The clammer of the battle ensuing in a distance sound almost inaudible as I made my way back to the resting Alfen and Anna who's eyeing me curiously. She probably wants to ask what I did since I've been gone for almost an hour as I have been counting in seconds, but I'll break my promise of not using my magic in this reality if I tell her.
I mean, a rule technically wouldn't be broken if nobody caught you breaking them in the first place. Using that same logic, I gave myself some leeway to use my magic.
Lester and his companions are dealing with the sinister boss efficiently, making use of the time to fight it passively. They used themselves effectively, using the one with the most stamina to agro whilst others recovered, they slowly made the boss accumulate damage for about two hours now, but a decisive blow doesn't look like it will happen soon.
I can feel Anna's gaze still locked on me. It wasn't out of malice, but more of curiosity which made it hard for me to stand my ground. Turning my gaze in her direction, I asked, "Is something wrong?"
To my question, her expression turned from contemplation to astonishment. "Are you serious?" Her voice is calm, but her expression is serious. I don't think this is about what I did so she's probably referring to my earlier martial arts abilities.
"I learned martial arts when I was young," I excused myself. That technically wasn't a lie, so even if I'm still in a body of a child, she wouldn't find me to be lying even if she was perceptive.
Anna crawled herself close to me. We're both sitting down, but since she hasn't activated her attribute, she can't use her legs properly. "I'm talking about everything in general. You... are you perhaps a god?" She asks in a reserved manner.
"Why would you ask that? Of course, I'm not." To my calm answer, Anna still remained skeptical. Raising her hand she showed me the rings on her finger. "This ring allows me to tell whether energy, purer than the ambient mana of this world, is close by. It does so because it in itself is made up of purer energy that is out of this reality."
"I can feel that same energy coming from you and it's more abundant like a flowing river compared to my ring which feels like a pond in comparison. And you still say you aren't? You even used a blessing from the god of serenity!" She pointed a finger at me with a strong expression, but I can see her other hand slightly trembling.
Her nervousness is evident in her voice, so I raised a hand to calm her down. "God of Serenity? I don't really know who that is, but I definitely didn't get my abilities from a god." Using her ring, she probably felt me using Velxia's ability. Lying to her now wouldn't really work either, so the best I could do is give vague answers.
"Then why didn't you react to seeing my magic..." Her words weakened in volume as she asked her question. What is there to react for? Her magic was similar to the twins, quasi-blood. Although her performance with it was better and more efficient than Sean's, it wasn't really that different... unless-
"...Are you perhaps, a demon?" I asked cautiously. It was a thoughtless question, without any goal other than to satisfy my curiosity. But her expression weakened as she turned her head away.
I remember from the books I've read from Bluoir. Humans have the ability to control blood, but it wasn't as proficient as the demon race who can control it as naturally as breathing. This is why a human's blood attribute is named quasi-blood whilst a demon's blood attribute is named as is.
I reached out my hand to Anna's head. Upon touching her soft and silky black hair, I gently patted her head. "Sophia does this to me when I'm feeling down. I don't really know why it works, but it works."
She turned her sights back to me, showing me her red and almost teary-eyed expression. Is she scared? Angry? Sad? Or maybe all of the above? I can't really understand her expression, but my head pats' certainly working in calming her down.
"You look like a kitten." The words accidentally slipped my mouth. Crap. From what I know of her, she'll probably refute me back in a pompous manner, and I was right. A vein bulged in her beautiful brow as she held my coat from the neckline.
"My mistake," I excused myself, but she just stared at me deadlock in the eyes, causing me to uncomfortably turn my gaze away from her. "So... you don't have clairvoyance? time manipulation? theosophical abstract, or acausality whatsoever?"
"I don't even know what half of those do so I'm pretty sure I don't," I responded awkwardly from her strong reaction. It kind of reminded me of the overpowering and enthusiastic personality of Kayla which I was bad at dealing with, but luckily, this is just a spur of a moment from Anna.
To my answer, she still looked skeptical. However, her expression turned gloomy again as she opened her lips. "Then... why aren't you afraid of me?" She asks in a meek tone.
