"How long has it been? Years? Months?" I pondered to myself, slowly regaining my senses after enduring endless agony that seemed to halt time itself. Despite the ceaseless inhumane torture that had nearly pushed me to the brink of insanity, I found myself attuned to every word uttered within the confines of that machine, my senses sharpening with each passing moment. As I glimpsed the world anew, it appeared surreal, as if I could perceive the flow of mana coursing through people's bodies, and I possessed an unprecedented ability to manipulate mana and "darsin" in a manner I had never experienced before.
As I initially opened my eyes, I found myself in an immaculate white room, where every surface gleamed with a blinding purity. Attempting to make my way to the door, a sudden surge of excruciating pain erupted within my brain, rendering me momentarily incapacitated. It was then that the realization dawned on me—there was a bomb. Swiftly channeling my darsin to mitigate the searing agony, I crumpled to the ground, losing consciousness once more, my body still reeling from the aftermath of the grueling ordeal.
Once again, I awoke, finding myself sprawled across the floor. Mindful of my limited strength, I refrained from any hasty attempts, opting instead to assume a lotus position and draw upon the ambient mana saturating the atmosphere. Focusing on harnessing the pure darsin within, I expanded my mana, allowing the layout of the underground facility to materialize before my mind's eye. The interconnected tunnels extended four floors beneath the bustling city above, while four potent mana sources emanated from the vicinity— one below and three above. Amidst my exploration, I detected a dense concentration of darsin, hinting at the presence of an exceptionally skilled and powerful individual nearby. Foregoing any impulsive investigations, I redirected my attention to the potent underground mana source located approximately 2 kilometers away.
"Wait," Luna exclaimed in astonishment, her mind reeling at her newfound proficiency in mana manipulation and darsin utilization. She couldn't fathom how she had acquired such abilities, realizing she had never encountered these techniques before nor had the opportunity to experiment. Grappling with a sudden surge of pain, she clenched her head, struggling to remain upright.
"Mis Aritoria, you're talented."
"Mis Aritoria, you're very beautiful."
"Aritoria, the pride of our clan. She's overwhelmingly strong; I'm proud of you."
"Run, brother, while I stop him."
"Why?"
"I don't want to die."
Agonizing screams erupted from her lips as a sudden deluge of memories flooded Luna's consciousness. Struggling to grapple with the onslaught of foreign sensations, she found herself enveloped in the echoes of another's life, experiencing their every emotion, every action, and every unspoken word. It was a torrent of unfamiliar experiences, a mosaic of a life she had never lived, the essence of a vampire whose memories had intertwined with her own. Overwhelmed by the influx, Luna succumbed once more to the depths of unconsciousness, her mind still grappling with the disorienting amalgamation of foreign recollections.
"So that's what happened," Luna murmured as she awoke once more, her expression fraught with melancholy. Extending her hand toward the faint light, she attempted to grasp its ephemeral shadow. The vampire essence she had consumed belonged to a royal from a different world, a being of immense talent and power, regarded on par with the legendary heroes of her own realm. However, her tale was one of tragic demise—her family slaughtered before her eyes as she valiantly attempted to shield her younger brother, Kiyo, from the relentless onslaught. Confronting an overwhelmingly powerful adversary, self-proclaimed as the Monarch of Darkness, she had engaged in a fierce battle, only to meet a gruesome fate. This malevolent entity traversed worlds in pursuit of the elixir of life, annihilating all in his path once his pursuit proved futile.
Beheaded by the Monarch of Darkness, Artoria's final gaze fell upon her brother being wrenched away from her, his form disappearing into the clutches of her merciless captor. Soon after, her lifeless remains were ensnared within a rift, transporting her essence to this unfamiliar realm. Her exceptionally pure darsin coalesced, enveloping her form and encapsulating her life, memories, and formidable abilities.
Understanding dawned on luna as she comprehended the essence of "darsin" as the life force permeating every being, though its mastery eluded many despite its ubiquitous presence. She discerned the insidious motives behind the experimentation on children, their underdeveloped mana veins proving an optimal conduit for the infusion of "darsin." This method, she realized, bore an efficiency born of its lower risk, fostering resilience against the potentially catastrophic convergence of summoning powers within a single vessel.
Engrossed in thought, Luna halted the flow of her mana the moment she heard the click of the unlocking door, feigning exhaustion and weakness. A man in a white coat entered the room, his masked countenance reminiscent of a medical professional. Ordering the guards to transport Luna, now, elsewhere, he escorted her to an open area that resembled a jungle within the confines of a 400-meter square space. Towering cages lined each side of the square, and a single door nestled in the corner served as the entrance and exit, while a glass window above allowed onlookers to observe the events below.
