The battle commenced with the angry employee letting out a high-pitched scream that echoed through the room. Her mace swung wildly, but her rage clouded her aim. Kintovar placed her hands in her pockets and calmly sidestepped each of the girl's wild swings with ease.

After several misses, the employee was visibly exhausted.

Gasping for breath, the employee demanded, "Stop dodging, you coward!"

Kintovar, wearing a faint smile, retorted, “I find it interesting that you chose a weapon like this for your occupation. Does it have any special features? Ah…let me guess… ‘Sword Magic. .’ Am I wrong?"

The girl glared at Kintovar with frustration. “Everyone calls it Sword Magic, but they don’t account for all the different weapon types. All of them stem from the base design of a sword. I hate that name, so I call my own magic something else.” She took a deep breath and held her mace high, as it began to glow with an ethereal light.

“Spin, Luminitas!” she declared.

The mace's light intensified, casting a radiant glow that made it look like a lamp post. The transformation was complete with the mace gaining swirling light around it itself.

Kintovar laughed at the sight. “A lamp post? Really? That’s quite the... unique appearance for your weapon.”

The girl’s face flushed with anger. A glowing blue marker appeared around Kintovar in the eyes of the girl who held her mace up in the air. Kintovar swiftly drew her dual mini-guns. “I’ll put an end to this quickly," Kintovar declared. She began firing at the girl with precise, rapid shots.

To Kintovar’s shock, the girl charged forward with surprising speed, disregarding the barrage of bullets. The girl raised her mace high and let out a fierce scream while aiming to smash Kintovar.

In a narrow escape, Kintovar barely managed to dodge the incoming strike. The mace collided with the ground, sending shockwaves through the floor and causing a minor earthquake. The tremor knocked some loose debris around, but Kintovar remained upright.

However, Kintovar quickly realized she wasn’t entirely free. The light energy from the missed strike began to coalesce around her, forming a swirling aura of glowing particles.

"What is this?" Kintovar exclaimed.

The girl smirked. “Whenever I miss a strike, the light energy I release can be directed to gather around my targets. It creates a slowing effect. The more I miss, the more energy I can gather. Isn’t that fascinating?”

She raised her mace defiantly. “So, how useless my weapon now, huh?

Kintovar’s gaze remained fixed on the girl. “Impressive,” she said genuinely. “Your power is quite remarkable. I must admit, you really have me beat here.”

The girl’s face brightened at the compliment. She puffed out her chest proudly. “Of course, I’m the best! No one can match my skills with the mace.”

Kintovar seized the opportunity. “I’d love to know more about how you got such a unique power. How did you come by it?”

The girl, now feeling a surge of overconfidence, began to elaborate on her abilities. “It’s all about the special training we undergo. The mace magic isn’t just for show. It draws on our deepest emotions and—”

While the girl continued speaking, Kintovar discreetly pulled out a small, concealed device. With a careful aim, she fired a tiny, nearly invisible dart that struck the girl’s mace. The impact was barely seen, but the effect was immediate. The once radiant glow surrounding the mace began to flicker.

The girl remained oblivious to the subtle change. “And then there’s the unique way we channel the light energy. It’s a combination of our aura and the weapon’s enchantment. I’ve perfected it over years of practice!”

Kintovar nodded along. “Fascinating. I never would have guessed.”

Kintovar’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. “Before we continue, what’s your name?”

The girl, still basking in the glow of her earlier triumph, straightened up. “Zamina.”

Kintovar’s smile widened. “Well, Zamina, it seems you’re about to be defeated by the world’s greatest scientist, Dr. Kintovar.” She let out a hearty laugh, the sound ringing with playful arrogance.

Zamina’s face contorted with frustration. “What’s with the change in attitude? One moment you’re impressed, and the next, you’re belittling me!”

Kintovar shrugged nonchalantly. “I did say your powers were impressive. I never said you were going to win here.”

Zamina’s anger boiled over. “That does it!” With a furious cry, she spun around with her mace trailing a glowing arc “Whirlwind of light!”

