5th Day of the 1st Fire Cycle[1], 2000 g.c.
After Omnia summoned herself from within me, the Wolfpak and I hit pause on the climb toward the top floor. A small break was needed. We were winning, yeah, but the weight of every near-death scrape and the sting of every loss before those wins was stacking up heavy. Spirits were fraying in the silence between battles, and I figured letting everybody breathe—even just for a moment—might patch morale together better than a pep talk ever could.
The air of the eleventh floor's hallway didn't bite at the lungs like the Velvet Kennels. It was quieter here, easier, with a soft warmth drifting through the faint drafts. Slow-burning candles flickered in iron sconces, their flames stretching thin shadows across the stone walls. Glowing mana crystals were plastered at intervals like embedded stars, their light pulsing with a rhythm that reminded me of a heartbeat. It had the aura of a chapel without pews. But anyone who lived with danger close enough to smell it knew better than ever to let their guard down. A calm place in a dungeon was just a pause before the next swing of the axe.
Alex didn't care about the atmosphere, though. His eyes were alive with a renewed spark, lit by the compass in his soul now pointing toward a fresh side quest. A wish he had been holding onto was finally within reach, and it was written all over him. The Tengu's steps had a bounce again. My nigga was excited for the first time in a minute. Meanwhile, I was finishing up a drawing on a parchment sheet I had pulled into existence with Omnis Mana. The smell of ink still hung sharp as I made the last strokes.
"And add this there…" I scratched out a final curve and leaned back. "And done. Here you go, pimp. Take this and draw it on the ground exactly how you see it."
Alex looked at me sideways, mana wings twitching faintly as he reached for the parchment. "Ok, cool. But why can't I just use this? It's already drawn out."
Omnia's voice flowed into the space like liquid silver, calm and undeniable. "You would need to be the one to illustrate the ritual circle. Without the intimacy of your own effort placed into creating the catalyst, the summoned Anima could hold no connection to you."
Alex groaned, mana feathers ruffling. "For real? That sucks. Could you do it without a ritual circle?"
Omnia tilted her head, shadows gathering behind her like folded wings. "In times of stress, a summoner could create an emergency catalyst within their Soul Core, but doing so would trade their life energy instead of their magick energy."
I stilled for a beat, then muttered, "So basically, the shit that happened to my mother."
Omnia turned, her midnight black hair shifting like liquid night as she met my eyes. "Correct, papi."
Dream Flower, perched close by, had been staring holes through the grimoire clutched in Alex's other hand. Finally, she broke her silence. "Question—so is a grimoire like that always needed? Like, do we have to already have a spirit captured and waiting… or…?"
"Nahh," I said, waving her off. "From what I know, the ritual circle puts out a signal in the Spirit Realms. It's like fishing bait, luring in any spirit interested in the mana offered. That's if you don't have a Bible, but you do have a Spirit Weapon."
Omnia's gaze flickered toward Dream. "Bibles are grimoires that house Animas too powerful to be contained in the Spirit Realm. If one is in your possession, the catalyst will always seek the spirit within those first."
Alex gave a short nod, eyes narrowing in thought. "So it always goes for the best option available. Got it."
I leaned back against the cold stone wall, still not letting go of a question that had been tapping at my skull. "Speaking of which, Omnia, how the hell did you end up in a Bible? You were in Eden the first time I met you."
Her lips curved into a small, mischievous smile. "Hehehe. That Creator was an echo phantom of mine, left behind during the Second Stellar Kingdom," she said, eyes gleaming. " It was crafted to safely transfer a successful Sonata Zero candidate to the Prime Realms."
She stepped closer, voice softening. "While I was able to access it with remote consciousness, the truth is… I have always been waiting in the Bible, Pawprints & Dreams."
"Whut the hell?" I blinked at her, the explanation making my brain feel like it had just been tossed in a blender.
Omnia lifted a hand, gesturing with casual elegance. "The math stated that one of my experiments would be successful in the future, and with that knowledge, I took the time to prepare everything else. I even convinced my sisters to abandon their place in Paradiso. I knew Destini would try to turn them against me if I left them there. Who knew the promise of romantic love would get them so excited?"
