Two days after the family council, Elise and Dustin launched from the Sunbelt mansion, cutting through the crisp morning sky like twin falcons. Elise wore tight jeans that clung to her legs like a second skin and a black cropped top that dipped teasingly at the neckline, revealing just enough to turn heads. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back in shimmering waves, catching the sunlight and turning it into liquid gold—she looked absolutely stunning, a vision of enhanced beauty that made the clouds seem dull in comparison. Dustin, ever casual, sported jean shorts and a loose hockey jersey, the fabric flapping in the wind as they soared.
They opted to fly instead of driving, bypassing the snarled traffic below with effortless grace. As they traveled through the endless blue, Dustin couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Sister, how did you become Epic Rank so fast? We were both at S-rank the last time I saw you." The question hung in the air, laced with genuine confusion. Epic Rank demanded a staggering 25,000 mana capacity, and S-rank cores only granted 14 mana per absorption—a grind that should have taken months, if not years.
[A/N: Cores provide the following Mana to their capacity. F - 2 | E - 4 | D - 6 | C - 8 | B - 10 | A - 12 | S - 14 | Epic - 1,000 | Legendary - 1,500]
The mere mention triggered it—Set's image flooded Elise's mind unbidden: his golden eyes piercing her soul, his flawless body pressed against hers, the way he'd claimed her in that pink realm. Heat rushed to her cheeks in a deep blush that she couldn't hide. She shook her head sharply, banishing the steamy memories, and offered a partial truth. "During my time outside, I came across a bit of an opportunity… I found a few Epic Rank cores within an S-rank Gate, and they helped me."
"Epic Rank cores?!" Dustin exclaimed, his voice cracking with shock as he nearly faltered mid-flight. Such things had never been discovered before. There was speculation, of course—everyone knew Epic Rank existed from the ancient Gate murals—but the strongest Gates to appear so far were S-rank. No one had ever pulled an Epic core from one.
"Exactly," Elise continued, her tone firm to mask her lingering flush. "However, don't mention this to our parents. It wasn't many, and I already used them up the moment I entered seclusion." She switched topics swiftly, steering away from dangerous waters. "About this Kaiya person… where are we even going?"
"We're going to the last place I saw her, of course," Dustin replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"And that was?"
"At that guy's apartment."
Elise's heart skipped a beat, a thrill of excitement bubbling up. 'Will I get to see him soon?' The thought sent a warm flutter through her chest. But then reality crashed in—he'd been staying with some girl. Her excitement curdled into a frown, jealousy twisting like a knife. 'Did he lie to me?' He'd clearly said he didn't want a relationship, that they could be together without labels… but living with someone? That was unexpected.
-----
After about ten minutes of soaring, the siblings arrived in the slums—a gritty underbelly of the city where hope went to die. They floated high above a rundown apartment complex that looked like it had been forgotten by time itself. Windows were boarded up with splintered plywood, bricks wept mold in sickly green streaks, and the air carried a foul stench of rot and despair that made Elise's stomach churn.
"Are you sure this is the correct place?" she asked, skepticism dripping from every word as her eyes narrowed in disgust.
"Of course," Dustin assured her. "Let's just wait a while to see if she comes out."
Hearing this, Elise nodded reluctantly, and the stakeout began. They descended into a cluster of trees not too far away, their massive trunks twisted and ancient, branches sprawling like giants' arms. The trees on Earth had evolved dramatically since mana's arrival—nature itself had mutated, growing colossal and vibrant, their leaves pulsing with faint, ethereal glows that lit the shadows below.
Time flowed like a lazy river as they waited, hours slipping by in tense silence. The sun climbed higher, then began its descent, casting long shadows that danced mockingly. But the person in question never showed. To be exact, there was no movement from Set's apartment whatsoever—no flicker of light, no creak of a door, nothing but eerie stillness. Dustin frowned deeply, his patience wearing thin as frustration etched lines on his face. He floated back into the air with a huff.
"I'm going to question some folks," he said before vanishing toward the nearby streets.
----
While these two were scouring the slums for Kaiya, she herself stood triumphant in front of a brand-new mansion that screamed opulence and power. This place was absolutely massive, a sprawling estate with about fifteen luxurious rooms and matching bathrooms, each one a sanctuary of marble and gold. A grand fountain graced the front yard, its waters sparkling under the sun like scattered diamonds, while a beautiful, winding driveway curved gracefully through manicured lawns. It was located a bit away from others, nestled on private land that she had also purchased outright—Set's future empire would have the space and seclusion it deserved.
Standing next to her was a man who couldn't stop smiling goofily, his eyes glazed with infatuation. This was an A-ranked hunter who worked for the Hunter's Association. As mentioned before, for hunters to buy anything of significance, they needed a license and had to go through the Association's channels. This man had been Kaiya's realtor for all the purchases she'd made, handling the paperwork with eager efficiency.
From the moment the process began, he'd been throwing subtle hints her way—compliments disguised as small talk, lingering glances that traced her slim frame. Currently, he watched as Kaiya signed the final papers with elegant strokes, and he couldn't hold back any longer.
"My god, you are one beautiful woman," he blurted, his burly face splitting into a goofy grin. "Especially dressed in that suit… it really turns me on…"
Kaiya's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she calmly raised her gaze to meet the man's. 'Ah, I figured this bozo would shoot his shot eventually,' she thought, irritation simmering beneath her composed exterior. She simply turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement.
"The contract is signed. Now leave from my property," she said coolly as she ascended the steps. Although she wasn't thick in the traditional sense, her suit emphasized her curvy slim frame perfectly—the fabric hugging her waist, accentuating her hips with every step. The man's eyes couldn't stop looking for one bit, devouring her like a starving beast.
Also, since this man was but a mere A-rank, he couldn't perceive her power at all. How could he know this beautiful woman was one of the few Epic Ranks on Earth? Well, he couldn't—and that was his fatal problem.
Seeing Kaiya walking up the steps into the mansion, he stopped waiting. Lust overrode sense. He dashed forward with surprising speed for his bulk, trying to bear-hug her from behind, his arms outstretched like a predator pouncing.
"Tsk, tsk… what a fool," Kaiya murmured, feeling the approaching man through her heightened senses. She didn't stop her movements at all, her hand gracefully reaching for the doorknob as if nothing were amiss.
|Umbral Apostasy — 50 Mana|
With her affinity for shadows, she activated a fundamental skill she'd found in a Gate long before—a dark art that turned betrayal into a weapon. The moment it activated, the burly man's movements ceased abruptly. His eyes went wide in terror as he tried to speak, but his voice was stolen, his body frozen in a cruel parody of his advance.
In the next moment, his own shadow writhed to life on the sunlit steps. It formed a sinister hand clutching a dagger forged from pure darkness.
SHK!
THUD!
In a mere moment, he was beheaded, his body crumpling lifelessly to the marble, blood spraying in a grim arc. Kaiya, however, didn't even look back at the gruesome scene as she entered into the house, the door closing softly behind her. Killing people was something she was by far used to, even though her rank had been low before meeting Set. She'd had her fair share of lustful bastards making moves on her in Gates—predators who saw her as prey until she made them regret it.
However, she had never once killed someone who worked for the Hunter's Association. So, how could she know that the moment one of them died, their last moments would be recorded and sent directly to their headquarters? Well, she didn't—and unbeknownst to her, the location to Set's new mansion was just revealed not just to the Association, but to all hunters that worked for them which included Dustin as well.
And now they were coming….