"That’s right, it's me!” Saturn said as she approached Trixie, becoming more visible from within the fog.
“Woah… It's been a while, huh?”
“Yeah, no kiddin'!” Svenja added.
“Aw, looks like I've got a little fanbase here,” Saturn replied with a smirk, putting a finger to her chin.
“I wonder how her mission for the research data went,” Piper said.
Oh snap, that's right, Trixie thought. I should ask her that.
“So, Saturn, how'd the research data thing go for you?”
Saturn chuckled. "Well, I can tell you one thing for sure, the Yushalian researchers at RISHA were really excited when I returned from the mission."
"Yeah, I bet," Ahina said, smiling at her. "I know for a fact they couldn't wait to get their hands on all that information."
"Heh, you got that right. It seemed like they had already worked out a plan to put the research data to use as soon as we arrived at the lab.”
Saturn leaned in closer to Trixie as the others watched their interaction. Trixie could feel her breath brush against her ear as Saturn began speaking.
"The researchers seemed really eager to analyze my DNA along with a few other things, all of which was a result of me being a member of the Ephemerals.”
Trixie's breath hitched a little as she felt Saturn's breath tickle her ear.
Saturn smirked as she leaned back a little, giving Trixie some space. "But all that stuff was expected from the research team. After all, I was the perfect candidate to undergo some testing.”
"Perfect candidate…? I'm guessing they had some sort of goals for the research?”
Saturn smirked again. "Oh yeah, they definitely had goals for the research. They wanted to see just how far they could push the limits of human abilities. And you can probably guess what they thought when I came along, a young Ephemeral with such incredible potential.”
"So... You underwent all this testing from the researchers, and I'm guessing it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience…?
Saturn tilted her head to the side, considering how to respond. "You could say that. The tests did have their fair share of pain and discomfort. Yushalian researchers are no joke, there's no doubt about that. But I was willing to put myself through anything if it meant helping to advance science and technology.”
“I can't quite wrap my head around this idea of Saturn willing to put herself through torture just for the sake of advancing science and technology,” Piper said.
"I guess it's noble of you to have that attitude, but... Were you at least treated fairly by the researchers?” Trixie asked.
Saturn gave a small laugh, shaking her head a bit.
"Treated fairly? You've gotta be joking, right? Those researchers, especially the crazy one, saw me as nothing more than a subject to be experimented on. They put me through absolute hell, and they thought nothing of hurting me in the process.”
Trixie's eyes widened as she gasped at what she heard. "That... That's just plain horrible.”
“Hold on, ‘the crazy one’?” Ahina asked as she raised a brow. “You mean the Animal Dealer?”
Saturn nodded. “Mhm! You remember her all too well, I see.”
“Ha, who wouldn't? I wonder what her real name is, anyways.”
“Eh, nobody knows. And I think she likes to keep it that way.”
Trixie felt her legs flash freeze out of the blue. Before she could speak, everyone else's legs were frozen and stuck to the ground.
“Wh-what the hell is this?!” Ahina panicked.
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“Woah- who did that?!” Trixie said out loud.
The group then looked ahead as the culprit revealed herself: a Knight of Elbrastion. The blue-haired woman stepped forward and smiled down at the trapped individuals before her. There was a cruelness in her green eyes, and her lips were curled into a sadistic sneer. The trapped group realized that they were in serious trouble, and her smile grew broader.
Shit, it's Irene… Svenja thought.
Draley tried to cast a spell to break free from the ice, but her aura was unable to flow through her body.
Darn… Draley thought. I suppose the ice has nullified my aura…
Damn, I'm a gem sprite and can't even break outta this silly ice?! Ahina thought, her brows furrowed.
Irene looked down at the helpless warriors, savoring their fear and helplessness.
Once Irene had the group trapped in her ice spell, her cruel grin broadened. She looked down on the helpless group with contempt, enjoying their suffering.
"There you are," Irene hissed, her lips curling into a twisted smile. "I've been looking for you."
Svenja glared back at Irene, but the latter's twisted expression remained.
"You shouldn't have come here, dears," Irene taunted. "This region is off-limits to outsiders like you.”
“Outsiders, huh?” Svenja said. “Feck off, this country is for everyone! There ain't no such thing as ‘outsiders’ here!”
“Oh, but you're currently within the border of the Witch Provinces,” Irene replied. “Can't we witches have our own place while you stay in yours? You have the whole rest of the country out there, so leave us alone for crying out loud.”
“As I've said,” Svenja replied with a snarl. “This country is for everyone! Witches, ordinary humans, angels, demons, ya name it!”
Irene raised a brow. “Ordinary humans, huh? Witches are human, too. Just like you. You've shown your true colors, Ms. Alliance leader. There's a reason the Witch Provinces are among the top countries with the highest quality of life. You can't say the same about the rest of Elbrastion, can't you? Anyways, I'll be disposing of you all and walk away with these precious Ephemerals,” she replied, looking at Trixie, Draley, and Saturn.
“Oh, we're not going anywhere,” Saturn said before shattering the ice on her legs with ease.
What?! Irene thought. My ice is supposed to nullify Aura, but…
Saturn shot blasts of aura at the legs of the others, breaking them free.
“Damn, Saturn,” Svenja said with wide eyes. “Why didn't ya do that earlier?”
Saturn grinned. “It's all about the timing. Now let's kick some witch ass!”