"You promised them they would fall in love on Gaia?" My voice cracked with disbelief. "How could you promise something so unpredictable?"
"I calculated the chances of it happening to be around twenty-three percent. With probability odds like that, I was empowered."
"Odds like what?" I stared at her. "Those odds are shit."
Omnia chuckled softly, pushing a strand of hair from her face. "Well, the odds of you becoming a stabilized soul were zero point zero eight five percent. After meeting you in Eden, I was feeling lucky."
I shook my head slowly, trying to find the logic she saw in numbers stacked against her. It wasn't there. "I still don't get it. Why would you give up existence outside of the Prime Realms just to become my servant and weapon?"
Omnia floated closer, her scent wrapping around me in layers of jasmine and vanilla. Her cat-like eyes glowed faintly before the pupils swelled into heart-shaped blooms. She raised a hand to my cheek, the warmth of her palm searing into me deeper than any flame. When she spoke, her words were weighted enough to crush silence itself.
"I would give up everything in this omniverse just to be with you, Moonlight."
"That's heavier than them titties you're carrying. Yet, I believe you, woman."
I wasn't ready for that. Passion from her always threw me off balance, made it hard to joke, harder to keep my cool mask from cracking. My cheeks heated like I was some schoolboy catching his first crush's smile. But those words didn't only land on me. Nicole had been listening too, and the weight of Omnia's confession pressed on her chest like a blade.
Her thoughts slipped out in silence, carried only to her own heart. "I was correct. She is in love with Lord Xiro. Fuck… How could I ever compare to a woman like that?"
Tears welled in her ruby eyes before she could stop them. The Dhampir stepped away without a word, quiet as a shadow, slipping through a side doorway to steal a moment for herself. Dream Flower's gaze tracked her departure, worry softening her usual sharpness, and she followed in silence to comfort her friend.
Ameera stayed behind, tail flickering like a restless ember. She hadn't said much, but her eyes followed Alex as he bent low, carefully tracing the ritual circle I had drawn. My and Omnia's conversation was stirring something inside her, something she clearly wasn't ready to face.
"So she promised her sisters a chance at love, and Alex holds a book housing one of her siblings... Why couldn't this wait until after my father's rescue? Then I could give Lord Alex my full attention without guilt. At least then, I wouldn't feel this weight in my chest."
The orange Vulpin's snow-tipped tail twitched again, betraying the pounding of her chest. Finally, she spoke, voice soft. "Lord Alex… I know this might sound silly… but will the being you summon be as attractive as the Aeon of Death?"
Alex didn't break stride in his work, his charcoal dragging across wood. "Honestly… I don't know. I just hope she's strong."
"Strong… That's right," Ameera thought, her hands clenching in her lap. "Strong men like strong women. Not someone as weak as I am."
Her words weighed on her like chains, sinking her into the same tide that had already swept Nicole away. Both of them, standing on different shores of the same ocean, were drowning quietly in their own insecurities—unsure how to claim victory in the battle for love.
Just a room away, beyond the open doorway, Nicole stood at the stairwell where the wooden staircase spiraled upward. A soft carpet, burgundy with faint golden embroidery, muffled her steps as she pressed a hand against the polished railing.
Nicole's fingers dug into the railing, knuckles pale. Her chest tightened, breath breaking unevenly. Her shoulders slumped, her voice leaking out before she could stop it. "How could I ever be so stupid? To think I would ever be noticed by Lord Xiro. I mean… he's a freaking King and Demon Lord. Of course, someone like the Lady of Death would be more his league."
The words hung in the stairwell like a confession too heavy to reel back in. Speaking them out loud cracked her composure, and tears welled up fast, dripping down her pale cheeks before she could catch them.
Because of the carpet underfoot, Nicole didn't hear Dream Flower's approach until the Changeling's voice floated in, playful as ever.
"Aww, I don't believe that. You're a catch." Dream said warmly. Then her lips curled. "And with those breasts, girl, you shouldn't feel any man is out of your league."
"Dr-Dream! I-I was just—" Nicole's voice broke as she spun around, cheeks hot with shame.
Dream tilted her head, lips curling in a smirk. "Am I intruding? I can come back later."
