Life isn’t so Simple Anymore!

[Namgo]

"I believe that's enough." One of the organizers clapped their hands.

Zoey's keen instincts tingled, warning her of an impending threat that would threaten her life. In a seamless motion, she pivoted with unparalleled swiftness, her body a blur as she unleashed a 180-degree rocketing fist. The force of the movement displaced the surrounding air, creating a gust that ruffled the hair of the person standing perilously close to the tip of her lethal strike. Just barely, she managed to stop herself.

The would-be victim displayed a wide-eyed expression with a mischievous grin on her face, undeterred by narrowly escaping death. "Wowie Zowie. I think I'm falling in love," she chimed with an exhilarated tone, seemingly enamored by the sheer prowess of Zoey's near-lethal blow. Her eyes, wide and gleaming, locked onto Zoey's fist as if it were a mesmerizing work of art.

Zoey reigned her fist back under control like it was a dangerous creature as she looked the girl up and down. Purple hair, sword on her waist, slimmer than herself, and possibly younger than her too. Zoey narrowed her eyes at the girl. She felt like her life was in danger a moment ago. And it excited her…

A person even younger than herself could give her a sense of danger? A threat that her life could end if she wasn't careful? It's been too long! She didn't even feel this way when she was on trial surrounded by dozens of experienced magjistars. But this one girl could make her skin tingle?

Inner Zoey couldn't help but lick her lips as she thought about how much her skills would increase fighting against this girl. Unknowingly, her inner desires were pouring out of her as she naturally positioned herself in a subtle fighting stance. The girl's pupils dilated. She knew what Zoey was planning! She could feel it!

Zoey's eyes scanned her body, looking for which flaws to attack first. But found absolutely nothing. Normally, that would frighten the average fighter. A person with no obvious weak points meant that they were in a league above you. But Zoey knew that she was already an S-Grade magjistar or just a few points shy from it. This only made her even more excited to find out why her body was acting like this toward the girl.

Just as Zoey was about to pounce on her tantalizing prey, no, this wasn't prey but another predator like herself… But before she could enact on her instincts, a wall of mahna appeared between her and the girl. "I will not repeat myself." The handsome guy from earlier put some authority in his voice. But Inner Zoey was a bad guy right now. What bad guy would listen to some random fucker who hasn't proven themselves? That guy didn't even give her half the feeling of the girl in front of her.

So, Inner Zoey played into her bad guy act. She pounced toward the man on stage, intent on tackling him. His eyes widened in shock or disbelief when he saw her coming his way—several mahna walls formed in front of him as he chanted. Zoey shattered them all with nothing but her physical might.

She grabbed the magjistar by his throat as she looked in dead in the eye. "Who the hell are you to be commanding me to do anything?" Zoey questioned, squeezing the side of his throat. The girl from earlier loudly cheered her on. "Yeah! Rip his head off! Teach that jerk a lesson for interrupting our date!" To be honest, Zoey thought she really meant it, too. The rip his head off part, not the other thing.

Most magjistars were downright helpless if you managed to stop them from chanting their spells. If you exclude the talented ones. It would take more concentration and talent, but it was also possible for magjistars to use their magji without chanting. A fact Zoey just found out as a horizontal three-dimensional mahna square crashed into her waist, causing her to slide away from the man as he caught his breath.

He glared at her before deciding to unleash his full power to teach her a lesson or get revenge. Zoey didn't know which, but he did look like a uppity asshole. Before he could give in to his deeper emotions, his friend placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "What, scared? I'll let you both take me on if it makes you feel better." Zoey chuckled.

The guy she nearly choked out took a second to gather himself before asking, "Why are you here?" Zoey audibly sighed. It seemed that he wasn't going to fall for her taunt this time. She felt a hand on her shoulder, consoling her while she was feeling disappointed. "There, there. I know you would've kicked both of their butts, Panda."

How the fuck did this girl just sneak up on her? No sound, no mahna emanating from her, and a complete lack of presence. It reminded her of Hayato in a way, but way better. She must be an assassin or something! Zoey ignored it as she kept her guard raised completely around the girl.

"I came here because I smelled that there was some fun to be had," Zoey answered.

"You do know this isn't like an organization for having fun? We're planning to change the world of magji!" The guy who calmed the other guy down explained.

"My nose has never led me wrong." Zoey took that as confirmation that she was right.

"You pull anything like that again, and I'll kill you." The guy she choked out threatened while rubbing his throat.

"I'd like to see you try, baby skin." His neck was really soft and smooth.

Before he could respond, his buddy pulled him away and started whispering something to him. Inner Zoey put her hands on her waist. That guy was pissing her off. But whatever, fine. She wasn't going to play nice, but she was definitely going to stand on business if someone pushed her.

"You're pretty strong…" Adoration was present in the girl's voice as she felt up Zoey's arms and body.

Zoey swung at her. "I'm not into women." She made herself clear. "Have you ever tried it?" The girl responded in a sing-song manner while effortlessly avoiding her punch that would've dropped a physically fit adult man.

"I can show you the world…" She sang. "The pleasures that a man could never understand!!" Zoey pushed her face away and focused her attention on the others in the room.

A Minotaur, a Viperian, a Luminari, a Succubi, the crazy girl, and Zoey were the only ones who passed. It only made Zoey realize that she didn't even notice the crazy girl in the middle of the battle, either. She didn't have a scratch on her. Even Zoey was slightly bloody. It wasn't her blood, but still.

"Okay!" The calming guy clapped his hands. "My name is Lector, and this is my buddy, Adrian. Our other friend from earlier was Selena. Congratulations on passing the test, and welcome to the group that will change the world." Lector smiled with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Before we go, you all do not mind if I request something of you, do you?" Lector politely asked.

"You can ask all you want." Zoey shrugged. He ain't say anything about doing it.

"Yep! Yep! Ask us anything!" Crazy girl stood close to Zoey.

"Ask!" Minotaur seemingly allowed.

"Tough crowd, haha." Lector leisurely laughed. "I'm just going to need you all to make a Heart-Bound Contract with me to ensure your loyalty to the organization. An easy little thing that won't take more than a few minutes."

"Sounds like a pain in the ass, forget it." Inner Zoey flipped him off.

"If she's not doing it, I'm not doing it!" The crazy girl stood by her side.

"If they don't have to do it, I don't want to either." The Succubi softly spoke up.

"I'll sign it." The Luminari was the first to give in.

"Sign? Contract? Why?" The Minotaur seemed confused about what was going on.

"It is a little confusing. This whole event was a public advertisement. My friends even know I came here. If something happens to me, they'll know that there was something fishy about this group and let the Peacekeepers know. Why would we need to keep secrets if you publicly advertised this recruitment drive?" The Viperian questioned.

"Never mind then. Let's go, follow me." He nearly dropped the fake smile as he turned around and asked them to follow.

"Did this dumbass not even think about the Peacekeepers catching on? I mean, these people still on the ground unconscious are going to spread what kind of group this is when they wake up. And if something happens to them where they don't go back home, their loved ones and friends are going to inform the Peacekeepers." Zoey insulted them for fun. "You gotta be a special kind of DUMBASS to not think of shit like this."

She saw all three of their shoulders tightened. This was good. It wasn't making her any friends, but that wasn't what she was here for.

"I like you, Panda. Please go out with me." Crazy girl asked.

"I don't even know your name. But still, no." Zoey denied her without hesitation. She was strictly dickly, not a clam diver.

"You can call me Tiffany!" 'Tiffany' introduced herself.

"You can keep calling me Panda." Zoey didn't mind the name.

"Panda, I think we're going to be the best of friends." Tiffany latched onto her arm.

"Maybe." Inner Zoey was very interested in why she felt danger from this girl. She wanted to see it. Really, really badly…

 

[Namgo]

"Welcome to our humble abode." Lector leisurely led them inside a gigantic luxurious mansion in Dhara.

It had chandeliers, a grand staircase, several rooms, and multiple fairie servants going about and cleaning. This was more of what Zoey expected when flying to another state. It might be a little vain of her, but she's gotten used to a life of luxury and comfort. Zoey didn't feel ashamed of it, but she certainly noticed more often when she wasn't properly accommodated.

"Go pick out your rooms and enjoy yourselves until it's time for our first group activity. Feel free to ask the servants any questions if you have any. If they can't answer them, ask us at our next meeting in a few days." Lector explained.

"You guys really know how to treat a guest, huh?" Zoey was pretty satisfied with these arrangements.

Who knew the bad guys had such a great welcoming service? She would've been tricked like the dumbass she was if these were the people to introduce her to Dhara. At least until she realized they were a sort of racist group, who had plans of world domination. Zoey said, sort of because they were fine with magji creatures joining them but wanted to enslave non-magji people.

"Our room looks pretty awesome. I haven't slept in a big bed like this ever!" Tiffany exclaimed.

"We're not sleeping together." Zoey set her boundaries immediately.

"Come on, Panda. It'll be just like a sleepover! Haven't you ever had sleepovers with your besties before?! It's so much fun!" Tiffany swung their arms back and forth.

"They don't sleep in the same bed." Zoey pointed out an issue in her logic.

"But we're both so tiny! We could definitely fit on it without any problems!" Tiffany playfully argued.

"More room for me," Zoey told her as she shook her arm free of the girl's grip and plopped down on the bed.

"More room for us!" Tiffany landed butt-first on top of Zoey's rock-hard abs with a smile.

"We're going to have to have a serious talk about personal boundaries," Zoey informed her.

"Are we moving to the next level already?" Tiffany unbuttoned the top of her shirt, revealing some cleavage.

"I told you I'm not into chicks!" Zoey retorted, feeling nothing at the sight.

"How would you know if you never even gave it a chance?" Tiffany teasingly shook her sizable chest.

"These are things you either know or don't know. I feel nothing looking at you." Zoey revealed.

"Liar liar pants on fire. I saw the way you were looking at me back then. You wanted nothing more than to ravage my innocent little body until you've had your fill." Tiffany giggled.

Zoey wasn't surprised that Tiffany noticed that. She did have a hard time controlling herself, after all. If Adrian didn't get in the way, she would've had at least some clue as to how strong Tiffany was right now. But now, she was mostly in the dark. All she knew was that Tiffany was probably some sort of assassin. The girl was too good at concealing herself.

"Don't say it like that. I wanted to fight you, yes. That's all." Zoey corrected her immediately.

"You wanted to mess me up until I was all slick with sweat and exhausted, right?" Tiffany continued to joke around.

"I'm done talking." Zoey pulled out her phone and started playing on it.

"You have to give me your number!!!" Tiffany screamed as she pulled out her phone, too.

A qPhone 14 Pro… It's one of the most expensive phones out right now. Something that a regular person couldn't hope to buy without plunging themselves into debt. Seeing that phone only made Zoey even more sure that Tiffany wasn't some regular magjistar. She didn't know what her background could be besides possibly being an assassin. But it did help her realize that she was up-to-date on the latest tech in the non-magji world.

"I'll think about it." Zoey scrolled down on her phone.

"Please!" Tiffany pleaded.

"Hmm, give me a couple more seconds to think about it." Zoey kept scrolling.

"Please, Panda!!!" Tiffany begged.

This back and forth went on for some time, with Tiffany asking for Zoey's number and Zoey rejecting her. After all, they only met like a few hours ago. Plus, Zoey was undercover right now, infiltrating into the base of the bad guys. Sharing her personal information with one of the bad guys didn't sound like the smartest thing to do. Even she knew that.

Eventually, there was a compromise. Zoey gained Tiffany's number and said she may or may not text her one day. It depended on Tiffany's luck and how bored Zoey was. As upset as Tiffany seemed about this, she was willing to accept this only because Zoey refused to share her socials, period.

"You're definitely my type. So commanding, direct, and mysterious…" Tiffany played with Zoey's panda mask.

"You're not mine." Zoey made sure she knew.

"Ugh! How can you say such heartbreaking things so easily?!" Tiffany clutched her chest as she fell backward toward the edge of the bed. "Don't you know how sensitive a girl's heart is?" She dramatically sighed.

"It's better to be direct. That way, people can't misunderstand you." Zoey felt this way normally.

"But look at me! I'm cute, pretty, adorable, and can be a good girlfriend! I mean, compared to the other options here, I'm the best one, right?" Tiffany sat up and looked at Zoey.

"..." Zoey thought back to the people in their group.

"Oh my god! Stop thinking! I don't want to hear it! If you're not going to say me, don't say anything at all!" Tiffany stood up from the bed.

"That one-" Before Zoey could finish, Tiffany interrupted. "LA LA LA LA! NO WAY! NO WAY AM I HEARING THIS!" Tiffany bolted out of the room as Zoey burst out laughing.

Outside the door, a figure was knocked down by Tiffany. Zoey and Tiffany locked eyes on the outsider. Strangely enough, it was the person that Zoey was just thinking of. "What do you want, Succubi?" Zoey questioned. Why would he be outside her door and not one of the servants?

"I had a question for the panda girl…" He timidly responded.

"Come in." Zoey gestured.

Tiffany narrowed her eyes at the Succubi. Her plan to run away crying was immediately forgotten as she crossed her arms and watched the Succubi like a hawk. Said Succubi, shivered at the gaze, slowly making his way in. Zoey noticed this change of action and stared at her. "Weren't you heading somewhere?" She questioned.

"I changed my mind," Tiffany answered promptly.

"Uhm…" The Succubi pressed his fingers together.

"Spit it out already," Zoey told him.

At least, she thinks it's a boy… They had no breasts, but everything else about them screamed girl. Soft, supple skin, the type of gentle appearance that made one want to protect them instinctively, slender curves, a cute butt, plump lips… Oh god, this guy was reminding Zoey of Ethan, her first crush.

"Sorry!" They squeaked. "I just wanted to know… how did you defend against my magji?"

"You really wanna know?" Zoey teasingly bit her lip underneath her mask as she turned to him. She felt it would be fun to troll this person.

"Y-Yes…" They responded.

"Tonight, meet me in front of the fountain in the backyard. I'll show you all sorts of things." Inner Zoey laughed.

"T-T-That's not! Don't play with me!" He blushed.

"It's your choice to come or not. I'm not forcing you." Zoey shrugged before turning away.

After all, he was the one who wanted something out of her. What the fuck did she get by answering his questions? It also seemed like Tiffany did not like him for some reason. She seemed like the type of person to like everyone. What was her deal?

"Fine… But if I do show up, you must answer my question." He tried being assertive and demanding.

"We'll see, Succubi," But it was too adorable in Zoey's eyes.

"My name is Emi." He authoritatively stated.

"Call me Panda." Zoey gave him some common courtesy, at the very least.

When he left, Tiffany stood at the edge of the bed with her hands on her hips. "Flirting with another person right in front of me?! How could you?!" She had actual tears pooling around her eyes.

"One, I don't think that was flirting. Two, we're not dating. And three, I told you I wasn't interested in women, and never will I ever experiment to find out." Zoey laid it out straight for her.

"I HATE YOU PANDA!" Tiffany left the room crying.

Zoey wasn't sure if it was real or fake, but she wasn't really concerned about it. She definitely wasn't going to go chasing after her in an attempt to clear up some misunderstanding or whatever. What did she look like chasing after another girl? Not that Zoey had a problem with her because of that. It was just that she wasn't gay. Katlyn was a lesbian and one of her best friends. It would be messed up if Zoey was homophobic while being friends with Katlyn. Plus, she was only acting as a bad guy. She probably wasn't really going to make any friends here.

Zoey doubted she had that god-like protagonist's ability to turn enemies into friends. The last time she tried that, the person went crazy, promising to kill her and her family.

 

[Namgo]

After Zoey's successful infiltration, Tink, Peter, and Jelena were busy following Prometheus's plan to the letter. They entered the Peacekeeper's headquarters together. Tink blissfully played on their phone that Zoey bought them while Peter and Jelena went over to the counter to talk to the Peacekeeper behind the desk. The male officer greeted the two with a professional smile.

"Hello. How can I help you two today?" He greeted.

"We would like to file several missing persons reports." Peter smiled as he plopped down a thick document.

"S-Several?" The Peacekeeper was astonished to hear this.

It wasn't like multiple people could just go missing out of the blue for no reason. He needed more information before he could raise a fuss about this. "Can you give me more information about this? The names of people missing, how long they have been missing, your relation to those missing, how you came about this information, etc?"

"All the information we gathered is on here. It's your job to do the hard stuff now." Jelena crossed her arms as she dragged Peter away.

"Hey! W-Wait! You guys could help out a lot of people! Don't you want to help these people be found sooner?!" The officer shouted, clutching the document while attempting to get up from behind his desk.

Tink followed Peter and Jelena out of the building, still joyfully tapping away at their phone. The trio stopped quite some distance away from the Peacekeeper building. "So, what now?" Tink asked the two despite already knowing a basic idea of their plans.

"Now we wait and see how the Dhara Peacekeepers respond to the fact that dozens of people have gone missing," Peter answered.

"Will they mobilize everything they have to search for the missing people and the group responsible for their disappearance, or just act like nothing is happening?" Jelena seemed to already believe she knew the answer.

"Sounds boring." Tink blew a raspberry.

"What would a fairie like you know? Aren't you just Winters's helper? Don't think that just because your master is gone, you can use her authority to say whatever you want." Jelena narrowed her eyes at Tink.

