hopping over to Rachel to throw an arm around her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m as spotless as a virgin lass on her weddin¡¯ day!¡± ¡°That, I highly doubt,¡± Rachel said with a strained smile while escaping her. ¡°Don¡¯t mind the flirty pirate. She¡¯ll go after anything that moves, but let¡¯s get going; Scarlet has a limited time and she¡¯s getting her dad into place.¡± ¡°Aww. Don¡¯t be paintin¡¯ a fine lover like meself as a land-locked whore, puffy tail!¡± Cahira cried. ¡°I assure ya, I¡¯m as pure as¡ª¡± ¡°As a merchant¡¯s double-entry accounting book,¡± Rachel finished for her, rolling her eyes. ¡°Na, your lyin¡¯ out of your ass, chica,¡± Maria bluntly followed up, turning the pirate¡¯s cheeks a tad pink as she laughed it off. ¡°You¡¯re nowhere near a virgin.¡± ¡°When did I say I was? I¡¯m sensin¡¯ some distrust here, lassies!¡± Cahira laughed, ¡°And I do be havin¡¯ a fine ass; thank ye for the compliment, beautiful!¡± ¡°We get it,¡± Rachel sighed. ¡°You¡¯re on probationary hire. Now get moving before the sun catches up with Scarlet.¡± ¡°Right, you be an inspirational Leader! We¡¯re goin¡¯ ta find supplies for the poor souls of Ireland, so get your wings into gear, Flutter Butt, and flutter on out of heaven! We¡¯ve got supplies to fetch!¡± Fiona pushed herself out of Maria¡¯s front with a small frown aimed at the energetic pirate. ¡°Okay, this girl is trouble!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the Irish in ya, love?¡± Barbara waved them toward their cars, Anthony already giving her a smile that said he had twenty on the redhead getting roasted or thrown off a bridge by the end of their journey. He went to the lone car to reach the hospital Amelia had been transported back to. Cahira and Fiona were already going to their vehicle, the fairy doing well at countering the pirate¡¯s teasing comments. Rachel let the stress building in her chest ease out while giving Scarlet a thumbs up as she went into the limo, the sun¡¯s light starting to cast worry on her face. The soldiers nearby finished strapping the coffin on the roof, with Maria going to help. Barbara joined Rachel on her path to Selvaria, holding back tears while in her mother¡¯s arms. Placing a hand on the sea dragon¡¯s shoulder, Rachel gave her an encouraging smile; Fiona and Cahira also calmed down as they approached, noticing Selvaria¡¯s listless tail. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take the morning with your mom? Talk to Cahira and Fi about catching up to them later. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be worried. Even heroes need time to mourn a pet, right?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Thanks, Rachel,¡± Selvaria sniffled, hugging her as the girl¡¯s mother gave her an encouraging smile. ¡°I know a lot of people are counting on me. I just¡­didn¡¯t have many friends growing up¡­ People saw me as a monster.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, sweetie,¡± her mother whispered, bringing her into another hug. ¡°Thank you, Rachel.¡± Barbara mirrored a compassionate smile before going to join Scarlet, stopping Maria on her way to check on the sea dragon. Explaining the situation and hopping into the seat beside Scarlet, Rachel gave Barbara a sideways glance, the muted hum of the engine a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions still swirling around them now that they were back in Miami. The muffled clamor of reporters faded into the background as they pulled away from the docks, the cityscape gradually coming into view through the tinted windows. Barbara¡¯s demeanor is always so composed, but I can see the tension in her jaw. Something big must have gone down while we were gone. Guess we¡¯ll find out soon enough. Barbara¡¯s golden eyes came into view as she took her sunglasses off and folded them to nest them on her uniform front. She adjusted the rosary around her neck, and Rachel decided to break the silence, her voice low but firm. ¡°What¡¯s got you on edge, Barbara? The skirmish? Did something happen in Montana?¡± Barbara¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°A lot is happening in Montana. There¡¯s been¡­movement, I suppose you could say. Not the kind I anticipated to be left in the dark on. Another organization has been active under President Leo¡¯s direct command, working the Dracula angle. We managed to contain it, but there are too many variables at play now.¡± Rachel frowned, her ears twitching slightly as she processed this. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s classified, even from you. If that¡¯s the case, I doubt I¡¯ll get an update on it when I make my report to General Dallas. That shouldn¡¯t make you this upset, though, since you¡¯re used to this kind of compartmentalization.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Scarlet mumbled, glancing between them. ¡°If someone else is working the Dracula angle, then doesn¡¯t that mean we can focus on bigger things?¡± Maria¡¯s arms tightened under her bust, her silver eyes narrowing. ¡°Dammit. Rachel¡¯s parents¡¯ house was attacked, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Rachel¡¯s ears pressed into the ceiling, and Scarlet stiffened. ¡°Shit is the only thing that would keep you stalling. How¡¯s Felix doing?¡± She took a deep breath, her fingers tapping a rhythm against her knee. ¡°They¡¯re fine, but yes, there was an attack on your family, Rachel. It wasn¡¯t from the Scarlet Hand.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears twitched, her muscles tensing as a flood of thoughts raced through her mind. Another faction? Another threat? ¡°Who then?¡± Barbara scratched her nose and glanced at the blackened windows. ¡°The attackers used ninja-like skills, but that doesn¡¯t narrow it down much. Your mother is convinced it was from South Korea, but she refused to elaborate, saying she couldn¡¯t. They were highly skilled and precise, targeting your mother specifically. And yes, Maria, Felix is fine.¡± She looked between Scarlet, Maria, and her. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you want me to explain everything from the start. I made sure to get all the information through the night.¡± Scarlet leaned forward, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light as she prepared her mind, letting it simmer to absorb the information. Scarlet¡¯s tongue was lodged in her throat, clearly wanting to ask a host of questions but remaining quiet so as not to split the focus. Maria chimed in, her tone more analytical than emotional. ¡°And why the hell now? The timing can¡¯t be a coincidence. What would they gain from targeting your parents?¡± Barbara sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°As I said, your mother believes it¡¯s related to her past. She wouldn¡¯t give me details, only that it¡¯s dangerous and not to pursue it. They were after something or someone she¡¯s connected to.¡± Rachel¡¯s frustration simmered just below the surface, her fingers curling into fists. Another faction, another layer of complexity. ¡°So they¡¯re still targets. If my mother said it was from South Korea, I¡¯m inclined to believe her. She has things she is keeping from me, as well.¡± Scarlet shifted in her seat, her blue eyes narrowing and fingers pressing against her thighs. ¡°I have a lot of property and stuff now, Rachel. A ton of it which I don¡¯t even know if my mom would know about¡ªmy dad handled all of the financial stuff in our home. There are probably a lot of places totally off the grid.¡± ¡°Thanks, Scarlet,¡± Rachel smiled, knowing she was doing her best to help. ¡°And Jeanne?¡± Barbara¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Jeanne was occupied with several powerful individuals who managed to isolate her for a crucial few seconds with some kind of dimensional shift¡ªsome kind of divine influence. It was all timed perfectly, but what they didn¡¯t anticipate¡­was Alexa stepping in to save Nam and your mother by momentarily freezing time. Zoe also played a crucial role, scaring them off.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. A silence fell over the limo. [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration] were all that kept Rachel¡¯s mind steady as her thoughts were thrown into wild territory at the image the Legend painted. ¡°Alexa¡­and Zoe?¡± she repeated, the faces of her blonde sister-in-law and college Domestic Cat acquaintance punching her in the nose. After several seconds, she slowly nodded. ¡°Alright. Tell me everything. We can¡¯t slow our current schedule, though. They¡¯re fine. That¡¯s enough for now. Take us to the Scarlet¡¯s bank so we can create an account for Omen and explain it from the beginning.¡± Barbara settled in, straightening her suit jacket and crossing her legs. ¡°As far as we¡¯re aware, it started with some new neighbors that moved in next door¡­¡± Listening to the timeline of events as they moved through the busy early-morning Miami streets, Rachel took in every piece and tacked it to a board later to connect to her giant internal puzzle; currently, it was even locked to her since learning about their internal vulnerabilities that Aurora¡¯s note left in Maria¡¯s room pointed out. When they neared the bank, Scarlet offered to go inside with Maria to fill everything out while they concluded their discussion. She vanished in shadows, bypassing the deadly sun to reach the bank¡¯s interior to speak to the representative Barbara had set up for them. Rachel sat back, rubbing her jaw in the ensuing silence after everything was laid bare. ¡°¡­Hmm. So, Zoe is now alone¡­ That¡¯s terrible. I¡¯ll have to address that, and it seems my mother is now attached to her. I can¡¯t believe I thought my mother was strict when she¡¯s the softest softy I think I know,¡± she mumbled while rubbing her forehead. ¡°It makes sense, though¡­considering what happened in the accident. Huh¡­ ¡°As for Zoe, she went into Anthony¡¯s Quests with the others, so I¡¯m not surprised she¡¯s grown stronger since she¡¯d have EXP bonuses with Mythickin being inside a Legendkin Quest. I believe she was near or at Level 10, which is quite high at this point, I¡¯d say¡­ Alexa, though.¡± She shook her head, her mouth tightening while recalling her conversation with Aurora and Elizabeth. ¡°Alexa awakened a Hidden Seed. It¡¯s the first instance I¡¯m aware of, but I did hear about their existence inside Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest. A magical girl, huh?¡± Rachel smiled, recalling everything she¡¯d come to learn about her sister-in-law. ¡°It fits her. And by the look on your face, there¡¯s more to that than you¡¯ve told me, but¡­my main concern is this¡­¡± Sliding down a Wikipedia page linked to the United Nations, her vision narrowed while taking in every line. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel right¡­ How did the World Health Organization learn about Alexa¡¯s transformation less than five hours after her change?¡± Barbara played with her rosary. ¡°I can¡¯t say. All I know is that General Dallas told me that Secretary Hugh Auchincloss of the Department of Health and Human Services contacted him, asking about Alexa. He was asked to investigate it by the Director-General of the World Health Organization. His plane is touching down in DC as we speak¡­ Normal people awakening Seeds is a huge deal, but¡­¡± ¡°How did they know so fast?¡± Rachel mumbled, eyebrows drawn together as she scanned down the website. ¡°With how many legendary and mythical figures there are in history, with the added aspect of multiple organizations and cabals working in the background¡­ The question is: who is running the WHO?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a question,¡± Barbara chuckled. ¡°And Alexa accepted the request¡­despite Nam¡¯s reluctance?¡± Rachel mumbled, scratching the base of her ear as it itched. ¡°I get we have prophecies, and I have my methods of predicting outcomes with misfortune¡­which is hard to decipher right now, but it isn¡¯t exactly positive at the moment. Why?¡± Barbara forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m told that her change wasn¡¯t the¡­most kind to her. She¡¯s locked herself in her room, and none of the soldiers have seen it, so I can¡¯t confirm anything.¡± ¡°Hmm. Is it possible to stop off temporarily at my parents¡¯ house?¡± she asked, not liking the way things were looking while swiping to the current Director-General of the WHO. ¡°I understand this is a huge deal¡­and Alexa might be the first to awaken a Dormant Seed, which¡­is another level of suspicion. Still, I want to be there, at least to meet this guy. So¡­is it possible since the Montana Crystal is locked right now?¡± She looked up as Barbara swiped through information on another tablet. ¡°General Dallas already assumed you¡¯d want to stop by after the attack, and¡­he¡¯s also suspicious about the timing and arrival of such a huge figure in the UN. He gave you thirty minutes with your family and a helicopter to get to your house, but the plane to Montana is scheduled on a clock.¡± ¡°I get it! Tom wants me in Montana asap. We fly from Miami to Melbourne Orlando International Airport, take the helicopter to my mom¡¯s house, stay for precisely thirty minutes, and go; I understand,¡± Rachel whispered, swiping up to the top of the sheet to stare at the former world-renowned genetics specialist. ¡°Director-General Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart¡­ A German¡­ I don¡¯t want to be racist, but¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m with you!¡± Barbara muttered, blowing up a picture of the handsome young man¡¯s face on a German fashion magazine, taken only a week prior; blue-eyed, light-brown hair, and a sophisticated face, he displayed a level of mature charm that went beyond his youthful appearance. ¡°He¡¯s definitely a Legendkin¡­but the UN is keeping it classified and he has a spotless record.¡± ¡°So did Ms. Peck,¡± Rachel whispered, thinking back on Scarlet¡¯s high school teacher who had slit a Green Berret¡¯s throat before writing occult symbols across the whiteboard about how Rachel was going to be the end of all things before killing herself. ¡°This is tied into something bigger; I can feel it. I just don¡¯t know if it¡¯s against me yet or in my favor.¡± Barbara showed a sad smirk as she folded her hands across her lap and gave her a pointed stare. ¡°Such is the power of misfortune¡­ Sometimes, I wonder about you, Rachel. You turned Elizabeth, the Countess of Blood, into your ally and made deals with Hell Lords and gods alike. It makes me wonder if you¡¯re the one pulling all the strings.¡± Rachel looked up at the Legend of Saint Barbara with a mirrored smile. ¡°You have a point. I get the gut feeling I don¡¯t even know myself sometimes¡­ That being said, all I can do is move forward and act¡­always act. I¡¯d rather make my destiny than let fate hand me something on a plate. Also, can we keep the Elizabeth angle out of the conversation?¡± she asked, pointing at her ear. ¡°Fair,¡± the captain sighed, looking down at her tablet. ¡°It almost feels futile hiding private things anymore¡­ If I say ¡®Astra,¡¯ do you think they¡¯ll show up to gloat?¡± A secretive gleam lit in Rachel¡¯s eye as the artificial intelligence Mythickin was brought up, recalling the information Black had given her. ¡°Something tells me Astra will show up sooner than later. With that handled,¡± she said, pulling out the phone Barbara had given them on the way and looking through the contacts as her ears shifted to the left. ¡°We¡¯ll finish setting Omen¡¯s finances in order so that Anthony, Fi, Selv, and Cahira can get the needed supplies. It sounds like Scarlet¡¯s almost got everything done¡­ People jump to do what you want when you¡¯re a billionaire and Maria¡¯s on your ass.¡± Barbara tilted her tablet to her to show a military black site. ¡°Everything is set up for Scarlet to leave her father¡¯s casket; the President¡¯s Secret Keeper will be storing it in their private pocket space.¡± ¡°Fancy,¡± Rachel returned with a hum. ¡°That should keep Scarlet satisfied.¡± She tilted her head to the side. I¡¯d rather her try to store him in the Red Sea, but that could also open up a whole can of worms. We need to be cautious in exploring Scarlet¡¯s newly unlocked abilities. There¡¯s a lot to still sort through. One being what Erika¡¯s been doing in the background¡­ She heard Scarlet and Maria finishing up and activating the debit cards the bank had made; soldiers would deliver them to their group. In the meantime, she called Fiona¡¯s overwhelmed fox friend, live streaming agent, and lawyer. The happy vespertine reaper popped back into the limo with a grin and peace sign as the rings sounded, Maria being pulled into the teleport. ¡°Done! Oh, sorry, you¡¯re on the phone. We¡¯re going to Maria¡¯s block next?¡± she asked, catching Barbara¡¯s nod. Maria breathed a sigh of relief as she settled in. ¡°Damn straight. Little Zoe is an orphan now, huh? Shit. Some of the crew are going to want to hear about that¡­ Elena¡¯s going to want to know. It¡¯s not often she gets attached to people.¡± Scarlet glanced at her, still on the phone as Erika picked up. ¡°That¡¯s the Honey Badger Beastkin little sister you¡¯ve got, right? You¡¯re all adopted.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Maria sighed, pulling her braided silver hair over her shoulder. ¡°I bet she¡¯ll flip out with her Feats¡­ Shit¡¯s tough recently, and she doesn¡¯t do well when people close to her get hurt,¡± she mumbled, looking somber. Rachel let them talk, Barbara bringing them into their plans as she directed their driver to Maria¡¯s street. Erika¡¯s tired voice came through the speaker, likely just getting up for the morning after a late night. ¡°Hey, Rachel,¡± she yawned, a bit of heat in her exhausted voice. ¡°Fi already called me and told me she was okay. I can¡¯t believe you had me give two speeches in front of Congress and the Senate¡ªI had a heart attack defending you! I¡¯m going to have to charge Omen so much¡­ I am a lawyer.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Rachel mused, shifting her head to scan the tens of thousands of voices throughout Miami, ¡°but you did so well. I¡¯m hearing all about how pretty, fluffy, and well-spoken you are here in Florida. Omen¡¯s popularity is soaring through the roof! Who would have thought with a young, attractive fox woman as our face.¡± ¡°Quit trying to butter me up¡­ Obviously, you want something more. I¡¯m still here in DC¡­running out of my savings.¡± Scarlet held up her hand, face brightening up, making Rachel chortle and wave her down. ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯ll be sending you Omen¡¯s account info for business expenses. We just got that setup. We¡¯ll pay well. I¡¯d like you to get in contact with my brother to help coordinate the management of Omen as a Private Military Corporation. He needs something to distract him, I think¡­or maybe he doesn¡¯t. Hard to say with things between Alexa and him. I can talk to him about it later today. Anyway, can you put Zoe on the payroll? I owe her.¡± An awkward pause followed before Erika breathed in a stressed breath, and Rachel could imagine her fluffy fox tail bristling as she tried to process what she¡¯d just asked. ¡°I¡¯m¡­a lawyer!¡± she cried, sounding like she was frantically scratching her fox ears and messing up her hair. ¡°I only did agent stuff for Fiona because she¡¯s my friend! I¡¯ll tell you what, I¡¯m in DC and met some powerful people dealing with your political fiasco¡ªand it has been a fiasco¡ªbut I think I can get the right people on this.¡± Rachel flashed her teeth and held up a thumb to Scarlet, who was giving her a dubious stare. ¡°Excellent! I knew you were the right fox for the job. I look forward to hearing what Nam says about your awesome skills. By the way, much respect¡ªI wanted to be a lawyer before The Oscillation. Gotta go. I¡¯m counting on you!¡± ¡°Wait, Rachel!¡± Disconnecting the call, Rachel stretched out with a satisfied grin. ¡°Things are moving! So, let¡¯s finish up what we need to here and get on a plane. Misfortune awaits!¡± It didn¡¯t take them long to finish setting things up and to visit Maria¡¯s block. She was a tad surprised when a haughty Elena joined them, refusing to be left behind, wanting to be there for the block¡¯s mascot domestic cat¡ªshe had an interesting way of showing friendship. It also caused a bit of commotion since opening the door caused some light to burn Scarlet¡¯s arm. With some choice words from everyone inside, they made their way to the airport. Once boarded, she called everyone to make sure they were okay. Selvaria was doing better after spending time with her mom. Anthony was now with Cahira and Fiona, which was much needed with the dubious pirate lady¡¯s playful antics, picking on the small 20-year-old fairy. Supplies were being acquired, and things were moving. She called her mom once settled in and it didn¡¯t take long before it connected. Although, her mother didn¡¯t speak long, saying she was with Alexa and Zoe; she wouldn¡¯t elaborate on anything. Her father was dealing with an emergency with one of his company¡¯s major clients, so his phone was off. Figuring her brother would also be unwilling to talk about something his wife wouldn¡¯t want to discuss, she called the last person she could, now feeling misfortune¡¯s threads moving. Well, this can¡¯t be good¡­ ¡°Rachel?¡± Jeanne asked, her tone far more serious and rushed than Rachel expected. ¡°Hey! Just wanted to check in. We brought back souvenirs. How are¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t talk,¡± she stated, her French accent thick. ¡°Charlemagne is on the other line. There was an attack on ¨¦lys¨¦e Palace ten minutes ago. I¡¯m getting the details now.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah¡­¡± Jeanne was already gone, leaving Rachel to sigh and pull up the name. ¡°Shit¡­ ¨¦lys¨¦e Palace is basically France¡¯s White House.¡± Barbara moved through the private jet, Scarlet taking a short rest in the back to recover from the sunlight touching her; the girl had downed three blood packs. Maria was in the front, talking with Elena, who was actually pretty upset about hurting Scarlet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Barbara asked. Rachel pulled up the latest news station in France, passing the tablet to the Legend as she sat beside her. ¡°¨¦lys¨¦e Palace was just hit by a bomb¡ªat least, it looks that way.¡± ¡°Damn¡­ It seems like the whole world is on fire lately. I just checked with General Dallas, and he says the Montana Crystal hasn¡¯t opened yet. They¡¯re getting a lot more Legends and Myths that are coming in as mercenaries, though. Also, I just heard Black and Red were brought back onto the¡ª¡± ¡°This is your captain speaking. Please put your devices into airplane mode. We¡¯re about to prepare for take-off.¡± Rachel sighed and followed instructions. ¡°That¡¯s a relief¡­ Yeah, the world is on fire, alright. I have my own things to deal with, though,¡± she growled, pulling up a saved webpage to read over it again. ¡°Like why the Director-General of the World Health Organization wants to examine my sister-in-law¡­¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Inside the private jet, the hum of the engines provided a soothing backdrop as the group settled into their plush leather seats. Wolfgang sat at a table strewn with papers, his brow furrowed in concentration as he pored over reports detailing Alexa¡¯s transformation and Rachel¡¯s recent activities in Miami Beach. Beside him, a glass of scotch remained untouched, the amber liquid catching the faint overhead light. Across the aisle, Sera Roth showed off her elegant and sleek appearance to the two other women who accompanied him. Long, blonde hair cascaded down her back in waves, her piercing blue eyes filled with seductive glee while adjusting her tight-fitted dress as she exchanged pointed remarks with Helena and Ingrid. ¡°You know, Helena,¡± Sera began, her tone dripping with mock sweetness, ¡°for someone who likes to play the part of the ice queen, you really should have the looks to match. Blue eyes, blonde hair¡­ Why, something like me! An hourglass shape of beautiful proportions¡­ Not raven hair with lacking hips. Such a pity you don¡¯t fit the bill.¡± Helena¡¯s lips curled into a thin smile as she adjusted her professional business attire and shot back, clearly agitated and trying to hide it. ¡°At least my looks aren¡¯t the result of some overdone glamor spell or metamorphosis. Some of us don¡¯t need magic to feel confident, Sera¡­or hide our horns.¡± Ingrid leaned back, her expression smug. ¡°And yet, confidence doesn¡¯t seem to prevent you from being outshone, Helena. Maybe next time, you¡¯ll think twice before comparing yourself to someone of my caliber. My blonde hair and blue eyes are naturally perfect. Even The Oscillation couldn¡¯t change your faults.¡± Sera laughed, her seductive gaze lingering on Ingrid. ¡°Oh, Ingrid, dear, you can have the Aryan package, but it doesn¡¯t mean much if you can¡¯t back it up. Maybe next time, pick a rival you can actually beat.¡± Wolfgang glanced up from his papers, his expression amused. ¡°You truly are a devil that loves to poke and prod, Sera. Are you quite sure this trip will be fruitful? Twilight advised us not to get too close to the Hare of Misfortune. Is the risk worth it to uncover more details about these Dormant Seeds?¡± Sera¡¯s smile widened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. She set her black handbag on the seat beside her and, in a flash of black flames, took on her true Nephilim appearance. Her horns curled elegantly, black flames and crimson lightning flickering around her. She crossed her legs and leaned forward to give him a red-eyed, seductive stare that made Wolfgang smirk at how fascinating a half-angel and half-devil could be. ¡°Every risk has its reward, Wolfgang. Besides, I enjoy a good challenge.¡± The transformation caused a ripple of unease and glares from his assistant and personal secretary, both well into their eighties yet looking no older than twenty-five. Yseress¡¯ illuminated ruby irises gleamed with a mischievous light as she met Wolfgang¡¯s gaze. ¡°Twilight¡¯s warnings are always appreciated, but sometimes, you need to step into the fire to see what burns brightest. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make everything run smooth as butter.¡± Wolfgang chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Just remember, Sera¡­or should I call you Yseress? No, Sera seems appropriate if you¡¯re going to be working with us, especially if Rachel already knows you. In any case,¡± he casually waved, ¡°just remember, we¡¯re here for a purpose. Distractions can be costly when research is postponed.¡± Ingrid leaned forward, her tone conspiratorial. ¡°Speaking of distractions, Wolfgang, any interesting findings on Alexa or Rachel¡¯s blood charts I managed to sneak out?¡± Wolfgang¡¯s smile faded slightly as he returned to his papers. ¡°Rachel¡¯s activities in Miami Beach suggest she¡¯s becoming more aware of the threads of misfortune around her. Her Greater Seed and genetic variance from her human side Pre-Oscillation are something to behold¡­ She¡¯s evolving far faster than any others I¡¯ve seen. As for Alexa¡­ Her transformation is¡­unique. We need to tread carefully.¡± Helena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Unique how? Is she a threat?¡± Wolfgang sighed. ¡°Potentially. The Dormant Seeds we¡¯ve studied haven¡¯t been activated like this before. She¡¯s different. But she might also be an asset to discovering a hidden link. It¡¯s too soon to tell.¡± Sera, back in her human guise, leaned back with a satisfied smile. ¡°Then let¡¯s make sure we¡¯re ready for whatever we encounter in Cocoa Beach. Misfortune or not, I have a feeling this trip will be worth every risk¡­ I guarantee it,¡± the fallen Nephilim chimed, flashing her perfect white teeth. B3 — 2. Director-General of the WHO? Rachel leaned back in her plush leather seat, staring at her phone, following the live news about the terrorist attack in France as the private jet began its descent. The hum of the engines was a constant background noise, a reminder of the altitude they were rapidly losing. Her white locks cascaded over the back of her seat, and she absentmindedly twirled a lock around her finger, lost in thought. Nia and the three pups were still sleeping after playing most of the night, but Rachel would get her rest when flying to Montana. There was still too much to do to let her mind recover, and it was far more resilient than the average person anyway. The events since The Oscillation had been a whirlwind; the looming threat of the Scarlet Hand and other dubious organizations weighed heavily on her mind. Rachel¡¯s tail flicked restlessly at her back, trying to think about some sort of protection for her parents. With so many new and strange abilities, was there any kind of security? Now she had her mother¡¯s mysterious past to worry about; a past she refused to elaborate on. What am I supposed to do, Mom? Alexa has changed now, somehow pulling the attention of the World Health Organization. Between Saint Catherine¡¯s entrusted mission and what is happening in France, Jeanne won¡¯t remain here. Whoever the Korean assassins were, they had somehow managed to neutralize her long enough to complete their objective in any case. If Jeanne can¡¯t protect them when that is a major part of her kit, then who can? The soft rustle of movement caught her attention, and she turned to see Barbara approaching, her illuminated yellow eyes holding uncertain curiosity; the look was unusual on the Legend. ¡°Mind if I join you?¡± Barbara asked, gesturing to the seat next to her. ¡°Not at all,¡± Rachel replied, offering a small smile as Barbara settled in beside her and crossed her legs. As Barbara sat down, Maria moved to the back of the jet to check on Scarlet, who had been resting after the long journey. Elena the Honey Badger, on the other hand, remained near the front, her sulky demeanor a stark contrast to her attentive ears that clearly picked up every word passing through the small cabin. ¡°Have you found out anything more about Wolfgang?¡± Rachel queried. ¡°I¡¯d like something positive to think about before diving into adding to my status sheet.¡± Barbara sighed, pulling out her tablet and scrolling through some notes. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I mentioned this or if it¡¯s relevant enough to bring up in the first place, but¡­the name ¡®Wolfgang¡¯ did come up once before. It was during Conner¡¯s Legend Quest, when you were inside it. Daran tried to make a deal. Did Anthony tell you about it?¡± Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed as she tried to recall the details of that chaotic time. Her tail stiffened as she leaned forward and folded her hands under her chin. ¡°¡­No. This is the first time I¡¯m hearing about anything involving Daran. He was so insignificant in my mind at the time that I didn¡¯t even think to follow up on what happened to him. I had so many other things to think about.¡± Barbara chuckled and scratched her cheek. ¡°Yeah, I figured you might. Well, I recorded the incident¡­most of it.¡± She handed her the tablet and played the recording, discussing it and focusing on the key details. The video cut off abruptly when the gangster exploded from Relica¡¯s manipulations, leaving Barbara frowning. ¡°The name connection came after we talked, and I checked online. Wolfgang is a common name for Germans, so it may be nothing, but I thought it might be worth bringing up.¡± Rachel nodded, compiling the information in her mind as the jet began its final approach. She remained silent for a few moments, her thoughts racing. This Wolfgang person might not be working with Relica or the Scarlet Hand, she internally reasoned. In fact, it is entirely possible that Relica left the organization to die and be taken out by another network if Wolfgang exposed them. He gave away valuable advice to stay away from Relica and the Scarlet Hand. Making a plea deal would have brought him into contact with Barbara, overseeing the operation. It would be stupid to think he didn¡¯t know about me by how Ms. Peck acted when seeing me alive. I¡¯m somehow pretty famous, for some reason. All the attention I¡¯ve gotten from higher deities makes that clear enough. Advising Daran to come to us and giving away critical information seems counterproductive to the Scarlet Hand¡¯s goals to remain in the dark. They were blasted into the forefront to allow other organizations to slip by the radar. Black gave away Astra as an A.I. agent of the Scarlet Hand, and Astra is rebelling, which means him completing the information chain on Aleister Crowley was intentional. Ordo Templi Orientis, MI6, and the UK connection to the Scarlet Hand brought Arthur, Merlin, and the US government together. Without a doubt¡­it had to be another organization, but that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re bad. However, until proven otherwise, it is better to conduct ourselves as if they are in a more hostile light. ¡°Thanks, Barb,¡± Rachel said, handing the tablet back. ¡°This does increase my suspicion, but I doubt that Wolfgang is working with the Scarlet Hand. It¡¯s something to be aware of and gives me some questions to probe him on. If it was him, then Maria will know if he is lying.¡± Barbara smiled and unfolded her legs to stand. ¡°It¡¯s been nice working with you. The Green Beret you¡¯re accustomed to will be in Montana, and two units from the company should now be arriving to stay with your parents.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind reflected back to the soldiers she¡¯d gotten to know recently. ¡°I guess Roy will be one of them since my parents like that he can speak Korean.¡± At that moment, Maria emerged from the back cabin with Scarlet, who looked chipper and rested. ¡°The vamp gets a clean bill of health,¡± Maria announced, her tone laced with her characteristic bluntness. ¡°We gotta talk about this shit. There¡¯s gotta be a way for her to not get a sunburn and almost turn to dust.¡± Scarlet gave Elena a thumbs up. ¡°We all have our weaknesses, right? I¡¯m good! No need to fret, Elena. I know it was an accident.¡± Elena responded with a sad smile, her ears pulled back as she looked away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll be more careful. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Maria moved forward to slap her on the back, nearly knocking the Honey Badger off balance and catching a glare. ¡°Despite how she looks and her claws, Elena¡¯s a good chica!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a kid, Queen,¡± she snapped back. They swapped to Spanish as they were prompted to get into their seats and strap in since they were touching down. Rachel hadn¡¯t been able to look further into upgrading her Feats. She still had all of the Montana flight for that, but she still wanted to do more theory crafting with what she currently had available at Level 16. If I can wait five more days until [Bringer of Misfortune] is refined, maybe something better will come. It¡¯s taken almost a month for this to refine, and it¡¯s not even maxed Grade, like [Primal Force], which only took a week. It has to be worth it. Getting strapped in, Rachel shook her head with a sigh as Scarlet grinned and pointed at her dress with a curious look. ¡°Yeah, Nia and the pups are sleeping still. I think Nia is saving her energy to see my mom again. She¡¯s convinced we¡¯ll stop by when she goes to sleep and she¡¯ll get clothes. My mom¡¯s spoiled her too much.¡± Scarlet giggled while mirroring her, taking the couch across from her. ¡°We¡¯ll have to do a ton of shopping when we get the chance again. Oh, I¡¯ve been going over some of the assets my father put in my name,¡± she added, her blue eyes lighting up. ¡°There¡¯s a really remote villa in ¨¨ze, France, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea! It is like¡­an hour flight or something from Paris, but if you wanted your parents to be close to Jeanne or, I don¡¯t know. Just trying to figure out something. There are so many properties and it¡¯s hard to navigate through all the information.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart softened. ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out. Maybe it would be better to give my parents a list of places, though. I can¡¯t really force them to leave, after all. I¡¯d rather try to trick them into making it seem fun, while also being safer¡­ Maybe we should also have Nam look into buying us a private jet because flying public seems a bit unsafe.¡± Scarlet nodded, looking happy to be able to contribute. ¡°I can look into that! Oh, and I found out that five billion accounts was only one account. I¡¯ve, uh, got another three with a bit more,¡± she said with a strained laugh. ¡°My dad used multiple people to handle individual assets, so I¡¯ll need to sign those papers as well at some point. It kind of feels¡­unreal, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Barbara whistled. ¡°Wow. That is crazy.¡± ¡°Honestly,¡± Rachel hummed, sitting back and rubbing her chin, ¡°I thought five billion for a cabal of future-seeing cultists was a bit small to have bankrupt them and make your mom have to look for support in the UK. I can only imagine what it will look like when you see everything that your father poached from the Scarlet Hand.¡± Her eclipse-like eyes shifted to the side while thinking about what Scarlet¡¯s father had done for her. ¡°He somehow broke free of a higher-being¡¯s propaganda and gave you everything he could to give you the choice to do whatever you wanted. He was only thinking about you.¡± She was surprised as Scarlet¡¯s face softened, looking down at her phone and shaking her head. ¡°Not just me. The way I see it, he was telling me to save my mom. She¡¯s being controlled by Revilla. She thinks this is the only way¡­and now I need to somehow make her see that she was lied to.¡± Rachel hesitated a moment before nodding, not voicing her true thoughts. What if we are the ones fooled, though? There¡¯s always the possibility. Who are the true puppeteers? Everyone I¡¯ve talked to can only see things on the 7th-dimensional field, at most. And Cerridwen put her trust in¡­some other Eldritch faction. Scarlet studied her with a frown. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No, no,¡± she chuckled. ¡°No, it¡¯s just my overly paranoid mind thinking about complex things that shouldn¡¯t matter right now.¡± Her mind shifted away from the topic as she reprimanded herself. At the end of the day, we can only move forward with what information we have. Misfortune will guide me, and¡­right now, it is telling me there is some potent bad luck coming. Only, it can shift either way on the scales. I need to be cautious. ¡°Well¡­that does sound like you,¡± the fanged-girl chortled. ¡°Oh, let me try my new [Blood Portal] Feat! I can transport a lot of people, and I can travel further than [Shadow Walk].¡± Rachel glanced toward Barbara and Maria as the unicorn and Honey Badger settled down. ¡°You good with that, Barb, Maria, Elena?¡± They agreed, and Rachel gave the floor to Barbara to inform everyone on everything they¡¯d learned about the Director-General of the World Health Organization. Accompanied by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security guard detail, while also having the US¡¯ Diplomatic Security Services offering supportive roles, Wolfgang would be taking a helicopter, issued by the Department of Defense to transport him to their house. In fact, General Dallas had pulled strings to have them in the same helicopter, so they had to remain on their toes. One punched hole through the flying vehicle, and Scarlet could go poof. It was a compromising position, since Rachel was also vulnerable during the daylight, but it would provide more time for Rachel to speak to him. Once touched down on the airstrip and pulled off to the side, Rachel could hear the blades of the helicopter ready to take off nearby. Scarlet showed a confident smile and blood flowed out of her dress to form a smooth, disk-like portal. Elena cringed at the sight, edging away a bit at the vespertine reaper¡¯s ability. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± she chimed. ¡°FYI, this is the first time I¡¯ve done this. It should be safe, though. I¡¯ve been reviewing some of my abilities and I had no clue I had this one. Cool, right?¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± Elena mumbled, poking it and causing a ripple to run through its surface; instantly, her hair spiked like a porcupine. ¡°Uh-uh! That felt like the weirdest shit I¡¯ve ever¡ª¡± she shivered and shied away, making Maria snort. ¡°No seas un pinche cobarde,¡± the unicorn said, boldly stepping through first. Rachel¡¯s ears twitched as she heard the gangster squeak and fall onto her face on the other side, cursing in Spanish and quaking. Evidently, it was a chilling experience, and, luckily, Wolfgang¡¯s plane was just touching down; Tom had planned their flight perfectly. Hopping over to the dubious teen, Rachel guided her toward the ominous, floating disk as Barbara smoothly stepped through without a second look. The result was less dramatic but the Legend¡¯s shivering bones on the other side said enough. ¡°You¡¯re not scared, Elena, are you?¡± ¡°What?! I don¡¯t give a¡ªwait!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Rachel lightly pushed her into it. ¡°We¡¯re on a clock.¡± Scarlet caught her eye, giving her a light scowl. ¡°You didn''t have to push her,¡± she muttered. Rachel listened intently as the helicopter blades sliced through the air, the low thrum vibrating through her body. Wolfgang and his team disembarked from their plane, met by their guard detail. Despite being a CH-47 Chinook that could carry twenty people, only a select few were allowed to board the helicopter. Rachel laughed, shaking her head. ¡°We really don¡¯t have time for dallying,¡± she said, stepping forward herself without an ounce of fear. The moment she entered the portal, she discovered an endless pool of blood, liquid flowing around her as if she were the centerpoint of gravity. Light seemingly radiated from her body, illuminating the crimson liquid only so far. Then, it came. Invisible hands wrapped around every surface of her skin, touching everywhere, dragging her into the darkness. Her breath caught in her throat, and then, in the next instant, she was walking out into the helicopter. Her legs almost gave way beneath her as she recentered herself, unable to suppress a quake running through her bones at the invasive sensation. ¡°Dios m¨ªo,¡± Maria cursed from beside her. ¡°Qu¨¦ experiencia m¨¢s horrible!¡± Elena nodded vigorously, her face pale. ¡°Nunca m¨¢s, chica. Nunca m¨¢s.¡± Barbara turned to Rachel, her expression sympathetic. ¡°Did you feel the, uh¡­¡± ¡°Hands?¡± Rachel completed, the sensation lingering. ¡°Yeah, I did. I can see why you¡¯re uncomfortable. It was¡­intense, for sure. Still, I wouldn¡¯t call it a dealbreaker.¡± ¡°Chica, what?¡± Maria choked. Scarlet appeared, blushing slightly and glancing between them. ¡°Okay, I didn¡¯t know about the hand thing. I can¡¯t control how it feels for others,¡± she admitted. ¡°For me, it¡¯s comforting. Almost like a loving embrace. Weird?¡± All of them gave her a raised eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, I guess it is¡­¡± Maria shot her a dark look. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t you lucky? I¡¯m not using that shit again.¡± Rachel managed a smile despite the unease in her stomach. Her focus shifted as they drew nearer to the back of the helicopter, which was sectioned off by a zipped-up tarp that separated them from the outside. Nia and the Cerberus Sisters woke up, exiting her soul in a flash of fire and light, the pups¡¯ presence bringing a momentary heat. Nia hugged herself, her expression puzzled. ¡°What the flipping tank top was that?!¡± The wolf pups looked around, confused. ¡°A dimensional transferal shift?¡± Irida asked, tilting her head as her red flaming fur flickered. Coral appeared on top of Nia¡¯s head, pumpkin-teeth mouth chomping down on her ears and making the bun stiffen. ¡°Hey! Cheating! Cheater!¡± ¡°Shshshshsh,¡± the ghostly slime-bun snickered. Rachel¡¯s attention was drawn to the opposite side of the tarp, though, as Elena brightened at the Cerberus Sisters, Nia, and Coral¡¯s appearance. She allowed the others to distract them while listening to Roy and one of his men on the other side. Her eyes widened slightly when tuning into Wolfgang, realizing he was refusing additional security, opting to take only three women: his personal assistant, his secretary, and the head of his UNDSS security detail. The U.S. DSS detail seemed insistent that some of them join, but Wolfgang¡¯s decision was final. Wolfgang¡¯s voice was charismatic, light, yet commanding, and his vocabulary precise. Rachel could hear his cadence, each word deliberate and powerful. ¡°Thank you for your concern, gentlemen, but I assure you, we have everything under control. My team is more than capable,¡± he said, his German tone leaving no room for argument. Rachel took a deep breath, silencing everyone with a raised hand. ¡°He¡¯s only bringing three women,¡± she informed. ¡°Likely all Legendkin from the UN¡¯s Department of Safety and Security.¡± Helena waved the concerned officers away as she broke into the conversation, ¡°Excuse me, but the Director-General¡¯s schedule is tight. The Director-General must stop by DC to speak with the US President, President Leo Campell, about his findings. Excuse us.¡± ¡°There you have it,¡± Wolfgang chuckled, breaking away with his escort. Scarlet¡¯s eyes were already blood red, and she mumbled, ¡°All of them are drop-dead gorgeous. They definitely look like Legends.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. As they walked up the open ramp in the back, Ron greeted them, informing them to remain off to the side until the back was completely up. He assured them they would be taking off shortly, and Rachel was waiting inside. As was his orders, he had to gain her permission to meet her family. They would take-off shortly. Sera Roth, the assistant, held a lush, Jewish accent that was unmistakable to Rachel¡¯s now quite trained ears. ¡°Why are all American special forces so charming?¡± she asked with delight, making Rachel¡¯s ear twitch. There was something oddly familiar about her cadence, but she couldn¡¯t place it¡ªthe entertained voice, the mocking vibe, the confidence. Shaking the feeling off, she tried to refocus. Scarlet had already shrunk back to the corner with Maria and Elena trying to body shield her just in case. Wolfgang and his team accepted the headsets that the other soldier handed them as the walkway to the back of the helicopter was pulled up. Once closed, Roy unzipped the tarp, allowing Rachel to get her first look at Wolfgang and his entourage. Wolfgang was tall, with an imposing yet approachable demeanor. His light brown hair almost looked sandy blond, and was just messy enough to be attractive while remaining neat. His sharp blue eyes scanned the interior of the helicopter, immediately focusing on her before darting to Nia, wolf pups, and slime-bun beside her. He exuded confidence in every twitch of his muscles, somehow being more sure of himself than Anthony. Perhaps she was reading too much into it due to how little of a reference she had of his typical demeanor. Yet, it was the same vibe she felt from Sera Roth, who stood beside him, her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, her posture reflecting both strength and elegance. Helena, his secretary, had raven black hair, pale, flawless skin, icy blue eyes, and excluded a more eerie allure than her other companions. The UNDSS guard was as tall as her and had a stern expression. Scarlet had been right, most of them had well-endowed figures, Ingrid having the perfect hourglass figure at first glance, reflecting the same Aryian glow as Sera. The woman¡¯s soldier-like eyes constantly scanned for threats. Rachel¡¯s gaze flicked to Roy, who seemed slightly flustered by Sera¡¯s comment, a light blush creeping up his neck as she leaned closer to study his face, once again, another woman matching Rachel¡¯s height. The atmosphere in the helicopter was tense at first, but Rachel felt a flicker of anticipation from the four. She forced a polite smile while taking one of the headsets and speaking into it, her mind racing with suspicion. ¡°Director-General Wolfgang,¡± she greeted, her tone cool but cordial. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± He nodded, his escort moving with him to sit opposite them. Roy let the pilot know that they could take off. They smoothly took to the sky as he calmly buckled up, his heart rate smooth as a gentle brook and thick German accent filled with intrigue. ¡°Thank you, Rachel. I¡¯m sure you have many questions about my desire to meet with your sister-in-law, as I understand it. You have quite the support circle. It¡¯s quite shocking from what information the PKISR were able to give me. I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about you from soldiers, officials, and even the President himself. You appear to be a very popular hare.¡± Rachel studied his every twitch and word, her tail flicking restlessly at her back; he was too comfortable, too secure in himself while staring into her eyes. [Beastial Instincts III] told her she could win without the shadow of a doubt. And yet, there was something within her gut that told her to be very careful with how she approached this man and his three female bodyguards¡ªshe was sure of it now they were face to face. ¡°Yes, I do have questions,¡± she began, her voice measured and taking in their reactions. ¡°For instance, have you been to South America since The Oscillation? Fought any cartels, perhaps?¡± Wolfgang¡¯s pearly teeth flashed as he laughed heartily, a genuine sound that seemed to fill the small, noisy space. Sera giggled next to him but the secretary and bodyguard¡¯s lips didn¡¯t twitch. ¡°Out of everything you could have asked, I did not expect that to be the famed leader of Omen¡¯s first question to me. I¡¯m slightly curious about the reason behind it, but in the end, it¡¯s irrelevant to me. No,¡± he flatly stated, leaving Rachel somewhat speechless at the direct response. ¡°No, I have not traveled to South America recently or dealt with any cartels in my life,¡± he firmly confirmed. ¡°That isn¡¯t my area of expertise in the UN, I¡¯m afraid. You might ask someone in a more relevant position. Now, I have authorized humanitarian aid to specific regions of South America, though. If that was what you were hinting at.¡± Rachel listened closely, her eyes narrowing as she focused on his heartbeat. The rhythmic thump-thump remained steady, unperturbed. Maria, sitting nearby, tilted her head slightly, indicating that Wolfgang had told the truth. The three Cerberus Sisters crept forward and away from Nia, a perplexed look on their faces as they sniffed the air, seemingly catching the scent of something that bothered them. Sera leaned forward to motion for Thalia, Irida, and Aleka to come to her, the slit in her somewhat revealing dress drawing Roy¡¯s gaze before it snapped away. ¡°Come here, little pups! Aren¡¯t you cuties? I bet you¡¯d make fantastic guard dogs!¡± Forcing a smile, Rachel nodded, keeping her senses sharp as the triplets moved forward to investigate the stunning blonde. Coral joined them, Nia pouting while staring suspiciously at the provocative woman. ¡°Just something I needed to ask,¡± Rachel said, leaning back slightly. ¡°Since you like to be blunt, how did you know about Alexa¡¯s change from across the Atlantic Ocean and manage to be on your way here to meet with her so quickly? What exactly is your goal in this, and what do you plan to do to Alexa? Is your plan involving me?¡± Wolfgang¡¯s expression remained calm, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips as his guard and secretary¡¯s eyes dug daggers into her. ¡°I have my sources, Rachel, or should I say the UN has its sources. Information travels fast when you have the right connections. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware of that since you intercepted me the moment I touched down on American soil. ¡°As for my goal, it¡¯s quite simple: to ensure that Alexa¡¯s transition was smooth and that she poses no threat to herself or others. We don¡¯t have many instances of Dormant Seeds awakening after The Oscillation. In fact, I¡¯d go so far as to speculate your sister, ahem, excuse me, sister-in-law, is in a unique category. My plan, as the current world¡¯s leading expert on the Seeds, is to offer guidance and support where needed while providing answers to the world.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind whirled with more questions, and with Maria here to be her real-time lie detector, she decided to go balls-deep. ¡°And what about the Scarlet Hand? How do you fit into their equation? Are you working with or against them?¡± Wolfgang leaned forward, his sparkling eyes locking onto hers. ¡°A very direct hare. I can appreciate that. Yes, I know about the Scarlet Hand, They are a threat that we are well aware of. I take it the US has discovered that particular troublemaking organization then. I am not aligned with them, nor do I support their methods. You could say I¡¯m less of the¡­religious type,¡± he chortled, shifting in his seat to see Sera pick up a big-eyed Irida and start petting her with what seemed to be expert care. ¡°No, my focus is on maintaining stability for humanity and ensuring that any potential threats are neutralized¡­including the Divine kind. I¡¯m an advocate for humanity and the health of our species¡¯ future. Aren¡¯t you?¡± His answers were so devoid of suspicion that Rachel had to wonder if he somehow had an ability to bypass Maria¡¯s truth detection, but the unicorn was quite a high level for any of the general public and had it at the Grade III. Not once had she indicated the man was lying. ¡°Okay,¡± Rachel mumbled, catching Barbara¡¯s eye and furrowed brow. Even Rachel couldn¡¯t deny the sincerity in his words, but that did little to ease her suspicions. There was something more sinister, hidden beneath layers and layers that she thought was there, despite all the evidence against it. ¡°And what about my family? How do you know about our mysterious past?¡± she asked, broadening the scope so as not to indicate her mother. A flicker of surprise crossed Wolfgang¡¯s face before he composed himself, rubbing his hairless chin. ¡°I¡­was unaware of any mysterious past or much about your family to be honest, excluding the things I¡¯ve heard from my intelligence sources when preparing to meet you. Truly, I hold no ill-will toward you or your family. I¡¯m sure there are some in the UN that might. I am not one of them. In fact, I¡¯m more than willing to endorse Omen¡¯s benefits to humanity after meeting you¡­ Maria, truly is something special.¡± The unicorn¡¯s face blanked. ¡°What did you say, amigo? Aye, if you¡¯re hittin¡¯ on me.¡± He waved his hand, his tone remaining light. ¡°Not at all, as flattered as I would be to entertain such a thing! You are quite healthy, as far as looks go, Ma¡¯am, but I was talking about your restorative powers. I would love to have you come work within the WHO. You could do much good across the world.¡± ¡°Are¡­you seriously trying to poach my people right now?¡± Rachel asked, now knowing what it felt like to have the tables reversed when she¡¯d made the offer to Black. ¡°I would if I thought it would get me anywhere,¡± Wolfgang mused, ¡°but I¡¯m sure you have built an unshakable bond between your core members. I was merely complimenting your healer. She is a miracle, and I don¡¯t say that word lightly as an Atheist.¡± Rachel¡¯s left ear lowered in question as she stared at the charming man, somewhat thrown off by his cadence and lack of intensity he felt like she should be feeling. ¡°You¡­are aware that deities do in fact exist as a top-ranking member of the UN?¡± Wolfgang crossed his legs with a dark smirk shadowing his face for the first time. ¡°Well, there is a matter of opinion. What one views as divine or magical is merely the lesser thoughts of those who cannot see themselves in the same light. Was it not Christ himself who said, ¡®Ye are Gods?¡¯ Which then the Pharisees wrongly tried to stone him for? I think that statement is¡­divine!¡± he laughed, an edge of intensity finally poking through. ¡°Humanity truly is the greatest of all¡­surpassing the gods. That is our destiny with these Seeds.¡± Finally seeing where this man lined up, Rachel crossed her arms and stared at him in the ensuing silence. Well, there would be silence if not for Sera playing with the half-Hellhounds and Coral as Nia grew jealous and more suspicious of her behavior; she was likely pulling from Rachel¡¯s own paranoia. Rachel processed his response, the helicopter¡¯s interior suffocating any conversation, the tension palpable between their gazes. She glanced at Maria, who gave her a reassuring nod that everything had been truthful. ¡°You¡­only intend to examine Alexa, helping her with the transition and nothing more? You wish no ill-will? Nothing you are going to do will bring any harm to my family, including those who accompany you?¡± ¡°Ahh. Careful use of words,¡± Wolfgang winked, folding his hands in his lap while presenting a totally innocent cadence. ¡°I, Sera, Helena, and Ingrid will do no harm. I am from the WHO, after all. My whole purpose is to elevate mankind to be its most pure and transcend the limitations we are born with. I have the utmost respect and love for those who have¡ª¡± ¡°Are you a Nazi?¡± Scarlet blurted out, causing all eyes to dart to the scowling and somewhat nervous vespertine reaper. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but, like¡­I get the weirdest feelings from you guys. You¡¯re all Legends, right? Why don¡¯t you tell us who you are?¡± Wolfgang¡¯s lips drew into a tight smile as he wagged his finger and adjusted his headset. ¡°At last, the truth comes out! Germans, Nazis, I¡¯ve gotten it ad nauseam since my transcendence. Thank you for being honest, Scarlet,¡± he crisply stated. ¡°Am I a Nazi?¡± he repeated. ¡°That is such a loaded question that I have¡­so many opinions on, as a German. Hitler¡­bah! A lunatic imbecile given power who went on an insane rampage against Jews. As you can see, Sera is a Jew,¡± he chimed, presenting the provocative blue-eyed, blonde woman. She showed a surprised smile while playing with Aleka¡¯s paws. ¡°Oh! And suddenly I have the spotlight. I wouldn¡¯t say it is obvious I am a Jew, but due to how long and displaced my people have been, is it a surprise that we have such variety in our genes? We have been homeless for over two thousand years before Israel¡¯s creation¡ªnot discussing the controversies.¡± ¡°In any case,¡± Wolfgang sighed, ¡°let me humor you with my honest truth¡­ No. I do not consider myself to be anything remotely close to a Nazi. My only goal is to uplift all of humanity to the heights it is destined to reach¡ªthose with Seeds and currently without. Eccentric? A visionary? An overachiever?¡± he asked with a short laugh. ¡°I would agree with those characterizations. Maybe a bit too handsome for my own good, foolhardy, and arrogant, as well,¡± he grinned. Once again, Maria didn¡¯t say a word, but Rachel could feel the disbelief from here in her muscle twitches; she¡¯d never met a more honest man in her life. ¡°Well¡­ You answered all of my questions,¡± Rachel said finally, not seeing any deception. ¡°Your answers have given me a lot to think about. Is that the goal of the whole of the WHO if you are its head?¡± ¡°Hardly!¡± Wolfgang groaned, shaking his head. ¡°No, I often butt heads with those within the organization and the UN itself. Still, we may differ in 10% of our opinions, but that is far from everything and I can do more good within the organization than outside of it.¡± Barbara¡¯s low voice came over the speakers. ¡°Good is defined differently from person to person.¡± ¡°Fair assessment! Would you be one of those Saints I¡¯ve heard about?¡± he asked with a somewhat disappointed frown. ¡°If I am being honest, the religious types do weigh heavy on my heart. Why limit yourself to someone else¡¯s plan for you? ¡°No, forget that! I apologize,¡± he said, and for the first time, Maria nudged Rachel, letting her know it was a lie but it was obvious enough that he wasn¡¯t sorry. ¡°My intention isn¡¯t here to cause strife, preach to you, or be preached to! I¡¯m here to see what exactly happened to your sister-in-law, Rachel, and offer what help I can that she wants. I have no intention of taking her away or any other nefarious intent toward her. This is merely academic and humane treatment as is my ethical bedrock.¡± Rachel sat back, hearing them getting closer to her parents house as Alexa¡¯s soft cries tickled her ear. The conversation had lasted longer than she¡¯d thought but it would still take a second for them to touch down inside of a cul-de-sac. [Bringer of Misfortune] was a swirl of confusion. Something very unlucky hovered around or was connected to him, but the thread was too elusive and complicated to see where it led¡ªit almost looked as if it led back to him. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Wolfgang ran his fingers through his ruffled hair. ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re starting to see each other in a more favorable light. I am more than willing to leave my guard detail outside if they intimidate you, but it only should last several minutes for me to check her with my specialized examination abilities as a doctor since they are quite potent. I could also show you my music talents if you have a piano if we have time!¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave together within thirty minutes. I can do that if you¡¯re truly here to help Alexa. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re stupid enough to try something with me there¡­so let me be perfectly clear.¡± Her eclipse eyes locked on the man¡¯s warm, transparent blue orbs, and a shiver ran down his frame as she swapped her Lunar Pool to [Lunar Hell Force: Yomi]. Streaks of black cascaded down her shimmering hair as the corrupting force filled her with filth. Her heart turned as cold as a devil as she projected the black flames within her soul, at the border between activating [Lunar Burst] to complete the transformation rather than just taking in the Negative Force. ¡°There is nowhere and no one on this planet that can save you from me. No law will stop me from dragging your soul to Hell if you harm my family.¡± Thalia, Irida, and Aleka¡¯s ears poked up from Sera¡¯s lap as she smothered them in attention. Helena and Ingrid leveled narrow-eyed glares at her, fingers digging into their thighs. Yet, as swiftly as she¡¯d shown a tiny sample of the type of power she could call on, she returned the Hell Force to Nia, who now looked smug at their reactions while internally arguing with the Hell Pups through their soul-link, being traitors. Wolfgang breathed out a long breath and strained a chuckle, his smile only wavering slightly. ¡°I take that threat very seriously, Rachel. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Transparency is key in times like these. We live in dangerous times.¡± Rachel leaned back in her seat, her mind still racing with possibilities. The information Wolfgang had given was clear as day and without vagueness, but it also raised more questions. Trust was a luxury she couldn¡¯t afford, but for now, she would keep a close eye on him and his team. However, as they were preparing to land, something between Nia and the Cerberus Sisters caught her attention. ¡°No! You¡¯re practically purring like cats over there on her lap. I¡¯ve got a comfy lap as Big Nia, too! Why don¡¯t you be nice to me and are all barks and teeth but she¡¯s all cuddles and love? Hmm? Traitors!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand it either,¡± Thalia mumbled, her blue flames relaxed as the attentive blonde Jew scratched under her ear. ¡°There¡¯s something¡­familiar about her smell. She knows exactly where to pet and apply pressure. For a moment, when Yomi¡¯s power entered Rachel, I almost felt¡­ I don¡¯t know. Something responded. Ah! Not my chin! Mmm¡­¡± ¡°Ahh! Don¡¯t let that busty succubus lady seduce you with her pets. I¡¯m a fun rabbit! She won¡¯t play tag with you! Don¡¯t abandon the family! Not you too, Coral! Captain! Captain! SOS! She¡¯s a devil! I know it! I know it!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t feed into the bunny¡¯s child-like panic at seeing her new friends being loved by someone else when they were usually mean to everyone. Still, there was something there. Wolfgang took most of my attention, but¡­maybe I¡¯m focusing on the wrong person. Sera looked up at her with a small, playful smile that looked natural on her. Maybe you¡¯re onto something, Nia. ¡°I am?!¡± Keep an eye on her, would you? Thalia, Irida, Aleka¡­ Don¡¯t be simps. ¡°The nerve!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a simp!¡± ¡°Irida,¡± Aleka gasped, her green flames flaring. ¡°You are embarrassing us!¡± ¡°Nuh-uh! You¡¯re the embarrassing one¡ªack! My tail!¡± Rachel was a tad shocked as the blue-furred wolf pup chomped down on her red-furred sister¡¯s swaying tail. ¡°Thalia, why did you pick on me?¡± she cried as all three of them rolled off of the disappointed blonde. ¡°Because¡­something isn¡¯t right here. Investigate.¡± ¡°On it, Big Sis!¡± ¡°Yeah, you didn¡¯t have say it¡­ So bossy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help!¡± Nia chimed in as Coral flew over to perch on her head. ¡°Buns and Pups Investi-bend-ation Services is in business! No biting allowed!¡± ¡°Aww¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s mind continued to swirl with the implications of their conversation as the helicopter descended to the ground. Touching down in the cul-de-sac, the group prepared to disembark. Something odd was happening here. The question was how nefarious it was. Scarlet¡¯s crimson eyes flicked to the side and suddenly they went wide. ¡°Alexa looks¡­way different,¡± she said, her voice barely a whisper. Rachel¡¯s heart skipped a beat, sensing the heavy atmosphere from the undertones in her family¡¯s voices. ¡°I¡¯d rather have a true reaction,¡± she replied, her voice steady despite the unease bubbling inside her. ¡°Does everyone look safe? How about the sun for you?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve taped over all the windows with black paper. It should be safe for me,¡± Scarlet assured. ¡°Should I teleport us into Alexa''s room with a [Blood Portal]? Do you¡­want to use it again?¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine using it again. And no, the hallway is fine. I¡¯ll knock.¡± Elena puffed up her chest, her tone haughty. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid¡ª¡± Maria grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her through the unzipped back area. ¡°We¡¯re not doing that shit again, chica. Don¡¯t be stupid. We¡¯ll meet you inside, Rach.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a scaredy-bun,¡± Nia boasted, Coral helping her unbuckle her seatbelt as she had trouble with it. ¡°If the cap can do it, then we can!¡± The three pups mirrored the little girl¡¯s bold declaration. Wolfgang watched the exchange with interest, but Sera leaned in and whispered against the idea to him, causing him to sigh. ¡°It might be a bit foolhardy,¡± he admitted, ¡°and perhaps it¡¯s better to enter through the front like respectable guests. Very well! I¡¯ll await your parents¡¯ invitation, Rachel.¡± With that, he motioned for his team to follow Barbara and Roy. She didn¡¯t blame Barbara not wanting to join them, plus she did need to observe the Germans. Scarlet quickly created the portal, its crimson surface shimmering ominously. Rachel took a deep breath and stepped through, feeling the now-familiar sensation of invisible hands dragging her into the darkness. The moment she emerged in the hallway, she shook off the lingering unease, hearing the others follow closely behind. She didn¡¯t waste any time, lightly wrapping her knuckles against the door, hearing her brother brooding downstairs with Jeanne and Felix. Her mom and Zoe were currently with Alexa, and she¡¯d already heard a few concerning comments made by them involving stiff wings she couldn¡¯t bend. ¡°I¡¯m back for a little bit, Alexa. Can we come inside?¡± She heard rustling inside, and Alexa¡¯s hasty voice came from the bed, filled with a mix of emotions. ¡°Zoe, open the door! Is there anything I can do to fix this, Rachel? Is there anyway¡ªanything to fix how I look? You¡¯re the expert on changed stuff!¡± Rachel swallowed hard, feeling the panic and desperate hope in her sister-in-law¡¯ plea, seeking help and reassurance. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Alexa. We¡¯ll work through this,¡± her mother¡¯s soothing voice responded from within, and the door opened, revealing Zoe and Alexa. Zoe now had a split black tail with red tips, and her cat ears mirrored the same coloration. However, Rachel''s attention was immediately drawn to Alexa. Alexa¡¯s once adult, womanly figure was now petite, more delicate, much younger, resembling that of a thirteen-year-old girl. Thick, twinkling white hair cascaded down to her shoulder blades, and her large golden irises, adorned with white four-pointed stars at their center, radiated a dazzling white light. Her aurelian halo, glowing over her head and snow-white wings sprouting from her shoulder blades, sparkling with an ethereal glow. It was all too obvious what her sister-in-law had become¡ªan angel. Yet, her outfit told a different story that she knew all too well from her two weeks of recovery, listening and watching Scarlet and Alexa watch anime together. She wore a thigh-length, shoulderless dress with gold trim, elegant boots, a garter belt, and a yellow ribbon around her neck and sleeves. Rachel whispered the first thing that entered her mind. ¡°You¡­became a Magical Girl Angel?¡± Tears welled up in Alexa¡¯s eyes, four-pointed star golden irises shimmering, the liquid sliding down her cheeks like sparkling diamonds. ¡°Please, Rachel, help me,¡± she whimpered, her voice trembling. B3 — 3. A Mother’s Confession Rachel was momentarily frozen in place, [Mental Acceleration] and [Strategic Mind] working in tandem to link everything she¡¯d heard and was seeing. Alexa had transformed into a Magical Girl Angel, and reverted to a twelve to thirteen-year-old in appearance. Immediately, her thoughts connected it to Zoe¡¯s situation since she looked to be fifteen or sixteen after The Oscillation. The two-tailed cat¡¯s ears were pulled back, already dealing with a lot, with her family situation, and now having to comfort Alexa. Stepping forward only seconds after coming into the room, she reached out to stop her sister-in-law from tripping on her sheet in her haste and falling onto her face. Voice softening with her ears high, keeping track of everything around her, Rachel whispered, ¡°I¡¯m here, Alexa,¡± placing a comforting and supportive hand on Alexa¡¯s shoulder to keep her stable. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out together. It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Is it, though?¡± she cried, her stiff wings fluttering as Scarlet scooted into the room and shut the door. ¡°Look at me¡ªoh-no¡­Rachel!¡± Nam¡¯s concerned tone came from the front room, Jeanne and Felix jumping up with him to run up the stairs. ¡°Alexa¡ªRachel, you¡¯re back?!¡± Rachel saw a pained smile on her mom¡¯s face as she got to her feet and Alexa looked up at her in desperation. ¡°He can¡¯t see me, Rachel, please¡­¡± Scarlet responded without a word, closing the door and pressing the lock button on the knob before moving to stand beside Zoe. ¡°How are you doing?¡± she whispered, holding up a hand that the split-tailed cat took with a thankful, downcast nod. ¡°Not good¡­but I¡¯m managing.¡± Rachel sighed, mouth becoming a line as tears continued to welled up in Alexa¡¯s eyes, her golden irises shimmering, the liquid sliding down her cheeks like sparkling diamonds. She shifted her grip to carefully pull her into a gentle hug, keeping her hands low on her back to not touch her wings. ¡°Please, Rachel, help me,¡± she whimpered, her voice trembling and a frightening gaze darting to the door as the nob rattled. ¡°Rachel,¡± Nam urgently called out, his tone swiftly calming but she could hear the frustration in it that was unlike her calm big brother. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why can¡¯t I come in, Alexa? Please¡­¡± The angel¡¯s eyes widened in panic, and she turned her face away, body shaking against Rachel¡¯s as her wings quivered. ¡°Nam, I¡­I can¡¯t let you see me like this,¡± she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I just¡­I don¡¯t want you to see me like this¡­ Please, Nam. I can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Why, Lexi¡ªI¡¯ve already seen you¡­ I just¡­I want to help¡­¡± Swiftly analyzing the situation, Rachel tilted her neck to the left and right to loosen it up before lightly drawing away from Alexa, showing an encouraging smile at her panicking sister-in-law. [Strategic Mind] brought everything she knew and had come to understand about the former blonde to the forefront of her mind. ¡°Let me handle this real fast, Alexa,¡± she softly urged, guiding her back to her mom. ¡°I only have thirty minutes to be here, and a lot to do¡­ I¡¯ll talk to Nam real fast. You take some deep breaths. Okay? Mom, Zoe, Scarlet?¡± They silently nodded and went past her to take her place as Alexa let out her emotions in weak, silent tears. Rachel turned and went to the door, hearing the helicopter they¡¯d used touching down in a cul-de-sac. She still had time, and despite the high emotions, she had to maximize her time and impact because there was a lot to get through. Opening the door a crack, Nam jerked his head up, but Rachel scooted out, forcing him to retreat. He tried to speak yet Rachel shook her head, his shoulders slumping as Felix and Jeanne hovered a distance away, listening. ¡°Nam, cool it a little. She needs some space.¡± ¡°Rachel¡­¡± ¡°No, I get it,¡± she interrupted. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about her¡ªshe¡¯s your wife. I¡¯m the last one you¡¯d think would defend her¡­but you¡¯re not seeing what she sees in the mirror. Think about it¡­¡± ¡°I am,¡± he softly defended, arms crossed and moving to the nearby railing to stare down at the downstairs front guest area. ¡°I don¡¯t care how she looks. I¡¯m just¡­nothing has changed for me. I don¡¯t know why she won¡¯t let me in¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Rachel took a deep breath and let it out as he looked up at her, brow furrowed and searching for answers. ¡°You can¡¯t see why she wouldn¡¯t want you to see her like that? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but¡­I severely misjudged Alexa as a person, and I think you have too, Nam.¡± His fingers tightened, locking his jaw and closing his eyes while letting the flash of anger pass. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and looked at her, the frustration passing to a searching plea. ¡°What am I missing then? I try to give her everything she needs¡­¡± Showing a weak smile, Rachel jabbed her brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s the problem, bro. Think about how Alexa grew up¡­ She was her father¡¯s little princess, trapped in her safe tower, given whatever she might want, and handed over to someone, yes, she loves, I¡¯m not denying that, but part of that reason is because she had a bit more freedom than at home¡­¡± Rachel paused, seeing the reality of Alexa¡¯s internal struggles dawning on his face. ¡°Alexa has always been a caged bird. You gave her more freedom. She does love you or else she wouldn¡¯t be acting like this¡­because she doesn¡¯t want you to see her as a child in need of your attention, protection, and care but a woman¡­ ¡°She wants to be a woman, Nam, to stand next to you¡­not behind you or to solve all her problems like her dad. Alexa grew up without being able to develop any life skills or branch out to figure out what she wants to do because she was never allowed to. With Mom and Dad, they¡¯ve been slowly drawing her out of that shell. But now this¡­ This is her worst nightmare.¡± Her brother breathed in deeply, his nose turning red as he turned his back to her and gripped the railing to stare down at the blackened windows. ¡°How¡­do I help then, Rachel? I feel¡­so useless. How can I help my wife?¡± Rachel placed a hand on his back, tense and hot as he struggled getting air into his lungs. ¡°By following Mom and Dad¡¯s example. Be patient with her. She is trying to grow into a woman that she feels is worthy of you, Nam, which is probably why she was so hostile toward me since I¡¯m¡­kind of what Alexa wants to be,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Be proud of her¡­ Support her when she comes to you, and don¡¯t project your feelings onto her.¡± He swallowed, leaning over the railing before relaxing. ¡°¡­Thanks, sis¡­ I know your time is limited. Help Alexa. I¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Heart softening, Rachel patted his back for comfort before turning to Felix, hearing the helicopter touch down. ¡°Elena is here with your sister. Why don¡¯t you and my brother go downstairs with Zoe; she needs some attention, too.¡± The Hispanic boy¡¯s tension eased and he nodded, his accent lighter than the unicorn¡¯s. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m worried about her. Is my sister okay?¡± Rachel glanced at Jeanne, her arms crossed and looking at her phone, no doubt following the breaking news on the attack against her homeland; the blonde¡¯s gaze lifted as Rachel addressed her. Her blue sun-dress still showed rips from the battle she¡¯d engaged in the previous night, reminding her what might have happened if the saint hadn¡¯t been here. ¡°Maria needs to meet with you, Jeanne. She needs to give you Catherine¡¯s last will and testament, with a few other things she needs to talk to you about. It might be best to go out and meet her before flying to France. I know you need to get going.¡± The saint¡¯s face softened, and moved to hug her. ¡°I will do that, and should we not see each other again, I have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent together. I am terribly sorry for being unable to ensure your family¡¯s safety¡­¡± Laughter shook Rachel¡¯s chest as they met, and she shook her head upon drawing back. ¡°Nonsense. If you hadn¡¯t been here, I¡¯m positive there would have been many more attacks. Thank you. I look forward to going to France eventually, so there needs to be a France left to tour. Stay alive to show me around.¡± ¡°I will make sure of it,¡± she chimed, her blue eyes sparkling with delight as her accent thickened. ¡°Until the next time we meet.¡± Waving her off, Rachel held up a thumb to Felix and her brother. ¡°Zoe can hear me, so¡­there she is!¡± The door cracked open and the anxious cat girl exited, her ears low, looking adorably vulnerable. ¡°You don¡¯t need to give me so much attention¡­¡± ¡°Just the right amount,¡± Rachel returned, taking her hand to bring her into an embrace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear what happened¡­ Just know that you¡¯re not alone. If you want to tell me anything or let me in on your plans, then just talk to Felix and Nam. My ears are always listening¡­¡± Zoe swallowed back her emotions, her chest fluttering with a deep breath while tightening her grip for a second. ¡°¡­You¡¯re too good to me,¡± she whimpered. ¡°A matter of opinion,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Like I said¡­¡± ¡°Mhm. You¡¯re always listening¡­ Thank you.¡± Ruffling her hair, as a Domestic Cat might like, given her personality, she was happy to see a bit more strength in Zoe¡¯s shyly smiling face, red as it might be. Letting Felix take over, Rachel slipped back into the room, glad to see Alexa calming down. She scanned the room, taking in her sister-in-law¡¯s condition with her mother and Scarlet. Her mom stood by, her face a mix of concern and support while Scarlet held her hand, but sizzling flesh made her brow furrow; it was very faint, likely unnoticeable to anyone without her hyper enhanced senses. ¡°Scarlet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she urged, showing a fanged smile. ¡°It¡¯s really weak; my healing is more than enough.¡± ¡°Your what?¡± Alexa asked. ¡°Nam?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Rachel returned, kneeling down in front of the angel and gently taking her other hand. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m short on time. Nam calmed down and said he¡¯d wait until you¡¯re ready.¡± Her wings drooped to the bed for the first time as Alexa¡¯s tight muscles relaxed and she breathed a long sigh of relief, blinking back more tears. ¡°Thank you¡­so much, Rachel¡­ Hah. And now they bend¡­ What¡¯s happened to me? No, I¡¯m listening¡­¡± she said, trying to rebuild her strength. ¡°What do I need to do or tell you?