"N-No. You're fine. Stay, I… I could use the company." Nicole wiped at her eyes, pushing away the evidence of her tears.
Dream leaned against the railing with casual grace. "You wanna talk about it?"
"I'm fine now. I was just removing some bottled-up emotions."
Dream's eyes flickered with subtle insight. The twitch in Nicole's aura betrayed the lie, but the Changeling didn't press. She only gave a soft smile, letting warmth smooth over the edges of her teasing.
"Well, on the bright side," Dream said, "soon we'll have Melech rescued. There's always your chance at romance with him."
Nicole didn't answer. She turned back toward the spiraling stairway, the weight of the suggestion pressing heavier than the silence.
"Is my interest in the captain truly still there? Goddess above, I'm such a terrible person."
Back in the hallway, Alex's excitement was written across his face. He finished tracing the last lines of the ritual circle into the wood floor, his grin wide and unrestrained like a spoiled kid unwrapping presents on Christmas morning.
"Yo, Xi, what's the next step? I'm good to go on the circle."
I unfolded my arms and finally turned my attention fully to him.
"Lay the grimoire in the center. Then get ready to trade a significant amount of MP to call her out of that Bible. Once she appears, you fight her and form a Soul Contract when you win."
"I don't remember you using a book during your ritual," he said, side-eyeing me as he placed the tome down.
"My Guardian Armament was different. I was re-piecing mine back together, so I had to collect a few artifacts. You're giving birth to yours, so you already got what you need, my nigga."
At that, Ameera's ears twitched. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your Highness, did you say Alex had to commit to a marriage during this ritual?"
"Marriage? Where did you hear that?" I asked.
"Soul Contracts bind forever," Omnia explained, "which is why some cultures use them in weddings. But they can be forged outside romance too—between best friends, allies, warriors."
My brow lifted. "So we're married? And you ain't tell me?"
Omnia giggled, soft and sly. "But I'm sure I did, master. You're my Midnight King, remember?"
Ameera froze where she stood, the explanation striking her like a dagger. Shock locked her body stiff, and beneath the surface, hopelessness opened in her chest. She shrank her presence, too overwhelmed to voice the storm of feelings clawing through her ribs.
"Yo, fool," I cut in, pulling Alex back to task. "How many Arcanum Delights do you have left?"
"Probably, like… two? I'll have to check."
"Well, grab one and be ready to bite it after she appears."
I stepped back to my place on the sideline beside my ocean-blue-skinned beauty, who floated elegantly with folded arms. Alex kneeled at the circle's edge, clutching an Arcanum Delight in his fist. At that moment, Nicole and Dream returned, just in time to see Alex channeling mana into the sigils.
The drain hit instantly. His breath shuddered, body trembling as his strength seemed to peel away with each pulse of energy. But his jaw clenched, and with a steadying inhale, he pushed onward, forcing his mana into the circle until the lines burned bright.
A contained blaze erupted. Blue flames roared within the circle, though no heat touched the air. Instead, the fire writhed like cold smoke, threads of white and gold luminance pulsing through it. The scent of lavender and ashwood surged through the hall, sharp and soothing at once.
Magitons and spiritons fused in a whirl of shimmering particles, condensing into a radiant mass of spiritual energy. The shape of a nude woman emerged—athletically toned, standing at five-foot-five. Her curls tumbled wild, cyan tips bleeding into a navy foundation streaked with hints of white at the roots.
Her turquoise skin blended into warm brown along her chest, stomach, and face, the tones merging seamlessly like living artistry. Muscle and curve balanced her form: six-pack abs rippling beneath her breasts, her beauty sharpened by strength. When the mystical flames calmed, she stretched—and eight wolf-like tails fanned behind her, stiff at first, then sweeping together in a graceful flow.
Alex stared, stunned into silence. His jaw slackened, his cheeks blazing red.
The woman's azure eyes locked onto him, a smile curled her face as she bit her bottom lip. "Oh wow. You're even cuter in the mortal plane. The white hair is a nice touch."
"I-I, I mean… thank you? Umm, shit…" Alex stammered, words falling apart as his face deepened into strawberry red.
Ameera's chest tightened. Fear and jealousy collided like thunder, leaving her mute. The floor felt like it had dropped beneath her feet, yet she couldn't move.