"..." Tink stopped playing their game as they locked eyes with Jelena.

"I'm only going to say this nicely once, so listen up." Tink smiled, their voice still as cheerful as ever, but now it had a strangeness behind it. "Don't ever treat me like I'm beneath you or anyone else. I'm a free-thinking living being just like you, so treat me like it." A not-so-little amount of mahna began to consolidate around Tink's body.

Both Jelena and Peter were kind of speechless at this. A fairie talking back to magjistars? No, wait, that wasn't the crazy part. It was the fact that a fairie just threatened them! You know, the magji race who were made for the sole purpose of serving magjistars?!

"Were you made wrong?" Jelena asked honestly. She couldn't fathom a fairie behaving this way otherwise.

Tink calmly 'requested' Peter to hold their phone. Peter felt unable to refuse this request. When he tried to speak up to try to defuse the situation, Tink glanced at him with a smile still on their face. Whatever he was about to say was silenced by the oppressive wave of Tink's mahna.

"I'm going to kick your ass so that you'll treat me with more respect!" Tink informed Jelena.

But with them being around the size of a person's palm, having a voice as cute as a button, and just being a fairie prevented Jelena from feeling any type of fear whatsoever. While the amount of mahna possessed by this fairie surprised Jelena, it didn't mean she was scared of it. Fairies weren't a frightening race in any capacity. Everyone knew this. Even if there were a fairie rebellion one day, where they got fed up with serving magjistars, absolutely no one would be afraid of such a thing.

This was because, fairies were specifically created for serving magjistars. Magjistars had no use for servants with the possibility to surpass or match them in magji prowess. Fairies were capable of having connate magji or learning learnable magji, but all had their full potential restricted. This restricted them to more lifestyle magji and to non-combative roles in magji society. Even children of other races were more useful than fairies when it came to fighting.

"That's a good one. I'd love to see the day when-" Jelena began to say, but before she could finish her words, Tink's unexpected attack abruptly knocked her off her feet.

Tink swiftly flew towards her after chanting a spell. Without hesitation, they delivered a powerful punch to Jelena's cheek. The force of the blow caused Jelena's head to whip to the side, sending her flying off her feet. As she slid across the hard concrete ground, a mixture of shock and disbelief washed over her.

Jelena didn't know whether it was out of embarrassment, rage, or confusion that she exploded with anger. Just as the realization that she was knocked down and even hurt by a fairie began to set in, Tink didn't bother being the courteous fighter. Tink was taught by the Zoey Winters! An experienced fighter who has been in all sorts of battles ever since she got caught up in the world of magji.

That fighter has long since taught them without even putting it into words that one should always press their advantage when it's available to them. So, before Jelena could even get off the ground, Tink appeared over them with their fist pulled back. They let Jelena have it with multiple rapid-fire punches straight to the face empowered by mahna. The ground cracked and crumbled from the force of Tink's punches until Jelena's face was bloody, bruised, and swollen. It was only when she still sensed a hint of defiance from Jelena and attempted to bring down both of their fists on Jelena's face that Peter intervened.

A harsh gust of magji wind blew Tink away. "I believe she's learned her lesson now…" Peter carefully held the unconscious Jelena in his arms. He was pointing a Horsetail Whisk directly at them if they attempted to continue. A familiar bloodthirsty smile was slowly fixing itself on Tink's bloody face as they cracked their knuckles.

Something deep inside of them sounded like it was cracking apart, bit by bit. Tink wanted to continue fighting for some reason. Peter wasn't even the one to disrespect them, but they really wanted to see what he was made of. Instead of being seduced by this new, unfamiliar feeling welling up inside of them, Tink utilized the breathing exercise taught to them by Zoey for when they were feeling not themself!

It took a few moments before Tink could look at Peter without feeling like they wanted to see how strong he was in comparison to themselves. "Okay!" Tink's cheerful voice exclaimed. "I'm good now! Let's head back to the hideout and wait or whatever!"

Tink didn't fault Peter for continuing to aim his magji tool at them. In fact, it filled them with pride and confidence! They have proven themselves stronger than a B-Grade magjistar! And it was all thanks to her best friend's teachings! Tink didn't even have to rely on their secret weapon to beat Jelena up! All it took was masterful control over their mahna and her new magji.

Combo magji! Thanks to Zoey teaching them Combo Magji, it didn't matter that half their potential was locked away at creation. If they got a high enough combo, they go over their inborn limit and could be just as strong or stronger than anyone! But Zoey didn't only teach Tink about Combo Magji, she also taught them everything she knew about fighting and magji! They were best friends, so why wouldn't they share everything with each other?! Zoey wanted Tink to be safe, and Tink wanted Zoey to be safe.

Even right now, while Tink was leading them back to the hideout, they were frantically texting Zoey about their big victory over Jelena and how they beat her up without even breaking a sweat. Then Tink talked about how Peter was scared out of his mind after seeing how strong and powerful they were. Even now, Tink texted about how he couldn't stop glancing at them out of fear that they'd beat him up, too, if he said one wrong thing.

As Zoey responded to Tink's texts, she was very supportive toward them. She was fully on Tink's side and said that Jelena deserved to be beaten up for what she said to Tink. In fact, Zoey didn't like her from the beginning. She would've beat her up for Tink if she were there! Tink couldn't help but send multiple heart emojis as pride and happiness filled their heart. As good as it would feel if their best friend defended them, Tink thought it was best that they defended themselves. While they had no plans of making magjistars treat all fairies with respect and dignity, Tink certainly would make sure they did so for them personally.

 

[Namgo]

Under the gentle caress of moonlight, the luxurious backyard unfolded like a scene from a drama. Tall, meticulously trimmed hedges bordered the perimeter, adorned with twinkling glowing fairies that meticulously worked on maintaining the state of the estate. The expansive lawn, a carpet of velvety green, stretched out in front of an opulent mansion, inviting with its manicured perfection. At the center of this enchanting landscape stood a majestic fountain, its marble structure intricately carved with timeless elegance. Water cascaded from tier to tier, catching the ambient light and sparkling like liquid diamonds. The soothing sound of the water played a tranquil melody, filling the night air with a sense of serenity.

Scattered throughout the garden were ornate benches and lush, comfortable seating arrangements, each strategically placed to offer the perfect vantage point for enjoying the symphony of nature. Overhead, a celestial blanket of stars adorned the night sky, their brilliance reflecting in the still waters of the fountain. The air carried a subtle fragrance of blooming flowers, contributing to the overall sensory feast.

Zoey sat on a bench, waiting for Emi to arrive. She spotted Tiffany secretly watching in the distance in plain sight. It distressed Zoey, knowing that if she truly wanted to hide, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to find her. She just shook her head at the crazy girl's antics. It was funny, but still, Zoey wouldn't let her guard down because of that cute, innocent act of hers. Tiffany was definitely an assassin or something. Zoey just didn't know if she was after her head or truly cared about this group and their goals. Regardless, Zoey wouldn't let her catch her lacking.

Eventually, Emi arrived at the fountain. His slim, weak, prey-like figure invigorated something bad within Zoey's loins. It reminded her of all the times she fantasized about herself devouring Ethan. But now she was a legal adult and could screw whoever the hell she wanted whenever she wanted! Inner Zoey didn't care that he was a different species than her, that she was a virgin with zero sex experience, or that she had no clue how to flirt or get in someone's pants.

When they locked eyes, she could see him flinch. Did he see the desire in her eyes, or was he just naturally frightful? Emi clinched his shaking fist as he seemingly gathered the courage to stand in front of her. Zoey thought about pouncing on him here and now in the gardens. Ripping his clothes off as she fully satisfied her growing sexual appetite, and he jumped. Uh oh.

"You know how I feel towards you." Zoey realized. He was similar to Joseph!

Joseph could see emotions! But what about this guy? Inner Zoey shifted her thoughts to tearing him to pieces with violence and even shifted her body as if she was going to physically attack, but she didn't see anything that was as obvious as that flinch from before. Was it sexual emotions?! It had to be! He was a Succubi!

"..." He didn't respond. "I-I didn't come here for that. I chose to join this group to escape that kind of life! S-S-So give up ever thinking I'll do something like that with a human like you!" He softly yelled at her.

Unconsciously, a mischievous grin appeared on Inner Zoey's face as she stood up and looked up at the man. She began utilizing years upon years of experience as an imaginary sexual fiend. All within a matter of moments, both Zoey and Emi were locked in an unseen battle of will. Zoey was rapidly thinking of herself indulging in all sorts of acts of lust and depravity with Emi, from public acts of indecency and sweaty, raunchy sex that would annoy the neighbors to secretive teasing next to their friends.

Ever since middle school, when she found out the existence of naughty stuff on the internet, she's been a #1 addict to things perverted and sexual. In her mind, of course. What person would like such a perverted, sex-obsessed freak? Which is why the other Zoey always hides that side away from others. It wasn't helpful to making friends, something she sorely wanted for so long.

So, she repressed this overflowing sexual desire inside for years. Inner Zoey was fed all of that sexual repression. And when Inner Zoey saw the way Emi behaved, his mannerisms, his appearance, and everything else, she put him through the imaginary wringer. He was exactly their ideal type, even more so after they've become this strong and confident thanks to the Box. And yes, she kept the panda mask on in each sex fantasy.

Zoey suddenly felt an increasing amount of mahna coming off of Emi's body. The look of confusion on his face seemed to mean he didn't understand what was going on either. "Do you want to fight?" Inner Zoey meant that in more ways than one. "Y-Y-You huge pervert!" Emi blushed before turning to walk away.

Inner Zoey grabbed his arm before he could leave. "Don't you want to know how I defended against your magji?" She smiled beneath her mask. "Let go of me! I-I don't care anymore. I want nothing to do with a crazy human like you!" Emi tried wrenching his arm back, but even with his strangely increased strength, it was nothing compared to Zoey's regular strength. But she still let him go, but not before a certain someone shouted something.

"STOP TOUCHING! NO TOUCHING!" Somehow, Tiffany appeared in the middle of them and pushed both of them away from each other.

As fun as it was messing with both Tiffany and Emi, Zoey was only playing around for the most part. While she was open to fucking the shit out of Emi, sadly, he wasn't interested in her. She wasn't going to push the issue either. As of now, she had no clue who he actually was as a person. Emi could be a giant fucking racist shitbag as far as she knew. All she liked were surface-level things. While that was fine with her if they had sex and all, Inner Zoey knew the other side of her wouldn't be too happy if they caught feelings for someone who was a terrible person.

"We only broke up just a few hours ago, and you're already flirting and trying to replace me?! With him of all people?!" Tiffany pointed at the pathetic-looking fallen Emi.

"He's cute," Zoey responded.

"I'm cuter!" Tiffany retorted.

"Yeah, but he's a boy, and you're a girl." Zoey reminded her.

"Agh! How are you so thick-headed to date outside your own species but not gender?!" Tiffany felt like ripping out her own hair.

"Humans are complex creatures." Zoey stole a line from someone way smarter than her.

She shrugged as Tiffany began yapping her head off. Emi long since left the area, leaving Zoey and Tiffany on the bench outside. Zoey looked up at the vast bright stars in the sky as Tiffany talked about how she was perfect girlfriend material. As if she were performing a presentation in front of important business partners, she spoke about all of her good points and even some of her flaws. But those flaws were things like being too much of an overachiever—bullshit like that.

Inner Zoey tuned her out a long time ago as she just admired the view and atmosphere. Eventually, the two of them returned back to the mansion. Zoey tossed Tiffany out of her room. They were absolutely not sleeping together, 'besties' or not. "I thought you forgave me already!" Tiffany cutely whined.

"This and that aren't the same. If you sneak into my bed while I'm sleeping, I'll kill you." Zoey warned her.

"I bet if Emi tried sneaking in your bed, you wouldn't say that to him…" Tiffany crossed her arms and pouted.

"You're not wrong." Zoey closed the door and plopped down on her bed. Beyond the door, she heard Tiffany let out some sounds of frustration.

Obviously, she wasn't about to fucking fall asleep in a house full of enemies. That'd be really stupid of her. Even stupider than trying to befriend an assassin for a second time… To be honest, Zoey was open to befriending Tiffany, but not yet. She couldn't let her in until this thing was done and over. She knew that Tiffany was hiding something about herself, something big. And until Zoey found out that information, she couldn't risk being friends with her. She was too good at hiding her presence.

In fact, if Zoey wasn't an endurance monster who didn't need as much sleep as normal humans, she probably wouldn't even have noticed Tiffany sneaking into her room late at night. The assassin, or whatever she was, lock-picked her way into the room, silently crawled into the room after opening the door ajar just enough for herself to fit through, avoided Zoey's sight lines from the height of the bed to the door, and hid underneath the bed. It was all done so quickly and quietly that she wasn't sure if she wasn't seeing things in the dark.

When Zoey hung her head from over the edge of the bed, staring Tiffany in the eyes, the assassin seemed unable to keep her shock hidden. Tiffany let out a high-pitched scream as Zoey loosened her body. "I warned you, Tiff." She reached down and grabbed her, intent on teaching her a painful lesson about breaking and entering, along with not respecting people's boundaries. If Tiffany so happened to reveal her true strength while she was at it, so be it…

 

[Namgo]

In the quiet solitude of the early morning, Zoey found herself seated at the dinner table, indulging in a mixture of sizzling flavors meticulously crafted to meet the dietary demands of a professional fighter. A centerpiece of lean protein, grilled to perfection, dominated the plate with its savory allure. The tender chicken breast, sprinkled with a medley of aromatic herbs and a hint of citrus, bore the marks of a skilled chef's expertise. Its golden exterior hinted at the meticulous care taken to achieve the ideal balance between succulence and char.

Surrounding the protein powerhouse, various vibrant vegetables created a combination of colors. Crisp, verdant broccoli florets stood proud, offering a burst of freshness. Beside them, ruby-red cherry tomatoes and slices of bell peppers added both sweetness and a lively crunch. The vegetables, lightly seasoned with herbs and a drizzle of olive oil, retained their natural essence. Completing the ensemble, a generous portion of quinoa nestled beside the protein and vegetables, embodying the wholesome foundation of the well-balanced meal. Cooked to fluffy perfection, the quinoa grains absorbed the essence of a savory broth, infusing each bite with a delightful depth of flavor. Its nutty undertones provided a satisfying backdrop to the ensemble.

While Zoey doubted she needed to eat this healthily with the Box in potential control of her body, mind, and magji, she still did so for a couple of reasons. The first one was that the food tasted really good here. Two, if they tried to poison her, she would only get stronger. At home, it was just her mom's cooking.

Zoey didn't hate her mom's cooking or anything. There was just a noticeable difference between someone who cooked because they had to feed themselves and their children vs. fairies whose skills demanded it or they would be punished. That difference led her to this dinner table, happily eating a full-course meal inside the enemy's headquarters. She might as well get some benefits out of acting as a spy.

On the opposite side of the table, Tiffany sat looking pitiful. The lingering bruises on her face was proof that Zoey's words weren't to be ignored. Her attempts at a heartfelt apology were evident in the puppy-dog black eyes she cast in Zoey's direction. "I said I was sorry!" Her voice carried the weight of remorse.

"Yeah, I heard you." Zoey glanced in her direction.

"Then why haven't you forgiven me yet?! I told you I won't do it again!" Tiffany seemed to be on the verge of bawling her eyes out.

"I haven't seen proof that you've learned from your mistake," Zoey explained.

"So, you're just going to be mad at me for that long!? How can I even prove something like that?!" Tiffany couldn't believe her ears.

"Respect people's boundaries and their words if you want to be friends with them." Zoey thought it was a simple concept.

Tiffany sprawled her hands across the table, looking at Zoey, pouting sadly. Zoey ate without a thought to Tiffany's gaze. This was really good. She was looking forward to eating this quality of food every day while she was here. Oh, that reminded her. Should she thank the servants or continue acting like a crazy bad guy?

Wait! Inner Zoey just remembered why she begged her other self to be the spy. It was to act however the fuck she wanted! She didn't need to put on an act for these people. She just needed to make sure they didn't find out she was a traitor. Who gave a fuck about what they thought about her. As long as it wasn't stuff like she's definitely a spy or something.

While Zoey and Tiffany were eating breakfast, a few of the others came to investigate the smell radiating around the mansion. The Minotaur demanded food at the end of the table opposite to Zoey. The Viperian politely requested some live food, like rodents, along with cooked meat. Emi made eye contact with Zoey and immediately decided to leave instead of staying to eat. The Luminari didn't show themselves.

Neither Zoey nor Tiffany said anything to them as they waited for their food to be prepared. After all, besides the brawl, they didn't really introduce themselves or interact in any way. But then Inner Zoey realized if she treated them like strangers, she'd be a pretty shit spy. She couldn't get any information on these people if she kept them at arm's length! So, she made a decision she normally wouldn't have made in a million years. Zoey introduced herself to strangers.

"I'm Panda. Why are you two here?" Zoey kept it short and simple.

"Breakfast." The Viperian responded without looking in her direction.

Her hair snakes warily hissed in her direction, though. Zoey thought it was cute. It reminded her of Slinky… Just way tinier and more snippy.

"Food!" The Minotaur banged his fists on the table.

"..." Zoey didn't know what she expected.