¡± Rachel¡¯s mind raced as she considered their options, time slowing with her accelerating synapses. ¡°The people coming to examine you from the UN do give off strange vibes, but they passed every test I did on their way here. They¡¯re on a tight schedule, as well, and I¡¯d rather they return with me than stay. We need to be quick.¡± Alexa¡¯s tears slowed as she listened, her breathing becoming more even. ¡°What can I do?¡± she asked, desperation still tinging her voice. Glad to have her mother and Scarlet to help bring her sister-in-law to this accepting state, Rachel squeezed her hand and pointed at her blouse. ¡°As you know, Nia had similar trouble with reverting to a child after the incident with a certain unfavorable drunk,¡± Rachel chuckled. ¡°We were able to circumvent that by acquiring a Feat. ¡°If you¡¯re asking for my advice on what can help in the short-term, then you might already have the option. Even if not, if you level up, you should be able to do the same, if you truly want it and don¡¯t want to remain like this.¡± ¡°Yeah, no!¡± Alexa choked, her sparkling silver hair weaving against her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t want to look like this.¡± Scarlet¡¯s vampiric eyes lit up, no doubt continuing to track the UN representatives. ¡°Oh, you could get like¡­a Reverse Magical Girl transformation! Selvaria was able to get a Feat to return to her human-self, too, but¡­yeah, expect there to be some, eh, complications.¡± Instead of grimacing, Alexa¡¯s face lit up with hope as she began to think. ¡°Right¡­ Selvaria gets younger or older depending on how full her [Water Pool] is, while Nia has a six hour limit as an adult before having to wait eighteen hours for it to recharge¡­ No, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Have you gone into your internal world? It¡¯s called a Soul Expanse or Soul Sanctuary.¡± Rachel pressed. Alexa shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. ¡°No, I¡¯m too scared. Zoe tried to help me, but there¡¯s just so much going on¡ªa-and what if it made things worse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Rachel reassured. ¡°We¡¯ll do it together now. Mom, your shamanistic powers can help if things do go south, right?¡± Her mother¡¯s silent so far yet reassuring presence seemed to steady Alexa as they looked to the dark-haired matriarch of their family. ¡°I can. I¡¯ve been ready to use it if required,¡± she stated, directing their attention to her bell beside the bed. Rachel¡¯s gaze lingered on it while the angel prepared herself. I want to ask Mom so many things¡­ She has a whole life none of us are aware of. Yet, I also need to respect her privacy and decision¡­ She is my mother. You certainly make it hard, though, Mom. Grandpa Park might have some secrets, too¡­ Letting the feelings go to center on the task at hand, Rachel looked into her sister-in-law¡¯s eyes. ¡°Okay, focus on my voice and try to stay calm. It¡¯s a lot easier than you think, this breathing exercise my grandfather taught me pulls you right into it. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Rachel gently guided Alexa through the process, her voice steady and reassuring. The angel closed her eyes, her body relaxing as she entered her Soul Expanse. After a few tense minutes, she heard Wolfgang drawing near their house. Jeanne greeted Maria and went on a walk around the block, and Rachel heard quite a few neighbors mumbling to one another while sneaking looks outside their windows. Oddly, only the two nextdoor¡ªthe new Filipino neighbors¡ªseemed to be minding their own business. Alexa opened her eyes, a spark of hope lighting up her face. ¡°Rachel, I did it. I¡¯m Level One¡ªit was so clear! B-But I have three Feat Points and a Stat Point. There¡¯s something that can help me.¡± Her hands trembled as she reached up to the golden bow on her neck. ¡°I, umm, I probably should have asked first, but I was so excited¡ªI just took it. Can you give me some space? Please¡­ Please work!¡± They retreated a bit, and Alexa¡¯s trembling fingers grasped the golden bow at her neck. Her eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and hope, the tension in the air, each second stretching out as her sister-in-law took a deep breath and pulled. A soft, radiant light began to emanate from the bow, enveloping Alexa in a warm, golden glow. The transformation started subtly, with her angelic features shimmering and blurring, as if they were being redrawn by an unseen hand. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened in awe as she witnessed the metamorphosis unfold. The golden light intensified, swirling around Alexa like a protective cocoon. Her wings, once stiff and cumbersome, seemed to dissolve into the light, leaving behind a trail of sparkling dust. The glow enveloped her entirely, creating an ethereal aura that lit up the room with a soft, heavenly radiance. Rachel could hear a faint, melodic hum, almost like distant chimes, accompanying the transformation. Alexa¡¯s petite, childlike form began to stretch and elongate, her limbs growing and filling out in her energy-like frame to their original proportions. Her hair, once a thick cascade of shimmering white, darkened and shortened, returning to its natural, lustrous blonde. As the transformation neared completion, the golden light began to recede, leaving behind faint, shimmering traces in the air. Alexa stood before them, her 21-year-old self restored. She was still breathtakingly beautiful¡ªfar more than even her previous stunning features¡ªbut the angelic aura was subdued, manifesting only in the star-like pupils of her golden irises and the faint, glowing halo that floated above her head. Alexa looked down at herself, her eyes wide with disbelief. Tears welled up and spilled over as she hugged herself tightly, her shoulders shaking with sobs of relief. ¡°It worked,¡± she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect¡­but I¡¯m me again.¡± Rachel could feel her brother¡¯s relief past time and space just looking at the woman in front of her. Still, as she watched Alexa embrace her restored form, Rachel knew this was far from over, and there was a lot more to address than just her physical appearance. Crossing her arms and cocking her hip to the side while examining the golden halo above the blonde¡¯s head, Rachel smiled. ¡°Well, that works. You¡¯re no longer a little girl, Alexa. I knew you could.¡± Scarlet held her hands behind her back, not even looking bothered by the light that had hit her due to its extremely low level. ¡°What about the restrictions and drawbacks? Are there any?¡± Alexa wiped away her tears as Molly moved forward to embrace her. ¡°You look divine, sweetie¡­ I¡¯m so happy for you.¡± The angel returned the embrace and looked up at Rachel with a grateful smile. ¡°Thank you, Rachel. I couldn¡¯t have gone through with it without you suggesting it¡­¡± She looked at her hands as Molly drew back, flexing her fingers as if to ensure they were real. ¡°My, umm, my base form is still the Transcendent Angelic Magical Girl¡ªI¡¯m guessing the Transcendent is like your Mythickin¡ªbut I can temporarily transform back to this for thirty minutes.¡± Scarlet¡¯s eyes and shoulders drooped. ¡°Only thirty minutes? No, I mean, that¡¯s amazing, Alexa!¡± Alexa took a deep breath, her expression more thoughtful now examining the dress she¡¯d worn the night before, now returned, while reaching up to slide her finger over her halo. ¡°When I was in my Soul Expanse, it was like everything became clear. I saw my options like a game screen¡ªZoe mentioned it to me before. And I just¡­knew which one to choose. It¡¯s called ¡®Reverse Magical Girl.¡¯ I didn¡¯t hesitate.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, ready to tackle the next problem as Wolfgang talked with the soldiers outside, Barbara, Nia, Coral, and the Cerberus Sisters with them. ¡°Well, we survived that crisis. Now, we need to make the most of our time. Are you ready for the examination? Wolfgang is almost here¡­ Mom?¡± Her mother¡¯s fingers curled in on her palm, her smile never wavering, but agitation twitching underneath her calm facade. ¡°Hmm?¡± Brown eyes blinked, she gave a short start, and Rachel noticed something odd about her mother for the first time. ¡°Oh, how did Nia extend her transformation time?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ It was the Legend Quest reward, so it was probably a lot stronger or enhanced because of that. Are you sure you¡¯re okay, Mom?¡± Scarlet glancing between them. ¡°Yeah, you feel really anxious and agitated, Molly. Is there something else that could cause Lexi trouble?¡± ¡°No, no¡­ It¡¯s something else,¡± she said with a strained laugh, clearly brushing it off. ¡°All Alexa needs to do is advance the Feat, correct?¡± The fanged girl smiled and nodded. ¡°Yup! Early levels are easy.¡± Alexa turned her star-golden eyes to her, vision darting to her flawless hand and arm. ¡°That makes sense¡­¡± Alexa tilted her head, consideringly. ¡°If it was due to the influence of a Legend Quest¡­maybe I can find a way to extend mine too.¡± Rachel felt a screw drill into her gut as [Strategic Mind] told her where things were heading. However, she couldn¡¯t focus on that right now. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out, Alexa. For now, let¡¯s focus on what we need to do next. I only have twenty minutes left before I promised I¡¯d leave.¡± In probably the most wholesome moment they¡¯d shared since knowing each other, Alexa went in for a hug, and Rachel felt a rush of Positive Energy, similar to Mei and Chang¡¯e, rush into her from the angel¡¯s subdued glow. ¡°When it came to this, out of everyone¡­I know I can count on you, Rachel. Thank you for being my sister.¡± It was hard not to let some of the ice in her heart melt at that confession from a woman who she¡¯d hated not two months ago. ¡°Yeah¡­ Let¡¯s go downstairs and figure this out.¡± Feeling reassured, Alexa agreed and they moved out of the room. Barbara blocked Wolfgang from going inside, knowing Rachel could hear them and would let her mother know when they could enter. The real hero was probably her father since he was on the phone with Alexa¡¯s dad inside the garage, and being a barrier between him and his daughter. On the way down the stairs, Rachel glanced back at her smiling mother. She doesn¡¯t want Wolfgang to examine Alexa, but she¡¯s not speaking up about it¡­ She really seems agitated about their presence. Why can¡¯t she tell me? Why have you been so frustratingly secretive recently, Mom?! No, has it been my whole life? And¡­if all Legends, Myths, and uniquely changed people have glowing eyes and changed appearances¡­why have you remained the same? Then again, I guess all mothers are legends, so who knows, she thought with a bit of humor to curb her tense tail. Rachel noticed Zoe¡¯s exhaustion while talking to Felix and Nam, her puffy red eyes rimmed with dark circles that spoke of sleepless nights and stress. Molly moved to support the cat now that Alexa¡¯s issue was solved, who managed a tired but genuine smile. As they descended the stairs, Rachel¡¯s heart warmed at the sight of Nam¡¯s reaction. His eyes filled with tears as he saw Alexa, his relief and joy palpable as he rose to his feet, and Alexa ran to him. He caught her in a tight embrace, his voice broke as he held her close. ¡°Alexa¡­you¡¯re back to normal? I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay!¡± All the blonde could manage was a weak, ¡°Mhm!¡± As her brother spun his angel around and held her, Rachel had to shake her head. The fact he says ¡®she¡¯s normal¡¯ again speaks volumes as to how he sees her¡­ She¡¯s definitely gone from a seven to an eleven on the looks scale, with a halo to boot, yet she¡¯s normal¡­ Or I¡¯m reading too much into it. Alexa clung to him, her own tears mingling with his. ¡°Nam, I was so scared¡­but Rachel helped me. She made it possible¡­but only for thirty minutes in a day.¡± Nam looked over Alexa¡¯s shoulder at Rachel, his eyes filled with gratitude. ¡°More than enough. Thank you, Rachel.¡± Rachel shook her head, a modest smile coming on. ¡°Alexa did it herself. I really didn¡¯t do much, and, yes, it may just be for thirty minutes, but that can increase given time. Also, she¡¯s not like Nia, bro. She¡¯s an adult, no matter what she looks like, so treat her like it.¡± The blonde¡¯s shining eyes met hers with a silent thank you, her brother chuckling softly. ¡°Absolutely¡­ I don¡¯t want to make you feel trapped, Alexa. Just¡­talk to me, please. I want to understand¡­ I want to listen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I need,¡± Alexa mumbled, pulling back a little to move in to meet his lips. ¡°I¡¯m trying¡­ I¡¯ve been trying to be useful¡­to learn. Just¡­be patient with me.¡± He responded by returning the kiss and meeting foreheads with his wife. ¡°I¡¯m here for you. Whatever you need.¡± Letting the lovebirds be struck by cupid again, Rachel turned to her mom, unsure how this conversation would go after her previous subtle reactions. ¡°Mom¡­ The Director-General of the World Health Organization is outside, waiting. Do you want him to come in¡­or do you want to turn him away? It¡¯s your decision,¡± she respectfully stated. Her mother blinked as if the question was silly, yet her subconscious twitches gave away her true feelings. ¡°Why would I turn him away when someone so qualified would make the trip to see how they can help Alexa? There may be things that come up that are¡­surprising,¡± she whispered, her fist pressing into her thigh, ¡°but I can explain. Are you ready, Alexa?¡± The blonde withdrew from her husband, lifting a hand to run a finger over her halo before gulping and taking Nam¡¯s hand, squeezing it. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Alright, Mom, Rachel internally mumbled, confused by the cryptic warning and reluctant twitches. She glanced toward the door as she prompted Nia and the Cerberus Triplets checked in. Any new updates, Investi-bend-ation Services. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of the name!¡± Nia huffed. ¡°We were working hard, and I didn¡¯t even get my tail or ears bit, I¡¯ll have you know! Report: she¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°Super weird!¡± Irida chimed in. ¡°Mmm! So, good!¡± ¡°Hang in there, Agent Ruby!¡± Nia cried. ¡°Oh, not the ears!¡± Aleka growled at her older, red-flaming sister. ¡°You¡¯re letting her pet you and rub your belly! And what about you, ¡®fearless captain¡¯ Nia? Where¡¯s the pride?¡± Thalia¡¯s cautious tone silenced their youngest sister. ¡°For once, it¡¯s not their fault, Aleka¡­ This Sera woman is using spiritual pressure points to soothe and send pleasure through their spiritual nexus. She¡¯s far, far too knowledgeable for a mortal¡­¡± ¡°Now that you mention it,¡± Aleka mumbled, ¡°she is using them, Big Sis¡­ What do we do? I didn¡¯t even recognize it until you pointed it out. That¡¯s¡­terrifying. I can¡¯t sense any Infernal Energy from her, but she has to have it, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Thalia returned. ¡°She certainly is using some sort of veil to obstruct our vision of her soul. Even if we¡¯re weakened in this state, it would take an extremely skilled devil to accomplish that in Hades. Demons don¡¯t specialize in this kind of skill set. I can¡¯t say for certain she is a devil¡­but she has the skills of one.¡± Nia gasped. ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t want to scare her, Coral?! You scare everyone! Why are you always harping on me? No, she just¡­really complimented my outfit. She was nice¡­¡± Noted, Rachel whispered, breaking away from the conversation as she picked up the radio on the table and handed it to her mother. Let¡¯s see what my mom does. Her mom gave her a surprisingly soft and mournful smile while accepting it. ¡°Well, if you want me to do this, I will, darling¡­ Chris, I understand the Director-General of the WHO is outside?¡± Rachel¡¯s hands tightened against each other at the base of her tail as her mother maintained eye-contact. You really are becoming more of a mystery, Mom¡­and I don¡¯t want to distrust you. I know this is all uncomfortable to you, and judging from the call Nia overheard when I was recovering, you may have left the organization your side of the family is in, this is a part of your life you don¡¯t want us to get involved in¡­ I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll allow that to happen in the end, but I owe you my whole life, Mom, so¡­I¡¯ll respect it. ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Very well¡­ Only Wolfgang and his personal assistant can enter. The two bodyguards need to stay outside. I don¡¯t like their vibes.¡± Rachel could hear Wolfgang¡¯s voice crackle over the radio with an entertained laugh. ¡°Did you hear that, Helena, Ingrid? You¡¯ve been marked. But it is understood, Ms. Park. Ms. Sera and I will be right in. The examination shouldn¡¯t take us more than five minutes.¡± A silence fell over them Rachel went and opened the door, allowing Wolfgang and Sera to enter, accompanied by the Cerberus Pups, Nia, and Coral. The tension in the room increased as Wolfgang and her mother exchanged a look. ¡°I appreciate the¡ª¡± Rachel went on high-alert with Zoe and Nia. The Hellhound Sisters took one look at the split-tailed cat girl, their ears flattened, and they tucked their tails between their legs before bolting out the door. For the first time, a bewildered Nia was the one to give chase, with Coral following, ¡°Hey! Thalia, Irida, Aleka¡ªwhat spooked you? Hey!¡± Wolfgang¡¯s confused smile grew while shifting to glance back at the bunny, wolves, and bun slime¡¯s retreat before greeting everyone. ¡°Quite¡­the welcoming committee you have here. Huh. I wonder what struck them?¡± He took off his fedora and placed it on the hat rack by the door before fixing his suit and staring at the stunned blonde, everyone else recovering from the Cerberus Trio¡¯s unusual action. ¡°Alexa, you¡¯re not what I expected based on our conversations. It looks like you used your Seed recently,¡± he remarked, glancing at Rachel, still attempting to decipher what would have terrified girls who could be considered Marchioness¡¯ of Hell. ¡°Fascinating. Quite the unique transformation.¡± Wolfgang¡¯s brow creased as he turned to his mysterious blonde assistant, who was fixated on Zoe, her face ashen. ¡°Sera, hmm¡­what¡¯s wrong? The Domestic Cat Beastkin¡­ No, there¡¯s something odd about her?¡± he whispered, rubbing his chin and scrutinizing the stiff, split-tailed girl. ¡°A green fire in her soul?¡± Sera blinked and smiled, brushing back her golden hair behind her ears and laughing it off. ¡°No, I was just a little startled. The cat just has the most ominous vibe I¡¯ve¡­ever experienced, which is saying a lot. No wonder those adorable pups ran away; the hunger and energy in your soul, sweetie, is¡­quite frightening! You¡¯re certainly one to look out for.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Zoe mumbled, sinking further into her chair as everyone centered on her. ¡°I, umm¡­sorry?¡± Everyone in the room exchanged shocked glances, but Sera¡¯s gaze quickly moved to Molly, a small smile lifting her full lips before shifting to Alexa. ¡°Director-General, I believe we are close to figuring out the truth behind this mystery.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± the German hummed, now scrutinizing Zoe with interest, but Rachel wondered if Sera was redirecting because she wanted to escape the vicinity around the Domestic Cat as much as the three pups. ¡°Alexa, it seems we needn¡¯t waste time with instructions since someone has been so kind as to teach you how to enter your internal world¡ªthe one you used to obtain your Feats.¡± Alexa gulped, her throat a tad dry as she glanced at Rachel before nodding. ¡°You¡­just want me to enter it?¡± ¡°Excellent, and that would be wonderful. If you could stand still and enter your internal world while opening yourself up, then I can see the path to your Seed to analyze it. I look forward to seeing its unique structure.¡± Nam squeezed Alexa¡¯s hand, giving her a reassuring look. She complied, closing her eyes and focusing. The world slowed in Rachel¡¯s eyes as she watched for the slightest twitch from either Sera, Wolfgang, and her mother; the German man¡¯s eyes widened first, moments after the blonde retreated into her Soul Sanctuary. ¡°Fascinating,¡± he muttered, running his fingers through his hair and shifting his head to the side. ¡°So¡­that¡¯s the reason for this unique transformation, Ms. Park. The Greater Seed inside your daughter-in-law was meant for someone else and was deflected away to land inside of Alexa, slowly adapting to her soul until the need arose, and it activated.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Why¡­direct that at my mom? What do you mean, deflected?¡± Wolfgang¡¯s lips curled as Molly¡¯s cool brown eyes dug into his. ¡°Ms. Park, perhaps I should be taking lessons from you! Your spiritual signature was the last to interact with this unique Seed before it latched onto Alexa. The Greater Seed was meant for Nam, was it not?¡± ¡°What?¡± Nam mumbled, Rachel as shocked as her brother while staring at their mother. ¡°I¡­was meant to have the Seed?¡± ¡°How peculiar,¡± Wolfgang continued, turning toward the door to collect his hat. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t expect to be welcomed much longer, so I¡¯ll take my leave. Rachel, I trust you can handle things from here since you¡¯ve done such an amazing job so far. I appreciate the mysteries you have given me with this visit¡­and there are so many.¡± Rachel saw the mix of emotions on Alexa and her brother¡¯s faces as Nam asked, ¡°Mom, is that true?¡± Wolfgang stirred up a hurricane as he left, Sera directing one last glance at Zoe, a shiver running down her frame before leaving. Rachel could hardly take notice, though. And now she understood why her mother was so reluctant. Molly glared daggers at Wolfgang¡¯s retreating back. He paused at the door, looking up. ¡°Might I add that this is a lovely house. There¡¯s a lot of shamanistic charm and protection mysticism within and around it, yet someone managed to cut through it recently¡­ Someone dangerous. I suggest patching those. Good day,¡± he said, his vision lingering on Molly before he exited. In the ensuing silence, Nam¡¯s voice was full of urgency, now somewhat accusatory as their mother remained quiet, looking off to the side with a deep frown. ¡°Mom, how deep does your knowledge go on The Oscillation? What organization is our family involved in? Is Dad involved¡ªgrandpa?! Did you redirect the Seed into Alexa and away from me so I wouldn¡¯t turn out like Rachel? Why would you do that?¡± Molly sighed deeply, her eyes filled with a mix of guilt and resolve. ¡°Mmm. This is¡­a complicated discussion for only ten minutes. I was afraid of inviting Soul Readers into the house, and I was right. I do owe you all an explanation,¡± she said, looking between them. ¡°No. This solely has to do with my side of the family.¡± Anger flashed across Nam¡¯s face, but Rachel swiftly intervened, her voice gentle. ¡°Nam, we should give Mom the chance to explain herself. Scarlet, could you stay with Zoe?¡± Scarlet nodded, her eyes flickering with concern as she glanced at Zoe. ¡°Of course. Zoe, if you need anything, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, too,¡± Felix reassured. Their mother¡¯s throat constricted and she squeezed Zoe¡¯s hand before standing. She wiped away a tear from her eye. ¡°You¡­were always so loyal to me, Rachel, even when I didn¡¯t deserve it. Given the time constraints, Rachel, Alexa, Nam, can we step into the other room for a minute?¡± Rachel left Zoe in the front room with Felix and Scarlet, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. They moved to the kitchen, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken tension. Molly took a deep breath and pulled out the bell she¡¯d taken from upstairs, charming it three times; abruptly, all sound outside of the kitchen died, a Divine, Positive Force surrounding them. It took a moment for their mom to gather her thoughts as they looked to her for an explanation. ¡°First of all,¡± her mother began, giving Alexa a pained smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t redirect the Seed to you. It was always a possibility it would go into you, but it was not my intention, nor what I¡¯d hoped,¡± she confirmed, her voice steady but filled with emotion. Nam¡¯s scowl made it clear he was hurt. ¡°Why did you single me out instead of Rachel?¡± ¡°Oh, I would have,¡± their mother said with a strained laugh while looking up at her. ¡°Trust me¡­ I would have if it was possible¡­but it wasn¡¯t.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze fell to the floor, arms crossed and looking back to their first meeting after her change. ¡°¡­You know so much more than you¡¯re letting on, Mom. How you acted when we met and I decided to work with the military¡­ You were terrified¡­even angry at me. Can you tell us anything, Mom?¡± she asked, eyes lifting, searching for even the smallest answer. Vision downcast, she breathed in deeply and let it stream out. ¡°Not much without lying, and I know you don¡¯t want that, so¡­no. Know that your father has no idea¡­ I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have our own discussion after this.¡± She walked over to one of the walls with a soft smile as she ran a hand down the ¡®rules of the kitchen¡¯ sign she¡¯d made, based on the Korean Goddess of the Hearth, Jowangsin¡¯s laws. What I can say is that our family¡ªmy family¡ªis a part of an ancient organization in Korea. ¡°When the Seed appeared, I did everything in my power to protect you all. Alexa¡¯s transformation was an unforeseen consequence, but we can find a way to help her control it. It¡¯s not a curse, sweetie¡­but it will be for Nam, considering what we all know you are considering.¡± She turned to show a watery smile. ¡°No matter what I try to protect you, I always end up hurting my children in the end. I can see I have been too¡­controlling while raising you. I was absent when I shouldn¡¯t have been, trapped in my own guilt. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rachel listened intently, trying to piece together the puzzle. Her mother¡¯s revelations were shocking, but they also made sense of many unanswered questions regarding her own life. She could feel Nam¡¯s tension beside her, his fists clenched tightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us sooner?¡± Rachel asked, her voice not as frustrated as she would have thought. ¡°No, I suppose¡­you did in your own way with all the stories you told us growing up, now that I think back to all your Korean fairy tales and the spins you put on it.¡± Their mother¡¯s eyes filled with regret. ¡°I wanted to protect you. I thought the less you knew, the safer you¡¯d be¡­ That I could prevent the Black Rabbit from finding us¡ªfrom hunting you. But I see now that keeping secrets has only made things worse.¡± A shiver ran down Rachel¡¯s spine to the tip of her stiff tail, her brother having heard the same stories as her growing up as Alexa glanced between them, totally lost. ¡°The Pure Onyx Rabbit?¡± ¡°The Black Rabbit,¡± Rachel whispered, now picturing a black-haired counterpart to herself, a Mythickin Lucky Black Rabbit. ¡°The Lucky Rabbit that battled alongside Seonangsin to drive the Limpid Jade Hare¡­Misfortune away. Her brother¡­¡± Nam¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean¡­I would have hunted my sister? Wait, if my Seed was meant to turn me into the evil counterpart to Rachel¡ªno, or was she supposed to be the evil one?¡± ¡°No,¡± their mother sighed, moving over to bring both of them into a hug. ¡°No, you have the wrong idea. Your seed was not meant to be the Pure Onyx Rabbit but something else. I can¡¯t elaborate, but Alexa is not destined to kill or hunt Rachel. The Seeds adapt to its most compatible host or that which is nearest to it¡­¡± She glanced at the blonde, still trying to come to terms with everything she was hearing. ¡°There is danger in knowing certain things that cause a ripple across time, space, and dimensional boundaries, even as tightly locked as this Maelstrom is. Do not talk about this when my barrier fades¡­for all our sakes.¡± Rachel¡¯s throat constricted, caught between two rocks grinding together while looking at her strong, yet fragile mother. She thought about the drunk driver incident, Seo¡¯s death, the traumatic outcome with her mother blaming herself, the division it caused in their family. I want to press the topic¡­but I also trust you, Mom¡­ You¡¯ve given up everything for us, including your side of the family. How can I doubt you when everything you¡¯ve done has been to put us first, even if a little overprotective¡­shouldn¡¯t I respect your decision? If anything, it¡¯s the Scarlet Hand¡¯s actions that forced you into hiding everything. With that, the Divine Force faded away, and her mother sagged as exhaustion took her. Rachel immediately supported her, carrying her to a chair as Alexa and Nam looked at one another. ¡°Mom,¡± he began, ¡°what does this mean for Alexa?¡± Rachel was the one that answered, looking up with a stressed smile, still trying to internalize the revelation¡ªsomewhere out there, a Black Rabbit was looking for her, and he terrified their mother. ¡°Alexa, I saw it upstairs¡­ You want to level up¡­and not just to increase the time you have as an adult, don¡¯t you?¡± Nam¡¯s jaw latched together, no doubt going through similar emotions to their mom when Rachel told her what she wanted to do. Alexa started to shut down, her gaze dropping to the floor and grabbing her arm, not wanting to cause any friction. Yet, Rachel broke in before anything could be said. ¡°Nam, Alexa¡­I¡¯ll be candid. I¡¯m not comfortable with you joining me, Alexa. We¡¯re at a level that is far too dangerous for you to join the Montana Crystal.¡± She looked up with a small smile. ¡°However, I know you¡¯re trying to become your own woman and be proud of yourself¡­to feel like you¡¯re doing something important.¡± The blonde gulped and cleared her throat. ¡°All I¡¯ve done is cosplay, watch anime, read manga, and do¡­nothing with my life. I never could¡­¡± Rachel rose and walked over to her conflicted brother, seeing his eyes reflecting on their earlier conversation. ¡°No, we do get it, Alexa. You don¡¯t need to explain. It is dangerous, Nam¡ªthe Crystal might reverse, for all we know. Still, I will promise she is not going into the Crystal, but I can help level her in-between missions if she joins Omen¡­which you are in charge of administration. Talk it over as a couple, and tell me what you want to do because I told you what I am comfortable with¡­ I¡¯m going to catch up with Nia and the pups.¡± Pausing at the door, she glanced back with a small smile, knowing the answer already by her brother and sister-in-law¡¯s faces. ¡°If you choose to go, pack quick. We leave in five. And, Mom.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± she said, looking defeated upon looking up at her. Rachel¡¯s face softened. ¡°I love you. Go talk to Dad. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d like to hear it from you. Alexa¡¯s her own woman now, and her dad has to accept that¡­ See you soon because I¡¯m coming back from Montana. I heard about Zoe, too. I like the decision, besides, she¡¯s apparently got more teeth than a Hellhound,¡± she winked with a giggle. ¡°So I feel you¡¯re safe with a stray kitty around.¡± Turning on her heels, she snatched Scarlet to teleport them near Nia, Coral, and the triplets. Her heart was lighter than when she¡¯d arrived, despite the twists. Her mother truly had done her best for them growing up, shouldering such burdens, and she¡¯d taken a totally different route than Scarlet¡¯s parents. Mom, you¡¯re too good for me¡­ I¡¯m sorry for the hell I put you through growing up. B3 — 4. A Helpful Feline Rachel took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as her fingers gripped the doorknob to exit the house. Part of the reason she hadn¡¯t selected anything in her Feats was due to Nia¡¯s evolving attributes and how they complimented her own with their entangled souls. Her large ears were poised and listening. Currently, there was a lot going on, and she didn¡¯t want to miss any of it. Nia caught up with the triplets. Maria and Jeanne are finishing up their talk. Scarlet is with Elena and Felix, comforting Zoe. Alexa and Nam are packing while they¡¯re talking¡­arguing. So, it¡¯s fair to say they¡¯re coming. Barbara is talking to the soldiers about Wolfgang, who went back to the helicopter. And Mom¡¯s going to see Dad in the garage to drop the bomb she threw on me¡­ Focus. Now that I know everything is fine at home, I can test this¡­and if it works, it could change everything. There¡¯s a lot to process, but I have to compartmentalize everything. One thing at a time, she self-prompted, opening her eyes and pressing the lever. Before, only Nia¡¯s Feats were the only thing that affected me, but with the latest increase from Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest, can her Style Feats affect me, as well after Nia¡¯s Syncro Advancement? Does [Solar Defense] act like it does for [Less is More]? Walking out onto the front driveway, she stood in the open air of the deck, feeling the sun¡¯s warmth on her skin. The ocean air was crisp, carrying a slight breeze that rustled her hair. The rays of the bright globe overhead were brighter than usual, sharper, as if daring her to test them¡ªWhite Lunar Energy rapidly began to decrease. Yet, a smile twisted her lips. [Solar Suppression: Activated] [Lunar Abilities: Disabled] [Nia Soul Sync - Solar Defense: Activated] Rachel gauged the change from her previous loss in energy, obtaining a base understanding of the effects without entering her Soul Expanse. It seemed she was becoming more accustomed to internalizing the changes to her soul or it may have something to do with the increased knowledge she¡¯d obtained allowing her to catch the nuances. [Solar Drain: Lunar Pool #1 (White Energy; Unshielded) will fully deplete in 20 minutes and Lunar Pool #2 (Greater Harvest Moon; Shielded) will fully deplete in 4 hours and 35 minutes] So, I lose roughly one percent every eleven and a half seconds on my active, unshielded pool, but just like Nia¡¯s reserve pools, my reserve pool is partially shielded now. GHM is currently fifty-five percent after absorbing all of Coral¡¯s energy throughout the week. Theoretically, it could continue to grow with our bond¡­ Moongmor, you really did give me something brilliant with Nia. A small smirk tugged further at her lips while recalling her last encounter with Eostre¡¯s energizer bird-turned-bun and his elegant crush. Maybe I should help the guy out with his lady problems. He¡¯s got the talent but just needs to refine that filter in his brain to not creep Mei out. You¡¯ll get there, bud, you just need to change your approach. Rachel¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of possibilities as the discovery opened up so many more options between Nia and her. The bun could focus more on defensive and utility Feats while centered on attack. Have I told you you¡¯re amazing, Nia? she asked, striding down the driveway to the gate to meet up with Barbara on her way to her Living Denier. Nia¡¯s adult voice came into her mind as she activated her Feat, not knowing how to help the frightened three pups. ¡°Thanks, Major. I take it that the [Solar Shield] worked, judging by the sounds of your cheer. It¡¯s nice to be appreciated, but what is spooking our three terrifying Hellhounds? They¡¯re hiding under a car and won¡¯t talk to me or Coral.¡± Do what you can. I think it had something to do with Zoe¡­ There was a lot that has changed, and did you hear what my mom said? ¡°¡­No. My younger-self was too focused on her soldiers. I¡¯ll catch up on the details later, though. Don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯ll bring them over¡­ It really isn¡¯t like you three to be like this, though,¡± Nia muttered to the wolves currently bound to their soul. ¡°I don¡¯t even know if you can hear me past your chattering teeth.¡± Rachel swapped her hand to grip her elbow, spotting Barbara by a military vehicle. Her ears twitched, picking up a conversation between Wolfgang and Sera in the distance, Green Berets escorting them. The four members of WHO, two of which were discussing something about a cat. ¡°I just find it curious how those fearsome devil hounds acted when spotting a Domestic Cat Beastkin,¡± Wolfgang said with a note of curiosity. ¡°The fire reshaping her soul was interesting, I¡¯ll admit, but she was a typical, ordinary feline.¡± Sera chuckled, but there was an edge to it. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯d rather not dig into that topic¡­and neither should you. Some things are better left unexamined, Director-General, and we should really be careful about what we discuss with prying ears and eyes flitting about. Hares tend to have snooping minds.¡± Rachel¡¯s left eye creased, intrigued but she decided to file it away for later as Wolfgang accepted the redirect. There was something very familiar about Sera¡¯s cadence and the way she carried herself that tickled the back of her brain; there was just too much going on to put her full attention on, though. Her focus returned to the surrounding area, taking note of a small piece of information Nam and Alexa discussed while arguing about what was safe or not. So, the two girls I hear next door are new neighbors and not just house sitting¡­and one has spy abilities. The timing is too perfect. They¡¯re definitely with someone, the question is who, and I¡¯m swiftly running out of time. Peeping neighbors is not a good thing to have. She could practically feel a pair of watchful eyes, yet she could say the same for Astra or any other number of potential spies, such as her own super-hearing. For one, all noise died around her parents when her mother entered the garage, tired as she was, and chimed her bell to have a private conversation. Mom¡­ What am I supposed to do with you and Dad with so many threats? No¡­ Zoe might be the perfect secret bodyguard, she mused, considering the reactions of three Marchioness¡¯ of Hell. The thought was interrupted by a soft nudge from her intuition, the familiar pull of [Bringer of Misfortune]. She let out a soft sigh, acknowledging the shifting strings. It was a reminder that their lives were intricately woven with the threads of fate, each step carefully balanced on the precipice of chance that was combated by destiny, or so it seemed. I need to make sure of a few things, but overall, Zoe is turning out to be more interesting than I thought¡­and misfortune is heavily pulling me in that direction¡­ Don¡¯t get on the bad side of the kitty. The thought lingered as Barbara met her with a deep frown. ¡°I can¡¯t say I like those two bodyguards from the WHO¡­ Something about them gives me the ick, I guess you could say.¡± ¡°I hear you,¡± Rachel sighed, noticing the Legend¡¯s lax posture but razor sharp eyes, alert for danger. Rachel approached, her mind already racing ahead to the next conversation. There was much to discuss, and time was always in short supply. ¡°I only have a second, but I¡¯ve been meaning to ask about the Germans and the WHO Director-General. There¡¯s a lot happening, and I need to understand where they stand on the US¡¯ radar.¡± Barbara nodded, glancing at some of the soldiers nearby that grimaced. ¡°The Germans are cautious, understandably. It¡¯s a touchy situation publicly. I haven¡¯t been told anything privately but there has been a witch hunt of sorts happening in Germany, looking for any Legendkin there.¡± The auburn-haired woman crossed her arms and breathed out a light sigh while looking down the street to where the large helicopter waited, a soldier informing the neighbors they¡¯d be gone soon enough. ¡°Wolfgang¡¯s involvement with the World Health Organization gives his party a layer of protection the typical German citizen wouldn¡¯t have but also far more scrutiny. I¡¯ve looked into things but everything seems legit. It also complicates matters as for the UN in general. ¡°As for the Director-General himself, from what I was told, he¡¯s ambitious. He¡¯s the leading expert on Seeds, which implies some kind of advanced knowledge, but he can leverage that to his advantage, further expanding his influence. The fact they¡¯re here personally¡­¡± Rachel frowned and nodded. ¡°It implies they were here for multiple reasons. He hardly looked at Scarlet, but I guarantee he was scoping out all of us¡­ Also, there¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°Go on? I can¡¯t give you any more time. You¡¯ve got less than ten minutes. I could check the clock¡ª¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°No, I know it, which is why I need to get going. FYI, Nam¡¯s curious about what a PMC does and will be joining us. As for Alexa and her change, she needs to gain levels. They¡¯re going to be joining us, but I¡¯m not sure how I feel about how active their roles will be. We¡¯ll see. I¡¯d like for her to do a few Quests with you or another recruit I pick up in Montana.¡± ¡°I can see that and see no problems so long as she isn¡¯t involved in active combat with the Crystal; the slot amount is limited. Nam¡¯s interest is understandable,¡± Barbara said, leaning back in her chair. ¡°He seemed driven to help you as your big brother when we talked, always looking for ways to make a difference. As for Alexa, I¡¯m a little shocked, but I can get the info from them.¡± Rachel chuckled, waving her and the other soldiers off as Barbara moved to enter the house and get more information to not waste her time. ¡°Thanks, and talk to you soon.¡± As she broke away, she caught Maria and Jeanne ending their conversation on their way back to the house. Her sharp ears caught snippets of it on her way over. Their voices were a mix of exhaustion and camaraderie, weaving through the quiet murmur of the neighborhood, kids and parents alike peeking out of their windows to see what chaos had engulfed their street. It¡¯ll be good to get Mom and Dad out of public areas for the general good in any case¡­ I should be able to sell it to them. Tone unusually subdued compared to her usual bravado, Maria spoke softly, a melancholy note to her cadence. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t feel bad or like I should have done more¡­ I know it, but I still feel like I could have done more for Saint Catherine¡­ She saved our lives.¡± Jeanne nodded, her expression soft and understanding. ¡°Saint Catherine was special to a lot of people¡­more important than I can express. But don¡¯t carry the weight of it all alone, Maria. She wouldn¡¯t have wanted that. She knew the risks and made her choice.¡± Rachel lingered a moment longer, absorbing their words on her slow approach. The air was heavy with unspoken grief and the resolve to honor Catherine¡¯s memory, and she could hear it in the way they moved. Still, there was a serenity around them, as if the golden-haired woman was walking beside the pair. From her vantage point, Rachel watched Maria and Jeanne, sensing the undercurrent of emotion that bound them in shared loss. Maria¡¯s steps seemed heavier than usual, her bravado replaced with a raw vulnerability. Rachel could picture the weight she carried¡ªthe guilt, the feeling that she should have done more. ¡°Dios te salve, Mar¨ªa¡­¡± the unicorn murmured, her fingers brushing over the rosary beads in her pocket. Rachel knew that look, having seen it before when seeing Maria throughout the previous week in Elizabeth¡¯s castle as she healed citizens and tried to keep herself busy. She feels like she should¡¯ve been stronger, like she failed somehow. Fiona felt the same way. Maria¡¯s shoulders fell a bit, her voice somewhat distant, as if reliving that night. Jeanne moved in to hug her. Rachel could almost hear the internal struggle playing out within Maria¡ªthe conflict between her fierce sense of loyalty, honoring the woman¡¯s convictions, and the guilt that gnawed at her. Then again, unlike Rachel herself, Maria always feels like she needs to be the one to save everyone, to shoulder the burden alone so others don¡¯t have to. It likely was attributed to how she grew up on the street and looked out for other kids on her block, such as Elena and Felix. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ she saved us, you know? And I just ran away¡­let her sacrifice herself.¡± Maria¡¯s voice cracked, despite her apparent best efforts to hold it together. ¡°I should¡¯ve done more so it didn¡¯t turn out like that. Deb¨ª haber sido m¨¢s fuerte.¡± Jeanne¡¯s tone was understanding, full of empathy without pity while hugging her tighter. ¡°You were there when she needed you most. You delivered the things she gave her life to protect, and I know you don¡¯t want to belittle her sacrifice¡­ She was a true saint, in life and death. And think about this¡­ You gave her hope that her sacrifice would not be in vain. You¡¯re exactly who she needed.¡± Rachel watched as Maria¡¯s curled fists eased open and she returned the hug, despite the restlessness evident in her stance. Maria had too good of a heart for the persona she put out to the world. Inside, she was a cinnamon bun. Every one of us Legends or Myths have something wrong with us, she pondered in silence, waiting for things to conclude as Nia finally got the trembling pups in her arms to stroke and sooth. We all have psychopathic tendencies, some more than others, but Maria gives us hope that maybe we aren¡¯t all lost, huh? Maria broke away, her tone firm and venom now entering her voice. ¡°You need to be damn careful, Jeanne. Someone tried to steal her sword, shield, and earrings from me inside the Legend Quest. The bastards somehow slipped their hands right down my shirt and inside my soul to snatch them without me noticing a damn thing.¡± Jeanne¡¯s eyes widened before becoming slits ¡°Reached right through your soul to snatch it? Thieves are everywhere, especially in times like these.¡± ¡°Yeah, no, that¡¯s not the most important shit,¡± the unicorn growled. ¡°Someone else stole it back and left them on my bed with a letter¡­ Aurora, the damn succubus vampire herself that was basically tugging at Rachel¡¯s ears the whole quest.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the blonde hummed, her focus darting to her. ¡°During a vampire Legend Quest, and with everything else available to steal¡­ No that was targeted. It may have been China¡¯s final attempt. I¡¯ll keep my guard up.¡± Maria smirked, a flicker of her usual bravado returning as she made a cross symbol in front of her chest. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll keep you in my prayers. Can¡¯t let my guard down, not with Rachel making a few deals with Hell a month. I swear, chica.¡± Jeanne shook her head and shot her a dirty look from a distance. ¡°I¡¯ve heard there are positive forces at play behind the scenes supporting her but yes, Rachel really does like to play with fire¡­ Maria?¡± the blonde whispered, showing a soft smile and summoning Catherine¡¯s wheel-like shield in a flash of light. ¡°Hmm? What¡­are you doing?¡± Maria hesitated, glancing at the ground before meeting Jeanne¡¯s gaze and the extended shield. ¡°You can¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°I can feel Saint Catherine near, and this is her will.¡± Maria hesitated but reached out to take it. ¡°You¡­ Really?¡± ¡°She trusted you with something she wouldn¡¯t have trusted nearly anyone else with, Maria. Whoever you choose to defend with it, she knows you¡¯d do right by her.¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Rachel felt a swell of unusual emotion at the unexpected gesture, which also bolstered their group dynamic. Maria held the large wheel, stained red by the blood of a martyr and sanctified through it. ¡°She wants me to have this?¡± Maria mumbled, but there was a newfound resolve in her words while sliding her hand over the wood. ¡°I didn¡¯t know her long, but she was¡­ I truly believe she is what a saint should strive to be like¡­who I should strive to be like.¡± Jeanne reached out, touching the edge of the shield reverently. ¡°Like I said, Catherine believed in you, Maria. Carrying her shield is a testament to that faith. Let her seed of faith bud into who you truly wish to become.¡± Rachel sensed the unspoken bond between them grow, a shared understanding of the sacrifices that had been made and the responsibility they both chose to carry, and it was a choice. It was a reminder that Catherine¡¯s legacy lived on through them, in their actions and in their hearts. ¡°There¡¯s still work to be done,¡± Jeanne said, her voice firm yet gentle. ¡°My home is under attack by terrorists and raiders. The seas are becoming less safe, and with Saint Catherine¡¯s sanctified blade¡­ I will defend her. I will complete this mission without fail and take the Thorns of Christ to the Vatican, despite my differences with the organization.¡± Maria nodded and broke away, her shield returning to her soul now that it had been transferred back. ¡°I¡¯ll keep you in my prayers.¡± Jeanne smiled after her. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll do the same for you.¡± The unicorn broke away, offering a small, thankful smile in passing. ¡°The hell¡¯s up with Alexa¡­¡± She shook her head immediately after with a short laugh. ¡°No, I¡¯ll find out myself and not waste your time.¡± With a final two fingered salute, Maria turned to go. Rachel could feel the shared sense of purpose that united the unicorn and saint as Jeanne approached her. The sea breeze rustled her blue dress and pulled her thick braided hair to the side. ¡°She¡¯s carrying a lot on her shoulders,¡± Jeanne quietly commented, watching Maria¡¯s retreating figure. Rachel hummed and crossed her arms. ¡°Life¡¯s tough, so we need to be tougher.¡± Jeanne gave her a half-smirk while stopping in front of her. ¡°As hard as you try, Rachel, you try to take on everything so others don¡¯t have to. Maybe you need to put more trust in others to not buckle under the weight of everything. Maybe then you wouldn¡¯t have to make so many deals with Hell.¡± Snorting at the light smack of a joke, Rachel shifted her hip to the side to return the stare. ¡°Say whatever you want, Jeanne, but it¡¯s not about chivalry but the results and delivery. I make Hell look appealing with how I deal with its lords, and I¡¯ve got a growing fandom of Divine patrons coming along.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± the blonde chimed. ¡°I understand I don¡¯t have much time left with you, and we can talk about a lot of other things on our ride to the airport. I just wanted to say a few things¡­¡± Jeanne¡¯s expression shifted slightly, a softness in her eyes as she regarded Rachel. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you, Rachel. Would you be interested in coming to France?¡± Rachel¡¯s ears perked up, curiosity and caution mixing into her face. ¡°To France? What¡¯s on your mind, Jeanne? I¡¯m all for a friendly get together if I ever have the chance, but something tells me this isn¡¯t totally you talking but Charlemagne.¡± ¡°Guilty.¡± Jeanne smiled, her demeanor calm yet purposeful. ¡°There are a few people who would like to meet you, to understand the woman who¡¯s been making waves across continents. We could make it a part of your visit to the Vatican since it¡¯s close enough in the EU.¡± Rachel chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp, assessing each twitch the Legend made; she did play on a good-guy side of things, but Charlemagne was a dubious figure at best. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping busy, I guess you could say.¡± Jeanne¡¯s expression turned more serious. ¡°You¡¯ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. I know I¡¯ve already thanked you for what you¡¯ve done and inadvertently taught me, but I¡¯ll say it again. You¡¯ve brought hope to many people, despite your¡­Hellish disposition.¡± Rachel shifted slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. ¡°Hey, I thought we went over that already. It¡¯s what I can do, though¡ªstir things up. We¡¯re all fighting our own battles, right?¡± Jeanne nodded, her eyes meeting Rachel¡¯s which few people managed to do for long, given her unique and unnerving irises. ¡°That¡¯s true. And speaking of battles, I was curious about your ability to handle daylight. I¡¯ve heard things but is it really okay for you to be out like this¡­ I¡¯d hate for you to grow overconfident and be caught unaware.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. ¡°You know, coming from almost anyone else, I would have taken that as a threat. Thank you for the concern and trying to look out for my well being. We all have our secrets¡ªpowers evolve, adapt. I¡¯m finding new ways to work with what I¡¯ve got.¡± Jeanne¡¯s eyes sparkled with understanding as her face lit up. ¡°I see. My worry is misplaced then. You¡¯ve always been full of surprises and I admire your resilience. Despite your, ahem, chaotic nature, with everything you¡¯ve gone through, you remain a pillar of growth and stability for many lives. I¡¯ve heard it as the US government has lifted you up as a standard to quell people¡¯s fears of you.¡± Rachel shrugged, an enigmatic smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it. I hear a bit here and there, but my mind is usually on bigger things. I¡¯m not so noble as to think about the masses. I just like keeping things interesting.¡± Jeanne paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. ¡°You don¡¯t need to have the desire to do good to do good. It is an effect of your actions that speak to where you land on the helpful or destructive paths. I¡¯d say¡­you¡¯re solidly in the middle, tilting toward the positive side!¡± ¡°Haha!. Thanks, I guess.¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone else I¡¯d like you to meet when you¡¯re in France,¡± she said, now slightly nervously as she played with her thick braid and looked away. ¡°A girl who was Catherine¡¯s student at the church we attended as children. She was close to Catherine and would like to know her final moments. Maria being there would mean a lot to her¡­ We don¡¯t really, umm, get along well, but she asked me to ask you, which is big for her.¡± Rachel shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not too invested in that stuff. If I¡¯m there, I¡¯m down, but otherwise I don¡¯t go out of my way. I do find it interesting you knew Catherine when growing up. Catherine¡¯s influence seems to have reached far and wide.¡± Jeanne¡¯s gaze was steady, a hint of something unspoken lingering. ¡°To be honest, I think you¡¯d get along better with Olga than Maria or I with her¡­personality type. Anyway, thank you for humoring me with your limited time. And it looks like we finished just in time¡­ Nia really does glow up, doesn¡¯t she,¡± the blonde chuckled as Big Nia came walking out from someone¡¯s backyard with three pups held against her chest, looking reluctant. Rachel waved Jeanne off as she went to speak with Barbara, who was receiving updates on what was happening in Montana. When she turned to meet Nia, she noticed the disguised Hellhounds still looked unusually spooked, their ears flat and tails tucked low. Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed as Coral zipped out to plop onto Rachel¡¯s head, phasing between her ears and looking drained from being out in the sun. What¡¯s up with you three? Nia caught Rachel¡¯s eye, there was concern in them that straightened her spine. ¡°Rachel, we really need to investigate what¡¯s happening to Zoe.¡± Lips pulling in, Rachel picked up Thalia by the scruff of the neck and hoisted her out of Nia¡¯s grip to look at the defiant, yet trembling blue-haired mutt. You three practically kill each other daily and a cat has you scampering for the hills? ¡°Shut-up!¡± Thalia snapped, a low growl in her throat that seemed hollow to her. ¡°Whatever flame burns within that cat is something that can devour our very existence! Not go back to Hell¡ªdone, gone! It¡¯s horrifying. That¡¯s a tame word to use for what we¡¯re feeling.¡± Thinking back, she didn¡¯t remember anyone else having this kind of reaction, and Moongmor knew full well about Zoe. No, her split tail happened last night, and the green fire was new. Add onto the terror she caused to the assassins and the reaction Sera had to Zoe¡­ Something definitely changed. ¡°It¡¯s¡­beyond any power I¡¯ve ever felt,¡±Aleka mumbled, ¡°including Lord Hades, and there¡¯s something¡­inside it. Someone. I don¡¯t know, but they¡¯re¡­they¡¯re big¡­ Beyond the word¡­and hungry.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears drifted to the side while glancing to her sisters, who seemed to be in agreement. Well, okay. You have me intrigued. Let¡¯s go inside and see what¡¯s going on because my sense of misfortune is starting to feel like there¡¯s a tsunami hidden nearby, waiting to be discovered and directed. Let¡¯s find out what it is! Rachel waved Jeanne and Barbara off at the gate as they went to further interrogate Wolfgang after the pair came up with some questions they wanted answers to. It helped when they had someone from the UN top brass to answer their questions directly, and they were trapped in the helicopter, cornered. Nia set the pups down, who uncharacteristically followed behind them, hiding as they went inside. Her draining energy ceased upon leaving the light, strength returning to her limbs while catching everyone¡¯s attention in the front room. Inside, the living room was bustling with activity. Rachel¡¯s father sat on the couch, his face etched with concern as he glanced up at Rachel¡¯s entrance. Her mother looked exhausted, leaning back in her chair as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders, sleeping. Alexa was pacing, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, while Nam stood by the window, staring at a tablet with notes he¡¯d made. Alexa stopped pacing and turned to face Rachel, her voice tinged with anxiety yet a firm decision to follow through with her dream to find purpose. ¡°My bags are packed. I just¡­oh, Big Nia. No, uh, I don¡¯t know what to take that will fit me¡ªI¡¯m going to turn into a thirteen-year-old in less than like eight minutes¡±" she said, gesturing to the halo above her head. ¡°Can I¡­really come?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Rachel replied, her voice steady as she met Alexa¡¯s star-like pupils, glistening with diamond-like tears. ¡°There¡¯s a lot at play, and we need to stay focused on what we can control. So¡­¡± Nam glanced over, his brow furrowed while looking at their parents, no doubt deflecting from the frustration and understanding he felt toward his wife¡¯s decision to semi-join Omen. ¡°What about these new neighbors? Are they¡­¡± ¡°Probably spies,¡± Rachel interjected, her tone thoughtful while looking that way. ¡°Listening to everything we say as we speak. Or they might be something else entirely. But right now, they¡¯re an irrelevant mystery, and I only have a minute or two left, so I¡¯m going to need Scarlet to get everyone to the helicopter while I talk with Zoe. We can figure things out on the flight to Montana¡ªit¡¯s a long flight.¡± Scarlet perked up, creating a blood portal and giving her a thumbs up, ready to be useful. ¡°It¡¯s a bit, eh, weird, I¡¯ll admit, but it will get you to the helicopter immediately! Come on, Alexa, Nam¡ªwe gotta go. Maria?¡± she called out to the kitchen, where the unicorn was talking to Felix and Elena. ¡°I got it¡­shit,¡± the unicorn snarled, scratching her hair with agitation at the stubborn tone of her adopted brother and sister. She spoke in Spanish in a quick back and forth before sighing, hugging them, and entering the front room. ¡°They want to stay with the cat. That cool, Rach?¡± [Mental Acceleration] brought the world to a crawl as Rachel examined the girl, Maria and everyone waiting for her answer. Zoe sat quietly in the corner, examining her split tail for the past few minutes. She¡¯d been preoccupied by something, as if searching through fog yet not knowing what she was trying to find. Were those threads of misfortune there before? No¡­they weren¡¯t. Weird. Rachel gulped, [Beastial Instinct] now activating for the first time on the cat the more she stared at her. The more I look, the higher her threat-level becomes¡­ It¡¯s as if misfortune is only now noticing her existence by me staring at her. What kind of power did she gain? Rachel chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, further analyzing the strange vibe around the feline now that she was focused on her; it was was if ghostly threads of danger were now emerging out of the aether to jab her in the eye, elusive yet as if they¡¯d always been there and she hadn¡¯t noticed until she looked for it. ¡°So long as my parents and Zoe are fine with it,¡± she finally said, testing the threads¡ªthe reaction made her tail go totally stiff. Zoe jumped as her name was brought up, ears rising. ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah, Felix¡¯s company will be nice and¡­I don¡¯t know much about Elena, but I¡¯m happy to have her around. Wait, I can stay?¡± All eyes were on Rachel¡¯s father as he looked at his wife, leaning against him, hands clasped. ¡°I¡¯m sure Molly would enjoy having some noisy teens to fuss over¡­ She said she¡¯d like for Zoe to remain with us. Actually, she had me book a flight to take Zoe to see her parents.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zoe mumbled, tears forming in her eyes. Mom¡¯s not stupid. Air locked in her lungs, Rachel released it in a short stream, now seeing what her mother must have sensed. If anything, Mom knows more about all of this than any of us, but she¡¯s keeping it close to her chest¡­ She glanced at the nervous, teary-eyed cat, having lost everything but now being welcomed to stay with another family to sort through her collapsing life. Her father doubled down, and Rachel was sure about her mother knowing more than any of them at this point. ¡°Molly wants to be here for you, Zoe¡­ We¡¯ll be fine, Sung.¡± Rachel breathed a sigh at her real Korean name being used, which was something her parents usually did when calm rather than angry, but there was an unusual weight to his words. Something her mother told him in their private talk had affected him, and he wasn¡¯t willing to talk about it. ¡°Ahem,¡± Felix began bringing everyone to the Mexican young man as he stood up. ¡°Zoe, can we talk?¡± ¡°Oh, uh, sure?¡± ¡°Me, too!¡± Elena chimed in, looking surprisingly chipper compared to her typical tough-girl act Rachel had heard thus far. The teenagers went to speak in the kitchen, leaving Nia, the triplets, and her parents staring at her. Rachel lingered at the doorway for a moment longer, watching as Scarlet sent Nam, Alexa, and Maria through the blood portal, their figures disappearing into the crimson void. Zoe and Felix are staying behind, and I can¡¯t leave without understanding what this subtle black hole of misfortune is hinting at, Rachel thought, turning her attention to the kitchen where Zoe was speaking with Felix and Elena. ¡°Give me a second, Scarlet,¡± she sighed, continuing after the three teens but she hardly made it into the kitchen when Zoe vomited out words, her eyes wide with anxiety while her tails flicked side to side. ¡°I¡¯ve just been¡­ I¡¯m worried about being a burden,¡± she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s happening to me¡ªmy fingernails are becoming sharper, sometimes I can see this green aura around myself, and I hear this¡­I don¡¯t know, a bell. It¡¯s hard to explain. But I want to stay here, to be useful. You don¡¯t need to join me.¡± Felix gave her a reassuring smile, his voice soft yet firm as his Mexican accent showed through a tad. ¡°You¡¯re not a burden, Zoe. You¡¯ve been through a lot¡ªI get it. I don¡¯t have any family either¡ªneither does Elena, and you¡¯re stronger than you think. You saw how those guys acted last night.¡± Elena nodded with a playful nudge that sent Felix off-balance. ¡°Lover boy¡¯s right, you know. Besides, I¡¯m sure Felix wouldn¡¯t mind sticking around a bit longer either to investigate some hidden flames.¡± A faint blush crept up Felix¡¯s cheeks at the younger teen¡¯s snickers, and he chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Yeah, I mean¡­ I want to make sure you¡¯re okay too, Zoe.¡± Rachel watched the exchange with a smirk at the teenage drama, but her mind was focused on what lay underneath it. Zoe¡¯s transformation and the sense of misfortune tugging at her mind were pieces of a larger puzzle she needed to unravel and she didn¡¯t have much longer to let them gabber and flirt. Her ears twitched, picking up snippets of their conversation as she approached. ¡°Hey, Zoe?¡± Zoe¡¯s tails went totally stiff, a flicker of uncertainty in her large feline eyes, and as she spoke to her, misfortune unraveled. ¡°R-Rachel, hey! Uh. Yeah, I didn¡¯t mean to spook your dogs. I think¡­I did? I just don''t want to cause any trouble for anyone.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Rachel firmly responded, moving to stand within the circle and trying not to let her tail bristle at what she was sensing; if Zoe stayed with her parents, they¡¯d be safe, and that was a guarantee. ¡°I¡¯ll ask point blank. What¡¯s changed? I know about a green flame and something likely inside your Soul Expanse. So, what happened last night?¡± Zoe hesitated, her fingers brushing the tips of her split tails as Elena and Felix listened closely; the red tips showed small sparks of emerald flames from time to time, and even as she watched, the girl¡¯s eyes were occasionally filtering to speckled greenish-yellow¡ªshe was transforming, as if a second awakening from The Oscillation, only slower. ¡°It¡¯s a bit weird, to be honest, but I think¡­ I think I¡¯m a ¡®Stray of the Cat Mother¡¯ now, whatever that means. It¡¯s more like¡­a title, I think? But my actual race shows as ¡®??????.¡¯ So, that¡¯s not scary or anything,¡± she hissed. ¡°It¡¯s strange, but I had a dream about this¡­cat girl, I think, who was called¡­something with an N. And now everything feels different.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears perked up at the talk about a dream, thinking back to the mists of what Cerridwen used and the Eldritch entities she¡¯d allied with. ¡°Did you see anything specific in the dream or remember anything else about this cat girl? Sometimes dreams can be¡­let¡¯s say connected to something bigger.¡± The cat hesitated, gulped, and gripped her elbow before looking up at her. ¡°There¡¯s a, uh, a timer, too. For me to evolve into it. I was in my inner world, looking for a way to get stronger, I asked for some Feats, and this cat girl just¡­answered my call, I guess. At least, that¡¯s all I can puzzle out.¡± Zoe¡¯s brow furrowed, her gaze distant as she recalled the details. ¡°It was like¡­I was in this vast place, and there was a voice¡ªI think I saw you in a library of¡­blood? I don¡¯t know.¡± Rachel¡¯s gut cramped at the information but she kept her posture lax and expression studious as the cat girl continued. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see who it was, but it felt familiar, like a patron deity or something, maybe. And then there was a sense of warmth, like being welcomed into a family.¡± Rachel nodded, processing the information but one thing was for certain as the threads strung around Zoe in a way she¡¯d never felt before¡ªunkillable. Whatever was happening to the cat, there was some higher force than anything she¡¯d experienced thus far, and that was saying a lot considering the entities she¡¯d met. A cat girl who¡¯s name starts with an N¡­ Odd. Felix broke the thoughtful silence, his tone playful yet sincere. ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s cool. You get to be a unique cat race and have awesome powers¡ªwhatever they are. I¡¯d like to help you learn how to use them.¡± Elena piped up, her Honey Badger fur bristling with excitement. ¡°I¡¯m game! No one will let me fight back home¡­ They say I¡¯m too dangerous and they don¡¯t want me to catch a case.¡± Zoe strained a smile, her tension easing slightly. ¡°Thanks, Felix. And let¡¯s hope that isn¡¯t my body! Hahaha-haaa. I just hope I can be as strong as everyone else.¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t smiling as the teens looked at her narrow-eyed stare, shying away a little before she grinned and turned to leave. ¡°Zoe, so long as you stay with my family, then you won¡¯t have to worry about anything. When I get back, I¡¯ll offer you a position in Omen as my parents¡¯ bodyguard. And don¡¯t worry about getting stronger¡­ You¡¯re plenty strong enough.¡± Turning, she left the girl in a daze while waving at her dad, pondering whatever bombshell her mother had dropped on him. ¡°Tell Mom I love her. Love you, Dad.¡± ¡°Hmm. I love you too, Sung¡­ Be safe.¡± Scarlet was bouncing on her toes, bright-eyed and ready for their next adventure. The Cerberus Triplets darted into the portal the moment it was open, leaving Nia and Scarlet to follow her through to reach the helicopter, Coral still sleeping on her head. ¡°Always safe, yet always in danger. Misfortune calls me home,¡± she chimed. ¡°See you soon.¡± B3 — 5. A Divine And Devilish Surprise Rachel stepped through Scarlet¡¯s portal, the sensation like a thousand hands brushing against her skin. She shivered, suppressing a grimace as the chill faded, replaced by the humid warmth of the helicopter cabin. The steady thrum of the helicopter blades filled the air, a rhythmic hum that matched the pulse in her hyper-sensitive ears, immediately adjusting to the volume. The interior was bathed in soft LED lights, casting a warm glow that seemed almost cozy compared to the blinding sun outside. The cabin smelled of leather and sweat, which Rachel identified with. She adjusted the headset handed to her by a soldier around her neck with the mic directed near her mouth before falling into a seat. Another soldier informed the pilot to take off. Conversations buzzed around her. Wolfgang¡¯s voice, clear and authoritative, cut through the air in the back portion of the air vehicle, Sera adding her own occasional comments. He was in a somewhat heated discussion about the political landscape of the EU with Barbara and Jeanne. Rachel caught snippets of strained discussions within the EU, a facade of unity threatening to crack. Elizabeth¡¯s name was even brought up as a probing talking point by Barbara, but Wolfgang brushed it off, saying he¡¯d heard positive things about the Hungarian billionaire and philanthropist, but not much else. Barbara¡¯s responses were clipped, her words measured, while Jeanne¡¯s questions probed with quiet intensity. Wolfgang¡¯s jovial tone seemed at odds with the underlying tension, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the nervous energy of the others. His bodyguards were far less invested in the topics. On the other hand, Sera was a smiling thorn that took every opportunity to take an undertone jab at the two saints¡¯ ¡®purity¡¯ and ¡®righteous¡¯ causes. Again, Rachel was frustrated at the cadence; there was something so familiar about it, and her thoughts immediately went to Aurora, yet that wasn¡¯t quite right. Still, it was in the same ballpark. Nearby, Maria, Nam, Alexa, and Scarlet were engaged in a more lighthearted exchange, despite the context. Maria shuddered as she recounted her experience of passing through Scarlet¡¯s portal, drawing knowing shivers and sympathetic groans from the others. Scarlet defended herself with a laugh, saying it wasn¡¯t her fault but the Red Sea¡¯s doing. Her abilities are strange even to her. Big Nia¡¯s soothing voice floated over the din, detached from the surrounding clamor while being a calming balm to the still-agitated wolf pups. Their whines softened into contented sighs under her far more practiced and gentle adult ministrations. Lastly, perched on her head was Coral, the spooky bun drained from the sun¡¯s energy, nestled atop Rachel¡¯s head. It was good treatment for the ghost bun when she got too out of hand, which could happen often. The experience with the Event Moon bun soldiers made her think about how she should proceed with her following buns. Rachel cleared her throat, drawing the group¡¯s attention once settling in. The rhythmic thrum of the helicopter blades underscored her words as it took off, heading for the airport. ¡°I¡¯m going into my Soul Sanctum for a bit,¡± she announced, holding the headset¡¯s microphone close to her lips. ¡°And yes, Maria, Scarlet¡¯s portal is a bit chilling to pass through but that¡¯s how it is when you enter the Red Sea, even for a split second.¡± Maria grunted, her Spanish accent thickening, ¡°Well shit. Finally the liebre lunar admits some things freak her out! Yo, Fangs, your portal is freaky. Full stop. I know it¡¯s not you, but damn is it¡ªeesh.¡± Rachel chuckled, brushing off the comment as Scarlet pushed her mouth to the side with a light pout that said she didn¡¯t mean for it to feel that way. Having to come to the vampiric girl¡¯s defense, she added, ¡°The benefits are worth it, and it doesn¡¯t reflect on Scarlet. Why talk about it?¡± Scarlet shot her a grateful smile, her eyes bright with relief. ¡°Thank you! Yeah, I¡¯m not trying to have creepy abilities, I swear. Just give me a bit to figure them out. Geez. I¡¯ve only had a little bit to explore my Soul Expanse, so give me a break.¡± Alexa raised her hand, drawing eyes and trying not to freak out since she¡¯d be turning back into a 13-year-old in the next minute or two. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that bad, to be honest. It¡¯s pretty OP.¡± ¡°Seriously!¡± Scarlet laughed. ¡°I can transport large groups of people huge distances. It¡¯s totally busted!¡± Buckling up, Rachel leaned back against the cool metal of the helicopter seat and let them continue the discussion about their individual abilities, comparing them. She glanced to her left at her adult bun. ¡°Nia, wake me when we arrive?¡± Nia showed her a reassuring smile. ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t leave you napping while we reach the destination, Major, because I¡¯m certainly not carrying you. That¡¯s your job for me.¡± Rachel suppressed a snort while playfully plucking at her top while feeling her outfit tighten around her waist to pinch her. ¡°Now that you mention it, you do kind of use me like the horse here.¡± ¡°Armor of the horse,¡± Nia snickered, stroking Aleka¡¯s green fur as the pups cuddled her. ¡°And who is the pack animal again? Last I checked I had over two dozen outfits packed away for a certain hare with a fat butt.¡± ¡°Touch¨¦, Captain Bun.¡± Rachel closed her eyes with a short shake of her head, but Scarlet distracted her, causing her to crack open an eye as the vespertine reaper gave her a light pout and glare. ¡°That is so adorable! Why don¡¯t I have a cute Living Denier outfit sister to banter with?¡± ¡°Right?¡± Alexa huffed, making Nia¡¯s smile become forced with all eyes going to her. ¡°Plus, the child duality is so fun. She can be your cool best friend one moment and an adorable little sister the next to brighten your day. We need to protest!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Rachel mumbled, catching a few of the soldiers chuckling over the headset. ¡°I had to go through literal hell to get Nia. Speaking of which, didn¡¯t you get the magical outfit from our last adventure, Scarlet?¡± ¡°Plus,¡± Nia tried adding, ¡°China seems to have made some Soul Items, so it might be possible for you to get some in the future.¡± Scarlet¡¯s left fang poked out as she crossed her arms and Rachel was suspecting the vamp girl really was getting a little jealous. ¡°I want an OP Soul Item like you, Nia. Not just any Soul Item.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Alexa balked, glancing between them as Nia¡¯s smile softened, clearly touched by her complement. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are other amazing Soul Items out there waiting to find a wonderful owner like you, Scarlet. Your time will come. Hmm?¡± A shimmering light surrounded Alexa, making her cry out. ¡°Oh-no¡­ Not now! Nam¡­¡± Nam reached for her hand to comfort his wife, only to be repealed by a blast of light, making him wince. ¡°Ack¡­ We¡¯re learning. Just relax, sweetheart, and let it happen¡­¡± Her seatbelt evaporated in the surge of Divine Energy, Scarlet¡¯s blood exiting her body to shield her from the minor irritation. Rachel took the opportunity to enter her internal world while the girl¡¯s body swirled with the holy power, stealing everyone¡¯s attention during her transformation back into an Angel Magical Girl. Drawing in a slow breath, she used the techniques her grandfather taught her; it came easily, allowing her to enter her Soul Sanctum far easier than anyone else she¡¯d seen trying to enter it thus far. Once again, her brain poked at her to question certain elements about her family, but she dismissed it like an annoying fly. Her mind shifted inward, her consciousness slipping away from the helicopter¡¯s confines. The familiar warmth enveloped her as she entered her Soul Sanctum, specifically, the shared Soul Expanse between Nia and her. The air here was different, charged with the energy of her outfit¡¯s stored moons, shining overhead on all sides in the grove Nia had favored, though there were some changes now that it was Big Nia. Rachel¡¯s mind settled, the chaos of the outside world falling away with all the paranoia that came with it. She looked up, the landscape was ever-changing due to the bunny¡¯s ever-shifting tastes, a reflection of her childish internal state. Today, however, it was a serene forest glade, the canopy above clipped back to display the five Lunar Pools currently filled to the brim. She focused on each one, recalling all the memories she had while using them: Nia¡¯s Pools:
Pool 1: [Blood Moon (Unique; Selene) - 109%] Pool 2: [Black Moon (Unique; Cerridwen) - 109%] Pool 3: [Hell Moon: Yomi (Unique; Izanami) - 109%] Pool 4: [Greater Moon of Abundance (Event) - 109%] Pool 5: [Crimson Moon (Event) - 109%]
Rachel¡¯s Pools:
Pool 1: [White Moon (Normal) - 57%] Pool 2: [Greater Harvest Moon (Event) - 53%]