Nicole and Dream Flower could only gape, Nicole muttering, "Holy shit, she's strong. And just as gorgeous as her sister. It's almost unfair."
Dream gave a half-smile. "Multiple tails must run in the family. But she doesn't have the fey wings like the Aeon of Death."
Only Omnia and I remained steady. For me, this scene was déjà vu. I'd seen it unfold four times already, and the shine had worn thin. Omnia watched with a smirk touched by curiosity, arms folded beneath her chest.
"You know," I said, "for sisters, you two don't really favor in looks. She doesn't even have the pointy ears like you."
"That's because her appearance now reflects the desires of the one who summons her," Omnia replied.
At the sound of her voice, the mysterious woman's ears twitched. Her gaze snapped to her sister, and in an instant she vanished. Not running, not even breaking the air—just gone, reappearing beside Omnia to crush her in a tight hug.
"No way! No way! Omnia! You're here too? This is sooo cool, Big Sis!"
Omnia returned the embrace, voice warm. "Hey there, Danica. It is good to see you too."
"What the hell just happened?" Alex muttered in a surprised breath.
"Wait a moment," I thought. "That wasn't speed—she teleported."
"Correct, master," [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] murmured from within. "A short-range jump through spacetime."
"Without bending the fabric? Just a clean cut from point to point… interesting."
Danica's excitement spilled over. "If you're here, that means the Xero re-creation you were working on was successful? You got him to fall in love with you, then?"
"Y'all do see me standing right here, don'tcha?" I muttered.
"Yes, Danica," Omnia said softly. "It was a success. And yes, I own my place in his heart this time."
"Ohhh, that's incredible, Big Sis! I knew you'd pull it off! Congratulations."
"You should turn your attention back to the task at hand. Your future master is waiting."
"I know, I know. It's just been forever since I've seen you actually smiling instead of brooding. Love looks good on you, Big Sis."
"Danica, enough."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going. Hehehe."
With a pop of mana, she returned to her place across from Alex.
He straightened, fists tightening, his nerves now forged into resolve. "Yo, I guess I should introduce myself."
"No need." Danica's smile curved sharply, her tails flicking as power rippled off her. "I know who you are, Sir Alex. The only thing you need to do is get ready to fight. Show me the power of a Syn Sonata."
The Tengu swallowed hard, but squared his shoulders. He was ready.
The Sycamore Tree didn't waste a moment once it sensed the boiling tension between Alex and Danica. Its roots hummed faintly, and the air around us thickened before the hallway stretched and widened like some divine hand had grabbed hold of space and pulled it taut. Walls receded, the ceiling rose, and the whole corridor bent into a new chamber. It wasn't some grand coliseum this time—no towering marble seats, no screaming crowd. This place was intimate. Simple wooden beams, polished floors, and an open layout made it feel closer to a martial arts dojo than anything else. Perfect for the duel about to unfold.
The shift tugged all of us into the box of battle, and that meant I had to take precautions. While Omnia and I could stand here without a care, Dream Flower and the others didn't have the same luxury. I raised a hand and layered the air with translucent barriers, mana folding around them like curved glass shields. Light shimmered across the wards, subtle but strong, enough to keep any stray burst from cutting through the sidelines.
Alex bit into an Arcanum Delight, juice running down his chin and splashing across his azure blazer. The fruit left no stain, dissolving into sparks before it touched cloth. With just a few chews, his depleted mana pool surged back to full, his aura snapping awake with sharp vitality. He smirked, scarlet eyes flashing as he called forth his Spirit Weapon. The Dawn Goddess appeared with a metallic hum, and he spun the quarterstaff into a loose stance, letting magickal energy bleed into his aura until it shimmered around him in waves.
Danica didn't waste time either. She summoned her own copy of the Dawn Goddess, the staff sliding into her grip like an extension of her soul. She leveled the weapon at Alex and shouted a sharp warcry, her voice echoing through the dojo. Magick poured from her body in a torrent, the glow of her aura clashing against Alex's until the air itself trembled under their combined pressure.
"Make sure you give this your all," she warned. "Don't pull any punches, as I know I won't."
Alex's smirk tilted. "It's my kicks you need to worry about."