The Viperian had a faint smile on her face after hearing the Minotaur's response. "I saw you and the Succubi in the gardens late last night. What were you discussing that you felt the need to hide from the rest of us?" She asked with subtly interest.

"If you're so curious, why don't you ask him yourself?" Zoey replied.

"I was giving you a chance to prove your sincerity. You wanted to know my reasons for joining this group, and I wanted to know what you discussed with another group member in private. A fair deal, I would say." She explained.

"Who even are you? Why the hell would I prove anything to you?" Zoey glanced at her.

"You can call me…" A distant, far-off look appeared in her eyes. "Millie. And since you seem interested in getting to know us for some reason, I'd advise you to be a bit more cordial and polite."

"I'd advise you to get that stick out of your ass when talking to me unless you want it shoved further up there." Zoey politely recommended herself.

"Crass, violent, and uneducated. As expected of a brutish thug." Millie scoffed, remembering back to the brawl.

Now, Zoey didn't know if she was calling her a thug because she was black or because of the way she was acting right now. She was actually willing to give Millie the benefit of the doubt here because she was a magji creature and not someone who was raised and born around regular people. Zoey really doubted she knew anything about the persecution of black people and racism involving background among humans. For all she knew, there were only humans and other species. So, just this time, she would allow the name-calling without violence.

"If you wanna see just how much of a thug, I really am, just keep talking, snake." Zoey locked eyes with Millie.

"Unfortunately for you, I have better things to do than waste my time with someone like you. Why don't you go enjoy yourself with that Succubi friend of yours?" Millie rolled her eyes.

"Millie! Gork hungry! When food coming!?" Gork asked.

"Nice to meet you too, Gork." Millie gave a friendly smile to him. "Soon, I'd suppose. I'm quite hungry as well." Millie answered him without any snark or sarcasm like with Zoey.

"Food hurry! Gork hungry now!" Gork eagerly awaited his breakfast.

Tiffany was still staring at Zoey, looking all pitiful and shit. Zoey was slightly upset she didn't manage to infuriate or upset Millie even with her Fighting Aura directed at her full blast. Either she had a super high control over her emotions, or Zoey wasn't trying hard enough. She could've tried to force a fight by being the first to start it, but honestly, Zoey wasn't really interested in fighting Millie.

Gork or Tiffany was more to her liking as opponents. If she fought Millie, she'd be confused about whether it would be an easy fight or an annoying one. From what Zoey knew about snakes, they either had deadly poison or would squeeze the life out of you. And since these snake people were called Viperians and looked big and tall, Zoey figured they could do both.

Hmm, now that Zoey has thought about it, she's a little interested in fighting a Viperian. Could she outwrestle a creature known for wrestling? Wrestling is all about control over an opponent. How could she show control over a flexible opponent like a Viperian? Were their human upper bodies less flexible? Could she snap their spines with a backbreaker?

"I'm finished." Zoey got up from the dinner table as the servants started bringing in Millie and Gork's food. Zoey told the servants to give the cooks her thanks and that it was delicious.

Tiffany sullenly followed behind her, still silently begging for forgiveness. Zoey didn't comment on it. She just allowed her to follow behind her. Normally she would go work off the calories she just devoured with some high-intensity training, but this wasn't really the situation for that. So, why don't she level up some other skills she rarely used?

 

[Namgo]

[Status]


[Name: Zoey]


[Sex: Female]


[Body: 20]


[Mental: 3.5]


[Magic: 15.5]


[Skills: 17]


[Zoey's Victorious Boxing Lv10]


[Focus Lv12]


[Teaching Maxed]


[Abnormal Conditions Lv23]


[Endurance Lv33]


[Fighting Aura Lv7]


[Gaming Lv20]


[Mahna Manipulation Lv34]


[Combo Magji Maxed]


[Twisting Force Maxed]


[Mahna Gathering Bomb Lv8]


[Overdraft Maxed]


[Dash Lv2]


[Flexibility Lv2]


[Friends of the Oppressed Maxed]


[Meditation Lv2]


[First-Aid Lv1]​

In the frost-kissed gardens of the mansion, where winter held the world in its icy embrace, Zoey decided to spend her free time to leveling up the skills she rarely used. The air, crisp with the scent of snow, provided the perfect atmosphere for the unexpected yoga session that unfolded amidst the amazing beauty of the winter landscape. Delicate flakes descended from the leaden sky, creating a serene atmosphere for the impromptu exercise, with nothing but the bare snow serving as their seating, and Winter's icy touch leaving no participant spared.

Undeterred by the biting cold, Zoey gracefully raised herself into the crane position, her breath forming formless wisps in the frigid air. The crane position demanded a delicate balance, akin to a handstand, requiring strength primarily from the arms and core. Remarkably, Zoey's limbs remained steadfast, and her breath, a visible testament to the chill, exhibited a calm and measured cadence. It was as if the frozen surroundings had no impact on her at all.

Tiffany, on the other hand, mirrored Zoey's resilience but with a visible struggle. Her cheeks took on a rosy hue, not from her natural innate genes but from the relentless assault of the unforgiving cold. The snow-covered ground beneath them seemed to intensify the cold, and Tiffany found herself shivering from the elements, her muscles protesting the unfamiliar exertion demanded by the challenging yoga positions.

As Zoey effortlessly transitioned from one demanding yoga pose to another, the snowflakes danced around them in a silent ballet, creating a magical aura around their wintry workout. The intricate and demanding poses continued against the backdrop of the serene winter landscape, with Zoey's body contorting in ways that seemed almost supernatural. Observing Tiffany's struggles, Zoey couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. "I told you, you didn't have to do this," she reminded her, the pity evident in her tone as Tiffany, with blue lips and a determined spirit, persisted in the face of adversity, her teeth chattering from the cold.

The contrast between Zoey's effortless grace and Tiffany's determined suffering continued to unfold as the snowflakes bore witness to their wintry exercise. Tiffany, though capable of performing the challenging poses, moved at a snail's pace, each movement a laborious effort against the biting cold. Zoey sighed, contemplating whether she was being stupid or just stubborn.

"I'm not going to forgive you for sneaking into my room just because you're torturing yourself. Go back inside, warm yourself up, and wait for me to finish up," Zoey instructed. She didn't get any pleasure out of seeing Tiffany suffer. She wasn't a weirdo.

"N-N-Never give up," Tiffany managed to stutter through chattering teeth, her determination overriding the physical discomfort she endured.

The snowflakes continued their descent. Zoey inwardly shrugged. If Tiffany wanted to torture herself for no reason, then that was on her. She was simply trying to raise the levels of Meditation, Flexibility, Abnormal Conditions, and Endurance. Zoey thought it was a good opportunity to level up several skills at the same time.

She could raise Meditation and Flexibility through yoga. And because of the weather, both Endurance and Abnormal Conditions could level up. In fact, Zoey felt cold as hell, it's just that she didn't feel the negative effects of it. It wasn't all that terrible to be outside right now in booty shorts and a tank top for her. She thought it looked nice and would be great for training.

Tiffany dropped to the ground, unable to continue, and Zoey decided to call it quits there. Meditation, Flexibility, and Endurance leveled up. Although she could definitely keep going, Tiffany was going to kill herself if she continued to be stubborn. Having someone's death on her hands, even indirectly, wouldn't feel good. So, she grabbed the nearly frozen Tiffany by the waist and carried her inside the mansion. Zoey handed her off to the fairies as she went back to her room.

---

In the swirling snowfall, Peter, Tink, and Jelena— started their movement against the suspicious silence of the Peacekeeper Order. The mass missing person case, shrouded in mystery, fueled their determination to get some answers. Tink, more than happy to let themselves be heard, actively helped the movement, leading the charge for justice.

The biting cold did nothing to quell their fiery spirits as they followed the instructions left by Zoey's friend. Peter and Jelena gathered a group of concerned citizens, their hearts echoing the same plea for accountability and some transparency about the ongoing case. These were the people whose loved ones, daughters, sons, fathers, mothers, lovers, or friends were involved in the case. Jelena and Peter spent day after day visiting homes, asking people questions, and getting them involved.

Considering there were missing individuals from all walks of life, included in this case, Peter and Jelena managed to garner a lot more support than they thought they would. Both magjistars and magji creatures had people they knew gone missing after attending the recruitment drive for the Magji Liberation Front. Their first stop was the heart of the city, where they brought more attention to the issue with passionate speeches and compelling flyers, each bearing the faces of the missing individuals. As the crowd swelled with empathetic faces, Peter stepped forward, his voice resonating with a blend of justice and empathy.

"People of the magji world, I stand before you not merely as a voice but as a vessel for the collective concerns beating in the hearts of every person gathered here today. The Peacekeeper Order, an organization founded on the principles of justice and honesty, has a duty to uphold those principles." Peter's voice was loud and clear. "We, the people, are the lifeblood of this city. We are its heartbeat, its soul. And in return for our trust, the Peacekeeper Order must offer not just enforcement of laws but also transparency and accountability. Our city's safety depends on this delicate balance. Without it, anarchy and chaos would run amok through our streets." Citizens cheered and supported his statements. "In the shadows, there are those among us, our friends, our family, who have vanished without a trace. The silence from the Peacekeeper Order is deafening. Today, we ask not for vengeance but for answers, for the truth that is rightfully ours. We call upon the Order to honor its commitment, to break the shackles of silence, and to let the light of transparency pierce through the darkness that has silenced these disappearances. Let our voices be heard, resonating through the corridors of justice, demanding the accountability we deserve. As citizens, we are not merely subjects to authority; we are stakeholders in the very fabric of our community. It is time for the Peacekeeper Order to remember that their duty extends beyond enforcing laws—it encompasses protecting the trust that binds us all together." He finished his speech with a deafening roar of support.

Jelena, armed with a thorough investigation into each missing person, seized the opportunity to expose the stark contrast between the Peacekeeper Order's lofty promises and their silence on this grave matter. "Alright, listen up, folks! Today, we're not just random faces in the crowd; we're the group determined to expose what the Peacekeeper Order's been hiding for way too long. These guys, sworn to keep us safe, conveniently forgot to keep us up to date with whether our loved ones are safe or not? Like, seriously? Big talk, zero transparency." Jelena's words began to rile the magji citizen's up in a different manner from Peter. "We're not asking politely anymore; we're demanding the Peacekeepers tell us what is going on. Just to remind everyone, we're not here to cause chaos or be destructive; we just want to know what's going on. We've got a right to know what went down with our missing loved ones." People were crying out for justice now. "We're not against the Peacekeeper Order; we're just reminding them of the commitment they made to us. The truth is our right, not a privilege."

The trio's efforts bore fruit as the crowd, now a sea of united voices, echoed their demand for answers. The snow-laden streets became a stage for a peaceful yet powerful protest, a testament to the citizens' refusal to accept complacency in the face of uncertainty. Word spread like wildfire, and soon, the trio found themselves at the center of a burgeoning movement. The missing persons case, once confined to the shadows, now cast a glaring spotlight on the Peacekeeper Order's questionable practices. The city, stirred by a collective yearning for truth and justice, demanded accountability from those sworn to protect them.

"I feel like punching something," Tink was charged by the energy radiating around them.

"No violence." Peter cautiously glanced at the fairie.

"I just said I felt like punching something, not that I would do it." Tink rolled their eyes.

 

[Namgo]

"So, this is our mysterious leader, huh?" Inner Zoey mused, crossing her arms as she sized him up.

The mysterious leader of their group appeared rather handsome through Zoey's eyes. Towering at a height of 6 feet 5 inches, he boasted a well-proportioned build, with decent muscles. His stormy gray eyes, set beneath sharp, arched eyebrows. A cascade of midnight-black hair, sleek and slightly wavy, framed his face, falling gracefully around his shoulders. His facial features, observed by Zoey, were distinctly chiseled and angular, showcasing high cheekbones and a well-defined jawline. A thin scar etched across one cheek. Wearing a tailored, onyx-black suit, it hugged his form. A crimson-lined cloak billowed behind him. Polished leather boots completed his outfit, their echoes resonating with each step he took. In Zoey's eyes, he certainly fits the look of a bad-guy leader.

"Panda. You will treat Roy with respect or else." Selena threatened. They were the first words she's said to Zoey since they met a week ago.

"Or else what?" Zoey arrogantly challenged her, her body language screaming for a fight. "Your boyfriend seems up for a round or two."

"Do not make baseless remarks!" Her voice slightly rose as mahna formed around her.

"I think your crush can speak for himself." Inner Zoey found her sensitive spot.

Selena hasn't said a damn thing to her all this time. No matter who she argued with or threatened or what she did at the mansion, She silently looked on and never said anything or did anything. But now, when Zoey finally met their mysterious leader, she wants to pipe up and start yapping? Oh, not without Zoey having her fun first.

"C-Crush!? I'll shut that nonsensical mouth of yours like the barking dog you are!" But before she could rush toward Zoey, someone intervened.

Both Adrian and Lector tightly grasped her wrists. She fixed them both with a vicious glare before seeing Roy approach Zoey. Zoey got out of her fighting stance and looked up at him. He had a faint smile on his face. It kind of pissed Zoey off. Sure, he was handsome, but he wasn't really her type. She'd have a one-night stand with him but contact him again afterward? He'd need to have done really fucking well in the bedroom for that.

Neither said a word to the other. They silently stared at each other. Then, in an instant, a harsh gust of wind exploded within the room as Zoey and Roy's mahna clashed against each other. The others were forced to ground themselves as some slid back from the clash.

Tiffany excitedly clapped her hands and bounced in place while cheering for Zoey. The wind blowing back her clothes and hair was of little concern to her at the moment. Gork scratched his head with a dazed look on his face. Millie rolled her eyes. She was not surprised at this outcome in the slightest. She gently pressed down on her snake hair to keep her serpents from wildly flailing in the wind. Also, to comfort them. Star, the Luminari, was shifting between colors for some reason while this was happening. Emi was just happy Panda wasn't bothering him.

"Why did you interrupt me?" Selena questioned the two.

"For things like this, the leader should handle it," Lector informed her.

"She will be a good example for the others," Adrian added.

"I… I understand." Selena went mum as she watched her leader show why he was the leader of their group.

The intensity of the wind produced by Zoey and Roy's clash rose even further as the two took it to the next level. Now, those watching had to actively protect themselves with mahna to avoid being blasted away just by the immense force these two were producing. Roy still had that small smile on his face, although it seemed to be growing by the minute. Zoey would've liked to compare their strength in a far more physical manner, but this was fine, too.

"Tch." Zoey clicked her tongue as her panda head was about to be blown off her head. If she tried to go further, it would fly off. "Fine, I'll follow you for now." She reigned back in her mahna as she fixed her mask.

"I'm glad to hear that, Panda. I'm looking forward to your cooperation." He held his hand out for a handshake.

"If it ever gets boring, I'll kill you in an instant." Zoey reminded him, playing into her role. She shook his hand, crushing it momentarily.

"Having someone as scary as you to motivate me is a blessing. I'll be sure not to waste it." Roy's face didn't change in the slightest, even with Zoey crushing his hand.

"Not bad…" Zoey let go of his hand.

"Many thanks, Panda. Now, let's get to business, everyone." Roy shook his hand as he began walking to the front of the group.

Zoey felt Selena's glare on her. Probably wished to slice her into a million pieces or something. Even though Zoey didn't know what her magji was, she didn't feel wary of her. Roy was strong enough to be the leader of this bad guy group. Zoey didn't think she'd lose to Roy if they went all out, but she felt like she couldn't walk all over him with ease. Selena felt like a stereotypical magjistar- arrogant, fights at a range, close-minded, and would get stomped in a close-ranged fight.

"For our debut, we must make quite the statement for everyone. The Magji Liberation Front is not just any organization but one that will change the world. So, I had an idea." Roy gathered their attention with his words. "Feel free to chime in with any ideas of your own after hearing mine." He politely added. "So, I was thinking, before we begin our journey to change the world for the better. It would be more impactful if we started with our own people instead of the gullies. The gullies are utterly helpless against us, while magjistars and magji creatures are more than capable of stopping us." Roy explained.

"What exactly are we going to do?" Millie questioned.

"There's a group of magjistars known to discriminate, enslave, and harvest resources from magji creatures within Dhara. The black market for magji creature organs, skin, fur, and more is very lucrative. No matter which OM branch, this disgusting practice is always in motion. It would be for the best if we eliminated these people from our city. What do you all think?" Roy turned to them, interested in their answers.

"I'm willing," Millie responded.

"Gork tear them apart!" Gork roared.

"Sounds good to me." Star chuckled.

"I'm in…" Emi clutched his fist.

"I didn't expect us to be doing something like this for our first mission!" Tiffany was on board.

"Me either…" Inner Zoey was genuinely surprised.

"Disgusting criminals. They bring shame to magjistars everywhere." Selena nearly spat in disgust.

"We will be sure to show them the error of their ways." Adrian viciously smirked.

"Since the Peacekeepers won't do it, someone has to, I suppose," Lector added.

"I'm relieved." Roy smiled. "They're having an auction very soon. We will crash the auction, free those who we can, and wipe out the magjistars present."

"How will we prevent them from escaping?" Millie questioned. "I'm sure they will have more than triple our numbers at that auction."

"That's a good question. Adrian, can I trust you to handle that, or will you need additional help?" Roy turned to the suited man.