Three Unique Moons and three Event Moons. The Greater Abundance Positive Energy should be helping me to counter the Negative Moons, and the shielding helps to block the energy from interacting with Nike, but there are still concerns¡­ I still need to purge my current Normal White Moon Energy due to the tiny amount of Crimson and Greater Abundance that Nia can¡¯t extract. It sucks that I need to purge my full energy, but it¡¯s better to do it now and soak up the rays once we get to Montana than have it come back and bite me in the tail. It¡¯s only due to their Positive and Negative effects that counter each other that I¡¯m able to not be affected by their energy. Her gaze lingered on the Blood Moon, its surface rippling like liquid fire. It was a reminder of the first time she''d witnessed the raw power of Selene, the Greek Personification of the Moon. By far, it was the most potent lunar energy she''d encountered, second only to the Black Moon. Yet, it came with some annoying side effects that made it difficult to enjoy using. Unique Moons have a heavy toll on me. The Greater Moon of Abundance helped to mitigate a lot of that in Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest. I didn¡¯t use any of them besides the Black Moon, yet I had a lot of support from Cerridwen and ten thousand moons¡­ It filled up all the Pools I already have, which is huge¡­ She brushed a hand through her hair while glaring at the three potent spheres above. I¡¯ve relied way too much on the Unique Moons to get me this far. Even the Event Moons have their issues. With the Unique Moons, I basically become a demi-god to any other Myth or Legend because I¡¯m literally channeling divine beings¡¯ energy. Event Moons give me a massive boost from my base-state as well. Her thoughts turned to Coral as the sleeping bun materialized in her outstretched hands at a thought and she started absently stroking the ghostly bun¡¯s head, pondering her next choices of bun soldiers now that they had two open slots. Big Nia can make Coral do what she wants, but she still causes trouble and can do her own thing¡­ She¡¯s an absolute terror for Kid Nia. In the end, we¡¯re not fully capable yet of dealing with Event Moons, which means a Unique Moon Bun is out of the question¡­ In fact, if I made a Yomi Bun, they¡¯d probably try to corrupt and eat Nia or me. Rachel slowly sat on a chair that materialized beside Nike¡¯s medical bed, setting Coral down in her lap. She leaned to the side and watched a small stream, the water dancing over smooth stones. The tranquility of this version of Nia¡¯s room eased the tension in her muscles, the worries that clung to her like shadows. I want to try a Black Moon Bun¡­ That could go horribly wrong, though, and my gut tells me to stay as far away from that as possible¡­ Her gaze shifted to the bed of the resting Personification to distract herself from the annoying thoughts, distracting her from opening her status window to further examine what she¡¯d poured over for the past week. There had been changes and additions that came from her Level 15 to Level 16 advancement, showing new things could come from holding onto your levels and her soul grew stronger. Rachel''s consciousness drifted within her Soul Sanctum, the tranquil forest glade providing a soothing backdrop to her musings. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy above brought a sense of peace. Yet, beneath the calm surface, Rachel''s mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. Her thoughts were swept along with the stream as Nike stirred, a gentle rustling that turned into her arms stretching out, a heavenly groan rumbled in her throat. The Personification of Victory''s eyes fluttered open, a soft glow emanating from her serene gaze. ¡°Good morning,¡± Nike greeted with a simple smile, her voice a soothing melody that resonated through the Soul Sanctum, no doubt reaching Nia and the pups. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve caught you deep in thought again.¡± Rachel¡¯s head cock to the side and a chuckle shaking her chest as a smirk lifted her lips. ¡°Good morning? Is that really the first thing you wanted to say to me after being out for this long? How¡¯s the recovery coming along?¡± Nike settled into her bed to look up at the overhead celestial globes filling the sky, much larger than your typical moon. Her laughter was a soft breeze in the stillness of the grove. ¡°It¡¯s coming along nicely. However, I doubt that is what you wish to talk about¡­ I¡¯m sure you¡¯re quite anxious about a certain special visitor that invaded your soul and aided in my recovery¡± Her cryptic sigh and twinkling eyes, mixed with warmth and mystery itched at Rachel¡¯s mind. Crossing her legs and resettling Coral on her head again, Rachel folded her fingers in her lap while kicking her brain into overdrive as she studied the woman she¡¯d saved from Dionysus and harbored. ¡°I would enjoy an explanation as to this mysterious figure. I get the feeling I won¡¯t get it, though,¡± she admitted with a tad bit of annoyance. ¡°At least it¡¯s good to know my soul was invaded, which means I need to talk to my grandfather to learn how to better defend myself from that sort of thing since it is more in-line with his religious practices. And does that mean you were awake during it?¡± Nike¡¯s lips curved into a sad smile, a hint of mystery dancing in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve promised not to reveal their identity. Let¡¯s just say we have a complicated history, and leave it at that. They induced a sort of shielded recovery state to further support my restoration while applying a divine balm that was¡­ They did not need to go so far. I was pleasantly surprised, considering our past,¡± she admitted, showing genuine appreciation. Rachel sighed, a playful pout forming on her lips that Scarlet would appreciate. ¡°Figures you¡¯d say that. But as long as you can vouch that they didn¡¯t mess with my or Nia¡¯s soul, I¡¯ll be satisfied.¡± Nike nodded, a reassuring warmth in her gaze while shifting to the side to gingerly touch her still-growing wings. ¡°Normally, I¡¯d never agree to something like this. But after our chat¡­and what we discussed, I can vouch for them and think you would agree with me, had you sat with me. Your soul remains untouched.¡± Silence settled between them, a comfortable pause that allowed Rachel to soak in the serenity of her Sanctum while thinking about those tiny hints. It had to be another personification, she was sure, but nothing came to mind since she didn¡¯t know much about Greek mythology. There was so much more to understand about this woman, so many layers to unravel, but that would have to come later. Yet, a familiar presence tugged at her consciousness, and Rachel turned to see the triplets bound into the room, their energy a burst of lively chaos and totally lacking their previous skittish behavior. Aleka, Irida, and Thalia, in their wolf pup forms, tumbled over each other, showering Nike with affection and breaking into the conversation. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Irida cried. ¡°Lady Persephone and Lord Hades were so worried when they noticed you inside her!¡± ¡°Girls?¡± Nike giggled as they licked her face. ¡°It stings¡ªyou¡¯re still entities of Hades¡­¡± ¡°Shoot. Sorry,¡± Thalia mumbled, nudging her sisters away. ¡°We should report this to them¡­¡± Adult Nia popped up on the opposite side of the bed, leveling a small frown her way. ¡°Major, you could have mentioned Lady Nike awakened. And don¡¯t worry, I can remind you when we arrive since I can multitask on both sides, unlike my childish version, who gets easily distracted.¡± Rachel shrugged, a sheepish grin tugging at her lips. ¡°Fair, but it slipped my mind. Things have been¡­busy inside my head,¡± Rachel mumbled, puffing out a long breath at all the interruptions. Nike chuckled, accepting the hellhound¡¯s love with a warm embrace, despite her earlier protests. ¡°And if it isn¡¯t the misfit triplets of Cerberus? I¡¯m looking forward to getting to know this version of you.¡± As they spoke, Aleka, Irida, and Thalia bounced up and down, still in their wolf pup forms on the sides of the woman¡¯s pillow. They were a whirlwind of energy and excitement, showering the personification with affectionate nuzzles and wagging tails. ¡°Wait, really?¡± Aleka mumbled, her ears falling back a little. ¡°Most personifications don¡¯t really like us¡­except for Thanatos, maybe¡­¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Nike chimed, pulling them closer with a wince to look closer at each of them. ¡°I can sense a lot of victories behind those fangs¡­ I¡¯d expect nothing less due to the competence of your lord and lady.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The triplets exchanged glances, their tails wagging harder in unison at her praise. ¡°The triplet pups in my universe¡­didn¡¯t last long after their birth, so I didn¡¯t get much of a chance to know them, and your Hades brought his Hell with him when he won against his other counterparts¡­ You seem lovely.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so much nicer than our personifications,¡± Thalia mumbled, now looking a little suspicious. ¡°I¡­like you even more now. You were only cool in our version, but now you¡¯re nice. It¡¯s an improvement,¡± the cobalt-flamed wolf offhandedly admitted, trying to play off her earlier excitement; her animated tail gave away. ¡°You don¡¯t seem bad. Maybe¡­you can meet our mom and dad in Hades. He could use a win against her.¡± Nia¡¯s eyebrow lifted. ¡°Isn¡¯t your mother the mortal in that relationship?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Aleka whimpered, her jade fire ears falling back. ¡°Mom¡¯s terrifying for a mortal, and she lives in Hades, so Dad kind of doesn¡¯t get many breaks from their card games. She¡¯s so smart that she knows exactly what he has. It¡¯s crazy, like she¡¯s a seer.¡± Rachel suppressed a snort, internally whispering to Nia. Basically, the mortal woman is better at math than the hellhounds and destroys them in poker. I bet she has a ton of death tokens or whatever they use there. ¡°Really?¡± Nia internally snickered, keeping her face thoughtful. ¡°That¡¯s hilarious. Maybe we should meet her if she has pull with the hellhounds. Getting their mom on our side could be good for the future.¡± There¡¯s that strategic mind, Big Bun, Rachel chimed as Nike clapped her hands together, her eyes bright with curiosity. ¡°Girls, I¡¯d love to see your human forms. I heard a rumor from someone close to me that you are quite the cuties and dress to impress. Would you show me?¡± Nia¡¯s tail went stiff, a smile brightening her face at the mention of clothes. ¡°A wonderful idea! How about a fashion show? I can conjure up anything we can imagine in this space, and I¡¯ve wanted to see some styles for triplets.¡± Aleka, Irida, and Thalia¡¯s tails froze, and Thalia backed away, looking somewhat reluctant and shy for the ¡®leader¡¯ of the hellhounds. Yet, her energetic, redheaded middle sister grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and dragged her off the bed with renewed vigor. ¡°Fashion show!¡± Aleka cried, her green flames igniting brighter while hopping off the bed. The triplets transformed, their forms shifting into young teens in their sealed state, each dressed in identical suits with different colored ties and ribbons in their hair. Aleka had blue for Thalia¡¯s hair color, Thalia had red for Irida¡¯s, and Irida had green for Aleka¡¯s. Nike and Nia¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight as they took in their appearance, and the Personification of Victory clapped her hands. ¡°You¡¯re much better behaved than my version, and still hold that guardian vibe of Hades. I¡¯m quite impressed by your performance. You three are adorable, and I¡¯m sure when unsealed, you¡¯re quite the sight to behold¡ªas beautiful as your mother.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± Irida sniffed, holding back tears as Thalia looked away to hide her flushed cheeks and Aleka huffed as if it were obvious they were cute. ¡°I want to protect you!¡± Rachel watched the scene unfold, a soft smile playing on her lips. ¡°As much as I want to soak in all the positive vibes and catch up with you, Nike, I need to do some planning. I¡¯ll step into the other room so as not to intrude and let you five have your fun¡ªNia? Oh.¡± Her captain promptly moved to take Coral off of her head, phasing through her ears with a wide, jagged-toothed yawn at all the commotion. ¡°Let me handle the pumpkin. We can do some dress-up with the girls. I have a lot of outfits I want to try out on Nike, as well, and I have a feeling our Lady of Victory will give me a win over our little Halloween terror.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Nike showed a serene smile. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. Also, I look forward to our one-on-one, Rachel. Until then, take care.¡± With one last glance, Rachel stepped out of the grove, leaving behind the comforting presence of her Shared Sanctum. She entered the white expanse of her personal Soul Expanse, a space separated from Nia¡¯s, and her private place. Here, she could focus on her plans, free from the distractions of the outside world. As she settled into the familiar rhythm of her thoughts, Rachel reflected on the events that had brought her to this point. The journey had been long and fraught with challenges, but she had grown stronger with each trial. Yet, beneath the surface, questions lingered. The visitor¡¯s identity remained a mystery, a puzzle she was determined to solve at some point, just like her family¡¯s mysteries. There were so many things to pluck at, but she had to focus on what was most important. Rachel¡¯s thoughts flitted to Mei and Moongmor, busy moving the Graceful Moon into the proper place, presumably for the Montana Crystal. She pulled up her status window, staring at her Unique Moons that Nia held. Using Yomi, the Blood, and the Black Moons nearly destroyed my soul¡­ I¡¯m sure Izanami and Eostre were also supporting me somehow during that competition. They¡¯re dangerous, and channeling the Hell Moon without their support against Relica for merely seconds nearly ripped my soul to shreds. I need to master the Normal Moons since even Event Moons are punching above my weight class at this point. Then again, a Greater Abundance Bun might compensate for Coral¡¯s potent Negative Energy. She listens when she wants to listen, but if I can get a duality between the two forces, it might push her to act more in a sort of rivalry¡­ I need a Lieutenant Bun that Kid Nia can count on to back her up, though¡­ White, the Normal Moon seems appropriate. Rachel¡¯s thoughts drifted back to Nike, her presence a beacon of hope in the swirling chaos of her mind. The Personification of Victory had survived against all odds, a testament to the resilience and strength she embodied. Once more, she was on her side, which also pointed many other deities in that direction¡ªshe could feel misfortune shifting in her favor. With a determined sigh, Rachel pushed herself forward, her mind sharp and focused while swiping to her potential new Feats, noticing what free points she had to use but scrolling past them to Nia¡¯s information table. Rachel¡¯s Current Upgrades:
Level 16 [5 Stat Point Available] [1 Equipable Feat Choice Available] [1 Stat Modifier 1 Available] [1 Branch Feat 1 Available] [1 Feat Extension Available]
Nia¡¯s Current Upgrades:
Base Grade VIII [1 Synchro Points Available] [4 Style Points Available] [2 Feat Points Available] [75 New Inventory Slots Available]
Rachel fixated on Nia¡¯s current Grade, considering everything her Living Denier and her had discussed regarding her upgrade paths. Nia¡¯s [Base Grade] indicates her foundational level and overall strength, similar to how my other Feats work with Grades. [Primal Force X] is at the max Grade Level, so does that mean Nia can only get that high before her progression stops? No, I have a hard time believing that she''s been woven by a literal goddess¡­another version of Chang¡¯e that our current Chang¡¯e killed. It¡¯s probably a breaking point, as Scarlet would call it, if she can surpass the tenth Grade. Overall, the Grade influences the effectiveness of her abilities and stats. As her Base Grade increases, so do her capabilities and potential for further growth. Nia¡¯s advancements from Grade II to Grade V demonstrated significant progress for us during Conner¡¯s Legend Quest, improving her base attributes and unlocking her [Styles] and [Feats] that we currently use. If she breaks into her next tier after ten, maybe it will boost everything we already have. Hmm. [Synchro Points] are used to bind Nia¡¯s spirit closer to me, increasing our synergy and shared abilities¡­ It¡¯s nuanced, though. The link is more like attaching herself to my and her specific Feats, which is how I got access to [Solar Defense III] after sinking one of her points into it. She received two points from Grade V to Grade VIII, and just using one deepened our connection to the point where I¡¯m not that scared of the sun anymore. I can go a lot of ways with it, though. The synchronization allows us to utilize each other¡¯s powers, which significantly boosts our combat effectiveness and versatility. Right now, there are only two Synchronization Paths we¡¯ve gone: [Bun Soldiers I] and [Soul Binding II]. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s worth using at this point until we really come up against something we struggle with¡­but I might put our current one into our buns to see how many more we can get. Having Coral constantly feeding me energy from the Greater Harvest Moon certainly is powerful, and I need to increase it to likely reach the ability to create Unique Buns. That being said, I don¡¯t know where we¡¯re lacking, though, and that¡¯s partially my fault for relying so much on Event and Unique Moons up to this point. I need to grow on my own, without their support. Rachel breathed out a long puff of air while shifting her gaze to [Style Points], which allowed Nia to customize her own abilities and enhance specific aspects of herself to her own vibe. It was primarily used for how she¡¯d support her wearer, enhancing her owner¡¯s Attack, Defense, or Utility. Essentially, it was like her Branch Feats. Currently, Nia has the most ability to expand here, and we¡¯ve got [Solar Defense] and [Lunar Pool Limit V]. It would take two points now to reach a sixth reserve pool, but I doubt that is the way to go. I¡¯m going to need to sacrifice one of my current Pools for the Graceful Moon when I get it, though, which means I need a Bun Soldier¡­ Greater Abundance seems to be the way to go. Deciding on it, she made the decision to direct Nia on their future path, sure that her captain would agree to getting more soldiers. I¡¯ll need to see what Nia thinks about her other potential Styles when we get a chance to sit down on the flight to Montana. Nia¡¯s [Feat Points]... she internally hummed, fixating on the number. Nia¡¯s Feats are used to unlock special abilities that provide significant advantages rather than the more tame Styles that have upgradeability¡­ Feats are set in stone and powerful from the start. [Less is More] is our only one so far, and it is massive, basically providing me and her with a full-time force field that can stop bullets when combined with our [Soul Binding]. It even gives her a connection to my [Lunar Coat II] defensive Feat, which is currently S-tier thanks to that bond always making it active. A small smirk lifted her lips as she recalled her fight in Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest against all the vampire families with all of her Crimson Moon clones. Thanks, everyone, for helping to increase my [Defense]. The moment I¡¯m able to jump to Grade III with my growing soul, it will happen. I¡¯m really starting to better understand how these Seeds work, and Nia functions in a similar way. Nia¡¯s Feats primarily rely on the combination of where her current Style is focused and how close our Synchro Path is to support me. This one is huge and can change dramatically based on where we go¡­definitely not worth investing in until everything else is set. A smile finally brightened her lips as she got to the [Inventory Slots], they hadn¡¯t been active yet, and Nia had been bugging her about it and their limits¡ªthey¡¯d been using a duffle bag to cheat the system. Rachel didn¡¯t know if there could be more options regarding them, though, if they went through all the Style options. I don¡¯t think I can hold her off for much longer¡­ There are so many outfits Mom and her bought that she¡¯d like to swap between on the spot. We had to leave them with her to return to the house, too. A Living Denier without her wardrobe is an ornery outfit. Scrolling back to the top, she growled upon seeing her own possible Feats. There were quite a few she needed to discuss with Nia, but one or two seemed beneficial to get. She just didn¡¯t want to spend them and then kick herself for not saving when something big came up later she couldn¡¯t get. Twenty-five is a huge one, unlocking our Soul Expansion, but twenty also feels like it would be a big one. Should I be patient? If I can handle the threats against me right now without them, then I should. Then again¡­I¡¯ve mainly survived thus far due to the Unique and Event Moons¡­ No, Nia herself and my hammer can help me bridge the gap with my competition. Plus¡­ A snicker shook her chest as she swiped away the display and summoned her wicked-looking, spiked maul to twist around her fingers. Nia knocked on the door to let her know that they¡¯d arrived at the airport to board their jet. I like challenges. ¡°Coming,¡± she called out, dismissing it and closing her eyes. Her thoughts instantly went to the blonde assistant of the World Health Organization Director-General upon hearing her voice; [Beastial Instincts III] was never wrong, and at the B-tier¡ªthe woman gave her tail a shiver like few things had, which was saying something. ¡°Let¡¯s see what Wolfgang¡¯s crew will do when splitting ways¡­ Something about Sera bugs me.¡± Rachel exited her Soul Sanctum, the familiar weight of the real world settling back on her shoulders. The steady thrum of the helicopter blades returned, a comforting white noise that masked the rapid beating of her heart. She let out a slow breath, steadying herself before opening her eyes. The cabin was alive with conversations, laughter, and the occasional jibe. Wolfgang¡¯s voice, distinct and calm, floated over the rest, contrasting sharply with the boisterous laughter from Maria and Nam; somehow, the unicorn¡¯s shockingly silly humor really got to her brother. Rachel glanced around, taking in the sight of her companions¡ªher team, her friends¡ªgathered around in their scattered clusters. The Triplets, Nia, and Coral were inside her Soul Expanse, enjoying their time with Nike. Abruptly, she stood upon hearing the conversation between the pilot and soldiers; they were about to descend. She stretched her arms above her head with a yawn. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Wolfgang off and see what they¡¯re up to,¡± she said on their private channel. ¡°The sunlight will be good to drain my White Lunar Pool and purge any residual Negative energy. I¡¯ll meet you on the plane before we leave for Montana with Barb.¡± Scarlet perked up from her conversation with Alexa, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. ¡°You sure? I can keep the portal open if you want a quick way back.¡± Rachel shook her head with a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯d rather not. The sunlight will help me and Barb will probably want to complain with the vibes I¡¯m getting from her tense muscles.¡± Alexa¡¯s teen-like appearance made Rachel restrain a smile, her radiant glow, halo, and wings constantly drawing the soldiers¡¯ eyes. She nodded, understanding flashing in her star-like eyes while trying to put herself out there, no doubt, and fit in. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know about those Germans either. Umm, good luck out there. We¡¯ll hold down the fort I guess until you¡¯re back¡ªam I allowed to say that now? Is that a stupid comment? Yeah, it¡¯s a stupid comment,¡± she sighed, shoulders slumping and glow dimming a bit. ¡°No, you¡¯re fine, babe,¡± Nam reassured. ¡°Just act like yourself.¡± Feeling her heart soften at the adorable pair and seeing a new side of her brother now that she wasn¡¯t poisoned against her sister-in-law, Rachel headed towards the back. She waited for Scarlet to offer everyone a ride¡ªno one but a determined Alexa accepted. Rachel could see the thankful look in her blue eyes when the teenage angel woman tensed and hopped through, Scarlet joining her. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be watching the latest anime episodes together then¡ªbonding time!¡± Scarlet huffed, sticking out her tongue at the others before joining her. ¡°Wimps.¡± Rachel giggled as Maria balked, but Nam just lifted his hands in acceptance. Unzipping the back, the wind on the other side whipped her hair around her face, one of the side doors opened to allow Wolfgang¡¯s black-haired ¡®secretary¡¯ to study the scenery. She stepped into the blinding sunlight, wincing as her eyes adjusted. Closing the zipper, she caught Jeanne and Barbara¡¯s thankful smiles at having a new ally in the fight, or she expected that¡¯s how they saw it. From what little she¡¯d heard, the four were quite ¡®anti-religious.¡¯ Her gaze drifted to Wolfgang and his entourage. Jeanne d¡¯Arc stood close by the black-haired secretary, her expression unreadable but her presence undeniably commanding. Barbara, in contrast, had a relaxed stance, but her military eyes were sharp, clearly on-edge from their conversation and slightly annoyed. Jeanne also seemed slightly upset with her flushed cheeks for some reason, yet her glare was aimed at the blonde sitting next to Wolfgang. Sera, with her deceptively innocent demeanor, appeared totally oblivious to the two saints across from her. She caught Rachel¡¯s eye as she entered their part of the helicopter, and offered a charming smile? that Rachel didn¡¯t buy. Flipping to their channel, Rachel tried to sound cheery. ¡°Are you all set?¡± Wolfgang nodded, a thoughtful grin playing at the corners of his lips while scrutinizing her in a somewhat uncomfortable way. ¡°As ready as we¡¯ll ever be. I must say, you look¡­different since I last examined your soul, as guarded and isolated as it may be¡ªa Soul Item shielding it? Interesting. Something has changed, hasn¡¯t it? Exciting!¡± A short pause passed between all of them as Rachel maintained a passive smile, and not long after, the WHO Director-General chortled and waved his hand while rising. ¡°Life is an adventure of discoveries and unwanted divine interventions, isn¡¯t it? You seem like the type that gets a lot of higher support¡­like the saints here!¡± Rachel chuckled, feeling the tension spike her blood and stiffen her tail; his statement wasn¡¯t meant as a compliment. ¡°Adventure and higher support¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s one way to put it. I wouldn¡¯t say my experience has been wholly¡­positive on that front, but that¡¯s between me and myself. I¡¯m sure you worked hard for everything you¡¯ve gotten and weren¡¯t a spoon-fed brat¡­a real man of hard work.¡± ¡°Of science!¡± he stated with a laugh, but she heard the twitch in his muscles that said she¡¯d struck a nerve. ¡°Have a wonderful rest of your day, Ms. Divine Hare.¡± The helicopter shuddered slightly as it began its descent, the shift in altitude causing Rachel¡¯s ears to twitch. She focused on the rhythmic beat of the blades, a steady pulse that matched her own heartbeat. The anticipation for all of them to be rid of the German group was almost tangible, a hum of energy that ran through the cabin¡ªwell, everyone but Sera seemed in a false happy mood. As they landed and the back ramp lowered, Wolfgang¡¯s group mostly exited with them. However, Sera lingered behind, causing the others to pause as Barbara and Jeanne waited a short distance away, ready for action. She gave Rachel a parting look that unnerved her. [Beastial Instincts] were giving off-the-charts danger levels now that were subtly hidden before. A feeling the two saints undoubtedly felt. The blonde¡¯s succulent lips curving into a sly smirk that spoke of ill intent. ¡°Be careful out there, Rachel¡­very careful, from what I¡¯ve heard down the grapevine. Haven¡¯t you heard? Playing with fire can get you burned. And your little feline friend has¡­quite the fire. A friendly warning.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, meeting Sera¡¯s bright blue irises with an unflinching stare. If she pushed a little harder, maybe she could get some insight into who this woman was or how she gave her such familiar vibes. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t really mind fire. I¡¯m not that concerned about Zoe personally¡­ Now you? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re hiding something sinister beneath all that charm. And believe me, I¡¯m hiding something just as dangerous.¡± Sera¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement and perhaps a hint of challenge. ¡°You¡¯ve got sharper instincts than I gave you credit for,¡± she mused, putting a finger to her lips. ¡°I wonder if I could convince you to swap sides instead of the other way around? Food for thought because¡­you have your work cut out for you, sweetie.¡± The words hung in the air, a moment of revelation clicking into place as the woman winked, turned, and walked away with a sway to her hips that struck her brain like a match, cutting past the darkness. Rachel¡¯s mind whirred, the pieces falling together in a startling realization. Her ears stiff as she caught the flicker of something deeper, something darker¡ªa horned woman with gnarled, branch-like wings. A glimpse of Yseress, Izanami¡¯s Nephilim Princess of Yomi. A grin spread across Rachel¡¯s face, a fierce fire lighting up her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t mind playing with fire, Sera. It¡¯s part of my job description.¡± Sera paused, her curved, inviting eyes shining with the same intensity as her mistress before she turned to join Wolfgang and his guards, her steps more purposeful and graceful now. ¡°Until next time, Rachel,¡± she called over her shoulder, her voice carrying a promise of future encounters. ¡°Try not to get yourself killed dealing with whatever Personification of Conquest that lies within that crystal¡­for all of our sakes.¡± Barbara and Jeanne exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued by the exchange. Jeanne¡¯s voice was gentle yet probing. ¡°What was that about?¡± Rachel¡¯s heart thudded in her chest, the implications of the encounter still settling in. Yet, she didn¡¯t offer them an immediate response, instead speaking to the guests in her soul. Yseress has implanted herself in the UN¡­ I guess we know what poison they¡¯re drinking. Hell has made their move. The UN is a lot more interesting than I thought. Jeanne¡¯s brow arched, a hint of concern in her eyes. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Something certainly passed between you¡­ Where do you know each other?¡± Rachel sighed, brushing back her hair and feeling light as a feather, despite the sun¡¯s oppressive shackles around her soul. ¡°Just another piece of the puzzle on the world stage. Sorry, but I can¡¯t talk about it so freely. Now, we¡¯re off to Montana and you¡¯re off to France¡­ I will say, be very careful of the UN. Well, girls, we¡¯ve got work to do.¡± Fending off their parting grumbles about her hiding things, Rachel boarded the jet and settled into her seat. Scarlet and Alexa were in the back, leaving her to discuss Omen business with her brother and Maria for a bit. After a twenty minute discussion, she leaned back and entered her Soul Expanse to finish what she started. There was something she wanted, and now she¡¯d given Nia enough time to get to know Nike. It was time to add at least some stat points. Whatever lay ahead in Montana, she would be ready to face it head-on, and they had some recruiting to do; it was the perfect scene for it. B3 — 6. Victory Is With Me Rachel stepped into the familiar white platform of her Soul Expanse, her breath steadying as the tranquil silence wrapped around her. The endless black expanse outside of the spotlight stretched out as a blank canvas awaiting her desires to shape it. For a moment, she let herself enjoy the stillness, closing her eyes and listening to the endless silence. It was different now, though. She knew a lot more about herself and the powers that revolved around their Seeds, yet it still wasn¡¯t enough. Her thoughts were pulled to the single door leading to Big Nia¡¯s area. Now that she was in her matured state, with Nike awake and able to answer questions, she reevaluated her actions moving forward. The Personification of Victory could provide her with answers she needed. If the recovering woman was willing to share, that was. Clasping her hands behind her back on her way toward the door, she pressed down on the base of her tail, considering how far they¡¯d come since rescuing the winged holy being. Nia and her had come so far¡ªevolved in ways Rachel hadn¡¯t expected. The bun was a part of her soul, but was Nike, as well? Perhaps there were some things she should bring up while discussing Nia¡¯s potential growth options. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she decided to bring Nike into the conversation. She approached the door that led to Nia¡¯s room. Her knuckles tapped against the smooth surface, and she waited. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Nia¡¯s bright eyes and a curious smile. ¡°Mmm. Why¡¯re you knocking, Major?¡± Nia asked, stepping aside to let her in. ¡°Trying not to bug us or are you actually setting up boundaries?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I do both?¡± Rachel chuckled, proceeding inside the tranquil grove. The nighttime space was warm, filled with soft light and the comforting presence of Nike¡¯s Positive influence. Although, the Negative vibe of the hellish triplets provided a good contrast, not that they appeared like the vicious wolves of the underworld that they truly were. Nike looked up from her spot on the bed, a serene smile on her lips, while the teenage wolf girls giggled quietly amongst themselves. Rachel waved at them on her approach, Nia by her side, yet her gaze lingering on Nike for a moment. She¡¯s looking better. ¡°How well have you¡ªNike, is that wise?¡± Rachel paused as the divine figure threw off her covers, revealing a gown she wore instead of being naked, as she¡¯d been before. It shimmered with a golden hue in the soft lights of the overhead moons, a flowing white fabric that complimented her elegant figure. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t push yourself,¡± Thalia advised, her blue-flaming tail stopping with her sisters¡¯ as they observed the woman.. The hellhounds straightened, watching with wide eyes as the Personification of Victory stretched her arms above her head, a quiet sigh of relief escaping her. A soft chuckle shook her frame while reaching around to delicately brush her fingers over her stubby, still-growing wings, now fluffy with short golden feathers. ¡°Perhaps,¡± she whispered, her feathers fluttering slightly at the touch, soft and downy. ¡°Movement is a sign of victory, and I intend to push forward because winning always comes with sacrifice, be it blood or time. One must always strive to return to their feet if one hopes to win, no matter the pain.¡± Nia crossed her arms, a smile on her lips as she glanced to the side, where comfortable armchairs materialized, with a sofa for the triplets. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you expect to join in the conversation Rachel no doubt wants to have with me. She more or less telegraphed it with that look on her face, didn¡¯t she?¡± Rachel gave her captain a small smirk as Nike lifted a hand to refuse Irida¡¯s help to get over to her armchair, obviously meant for the winged woman due to the back having a hole in it. ¡°Nice to see someone is paying attention. I¡¯m sure our linked souls have nothing to do with you understanding me to this level. And can I assume your mysterious guest and healer brought you that robe, Nike?¡± she asked, keeping her gaze on the personification¡¯s open gown back to see each painful twitch her wings made, yet the woman only radiated elegance. ¡°Indeed. No need to hold back, Rachel. Ask your blunt questions. I am only alive because of you, after all,¡± she cheerfully stated, her electric-blue eyes showing gratitude when sinking into her comfy chair. She adjusted her gown, moved her braided white hair over her shoulder, and gestured to the chairs opposite her. ¡°I welcome a genuine conversation involving the future. The future excites me! My, am I making myself too at home?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Nia snickered, casually taking the chair as Rachel sat beside her. ¡°The Major is a lot kinder than she appears on the surface, especially with those who are more direct or maybe that¡¯s just my bias of my leader.¡± Rachel gave her a playful glare as the triplets hopped onto their sofa to listen, tails wagging again. ¡°I usually match whatever energy I¡¯m met with. That being said¡­I wanted to talk about what¡¯s next, now that you¡¯re starting to move around.¡± She leaned against the armrest and watched the woman close. ¡°How are you feeling? I mean¡­really feeling. You¡¯ve been through a lot, and I¡¯m trying to understand what you plan to do now that you¡¯re starting to recover. I mainly snatched you out of Dionysus¡¯ claws to snatch victory to my side, so to speak. I realize you¡¯re your own woman, though.¡± A soft chuckle escaped Nike¡¯s lips, and Rachel couldn¡¯t help but notice a grateful warmth in her eyes. ¡°Can I move? Just barely. I¡¯m far from fully restored, Rachel, and I appreciate the backhanded concern. As you can see, my wings are still in their infancy, and I am¡­how should I put this? I¡¯m currently at your mercy. My connection to this space between your soul and Nia¡¯s keeps me anchored, but I¡¯m not quite as free as you might think.¡± She leaned back to smile up at the golden Greater Moon of Abundance. ¡°Think of you and Nia as an intertwined rope with me tied in the center¡ªgrounded, you could say. Without you, I¡¯d be yanked back into 5th-dimensional space and left to the mercy of others that might use me for their own gain.¡± Her gentle face lowered to look between them. ¡°I must say, despite me describing this as a prison, where I can be harmed by mortals or used in whatever experiment they might have, I am far safer here with you, Rachel, than anywhere else¡­even at Athena¡¯s side. Isn¡¯t that tragic?¡± she said with a melancholy giggle. ¡°Never have I felt so¡­exposed.¡± Extracting what the woman was saying between the lines, Rachel¡¯s gaze drifted to Nia as her mirror crossed her legs, saying, ¡°As I understand it, Dionysus captured you right after you won your battle against all the other Personifications of Victory, when you were in your weakened state, and I¡¯m not trying to be rude, but surely there were stronger versions of you¡ªbeings in the 6th or 7th dimensions, for instance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a valid question,¡± Nike tilted her head to the side, glancing off to the side while looking into her past at the battle against many versions of herself. ¡°Victory is an interesting phenomenon to personify. To you mortals, you might think of my battle as one with sword and shield, a battlefield of hundreds or thousands of versions of myself in open combat¡­¡± ¡°Was it not?¡± Aleka blurted out, her green fire flickering with anxious agitation. ¡°Lady Persephone and Lord Hades had to battle all sorts of versions of themselves to win a place for our Hades¡­ Well, maybe not our Lady Persephone,¡± she mumbled, ears folding back, ¡°but she sacrificed herself for the new Lady Persephone, which our Lord respects.¡± Nike¡¯s focus became distant. ¡°When determining victory between personifications of it, we do not conduct warfare based on who is the strongest. It is a recognition of who has the most likely chance of victory.¡± The white-haired woman¡¯s vibrant eyes lifted to stare right into Rachel¡¯s. ¡°Essentially, even though I was one of the weaker versions of myself, within my weakness was victory.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Rachel hummed, considering the unorthodox angle as a thoughtful gleam lit in her eclipsed irises. ¡°In a battlefield of countless Divine and Infernal adversaries of differing pantheons, your greatest method of victory was by stepping outside of the game entirely, or by taking on a role on the most important stage¡­the 3rd dimension, where much of the influence lies. The roles have been reversed.¡± ¡°In a sense,¡± Nike nodded with a chime in her voice. ¡°Defeat was temporary and victory assured by making myself a tortured and pitiful figure to be rescued by one ambitious lunar hare. Your misfortune is potent enough to affect things on a grand scale, especially with the support you¡¯ve already gathered, which turns into a snowball effect.¡± Her words hung in the air, and Rachel felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension at the prospects that line of thinking brought. ¡°So, what are your plans then? You can¡¯t go back right now, and by protecting you, I do gain some support from the higher realms. That being said, what can you offer us while you¡¯re here?¡± Nike copied Nia, crossing her legs in a fluid manner that belied her delicate constitution. She looked contemplative, her gaze drifting toward the soft glow of the glade around them. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll offer whatever support I can. I¡¯ve been doing so in small portions already, helping to tune your sense of misfortune with my sense of victory. Also, I¡¯m willing to help you channel the energy within your soul more effectively. However,¡± she paused, her gaze locking onto Rachel¡¯s, ¡°there¡¯s something else I¡¯ve been considering.¡± Rachel¡¯s curiosity piqued, somewhat derailed from her initial intent to bring in Nia¡¯s expanding abilities and the lunar buns; she hadn¡¯t anticipated the personification to be so talkative compared to all the other deities she¡¯d dealt with. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Nike¡¯s bright smile widened, and she gestured to the serene landscape outside. ¡°Examining the effects that have taken place inside your souls, I noticed one particular event of note that your mother facilitated.¡± Ears rising at the topic, Rachel glanced at Nia, who returned her stare before the bun inquired further. ¡°You¡¯re talking about the time Molly bridged the gap between Moongmor, Lady Mei, and Lord Tintreach?¡± ¡°I am. I could create a sanctified space within your united soul, a sort of audience chamber, if you will,¡± she added with the excitement of a bored woman, looking for something to occupy her time with. ¡°Think of it as an interior design sort of project. It will cost a bit of your soul space, but I believe it will be worth it.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Rachel rested her knuckles against her cheek, dissecting the advantages that might bring. ¡°How is that possible and what are the limitations? Who could I meet with, and how drained would I be from such a visit since my mother absorbed the brunt of that exhaustion previously. You¡¯re saying you¡¯ll have to use some of the points I¡¯ve collected from my Seed?¡± ¡°You have a sharp mind, Rachel,¡± Nike chortled. ¡°I like that. I know you also want to get into the topic of Seeds and their types. I¡¯m more than happy to discuss everything I¡¯ve learned to add to your own knowledge. You¡¯ve already scratched the surface as to what these Seeds are meant to do.¡± She gestured at the moons above. ¡°To answer your previous question, your mother provided a Positive Energy Field that is capable of providing a suitable space that bridges your weak soul to be in the presence of higher beings within the higher 3rd dimension. Think of it as a place where beings of more refined, pure spiritual entities reside, having a more¡­sanctified form, for a lack of a better word in English.¡± A smirk touched Rachel¡¯s mouth while recalling the antics between Mei and Moongmor or Yseress¡¯ no doubt confined form here on the mortal plane. ¡°More in touch with the power within our own souls is what I¡¯m getting from that. These Seeds are refining us into unlocking what we could always access but lacked the experience, becoming more like¡­well, you.¡± ¡°In a way,¡± the woman happily stated, her tone becoming more reflective. ¡°Personally, from my point of view, and the reason many others have also zeroed in on you or other key mortals, it is you who is more refined than us, which is why the Seeds chose you and not us.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears tilted to the side. ¡°Interesting take¡­ I have wondered about that after the bits and pieces I remember from Seed Scarlet¡¯s awakening. She¡¯s still there, only slumbering now with Scarlet taking more control of her own powers and life. ¡°This ¡®audience chamber¡¯ would allow higher beings¡ªgods and goddesses¡ªto enter and speak with me more directly. True. Your addition will provide a balancing act that will allow for longer visitations and less stress on our soul, I¡¯m guessing, but let gods enter my soul? Wouldn¡¯t that be dangerous, considering Mystickins?¡± Nike¡¯s expression softened, a hint of amusement in her eyes. ¡°Only those you invite may enter, Rachel, and you are the arbiter of your own soul. As the trope goes in your history, a Devil cannot take over your soul unless you allow them. This isn¡¯t about opening your soul to just anyone. Think of it as a carefully guarded chamber, where you can hold conversations without the risk of outside interference. It¡¯s a way to gain insight¡­ To ask questions directly to other sources, rather than relying on vague interpretations or the rare occasional vision.¡± Rachel leaned back. Direct communication with gods? Eostre is the middle woman between the factions of higher beings and me. Cerridwen is now out of the picture and Athena is supporting me because of Nike. It could also be an attempt for Nike to get in touch with her mistress since the chamber could allow that, which isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. It¡¯s tempting. ¡°And what would this¡­chamber require, other than some of the raw potential I have to use within my soul, or my points?¡± Nike¡¯s gaze remained steady, her voice calm. ¡°A small sacrifice of energy from both you and Nia for the space. Nothing you both can¡¯t afford¡ªa Feat Point from Nia and a simple Feat Extension from you would be enough potential to generate the required zone, added with some Negative, Positive, and Neutral Energy that will split the area in three for each type of entity.¡± Nia changed the environment with a thought, the glade vanishing to illustrate what she was describing. An extravagant stone chamber with high ceilings and several comfortable chairs on each of the three sides of the room materialized. ¡°A Feat from me since it will be the primary defense, similar to [Less is More]. So, we¡¯re talking about the red side here, being filled with some of our more potent Negative Energy¡ªthe [Hell Moon: Yomi] being the strongest in that category. The white side would be Neutral, or¡­the [Blood Moon]? And, lastly, the [Greater Abundance] for the Positive side?¡± Nike drew in her mouth and gently shook her head while looking up at the open ceiling, showing the three overhead spheres, the golden light was dwarfed by the ruby and crimson globes. ¡°They have to be in balance, and an Event Moon could never stand beside Unique. It could certainly be more potent and allow deities like Izanami and Selene to enter this chamber, but I¡¯m afraid you do not have a Positive Sphere capable of matching them yet.¡± A rumble shook in Rachel¡¯s throat. ¡°Chang¡¯e¡¯s [Graceful Moon]. I¡¯m guessing if I went with the Unique Moon route, it would require a lot more of Nia and my points, which was why you suggested this compromise. I have to point out that I don''t have an Event Neutral Moon, though.¡± Nike nodded. ¡°Not a problem. So long as the Positive and Negative are balanced, then a normal Neutral moon can mediate¡ªas you call it, the [White Moon]. Would you allow me to support you in this? At most, at this stage, it might allow Eostre to visit you for a short period of time without it taking a lot out of her to bridge the gap. Moongmor and Mei could make frequent visits, as well.¡± Rachel¡¯s thoughts churned as she considered the offer. She had faced gods before, but always on their terms. This could be a way to level the playing field and force them to meet her on a plane where she had more of an advantage, to gain knowledge that might otherwise be out of reach. She had to make sure of one thing, though. Vision rising to stare into the personification¡¯s illuminated irises, she asked, ¡°Will this allow you to talk to anyone without me or Nia present? Can you talk to Athena or any of her followers?¡± Nike¡¯s mouth bunched to the side, thinking for a moment. ¡°Could¡­I go behind your back and have private meetings as I did with my benefactor and associate that helped my recovery along? No. If anything, this tightens the grip over my prison and makes it where others will need to breach this barrier created by this sanctified ground around the outer edges of your soul. It is like erecting a wall out of the three energies and the only way in is through this one door and audience chamber.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Rachel grinned. ¡°You should have led with that. I¡¯d gladly give a Feat Extension to strengthen my soul defense against intruders. It¡¯s better than anything else I could use it for, really, which I take it has to do with your adept hands crafting it unlike my unskilled fumbled soul knowledge.¡± Her probing reply got exactly what she wanted as Nike chuckled and folded her legs the opposite direction to Nia¡¯s, yet the personification still saw past the veiled question. ¡°Always looking for more information. I respect it. Yes, as you learn more about yourself and your soul, you should have more options at your disposal to enhance your soul. Do you want me to go into what I know about each of the types of Seeds and their differences in how they affect you mortals¡­or are you mortals?¡± she asked with a playful gleam in her eye that made Rachel sit a tad straighter. ¡°You¡¯ll actually give that to me?¡± she laughed. ¡°I guess Eostre was always limited on time so she had to give me limited information that was immediately important, but this seems like it¡¯s too good to be true.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Nike shrugged, seeming to enjoy herself while looking between the patient hell pups and Nia, listening intently. ¡°As I understand it, there are two variations of Seeds¡ªLesser and Greater, as some have called it. However, for all intents and purposes, they¡¯re all the same. They¡¯re all a machine designed to refine your souls, providing numbers and paths for you to advance as if you were children, needing your hands held.¡± Rachel¡¯s tail stiffened at the comment but knew Nike wasn¡¯t trying to insult them; it was a blunt reality from her perspective. ¡°If the Seeds are just machines, as your suggestion, and the Greater are just better at it than the Lesser, then the difference is¡­us?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± Nike glanced at Nia and pointed in the air to their right. ¡°Can you make a little chart for us as I explain the differences? It should help to consolidate things.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Nia said with a cheery salute. ¡°Any preferred color?¡± ¡°I always loved a good golden hue. Now¡­ ¡°Mythickin have a lot more refined soul power than any other type that these Seeds have from their hosts. There is some hidden multiplicative mechanism deep within people like you, Rachel, who provide this unique enhancement to further bolster other souls you interact with, which brings me to the topic of partying. ¡°Partying is when Seeds are tied together when in close vicinity, working in unison to uplift one another. The Mythickin have the greatest effect on others, able to bring their output to a heightened state of production when expanding someone¡¯s soul with Neutral Energy that can be converted into any type required to nurture the linked parties. ¡°Legendkin have the unique addition of broken universes, or perhaps something larger, as can be inferred from Conner¡¯s Legend Quest, which provide an area to gather energy to be absorbed and refined. This does not necessarily come from combat but in a way that your soul can best incorporate the environmental energy.¡± She gestured at herself with a glowing smile. ¡°Beings such as myself, who have refined energy, can further amplify it to a degree, similar to Mythickins, but it is a much more static and limited function, which is where your Blessed Feats come into play. ¡°Legendkin have something special about them that pushes them to accomplish something grand or seek after some dream, looking more externally. Whereas Mythickin tends to internalize. Legendkin requires the external help of their Quests. Mythickin refine their already potent internal energy by working on themselves.¡± Nia snickered. ¡°You make the Major sound selfish, not caring about the world, which is kind of true.¡± Rachel snorted, brushing her long hair over her shoulder to comb it out, preparing to braid it while listening. ¡°In my eyes, you shouldn¡¯t worry about the world if you can¡¯t keep your own life in order. I work with what I can around me to better the lives of those I care about. I¡¯m not so noble as to care about everyone on the planet or strangers.¡± Nike slid right past the comment, keeping her tone positive. ¡°On the other hand, Mystickin have a profound aptitude for faith, and make themselves open for the one they believe in to refine. They are canvases, giving themselves away with their Seeds potential to become avatars of their deity. This gives them a lot of leeway due to being directed by a being who does know how to best optimize their Seed and Soul.¡± A scowl darkened Rachel¡¯s brow. ¡°Someone like Relica¡­ A Mystickin and Legendkin. I think Hecate has her own plans now that I know she¡¯s pulling her priestess¡¯ strings. The Scarlet Hand and her being used by Twilight¡­ There¡¯s a bigger game there when dealing with a combination. It¡¯s pretty obvious that Persephone and her have a¡­strained relationship since she killed Persephone¡¯s best friend.¡± The triplet¡¯s ears drew back, Irida¡¯s red, flaming hair flickering with agitation. ¡°Not entirely wrong. She did save your ass against Seed Scarlet, though.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed while creating a fake image of the dark-haired goddess of witchcraft and the underworld. ¡°She¡¯s in the 6th-dimensional sphere, which means she has to play ball with the creation deities above her. I trust her about as much as I trust Relica. Go on,¡± she sighed, dismissing the construct. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Nike laughed. ¡°I do not trust most of the higher entities since they all have their own grudges and backgrounds that are almost entirely divorced from my own understanding of them. Yet¡­¡± The personification¡¯s blue eyes showed a bit of pity. ¡°Mystickin, on their own, don¡¯t have the benefit of Quests, like Legendkin, nor the hidden amplifying effect of Mythickin. Therefore, they require a lot more work and activity to keep relevant, which is why they tend to infiltrate other organizations to leech off them, using their patrons¡¯ higher knowledge.¡± Nia created an image of a certain thirteen-year-old angel magical girl, making Nike hum with a thoughtful crease to her eye while studying the girl. ¡°Metakin, which is a new one, as I understand it. From what I¡¯ve been able to observe, these Dormant Seeds have the possibility of becoming them. It is also possible that they are Legends or Myths awaiting a trigger effect, which my secret benefactor pointed out to me in their one-sided ramblings¡­ They seemed lonely and happy to meet someone they knew from before¡­ Well, before the merger.¡± She cleared her throat and regained her positive vibe. ¡°I would classify Dormant and Hidden Seeds as different categories. Dormant are inside their intended target, while Hidden¡­¡± Rachel finished the thought, thinking back to her mother¡¯s mysterious confession. ¡°Weren¡¯t meant to have the Seeds, yet, by some happenstance, the Seed was blocked from entering their main target. That¡¯s interesting how you describe it,¡± she went on, pondering what it meant for her big brother. ¡°Even if our mom blocked the Greater Seed, he still gained a Lesser one. And, if what you say is right about the Seeds only bringing out what is already within our souls, then Nam may advance slower, but he can still refine his soul, just at a slower pace. She only delayed the inevitable.¡± Nia scratched her left ear and shifted in her chair to look at her. ¡°We know your mom wanted to prevent you and him from going down this path due to this Black Rabbit person she¡¯s terrified of¡ªthe Onyx Rabbit, she called it in the tales she told you as a little girl. Should we leave that be? I¡¯m shocked you haven¡¯t dug deeper into it, Major.¡± Rachel rubbed between her eyes, letting out a short hiss. ¡°I¡¯m shelving it for now due to how many other things we have on our plate¡­ Plus, it¡¯s my mom, and she¡¯s asked me not to push the topic. It¡¯s hard for a daughter in a way I don¡¯t know if you¡¯d understand¡­maybe with me, but yeah. It feels¡­wrong to try and push something that makes her uncomfortable, and it isn¡¯t like I don¡¯t have many other things to focus on.¡± ¡°Okay, I guess I can see that,¡± the bun mumbled, glancing away with a small frown. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard you back down, though. It¡¯s just¡­surprising. My kid-self would totally do the same, to be fair. One mention of clothes and my brain goes out the window. Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to derail you, Nike. What about Fablekin, like Red and Black?¡± ¡°No. No. I enjoy the back and forth,¡± she whispered, a soft look on her face as the rat and wolf lady materialized in Alexa¡¯s place. ¡°Hmm. Fablekin are a more complicated topic, I¡¯d say. They are perhaps one of the more interesting developments. Fablekin used to have Lesser Seeds, which have since evolved.¡± Rachel sat a little straighter, remembering back to Aurora¡¯s taunts to Black when on their way to Elizabeth¡¯s gathering, revealing how they were created. ¡°They must kill specific Legends and Myths in order to advance their Seed by taking in their specific energy type?¡± ¡°In a way,¡± Nike mumbled, studying the two images of the Fables, Red with her ax and red cloak and Black with her book and flute. ¡°Fables are a bit of a mix between Legend and Myth, due to their reaction, I¡¯d speculate. ¡°Something they might not realize themselves, but the fairytale worlds within them are the cannibalized versions of Legends universes while the power to sustain them were taken by the Myths. As such, they are unstable. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the majority of them faded away over time, as fables often do. It isn¡¯t a natural process as the other Seeds are.¡± Rachel¡¯s vision dropped to the grass between them during the explanation, still seeing the two Fables from the corner of her eye. ¡°The Scarlet Hand was using them to prune the field, knowing the whole time they¡¯d likely not survive long. If Aurora was telling the truth and not just trying to get under Black¡¯s skin, they wanted to use them as fodder for something bigger, which White, their leader, rebelled against. I¡¯ll need to bring that up to them.¡± The white-haired personification¡¯s mouth tilted. ¡°It might be possible to save them, if they were able to find a way to stabilize their makeshift Greater Seeds. Right now, they¡¯re a combination of Greater Seed parts that don¡¯t quite fit in their Lesser Seeds, which will eventually burn out, trying to operate at that level. ¡°On that topic, diving into the final aspect of the Lesser Seeds,¡± she redirected, ¡°I can say that they function in a way we higher beings below the 7th dimension can better understand, unlike the Greater Seeds. So¡­I guess you could say they bore us, to be frank,¡± she chortled. ¡°The bigger, shinier ones draw us in like bees to flowers. The mystery of Legend and Myth individuals, more precisely, since it is the people that attracted the Seed, not the Seed itself that are the important part.¡± Nike paused, head tilting to the side while considering something. ¡°I have wondered how many people on this planet went through a more¡­subtle version of The Coalescence. What if everyone here only came into being at the same time we higher beings were brought into this Maelstrom, a century ago? No, but that is just speculation on my part,¡± she laughed, waving it off. ¡°It¡¯s not like I have any evidence of that but I am certain the mortals of my universe are not here.¡± Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed, her mind drifting into a rather unusual direction. ¡°As I understand it, at least from what Scarlet described to me from her talk with Twilight, the Intelligence of active beings with agency cannot be fully destroyed but can be rewritten¡­¡± The personification¡¯s closed fist came up to her lips, vision dropping to her lap. ¡°True, so far as I am aware from discussions I had amongst my siblings and the Greek Pantheon. If so, then it may be worth considering that all of those souls¡­may still be alive within Scarlet¡¯s Red Sea, kept safe for some future purpose¡­or maintaining the required power needed to sustain this giant machine she created.¡± Her eyes widened, Rachel completing the thought. ¡°If so, perhaps the deities you thought you merged with are still out there, at least in Intelligence, and you merely absorbed their powers, in a similar way to our Seeds?¡± ¡°Hmm. It certainly is something to consider,¡± the young woman whispered, her countenance brightening. ¡°I look forward to hearing her explanation, if we will get one, when we get to the World Tree, and the other deities hear what Scarlet has to say. ¡°However, back to the immediate topic¡­I will say that many of the Lesser Seeds seem to have a certain¡­touch to them,¡± she finished, pulling Rachel¡¯s gaze back to her radiant blue eyes.¡± ¡°Touch?¡± ¡°Mhm. It¡¯s as if they were designed to go after certain individuals that exhibited the characteristics rather than at random. Yes, the Lesser acts in a similar way as the Greater Seeds, at least enough to fool us beings lower than the 7th dimension, only with more of a¡­design to them. I wonder if Izanami, Hades, and Persephone know more than they¡¯re letting on.¡± She held a fist to her mouth again and giggled. ¡°Then again, maybe it¡¯s because I can better get a grasp on them than the Greater that makes me paranoid. ¡°In short, the Greater are all the same to me, and it is the person that matters¡ªno variance. Meaning Legendkin somehow already had a universe inside of them that the Seed was able to connect to, acting as a restorative machine. How is that possible? I do not know! It certainly speaks about a design, perhaps from Scarlet herself¡­ I would like to ask her at some point why she forced this fate of The Coalescence onto the higher beings, even if our other versions are still safely tucked away somewhere else.¡± Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed at the angle she hadn¡¯t considered, allowing a moment of silence as Nike reflected on her lost home, family, and friends. Scarlet¡¯s true, awakened side, when all of her memories return¡­ How much of this was to her design and how much of it was others¡¯ influence. She¡¯s playing a huge cosmic game that spans a scope I can¡¯t hope to comprehend at this point. The Eldritch have their part in it, as well, and there has to be many more. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± The woman straightened her back and pressed on, pulling Rachel¡¯s gaze again as the wolf pups whispered to one another. ¡°While the Lesser Seeds may keep up with Greater Seeds due to their nourished beginnings, the Greater, if added with a Mythickin enhancement and Legendkin Quests, can easily outstrip them. I think you¡¯ve already discovered that by connecting the dots between your abilities. That is it! Anything more you want to inquire about?¡± she asked, blue eyes beaming and waiting to be helpful. ¡°You¡¯ve actually given me a lot to think about,¡± Rachel mumbled. ¡°I will ask one more thing I¡¯d really like an answer to.¡± ¡°Name it. I am in your debt more than I can relay,¡± she chimed. Rachel¡¯s features softened at how pure and forward the winged personification was. Perhaps it was instinct on her side or just her state of being as embodying victory and taking the path that would most take her to the victorious side but it was helpful nonetheless. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to puzzle out if I should save my Feats for a higher level after discovering our soul¡¯s next big evolution at Level 25, unlocking our Soul Expansion. In your opinion, should I wait to add my points?¡± Nike shifted in her chair to lean against the opposite armrest, a thoughtful tilt moving her lips while studying her intently. ¡°A hard question, really. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re trying to gauge your sense of misfortune to figure it out but the gravity of this blazing star-like field of conquest we are moving toward is blinding you of the future outcome.¡± Rachel sat straighter, Nia meeting her glance before returning to the recovering higher being. ¡°You can sense it too? Something dealing with the Montana Crystal is throwing off all of the threads of misfortune I can sense.¡± ¡°Yes, I feel it,¡± she whispered, holding a hand to her breast and looking internally. ¡°It is why most other deities have retreated to watch from afar¡­Izanami included. Chang¡¯e has put her trust in you, as I understand it, and has chosen to support you. It is brave of her, considering what I feel we are up against, but I also feel as if you have the capability to make the right choices to skirt certain domination.¡± Adjusting her robe¡¯s position, her smile returned. ¡°That is not what you wish to know, though. As for my opinion on your levels. Use your stats, as needed, keep your Feats open to adapt when reaching Level 20, would be my advice. If we are using Scarlet¡¯s logic, then there is a soft breaking point at Level 20, and another at 25.¡± Rachel nodded slowly. ¡°I can see that. It feels right, anyway.¡± Redirecting her thoughts with a small smirk after getting the personification¡¯s advice, she looked at Nia and pointed at the sleeping Coral on her head, phased through her ears. ¡°Actually, I wanted to get your and Nia¡¯s opinion on new buns. It kind of falls in-line with what you were saying about the Positive and Negative Energies with this new meeting room.¡± Ears rising slightly, she brought their attention above them, showing the White, Greater Abundance, and Greater Harvest Moons. ¡°Little Nia can¡¯t handle Coral. Event Moons are too potent for us, even now, and she can be rebellious even with me. It takes 50% of a Pool¡¯s energy to create a bun. I can¡¯t do it right now with the Normal White until we land, especially if we make these sanctified and corrupted zones, but I think balancing that out is critical.¡± ¡°I¡¯m down,¡± Nia grinned, her ears perking up. ¡°Coral and the new bun might fight a bit when they get up, but it shouldn¡¯t take us long to get enough energy to make a Normal mediator bun. They¡¯ll need to have a strong personality, but I think if they¡¯re modeled after you, then it shouldn¡¯t be a problem to whip them into shape.¡± Nike held up her hands. ¡°Honestly, I have no opinion on it but will confirm that if you create this balanced space, then it will take almost all of your current Neutral Energy, which is only 52% at the moment.¡± ¡°What about the Crimson and Greater Abundance Moons tainting the pool?¡± Nia chimed in, frowning up at the spheres that moved into orbit. ¡°We still need to purge it. Won¡¯t it mess things up?¡± The personification shook her head, motioning to the symbols on the ground. ¡°The design does matter, and there is a reason why the eastern religions use the yin and yang symbol, however there should be one difference. The white should be gold, for the Positive Force, and the white should be Neutral and be placed as the buffer between them. That is the pattern for the room I would suggest, which will pull the respective Negative and Positive to their own types. It won¡¯t be a problem.¡± Rachel nodded, figuring they¡¯d be drawn into their own style or be eradicated. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it. What do we do?¡± she asked, enjoying having another ally in her little hare den to provide her a personal divine coach. The thought made her want to reach out and connect with her old trainer to see how he was faring. Nike folded her hands in her lap, a happy smile on her lips. ¡°Do not think I will not get anything out of this, despite me saying I will be more caged. It opens the door for me to be able to have more people to talk to, given you or Nia open the door for me to chat with others. A safe place for me to gather more information for us all.¡± ¡°Hey, a team effort is fine by me,¡± Rachel mused, glancing at Nia with a small smirk. ¡°I used to be the lone hare, but I¡¯ve learned to open up to teamwork as I¡¯ve branched out to bigger things. Scarlet and others have helped me see the benefits in having a group at my back¡­so long as I do most of the heavy lifting.¡± Nia¡¯s chest shook with quiet mirth. ¡°And there¡¯s the selfish Major I know. Always needing to be the one in charge, but you do have command of this ship, Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± the white-haired girl showed a relieved face of someone in isolation seeking some form of other social interaction, ¡°all you must do is open your status window and select what I have suggested. The blueprint was already stored by your Seed. All you must do is accept it.¡± Rachel opened her menu and swapped to a new option that appeared, the requirements listed: [Soul Sanctum Upgrade - Yin-Yang Shell: By utilizing equal parts Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy, the user¡¯s soul will be guarded by a unified defensive wall to repel all invader types under those categories. Requirements: 1x Feat Point, 30% Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy.] [Yin-Yang Audience Chamber: By utilizing equal parts Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy, the user will create a dualistic sanctified and corrupted zone to meet with entities in those fields. Requirements: 1x Feat Extension, 20% Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy.] Rachel¡¯s lips became a line while studying the upgrades, and Nia opened her own and used her Synchro Point on [Bun Soldiers] to advance it in order to create their already discussed jello bunny¡¯s. ¡°Why is Nia¡¯s point required for one and mine the other?¡± She looked up and took an educated guess. ¡°Is it because her soul guards mine on the outer layer as my Living Denier, and mine is the core, which her soul enshrouds?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Nike confirmed. ¡°The overall shell also contributes and feeds into the chamber, so it is better to have it stronger than the chamber itself. Plus, I take it you want a stronger wall rather than an extra ten minutes or so with a deity before you kick them out.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but smile at the internal image of Eostre inside her Soul Sanctum and then she revokes her privilege, or basically hangs up the call on her. She really did have all the power, which was wild given the scope these deities could affect the universe and planet had not Scarlet¡¯s power been restraining them. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it,¡± she lifted her finger, and pressed the accept button. * ¡ª * ¡ª * The hum of the magitech engines pulsed through the deck beneath Thomas Jefferson¡¯s feet. The airship, a marvel of this new-age engineering, sliced through the clouds with a smooth, almost ethereal grace. He stood near the bow, hands clasped behind his back, watching the horizon with enhanced glasses perched on his nose, allowing him to zoom in with incredible detail. The turbulent skies through the transparent magical barrier rumbled with thunder and lightning as the shield¡¯s blocked the ship from the weather and debris. Incredible, he mused, sharp eyes scanning the shifting currents and shifting to pick apart the sleek, enchanted pieces and unique magical artifacts that had gone into making parts of this giant vessel, as large as a battleship. Not two months ago, this kind of innovation would have been a dream. Now, here we are¡ªMexico rising from its knees, shedding the weight of its past corruption like a snake sheds its skin. Who could have predicted this? Polk, you old bastard. Thomas tilted his head slightly as a group of technicians adjusted the energy flow to the engines. Magical conduits glowed with a soft, azure light, maintaining the delicate balance that kept the ship aloft. Theoretically, this ship could fall out of the sky out of nowhere; it had two practice flights before this, yet the call for action and eagerness to test it out had spurred the Mexican government to green-light the company that designed it to send it off to Montana, in part to advertise. A thousand people, working round the clock with Legends suppliers and scientists working together to create this vision in less than two months is phenomenal. None of it would have happened had not their congress taken quick action after their President went on a power trip and stripped him of powers¡­ The barrier flickered momentarily, absorbing a gust of updraft wind with no more effort than swatting a fly. He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how far things had come since the Oscillation. The airship had been designed for both transport and combat, equipped with magical artillery that could fend off aerial threats and protect the ship from the more dangerous elements of the skies. It was the pride of Mexico¡¯s Magitech Development Corporation, a rebrand from a previous auto manufacturing plant. A new symbol of the country¡¯s resurgence on the world stage. How would it actually fair in combat? Well, to put it lightly, they¡¯d had five fires, went through two overloaded power cores, lost two engines so far, and they were just passing Texas. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± a voice called from behind him. Thomas turned to see Rafael Ortega, the vice-president of the company that had overseen the airship¡¯s creation, step forward. Ortega was an unassuming man, average in height, with dark hair streaked with silver at the temples, but his eyes sparkled with the kind of passion that only a true visionary could possess¡ªhe was a normal man with no powers. ¡°Indeed,¡± Thomas replied, his gaze returning to the clouds parting around them. ¡°I¡¯m one to dabble in inventions myself, and this has certainly inspired me to strengthen our defense programs. President Polk was right to bring our attention to Mexico. To think, this is only the beginning, as well¡­ It¡¯s almost as if you¡¯re receiving help elsewhere. What you¡¯ve achieved here is¡­I¡¯d say of Divine providence, Rafael.¡± Ortega chuckled, a hint of humility in his tone. ¡°Perhaps you are right. I couldn¡¯t say. Thank you, though, if that was a complement. But I¡¯m just the executor of someone else¡¯s dream. Our founder of the Magitech Development Corporation had this vision¡ªI¡¯m merely following in his instructions and designs.¡± They stood in silence for a few moments, the soft hum of the ship¡¯s engines the only sound as they soared above the landscape. Behind him, the four combat Legends related to the Mexican military were joking and discussing their recent Legend Quests, some more fearsome than the last, but Thomas had heard about far worse. Below, patches of land occasionally peeked through the dark cloud cover and rain, a patchwork of green and brown stretching into the distance with his magical glasses that he¡¯d invented himself. Thomas¡¯ thoughts drifted back to the rapidly changing political landscape. The cartels were losing ground, and with Mexico¡¯s economy slowly stabilizing, the nation had become an unexpected player in the world¡¯s technological race with their congress putting more support onto their new leader. The provisional president, a Legendkin¡ªthe Legend of Benito Ju¨¢rez to be exact¡ªwho had been working tirelessly to rebuild from the chaos that swept through Mexico. It was inspirational, really, and Thomas had high standards. A descendant of Benito Ju¨¢rez, Manuel Ju¨¢rez was as pragmatic as his ancestor, and his focus on economic development had already started bearing fruit¡­and attracting enemies. Ortega broke the silence, his voice thoughtful and somewhat melancholy compared to their previous conversations. He¡¯d heard this question multiple times in Mexico, though, and it was a real concern for his countrymen. ¡°Do you think¡­that normal humans have a future in this world? With people like you and President Maunuel Ju¨¢rez creating these advancements¡ªthings like magitech, do you think we can level the playing field and come together?¡± Thomas looked at the man beside him, sensing the weight behind the question. Rafael¡¯s eyes remained fixed on the horizon as they cleared the storm, but Thomas could see the concern etched in his aged features. ¡°You¡¯re rightly worried,¡± Thomas said quietly. ¡°Despite everything you¡¯re building, it¡¯ll never be enough to compete with the powers that have awakened since The Oscillation. I¡¯ve heard it voiced in my own government. Less than 1% of the world population changed¡­yet that change is significant.¡± Rafael nodded slowly, his hands gripping the railing. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re living in a world where people have become living weapons. Gods and legends walk among us. I want to believe that magitech can bring power back to the average person¡­so that we aren''t just relying on the whims of the superpowered. These Crystals and the threat of past villains or new legends bent on conquest¡­ I want to hope we can grow as a species. But sometimes, I wonder¡­¡± Thomas breathed out a long sigh, his gaze following the streaks of sunlight breaking through the clouds. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, Rafael. There are a lot of hidden factors we have yet to explore regarding our changing world. But if you¡¯ve managed to create this airship using the resources you¡¯ve gathered from Legendkin Quests and those weaker Crystals you¡¯ve managed to overcome in your country, then maybe¡­just maybe, there is hope.¡± He clasped the man on the back with a short laugh before turning his gaze back to the landscape as they continued to Montana, US F22s becoming visible as escorts around them. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I know about humans, when we have a common enemy, we can put up a hell of a fight, and these Crystals provide that for us. Personally, I see them more as a benefit than a risk since it helps us put our differences behind us. We grow in the fires of war.¡± Silence ensued, leaving Thomas to consider how the world had changed, and with it, so had the balance of power. Underground organizations were making moves, but the US, along with her allies, had support in the shadows, as well. Support that the public would never see. The Council of Presidents had their hands full. With James K. Polk back in Mexico City negotiating on behalf of the US, there were political maneuvers being made that could shift the tides of power in North America. China was still a giant question mark, but recently, the most pressing news was the resurgence of the USSR. Russia was going through its own revolution with multiple powers that be, and there were spies within the states. The question was, what were their plans? Obviously, they didn¡¯t want the UN or US getting involved with their internal affairs, and they¡¯d be willing to sabotage things in their homelands to keep their eyes elsewhere. It wasn¡¯t just about military might anymore; it was about alliances, technology, and information, especially the latter. Luckily, they¡¯d had a rather helpful little hare running about, operating on a smaller scale but with much larger implications and discovering things that helped to stabilize many fields of combat for her country. Apparently, there would be more news shared soon enough with her return from Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest. Abraham had quite a few words about that adventure already¡­ Especially this new organization, Babel. Rafael gave him a thoughtful side-long look that made him chuckle, and he asked the question he¡¯d been given a few times. Few knew his real identity as a Legend except for select high officials. ¡°I¡¯ve meant to ask but¡­who really runs the US with all you Legendkin presidents running around?¡± ¡°The US needs strong leadership,¡± Thomas said after a moment, his voice low but firm and without humor. ¡°Leaders that the people can believe in¡ªones that aren¡¯t just puppets of the system. The Council of Presidents can guide from the shadows, but we need someone who can stand at the helm, visible to the public, who they voted for, and who makes them feel safe. President Leo Capell is that man right now.¡± Ortega nodded, but the unease lingered in his expression. ¡°And if he doesn¡¯t live up to your expectations? What then?¡± Thomas glanced at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ¡°We are a republic, Rafael. The Council of Presidents runs under the direction of President Capell. If he fails, then we have failed him and our nation. He is the current head of the US, chosen by the electorate and people. We are merely his hands to go where he currently cannot. We keep building. We keep pushing forward. Vigilance¡ªthat¡¯s what will keep us going. We can¡¯t predict everything, but we can make damn sure we¡¯re prepared for whatever comes next. Mexico is a part of that vision. You needn¡¯t worry.¡± The wind shifted slightly, and the airship adjusted course, banking gently to the left with the F22s performing maneuvers around the vessel, keeping in contact with US military command. Ahead, the sky was beginning to darken again, storm clouds gathering on the horizon. These didn¡¯t appear natural, and putting his hand to his ear, he got confirmation something odd was happening with the weather. Is it fortune we are flying by or is this misfortune at play? I suppose we¡¯ll see. ¡°Proceed with caution,¡± he said over the radio. ¡°Get more information from ground-side reporters and locals. We may have stumbled onto some trouble¡­or this was planned. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve tried to keep a low profile.¡± As they stood side by side, watching the storm clouds roll in and receiving more reports, Thomas couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. He hadn¡¯t seen much active combat yet, and he needed to test some of his inventions. The world was shifting, and they were standing at the precipice of something new. ¡°Every hill we climb, there¡¯s something fresh to keep things interesting,¡± he chuckled while zooming in with his glasses spotting the creature the size of a diesel truck within the small vortex of dark clouds, listening to reports that were only just now hitting their airways and military channels. ¡°A small unknown Crystal that broke in Big Thicket National Preserve, hmm?