The group rushed as one at Irene, but she was quick and fast, she dodged their attacks with ease, seeming to have anticipated them.
“My, my. You're all awfully slow today,” she taunted. She then unleashed a barrage of ice shards, aiming for the group, but Saturn intercepted the attack with her Barrier. Draley unleashed a barrage of fireballs, but Irene blocked them with a wall of ice.
Irene smirked at the group, clicking her tongue.
I got them where I wanted them, she thought.
"You're just like children," she taunted. "You think that you can even touch me with such laughable power and speed?”
The group was silent for a moment, each of them staring at Irene with contempt and hostility. Svenja was the first to speak up.
“I've defeated stronger than you," she growled, her grip tightening on her sword. "You don't know what we've been through or how much more powerful we've become.”
Irene's smirk turned into a boastful grin. "Is that so? I doubt that. You are like ants trying to fight a mighty warrior, you will never win against me.”
"That's where you're wrong," Trixie rebuked, anger in her voice as she glared at Irene. "We've been through more than you know, and we've battled with the strongest of opponents. I am a Meteor Corp agent, and I can assure you that we won't back down so easily."
“Yeah, you're the agent of my foot up your ass,” Irene retorted with a chuckle. “Just keep telling yourself that if it helps you all sleep better at night.”
"You can underestimate us all you want," Ahina said, her grip tightening even further on her claymore as her soul gem glowed with invigoration. "But we will show you exactly what we're capable of.”
Irene scowled. "We'll see about that. You'll be fighting against your huge tits more than me, you scantily clad bimbo."
She then charged forward, launching a vicious dropkick towards Ahina. Her boots crashed into Ahina's chest, shattering her soul and sending her flying off into the forest.
Without any break, Irene landed behind Trixie and attempted to sweep her legs with her ice-covered one, but Saturn stepped in the way and blocked the attack with her arm, freezing her in the process.
Draley sent a barrage of fireballs at Irene, but she dodged them with ease and launched an ice shard towards the mage, forcing Draley to dodge out of the way.
Svenja swung her sword at Irene, but Irene avoided her attack and hurled a large ball of ice at her to knock her back. Trixie launched her own ice attacks at Irene, aiming to cleave her in two with an ice blade, but Irene blocked the attack and sent a flurry of ice daggers towards Trixie.
“Sorry, but there can only be one ice user here, little miss,” Irene quipped, sending ice pillars up from the ground.
Trixie managed to sidestep the ice pillars and jumped behind Draley, who sent another barrage of fireballs at Irene. She dodged out of the way and countered Draley with a wide, sweeping kick. With her soul shattered, Draley tumbled to the ground.
Svenja came from behind Irene with a downward slash, but she disappeared with a flurry of snow, which froze Svenja in place as she landed there.
Irene then turned to Trixie, the last woman standing. “You're mine,” she said with a toothy grin.
She created a spear of ice and threw it at Trixie. Before it made contact with Trixie, it was stopped by Ahina's claymore, which was thrown in front of Trixie out of the blue.
Ahina re-entered the battle scene, her slumped figure fading into view as the fog dispersed. “You didn't forget about me, did you?” she said, glaring at Irene.
“Shut up, you can barely even stand after one little love tap,” Irene called back with a teasing grin. “I bet that little throw you did took the last bit of strength you had left, poor thing!” she continued.
She teleported behind Trixie and touched her back with her palm, freezing her. “Well, that's all of them,” she said out loud, stroking her chin as she observed the losers.
“So! Any last words, girls? she asked as she stepped forward.
“Give us…the location of the other Ephemerals,” Svenja responded.
“Oh, feeling lucky today, aren't you? Very well, allow me to tell you where they are as a parting gift before I destroy you! I've heard the generator building in Freelife Town currently has a number of them present there. Now good luck coming back to look for them...from hell!”
“Trixie,” Piper alerted. “I've just looked up the location that she has disclosed. It is in the town's southwest area, close to the border next to the Tonnerre Province. If we head southeast, we should arrive in 25 minutes by foot.”
Saturn smirked from the information given by Irene and broke herself free of her confinements by using Increase. “Good to know, we'll be on our way.”
Irene stepped back after Saturn's display of power, but stood her ground. “No one said you're making it out of here alive. Now allow me to finish you all off to end your suffering.”
Saturn grinned as she outstretched her arms. “Not if I can help it,” she retorted before a large ball of aura formed in front of her. Before anyone knew it, the ball slammed into Irene and exploded in a burst of vibrations, sending her flying through the air.
Ha… Been a while since I used my Core of Saturn technique, Saturn thought. She shot rings of aura at Svenja and Trixie, freeing them from the ice.
“Damn, I can't hear shit after that!” Svenja said, scratching her ears.
“Me neither,” Trixie added.
“Neither can I,” Ahina chimed.
“...Oops,” Saturn said with a giggle. “I probably should've told them that… but some of them couldn't cover their ears, so nevermind!”
“Don't worry,” Piper said in a reassuring voice. “I can still communicate with you just fine, Trixie. When everyone's hearing comes back, we'll be able to continue on with the mission.”
“I know,” Trixie replied. “At least we handled the Knight that was here.”
“Exactly. I'm detecting huge aura signatures at the building where the generators are being held. It's a unique frequency that only you, Draley and Saturn possess, so there must indeed be Ephemerals located there.”
“I see. This should be interesting.”