In the Umbrionis Void Empire, deep in the heart of its vast expanse, a black void whirlpool swirled ominously, pulsating with an unnatural rhythm….
Flick!
All of a sudden, it flickered violently with surges of energy, and an ethereal, otherworldly voice echoed from its depths,
“Hmm… At long last, you have arrived… Ether.”
Meanwhile, in another corner of the same empire, not too far away, a majestic black castle stood like a monolithic shadow against the landscape.
Inside its grand halls,
“Where is Aqualina?” the Principal demanded, her tone sharp as she glared at the woman with a blurred, indistinct figure lounging lazily on the throne.
“Hmm? Aqualina… Oh, you must mean Sandra’s daughter?” Mary responded, her voice dripping with curiosity.
“Yes, precisely! She has gone missing… and I have undeniable evidence that she was kidnapped by your people!” the Principal’s voice rang out, laced with both accusation and seething fury.
Mary let out a long, exaggerated sigh, “Here we go again… You storm in here, pointing fingers at us for every damned thing that happens in your precious Empire,” she retorted, her voice tinged with mockery…. But then, her expression subtly shifted when she heard the next words,
“A Succubus… one clever enough to trick even Alaric.”
Mary’s demeanour froze for a moment, her blurred form eerily still. Slowly, her voice lowered, her words dripping with intrigue. “Oh? Well, now… That is interesting,” she murmured, the crimson glow of her eyes intensifying as her gaze flicked toward Aether. He seemed distant, his mind clouded, as though something unseen was clawing at him.
The Principal noticed and immediately frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing. “Don’t you dare attempt to charm him!” she snapped at Mary.
“Fu~Fu~” Mary chuckled softly, her laughter unsettling. “My dear, I haven’t lifted a single finger. He simply shouldn’t have wandered into this place….” she added, her tone laced with both amusement and a hint of warning.
“What do you mean by that?” the Principal demanded, her frown deepening as she glanced back at Aether, whose vacant eyes seemed unfocused and distant.
Within Aether’s mind, a log flashed continuously:
!~Ding~!
[Rejecting Soul Manipulation]
[Removing Curses on Soul]
[Rejecting Soul Manipulation]
[Removing High-Energy Soul Possession]
[Removing High-Energy Soul Possession]
[Removing High-Energy Soul Possession]
!~Ding~!
[Warning: Immediate leaving this Empire is advised. Prolonged presence increases the risk of unknown entity possession.]
Aether winced as a sharp headache clawed at his temples. In the distance, he heard an echo, faint but insistent, “Com… me.”
“Aether? Are you alright?” the Principal asked, her voice softening slightly as concern flickered across her face.
He shook his head vigorously as if trying to dispel the fog clouding his thoughts. “I-I’m fine… just felt a bit… off, that’s all.”
The Principal studied him for a moment before nodding curtly. “This is your first time here, so as I warned before, avoid using arcane energy until your body fully adjusts to the dark energy permeating this place,” she said. Her gaze snapped back to Mary, her tone dripping with disdain. “This wretched place is overflowing with filth—filth that seeks to corrupt everything it touches.”
“How very rude~ You really ought to reconsider teaching such disrespect to your students,” Mary replied with an amused smirk. Her crimson eyes briefly flicked back to Aether. ‘He resisted her control… fascinating,’ she mused silently. Then, with a playful edge to her voice, she added, “Since you’ve come all this way, why not stay a while and rest? Surely you must be tired.”
The Principal’s lips twitched, her patience visibly thinning, “Do you think I came here for pleasantries, bitch? I’m not playing games. Tell me where that girl is!” she barked furiously.
“Sigh… as rude as ever,” Mary muttered, her tone darkening. The crimson glow in her eyes flared as her attention shifted. “Morgana.”
“Your Majesty?” The air shimmered as a seductive voice filled the room, heralding the arrival of a striking woman with cascading blue hair. She appeared like a mist taking form, her presence both ethereal and overwhelming.
Aether’s gaze instinctively flicked toward her, his breath hitching at the sight. Her figure was nothing short of a masterpiece, sculpted by divine hands—curves that invited sin and a beauty that defied reason.
Mary’s amused voice cut through his thoughts, “Careful, little boy~ If you stare too long, she might drain you dry… quite literally.” Her tone was teasing, but the weight behind her words was unmistakable.
Mary turned her attention to Morgana, her voice turning smooth and sharp. “They seem to think you’re involved in some kidnapping,” she said, her words delivered with deliberate nonchalance.
Morgana tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Kidnapping? Me?” she echoed, her tone laced with surprise. Her gaze shifted toward the Principal, her expression both inquisitive and subtly provocative. “May I ask why the esteemed Sovereign believes I am to blame?”
