Kantara stepped forward, placing his hand over a smooth, reflective surface. The Magisphere hummed to life, its mirror-like exterior shifting as energy surged within. The device, powered by a Light Fragment—a harvested energy crystal—was a staple in Orsus, used in everything from lighting homes to sending messages across the empires. Unlike traditional paper records, the Magisphere could project high-quality images, making it invaluable for intelligence briefings.
As the energy stabilized, two figures appeared within the shimmering surface, their features clear as day.
The first had shimmering white hair that went down his back, almost glowing under the light of the projection. His blue eyes were piercing, like ice sharpened into daggers, giving off an eerie sense of detachment. The second stood beside him, his black hair tinged with streaks of deep green, and his dark eyes carried something even more unsettling—an emptiness that sent an unspoken warning.
"Let's begin." Kantara's voice was as steady as ever, but the air around him carried something different this time. Not just authority. Something deeper. Something Atenyos picked up on immediately.
Pain.
"These are the two Regressors we will be hunting."
Atenyos barely glanced at the projections. His focus was elsewhere—on Kantara. There was something in his voice. A weight that shouldn't have been there.
"Their names are Atus and Veticus," Kantara continued, his tone colder now. "Both were last sighted in Cagus, the capital of Terram. We—"
"What did they do?"
Atenyos' words cut through the room like a blade. Not loud. Not aggressive. But absolute.
The shift was immediate. Ipsum let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head slightly as if this was routine. Mendr crossed her arms, eyeing Atenyos with curiosity, while the rest of the team merely sat in stunned silence. Interrupting an Emperor Candidate mid-sentence wasn't just bold—it was unheard of.
Kantara, however, didn't react the way most expected. He remained still. If anything, he looked… detached. As if the interruption didn't matter.
"They abandoned the Guild," he answered without hesitation. "They started moving on their own. Then, two years ago, they attacked a group of four Ring Bearers. Three were left severely wounded. One.... was killed. We tracked them down and finally we encountered this information after two years of searching."
His words carried weight, but his tone… it lacked something. As if he was distancing himself from what he was saying.
Atenyos' eyes narrowed slightly. There was more to this.
"Did you face them before?" The question came naturally. Atenyos wasn't prying—he was following a thread, one that felt too important to ignore.
Kantara's dark violet eyes locked onto his. For the first time in this entire briefing, his mask of control cracked. Not enough for anyone else to notice.
But Atenyos saw it.
A wound.
"Yes," Kantara admitted. His voice was quieter now. Almost reluctant.
Then, as if catching himself, his presence surged back into place, the commanding aura of an Emperor Candidate returning in full force.
"And that will be the last of your questions, Atenyos."
The finality in his voice was clear.
Atenyos held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding once. He didn't push further. Not yet.
Kantara turned back to the Magisphere, his expression unreadable. The images of Atus and Veticus remained, their hollow stares burning into the room.
"We'll watch from a distance, track them down, and when we're certain of their location, we go in. The plan is to apprehend them, but if it comes to it… we take them down." Kantara's tone wasn't just firm—it was commanding. This wasn't a suggestion; it was an order.
As his words settled, a faint surge of his power leaked out, driven by the emotions stirring within him. The air grew heavy, the pressure tangible. The team, even the strongest among them, couldn't help but tense under the weight of an emperor candidate's sheer presence. Truly the power of an Emperor candidate shouldn't be taken lightly.
"As for Atenyos and his training with Lutens, this mission is expected to be completed within four days, which leaves your training day free. Of course, the logical course of action would be to have you stay here… but we need you. So keep your eyes open, stay focused, and let's get this done." Kantara's gaze locked onto Atenyos, a rare flicker of something unspoken in his eyes—an agony that his words refused to explain.
We need you? Atenyos frowned slightly. "Kantara was an emperor candidate. With a team like theirs under his command, this mission should have been overkill. Yet, something felt off. It was as if Kantara wasn't planning to be an active force in this mission—more like a guide rather than a combatant." Atenyos drowned in thought.
"Here's what we know about their powers." Kantara hovered his finger on the Magisphere again, the shimmering image of the two regressors before him. "Atus can render your limbs unresponsive upon contact, but only if he's the one engaging. The catch? He has to touch the limb with both hands. His last recorded output was 23.4% before he regressed, but we have no idea what it is now. What makes him truly dangerous isn't just his power—it's his mind. He's a genius fighter, an expert in battle, and he's been through more than any of you here."
Atenyos studied the image of Atus—his blue eyes gleamed under his white, shimmering hair. He looked eerily composed, almost serene.
Kantara continued. "As for Veticus, his output was a measly 13.2% last time it was checked. However, what he lacks in raw output, he makes up for with his ability—absolute decay. Whatever he touches turns to ash, with no chance of restoration. His weakness? It isn't instant. It takes a second to take effect, but the longer he keeps contact, the worse the decay gets. That's only for living beings. For non-living objects? It's instant."
Atenyos' eyes narrowed as he examined the second regressor.
"You can't engage him with weapons," Kantara continued. "His ability runs through his body as well. If you throw your weapons at him, you lose them. Only fast and direct attacks will work."
Kantara was thorough, leaving no room for misinterpretation. He wasn't just briefing them—he was ensuring they understood. A single misstep could cost them their lives.
"They sound powerful," Atenyos mused, his fists clenching. To his peers, it may have seemed like frustration. But in truth, it was excitement. Another challenge. Another obstacle to overcome.
Another step toward getting stronger.
"We move at dawn."
The briefing continued. Plans were set. Orders were given.
But Atenyos wasn't just thinking about the mission.
This wasn't just another assignment.
Something deeper was at play.
And he intended to find out what.
I'll get to the bottom of this. Kantara… you knew them. No—more than that. You were close. So why did they regress?
He wasn't sure yet.
But one way or another, he would find out.