In the deep woods outside the kingdom of Mordell, a lone feminine figure moved gracefully through the dense brush. As she walked, it was as though the forest itself recoiled from her presence, the very air growing still. Maka the Judgement strolled casually, her ghastly form invoking fear in all living things around her. She suddenly noticed the unnatural silence and realized her appearance might be causing undue alarm. With a snap of her fingers, her form shifted into that of a breathtaking beauty, her curves accentuated in all the right places. "This should allow me to blend in," she mused with a faint smile, her voice as smooth as silk.
As she continued through the forest, the sound of distant voices and the pitiful whimper of a beast reached her ears. "The beasts and humans of this world are pitifully weak," she thought, her curiosity piqued. She had yet to fully explore this land, and this encounter might prove interesting. As she pondered her next move, a small figure came crashing through the underbrush, colliding with her.
Maka looked down, slightly taken aback. To her surprise, a little girl was clinging to her legs, crying and trembling.
"Please, Miss, help us! Those... those bandits attacked my mom... she's not moving," the girl sobbed, desperation in her voice.
Maka tilted her head, considering the child's plea. "Oh, what a predicament I find myself in," she thought, her mind weighing the situation. Before she could decide, three men burst through the bushes, their eyes wild with malice.
"This little brat! How dare you make us chase you? We were going to make your death painless, but now I think we'll take our time," one of them snarled, a twisted grin spreading across his face. Their gaze then shifted to Maka, and their expressions turned from anger to lust.
"Well, well, well, seems like our luck just turned around, boys," the leader sneered, his eyes roaming over Maka's newly assumed form. "Let's deal with the girl quickly and take our time with this one."
The girl quickly darted behind Maka, seeking refuge. She looked up at Maka with tear-filled eyes, only to see her holding out a shimmering scale. The cold, detached look in Maka's eyes sent a chill down the girl's spine. She nodded weakly, her gaze shifting to the bandits, who were now fixated on the scale.
"That's got to be at least a Unique, maybe even a Legendary item!" one of the men communicated telepathically to the others.
"Indeed," the leader replied. "Let's make sure it doesn't get damaged while we take care of these bitches."
Maka lowered the scale, which vanished into thin air. "You are nothing but frogs trapped at the bottom of a well, gazing up at the vast sky without the ability to comprehend its true size. The fact that you were allowed to see these scales before your death is a privilege greater than anything you could have achieved in your pitiful lives. Rejoice, for I have given you purpose." Her voice, devoid of emotion, was like ice, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present. The little girl was so terrified she wanted to run, but her legs refused to obey.
The bandits tried to retreat, but they too were frozen in place. Maka extended her hands, and from her sleeves, a wave of tiny creatures began to emerge. Upon closer inspection, they were not waves but swarms of vicious insects. The insects rapidly spread across the ground, closing in on the bandits. Terror gripped their hearts as the insects swarmed over
them, not devouring their flesh but their very life force. The process was excruciating, akin to being torn apart at the molecular level. Once the bandits had been drained of their life, the insects returned to Maka. The agony they experienced was unlike anything that should have occurred during the transition from life to death—a process never intended for those still among the living.
The little girl, staring at the crumpled bodies of the bandits, couldn't tear her gaze away from Maka. Awe and fear warred within her. "So strong," she whispered to herself.
Maka turned to leave, but the little girl chased after her. "Wait, Miss! My mom is over there," she pleaded, her voice shaking with renewed hope.
Maka paused, confused. The threat had been eliminated, and the girl's mother was already dead. She could sense no life remaining. What did the child expect her to do?
"I do not understand," Maka admitted, her voice tinged with the slightest hint of frustration.
The girl's eyes filled with fresh tears, and Maka let out a sigh, feeling oddly defeated. If Ore or Bolom could see her now—bested by a mere human child—they would never let her live it down.
"I suppose I have some time," she conceded. They made their way to the lifeless body of the girl's mother. Maka knelt beside the petite woman, placing a hand on her cold skin. Through her touch, Maka could see the entirety of the woman's life—a good life, now tragically ended. A soft light emanated from Maka's hand before she stood up, her expression solemn.
"I am sorry, but even I cannot presume to rule over death itself. She has been taken care of." Maka's voice was gentle, almost kind, as she turned to leave. But as she walked away, she noticed the little girl following her closely. Maka sighed again, this time with a hint of resignation. "Very well, I suppose I could use some company on my journey."
---
Sylvie, Haruto, and Bane were making their way back to the guild, taking a much-needed break after their recent ordeal. Haruto used this moment to break off from the group and contact Dimitri.
As the call connected, Haruto was greeted by the sound of frantic commotion. "What the—?" he muttered, hearing the clatter of objects being knocked over and the distant sound of laughter.
"Priscila, I'm going to get you for this!" Dimitri's voice was a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Hold on a sec... So, you contacted me. Any new developments?"
Haruto took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Well, it's like this..." He proceeded to explain everything that had transpired since their last conversation, detailing the discovery of Plane Ascenders and the unsettling realization that Kahl was still alive and active.
"So, you learned about Plane Ascenders, huh? Well, don't worry. There hasn't been one in ages," Dimitri replied casually.
"No, Dimitri, weren't you listening? Kahl is alive and wandering, from what I could gather," Haruto insisted, his tone urgent. Dimitri paused, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Well, that changes things. I'll have to look into it. Plane Ascenders are a part of evolution, but they're rare due to the extreme strength required to break through. They're bound by laws and cannot interfere in mortal affairs, so they usually handle specific tasks on certain worlds—planting a tree here, slaying a beast there, that sort of thing. If Kahl is walking around, I need to find out how he ascended using an Origin Stone. That shouldn't be possible. They're strong, but not *that* strong. Whatever anomaly allowed him to do this might be linked to other disturbances as well. Keep digging and let me know what you find."
Before Haruto could respond, a loud roar echoed through the call, and Dimitri sighed heavily. "Gotta go, Priscila brought home a stray cosmic beast, and now it's chewing up everything."
The line went dead, leaving Haruto with more questions than answers. One thing was certain: whatever was happening needed to be uncovered, and quickly. If these anomalies were causing Warlords to ascend beyond their natural limits, the balance of the world itself could be in jeopardy.