¡± Thomas commented to the anxious vice-president beside him. ¡°From what a local camper said, it was tetrahedron-shaped, which means weaker than the High Rolls and Montana. Fifteen-meters tall, implies a limit of 200 people can enter the battle. Purple is the same as High Rolls, so that is a bit of a concern¡­ At least it gives us a new baseline.¡± He paused, listening to further details that fed in regarding the singular monster that had emerged. ¡°We need to improve our communication and detection network. It seems we have a small calamity that came through¡­ A giant bat creature. Well, we¡¯ll get to see what your Legends and this airship are made of, Rafael. That is, if it can survive our F22s. Lure it over the park, boys. You have clearance to engage. Take it out of the sky as cleanly as you can,¡± he ordered, a smile coming on as the jets hit supersonic, accelerating to meet the monster. This is what we¡¯re hoping to avoid in Montana¡­ Something tells me missiles might do the trick¡­ Might. Let¡¯s hope. B3 — 7. The Challenge Rachel swept over the newly-formed Soul Sanctum, taking in every detail of the Yin-Yang audience chamber. The Positive, Negative, and Neutral energies flowed through the space like an unseen current, pulsing with the rhythm of her and Nia¡¯s synchronized souls. Each section created an intricate balance that kept the sanctified and corrupted zones in harmony. The chamber was vast, with high, ornate ceilings, marked by the different entities she¡¯d come into contact with from each energy type. It arched like a cathedral, and the air carried a soft hum, almost like a heartbeat. The Positive zone glowed with a soft golden light, bathing the area in warmth, while the Negative zone held a darker orange, more mysterious and haunting aura of Halloween, swirling with shadows. The Neutral zone in the center acted as a buffer, its soft, silver glow providing a stabilizing influence between the extremes. It¡¯s actually something beautiful¡­ Rachel mused, though she knew the true test would come when they started using the space for actual visitors. Twenty-four hours¡­ Longer than I thought, but it makes sense it would take some time to solidify and fully activate. Thalia, Irida, and Aleka had scampered off somewhere outside of her Soul Expanse, doing who knew what but probably getting into trouble. She glanced over at Nia, who was helping Nike settle into one of the chairs in the Positive zone, not that the force there would currently do anything for her. The divine woman still carried an air of elegance, but Rachel could see the fatigue in her movements. Even this short journey from Nia¡¯s sanctum nearby took a lot out of her. ¡°And you said this short skip and a hop wouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Rachel chuckled, crossing into the Neutral zone and sitting beside Nia once she¡¯d left the personification safely in her seat. ¡°You¡¯re going to be sleeping for a bit after this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nike offered a small smile but shook her head. ¡°Despite the cycling hues below us, the energy hasn¡¯t solidified yet. And yes, I will be quite catatonic for a few days, most likely. I hope I don¡¯t miss your first meeting here¡­I fear I might, though.¡± She paused, releasing a gentle sigh before her electric-blue eyes scanned the room, finally ending on ¡°There are going to be drawbacks to this chamber, now that I see it in action, but nothing I hadn¡¯t predicted¡ªsustaining it, for one. The powers on all sides need to build up to 100% before we can have the most time with a deity or their messenger. And even then, it¡¯s a balancing act. Keeping all the energies aligned would typically be challenging.¡± Rachel leaned back in her chair. ¡°And that¡¯s why you agree with us on the buns. Funneling their excess energy here means I have flood gates ready to open up if I get full, so nothing is wasted. With the conversion element of the buns, it makes it all the more possible to sustain something like this audience chamber.¡± She clapped her hands. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t disappoint, Nike.¡± The woman chortled and brushed back her white hair, taking a more comfortable position. ¡°You needn¡¯t praise me too much. Once your Lunar Pools are full, any overflow can go into this chamber.¡± Nia chuckled, holding up her hand as if ready to make a grand announcement. ¡°Our White Moon bun will be made when we get to Montana. Without further adieu¡­¡± She grinned mischievously. ¡°Our golden bun is ready to be cooked.¡± Bright golden light began to condense in front of them, swirling in the air like a miniature version of the Greater Moon of Abundance. The energy coalesced, and moments later, a small yellow bun materialized, blinking and yawning as if waking from a long nap. ¡°Aurelia,¡± Nia proudly declared. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been looking up names online. This one means ¡®the golden one,¡¯ and it fits her perfectly!¡± Rachel¡¯s ears perked up as Coral, who had been resting on her hand, suddenly shivered as if sensing the change in the atmosphere. The orange bun hopped down to the ground, her eyes locked on her new golden sibling. ¡°Fififi?¡± Aurelia stared back, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity before she, too, leaped down. ¡°Ririri?¡± Both stood stock-still, appraising one another. Then, without hesitation, the two buns opened their mouths wide, lunging at each other in a playful yet competitive display of sibling rivalry. ¡°Hey!¡± Nia exclaimed, half-rising from her seat. ¡°They¡¯re going to¡ª¡± ¡°Let them duke it out,¡± Rachel interrupted with a smirk, watching the buns roll around in a blur of orange and gold. ¡°They¡¯re equals, so all they¡¯ll do is wear each other down. Besides, it¡¯s good for them to sort out the pecking order now. White will get them in order.¡± Nia grinned, settling back into her chair. ¡°Fair enough. And you¡¯ve already named our next bun, huh?¡± ¡°Seems appropriate,¡± she shrugged. With the buns occupied, Rachel shifted her focus back to the more pressing matter at hand. ¡°So, about our Feats,¡± she began, her tone becoming more serious. ¡°Nike, you mentioned we should wait until Level 20 to use them but our Stat Points are fair game?¡± Nike crossed her legs, plucking at her dress to settle it around them, her expression thoughtful as she considered how to respond. ¡°My thoughts are, you can use them because they¡¯re less affected by change than your Feats. I expect there is a hidden mechanism within them for advancement, as well, the higher a Stat goes. No one has been able to prove it as of yet, but there should be a breaking point within one¡¯s soul to reach¡­hmm. How should I describe it? The next¡­Soul Bracket, I suppose.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°In that case, my hammer provides enough of a [Power] boost, so the next logical step would be to increase my [Control Resistance]. If I¡¯m right, it is basically Soul Resistance,¡± she asked, looking at the personification for confirmation. ¡°Perceptive,¡± Nike chimed. ¡°In essence, you are correct. Someone gains control by infiltrating your soul and manipulating your Intelligence. So, you could see many side benefits from strengthening the walls around your soul.¡± Rachel grinned, half-following the buns roll around the chamber and figuring the triplets were off getting love from Maria after they left. Surprisingly, Maria was more of a Neutral Force than a Positive one; her solar aspect did bother Scarlet a bit, though. ¡°Two points into that will provide a solid defense then. As for the remaining three points¡­ I¡¯m thinking about spreading them across [Speed], [Agility], and [Quickness]. If there is a breaking point, I¡¯d rather get it in those than any other. With [Mental Acceleration]¡¯s continual Grade increases, I¡¯ll need the [Dexterity] to keep up with my enhanced perception. Speed in combat is¡ª¡± she cut off with a yawn. Nia leaned against her armrest and watched her with a small frown. ¡°I like that idea, but you really should get some rest, Major. I can wake you when we get to Montana. Scarlet and everyone else are getting ready to turn in for the long flight.¡± Rachel stretched out her arms. ¡°I have been up for a while. Are you sure? Won¡¯t you be Little Bun when this is over? Oh, no,¡± she groaned, rubbing between her eyes. ¡°Little Nia will make White.¡± ¡°Have a little faith,¡± Nike giggled. ¡°Little Nia is a lot more capable than you think. That childish surge of energy and boundless confidence is sure to make a wonderful bun.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Nia scratched the side of her head, ears tilting with the action. ¡°I never thought about it like that. Maybe it would be good to have Little Nia do it since she wholeheartedly wants a good commander under her to reign in the rowdy soldiers.¡± ¡°I can see that,¡± Rachel agreed, rising to her feet to lean left and right. ¡°I¡¯ve also been meaning to ask General Dallas about that earring I got during my first Quest with Anthony. If I don¡¯t remember, then remind me, would you? If it amplifies the wearer¡¯s speed in short bursts, then the higher I go with those Stats, the more effective it¡¯ll be.¡± Nike smiled, her eyes gleaming with approval. ¡°Not only do you use your gut feeling of misfortune but you also are thinking with your head. That¡¯s such a rare thing. I¡¯m sure many gods and goddesses are jealous they can¡¯t have you as their Mystic. I can see why so many of them are also trying to gain your favor.¡± Rachel felt a surge of pride at the personification¡¯s words¡ªpossibly [Lunar Pride]¡ªbut beneath it was the ever-present weight of responsibility. There was so much more to do, so many challenges ahead, but for now, she would focus on the steps in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m sure the moment I step off the plane, I¡¯ll have a lot of people judging me and some will want to test all the rumors. So, it should be good to rest my soul¡ªmind, body, and spirit. You win, Nia¡­ What will you be doing?¡± she questioned, eying her Living Denier. ¡°Me?¡± her mirror grinned. ¡°I¡¯m going to be running through fights of all our past matches to sharpen up. My younger-self won¡¯t do a hop of training, so I need to make up for the time lost.¡± ¡°Jealous,¡± Rachel huffed, opening her window, inserting the points, and activating[Lunar Amplification] in preparation to absorb lunar energy when they landed. ¡°Well, wake me when we¡¯re there so I can test out how fast I am now¡­¡± Leaning back, she fell through the chair and floor with a thought, entering oblivion¡ªfalling asleep had never been easier. Then again, ever since her grandfather had taught her a few of his taoist breathing techniques to help with her nightmares as a little girl, she¡¯d never had that problem. Rachel stirred as something shook her awake, her eyelids snapped open to catch Scarlet¡¯s toothy grin looming over her. Scarlet¡¯s fangs gleamed in the dim cabin light, her playful eyes locked on the tiny figure sprawled atop her¡ªa miniature version of herself, snuggling against her, fast asleep. Little Nia¡¯s white hair was splayed out across Rachel¡¯s chest, her smaller ears twitching every so often as she grumbled about holes in stockings. ¡°She¡¯s so cute like that¡ªlike a little you!¡± Scarlet whispered, her tone dripping with amusement. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see you so¡­motherly!¡± Rachel¡¯s lips twitched at the corners as she exhaled softly and let her head fall back onto the pillow, careful not to disturb the little bunny girl. Of course she¡¯d fall asleep the moment she reverted to her child state. Oversight on our part, thinking she can handle responsibility. ¡°Have we landed?¡± Scarlet nodded, pointing up front where Barbara, Maria, her big brother, and 13-year-old-looking Alexa were busy retrieving their luggage from the overhead compartments. The soft sounds of zippers and hushed conversations blended with the hum of the plane¡¯s engines winding down. Rachel¡¯s ears flared out, branching left and right while listening to the maelstrom of noises that fed through the evacuated city of Billings Montana and its organized chaos¡ªmilitary activity buzzed in the air, with the distinct sounds of drones and aircraft filling the atmosphere. She caught Tom¡¯s voice amidst the din, his tone brisk as he reported to someone on the phone about an airship that had encountered a Crystal Break in Texas. The soldier on the other end reported in: ¡°No casualties, but damage to three F22s,¡± he was saying. ¡°There were also some injuries. They managed to take out the bat creature between the new missiles Area 51 put together with the help from the Legend of Richard Gatling. Repairs are needed¡­ Advanced medical attention for two of the Legends they brought would probably be appreciated. They¡¯ve lost all hearing and one lost an eye¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s focus shifted back to Nia, passively listening in on the conversation while her finger gently poking the bunny¡¯s cheek. ¡°You¡¯re getting heavier, you know that?¡± Nia stirred with a groggy groan, her eyes slowly blinking open before narrowing in mock offense. ¡°Mmm¡­ What? Heavier? I¡¯m not! It¡¯s Mom¡¯s fault¡­too many outfits¡­ I¡¯m perfect for my age!¡± She rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, her voice filled with indignation despite her drowsy state. Rachel chuckled, sliding the tiny girl off her body and onto the small pull-out bed they were on. ¡°Sure, sure¡­ So much for waking me up.¡± Nia mumbled something incoherent, already curling back up into a ball, clearly eager to return to sleep. Rachel shook her head with a fond smile before standing up, stretching her stiff muscles while listening in on multiple areas to get a better understanding of the situation. ¡°Do we have a place to freshen up?¡± she asked, glancing toward Barbara. The Legend gave her a thumbs up before adjusting the strap of her duffle bag. ¡°A few wealthy civilian families rented out their residences for military use. One house was reserved for us¡ªfive bedrooms, six bathrooms, pretty spacious. Although¡­I¡¯m not so sure about the accommodations with the wolf girls and Coral involved¡­ Anway, it should only be a five-minute drive from here,¡± she said with a dubious shake of her head. ¡°Perfect,¡± Rachel muttered, retrieving her phone from the counter. A quick glance at the screen confirmed the time: 8:30 p.m. ¡°Yeah, I wouldn¡¯t be worried about Thalia, but her two little sisters are a terror to their environment. Coral is a problem, too, but I¡¯ve got a plan for her. Plus, they seem too exhausted right now. Huh. Night¡¯s already fallen. Good. Anyone here to give us an update, or do we have a plan?¡± she continued, glancing back up at their military contact. Barbara motioned toward the doors as the flight attendant opened it, letting in a surge of chilling air. ¡°Tom will meet us at the house. After that, he¡¯ll show us where HQ is and give us the details on the Crystal situation¡ªMaria?¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze shifted to the unicorn, who was bundled up in two layers of clothes, hugging herself tightly and staring out the window with a grimace. The piles of snow scattered around the base and the biting chill in the air didn¡¯t escape Rachel¡¯s notice, nor did the grumbling complaints from soldiers about the freezing temperatures. ¡°It¡¯s below freezing,¡± Rachel remarked, her breath fogging up the window as the heat in the plane was swept out of the open doors. ¡°You good, Maria? You¡¯re shaking like a leaf in the wind, girl,¡± she added, meeting the woman¡¯s usual energy. ¡°Est¨¢ pinche helad¨ªsimo, cabr¨®na!¡± ¡°Lovely,¡± she giggled in response, Scarlet and Alexa mirroring her. She turned back to Barbara. ¡°I¡¯d rather follow behind on my own to soak up as much moonlight as possible. I¡¯ve never ran in the cold, so it¡¯s a new experience I¡¯m excited for,¡± she added while stretching her arms up and twisting her hips before moving to her legs. Barbara smirked, clearly anticipating that. ¡°I figured as much. There¡¯s a Humvee waiting for us with a roof-mounted machine gun if Scarlet or anyone wants to sit on top to cheer you on.¡± ¡°Dibs!¡± Scarlet chimed. ¡°Yeah, no, chicas. I¡¯m gonna be in the heated shit. ?S¨¢came de este infierno!¡± she snarled, teeth chattering. She hurried past them to get into the vehicle and muttered something under her breath in Spanish; a string of colorful slang that Rachel made a loose guess as gangster-speak for hating the cold. Her teeth chattered as she pulled her jacket tighter around herself. ¡°Fr¨ªo de la chingada¡­¡± Rachel laughed softly, foregoing Scarlet¡¯s offered coat¡ªthe girl was still in shorts and a tank top since she didn¡¯t feel the weather like they did. [Lunar Pride] wouldn¡¯t let her show that weakness to the vamp girl. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± As she stepped toward the exit, Coral and Aurelia popped out from her Soul, both buns glaring at each other, though they looked significantly more worn out from their earlier scuffle. The orange bun huffed indignantly, while Aurelia, the golden bun, merely narrowed her eyes and lifted her head in challenge. ¡°They¡¯re still at it,¡± Rachel muttered, amused by the stubborn rivalry between the two. Nia, rubbing her sleepy eyes while flopping back over on the bed, mumbled from the bed, ¡°Coral and Aurelia are too fussy¡­ They hate each other¡­ I just wanna go back to sleep.¡± Rachel smiled softly, her tone teasing. ¡°Go ahead, Nia. I¡¯ll wake you when it¡¯s time to make White, unlike a certain other failed alarm clock.¡± Nia saluted half-heartedly, her voice muffled by the blanket she pulled over herself; in a twinkling light, she vanished back into Rachel¡¯s Soul, leaving behind a lingering warmth. ¡°Thank you, Major¡­¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Rachel plucked at her black tank top with a narrowed eye. ¡°Am I your slave, carrying you around everywhere?¡± ¡°What was that, Major? I can¡¯t hear you past all these hopping bunnies I¡¯m counting¡­ Thank you, love you, you¡¯re the best¡­ Zzzzzz.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Scarlet, who was now helping Alexa with her custom coat, slipping her wings through the slits in the back. ¡°How are you feeling, Alexa? I see you¡¯re already making additions to your wardrobe.¡± The young girl gave a small smile, though her expression carried the weight of exhaustion and the uncomfortable aspect of being a grown woman in a teen¡¯s body. ¡°Like a little kid¡­but I¡¯ll be fine. Thanks for asking.¡± Nam, ever Alexa¡¯s supportive husband, stood beside her, gently squeezing her hand once it was through the coat sleeve. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this, Angel,¡± Nam softly soothed, his voice calm and reassuring as he held out her gloves to put on herself, knowing Alexa didn¡¯t want to feel like he was dressing her like a child. ¡°It¡¯s progress.¡± He then turned to Rachel with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few stops to make¡ªBarb linked me with some potential recruits for Omen. I¡¯ll meet them for breakfast¡ªwell, I guess a late dinner.¡± Alexa¡¯s gaze softened, though there was a hint of disappointment. ¡°I was hoping we¡¯d have breakfast together¡­¡± Nam smiled warmly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, I¡¯ll wait. We can enjoy it together.¡± Scarlet couldn¡¯t help but coo at the exchange. ¡°You two are so cute,¡± she whispered, her teasing tone earning a shy smile from Alexa. As they made their way toward the exit, Scarlet leaned in closer to Rachel, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°I tried to check out my Feats and Stats, but everything¡¯s all static and question marks. I think Seed Scarlet is still interfering, but at least I don¡¯t have the crazy storm to deal with anymore or her scary presence under it. I might need to confront her if I want to make more progress.¡± She hesitated for a moment before adding, ¡°Do you, umm¡­ Do you think you could help train me for that?¡± Rachel smiled, her tone reassuring. ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯d like to fight Seed Scarlet myself¡­ Well, I guess I did and I died,¡± she mumbled with an annoyed twitch of her ear. ¡°Imagine that. I died but won. Well, we¡¯ll work on it when we have time.¡± A grateful smile tugged at her lips, making a fang poke through. ¡°Thanks, Rachel¡­ Really. I really do feel like the clumsy little sister, always being taken care of.¡± As they reached the steps leading down from the plane, Scarlet reached into her pocket and pulled out a small hair bow. ¡°Here,¡± she said with a hopeful smile, handing it to her. ¡°Your hair might always be perfect, but it can still get in the way with the wind, right? While you¡¯re running, I just thought having it tied would be better.¡± Rachel accepted the bow with a chuckle, tying her hair into a high ponytail. ¡°Good thinking. Can you¡­¡± ¡°Mhm! Uh¡­ A nice bow, and it¡¯s blue which kind of blends in with your silver glow.¡± The moment the moonlight hit her, she felt a surge of strength course through her body, rejuvenating her after the long flight. She waved Scarlet off as the fanged girl vanished in shadows, appearing in the wrong hummer that was waiting for them, spooking the driver, and having to swap to the other one with an embarrassed laugh. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Gazing across the chilly, Montana night landscape, she figured it was what they liked to call a long winter here in the cold places of the world¡­or was it a late spring? She breathed in the crisp air and let it go in a visible stream that made her smile. It has a bit of a bite to it I like! Hopping up and down she stared up at the last quarter phase, somewhere between the full and half moon. We¡¯re heading toward a new moon in a week. How will things be on the other side? I hope you come through for me, Mei, Moongmor. Gauging how fast her pool was filling up, she waited for everyone to get in the vehicles, watching military planes come and go off the runway, bringing soldiers and equipment. Nam had nicely taken her small bag of items her mother seemed to have packed for her since she was just fine with whatever Nia had in her inventory. My recharge rate seems to be far less here on Earth than it was for the White Moon in Anthony¡¯s Quest, and definitely much longer than the Unique or Event Moons¡­ Based on everything I know so far, it seems right to correlate the distance of the moon to the planet and its phase to affect its recharge time. [Lunar Amplification] only activates once I have 50% in my pool, multiplying its recharge rate by double¡­ If it takes me a little under 2 hours to fill up my near depleted pool right now, then it should take me about 90 minutes total once the amp applies. Her tight muscles relaxed as she closed her eyes and took in the cold, slightly windy sensations that fed back to her sparking synapses, helping to wake her up. Still, just being under an active moon trumps a full pool without it. At least with how it makes me feel¡­like I¡¯m invincible. It¡¯s like every fiber of my being is stimulated. At 3% of my pool, I feel like I¡¯m 50% while under direct moonlight. Stepping out onto the tarmac, Rachel took a deep breath as the hummers started to move, savoring the crisp night air while lightly jogging behind them. Under the sunlight, I¡¯m like a child when I try to run, but here¡­ I¡¯m a cheetah at full sprint, and I haven¡¯t even capped. Rachel¡¯s feet barely made a sound as she moved south from the bustling airport to quieter streets, the cold air biting at her skin with each step. She felt the drag created in her wake, moonlight kissing her glowing white hair, her typical lunar hare attributes fully awake under the pale glow. Every breath she took felt like fire, igniting the dormant energy coursing through her veins compared to her drained and moonless experience over the past twenty-four hours. This is where I belong¡­ she mused, enjoying the freedom of the night while advancing to acrobatics to tell their vehicles to increase their speed. Her ears twitched at the distant hum of military vehicles near the Crystal, her senses picking up the organized chaos happening not far to the southwest. The smell of exhaust, sweat, and the faint scent of cold metal permeated the air ahead of her from their military escorts, grounding her amidst the intoxicating power surging through her body. Each stride was precise, controlled¡ªa dance perfected by all her hours of training in her Soul Expanse, dashing around Elisabeth¡¯s complex city, and many battles or sparring matches. By the time she reached the safe house, the moon had shifted slightly higher in the sky. The building wasn¡¯t modest but was still smaller than her parents house. Rachel barely glanced at the layout as she slipped inside without much for greets from the single soldier waiting at the door, heading straight for the shower. The others were taking their time getting out, talking, and discussing arrangements as Nam prepared to split off to his own meetings. Rachel didn¡¯t have time for luxuries¡ªher blood itched for progress and to get back under the moon. The difference when out of it was huge. Poking Nia awake to undress, the girl groaned, and Rachel took her into the shower to help the girl clean up a little. The hot water stung at first, then soothed her tense muscles, eager to return to the chill as she rinsed away the grime of travel. ¡°Major¡­ What¡¯s happening?¡± Nia¡¯s voice was drowsy, a blend of curiosity and sleepiness. ¡°My ears! Oooh. That feels good¡­ I like warm water, too. I like the washer and dryer better, though. Woosh-woosh, zap-zap, and so hot it makes me want to melt with its amazing massage.¡± ¡°Haha. I guess I¡¯ll have to throw you in over the day or something.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t abandon me to it all day. Just as long as it takes for me to be all spiffy and smelly¡ªthe nice smelly.¡± ¡°So demanding. What a little princess dress.¡± ¡°I am,¡± she proudly proclaimed as Rachel moved down her hair. ¡°Oooh. I like that smell¡ªthis is a new one. It¡¯s like¡­the forest,¡± she chirped. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nothing serious. Just a shower. Go back to sleep when we¡¯re done,¡± Rachel whispered, finishing up and turning off the water. She grabbed a towel, but Nia simply removed the water the second Rachel brushed against her hanging top, which magically appeared on her, transforming to her tank top and shorts. ¡°Nicely done, Captain.¡± ¡°Always ready, Major!¡± she said, louder than needed, with a salute as Rachel moved to comb out her semi-dry hair and braided it loosely to keep it out of her way. Nia¡¯s tiny yawn echoed in her mind as she returned to her room and was much faster at braiding Rachel¡¯s¡ªalmost instantly¡ªwhile using the ribbon Scarlet had given them. ¡°All good, Major Hops! I¡¯m going to snuggle into bed again with the buns. They¡¯re¡­ Oh, they want to go out and soak up moonlight.¡± Rachel smiled as the pair of enemy buns exited in a shower of sparkling light to glare at each other across the bathroom sink. ¡°You two stay a meter apart, girls,¡± she said, placing a hand on their heads and folding down their ears. ¡°There¡¯s plenty to eat outside, so go play out back.¡± Opening the window, she felt the crisp air hit her as the buns hopped out. She shut the window and prepared to go downstairs since Tom would be there within five minutes, and he was bringing company¡­one being a surprise gift for her, or so she assumed by their conversation. Wake me if there¡¯s a fight. I don¡¯t want to get kicked in the tail while I¡¯m sleeping¡­ That would be so embarrassing! Rachel chuckled, examining the braid in the mirror that hadn¡¯t even fogged yet with how quick their shower was. ¡°That would require me to get kicked in the tail in the first place. And who do you think your Major is?¡± ¡°The meanie who would think it¡¯s funny to wake me up with a kick,¡± Nia huffed. ¡°Maybe,¡± she admitted with a short laugh, ¡°but you were all cuddled up with me earlier and everything was fine.¡± That¡¯s because I¡¯m always cuddling you! I¡¯m your clothes, remember, genius? Oh¡­you¡¯re making fun of me! I drooled, didn¡¯t I? Do I drool?! Rachel¡¯s lips quirked into a smirk. ¡°No, Nia. You don¡¯t drool, and thank God for that. Fair enough with the clothes comment. Nice one, Little Bun. I like my little captain, too. I wouldn¡¯t trade you for even the finest outfit.¡± There was a soft sniffle from Nia. ¡°Even if it was the prettiest dress? No, no, you¡¯re not girly like me. Uh¡­ Or the bestest boxing gloves?¡± Rachel laughed softly, patting her chest to comfort her living outfit. ¡°No one compares to my cute little bun. Now, go back to sleep.¡± Nia snuggled closer to her, feeling the girl hug her tight with love, and Rachel left the bathroom to walk down the hall. So many things to do, she internally mused, glancing at the doors to her left and right; not one person had gotten into a shower yet, instead mingling downstairs. Her ears twitched again, moving away from the house and picking up the conversation outside¡ªTom¡¯s voice carried through the city of noises, and Rachel focused on the familiar cadence. ¡°¡­wanted to test her worth. This is her chance,¡± Tom was saying, his tone brisk, authoritative. Rachel¡¯s brow arched with mild amusement. Tom¡¯s throwing me under the bus again to get rid of another headache, isn¡¯t he? Someone must be pushing to have this woman he¡¯s with put into the lineup and he doesn¡¯t want it to happen. She slowed her pace on the way to the first level, tilting her head to catch the other voice¡ªa woman¡¯s, sharp and impatient. ¡°¡­not being able to prove myself is the issue. No one has let me fight to my heart¡¯s content¡ªto the death. If I need to earn my place, then allow me to show you what those other poser Legends can¡¯t do. Mr. Paul Bunyan, or whatever his name is here won¡¯t take me up on the offer.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s stupid,¡± the deep-voiced man laughed. ¡°Why would I hurt such a pretty lady and remove a potential ally from the workforce? Why do you have to be in the main Alpha Company that is being sent into the next Crystal? You won¡¯t meet my challenges.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to ¡®chop trees¡¯ until one of us gives up¡ªthat is stupid and pointless! Idiot.¡± Rachel smirked. A test¡­ Well, I guess I¡¯ll humor them. She hopped up and down a bit on her new running shoes that her mother had given Nia to eat before heading downstairs. A warm up match to see where I¡¯m at, is it, Tom? As she reached the front door, she spotted Barbara, Scarlet, Maria, and Alexa with a few military men, sitting around the living room and sharing their experiences over the past week. They looked up as she passed right by them for the door, giving them a welcoming gesture. ¡°I know you¡¯re all invested in how many times the Crystal has changed shapes or colors, but¡­want to see a quick show?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s outside, count me out, chica,¡± Maria called from the front, clearly uninterested in leaving the warmth of the house. ¡°I got my hot chocolate brewing in the kitchen, so¡­pass.¡± Rachel chuckled, grabbing the door handle from behind as the others got up, interest in their faces. ¡°You can watch from the second-story windows, Frosty. I¡¯ll make it quick.¡± Barbara shot her a questioning look. ¡°What¡¯s coming our way, Rachel? Is the General bringing someone he didn¡¯t tell me about?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She tilted her ears forward with a sparkling grin. ¡°Tom¡¯s got a surprise gift for me. A little exercise to get the blood pumping in this chill.¡± Maria snorted while heading for the kitchen as the whistle of heated water rang out. ¡°If I can see the shit from upstairs, I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Scarlet grinned wide, fangs gleaming as Rachel took them from outside to the cold night¡¯s embrace, but Rachel barely felt it with the empowering moonlight. ¡°A fight!¡± the black-haired girl stated. ¡°No doubt. Oh, Barb, do you like to bet? Alexa?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be upstairs. My small, frail body doesn¡¯t do good in the cold¡­¡± Moonlight seeped into Rachel¡¯s skin, rejuvenating her with each passing second as she did a few controlled flips across the front of the house to reach the street. Barbara gave her a sidelong glance on her way out, only Scarlet joining her for the full outside experience. ¡°I¡¯ve never called myself a saint. Everyone has weaknesses and betting is one of mine.¡± Scarlet¡¯s blue eyes lit up. ¡°How about five grand on Rachel? Or do you prefer longer odds?¡± Barbara choked, goosebumps actually running down her arms. ¡°Do you think military gals have that kind of betting cash? How about five hundred on your five thousand¡ªone-to-ten odds since I wasn¡¯t there in the Legend Quest to see what she¡¯s like now, and we bet on how long the ¡®surprise gift¡¯ will last? Three minutes. Rachel likes to play with her food, last I remember.¡± ¡°Three minutes?¡± Scarlet scoffed. ¡°Naaa. Sure, Rachel likes to play with her food, but she doesn¡¯t like a boring fight. If it¡¯s not to the death¡ªI bet it¡¯s not¡ªthen a bit of showboating, sure, I can see, but three minutes? Two, max!¡± Rachel¡¯s smile grew, adjusting her tight, warm, and snuggly tank top as she waited. ¡°You know, I¡¯m not 100% right now, girls.¡± Scarlet hissed, glancing at Barbara who returned the look. ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot you¡¯re not at full power¡­ Uh. Maybe it¡¯ll be closer to three minutes, but I still think two tops. We¡¯ll see.¡± The rumble of a vehicle pulling up broke their banter, and Rachel¡¯s ears perked as she heard heavy footsteps approaching¡ªa giant blue bull lumbering over three meters tall, stopping only when the hummer did. Rachel chuckled at the stunned looks Barbara and Scarlet exchanged before turning their attention to the rest of Tom¡¯s group. A tall, muscular man in flannel, clearly channeling the Myth of Paul Bunyan, whatever that was, Rachel didn¡¯t know, and a harpy woman with sharp, classical features. The woman barely was out of the vehicle before she was sizing Rachel up, more than a head shorter than her, yet looking cocky as a bird could. She puffed up her chest as she approached, her claws clicking against the ground. ¡°Is this the one I¡¯m supposed to incapacitate?¡± the harpy asked, her voice dripping with confidence. Her feathery arms ruffled with a smirk. ¡°I can hardly sense any strength from her.¡± Really, you can¡¯t tell we¡¯re not on the same level¡­granted, I probably feel weaker right now since I¡¯m so drained, Rachel internally sighed, not feeling much from her. Probably near level eight or nine for her. Tom gestured toward Rachel, wearing a small, knowing smirk. ¡°That¡¯s her. Have at it, girls. You wanted a spot on the next assault team. She¡¯s got a leading spot in it.¡± The harpy¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she raised her chin, took a calming breath, and spoke with butter power that rippled through the air. ¡°Bow before me, bunny woman.¡± Rachel¡¯s tail and ears stiffened, her smile widening. ¡°Bunny woman? Did I just hear you choke?¡± ¡°Oh, shit.¡± Barbara stifled a snort. ¡°Did I just win?¡± Scarlet groaned. ¡°No-ho-ho¡­ Why did you say that?! I lose.¡± Rachel felt the vocal-empowered command strike her spirit, but it bounced off her advanced mental defenses, including Nia¡¯s natural ones, like a thin stick against a wall of steel. She raised an eyebrow, triggered amusement making her ear twitch left. Nia stirred again, quivering in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Major? You have that scary vibe¡­¡± Rubbed her nose with a short chuckle as the harpy¡¯s smug expression soured into confused frustration. ¡°No, no, Nia,¡± she cheerily replied aloud, a hand resting on her hip. ¡°Go back to sleep. I just need to educate a little bird with a big beak¡­ Is mind control really the best you¡¯ve got, Aella? Because it¡¯s weak.¡± Feathers ruffling further, Aella shook them out with a short laugh. ¡°So, you¡¯re not just all looks for the fetish lovers. It seems you¡¯re growing a tad stronger as time goes on, so¡­are you willing to bet your life on your position?¡± ¡°Have you looked in the mirror, bird brain? And, oh, no, no, no,¡± Rachel replied, tail twitching with excitement as she tilted her head toward the street and laughed. ¡°You can go for my neck all you want¡­but don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t kill you because¡­then I¡¯d be a bully.¡± Scarlet scooted closer to Paul and Tom. ¡°Uh, General, Rachel is kind of a bully when she does get mad¡­ Is this still good? Is it, really? I¡¯m kind of scared for the harpy lady now.¡± ¡°What did that chick do to you, hoss?¡± Barbara asked her general. ¡°You know this isn¡¯t fair. Rachel doesn¡¯t go easy on anything from what we¡¯ve seen. She always goes hard.¡± Maria¡¯s voice made Rachel snicker inside as she reached the upper level with her hot chocolate and peered down at them in the dimly lit front yard. ¡°The hell¡¯s goin¡¯ on with¡ªoh, shit¡­bird bitch steppin¡¯ up to Rachel? Damn. Chica¡¯s cooked.¡± ¡°Oh, the taunts are rich,¡± Aella sang, massaging her throat as Rachel waited in the middle of the street with a challenging smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll put your ass to sleep soon enough, darling. I can kill her, can¡¯t I?¡± she asked, her bright green eyes alight as a bird of prey while glancing at the general for confirmation. ¡°The hawk can skin the rabbit?¡± Tom held his hands behind his back and tilted his head to the side. ¡°Let me put it this way. You don¡¯t respect anyone who doesn¡¯t overpower you, and you¡¯re Senator Chief¡¯s granddaughter, you got kicked out of Italy for being too aggressive, and dumped on me to figure out what to do with, so¡­basically a pain in my ass I can¡¯t ignore.¡± ¡°Keep charming me,¡± the woman snarled, shooting him a glare while squaring up with Rachel several meters away. ¡°Everyone is so sensitive here in America.¡± Tom made a simple gesture. ¡°If you want a spot. Take it from her, who has one. Whatever it takes. This is what you wanted; the call of the wild, life and death. It shows how detached and self-absorbed you are if you haven¡¯t heard of Rachel yet when your grandfather voted on her organization and those like it two days ago. See if it is everything you thought.¡± ¡°Humph. Everyone talks this or that to me, scared to step on my grandfather¡¯s toes¡­¡± ¡°Talk? Me?¡± Rachel snorted. ¡°You¡¯re in the wrong lane, lady. I think you¡¯ll give up and show your true tail feathers soon enough. You¡¯ll be singing my praises as I hang you upside down, plucking your feathers out, one by one.¡± ¡°Oh, the bunny can hop,¡± Aella chortled, rolling around her neck and raking her talons across the sidewalk, cutting deep rivets in the pavement. Rachel¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°And the big bird lives in a small cage. Show me how well you sing¡­before I crush that windpipe.¡± A swirl of shadows brought Scarlet between them, clearing her throat and throwing up her hands, surprising them both. ¡°I want a clean fight!¡± she roared, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°I want sucker punches, and hair pulling, and biting! Lots of biting! Okay, ready?¡± She pointed at the smiling harpy. ¡°More than ready.¡± Looking at Rachel, she gave a look that said, are you actually going to kill her? ¡°¡­Ready?¡± ¡°Ohh. I am always ready when I step into the ring,¡± Rachel returned, hopping left and right on her toes and stretching out. ¡°The senator¡¯s granddaughter is waiting for a lesson on reality.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Talk is cheap, so you best watch what you say. Try not to die,¡± she hissed at the disgruntled harpy before yelling, ¡°Fight!¡± As Scarlet vanished in shadows, Rachel took a slower approach to test the waters a little; even a Level 8 or 9 could pose a challenge if she was careless. She circled the harpy, her eyes gleaming under the pale light of the moon, feeling her lunar energy coursing through her veins. Aella flared her wings, her talons scraping against the ground as she sized her up, her lips curled in a smug grin. ¡°You¡¯re not as intimidating as your friends seem to think, bunny girl. I¡¯ve fought stronger people in the Vatican before I was kicked out of Italy.¡± Rachel tilted her head, her long white ears bending forward slightly as she considered the boast. She wasn¡¯t surprised by the harpy¡¯s arrogance¡ªmany underestimated her because of her appearance. Let¡¯s play along, for now¡­ Rachel thought, her tail swaying lazily behind her. Besides, I need to give the audience a good show and tighten the betting odds between Scarlet and Barb. Oh? Taking the initiative are we? Aella was the first to move, her wings flapping powerfully as she took to the air. In an instant, she dove toward her, talons aimed for her throat. Rachel waited until the last possible moment [Mental Acceleration] bringing her to a crawl. ¡°Come on, you have to do better than that,¡± she chuckled. Sidestepping, her movement so quick it left an afterimage. Aella¡¯s claws slashed through the empty space where she¡¯d had been, and the harpy let out a frustrated screech that died in her throat as Rachel¡¯s fingers closed around her thin ankle¡ªthen, she let go and spun away with a giggle. ¡°Too slow¡ªthat¡¯s one death,¡± Rachel teased, her voice calm and controlled, a small smile playing on her lips as her braid whipped with her in a circle. Aella whirled around, her wings kicking up a gust of wind, yet she looked less sure of herself now. Beating her wings, a whirlwind whipped past Rachel as the woman took higher into the night, several glowing feathers shooting out like bullets to pierce her. ¡°You¡¯re fast, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Aella admitted, her voice strained as she recovered. ¡°But let¡¯s see how you handle this.¡± Sticking her hands in her pockets, Rachel made minimal effort to sway around each projectile, keeping herself grounded and stepping back with the wind. Aella twirled in the air, silver energy illuminating her talons as she slashed in a vicious arc, sending razor-sharp, Wind-based elemental energy toward her. ¡°Really? You¡¯re fighting like you¡¯re scared, bird arms.¡± Rachel ducked low to stop from being blown up from the air, dodging the strike with ease for it to rip up the pavement. ¡°Let¡¯s speed this up a bit.¡± She blurred while jumping into the air, flipping in an arc. [Lunar Grace: Activated] Hanging over the surprised bird, a silvery disk materialized to stop her flight. Kicking off of it, Rachel smiled as a glow shrouded Aella, and she beat her wings hard to evade, launching backward. Momentum breaking past the gale, her knees bent as she hit pavement and shot right back toward the harpy. ¡°We¡¯re not done yet!¡± The harpy¡¯s eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, and she let out a piercing screech that reverberated through the air, aiming to disorient Rachel. ¡°Stop!¡± The sound waves rippled through Rachel somehow stopping all her momentum and distorting the space around her with the reverberations. Interesting, Rachel thought, wincing as the noise hit her ears, but her mind remained clear, her volume control kicking in to dampen the effects of the harpy¡¯s vocal assault. She has some promise with these abilities. She¡¯s just too cocky. Aella showed a bit of sweat on her forehead, her face flushed while spinning to rake the air to send another slash of Wind-based energy and hail of feathers to pepper her. ¡°I¡¯m more than a pretty voice¡­huh?¡± [Lunar Grace - Flash Step: Activated] Vanishing in a pulse of lunar light, she appeared on the ground, dodging the focused spay for Scarlet to eat with her blood so as not to enter a house of onlooking soldiers. Putting tension on her thighs, she dashed forward, using a lunar disk to stop her momentum and jump up to meet the stunned harpy in an instant. ¡°It seems you¡¯re out of tricks! My turn.¡± A swift elbow to the harpy¡¯s midsection left her gagging and stopping another scream. Aella let out a pained grunt, but Rachel grabbed her hair to stop her from being sent back, another lunar disk taking them to the ground to smash the woman¡¯s face into the pavement. Wings flapping wildly, Aella choked as blood leaked from her broken nose and tears fell from her eyes. Rachel tossed her up a tad to grip her neck with her hand, now taking her second out of her pockets to slap her across the face, leaving a loud sound cracking through the space. ¡°Well? Are we done?¡± she asked with a bright smile, taking her to the ground and pinning her thrashing legs to prevent her talons from gutting her. ¡°C¡¯mon, let me hear you say it¡ªoh, can you not with my hand around your throat? Hmm?¡± Chest convulsing and panic in her eyes as the heat of the rapid conclusion faded, Rachel¡¯s grin widened while letting up a little. ¡°P-Please, stop¡ª¡± Another smack silenced her, leaving her face half smashed and split cheeks leaking blood onto the ground. ¡°Will that scream work if I open up a few more holes in your face? Hmm? Do you give up? I could break your left wing¡ªaren¡¯t bird bones hollow?¡± Aella choked on the blood in her mouth and shook her head, long wing arms practically useless in this position as they beat against Rachel¡¯s sides. ¡°Shake your head or nod¡­ You don¡¯t give up?¡± Her eyes widened further, recognizing the trap as Rachel¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Any way you answer I get to keep beating you! Slap two. Shake your head and you¡¯re not giving up. Slap three,¡± blood painted the asphalt. ¡°Nod, and you aren¡¯t giving up, still! Am I still a bunny?¡± Aella was hiccupping now, face ripped apart and blood staining her broken skin as she shook her head. ¡°No? Good. Seems like we¡¯ve learned our lesson. Is that all you¡¯ve got, though?¡± Rachel asked, her tone almost bored as she looked down at the defeated harpy. ¡°You talked a big game, but in the end, you were just another bird with clipped wings.¡± Aella groaned, her body trembling as she tried to push herself up, but it was clear she didn¡¯t have the strength left to continue the fight. ¡°You wanted to prove yourself, but you¡¯re not ready. Maybe one day you¡¯ll be strong enough to take me on, but today¡¯s not that day. One can always dream!¡± Crawling off of the woman¡¯s chest, she grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her toward the house as she struggled, whimpering the whole way. She heard the murmurs and uncertain tones from those who had watched the one-sided beating. She¡¯d had what little fun she could from the cocky harpy, though. Throwing open the door, she dragged the now limp harpy, seemingly having lost consciousness along the way or fainted from the pain. ¡°Maria, I have a patient for you,¡± she called out, tossing her bloodied form onto the front room floor. Too easy, Rachel thought, her tail flicking behind her as she walked away, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her silver hair. Maybe some other recruits will give me a better challenge. Well, let¡¯s see what Tom has to say about that. B3 — 8. The Spirit of Recruitment! Rachel shut the door behind her with a click, leaving the unconscious harpy in a bloodied, tangled heap for Maria to clean up. The frosty night air was already dissipating the heat of the recent encounter, a shiver running down her spine from jitters involving the fight rather than the actual chill. She heard Alexa¡¯s soft and uneasy voice drifting from upstairs as she followed after Maria to the living room; her sister-in-law had always harped on her more brutal nature. ¡°That was¡­horrifying,¡± Alexa murmured. ¡°Is that really legal? Like¡­Rachel beat her to a literal pulp¡ªdoes she have brain damage?!¡± Maria¡¯s casual and slightly amused tone followed. ¡°Chica, that¡¯s just how Rach is. I thought you knew the liebre lunar before she changed? The harpy chica was asking for it, I bet, and you know Rachel isn¡¯t one to back down from a fight. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll have the bitch fixed up and singin¡¯ soon enough,¡± she snickered. ¡°That¡¯s not the point¡­ Does it always have to result in violence? Why can¡¯t people just talk things out?¡± Rachel slipped her hands into the pockets of her gym shorts, a satisfied smile curling her lips. The moonlight outside bathed her skin in a gentle glow, making her feel ten pounds lighter, as if every step was a dance. She passed the stunned door soldier and approached Paul Bunyan, who was leaning against the Humvee, his massive arms crossed over his chest. His expression was hard, and Rachel could see the disapproval etched in the deep lines of his face. She didn¡¯t bother to soften her tone. ¡°You don¡¯t have to like me, and fair enough,¡± she said, her voice low and steady. Paul¡¯s gaze met hers, unyielding, but before he could respond, she turned to Tom, who was standing nearby, his eyes scanning the smeared trail of blood that led to the house. ¡°I¡¯m not here to make friends. And pardon my language, but I¡¯m here to do a job and maybe recruit a few more people who aren¡¯t afraid to muck around in the shit. Is that what you wanted, General? And let me guess¡ªyou want her to join Omen, to take her out of your hair?¡± She smirked, her eyes flicking up to his bald head. Tom sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before his sharp eyes darted to her. ¡°You were a tad more brutal than I¡¯d anticipated¡ªa miscalculation on my part,¡± he admitted. ¡°It seems your last mission has pulled out more of that savage edge you showed in Miami. But Aella needed to realize what reality is like. Every bully needs to be put in their place at least once.¡± ¡°Bully?¡± Paul scoffed, his voice a low rumble as his giant blue bull blew out a hiss of steam from his nostrils. ¡°Has that happened to you yet, Rachel?¡± Before Rachel could respond, Barbara stepped forward, her tone authoritative. ¡°Cool your jets, soldier. We don¡¯t need you picking a fight and opening up another spot that needs filling on the roster. Rachel hardly showed a tenth of what she can do in that fight¡ªshe is a killer.¡± Scarlet chimed in with a strained grin, ¡°Uh, actually, I hate to be that girl, but, uh, try less than one percent, if she was super serious. Rachel was holding back a lot! Nia didn¡¯t even get involved. And especially after the B-word was thrown around. It¡¯s a bit of a sour spot.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t pay Paul any mind, her attention shifting to the left as she picked up on the faint murmurs of soldiers in nearby buildings. They were passing out bets, talking about her in hushed tones, the word ¡°Omen¡± spreading like wildfire. It seems we won¡¯t need to advertise. People will come to us¡­ Good. Tom cut through the chatter with his usual directness. ¡°Regardless of how it was done, if Aella had kept on the path she was on, she¡¯d be in prison or dead anyway. She could use some discipline¡­outside of the influence of the US government, where her father¡¯s influence can¡¯t cause problems.¡± Rachel snickered, shaking her head and tilting her head to the side. ¡°So, you¡¯re dumping the problem kid on me? Fair enough, I owe you a lot, General, but we should probably discuss business.¡± Her expression became serious as she met his gaze. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to catch you up on. I¡¯ll talk to Aella real fast and then join you on the ride over to the bunker. I hear the President will be joining us digitally in the debriefing. Is that safe? I¡¯d bet my left ear that Astra is around.¡± Tom gave a curt nod, clearly relieved to shift gears and to have a way to shove the harpy off on his problem list. ¡°We¡¯ve got that angle covered. Also¡­be warned your favorite person may be in the city for a short bit.¡± Paul straightened a tad upon catching the looks that passed between her, Barbara, and Scarlet. Rachel¡¯s vision became slits, her ears rising higher and tilting left and right, casting a wide net over all the voices within her lengthy range. Relica is here? Great¡­ I bet she¡¯ll stop by to gloat at the worst time possible. I¡¯d rather deal with Aurora¡­ It¡¯s a hard toss-up between them, though. ¡°Perfect¡­ I¡¯ll play nice, if she does.¡± Turning on her heels, Scarlet fell into step beside her as they headed back inside, leaving Barbara, Paul, and Tom to their conversation. Naturally, the big lumberjack wanted more information on her. Scarlet wore a frown while glancing back at the three. ¡°Are you really going to bring that Aella girl with us? She has some cool moves, sure, but she would have been eaten alive on Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest.¡± ¡°So would Alexa. I¡¯ve got a plan in the works,¡± she stated, pausing by the door to look up at the lunar sphere overhead. ¡°I don¡¯t expect everyone to be up to snuff to join us or represent Omen. I need to find a drill sergeant of sorts to whip them into shape, and, since Anthony is off to the UK and Ireland, who I would normally give that task to¡­¡± ¡°¡­You need to find someone for the job,¡± Scarlet nodded, understanding brightening her face. ¡°Is that what your brother is off doing?¡± She shook her head and moved to open the door. ¡°He¡¯s just doing the initial screening for me. Nam knows my personality and who I¡¯d like.¡± Rachel caught the faint crackle of the radio, the voice of a commanding officer cutting through the static. He was asking for more details about the fight between two Mythickin that was passing between the ranks, and if Omen was involved. His tone was a mixture of curiosity and concern. Word that Omen was in Montana was spreading like wildfire, and it seemed Erika had painted quite the picture of them in the congress address. Rumors were already circulating, some true, some exaggerated, but all contributing to the growing myth surrounding them. Rachel stepped back inside the house, her senses still heightened from the fight and scanning for more information; a few details were pulling her alert ears. The warm air inside felt jarringly different from the crisp night snowy environment, but the most immediate annoyance came in the loss of moonlight once outside its rays. Aella was huddled on one of the couches, hugging herself, her face streaked with dried blood, and her clothes torn and stained from their brief but brutal encounter. Her wings were limp at her sides, and she seemed to shrink into the cushions the second Rachel entered the room. A smirk lifted Rachel¡¯s lips upon seeing Maria, her hair tied up in a makeshift bun, coming out of the kitchen with cleaning supplies in hand¡ªvinegar and warm water by the smell. The unicorn gave her a dry, unimpressed look as she took in the bloodstains on the carpet and Aella¡¯s sorry state; towels were under her to stop the blood from dying the couch. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how to clean up after yourself, do you, chica?¡± Maria grumbled, setting down a bucket of water and pulling out more supplies. ¡°Gotta treat blood fast, ya know? And give the chica a break. Damn. It¡¯s just like you to beat the shit out of someone and act like it never happened.¡± Rachel chuckled, understanding the gangster¡¯s brisk personality by now. ¡°Aww. She¡¯ll be fine! And I¡¯ll leave the blood clean-up to the expert since I have no clue how to get blood out of carpets, and yeah, okay, maybe I did go a tad overboard,¡± she replied, turning her gaze to Scarlet. ¡°Or¡­wait, Scarlet, maybe you could do something about that?¡± The fanged girl perked up, her blue eyes gleaming to be useful. ¡°Yeah, I got this!¡± she chirped, stepping forward. Before anyone could react, Scarlet¡¯s blood flowed out from her body in a liquid tendril, sweeping across the carpet and absorbing the bloodstains with an unsettling efficiency. In mere seconds, the carpet was spotless, and Scarlet hummed with satisfaction as she reabsorbed the blood. ¡°High-quality stuff, Aella!¡± Scarlet remarked, licking her black lips and giving the appalled bird a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks for the meal!" Maria rolled her eyes, tossing the mop back into the bucket with a resigned grunt. ¡°What¡¯s the point of me getting these supplies if you¡¯re just going to suck it all up, dammit? I should have known. Shit. Where were you at the neighborhood backyard clinic, chica? Could have saved me hours of breaking my back,¡± she muttered, heading back into the kitchen. ¡°Sorry¡­ Should I be saying sorry?¡± Scarlet mumbled, left eye creased and looking at her for the answer. ¡°Maybe not? Uh. You¡¯re welcome?¡± Aella, who had been watching the scene with wide eyes, sank further into the couch cushions. Her tough facade was clearly cracking, fear creeping into her gaze as she watched Scarlet like a hawk, no doubt feeling the difference in their strength now. ¡°What¡­what do you want from me?¡± Aella stammered, her voice trembling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Rachel crossed the room, her footsteps light and deliberate. When she reached Aella, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She grabbed the harpy¡¯s wing-like arms and pulled her to her feet with a firm but not overly forceful grip, making Aella flinched, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Please¡­ I don¡¯t want to fight anymore,¡± she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I get it¡ªyou¡¯re better.¡± Alexa stiffened, observing in all her glowing teenage glory from the corner. ¡°Rachel, c¡¯mon¡­ Maybe she needs a moment to cool off,¡± she suggested, her tone gentle. ¡°She screamed when Maria healed her¡­ I think she¡¯s been through enough.¡± Rachel chuckled softly, loosening her grip on Aella¡¯s arm. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not going to punch you again, bird brain,¡± she reassured, though the harpy still looked uncertain. Rachel took a step back, her eyes scanning Aella¡¯s torn clothes and the dried blood that clung to her feathers. ¡°Though I have to say, those clothes look like they¡¯ve seen better days. Alexa, do you have anything she can change into? She¡¯s somehow smaller than Scarlet.¡± Alexa nodded, noticing the furrowed brow from both girls, unsure if she was dissing them both or not. The angel teen was already moving toward the duffel bag she¡¯d left near the stairs. ¡°I think I have something that might fit her¡ªwe actually raided some of your old clothes in storage for me, Rachel. Give me a second. I, uh¡ªyour mom said it would be okay.¡± ¡°Most of that stuff are things I wouldn¡¯t wear for the most part,¡± Rachel sighed, looking back at everything her mom bought her. ¡°My mom had a lot of ideas about family photo styles that didn¡¯t work with my every-day wear.¡± As Alexa rummaged through the bag, Rachel turned her attention back to Aella. The harpy¡¯s expression was a mixture of confusion and vulnerability, clearly not used to being in such a compromised position. ¡°I see you wanting to blurt out ¡®my grandpa¡¯s a senator¡¯ but that pride is blocking you from saying it, as well. I get it! I actually do¡­ By the way,¡± Rachel began, her tone casual but pointed, ¡°do you want to join Omen?¡± Aella¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she seemed at a loss for words. ¡°Join¡­Omen? But why would you want me?¡± she stammered, disbelief coloring her tone. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just tell me I wasn¡¯t ready for fighting or whatever?¡± Rachel smiled, a hint of understanding in her gaze while stepping slightly closer to get a better look at the small harpy woman. ¡°I get it, Aella. I really do. There¡¯s something in you¡ªmaybe a Feat or just your natural instincts¡ªthat pushes you to act like a predator, to be aggressive. Believe me, I understand what it¡¯s like to have something inside you that drives you toward violence.¡± She reached out, lifting Aella¡¯s chin with a single finger, forcing the younger woman to meet her gaze. ¡°But there¡¯s a place for that¡­if it¡¯s controlled. So, the question is, do you want to be a bird in a cage, locked away when you eventually go too far? Or do you want to do something that matters, to be proud of who you¡¯ve become?¡± Aella¡¯s lips trembled, her eyes filling with uncertainty and fear. She could see her words had struck a chord deep within the bird¡¯s soul, and for a moment, the harpy looked as though she might cry again. Before she could answer, Alexa returned with a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call these things ¡®not your style¡¯ ¡± she muttered. ¡°But these should fit her,¡± she said, holding them out to Aella. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know about the Omen thing, either. And why ask that after beating her to a pulp, Rachel? I don¡¯t understand you at all.¡± Rachel stepped back, giving Aella some space to breathe and accept the clothes. ¡°You¡¯re saying what I¡¯m all about, Alexa. And you¡¯re the one who wanted to join Omen first. Anyway, you¡¯re in Alexa¡¯s hands now, Aella,¡± she said, her tone lightening. ¡°You two are teammates now, so you¡¯d better get to know each other. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll have someone to whip you into shape, so be prepared for hell.¡± Aella blinked, Alexa mirroring her expression with a mix of surprise and confusion. ¡°What do you mean by that, Rachel¡ªRachel?!¡± ¡°But¡­I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d join,¡± Aella weakly protested, looking down at the clothes Alexa had handed her as the angel wore a glare. Rachel turned, a grin playing at the corners of her lips. ¡°I said exactly what I said. You need levels, Alexa, and Aella needs to be taught moderation and how to control her Feats, not let them control her. So, stop lying to yourself, bird arms,¡± she said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement as she walked away. ¡°You¡¯ve been wanting someone to give you the time of day since you were forced to the States. If you want your dad and grandfather¡¯s attention, what better way than to join Omen? Oh, I bet they¡¯ll be furious! And don¡¯t think this offer is open for everyone, feather-butt.¡± Before Aella could respond, Rachel looked over at Scarlet. ¡°Major Fangs¡­¡± Scarlet snapped to attention, eyes sparkling with the title. ¡°Yes, Major Hops?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°I¡¯d like you to scout around while I¡¯m with the General. Keep an eye out for anything unusual. We¡¯ve got a witch on the loose.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Scarlet gave a sharp nod, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. ¡°You got it, Boss.¡± With that, Rachel left the room just as Maria returned, the unicorn growling about her never stopping a moment to catch her breath. Scarlet vanished in a haze of shadows, leaving Maria to comfort the harpy and angel. She heard Tom and the others waiting in their warm vehicle, explaining to Paul how Omen would be basically doing their own thing in the Crystal, providing support when needed. It made sense that the Myth of Paul Bunyan, the American fabled logger, wouldn¡¯t be alright with her more savage approach. It didn¡¯t matter in the end; he wasn¡¯t her target. Aella was rattled, but Rachel knew that the harpy would come around once regaining her confidence by training beside Alexa. The bird had broken bones that, when they mended, would make her a little hurricane. Having someone who could provide air support was always nice, as well, so it fit within the team dynamic. There was also a fire in her to prove herself, one that just needed the right fuel to burn properly now that she¡¯d dug out the pit of all the ashes she¡¯d been smothered with. Now finished with Tom¡¯s pet project, Rachel prepared herself for the weight of their upcoming conversation, which was a hell of a lot more complex than anything she¡¯d just done or anything involving recruitment. The layers of politics and strategy that would come into play spun webs across her head as [Strategic Mind] helped her organize them. As she stepped outside, the cool night air greeted her, and the moonlight once again wrapped her in its comforting embrace. She took a deep breath. Taking a moment to let the drive-inducing energy to propel her thoughts onto the next battlefield. There¡¯s a lot to report to Tom and President Campell, but Relica popping up is¡­unexpected. Hecate would have told her that we¡¯d met. The question is, what effect Twilight had on her and if Twilight is playing everyone or if she¡¯s still dancing on Hecate¡¯s strings. At the end of the day, is Relica a puppet of one of the two or the master of her own actions. That is what I need to discover in our next meeting. Or¡­more importantly, was Hecate involved with the car crash that ruined my life. Dark thoughts rolling through Rachel¡¯s mind, she joined the General, Myth, and Legend, who immediately started posing various questions about her plans as they took off into the night. She dodged what was needed, went into more detail than necessary on mundane topics Paul brought up involving the Miami gang incident, and welcomed a ¡®tree cutting¡¯ competition with the Myth. He didn¡¯t say she couldn¡¯t use her own weapons, after all, and Nia was technically a part of her. Paul cooled down after that, seemingly being a fairly simple-minded man. It wasn¡¯t long until they reached the expansive supercenter parking lot, where the Crystal had conveniently appeared more than a month prior. An old bunker was stationed a bit outside the city, where Tom typically would be stationed, or at least a few of the ranking personnel to give orders if he was taken out. It didn¡¯t take long for Paul to break off to join his own friend group of North American Legends and Myths. The sealed off communication zone consisted of a Faraday cage and a dug out forward base bunker that had other magical devices to block listening ears. She smiled as a male soldier took their devices to store in a black box, locking eyes with the man as he chewed gum and slipped her an envelope. Astra, she internally greeted with locked eyes with the AI¡¯s stern, soldier¡¯s face. Figures you¡¯d be hanging around one of the most secure areas. Is it on Adele¡¯s command or your own rogue mission to free yourself from the Scarlet Hand? In the shuffle of men sweeping the area, the disguised AI disappeared behind a pile of snow. Rachel¡¯s ears followed his movements, hearing him change cadence and rhythm on the dime with each twist and turn he made out of sight, maintaining a male appearance that fit the uniform. She kept track of him until discovering the content of the letter. Barb¡¯s brow furrowed upon seeing her opening the envelope. ¡°What¡¯s that? That¡­seems off. Were you expecting a letter? Oh, you have to be kidding me¡­ Here? Where?¡± ¡°No,¡± Rachel mused, taking note of the horned devil hacker symbol he used on their first interaction. ¡°Long gone and several different people at this point¡­¡± Tom¡¯s sharp eyes didn¡¯t miss Astra¡¯s calling card as they entered the sealed-off space. ¡°Is it wise to bring that into a place we¡¯ve already vetted?¡± ¡°If Astra wanted to get something in, I think they would have found a way,¡± she muttered. The second the thick doors were shut, the electricity and magical devices activated, and they were isolated in the private space, Rachel opened it up. ¡°Astra plays a delicate game¡­ Really?¡± Rachel¡¯s mouth became a line while looking at a QR code, and below it, read something she never thought she¡¯d read aloud. ¡°Verona has wonderful eyes. Her ears hear the most delicate of transmissions, and her mind dances with devils¡­ Now she goes by another name?¡± Looking up, she asked, ¡°Is Astra talking about me? I¡¯m lost.¡± ¡°I second that,¡± Barbara grumbled, taking the offered letter and flipping it around. ¡°You don¡¯t have any more information on Astra that we¡¯re not aware of are¡ªGeneral?¡± Tom¡¯s drawn together eyebrows lifted, whispering, ¡°Verona¡­ Verona! Shit.¡± Moving to the laptop and working area that he¡¯d set up in advance for them, he pressed a few keys, Rachel following after him with Barbara by her side. He glanced around, distrustful eyes scanning everything, something dark on his mind. ¡°What¡¯s the problem, General? Are we compromised?¡± ¡°Not yet or else Astra would have said something¡­ Verona isn¡¯t a person but an old code name.¡± He opened a filing cabinet and flipped through a few documents. ¡°No one is allowed in here¡ªI moved everything inside on my own with multiple lines of security. I¡¯ve been based here for a while handling this Crystal crisis so there¡¯s been a lot of things I¡¯ve dealt with and been briefed on throughout the world¡­ Here it is.¡± Pulling out a file with ¡®Top Secret¡¯ slapped across the front and sealed with a sticker that would be a pain to break and replace. Tom didn¡¯t hesitate to cut it open and open the content, showing several photos taken of one individual. ¡°During the Cold War, the US had a project called Verona that was aimed at cracking the Soviet encryption codes, exposing many Soviet spies, including the Rosenbergs¡­ With The Oscillation resurrecting many old organizations and key figures within history, we suspected the USSR might have old loyalists that aim to regain Russia¡¯s former glory¡­ The question is¡­if he¡¯s saying you¡¯re the spy, Rachel, or if it¡¯s someone else.¡± Rachel tilted her head to the side with a groan, her ears becoming somewhat limp. ¡°I¡¯ve already been through a masquerade death party involving guessing games. Black has evidence that Astra is an AI and was created by the Scarlet Hand.¡± Barbara glanced down at the papers, cupping her chin and looking at the QR code. ¡°So, this could be a ploy to drive a wedge between you and the US government to isolate you to make Scarlet an easier target?¡± ¡°Doubtful,¡± Rachel continued, putting a hand on her hip and moving to the whiteboard to lay out a diagram of everything she¡¯d learned thus far. ¡°I assume we¡¯re free to get started. Whatever you¡¯re using for the President will be up soon so he can join us, so I might as well begin writing things out. Look, there¡¯s a lot here, and I¡¯m sure you can fill in a lot more of the blanks than I can across the world stage¡­¡± Proceeding to show the pair everything she¡¯d been up to since their last group meeting, Rachel had to do a bit of catch-up for Leo when the US President joined them via some kind of magical projection device that was a new piece of technology developed by the DOD in the past few weeks, projecting his mind to a new location with the twin device. After an hour of catching them up to speed, she concluded by drawing a line from Astra, to the Scarlet Hand, to one name, circling it as her three students brooded. ¡°¡­And that is why Astra is attempting to go rogue, defying the Scarlet Hand, and searching for the Legend of John McCarthy, the father of AI. So, it¡¯s possible this is an attempt by Adele to fracture my support from the US government, but Astra has another agenda¡­ Beneficial for humanity? Who can say,¡± she shrugged. ¡°But, it is something to consider. Further questions?¡± Barbara looked overwhelmed, mainly looking at the big hole and dozens upon dozens of questions surrounding Rachel¡¯s confrontation with Seed Scarlet and Twilight. Tom¡¯s gaze was flitting between Elizabeth¡¯s addition to Omen, Dracula, Helsing, Aurora, and Astra, which was a tad interesting to Rachel. He had so many dots no doubt spinning in his mind, yet all of that was need-to-know for her. On the other hand, President Campell swept the entire board, his focus not lingering too long on any one topic, and he was the first one to speak while still sitting inside the Oval Office. ¡°Mmm. I¡¯ve received many more reports and insights into higher planes from others recently, specifically from some of the Native American tribes with their Mystickin. The Crow have offered their assistance. All of that being said, the higher powers being terrified of this Crystal is what mainly has me concerned. ¡°The fact Izanami, Hades, Persephone, and many others have talked so fearfully about this Battle Royale Crystal has me thinking we should put even more resources here. It also makes for a perfect target for hostile forces to try and sabotage or cause trouble in order to make us stumble¡­ There is a chance that the new USSR agents¡­or even old ones made young again are working in the shadows. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about a few factions currently rising up in Russia, and the one who seems to be the most friendly to us is that of the Legend of Anastasia, or so the CIA reports claim. I¡¯ll get in touch with General Davis, who is handling things in that region.¡± He breathed out a long sigh and looked right at her, left and on her hip and waited for his verdict. ¡°Whatever is on that QR code might give us further insight, but I¡¯d need some fairly damning proof that you¡¯re a Soviet spy, Rachel. You¡¯ve been far too instrumental in ways that the USSR would want for themselves if you were with them. In regard to what is happening here, I¡¯m sure Tom has some ideas on how to move forward on working the spy angle.¡± Tom rubbed his shaved chin and shifted in his chair, staring at a particular section on the board. ¡°I¡¯ve got a counter spy group that can start looking into things. Astra isn¡¯t done with this either; it¡¯s just to soften us up. ¡°Getting back to the other topic, Rachel. Nike awakening, and the offer of help from the goddess¡¯ Chang¡¯e will be instrumental. Most of the Native American great spirits would likely register on Moongmor or Eostre¡¯s level of strength¡­except for their more potent deities. There are more land gods, as far as I¡¯m aware, not the cosmic kind.¡± He pointed at the enemy side. ¡°These Eldritch creatures seeking to corrupt our universe is a problem on a scale I can¡¯t even begin to tackle. Right now we need to focus more on the micro than the macro. Scarlet¡¯s true nature is¡­troubling to say the least, but it also means we have the ultimate trump card in our back pocket.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t nuke ourselves with her,¡± Barb said with a strained laugh. ¡°To think that anime-loving goth girl is the force keeping back Eldritch creatures and greater gods is¡­something. Yeah¡­ It¡¯s something, alright. I have a lot more questions on that scale,¡± she muttered, rubbing the rosary resting against her bust, ¡°but they¡¯re more personal than necessary. What do you think about Rachel¡¯s decision regarding Anthony and splitting Omen, General?¡± Tom¡¯s chest shook with laughter as he ran his fingers over his neck and shook his head. ¡°The best decision she could have made, really. I¡¯ll make some calls but it¡¯s important to show Arthur we¡¯re keeping our end of the bargain. He¡¯s provided¡­a lot of support involving world affairs with his connections. With Cerridwen being trapped and the World Tree somehow linked to freeing her¡­ I feel she¡¯s too big of an ally to leave alone. We need more information she can provide. Can you still use the Black Moon?¡± Rachel puffed up her cheeks and let the air go in a slow stream before shrugging her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m positive it was pretty wounded by Seed Scarlet¡¯s escape and needs to recover, however that looks for a Unique Moon, but maybe? It may still have the Eldritch from Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest inside of it for all I know. There¡¯s a lot involved with that I¡¯m in the dark on.¡± Leo chuckled and rubbed between his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m actually pleasantly surprised you were able to coax Elizabeth into secretly joining Omen. I¡¯d like direct communication to her to act as a spy in Hungary since there is some potentially bad intel cycling through the CIA right now. It might help us root out a spy or two. But let¡¯s shelve all of that for now¡­¡± He paused and looked between them. ¡°This Crystal is a pivotal point in how the nation will respond to this changing world. I have to show the American people that the US is still the superpower of the world¡­ That we can protect them and anyone else who seeks help. That we can handle our own backyard.¡± The President of the United States stood and looked her in the eye. ¡°With that being said, Rachel, I want you to put your everything into this¡­even if it requires you to use your Unique Moons or your connections to these gods and goddesses. The whole nation is looking at us right now, and this will not just define my presidency, but the changed people who supported it. This is a critical moment in history that people will look back on.¡± Rachel flashed her teeth, ears rising up a tad. ¡°Does that mean I get more Executive Branch support? I have the leniency to do things how I see fit to get everyone ready for how brutal this Crystal will be when it finally opens up?¡± Leo¡¯s hard eyes didn¡¯t show an ounce of reservation. ¡°It does. I¡¯ve called in as many favors as I can. I¡¯ve brought Legends, Myths, and Mystics that were kicked out from other countries due to their hostility or gray actions among many others who sought glory. As an expert in these powers, sift through them with Fable and tell me who I should put on this next team¡­because we need a win, Rachel, and a big one. So what does your sense of misfortune tell you?¡± Head shifting slightly to the left as she felt through the twining, snapping, and departing threads, her tail grew stiffer. ¡°I know how this sounds¡­but if we try to win¡­then we will lose.¡± Her expression became strained at the looks the others gave each other. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Barb grunted. ¡°What does that mean? If we try not to win, then we¡¯ll win?¡± Rachel helplessly shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Look. I¡¯m not a prophetess. My misfortune is more like a vibe check. You all know I¡¯m not one to lose. All I¡¯m saying is that I sense this massive thread of conquest that is winding around us, which is why all the other deities ran away. If we want to win, we need to go with its flow, whoever or whatever it is.¡± Leo¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I¡¯ve stacked the deck as much in our favor as I can. I can only leave the rest in Tom, White, Barbara, and your hands, Rachel. You¡¯ve given me a lot to think about on a bigger scale. The Scarlet Hand is in disorder, which I¡¯ve left in Merlin¡¯s hands since they¡¯re currently centered in the UK. Now, I need you to focus on the micro here.¡± Pride welled up in Rachel¡¯s chest at seeing the company she was in and how far she¡¯d come from being a college fighter girl to having the President of the United States relying on her, and she couldn¡¯t have done it alone, which bit a little, yet told her she was growing. She wasn¡¯t a single person, she was an organization now. President Capell centered on her. ¡°I¡¯ve put my trust in all of you¡­ The American people have. I stand behind your decisions. White is inside the Crystal, which means Green and Gray are currently running Fable in the States while Purple handles world operations. You¡¯ll be able to work with them and sift through the wheat and the tares that I¡¯ve gathered¡ªand be thorough. Also¡­¡± Rachel finished his thought upon seeing his gaze return to the board where the USSR was written. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my ears open, President. I¡¯m sure Astra will get in contact with me again. As for the leverage?¡± Tom raised his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll work on that angle, Rachel. You focus on what needs to be done with expanding Omen¡¯s fighting force to handle what is to come. I like how loyal and dedicated to a mission you are¡ªmost men train much of their lives to obtain that level of discipline. We¡¯ve placed a lot on your shoulders. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Oh, wonderful!¡± Rachel chimed with a laugh. ¡°I live off responsibility and achievement to do the impossible. So, does that mean Barb and I can start the games to see who is worthy of my time?¡± she asked with an innocent face. Leo chortled and waved his hand. ¡°Games? Well, I¡¯ll leave all of that in your hands. I¡¯ve got a meeting to attend with the UN Security Council¡­ We¡¯ll see if Empress Wu and a few others show up. Good luck, and God Speed.¡± His magical hologram fizzled out, leaving Rachel to tilt her ears to the left and show a strained smile. ¡°Uh, I forgot to ask, what does sifting through the wheat and tares actually mean? I¡¯m not that big into bible stuff¡ªjust find out who is good?