Chapter 4 | The Battle Rages On! Part 1

Arc 1 | A Detectives End

Phase 1 | The 13th Star Etched In History

"What was that noise just now?" Tsubasa turned her back away from the city view and back to the suburbs. Anyway, I shouldn't linger around too long; how infuriating! She continues down her path with a taste of dissatisfaction, having achieved nothing herself while others are to take it to themselves to solve an enticing 'investigation'. That was a negative attribute Tsubasa carries; her very arrogance can lead her into situations that are not in her favor.

"Divine Aptitude of Sharpness"

An array of sky blue light materialized as Theresia, 'The Sword Saint, chanted out those words. Her sword glows brighter each second that passes, its sharpness seemingly enhanced by the divine aptitude. Theresia's eyes gleam unshakingly as she prepares herself for battle, confident in her ability to cut through any obstacle that stands in her way. She takes a deep breath, ready to unleash the full power of her divine gift upon her enemies. Thus, she swung her blade in a fighting stance toward her enemy. The slash pierced the smoke from Artemis's arrows, making the whole plaza crystal clear. Artemis grunted at this and managed to dodge the attack that was aimed directly at her at a scary speed that not many people could perform. The fact that she was able to dodge that attack left a nervy expression on Theresia's face. Theresia charged toward her target at inhuman speed, stomping her left foot on the ground, causing the gravity around everyone to feel heavy and stiff. Theresia's eyes narrowed as she closed in on Artemis, her determination evident in every step. The weight of her power hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of tension and anticipation. As she launched herself forward, Theresia unleashed a devastating blow that sent shockwaves rippling through the plaza, leaving no doubt about her lethal intent. This sensation made it impossible for Artemis to even react. Theresia's strike connected with such force that it knocked Artemis off balance, sending her sprawling to the ground. The impact reverberated through the crowd, leaving them in awe of Theresia's sheer strength and skill. Theresia then started to slash Artemis mid-air, who was still experiencing a relapse of the manipulation of gravity itself, which is deemed impossible by magical standards as it doesn't follow the main Five Attributes that we call 'magic'. Artemis desperately tried to regain control over her gravity manipulation, but Theresia's relentless assault made it nearly impossible. As the crowd watched in astonishment, Theresia's swift and precise slashes seemed to defy all known magical principles. It was a display of power that left everyone questioning the limits of what magic could truly achieve. Rather, it is possible except for having a Divine Aptitude that allows someone to do a crazy feat like that. But I know for a fact that her aptitude was damage buff prowess; can it really bend gravity with a touch to the ground? Or could she be hiding something else entirely? Artemis tried blocking her attacks, each hit being critical if it even touched her skin, yet Theresia had already successfully landed. Artemis couldn't help but marvel at Theresia's extraordinary display of power, defying the laws of gravity with a mere touch of the ground. It was clear that her aptitude for damage buff prowess was only scratching the surface of her true abilities. As Artemis continued to defend herself against Theresia's relentless attacks, she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to Theresia's powers, something hidden and yet to be revealed.

"That's a bit cold to say to someone, even if I'm your enemy, though I can't really give away credit as I am the current Sword Saint. Now you're going to tell me what you were even doing here, trying to take that girl". At first, Theresia's tone was quite calm; however, when the subject of Daphne came up, she lost her calm demeanor. "I would take many hits on her. Impossible! "My ability grants me the power to have enhanced hunter instincts! I can track and sense threats from miles away, making it my duty to protect innocent lives. But there's something more to my powers that I haven't fully understood yet. There's a hidden potential within me waiting to be unlocked, and I believe it holds the key to protecting Daphne and others like her from any harm." By normal standards, I should be able to escape or counterattack! What Even Are You?" Theresia had Artemis in a pitiful state where she had nowhere to run or hide, groveling on the floor with numerous blood wounds and a broken bow.

I'd rather die than tell a monster like you anything!" "You guys are the real monsters causing great calamity to our world! But I'll turn you into the authorities for further questioning; I have to be elsewhere". Theresia didn't even raise her voice; her voice was already scary. To begin with, upon saying those words, fear struck Artemis, as she didn't dare retort back. Theresia knocked her out, then attended to Daphne. Theresia gently approached Daphne, her demeanor shifting from intimidating to compassionate. She carefully examined Daphne's injuries and offered a reassuring smile: "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're safe. We need to find a way to stop these real monsters together." Hmm, this child indeed bears a Divine Aptitude, but nothing too special—speed buff and enhanced cognition—so why would the Demon Worshippers want her? Theresia pondered the question, her eyes narrowing with concern. As she continued to assess Daphne's condition, a troubling thought crossed her mind. Perhaps there was more to Daphne's abilities than met the eye—something hidden or undiscovered that made her a target for the Demon Worshippers. Theresia resolved to uncover the truth and protect Daphne at all costs.