All of a sudden, Zamina’s energy seemed to vanish. Her movements slowed, and her mace, once vibrant with light, now wobbled weakly in her grasp. Zamina gasped in disbelief. “What happened?”

Kintovar’s tone was cool and collected. “It’s simple. While you were busy explaining, I took the liberty of weakening your weapon. That light energy you’ve been relying on? It’s been systematically depleted.”

Zamina’s eyes widened “You… you sabotaged my mace?”

“Precisely,” Kintovar said with a smirk. “Your skill is impressive, but it was the weapon, not just your prowess. That was the key to your advantage, and with that faltering, your stamina is following suit.”

Kintovar began walking away. “This fight is over,” she declared.

Zamina shouted after her, “No, it’s not! Get back here!”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Kintovar didn’t even glance back. “I don’t have time to play with little girls.”

Zamina’s face flushed with indignation. “Who are you calling little?!” Zamina tried to muster the strength to pursue Kintovar, but she was too drained.

Meanwhile, within the confines of the jail cell, Haras, the girl with bubblegum-colored hair and boundless energy, was in high spirits. Her cheerful demeanor had managed to annoy one of the guards assigned to watch over her cell for the entire day. When the main barrier surrounding the cells suddenly went down, the guard saw an opportunity to escape the company of the lively prisoner.

With an audible sigh of relief, the guard muttered to himself, "Finally, there's some shit for me to do! Anything to get away from her annoying ass."

The sudden absence of the barrier sent a ripple of excitement through the imprisoned individuals, Haras included. Haras shouted, "Hey, I wonder what's happening? Oh, this is so exciting! Maybe they're finally letting us out to play!"

With the guard making a hasty exit, Haras seized the opportunity and casually let herself out of the unlocked cell. Her resourcefulness in creating a key for the lock allowed her to effortlessly regain her freedom.

Haras considered her options. “I wonder if I should free the rest of them too…” While contemplating, a particularly sinister-looking individual caught her attention. He was clad in a black suit and spoke with a voice changer, making it sound unnaturally deep.

In a low, ominous tone, he urged, "You should free them all. It will lead to a grand adventure, my dear. You know what they say, 'The greatest stories are born from chaos.' Imagine the tales we could weave."

Haras's eyes lit up.”What kind of adventure are you proposing, and what stories do you speak of?"

The figure smirked beneath his mask. "An adventure filled with danger, secrets, and power beyond imagination. It's a story that will thrill you, my dear Haras. If you free us all, you'll become a part of something... legendary."

The mysterious figure's lips curled into a sinister smile beneath his mask, and he quoted

"In the heart of darkness, new blooms shall rise, their tales woven in blood and lies."

Haras recognized that quote from one of her favorite stories. She clapped her hands together with stars in her eyes, “Ohhhhhh! That’s from Dark Lotus. You know 'Dark Lotus' too? Oh, this sounds promising! I’m Haras by the way!"

The enigmatic individual nodded. "Indeed, Haras, it's a tale that has inspired me in more ways than one. If you're ready for a journey beyond imagination, then free us all, and you shall become a legend in your own right."

Haras nodded eagerly. "I'm going to do it! But first, I need to find my friend Mystimona. I know he's in here too, and I won't leave without him."

The mysterious figure chuckled softly and replied, "Very well, my dear. Find your friend, and when you're ready, release us all. Our adventure awaits."

Haras ventured deeper into the cells. She searched for Mystimona, her dear friend who she believed was held within this place.

When she turned a corner, she spotted a cell tucked away in the shadows. The figure within was bathed in a soft, purple aura that flickered faintly. Haras approached with caution.

Peering inside, she saw Mystimona, lying on a simple cot. He had long, flowing purple hair and eyes that glowed with the same hue. Haras felt relief and joy seeing his chest rise and fall.

Mystimona stirred in the cell. He reached out a hand and examined it, then whispered to himself, "I'm still alive."

Haras whispered, "Mystimona, it's me, Haras! We're going to get out of here."

Mystimona's purple eyes glanced around the cell. He scratched his head. "This place looks familiar, but I can't remember... What happened?"

Haras explained, "You've been in jail, Mystimona. I'm Haras, your friend."

