Even after the threatening aftermath of the cracks, Gelly’s group surrounded the man and left the way out open. Phantom fixed his stature like nothing happened. “You curtain climbers should hide in your mama’s cervix instead of being an additional tax.”

“This is the women’s building. Who are you?” Hera asked as she furrowed her eyebrows towards him, “You seem quite familiar.”

The man rubbed his hair upwards and tossed a coin in the air. “I’m nothing unusual. Within the shadows, I’m an atomic nobody. Just remember this, Phantom will trample your dignity, pride, and your sandwich on the floor,” he said with a smile and caught the coin showing heads.

“You’re an idiot. What’s your purpose?” Gelly asked.

“Do I look like some Romeo with romantic motivation? Stepping over wimps is my middle name, and I ate noobs for breakfast,” he said while staring at Quimora, then he gazed at Hera, “However, trampling over the strong would be ecstatic as well. Also, I’m afraid I can’t ignore Miss Suppose’s orders.”

“Hmph, too overconfident when the anti-magic barrier just broke? If that didn’t happen, these massive numbers of people around you would turn you into corned beef,” Gelly said.

“I can see that you’re a self-proclaimed hardeep (Strong) as well. All of you who are strong as weeds, come to me like an angry fisherman! All those who don't have any cat-bombs, vanish within my beautiful eyes. Though you’ll be fodder later, it would be pointless.”

Hera whispered to Jinx, “Take Quimora and Macy away.” Even though Phantom noticed it, he didn’t bother.

Jinx laughed and bowed, “I–I apologize, Mr. ‘atomic nobody.’ It seems that I am weak, hence I chose to die later, hahaha! It would be the same as these two. Can we g–go now?” She put her arms over Quimora and Macy’s necks and asked.

No one responded, even Phantom didn’t change his expression.

“Oh, it s–seems that your pet peeve is communicating through fists, hahaha. Just don’t overexert your energies too much, is that okay? Then, bye for now!” Jinx exclaimed as she dragged Quimora and Macy away. As she turned her back away from him, her face puffed and turned pale due to panic.

As they walked away, Quimora turned back and shouted to Hera, “Hera! Please be safe! I suppose everything will be alright.” Soon, Quimora, Macy, and Jinx vanished within their sight.

Phantom clapped and laughed, “Marvelous entertainment! A playhouse with a kid and a gorilla. Holy dames, if I insult Miss Suppose, she would be bitter biscuits. Your mom’s a g-unit (gorilla)! That onion booty would cry in shame in Bush’s way.”

Unaffected by Phantom's insults, Hera only gritted her teeth and hissed. “I won’t take your gender insults personally. However, you should tell me who ‘Miss Suppose’ is. Are you referring to Quimora?”

Hera had a strong sense of reading body language. She already knew that he wouldn't surrender important information. However, his intentions and his previous interactions contradict with each other, confusing her about their enemy’s goals. Lately she knew that she’s currently facing a trained assassin who knows how to conceal his purpose.

“Curious aren’t we? I didn’t expect you to have brains. I’m a battle freak. If you can convince me with your victory, I can spoil you with milk and tell you everything you wanted to know… Are you courageous enough to play rugby with me?”

***

Beneath the prison's cold stone belly, a dungeon whispered secrets of captives with powers beyond a high-ranking mage's reach. With the bars shattered, the prisoners teetered on the precipice of freedom, yearning to escape. Yet, danger lurked in the shadows as they stumbled through the corridors, desperate to reclaim their lost liberty.

“Macy, are you sure we’re not on our way to another hell?” Jinx asked as they followed Macy and put their trust to her. However, Macy couldn’t even depend on her ability as her shallow deep breaths overtook the silence of the hallways. Her lifeless eyes fixed an unfocused gaze, only depending on her ability to navigate their path.

“My eyes tell me that this is the way. Let’s endure being cheap,” Macy replied. Her third eye glowed heavier as it dragged her to their supposed path. She can’t cast another Parallel Vision due to high mana consumption. With her remaining mana, she can only use the Route Tracking ability.

“You’re so stingy! You’re a prodigy that has triple abilities and yet, you consume too much mana.”

“We don’t have a choice, Jinx! Don’t be choosy.”

Quimora muttered, “I suppose the air here felt dangerous. There’s too much I can’t see.”

Jinx replied, “Rare for you to talk too much. Let’s trust Macy in this. She’s the most popular criminal in our group, even surpassing Gelly in appeal.”

“Stop it! I can’t focus,” Macy exclaimed with a blushing face.