¡± Barbara snickered and got up, throwing her arms in the air to stretch out. ¡°To find out who bears fruit and doesn¡¯t. Basically, who is worth their salt¡ªtheir flavor. Should I go on?¡± ¡°No, I think I get it,¡± she laughed, excitement bubbling within her. ¡°Alright. So, we are ready to start busting some balls and letting a rabid little rabbit test some Myths, Legends, and Mystics?¡± Tom lifted an eyebrow, still studying the board. ¡°Nia?¡± Rachel¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Nia is my captain after all. I¡¯ve got to give her the reins to sort through the weeds,¡± she said, winking at Barbara and making her shake her head with a silent laugh. ¡°My brother will also vet a few basics to use as examples. In fact, maybe we should see how he¡¯s doing, and I could go for a bite of something sweet.¡± Playing between word games with Barbara on her exit, she left Tom to mull over the wealth of information she¡¯d provided him. Now, it was time to see what her brother found out, and to bait a certain witch into an environment they¡¯d most enjoy crashing. Well, Relica? Rachel internally mused as she entered the snowy parking lot of the supercenter. Are you as predictable as I think you are? Nia, wakey-wakey. Are you ready to nibble on some new recruits and see how high they can hop? ¡°Hmm? Recruits?¡± she yawned, her clothes wiggling a little around her frame as she stretched out. ¡°I¡¯m snuggly with three hot puppies. Can I do it in like an hour? Make them do jumping jacks until I wake up.¡± Brutal. I like it. ¡°Yeah. And only the ones that can jump five meters up get candy. Bunny fluffy candy¡­cotton balls¡­¡± Rachel shook her head as the little girl drifted back to sleep and she paused as Nike¡¯s gentle words tickled her soul. ¡°Can you delay your arrival by six minutes and thirty-seven seconds?¡± Yes¡­ Why? She questioned, catching Barbara¡¯s eye. Am I waiting for someone? ¡°More like there is a better shot at victory with someone else being inside the place you are going. Just a hunch.¡± Says the Winged Lady of Victory. Dragging my feet it is! I look forward to meeting whoever made your wings flutter, Nike. Let¡¯s go get some breakfast. Who knows, maybe Astra will show up. B3 — 9. Milky Rachel slipped her hands into her pockets, feeling the weight of the frosty air pressing against her skin as she took a step out of the shielded communication building, her breath misting in the cold Montana night. The crystal in the middle of the supercenter parking lot stole her attention for a moment. Standing still for a moment and taking in her environment after being isolated inside the sound-deadening communication space, she smirked while listening to the gossip and general topics of the military personnel. The military had transformed the area into a forward base, with checkpoints, tents, and soldiers milling about, but people were people, soldiers or not. Bets were being made, cursing the chill, or unit politics distracted people from the ominous spectacle at the heart of this operation. Rachel¡¯s tail twitched impatiently while taking in the full object. The crystal was massive¡ªaround 35 meters tall, purple and shimmering in the night like the gem from another world it was. Its sharp angles didn¡¯t reflect the snow-piled, military dominated environment she was in but a vibrant, rich jungle field with colossal trees in the distance that probably rivaled the redwoods. She couldn¡¯t sense a thing from it; it was practically a ghost, and currently acted like it with the experiments scientists were still running, passing poles and other objects through its ethereal surface. The subtle greenish glow emanating from it was becoming brighter.. That¡¯s a good sign¡­probably, she thought, stepping aside for some of the soldiers to pound on the door to the communication room to get the general¡¯s attention. If France¡¯s intel is correct, then the next stage should be blue, meaning it¡¯s nearing the next stage of development, which means opening back up for the next wave. We¡¯ll see. Rachel turned her gaze heavenward, where misfortune was striking again¡ªdark clouds were rolling toward them in the distance. Never lucky¡­ At least I¡¯m nearing 85%, which is enough to make our bun. I should make it to 100% by the time the clouds cover it if I stay outside. I can take my time, then. Rachel proceeded through the lines of military equipment surrounding the crystal: armored vehicles, humvees, and barriers designed to withstand the supernatural forces they all expected to encounter. She wove her way toward the caf¨¦ her brother had set up in. Her large ears were straight up, tilting left and right to catch the wealth of whispered plans and shared information from the Legends and Myths that she¡¯d already marked. Her heart had stilled after her fight with Aella, realizing how much stronger she¡¯d become from the average person, yet most seemed to think they were above the curve. Taking her time on her journey, she glanced at those who had her on their tongue, drawing paranoia from most in her passing. Green and Gray, Fable¡¯s current US operational leaders, were strategizing how to handle the big volunteer gathering. A mischievous shiver ran from Rachel¡¯s ears to the tip of her tail thinking about how she¡¯d run a truck through those plans soon enough. More interesting parties were about to arrive from word of mouth¡ªBlack and Red had just landed and Mexico¡¯s damaged airship was nearly here. Her sharp mind processed every detail without missing a beat. Even Scarlet¡¯s soft muttering as she scanned the area with her vampiric vision drew Rachel¡¯s smile to the south to acknowledge the girl, seeing if she was listening. ¡°And there goes Rachel, looking like she owns the place as¡ªha! You are listening to me. Nothing suspicious yet, Major, but I¡¯m not giving up the search! Oh, I followed Maria, Alexa, and Aella from the shadows to the caf¨¦ when Alexa went to join Nam for breakfast¡­or is it dinner?¡± Shrugging to let her know she didn¡¯t really care either way, Rachel turned her gaze away to continue her slow path as Scarlet returned to her ¡®ninja¡¯ work. Nice to see her settling in, Rachel thought with a faint smile. She¡¯s becoming more stable¡­more comfortable with who she is. I¡¯d like her to be as solid as possible before we go to the UK and confront her mom. Well, unless she comes to us¡­ Rachel¡¯s ears twitched as the wind picked up, bringing with it the faint sound of her brother¡¯s voice while zeroing in on their location. However, the popping of someone chewing bubblegum in the Italian place next door snatched her attention. What is your mission this time, Astra? And where the hell is Relica? Not one whisper from her. I suppose if she¡¯s working with Arthur, then their anti-listener magic must have been beefed up¡­ I should have considered that earlier. Ten minutes went by, making sure to take a longer route that kept the moon touching her skin. Nia started to stir as they entered more of the entertainment and recreational area of the city¡¯s military activity. Turning her ears back toward her sister-in-law and brother, she heard Alexa¡¯s cadence was becoming more comfortable with her young, teenage frame. Maria had just left the caf¨¦, heading toward the airport after hearing about the Mexican airship that was coming that would need some medical assistance. Not holding out much hope for that, Rachel thought dryly while hearing all the hype around the coming airship. A lot of mechanical failures reported. That airship probably won¡¯t last the repairs, much less the Crystal. At least Maria can rank up her Feats on the crew¡¯s failures and draw out potential EXP through helping people. She squinted as she glanced toward the dark clouds rolling closer. The temperature had already dropped noticeably, and the air had that bite of winter¡¯s last storm. More snow on the way¡­ Maria¡¯s gonna be pissed. I need a bit more time to reach over 100%, and I need it for [Lunar Amplification]. Still, a snow speech to the potential recruits sounds fun on paper. Can I get Aella and Alexa to join me? Should I? Standing across the street from the cafe, hands in her pocket and staring through the window at the occupants inside, she studied the jumpy and out of place bird woman. She can barely hold a cup with those wing arms¡­ Yeah, I¡¯m going to need her to get a Feat to transform them into human arms for practical purposes. Alexa can¡¯t feed her all the time and she looks totally pathetic and beaten¡­ Rachel breathed out a low groan, seeing the frost puff through her lips. She feels like the dramatic type that might take a bit to get over losing a fight¡­ Maybe I was a bit too harsh. Maybe. But whatever. She¡¯ll get over it¡­ Not that my cousin seemed to get over me beating his ass a few years back. Dammit. Why am I so aggressive¡­ Frown tilting her mouth, her eclipse-like eyes drifted to a few snippets of conversation from nearby soldiers in passing, their whispers about her recent exploits fueled by rumors. ¡°Wait, Jensen, is that her¡ªthe Mad Hare of Miami Beach, right?¡± ¡°Yo! Did you hear she beat the piss out of that senator¡¯s granddaughter harpy chick?¡± ¡°Yeah, heard she flattened that bird into the pavement and ran her face across the ground before having her unicorn friend heal her and doing it again¡­ Wonder where she¡¯s been since Miami and kicking the shit out of those gang members?¡± ¡°Damn¡­¡± ¡°Chick¡¯s savage. Some people were saying Omen was overhyped, but bro.¡± ¡°Yeah, smells like bullshit to me. Chick¡¯s a psychopath. Is she looking at us or the store¡­¡± ¡°Bro shut up!¡± Rachel snickered to herself as they went by across the street. Guess my reputation precedes me. As Rachel let her energy reach its cap, she nudged Nia, who was still snoozing somewhere in the back of her soul. Wakey, wakey, Little Bun. We¡¯re getting something to eat, she teased, and Nia stirred with a yawn, materializing next to her and making several onlookers jump and redouble their rumors and whispers. ¡°Mmm, food¡ªis it a clothing store? Are the buns still sleeping because they¡¯re¡­ This is a human food place,¡± Nia grumbled, her ears sinking low as she glared up at her. ¡°It tastes okay, but it doesn¡¯t fill me up, Major. I need thread count¡ªblouses, dresses, shoes.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, Ms. Picky,¡± Rachel chuckled, messing up her grumpy outfit¡¯s hair and pointing down the street. ¡°We¡¯ll have a snack here and your full course meal there. Let¡¯s let the buns snooze for now. You can make White to mediate between them after breakfast. Sound good?¡± Nia¡¯s ears perked up and she changed clothes to show off an outfit she¡¯d likely swapped out from the duffle bag: a light blue shirt and matching skirt with a few kid accessories. ¡°Alrighty! I¡¯m all ready for the night. Wait, is that the bird lady you beat up? You didn¡¯t kill her? Lame¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s head tilted to the right while doing a double take of the kid¡¯s dull face she was giving her. ¡°Who do you think I am? I wanted to put the fear of hare into her, not smash her¡ªwhat anime has Scarlet had you watch¡­ Did you watch something you shouldn¡¯t when I was asleep on the plane?¡± ¡°Huh?! No! I¡¯d never! Pfft. Crazy¡­¡± the girl stammered, looking away and crossing her arms. ¡°I totally didn¡¯t watch some bloody vampire Alucard thing that was on the seat TV. It just¡­came on by itself, and it¡¯s not like I could go anywhere or I¡¯d leave you naked¡­¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ I¡¯m not buying it. One less item from the store for watching mature videos,¡± she said, walking across the road to enter the store. ¡°W-What?! It¡¯s not even my fault! That¡¯s not fair¡ªMajor! I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± ¡°Then eat more human food.¡± ¡°Blah¡­ This is totally not fair¡­ I didn¡¯t even saying anything wrong. We kill all sorts of things but no, Nia, you can¡¯t watch scary, bloody stuff because bad bunny. I¡¯ll tell mom that¡ªnever mind,¡± she quickly mumbled, looking away as Rachel paused and looked down at her. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ It was there and had cool outfits. I want a trench coat, police outfit, and mini skirt.¡± Sighing, Rachel patted her head, giving the owner a small smile. The owner, a grizzled man with a military background, waved at them from behind the counter. He¡¯d volunteered to run the place for the operation, eager to help out wherever he could. A few local businesses had been offered government funding to keep operating during the Crystal mission, and most had jumped at the chance¡ªfree money and a way to stay involved in the national effort. ¡°You get scared really easily, Little Bun. I¡¯m just trying to look out for you,¡± she whispered, catching eyes from the patrons. ¡°We can talk about it later and see about getting a trench coat your size, but it might be hard.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Nia grinned. ¡°Bad Nia is good Nia!¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll talk about that¡­¡± A crash came from the back corner, where Aella choked and dropped her plastic cup, somehow managing to crush it under her talons while jumping to her feet. She backed into the wall, face ashen and chest heaving while trying to collect herself. ¡°Aella! What¡­¡± ¡°I-I didn¡¯t do anything. I¡¯m just¡­¡± Nam quickly got to his feet to block the bird brain¡¯s eye contact with her as he held up his hands to calm her down, the other patrons going on high alert. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Aella, she¡¯s not going to hurt you. Look at me¡ªbreathe¡­ In¡­out¡­ With me.¡± Rachel rolled her eyes and walked with a confused Nia to the front counter. ¡°So melodramatic¡­ Want a gooey cinnamon bun, Nia? I think I¡¯ll get one.¡± She grinned and jabbed her thumb in her brother¡¯s direction, still calming down the freaking out harpy. ¡°It¡¯s on his tab. Some milk, too. And her? Don¡¯t mind her. We just had a little fight a few hours ago. We won¡¯t cause any trouble here.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± the vet behind the counter muttered, looking from her to the other soldiers and military personnel around the space. ¡°The pay¡¯s up front, so you¡¯ll need to get him to pay.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she sighed, putting a hand on her hip and swapping positions to give her brother a strained smile. ¡°It may take a second¡­¡± After several seconds, Nam managed to get Aella back into her chair with Alexa soothing her. He made his way over to them, wallet in hand and giving her a pointed look while whispering, ¡°How bad did you beat her, Rachel? She had a full-blown panic attack seeing you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had worse,¡± Rachel muttered, shoving her hands in her pockets. Nia¡¯s head bobbed as she snickered. ¡°Yeah, we were ripped apart by fear vampires, wolf people in Conner¡¯s place split us like, in two! Oh, but we regenerated with blood, and¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not know the details,¡± her brother grimaced. ¡°And now I¡¯m questioning if Nia should be with you, Sis. It¡¯s a bad look for hiring new people¡­ I¡¯ve got my next appointment over there,¡± he said, nudging his head to the opposite corner where a young woman in a cowboy hat sat, watching them while enjoying a glass of milk. Rachel¡¯s mouth became a line, not expecting so much pushback off the go. ¡°I hear you. So, you¡¯re still conducting interviews? Anyone promising?¡± Nam ordered their food, including a few more rounds of desert items and appetizers, possibly for the harpy to settle her down with sweets. ¡°We can talk about that in a bit.¡± With the atmosphere settling down, the caf¨¦ returned to its warm feel and smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods, a stark contrast to the freezing night outside. Military personnel filling most of the seats had her on their tongue, some still in their gear, others taking a break from the long days they¡¯d been enduring. It wasn¡¯t the bustling chaos that Rachel had seen in the Crystal zone, but she¡¯d brought the tension back, caution simmering beneath the surface of their watchful gazes. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Rachel made her way to the table with her brother and Alexa. Aella sat nervously beside them, her whole body quaking and face flushed. The harpy¡¯s wide eyes were fixed on her lap, and she could hear her racing heart pumping like a pounding drum. ¡°Calm down a little, bird-brain,¡± Rachel muttered with a smirk, sliding into the chair next to Nam. ¡°I was serious about you being welcomed into Omen. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡± Alexa answered for her, the magical girl¡¯s hand resting comfortingly on her folded in wings. ¡°I think you should give her some time, Rachel. That was¡­pretty brutal.¡± ¡°Hey, look at the bright side,¡± Rachel chimed as Nia sat beside her, trying to look over the edge of the high table. ¡°It can¡¯t get any worse than that, right? Eesh¡­¡± Her sister-in-law gave her a frown and got up, pulling Aella up with her. ¡°We¡¯re going to go walk around and calm down. Nia, do you want to join us? Maybe we can find a clothing store that¡¯s open for the military, donations, or something?¡± ¡°Yes! This table is too high anyway. Why isn¡¯t it built for little bunnies? Bunnyists, I tell you! Blah. Human food is kind of bland anyway. Eh! Can I, Major?¡± she asked, giving her best puppy-dog eyes. ¡°Pretty please?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Rachel sighed, letting them go off. Nam silently watched the three leave the store before getting up to take the opposite side of the table, sinking into the chair with a groan. ¡°Sis, you really need to learn that not everyone is like you¡­ It doesn¡¯t help that you¡¯re still showing the blood stains from the fight. Why didn¡¯t you have Nia get rid of them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware,¡± she grunted, taking his previous wall seat to lean against it and cross her legs before doing a sweep of the establishment. ¡°And, am I?¡± Glancing down at her front, she noticed the spots of crimson she¡¯d beaten out of the mouthy Italian woman. ¡°Huh¡­ I guess my mind was on other things. I didn¡¯t even notice.¡± ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t¡­¡± he sighed with a resigned chuckle, rubbing his forehead. Rachel prompted Nia internally, having the girl repel the dried blood before brushing it off. ¡°So¡­ Were you having a good chat before I came and ruined it all? Oh¡­¡± Her vision drifted to the left upon hearing Alexa get to the potential root of Aella¡¯s problem. ¡°It seems I wasn¡¯t too clear on what kind of training I¡¯d have them do. I was in a bit of a rush earlier.¡± Her brother leaned forward to rest his forehead against his knuckles. ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t. So she thought when you showed up, it was time for training and she was about to get her face beaten in again. How can you be so smart but be so savage and clueless? It¡¯s always been like this.¡± Wearing a light pout that rarely touched her face, Rachel shifted her posture to lean against the table and rest her head against her open palm. Nam motioned for the observing cowgirl in the corner to approach them, and she felt Nia snickering at Nam¡¯s words, listening and reporting back to Alexa and Aella on how their talk was going. ¡°I¡¯m heading a military company that deals with alien and terrorist attacks on a mythical and legendary scale, Nam. I¡¯m not thinking about how to coddle entitled brats on how harsh reality is. If she doesn¡¯t want to join then she doesn¡¯t have to. And it¡¯s only going to get worse from here.¡± Her fingers drummed against her side, a slow rhythm as her brother¡¯s eyes narrowed with familiar frustration. His mouth opened, probably ready to throw another lecture her way about ¡®restraint¡¯ and ¡®team cohesion¡¯¡ªa speech she''d heard more times than she could count when she was involved in any kind of sport in school. Before Nam could get a word in, the bell rang from the counter. ¡°Order¡¯s up!¡± Nam¡¯s next appointment appeared at the counter, a cheery grin in place as she grabbed the tray of food, her cowboy hat tipping slightly. She sauntered over, a swagger in her step that caught the attention of a few soldiers nearby with her fit build, tight blue jeans, and pleated button-up top. Her clicking cowboy boots, messy brown hair, and expressive blue eyes snagged Rachel¡¯s attention¡ªher instincts told Rachel this young woman had potential. She¡¯d heard her name passed through a few conversations thus far, and all of them painted the cowgirl as a somewhat dubious southern California lady. The plate of cinnamon buns was practically glowing with the sticky sweetness of icing as she set it down between them. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t this a regular ol¡¯ reunion,¡± she quipped as she sat down, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. ¡°You know, I was about to ask if someone ordered milk with those buns. Then he stacked up the tray, so¡­am I interruptin¡¯ something? I can sally off and come back later if needed,¡± she offered, but her thumping heart told Rachel she wanted to stay. ¡°Ah, the name¡¯s Grace¡ªGrace Alexander.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears twitched, half-listening to the soldier¡¯s gossip and watching Nam¡¯s reaction, but Grace¡¯s antics brightened her mood; it also offered her a way out of a brotherly lecture. She smirked, her sharp gaze locking on the gunslinger. ¡°The Legend of Calamity Jane, or so I¡¯ve heard. A notorious story teller.¡± Grace shrugged, not missing a beat. ¡°Hey, I got my tricks and ya never know what might be true or tall tale. You know, just like milking cows¡ªgotta be smooth and patient with a southern lass. Keep the boys on their toes. ¡± Before anyone could respond, Rachel¡¯s ears stiffened, causing Grace to frown and lean back to glance around, looking for trouble. A sudden shift in the air¡ªunnatural, and wrong¡ªslipped through the bustling noises of the caf¨¦, yet it hadn¡¯t been her who initially detected it. Aella¡¯s voice came from outside, strained and tight with panic, and Alexa¡¯s quieter but more controlled response followed, bringing her notice to the changing air currents. ¡°There¡¯s¡­an unnatural wind coming. Something¡¯s not right!¡± ¡°I feel it too,¡± Alexa¡¯s voice cut in, calm but tense. ¡°There¡¯s magic in the air. A lot of it¡ªand some kind of¡­Divine Force? No, it feels less¡­good, I think?¡± Neutral Force, Rachel internally answered, knowing exactly who this was, only they¡¯d improved¡­significantly. Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed. The moment stretched, an eerie quiet settling over the space from the sweeping gust that kicked through the area, broken only by the scrape of a chair against the floor. ¡°Relica,¡± she whispered. She barely needed to move. Rachel¡¯s gaze drifted sideways, finding Relica already settled in the chair beside Nam in a swirl of black wind. The woman wore a smile that was both welcoming and unnerving, her long fingers casually reaching for one of the cinnamon buns on the tray Grace had just placed down. ¡°My, you haven¡¯t changed at all, Rachel. You¡¯re so¡­raw. Mmm. And I¡¯m famished,¡± Relica giggled, helping herself to the sticky pastry and a glass of milk. ¡°I must say, you look stunning after everything I¡¯ve heard you went through in Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest¡ªlike a predator after a long, exhausting hunt. Resilient little animal, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t flinch. Her eyes flicked over Relica¡¯s face, searching for any sign of her true intentions. This wasn¡¯t a meeting she wanted to make. Nam¡¯s jaw tightened, but Rachel quickly raised a hand, stopping him before he could speak. Her tone was flat, cold. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little brazen, appearing in the open like this instead of hiding in a hole¡­or do you want to have people questioning Omen for associating with a known terrorist?¡± Grace¡¯s eyes widened and she took her own pastry from the table, cutting into it and looking between them with the eyes of a woman glued to the finale of a soap opera. ¡°Hmm?¡± The priestess¡¯ shining violet eyes creased with amusement, showing she was still using her magic or channeling Hecate¡¯s power. ¡°No, no. I look like a much different seductive, youthful, and stunning young woman at the moment. Only those at this table can see the real beautiful me. Oops. You¡¯re already in a meeting,¡± she said, gesturing between Grace and her. ¡°Continue with your business, ladies. I¡¯m not a threat¡­right now, at least.¡± Grace raised an eyebrow, but she stayed seated, and Rachel had to admire how easily the tension rolled off her. The cowgirl may have been eating with one hand, but her other was close to her hip, where Rachel knew she kept her revolver. Even Nia, usually buzzing with excitement, stayed silent within Rachel¡¯s mind, waiting to see if she should return. As the silence continued and the onlookers gradually lost interest due to the woman¡¯s magic, Relica giggled softly, picking at her cinnamon bun without a hint of reservation. ¡°Oh, Rachel, you¡¯re still so serious. Aren¡¯t I basically already a member of Omen? I was hoping for a warmer welcome, considering everything we¡¯ve shared in Miami, as short as it was.¡± Her eyes gleamed with a mischievous light. ¡°Surely you haven¡¯t replaced me with Aurora. I¡¯d be so disappointed¡­ I¡¯ve known you far longer. It¡¯s just like old times, isn¡¯t it?¡± Rachel¡¯s stomach twisted at the mention of ¡®old times¡¯ with the memories of the car crash flashing through her 10-year-old mind. Yet, [Strategic Mind] and [Lunar Pride] helped to keep her rising blood pressure in check. ¡°Be very, very careful how you talk to me,¡± Rachel said, leaning forward to give the woman her full attention as her tail twitched for action. ¡°At least Aurora is ambiguous and I¡¯m really not sure what she¡¯s about, which is something you could never accomplish with this¡­fake alliance we have. You¡¯re terrified to meet me in person, so you sent this magical body double with Hecate¡¯s magic. I¡¯d say I¡¯m disappointed but really I should have expected as much.¡± Relica rolled her eyes. ¡°Sticks and stones! My, you¡¯re worked up. Maybe you should take your own advice to that harpy woman.¡± She looked up from her treat with a half-smile. ¡°Your standards are slipping, dear. She¡¯s a liability, as is this southern hick.¡± Grace cleared her throat, cutting the tension while flipping her butter knife around her fingers to a new angle to cut up her pastry. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t this somethin¡¯. I sit down for a meal, and the winds of fate decide to blow in an uninvited and quite rude guest. You know¡ªRelica, is it¡ªin my neck of the woods, we call this sort of thing trespassing. We have signs for that¡­¡± Stabbing the pastry and popping it into her mouth, a click came from under the table, a round sliding into place. ¡°Trespassers will be shot.¡± Relica¡¯s grin widened while sliding to the bright-eyed southern lass. ¡°Oh, darling, I¡¯ve never been one for playing by the rules, and how many self-defense weapons get turned on the defendant? Not that you understand math.¡± ¡°Mmm! This is good. I bet I could out math ya as a high school dropout. Want to test those statistics?¡± Rachel was starting to like this cowgirl but she kept her eyes locked on Relica¡¯s, her mind racing for what the priestess wanted and on whose orders she was on. It was time to get answers. ¡°You know you¡¯re short on time, so I¡¯d get to the point before I actually lose my cool.¡± Relica took a delicate bite of the cinnamon bun, her smile widening but it faltered when a swirl of darkness brought a blood scythe¡¯s edge against her throat. Scarlet¡¯s voice was low and sharp. ¡°What¡¯s the play, Rach?¡± ¡°Just a chat.¡± Relica defended, yet Rachel could hear the quiver in her voice; Scarlet was one of the few people who could break all the rules. ¡°Can¡¯t a woman check in on her old friends? Especially after the hell you¡¯ve been through recently, Rachel, Scarlet. You¡¯ve survived so much¡ªstill standing, even after I bet a small island you wouldn¡¯t make it off that boat.¡± ¡°You tried to make me your slave, bitch,¡± Scarlet snarled, bringing the blade centimeters from her throat and making Relica press up against the wall, pushing her chair on two legs. ¡°You killed a kid and used their soul as power.¡± ¡°Calm down, sweetie.¡± Grace set down her knife. ¡°Damn. A real piece of shit, huh.¡± Rachel¡¯s patience was thinning, but she kept her cool, her voice even and catching the priestess¡¯ unamused gaze. ¡°You¡¯re not nearly as important as you think. You¡¯re here to deliver a message. The question is¡­from who?¡± Relica tilted her head forward as Scarlet retracted her blade slightly, her confident smile returning. ¡°Oh, Rachel, always so hasty. And we both know I live rent free in that complex mind of yours. But fine, I¡¯ll get to the point¡­or points, to be exact. I¡¯m here to deliver a little warning.¡± Rachel¡¯s nose twisted at her dramatic antics. ¡°Quit stalling.¡± Relica¡¯s voice dropped, her playful tone replaced by something darker. ¡°Well, haven¡¯t you become quite the celebrity? We have a little AI, a rat, and a few other interested parties listening in on our little discussion, so let me make this a little more private¡­¡± A dark haze spun around them as Relica¡¯s eyes became brighter and the sound outside utterly died, reminding Rachel that this priestess wasn¡¯t only embedded in multiple global organizations but also had direct access to a sixth dimensional goddess. ¡°There¡¯s a storm coming, Rachel¡ªbigger than anything you¡¯ve dealt with before. And apparently, if you do not handle it, then a pair of twins the Scarlet Hand worked very hard to kick off our planet might return¡­ And they cannot return, whatever that means. If they do, then what they bring with them will crush everything. Perhaps even you,¡± she added with a curious smirk aimed at Scarlet, her blade inches from the unbothered witch¡¯s throat. ¡°At this moment¡ªat least for this¡ªAdele and many competing parties say they will support you.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re their messenger,¡± Rachel grunted, a smug smile creasing her eyes. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t I special? Basically, a bunch of cowardly bitches are too afraid to put their own neck on the line, and I¡¯ve got a track record of doing the impossible. So that¡¯s why I got the warning about the USSR. Adele doesn¡¯t want us to fail to stop this Crystal.¡± Rachel¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her face neutral, unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it like I handle everything else.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Relica¡¯s mystical darkness deepened, isolating them in the witch¡¯s space. ¡°Adele seems to think that even you cannot stop the spirit of conquest that a certain blonde twin embodies, as she puts it. Handle everything? You¡¯re an animal for sure, Rachel¡­I can¡¯t deny that cold blood running underneath that hot facade. But what is your plan? I¡¯m so curious!¡± Slowly sliding out her chair, Rachel saw Scarlet¡¯s brooding face, her hands a little shaky with the mention of her mother. If her previous battle with the harpy didn¡¯t remind them who she was, then she better remind them who she was. Rachel walked around Grace, the fanged girl retracting her blood as Rachel stood in front of the smiling priestess. Her fingers closed around Relica¡¯s throat, her breath warm as a fire lit in her chest while leaning in. Her voice dropped lower¡ªa slow burn igniting behind her eyes as she flashed her teeth. ¡°You want to know my plan?¡± she whispered, staring into the woman¡¯s shimmering violet gaze. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You¡¯ve been watching from the shadows, thinking you¡¯ve got me all figured out. But let me tell you something, puppet. I¡¯m not here to play games. I don¡¯t stall. I don¡¯t hesitate. Momentum.¡± Her grip tightened ever so slightly, just enough to cut any response from the terrorist. ¡°I¡¯m already rolling, pushing past everything you and your pathetic little club of cowards have thrown at me. And I¡¯m just getting started. You see that storm coming? I don¡¯t run from it¡ªI bring it with me. Momentum.¡± Relica¡¯s usual smirk faltered for a moment as Rachel applied a tad more pressure. ¡°You want to warn me about what¡¯s coming? I¡¯ve been through hell and back, literally, and I¡¯m still here¡ªa moon fed, wild ass, vicious little animal. If anyone¡¯s looking for competition¡ªif they¡¯re out there thinking they¡¯ve got what it takes to stop the Omen¡ªI¡¯m not hiding. I¡¯m right here.¡± Her voice dropped to a venomous hiss, eyes igniting with a hunger that rattled the cage inside her soul. ¡°Those praying for my downfall, you¡¯ve already lost. Now run along and tell your bosses. Get on my level, bitch. Because if I see competition, I want it. And when I want it, I take it. So tell them to keep hiding, or they¡¯ll hear me coming around the corner.¡± Rachel leaned back, her hand sliding off Relica¡¯s throat with casual precision. She stepped away as if she had all the time in the world. Her tail flicked, she spun in a circle, and a flash of white light brought her spiked hammer into Rachel¡¯s palms to crash straight through the woman¡¯s body to meet Scarlet¡¯s blood, stopping the points from destroying the wall¡ªthe chair wasn¡¯t so lucky. ¡°Momentum doesn¡¯t stop for anyone. And it sure as hell won¡¯t stop for you.¡± The projected shadow collapsed in a rush of wind, returning Relica¡¯s consciousness to wherever she was performing her ritual. Her laugh was soft, almost affectionate as she vanished. ¡°Oh, I will. Good luck.¡± Grace let out a long breath, sagging against her chair as a quake ran down her frame. ¡°Well, hot damn. Chills! That was fun.¡± Rachel recalled her hammer, catching the confused look of the military patrons, who were now realizing they hadn¡¯t left. Scarlet jogged over to the owner to apologize and say she¡¯d pay for any damages. Grace distressed, snagging everyone¡¯s questioning eyes as she said, ¡°I thought she was going to squeeze every ounce of milk out of me.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± Scarlet asked from the counter. ¡°No, ain¡¯t no way I could have won that witch,¡± she doubled down. ¡°That was wild! But ain¡¯t nothing like a surprise visit from the local nightmare to spice up a meal. Am I right?¡± Her big blue eyes glanced between them, nerves rising by the second as she laughed, adjusting her hat. ¡°Did I, uh, say something wrong? Is she not a local? Oh, the milk comment, yeah¡­ Sorry, I just grew up on the farm, ya see¡ªa dairy farm, specifically, so milk and cow, eh¡­jokes were kind of the norm. I¡¯m not weird, I swear!¡± Nam sighed, his shoulders sagging as the tension in the room eased, ignoring the cow girl. ¡°She¡¯s never going to leave us alone, is she?¡± Rachel shook her head, her voice hardening. ¡°Not until one of us is dead, and I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡± She flicked Grace¡¯s hat, making the girl stiffen straight as a board while looking up at her from under the brim of her hat. ¡°Consider yourself hired after that bluff and performance, Milky. As much as I made light of that bitch, she¡¯s got real backers and power but you handled yourself well. You¡¯ll be our Legend recruit trainer, so talk to my brother about getting his wife and our new cooked bird up to snuff. I¡¯ve got a dubious AI to question, so figure things out before I get back.¡± Turning on her heel, she left the cafe in a buzz. Scarlet chased after her, wearing an unsure frown as Grace mouthed her new code name. Of course, Rachel was considering a few others that might stick with the girl¡¯s love for the white stuff but humor could come later if the cowgirl survived the week. B3 — 10. The AI Returns Pushing open the door to the caf¨¦ with a slight swing of her tail, the frigid Montana air hit Rachel in the face as she moved to step outside. Scarlet was right behind her, the vamp girl¡¯s steps quieter than the storm of mumbles that swept the warm interior, the whispers of soldiers mixed with the steady hum of the temporary entertainment district. However, she paused, ears twitching as her brother¡¯s chair shot back and he jumped to his feet. ¡°Rachel!¡± A frown touched her mouth at the sharp and annoyed cadence she¡¯d heard throughout her life; it essentially was his way of beating her over the head with a brick to tell her she was stupid. Half turning, she saw him already shaking his head, phone raised in one hand. ¡°Are you serious?¡± he barked, drawing every patron¡¯s eye while gesturing at the cowgirl. ¡°You didn¡¯t even give the others a shot, and now you want to hire The Legend of Calamity Jane here on the spot?¡± Rachel turned back slowly, her brain having to redirect from Astra next door as her eyes met her brother¡¯s. She hadn¡¯t expected this pushback, which meant she¡¯d missed something important. It almost immediately smacked her in the face. This wasn¡¯t just any drill sergeant she was hiring; he had to trust them to do everything possible to keep his wife alive. Shit. I mean, she¡¯s got the belly and brass for it, but¡­ Grace, who was still sitting at their table, ignored the outburst and raised a flask to her lips before pouring a generous amount of something¡ªmost likely alcohol¡ªinto her coffee. Her grin stretched across her face as she sat back to observe them from under the brim of her hat, sipping at her brew. Nam waved his phone, having already done a quick search, no doubt. ¡°You know, one biographer said Calamity Jane¡¯s true story is, ¡®mostly an account of uneventful daily life interrupted by drinking binges. A rough and tumble tomboy trying to make it in a man¡¯s world without any respect. She¡¯s not some outlaw like people think. She was a gambler, a drunkard, and engaged in dangerous behavior for attention¡ªby far one of the worst cowgirl role models in history.¡¯ And this is who you want to train my wife?¡± Grace grinned and threw one arm over the back of her chair, aiming a wink at him. ¡°Ah, but they have heard of the calamitous cowgirl, for better or for worse. That¡¯s a win, right? Look, ma, your little milk girl is famous!¡± Rachel tilted her head, her gaze slipping back to Grace. ¡°Love the spunk but not the time, Milky. Look, Nam, it¡¯s not all about her historical account. Pop-culture plays a major role too.¡± Nam groaned, sliding his hands through his hair in a nervous way that was unusual for her calm brother. ¡°Rachel, I get you¡¯re busy. I do. But do you even know if she¡¯s done a Legend Quest¡ªno, a normal Quest for that matter?¡± Sighing and moving back inside for a moment to not let out any more heat, she turned to give her brother her full attention. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªthis needs your sign-off, and while I¡¯ve marked her for characteristics I approve of, that doesn¡¯t mean you have. I get that.¡± She cocked her hip, soldiers giving them sidelong glances, waiting to see how this interaction played out. ¡°Take her to see Alexa and the skittish feather butt. Pick a few others to test out and see how she handles things in a Quest. And yes, at the strength I sense in her she¡¯s at least done a few Quests. This is a test for her as much as it is for the rookies.¡± Nam¡¯s face softened a bit, though he still looked skeptical while crossing his arms. ¡°And what happens if she fails my expectations¡ªshe¡¯s drinking during the interview process?!¡± Grace straightened her hat with a playful grin and tossed her flask to the side for it to vanish in a pulse of blue light. ¡°Now, don¡¯t y¡¯all worry none, sugar,¡± she drawled. ¡°I know I might seem like the mighty wild type, but I¡¯m more dependable than a barn rooster at sunrise. And I don¡¯t drink that much¡­¡± She paused, giving her coffee cup a light tap. ¡°Most days, at least but I¡¯ve got my reasons for it.¡± Name gave her a stare that said she was full of it, prompting the head-shorter lady to cross her legs and throw a thoughtful glance her way. ¡°I mean, yeah, I¡¯ve had a few rough-and-tumble days¡ªcowgirl¡¯s life ain¡¯t for the faint-hearted; especially when you¡¯re livin off the clothes on your back¡ªbut I¡¯m all about hard work, not just the drinkin¡¯ and partyin¡¯ parts.¡± She shot Nam a cheeky grin. ¡°Heck, I¡¯m as modest as a cactus in bloom¡ªrare, sure, but when it happens, folks remember her. Anyone with me¡­ No? Well, guess I¡¯m rarer than I thought!¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her personality quirk, no doubt using humor as a way to ease her own nerves; her muscles were tight, yet she did a good job at hiding it. ¡°It¡¯s simple, Nam. If she fails your expectations, then you throw me the next target. For now, we just need a Legend, and considering our last visitor,¡± her eyes flicked toward the storm clouds, now nearly on top of them, ¡°at least we know Grace is aware of the stakes. She knows what she¡¯s getting into with Omen and handled it about as well as Cahira would have.¡± ¡°¡­The pirate? Not a high bar, Sis,¡± her brother grumbled. ¡°But don¡¯t worry,¡± Rachel soothed, catching Scarlet¡¯s own unsure frown, ¡°I¡¯ll do my personal evaluation with her later. I¡¯m not looking for polished diamonds but coal caked in dirt¡ªrough stones¡ªcapable of going under the pressure and heat to become stunning, pretty, and sharp little gems.¡± Grace chose that moment to choke on her coffee, sputtering as Rachel¡¯s ¡®evaluation¡¯ sank in and probably remembering how Aella had her trial by fire. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m a quick learner. Whatever ya need, I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± she coughed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡°Rough stones caked in dirt, huh? That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for¡ªpressure and heat, right? Although, I prefer the hot days workin¡¯ a ranch than the coal mines, if ya catch my drift.¡± Rachel¡¯s smirk only widened as her gaze swept across the caf¨¦ patrons and the soldiers nearby. They were murmuring amongst themselves and word of Omen¡¯s recruitment would continue to spread. She turned on her heel and left. ¡°We¡¯ll see how much ¡®milk¡¯ I can get from you, Cow Girl. I hope you can handle the chaos because wherever Omen goes, misfortune follows.¡± Nam groaned again, clearly not ready to drop the conversation as she left, mumbling, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll see how she does. But Rachel¡­ Be careful with how you handle things going forward; people are already talking, and not everyone is as tough as you are.¡± Entering the chilly night, Scarlet jogged to keep up with her longer stride, prompting her to slow down a little. Rachel could still hear Grace behind them, talking to Nam and trying to get a feel on what she was actually doing because she had no clue what they wanted from her; it was the promise of adventure that had drawn her from the rumors surrounding them. Scarlet¡¯s crimson irises peeled back the brick to watch Nam and Grace talk as they made it to the alley, leading to the rear of the establishment. ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s a good fit? She¡¯s stronger than Aella, for sure, but not quite on Cahira¡¯s level or near ours.¡± Rachel chuckled under her breath. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine. Not everyone has gathered as much information as us on how to advance quickly or had our opportunities. Grace is a thrill seeker. She¡¯s looking for a big adventure. She¡¯ll fit in just fine.¡± Scarlet raised an eyebrow, turning her focus to the opposite building. ¡°She¡¯s sure got a lot of¡­personality, I guess you could say. Not that that¡¯s a bad thing! I like the whole dairy joke and cowgirl thing she has going on. I¡¯m curious about her. It¡¯s just, it¡¯s hard to see her joining us on the last ¡®adventure¡¯ we had.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears twitched to the left, catching snippets of conversation from soldiers in a pub who saw Nia, Aella, and Alexa pass¡ªwhispers about her recent brawl with the bird lady were causing a stir, good and bad. ¡°That interaction with Relica proves she¡¯s tougher than she feels because she hasn¡¯t had the opportunity to push herself. There should be a lot of people like that which just need the right situation to prove their worth.¡± Her gaze shifted toward the sky as she came to a stop at the deserted back alley. Flakes began to fall, the dark clouds bringing a white blanket to cover them. She could feel it in her stiff tail and ears; it wouldn¡¯t be long until it grew heavy and multiple parties would be using it for their own ends¡ªthe USSR would be setting up for their operation, she could feel it. ¡°Besides,¡± Rachel smirked, following Scarlet¡¯s narrow-eyed glare at the back entrance of the neighboring building where a big military man dressed in a grunt outfit exited, a smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯d rather deal with someone who knows the cost of failure. She¡¯s seen Relica, acknowledged the Mystic Legendkin, and didn¡¯t run. That counts for something.¡± Scarlet nodded her blood exiting her body to fan over them like an umbrella, excluding the AI on purpose. ¡°I guess¡­ I just don¡¯t want you to have to clean up another mess, like you¡¯ve done with me. Speaking about messes. I can see past that disguise now, Astra. A doll with a lot of magical and ritual modifications on it, I assume. Why are you here?¡± A bit harsh, Rachel internally sighed. I suppose what she really wants to ask is what her mother wants and to have her turn herself in. Or¡­is she thinking her mother is checking up on her and is annoyed at her not coming herself? It would be stupid if she did. Standing tall, nearly even with the tip of Rachel¡¯s ears, the big man clasped his hands behind his back as drones flew overhead, surveying the area. ¡°Scarlet, well, aren¡¯t you looking mighty now? I see Countess Elizabeth¡¯s party did you well. I¡¯m so sorry I missed it. But why the hostility? Has there been some upsets in your life recently? I can help!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want any help from you¡­ Unless you can get my mother to turn herself in or at least talk to me.¡± And, there it is. ¡°Woah. Let¡¯s not get carried away,¡± Astra laughed. ¡°I¡¯m good but I¡¯m not that good! What¡¯s got you so on edge? Did you find out about the French deal I made with Charlemagne? To be fair, Jeanne didn¡¯t approve. I¡¯m here as a friend! I take it my gift was received by the good general, Rachel?¡± So, he admits to working with the French to spy on us, she mused, hearing Nia squealing about new clothes with her two babysitters. Jeanne has a better poker face than I thought. Rachel¡¯s head tilted to the left, parsing through the threads of misfortune. There were many ways she¡¯d envisioned this meeting going, yet so many ways it could come back to bite her in the tail. Adele might be listening. It would make sense that she¡¯d want to hear her daughter speak again. Scarlet¡¯s words were biting likely for that very reason. Until she had a way to free Astra, she had to play along, and misfortune somewhat agreed. There was a better outcome, but the chances of getting it were low. Adding a smile, she heard the squeak of rats gathering around them; it wouldn¡¯t be long until they had another guest. ¡°I¡¯ve had a few ¡®gifts¡¯ and messengers sent to deliver them recently. I was thinking about securing your services for a few tasks, but I know you only do jobs you¡¯re interested in. So, since you¡¯re here¡­I interest you. What have you been up to since disappearing in Miami?¡± ¡°Who is to say I¡¯m on a job right now or that I¡¯m not interested in being hired by the infamous Omen?¡± A sly smirk lifted the man¡¯s mouth as he chewed his gum, side stepping her question. His vision flicked to Scarlet, likely to redirect. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you found your way into a lot of money, as well. How about you hire me, Scarlet? I do good work¡­ Can I assume the information had to do with your bloody masquerade?¡± Rachel¡¯s expression tightened slightly, the weight of her previous interactions with Relica and the Scarlet Hand brought up a big question mark she wanted answered, and who better than the Scarlet Hand¡¯s AI itself? ¡°Side stepping, Astra¡­ Do you have any insights for me on Aurora?¡± The sparse, falling flakes began to stick to his military jacket, showing the work of a hard day. ¡°You¡¯ve worked with the Scarlet Hand before. Surely you know something juicy about that irritating succubus vampire?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Astra¡¯s gum bubble popped over his mouth as he studied her, the smile on his lips fading. ¡°Aurora? Ooh. That¡¯s gonna cost you, babe. That¡¯s high-grade info¡­ Very high, depending on how recent you want it but you¡¯ve got the funds.¡± She snorted, the rising snow swirling around them as the wind picked up; maybe Adele was looking for some extra money after her husband drained their account. ¡°What could you possibly want from me? Money? You¡¯re funny. No. You can hack into any bank you want, right? But¡­I have something you desire, don¡¯t I?¡± Astra¡¯s brows furrowed, his confidence faltering for a moment while folding his arms and breathing out a visible, heavy puff of air. The snow was starting to pick up, his dark eyes narrowing before flicking to Scarlet, then back to her. The fanged girl kept her blood umbrella purposefully away from the AI, and Rachel¡¯s smile grew at his reaction. Adele thinks it¡¯s Scarlet while Astra knows my true intention¡­freedom. ¡°Oh? Interesting counter I had not anticipated, which is¡­unusual for me. And how do you know what I desire?¡± Before Rachel could answer, Scarlet spoke up from behind her. ¡°You mean, he doesn¡¯t know?¡± Her laughter did not cause the same foggy swirl of clouds around her as it did them, which was odd considering the puppet wasn¡¯t alive, yet it did need to give off that appearance. ¡°I thought you were the all-seeing hacker. We have our tricks too.¡± Talking to your mother and not him is not going to help us, Rachel internally groaned, the hardly hidden anger and frustration clear as day. Cool it down. Astra swallowed his gum and took out another piece to replace it, his tone far more calculating now. ¡°What are you two playing at? Something feels¡­off since we last spoke,¡± he muttered, his usual smirk returning, though it was weaker now. Rachel moved to bump shoulders with Scarlet, making her scowl falter and look away with a restrained, pouty growl. Her mother sending a puppet like Astra instead of herself must have felt rough for the fanged girl; Rachel could get that but they had to play this the right way. ¡°The fun little games we play. Let¡¯s just say I know exactly what you want. It doesn¡¯t matter how I know. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured out that I have plenty of other sources of information to get such intel. However, the point is, you likely have access to something I want.¡± Ears tilting forward, she gave him an enigmatic stare, hinting at something only he would know and his puppeteer would not. ¡°Give me what I want, Astra, and I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡± Letting the silence stretch, it wasn¡¯t long until he chuckled and pulled a slim file from seemingly nowhere out from behind his back. ¡°If it¡¯s what I most want, then I¡¯ll need to do a little more homework before coming back to you with such confidence¡­ Aurora is most on your mind, hmm? Interesting. Not what I expected. ¡°As it stands, here!¡± He handed the file forward with a wide grin. ¡°I was hired to deliver this. Figured I¡¯d hang around to see what you¡¯d make of it and maybe to chat a little more. I don¡¯t get a lot of fun interactions like this that catch me by surprise. Indulge where you can, I always say! Oh? Not interested?¡± Rachel glanced at the folder but made no move to take it. ¡°Mmm. Let me guess¡ªmore people crawling out of the woodwork, trying to throw in their support for Omen in order to save the world?¡± She didn¡¯t need to look at it; she already knew the type of information it contained from his previous report. Astra waved the folder slightly. ¡°No need to be paranoid. A USSR mole I was hired to uncover. I¡¯ve jammed the area, so they can¡¯t hear us, by the way. Found him through some bank records. Low-level stuff, but hey, it¡¯s a start.¡± Rachel took the file without much interest, handing it over to Scarlet who peeled it open like a detective on a case. It wasn¡¯t hard to see she didn¡¯t want to interact with Astra if her mother wasn¡¯t going to talk to her; it would be good to give the vampire a task to do to distract her. The fanged girl was dying to bite into more responsibility and prove herself. Running around to find spies wasn¡¯t that appealing to Rachel after the whole masquerade mystery; she had Aurora living in her brain rent free now because of that, knocking and snickering for attention. So, Scarlet could handle that side of things. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to deal with that right now,¡± she brushed aside. ¡°I¡¯ll delegate that out. I have recruits, training, and promotional stuff to do. Also¡­the Crystal will open in two days at noon. That¡¯s what I¡¯m focusing on.¡± ¡°Two days¡­ Wow. Sooner than I expected,¡± Astra shifted on his feet, sniffing the air and glancing toward the shadows behind them. His voice dropped, now almost playful. ¡°I thought I smelled the plague. Black. Are you here to bid for my services? Omen makes a tough opponent so far. Rachel has what I most want! What do you have to offer?¡± The gathering rats coalesced into dense shadows until a slender figure emerged. ¡°Outbid? I¡¯ve already paid my price, have I not?¡± Black asked, her low voice sharp but laced with amusement. ¡°What do you know about White¡¯s condition?¡± Rachel barely contained her laughter as the distant sound of the displaced rats Black had traded places with; it was followed by Red¡¯s grumbling complaints about Black sneaking off again and how she didn¡¯t want to meet Green or Gray by herself. Not bad, Black. Leveraging your info on him as an AI and being created by the Scarlet Hand, all while his puppet master watches¡­ Information you¡¯ve already given me, and using it as a threat to force him to answer you. It¡¯s a play. As someone in the services business, he¡¯s more of a rival than a friend, so¡­ The storm was starting to settle in as Astra tensed, mouth becoming a line as the conversation shifted. ¡°Extortion, Black? Really?¡± He chuckled softly but there was no humor in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re pushing it but I do owe you.¡± Rachel tilted her head, her smile cold. ¡°You also owe me, Astra. You¡¯ve been sneaking about acting like my friend. Shouldn¡¯t you help a hare out so I can put my trust in you again?¡± He exhaled loudly, the air between them thickening. ¡°That is¡­fair. Fine. I¡¯ll give you a tidbit,¡± he said slowly, pulling his gum from his mouth before tucking it into a wrapper to take out another flavor to replace it with. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know how your glorious leader is doing. It¡¯s bad, though. Very bad. Most of what I hear says she won¡¯t make it back¡­period. One person saw a vision of her being taken captive into a Crystal, bound by ropes of death. I¡¯m skeptical of ¡®visions¡¯ and ¡®visionaries¡¯ though on a personal note.¡± Astra¡¯s sharp eyes locked onto Black¡¯s as the rat lady¡¯s fingers tightened into a fist. ¡°And White¡¯s strong. Potentially as strong as Rachel, which is how Fable survived falling out with the Scarlet Hand with her leadership. White¡¯s picking up the slack of some members of your organization. I¡¯m sure you know the culprits. They may even burn bridges to stop their internal panic.¡± Rachel took note of the way his clothes shifted, the military garb overlaid with potentially some kind of nanite technology by the sounds they produced. Black¡¯s dry smirk grew as Astra transformed into a dark-haired, female nurse with a crooked smile on her face. ¡°White will make it back. And don¡¯t be so dramatic, Astra. If you¡¯re on Fable¡¯s side. I¡¯m on your side,¡± she said with a flick of her bald tail. ¡°You¡¯re friendly, right? You¡¯re here to provide all the information needed to help this operation move smoothly.¡± Astra¡¯s new persona looked bored, her voice laced with sarcasm while popping a sour gum bubbly into her mouth. ¡°Sure. Sure. Whatever. I know how it is. What should you look out for, Scarlet?¡± The vampire girl glanced up as her name was called. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to be investigating, right? Rachel¡¯s clearly not invested until there¡¯s a fight,¡± she droned. ¡°Look there. Forces are moving, recruits are being tested¡ªnew people, new faces, no big background checks because¡­you know, they can¡¯t. You should keep your big red eyes open. Some of those ¡®volunteers¡¯ have less-than-innocent intentions.¡± Rachel¡¯s mind raced, processing the implications. Fable and Omen had indeed made enemies across the globe, and this Crystal opening would be the perfect stage for some of those people to make a move. ¡°We¡¯ve got our admirers, true,¡± Rachel said, her eyes gleaming. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about a few bad apples.¡± ¡°Maybe you should be,¡± Astra shot back, her tone more serious now as she put her hands on her hips to stare up at her. ¡°Luck and misfortune only holds out for so long, even for you, Rachel. There are other powerful forces at work that would like nothing more than for you and this Crystal to destroy each other. ¡°Let me make this clear, the Scarlet Hand put in a lot of work to make sure a Crystal attack in Colombia, South America captured a set of twins. They want to keep them off Earth. Period. Even the Scarlet Hand is working behind the scenes to help you on this one.¡± The wind howled, scattering snow across the ground as Rachel crossed her arms and locked eyes with the smaller woman. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s old news. You¡¯re slacking. I¡¯ve already been told about these fearsome twins by Relica herself. She was right next door and you didn¡¯t notice? And I don¡¯t rely on luck anyway,¡± she said quietly, her voice steady. ¡°I make my own destiny.¡± Astra blinked, shaking her head to rid herself of the thickening snowflakes. ¡°Relica met with you? Well¡­that¡¯s, huh. She shouldn¡¯t be anywhere near here,¡± the nurse hummed, cupping her chin while staring at the ground. ¡°So many unexpected things when it comes to you, Rachel. It is fun to see the differences that shatter everyone¡¯s expected outcome of things when you¡¯re involved¡­¡± She paused, head tiling while likely running countless calculations on the spot. ¡°Maybe you are a mold breaker that cannot be put in a box. Well, now that pleasantries are over! I have a few more tasks to complete. By the way,¡± she winked, backing away and becoming a tad more livelier. ¡°I just got notified they checked out that special earring you gave the military in Miami, and under Barb¡¯s credentials. Congrats on finally getting them back. Also, that split-tailed cat around your parents is scaring everyone away! Where did you find her? Nevermind. I¡¯ll figure it out. See you around, ladies.¡± Rachel watched her go with a furrowed brow, Black taking out her journal to write something in it and Scarlet flipping through sheets of papers, looking for connections; the fanged girl was zeroed in. Zoe is a mystery. I bet she is terrifying people if the cat can make marchionesses of Hell run and Yseress skittish. So much gunpowder is lying around this city¡­ And I can be the fire starter. I¡¯m loving it! Her grin returned, hearing Barbara making calls for all the Legends, Myths, Mystics, and any other changed person who answered the call to gather for the big speech, one she was supposed to be a part of. Grace is meeting Nia and the girls. They should be at the speech, which will be good. Getting ahead of the rat woman, Rachel¡¯s eclipse-like eyes darted to her. ¡°Let me guess, Green and Gray want to put on a bit of a show while testing me to see if the hype is real?¡± Black put on a small smile from under her hood, and Scarlet¡¯s blood extended to include her. ¡°Green is an executive in Fable. She didn¡¯t quite take your offer to poach us well. It¡¯s compounding, but I believe she¡¯s looking for some way to let loose a little and blow off steam as well.¡± Throwing her arms high overhead for her bridged fingers to barely touch her pointed ears, a snicker shook Rachel¡¯s chest. ¡°Good. I¡¯m warmed up now¡ªand what is that timing?¡± Nia! Her glow faded as her Lunar Pool went from 109% to 59%, and the moon was now covered by the blanket of white. ¡°Huh! What?! You told me to make White! I did good, so don¡¯t yell at me! I got some clothes, was feeling full and good, and so I made him! Bite my tail! Grrr!¡± Okay. Someone is hyped up on something. What did you eat? ¡°Bghragh! No! Pfft! Idiot. Fatass! Dummy head! I¡¯m totally not on glitter! It¡¯s not like it was sparkly or¡­sweet, and melted in my mouth like hot honey¡­ Okay it was a glitter dress! Pinch my ears!¡± And now we know someone has a reaction to glitter. We¡¯ll keep something on hand for when we need aggressive Nia. ¡°Grarrrr! I¡¯m totally fine! Why is this shoe so¡­big! Oh. The buns can fill it in for me¡ªbunny slippers! Major! I have bun slippers! Aurelia and Coral slippers¡ªI¡¯m not matching! Hahaha! I¡¯m not matching! They¡¯re going to put me in bunny jail! You¡¯ll never catch me, coppers! She¡¯s got a rope, Major! Run for it!¡± Scarlet and Black looked at her drained smile, totally oblivious to the chaos that her little bun was all about. ¡°I think Nia¡¯s been watching some adult anime on your account, Scarlet. Let¡¯s go collect her before the rabid bunny gets hogtied by Omen¡¯s new trainer. Then, we¡¯re off to give a national speech for everyone who is interested about Omen, and a short one it will be.¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Peering through the window of their private jet as they passed over UK airspace, Fiona squinted as the sunlight lowered in its orange glory. Ahead of them were colossal branches, stretching out even above where they were in the jet, flying under the canopy. Anthony and Cahira were at their own windows, their eyes on the giant tree that overshadowed London. On the other hand, Selvaria was lying down in the center, a young teenage dragon girl, drained of most of her water so they could fly. ¡°Ugh. My stomach¡­ I¡¯m literally dying. Help. I see light. Wow,¡± Selvaria hummed, glancing toward the window as they flew between two of the building-sized glowing fruits of the tree. ¡°Cool. I want to explore and eat one of the fruits¡­ Big juicy fruit¡­ Do you think it would give me superpowers? Maybe I could do solar blasts¡­ I could own Rachel.¡± Fiona tried not to pay her delusional ravings much mind; she was super dehydrated at the moment. From what she¡¯d read, the World Tree blocked out much of the sun throughout the day, only for the giant yellow fruits to radiate solar radiation down on the population to act as a light source and provide heat. The pilots were careful to keep away from them due to the energy they released. Anthony reached down to pat the leviathan on the shoulder with a strained laugh, yawning and checking his phone. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Selv. This certainly is something to wake up to but maybe you should work on your speed first¡­ Dammit. We missed Rachel¡¯s big speech last night¡­ The headlines are kind of wild.¡± Cahira peeked over her seat, scratched her chest and adjusted her red tank top. ¡°Eh? The lady hare be causing a stir, huh? Haha. I¡¯d expect nothin¡¯ less of the terrifying lass! So, we¡¯ve got a few days before our goods be ready to load on mi humble boat. What do ya say for stoppin¡¯ by a local pub to up the spirits¡­and maybe find a little company, hmm?¡± she asked, winking at Fiona. ¡°I hear they¡¯ve got little people places openin¡¯ all ¡®round the UK. Maybe we¡¯ll catch a rumor?¡± ¡°Maybe later,¡± Fiona said with a forced laugh. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m ready for that¡­but exploring that tree. That looks really¡­amazing. I want to do a fly-by! It¡¯s why we¡¯re here in London right now, isn¡¯t it? Is that cool, Anthony?¡± she asked, floating over to him and giving her cutest smile. Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, puffing out his cheeks and looking somewhat distracted while looking to the west¡ªto Ireland. ¡°It could be a good distraction. We have several hours, though. Rachel won¡¯t be up to get the report until 7 p.m. at the earliest, and that means¡­ 2 a.m. for us, and it¡¯s 6 p.m. right now. Umm. Yeah. Just go up real fast above us. We still need to check into the country.¡± ¡°Okay! As soon as we land. I¡¯ll check out that fruit up there and report back on what I find!¡± She fluttered back to the window as they began to descend. In truth, she was trying to distract herself from what was happening back home. Nora, Mom, Dad¡­please be okay. I¡¯m coming. Just hold on a bit longer. B3 — 11. Building Confidence Rachel¡¯s ears twitched toward the sound of the crowd gathering, heavy boots crunching snow as the flakes of snow melted against her hot skin. Black and Scarlet walked behind her, the vamp girl silently flipping through the intel Astra had delivered to them. In the distance, Nia bounced ahead of Nam, Alexa, Aella, and Grace with her bunny squad; the little girl had been freed from Grace¡¯s rope once settling down a bit. Nia¡¯s giggles mixing with the occasional mumbles of excitement that passed between various companies with the radio buzzing about the ¡®flux¡¯ speech. Not everyone was getting on board with the media word for the changed people¡ªthe other proposed names were demis, ascendants, evols, reforms, and lumina. It would be interesting to see what stuck. The chilly air bit at Rachel''s cheeks, but she hardly noticed; her pulse rising with each murmur from the soldiers and changed people. This is it. Another spotlight, another test¡­another ring with competition. This will have a much bigger audience, though. Scarlet spoke up, drawing Rachel¡¯s eye as she shifted to watch the girl jog forward to walk beside her. ¡°Should I really be looking into this? Like¡­right now,¡± Scarlet asked, flicking the papers with her long, black nails. ¡°It feels like Astra¡¯s trying to screw us over¡­or not give us all the information. I don¡¯t trust it.¡± Rachel returned her gaze to the road as the snow began to thicken, the street lined with soldiers and changed people, all of them whispering about Omen, Fable, and a few other organizations recruiting. The wind stirred, sending snowflakes swirling around them like they were the center of the universe. ¡°Let Astra play Astra games,¡± she said, voice low and steady. ¡°If she wants to¡ªoh, now she¡¯s turned into a tank driver. If he¡¯s leading us into a trap, we¡¯ll just spring it in his face. Do what you think is right, Scarlet. I¡¯d love to have another enemy to put my attention on. Doesn¡¯t it feel too quiet so far?¡± Scarlet¡¯s lips curled into a strained smirk, her crimson eyes gleaming with a new spark. ¡°Says the woman who beat a girl half to death, recruited her, and then met with a few criminals on the most wanted list? Sure. You got it, Boss. I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s real and what¡¯s bullshit.¡± Shadows swallowed her, making Rachel internally sigh as Black listened to a rat who had run up her body to whisper into her ear. I think you¡¯re adding Astra to that most wanted list when he shouldn¡¯t be, Scarlet. Still, it¡¯s good to see her with more confidence after Elizabeth¡¯s Legend Quest. Now¡¯s a good time to sink her fangs into something. She¡¯ll get even more dangerous as she grows more comfortable in her skin. It¡¯s better to let her roam than fester with all that energy. And what¡¯s Maria up to? Hmm¡­ Cursing out magical engineers who she heals and they go right back to work on the airship, only to be carried back to her an hour later, sporting new burns. I suppose it¡¯s trial and error at this point. She¡¯s upgrading her Feats through it, which is big, and possibly getting us EXP. Good to get the Mexican crew in our debt, as well. Up ahead, the stage came into view through the white blanket that had been cast over them. It towered over the snowy field the military had set up a podium on, and Rachel could already see the crowd swelling¡ªthousands. Rachel¡¯s focus narrowed as her gaze shifted to Black. The rat woman moved silently beside her, scanning the area with quick, sharp eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet. Anything you want to share?¡± Black¡¯s lips barely twitched into a smile, her tail flicking left and right, muscles tense. ¡°Gray¡¯s lurking nearby,¡± she said, nodding toward a dark alley ahead. ¡°He¡¯s waiting for a report.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears darted in that direction, paying close attention to the muscle twitches. ¡°Good to know another voice I should keep track of. Give him my best, would you? I¡¯ll keep Green company in the meantime. Oh, welcome, Red. A bit late, aren¡¯t you?¡± The Fable of Little Red Riding Hood appeared in a blur of rose petals, her red cloak fluttering as she fell into step beside them, catching a few eyes. ¡°You think showing up with Omen is a good idea, Black? Took me long enough to track you down. This might fire up Green even more, and I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Rachel¡¯s laugh was soft but sharp. ¡°She¡¯s been restless, huh? Maybe that¡¯s exactly what she needs. I can hear her tension. Let me help her burn off some steam. It¡¯ll keep things interesting. I¡¯ll make her forget all about you,¡± she added with a thumbs up that had the brown-haired girl shoot a questioning look from under her hood. Red huffed, though her lips twitched. ¡°You¡¯re making our lives easier, you know that? Thanks, by the way. You¡¯re more of a fairy tale nightmare turned semi-heroine.¡± Giving the private military woman a creased, downward eye, she snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a burn or a compliment. Anyway, just doing my part. Go ahead and tell Gray all about me. Have fun, and remember¡­ Omen¡¯s always got a spot open for a wolf and a rat,¡± she snickered, waving them off with one hand before returning it to her pocket. Black nodded, her tail swishing as she split off, but not before adding, ¡°Be careful, Rachel. I¡¯ve heard the rats talking¡ªfactions are sending people to observe, and they may act if things get tense or an opportunity opens up. The USSR could provide that opportunity. You¡¯d probably like that, though.¡± Rachel¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I like keeping things fun.¡± As Black and Red disappeared into the snowstorm, Rachel evened out her pace, now alone. Weaving through the crowd, she started drawing attention, people pointing her out. A path opened up for her as she moved through the throng, and Nia¡¯s voice in her mind brightened her smile. ¡°Oh, Major, Major! White can convert Coral and Aurelia¡¯s energy into the Normal White Moon, and it¡¯s like¡­super potent! Like, uh¡­a lot of percent for one percent of the thing¡ªuh, one, two, three, four¡ª¡± Do you really have to count on your fingers? Basically, the Normal Moon buns have a few extra options compared to the Event since it¡¯s closer to our level. Rachel teased, spotting Barbara off to the side of the stage in a roped off area. That¡¯s a good surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of my finger counting! Uh, 10% for every 1% of the Event Moon. Humph. See. I can count. Why are there so many people here? I can¡¯t see anything! I¡¯m jumping onto the roof. Aella can carry everyone up here¡ªoh, Alexa can fly!¡± Rachel paused at the rope, where soldiers were stationed, blocking off the area, and didn¡¯t need to wait for the Legend to notice her. The men opened up a way for her, showing how far her reputation had spread. What was your first guess, her wings? ¡°Oh, shut up, fatass! Nobody likes a smart hare.¡± Mmm. Debatable, Little Bun. Convert Coral¡¯s to pump me up to max on White Lunar Energy. Catching a few men and women¡¯s eyes in passing, she felt a surge of power as her lunar aura brightened with the power flowing into her from her outfit. How long until Big Nia is ready to stretch her ears? ¡°An hour or two, I don¡¯t know¡­ I don¡¯t check,¡± she grumbled, likely not wanting to transform and feeling like she was a burden. ¡°Why? I can keep Nike company if I¡¯m too floppy eared for you.¡± Nice defensive tone there, young bun. Just chill and have fun with Alexa. I¡¯d get the popcorn. ¡°Glitter?¡± No. ¡°Awww¡­ Okay. I¡¯ll go get popcorn.¡± Not actually expecting the girl to jump down from her perch to jog over and get popcorn from a nearby store, Rachel shook her head while approaching Barbara. You have money. ¡°Cash money, sucka-sucka! Sir, yes, sir!¡± We need to discuss your media consumption later¡­ The stage was only a few steps away now, the bright lights illuminating the swirling flakes like stars above her across the field. The world was watching, waiting for her to make the next move. But that didn¡¯t bother her; it felt no different than speaking to anyone else. The sharp scent of cold steel and adrenaline lingered in the air as Rachel approached Barbara. Her ears were tuned to the pulse of the growing crowd, the biting cold barely touching most who were present due to Resistances or willpower. Barbara stood tall, her auburn braid catching the stray snowflakes, eyes as sharp as ever behind that disciplined Marine calm. A man, bundled tightly in a thick wool coat, stood at her side¡ªMontana¡¯s Senator¡ªJohn Daines, his breath curling visibly into the frigid air. As Rachel stepped closer, the senator extended a hand, his gloved fingers trembling slightly, more from the chill than the nerves. His eyes, however, were locked with a sharp gratitude, reflecting in his hoarse voice. ¡°Miss Park,¡± he said, shaking her hand with a firm grip, ¡°I want to personally thank you for coming to the defense of our state. You¡¯ve already done more than I could¡¯ve asked from what little I¡¯ve been briefed on with all the information you¡¯ve provided.¡± Hey, Dad, just meeting a state senator. Life really has changed. Sure, I¡¯ve met the President of the United States and a four-star general, but it¡¯s hard to believe I¡¯m shaking hands and working at such a high level now. These Legends and Myths, though¡­ Rachel¡¯s gaze remained on the senator while still sizing up her competition from the other PMCs, state, and nations representatives that had offered their support. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied, her tone professional but clipped. ¡°Montana isn¡¯t the only one at risk here. We need to rally together, right?¡± The senator coughed, rubbing his gloved hands together, teeth barely concealed beneath his thick scarf and showing how long he¡¯d been out in the cold. ¡°Well,¡± he began, shifting his weight as he motioned toward the podium. ¡°We¡¯re introducing all the PMCs and military forces who have been redirected to Montana¡¯s defense today to ease the hearts of the nation. You¡¯ll each have a chance to speak to the public¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s lips twitched into a faint smile, shaking her head slightly. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for speeches, Senator. At least, I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve got a better idea.¡± Barbara stuffed her hands in her pockets and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s running through that mind of yours?¡± ¡°Something that¡¯ll grab more attention and get things moving. A showcase, a battle, something with action to show the people what we¡¯re capable of,¡± Rachel suggested, shrugging as if it were the simplest thing in the world. The senator glanced nervously toward the growing audience, the warm bodies huddled close for warmth, and the excitement already brewing. His hesitation was evident as he spoke, ¡°That could go either way, Miss Park. If it comes across like you¡¯re not taking the situation seriously¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± Rachel cut in, her eyes gleaming under the soft, falling snow with her brightened aura. ¡°It¡¯s exactly what they need. If the others can keep up, that is. It¡¯ll hit all the news channels with our short exchange of words.¡± A low chuckle slipped from Barbara¡¯s lips, and she scratched the back of her neck, glancing between the senator and Rachel. ¡°It¡¯s always a fight with you. Getting the crowd riled up to quell fears?¡± Rachel gave a slight nod, watching the senator weigh the decision. ¡°Think about it. A little fun, a chance to show what we¡¯re made of. And don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be as brutal as you¡¯ve heard,¡± she added with a challenging smirk directed at her competition. ¡°I¡¯ll start, and anyone who thinks they can keep up can follow.¡± Barbara¡¯s grin stretched wider. ¡°Could work¡­or it could blow up in our faces. Look how the funeral went.¡± Rachel shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°And didn¡¯t I turn that around? All they have to do is not fail to impress. They¡¯ve heard talk about reports and things we¡¯ve done but haven¡¯t seen a lot of footage to witness it themselves.¡± The senator, rubbing his chin through his thick scarf, finally nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of dangerous things in the past month, Miss Park, and I¡¯ve got to admit, what I¡¯ve heard about you¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯d like to see for myself what all the fuss is about, so the citizens of Billings and my state should, as well. But remember, this isn¡¯t just for the ¡®flux¡¯ crowd. We need to show the whole country that Montana¡ªand the rest of the nation¡ªis in good hands.¡± ¡°Oh, it will be,¡± Rachel assured him, glancing over the field where the snow was now thickening and the people were growing restless. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time, though. Bring on the showcase.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make it one on one or it could get too chaotic,¡± Barbara noted, glancing back to the others. ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± Rachel¡¯s tail flicked with anticipation as a woman who could have been her sister stepped forward, her large ears as straight as hers. Her silvery-blue hair shimmered with the flakes of snow sticking to it and her emerald green eyes gleamed with a challenging smirk¡ªGreen. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some interesting things about you, Rachel. You seem to have grown rather close to Black and Red. A real ¡®go-getter,¡¯ they say.¡± Her testing grin widened. ¡°I¡¯d like to return the favor. Just the two of us. Let¡¯s see if Omen has the credit to attempt to poach our talent¡­twice.¡± The senator stepped back, glancing between them as the tension bubbling in the air and chuckles passed between the other PMC members about the bold move. The snow almost crackled with electricity as a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, locking eyes with Green. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°You sure you can handle that, bun? What is it, the tortoise and the hare fable? Interesting. The others can fill in after if you can¡¯t keep up. I¡¯ve got a tight schedule, and so do you, I¡¯m guessing. A lot of vultures are flying around.¡± Barbara shot Rachel an amused glance. ¡°Figured you¡¯d go that route.¡± She looked to the senator, who sighed, his breath a frosty cloud before him. ¡°I¡¯ll allow it. Let¡¯s see what you two can do. But remember¡ªthis isn¡¯t just for show. You¡¯re setting the tone for the rest of the flux.¡± John Daines adjusted his thick coat and stepped up to the microphone, his voice booming across the snowy field and pulling all eyes. ¡°My fellow Americans¡­ I am Senator John Daines, addressing you here from my great state of Montana, at the heart of Billings. And let me be clear¡ªwhile we don¡¯t have the perfect word for what¡¯s happening to our world yet, for lack of a better moniker, I will use ¡®flux¡¯ to describe the changed people among us, as has become popular among trending media. ¡°As such, may I also address the flux who have answered the call to defend our great nation, which includes the citizens of other nations who have offered their arms. It is a perilous time when we must pull together as a collective¡­ Thank you all for being here today. ¡°We are at war.