Recalling the fresh history of this world, just a few years ago, a war was waged between four races of two sides. Along with Bestias, Demons were the other race who fought against elves and humans. The problem, however, is that the book told them in a different light compared to Mr. Renard who told them from his perspective.
If I only read the books alone, then I probably would act more reserved to her confession. But I didn't. What's more, it's already about 3 weeks since we met and the trust coming from the original White's emotion helped in allowing me to open up to her as well.
"Just because I believe in what I know. Besides, it's not like you're going to kill me in my sleep or something along those lines right?" I answered her, making a small joke in the end to soften her expression.
To my answer, she pouted. "Don't worry, I'm serious about it," I reassured. For now, the best I can do is calm her down. I would need to have a longer conversation with her, but I'll do that later on since I'm not a robot who can keep counting mentally while having a deep conversation.
Approaching 9000 seconds, I held my sword in hand and stood back up. "Anna, we're up. Wake up Alfen and we'll get out of here after I get our thing,"
"Do you seriously want your share?" She asks me, looking a bit distraught.
"It's not like that. It's just necessary, I'd say." Saying so, I made my way to Lester and his squad who are still in combat against the boss. Upon closer look, it does look more frightening than it did when I was a distance away.
However, it wasn't as big as the Hydrangaea, and nor was it intelligent like Velxia. "I thought you weren't going to help?" Lester asks, looking a bit confused. "I wouldn't have if you guys weren't so slow with it," I answered, putting on an arrogant facade.
Lester scoffed at my answer but I ignored it as I closed my distance. Calming myself, I analyzed its structure. I wasn't a doctor, but I know where it's efficient to attack and where not to. The thick furry front muscles that resembled a gorilla's, the twin tails that resembled giant octopus tentacles.
It would have been the very definition of a chimera if it was actually an anatomically living being, but I know that when I end it, it would turn to ashes as shown from the wounds on its body. The world felt silent as what only mattered is the enemy in front of me.
Relaxing my breathing, I infused mana through my whole body, strengthening it to what I'm capable of. I have a thin sword, as is part of my sword style, so fighting it head-on would be suicidal.
Dashing forward, I dodged the fangs of the boss by sliding below it. As something that resembled a canine, its belly would be vulnerable compared to most parts of its body. With that thought in mind, I used my strengthened body to kick one of its back legs with full force, aiming at the knee.
The boss' knee bent backward, distorting its balance resulting in its body falling. Using the momentum, I stabbed my blade on its belly. The boss' pained howl echoed in the dome as it felt a lethal blow. Following it up, I twisted my blade and slashed through half its body.
As soon as my bloodless blade got out of its body, the boss fell in agony, its tentacle-like tails unable to reach me as it slowly lost its instinctual consciousness and its body turned to a screen of ashes before disappearing as if it was never there, to begin with.
Using that quick smokescreen, I dashed at full speed straight to the Lumoine and sliced a foot length of lumoine from its top. Fortunately for me, as soon as the crystal was cut from its main body protruding from the ground, its pearlescent glow slowly weakened.
As soon as the ashes dissipated, only me and a cone-shaped crystal in hand stood there. "I have my share, you guys can have the rest," I made my way to Lester, stretching a hand. Putting on an expression of an innocent smile that gave off the counter effect of dominance, not allowing Lester to not take it.
"..." Lester took my hand in silence. He still doesn't trust me, but the crystal in my hand would undoubtedly make it seem that I'm an accomplice either way. It would be troublesome if he made one of his companions go with us, so I quickly left with Anna and Alfen in tow.
Running at full speed, we finally arrived at the exit of the dungeon after an hour. The cold morning air of the still dark sky made Alfen's already weak complexion even weaker. "Anna, stay here with Alfen for a while. I'll be quick."
Saying so, I went back to the dungeon. I turned my attention to the roots that protruded from the dirt ceilings of the halls. Imaginary potential is the ability to give other things "purposes." It's a complicated ability to which I haven't even started to master since I only practiced my mana control.
If I overuse Velxia's ability, I might seriously get lashed with after effects, but I'm not taking any chances. Thinking so, I used Imaginary potential on the roots.