"That's if you can give me a reason to worry. Now, come at me."
Inside, I could tell he was holding himself back, fighting the wrong battle. "I need to make sure I don't become angry. Try to keep a cool head."
He dashed forward like a bolt of lightning, floorboards cracking under the force of his launch. His staff angled for a decisive strike, momentum on his side—until Danica simply raised her palm. The air bent, and Alex was slammed flat into the floor, the wood groaning under the weight.
The pressure was immense. Normal gravity here sat just above Earth's at 1.2 g's of force, but she cranked it two-hundred-and-fiftyfold. His aura flared desperately just to keep his bones from snapping. Every muscle in his body strained, chest pinned to the floor, arms trembling as he tried to lift himself. Danica giggled lightly, twirling her staff before springing into the air, poised to drive it straight into his skull.
"No, don't you dare panic. Move, dammit. MOVE!"
At the very last instant, Alex's Bio Mana surged, swirling through his body like a rushing storm. His frame lightened just enough for him to roll clear of the blow. The Dawn Goddess slammed into the floor where his head had been, splinters scattering across the dojo. Alex came up on his feet in a single roll, countering with a swift swing. His quarterstaff cracked across Danica's back, sending her sprawling forward.
But she wasn't so easily caught. Mid-flight, she blinked out of existence, her form vanishing with a shimmer of displaced light. She reappeared behind him, momentum carrying her into the back of his legs. His balance broke, yet he tucked into a backflip, flipping through the stumble until he landed—only to find himself floating.
Danica had him again. Her [Absolute Gravity Control] seized him like invisible strings, and she snapped him down a second time. His body hit the floor with such force that the dojo boards shrieked, dust coughing up in waves. She was applying pressure like a mothafucker.
Dream Flower leaned forward, her face bright with excitement but her eyes tight with concern. "She's had him on the defense since the fight began."
Nicole shook her head. "Why doesn't he use that transformation from earlier? He's strong enough... isn't he?"
Neither of them noticed the silence from Ameera. The Vulpin's eyes stayed locked on the duel, her expression unreadable, but I could sense the quiet envy in her gaze. She admired Danica's poise, her control. Her tail curled as her nails slowly dug into her palm, but she dared not move an inch.
Omnia didn't so much as blink, her expression calm, indifferent even. But when she finally spoke, her words hit a nerve. "For now, Danica appears to be too overwhelming for Alex. I would have thought the Syn Sonata of Wrath would be far more dominant in battle."
Something about the way she said it rubbed me raw. I didn't even know why—it wasn't aimed at me—but it felt like an insult. I knew Alex. I sparred with him, fought alongside him. He wasn't showing his real power.
"Arrrghh, he's overthinking and shit," I muttered, palm dragging down my face. "This nigga is nervous."
Omnia tilted her head. "If he doesn't find his temperance soon, then he will lose the battle and the right to command Danica."
That was enough. I wasn't about to let nerves cost him everything. So I did what any good coach would do—I yelled.
"Alex, what the fuck are you doing? Cut loose, nigga—I'll keep everyone safe. Show her how the Mikazuki gets down!"
And sometimes, that's all it takes.
Alex lay in his shallow crater, eyes flickering open. He paused there for a long breath before breaking into an odd, sharp laugh that caught all the women off guard. Then, with no warning, he cracked his own jaw with a punch, the sound echoing through the dojo. The laughter stopped, and so did the hesitation.
He flipped up off the ground, body landing in a low crouch, shoulders forward, hands tight around his staff.
His voice dropped to a growl. "Of course, Xi would notice. But fine… If that's the way I've gotta play…"
He rose tall, shoulders squared, chest forward, his gaze burning. Azure fire licked from his eyes, searing lines into the air. The dojo groaned under the swell of power, every magiton quivering like it wanted to burst apart from entropy. Even Danica's grin sharpened, her tails twitching with excitement.
"I'm about to get a lot rougher."
Danica smirked, lowering her staff. "Don't tell me… Show me."
The air between them snapped with tension. The dance with the Aeon of War was officially in motion. And me? I was willing to bet the house on Alexander Zo coming out victorious.
[End of Chapter]
[1] April on Earth.