Catacombs Entrance
A golden flash split the air.
Maki stepped out, boots crunching against the ancient stone. Her face was stuck in a permanent scowl, and her current outfit didn't exactly scream "authority."
She wore an all-black, tight-fitting combat jumpsuit—barely knee-length, with a few strategic tears that screamed single and searching. Unfortunately, her expression screamed try me and die.
"If I find the bastard who hijacked the Catacombs' comm system..." she growled.
She cracked her neck.
"I'll show him the wrath of a single woman in her prime."
The weapon on her back—a chainsaw-like monstrosity with etched runes and teeth that shimmered—rumbled in agreement.
It was not subtle.
Maki exhaled sharply and marched through the gate.
Time to find the idiot behind this mess.
---
Deep into the Catacombs.
Purple robes trailed along the ground, the legs hidden behind them moved with a precise and delicate ease.
Axia eyes were trained to the massive book in her hands as she transversed the massive Catacombs.
"The history of this world is really intriguing." She muttered as her left hand adjusted her tipping hat.
"But, I still can't find anything on how or why Gifts works. Not to talk of their origins."
Her violet eyes traced the contents of the books.
"Is it true that even the natives don't truly know how their powers work?"
She asked herself, intrigue about the fact of how the humans here were comfortable using a power they do not understand.
Just then, a face drifted through her mind.
"I guess he wasn't lying."
She remembered when he had told her about how Gifts works. She had thought he was lying to her because he suspected something. Or even worse, he was ignorant because he was a—
"Savage brute." She muttered.
Unknown to her, a sweet smile had taken its place on her lips as she thought about him.
And just then.
"Why are you smiling?"
A voice drifted over.
Axia slowly looked up to see a boy standing a few meters from her.
He was quite handsome, with pitch black hair that seems to draw in the surrounding light. He was dressed in a rather unconventional way, wearing a rare unpopular piece called a jacket.
A confident smile played on his lips as his gaze was locked on her.
The haze held no ill intent, but she could tell he was captivated by her beauty.
"What is it to you?" Axia shot back.
Black—the Undisputed Second Year Rank One—eyes went wide at sound of Axia's voice. Countless myriad thoughts flashed through his head—all with one thing in common: the simulation of her moan.
Axia eyes narrowed, she did not find the way he was suddenly looking at her pleasant.
"Oh, I am really sorry." Black noticed her discomfort and hurriedly apologized.
As soon as he set his eyes on the beauty in his front, he had decided to make her, his. Not in his normal way, rather he wants to woe her the right way as she would truly be worth the effort.
Unfortunately he had almost failed after hearing her voice. Her voice, despite not being the most unique or the most arousing he had heard, was the strangely the most pleasing.
She had a timid voice just like msot petite girls, but what made hers different was the fact it seemed broken. It was like a pleasant feminine voice that was close to being lost, but is forced out anyway.
Axia stared at him for a second, surprised that he apologized. Then—
"Do you want to court me?" she suddenly asked.
Black was taken aback, but he regained his composure quickly. "Yes," he nodded.
"Thought so." Axia smiled slightly—a sympathetic one. "Too bad. It can't work."
"Am I not good enough for you?" Black tilted his head.
"Yep." Axia nodded.
Black blinked. "It seems you don't know who—"
"I don't need to," Axia cut in. "I can tell you're pretty strong, but it's not enough. My sisters wouldn't approve of you—let alone my main family."
Black's face visibly scrunched up.
"Plus, I'd only marry a man stronger than me," Axia continued with a proud expression.
"Or at least almost as strong," she added gently.
"Good. You think I'm not stronger? Well, I won't fault you for your ignorance," Black said, laughing. "How about this: we duel. If you win, I'll walk away. But if I win, you introduce me to your parents."
"Okay," Axia agreed without hesitation.
Black smiled at the response.
"Be careful. Here I come."
He raised his hands, his aura flaring.
The void responded. Rumbling echoed through the Catacombs as ripples spread across the narrow stone passage.
Axia watched, slightly impressed. She could tell the boy's power was tied to space. Not just that—his aura alone was shaking the Catacombs. And it was still growing. Unfortunately...
"I'll attack now."
Black called out as he stretched his right hand toward Axia.
Black Collapse.
He attacked.
Nothing happened.
Black's eyes widened. He retracted his hand and stared at it. Just as confusion settled in, he felt it—his aura was fading. Draining. Then, gone.
He looked at both hands, stunned, as his knees gave way. He collapsed, a wave of helplessness washing over him.
His Gift.
It was gone.
He looked up. Axia was staring at him gently.
"I only suppressed it. That's my Gift. It'll come back once I stop," she said, knowing full well he was probably freaking out.
She closed her book and tucked it into her storage space.
"I told you I was stronger. You might not be convinced—my Gift only suppresses yours, after all. So I'll show you the gap between us."
She smiled.
"I once cast spells nonstop for a full year. That's why my voice is like this. After that, I stopped using chants. But just to enlighten you..."
She lifted a hand.
"I'll cast a spell."
Black's world lit up—consumed by radiant purple. A word echoed through his body like a divine verdict:
Eri-In-Aye-Purpura.
And then—just as the spell was about to fully consume him—it stopped.
He was back in the Catacombs.
He looked around. The purple beauty was gone.
"...What in the world was that?!"
He clutched his chest hard.
Is this how weaklings feel?
---
A fair distance away.
Axia walked on.
The massive book was back in her hands.
"I wonder how the Awakened Princess is doing. I heard she also came to this world."
She muttered as she turned the page.