In the vibrant city of New York, on the crisp morning of February 10th, the sun bathed the streets in golden light, breathing life into the bustling crowds. Stella Athanasiou, a striking young woman with orange-golden eyes and flowing yellow-golden hair, walked through the streets with a distinct sense of boredom. Her tailored black suit, adorned with golden accents, hugged her frame, emphasizing her elegant yet feminine features. An ethereal yellow halo glowed faintly behind her head, giving her an angelic appearance to those who passed by.
"Nothing interesting as always..." she muttered, her voice dripping with disinterest. Her eyes were half-lidded, almost avoiding the dull surroundings she deemed unworthy of attention.
Her steps took her to the park, but before she could find any solace in its green expanse, a voice called out to her.
"Stella!!"
A figure sprinted towards her, his white hair short and tousled, and his phantom black eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. Jake Miracle, her childhood friend, greeted her with his usual infectious smile.
"Jake," Stella sighed, her tone irritated. "Can you keep it down? I thought you were in Finland with your parents for vacation."
Jake, however, was quick to explain, still grinning widely. "I was, but the C.O.R.E. assigned me a mission, and you're needed in the operation."
Stella raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued but still skeptical. She had always been more than capable on her own, so why was she being specifically chosen for this mission? The other Demon Cadre members were more than capable, after all.
"Why me? Why not the others?" Stella asked, her voice betraying a hint of suspicion as she looked at Jake, who shrugged nonchalantly.
"D-3, D-7, and D-4 are occupied, D-8 is stationed at headquarters, D-2 needed D-1's presence, and D-1's whereabouts are unknown even to the council," Jake explained quickly.
Stella blinked, trying to process the information. "So it's just us?"
Jake nodded, his enthusiasm undeterred. "Yep! It's just you and me. It's gonna be great!"
Her brow furrowed, but she couldn't help the flicker of concern that crossed her face. "What's the mission?"
Jake's smile faded slightly, his tone growing serious. "We have to kill the 'limitless user.'"
The weight of the words sank in. Stella felt her heart rate quicken as the gravity of the situation dawned on her. They were going after a being that defied concepts and powers, something that was not bound by the laws of reality. The idea of only the two of them being sent was... troubling.
"Only the two of us? Against that thing?" Stella questioned, her voice shaking slightly with unease. "What were they thinking?"
Jake tried to reassure her, though his words lacked conviction. "It's fine, Stel. Don't you have the power to take him down?"
Stella's eyes hardened as she thought of the being they were about to face. "I do, but that doesn't guarantee anything. We're dealing with something that's beyond normal limits—something connected to the very concepts of power."
Jake tried to lighten the mood. "Relax, Stel. The chance of failure is high, sure, but we have a low possibility of winning. That's better than having no chance at all, right?"
Stella gave him a pointed look, unimpressed. "That did not help, Jake. Not one bit."
Jake, however, remained optimistic, a bit too optimistic for Stella's liking. "We'll be fine. Besides, it's our fate to cross paths. We're dancing to the tune of those above us, aren't we?"
Stella's sigh echoed in the busy city street, her thoughts racing as she braced herself for what lay ahead.