"My Barrier Magji is unrivaled when it comes to creating barriers." Adrian confidently responded.

"Good. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you do when we arrive. I care more about ensuring that everything goes right than an overestimation of your capabilities." Roy reminded him.

"If even one magjistar manages to escape, I will-" Roy interrupted him before he could finish.

"There is no need for anything as drastic as what you were about to say. Simply prepare to your best ability." He turned to everyone else. "That goes for the rest of you as well. We will be heading out in three days. The auction will take place late at night."

"Prepare what?!" Gork asked.

"To fight for our right to live as we should." Roy gently smiled at him. "If you have any more questions, please feel free to stay and chat. If not, you may return to your rooms." Roy placed his hands behind his back.

Adrian, Lector, Selena, and Emi were the only ones to stay. Zoey and Tiffany made their way to her room. Honestly, Zoey wasn't expecting things to turn out this way. A group of bad guys wouldn't go about trying to stop slavery and killing slavers. She inwardly sighed. This would be a lot more complicated than she thought since they were more than just bad guys…

Zoey was going to participate in the raid. She had no reason not to. Hell, she would've done it even if she wasn't involved with this group. Slavery was bad, period. She didn't even need to try and act like a hero to want to participate. The average person with common sense understood that owning another being was wrong.

"Are you excited for the mission?" Tiffany asked.

"It should be fun," Zoey answered. Beating up a bunch of assholes who deserve it? Fuck yeah, she was excited.

 

[Namgo]

The entrance, cunningly concealed within the undergrounds of Dhara, served as an entrance into a new realm dipped with secrecy. Only those already living in the dark side of the magji world could find their way to the masked guards at the entrance to the hidden auction. Upon crossing the threshold into the building created by magji, an otherworldly ambiance enveloped the rich attendees. The underground chamber, expansive and excessively lit, extended beyond the reach of simple lanterns. It was a place of luxury and excess.

Influential figures had their identities concealed behind fancy masks. The atmosphere was rather excited and cheerful as they chatted while the auction was being prepared. Attendees, draped in opulent fabrics, socialized and kept up to date with their connections. After all, these types of events didn't happen often. Chatterings of forbidden topics and the exchange of hushed secrets hung in the air, creating a current of comfort inside the building.

The auction drew a diverse crowd of Dhara's power players—wealthy clans, influential groups, and lone criminals. Each masked face represented another buyer. All hoping to profit from this auction or gain something. At the heart of the large underground chamber, a raised platform commanded attention. Bathed in subdued light that intensified the drama, this elevated stage held the core of tonight's merchandise on sale—magji creatures.

In one cage, coiled pitifully, was a Viperian child with a unique appearance. Her beautiful, pure white scales shined in the enchanting lights. Along with her unique coloration, her head snakes, or serpentia as they were called, were abnormally large. They were larger than the child's own body as they hissed and lunged at the cage, imprisoning the Viperian. Despite her outward magnificence, the young girl seemed to be silently weeping.

As the masked attendees below observed the caged magji creature, they excitedly chatted about all sorts of subjects. Skinning it for its pretty scales, waiting for it to grow before doing so, having it serve as a slave overseer because of those monstrous serpentia, or more. The enchanting sight was more than enough to set the mood for the auction. Patrons excitedly awaited the unveiling of more amazing products soon.

While the atmosphere was good and positive, Seni, the enchantingly breathtaking auctioneer of this event, stepped onto the stage. Her every movement was mesmerizing and captivating. Clad in a meticulously tailored suit that accentuated power and sex appeal, she became the focal point of attention in the brightly lit chamber. Her striking beauty heightened the mood of the auction even more. Many thought she was quite pleasing to the eyes, especially since she was the only one seemingly unmasked among those working with the auction.

With a magnetic presence and a voice that carried an enthralling cadence, Seni wielded language like a seductive weapon. Her positive demeanor betrayed any filthiness in her trade, and she had an uncanny flair for infusing the dramatic into every syllable uttered. As she spoke, her words easily exaggerated the most obvious qualities of the items being sold.

With each carefully chosen phrase, Seni skillfully advertised the products being sold to the audience in front of her. She revealed that they weren't selling just magji creatures but also magji tools, summons, daemonic tools, magji traps, and even harvested materials from magji creatures. Seni's words were like a siren's song, weaving a web of temptation that ensnared the buyers' darkest desires. As she described the unique qualities of each product, an evident hunger emanated from the masked attendees below, their greed stoked by the amazing illegal or expensive things being sold.

Her performance wasn't just a transaction of goods; it was an artful manipulation of desire, an intricate display of skill between supply and demand. Seni's ability to intertwine fantasy with reality, turning the tragic fate of these magical beings into coveted assets, marked her as not just an auctioneer but a maestro of deception.

As the last item appeared on stage, a hushed anticipation enveloped the dark gathering. The air crackled with visible tension, and the masked figures leaned forward eagerly as Seni prepared to unveil the pièce de résistance—the apex of tonight's auction. In the center of the platform, concealed beneath an ornate cloth, rested a cage housing a particularly rare magji creature. Its presence alone seemed to thicken the air, as if the very essence of its mahna permeated the surroundings. The muted murmurs of the masked attendees reached a fever pitch, their greed-laden breaths practically audible as Seni prepared to reveal the coveted spectacle.

Unbeknownst to the unsuspecting participants, Roy's group navigated hidden passages with stealthy ease. Cloaked by darkness and guided by a shared sense of purpose, they moved with calculated precision, waiting for the opportune moment to unveil themselves. The passages, concealed from the prying eyes of the auction's backers, became the stage for Zoey and Magji Liberation Front. A subtle exchange of glances and nods conveyed their strategic deliberations, ensuring that the timing of their revelation would be nothing short of purposeful.

As the auctioneer's hands delicately lifted the veil, revealing the rare magji creature roaring out at the filled stands of magjistars, the hidden members of Zoey's group braced themselves. The creature, a symbol of both rage and power, stood as the fulcrum upon which the impending confrontation would pivot. In the shadows, Roy's group prepared to step into the spotlight, their presence poised to disrupt the auction's rhythm and challenge the malevolent forces that thrived on the suffering of magical beings.

When Roy's group materialized from the shadows, chaos erupted in the auction. Adrian prevented anyone from entering or leaving by creating a magji barrier around the entrance and exits. Not even magji tools that had the power to teleport were working. It seems everyone was trapped inside. Roy took this chance to give a small speech to their targets.

"You've made a business out of the pain and suffering of innocent beings, but today, your dark trade crumbles. We are the Magji Liberation Front, and we stand against the unjust acts you monsters are dealing in," Roy declared, his voice echoing through the cavernous chamber. "As you revel in the misery you've inflicted on those undeserving, know that after tonight, you won't see the day of light again. The time for justice has come, and you shall answer for your crimes against magji kind," he continued, the weight of his words resonating with a sense of impending reckoning.

Zoey didn't really give a damn about Roy's speech or whatever. When they landed inside the auction, her first act was landing on top of a masked slaver with her fist. His face cracked the ground, and it was unclear if he was alive or not. It wasn't Zoey's concern whether someone who was willing to buy slaves lived or died. Hell, they fucking used fairies who were basically created to be slaves. Why the hell do they still need to do shit like this?

Instantly, those in charge of keeping peace in the auction moved in to protect their patrons. Relief filled their bodies when they realized it wasn't the Peacekeepers but just some rag-tag group of magjistars and magji creatures. Unfortunately for them, Zoey and friends were here to do anything but provide relief. A smile slowly formed on Zoey's face underneath her panda mask as she realized she had made herself the biggest target after taking out one of the patrons.

While there was a small difference between the people trying to buy slaves and the people selling slaves, Zoey held the sellers to a higher degree of evil. This meant when the magjistars fired off multiple spells towards her in the hope of killing her, she didn't hold her punches against them. Since she couldn't blink due to Adrian's barrier, Zoey relied on her good old skill, Dash. Zoey dashed to the right, not caring whether or not she crashed into any fleeing patrons.

In fact, Zoey purposely bumped into any buyers with her monstrously strong body, knocking them to the ground and breaking their bones as well. Then she dashed to the nearest magjistar, who was woefully unprepared for her speed. Her arm came crashing across his throat at a dangerous speed. The magjistar did several flips in the air before falling to the ground. Not even a wheeze escaped his collapsed throat as he weakly reached out toward something.

Zoey didn't waste a second grabbing his body, spinning around with it, and tossing it at the giant magji rock heading her way. His body crashed against it without a scream as Zoey dashed toward the earth magjistar. She leaped on top of the cracked pieces and pounced downward toward her. Surprisingly, the lady didn't panic.

A chant for a spell smoothly flowed from her lips as she raised her wand toward Zoey. Zoey didn't bother attempting to avoid it as she locked eyes with the earth magjistar. She reached out with her hand toward the woman's throat just as she finished her next spell. A spell that Zoey wasn't quite expecting…

 

[Namgo]

A rock-shaped prison swallowed Zoey's figure. Darkness filled her sight. She could feel the earth cage climbing up her limbs. Zoey didn't panic. As it was only rock around her. Calmly, she used the absurd strength given to her by the Box and her daily training to rip herself free of the rocky restraints. The rocks crumbled despite their attempts to restrain her entire body. Then, when the brute force method wasn't working, the rock cage got soft like mud.

Zoey couldn't brute force a semi-liquid substance like this with just any method. So, she relied on an old classic method of brute forcing that was appropriate for someone like herself. Gathering mana in her fist as she was sinking into the ground, Zoet performed a textbook haymaker that produced a violent destruct gale of mahna and wind to blast open a hole in the prison.

The female earth magjistar's hair and mask were blown back as she made eye contact with Zoey. Zoey could see the fierce determination in her eyes to prevent Zoey from getting loose. But what could Zoey do? She was stubborn, just like her mom. She didn't want to think about whether that was a good thing or not.

Zoey split the mud-like ground apart by striking the ground and got herself free. She leaped through the hole and grabbed the lady by her face before slamming her into the ground. The ground cracked into the shape of spider web patterns as Zoey looked for her next target. Who knew being a spy would be so much fun?

---

Tiffany also didn't miss out on having her own type of fun when she witnessed Panda going wild right from the beginning. Panda's excitement seemingly invigorated her. With a smile on her face, she unsheathed her sword and began cutting down magjistars. The sword that looked tiny in its sheath enlarged to massive proportions when out of it. In a single swing, Tiffany could cleave more than three bodies at once if they were bunched up close enough.

"Hey, I'm over here!" Tiffany revealed her position as she impaled her thick sword into a magjistar's back.

"Now I'm over here!" Her sword decapitated another masked magjistar from the opposite side of where her voice came from.

"Panda! Panda! Look! Look!" Tiffany excitedly called out while chopping down even more men.

Tiffany was running across the wall, dodging multiple spells intending to kill her. Parts of the wall where she ran across were blown up or filled with holes, yet she herself was never hit as she leaped off the wall toward the underground magjistars. Swift and precise, each swing left a trail of body parts and insides. Her slashes were not mere slashes; they were executions, each with a purpose and a gruesome outcome. Tiffany, nimble and lethal, danced around her adversaries like a reaper claiming souls. The magjistars, once confident, had long since lost their composure.

The metallic tang of blood saturated the air, accompanying the sounds of steel tearing through flesh and bone. Tiffany's joyful slaughter now resonated with the sickening thud of severed limbs and the anguished cries of the fallen. She turned to Panda, looking for some sort of approval, only to pout when Panda was too busy happily beating some fat buyer's face in.

---

Millie focused her sights on the buyers instead of the people in charge of defending the auction. Reaching into her bosom, she pulled out a tiny metallic bow. With an infusion of mahna, the toy-like object turned into a regular-sized weapon. Millie then began firing at the fleeing buyers who were willing to purchase, enslave, and slaughter her kind without hesitation.

Of course, an archer just standing out in the open firing magji arrows was an easy target for those defending the auction from attackers. Which is why she had a helpful partner to protect her while she was doing this. With a ground-shaking roar, Gork crossed his arms as he blocked a dangerous spell heading toward Millie. Without even being pushed back, he glared at the magjistar who sent the spell before ripping a chunk of the ground up and tossing it at the magjistar.

Gork, the Minotaur, stood tall, muscles bulging with raw power. His primal instincts kicked in as the magjistars faced the brute force of his straightforward onslaught. Gork's simple and brutal fighting style proved effective as he barreled through the defenses of the magjistars who were more used to fighting at a distance. His immense strength shattered their defenses, leaving them vulnerable to his lethal assault.

The Minotaur's movements were like a force of nature, unstoppable and overwhelming. With primal roars, Gork pressed forward, smashing through any attempts at strategy with sheer bullheadedness. As the battle raged on, Gork's straightforward mindset played to his advantage. Unburdened by complex tactics, he relied on his primal instincts to overpower and dominate his opponents. The magjistars struggled to counter his relentless assault, finding no room for negotiation in the Minotaur's straightforward approach. Their spells either bounced off his fur or did little to stop his rampage. the scent of blood, waste, and the sound of bones crunching filled the air. Gork's brutal blows left a trail of destruction in the once-orderly auction hall.

Millie calmly slithered her way around Gork's barbaric destruction while firing arrows in the backs of hapless fleeing buyers. It didn't matter where her arrows landed, as her venom would surely kill any survivors. All she had to do was make sure her mahna arrows scratched the skin.

---

At the entrance of the auction, Star, the glowing Luminari, stood like a beacon of radiant light. The air shimmered with the hues of their luminous aura, casting a surreal glow on the unfolding combat. They alone stood confidently against the group of magjistars attempting to lead their patrons out of the underground auction.

The battle commenced with Star's adept control over light. They didn't hesitate to unleash a searing beam of light that forced the magjistars to utilize whatever defense they could lest they wanted themselves and their buyers to be incinerated into ash. Several magji tools came from their inner garments, forming a mishmash of defensive magji that blocked the Luminari's attack.

Yet that was only the beginning of Star's righteous fury. Just because they blocked Star's attack didn't mean that it was the end of it. They continued to pour more mahna into the laser beam, contesting just how far they could go against a Luminari. At the same time, two identical copies of Star split from their body.

Unburdened, they freely flew to the side of the auction's magjistars and sent forward two more large beams of light. Then, when the defensive magji tools could withstand that, Star split up into four copies and continued to beam down on the group, fully intent on vaporizing them.

"You fools! Did you forget you're magjistars yourselves! Help us out!" One of the auction's security shouted.

---

Lector laughed as the buyers realized that they could help prevent their impending deaths. Although, before they could do so, he swiftly put a stop to them with his unique connate magji. Lector disguised himself as one of the buyers as soon as they dropped in. By slitting the throat of one and stealing his mask, he evacuated with the others who were being led by the auction's security.

His unnatural laugh caught the attention of the others, but they were more afraid of the Luminari than one of themselves losing his mind to madness. Unfortunately, Lector was not a member of high society that had gone crazy due to fear. In fact, he was the farthest thing from it. Lector pulled out a glowing dagger and went on a stabbing spree. Screams rang out from the group of magjistars bunched up together.

Lector didn't bother stabbing or cutting more than once. The guards couldn't bother to spare any attention to Lector despite wanting to reduce him to bits. Star was still pressuring them with her light magji, not giving them the opportunity to do so even if they wanted to. This gave Lector free rein to tag every aristocrat in the group.

"Multiplication Volume I: Times Ten!" Lector maliciously laughed as multiple blood spurts spewed from the elite buyers.

He didn't hesitate to continue stabbing at their weakened or dying forms. Realizing that the people they were trying to protect were on their way to the afterlife, the auction's magjistars gave up defending against Star's beams of light. They got out of the way, leaving Lector to take the brunt of the multiple rays of light hot enough to vaporize anyone hit by it.

Lector simply chuckled as the beams closed in on his position. Just before they were about to engulf him with their searing heat, they abruptly stopped, turned upward, and homed in on the fleeing magjistars. Screams of terror were suddenly silenced as Star's laser beams turned them into ash. Lector nodded at Star, who simply flashed at him with a green light. He did not know what that meant.

 

[Namgo]

Emi, the captivating Succubi, moved freely through the chaos that enveloped the auction hall. Their androgynous beauty, a unique blend of soft features, and an irresistible allure made them stand out amidst the frenetic commotion. As Emi reached the back of the stage, the focal point of the auction's security shifted toward the formidable figures of Panda, Tiffany, Roy, and Gork, causing chaos in the stands.

Behind the scenes, amidst the merchandise ready for sale, Emi encountered a mix of upset buyers and auction staff. The people backstage displayed a range of emotions, from frustration to confusion, upon seeing the enchanting Succubi. One particularly entranced individual even succumbed to an immediate surge of lust at the mere sight of Emi, providing an unwitting opportunity for Emi to employ their innate magji abilities. Subtly invoking their mahna, Emi cast a spell called "Lust Volume I: Love Obsessed." A distinctive mark branded itself on her forehead, a visible manifestation of the enchantment at play.