¡± he stated, pausing to look across the crowd. ¡°This is a sobering time. We¡¯re standing at the frontlines of defense, not just for Montana, but for the entire nation. The Crystal in Billings is the largest and most deadly reported to-date. ¡°The US military is here on the frontline, our brave sons and daughters who have dedicated themselves to be the shield to keep you safe¡­ This is an unprecedented time. You have seen the senate and congressional reports. You have seen the presidential addresses. ¡°And today, I¡¯m proud to introduce representatives from the organizations that have come to support our soldiers, leading the charge with them, side by side, to keep us safe.¡± Rachel crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as she glanced at the translucent barrier flickering around the stage, another PMC¡¯s handiwork from Atlanta. She hadn¡¯t heard much about them, except for their success in dealing with the Crystal attacks¡ªgiant blue beetles rampaging through the southern states. Impressive, but nothing out of her league. The senator continued, ¡°Today, I introduce to you Ms. Green, representing the Private Military Company, Fable. They¡¯ve been instrumental in countering threats from the Washington Vampire, the New Mexico shadow beast, and others.¡± He glanced toward Green, who stepped forward with a sagacious smile, yet Rachel could hear the thumping heart of a hare waiting to be unleashed within her. ¡°Green has been at the forefront of these efforts across the US, and we¡¯re all eager to see what she¡ªand her company¡ªcan do to support our soldiers and keep us safe with her and her company¡¯s supernatural powers. Ms. Green.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes glinted under the harsh light as the senator stepped back, leaving the floor open for Green to make her move. The woman was all serene smiles but she could tell by the side-long stare she got from her burning eyes that she wasn¡¯t actually a fan of hers. Better make a double batch, Nia. Green is a bit more riled up than I thought. What did Black and Red tell her in their report? ¡°Oooh! Okay. I¡¯m making a bunch of popcorn for everyone. I found these big, big bowels, and I found some aprons¡ªI didn¡¯t eat all of them, I swear¡ªI¡¯m wearing one! I put down a bald head paper with the one on it and the two zeros¡­ It¡¯s kind of weird but I think there are three zeroes on it but that¡¯s even better! I¡¯m a good bunny. Humph.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears tilted to the side while internally trying to picture what bill she¡¯d used and laughed silently upon realizing what she meant. There¡¯s three zeroes around three ones on it, and one that looks kind of like a rectangle? ¡°Yeah! I know my paper. Alexa kept saying I got the two five ones wrong but the circles! She didn¡¯t count the circles!¡± She filed that away with the plan to backtrack and put down more than a one dollar bill. Nia was right, though, there were multiple circles on it that would confuse a five-year-old¡¯s brain. Nice job, Captain Bun. Enjoy the show. Her ears straightened when catching the soft hum of the Mexican airship¡¯s blades. The sound cut through the cold air, and Maria¡¯s cursing followed, not yet off the ship as it took off. She glanced up at Green, who gave her a slight, knowing nod. So she heard it too. Huh. I guess having another big-eared person around that isn¡¯t Nia could have its disadvantages. I¡¯ll have to keep that in-mind for future conversations. It also means she probably heard Red complaining about not wanting to talk to her without Black present. The question is¡­how much does she divert from the path I took as a fable? How many fables are there about hares? Watching Green step up, Rachel could sense the shift in the air¡ªfinally, someone from a military company was going to address all the Legends and Myths that have gathered, or so they thought. How many do I know? The hares and the frogs. The tortoise and the hare is a popular one, which seems the most likely¡­ And the hare, the hound, and the goatherd. Red and Black took on multiple aspects of their fables, so¡­ We¡¯ll see. Green¡¯s voice was strong, steady. ¡°It is a chilly night here in Montana, and I know a lot of soldiers and curious onlookers are here to see what the PMCs have to say. Many of us have seen the devastation wrought by criminals and terrorists across the world.¡± She paused, letting the words settle. ¡°The uncertainty has been crippling, I know, but stability is here.¡± The word stability hung in the air, and Rachel could hear the weight of it from the relaxing muscles and whispers. Her gaze shifted to the soldiers standing at attention, their boots crunching in the snow, though the area was warming rapidly with the light dome overshadowing the zone from the dark-haired man from Atlanta¡ªone of the PMCs leaders. ¡°The US military is primed and ready to face any threat that comes our way,¡± Green continued, ¡°This is more than just a show of power¡ªit¡¯s a testament to the speed and efficiency with which we¡¯ve mobilized to protect Billings. What we¡¯re witnessing here, the preparations for the Crystal threat¡­ It¡¯s nothing short of extraordinary.¡± Rachel almost smiled at the typical PMC pitch, the polished assurance that always came before the chaos. Right¡­extraordinary. Her ears flicked as she caught the murmurs of doubt running through the normal soldiers listening. Even after a month, the public isn¡¯t sure about us. The ¡®flux¡¯ as the media has so cutely coined us shows that. We¡¯re something unknown, something to be feared. But¡­that changes as we become more known, more public. Green¡¯s tone softened, her eyes scanning the crowd. ¡°PMCs like Fable are here to provide specialized support. But let me be clear¡ªwe are not here to overshadow the brave men and women who¡¯ve pledged their lives to defend our homeland. We are being sent as aids to the military, not to replace them.¡± Rachel¡¯s tail twitched again as the whispers in the crowd grew louder. It was the same tone she heard from the residents around Miami¡ªuncertainty. Her name was being passed around a few circles, given her earlier showcase of brutality and what most would probably see as erratic behavior in the caf¨¦, not having the context. Green went on. ¡°We understand your hesitation. The introduction of supernatural powers into society is unsettling. The Crystals are another point of uncertainty. Aliens attacking from different dimensions and terrorists granted unbelievable abilities. It¡¯s all a terrifying thing, but we are your friends, not your enemies. We are here to show you we are on your side.¡± Rachel felt a smirk tug at her mouth. Friends, huh? Well, I wouldn¡¯t go that far. We all have our own motives, but you can¡¯t go ahead and tell the truth or else the conspiracy theorists will get more fuel. The lizard people really do control the government! No, it¡¯s the furries, say the other side. Green¡¯s voice dropped, almost conspiratorial, as if she were sharing a secret. ¡°We¡¯ve all seen the destruction Crystals have brought to our world, and we know the scale of the one we¡¯re facing here is¡­staggering. But we¡¯re here to put your hearts and minds at ease. We¡¯re not just here to fight; we¡¯re here to win.¡± Rachel shifted her stance, feeling the pulse of the crowd change¡ªno longer just fear, but something more. It was the feeling that came right before a storm hit. Green had been laying the groundwork, she realized, making her chest shake with silent mirth as she finished. ¡°With that being said,¡± Green¡¯s eyes landed on her, a spark of challenge in them, ¡°I¡¯d like to introduce Rachel Park, CEO of Omen, who will¡­expand on what I mean.¡± Hands still stuffed in her gym pockets, wearing a tank top of all things in the middle of a snow storm, she effortlessly hopped up onto the platform. Her fluid movements drew the crowd, many of which were trying to gauge if they should start their own PMCs, no doubt, or take their talents to other places. Her long ears leaned forward in amusement as she took the stand. Before the crowd could settle, she tilted her head to the side, a grin spreading across her face. ¡°I hear the chatter,¡± she began, her voice carrying over the whispers. ¡°Two bunny girls. Hot. But let¡¯s get one thing straight. We¡¯re hares. So, it¡¯s best to get that detail right because we¡¯re not little pets to coo over but feisty things that will bite your ear off!¡± The murmurs turned into light chuckles, the tension breaking just a bit. Rachel paused, glancing at Green with a teasing glint in her eclipse eyes. ¡°Ms. Green here made some good points. We can bring stability. Security.¡± She shrugged casually, looking out over the gathered soldiers and the watching media. ¡°But you don¡¯t want to hear a pretty hare girl talk. All you¡¯ve had lately is talk. So, how would you all like to see a friendly match? Omen versus Fable? Me versus Ms. Green? Hare on hare violence?! Oh-no!¡± she giggled. She heard the sharp intake of breath from the crowd, the surprise evident on a few faces but many had likely heard their previous conversation with their enhanced feats. It was something else when happening in the moment, though. Got ¡®em. Up on the roof, Rachel could already hear Nia munching on freshly popped popcorn. Alexa and Aella¡¯s hushed whispers reached her sharp ears, while Grace was already elbow-deep in one of the bowls, grinning like a fiend. The little buns even had three deep tubs. Rachel stifled a chuckle. Coral always managed to make herself comfortable, no matter the situation, so I guess it tracks with the others. Rachel slipped a hand out of her pocket to place it on her cocked hip, her stance relaxed, but her tone sharpened as she addressed the crowd again. ¡°Words are cheap, right? So I¡¯ll keep this short. Whatever¡¯s coming through that Crystal?¡± She paused, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous edge. ¡°I¡¯ll win. That¡¯s right. Me. That¡¯s how confident I am and with a track record to prove it. Simple as that.¡± A ripple moved through the throng, the kind that came before a fight¡ªthe kind that Rachel thrived on. ¡°But, as I said, words are cheap. Why not give you a sample? A taste of what the US, Omen, and Fable are all about? Something you can look back on, rewind, and share?¡± She glanced sideways at Green, her heartbeat rising. ¡°You want stability? Power? Fine. Let¡¯s show them. A friendly sparring match between me and Green here. Give her a chance to get her payback.¡± Green raised an eyebrow, her emerald eyes narrowing in challenge, and a flash of lime light brought a large tortoise shell shield into her hand. Rachel¡¯s voice dropped to a playful whisper, loud enough for the crowd to hear as she held up her arm for a pulse of light to call her spiked hammer to hand. ¡°The immovable object versus the unstoppable force, is it? Oh, and did I mention she¡¯s been dying to get me back for trying to poach Little Red Riding Hood and the Pied Piper from her.¡± She winked at the audience, earning a few scattered laughs. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m like that. No shame here, and I¡¯d do it again.¡± ¡°Oh, would you now?¡± she asked, using her free hand to brush back her silvery-blue hair as a path opened up for them in front of the stage, the cameras shifting positions with zeal. ¡°That¡¯s some attitude you have, Rachel.¡± ¡°You have no idea,¡± she snickered, spinning the giant hammer effortlessly in the air before resting it on her shoulder and leaning back into the microphone. ¡°That¡¯s right! There¡¯s a bit of history here, folks. Doesn¡¯t that make the stakes a little higher? Maybe if I win you join Omen yourself, maybe bring your boyfriend Gray?¡± The tension between them was palpable now, the energy buzzing in the air. Rachel didn¡¯t break eye contact, her smirk daring Green to take the bait. Green¡¯s lips twitched into a thin smile, but Rachel could see the fire in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t backing down. Good. ¡°You¡¯re good at jokes, Rachel, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Green laughed, loosening her muscles as her shield brightened by the second. ¡°Boyfriend. He¡¯d be rolling on the floor for that one.¡± ¡°Funny. I hear choking from the alley. What¡¯s that about? No. Don¡¯t answer that! Let the crowd speculate.¡± Rachel shrugged nonchalantly, addressing the crowd again and flashing her teeth. ¡°We¡¯re all recruiting the best, right? No need in holding back. As a side note, I just found myself a little cowgirl from a dairy farm, so don¡¯t think anyone¡¯s too humble for me, even a slow turtle like you!¡± ¡°Turtle?! Wow. And who was talking about getting things right¡­because those are fighting words, Ms. Bun!¡± ¡°Oooh! I like it. Place your bets,¡± Rachel said with a wink, jumping into the center of the now empty ring as a light platform appeared under them, courtesy of the Atlanta lady. She brought them up as more Legends and Myths got in on the show, projecting magical displays for others to view. ¡°And the stage is set, folks¡­ Things are about to get a little rowdy. I¡¯ll take all of Fable for a prize. Thoughts?¡± Green set her ground, ready to charge. ¡°Winner takes all. Why don¡¯t you start us off, Senator?¡± I love a confident fighter! Tail stiff, she heard the senator stumble forward to the microphone, clearing his voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a fight with weapons, ladies¡­but I like your enthusiasm to show the people what you¡¯re made of so they can put their faith in these operations. Raise your weapons¡­ I never thought I¡¯d say this, but¡­ Fight!¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Fiona fluttered nervously at the window, her wings stationary as they finally began their descent toward the London airport. The massive World Tree stretched out above the city like an ancient giant, its thick branches interwoven with yellow, glowing orbs the size of buildings. They pulsed softly, casting a warm, almost ethereal light on the city below, giving the skyline an otherworldly aura. It was beautiful but ominous¡ªlike stars caught between worlds, hanging in a twilight limbo. She wanted to take it all in, to marvel at the sight, but the gnawing worry in her stomach was pulling her mind back home. Mom, Dad, Nora¡­please be safe. This has to be quick. I have to get back. The jet¡¯s tires hit the tarmac, jolting Fiona out of her thoughts. As soon as the private plane came to a halt, she floated out of her seat, wings beating slightly with an anxious rhythm. ¡°We¡¯re here¡­finally. Umm. What¡¯s with all the flashing lights and police cars?!¡± Anthony, already gathering their things, gave her a sidelong glance. ¡°Just stay calm, Fi. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re going to arrest us. We¡¯re still technically a U.S.-based company and foreign Myths and Legends, even if¡­well, you know.¡± He smirked, stretching. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s bound to be some roadblocks, given that the Scarlet Hand is here. I¡¯m sure Merlin will be in contact.¡± As they stepped outside, Cahira let out a low whistle, her red tank top clinging to her shapely frame. ¡°Ahoy, lads and lassies. Looks like we¡¯ve got some company,¡± she drawled, waving casually at the agents waiting at the bottom of the stairs. The UK¡¯s equivalent of the FBI¡ªMI5, or whatever they called themselves now¡ªstood in a semi-circle around the plane, looking none too pleased. ¡°Guess they don¡¯t like unannounced guests.¡± Anthony chuckled, sliding his hands into his pockets. His tone was light, but there was an edge to it. He wasn¡¯t entirely surprised. He could have shared his expectations with them, though. Fiona hovered closer to him. ¡°W-What do we do?¡± she squeaked, glancing around. ¡°We didn¡¯t¡­do anything wrong, right? We have passports and everything.¡± ¡°Wrong?¡± Selvaria groaned from her position, sprawled out on the floor, her water-depleted form looking even more like a teenager. ¡°I¡¯m dead¡­ I¡¯ve got no water¡­ Just leave me here. It¡¯s been a good run, peeps.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not dead, Selv,¡± Anthony chuckled, bending down to give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Though you might be if we don¡¯t get you some water soon. I figured something like this would happen.¡± He turned to the agents, who were now approaching with cautious but firm strides. ¡°Best to keep things professional,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°Just follow my¡ª¡± Cahira grinned, throwing her arms wide and shocking one of the men in black with a hug. ¡°Ahoy, mates! Come to welcome us, have ya?¡± Her voice was all charm. ¡°Come to escort us to the nearest pub, huh? Drinks on me?¡± The lead agent, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes, stepped forward to pry the pirate off her flustered man. ¡°We¡¯ve been expecting you, representatives of Omen.¡± Her gaze flicked briefly to Fiona, who shrank back a little under the scrutiny. ¡°I trust you have proper documentation for your arrival? We have a few more protocols and documentation that needs done before you¡¯ll be allowed to step into the public.¡± Fiona tried to swallow her panic, her wings fluttering erratically as she hovered closer to Anthony. ¡°D-Documentation? I mean, we don¡¯t look like we used to, but that was fine for the¡ªAnthony?!¡± Anthony sighed. ¡°We¡¯ve got everything in order. No need to worry. Take us in, and I assume someone will be by to smooth things over soon enough.¡± His calm demeanor didn¡¯t waver as he pulled out a small folder, handing it to the agent. ¡°This is everything we have and a letter faxed by Cabinet leader, Arthur.¡± As they conversed, Fiona¡¯s eyes drifted up again to the enormous tree that loomed over them, Anthony handling the paperwork. The yellow orbs hanging from the branches glowed softly, their light shimmering like distant stars. For a moment, she felt like she heard a lonely, wistful song humming from it. I want to explore¡­but I have to get home. I need to protect Nora, Mom, and Dad. Please, be okay. B3 — 12. The Tortoise and the Hare The light platform beneath Rachel rose slowly, Green checking the security of her braid across from her on the generous stage they¡¯d been given. Of course, Nia handled all of that for her, and the little bun was technically a part of her soul, being equipment and a person. If she used Nia too much then it may become a more serious fight then it needed to be. Plus, it would be good to leave her outfit out of the spotlight. A hush fell over the field when they stopped at shoulder-level of those present, Green taking a defensive posture. Rachel¡¯s cocky smirk grew, hammer casually slung over her shoulders as the light barrier overhead faded over the stage to allow the thickening flakes to blanket them. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re about to be the first legal showcase of a sports competition between those who changed.¡± ¡°Looks that way,¡± Green mumbled, the tension in her shoulders giving away what she felt. Without a doubt, she knew from the reports if she were serious, Rachel could end this with a snap of her fingers, but that was only with what most would consider ¡®hacks¡¯ instead of her base abilities. ¡°I get you have way more benefactors than I do but you¡¯re not the only one who has been fighting for your life.¡± Ouch! she internally snickered. Calling me out for having Divine Feats, a Living Denier outfit, super busted moons, and the Personification of Victory chilling in my soul? Fair enough¡­ I don¡¯t plan to use most of those. This isn¡¯t a ¡®real¡¯ fight, after all¡­unless you want to make it that. Where¡¯s [The Scales of Karma: Power] at against her¡­ 5%. Well, that¡¯s bound to change as I let myself be disadvantaged. I love this energy, Green! Rachel flexed her fingers against the shaft of her weapon, the weight of her spiked hammer resting easily against her shoulder with the eyes of the world on them. Snowflakes touched them again, catching the light in an almost cinematic way, making her chuckle. ¡°The Atlanta crew definitely are trying to show off outside of their turn. Must be wrestling fans and want this to look like a pay-per-view match,¡± she mused, her gaze lifting to the white sky as drones collected and projected hologram images of them for all to see the fight. ¡°You know a lot more about me than I¡¯ve learned about you¡­ I¡¯m looking forward to knowing you better through experience,¡± she grinned. ¡°I think I have a few tricks up my sleeve,¡± the older woman whispered. ¡°Good. Uh¡­¡± Ears shifting to the left, her eyes followed them to the state senator. ¡°I know you already said fight, Senator, but the stage wasn¡¯t fully ready yet.¡± The man laughed as the holograms, cameras, and onlookers turned toward the man as he adjusted his scarf and returned to the podium. ¡°I suppose this is unscripted, so there are bound to be some hiccups but that is what makes this so genuine.¡± He paused for a moment, puffing out a long, visible stream of air while looking out across the sea of faces within the light barrier and a giant hologram was generated above him. The statesman shook his head with a wry expression that asked what the world had come to. Rachel almost rolled her eyes while spotting one of the reporters chewing gum in one of the media boxes. Astra¡¯s really going all out with these drones. Now all that talk he was doing about betting and promoting that underground website. The Scarlet Hand must be begging for funds. After all, Scarlet¡¯s billions are ¡®liquid¡¯ and not including capital transferred to her. Yet, with Astra, it won¡¯t be that hard to rebuild. ¡°People of the world,¡± John Daines proclaimed. ¡°In one corner, we have the Omen CEO, muay Thai expert, and Lunar Hare Mythickin, Rachel Park, while in the opposing corner, we have the Fable executive and former US marine, karate expert, and the Tortoise and the Hare Fablekin, Green. Bets have been placed, smack given, and tensions raised¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s ears rose at the introduction. Karate expert? Well, that¡¯s interesting¡­and why did she get one more title than me! C¡¯mon, Senator¡­ It¡¯s not like Green, Red, or Black will join Omen over this but it¡¯s good hype. Green stood across from her, shield in hand, the tortoise-shell glinting with a dull sheen. Her eyes narrowed, that competitive fire lighting a mirror flame within Rachel, but she could sense more beneath the surface¡ªan undercurrent of tension. Whether it was from their previous encounters or something else, it didn¡¯t matter. Right now, Green wanted to win. Rachel could respect that. The crowd stirred, whispers and murmurs growing louder, anticipating the clash as they waited for the senator¡¯s word. Rachel shifted her stance, loosening her muscles, and brought her hammer down in a slow arc, the weight of it negated in her grip. The senator¡¯s voice ringing out for all to hear. ¡°Fight!¡± Green firmed her ground as Rachel calmly stepped to the side to circle her, the woman moving in lock-step footsteps syncing like a dance. [Beastial Instincts] left Rachel feeling somewhat unbothered, knowing she had the edge, yet that could change with the smallest action, the threads of misfortune weaving around her¡ªit might be even more advantageous to lose this, depending on where the dice landed. [Mental Acceleration] and [Strategic Mind] made the woman¡¯s footsteps a crawl to her vision, the sounds of the world slowing with their predictions. The way Green¡¯s muscles coiled beneath her skin fed to her sharp ears, the pressure she exerted on her shield, increasing ever so slightly¡ªeverything about her stance screamed defense, patience. Waiting for me to make the first move? How unexpected compared to your previous fire¡­ Not bad, Green. You¡¯re not dumb and are playing to your strengths instead of rushing in¡­ Karate, the defense and counter attacks, hmm? Tail going stiff and ears softening, ready to fly back upon a burst of speed, Rachel let her hammer slide down to its end with a short laugh. ¡°Scared already, Green? I thought you wanted to prove yourself to Black and Red¡­but I can make the first move.¡± The moment Green opened her mouth, Rachel launched forward, the shield rising to meet her. At the last second, Rachel stepped to the side, feinting a low strike with her hammer before pulling back at the last second. Green moved quickly, her shield flashing as she angled it to block, but Rachel was already gone, darting to the opposite side, yet a sudden burst of speed allowed the woman¡¯s barrier to block the strike. Fast enough to keep up, huh? Rachel grinned, testing her with a series of probing normal jabs and slams, her hammer glancing off Green¡¯s shield as she circled around her solid defense. Nia, if I use [Lunar Grace], keep me topped off from Coral¡¯s Pool. I need everything [Divine Lunar Surge] can give me! ¡°Ma¡¯am, yes, ma¡¯am, sugar ears!¡± Rachel didn¡¯t pursue that last bit from the bun when Green didn¡¯t take the bait, the soldier¡¯s stance solid, waiting for an opening rather than over extending herself. Yet, with every blow, the crystal indicators on the shaft of her weapon grew brighter, storing kinetic energy. ¡°Come on, Green,¡± Rachel called out, her voice carrying over the wind she generated while flipping around the woman and gathering data. ¡°You¡¯re not going to win this if you just stand there and hide behind that shell¡­ Nice reflexes, though. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice!¡± Her reflexes are sharper now than they were at the start¡­ No, there¡¯s a lapse, by half a second, but that reposition wasn¡¯t as smooth. There¡¯s a method to her reaction time. I¡¯d expect nothing less from a fellow hare. Oh? Green¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she lunged forward, her shield a blur as she swung it wide in a counterattack. Rachel leaped back, just out of range, her feet skimming the edge of the platform. The crowd gasped as Green followed up with a sharp strike with the edge of her shell, aimed at Rachel¡¯s midsection, but Rachel¡¯s knee instinctively rose to flip it back up¡ªher momentum cut in half. Oh? Wait¡­ Rachel sucked in her belly and did a sideward backbend, the sharp edge gliding over her belly as she flipped around to kick her legs out. Kinetic force absorption or negation? Important difference¡­ Her sweeping leg met air as the woman launched into a Barani, twisting to land and face her, shield raised. Rachel responded by smoothly righting herself and twisted her hammer in the air to snatch with her other hand behind her back, tapping it against the floor with a hum. ¡°Quick reflexes when needed when I speed up, defense is on point, and some kinetic shenanigans¡­ Someone has read my profile.¡± Green¡¯s smile grew. ¡°I expected impressive speed, and you would be more than accustomed to using your knees or elbows to strike, but that flexibility and body control is¡­phenomenal. I didn¡¯t expect you to make it out of that without using some kind of ability. Was that a bait?¡± Rachel¡¯s body shook with silent laughter as she stretched out more, using her hammer to balance at some points in her movements to keep even with Green. ¡°You give me too much credit. I have fought someone with kinetic absorption abilities, though¡­ Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s more exciting to reveal your Feats to the world to judge?¡± ¡°What?¡± Green¡¯s eyes widened slightly while glancing toward the camera and salivating onlookers. Got you! What¡¯s with that break in concentration? Don¡¯t perform well under observation, Greenie, or just when judgment is pointed out?! Time slowing, Rachel shot forward as a blur, doubling her speed and putting more strength behind her blow. Green firmed her ground, her ears flattening and eating it as if the blow was any of her weaker strikes¡ªa flash of light illuminated the shell before it faded. Rachel could see the gears turning in her head as she recovered, her resolve returned, yet, it faltered when her hammer vanished in a pulse of light. Smile growing, Rachel lunged forward, lowering herself to the ground further than Green to apply the constant force to shove her upward. And then, just as Rachel touched the shell to press her advantage, Green¡¯s shield glowed with a faint emerald light, and suddenly, it was pulled away like a viper. Green was a blur, and Rachel locked in as the edge moved at lightning speed to slam against her unprotected side. Too fast¡ª A pulse of light brought her hammer between them at an angle, her fingers barely having enough time to press the activation on the shaft. An explosion of kinetic energy erupted between them, sending snow billowing around them¡ªGreen didn¡¯t move, hammer and shield touching. Rachel¡¯s smile faded as she leaped back, repositioning while keeping the silvery-blue-haired woman in sight. Yet, her wide field of vision caught one unusual detail that stood out to her like a bent nail. Why is the snow moving at normal speed? Rachel¡¯s eyes widened as Green¡¯s confidence smile returned and she shot toward her like a rocket. Time manipulation? Wow! So that¡¯s your game. The effect was subtle, barely noticeable at first. Green¡¯s movements were more precise, more controlled, and her strikes came faster than before¡ªno, she was moving slower. It wasn¡¯t a full stop, but enough to give her the edge in reaction time. Rachel laughed under her breath, adjusting her stance to compensate; Rachel put more strength into her muscles, ramping up her pace to near 30% of going all out. It would be better not to point out that ability to the public. Plus, if this was her tortoise ability, what about the hare side of her fable? ¡°You¡¯re really pulling out all the stops, huh?¡± ¡°Says the woman who tried to blow my arms off.¡± ¡°And you tried to cut me in half, so let¡¯s call it even!¡± Green¡¯s shield glowed green again for half a second as it hit her shield, the strike making Rachel¡¯s smile grow when the falling snow fell slightly slower and the woman smirked, ¡°Can you keep up?¡± ¡°Okay, so that¡¯s how it is?¡± Pushing into the 40% range, a surge of adrenaline pumped into her veins. ¡°I like it! Let¡¯s play.¡± Her body moved faster, dodging Green¡¯s shield bashes with fluid precision, not making contact and watching her environment¡ªwith every passing second, time was speeding back up. So it¡¯s ramping? Good. I want to see the limits of your power. How much can you slow me before you have to come up with a new trick? Her hammer blurred as it danced through the air. For every strike Green landed, Rachel felt the world speeding up around her, yet [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration] kept her two steps ahead in positioning, predicting her next move. ¡°This game of yours is cute, but I¡¯ve got better reflexes, Greenie.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes darted to the falling snow, feeling the chill against her skin. Are my Tenacity substats weakening? I¡¯m at 60% now¡ª62%. She picked up her pace, sensing the crowd¡¯s excitement building. The anticipation grew with every clash of metal and word they shared booming from the drones overhead. Rachel¡¯s thoughts were totally focused on her confident opponent, though. No, not weakening¡­absorbed. Slow and steady wins the race, is it? she mused. 65%...and wait, there¡¯s the frown. Is that it? 70%! Can you keep up? Green grunted in frustration as her shield met air, then again and again, her time manipulation now reversing. Rachel hummed a tune of a song, the woman¡¯s defense impregnable but now unable to push her further. Still, she occasionally renewed the time dilation with a hammer to shield strike.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Too slow?¡± Rachel taunted, landing a glancing blow that almost struck Green¡¯s shoulder, ripping her reinforced combat uniform sleeve clean off as a spike snagged it. ¡°Best to speed up¡­because I¡¯m about to!¡± Green growled, glowing lime-green eyes burning with determination. ¡°I¡¯m just getting started.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Rachel returned, her grin widening. ¡°Because so am I.¡± The snow began to fall heavier now, swirling around them in a flurry of white. The barrier around them shimmered, amplifying the scene for the audience, and Rachel tuned out the collective gasp as the stage became a snow-globe of chaos. She could feel the Lunar Energy building within her, her skin and white aura brightening, thanks to Nia¡¯s steady supply from Coral¡¯s converted force, but she held back for now. There was no need to go all out yet. This was just the beginning. For now, she would let Green think she had the upper hand. ¡°Let¡¯s move this to the next level,¡± Rachel said, her voice low as a small, white platform materialized below her feet, [Lunar Grace] pushing her upward into the veil. Flipping around, she landed against another platform upside down, tensing her legs to launch back at the woman, following the ripples of airwaves to her opponent. Rachel jumped, emerging through the flurry in a cyclone to find Green circling around. She wasn¡¯t fast enough. Rachel laughed while flicking her wrist, a shot of kinetic energy exploding from the opposite side of her hammer for the pointed back to strike the jade barrier that materialized to protect the woman. Green¡¯s eyes widened as cracks spiderwebbed down her barrier, barely getting her tortoise shell up in time to meet the spear-like end, the force taking her to one knee. The crowd roared, their cheers echoing through the snowy field. Momentum cutting, Rachel used another lunar disk to do a backflip, landing on the light platform and doing a back swing to fling the weapon at the recovering Fable. ¡°What was¡ªreally, Rachel?!¡± Rachel showed an innocent smile and shot forward as the hammer bounced off of the shell and vanished in a pulse of light, putting her all into her muscles. ¡°I expected more from Fable¡¯s top hare. Watch out for projectiles! Hehe. Your effects are weakening, and I¡¯m picking up the pace!¡± Green¡¯s eyes flashed with determination, and Rachel could see the shift in her posture as her shield vanished and she took on a stance, her large ears straightened. She was done holding back, as well¡ªkarate vs muay Thai. Wind whipping past Rachel, feeling the time dilation gradually returning to normal, yet that wouldn¡¯t be for long, she was sure. The snow fell steadily now, the thick, cold flakes catching the lights as they descended in slow, deliberate patterns. Rachel stood on opposite sides of the platform as Green, shaking out her chilly limbs, the biting frost was starting to set in with her weakened resistances. Weapon now dismissed, ready for the real fight, Rachel eased closer¡ªtheir fists, elbows, knees, and feet would do the talking, just how she liked it. The crowd murmured and Rachel snickered at the shifting bets passing between hands, many holding their breath as they inched closer, waiting to see who would make the first move. Rachel¡¯s muscles coiled like springs, her eyes narrowing as she shifted into a muay Thai stance. Legs slightly bent, arms raised, she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, her weight distributed evenly, ready to strike or defend at a moment¡¯s notice. It had been almost a month since she had a legitimate martial arts sparring match. Her world shrank to the feel of the platform beneath her and the rhythm of her own pulse, keeping every twitch of the military woman in her sight. ¡°Let¡¯s see what karate you got, Green,¡± she taunted, throwing out a few test jabs while trying to keep her blood circulating. ¡°I¡¯m getting faster by the second.¡± Green mirrored Rachel¡¯s intensity, but her stance was more measured¡ªkarate¡¯s trademark precision clear in the way she positioned herself. Her feet were set, one slightly in front of the other, her hands raised, ready to deflect or counter. Classic karate. All about waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Rachel tested the waters first. She darted forward, her leg snapping out in a sharp low kick aimed at Green¡¯s legs. Green sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow in an abrupt burst of speed¡ªlikely time manipulation on her side¡ªand responded with a lightning-fast punch to Rachel¡¯s ribs. It was far more precise and sharp for her previous actions, but not enough to throw Rachel off balance¡­yet ¡°Fast,¡± Rachel muttered, a grin playing on her lips. She stepped back, just in time to avoid another strike, watching it in slow motion with the help of [Mental Acceleration] before returning fire with a flurry of elbow strikes aimed at Green¡¯s upper body. Each strike came in rapid succession, powerful and fluid, designed to overwhelm. Green was quick to react, but only at uneven intervals, forcing Rachel to attempt to switch up her own pace. The military woman used her forearms to block the blows, absorbing the force but stepping back to create distance. She spun, delivering a side kick aimed at her midsection. Rachel dropped her elbow just in time, deflecting the kick, but the force of it pushed her back a step¡ªit was in perfect form, but had far more power behind it than she¡¯d expected¡ªshe¡¯d swapped styles to her hare fable, which meant a whole new ballgame, and she was here for it. The sharpness of the karate techniques were undeniable¡ªprecise, efficient, every move calculated to minimize waste and maximize damage. It¡¯s not talk. Well, I should step up my game then! She surged forward, she used a lunar disk to close the gap faster and at an uneven angle, giving her just the right pace switch to deliver a rapid knee to Green¡¯s side. The blow connected solidly, forcing Green to grunt and wince before lowering her arm to guard against any following onslaught¡ªher defenses were weaker. Rachel pressed the advantage, throwing in another knee aimed at Green¡¯s ribs¡ªblocked¡ªfollowed by an elbow targeting her head. Green shielded herself from the elbow, but not without effort as she was pushed back. The Fable retaliated with a swift jab aimed at Rachel¡¯s jaw to stop her momentum. Rachel ducked under the punch, shifting her body fluidly as she stepped into a clinch, her arms snaking around Green¡¯s neck¡ªthis was where muay Thai shone¡ªwhere elbows and knees could do their brutal work up close. ¡°Got you!¡± Green struggled, trying to break free, but Rachel wouldn¡¯t let up, pulling her in tighter, knees already rising for another devastating blow. However, before Rachel could land it, Green twisted sharply, using her momentum to escape the clinch and shoving her back in her escape. ¡°Don¡¯t be so cocky just because you got a hit in.¡± ¡°Nice. Nice,¡± Rachel remarked, shaking out her arms as she resumed her stance, ready for more. ¡°But you have to do better than that, bun.¡± Green¡¯s eyes narrowed, and Rachel could see the shift in her posture. ¡°Okay. Okay. Show me what you¡¯ve got!¡± she urged, motioning her forward. The next exchange came fast and hard. Green advanced this time, the snow speeding up and flurrying where she stepped. Her fists flew in quick, sharp jabs, each one aimed at her head and torso. Rachel could still follow each one, though, blocking the first few punches, her arms moving in sync with her footwork, but Green¡¯s speed was increasing. Rachel¡¯s smile grew. Karate¡¯s strength is in its speed and accuracy¡­but every block I make she¡¯s getting faster. Is that the trick? My reaction speed is better, off base, I¡¯d say, and [Mental Acceleration] gives me a huge advantage. She¡¯s got more experience, which is helping her keep up with my faster pace, but eventually, she¡¯s going to even out until she lands a blow. Embracing the challenge, she ducked under a high punch and retaliated with a brutal low kick aimed at Green¡¯s knee. Green did a quick side step, but Rachel was already moving again, spinning into an elbow strike aimed at Green¡¯s temple. This time, Green didn¡¯t dodge, shocking her¡ªshe stepped into the blow¡ªher arm rising to block the strike, then followed up with a swift front kick to Rachel¡¯s chest. The impact knocked the breath out of her lungs, forcing her back, but she didn¡¯t fall. ¡°Not bad, Greenie,¡± Rachel huffed, shaking off the sting of the blow as she moved back into position. Her eyes gleamed while rubbing the area, the adrenaline pumping through her veins. ¡°I like your kit. It¡¯s unique. I can see the potential. Let¡¯s take it up another notch, shall we?¡± Without warning, a pulse of white light surrounded her as she disappeared in a blur, and reappeared behind the Fable in the same instant: [Lunar Grace]. Her fist was already aimed at Green¡¯s exposed kidney; if she landed that, then the following blows would end the fight. However, at that exact moment a jade pulse exploded from Green¡¯s body, halting Rachel in her tracks. The snow around them stopped falling and all sound died, time itself frozen. The entire platform was engulfed in the light, freezing them both in place. And then, Green turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Rachel¡¯s, a smirk on her lips. ¡°I was waiting for when you¡¯d try that,¡± Green whispered, her voice cutting through the silence. ¡°No escapes now.¡± Laughter rolled through Rachel as the balance of power shifted and the woman aimed a crushing blow at her throat. [The Scales of Karma: Power - 100%] [Activated] A smile crept onto her face as the ornate scales appeared in her left hand, shimmering with a divine glow, and she leaped back, evading the attack. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Let the scales be balanced,¡± Rachel said softly, her voice carrying through the frozen air. Green¡¯s smirk faltered as the jade light began to crack. The locked space started to unravel around them, the snow falling once more as Rachel broke free of the temporal hold. She moved with lightning speed, her fist aimed squarely at Green¡¯s throat in her momentary lapse in focus. The Fable barely had time to react, her eyes widening in shock as the scales in Rachel¡¯s hand tipped. The jade shield around her cracked, splintering into fragments before shattering completely. Yet, in a surge of rapidly dispersing air, she launched back to evade just as Rachel¡¯s knuckles kissed her skin. Clapping erupted from the sidelines as the senator¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Rachel lowered her fist, the scales disappearing from her hand as she stepped back. The crowd¡¯s cheers filled the air, their excitement palpable as the match came to a close. Green staggered, catching her breath as she rubbed her neck where Rachel¡¯s fist had nearly connected. A genuine smile spread across her face as she walked toward her, extending her hand. ¡°Thanks for the sparring match, Rachel,¡± she muttered, her voice still a bit winded. ¡°I learned a lot about myself today. I can see why Black respects you so much and Red said you had some insane powers. Mythickin aren¡¯t to be trifled with.¡± Rachel smiled back, meeting Green¡¯s hand with her own. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m an exception to the rule, trust me. That being said, you¡¯ve got an impressive skill set. White¡¯s got a good eye for talent.¡± She held up a fist for Green to bump after they broke contact. ¡°Come find me later. We¡¯ll talk in private. You¡¯re way better than just a warmup, by the way. Brrr! That Passive you have is killer!¡± Green chuckled, bumping Rachel¡¯s fist before stepping back, and Rachel took a deep breath, rubbing her shoulders as the chill set in. The showcase finished, she turned to face the cameras to deliver one last blow against the hearts of the public. Her grin shifted into something playful, cute, and innocent, knowing exactly how to disarm the crowd and public. ¡°That¡¯s all, folks!¡± she called out, winking before leaping into the snowstorm, using her lunar platforms to glide gracefully back to Nia, who was still munching on popcorn. Let that be the media¡¯s clipped moment. I¡¯m sure Mom will save it¡­ Why do I do these things to myself? It¡¯s for strategy! It has to be¡­ Is that cope or do I just want the attention? I can¡¯t tell anymore. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Fiona fluttered nervously by the side of the SUVs, her wings trembling with each beat as the cold, smoggy air nipped at her skin. Selvaria had finally been allowed to guzzle water from the airport''s emergency hose¡ªsomething she had insisted on in her dramatic fashion. Now, rehydrated, she looked like she was in her mid-teens, sort of, an improvement from the near-dead state she had been in before. Still, as Selvaria squeezed into the back middle seat of the vehicle, her spikes tore through the cushions with a soft rip. The car rocked and creaked under her weight, much to the dismay of the agents who had to share the ride. Fiona glanced over, her lips pressed into a tight line, trying not to laugh. ¡°You¡¯re going to ruin the seats, Selv,¡± she whispered. ¡°Never mind¡­ Too late.¡± Selvaria groaned, barely managing to fold her arms over her ample form without bumping into anyone. ¡°Better than dying. Besides,¡± she added with a side glance, ¡°I needed this. Can¡¯t risk shrinking back into kid form again. That was¡­yikes!¡± Cahira took the front passenger side with a wide grin and without permission. ¡°Aye, if it were up to me, they¡¯d have let ye drink straight from the fire hydrant. Nothin¡¯ like a bit of adventure, right? Who knows what they be havin¡¯ in them things these days, at least, accordin¡¯ to the conspiracy theorists. Ya might find them storin¡¯ golden liquid, eh!¡± The agent sitting next to her shifted uncomfortably as Cahira pulled a flask from somewhere behind her back. ¡°Rum?¡± she offered with a teasing smile, waving it in front of him. ¡°Ooh. I see that look, honey bun! How about a little inspection? You can check it out thoroughly. Maybe take me somewhere private, just the two of us?¡± Fiona cringed. ¡°Cahira, please stop making things weird.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just tryin¡¯ to get everyone to loosen up!¡± Cahira shot back with a wink, shaking the flask in Fiona¡¯s direction now. ¡°Maybe a nice sugary wine for the little lassie? Maria said it¡¯d calm those nerves,¡± she sang. ¡°Liar!¡± Fiona¡¯s cheeks flushed as she shook her head. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know what alcohol will do to me. Maria wanted me to try it once, but¡­I¡¯m a little scared to try.¡± Selvaria leaned her head back, her spiky and plated form still making the SUV groan under the pressure of sitting next to the leviathan. ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t trust that butt-lady, Fi. She gave me something once¡­ I don¡¯t even remember what happened after. Just woke up in the ocean.¡± Cahira¡¯s laugh was a raspy chuckle as she twisted to face them, eyes gleaming with mischief. ¡°Aye, it was in a cabin, love, not the ocean! Ye practically cleaned out her stock, Selvie! Couldn¡¯t keep up with that bottomless belly of yours. It was like a storm at sea¡ªtossed and turned until we had nothin¡¯ left!¡± ¡°Not my fault,¡± Selvaria grumbled, though the faintest of smiles tugged at her lips at causing the redhead troublemaker some problems. ¡°You should¡¯ve prepared better. Endless belly, endless thirst¡ªleviathan¡ªkind of in the nametag. Woah!¡± The SUV lurched suddenly, causing Fiona to gasp and brace herself against the door. Her heart was already pounding with nerves, and the unsettling feeling of being targeted by the government didn¡¯t help. Fiona sat atop the middle cushion as Anthony took the right seat. As they started to pull away from the airport, a man appeared in the empty left seat, his body passing through the cushion a bit before righting itself. Selvaria blinked, wide-eyed, before reaching over and running her hand through the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s an AI! An AI! Can he be inserted into people¡¯s heads? Can I get my own personal assistant?¡± The ghostly figure turned, giving her a dull, unimpressed look, while Anthony, Cahira, and Fiona broke into laughter. Anthony was the first to regain his composure. ¡°No, Selv, this is Merlin. He¡¯s a magician and our man of contact.¡± Selvaria huffed, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Merlin¡¯s cool in anime, I guess. An AI personal assistant in your head is cooler. What does the magic man want with us?¡± Merlin¡¯s ghostly form flickered for a moment, before he leaned back in the seat and spoke with a short laugh that showed a lighter side to the intimidating elder. Although, if what Rachel said was true, he could change his appearance at will. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a riot? You¡¯re being taken to a safehouse. We have intelligence that suggests Fiona is being targeted by the Scarlet Hand.¡± Fiona¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her wings stiffening, and the blood rushed to her face. ¡°M-Me? Specifically? Why? What did I do? Scarlet and Rach are the ones they want.¡± Merlin¡¯s expression softened slightly, though his form remained ethereal and detached. ¡°We don¡¯t know the full extent of it yet. All we know is that it¡¯s not safe to discuss it here. Once we reach the safehouse, you¡¯ll be briefed. There are a few things that¡­could make your stay here complicated.¡± Selvaria crossed her arms, grumbling in her monotone voice, ¡°Tell us something new. Oh. Does the safehouse have a pool¡­and anime subscription service?¡± Merlin sighed and conjured a tablet out of thin air before somehow handing it back to her. ¡°No, but write down your reasonable wants here.¡± The sea dragon groaned, throwing her head back in dismay before accepting it. ¡°No pool? Booo. Then¡­oh, first item¡­ You better bring a truck full of fish in water.¡± The agents in the car exchanged bewildered glances, one of them raising an eyebrow at Merlin. He tilted his head as if to ask, ¡®Is she serious?¡¯ Fiona, Cahira, and Anthony exchanged looks, then nodded their heads in unison. Cahira smirked and chimed in with a pirate¡¯s drawl. ¡°Aye, ye¡¯d best heed the lass¡¯ words. When the lass says fish, she means fish. A storm brews if her belly¡¯s not filled!¡± Fiona couldn¡¯t help but smile, despite the tension hanging in the air. Cahira¡¯s antics, as ridiculous as they were, were becoming somewhat normal. Was that a good thing? She didn¡¯t quite know yet but she seemed to have a good heart under her provocative attire and attitude. However, Fiona¡¯s thoughts kept circling back to Merlin¡¯s warning. The Scarlet Hand¡­is targeting me? I don¡¯t have time for this! Although, I mean, they¡¯re based here right now, as far as we know¡­which isn¡¯t good. But why me? B3 — 13. Threads of Fate Rachel inhaled the crisp night air before releasing it in a visible cloud, shaking out her arms as the chill left and the snow drifted around them. The rush of the fight lingered in her muscles, tension slowly unwinding from her shoulders upon landing beside Nia. She turned to survey the field, the roaring crowd muffled by the adrenaline still coursing through her veins and barrier cast by one of the Atlanta PMC members. Green was currently engaged in talking with the senator as the next showcase started up. Not bad, Green. Not bad at all. She glanced at the bun soldiers as they lurched forward to tackle her, a smile tugging at her lips while catching them in her arms. Nia, of course, led the charge, her tiny fists clenched in frustration as she playfully jabbed her tight stomach, cheeks puffy. ¡°You didn''t use the new earrings, Major! I spent time polishing them, ya know! They¡¯d have made you sparkle even more, and you know how good I am at accessorizing! You would have been all zip-zap, super speed¡ªdodge!¡± Rachel chuckled as the buns dropped down around her feet, allowing her to ruffle the top of the child¡¯s head. ¡°It may sound mean, but I didn¡¯t need ¡®em, Captain Bun. That was all about the basics and a little fun. Besides, we don¡¯t always need to show off every toy in the kit.¡± The rest of the bun soldiers giggled and jostled each other, unusually friendly with one another. Aurelia clung to her left leg, Coral instantly moving to her right to latch on and grin at her golden sister. White sat between them, one ear rubbing his face as if his two sisters were hopeless. ¡°Well, I guess some things can change,¡± she mused, looking up to see Nam, Alexa, and Grace approaching her through the curtain of snow, Aella shyly hovering in the background. ¡°What¡¯d you think?¡± ¡°Confused for a bit,¡± her brother mumbled while glancing at the hologram displays Astra generated, no doubt gathering a ton of information on everyone present. ¡°You were moving a lot slower than you usually do. It kind of felt like I was watching one of your old muay Thai competitions. Green sped up at times, too.¡± Alexa seemed surprisingly cheery considering it was a fight. ¡°Yeah, Grace figured it out¡ªtime manipulation, right? That¡¯s an insane power!¡± The cowgirl tipped her hat, winked with her twinkling blue eyes, and puffed out her chest. ¡°More than that, sugar. The turtle lady was sappin¡¯ your girl¡¯s [Resistances] by the shivers. Probably boostin¡¯ her own. A real troublemaker, that one.¡± ¡°Sharp eyes,¡± Rachel whispered, her grin widening and truly impressed. ¡°And what about you, Aella?¡± she asked, directing their attention to the skittish harpy girl, who tightened up at the prompt. ¡°Me?¡± she gulped, wings pulling into her body while avoiding eye contact. ¡°Umm. You had a broader awareness and reaction time but she was more precise¡­ I noticed in our, umm¡­ Yeah, you can probably slow down time too or something like that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Alexa asked, shining star-like pupils going wide. ¡°Time-based powers are so cool! Maybe you could reverse time.¡± Nia snorted, pulling their focus. The child held her hands behind her head, a smirk on her mouth as she looked off to the side. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think so. Moon-Mom told me that it¡¯s impossible to do timey-wimey stuff in the squiggly walls whats-it after the squishy worlds thing.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears tilted to the side. Interesting. Translation: Chang¡¯e said reversing time or time travel is impossible within the Red Sea. Scarlet¡¯s barriers and restrictions stop it. That makes a bit more sense. Time manipulation is possible, as the Crystals and Legend Quests do, but it¡¯s limited. Everyone¡¯s faces blanked at the smug bunny¡¯s statement, the look on her face practically shining with her own perceived sage-like wisdom. ¡°Translation?¡± Nam asked. Rachel glanced toward the airfield as the airship flew higher into the sky and began heading their way. ¡°Essentially, time travel isn¡¯t going to happen but slowing or speeding up pockets of space, more than possible.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± Alexa nodded, her wings fluttering a little as the wind picked up. ¡°Okay, that makes it less crazy, but still super powerful. Cool powers.¡± ¡°Rachel¡ª¡± Before Rachel could respond, Scarlet¡¯s voice sliced through the chatter like her scythe. Her sudden appearance through shadows made Aella half-shriek before clamping her feathered arms over her mouth. They all winced at the high-pitched sonic wave hit them, the young woman somehow making herself even smaller as several others below cried out at the vocal attack. ¡°Sorry! Sorry¡­¡± To Rachel¡¯s surprise, Scarlet was the first one to move forward and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her deep frown upon showing up was replaced by a soft, understanding smile. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay, Aella¡­ You know you¡¯re not a prisoner. Are you okay? You don¡¯t feel okay.¡± Tears welled up in the Italian woman¡¯s eyes as she slowly shook her head, and Scarlet moved forward to pull her into a hug. She shot a sideward glance her way, Aella trembling in her arms. It earned a similar look from Alexa, who went to support the bird lady. Cheer dampened, Rachel let a puff of air stream out of her nose, glancing toward her brother, who looked sympathetic for the woman that ¡®asked¡¯ if she could kill her earlier that night. Grace crossed her arms and scooted closer to her. ¡°Damn, boss, what rodeo did you take feather butt to? Kind of makes me sweat about our future date.¡± Geez. I beat the shit out of some snot-nosed brat who had a fixation on murder, and now she¡¯s the victim? People are so soft. Sure, I¡¯m heartless most of the time, but I¡¯m the one everyone goes to to get shit done¡­and then I¡¯m blamed for going too far. She had a bite at the start. Where did that bird of prey go? Ignoring the cowgirl, she turned her head skyward as the airship positioned over them, invisible behind the blanket of white falling from the heavens. Oh¡­ Maria¡¯s fed-up with the Mexican crew. Wow. Is that their plan? Rachel shook her head and shifted sideward on the roof to look off toward the supercenter parking lot, where the Crystal and immediate communications bunker were: Tom had said her name while talking to an officer. ¡°Where¡¯s Rachel Park right now, Captain?¡± ¡°Sir. From reports, she¡¯s finished her talk¡­ Although, it wasn¡¯t much of a talk from what I heard. She and Green got into a show fight.¡± ¡°Why am I not surprised¡­ When you get time, Rachel, I¡¯d like a word. There are a few more details I want to discuss after compiling everything we talked about and new information.¡± When I get the time¡­ So, it¡¯s not urgent. Her focus returned to Scarlet as the fanged girl left the weeping harpy in Alexa¡¯s arms, still unable to get her words out. The wrinkle between her brows showed a slight edge the timid girl typically didn¡¯t show, but she was dealing with a lot inside with unresolved issues with her mother. ¡°I¡¯ve been following a few people in Astra¡¯s report,¡± she whispered, arms crossed when reaching her while looking out at the fight happening in the field. ¡°Astra¡¯s data flagged a couple of US soldiers. One in particular stood out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the bait.¡± Her brother moved to join them, silently listening. ¡°Stood out how? Wait, when could you do this?¡± Scarlet¡¯s blood pooled out of her wrist, creating a mirror that showed a rather limited view of a tall man holding a bulky, old fashioned polaroid camera. ¡°It¡¯s just a Blood Portal, only I limited the blood on the opposite side. I can¡¯t move it,¡± she said with a slight smile at the praise, ¡°but I can get a limited view of things on the other side¡­ See it?¡± Rachel¡¯s ears twitched, interest piqued as she rubbed her chin. ¡°Oh? A fan? He¡¯s taking pictures of all the Legends and Myths, huh. Did you get a look at the photos? I¡¯m guessing the camera is the problem.¡± Scarlet flipped her hair over her shoulder before pointing at the photo. ¡°It vanishes once out. See? They weren¡¯t exactly inconspicuous, either. Right now they¡¯re focusing on the Native American fighting the Atlanta representative¡ªa spirit warrior¡ªbut they were really intent on taking photos of you before this fight.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed, ears tilted to the crowd below to hear each click the camera made. Photos that vanish into thin air? We can store things inside our Soul Expanse if converted properly. Could they be a flux¡­ No, I do not like that name. Demi sounds better to me. And what if they¡¯re teleporting those photos to a 3rd party? Her brother shivered beside her, hugging himself in the chilly snow storm, speaking up as she thought. ¡°This new world is insane¡­ Rachel, it¡¯s getting pretty late. Alexa may not look it, but she¡¯s actually pretty exhausted, and I think Aella is generally in the same boat. She¡¯s mainly confused right now. You showed up like a whirlwind and just swept her along¡­ Really?¡± Lips twitching at the ironic statement, considering the harpy was the one who controlled wind, Rachel puffed out a long breath as the airship overhead descended. It stole the entire field¡¯s attention, the heavy creak of its frame groaning under the pressure as it appeared. The cameras snapped upward, instantly drawn to the spectacle as the Mexican airship dipped low into view, gleaming under the stadium lights. Rachel caught the flicker of emotion across Scarlet¡¯s face¡ªannoyance, maybe even a hint of disdain¡ªas the crew of Mexican legends made their grand entrance. Draped in magical symbols and magitech items, they waved to the spectators below, basking in the limelight. ¡°A love for the flair, huh?¡± Scarlet¡¯s black lips bunched to the side as Alexa stared at it in awe, the harpy girl in her arms now hiccuping. ¡°It¡¯s impressive, sure¡­but they broke into the middle of a fight. Oh, great, and now they¡¯re jumping down onto the stage.¡± Rachel laughed softly, putting a hand on her hip as her buns jumped up to get a better look to observe the theatrics. ¡°They¡¯re challenging the Crow Spirit Warrior and Atlanta girl to a tag-team¡­ And they¡¯re boasting about Maria and how she can heal them up.¡± Scarlet¡¯s brow creased. ¡°I mean, I guess that could boost our reputation more, right?¡± Shaking her head, Rachel smirked. ¡°Naaa. They¡¯d still be dead in the water if it wasn¡¯t for Maria patching them up. Half of their magitech engineers were on their last legs before she stepped in. You should go check on her¡ªshe¡¯s probably exhausted from all that healing. Looks like she could use a break. Let them handle it on their own.¡± Scarlet¡¯s frown shifted, softening ever so slightly at the mention of Maria. ¡°Yeah, probably best to get her out now since she¡¯s not the type to say no when it comes to healing people.¡± Rachel glanced at her, catching the small crack in her otherwise hardened expression. Astra was a thorn in her side, but really it was her mother that had the vamp girl so cold and bothered. She needed to know she was doing something to confront her mom or let her feelings be known. ¡°Hmm.¡± Flipping around to stare between each person on the roof, she said, ¡°Take Maria, Alexa, feather butt, and my brother back to the house and let them rest. Like you said, the gangster is probably too polite to ask for a rest herself and the engineers are sort of taking advantage of that, despite being cursed out.¡± She saw relief pass over her sister-in-law as the 13-year-old tightened her hug around Aella, wings fluttering. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready for bed and talk a bit. Like Scarlet said, you¡¯re not a prisoner. So tell me how you feel.¡± The harpy bit her bottom lip, still unable to look up from the rooftop but she gave a slight nod. Nia had a bored expression, tapping her foot and waiting for her orders with the bunny squad, but Rachel let her stew while turning to the curious cowgirl. ¡°Grace, you¡¯re with me tonight! And Scarlet¡­¡± ¡°You want me to come back after and keep investigating?¡± Rachel¡¯s head tilted to the side for a moment, weighing the options. ¡°Yeah¡­sure. Keep doing your investigation. You¡¯re doing a good job. But also keep an eye out on Mexico.¡± Scarlet¡¯s cheeks colored with a happy smile at the praise. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, Big Sis!¡± Nia grinned, her ears rising with her hand. ¡°Oh! Oh! Wait! Wait! Major Fangs! Major Fangs! Let me do that! We¡¯ll find out all their dirty secrets! Choose me!¡± Left eyebrow creasing, she gave her outfit a dubious stare. ¡°Hmm?¡± The kid started to fidget a little, her smile twitching. ¡°Eh-hehe. I¡¯m a good spy! Right, squad!¡± ¡°Fifififi.¡± ¡°Ririri!¡± ¡°Lili¡­¡± Nia¡¯s ears flew up at the white bun¡¯s mumbled comment. ¡°No! Silly White! Pfft! No¡­ I don¡¯t give a tail about any magical clothes they may have¡­lying around¡­like a buffet. Not at all! Never¡­¡± Scarlet giggled. ¡°I can delegate that to you and the bun troup but try not to cause too much trouble. Can I count on you soldiers?¡± The three buns jumped onto the snowy wall of the flat roof, using their ears to salute her as Nia jumped to attention next to them. ¡°Ma¡¯am, yes, ma¡¯am!¡± With that, Scarlet gave her a proud thumbs up, having made a decision on her own, which was a big deal for her new little sis.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Rachel gave her a casual salute. ¡°Go get ¡®em, Major Fangs.¡± It got a smile from her brother and sister-in-law as Alexa led the bird woman toward her husband. Scarlet vanished to collect Maria first before the Mexican Legends and Myths got to her, and not long after that, she was back to snatch the other three to return to the house. Nia stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth, summoned their hammer, which looked quite big compared to the small bunny child. Shifting it to its side, she momentarily aimed it at the ship, shook her little tail, wiggled her toes in the snowy roof, and took a batter¡¯s stance. ¡°Whitey¡¯s up first!¡± The bun hopped onto her head, folding down the girl¡¯s ears before leaping to the side of the hammer. ¡°And¡­he¡¯s outta here!¡± Rachel and Grace clapped as she swung, launching the bun onto the shiny sails of the magical ship. Aurelia went next as Coral simply floated over to it to phase into the wood, sticking his tongue out at Nia and making her balk. ¡°Fifififi!¡± ¡°Loser! I was being nice. Don¡¯t you go getting me in trouble.¡± ¡°Fifi¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, well I have a big hammer that says otherwise! Humph. Major?¡± Her ears pulled back with a brilliant, cute grin as she presented the item. Accepting it, Rachel shook her head; her outfit certainly had a personality. Pulling back the hammer, she strengthened her stance as the child hopped onto the side. ¡°Get results¡­but also have a little fun annoying the Mexican crew.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Launching her skyward, she lost sight of her in the blizzard, leaving her with the milk girl as the brunette brushed snow off her outfit. ¡°And what adventures await us, boss?¡± she asked, slipping her fingers into her tight pants pockets and leaving out her thumbs. ¡°I gotta say, you¡¯ve got a lot of eggs in the basket. You seem to juggle them well, though!¡± Rachel¡¯s ears flicked to the left as the Atlanta crew and Crow representative joined forces, with the Atlanta girl facing a Mexican wrestling legend. ¡°Oh, I generally don¡¯t know where I¡¯m going and let misfortune guide me. Let¡¯s move.¡± Putting her foot on the edge of the building, she hopped down behind the crowd, taken in by the airship and battle. A silent laugh shook her frame upon hearing Maria grumbling about being left out in all the plans. She got a lot of favors to cash in on with the Mexicans, though, which could come in handy later. Grace¡¯s smile grew as she joined her, the smaller woman giving off a lazy vibe, yet her sharp eyes were always scanning for action. Her hands were also positioned to summon her gun belt and snatch her revolvers. Guiding the way toward General Dallas and the Crystal, she opened up the dialogue, keeping her voice low as the heavy flakes fell around them. ¡°You¡¯re a lot more independent than the vibes you give, Grace¡­ A dairy farm girl who grew up on ranches, drank under age, and was a rebel back home, looking for adventure. How old are you and what are you really looking for?¡± The cowgirl¡¯s cheery expression fell with her shoulders, her gaze drifting from potential dangers to the snow-stomped street. They fell into a silence while strolling through the snowy streets, her boots crunching against the powdery ground. The lightheartedness of her presence dimmed. She was quiet for a time, her hands shoved deep into her pockets, her cowgirl hat tipped slightly forward to shield her face from the cold wind and thick flakes. ¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± Rachel remarked, her tone casual but with a probing edge while allowing the snow to melt against her hot skin, unbothered by the chill. Grace chuckled softly, her breath forming a puff of steam in the air. ¡°Ain¡¯t much of a chatterbox when it comes to myself, y¡¯know. Ain¡¯t a girl who, umm, who blabbers on ¡®bout her personal life, if ya catch my drift.¡± Rachel arched an eyebrow, her tail twitching. Grace wasn¡¯t a simple woman¡ªnone of the people who were drawn into this world of powers and chaos were. Her legend had a few people talking who knew about her and she¡¯d followed a few of their conversations. ¡°C¡¯mon, Grace,¡± she pushed. ¡°You¡¯ve been around long enough now to know I don¡¯t ask just for fun¡­ I don¡¯t have the luxury to let people in without testing them, which I have been testing you since we first met. We¡¯re all here because of something. A reason. I need to know what yours is, and it¡¯s more than just an adventure.¡± Grace¡¯s boots scuffed the ground, and she slowed, glancing toward her out of the corner of her sharp eye. ¡°Shoot, Rach. Y¡¯real paranoid, ain¡¯t ya?¡± Rachel let out a small, wry smile. ¡°You¡¯re damn right I am. Can you blame me after everything you¡¯ve seen so far? I can¡¯t afford not to be.¡± ¡°Fair enough¡­¡± The silence stretched between them for a beat before Grace exhaled deeply with a shiver, but not from the chilly wind. ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll bite.¡± She took off her hat and ran a hand through her tousled brown hair, then replaced it, her gaze drifting toward the distant horizon. ¡°Ya do have what a girl wants¡­ ¡°I grew up on a dairy farm, as I said. True to my word. Middle of nowhere in a small place called Texas¡­ Flat land, cows everywhere, milkin¡¯ day in, day out. You¡¯d think it was simple, peaceful even, right? Nothin¡¯ but grass ¡®n cows as far as the eye could see,¡± she mumbled, kicking a pile of snow as they started forward again. Rachel nodded, keeping her expression neutral but her curiosity was piqued; she¡¯d lived a totally different lifestyle than the brunette. She wasn¡¯t about to interrupt and break her flow. Grace¡¯s lips quirked up slightly in a sad smile. ¡°But that¡¯s the thing, isn¡¯t it? A simple life¡¯s only simple if you ain¡¯t lookin¡¯ at the cracks.¡± She plucked at her shirt front to shake off the snowflakes. ¡°I guess I always wanted more than milkin¡¯ cows. I wanted my life to mean somethin¡¯. Somethin¡¯ bigger. To matter. ¡®Cause what¡¯s the point of all the muckin¡¯ around if you don¡¯t leave a mark?¡± Rachel felt the weight of Grace¡¯s honesty, and it was honesty¡­more than she could muster to talk about herself or desires, which pricked something inside her. She recognized that desire¡­ To leave a mark. It was similar to something driving her through the blood and the battles, the transformations and the chaos. ¡°To matter,¡± Rachel echoed quietly. ¡°Yeah¡­I get that.¡± Grace looked at her, likely searching her face for a sign of judgment, but there was none. Rachel had no room to judge. There was something within her that pushed her to achieve, to defy, and defy what? She wasn¡¯t exactly sure. Fate? Something, at least. ¡°Guess that¡¯s why I joined up with all this craziness,¡± Grace admitted, waving her hand vaguely in the air and sidestepping a group of soldiers that ran toward the field to watch the fight. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to be herdin¡¯ more than cows, but hey, rabbits aren¡¯t as fast as they think, huh?¡± Rachel smirked at the attempt at humor by referencing her wrangling Nia, but her mind remained focused. ¡°So, you¡¯re looking to make a difference?¡± ¡°Somethin¡¯ like that,¡± Grace muttered, her voice a bit more raw than usual. ¡°I reckon I¡¯ve seen enough of the world to know that sometimes¡­ya just need to make a stand somewhere. Omen seems like a well enough place to do it. Stop movin¡¯, y¡¯know? It¡¯s too easy to drift.¡± She gave a small, dry laugh. ¡°Even if I got the milk jokes and the damn cows followin¡¯ me everywhere I go¡­ It¡¯s just, a part of me I couldn¡¯t escape, I guess.¡± ¡°¡­You haven¡¯t told me your age or much about your background, Legend of Calamity Jane,¡± Rachel interrupted. ¡°Yeah¡­ workin¡¯ up to it, y¡¯know,¡± Grace murmured with a soft chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t mean to be all mysterious-like, but there¡¯s not much to say, really.¡± Her voice tried to hold onto that familiar humor, but Rachel could feel the weight behind the words. Rachel kept her expression neutral but offered a sidelong glance. ¡°That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve got time.¡± The cowgirl took a long breath before exhaling a puff of mist. ¡°Ain¡¯t much to tell, really,¡± she mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°Grew up on a dairy farm¡­ Third time I¡¯ve started there, haven¡¯t I?¡± she sighed with a melancholy hiss. ¡°It was peaceful¡­ I had a decent life. But peace¡­that ain¡¯t all it¡¯s cracked up to be for a girl yearning for somethin¡¯ more. I ran away when I was sixteen,¡± Grace admitted, her voice quiet, almost too quiet for a normal person to hear. Rachel raised an eyebrow but said nothing. ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Grace added quickly, as if sensing her thoughts. ¡°But, uh¡­not that I¡¯m sixteen now¡ªLord, no. I¡¯m nineteen¡­ Still not able to ¡®legally¡¯ drink in most places,¡± she muttered, lips pulling into a crooked smile. ¡°But, y¡¯know, the way things are now, booze kind of becomes a necessity after The Oscillation, if ya catch my drift.¡± She gave a little laugh, but it was thin, barely enough to cover the shame that tinged her words. There was something far deeper there, and it told Rachel that her opening up like this showed how much she wanted to join Omen. It certainly went a long way with her. Rachel hummed softly, the corner of her lips lifting. ¡°Guess that makes sense. I know a certain woman who takes needing water to a whole new level.¡± ¡°Not something I¡¯m exactly proud of, but¡­but I left my mom behind, left my boyfriend, too.¡± Her voice dropped, and Rachel caught the slight hitch in her breath. ¡°I betrayed them, stole cash¡­ I wanted adventure, excitement. I thought I could take on the world¡­ Turns out, the world¡¯s a lot harder than I gave it credit for¡­but I made it work the last three years in my own way.¡± Stealing, lying, telling stories, and scamming people, I assume. A girl does what she has to when on the road. From the milk farms of Texas to roaming the west for adventure, huh? It shows guts, resourcefulness, and resilience. Rachel¡¯s gaze softened, her steps slowing as Grace¡¯s words spilled out, the confession held back for so long now unraveling between them. ¡°I¡¯ve never gone back.¡± Grace cleared her throat, voice low. ¡°Can¡¯t. Not after what I did. And now¡­there¡¯s a warrant out for my arrest for more than a few things.¡± Rachel let that sit for a moment, watching the way Grace¡¯s hand clenched at her side. She could tell there was a lot more behind those words, but pushing too hard could break whatever fragile honesty was being laid bare. Grace sighed, a bitter smile twisting her lips. ¡°I traveled around after that¡­ Found myself wanderin¡¯ through abandoned towns in the west, mines, places no one really goes. All I had was whatever I could carry and my faithful ol¡¯ Jim¡­ The desert, Jim, and explorin¡¯ paradise.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears perked at the name. ¡°Jim?¡± Grace chuckled, more genuine this time. ¡°Yeah, Jim¡¯s my horse. Ol¡¯ reliable, faster than a locomotive and stubborn as all hell. Carried me through some tight spots¡­and one of the few souls who didn¡¯t mind that I was a bit of a screw-up.¡± Rachel nodded, giving Grace a moment with her memories before gently shifting the conversation. ¡°Sounds like Jim kept you grounded when nothing else could.¡± Grace¡¯s grin widened, though her eyes glistened with something more than just amusement. ¡°He sure did¡­ Still does, y¡¯know. Guess in a world gone crazy, a horse that can outrun just about anything¡¯s worth more than gold. Fair warning, I kind of bring trouble with me.¡± They walked in silence for a bit, the weight of Grace¡¯s words settling in the cold air. Rachel didn¡¯t pry further. She knew when to let someone carry their own burdens. It was enough, and told her more about her character. She wants to go home¡­but needs to find her own way back to reconcile with her family. She¡¯s bounced between places, looking for something she can¡¯t describe. The guilt at betraying her boyfriend and mom shows she¡¯s got a conscience and is trying to find her way in the world. She¡¯s survived on her own and had to make tough decisions that affect her life¡­ Even if she¡¯s nineteen, so am I. She¡¯ll do. Eventually, they entered the storm of activity in the parking lot, the snow now falling softly around them, casting a quiet blanket over the chaos of moving soldiers and trucks. Grace glanced at her, sky-blue eyes more vulnerable now. ¡°Did I pass the real interview, boss?¡± Rachel held up a fist, and she hesitantly bumped it. ¡°You bring trouble with you, huh? Well, that¡¯s kind of a requirement to join Omen, so I think you¡¯d fit in well. Part one passed,¡± she winked. ¡°Part two¡­ We¡¯ll see. C¡¯mon. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Grace paused for just a second, her hand brushing against the brim of her hat before her vision hardened with the challenge. ¡°My Quests, huh? Fair enough. Thanks, Rach,¡± she muttered. ¡°For listenin¡¯. Eh¡­can I call ya Rach?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Rachel snickered, offering a small smile while approaching the bunker. ¡°And anytime.¡± The cool air nipped at Rachel¡¯s cheeks as they approached the bunker, the quiet and contemplative cowgirl beside her. The magitech wand the guards used hummed, its glow faintly visible as it passed over her body, checking for any unauthorized devices. She barely noticed it, her mind already ticking with a dozen thoughts while following all the strings of interested parties around Billings. Astra was still making a spectacle at the field with what was turning into an unofficial tournament of sorts. Black, Red, and Gray had disappeared into the nearby mountains. Nia was creeping around the airship, somehow not getting caught, which was probably something to do with her lucky feet. Nam and those at the house were getting ready for bed, her brother being the last one to go to his room after having a talk with his wife in the kitchen. Her ears tilted left and right while trying to follow Scarlet¡¯s teleports, which wasn¡¯t easy due to her constant shifts through shadows. Barbara was still with Green, discussing a more formal recruitment event tomorrow morning and night for those who required a more nocturnal schedule, like her. All in all, she hadn¡¯t discovered many threads to pluck at to uncover any plots. Misfortune¡¯s guiding strings had settled down and left her in somewhat of a lul. Yet, in her gut, she felt like something big was about to happen. Something¡¯s off. The wand finished its pass and Rachel sighed, moving forward as the soldier opened the door for her to go through the second checkpoint. Yet, before she could step inside, an ear-splitting boom erupted in the distance. Her body froze, eyes widening, mind blanking for a second as her heart stopped. The cold air seemed to thicken, the heavy snowflakes sticking to her tingling neck, a sharp, biting pressure wrapping around her chest. No¡­ ¡°Is that the airship?!¡± Grace asked, spinning around, her hand flying to the brim of her hat as everyone in the area came to a halt and looked toward the field area¡­but the explosion was further beyond the field and airship. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Tail and ears stiff, the girl¡¯s voice barely registered. The weight of the explosion rolled through her bones as if she were there. Rachel¡¯s eyes zoned out, staring at nothing as her senses honed in on the source. That pressure. That sharp scent. Her heart jumped back to life, pounding. Goosebumps crawled up her arms, cold sweat prickling at the back of her neck. Her ears fell flat against her skull. No, no, no¡­ Nam! Her body reacted before her mind caught up, muscles tensing as her legs sprang into motion. She bolted toward the explosion. Grace called after her, but she was already sprinting, heart hammering in her chest, the cold air burning her lungs. Her mind raced just as fast as her feet pounded against the snow. Nia! Nia¡¯s more mature voice responded. ¡°Done. I¡¯m on my way.¡±
[Lunar Spike: Greater Moon of Abundance - Activated] [Lunar Spike - Advanced to S-tier] [45 Seconds Remaining]
[Emanator of Abundance VI - resonating with a sphere of Greater Abundance, every facet of the user¡¯s growth is magnified in its light, emanating it to those around the user.] [Life in Abundance VI - so long as the user remains within the light of the Greater Abundance, they can regenerate their soul¡ªmind, body, and spirit¡ªeven if almost entirely eradicated] [Knowledge of Abundance VI - the user may pull from the wealth of knowledge within The Abundance to grasp the universe in which the user resides.] [The Abundance of Fortune VI - Luck is in the user¡¯s favor, so long as they remain within its light. When one slips, they land on their feet; when one misses, they strike a fatal blow. Life is a joy!]