“Hey, don’t make your forever-single status obvious! Look forward. You’re our only guide.”

“I–I know!”

Past countless intersections, their route led its way toward the unknown. Macy felt weird since she used her Route Tracking ability, since they’ve been circling countless of times already Across their way, they encountered countless dead bodies lying on the floor, like someone already got their way in. Hence, this was the reason why they’re not encountering enemies.

“Who did this? Whoever they are, it would be no wonder they have a sacred ability supporting them.”

“Well, if you’re looking for an enemy, I can smell something fishy over there.” Jinx pointed before their route as they stopped walking. When they all gazed forward, a mutant-looking juggernaut’s groundbreaking steps shook their bodies. They only saw the juggernaut’s face the moment it passed a torch. It had a massive body built as tall and as wide as the walls. He’s like an obstacle that they couldn’t pass through.

“Oh my… Does that mean trust is meant to be broken?”

“What the hell, Macy!? Was your compass inverted?”

“I don’t know, Jinx! I’m only tracking the mana fumes that will lead us to escape.”

Jinx sighed, posed like a martial artist, and licked her lips. “Don’t worry, it’s just a single skinny bear. I haven’t shown this to you yet, but do you guys know my ability?”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I suppose that’s related to your martial arts?” Quimora replied.

“Is it relevant to have a quiz in the middle of a critical point?” Macy asked.

“You people don’t know me yet. Everyone calls me a whistleblower. I guess I made my first impressions misleading. Watch me people as I blow him like a whistle.” She stepped heavier on the ground, burying a part of her toes.

“I am…” Lightning surrounded her body as heat built up below her toes. The mix of blue and violet lighting leaked Jinx’s violent aura. When Macy felt it, she covered Quimora’s eyes.

“... Rocket punch.” An exhale launched Jinx, ejecting her foot from the ground like a rocket. As the juggernaut rushed towards her, she pierced its chest like a diver and a bullet. A second passed, and the juggernaut’s blood splattered around the walls of the dungeon, but the light accompanying Jinx gradually dimmed. While Macy shook in awe, Quimora didn’t have a single clue about what happened.

“What sorcery is this!?” Macy exclaimed. “You’re faster than an arrow!”

“What happened, Macy?” Quimora asked, not able to see anything. “I suppose it’s amazing.”

Macy removed her hand from Quimora’s eyes. “It’s not for your eyes yet, Quimora…”

With a grin, Jinx turned back to them, intending to brag, but a blink of a red flare chasing Macy’s back alerted her. When she saw it, she ran towards the two and shouted, “Macy, on your back!”

A spear of red flame stealthily spiraled toward Macy, its luminous tip glinting like a celestial blade. It pierced through Macy's abdomen, an inch away from Quimora's neck, as if guided by unseen hands. The impact sent shockwaves through Macy's body. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she crumpled onto the floor, her strength sapped away in an instant.

““Macy!”” Quimora and Jinx shouted as they rushed to help her. She tried to shake her body, but her pupils, alongside the imaginary eye on her forehead, slowly appeared dim against the torchlight. Like a ragdoll, she lost control of her body from pain. Due to a part of her lungs being hit, her hastened breathing was limited to quick breaths.

Quimora cried, “Macy! Hold on, it’s alright! We’ll get help soon.”

Jinx removed her cloth and wrapped it around Macy’s wounds. She stood up, facing the unknown pursuers and wearing only a tank top. Clenching her jaws, she growled, “Quimora, carry Macy forward! I’ll stall them.”

“But Jinx… No! We need you here.”

“If I accompany you, they’ll be able to chase us. Also, I’m not a fan of protecting others. If we die here, it’s the end for us. But if you die here, there’s no point in going through all of this. Macy can still guide you to the right route of escape.”

“I can’t leave you here!” Quimora squealed.

“YOU SHOULD LEAVE ME HERE!!” Jinx shouted. “Please, Quimora. You’re by far the most important person for all of us here, including Macy’s. Please think of yourself more. Fret not, you may be confident that I will handle this with ease.”

If I only had power… If I only knew my power, I would be able to help them. I’m so useless. They’re all trying hard because they want me, a burden to life, to live. Quimora pressed her lips as tears crawled down her eyes. “I want to do something… I’m sorry!”

Smiling out of sheer confidence, Jinx tapped her scalp and said, “This is what only you can do. Help Macy and escape.”

Quimora carried Macy and dragged her forward their route. As the two left, Jinx showed a smirk with her furrowed eyebrows. Her loud breathing echoed through the hallway. The five prisoners appeared before the torchlight. Knowing their thug-like appearances, they might also be a strong foe who were victors of the underground battle royale.

