As Professor Morris braced himself for the impending blow, a massive figure—towering at nearly eight feet—suddenly appeared, blocking the enforcer's punch with ease. The stranger's presence was otherworldly, as if he had stepped out of another era. Dressed in black from head to toe, his face was completely hidden beneath a dark cloak, giving him an aura of mystery and menace.
Enforcer (man in black suit): "W-What the hell? Who are you?!" he demanded, staring at the cloaked figure who had effortlessly intercepted his attack.
The Cloaked Man: "Oh... you can call me—"Hope"—if you wish."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a majestic weight that seemed to silence the chaos around them.
Enforcer: "Whatever you are... you're interfering with the Society's business! I'll destroy you!" he roared, his fists clenching with rage as he charged at Hope once more.
But Hope met his attack head-on. Their punches collided with such force that it created a shockwave, shaking the very foundation of the building and sending debris flying.
---
Scene Shift
Meanwhile, Kael and Lyra were walking home after their eventful day at the university. However, their enhanced senses immediately picked up on the powerful surge of energy from the explosion. They stopped in their tracks, exchanging a look of concern.
Lyra: "Brother, let’s go back to the university... something's not right."
Her eyes narrowed with determination as she took her teleportation stance.
Kael nodded without hesitation, grabbing Lyra's hand as they vanished in a flash of light.
They reappeared at the university gates, but as they tried to step forward, their path was blocked by an invisible force. It was a shield—a powerful magical barrier, similar to a sorcerer's ward. Normal people wouldn't be able to perceive it, but those who walked through it would be displaced into a mirror dimension for a few minutes, leaving them unaware of the real events happening inside.
Lyra: "It's a shield..." she murmured, her hand hovering just above the invisible surface, feeling the faint ripple of magic.
Kael: "What do we do, sister?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern.
Lyra: "We go inside, brother. We can’t let anyone else take Professor Morris. His necklace is the key to the Seven Stones."
Her eyes darkened with resolve, the seriousness of their mission evident.
Kael gave a firm nod. Without hesitation, they both passed through the shield. However, instead of appearing inside the university, they found themselves in a completely different place—a decaying, abandoned building with cracked walls and broken windows.
Lyra: "Oh no... it was a trap..."
Her voice was low, her expression thoughtful as she analyzed their surroundings.
Kael: "Ugh... great. We're trapped." He groaned, crossing his arms in frustration.
Lyra: "Not for long, brother. Let’s check the building. We might find something useful. I’ll search the ground floor. You check upstairs."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and began walking down the dimly lit corridor.
Kael nodded and ascended the creaking staircase. He opened several doors, but all he found were empty rooms and dust-filled shelves. Just as he was about to turn back, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. Without thinking, he spun around and threw a swift punch—only for his attack to be caught effortlessly.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
It was Lyra.
Lyra: "Hey, idiot! What are you doing?!" she scolded, her voice sharp with irritation.
Kael: "S-Sorry, sister! I thought you were someone else!" he stammered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
Lyra glared at him, crossing her arms.
Lyra: "What are you even doing on the ground floor? I told you to check upstairs, didn't I?" she snapped.
Kael: "B-But sister... this is the top floor..."
His voice was filled with confusion as he glanced around. His eyes widened in disbelief.
They both stood there, dumbfounded, realizing they had been walking in circles. The building was warped by the mirror dimension's disorienting magic.
---
Scene Shift
Back at the university, Hope and the enforcer were still clashing with incredible force. The air crackled with power. The once-pristine courtyard was now filled with shattered stone and scorch marks.
Meanwhile, Professor Morris, trembling with fear, seized his chance. With the two fighters locked in battle, he scrambled to his feet and dashed toward the window. Without a second thought, he jumped out, crashing through the glass. His body tumbled down onto the grass, but he didn’t stop. With bloodied hands, he crawled toward the magical shield outside. The moment he made contact, his necklace reacted, unleashing a burst of energy. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves throughout the area, piercing the mirror dimension's barrier.
---
Scene Shift
Kael and Lyra were still trying to figure out their location when the explosion struck. The mirror dimension shattered like fragile glass. Their vision blurred for a moment, and when they regained their senses, they were standing outside the university, the familiar surroundings coming back into focus.
Just a few feet away, they spotted Professor Morris, his face pale with terror. His necklace was glowing ominously.
Professor Morris: "H-Huh...? What’s going on...?!"
He panted, struggling to catch his breath.
Without wasting any time, Lyra attempted to use the same illusion trick she had used on the principal when she and Kael infiltrated the university. However, as she cast the spell, the professor's necklace shone brightly, repelling her magic. A searing light burst from the gem, causing Lyra's eyes to bleed from the forceful backlash.
Kael: "Sister!"
His eyes widened in fury as he saw blood trickling down her cheeks. A surge of anger exploded from within him. He clenched his fists, summoning all his strength, and charged at the professor.
The necklace created an invisible shield to protect Morris, but Kael’s punch, fueled by rage, shattered it. With a controlled but forceful strike, he knocked Morris unconscious. As the professor's body went limp, Kael reached for the necklace—but the moment his fingers grazed it, his hand burned violently, leaving deep cuts.
Kael: "S-Sister... I can't take it off..." he said through gritted teeth, staring at the blood on his palm.
Lyra, wiping the blood from her eyes, staggered to her feet.
Lyra: "Then... we’ll take him with us. We’ll force him to hand it over willingly."
Her voice was cold and resolute, her expression hardened despite her injuries.
Kael nodded. Without another word, they grabbed the unconscious professor and teleported away.
---
Scene Shift
Back at the university, Hope glanced toward the spot where Kael and Lyra had vanished with the professor. The enforcer, still staggering from their battle, clenched his fists in frustration.
Hope: "Looks like someone else took your prey."
He smirked tauntingly, his golden eyes glinting with amusement.
Enforcer: "Tch... he was just bait. The real prize will come later."
Red energy surged around him as he launched another furious attack.
Hope barely dodged the strike and countered with a devastating blow, his axe flashing with golden light. The weapon struck the enforcer’s chest, sending a powerful shockwave through his body. The man collapsed, lifeless.
Hope sighed, shaking his head with a smirk.
Hope: "Maybe next time, kiddo..."
He muttered, before vanishing into the night.
---
Scene Shift – Secret Society Headquarters
In the dimly lit office, the man in black sat at his desk, writing with calm precision. Across from him stood Clarie, her posture stiff.
Man in Black: "So, Clarie... are you ready to become the president?"
Clarie: "Y-Yes, sir. I’m ready..." she said with a nervous nod.
Man in Black: "Good. We’ve fabricated your political history. You'll appear as the perfect candidate. The people will accept you."
Suddenly, a woman burst into the room, her expression frantic.
Woman: "Sir! Sir!"
Man in Black: "What is it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Woman: "Agent 278... he’s dead. Someone killed him."
Man in Black: "W-What?! Was it the Alliance?"
Woman: "We have no information yet, sir. But the incident took place at Westbridge University. There were traces of two massive explosions—likely from the clash of higher powers. It appears Agent 278 was involved in the fight."
The man in black exhaled sharply, his eyes cold.
Man in Black: "Erase all evidence. And call for 'AM'... we need to crush the Alliance before they become a bigger threat."