Rachel¡¯s cold blood ran hot as her white hair dyed gold, the color spreading out to the rest of her body and filling her with the reassurance of the Abundance. [Mental Acceleration III] brought the falling snow to a crawl, yet still a sickening sensation twisted in her gut as her instincts screamed and [Strategic Mind III] ran through every possibility with the wealth of information from the Greater Harvest Moon. How did I not see this? The house. Nam, Alexa, Maria¡­ Why didn¡¯t I feel the misfortune warning me?! Unless¡­it¡¯s in my favor? Her vision blurred, fury and fear mixing together in a toxic storm inside her head, knowledge filling her expanding mind. How can this be in my favor?! Or¡­ It was fated and impossible to stop? Fate can interfere with misfortune¡­ Leaping over houses and businesses to reach the house, her gut cramped as all she saw was flames, Green was already there. The houses next to it were ablaze and collapsing in on themselves. Yet, her heart soon swelled, a confused feeling of joy filled her from the Greater Moon of Abundance. ¡°Nam!¡± She tripped on the roof as the flames expanded into an inferno, roaring into a tornado of fire before snuffing out in a whimper. Tumbling down the shingles, she found her balance and leaped across the street to land next to Green. Breathing heavily, her shoulders sagged while studying the blackened building, pieces collapsing in on themselves. Silence soon took them as Nia and Scarlet appeared beside her in a flash of dazzling light and shadows. Then¡­movement came from inside. ¡°Rachel!¡± Lurching forward, the others beside her, she broke through the totally charred walls and debris, only to find a cluster of unconscious and unburned people surrounding one figure¡ªher brother, skin charred, blackened, and glowing with flecks of embers. Voice weak, she whispered, ¡°Nam?¡± Orange fire ignited in his eyes, flaking away as his head tilted up to look at her. Then, relief passed over his face, and he fell to the side, collapsing against his unharmed wife. B3 — 14. A Husbands Sacrifice Standing beside Alexa in the bathroom, Nam tried not to get in her way as his wife¡¯s wings brushed against the mirror while adjusting the towel wrapped around her shoulders. The dim lighting gave their reflections a softer edge, but nothing could hide the furrowed line creasing her brow. She stared at her wings¡ªbrilliant and angelic¡ªbut to her, they were just another reminder of how she wasn¡¯t the same anymore. ¡°They¡¯re¡­bigger,¡± she muttered, fingertips running lightly over the feathers. Nam glanced up from tying his hair back, catching the tone beneath her words. She feels like I¡¯m uncomfortable helping her get ready for bed¡­ As complicated as it is, how can I let her know my feelings for her haven¡¯t decreased without making her feel even more insecure? We have a solution to regain her more adult figure¡­but thirty minutes isn¡¯t nearly long enough. Carefully stepping around her wings, he leaned against the sink, arms folded. ¡°Bigger, sure, but cooler too,¡± he teased, trying to ease the tension. ¡°I mean, you can phase them through your nightgown. That¡¯s a magical girl power-up if I¡¯ve ever seen one.¡± Alexa huffed, a faint smile tugging at her lips, though it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°You always find a way to make me feel like this is some kind of cosplay¡­ You liked it when I¡¯d cosplay¡­right?¡± ¡°I did,¡± he soothed, being more than truthful; it was less about the cosplay itself and more about how excited and animated she¡¯d get while showing herself off to him. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, Alexa, and neither are you.¡± She scooted closer to him, her wings brushing against his arm and sending a strange rush through his veins that felt both energizing and relieving. A lump dropped down her throat as she took his hand to rub the back of it and stare at her star-like eyes in the mirror. ¡°Thanks¡­ I¡¯ve never seen a magical girl anime that had¡­this kind of trouble,¡± she mumbled, her lips tightening while staring at her 13-year-old frame. Sighing, his wife turned to look up at him. ¡°You¡¯re always good at making me feel better about this whole¡­situation.¡± Nam smiled, gently pulling her forward to wrap an arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She shivered as his hair brushed against her halo. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got a soft spot for magical girls. You know that.¡± He gave her a gentle squeeze, sensing her unease. Alexa let out a long sigh, eyes fixed on her reflection again. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be okay with this,¡± she whispered. ¡°But it¡¯s hard. I mean, I was mostly normal again for thirty minutes¡­ Now, I look like I¡¯m stuck in some strange in-between adolescence and teen state. It¡¯s weird being, mmgm¡­this.¡± Her wince made him retreat a step to study her. ¡°The voices again?¡± ¡°Not for a while,¡± she mumbled, reaching up to touch the glowing ring above her head. ¡°It¡¯s more¡­feelings now¡ªimpressions.¡± Nam frowned slightly, hating how hard she was on herself. He tilted her chin up gently to meet his eyes in the mirror, using a word that always used to make her smile due to the color of her hair. ¡°You¡¯re not stuck, honey. You¡¯re evolving¡ªlike a magical girl going through her transformation arc, right? And I¡¯m here, the main love interest, always here to catch you when you need it.¡± Her smile was small but genuine this time, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest; the halo pressing against his collar bone was warm, sending comfort like pulses of electricity. ¡°Thanks. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you, Nam,¡± she murmured. As they stood there in the quiet, the air shifted slightly, Alexa¡¯s hand suddenly flying up to press against her temple. ¡°Ow¡­¡± Nam immediately straightened. ¡°What is it? Are you sure it¡¯s not the voices again? Please, talk to me.¡± She shook her head, wincing and pulling away slightly. ¡°No¡­not the voices. Like I said, it¡¯s more like¡­a feeling. Something¡¯s wrong, Nam.¡± Nam¡¯s stomach tightened. They¡¯d dealt with strange occurrences before, but her tone this time felt different. He forced a calm tone into his voice to reassure her, even if he felt like calling his sister for further support. She was probably listening; although, her ears couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once, and he knew that. ¡°Rachel¡¯s got a sharp ear on everything. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing.¡± Alexa pressed her fingers harder against her temple, shaking her head. ¡°I know, but¡­can you just check the house? Please? After the assassin thing¡­ Umm. Yeah, I¡¯ve just been feeling anxious, I guess, and¡­ I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s just a feeling, like someone was in the house while we were gone.¡± Nam nodded, understanding the weight of her fear due to almost dying himself that night. However, there was another concern he had to address before beginning the search. Does she want me to search the bedroom and once secured lock the door and check the rest of the house¡­or does she want to come with me and not to be alone? Probably both¡­ She¡¯s scared to be alone but scared to come with me¡­and scared something may be here that could hurt me. What a tangled situation¡­ How do I handle this? ¡°Yeah, no, of course,¡± he mumbled, the tightness in his chest increasing as he looked at the bathroom door. ¡°You wanna come with me to the room?¡± He offered, knowing she didn¡¯t want to be left alone in the bathroom. She hesitated but nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­but can you check the room first? This place¡­¡± She glanced through the bathroom door into the master bedroom, her voice lowering. ¡°It¡¯s weird sleeping in someone else¡¯s house.¡± Her eyes drifted to the family photos on the wall. ¡°They seem¡­happy. Now, who knows where they are.¡± Nam sighed, glancing at the pictures as he moved to check the closet. ¡°That¡¯s what formal pictures usually do, sweetheart,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy or see you differently. Trust me¡­ Nothing in the closet.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± she whispered, barely high enough for him to hear as she moved further into the closed bedroom to look at the family of five. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­hard for me because I don¡¯t want others to view you in any weird way because, well¡­ Yeah.¡± Her throat broke as she cupped her mouth while looking at the mother of the house in the photo, holding a baby. The pressure gripping his chest increased as he closed the distance to hold her from behind and kissed the side of her head. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out, Alexa. I promise. I know you have dreams and a picture for our future that has been flipped on its head. I¡¯m here with you. I¡¯m yours, through sickness, health, and weird magical transformations¡­ Always.¡± She forced a smile, silent melancholy laughter shaking her frame as she tried to stop herself from crying, unable to look away from the photo. ¡°Mhm¡­ So, umm, I¡¯m worried about Aella,¡± she redirected, clearing her throat. ¡°Sure, put on a brave front but¡­but Rachel¡¯s so brutal¡ªand I know she has to be; I get it¡ªbut¡­Aella was almost beaten to death. She¡¯s vulnerable right now. Maria was really exhausted when she came back, too.¡± Kissing her again, he gently squeezed his wife to reassure her. I can see why you¡¯re connecting to Aella, despite how she acted before¡­ We¡¯ll be okay. She winced again, her body going stiff. ¡°Mmgm! Nam¡­ It¡¯s getting worse. Something¡¯s wrong. I know it. I¡¯m worried about the others and, and¡­ Can you¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll look. I¡¯ll look,¡± he reassured, pulling back to see her halo glowing brighter than normal and the quakes that ripped through her wings. ¡°Just try to relax a bit. I¡¯ll check under the bed and look through the house again.¡± She squeezed his hand and gave him a thankful smile when he pulled away, mouthing ¡®thank you.¡¯ Returning the pressure, he could see the shame in her eyes that killed him; it wasn¡¯t like she could change how she felt either. We¡¯ll be okay, he repeated in his mind, stepping toward the california king bed to pull back the veil. As he bent down to look under it, a creeping sense of dread filled him for the first time. Now that he¡¯d done what he could for his wife, something else was taking its place. Lifting the sheet draped over the bed, his breath caught in his throat. A soft red glow met his wide eyes; beneath the bed, a red canister sat, dense liquid swirling inside as if blood. Panic surged through him, unsure what it was but knowing it certainly wasn¡¯t anything that should have been there. What is¡­ Shit! ¡°Alexa, get¡ª¡± Before he could finish the sentence, the canister dyed blue, illuminated, and the glass opened. Heat and fire expanded in a violent wave. Nam¡¯s vision went white, the force of the explosion hitting him in the chest, then¡­nothing. He couldn¡¯t feel the scorching heat consuming him¡­ It didn¡¯t burn. He blinked, his body tingling with a strange, unfamiliar sensation as the world began to come back into focus. A dense blue, red, and white fog veiled everything. Rising to his feet, he instantly lurched turned where Alexa had been, stumbling out of the haze¡ªfrozen mid-turn, as if time itself had stopped, his wife was motionless. Nam¡¯s pulse thundered in his ears as the surreal world around him shifted, colors vibrant and distorted. His body glowed like the heart of a dying star, the energy within him blazing in furious cycles. His breath hitched as the voice, soft yet commanding, broke through the chaos. ¡°Unusual but not unexpected, given the oddity that is your family¡­ You¡¯ve passed beyond the third-dimensional barrier.¡± He spun on instinct, his fists clenched, half-expecting an enemy. Instead, he found someone Rachel had described to him during her recovery. ¡°Eostre?¡± Her autumn-hued hair, streaked with vivid shades of copper and gold, cascaded over her shoulders, dotted with delicate blossoms that seemed to bloom directly from her. Her eyes, the deep amber of a fading sunset, regarded him with a mix of curiosity and awe. She looked like something out of an ancient painting, gentle yet commanding. A goddess came to mind. ¡°I¡¯ve never sensed anything like you before,¡± she whispered, taking a step closer, her gaze fixed on the radiant light spilling from his shifting figure. There was a flicker of something in her expression¡ªwonder, maybe concern. ¡°I apologize for the abrupt introduction, but you¡¯ve shattered your Lesser Seed, Nam¡­and it¡¯s flowing into something far deeper. Something beyond even my sight.¡± He didn¡¯t care about any of what she¡¯d just said. His eyes darted back to Alexa, frozen in the middle of their bedroom, her face twisted in confusion as the explosion of fire inched toward her¡ªfire raging toward his wife. Time was still, but the dread in Nam¡¯s chest burned hotter than the flames. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± His voice was raw with urgency, fear. ¡°Whatever this is, I don¡¯t care. What do I need to do to stop that?¡± He gestured wildly to the mix of color, vapor, and fire engulfing the home. ¡°Can you stop it?¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The sadness in Eostre¡¯s eyes was unmistakable as she looked at the spot where the bed had been before glancing at where his wife now stood, trapped, the explosion barely held in check by whatever dimensional shift Nam had triggered by shattering his Seed. ¡°Scarlet¡¯s barriers¡­¡± she murmured, a note of frustration threading through her usually calm voice. ¡°They block interactions between realms. I can¡¯t interfere¡ªnot directly.¡± Nam¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°Then tell me what to do!¡± His hands shook as he took a step toward her, the radiant energy flaring around him. ¡°You have to know something¡ªanything!¡± Eostre hesitated, her focus drifting to his glowing form, and for the first time, her confident demeanor wavered. She sighed, eyes locking with his. ¡°There is a way, I believe, but it¡¯s dangerous¡ªdangerous even for someone like you, whatever you are.¡± She paused, searching his face as if weighing her next words carefully. ¡°The energy pouring into your Core¡­ It¡¯s more than powerful enough to generate a barrier to protect those around you, yet¡­it¡¯s connected to something far deeper, something beyond that blazing star inside your soul.¡± Nam felt the power boiling inside him, threatening to spill over. It was a torrent he barely understood, but none of that mattered. He couldn¡¯t let anything more happen to his wife. His heart clenched painfully, and he nodded without hesitation. ¡°What do I need to do before this thing inside me stops or snuffs out?¡± Eostre¡¯s gaze lingered on him, something almost like regret flashing across her features before she spoke, no doubt having many other things she¡¯d rather tell him to give to his sister. He couldn¡¯t give a damn right now, though. Alexa was his only priority. ¡°You¡¯ll need to channel that energy into manifesting whatever lies beyond your Core, whatever that light is resting within it.¡± Her voice softened. ¡°It may allow you to convert an insignificant amount of it to counter the magical flames¡ªenough to protect them. But¡­forcefully doing so will leave a crack within that seal blocking it. I cannot be sure what that will mean in the long run. However, I am sure it will bring you back to the lower third dimension. Forcing your descension early like that could kill you.¡± The weight of her words didn¡¯t dissuade him. The thought of leaving Alexa alone killed him in itself yet she was his priority, his responsibility, his heart. Nam¡¯s resolve didn¡¯t falter. His eyes locked onto his wife. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he said quietly, his fists tightening. ¡°She¡¯s my wife. If it¡¯s the only way. It¡¯s the only decision to be made.¡± Eostre studied him for a moment, her lips pressed into a thin line, and then she nodded, though uncertainty still clouded her amber eyes. ¡°If you wake¡­tell Rachel that as dark as this is for her¡­¡± She paused, looking past the flames and buildings. To Nam¡¯s shock, he could peel back the layers within the environment as if they were illusions, only to see the Crystal in the parking lot, and whatever constituted his blood froze upon spotting a pulsing light within it but it was the sensation he received from it¡ªan indomitable force of conquest. ¡°As bad as this is for her, every deity on the planet fears what is through that wormhole. Athena, Selene, and Chang¡¯e have chosen to stand by her. Even with them, with Nike empowering Rachel¡­ It feels hopeless to us. Others will join the faction if she manages to succeed, but¡­there is something else lingering on the opposite side, and they want to be seen¡­ Something beyond the 7th dimension.¡± Unable to help a bit of frustration at the precious seconds lost that could be critical to saving his wife¡¯s life, he nodded. ¡°Tell me what I need to do!¡± ¡°Focus, Nam,¡± she responded, her fingers tightening against her front at his tone. ¡°Use your willpower to grasp the energy inside you, but be careful not to grip it too tightly. Send that out to those who you wish to protect. Whatever is in that Core of yours is¡­unknown to me, and it is dangerous, yet it can be molded, I believe.¡± Nam barely heard her. His attention was fixed on his wife, his heart pounding in his chest as he braced himself for whatever was to come. The light around him grew brighter, more intense, his body shining like a miniature sun. He could feel the power coursing through him, his skin blackening and flaking away, a wild, uncontained force, but he reached deeper, forcing himself to draw it toward the intent of his heart. The pulsing strength felt endless, like he was tapping into something far larger than himself. His skin burned with heat, yet there was an overwhelming calm that settled in his mind as he reached toward that light inside him. He gritted his teeth, forcing the chaotic energy to bend to his will. His body flared brighter as the radiance shifted, changing into something denser, something heavier. A searing pain lanced through his chest, but he pushed it aside, focusing on Alexa, focusing on his wife. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, Alexa,¡± he repeated, more for himself than her, his voice barely audible over the roar of energy flooding him. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay.¡± Then, with a burst of power, the flames halted and he was sucked through what felt like a tiny tube, falling back into his native dimension. The radiant energy around him pulsed outward and all those who were around the house. Alexa, Maria, Aella, the other soldiers caught in the blast radius, all those in threat of danger were pulled to him in a flash of heat, teleported to his side. An aura radiated outward. Not a barrier. A conversion of forces that made a safe space, but only around their souls, keeping them free from harm. His teeth ground together as the deadly inferno engulfed him, feeling the burns seep. He could see the flames twist and writhe in a controlled spiral, focusing inward to the floating magical canister, amplifying its heat. He pushed through the pain, drawing strength by watching his blissful wife, consciousness falling into sleep to recover from whatever he¡¯d channeled around her. When the expanding tornado of fire incinerated the canister, it flickered out, and Nam exhaled, his body trembling as the weight of the energy began to take its toll. All strength left his body, skin charred black, streams of molten lava flowing through his veins, yet¡­it was enough. A small smile lifted his cracked lips as the blackened wall was kicked through and Rachel raced through, ashen faced and looking more terrified than he¡¯d ever seen his fearless sister. She¡¯s safe¡­ She¡¯s safe¡­ * ¡ª * ¡ª * Rachel¡¯s heart pounded, the heat of the explosion still felt on her prickling skin as she crouched beside her brother. The Greater Moon of Abundance pulsed through her, feeding her information, a wealth of knowledge she couldn¡¯t fully process but grasped enough. Nam¡¯s body lay charred and blackened, tendrils of molten light threading through cracks in his skin, yet¡­he was alive. Her breath slowed, the golden light enclosing her keeping her hostile emotions in check, though the cold anger simmered beneath it all. Scarlet¡¯s voice cut through the haze. ¡°What do we do, Rachel? Was it the USSR?¡± She barely heard her sister¡¯s panic, Rachel¡¯s gaze focused on her brother. The white flames of his eyes flickered before fading, but his chest still rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. She reached out, gently pressing her fingers against his charred neck. Somehow his pulse was faint but there, and a strange energy radiated from him that the moon couldn¡¯t identify, something foreign and yet familiar in its heat. ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Rachel murmured, voice calm despite the inferno roaring beneath the ice enclosing it. ¡°Something¡¯s happening to him¡­but he¡¯ll live. He saved them.¡± Her eyes flicked to Maria, her aura already exhausted but steady enough to help when she awakened from the sharp spiritual flux that had enveloped the group her brother protected. ¡°We just need Maria to stabilize him when she wakes up.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears twitched, picking up the faint shuffling of others nearby. Green stood a few feet away, her eyes wide and searching Rachel for answers, along with a few dozen other Myths and Legends who had gathered. Some were visibly shaken, others curious, but all of them were waiting for what she¡¯d do. Grace¡¯s horse galloped through the settling ash, the cowgirl¡¯s boots hitting the ground as she dismounted in one fluid motion, chest heaving. ¡°Yo, w-what the hell happened here, Boss?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t answer immediately, her hand slipping into her pockets as she slowly rose to her feet. The cold fury in her chest tightened as the snow and ash mixed, causing black and white flakes to blanket them. She drew in a slow breath, her gaze lifting to take in the devastation around them [Strategic Mind] drawing together every little nugget of information the Greater Moon of Abundance fed her. Everything within the blast radius was scorched¡ªobliterated. The house was reduced to nothing but ash, debris barely recognizable as anything that had once stood there. The landscape, including the neighboring houses were blackened ruins, smoke rising in slow, curling tendrils from the ground. The air was thick with the scent of ash. ¡°Soldier!¡± Barbara¡¯s voice was sharp as her ears caught the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow behind her. A man appeared from across the street, his radio already buzzing with the captain¡¯s voice. ¡°Report!¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes narrowed, half-turning to focus on his approach, clearly shaken by what he¡¯d witnessed and trying to describe the colossal firestorm that had engulfed almost six mansions. She exhaled slowly, eyes turning to Nia. ¡°Handle it.¡± Adult Nia gave a sobering nod as she turned to organize the recovery and protection of Nam and her group. The bun soldiers dropped out of the sky, swiftly forming a perimeter around Nam, their usual playful demeanor replaced with cold efficiency and hissing at anyone nearby to back away. The tension between Rachel and the crowd pressed down like a physical force as she stepped toward the soldier, blonde braid swaying gently behind her. Grace, Scarlet, Green, and a few curious Myths and Legends followed. [Lunar Spike: Greater Moon of Abundance - Deactivated] Rachel extended her hand, and the man hesitated before giving her the radio. Her fingers wrapped around it, the gold in her hair slowly bleeding back to its glowing white as she brought the device to her lips. ¡°Barb¡­¡± Her voice was low, tail stiff, and heart cold as the Greater Moon¡¯s influence left. ¡°Rachel? What¡¯s happening?¡± Barbara¡¯s voice crackled over the line, her usual calm tinged with a hint of concern. ¡°Did something happen to your brother¡­¡± She scanned the ruined landscape as she spoke. ¡°This isn¡¯t beef¡­ I don¡¯t know what to call this.¡± Her grip tightened and she forced a chuckle, ner nose twitching. ¡°Whoever shot first better rush me because they won¡¯t see the sun. I finally have someone to shoot at now, and I won¡¯t miss.¡± Rachel tossed the radio back to the soldier, her sharp gaze shifting toward Scarlet, the fear firmly replaced. Scarlet¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± She slowly shook her head, a smile lifting her lips that she didn¡¯t feel as she walked past them into the falling snow and ash. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. Follow if you want¡­but my mom would kick my ass if I let some bitch in a can take an ax to my family tree. Bring Grace and Green if you want¡­ I need a second to calm down before I snap.¡± Rachel¡¯s boots left faint imprints in the mix of snow and ash, her breath visible as she leaped onto the roof of a nearby building. The world had slowed to an eerie quiet, white static in her ears with her mind and emotions pressing inward. The snowfall veiled the city in a heavy, suffocating silence. The soft orange glow of distant lampposts barely pierced through the swirling white veil of the storm, giving the world a dull, muted cast. Her gaze swept the snow piling on top of cars and rooftops, but her focus wasn¡¯t on the freezing landscape. No, her mind was sharper than the bitter wind biting at her skin. Someone wanted my attention, and now they have it, she thought, pulse steady despite the mess she¡¯d just left behind. With a fluid, effortless leap, she pushed further into the empty street ahead. The gathering snow softened her landing as she continued, her every movement precise and controlled. In a radiant pulse, her hammer materialized on her shoulder, twisting in her palm with her active mind, ears twitching. I like challenges. I enjoy fighting. I have fun when someone tries to take my life¡­ I have more pride than I can express¡­ I love when a challenger steps forward, bold, unafraid, coming to stomp me out. But this? A snort escaped her lips. They don¡¯t know shit about me if this is the kind of game they want to play. Well, okay, put your nuts on the table. Let¡¯s play the game. Her footsteps grew lighter, more calculated as she neared the next rooftop. Snow clung to her white braid and hot skin. If not for the Greater Harvest Moon feeding her information, she wouldn¡¯t have had a clue about what triggered the explosion other than what Astra gave them. That magical fire vortex wasn¡¯t an accident; it had been engineered. Designed. The blizzard swirled around her, the ash mixing with the falling snow, creating an unnatural, almost surreal backdrop to the empty world below. The faint lights of the streetlamps cast long, ghostly shadows as she moved through the nearly deserted field where she had faced Green earlier. She passed by the unaware soldiers and demi who were scattering, most moving in the direction of the house to see the damage for themselves or secure areas on orders from superiors. The snow crunched underfoot, yet the silence felt deafening. The world around her stood still, but inside her, a storm raged. I¡¯m done running around in circles around these clowns, trying to call me out. It¡¯s like I¡¯m listening to pussy ass dogs meow¡­ Whoever orchestrated this wasn¡¯t interested in killing me¡­ No. This wasn¡¯t squaring up to settle business. They aimed to tear my family apart¡­ They wanted to send a message or redirect my anger onto their enemies. Rachel landed in the field with a soft thud, her body tense with resolve. The air around her shimmered faintly, a pulse of energy flowing through her veins. It wasn¡¯t fear driving her now, nor anger. It was something colder, sharper. Something that demanded justice. First, someone goes after Mom, and she tells me to drop it¡­ Fine. Then this¡­ No, I¡¯ll be damned if I let anyone take a shot like that again. Attacking me every day of the week. Attacking them? You¡¯re not going to get another chance. Her eyes lifted to the airship hovering high above, its silhouette faint against the whitewashed sky, and the tension in her jaw tightened. The snow thickened, swirling around her as she bent her knees, fed power into her thighs, and leaped high into the sky to land on the deck. This whole plot point to get at my family. It¡¯s done tonight. B3 — 15. A Misty Key Rachel¡¯s bare feet left faint imprints in the mix of snow and ash as she landed on the deck of the Mexican airship, her hammer resting against her left shoulder. The howling storm swirled around her as she straightened, her illuminated, eclipse-like eyes lifting to sweep the deck. Her braid billowed behind her, her sports bra and shorts dusted with snow, as she silently assessed the chaotic scene around her¡ªcrew members shouting orders in Spanish, their movements panicked but methodical, flitting between their stations. The airship¡¯s sleek hull, once a gleaming symbol of Aztec artistry, was now dulled by frost and ash. Ornate designs etched into the metal flickered beneath a semi-active, struggling force field, casting eerie shadows in the snowstorm; certain systems were still in flux, causing loose parts of the ship to rattle in the icy wind, and the wooden stairs leading to the navigation quarters were slick and treacherous with ice. Rachel¡¯s breath fogged in the cold, but the chill didn¡¯t faze her. Her body was a furnace of suppressed energy, the residue of the Greater Moon of Abundance in her system still resonating in her core, fueling her resolve. It starts to get annoying when all your enemies are hiding. I guess I need to sniff them out¡­ Where are you at, bitch? Sneaking off when I wasn¡¯t listening. If this is how you want it, fine. I don¡¯t feel like dancing to strings, though. I might kill him just for fun at this point. Fighting the manic feelings welling up within her, she followed her ears to the left. Through the swirling haze of snow, she spotted him: the man who Scarlet had been following. So many snakes, trying to lead me by the nose. Well, I¡¯m not playing. The tall man stood by the railing, his coat flapping in the wind, nervously fiddling with his camera while staring off in the direction where her brother laid. He snapped picture after picture, his gloved hands shaking slightly, either from the cold or the tension. His wide, New York-accented voice cut through the storm as another engineer stood nearby. ¡°What was that inferno?! I¡¯ve never seen that type of supernatural magic¡ªoh?¡± He paused, and noticed her approach and snapped a picture. Rachel didn¡¯t slow her pace as she neared him, thick flakes falling around her. The crew barely noticed her, too caught up in their frantic attempts to stabilize the ship¡¯s recent power troubles. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the Omen CEO! I¡­¡± ¡°Legend of William H. Mumler?¡± Rachel¡¯s voice cut through the wind and his greeting like a blade, calm yet carrying the weight of command. He almost dropped his camera. ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ How did you know my Legend? What¡¯s this about?¡± William blinked, a nervous smile pulled at his lips. ¡°Are you mad I took those photos? I just wanted to see the unique forces around you! I didn¡¯t mean anything about it.¡± Tone cold steel, her sharp gaze flicked toward the captain¡¯s quarters, and she turned on her heel to walk toward the stairs leading up to the navigation room. ¡°A lie but I¡¯ll let it slide for now¡­ Follow me.¡± William fixated on her hammer and hesitated, his chuckle betraying his unease. ¡°Right¡­ I do need to make a living. Umm. What do you need me for?¡± He clutched his camera tighter as he jogged after her. Ignoring the photographer for now since she only needed him for one thing, she kept her focus ahead. The stairs were half-obscured by the worsening snowstorm, and the glowing hammer she carried pulsed with energy. She could feel the tension in the air growing, the fear of the ship falling out of the sky hot on the engineers¡¯ minds. However, Rachel was tired¡ªso tired¡ªof chasing shadows, tired of being manipulated by people. Gripping the threads of fate, she tugged hard. Twilight¡¯s manipulations were bad enough. Mom gaslighting me¡­ Astra. This time, I¡¯m getting answers. One way¡­or another. They want to rattle the cage? Then don¡¯t be scared when something breaks out. Her steps toward the captain¡¯s quarters were measured, her hammer¡¯s hum pulling men and women¡¯s confused eyes as she swung it off her shoulder. Reaching the stairs, she tightened her grip and slammed the hammer against the wooden wall. The force field flashed blue and red. Another slam, the points biting into the wood, sending a tremor through the interior. The ship creaked under the weight of the storm and her blows, its force field flickering in and out of existence. Snow swirled around her like a living entity, William snapping pictures of her as she moved, trailing behind her, his gaze darting between her and the chaotic crew, now stopping to watch her. Rachel¡¯s eyes were locked on the door above the captain¡¯s quarters as it swung open, a giant of a luchador exiting with a furrowed brow. She gripped her hammer tighter after delivering a more powerful blow upon reaching the navigation room¡¯s door, feeling the heat of its kinetic energy build in her hands, her body vibrating to let loose. ¡°??Qu¨¦ diablos nos est¨¢ pasando?! Aye¡ª¡± Without hesitation, in full view of the man, she gripped it with both hands and with all her strength, slammed the hammer against the door, snatching his attention. The ship¡¯s flickering force field field strengthened, yet it still sent a reverberating shockwave through the airship, dispersing the force through its metal bones. Drawing her weapon back again, the second blow pierced through the barrier, fracturing the wooden door with a resounding crack. Splinters flew into the storm, the door shattering under the force of her strike. As the door blew inward, the man jumped the full way down to loom over her: the Legend of Enrique Ugartechea, standing shirtless and grinning from beneath a wrestling mask. ¡°What is this?¡± he asked, grinning beneath his mask. ¡°You looking for a fight, conejito lunar?¡± His muscles rippled in the cold, eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. Rachel¡¯s expression remained unchanged. The wind howled, whipping icy tendrils of snow around the towering figure of Enrique Ugartechea. His muscled frame barely swayed by the storm as he stood between her and the open door, movement and shouts coming from inside. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve,¡± he sneered, voice dripping with arrogance. Rachel¡¯s glowing eyes remained fixed on the navigation room ahead. She didn¡¯t flinch at his mocking tone, her grip on the hammer tightening. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this¡­¡± she whispered. Enrique chuckled, stepping forward and into her space, flexing his impressive muscles. ¡°Scared? You sure you want to pick this fight when so small, little bun?¡± Her gaze lifted to meet his, struggling to see red. Her lips barely moved, but her voice carried through the storm with icy calm. ¡°Don¡¯t play games with your life. Move, or I¡¯ll move you.¡± His booming laugh was almost lost in the roar of the escalating storm. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can back that up. Go ahead, make the first move.¡± Without hesitation, Rachel¡¯s hammer vanished in a flash of moonlight, drawing a confused snort from the man towering over her. He didn¡¯t have time to react. Her form shimmered, disappearing from her spot in front of him with a flash of lunar light. [Lunar Grace: Activated] Rachel reappeared behind him. In one swift motion, she grabbed his waistband and launched him over the edge of the ship, leaving the crew frozen in shock. The air seemed to rush in on itself as Enrique disappeared into the swirling snow below, his startled cry lost in the storm. For a brief moment, silence hung over the deck, punctuated only by the howl of the blizzard and the faint thud of her bare feet. William, staying on his toes, snapped a few pictures to capture the moment as she moved over the wooden debris, hammer reappearing in her hand as she faced the stunned room. His hands shook slightly from the intensity of the moment. ¡°That¡­was something. You¡¯re on a warpath.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t respond, her focus entirely on the navigation quarters ahead. But just as she locked onto her target, a new figure stepped into her path: the Legend of El Santo, from the whispers among the engineers. ¡°Wait,¡± a man said in the back, making El Santo pause. ¡°Let¡¯s not escalate things.¡± Again¡­ This one won¡¯t be so easy, though, and I have to push if I¡¯m going to force them out of the shadows, she grumbled to herself, looking up at the large figure stepping up to her; [Bestial Instincts] sent a cautionary pulse through her. He¡¯s smaller than Enrique¡­but with a lot more power. Unlike Enrique, this man radiated calm, noble strength. His iconic white mask and disciplined stance made it clear he wasn¡¯t here for games. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a surprise? You¡¯re powerful, Omen¡¯s hare,¡± he said, voice steady, carrying none of Enrique¡¯s arrogance. ¡°But you¡¯re also reckless. What is it you seek here, with such force?¡± Rachel¡¯s grip on her hammer tightened. He¡¯s more on Green¡¯s level¡­possibly a tad stronger. It won¡¯t be easy to get rid of him if I use force. Her breath fogged in the cold air that rushed in as she sized him up; she wouldn¡¯t need to fight now that she made it inside, William hovering nearby, snapping photos. Rachel¡¯s feet shifted slightly to find better footing in case she needed it, the howling wind buffeting her bare arms. Snow swirled in thick, blinding gusts that entered the cabin, carrying the faint scent of machinery mixed with something more. An underlying current of fear rippling through the crew or caution from the Legends surrounding her target: Rafael Ortega, the commander of the ship. If El Santo wasn¡¯t enough, Enrique used some kind of conjured rope ability to launch himself back onto the flying vessel. He landed behind her with a heavy crash and she could feel the steam rising from his massive frame as he recovered from being tossed into the white. He snarled, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in movements, a hint that he wasn¡¯t so sure about charging at her again. But before he could act, the air nearby shimmered, swirling in an unnatural way. A crimson portal tore open, and from the swirling vortex of blood jumped Scarlet. Right on time, Rachel thought, keeping El Santo in her sight. Scarlet¡¯s heels clicked softly against the deck, her glowing blood twisting around her. The crew immediately tensed at her otherworldly aura. Her eyes lingered briefly on Enrique before turning to Rachel. ¡°These guys do it, Rachel?¡± Scarlet muttered, an edge to her voice, a quiet readiness for violence beneath the surface. Rachel shook her head, still focused entirely on the man in front of her, and Scarlet wasn¡¯t alone. As the vampire stepped closer to enter the confrontation zone, the portal behind her shimmered again, and Grace emerged, stepping through with an almost casual swagger. Her hand rested lightly on the handle of her revolver, her blue eyes sharp beneath the brim of her cowboy hat as she swept the scene. ¡°Helluva night for a showdown, huh?¡± the brunette muttered, her breath fogging in the cold air. She cast a quick glance at Enrique, then Rafael, then back to Rachel. She had a half-smile on her face, but it was tight with tension. ¡°What¡¯s the play, boss?¡± She shifted her weight, ready to draw her gun at the first sign of trouble. Rachel had to acknowledge the decision to instantly follow her lead; the girl had trust in her, which went a long way in her book. ¡°Feels like somethin¡¯s about to pop off,¡± she muttered, more to herself than anyone else, her focus flicking to Scarlet. The blood portal still rippled faintly behind them, casting a reddish glow over the deck. ¡°These bastards that took shots at your fam?¡± ¡°Attacked your family?¡± El Santo whispered, flexing his fingers and calmly waiting for someone to make a move. ¡°Clearly we need to discuss this. Sinor, Rafael?¡± The tension on the deck escalated as more crew members began to gather, their eyes wide and wary, weapons at the ready. Some murmured in Spanish, clearly unnerved by the sight of Scarlet¡¯s floating blood and her unrelenting stance. Rachel only needed a little more pressure before he¡¯d break, she could feel the misfortune swirling like a cloud. Enrique remained where he¡¯d landed, watching them carefully, but not making any sudden moves. The man wasn¡¯t dumb; he knew he¡¯d been outmatched once, and she hadn¡¯t even been trying. A second attempt would likely end worse for him. Then, to further put pause in the Mexican crew¡¯s action, out of the swirling snow, Green appeared, dropping out of the sky. The hare¡¯s entry was quieter, more deliberate, as if she were trying to walk the line between both sides without escalating things further. Her ears leaned to the side, approached with calm neutrality, her posture careful, hands slightly raised in a non-threatening gesture as she stepped between El Santo and her. ¡°Easy now,¡± Green said, her voice carrying a soothing, diplomatic tone that contrasted sharply with the tension on the deck. The Fable glanced at her, her brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s not turn this into a bigger mess than it already is. I get you¡¯re pissed, Rachel, but this is going to get you and your people in a lot of trouble.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t respond; she didn¡¯t need to. Her tail stiff and ears tilted forward, her focus shifted to Rafael as El Santo took a step back. The commander stood firm beside his many bodyguards, his eyes locked onto hers, the silent negotiation between them unfolding without words. He knew she wasn¡¯t going to back down and they stood to lose a lot more if they took the heat of her ire. After all, this was a huge political problem just waiting to come out. However, there was still an underlying confidence in his stance¡ªa man used to control, but not foolish enough to provoke an unnecessary conflict. The wind howled again, whipping snow across the deck, and for a moment, it felt like everything could explode with the wrong word. Scarlet¡¯s blood gradually inched outward beside her, Grace¡¯s fingers twitched near her revolver, and even Green¡¯s calm approach couldn¡¯t erase the thick tension wrapping around them. Do it, Rafael¡­ Bite the bullet, Rachel internally snarled. Take responsibility. You won¡¯t be the main focus in anycase. I just need to expose them. Good choice. Finally, Rafael raised a hand, signaling to his men to stand down. His voice was low but firm, his eyes never leaving Rachel¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight, people. We¡¯re here to cooperate and take down the Crystal threat.¡± He gestured to his crew, some of whom visibly relaxed but kept their weapons close. Scarlet¡¯s scowl softened just a touch, but her radiant red eyes still commanded a nervous edge from the crew; the young woman had gained a backbone since the masquerade. Grace, meanwhile, kept her attention divided between Enrique and the crew, hand lazily resting on one of her pistols she could whip out in less than half a second. ¡°And yet,¡± Rachel¡¯s voice cut through the wind, cold and unwavering as she brushed by El Santo, the man moving with her to remain closeby, ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to talk or negotiate¡­ Take me to the armory.¡± The demand hung in the air, the storm seeming to pause for a moment as the weight of her words settled over the deck. Several crew members exchanged uneasy glances, some muttering about the ¡®Omen hare¡¯ and hares being insane. More than a few hissed curses in Spanish that she¡¯d heard Maria mumble, but none dared make a move now that their boss was talking. Green exhaled softly, stepping further into the middle, still trying to play the peacemaker. ¡°Rachel, maybe we should¡ª¡± ¡°I said,¡± Rachel cut her off, her eyes narrowing as she took a single step forward, El Santo half moving between them, ¡°take me to the armory. You know what I want to confirm.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°What is she talking about?¡± Green pressed, and a new voice entered the room. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know.¡± All eyes shifted to the shattered door, where a few figures entered: General Tom Dallas, with a few men and women beside him, including Barbara. ¡°Rafael, I trust Rachel¡¯s instincts¡­and there was an attack just made on American soil.¡± The deck went deathly silent, a lump dropping down several Legends¡¯ throats as they glanced at each other. Rafael Ortega¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver, but the hesitation was clear. The tension hung like a blade between them, waiting to drop. And then, after what felt like an eternity, Rafael nodded slowly. ¡°I would like an answer myself, General¡­ Stand down,¡± he ordered his men, more firmly this time. ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight. The Magitech Development Corporation is here to cooperate. Let her through.¡± Just a little more. El Santo hesitated but Rafael¡¯s command held weight. Slowly, they began to lower their weapons, the tension easing just enough to let them breathe again. But the storm still raged outside, and the undercurrent of conflict hadn¡¯t disappeared¡ªmerely shifted, like a predator waiting for its moment. Grace¡¯s fingers relaxed slightly on her gun, but her eyes stayed sharp, tracking every movement around them. Scarlet gave a satisfied hum, her blood still swirling faintly at her fingertips as she stood beside Rachel. Green, looking between them all, let out a soft sigh of relief but didn¡¯t drop her guard completely. When they parted, Rafael maintained eye contact with her; he was a normal human, unlike most of those who surrounded him. ¡°Fine. But everyone else besides El Santo, Rachel, and General Dallas remains¡ª¡± Rachel cut him off. ¡°Scarlet, Grace, William, and Green come.¡± Rafael¡¯s mouth tightened at her demand, but a look from Tom made him tilt his head. ¡°Very well, but you are not providing a good first impression, Ms. Park.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the luxury to,¡± she growled in return, stepping aside to allow him through. ¡°You messed up. Now I have to fix your problem.¡± The man strode forward to meet Tom with a tight expression. He knows¡­ At least he can bite the bullet instead of playing politics and hiding behind diplomatic immunity or running back to Mexico, leaving a mess in his wake. Rachel¡¯s gaze remained icy and focused as she brushed past El Santo, who held no animosity while stepping aside, his massive arms crossed over his chest. The crew, now gathered around the entrance, watched her with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. Scarlet, Grace, and William trailed closely behind as they left the navigation room to the lower levels, the tension in the air palpable between them. Don¡¯t give me that look, Barb, Rachel sighed while passing the woman. It would have caused more headaches to add you. ¡°You¡¯ll get your chance soon enough,¡± she whispered in passing, catching the auburn-haired woman¡¯s eye. Grace and Scarlet gave her an apologetic smile in passing, the cowgirl practically bouncing at the calamity they were leaving in their wake. They followed Rafael Ortega deeper into the bowels of the ship, the narrow metal corridors bathed in a flickering, eerie glow from the failing magitech systems. The hum of energy running through the vessel was erratic, matching the uncertainty of everyone on board. Every now and then, a distant shout or muffled conversation in Spanish echoed through the halls, the crew members busy dealing with the storm or mechanical issues. Issues not naturally created. Rafael led with quick, purposeful strides, his demeanor controlled but betraying an underlying concern as they moved toward the ship¡¯s armory. Rachel could hear it in the rigid set of his shoulders. As they approached a heavily reinforced door, Rachel¡¯s sharp eyes locked onto the intricate patterns of Aztec glyphs and brightened magitech symbols, woven into its surface. Scarlet¡¯s eyes narrowed, her fingers twitching at the sight of the glyphs. ¡°It¡¯s really hard for me to see beyond it,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°It changes colors and blurs shapes.¡± Rafael keyed in his credentials with practiced precision, muttering a soft phrase in Spanish that sent a ripple of energy through the door. Rachel¡¯s senses prickled at the hum of power, her ears catching the faint shift in the air. Every layer of defense and magic buzzed against their skin, like a warning. She gripped her hammer a little tighter, the Greater Moon of Abundance having shown her quite a few details about how the explosion was caused, which brought her here. The final lock disengaged with a heavy, resonating clank. The door slowly creaked open, revealing the heart of the ship¡¯s armory. Rows of towering shelves lined the walls, each compartment secured with intricate locks and magitech seals. The soft blue glow of containment fields illuminated the room, casting an almost serene light over the dangerous contents stored inside. Rachel¡¯s attention immediately fell on what she¡¯d been after: a sleek, cylindrical design, roughly the size of a large thermos. Its surface was made of a smooth, reinforced material, with a translucent window that revealed swirling, dense liquid inside¡ªdeep red, like blood, with a faint glow that pulsed rhythmically, almost as if alive. They were neatly arranged along the walls¡­identical to the one found under Nam¡¯s bed. She knew it based on the blast type and vortex inferno it had created, cycling back in the magical flames to provide an even more deadly internal cyclone. The sight stirred a cold fury inside her, her hand shaking against the hammer, her knuckles whitened. But it was the empty slots on the shelves that drew her focus, several canisters missing from their designated spaces. Her blood simmered beneath the surface, but she kept her expression impassive, not willing to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her anger. Everyone fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint hum of energy vibrating through the armory¡¯s walls. El Santo lingered by the doorway, his towering figure blocking part of the exit. He leaned against the frame with a thoughtful grin, crossing his arms over his chest while examining the space. ¡°Well, what is it that drew you to our armory? Perhaps you wish to run a few laps now that you have seen it, conejito lunar? I can join you to burn off all that aggression?¡± Rachel didn¡¯t so much as glance in his direction, her focus locked on Rafael, who stepped forward with a grim expression. Tom could sense the weight the other leader was feeling, as well. Rafael¡¯s face reflected the pressure of the situation his hired muscle didn¡¯t grasp, lines of frustration and concern deepening around his eyes. ¡°I feared as much¡­ Some of the MT-Cyclones are missing. Hmm¡­ Stolen, would be a better word,¡± Rafael admitted, his voice low and steady, yet tinged with frustration before . ¡°But I suspect you¡¯re not here to blame us for what happened, are you?¡± Finally, time to quit running and hiding. I know you¡¯re listening and think I don¡¯t know¡­ Rachel¡¯s gaze snapped toward William, who hovered nervously by the entrance. His camera was still clutched tightly in his hands, unsure if he could take pictures again. He swallowed hard, clearly uncomfortable with the tension in the room, but he knew better than to speak after being dragged into this mess. His camera had captured more than just moments tonight¡ªit was a window into the past¡ªsomething the Abundant Moon had given her upon reflecting on the information she had. Rachel¡¯s voice was calm, but the unyielding authority in it left no room for argument; she¡¯d have her moment to let loose soon enough. ¡°William. Use your camera to look back and see who took the bombs.¡± Scarlet¡¯s lips curved into a half-smirk, a hint of amusement flickering in her crimson eyes. ¡°I knew it the moment I saw that gold hair¡­ You know who he is now. He¡¯s connected to all of this, isn¡¯t he?! Let¡¯s see what secrets you¡¯re hiding, huh?¡± Not quite following, Scarlet, she internally sighed, motioning for him to continue. Sure, he¡¯s working for someone who is looking for data on Myths and Legends, but he¡¯s likely not connected to this. William gulped, his hands trembling as he fumbled with the settings on his camera. ¡°How do you know so much about me? This is freaky! Do you speak to spirits or something? Maybe we could sit down for an interview later. And I¡­ Uh. Mmm. I can only look back an hour at most.¡± Rachel¡¯s silence was all the confirmation he needed. His fingers worked quickly, adjusting the dials as he raised the camera, aiming it toward the canisters. A faint blue glow shimmered around the lens as its flash bathed the area in light, rippling through the air in front of him. The room held its collective breath as William pressed the shutter, the soft click of the camera echoing through the stillness. The photo slid out and began to develop, slowly revealing a moving image: a shadowy figure moving through the armory. Suddenly, the sound of rushed footsteps echoed down the corridor behind them. An engineer stumbled into the open door, his face drained of color, eyes wide with panic, and breath coming out in ragged bursts. His words tripped over each other in his frantic attempt to speak. ¡°Rach¡ª¡± Before he could get a single coherent word out, Rachel¡¯s hammer swung to the side with lethal precision and force that left a vacuum in its wake, the spike stopping just an inch from his face. The air around it buzzed with kinetic power, the room falling deathly still. ¡°Not another word, Astra,¡± Rachel said, her voice deadly quiet and eyes lighting with her buried fury. ¡°Not¡­a word.¡± Astra¡¯s face contorted with panic, his hands raising in surrender as Scarlet reacted the moment his name was mentioned. Her blood swirling ominously around her fingers, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice as her vampiric eyes burned into not the doll, but her mother behind it. The crimson tendrils hovered just over her fingertips, waiting for any signal to lash out. As the picture came into full view, William¡¯s face paled, his voice shaking with disbelief as he held it up. ¡°It¡¯s¡­him.¡± He pointed at the engineer. ¡°He¡¯s the one who took the bombs.¡± A chill swept the room, but none more than around Scarlet. Rachel¡¯s ears twitched, catching the subtle shifts in her labored breathing, rage boiling up; Rachel knew what the girl must have been thinking: you¡¯re trying to kill Rachel¡¯s family because you¡¯re jealous I¡¯m with them and not you! Once again, you¡¯re jumping the gun. Rachel¡¯s eyes locked onto Astra, cold and unwavering as Scarlet¡¯s blood snaked around the fake magitech engineer. Believe me, I want it to be your mother more than anyone¡­but this is a red herring. Astra¡¯s breaths came in shallow, real panic starting to set in, which wasn¡¯t an easy feat for an AI. Yet, even he¡¯d been caught off-guard by this development. He¡¯d been played. The room was thick with tension, every eye locked onto him, waiting for an explanation. Rachel¡¯s hammer hovered near his face, the kinetic energy crackling in the air. Scarlet¡¯s blood swirled more aggressively, the tendrils closing in, reacting to her growing rage. Her voice was low, barely above a whisper, but each word dripped with venom. ¡°You betrayed us! You¡¯ve betrayed me.¡± Astra¡¯s hands trembled, his wide eyes flicking desperately between Scarlet and her. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t! I swear it, Scarlet, I didn¡¯t set off the bomb. I¡­ I-I didn¡¯t mean for any of this to happen. They were stolen from me. Please, listen, I¡ª¡± Rachel didn¡¯t move, dropping her hammer and using a hand to disperse Scarlet¡¯s blood, causing the fanged girl to look at her in confusion. ¡°Was it¡­not them?¡± she asked, more referring to her mother than Astra. ¡°No¡­ They were an ignorant accomplice. I believe you, Astra,¡± Rachel muttered. Astra let out a shaky breath, relief beginning to wash over him, but Rachel¡¯s livid expression quickly smothered any hope of escape. ¡°You didn¡¯t come to me; I had to force you out,¡± she said, her voice low but lethal. ¡°You would have had me running circles around you, chasing my own tail for hours.¡± Astra opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off , stepping forward to enter his personal space, the weight of her fury pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. ¡°I could¡¯ve treated you like Aella¡ªdragged your face down the pavement, slapped you black and purple for wasting my time, until you saw a light at the end of the tunnel.¡± Rachel¡¯s voice dropped to a deadly whisper. ¡°I could¡¯ve snapped, took it past logic, and killed you. ¡°I squared up ¡®cause I¡¯m sick of running circles around these clowns trying to call me out¡­¡± Pressing forward until her chest met his, her wide eyes burning with a cold fire, she breathed, ¡°This is your one chance. Give me the Fable Key, and pray I don¡¯t lose my patience if you hesitate.¡± Astra visibly swallowed, sweat beading at his temple as his shaking hands fumbled in his pocket. The room was silent, Astra¡¯s stammers the only thing above a whisper. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Rachel¡¯s ears tilted forward, her gaze icy and unrelenting. ¡°You don¡¯t think I know that? The moment you didn¡¯t come to me, you lost trust. The key, Astra. Now.¡± Panic flared in Astra¡¯s eyes as he finally pulled out a small, glowing artifact¡ªa misty silver artifact. Rachel snatched the key from his hand, her expression cold and calculating. That was everything the Abundant Moon gave her. She stepped away, done with the AI and Adele, for now. The Fable Key wasn¡¯t about Astra anymore¡ªit was about something far larger. Green, who had been watching silently from the corner, stepped forward, apprehension taking the woman upon seeing the item. ¡°Wait¡­ Is it real?! Rachel, that¡¯s¡ªwhy do you want something that can access any of our Fable Realms?! You don¡¯t think¡­¡± The hare paused as Rachel turned to her, disbelief dawning Green¡¯s face. ¡°You don¡¯t think Red, Black, or Gray have anything to do with the attack on your brother, right?¡± Having remained silent throughout the discussion, Tom¡¯s deep voice joined them while staring at the mythical artifact Fable had wanted to get its hands on since leaving the Scarlet Hand. ¡°A mole inside of Fable is a hard thing to swallow, considering the tight ship White runs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for them,¡± Rachel coolly replied, noticing the intense eyes and questioning looks on everyone present. ¡°¡­It¡¯s for Abu Hassan.¡± Every person excluding Green and Astra blinked before turning to Green as the weight of her words settled in for the pair. The AI was the one to respond, though, his eyes wide, realization dawning on him as he no doubt ran all the calculations. ¡°Of course¡­ Not every Fablekin got their fairy tale¡­ Red still struggles with hers. Some ended in grim tales.¡± Green crossed her arms, a shiver running down her frame. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­ The Fable of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was corrupted¡­ The leader of the thieves won.¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes gleamed for combat. ¡°This rabbit hole runs deep¡­and I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it by the end of the night. I¡¯m not about to waste my time chasing shadows anymore. If any of you want to storm a Grim Kingdom, you¡¯re more than welcomed to join me. There¡¯s plenty of treasure to be plundered.¡± Before heading for the mountain near the city, she grabbed Astra by the coat and pulled him in, nose twisting with anger. ¡°We¡¯re done. The fact that you didn¡¯t come to me the moment this happened? That puts us on thin ice.¡± Without waiting for a response, Rachel shoved him back, turned, and strode out of the armory, leaving whoever wanted to join her to follow. Grace and Scarlet were close behind, while William pulled out his camera, capturing the moment with a soft click. His voice was filled with awe as he muttered to himself, ¡°This is going to be¡­legendary.¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * The snow fell steadily, casting a quiet, blanketing veil over the hunting cabin nestled deep in the wooded mountains outside of Billings. The landscape was still, the pine trees weighed down by the thick frost, and only the distant howl of the wind broke the silence. A figure stood just outside the cabin, a cigarette dangling lazily from his lips, a folder tucked under his arm. The soft glow from the cherry end of the cigarette punctuated the darkness, illuminating the man¡¯s sharp features and blonde hair, hidden beneath a standard-issue American military officer¡¯s cap. He took a deep drag, exhaling a plume of smoke into the crisp, cold air. His breath fogged in the bitter chill, mixing with the cigarette haze, but the cold didn¡¯t bother him. Dressed in camouflage fatigues, he appeared to be just another US soldier, but there was something in the stillness of his posture, the precise way he stood, that spoke of a deeper purpose. He wasn¡¯t just waiting¡ªhe was calculating, watching. The snow crunched faintly in the distance, subtle but deliberate, almost too soft for anyone else to notice. His pale blue eyes shifted, barely moving as his gaze focused on the source. A woman appeared through the swirling snow, her dark hair stark against the white landscape. She was walking slowly, holding her elbows behind her back, her posture relaxed, and her gait graceful. It was as though the cold wind and heavy snowfall weren¡¯t affecting her at all. She approached with a lightness that belied the blizzard, her figure seemingly untouched by the harsh environment, no trace of frost or chill on her black overcoat. Her lips curled in a smile, eyes gleaming with mischief. There was a timeless quality about her, something that felt ancient, despite the charm she exuded. What has this world come to? I suppose when you have powers like hers, the higher ups take what they can get. Still, we need more information on her motives at the end of this operation. The man took one last drag of his cigarette, watching her approach with measured disinterest. As she drew closer, he flicked the cigarette to the snow and ground it beneath his boot. The flakes hissed where the embers met it, the sound swallowed by the wind. ¡°You''re early,¡± he said, his voice deep and gravelly, his Russian accent long since erased, replaced with a perfect American drawl. ¡°Rachel discovered the bomb makers sooner than I anticipated.¡± The woman¡¯s lips twitched, a small, playful laugh escaping her. She tilted her head slightly, as if amused by the very notion. With a slow, deliberate motion, she brought her hands in front of her, revealing nothing but the faint shimmer of snowflakes in her palms. Her fingers were delicate, but there was an odd, almost unsettling elegance to them. ¡°Oh, darling,¡± she cooed, the wind carrying her voice like a soft melody, ¡°why would that matter? It¡¯s actually helping us.¡± She moved closer, her black hair whipping around her in the gusts, yet she remained unbothered. The way she moved, so fluidly, so effortlessly, made her seem less like a woman and more like something from a story¡ªsomething old, something with deep roots in folklore. Her eyes sparkled with an ageless wisdom, and her presence carried a quiet, dangerous confidence. He didn¡¯t react to her words, not outwardly. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out another cigarette, lighting it with steady, practiced hands. He took a drag, considering her for a long moment before speaking again. ¡°You think Rachel¡¯s meddling helps?¡± he asked, his tone skeptical but controlled. His breath fogged the air as he exhaled again, smoke swirling like a ghost around him. ¡°She¡¯s not one to be easily fooled from what information we have on her. It is better to keep her occupied, but this could draw her more toward us in the end.¡± The woman¡¯s smile widened, and she stepped closer, her muddy-brown eyes locking with his. She didn¡¯t blink, didn¡¯t flinch at the cold or the gravity of the situation. Instead, she gave a little shrug, as if it were all a game to her. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s formidable,¡± the woman purred, her voice a sultry whisper. ¡°Her supporters are quite terrifying. But what is she going to do? She¡¯s following a trail I¡¯ve laid out for her. The more she uncovers, the more she plays into our hands and our opposition takes her ire.¡± She paused, tapping her chin with one elegant finger. ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Her smile took on a coy, knowing edge as she studied him. ¡°Do you know who hired Abu Hassan to assassinate the Lunar Hare¡¯s brother? I still haven¡¯t discovered that little detail which could make for some¡­tantalizing twists. You would be the one to know, Mr. Informant.¡± His hand paused midway to his lips, cigarette held between two fingers, his expression unreadable. He let the silence stretch between them before finally exhaling and dropping the cigarette to the ground, once again crushing it under his boot with a slow, deliberate motion. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he muttered flatly, his eyes never leaving hers. ¡°Not that you¡¯d believe me.¡± The woman¡¯s smile grew wider still, almost cat-like, her amusement deepening as she watched him. There was a flicker of something darker in her eyes, something dangerous beneath the mask, as if she were constantly weighing every word, every action, calculating the outcome of this intricate game. ¡°Perhaps not,¡± she replied with a lilting laugh, stepping so close to him that their breath mingled in the cold air. ¡°But isn¡¯t that what makes this so much fun?¡± Her fingers brushed his shoulder before taking the folder in his hands. With that, she turned, walking back into the storm with the same eerie grace she¡¯d arrived with. The wind howled around her, but she seemed to glide through it effortlessly, as though the elements themselves parted to let her pass. He watched her go, his expression impassive, though his mind worked furiously behind his icy gaze. Fables made real¡­ Not real people, but imagination made reality. It will be interesting to see how much Rachel uncovers and how deep this conspiracy runs¡­ Information is power. Walking toward the military vehicle parked in the wooden cabin nearby, he started it and returned to the city. B3 — 16. Shadows in the Storm Rachel moved swiftly through the airship¡¯s narrow corridors, her pace steady but controlled, Tom close on her right. The hum of the vessel reverberated beneath her feet, its mechanical pulse matching her own simmering anger while leaving Astra on the floor. The air felt colder, sharper, like the storm brewing on the edges of her control. She glanced briefly at Tom. His face was calm, his footsteps purposeful, but there was no mistaking the tension in his broad shoulders or the way his muscles twitched. He¡¯s thinking the same thing I am¡­ I¡¯m getting too emotional. Rafael¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts as he issued orders behind them. ¡°Enrique, lock down the armory. The spy, Astra, as Rachel put it, is to be detained and kept under close watch.¡± The sound of Enrique¡¯s boots echoed in response, the wrestler Legend moving away to fulfill the command. Rachel didn¡¯t bother to look back. Astra might slip through their fingers, but right now, that didn¡¯t concern her. He was someone else¡¯s problem. The Abundant Moon brought me here and allowed me the chance to find a direction but this is as far as it took me. I can¡¯t do this on my own¡­ I need to be a leader. She reached the elevator with Tom as the others caught up¡ªScarlet, Barbara, Green, El Santo, Grace, and Rafael. The group filed in, the silence between them thick with unspoken questions as they waited for her to report what was running through her mind. Rachel leaned against the side of the elevator, arms folded across her chest, eyes narrowing as she filtered them out. [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration] were kicking in to bring back everything she could recall and giving her processing time. Nia¡¯s voice slipped into her mind like a comforting whisper, the bond between the Adult Bun humming with reassurance and confidence. ¡°Nam and the others are with me and safe, for now. I¡¯ve moved them into a house nearby. Healers are with them, and I checked it myself. Maria¡¯s still out cold, but they¡¯re doing everything they can to wake her. Like you said, she¡¯s the best chance we have for fixing the more serious damage to Nam.¡± Rachel¡¯s fists tightened against her sides, knuckles turning white. She could picture her brother¡¯s charred skin, the smell, the aftermath of the explosion still burning in her mind. I should have been paying better attention or checked the house myself¡­ No, I can¡¯t blame myself. I need to move forward. How is he? she questioned, watching the lights they passed rise in slow motion and the faces watching her. ¡°The military healers here are telling me it¡¯s beyond physical. It¡¯s like his entire body was converted to charcoal¡­but he¡¯s still alive. They¡¯re not sure what to make of it, which means it¡¯s probably something more spiritual or soul related. I¡¯ve talked with Nike and she said it¡¯s possible he shattered his Seed and caused a Second Awakening.¡± A what?! Rachel¡¯s stomach cramped, realizing she hadn¡¯t even thought about contacting the most knowledgeable person she could. I¡¯m glad one of us is thinking clearly right now¡­ What does that mean? Can Maria even fix that if it is Seed related? I¡¯m trying not to panic here. Nia breathed out a sigh. ¡°As best she can tell from what I showed her, she believes he may have met Eostre since her Neutral Energy signature seems to be involved. Which means¡­¡± He broke into the 4th dimension, she finished, feeling her breath come out faster as her eyes shifted to the corner. If Eostre helped him, then I think things are in a more positive direction. Looking internally, she tried to navigate the ever-shifting string of bad luck cycling her. Now that I¡¯m feeling it out, I can¡¯t sense¡­any misfortune around him, as if the threads get burned the moment they touched. Still¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll be right by his side.¡± Thanks, Nia. A flicker of guilt twisted in her chest. I feel like I¡¯m going too slow, but I can¡¯t charge in. They¡¯re expecting an emotional response. She pushed the thought aside, forcing herself to focus. Nia would keep things stable, allowing her to go on the offensive. Tom¡¯s voice broke the silence, pulling her back to the group around the moving elevator. ¡°Could this be a diversion?¡± Rachel exhaled through her nose, not moving from her position as time sped up again. ¡°Most likely. They knew I¡¯d raise hell the moment Nam was attacked. If they were smart, they¡¯d be using this as a distraction to cover something bigger.¡± Barbara nodded, her yellow eyes scanning the rest of the group. ¡°Then we¡¯ll tighten security. We can start rotating personnel, making it harder for them to predict our moves and disrupting their own planned actions from protocol. We need to introduce variables they can¡¯t account for.¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± Rachel muttered, her mind already racing ahead. Whoever orchestrated this knew exactly how to hit me where it hurt. That level of precision doesn¡¯t come without careful planning¡­and having some personal knowledge about me. It feels like¡­Relica. I bet she was involved in some way, albeit likely more for consultation. Who the hell has this kind of reach? They would have had to predict multiple organizations¡¯ actions. Green leaned against the back wall, arms mirroring her as she frowned. ¡°This is our wheelhouse, Rachel. Just so you¡¯re aware, Grim Tales aren¡¯t like Fablekin.¡± All eyes darted to the woman as her long ear twitched in conjunction with Rachel¡¯s. ¡°Abu Hassan isn¡¯t a Fablekin. His story was about thieves and betrayal, but it wasn¡¯t this¡­¡± She trailed off, biting her lip as if turning the thought over. ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be the biggest villain in his own tale. He¡¯s a thief and murderer, sure. Attacking Fable is one thing since we hunt them but¡­why go after you, Rachel? Why now?¡± The elevator came to a stop, doors sliding open with a quiet hiss. Rafael stepped out first, brushing by the others before they followed. The hallway stretched out before them, illuminated by sterile white lights. Scientists and engineers glanced up as they passed, their murmurs hushed, eyes wide with curiosity and unease at the chaos on-board. Rachel¡¯s senses flicked over them, picking up scattered conversations and casting her ears in a wide net over the city. Nothing useful. I can¡¯t focus properly¡­ Gah! I¡¯ve never felt this way. ¡°Keep moving,¡± Rafael called out, his voice a commanding presence in the otherwise quiet space to his employees. ¡°I need security on every floor and a full inventory made.¡± They scattered at his orders. Rachel¡¯s mind tracked every detail, every possibility. Green¡¯s right. Why me? Why Nam? Why now? Could this be a higher dimensional play? One of the Mystickin acting in accordance with a 5th-dimensional entity, looking to influence the outcome of the Crystal before it reopens? Could they have been after Nam all along and this is actually South Korea, like before? The Fable Key left an imprint in her hand, her mouth tightening. It¡¯s more than a vendetta. This is a part of something larger. She glanced at Green as the woman continued to explain the details regarding the fable of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The forty-eight characters of the story, including the forty thieves themselves. Any one of them could be corrupted or victim and hostage within the corrupted fable. Rachel wasn¡¯t interested in the fable itself, like Green. Her gaze shifted to Rafael as he asked questions but her thoughts weren¡¯t with them. Abu Hassan was hired by someone to destabilize me and everyone else by the hellfire I¡¯d rain¡­ I¡¯m giving them what they want. The monster within her chest flexed its claws, her pace slowing as she took a long, deep breath and released it. I won¡¯t give them the satisfaction. If you are involved Relica, you probably purposefully left out critical details about me for your own benefit¡­ This is a multi-faceted coalition of forces each struggling to achieve their own goals¡­with me at the center, raising hell. Rachel rubbed her arm to stop her jitters and got everyone¡¯s attention by coming to a halt. ¡°Rafael, how powerful are the rest of the Cyclone bombs?¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate, his arms crossing his chest with a deep frown. ¡°That¡¯s a good point. They can be used in a combined form of uniting forces, up to four, creating a blast powerful enough to level the Pentagon, eight are missing.¡± ¡°Shit, Rafael!¡± Tom growled, nose twisting with anger. ¡°You should have warned me before bringing that kind of firepower onto American soil.¡± ¡°Which means seven are left,¡± Rachel mumbled, lightly biting her bottom lip. ¡°We better hope Abu Hassan still has them and hasn¡¯t sold them off.¡± Rafael frowned at Tom¡¯s growl, his crossed arms tightening against his chest as he matched the man¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°You would have been briefed an hour from now since this is our highest secret weapon we¡¯ve developed for the Mexican military. You were the one who told me to bring our greatest minds and weapons to deal with this Crystal threat. But now that¡¯s in the past.¡± His voice calmed, eyes flicking to the scattered crew working to secure the area. ¡°Stealing a weapon like this isn¡¯t outside the realm of possibility for a master thief like Abu Hassan or a hacker, as I assume that Astra fellow was. The question is, how did they know Astra would be the one to steal it and when?¡± Rachel swallowed, the logic swiftly falling into place. ¡°You¡¯re right. They needed both pieces for this to work, and it¡¯s not like Astra could¡¯ve made the move without them having inside information about his movements.¡± She glanced at Scarlet, who was wearing a scowl the moment the AI was brought up. The Scarlet Hand has a leak in their operation. I¡¯m sure Astra already planned that out the moment I confronted him and exposed the thief¡­ I can¡¯t ignore Astra, can I? Tom¡¯s jaw clenched at the same time hers did. ¡°Abu Hassan is a proxy, which means we need him alive to find out who hired him.: Barbara hissed, rubbing the back of her neck and muttering, ¡°That brings my mind to a story Mateo¡¯s group told me. As Green Berets, they¡¯ve dealt with a lot of civilian contacts and insurgencies in the middle east. In this kind of scenario, it isn¡¯t uncommon for the assassin or agent to be paid or convinced to commit suicide or be murdered to cut a link back to the client.¡± Rachel¡¯s ears tilted to the side as Scarlet stepped forward, her crimson eyes locking onto her. ¡°But you can see through it, right?¡± She knew exactly what the fanged girl was referring to¡ªthe Abundant Moon¡¯s vast influence and the initial clarity and clues it had given her. Scarlet¡­ I¡¯m not a seer. It¡¯s not something I can simply access and pick apart, just like the Black Moon. I only channeled its lunar energy; there¡¯s no way I can have the same level of connection as I did while under it and the Scarlet Moon at the same time. I¡¯m frazzled, as it is, and these puppet masters know I can¡¯t ignore this to not pursue Abu Hassan. Letting the steady rhythm of her breathing calm the raging thoughts rolling through her brain, a new angle was filtering into her mind. The lights above flickered as the group fixated on her, El Santo paying close attention by his boss¡¯ side. All eyes are on me, trusting me to shed the veil and to make sense of the next action. I thrive in chaos, but I need to take a rational approach, not just react. Rachel¡¯s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as the new angle unfolded in her mind. She met Scarlet¡¯s trusting gaze, the young vampire girl¡¯s fangs poking through her lip in anticipation. ¡°Okay, Scarlet,¡± Rachel began, voice low but decisive, ¡°I need you to make sure Astra doesn¡¯t slip away. Maybe I was a little too harsh and rushed for answers. He¡¯s not escaping under your watch.