Mystimona furrowed his brow. "Haras? I'm sorry, but I can't remember...anything."

Haras sighed. "It might be a side effect of using all the power of your Zenith form, combined with how much magical energy it took for us to get to the city."

Haras and Mystimona prepared to make their escape, but asudden interruption halted their plans. A band of officers had surrounded them with their weapons drawn. The leader of the officers, a stern-looking woman in a blue uniform, stepped forward and said, “Hold it right there! What do you think you're doing?"

Mystimona stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Haras. He addressed the group of officers with his arms folded across his chest. "There seems to be a grave misunderstanding here," he began. "I do not belong in this place, nor will I allow myself to be anyone's slave any longer."

The officers were suprised by his confidence and demeanor. The leader narrowed her eyes but didn't respond immediately.

Mystimona took a step forward, but the stern woman in blue raised her hand. She commanded, "Hold it right there! I said don't move."

Mystimona continued to advance until he was infront of the woman. With an air of authority, he responded, "I do not follow your orders. I will not be imprisoned any longer!"

Mystimona unleashed his immense power, causing the entire prison quaked. The ground shuddered, and the lights flickered as if unable to contain the sheer force radiating from him. Officers on the upper floors stumbled, desperately clutching at railings and walls for support.

“Wh-What the hell is this..?”

In the midst of their struggle against Daimendo, Roselle and Runebelle suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of energy jolting their own. It was as if a tidal wave of power crashed into their very souls, and they were both affected. Roselle, with a sense of recognition, whispered,

"Mystimona..."

Runebelle looked to Roselle for guidance.

Daimendo, despite his own power was not immune to the overwhelming force. He struggled to move under the sheer might of Mystimona's power. A look of disbelief crossed his face.

“Wh-what’s going on…? What is this power?”

Mystimona's purple aura enveloped him. “This is my power, a force that will destroy the foundations of this place until I am free. Now, stand aside!"

The officers, though still stunned by the display of power, began to consider their options in the face of this incredible force. Mystimona's aura continued to intensify by the minute.

In the prison, the very walls seemed to tremble in acknowledgment of Mystimona's might.

The stern woman, though hesitant, knew she had to take action. She commanded her men. “Fire now!"

The officers obediently opened fire releasing a barrage of energy towards Mystimona. However, their efforts were in vain. The shots had no effect on him, and he remained resolute.

One of the officers exclaimed, "Our weapons are useless against him! What's going on?"

Mystimona face grew increasingly irritated. "Your weapons won't hold me back. I'm breaking free, no matter the cost."

Realizing the futility of their situation, the stern woman quickly made a decisive call. She barked orders to her men, "Fall back! We can't handle this power. Retreat!"

Her officers immediately obeyed her command. They began a hasty and disorderly retreat, scrambling to get out of harm's way.

Mystimona watched them go. He let out a deep breath and lowered his power. Haras approached him with concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, Mystimona? That was incredible, but it looked like it took a lot out of you."

Mystimona nodded. "I'll be fine. We need to find Roselle and Runebelle. They're in trouble."

Haras gave him a curious look and placed her hands on her hips. "Mystimona, how do you know about Roselle and Runebelle if you lost your memories? Do you have a connection with them or this place?"

Mystimona raised one hand up to his chin. "It's strange, Haras. I can't remember who Roselle is, but her name... it's like an echo in my mind that never fades. I somehow sensed them in danger, and there's a connection I can't explain…"

He paused. "It's like... humans rely on their five senses, but I can sense beyond that, in a way I can't fully comprehend. There's something unique about Roselle, a distinct scent or presence, and I knew she was in trouble. I feel a strong connection to her, even though I can't remember why."

He continued, "Right now, I sense that they're in danger. I can feel it in the air. They are fighting above us. I remember battling Roselle and Risebelle separately, and Roselle has a distinctive presence or scent. While I can't sense them directly, which makes me think she's with Runebelle. Now. We don’t have time to sit around and chat too long about this, do we?"

Haras nodded in agreement. "You're right, Mystimona. We'll have time to figure this out later. For now, let's focus on getting to Roselle and Runebelle."