The sudden outburst of confusion and protests among the surrounding crowd erupted. Angry demands for the auctioned products they had rightfully paid for filled the air. Amidst the growing tension, Emi's connate magji worked its subtle magic, allowing them to manipulate the emotions and reactions of those within their sphere of influence. As the commotion reached a peak, the masked lady, driven by the force of Emi's will, revealed her own connate magji, and violently flailed her arms. In a horrifying and surprising display, her limbs stretched beyond their normal limits, reaching out to ensnare and constrict everything within her grasp. Panic ensued as the crowd struggled against the unexpected onslaught.

Emi, ever the opportunist, seized the opportunity. While chaos unfolded around them, he focused on a different mission – rescuing the magji creatures trapped in the cells.

---

"Plant Volume II: Emerging Forest!" Selena, with an air of icy determination, deftly tossed several seeds in front of her. In an instant, the auction hall transformed into a battleground as colossal green tentacles erupted from the seeds, rapidly spreading throughout the crowd. Buyers and auction security alike found themselves ensnared, whipped, and entangled by the relentless growth, the verdant onslaught showing no mercy to those tainted by the sordid dealings of the auction.

Selena's mastery over her botanical minions was absolute. The giant tendrils, fueled by her mana, executed their deadly dance, piercing through bodies, smashing souls, or squeezing the life out of their unfortunate victims. The ruthless efficiency of the onslaught mirrored Selena's disdain for the denizens of the auction hall. It mattered not how they met their demise; Selena only cared that they did. Faced with the botanical onslaught, magjistars scrambled to counter the encroaching green menace. Spells were cast – some severed the tentacles, others burned, froze, or electrified them. However, Selena's calculated preparation allowed her to maintain control. Mahna-infused seeds ensured a steady supply of energy, enabling her plants to regrow and persist despite the efforts to stop them. The magjistars, realizing the futility of focusing solely on the vines, shifted their attention to the orchestrator behind the botanical onslaught – Selena herself.

But Selena had already foreseen such a retaliation. Swift as the unfolding chaos, she invoked another spell. A small tree sprouted from the ground, enveloping her stationary form. Layers of bark formed a protective shield, infused with her mahna to repel assaults from all directions. The arboreal sanctuary allowed Selena to continue her calculated assault on the malevolent elements within the auction hall, while her allies wreaked havoc among the flustered auction security. Briefly, she thought back to Panda's words toward her. Would anyone notice if she attempted to kill her here? However, Selena didn't go through with her plan. It was too risky. She would save it for another time.

---

Roy gracefully settled into a seat as if attending a leisurely social gathering. His stormy gray eyes surveyed the chaos with an air of detached amusement. In the invisible dance of mahna, the very air submitted to his connate magji – an imperceptible yet overwhelmingly potent force under his control. While his comrades embarked on a rampage against the auction's employees and buyers, Roy seamlessly integrated into the unfolding carnage. The atmosphere thickened with an aura of death as heads were sent spiraling, bodies cleaved at the waist, and various grisly methods of execution unfolded, all orchestrated by Roy's manipulation of the air. Amid this lethal carnage, only those adept at sensing mahna stood a faint chance of survival.

Roy's calculated demeanor, lounging in the seats with unsettling ease, left some of the auction's magjistars perplexed. They questioned whether he had suffered a cognitive malfunction or if he belonged to the assailants attacking their profitable enterprise. However, any attempts to decipher his motives were swiftly thwarted. Those daring to approach the maskless man found their fate sealed – their heads severed from their bodies as if by an invisible executioner. Lifeless forms crumpled to the ground, leaving no room for reprisal against the enigmatic figure orchestrating the unfolding chaos.

---

In less than an hour, Zoey and friends finished half of their mission by killing those working at the auction and attempting to buy at the auction. With the actual bad guys dealt with, Zoey and the Magji Liberation Front turned their attention to the caged magji creatures. Emi already beat them backstage with a bunch of lifeless corpses. Zoey didn't consider herself the most empathetic or sympathetic person, so instead of trying to comfort and aid the less fortunate, she focused on the shiny pile of goodies that were sold and owned by the dead magjistars.

In the aftermath of the frenzied melee, the auction hall lay in disarray. Broken artifacts and scattered items adorned the floor, creating an unintended treasure trove amid the chaos. Zoey found herself drawn to this unexpected opportunity – a chance to embark on a lighthearted quest amidst the pandemonium. Zoey, practical and no-nonsense, surveyed the scene. Greed etched on her face, she assessed the bodies and items strewn across the floor. An idea sparked in her mind – a makeshift bag. She began tying several pieces of clothing together, crafting an impromptu container for her plunder. Literally stripping the corpses of their clothes for this bag.

Tiffany approached Zoey with a playful gleam in her eyes. "Whatcha doing?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Zoey, focused on her task, replied, "Treasure hunting." A big grin appeared on Tiffany's face, "Can I help?" "If you want. I can't take all of this even if I wanted to." Zoey could be an asshole and try to hoard all of this, but unless she was willing to fight with everyone, she didn't see it working out.

Yes, she was willing to fight everyone in the group at the same time, but not for something like this. As Zoey struggled with her makeshift bag, she muttered to herself, "I really should've paid attention in Girl Scouts…" Tiffany excitedly pipped up, "I can do it! Let me do it!" Zoey shrugged and let her start tying their loot bag.

"I was an Ambassador. The highest rank of Girl Scouts. I learned leadership, budgeting, marketing, basic survival skills, cooking, first aid, and especially typing knots. I had over a hundred badges, multiple awards, and was the only Girl Scout in my county to earn a Gold Award!" Tiffany shared enthusiastically.

"Wow," Zoey responded with a deadpan voice. "I didn't make it past Daisy Scouts." She admitted.

"Well, Girl Scouts isn't for everyone. Only the best of the best can hack it!" Tiffany's voice was just as chipper as before.

With each piece of clothing tied securely, Zoey and Tiffany began their treasure hunt, collecting magji tools and other important items with excitement and joy. Tiffany, the proudest Girl Scout, tied their loot bag so well that she was confident it couldn't tear. Zoey wasn't the most knowledgeable about magji tools, but she knew this stuff had to be really good.

These were the richest people in Dhara! If they didn't have the best magji tools, who did?! It just didn't make sense to Zoey that these people would own things not worth taking. When they finally collected everything, Zoey started to think that maybe she shouldn't have gotten so greedy… Most of this stuff would be shared among the others and only make them stronger. Zoey shrugged. Oh well, it was too late to just drop everything now.

She figured that it would just make her battle against them that much more fun. When this spy mission was all done and finished, Zoey was picturing herself facing off against these guys, either by herself or alongside whoever Peter and Jelena managed to convince to join their cause. Well, she did have a lot more information to share with them tonight now that she had a chance to see mostly everyone's magji. These guys didn't make it through that brawl for no reason. Although she missed out on seeing Lector, the Luminari, and Emi, she kind of knew what the last two could do. Lector was still a blank for now.

"We should do this more often." Tiffany pleasantly sighed.

"The fighting or stealing?" Inner Zoey turned to her with their giant loot sack over her shoulder.

"Just anything." Tiffany nearly blinded her with that smile.

 

[Namgo]

Amidst the echoes of gratitude from the freed captives, Roy stepped forward, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared suffering and the hope of a better future. Each freed magji creature bore the scars of their captivity, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear, relief, and tentative hope. Roy's stormy gray eyes swept over them, each one a unique individual with a story to tell, a life that had been unjustly imprisoned. With a voice that carried the weight of their collective struggle yet softened by compassion, Roy addressed the newly freed beings, his words directed not just to a crowd, but to individuals with their own hopes and dreams.

"You have endured the chains of oppression," he began, his voice trembling slightly with emotion, "and now, you stand at a crossroads." His words hung in the air, a silent invitation for each magji creature to contemplate their own future. "The path forward is yours to choose." As the liberated beings listened intently, their hearts filled with gratitude and uncertainty, Roy extended an offer, his words spoken not just to a group, but to each soul yearning for freedom. "You may return to the homes from which you were unjustly taken," he offered, his tone gentle yet resolute, "go back to a life of peace."

But there was another option, one that spoke to the hearts of those who had known nothing but captivity and oppression. "Alternatively," Roy continued, his gaze softening with empathy, "for those who seek a different destiny, there is our Magji Liberation Front—a collective force against the constraints that have bound true magji freedom." The liberated beings, grateful for their deliverance, faced a momentous decision.

The liberated beings stood amidst the rubble of their former prison, their faces a canvas of conflicting emotions. Some lingered near the entrance, their gazes drifting wistfully towards the surface, where the faint glow of daylight beckoned like a distant memory. They hesitated, their footsteps faltering as they grappled with the weight of their decision. One group of magji creatures, a family of albino humanoid avians with feathers the color of pure white, shifted uneasily from foot to foot, their wings trembling with uncertainty. They glanced back at the group, then towards the tunnel leading to freedom. For a moment, it seemed torn between the safety of familiarity and the unknown promise of liberation.

Nearby, another creature, a lumbering beast with fur as dark as midnight, pawed at the ground nervously. Its eyes flickered with rage, it didn't hesitate to choose the life that would help feed the beast instead. It glanced at Roy, already having an answer, before moving confidently toward him.

Roy, standing nearby, watched the scene unfold with a sense of quiet pride. He understood the importance of allowing these individuals to make their own choices, even if it meant sacrificing the opportunity to strengthen the Magji Liberation Front. As Adrian led the group back towards the surface, their footsteps echoing softly against the walls of their former prison, Roy couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. He knew that their journey was far from over, that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges and dangers. But he also knew that they had made their decision with courage and conviction, and for that, he was proud.

For those with homes to return to, the path was clear, marked by the joyous prospect of reunions and a life familiar to them. Yet, Roy provided a beacon of hope for those without a place to call home or who wanted to achieve true magji freedom for all magji kind. The Magji Liberation Front's hideout became a sanctuary, a refuge for those seeking solace and camaraderie in the face of a shared struggle. Their new organization grew significantly in only a single day. The Magji Liberation Front became not only a force of resistance but a symbol of resilience and solidarity, shaping the destinies of those who had once languished in the shadows of tyranny. Through their collective efforts, the members of the Magji Liberation Front began to shape the destinies not only of themselves but of all magji kind, ushering in a new era of freedom and equality for generations to come.

---

The tension crackled in the air like static electricity at the apex of Dhara's bustling city, where once-vibrant streets now teemed with protestors clamoring for transparency and answers. The city's OM branch experienced the sudden disappearance of several influential figures, which sparked a firestorm of concern that couldn't be ignored. These individuals wielded power and influence like currency, their absence leaving a void that threatened to destabilize the delicate balance of power.

At the heart of the turmoil stood a group of high-ranking officials, their faces etched with worry, frustration, and stress as they convened in a brightly illuminated conference room. Among them was the experienced A-Grade magjistar, Elena Vasquez, whose commanding presence filled the room as she paced back and forth, her steely gaze fixed on the assembled group. "We need answers, and we need them now," Elena declared, her voice carrying the weight of urgency. Across from her sat Kieran Patel, another A-Grade magjistar renowned for his extensive connections rather than his prowess in combat. Leaning forward with furrowed brows, Kieran voiced the growing concerns plaguing their city."The clans and factions are growing restless," he murmured, his words heavy with apprehension. "They demand answers for the disappearance and deaths of their leaders."

Beside Kieran sat B-Grade magjistar Mia Thompson, a young but well-connected woman. Fingers tapping impatiently on the tabletop, Mia's mind raced with the possibilities of the situation unfolding before them. "We can't afford to sit idly by while chaos consumes our city," she asserted, frustration coloring her voice. "Those protestors are only exacerbating the situation with their cries about a bunch of insignificant magji creatures going missing."

As the group deliberated their next course of action, a sense of unease settled over them like a dark cloud. Outside, the city skyline loomed ominously, casting long shadows across the streets below. Suddenly, the door burst open, and a fairie rushed in, their face pale with urgency. "Master Vasquez, Master Patel," they gasped, struggling to catch their breath. "We've received reports of riots breaking out in the eastern district. The clans and factions are joining up with the protestors! I believe the protestors may have been encouraged by the clans and factions due to a lack of answers from us!"

"But that doesn't make sense!" Mia retorted, her frustration boiling over. "The protestors are complaining about missing magji creatures, and the clans and factions are upset about missing magjistars! Those are two completely different things!"

"People are going missing. That's all they care about," the fairie responded grimly, their voice tinged with resignation.

As Elena Vasquez's authoritative words echoed in the conference room, her determination to quell the unrest was palpable. "We must restore order to our city," she declared, her gaze unwavering. "The protestors must understand that their actions have consequences, and we cannot allow the clans and factions to exploit this chaos for their own gain."

Kieran Patel's expression remained somber as he emphasized the importance of the investigation. "Every lead must be followed, every witness interviewed," he insisted, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "We can't allow our most important investors to lose hope in us. Those protestors aren't important, but we can't allow them to cause us a headache. Focusing on finding the missing VIPs is our top priority. Punishing the protestors comes second to that."

Mia Thompson, her mind still racing with possibilities, interjected with a sense of urgency. "My uncle said he was going to give me a present on the day that those people went missing!" she remembered, her voice tinged with joy. "I don't know where he went, but someone has to know something about his whereabouts if we investigate deep enough!"

"Good, that's a start. Amelia, I want your Peacekeepers heading to these clans and factions to investigate the whereabouts of the missing VIPs. Then I want to know where the hell all these bastards decided to go and get themselves killed. We need someone to shift the city's hatred on besides ourselves!" Elena shouted.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Amelia Patil, B-Grade magjistar, and the Chief Peacekeeper in Dhara nodded.

The news of the OM branch's Peacekeepers descending upon the estates and grounds of the clans and factions rippled through Dhara like a shockwave. In the heart of the clan territories, where tradition and loyalty were as sturdy as the stone walls surrounding their ancestral homes, the intrusion of the Peacekeepers was met with fierce defiance. Clan leaders, their brows furrowed with righteous indignation, stood tall before the enforcers of the law, their voices ringing out with defiance as they rejected any semblance of cooperation. Their eyes flashed with ancestral pride, refusing to yield even an inch of their hard-won autonomy and honor.

Elena gave these annoying bastards a choice. Let the Peacekeepers complete their investigation or shut the fuck up about finding out what happened to their important family members. Of course, as one of the most important people in Dhara, she said it with far more eloquence than that but that was the gist of it. They either cooperated or they would never find out what happened to their missing people. Some were fine with that as long as the Peacekeepers weren't sniffing around in their personal territory. Others heavily restricted the area where the Peacekeepers were allowed to travel and the people they could talk to. But eventually, they got something after weeks of political turmoil. An underground auction.

 

[Namgo]

Away from the chaos engulfing Dhara's streets, an official gathering unfolded in the depths of the city, hidden from prying eyes and shielded from the light of day. After weeks of investigation, the Peacekeepers finally discovered the underground auction. As the city's Peacekeepers descended upon the remains of the building, their armored footsteps reverberated through the brightly lit corridors. The air was thick with anticipation, tension crackling like electricity as the enforcers of the magji law swept through the abandoned venue, their eyes scanning for anything to help them learn what took place here to cause so many important magjistars to go missing.

The scene that greeted them was a chilling tableau of horror and despair. A horrible stench of decay hung heavy in the air, a sickening miasma that clung to the walls like a shroud of darkness. Rotting bodies littered the floor, their pallid forms twisted in grotesque contortions of agony. Each one bore the unmistakable marks of cruelty, their lifeless eyes staring blankly into the abyss.

After some painstaking recognition, discernible through the remnants of clothing or the haunting familiarity of faces, the Peacekeepers identified a few among the rotting corpses as their missing people. Each discovery sent a shiver down their spines, a grim confirmation of the horrors that had transpired within the walls of the underground auction. With heavy hearts, they pressed on, searching through the carnage for any semblance of further evidence, no matter how fleeting.

As they combed through the wreckage, piecing together the fragments of lives lost, they uncovered one piece of the puzzle, albeit in the most harrowing of ways. The realization dawned upon them like a leaden weight, sinking deep into their souls with a sense of grim finality. Amelia knew all too well the anguish that awaited as she prepared to deliver the devastating news to the families of the fallen, their hopes of reunion shattered by the cruel hand of fate. Traces of a fierce large-scale magji battle lingered among the debris, the remnants of spells and weapons weaving a confusing mess of chaos and destruction. Amelia and her team worked tirelessly to sift through the evidence, each clue leading them further down the rabbit hole of uncertainty. Yet, amidst the chaos, they faced an insurmountable obstacle. The sheer magnitude of magji residue left behind in the aftermath of the brawl made it impossible to discern between the magji wielded by the criminal parties and that of those who fought them.

Chief Peacekeeper Amelia Patil surveyed the scene with a mixture of annoyance and frustration, her gaze sweeping over the carnage with steely resolve. This was not the first time she had borne witness to such horrors, nor would it be the last. She was a magjistar, after all. Amelia's dealt with her fair share of criminal magjistars and daemons. Although she wasn't used to this scale of death, it wasn't something that would trip her up.

Beside her, a young recruit, his face pale with shock, struggled to maintain his composure in the face of such overwhelming horror. "What… what happened here?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He could barely keep his stomach together with some dry heaving. Amelia's jaw tightened with resolve as she surveyed the scene before them, her mind racing with possibilities. "There's been a massacre," she said, her voice low and grim. "And from the looks of it, it wasn't just a simple battle either. This was a brawl, a clash of powers between two or more forces of magjistars."