Tossed into the enclosure, I found myself trapped behind a robust 15-inch steel gate. With heightened senses and an acute awareness of mana, I discerned the intent behind this predicament—I was to endure a test of endurance, a trial of resilience, meant to gauge my worthiness following the previous experiment. If I survived this trial, I knew they would subject me to further testing. Conversely, if I perished, I would serve as fodder for the ravenous beasts confined within the cages. These lunatics remained oblivious to the fact that I was no longer the same individual I had been before.
The colossal house-like monsters thundered forth, their deafening roars reverberating through the enclosure. While the old Luna might have succumbed to fear, the memories of Artoria's past trials imbued her with a steely resolve. "I, Artoria, who has slain two dragons in the name of Blodain, shall demonstrate the consequences of daring to oppose me!" she proclaimed, her voice resounding with the authority befitting a character from a fantasy epic. With a regal sweep of her hand, the two nearest wolf-headed creatures were torn asunder, their blood suspended in mid-air as Luna deftly manipulated the crimson fluid. Transforming the blood into a formidable longsword, she eviscerated each beast in a single fluid motion, her eyes devoid of emotion, cold and calculating. As she cast a searing gaze upon the human onlookers, Luna issued a silent warning, a reminder of their frailty in the face of her unleashed power. With a deliberate yet controlled force, she shattered the glass with the colossal blood sword, causing the observers to tumble below. Ensuring they suffered no serious injuries, Luna collapsed, the strain of the exertion taking its toll on her weary form.
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Amidst the chaotic city teeming with monstrous adversaries, Aria, her sword aglow with luminous energy, advanced purposefully towards a specific location, her resolute determination etched upon her features. While she had been aiding the beleaguered citizens, the timely arrival of reinforcements from the 'Night Star' guild offered a much-needed sense of support, allowing her to concentrate solely on reaching the epicenter of the rift that had begun to manifest. Trailing closely behind her with remarkable agility was the guild master of 'Night Star,' a man in his mid-twenties boasting golden locks and piercing blue eyes, his striking physical prowess underscoring his commanding presence.
"Aria, if we position the seal stone at the core of the rift, it should restore equilibrium, assuming it's a standard anomaly," he commented, his expression betraying a hint of preoccupation.
"Yes, but where might we acquire such a stone?" she inquired directly, her tone displaying a no-nonsense approach.
"I made arrangements for it beforehand," he reassured confidently.
"Ah, it's a pity it's not a naturally occurring phenomenon," she jested, teasing him with a playful yet wry demeanor.
"What do you mean, it's not normal?" his countenance soured, a flicker of surprise and displeasure crossing his face at her implications.
"Yes, precisely. It's not," she retorted, a fleeting trace of irritation coloring her features, her response hinting at a network of information and connections that underpinned the operations of her clandestine guild, dismissing any notion of chance or happenstance.
"Okay, lead the way then," Alex requested, seeking Aria's guidance in reaching the location where the rift was suspected to be linked.
"Sure," she agreed, leaping from one building to another with increased agility, swiftly surpassing Alex to lead the way.
Continuing their relentless journey across rooftops, they dispatched any monsters that dared to cross their path. Their adeptness and power befitting their titles as guild masters, Aria abruptly halted atop the final building, prompting Alex to pause beside her.
"Why the sudden halt?" Alex inquired, taken aback by the sudden interruption in Aria's swift progress.
"Look over there," Aria directed his attention to a nearby structure, where a machine was harnessing the power of mana stones to facilitate the rift's existence.
"We need to destroy it and apprehend the culprit in the act," Alex declared, poised to leap into action, brandishing his golden two-edged sword.
"Hey, are you out of your mind?" Aria intervened, restraining him before he could make a move. "We can't just charge in recklessly! Do you expect to announce 'hands up' or obliterate all the evidence in the midst of battle?" She gestured toward a brawny man armed with two axes and accompanied by several lackeys, all equipped with powerful gear.
"So what should we do? We can't allow this to persist indefinitely," Alex argued, clearly frustrated with the situation.
"That's precisely why I have a distaste for heroes. We need to figure out a way to retrieve that machine without causing damage—it's crucial evidence that cannot be compromised," Aria explained, outlining the detailed plan as she surveyed the surroundings from the vantage point of an empty building overlooking their target.
"Okay, got it."