¡± Scarlet¡¯s eyes lit up at the prospect, a dangerous gleam flashing through the red. Rachel didn¡¯t need to spell out the rest; Scarlet was already reading between the lines. If Astra wants to figure out the mole in his organization, then it will get them further insights into the Scarlet Hand¡¯s network. It would also give Scarlet more time to get through some of the issues she had with her mother. If she wanted to redeem her mother, then it would be a long road, and she had to come to terms that there was a higher power at play, pulling her mother¡¯s strings. Crimson eyes narrowing, Scarlet¡¯s smile revealed more of her fangs. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he earns our trust back¡­ I know you have high expectations for him.¡± There was a wicked edge to her voice that promised no mercy in working him to death and turning him into her puppet. Go steal your mom¡¯s play thing, Rachel internally mused. Rafael cleared his throat. ¡°And be sure we are well compensated for his¡­transgressions against Mexico, if you could, Ms. Scarlet. I expect given their resources, they can do a few favors for our nation, as well.¡± Scarlet gave him a casual salute, chest puffing up at being given some responsibility and expectations. ¡°As a representative of Omen, I will take that job!¡± she chimed before faltering slightly. ¡°Uh, but¡­are you sure you won¡¯t need me?¡± Rachel¡¯s smile grew slightly as she turned to Grace, her mind already weaving the next step of her plan. ¡°Milky here has all the support I need. Consider it her initiation test.¡± Grace blinked before breaking into a grin, the idea of charging into action clearly energizing her. ¡°Well, I always knew I¡¯d be a healthy source of strength for ya,¡± she quipped, adding her usual dairy-themed innuendo with a casual shrug. ¡°Bet your ass I¡¯m the cream of the crop!¡± The group gave the bright-eyed cowgirl a questioning look, but it lightened the tension in the air for a moment. Rachel chuckled at Grace¡¯s antics. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes twinkled and she mirrored Scarlet¡¯s earlier salute. ¡°Don¡¯t be countin¡¯ us out. Oh, uh¡­can I fill up on some booze in the kitchen?¡± she asked Rafael, her smile becoming strained while summoning a flask. ¡°This lady requires a bit of the stronger stuff to not bite the dust, if ya catch my drift.¡± El Santo stepped forward, his broad figure radiating determination. ¡°I can guide you there. Also, I¡¯d like to join you in the raid against Grim,¡± he declared, his Spanish accent thickening. ¡°They¡¯ve smeared the honor of my people, and that¡¯s something I won¡¯t stand for.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Grace¡¯s cowboy hat tilted upward as she stared up at the giant of a legend, who overshadowed her. And before Rachel could reply, Tom nodded and broke in. ¡°Good. Barbara, I need you to raise the alert level and implement Strategy ¡®Orange Man Tango.¡¯ ¡± Rachel shot him a confused look. Strategy Orange Man Tango? She hadn¡¯t caught that particular strategy in their earlier meeting, but the moment Tom mentioned it, Barbara¡¯s face paled, and she swallowed nervously. ¡°Right away, General,¡± the captain muttered, before turning on her heel and rushing off to bark orders through her radio. Rachel¡¯s tail flicked. Whatever Strategy Orange Man Tango was, it certainly put Barbara on edge, which meant it was something major. The General shot a glance toward Rafael and El Santo, then back at her, his voice low and measured. There were likely a lot of things he wanted to say to the Mexican military company representative but that would be saved for when they got into his private bunker. ¡°I¡¯m sure Rafael would love to see some action taken due to the theft, and El Santo is more than strong enough to join you. Right now, we need to be smart. We don¡¯t know their exact motives yet, and that spreads our forces too thin over too many places. For that reason, you¡¯re taking point on this angle, Rachel.¡± His dark eyes flicked to her closed palm, where the Fable Key rested. ¡°You¡¯ve already given us a lead. So follow it through.¡± Rachel followed his gaze, tightening her fingers around the key, its cool surface pressing into her palm. ¡°The mountain,¡± she murmured. ¡°The realm is somewhere there and the key will guide us to it.¡± Tom nodded and glanced toward Green. ¡°Black, Red, and Gray went there earlier tonight, as I recall. You think that¡¯s just a coincidence?¡± Green¡¯s long ears twitched and Rachel could see the stiffness of her tail from her position, a shiver visibly running from her ears down to her tail as she glanced between her and Tom. She chewed her lip, her brow furrowing while taking a measured tone. ¡°Probably not. Gray tends to handle the more focused operations. If there were signs that Grim Tales were nearby, they would¡¯ve gone to check it out¡­ Now, I¡¯m wondering if they were led into a trap.¡± Rachel¡¯s stomach knotted at the thought, her mind already picturing the dangerous implications. She shifted her attention to Scarlet. ¡°You follow your own angle with Astra,¡± she said, locking eyes with the vampire girl. ¡°If we meet up later, all the better.¡± Scarlet¡¯s grin widened, fangs glinting. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± In the blink of an eye, her form dissolved into shadows, vanishing into the surrounding darkness with an eerie, graceful ease. Letting out a slow breath before turning her focus back to Green, Rachel opened her mouth, but hesitated while trying to articulate her thoughts. A disturbing question rose in her mind, one she couldn¡¯t shake. ¡°Green, Red¡¯s not¡­exactly stable as a Fablekin, as I understand it,¡± she muttered, voice tightening. ¡°Could Abu Hassan bring out the Big Bad Wolf in her¡­and or turn her into a Grim Tale?¡± Grace let out a low hiss and adjusted her hat atop her head. ¡°Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit, this is gettin¡¯ uglier than a mud fence in a rainstorm. That¡¯s bad, ain¡¯t it?¡± Green¡¯s arms crossed over her chest, her fingers rubbing at the goosebumps on her skin. She shook her head, eyes narrowing in thought. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s bad, but there¡¯s something worse not many know about Little Red¡¯s stories. Red is powerful because she¡¯s a mix of different versions of her fable. She¡¯s not just unstable because the Big Bad Wolf merged inside her with the Hunter. Abu Hassan¡­ He could pull various aspects of those tales out¡ªone of the most dangerous being the version where her grandmother is the Little Golden Hood witch.¡± Rachel blinked, trying to connect the dots. But green clarified, her voice growing dark. ¡°A witch of incredible power¡­ How that would manifest if a Grim Fable manipulated that part of her, we don¡¯t know for sure. White mentioned it to me a few weeks ago. But if the witch could be twisted into a Grim Tale¡­ I think it¡¯s likely she¡¯s the one they¡¯d be after¡­not the wolf.¡± Her heart quickened and she turned to grace, eyes locking with the cowgirl¡¯s bright blue gaze. ¡°We¡¯d better hurry then. Think you can keep up?¡± Grace¡¯s grin returned, brimming with energy. ¡°Hell yeah, boss! Jim and I¡¯ll be right beside ya!¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help the small smile tugging at her lips, but her mind was already speeding ahead to the task at hand. Green cast a lingering glance at the key clutched in her palm. El Santo presented a suave smile, his deep voice carrying a gentlemanly tone. ¡°Se?orita Rachel, I¡¯d like to hear it from you directly rather than by order. If I may, it would be an honor to fight behind you. Your leadership is admirable, and I trust you will take us directly into the heart of this battle. You have impressed me by your bravado.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching at the smoothness in his words, but she nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not going to turn that down. Alright, El Santo. You can handle carrying him. Right, Milky?¡± Grace¡¯s grin widened, clearly loving the energy of the moment as she tilted her hat back slightly. Her blue eyes twinkled with a mischievous gleam as she rested her hands on her hips, ready to throw herself into the mission with full gusto by her stance. ¡°Well, I dunno. Ain¡¯t you a tall drink of milk!¡± she teased, glancing up at El Santo¡¯s towering figure. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just have to make sure you don¡¯t fall off ol¡¯ Jim. He can get a bit jittery if the rider ain¡¯t steady, but I reckon you¡¯ll handle it just fine. After all, it ain¡¯t my first time helpin¡¯ a big ol¡¯ fella like you stay upright.¡± Her teeth flashed, clearly enjoying herself. ¡°I grew up round big ol¡¯ cows and bulls, and lemme tell ya, there¡¯s nothin¡¯ I can¡¯t manage. Plus, if you¡¯re ridin¡¯ behind me, well, I¡¯m a nice cushion but make sure ya don¡¯t be feelin¡¯ too high up!¡± She gave a playful glance down at her chest, the humor in her innuendo causing El Santo¡¯s brows to rise in amusement. Rachel chuckled softly under her breath, the tension lifting a bit as Grace¡¯s humor lightened the mood again; she really was a calamity. The cowgirl was turning out to be quite the grounding force, even in the middle of a storm like this. El Santo gave a deep, rumbling laugh and nodded. ¡°Se?orita, I will put my trust in your safe hands. Or rather, a safe seat.¡± His eyes gleamed with warmth, clearly enjoying the banter. ¡°It would be an honor to ride with you into this battle. Just let me know when Jim is ready¡­ You wish for me to guide you to the bar before we depart?¡± Grace gave an exaggerated tip of her hat. ¡°Oh, sugar, you¡¯re speaking my language! Jim¡¯s always ready for action, as well.¡± Rachel allowed herself a brief smile before refocusing. Alright, I¡¯m calm¡­ Now is the time to zero in. Let¡¯s see how Grace handles actual combat. Grace adjusted her hat, rolling her shoulders to shake off the last bit of levity before her face shifted to something a bit more focused. ¡°I see the look. Don¡¯t worry, boss. I¡¯ll have this big guy saddle up, and we¡¯ll be right behind ya, ready to plow through whatever comes our way. Trust. I¡¯ll catch up. Endurance and speed is what Jim¡¯s all about.¡± El Santo gave a low bow, stepping back to let Grace walk beside him, making their way toward the airship bar for her to stock up on whiskey, no doubt; the girl¡¯s power resource. The energy between them crackled with both humor and readiness for the battle ahead. His chuckle was deep and warm. ¡°With your humor? I doubt there¡¯s a force on this earth that could hold us back.¡± ¡°Oh, stop it! You¡¯re making a lady blush.¡± Rachel glanced at Green and gave a nod; obviously, she¡¯d be joining them. It would be a four-man team, at least, until they met up with the other three members of Fable. * ¡ª * ¡ª * The icy wind howled through the mountain pass, kicking up flurries of snow that bit at Red¡¯s exposed skin, though she barely felt it. Her red cloak billowed behind her, its warmth keeping her more than comfortable despite the blizzard. Gray walked behind her with an unnatural ease, white flames licking at his boots and frame, turning the snow beneath him to steam. His casual pace grated on her nerves and made her mutter under her breath, ¡°We could¡¯ve just followed a road, but noooo, we had to be all sneaky through the trees. I would¡¯ve been faster alone¡­ Can you pick up your pace?¡± Black chuckled below her as Red took to the trees, making Red¡¯s wolf ears and tail twitch as she skipped between laden branches with the grace of a cat. The rat girl¡¯s cloaked form blending into the blizzard, making her movements nearly invisible while following Gray¡¯s cleared path. ¡°Careful, Red. You¡¯re starting to sound like me.¡± Red rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I don¡¯t need another lecture. I just hate moving this slow in the snow. And that smell¡­¡± She wrinkled her nose, taking in the scent of the corrupted Fables. It was a mix of burning rubber and rotting wood, with just a hint of wet dog. ¡°It¡¯s like someone set a garbage dump on fire.¡± Gray kept his cool, collected attitude, hands clasped behind his back while climbing up the mountain, finding sure footing for Black, not bothering to look her way while speaking. ¡°You could always go back and walk on the road, Red,¡± he teased, his tone not carrying the joke he¡¯d spoken. ¡°But where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you fun when I knock that smug look off your face, White Boy,¡± she growled, her wolf tail flicking in irritation. ¡°Gah! See how agitated I am? I¡¯m so¡­restless,¡± she growled, scratching her neck and feeling the wolf within her rattling her cage. Despite herself, she picked up her pace, moving to outpace them a bit to peer past the blizzard. They were getting close. Red¡¯s sharp eyes spotted the faint outline of a house on the mountain slope, buried beneath layers of snow. She stopped abruptly, sniffing the air once more. There was no doubt about it¡ªsomething rotten had passed through here recently, but their tracks had already been erased by the storm¡­or they never left them in the first place. They couldn¡¯t be sure which Grim Tale they were dealing with, after all. ¡°They¡¯re in there,¡± she muttered, allowing the others to catch up. ¡°But we could¡¯ve done this a lot faster if we didn¡¯t have to stomp through the damn forest.¡± Black¡¯s chuckle was low and amused. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, Red. But it¡¯s better to be cautious when we don¡¯t know who we¡¯re dealing with.¡± ¡°Cautious is boring.¡± Red folded her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with. I¡¯ll slip inside and unlock the door. The scent is hours old and Black will take forever to find a place she can slip inside as a rat.¡± ¡°Rude,¡± her partner dully sighed, devoid of energy. ¡°Facts.¡± Gray gave a small nod. ¡°I know you¡¯re restless, Red. The house doesn¡¯t seem heavily guarded. We go in quietly, assess the situation and keep your senses sharp. I¡¯m counting on you two. Green isn¡¯t here to back me up and I¡¯m not great at defending others, which is why I usually handle things alone¡­ Don¡¯t make me regret bringing you two.¡± Red narrowed her eyes, her mood souring even more. ¡°Yeah, sure but you couldn¡¯t even find this place without me. So I don¡¯t want to hear it. Like I¡¯m capable of controlling my appetite.¡± Ignoring her sarcasm, Gray pushed forward, his white flames shrinking to avoid giving away their position. Black followed closely behind, her big ears never leaving the house ahead. Once they reached the entrance, Red didn¡¯t wait for orders. She teleported inside, her form dissolving into a cloud of rose petals before reappearing in the middle of the darkened room. The air was stale, and the faint scent of sweat and old wood hung around. She swiftly noted the high-tech security system, yet it was down, not a sound touching her sharp ears or power in the house, the faint hum of machines absent. Lifting an eyebrow and feeling slightly disappointed upon not finding a trace of resistance, she unlocked the door and opened it up for them to enter. ¡°No traps and no one my Hunter or Wolf sides can sense¡­ Boring. The Grim Tale was here an hour ago and swiftly left. It¡¯s clear.¡± Gray and Black entered, trailing mud and snow; they weren¡¯t trying to hide they were here. As they scanned the interior, Black¡¯s gaze fell on a room filled with various stolen goods just out of sight from the doorway, the unmistakable symbols of the Scarlet Hand etched into some of the crates. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look like a Grim lair,¡± Black muttered, her tail twitching in irritation. ¡°More like a storage site for Scarlet Hand which¡­is not the level I was expecting to face. The security system seems down, though. Why would a Grim Tale target a Scarlet Hand base and risk drawing their ire?¡± Gray frowned, his eyes sweeping the room. ¡°Could be both. The Scarlet Hand meant to use us as sacrifices for their end, so using Grim Tales isn¡¯t that implausible. Sweep the place and call out if you feel anything. I know you two don¡¯t work well with teams, but you two are the sensory types here. Warn me.¡± Red barely listened, her senses homing in on something else¡ªsomething darker that felt distant, as if it had passed through here centuries ago, which was impossible. She sniffed the air again and caught the new scent. It was faint, but unmistakable: a Grim Tale¡¯s signature, twisted and malevolent. Her blood hummed with anticipation as the wolf inside her stirred. ¡°I¡¯m checking the upper rooms,¡± she growled, her voice tight with restrained excitement and tail wagging behind her. ¡°I smell a different Grim Tale that was here a while ago.¡± Without waiting for a reply, she prowled upstairs, her boots barely making a sound on the creaking wooden steps as the storm made far more noise outside, battering the side of the house. The deeper into the house she went, the stronger the unsettling vibe became. The faint sound of wood creaking, a gust of wind, and then something made her pause halfway up¡­ A distant, eerie whisper that filled the air, setting her on edge. She couldn¡¯t make out the words, even with her sharp ears but they were human words, spoken at an impossibly low level. Her wolf ears twitched, picking up every subtle sound, every shift in the oppressive atmosphere. Something was very wrong here. Slowing her pace, she suppressed a shiver and, despite her pride, she did as she was ordered. ¡°Gray! Black! There¡¯s something weird up here¡­ Maybe a Scarlet Hand artifact? Maybe a mental attack? I¡¯ve got the strongest [Resistances], I¡¯m checking it out.¡± She heard their voices reach her as if from a great distance, and she turned to look down, her ears falling back when the hall elongated an impossible distance. ¡°Shit¡­ Did I walk into a magical or supernatural trap? Dammit,¡± she snarled, rubbing between her eyes and fighting down the skin-prickling feelings cascading down her spine. ¡°You¡¯re frightened.¡± She winced, feeling the wolf clawing at her chest to be released. ¡°I¡¯m not scared! Shut up¡­ I thought I got rid of your voice.¡± ¡°You know we¡¯re stronger together. Stop denying it. You cannot handle what is ahead¡­but I can.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± She gritted her teeth and shoved him down, strengthening her will. ¡°I¡¯m not falling for that¡­ You couldn¡¯t handle those Eldritch things.¡± ¡°I got us out¡­didn¡¯t I? You wouldn¡¯t have made it.¡± Ignoring the voice in her head, she crept forward, summoning her ax and flipping it around her arm. ¡°I¡¯m a Hunter¡­not a beast. Who¡­¡± As she entered a small bedroom, Red froze. A figure sat in a chair by the window, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes hidden in the shadows she should have been able to penetrate with her keen vision. The moment the woman turned to look at her, a shiver ran down Red¡¯s spine. ¡°Welcome,¡± the woman said, her voice sweet, almost mocking. Red grinned, flipping her ax over her shoulder and fought down the bone-chilling vibes that cascaded through her senses; she felt similar to the Eldritch¡­but different. ¡°Oh. Well that¡¯s nice. Found you, Grim Tale.¡± She turned her head, calling down to the others, ¡°Hey! I¡¯ve got¡ª¡± The woman¡¯s giggle stopped her mid-sentence. ¡°They can¡¯t hear you, my dear,¡± she said, standing slowly from her chair. ¡°You¡¯ve entered a different space¡­a little place I like to call home.¡± Red¡¯s blood ran cold; all of a sudden, she couldn¡¯t feel her presence. The woman¡¯s words echoed inside her mind. Her grin faltered, but she refused to show weakness. ¡°Yeah? Well, that¡¯s fine by me. I only need you. Wait¡­¡± The words spilled out of her mouth, raising her ax as her magically subdued instincts finally kicked in. ¡°You¡¯re a hag; from what fable?!¡± The woman seemed to move at impossible speeds at split second intervals before stopping just before her face. The hag¡¯s unseen eyes darkened further, turning into black pits with faint, glowing yellow light inside them. Her smile stretched into a monstrous, toothy grin as she whispered, ¡°Sleep.¡± Red¡¯s body moved against her will. She tried to lift her ax, but her arms felt like lead. Her muscles wouldn¡¯t respond. Her heart pounded as she fought the witch¡¯s control, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t move; no, she¡¯d been fighting it since entering her territory, yet, somehow, she didn¡¯t realize it. ¡°You¡¯re¡­not an ordinary hag.¡± ¡°Ooh, sweetie,¡± the witch cooed, her voice soft and soothing as she swept back a few locks on her face and even the wolf inside her grew more distant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not as bad as you think. I just need to talk to a¡­little friend. When you wake, all of this will be but a passing nightmare that slips into the wind.¡± Red¡¯s breath quickened as her body slumped into a chair, her eyes widening in realization. She tried to summon the wolf, to claw her way out of the hag¡¯s hold, but a gentle hum left the witch¡¯s throat, lulled her inner beast into a hypnotic daze, drowning her in darkness. Embraced by shadows, she swam through emptiness¡­and then, she blinked awake, her body sluggish. Black stood over her, her brow furrowed in concern. ¡°Red? What the hell happened? Why were you sleeping?¡± She rubbed her head, groggy and confused as her memories veiled in fog. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. I came upstairs, and¡­I think I collapsed?¡± A shimmering yellow cloak caught her eye, draped over the bedpost, its golden threads gleaming faintly in the dim light. Her stomach knotted, and she tried to remember what had happened. But all she could recall was coming upstairs¡­and then smelling something off. Before she could make sense of it, Gray appeared at the door, his expression tense. ¡°I told you you¡¯ve been pushing yourself too hard. We¡¯ve got a bigger problem,¡± he said. ¡°Omen¡¯s house was bombed. We need to move.¡± Red shot up, her fists clenched, the image of a saintly unicorn popping into her head, freeing her from a world of Eldritch nightmares during the vampire masquerade; she¡¯d almost been consumed and converted into one of the¡­things, wolf and all. ¡°Is Maria alive?!¡± Gray nodded, but his expression was grim. ¡°As far as we know, everyone made it out. Rachel¡¯s on her way to¡­take us to the Fable Realm of Ali Baba. The Grim Tale is Abu Hassan.¡± The wolf inside her stirred awake at the name and promise of flesh, the thought of sinking her teeth into something pushing the fog from her mind. Her tail bristled as she grinned, eyes narrowing. ¡°Good. It¡¯s about time we get some real action.¡± Black¡¯s furrowed brows wore a suspicious frown Red knew well, though, as she slowly moved to stand beside the bed rail, drawing her attention to the cloak. ¡°When¡­did your cloak turn fully yellow, Red? It only becomes that color as a last resort to give you control over The Wolf.¡± Scratching the back of her neck, Red felt her Little Red Riding Hood impulsive nature kicking in as she stretched out and jumped out of bed. ¡°Probably when I was asleep. Maybe I evolved or something! Mmm. One thing is for sure, I feel fantastic! Let¡¯s go.¡± B3 — 17. To Persia Rachel stilled her thumping heart against the biting chill at the mountain¡¯s foot, watching heavy snowflakes fall around her against the pine backdrop, the ice sticking to her clothes and fluttering against her ears. Beside her Grace came to a stop atop Jim, the horse snorting against the cold. The cowgirl swung down from her horse, tipping her hat back and offering the tall man atop her horse a wide grin. ¡°Now, I reckon that wasn¡¯t too rough a ride, was it, big fella?¡± She winked, giving his arm a playful squeeze before offering an extended hand to the legendary folk hero. ¡°Though, if ya got any issues keepin¡¯ stable and need to reach for somethin¡¯ a little higher next time, just let me know¡ªmy waist ain¡¯t the only place to grab on if I¡¯m too short for ya.¡± The towering man looked down at her offered hand, clearly amused but slightly hesitant, his strong features softened by a growing smile. He chuckled, taking her hand with a smoothness that matched Grace¡¯s own confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± he replied with a raised eyebrow, obviously interested. ¡°Although, I don¡¯t think Jim here would let me get too comfortable behind you, Se?orita.¡± ¡°Bah! You know, a good cowboy always makes sure their passengers stay on for the whole ride. Didn¡¯t take you for the kind to wobble. I can keep ya steady, sweetie.¡± El Santo¡¯s frame shook with silent laughter, his deep voice rumbling in the cold air. ¡°Se?orita, you are a wild tornado, yet it was as steady as any man could hope for. But I must say, riding behind you is a unique experience, one I won¡¯t soon forget.¡± Grace raised a brow, her grin widening as she leaned in just a bit, the playful spark in her eyes intensifying. ¡°Well, ya better hang on tighter next time, honey. Ain¡¯t nothing worse than a big fella takin¡¯ a tumble in front of a lady. Embarrassin¡¯, don¡¯tcha think?¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t get into the banter, her ears scanning the mountainside, looking for any signs of human activity. Green was ahead of them, radio held against her mouth, her hot breath visible, busy coordinating over the radio with Gray, positioned further up the slope. Steaming out a puff of air, Rachel stuffed her hands into her pockets, restraining the bitter taste on her tongue. A shiver ran down her spine, but not from the blizzard. I don¡¯t want to enjoy a fight or pick apart an opponent¡¯s strategy¡­ I¡¯m cold. I can see myself clearer when I¡¯m like this¡­ I¡¯m cruel. Merciless. Deep down, I feel something dark growing when things like this happen. The worst part is¡­I feel more at home. I don¡¯t want Scarlet to see this side of me¡­ Is that the real reason I sent her with Astra? It was a factor¡­ Turning inward, she reached out to Older Nia, feeling the resonance growing faint. Are we at our limit? I can feel you being tugged toward me. Nia¡¯s smooth, stabilizing voice immediately followed, ¡°You can go a bit further, but it¡¯s a stretch. And by the way, the Cerberus Sisters are starting to wake up. Thought you¡¯d like to know. Nike went back to sleep¡­ It looks like Maria is rousing. I¡¯ll fill her in and be by your side soon.¡± Rachel forced a smirk, looking up the snowy ascent as her ears twitched, hearing faint voices and the sounds of animals burrowing into any shelter they could find. Yet, it didn¡¯t last long, her mouth tightening as the faint, lingering scent of ash crossed her nose, taking her mind back to the scene of her brother¡¯s charred body. Well, at least there is a silver lining¡­ Tell them I have a playmate for them when they take off their sleeping masks. Her ears shifted to the town, in the direction Scarlet was in. She was currently arguing with Astra over heading east out of town for some mysterious purpose. Rachel¡¯s fingers clenched around the key, stashed in her pocket. Careful, Scarlet¡­ Your mother is still a threat. On that note, could this be a 4D chess play by Adele? No, I don¡¯t feel misfortune going against me by their intertwining threads. Can I really trust that, though? Dammit. Don¡¯t second-guess yourself. Green turned, her voice sharp. ¡°Gray¡¯s group will find us; Red can track us down if you want to go straight there. Do you know the spot where Abu Hassan used the gate into Ali Baba¡¯s fablelands.¡± Grace tightened her hat, blue eyes vision becoming more serious after the banter with El Santo. ¡°We¡¯re talkin¡¯ about imaginary things in this world? I¡¯m not fully up to speed on the whole fable tale.¡± Rachel shrugged. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t care. I know the general location is here and the key can guide us to it, but I may have a faster way to sniff it out. Meet the Cerberus Sisters: Thalia, Irida, and Aleka.¡± As if on cue, three small, fiery puppies materialized from flickering black flames and crackling electricity. Thalia, the eldest, tilted her head with an air of confidence, scratching her ear while Irida, the middle sister, spun in excited circles, flicking snow in every direction. Aleka, the youngest, watched her middle sister with dull eyes as if just watching her wore her out. Grace leaned down, laughing and cooing, ¡°Well, ain¡¯t y¡¯all the cutest little fire pups! Who¡¯s a fierce lil¡¯ thing?¡± Thalia rolled her eyes at Grace, licking a paw before glancing up at Rachel with a sly grin. ¡°Nia told us there were souls around you didn¡¯t care for, and I¡¯m feeling rather frisky. If you¡¯re going to do the killing, then snatching a few to throw into Hades sounds fun. Got anything interesting for us?¡± Rachel smirked, shooting Grace a look. ¡°They might look like cuddly fire puppies, but they¡¯re vicious hellhounds, Marchionesses of Hell, no less.¡± El Santo muttered a quick prayer under his breath, tracing a cross as he eyed the hell beasts with a wary glance. Rachel knelt down, pulled the key from her pocket, and held it out. Green¡¯s mouth became a line but she moved closer, folding her arms. ¡°Think you three can track this scent to the nearest gate or is that too big of a task in your sealed state?¡± she asked with a smirk, knowing it would light a fire in their chests. ¡°It should be a gateway into a fictitious realm.¡± Irida was first to zip over, red flames trailing behind her. She went stiff as a board while sniffing at the key, then, in an instant, blurred into motion. In the next second, Green¡¯s back was sliding across the snow, the narrow-eyed pup growling proudly atop her chest. Tail practically a fan, she sent waves of frenzied energy outward that would have paralyzed Rachel herself. ¡°Found one, Rach!¡± she barked, grinning toothily. ¡°Don¡¯t move, little hare! I¡¯ve got¡ªeh? Aleka¡­ Wait, I found one? What¡¯d I do wrong¡­ It¡¯s a speedy fable realm!¡± Rachel sighed as Aleka promptly came over, nipped Irida¡¯s neck, and pulled her off Green. Thalia tilted her head, blue flames rising with intrigue as she took a whiff of the key. ¡°We¡¯re after a specific one, Irida. Read between the lines¡­ Mmm. There are multiple scents in the mountains. Are you looking for a Negative or Positive path?¡± ¡°Negative,¡± Rachel replied, watching Thalia¡¯s eyes spark. ¡°Well, that¡¯s too easy,¡± Thalia huffed. She gave her a challenging look, her puppy grin turning mischievous as her flames flared. ¡°Aleka, keep Irida on point. They¡¯ve tried to mask the trail with some kind of spiritual dispersion method.¡± ¡°Hear that, meathead?¡± the green flamed sister growled. ¡°Don¡¯t go chasing after the cleanest path.¡± ¡°Mhm! Mhm!¡± Irida jumped up and down, spinning in circles three times. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. I¡¯m just super excited! Oh, I bet I could beat you there, Aleka.¡± The emerald pup¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You could not.¡± ¡°Could do! Race you¡ªalready ahead!¡± ¡°Cheater¡­¡± Rachel smirked as the pair became bullets in the snow, and their eldest sister gave her a side-long look. ¡°I expect you to actually do some killing, Hare of Misfortune. It feels good to snag spirits and toss them to Hades. So, try to keep up.¡± El Santo and Grace climbed back atop Jim, the broad-shouldered legend¡¯s presence nearly dwarfing the horse, who snorted against the weight but stood steady. His hands closed around the cowgirl¡¯s hips and she glanced back with a wink. ¡°Hold on a bit tighter, sweetie. We¡¯re riding lightning!¡± Rachel had already lurched forward, Green beside her, darting through the snow, trailing the fiery path left by the hellhounds. Aleka, Irida, and Thalia charged ahead like embers through the frost, their paws leaving a line of steam and hardened ground as they carved a super-heated route through the icy terrain. The swirling mist gave the landscape an otherworldly quality, snow and steam mingling in the crisp air as Rachel followed close behind. As they ran, Nia materialized beside her, the Adult Bun¡¯s feet touching down and leaping forward to keep pace with them¡ªthree long-eared women racing through the blizzard. ¡°Maria¡¯s piecing together what happened with Nam,¡± Nia relayed. ¡°The others will catch up soon, and Maria¡¯s with them. She had a lot of curses for you that essentially boiled down to kick the shit out of whoever tried to blow my ass off.¡± Typical Maria response, Rachel mumbled, her smile not touching her eyes. I want this handled fast. I don¡¯t care if we need to use some of our more potent Lunar Energy. How are we doing? The bun swiftly revealed their current total:
Nia¡¯s Pools: Pool 1: [Blood Moon (Unique; Selene) - 109%] Pool 2: [Black Moon (Unique; Cerridwen) - 109%] Pool 3: [Hell Moon: Yomi (Unique; Izanami) - 109%] Pool 4: [Greater Moon of Abundance (Event) - 34%] Pool 5: [Crimson Moon (Event) - 109%]
Rachel¡¯s Pools: Pool 1: [White Moon (Normal) - 107%] Pool 2: [Greater Harvest Moon (Event) - 43%]
Hmm¡­ Tom would want me to save the bigger ones for whatever awaits us behind the Crystal, but, right now¡­ I want this finished. If I need to brute force my way through¡­ If I need to show one of my trump cards¡­ So be it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The forest suddenly thinned, opening up to a wide, icy glade encircled by a frozen river. Snow lay thick across the ground, but at the center of the clearing was something unnatural¡ªa perfect circle of untouched sand. Rachel leaped over the icy water onto the grassy center, bending down beside the smug triplets. ¡°The grains are still warm,¡± she muttered, scanning the golden grains, untouched by the winter wind. There was an air of mysticism around it, as though it belonged to another time and place entirely: likely [Divine Beast Empowerment - Seventh Sense] reacting to it. Green jumped over it to join her, pressing a hand against the grains. ¡°This is a Fable Gate,¡± she said, catching her breath as she took in the sight. ¡°Gray and the others are close. I¡¯d say we wait and stick to a plan¡ª¡± Rachel didn¡¯t wait, striding forward as her hand reached into her pocket to retrieve the key. She felt the metal cool against her palm, steadying her as she faced the empty space before them. Snowflakes drifted down, but as she held the key aloft, an unseen force swept through the air, pushing the snow back as a dense mist began to gather around her. Grace and El Santo landed beside Green, the cowgirl pulling up beside her as the mist swirled and condensed. ¡°Damn, boss. Omen really does get into some wild shit!¡± The fog stretched higher and wider until the outline of a massive blackened gate took shape, twisted and distorted, towering above them. Carved with intricate patterns reminiscent of Arabian architecture, it flared into being. The gate dispersed the snow as it pulsed with the heat of a desert in mid-day, ornate and etched with ancient symbols, guarded by two stone lions on either side. Rachel didn¡¯t falter, her jaw tightening as Nia gave her a single glance. ¡°What if we meet daylight on the other side? I have the buns safely tucked into our soul, but you¡¯re currently holding the Greater Harvest Moon Pool. We could lose all of it, with the White Moon I¡¯ve converted.¡± If it¡¯s daytime, then it¡¯s daytime. We deal with it when it comes. Rachel stepped up to the gate, inserting the key without a moment¡¯s hesitation as Green sighed and closed in. She turned the key. With a deep, resounding creak, the doors parted, and a gust of warm desert air rolled over them, bringing with it the rich scents of spices, dust, and sunbaked earth. On the other side lay a world of golden sands stretching as far as the eye could see. Dusk creeped across the desert dunes, rising like mountains, and in the distance, Rachel could make out the faint outline of a walled city. She grimaced as the giant fading sun hit her, immediately draining her Lunar Pool by four times the rate of Earth¡¯s golden sphere. ¡°Dammit¡­¡± Her focus darted to Grace as the cowgirl noticed her reaction. The cowgirl jumped off Jim and went behind El Santo to a pack, opening a strap and pulling out a cream robe, bandana, and cowboy hat. ¡°I ain¡¯t got one fit for them long ears, boss, but maybe this¡¯ll help. I picked up this when doin¡¯ my Legend Quest. Don¡¯t ask me why they were sellin¡¯ this in the market in my world but there do be a giant desert to the east in it. I, uh, think they call it a dishdasha? I used ¡®em myself at one point. Woah!¡± Rachel glanced at Nia, who smiled and accepted the items, which vanished in a pulse of white light as she absorbed them. ¡°Thank you for the new fashion, Grace. I¡¯ll be sure to reimburse you. Not exactly matching, but we do what we can. How does that feel, Major?¡± she asked as the outfit materialized on her in sparkling lunar rays, her one ear being wrapped in the bandana as two long socks covered the other. El Santo whistled. ¡°If all ladies could dress as swiftly as you. Ah, well, perhaps I won¡¯t finish that,¡± he chuckled, getting a smirk from Grace. ¡°It works,¡± Rachel said, staying focused. ¡°Thanks, Grace.¡± Her ears refocused, feeling the drain much less after covering up in the sun-resistant gear, likely enchanted for it; they could probably get similar gear at the market. She could hear bustling markets, tents and stalls gleaming in the falling sun, alive with the hum of people haggling and trading. Everyone spoke English, which probably meant the Seed was translating for them, as it did in Legend Quests. Rocky outcrops dotted the landscape, casting long shadows over the sand, while jagged mountains lined the horizon like sentinels. Her target was somewhere in this world, and he wouldn¡¯t be that far. Rachel glanced back, catching Green¡¯s surprise as she tossed the fable the key she¡¯d obviously been salivating over. ¡°It¡¯s all yours. I¡¯m going in,¡± she said, voice steely. ¡°You follow with a separate angle. I want answers.¡± Green¡¯s eyes narrowed, catching the cold steel in her face. ¡°Alright. You do what you have to¡ªI get it.¡± She squared her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll find my own path and back you up from there. I¡¯ve thought of an angle. Get the lay of the land and keep your wits sharp. As you probably concluded, we¡¯ll cover more ground this way.¡± Rachel gave a nod and exchanged a look. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my ears open for your voice. You do the same, and we can communicate any details we find.¡± Grace¡¯s lips curled into a grin, tipping her hat. ¡°Which means we¡¯re goin¡¯ in rawdoggin¡¯ it. I like the style, boss, and don¡¯t ya worry about that cute tail of yours. I got your back, sugar. We¡¯ll be hot on your tail.¡± She glanced over at El Santo, still settled firmly on Jim. He chuckled, shifting his grip slightly on Jim¡¯s saddle. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll forget this date anytime soon, Se?orita. You have a way of making even a wild dash feel¡­memorable. You have her back, and I have yours.¡± Grace winked at him, tipping her hat with a bit of flair. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t you sweet, darlin¡¯? If you¡¯re lucky, maybe I¡¯ll give ya another round when this business is done.¡± She tilted her head toward her with a playful glint in her eye. ¡°He¡¯s just gotta make sure he holds on tighter¡ªthese hips won¡¯t break¡ªpromise.¡± Rachel snorted and shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re something, Grace. I like your humor¡­ Now, let¡¯s actually get to business. Letting their banter carry the moment, she focused ahead, bracing herself as they stepped into the dusky expanse of Ali Baba¡¯s fablelands. The warm air washed over her, a startling contrast to the cold mountain pass they¡¯d just left behind. The sun beat down, despite its distance and fading light, casting deep shadows along the dunes, and the soft rumble of activity from the marketplace reached her ears¡ªa place that felt at once foreign and strangely familiar, as though they¡¯d stepped into the heart of a story that had existed since time immemorial. Rachel took a deep breath, letting the desert landscape envelop her senses, each detail standing out with almost surreal clarity. The arid air held a mix of scents: sharp and earthy with a tinge of distant spices, as if the marketplace from beyond the dunes had spilled fragments of its fragrance into the wilderness. A subtle breeze stirred, dry as bone, rustling across her face and brushing against her new desert attire. She tightened her gloves, not that they needed it, while keeping the exposed parts of her face away from the fading sun. The worn leather of Nia¡¯s work molded perfectly to her fingers, yet they were itching for combat. The sand was unlike the soft, yielding snow she¡¯d just left; it shifted unpredictably beneath her feet, warm and coarse, each grain sliding against the others like whispering voices against her brain. Her boots sank slightly with every testing step, forcing her to adapt, finding a rhythm that melded balance and agility. She felt the sun¡¯s fading heat pressing down, a constant reminder of this new realm¡¯s harsh, unrelenting nature, but Grace¡¯s gear was mitigating her loss by a significant amount as she analyzed how far she could push her body in this place. She traced the horizon, taking in the golden stretches of desert, a palette of warm hues made vibrant by the descending sun. Shadows stretched long and jagged from the scattered rocks and sparse, twisted desert plants. The vast dunes rose like ancient giants, far larger than their Earth counterparts, carved by sharp winds that had swept through these lands from time memorial. The city in the distance, its towers like sentinels against the shifting sands. Then, Rachel tuned into the sound below¡ªa subtle, almost inaudible hum. Her ears picked up faint tremors resonating from deep below the sands, a shifting presence that seemed to coil and writhe beneath the surface. The rhythmic vibrations reminded her of tales of colossal creatures hiding in desert legends. Each shift was followed by a moment of stillness, as though the creature was lurking, observing before moving again. She imagined massive scales brushing against one another, the weight of something ancient and powerful slumbering just beneath her feet, stirring with ominous intent. Not my problem. There you are¡­ Her focus snapped to the distant trade road, unseen from their position, where a commotion disrupted the serene desert stillness. Bandits were attacking a caravan, figures darting in and out of the eviscerated guards with the precision of seasoned raiders. Soon the merchants and travelers would be struggling to defend themselves, the clash of metal and shouts of resistance echoing across the sands. The scene sparked Rachel¡¯s intent¡ªa place to start, and it wasn¡¯t the only one. She glanced back, watching as the misty gate faded, closing her only direct link to the world she¡¯d left behind. It didn¡¯t take her attention for long; the city was rife with criminal activity in the alleys or buildings. ¡°We¡¯ve got work to do,¡± she said, summoning her hammer but not feeling the typical hot-blooded excitement as the other three joined her. Thalia and her sisters were looking in every direction, their menacing aura deepening. ¡°Protect the caravan and keep the civilians safe. Leave the bandits to me¡ªI need to find the right target. And stay sharp¡­something big is moving beneath the sands.¡± Grace forced a laugh, her bravado masking a hint of unease. ¡°Just as long as it ain¡¯t a giant worm, boss. I¡¯ve seen enough movies to know where that ends!¡± El Santo chimed in with a wry grin, ¡°Perhaps a colossal scorpion, or one of those monstrous desert spiders we have in Mexico?¡± Grace shuddered, shaking her head. ¡°Oh, hell no! You see a spider that size, we¡¯re nuking it, boss! Ain¡¯t no way I¡¯m gettin¡¯ close to that.¡± By her feet, Thalia directed her sisters to the dune blocking their sight of the battle. ¡°We¡¯ll be watching. Give us a show.¡± Rachel grunted. ¡°Sure. And the thing in the sand isn¡¯t our problem. Leave it be. Stay close but watch your backs¡ªthese sands hide more than one threat. We only have one target. We¡¯re looking for their leader, or at least someone important to give us our next clue. If the forty thieves have taken over, their leaders will be bold. They won¡¯t be hiding.¡± With a final nod, she broke into a sprint across the sand, feeling Nia¡¯s presence at her side. Her lunar power thrummed within her, slowly dying, yet her partner was feeding the White Moon through the diminishing Harvest Moon in order to keep her topped off. She moved swiftly, finding her balance in the shifting terrain, her instincts honing in on the chaos ahead and [Lunar Grace] helping her maneuver. Nia gave her a sidelong look, matching her pace. ¡°Do you think Abu Hassan will be among the raiders?¡± Rachel shook her head, her eyes narrowing as they neared the nearest dune that would allow her to take to the sky to reach the crying out people: real or not, they needed help. Doubtful. If the forty thieves have truly taken over, then Abu Hassan¡¯s men are now generals or captains. These men aren¡¯t hiding; they want to be seen, to be feared. We¡¯ll find out who¡¯s pulling the strings soon enough. As Rachel reached the dune''s crest, [Mental Acceleration] brought the scene below to a crawl, the battle unraveling in vivid detail as [Strategic Mind] tracked everything. She leaped into the air, [Lunar Grace] offering platforms that materialized just long enough for her to use before evaporating under the sun¡¯s rays. Below, the desert erupted in chaos: bandits swarmed the caravan, clashing with frightened guards, as desperate shouts rang out, mingling with the harsh clang of metal. Behind her, Grace whooped, urging Jim over the dune in a powerful bound. In one fluid motion, Grace sprang off her horse mid-air, summoning a gleaming rifle, the orange sun glinting off its barrel. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t this a perfect sunset shootout!¡± she shouted, her voice as steady as her aim. Three shots rang out, bullets ricocheting with pinpoint accuracy, disarming five bandits and sending their weapons clattering harmlessly to the sand. The astonished El Santo clung to Jim, now riding solo, as they charged forward, the folk hero ready to dive into the fray and laughing with surprised glee. ¡°?Amigos, stand strong!¡± he roared, his voice like thunder rolling over the sands. ¡°Evil may ride hard, but courage rides faster! We protect the weak and shield the innocent¡ªtoday, these bandits will learn that we do not yield to fear!¡± He raised one fist high, his presence radiating a beacon of hope as his words radiated as if a megaphone, pulling all eyes. ¡°Stay close! Stand as one, for together, no force of darkness can break us!¡± Rachel focused downward, summoning her hammer as she plunged from the sky, a meteor streaking through the air, feeling the rush of wind whip her desert robes and tug at the bandana over her ears. She hit the ground with resounding force, her hammer connecting with the road, activating the kinetic blast. The impact sent a shockwave pulsing outward that tore into the compact stone road, kicking up a thick cloud of dust that swept through the battlefield like a sandstorm, blotting out the sun¡¯s last rays. Her clothes billowed around her as her feet found purchase in the midst of the chaos, her form silhouetted against the sun-drenched haze. Her eyes blazed, the darkness she¡¯d kept buried slipping into focus. She sprinted forward, her movements a blur of deadly precision. One bandit stumbled into her path, his wide eyes meeting hers as she bore down on him with relentless energy. In one swift motion, she grabbed his robes and tore them clean off, sending him reeling into a nearby comrade, who staggered back in stunned confusion. Dust and shadow whirled around her, the faint lunar glow illuminating her in the semi-darkness like an apparition. The others froze, catching sight of her amid the swirling sand. Silence fell, punctuated only by the soft crackle of dissipating energy from her hammer, slung over her shoulder. Nia touched down, gracefully landing beside her like a wraith. Rachel didn¡¯t smile, her voice a low murmur beneath the tumult, her glowing eclipse eyes fixating on the man who had been giving orders, standing amidst his men. Time to get to work. B3 — 18. I’m Not Amused The dust hung thick in the air, diffusing the last shards of the dying sunlight, casting an otherworldly haze over them. Rachel straightened in the midst of it all, her figure cutting a stark silhouette against the sun-drenched fog. Her hammer rested against her shoulder, the eruption of kinetic force it had released still leaving a sharp crack in the minds of those she¡¯d snatched. With a quick, sharp inhale, she moved like a shadow, slipping through the haze with deadly purpose. Each step was measured, and her figure seemed to blur and sharpen as she advanced. The haze and shadows coiled around her, amplifying the lunar glow that pulsed faintly from her skin. The remaining bandits, guards, and merchants froze, drawn to her spectral passage through the dust. Nia ran beside her, light as a whisper, her graceful form blending into the swirling, dirty mist like a spirit. Mere seconds after landing, she was right in front of the leader, her glowed eyes burning into his like twin eclipses, cold and unyielding. Nia shoved every man beside him in one fluid attack, spinning to a stop behind the bandit Rachel had trapped in her gaze. Her voice cut through the haze, a low, measured, his defiant eyes melting into terror as her focus zeroed in on him like a tightening noose. ¡°Who leads you?¡± The man¡¯s face drained of color, his hands shaking as he held his ground, or at least tried to. He couldn¡¯t break eye contact, yet she could see it in his eyes; there was no opposition. ¡°W-What are you?¡± he stammered, voice breaking. ¡°A demon? A devil from below the sands?¡± Rachel¡¯s lips didn¡¯t twitch as she watched the fear take root, watched him realize just how hopeless his situation was. Head tilting to the side, her illuminated irises never left him, her voice smooth as steel. ¡°You¡¯re not far off¡­but not what I asked,¡± she growled, the haze spreading out around them as the sound of battle soon resumed, El Santo¡¯s boisterous voice filling the obscured field as bandits were flung every which way with the folk hero¡¯s entry into the fray. Flipping her hammer off her back, the spiked flat portion came down on a bandit¡¯s back El Santo threw her way. Instantly, all air was flushed from his lungs, the bandit gagging while being drilled into the cracked road. All while, Rachel¡¯s intense stare never left the man¡¯s. ¡°Last chance,¡± she warned, Nia¡¯s hand tightening on the man¡¯s shoulder from behind, making him flinch and drop his sword. Her hammer lifted, crimson liquid dripping off it as she returned it to her shoulder. ¡°Speak, or I¡¯ll find someone who will give me the right answer.¡± The man¡¯s defiance crumbled, his voice trembling as he began to nod, barely managing to choke out, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­I¡¯ll take you¡­ Please, don¡¯t kill me! I¡ª¡± Target secured moments after entering the battle and scattering opposition, she grabbed him by the neck and guided him back as the scene exploded back into motion. The dust was swept away by the whirlwind El Santo generated a ways off, the faces of two bandits held in both hands. He loomed like a fortress among the fray, rallying guards and helpless merchants to him as he charged forward, corralling the remaining bandits with Grace now by his side. ¡°Ain¡¯t no sense hidin¡¯, boys! C¡¯mon, let¡¯s dance!¡± Her laughter echoed as she wielded a lasso like lightning, pulling them toward the legendary folk hero. ¡°Got another one for ya, sweetie!¡± El Santo caught the bandit Grace pulled in with a wide grin, effortlessly lifting the struggling man off his feet. With a wink at her, he spun in place, using the dazed bandit as a makeshift battering ram to send another attacker sprawling. His laughter boomed across the battlefield, infectious and bold, a rallying cry as much as a taunt. ¡°?Amigos! Stand firm and let none of these villains escape!¡± He charged into the fray once more, radiating strength and confidence as his broad form became a beacon amid the lingering dust. His hands shot out, seizing two more bandits, their terrified expressions locked on his unyielding grin as he tossed them into a pile for the guard to round up. ¡°Se?orita, I believe I have some more willing to confess their sins,¡± he called out to Grace, his words layered with a hint of dark humor. As another bandit attempted to slip by, he whirled to catch him, pinning the man¡¯s arms with ease and giving a nod to Grace. Grace flashed him a quick grin, her lasso snapping out to ensnare him. ¡°Good work, big fella! How ¡®bout I round ¡®em up, and you give ¡®em a proper lesson in manners?¡± Her laugh was like the crack of a whip, and with deft precision, she spun him in a circle, the rope digging into his skin before releasing him to crash into the others. He didn¡¯t hesitate, leaping high into the air, capturing all eyes as he came down onto the pile up, his weight and kinetic force forcing the air from their lungs. ¡°Listen well, amigos,¡± he murmured, as a bandit with a sword rushed him. The folk hero bounced up, his ironclad grip closed around a bandit¡¯s throat while tanking a slash from the bandit¡¯s sword without injury. ¡°You¡¯re facing something beyond your understanding. If you have any sense left, you¡¯ll pray the terrifying hare doesn¡¯t lose her patience.¡± Rachel barely acknowledged the exchange as she passed the pair, taking control of the situation; the remaining dozen ran toward the city or their horses. The hellhound pups made their presence known, darting in and out of the shadows with glee, their flames igniting all those who had spilled blood to drag their souls to Hades. Thalia¡¯s fiery paws scorched the sand as she tore into a bandit¡¯s cloak, her teeth bared in a wide, mischievous grin. Irida prowled around her, pinning down any who dared move from their disarmed position, her red eyes flashing with fierce joy. Aleka went after another who was just about to take the life of a merchant, her form crackling with green energy as she launched at his jugular, taking him to the ground to burn. Terror wasn¡¯t only on the bandit¡¯s faces as Rachel tossed the leader into a wagon, the man¡¯s wide eyes watching the green flames of Aleka capture the soul of one of his men. In all intents and purposes, she was a devil at this moment. Grace and El Santo took a more moderate ¡®folk hero¡¯ like approach in not killing their targets while the Cerberus Sisters¡¯ merciless activity sent the remainder flooding to the pair for mercy and protection. She spoke without a hint of mercy to the leader, a merchant quaking atop his wagon as she directed the man to climb on. ¡°Unless you want to find out what it¡¯s like to be buried alive out here, with nothing but the insects to keep you company and sun to melt your flesh from your bones, I suggest you comply.¡± ¡°Please¡­a-anything but that,¡± he choked as the pups jumped forward, eyeing him with bright, flaming eyes. ¡°Y-Yes! Okay! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask!¡± ¡°The battle is done. We need a ride,¡± she stated to the merchant, her voice unyielding as stone. ¡°Can you accommodate us?¡± ¡°O-Of course,¡± he stammered, looking out across the dimming road, bodies now lining it. ¡°Are you friends or¡­sand devils here to take us to Jahannam?¡± ¡°Neither¡­ Just a pissed off woman who is passing through,¡± Rachel mumbled, dismissing her hammer in a pulse of light that made the bandit leader flinch. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your losses before we came upon you. We¡¯ll help you get to the city. Thalia, Irida, Aleka¡­ The ones who ran are all yours.¡± The leader curled inward as a devilish gleam lit in the hellhounds¡¯ eyes, and they became a streak of fire across the sands. Nia moved to support El Santo, Grace, and the guards as the remaining bandits dropped their weapons and surrendered, pleading to not be burned alive. She hopped up to sit beside him, not feeling like talking. El Santo glanced around as the people began to vanish in the flames of Hades, souls, body and all, sinking into the river styx. His bright smile became somewhat somber, performing a cross over his chest. ¡°Que el se?or tenga piedad de tu alma.¡± He exchanged a quick glance with Grace, his voice dropping low enough for her to hear as the guards bound the bandits, spitting on them or kicking them with venom. ¡°I see Rachel has¡­a certain moral code of her own. Though I disagree, I will respect the chain of command that is given. Do you agree with these¡­extreme tactics?¡± Grace shot him a helpless grin, her lasso closing up to sling over her arm before vanishing in a pulse of red light. She took out a flask from Jim¡¯s pouch, watching the cleanup around them. ¡°Sometimes varmints need to be put down, darlin¡¯. I reckon we saved more lives showin¡¯ force than if this played out with less intensity. These are the types to only respond to power after all. Gotta meet ¡®em where they¡¯re at, ya know?¡± She pulled out another cowboy hat and set it on his head before flicking the edge. ¡°Sorry, handsome. I agree with the boss.¡± El Santo sighed, adjusting the item as the falling rays of the sun hit him once more, his powerful standing tall for everyone to notice with his aura of authority and calm strength. ¡°There is indeed a time for such action to defend the lives of the innocent¡­¡± he murmured under his breath, watching the pups drag bandits down from their horses in the distance, igniting them in hellfire. ¡°Actions have consequences. Lead on, Se?orita Rachel.¡± The settling dust clung to Rachel¡¯s skin underneath her outfit like a second cloak as the final bandits were either rounded up or dragged off by the hellhound pups, their eerie, spectral flames illuminating the landscape in flashes of green. blue, and red. Amidst the echo of dying screams and El Santo¡¯s murmured prayers for their souls, yet these were going to a different type of hell. She tilted her head, catching a faint murmur at the edge of her hearing: Green. She¡¯d stepped into the realm, and in an entirely separate location than they¡¯d come in from. Her voice drifted through the open desert air like a whispered secret. Green¡¯s team was making good progress, already slipping over the outer walls on the opposite side of the city. They spoke in hushed tones about their next steps, the Fable hare keeping her updated on the progress now that they were in earshot, and Rachel¡¯s lips curved into a small, grim smile as she listened to their chatter. ¡°We just made it into the city. I hear you¡¯ve been able to blow off a little steam, Rachel. It seems patrols are tight. Be careful.¡± ¡°I already have a plan for that,¡± she whispered in return, her gaze drifting to the nervous merchant beside the broken bandit leader. ¡°Focus on your angle.¡± Gray seemed to be in charge of the operation, though, because he was already on top of it. ¡°Black¡­¡± ¡°Already ahead of you.¡± A soft, playful tune floated from Black¡¯s flute, barely audible to human ears but no doubt ringing clearly through the city¡¯s underground passages, calling to the creatures lurking in every shadowed corner. As she played, the rats answered her call as they crawled from dark alleys and drains, forming a quiet, writhing army ready to obey. Rachel¡¯s ears lifted as a bell rang out from within the city as they drew nearer to the towering city gates, snatching her gaze and pulling her mind away from the Fablekin. Grace gave her a nervous glance from underneath her hat, El Santo frowning up at the giant barrier, lined with soldiers. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she asked, making the two men beside her stiffen. ¡°The Clarion Bell, marking the time when everyone should be within the walls¡­ For when the Sand Devils prowl the night sands. It is why we rushed to reach the city before the sun fell,¡± the merchant explained. ¡°Hmm.¡± Her response made the pair shiver as she turned her covered ears toward the desert, hearing the giant creature underneath toss and turn. Only, much smaller things were now burrowing up through the sand with the last light of the intense sun falling into oblivion. As their caravan drew closer to the towering city gates, the guards stationed there strode forward on strong horses, geared to the teeth. However, the merchant raised their hand and brought out a merchant seal upon their approach. Their sharp eyes beneath their veiled faces, wrapped in crimson silk, fixated on her and the bandit leader before sweeping past them to the wagon of bundled bandits, who instantly cried. ¡°Please, take us to prison!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°We are bandits!¡± ¡°Help!¡± The merchant swiftly called out as the soldiers glanced at one another, weapons tightening in their grips. ¡°Our mercenaries captured them! We¡­we lost some of them. These ones are traveling with us!¡± he assured, his voice weary but resolute. ¡°Mercenaries from the far east.¡± Rachel kept her face hidden under her hood, shading her features, yet that didn¡¯t seem to fly. He silently motioned for her to remove her hood, Nia included. Their vision narrowed upon seeing their ears and the soldiers inspecting their goods jumped back as the pups jumped out. After a short exchange, the bandits were escorted off, raving about them being desert devils. The soldiers mostly discounted them, laughing that they looked weird, as most easterners, but nothing like desert devils. Rachel put on her best charm in the short conversation that followed. Yet, the hard-eyed men in question weren¡¯t budging, wanting to know more information about them¡­until an officer with a silver mark on his robe ordered them to let them by. Without hesitation, they were waved in. Some now mumbling how easterners could now have giant animal ears. With a story to tell, and having mostly inspected their goods, they were let in. Immediately, Rachel trained her ears on the officer who had intervened. However, contrary to her expectations, no one followed them. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they didn¡¯t stop us and demand a toll; it¡¯s a first,¡± one merchant muttered from inside the wagon behind Rachel, his voice carrying an undertone of bitterness. ¡°City guards here¡­ All mercenaries from lands far enough away are often charged a tax to operate in the sultan¡¯s lands. I¡¯d bet money their captain is going to find you later and extort you. We make a handsome profit here, but lately it¡¯s become¡­hard to justify the journey with the dangers.¡± Rachel raised a brow, glancing at the bandit leader with veiled curiosity while pulling her hood back over to hide her ears, allowing them to curve back. ¡°Is that right? It won¡¯t matter since I¡¯m not planning on staying here for long. So, what is the truth?¡± Shrank inward, glancing over his shoulder at the tough men, his voice quiet while eyeing the elite men as they passed that manned the walls. ¡°The truth is¡­many of the city¡¯s soldiers and guards are paid by someone. I don¡¯t know who, but it is very high up in the sultan¡¯s advisors. Certain caravans are ¡®marked¡¯¡ªripe for plundering if you don¡¯t have the right connections. Those who didn¡¯t pay the right tax. Those with enough coins keep their goods safe, and those without¡­¡± He trailed off, a grim smile settling on his lips as he looked away. ¡°Not that that matters now, sand devil. You now creep among us¡­ We are doomed.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Go on.¡± The man swallowed, his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered, defeated. ¡°The guards are in on it. Like I said, I don¡¯t know much¡ªjust that some caravans are fair game if we follow orders and keep out of the way of certain groups. They promise protection¡­in return for obedience under the secret word.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted by the act; it had led to her brother being targeted, but it made sense, coming from this kind of culture. Then again, everything in this world was more or less fabricated by the Seed within the Fable of Ali Baba. She had questions about that. As they made their way through the city¡¯s winding streets, Green¡¯s team began to get into position, listening as they spoke halfway across the active nighttime grid. Black¡¯s guiding voice directed them through the alleyways, slipping by those who stalked it in search of prey. ¡°The rat king is in the slums. Keep a lookout for any unusual activity, Red, Green, there are little insects that spy around the city. Wait¡­¡± A pause, then Black¡¯s flute played softly again, the melody of quiet authority over her rodents drawing them into a lul. The narrow, labyrinthine streets cast long shadows under the waning sunlight, flickers of twilight dancing between buildings. Overhead, Black¡¯s rats chittered their findings to her, whispering in the city¡¯s hidden language. Rachel silently tilted her head to the side, soundlessly slipping off the caravan and into the crowd. The triplets vanished in a wisp of flames, returning into her Core to wait and pounce at their next prey, tails wagging. The Rabbit Gang were still behind with Maria, keeping watch. She dragged the terrified bandit leader with her, weaving past the bustling populace and into the alleyway, Grace and El Santo following her. Now, she understood; there was a reason the soldiers had let her go. Vision drifting to the side, her broad field of vision took in a small creature she typically wouldn¡¯t have even batted an eye at: a fly on the wall, watching them. If we¡¯re drawing attention going through the front, Green¡¯s party can focus on working in the shadows. In that case¡­ Removing her hood to let her unique appearance be seen by the population, she silently pushed the leader forward; he seemed to catch on to what she wanted, guiding them to his boss. ¡°Rachel is being watched,¡± Black whispered to the others, having mobilized the city¡¯s vermin to pass messages along a chain. ¡°I suppose she¡¯s aware of that fact¡­ I¡¯ve found it. The rats in Ali Baba¡¯s home have made contact with the network. It isn¡¯t far,¡± she murmured, her tone calm and unhurried. ¡°They know every corner, and they say there is a secret place underneath the old tannery, as well that swallows rats to never return. One thousand, two and seventy three meters in that direction.¡± Green hummed, her tone slow and considering now, likely channeling her tortoise side. ¡°Perfect¡­ I¡¯ve got the voice of his¡­his wife?¡± ¡°Give me a second to hear their responses¡­¡± Black returned as they changed direction. ¡°They have a hard time distinguishing human interactions, but do recognize patterns. From their description, likely. There¡¯s also another young woman in the house that does most of the chores. They¡¯ve been very distracted lately, allowing the rats to eat their fill more than usual.¡± ¡°The wife and Morgiana,¡± Gray hummed. ¡°The slave girl who saves Ali Baba and marries his son in the tale. How long has it been since her husband has gone missing?¡± The flute sounded again, likely reasserting her dominion, before Black replied. ¡°¡­Not for a while. Longer than a week. The rats say they are nearly out of food when they used to have an unlimited supply.¡± ¡°Concerning,¡± Green sighed as Rachel followed the bandit into a tough-looking neighborhood, not a soldier or merchant in sight. The soft glow of lamps illuminated the dark streets and the sky above drew black with rolling clouds, the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance as the last light vanished. ¡°As a Grim Tale, the realm has taken on a life of its own, feeding off of Ali Baba. He¡¯s either captured or on the run. I suppose we¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Letting Green¡¯s team handle questioning Ali Baba¡¯s wife and servant, Rachel¡¯s focus lifted to the large building that seemed far too lavish for this neighborhood. They¡¯d gathered a rather curious crowd behind them as they went, all bandits by their rough appearance. Laughter and crude language inside made her ear twitch, yet the bandit took her past it and into a rather dark and crude building beside it. He gulped and glanced back at the throng, one snickering and holding a knife. ¡°What did you bring back for us? Nice catch. What¡¯s with those ears on the two pale beauties?¡± The man blanched as if he were going to be sick, his heartbeat picking up dramatically as he gave her a nervous glance. El Santo and Grace joined her, now on foot. ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡ªyou wanted me to take you here. Do you swear by your unholy masters that I will not be harmed¡­ I¡¯m cooperating. Don¡¯t blame me!¡± Grace flashed her teeth as the other bandits frowned, looking at one another at his stutters and quakes. She tipped her cowboy hat up, brown eyes sparkling with pure honesty that didn¡¯t fool Rachel. ¡°Oh, bless your little heart. We mean you no harm, sugar. Now quit holdin¡¯ the milk and show us the goodies. But I bet this is a trap. Seems like it,¡± she mumbled, lifting an eyebrow at the crowd as she cracked her neck and knuckles. ¡°What¡¯s the play?¡± ¡°No!¡± he shouted, making the bandits go on high alert. ¡°No. In here is a s-secret passageway. You have to know the words. I swear!¡± ¡°Oi! What do you think you¡¯re saying? Quit stalling and let¡¯s have a bit of fun with this brown-haired gem,¡± one of the bigger bandits shouted, striding forward. ¡°Hmm? You want to die, masked freak?¡± El Santo stepped between the grinning cowgirl and the bandit, his voice rising above the tense murmurs, calm yet carrying a warning tone like distant thunder. ¡°Amigos¡­you¡¯ve got the wrong idea here. But if you¡¯re set on making this your last mistake, I¡¯ll be happy to oblige.¡± He straightened, his towering figure casting a shadow that seemed to grow darker with the rising temperature. A smirk played across his lips, and he slowly rolled his shoulders, making a show of his strength and unflinching stance. The bigger bandit hesitated, glancing nervously at his companions, but stubbornly held his ground. El Santo¡¯s smirk turned into a grin as he raised his fists, the air around him charged with raw, barely contained power. ¡°Then step forward, mi amigo. Alegra mi d¨ªa. See if you¡¯re brave enough to face a devil of your own making.¡± As the first bandit puffed up his chest Grace let out a whoop, coming between them and tipping her hat to El Santo with a grin as the big bandit sneered and strutted forward. ¡°Hold on tight, boys, this little lady has her own voice and this dance ain¡¯t for the faint-hearted!¡± Grace laughed, tipping her hat to El Santo with a grin as the big bandit sneered, puffing out his chest and strutting forward. ¡°I like a woman with a little bite¡­¡± he roared. She stared up at the giant of a man, near the same size as the Mexican folk hero as he loomed over her. ¡°I like to bite!¡± El Santo crossed his arms and stepped back with a resigned smile as the cowgirl put her hands on her hips. ¡°Oh, honey, you think you can handle this?¡± she drawled, removing her lasso from her shoulder and stretching out left and right. ¡°I¡¯ll give ya a ride through a hurricane you¡¯ll never forget.¡± The bandit snickered, reaching out, but Grace¡¯s eyes sharpened to an icy gleam as she sidestepped his grasp with a quick hop to the right. In one fluid motion, her lasso looped around his hand, pulling him low as she stepped around him. Rope looping around his feet, a light tug sent him tumbling into a summersault, crying out and already half bound. Wheezing and seeing stars, Grace¡¯s legs spread out over his face, pearly white teeth gleaming as she pulled back her elbow. Fist striking out, she landed a solid blow right to the bridge of his nose. Bone cracked beneath her knuckles, and the big fella eyes rolled back into his head, blood gushing down his face. ¡°Guess he didn¡¯t ride the storm so well,¡± she noted with a smirk, hopping left and right with light, playful bounces while completing the loop and stepping on his unconscious body to smile at the shocked bandits. ¡°A lot of cattle out in these parts roamin¡¯ free. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯ve got a lot of tags to clip those ears with.¡± Her eyes sparkled as she looked back at El Santo, giving him a wink. ¡°What d¡¯ya say, big guy? Wanna tag-team this herd? No need to bother the boss.¡± El Santo chuckled, stepping up beside her, his broad grin flashing as he cracked his knuckles. ¡°Se?orita, I would be honored. Together, we¡¯ll send these souls flying back to their mamas. Rachel, leave the rabble to us.¡± Rachel huffed and walked into the building, the terrified bandit leader keeping pace. ¡°I¡¯ll only be a moment. Nia¡­¡± Inside, shadows clung to the damp stone walls, twisting in the dim glow of torches as Rachel descended a hidden stairwell that had been revealed with a single whispered word from the bandit leader¡¯s trembling lips: open sesame. The further they went, the heavier the air grew, thick with the scent of sweat and coin¡ªa vault carved deep within the earth, far removed from the bustling life above. They moved quickly, her senses keyed to the faint murmurs beyond the heavy doors ahead. Her hand tightened on the bandit¡¯s collar, practically dragging him forward as he stumbled over his own feet in the darkness. The whispers ahead of them shifted; the stronger bandits of the city¡¯s underbelly caught sight of her and called out in sharp warning, the echo of their alarm bouncing down the stone corridors. Nia flashed past her, a blur of sleek motion that slipped through the shadows like a wraith in the flickering candlelight that illuminated the underground space. With swift, silent efficiency, she dispatched the panicked sentries, she met each one with calculated blows that disabled each that tried to approach. Rachel strode forward with an unbroken focus, her footfalls absorbing the chaos she left in her wake as the man she dragged murmured manically. ¡°Demon¡­a devil! I had no choice! I have no choice!¡± From behind the final door, the steady clink of coins continued, the sound almost mocking in its calmness. She shoved the bandit leader aside, his whimpers fading as she strode into the chamber, her eyes fixed on the figure hunched over the overflowing piles of gold and gems scattered across the table. The man looked up, unfazed, his gaze locking onto hers with a gleam of cold amusement. A dangerous energy radiated from him, thickening the air around them: this was one of the forty thieves. Nia reappeared by her side, her eyes narrowing as she took in the objects strewn across the table and on his person¡ªan array of weapons, amulets, and arcane trinkets, each pulsing with faint, ominous glows. ¡°He¡¯s armed with magic,¡± Nia murmured, a flicker of excitement sharpening her gaze. ¡°Now these are a treat. I want them.¡± Excellent, she replied, a grim smile tugging at her lips now that she¡¯d finally found someone with real answers. At least this trip wasn¡¯t for nothing. She turned her full attention to the man before her. He leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, almost amused. ¡°I¡¯ve been expecting you,¡± he said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that carried a dark promise. ¡°Our glorious leader wishes to strike a deal.¡± ¡°No deal.¡± Without missing a beat, Rachel took a step forward, her hammer swinging from her shoulder with casual precision, its weight balanced in her hands as her focus locked onto her target. A white honeycomb barrier materialized around him, repelling her hammer and making him laugh. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it would take much more to penetrate this barrier. We may have mutual enemies¡­ Must you continue wasting our time?¡± he sighed. She lifted her hammer with both hands, eclipse eyes cold steel as she brought it down as hard as she could on the barrier: once, twice, a third time. Every strike made the glowing diamond amulet on his table glow as it activated; not a crack ran down it as her own jewels on her hammer brightened. ¡°It¡¯s pointless,¡± the man yawned, leaning back and rolling around his thick neck. ¡°That was made to stop a missile attack from your modern weapons.¡± Showing a smile that didn¡¯t touch her eyes, Rachel drew back her hammer one final time. ¡°Oh? Is that so? Well, I better swap up my strategy!¡± The bulky man¡¯s smile faded as she flipped her hammer to the spiked end. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with a lot of barriers. For some reason, pointed things tend to get through with enough force.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Putting all of her strength behind it, she activated the kinetic push; in a clash of shield versus point, magical sparks flashed from the barrier. Then, it cracked and shattered like glass over his head, the amulet exploding to pepper the man in magical shards. To his credit, he didn¡¯t cry out. Yet, he couldn¡¯t even get halfway to his weapon before Nia blurred past her, hand gripping his fat neck as she lifted him out of his chair to slam against the cold stone wall. Rachel calmly released her hammer as thigh highs materialized around the bunny¡¯s arm and waist, moving like snakes to bind the thieve¡¯s limbs. He choked as her free hand swiped over his grasping fingers, the magical rings and jewelry vanishing off his person before they could activate to be absorbed into the Living Denier. And with that, Nia released him into a crumpled heap, powerful but no match for someone at their level. Bending down, her wide eyes drilled into the stunned and red faced bandit as she whispered inches apart, ¡°Let¡¯s try this again¡­ Where is Abu Hassan?¡± $5 Patreon Promotion Until 1st of Jan As a promotional to show people what the Patreon offers and what it has, I''ve decided to give out a bunch of free 1 month promotional codes! Get them while it is up! It''s kind of an interesting new thing that Patreon has given creators the ability to do. o7 --> Click here <--If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.