As the Peacekeepers delved deeper into the depths of the underground auction. What had initially appeared as more than a simple case of missing persons soon revealed itself to be a disgusting web of corruption and depravity. The truth became increasingly evident with each step forward: this was no ordinary auction taking place. This underground auction served as a hub for the illicit trade of magji creatures and their body parts, a horrific marketplace where the darkest desires of the city's elite could be bought and purchased. As Amelia and her team meticulously cataloged the evidence, a chilling picture began to emerge of the extent to which the auction's patrons had gone to satisfy their insatiable appetites.

Among the facility's remnants, they discovered meticulously preserved organs of magji creatures. These grotesque trophies bore witness to the atrocities committed within the auction's walls. The discovery of the giant cages further underscored the sinister nature of the operation. Reinforced by powerful magji enchantments, these enclosures were designed to house magji creatures. Evidently, the auction's patrons had spared no expense in ensuring the security of their prized possessions, viewing the magji creatures as nothing more than commodities to be bought, sold, and discarded at their whim.

As the implications of their findings sank in, a sense of outrage and indignation swept through the ranks of the Peacekeepers. The magnitude of the crimes committed within the confines of the underground auction was staggering, their perpetrators shielded by layers of privilege and influence that seemed impenetrable. Yet, despite the daunting odds stacked against them, Amelia and her team remained undeterred in their pursuit of answers, determined to hold all of those responsible accountable for their heinous actions.

---

Inner Zoey was feeling a little awkward as they returned to the luxurious mansion richer, bigger, and successful. Roy had the fairie servants throw them a party on their victorious return. Of course, they were all cleaned up through the fairies lifestyle magji before they could engage in festivities. It seemed Roy had already predicted that they would be successful. If not, they'd be dead right now or arrested.

Zoey wasn't sure which because the bad guys they beat up were doing illegal stuff, but they were also important people. So, maybe they would've just died without anyone ever knowing. But anyway, Zoey didn't mind a little celebratory party. She felt kind of good doing good.

She ate some cake alongside Tiffany, yapping her head off about something before she was approached by some of the new members who decided to join after their raid. "So yeah, we should just get married already. I mean, you're strong, I'm strong. You like fighting, I like killing. We're both total hotties. We're a match made in heaven." Tiffany giggled while hanging over her shoulder.

"Nope." Zoey bluntly refused Tiffany's advances for the hundredth time.

"Whyyy!?" She whined like an upset child.

"Being friends works best for me," Zoey told her straight up.

"Friends?! Really?! Best friends?!" Tiffany's eyes lit up like stars.

"We need more time together before becoming best friends," Zoey explained to her, grabbing another slice of cake.

"Can I become your friend too?" A Viperian child with giant snakes for hair appeared in front of Zoey.

"Hmm, I don't know… Are you cool enough to hang out with a gal like me?" Inner Zoey smirked at the little girl in a dress.

"I don't know." She crossed her feet and looked down. "I don't have many friends, and when I saw you fighting to save us, I thought that maybe I could be a hero like you…" She explained.

"A hero, huh?" Zoey really didn't know what was up with kids and wanting to become heroes nowadays.

Well, scratch that. This girl had a legitimate reason for wanting to be a hero. Her two students, on the other hand… They didn't suffer anything close to what this girl has. She probably wanted to prevent other magji creatures like herself from being sold and treated like products. But Zoey wasn't a hero! Well, fuck! She was kind of a hero, but she didn't identify as a hero.

"I'm not a hero," Zoey told her plainly.

"But you saved us." The little girl looked up at her.

"I didn't fight to save you. I fought for my own reasons. If you really want to thank someone go thank…" Zoey stopped herself immediately.

Roy wanted to enslave non-magji people. Zoey couldn't send this innocent child who wants to do the right thing to someone like that. "Nevermind. Alright, but being my student isn't easy. It will be the hardest thing ever. You will be tired, cry, bleed, and all sorts of other things. Are you sure you want to learn from me?" Inner Zoey locked eyes with her.

"Yes!" She looked like she wanted nothing more than to do the right thing. Her giant hair snakes all flicked their tongues at Zoey and her cake slices.

"Alright, I'll give you a test tomorrow. If you pass, I'll teach you. If you fail, I won't teach you. Fair?" Zoey asked.

"Fair." She and her hair snakes nodded.

"You're sweeter than you act, Panda." Tiffany noticed.

"Your name is Panda?" The girl asked while getting a large plate of food for herself.

"Yeah." Zoey wasn't going to give her real name even if she was getting another student.

"My name is Illie." Illie introduced herself with a plate full of meat.

"I'm Tiffany! Panda's best friend!" Tiffany tried to stab a slice of Zoey's cake.

Zoey moved her plate out of the way of Tiffany's fork. Tiffany pouted, and Illie giggled at the sight. "Get your own food. There's more than enough," Zoey told her, tightly defending her plate of cake. "What kind of best friend doesn't even share with her best friend?!" Tiffany argued. "There's no need to share. There's so many cakes." Zoey retorted. "But there's only one of Zoey's cake!" Tiffany elbow bumped her rapidly while laughing her head off. "Not in front of the kid." Zoey glared at her.

 

[Namgo]

In the home gym of the luxurious mansion, Zoey, Tiffany, Illie, and others gathered inside. The gym walls had sleek, modern equipment that impressed Zoey greatly. It had the right kind of gym smell, too, for a home gym. Not stinky and filled with sweat but unused and mostly a decorative room. Perfect for a home gym rat like Zoey.

In the weightlifting area, Zoey stood powerful, her figure a stark contrast against the backdrop of gleaming steel and rubber-coated weights. She was in the midst of a grueling set of squats, each repetition executed with precision and power that rivaled even the most seasoned professional weightlifters. The barbell on her shoulders bore a staggering amount of weight, far surpassing what most would consider humanly possible. Her presence in this section of the gym was a spectacle in itself, drawing curious glances and whispers from onlookers. For many, it was an unfamiliar sight to witness a magjistar engaging in such intensive strength training. Traditionally, magjistars focused primarily on honing their magical abilities, neglecting the physical aspect of their training. Yet here stood Zoey, defying convention with her unwavering dedication to pushing her body to its limits.

With each controlled descent into the squat and explosive ascent back to standing, Zoey demonstrated not only her raw strength but also the perfect weightlifting form! Her muscles strained as she completed rep after rep, and her breaths came in measured bursts. Zoey's focus remained unbroken.

Tiffany leaned casually against a nearby weight rack. Dressed in some of Panda's clothes since she didn't bring her own, she very obviously ogled Panda as she worked out. An almost drooling smile was on her face as she took in all of Panda's assets. She would describe it as a feast for the eyes. Another form of torture for her heart, knowing she could never convince Panda to let her dive in and eat to her heart's content.

Illie, one of the newest addition to their group, stood on the other side of the gym on the mats in complete pain. Looking as pitiful as a child, being forced to do physical training could look, but at the same time, she was determined not to give up! She was shaking, sweating, and on the verge of tears. Next to her were others similarly interested in undergoing training to join the Magji Liberation Front. They weren't all children like Illie, but after hearing about Illie's training from one of the main members of the MLF, others were interested.

"So, what's the plan, Panda?" Tiffany's voice, tinged with excitement and impatience, shattered the grunts, crying, and moans that hung heavy in the gym. "Are we just going to sit around and wait for our next orders?"

Zoey frowned, as she thought about Tiffany's words. She was pretty good at following orders as long as she agreed with them. Plus, she was a spy. Why would she try to shake things up when Peter or Jelena haven't asked her to? "As long as I have my fun, I don't care," she replied. Tiffany's grin widened, a spark of mischief dancing in her eyes. "I'm all for a little fun," she declared, her voice brimming with eagerness. "But I'm so bored right now! Aren't we supposed to be changing the world? Why are we so passive!?"

Zoey did agree, even if she didn't agree with Roy's end goal of enslaving non-magji people. Everyone's gaze turned to the doorway as a familiar figure stepped through with a faint smile on his face. He didn't wince at the smell of several people sweating or give off the type of presence that he was upset or too good to be in this place. With a genial smile, he greeted each person individually, his eyes twinkling with genuine interest as he engaged in lighthearted small talk.

"Hey there, Panda, Tiffany," Roy said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he approached them. "How's the training going? Making any progress on those squats, Panda?"

Zoey slowly nodded, as she continued her workout. "It's going," she replied. Tiffany's smile remained bright as she chimed in, "Hey, bossman. Got good news for us? We're pretty bored." Roy laughed, his demeanor relaxed and affable as he leaned against a nearby weight rack. "Well, I have good news and bad news," he responded. "which one do you want first?"

"Bad news," Zoey asked.

"Good news!" Tiffany said at the same time.

He paused momentarily as Zoey and Tiffany locked eyes with each other, "I'll tell you them both." Roy was going to do it, anyway. "The good news is, I can cure your boredom. I want you two to handle Chief Peacekeeper Amelia Patil for us. The bad news is, you cannot let the Peacekeepers find out it was us who was behind it." Roy explained, "I need someone I can trust to handle this matter, and when it comes to trust, I can't think of anyone better suited for the job than the two of you."

"He trusts us!" Tiffany joyfully looked at Zoey.

"Is she strong?" Was all that Zoey cared about.

"By herself, she's just a B-Grade magjistar with a solid but rather unimpressive record. However, she will most likely not be by herself. I expect there to be several Peacekeepers you'll have to deal with before or while you're dealing with her." Roy informed them.

"And they just can't find out about the group?" Zoey asked for clarity.

"That's correct." Roy nodded.

"Fine. When do you want us to leave?" Zoey didn't have the best history with Peacekeepers.

"As soon as you're able. If you need any help, just let me know, and I'll do my best to help you succeed." Roy politely offered.

Zoey put the barbell back on the rack as she prepared to head out. But first, she had to leave her students with some proper guidance before leaving. If they got charmed by Roy while she was out, she would've wasted her time with them. "I'll make a training plan for you all to follow before I head out. I expect you to follow them exactly, and if you can't keep up, do not move on until you can finish what you can't. Each of you will have a different training plan since you all have different physiques and starting points. If you decide to give up, do it quietly and stay out of my sight."

"Teacher!" Illie dropped to the floor, breathing heavily as pain wracked her young body.

"You wanted to be a hero, right?" Zoey said as if she had forgotten. "Heroes never give up in the pursuit of helping the weak and innocent." Zoey and Tiffany left the gym as Roy faintly smiled, looking at Zoey's back.

---

The streets of Dhara seethed with unrest, the air thick with the acrid scent of tension and defiance. Jelena led the charge against the perceived tyranny of the Peacekeepers. Her voice, young and full of passion, cut through the clamor of the crowd as she rallied the protestors to their cause. "Enough is enough!" Jelena's words echoed off the stone facades of the surrounding buildings, resonating with the frustration and anger of the assembled throng. "We cannot continue to tolerate the oppression of the Peacekeepers. It's time we take a stand!"

"We cannot allow ourselves to be cowed by fear and violence," Peter declared, his gaze sweeping over the gathered protestors. "We must stand together, united in our resolve to fight for justice and freedom."

Tink happily cheered as loud as they could. Peter and Jelena set about rallying support from the crowd, their voices raised in solidarity as they urged their fellow protestors to join their cause. Slowly but surely, their numbers swelled as more and more people were drawn to the promise of change and the chance to strike back against the violent Peacekeepers. As the protest gained momentum, Peter, Jelena, and Tink found themselves at the forefront of a swelling tide of dissent, their voices raised in defiance as they marched through the streets of Dhara.

As the defiant protestors continued to march through the streets of Dhara, their cries for justice echoing off the city's walls, a tense silence descended upon the scene. Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the deafening roar of approaching footsteps. In a swift and decisive motion, the Peacekeepers descended upon the crowd, their presence heralded by the harsh glare of their white uniforms and the marching formations. With weapons drawn, they advanced upon the protestors. Their intentions were clear: to quell the uprising by any means necessary.

"Rioters, disperse immediately!" the commanding voice of a Peacekeeper captain boomed over the chaos, his words drowned out by the garbled mix of shouts and cries that erupted in response. Ignoring the order, the protestors stood their ground, their resolve unshaken as they prepared to face the onslaught that awaited them. With a thunderous clash, the two sides collided, the street erupting into a chaotic melee of violence and chaos. Magjistars unleashed their formidable magji, sending blasts of energy hurtling through the air, while magji creatures also joined in.

Amidst the chaos, Peter, Jelena, and Tink fought valiantly alongside their fellow protestors. With each blow struck and each spell cast, they resisted the iron grip of the Peacekeepers, refusing to yield to their oppressive rule. Tink was more than happy to let loose and put into practice everything Zoey had taught them. But the Peacekeepers were relentless in their pursuit of 'justice', their ranks bolstered by reinforcements that poured into the fray. With military precision, they pressed forward, driving back the protestors with sheer force and overwhelming firepower.

But despite their courage and determination, the odds were stacked against them. With each passing moment, the violence escalated, the street descending into a maelstrom of destruction and chaos. As the battle raged on, the protestors fought with all their might, their voices raised in defiance against the oppressive regime of the Peacekeepers. Though outnumbered and outmatched, they refused to back down, their spirits unbroken as they continued to fight for the freedom and justice they so desperately sought.

Eventually, both sides were forced to retreat due to heavy injuries. The new stations in Dhara had a field day reporting the situation from every angle.

 

[Namgo]

As the winter dawn broke over the city of Dhara, the soft light of the sun struggled to penetrate the thick veil of clouds, casting a muted glow over the snow-covered landscape. Despite the frigid temperatures, life in the metropolis continued unabated, with bustling streets and bustling activity betraying the city's bustling heart. In the heart of the urban sprawl, the sounds of footsteps muffled by snow and the occasional scrape of a shovel against pavement echoed through the streets. It seemed as if there was never a clash between the citizens and the Peacekeepers just yesterday.

At the Dhara Daily Gazette, the newsroom buzzed with frenetic energy as reporters scrambled to piece together the events of the previous night. The air was thick with the scent of fresh ink and the clatter of keyboards as journalists furiously typed away, their eyes glued to computer screens displaying breaking news updates. Amidst the chaos, veteran reporter Sammy Heights sat at her desk, her brow furrowed in concentration as she sifted through stacks of notes and eyewitness accounts. With years of experience under her belt, Sammy was no stranger to the fast-paced world of journalism, but even she was taken aback by the magnitude of the story that unfolded last night.

Sure, they covered the protests about the Peacekeeper's silence on the numerous reports on several missing citizens, but not even Sammy's great nose for stories helped her sniff out the clash that happened last night. She didn't think it would come to this. No, it would be more accurate to say that she didn't want to believe it would come to this. That would mean that the Peacekeepers are not serving the citizens that they're supposed to protect but instead following someone else's wishes.

"Sammy, were you at the riot last night?" Hanuh Lights questioned excitedly. "It was freaking crazy out there! I heard people even died! On both sides!"

Sammy disappointedly shook her head. "I wish, but I was up all night writing about the protesters's message. I blacked out while writing and slept through all the fighting."

"I thought someone like you would've been there on the scene! I guess even Sammy isn't perfect." Hanuh happily hummed before walking away.

Sammy glared at her back before sighing once more. Sitting here in the office isn't how she does things at all. She needs to get to the bottom of this! Why did the Peacekeepers ignore the protestors? Who is behind the mass missing people? For what reason did the Peacekeepers decide to attack the protestors? So many questions and so little answers…

Sammy abruptly rose from her cubicle and began preparing her things. She needed answers, and she needed them now. Staying in the office won't help her at all! To get the best news, she had to get reports from both sides lest it be said that she was a biased reporter. Sammy cared about nothing but the truth and only the truth!

---

Regardless of Sammy's feelings or personal ideology, newspapers still spread across the city for people to see.

"Riots erupt in Dhara as protestors clash with peacekeepers," one headline declared, accompanied by a striking image of protestors and peacekeepers locked in a violent struggle.

The Dhara Daily Gazette's headlines blazed across the city, igniting a frenzy of reactions among its diverse populace. In the teeming markets and bustling streets, the news of the previous night's riots sparked an explosion of voices, each expressing their own fears, hopes, and suspicions.

"The riot last night was insane, wasn't it?" remarked a young woman to her friend as they walked along the crowded sidewalk, their breath visible in the chilly air.

"Yeah, I heard they clashed with the peacekeepers right in the middle of the park," replied her companion, eyes wide with excitement. "I wish I'd been there to see it!"

"What the hell is this?" chimed in another passerby, shaking his head in disbelief. "Can you imagine fighting with the Peacekeepers? Those guys are trained to fight magjistars. I'm surprised the rioters weren't all arrested."

"I knew things were tense, but I'd never imagine that something so horrible would happen…" murmured an elderly magjistar to his companion, his voice tinged with concern. "We are going to have to start returning home sooner. Who knows how long this will last…"

"You know, I am curious what the hell the Peacekeepers are trying to shush up by attacking the protestors." a shopkeeper chatted with her customer. "You know, my sister was at that protest last night? She didn't even return home because she was admitted to the hospital! Why did my sister deserve to be injured so badly just for protesting? Isn't it a right to say whatever we want?!" Anger slipped from the shopkeeper's lips.