Maybe that strange girl from before knows the answers. Theresia recalled her encounter with the mysterious girl in the strange clothes earlier that day. This may go deeper than it seems.

Theresia used another ability called Divine Aptitude: ThirdEye, which enables her to identify what abilities and attributes anyone possesses just by looking at them; however, she needs to activate it as it is not a passive ability. As Theresia activated her Divine Aptitude: Third Eye, she focused her gaze on the strange girl. Instantly, she sensed a powerful aura surrounding her, hinting at hidden knowledge and untapped potential. Intrigued, Theresia knew that unraveling the mysteries surrounding this girl could be the key to uncovering the truth she sought. She was able to knock down Artemis despite knowing that her ability is useful in tricky situations with a good reaction. Theresia is on a different level.

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Tsubasa had finally found her way into the Inner City. Strolling down street after street, finding more citizens from before, it was safe to say she went the right way, as it's natural that everyone fled this way. She continues to walk around aimlessly, once again lost in thought. She hadn't given up on the current situation, yet she didn't know what to do at this point, as she was deemed powerless compared to Theresia or even Daphne, who ran like a coward yet possessed unrivaled speeds she had never witnessed before. This gave her the idea to try to bring out her 'ability'. However, she tried this, and nothing happened; she even got mocked by Daphne. Then something came back to mind: when Daphne used her ability, she said something like 'Divine Aptitude. How very strange, but it isn't the weirdest enchantment considering in most fantasy novels where the main protagonist can use spells just by using words. Maybe I should give it a shot. Before she could finish her sentence, she was disrupted by someone in front of her who had bumped into her. Ah, my apologies for that." The person in front of Tsubasa apologized with a formal bow with his right arm to his left shoulder; he also had It was clear that it was a man who had approached her. His attire was elegant, adorned with intricate embroidery, and he carried a symbol of authority on his chest. Tsubasa couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and intrigue about this mysterious man. She wondered if he too possessed some kind of magical ability or if he had any connection to the world of enchantments she had just been contemplating. He was rather tall and wearing formal royal clothes; he must be someone important in the least, Tsubasa had deduced. Oh, it's ok, no need to worry; you know what they say? What doesn't kill me makes me stronger, right?" She chuckled awkwardly as she barely went out; naturally, she wouldn't know how to deal with these awkward situations. "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." "What a delightful response!" The man repeated her words in admiration; this creeped out Tsubasa. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling a chill run down her spine. Tsubasa couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that this man was observing her every move, making her regret engaging in conversation with him. The man walked closer with his head lowered, gazing at the ground, and came closer, and just a few inches away from her, he finally said, "So can I kill you then?" He raised his head and met her gaze with a terrifying, sadistic smile. Tsubasa's heart raced as fear gripped her, causing her to stumble backward. The sinister glint in the man's eyes confirmed her worst suspicions, leaving her paralyzed with terror. She mustered all her courage and managed to stammer, "W-what? No! Stay away from me!"

Tsubasa returned that horrifying expression with an aghast face and leaped backward to increase the distance between them. It was at that moment that she sensed that murderous intent from the way he walked and talked—it was all too eerie and wrong. Not only that, just minutes ago she saw a lot of people in the many streets she passed. But now the streets were eerily empty as if they had all vanished into thin air. The silence only added to her growing unease, making her wonder what kind of danger she had stumbled upon. I guess Theresia had already dealt with the situation, so everyone is likely to resume their festivities. Yet with no one else around this street, it's hard to believe that this guy bumped into me by accident. "What the hell are you after?" Tsubasa gave a scowl of irritancy. She felt rather annoyed that she didn't deduct that sooner; without much experience with people, it was expected. "Those who are gifted to oppress us shall die," he said gleefully. Tsubasa's heart skipped a beat as she realized the gravity of the situation. The man's words sent a chill down her spine, making her realize that she might be dealing with a dangerous individual who posed a threat to others. She quickly assessed her surroundings, searching for an escape route or someone who could help her in this unsettling encounter. He didn't have a weapon on him; all the eye could see was a fancy white outfit with golden badges and a dignified aura. He didn't seem like the type to be physical, as he was rather frail and skinny looking, which could only mean he would attack using a

"Divine Aptitude: Whispers In The Dark"

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