The Principal’s lips curled into a sneer. “Blaming? Don’t play dumb with me, bitch. I can smell your scent a mile away, and I know your filthy tricks! Now, tell me—where is Aqualina?”
The Principal unleashed her aura, a torrent of raw power that pressed against the walls of the castle, causing the entire structure to tremble under the weight of her fury.
“Isadora…” Mary’s tone sharpened into something lethally serious, her crimson eyes gleaming like freshly spilled blood, “You’re in my territory now. So you’d better shut the fuck up if you value your neck!”
The Principal’s grin only widened, “Oh, I’ve had it with your bullshit, Mary. First, your people bring chaos to a city near my academy. And now this? Kidnapping, right under my nose, and disguised as me?”
BOOMMM!!!
The chamber trembled as the Principal moved with lightning speed, her hand wrapping around Morgana’s neck as though the distance between them had vanished…. With unrelenting force, she held Morgana aloft, fingers tightening as though poised to snap her delicate neck at any moment.
“I’m not asking again,” the Principal hissed, her voice colder than the void. “Where. Is. Aqualina?”
Morgana’s lips twitched into a weak, strained smile, though her eyes betrayed the effort it took to even breathe under the Principal’s suffocating grip.
“DORA!” Mary’s shout reverberated across the room as she stepped down from her throne with a slow, deliberate menace,”If you so much as harm my servant… I’ll remind you exactly why they call me Bloody Mary.”
The Principal laughed, low and mocking, “Oh? Let’s test that, shall we?” She didn’t even spare Mary a glance as she shouted, “Alaric!”
Alaric sighed heavily, his demeanour calm but resigned, as he raised his hand, his energy surging toward Mary with purpose.
Mary tilted her head, amusement flashing across her face. “What’s this? You’re really going to fight me, Alaric? How adorably naive. Do you even understand how insulting that feels?”
Alaric’s jaw tightened, “Scarlet… I’m not the weakling I used to be. I’ve grown stronger. Strong enough to kill you now.”
Mary’s crimson eyes narrowed, her glowing pupils intensifying as if peering directly into his soul. “Oh? Stronger, are you?” Her voice softened into a seductive whisper.
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Alaric’s expression faltered… as his mind dulled. His eyes turned glassy and lifeless, his posture rigid yet slack.
Mary let out a soft, sinister giggle that echoed in the stillness. “Hehe… Look at you… defeated before the game even begins. How utterly pitiful.” Her smile widened, “Now, go kill that old hag you’ve always fantasized about fucking~”
The Principal’s expression contorted in disgust as she watched Alaric turn toward her, his energy shifting ominously….. In a flash, he conjured compressed arrows, their sharp hum filling the air finally shooting…
Yet—not toward the Principal but toward Mary.
Mary’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise as the attacks veered toward her. “Oh?” Her body dissolved into a swirling bloody mist just as the projectiles sliced through the space she had occupied.
Reappearing behind Alaric in a smooth, fluid motion, she observed him intently.
Alaric’s eyes cleared, “I told you, didn’t I? I’m not the same anymore. I’ve become stronger.”
Mary nodded slightly, “Well then, be my guest…”
BOOOMMMM!!
SLAAAAMMMMM!!
SSSSHHHH!!!
BOOMMMMMMM!
The once-quiet chamber descended into utter chaos. Walls trembled under the force of their clash, and the air grew thick with energy and bloodlust…. Aether stood in the corner, watching the scene unfold, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief.
He didn’t have time for this shit!
Yet, Aether knew better than to interfere. The Principal was more than capable of handling the situation, and as much as he hated it, staying out of her way was the wisest option. He was just a servant here—a fact everyone in the room seemed all too aware of.
‘Still… I need to contact Jack’ He thought.
His eyes shifted toward Morgana, who was making a desperate attempt to escape the Principal’s relentless grasp. His gaze hardened, his expression cold and calculating.
‘She’s the one who kidnapped Aqualina,’ he thought, his jaw tightening as anger simmered beneath his calm exterior.
Morgana wasn’t just any succubus—she was powerful, cunning, and dangerous enough to deceive even someone like Alaric… Aether needed to careful, especially with the ongoing struggle to resist the mysterious entity attempting to possess him.
‘Who the hell is trying to take over my body?’ Aether wondered, his brows furrowing deeply as unease crept into his thoughts.
But then, a faint sound caught his attention.
“pppsss”
The soft hissing noise made him freeze momentarily. He frowned, glancing around, until his eyes finally caught movement near the throne.
Half-hidden in the shadows was Aurelia…. a.k.a Lia. She silently motioned for him to approach her.
Aether let out a weak, resigned smile.