“Oh? I felt like I hit a strike back then. Did I miss?”

“Is your wind tracking accurate?”

“Shut up, noob. I felt a body hitting my exhaled wind. There’s no way you missed.”

Jinx blabbered, “You didn’t miss, assholes. In fact, I salute you for making a successful headshot. However…” Jinx readied another ability to launch herself toward the five elemental prisoners. She gritted her teeth and prepared to launch herself.

“You hit my anger at a critical point.”

Macy coughed non-stop as Quimora carried her on her back. The imaginary eye in Macy’s forehead dimmed slowly, losing its power. Knowing this, Quimora became worried. “Calm down, Macy. We’ll get help soon, I assure you.”

“T–Thank you… Quimora… Can’t… Speak…” Macy stopped talking and instead raised her finger in the direction where her ability points. She thought I should let her escape here before I lost my life.

“Don’t waste your energy, Macy! Help will come…”

After turning right in an intersection, the two heard the scraping of metal from the darkness beyond them. There’s no visible torch beyond since the last torch was already beside them. The echoes distinguished a burst of deep giggling like a devil’s last laugh.

“A cute little girl, and a potential wife. I’ve never felt lucky ever since I was imprisoned. I felt like staying for another night just to play with you girls. I may need to detach your limbs first so you can’t escape.”

His silhouette was distinguishable from the darkness. However, his weapon wasn’t. From a far distance, he tilted his body and spun his arm. Lately that they know, a ball of metal tailed by chains appeared in light’s vicinity and was being launched towards Quimora’s legs. Macy forced Quimora to twist her body with her weight and spun to receive the blow.

The hit launched the two flying away. Quimora groaned while lying down on the ground and stood up as her consciousness nearly faded. However, when she saw Macy hit in her wound again, her adrenaline spiked up. She rushed towards Macy, shaking her body to wake up.

“Macy! Macy! Wake up! You can’t leave me here!” Thinking of other ideas, Quimora hovered her hands over Macy’s wound and screamed. “Heal! Heal! HEAL!!!” However, nothing’s happening.

Quimora, for all she knew in her life, had no inherited ability from her parents. She never had the talent to become a magician, and her parents once thought that she’d only be compatible to do houseworks. She bowed her head and wailed. I’m the worst.

“Hahaha! You’re the worst!” The enemy laughed. His face appeared within the torchlight as a tall man who had a built body. His hair with a bun didn’t have the intention to hide the scar on his face. “Why are you so useless? Do you think you deserve to live? Tsk! One down. It looks like you’re going to live as my tool for life to make yourself useful.”

Quimora was never violent, and she never thought of killing other people her whole life. She was raised by her loving parents until she was eight, and she already tried to repay their kindness by saving them from territorial disputes. She never touched a knife with the intention of letting someone bleed to death. However, those who are innocent were the most prone to a plague called revenge.

“Die…” Quimora muttered, still bowing over Macy and covering her face.

“Huh? What a cute reaction! That won’t change anything though.”

Gradually, her mumbles turned into a shout, a growl of rage and desperation to equate to him what she felt. “Die! Die! DIE! DIE! DIIIEEEE!”

The man continued laughing. “I will teach you a life lesson, something that you’ll always remember.”

He spun his chains to prepare to crush Quimora’s feet. Her anger pulled her standing on the ground, but as soon as she saw his face, she realized their difference and surrendered instead. Quimora didn’t move an inch since she can’t do anything. She thought, I deserve this. Escape is just an illusion. Hope is imaginary. What about Entropy? Beliefs are pointless. I can’t even control my own future.

The moment the man attacked Quimora, clangs of metal repeatedly echoed around her. She closed her eyes, fully accepting the ferocious future to end her life. She didn’t feel any pain. The reason? It never hit her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and gazed at the thick transparent hive-yellow glass that was inches before her face. It deflected every flail’s attack. The man hissed and retreated. “What sorcery did you do!?”

“A saint’s purpose is to protect,” a voice of a familiar girl replied. Quimora turned back and saw the face of a friend that saved her once. She held a broom upside down, and its soft ends glowed like fire. She still wears her prisoner shirt, however, her wounds vanished.

“Guinelle…” Quimora muttered.

“A saint’s liability is to stabilize the balance of morals,” Guinelle declared and pointed her broom toward the man. “Damietta, an impure monster of torture, you throw off the balance.

“You shall be punished.”