For the magji creatures who called Dhara their home, the riots stirred a complex mix of emotions. Some viewed the unrest as an opportunity to finally unleash those unconscious feelings that have been bubbling from who knows when. Others viewed it as only trouble. Even if they got what they wanted, it wouldn't improve their standing with magjistars or the Peacekeepers. They thought it would be best if they kept quiet, kept their heads to the ground, and to let this situation blow all over.

---

Zoey and Tiffany openly walked through the streets of Dhara. Zoey with her panda mask that fully covered her head and Tiffany with a polar bear mask that only covered her face. Tiffany happily skipped alongside Zoey with their matching bear masks. Inner Zoey was conflicted about how to feel.

Tiffany has been great. Really great, actually. Ignoring all the times she hits on her or obviously stares at her body, she doesn't seem like a bad friend. Notice that Zoey said friend and not person. Even before seeing her go on a rampage at the auction, Zoey could feel that she was a natural-born killer.

But did Zoey really care if her friend was a murderer? Yes, she did. But only if that person was like someone who killed innocent people. Did Tiffany kill innocent people? Zoey didn't know. But for the sake of her psyche, it would be best to address this before they find Amelia.

"Don't kill anyone." Zoey told her.

"Why?" Tiffany innocently questioned.

"I don't kill the weak or innocent." Zoey had a lot more reasons that she wouldn't kill people, but for Spy Zoey, this reason was enough.

"Weak or innocent…" Tiffany rolled those words over her tongue. "So I can't even beat them up?!"

"I said kill. Not hurt." Zoey corrected her.

"How are we going to stop them from finding out about us if we leave them alive?" Tiffany honestly wondered.

"They can learn about us. They just can't find out about the group, remember?"

"Aren't we in the group?" Tiffany looked confused.

"Yes, we're in the group, but no one knows that we are." Zoey didn't want to say she was wrong just yet.

"I still think we should just kill em. Way safer." Tiffany shrugged with a smile.

"I won't stop you, but we won't be friends anymore," Zoey told her.

"Really?!" Tiffany turned and stared at Zoey with no doubt an exaggerated dumbfounded look on her face under that mask.

"Really." Zoey nodded.

"But you killed like a bajillion guys at the auction!" Tiffany pointed out.

"I do not kill the weak or innocent. The people I dealt with were not innocent."

"But isn't everyone weak to you!? You're like the strongest person I know around my age! If you weren't worried about your cute mask, you'd probably be able to stand up against Roy!" Tiffany pointed out a flaw in Zoey's reasoning.

"When I said weak, I mean like people who can't defend themselves or obviously need help from someone strong to survive or live." Zoey tried to word it without sounding like a fucking idiot.

"People who fight against you can't defend themselves and also need help from someone strong to survive against you." Tiffany's words were not absurd.

"..." Zoey took a moment to think. "If they're innocent or weak, they have nothing to fear. If they're strong or guilty, that's their own fault."

Outer Zoey also agreed with this line of thinking, although she wouldn't have worded it like that exactly. Strong people were perfect for raising skills. Guilty people were perfect for making her feel like a better human. Weak people didn't do much for her skills. Innocent People rarely involved themselves with Zoey.

"Hmm… Okay!" Tiffany nodded as they arrived at the Peacekeeper's headquarters.

Zoey and Tiffany walked in. Several Peacekeepers were in the main lobby, peering at them. "Must be a lot of nothing going on in Dhara for this many Peacekeepers to be just sitting around." Tiffany happily observed. Her words caused their gazes to sharpen with hostility. "We need to meet Amelia Patil. Get her for us." Zoey commanded the man.

"Excuse me?" The receptionist blinked in astonishment at the crass tone this masked freak was speaking to him with.

"Chop. Chop." Zoey stared at him with her arms crossed.

"Yeah! Hurry it up! We don't got all day, punk!" Tiffany supported Zoey's actions.

The receptionist glanced toward the Peacekeepers surrounding them before nodding his head. And they rushed forward to apprehend them.

 

[Namgo]

Sammy Heights, a veteran reporter for the Dhara Daily Gazette, strode purposefully through the snow-covered streets, her breath forming misty clouds in the frigid air. With each step, her boots crunched against the frozen pavement. She knew that today would be no ordinary day in Dhara. She had to interview the Peacekeepers. Interview people who were present at the riots last night. Interview the most well-known protestors. And if she's lucky, interview the Chief Peacekeeper, Amelia Patil. Sammy doubted she'd get that lucky, but she wasn't the type to dwell on thoughts but make actions!

As she approached the entrance to make an appointment with Chief Patil, grabbing the door's handle with her dainty hand. A deafening crash echoed through the air, sending shockwaves reverberating through the street. A scream ripped itself from her throat as she crouched to the ground holding her head. When she turned to see what the hell just happened, she saw multiple Peacekeepers lying on the ground outside of the station.

For a moment, Sammy stood frozen in disbelief, her mind struggling to process the surreal scene unfolding before her eyes. The Peacekeeper Station, a symbol of law and order, had been attacked! Someone was bold enough to actually attack the Peacekeeper Station! Who?! For what?! Why?!

As she stood there, still holding on to the door handle, she couldn't help herself from peeking inside. Sammy's heart skipped a beat as she saw two people tearing through the Peacekeepers inside. The one wearing a panda mask didn't seem to know the meaning of mercy or restraint. When she managed to get her hands around a peacekeeper, there was nothing they could do. It was a fighting style that Sammy couldn't recognize but was horrified to see being put into practice.

As Sammy watched, her journalistic instincts kicked into high gear, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she fumbled for her magji tool. With trembling hands, she activated the device, the screen illuminating with a soft glow as she aimed the camera lens at the unfolding spectacle before her.

The panda-masked one grabbed fully grown men, hoisted them high into the sky, and slammed them with unbelievable force onto the hard ground. She grabbed them by the throat and dropped them on the floor. All sorts of high-speed powerful actions that didn't resemble a typical magjistar in the slightest.

With each passing moment, Sammy's focus sharpened, her mind racing as she narrated the events unfolding before her with a sense of urgency and purpose. "Here we are, witnessing an unprecedented attack on Dhara's Peacekeeper Station," she declared, her voice steady despite the chaos erupting around her. "As you can see, unidentified masked assailants are engaged in a brutal confrontation with the city's law enforcement." She zoomed in on Panda and Polar. "These individuals, are possibly associated with the rioters that clashed with the Peacekeepers just the other night, but as of now, that is only speculation! I have no clue who these two are!"

Sammy's mind raced as she analyzed the situation, her thoughts spinning with theories and possibilities. "The motives behind this attack remains unclear, but as you can see, they are very powerful and dangerous! I would advise everyone to avoid these two if ever spotted! If you can, memorize their body shapes and fighting styles! As of yet, they've yet to utilize any noticeable magji spells which is even more terrifying considering they've wiped out over a dozen Peacekeepers so far without it!

The interior of the station was a scene of utter chaos, with debris scattered across the floor and the acrid smell of smoke lingering in the air. With each blow, Sammy's stomach churned with a sickening mix of horror and fascination. She had witnessed violence before, but never on this scale, and never so close in person. As she fumbled with her camera, her hands trembled with a combination of adrenaline and fear, but she forced herself to focus, knowing that she had a job to do.

"Stay calm, Sammy," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the sounds of combat. "You're a superstar journalist, first and foremost. Your job is to document the truth, no matter how terrifying it may be."

With a firm and non-shaky hand, she aimed her magji tool at the two criminal magjistars, the camera lens capturing every brutal blow and decisive maneuvers. She knew that she was risking her life by staying here, but she also knew that she couldn't walk away. The truth was right in front of her, wanting to be documented, and she would be damned if she let fear stand in her way.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself and continued recording, her magji tool capturing every moment of the violent spectacle unfolding before her eyes. When all of the Peacekeepers were possibly killed or knocked unconscious by the swordsman and hand-to-hand fighter, the two of them made their way up the elevator with one of the keycards from the bodies on the floor.

Sammy cautiously tiptoed her way inside, grabbed a keycard for herself, and patiently waited for the elevator to come back down. There was no way she could let them vanish like this. While what she recorded so far would be good enough to turn in for her boss. Sammy didn't think it was good enough for herself. It was incomplete and unfinished. Completely unacceptable to someone like Sammy.

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator finally returned, its arrival heralded by a soft ding. Sammy's breath caught in her throat as the doors slid open, revealing a horrifying sight: a pile of bloody bodies stacked haphazardly inside the cramped space. With a gasp, Sammy recoiled, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a scream. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage, threatening to burst from her chest. Summoning every ounce of courage, she forced herself to step into the elevator, her movements hesitant and cautious.

The camera lens captured the gruesome scene before her. It was a journalist's duty to record the truth, no matter how horrifying it may be. With a sense of dread gnawing at her insides, Sammy reached out to press the button for the top floor, her heart sinking when the button failed to respond. Panic rising in her chest, she tried again and again, but the button remained stubbornly unlit. It was only when she scanned the keycard that the button finally illuminated. The doors slid shut with an ominous creak, and Sammy felt the elevator lurch into motion, the slow ascent to the top floor feeling like an eternity.

As the elevator climbed higher and higher, Sammy's nerves were stretched to the breaking point. She could hear the soft groans and moans of the mostly motionless bodies behind her, each sound sending a chill down her spine. She kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, refusing to acknowledge the horror that lay just inches away.

Upon arriving at the top, the only thing waiting in store for her were more bodies similar to the ones she passed by on her way up here. At least, that was what she first thought until she heard yelling coming from further ahead. Sammy recorded the bodies lying about in the luxurious main lobby of this floor as she made her way to the yelling. When she got close enough to peek and listen in on the sound, she spotted three figures surrounded by a whole bunch of motionless other ones. Panda, Polar, and Amelia Patil!

---

"I'll give you only a single chance. Reveal who's behind you to have the courage to attack me in my own building." Amelia snapped her fingers, summoning several daemons.

Amelia Patil, the Chief Peacekeeper of Dhara, has been revealed as a Summoner! These creatures stood tall and imposing, their forms a twisted fusion of human and beast. With sleek, ebony skin and piercing yellow eyes, this daemon looked like something straight out of a nightmare. Their elongated limbs ended in razor-sharp claws, and their sinewy muscles rippled beneath their darkened flesh. Towering over the others, this daemon was clad in rugged armor seemingly forged from molten iron. Its face was obscured by horned helmets, and its massive fists clenched with an iron grip. Crackling with electrical energy, the third and final daemon seemed to be wreathed in a stormy aura. Its body was shrouded in swirling clouds, and arcs of lightning danced along its outstretched arms.

The panda-masked magjistar glanced at Chief Patil before glancing at her partner in the polar bear mask. "Sure! I'll deal with her!" The polar bear woman excitedly said before rushing toward the three summoned daemons. "I didn't… My exp…" The panda lady stretched her hand out in resignation.

The polar bear girl clashed with the iron daemon. Her massive sword sprayed sparks after colliding with its fist. As this was happening the two other daemons moved into action as well. The long slender one rushed forward, its claws stretched out to mince the polar bear girl to pieces. Lightning gathered around the third daemon's body.

"Oh wowie! These daemons aren't weak!" She giggled.

 

[Namgo]

Tiffany's laughter bubbled up from deep within her chest, pure excitement flowing through her. With a twirl of her body, she spun gracefully through the air, her greatsword repeatedly slashing against the armored daemon's fist. As she spun, she felt the rush of air against her skin, the sensation exhilarating as it whipped around her in a whirlwind of motion. With each rotation, she pushed the iron daemon back, her strength and agility proving to be more than a match for its brute force. It stumbled backward, its massive fists swinging wildly as it struggled to maintain its footing against Tiffany's spinning assault.

But even as she focused on the iron daemon, Tiffany remained keenly aware of the other threats closing in around her. The claw daemon lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws gleaming in the dim light of the lobby as it sought to tear into her flesh. With a quick change of direction, Tiffany narrowly avoided its vicious swipe, the claws grazing harmlessly against the air as she spun out of harm's way. Behind her, the lightning daemon finally finished charging up, its crackling electrical energy pulsating with deadly zaps. Without even turning around to face it, Tiffany anticipated its lightning bolt attack and ducked out of the way, narrowly avoiding a potentially lethal blow.

She laughed as the lightning bolt struck the daemon covered in armor as she planned before turning and rushing toward the lightning daemon. Tiffany noticed the lightning that was surrounding it from before had now vanished. "Opportunity!" She happily exclaimed. Behind her, the other two daemons were chasing her. Unfortunately for them, they weren't nearly fast enough to keep up with Tiffany despite the large sword she was holding in her hand.

Tiffany's greatsword slashed straight through the lightning daemon's torso. It vanished in a black cloud of smoke. But there was a strange look on her face. Her smile vanished as she realized that she didn't feel her sword tearing through the daemon's body. "I didn't kill it!" She understood.

The polar bear mask-wearing girl backflipped out of the way of the combined attack of the two daemons who were intending to skewer her from behind. She then turned her attention to the Summoner. Dashing toward her without hesitation. In front of Amelia was the lightning daemon charging up with an aura of electricity zapping around its body.

Tiffany heard the same sound she did when she sliced through the lightning daemon. The iron daemon and the claw daemon soon appeared in front of her as well. However, Tiffany did not slow down in the slightest. She may have been outnumbered 1 to 4, but did that really mean anything? Apparently not because as she appeared in front of the four, she crouched, preparing to unleash a wide-arcing slash with her sword. "Taste my Super-Duper Mega Slash!" Tiffany excitedly called out.

---

Zoey watched closely. She's been carefully watching since the beginning of the fight. It would be interesting to see if this lady had what it took to pull something new out of Tiffany that Zoey hadn't seen before. Zoey knew for a fact that Tiffany was hiding many many things about herself. But she didn't really care all too much about Tiffany's background. What she cared about was how strong Tiffany was.

A small smile began to form on Zoey's face as she saw something new being pulled out from Tiffany. It didn't sound like a regular spell, but it definitely felt and functioned like a normal spell would. Like Zoey would say, "Combo Volume I: Combo Time!" for her magji. But it seems that step can be skipped or changed? Because Tiffany just unleashed a spell with only the words Super-Duper Mega Slash.

A spell that greatly expanded the size of her sword. As it grew, the sword sliced a small chunk of the building. Tiffany then caught all four of her opponents in the cleave. Using the back side of her sword, she slammed it into Amelia and her summons before smashing them through multiple floors below them.

'Expansion magji…' Inner Zoey noted.

'I wonder if she can make herself grow.' Zoey questioned.

'Or if it's only objects.'

'What about magji tools and daemonic objects?'

'That'd be good to know too.'

'We'd have a lot to look out for if we fought with her.'

'But who knows if this is the only thing she has up her sleeve?'

'We're getting excited. Wipe that drool from our face.'

"Right!" Inner Zoey focused up. "Let's go." Zoey hopped down the hole leading to Amelia Patil.

"Okay!" Tiffany returned her sword back to its original size as she followed behind Zoey.

---

Behind Polar and Panda, Sammy Heights recorded down the shattered floors they were traveling down. She managed to record that entire battle. Adjusting her grip on her magji camera, Sammy paused, her mind buzzing with a whirlwind of thoughts and questions. "The battle that unfolded here..." she began, her voice steady yet tinged with a hint of disbelief. "It was unlike anything i've ever seen. Two criminal magjistars pitted against the Chief Peacekeeper herself."

As she spoke, Sammy's fingers danced across the interface of her magji tool, capturing the remnants of the skirmish with meticulous precision. Sammy carefully documented each flicker of movement, immortalizing every detail in video form. "And astonishingly," she continued, her words punctuated by the rapid clicks of her recording device, "it only took one of them to subdue her." Sammy's mind raced with questions, her thoughts racing like wildfire as she grappled with the implications of what she had just witnessed. "What does this mean for the people of Dhara?" she mused aloud, her voice echoing against the backdrop of destruction. "If one of these criminals is capable of defeating Chief Patil, what hope do we have of stopping them both?"

Her brow furrowed in thought as she considered the possibilities, her mind whirling with the magnitude of the challenge ahead. "Will Dhara need to seek assistance from other OM branches?" she pondered, her voice laced with uncertainty. "To stop this emergency threat?" Sammy's gaze drifted across the rubble-strewn floor, her expression grave as she contemplated the potential consequences of inaction. "If we can't find a way to stop them," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "could Dhara fall under the control of these powerful criminal magjistars?" The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, the silence that followed filled with a sense of foreboding.

Sammy Heights, a magjistar by technicality rather than renown, possessed neither the prodigious talent nor the innate gift of connate magji that distinguished the elite of magjistars. Her mahna reserves were meager, her abilities modest compared to the magjistars who commanded daemons and wielded mahna with effortless finesse. Yet, despite her limitations, Sammy refused to be confined by the constraints of her lesser talents.

With a determined spirit and a resolve forged in the fires of perseverance, Sammy embraced her role as a magjistar in her own right. Though her mahna was a flickering flame compared to the blazing infernos of her more gifted peers, she wielded it well enough to do things better than average non-magji. As she descended the same path that Panda and Polar had traversed, Sammy felt the strain on her mahna reserves intensify with each step. The effort required to maintain her footing was considerable, but she pressed on, driven by an insatiable thirst for the truth that pulsed within her veins like a raging river.

"What exactly did these two have planned for Chief Patil?" Sammy's voice echoed softly in the ruined office building, the weight of her question hanging heavy in the air. With each passing moment, her determination grew stronger, fueled by the burning desire to uncover the secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of painstaking progress, Sammy reached a safe distance from which to observe the enigmatic magjistars as they nabbed Amelia Patil's limp form and carried her over Panda's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. There was a brazenness to their actions, a flagrant disregard for convention that sent a chill down Sammy's spine. "They didn't even bother being discreet," she observed quietly, her eyes narrowed in contemplation as she watched them vanish into the bustling streets beyond. The audacity of their actions was staggering, leaving Sammy to wonder just who could wield such power with such impunity.

"Just who could be behind them to have so much confidence to do something like this in broad daylight…?" The question lingered in the air, unanswered yet pregnant with possibility. For Sammy Heights, it was a mystery begging to be solved, a puzzle whose pieces lay scattered in the shadows, waiting to be brought into the light. And as she turned her gaze back toward the scene before her, she knew that her journey was far from over.

If it was the last thing she did, Sammy Heights promised to find out the identities of these magjistars and who was backing them. The truth will be revealed, no matter what.

 

[Namgo]

In the heart of Dhara, where the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers painted the cityscape, whispers of unease spread like wildfire. The news of a harrowing confrontation between criminal magjistars and the revered Chief Peacekeeper, Amelia Patil, echoed through every corner, igniting a storm of fear and uncertainty among the populace. In a crowded cafe nestled between high-rise buildings, the chatter of patrons suddenly hushed as the evening paper landed with a thud on the counter. Eyes darted to the headline, and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the room. Among the patrons sat Clara, a young journalist known for her keen observations and insatiable curiosity. With a furrowed brow, she scanned the article, her mind racing with questions.

"The Chief Peacekeeper? Attacked by magjistars? In the middle of the damn city?!" Clara's voice trembled with disbelief as she glanced at her friend, Marcus, a seasoned magjistar with a leisurely expression etched on his face.

Marcus lazily took a sip of his coffee, his gaze fixed on Clara. "Not in the middle of the city but the Peacekeeper's Headquarters." He corrected her. A group of magjistar students passing by interrupted their conversation. Among them was a passionate youngster.

Leo slammed his fist on the table, the rickety metal groaning under the impact. "This is ridiculous!" he roared, his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone on the street. "Those two bozos with their flea market masks are worth that many cavons?!"

A ripple of laughter swept through the booth, punctuated by snorts and head shakes. Maya, her dark braid whipping around her head as she guffawed, wiped a tear from her eye. "Relax, Leo," she wheezed. "They did break into the Peacekeeper's HQ and kidnap the Chief Peacekeeper."

"Yeah," chimed in Kai, wiping his greasy fingers on a stained cloth napkin. "I don't think even our branch's best magjistars could pull off what they did in the same time and way those bear chicks did."

Leo scoffed, crossing his arms in a huff. "True but a million cavons? Come on, that's enough to live in luxury without ever going on a daemon case again!" His gaze flickered to the newspaper with moving images. It depicted the battle between one of the criminals and the Chief. The images played on loop from beginning to ending.

"I wonder who these two are. I don't recognize their magji at all." Maya offered, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Do you think they're escaped magji criminals?"

"Escaped criminals my ass. They're probably just escapees from another OM branch." Kai countered.

Leo couldn't help but crack a smile. He knew his friends were right. The bounty was probably inflated, but the thought of a quick payday tempted him greatly.

"Alright, alright," Leo conceded. "Maybe it's worth checking out. Just to see if those mask-wearing idiots are worth the hype."

The laughter died down, replaced by a conspiratorial glint in everyone's eyes. Maya leaned forward, her voice a serious and low. "Are you fucking nuts? Going after magjistars that can single handedly embarrass our Peacekeepers? You know, the group of magjistars specifically trained to arrest and deal with other magjistars?! Leo grinned, a reckless glint glowing in his eyes. "You bet we are. Here's the plan."

In the wake of Chief Peacekeeper Amelia Patil's mysterious disappearance, the Peacekeeper's response was thrown into disarray. Without their steadfast leader to anchor them, the officers of Dhara struggled to maintain order in the face of escalating chaos. Deputy Chief Argon stepped up to address the concerned public. Standing in the same grand foyer where Chief Patil had once delivered her reassurances toward the rioters, Argon faced a sea of anxious faces, his expression grave.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know many of you are frightened and confused by recent events," Argon began, his voice resonating with authority. "But I want to assure you that the Peacekeepers are doing everything in our power to locate the criminals responsible for this attack and bring Chief Patil back home."

Beside him stood Captain Miguel, his usually stoic countenance betraying a flicker of uncertainty. "We will not rest until we have justice," he declared, his voice firm despite the turmoil raging within him. "No stone will be left unturned in our search." As questions flew from the assembled reporters, Deputy Chief Argon and Captain Miguel remained steadfast as they answered the reporters numerous questions.

Meanwhile, in the shadowy corners of Dhara's underworld, whispers of Chief Patil's disappearance spread like wildfire. In a properly lit building, a group of criminals gathered to discuss their next move.

"So, the Chief Peacekeeper has vanished without a trace," one of them murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief. "This opens up a lot of opportunities for us right now." His companions nodded in agreement.

Elena Vasquez wanted answers and she wanted answers now. She looked at her colleagues, peers, and underlings. All of them were without answers or even guesses. In a single day, someone kidnapped one of her important people for who knows what reason. It wasn't bad enough that Amelia who was supposed to represent one of the strongest magjistars in the city was defeated. Elena could make up some excuse that would be acceptable to the public.

The worst news out of all of this was the appearance of the two mysterious magjistars that showed up out of nowhere strong enough to do something like this in the first place! They had next to no information on either of the masked terrorists. Sure, that journalist recorded some great footage of their capabilities but the Peacekeepers weren't strong enough to force them to utilize their true strength. Not even Amelia was useful enough to force both of them into revealing their power.

"Damn it!" Elena cursed.

"Elena. There's no reason to fret. With the bounty on the two, there won't be any issues regarding the capture of these two. Our branch may not be the strongest magjistar branch around but we can still hold our own, you know?" Kieran Patel winked.

"First it was those protestors, then it was those factions, and now this! Why is everything suddenly going wrong in this city?! Can someone answer me that?!"

"I believe it all started with the missing person's case." Mia Thompson answered.

"Missing person's case?" Elena turned to Mia.

"You know, the whole reason why the protestors were protesting in the first place? Because the Peacekeepers weren't doing their jobs or something." Mia blew a bubble with her gum after talking.

"Right…" Elena started thinking. "Then those from the magji factions and clans used the upset protestors against us and turned them into rioters… But how do those two things connect to Amelia suddenly being attacked and kidnapped?"

"The citizens could be being used by those bastards. But even then, none of the magjistars from the clans and factions match with the criminals recorded by that reporter. It just doesn't add up that the rioters could do this or them." Kieran shrugged.

"No matter what, we need to find out the identities of these two criminals or who's supporting them. Not just anyone would be brave enough to charge into a Peacekeeper's HQ, no matter how strong they are. They're making themselves enemies of the OM itself! Not even an S-Grade magjistar is crazy enough to think he can handle the entire OM by themselves." Elena said loud and clear.

"Yes ma'am!" Mia saluted with energy.

"We cannot ignore the threat posed by these rogue magjistars," declared Councilor Aric, his weathered face etched with worry. His booming voice echoed in the cavernous council chamber, bouncing off the polished walls. Elder Elara, her silver hair framing wise eyes, leaned forward in her seat. "Indeed, Aric speaks the truth," she said, her voice raspy but firm. "Their unpredictable nature disrupts the delicate balance we've maintained for generations. Everything we've worked on so far could be torn apart if they're left unchecked."

Councilor Kael, a man with a youthful arrogance in his eyes, scoffed. "Surely they aren't that tough. Just because they defeated the Chief Peacekeeper and some goons doesn't mean anything." A ripple of disapproval ran through the chamber. Councilor Lyra interjected. "Kael, we cannot recklessly use our strongest magjistars for an unknown force like this. These rogue magjistars represent a whole new danger, with an unknown agenda. We must be prepared for anything. Especially if they turn their sights toward us."

Elder Elara sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of responsibility. "We must act with caution," she stated. "Open conflict would leave everyone vulnerable. We need to understand their motives, their goal. Perhaps there's a way we can take advantage of this and come out on top." A murmur of agreement rose from the council members. The situation demanded a delicate touch, a nuanced approach that addressed the threat without escalating the conflict. The future of their society hung in the balance, and the council had a difficult decision to make. They had to act swiftly and decisively, but with a measured hand, in the hope of preserving the advantage they had fought so hard to maintain.

 

[Namgo]

At the amazingly beautiful park in Dhara's center, Zoey, her face obscured by a black-and-white panda mask, admired the park. Although it wasn't that populated due to the weather and the fact that two well-known, highly dangerous criminals were openly relaxing on the park's bench, it was still quite nice to see. It was still a shock to see that the magji world still had some good things about it. If you remove the shitty people, magji could be used for beautiful things like this.

The very heart of Dhara could be said to be this public expanse, shimmering with the echoes of magji artistry. This public expanse shimmered with the echoes of magji artistry. Ornate fountains pulsed with streams of colored water propelled by unseen magical forces. Miniature birds, crafted from shimmering magji energy, flitted through the air, their chirps a whimsical counterpoint to the distant city hum. Even the cobblestone walkways seemed to shimmer with a faint internal glow.

Scattered throughout the park were works of art, each frozen in a pose that captured the essence of their contribution. A towering figure of S-Grade magjistar Anika, the founder of Dhara, stood with arms outstretched, symbolizing the city's embrace of magji. Nearby, a playful sculpture of Scholar Lin, renowned for his work in crafting Dhara, depicted him surrounded by floating boulders of incredible size. Zoey couldn't help but wonder why the hell couldn't magji be focused more on this stuff.

Then she remembered. Oh yeah, the daemons. From what Zoey could remember, things like this don't help kill daemons, which is the sole purpose of magjistars. Actually, if there were no more daemons, would the magjistars just disband and stop developing magji techniques for fighting? Then she laughed. Of course not. They'd just develop them away from daemons and toward magjistars.

Zoey might not be a straight-A student, but even she could see the signs from the numerous history classes she's taken. And most magjistars seem kind of backward in general, like they haven't evolved alongside non-magji people because they have magji. Or, for whatever reason, they have terrible attitudes toward non-magji people. It didn't really matter to Zoey in the end, though. She was going to merge all three of the worlds together eventually. Magjistars, Daemons, and Humans. Even if she had to drag them all kicking and screaming. World Peace seemed like a fantastic, impossible goal for her to strive for as long as she had the Box. If, for whatever reason, the box leaves her, she can just try to live a normal life.

"Do we really need her alive, Panda?" Tiffany, her voice tinged with a disturbingly playful sweetness, tilted her head at Zoey. Her polar bear mask did little to hide the glint of malice in her eyes as she glanced at the tied-up Amelia Patil.

"I'm not going to kill someone who, as far as I know, done nothing wrong. All Roy said was to take care of her. There are plenty of ways to do that without killing her." Zoey responded.

"I can kill her." Tiffany offered leisurely.

"No." Zoey rejected her instantly.

"Awh…" Tiffany silently sheathed the sword she was pulling out. "So why the heck are we just relaxing out in the open for anyone to find us? Shouldn't we be burying her in a hole or hiding her somewhere they would never find her right now? We got a big, big, big! Bounty on our heads right now. Haven't you read the paper?" Tiffany excitedly shoved the newspaper in Zoey's face.

Zoey silently watched and read the newspaper, almost touching her eyelashes. Her booty looked nice in this video… Whoever Sammy Heights is, she recorded from a great angle. It really showed off Zoey's good sides, even with her mask on.

"I did pretty awesome, right? Can't take your eyes off me, can you?" Tiffany proudly boasted. "I wouldn't even mind if you fell in love with me right now and just decided to make out with me on this park bench right now." Tiffany closed her eyes and puckered her soft plump lips.

"I want to have a little more fun before we leave," Zoey said, pushing the newspaper at Tiffany's approaching lips.

"Booo…" Tiffany tossed the newspaper behind her as she playfully kicked her legs back and forth on the bench. "Well, it shouldn't be long before they come find us." Tiffany smiled.

"I can't wait." Zoey was shaking.

Not from the cold winter air but excitement. She was going to see Dhara at its best. It's strongest magjistars, all headed toward her. Well, and Tiffany… But mostly her! As long as she prevented Amelia from being rescued, she could take her time properly having fun with Dhara's best.

"You prevent Amelia from being rescued. I will handle whoever comes to save her." Zoey stated their plan, locking eyes with Tiffany.

Tiffany felt a shiver as she saw Panda's look. It wasn't a cold shiver, but her instincts guided her to stay out of the way. Tiffany wanted to fight alongside Panda, but seeing her like this kind of excited her in a different way… Maybe watching Panda let loose wouldn't be so bad. Who knew she was into something like this?

"Okaii!" Tiffany happily replied, following orders like a good girl.

"Good." Zoey smiled.

Tiffany blushed as she mistakenly heard Panda call her a good girl. Just as she was about to turn to Panda and give her a great big hug, unfortunately, a whole bunch of people decided to ruin their amazing date. She sighed with her arms still outstretched while Panda stood up with her boxing gloves, a fearsome aura coming from her body. As Panda walked toward the newcomers, Tiffany placed her sword across Amelia's throat and eagerly looked forward to the beatdown Panda was about to give them. That hug she was about to give Panda could've made her fall in love with her!

More and more people showed up in the park. They came from all sides, fully prepared for war. Some would think it was a bit of an overkill for just two criminals, but Zoey couldn't be happier that she couldn't even count how many magjistars were around her right now. It only took a quick glance before she found who was the person she needed to speak to.

The others surrounded her in a circle while three people came forward. Two women and a man. Obviously, Zoey didn't recognize any of them. She wasn't from this OM branch. It'd be crazy if she did recognize them. Hopefully, they were the strongest here.

"Release Amelia Patil, and I can promise you that no harm will befall either of you." The silver-haired lady stated. Spine straight, eyes hard, and confident posture. She was ready for a battle.

"One hundred million cavons, and you can have her." Zoey suddenly thought of a good excuse.

"So, you never had any intention of negotiating in the first place." A redhead with fire-colored hair stepped forward, his hands suddenly combusting into flames.

"Don't tell me you're too poor to afford it?" Inner Zoey mockingly looked at the three.

"I'm not even worth one hundred million cavons, and I run this city. Don't play games with me. What do you want?" Silver lady didn't find any amusement in this whatsoever.

"The truth is, I'm just here to have fun. I don't really care about that lady back there. I'm here for you, you, you, you, you, and everyone else." Zoey pointed at them all.

"So she's insane. Great. Powerful and crazy—what a combo…" Sand swirled around the lady with a turban on her head.

"Are you really suicidal?" Silver lady asked one last time.

"I doubt I'm going to die here. Unless you guys have an S-Grade magjistar hiding somewhere." Inner Zoey shrugged.

As Zoey's words hung in the air, tension crackled like electricity around them. The silver-haired woman exchanged a meaningful glance with her companions before stepping forward, her expression a mixture of resolve and caution. "My name is Elena Vasquez. I will no longer spare you the option of surrendering. Prepare to die."

"Call me Yimeh. We don't need an S-Grade magjistar to deal with people like you," Flame Boy retorted, his voice arrogant.

"We have the combined strength of the Organization of Magjistars behind us, and we will not hesitate to use it to bring you to justice. And the dead have no need for names, but since they introduced themselves, I am Layla." Sand Woman reminded her.

Zoey curled her lips into a smirk behind her mask, unfazed by Layla's proclamation. "Justice… You know, I really don't like that word," she remarked, her tone defiant. "But let's see what you got. I don't mind if you come at me all at once or one at a time." With a swift motion, Zoey signaled to Tiffany, who tightened her grip on her sword, readying herself for any rescue attempts. The tension in the air thickened as the two sides braced for conflict, each aware of the stakes at hand.

---

AN: I've recently moved in to a new apartment along with a full-time job. So please forgive me if the uploads begin to slow or be delayed. i'll do my best to keep everything going but no promises.

 

[Namgo]

Hey guys, it's been a while and unfortunately, i do not have good news for you all.


I lost access to all of my stories and my notes. My main email was compromised and a majority of my writing and chapters were in my google drive. Because my account is compromised, i am unable to take anything out of my account. Putting it plainly, i'm starting all over from the beginning with nothing but my imagination and inspiration. Years of hard work and notes and stories and ideas all kind of gone.


It sucks but nothing much i can really do but start over. For now, i'm gonna take a break from writing. Step away and clear my mind and that sort of stuff. I do plan to return eventually. Writing is in my soul, I believe.


When i return, I'll be fast tracking toward the completion of Life Isn't So Simple Anymore and I'm a Proud Member of the Frieza Force. Then i'll focus on A Day in the Life and perhaps another story.


P.S. Do not use Google Drive as your sole storage for things. Spread them out across multiple databases.


And I want to thank everyone who's supported me so far, it means a lot. I hope my stories brought some joy and entertainment into your lives even if only just a tiny bit. I started writing for myself but it is still nice to see that my stories affect people positively.