In the misty mountains of the Eastern Empire, unrest shook the calm of the forest. A veiled figure appeared among the trees, cutting through the vegetation with breathtaking speed. She slipped between tree trunks, rebounded off branches, and skimmed across the ground without ever breaking her rhythm. The scenery blurred past her. With perfect control over her trajectory, she had no trouble handling her own acceleration.
"On your left, Princess."
A voice echoed deep within her mind.
She veered onto a rock. A fireball tore through the woods. The female figure extended her hand, unleashing a powerful jet of water that destroyed the attack—and the tree behind it, sending it crashing down.
Without hesitation, she resumed her frantic race against time, as gusts of wind roared along her path. She burst out of the forest, barely catching her breath before a metal chain shot out from the woods toward her.
Without rushing, she raised her hand again. Flames compressed into the center of her palm. She fired a beam of fire that melted the chain before it could reach her, igniting the surrounding trees.
"On your right."
The voice spoke again.
She turned her gaze and saw a masked enemy lunging at her. The man tried to pierce her with a metal gauntlet—but all he struck was an empty veil.
— What the…?
A kick slammed into his face before he could react. As he tried to recover, a second kick crashed into his jaw.
The figure stepped back, placing a foot on the ground, her blue hair falling over her back and shoulders.
"Behind you."
She turned without surprise. Her piercing red eyes locked onto her enemy: a massive man, ready to bring his hammer down on her.
— Way too predictable.
She smirked.
The hammer smashed into the ground, but she dodged effortlessly and planted her foot on the man's chest. A violent force burst outward, sending him flying.
The masked man shouted and hurled spiked chains at the girl, but she coated her hand in energy and caught the attack barehanded. Electricity crackled—then she sent the charge back through the chain, guiding it straight to its owner, triggering a massive explosion.
The man emerged from the smoke and charged again. The hammer-wielder did the same.
"I'll have to be quick."
The masked man attacked, but his strike was dodged. The girl used his back as an acrobatic foothold, chaining kicks together. The hammer wielder attempted a punch to her back, but she remained standing.
"She's definitely strong… no doubt about it…"
He launched a spinning kick, which the teenager easily blocked.
"But she's still a developing adolescent."
She leapt back to create distance—but this time, she was hit. A deep gash opened on her left shoulder. A greenish liquid—poison—spread rapidly, forming crack-like patterns that already covered much of her shoulder.
"Honestly, I advise you not to overuse your powers… Your progression depends on your chaotic energy."
The voice in her mind gave a clear warning, but the situation didn't allow her to follow it properly.
The hammer wielder charged again. She dodged each blow without slowing down.
"This is really bad…"
Before he could continue, she raised her hand once more. The burning spark in her eyes intensified.
— Obliteration.
She concentrated her attack at 50% of its power. A devastating beam of massive energy swept across her enemies. The impact was immediate, creating a shockwave that blew everything away—uprooting trees and destroying everything in its path without distinction. Rock melted like flowing lava.
She clenched her fist, stopping the attack.
Leaving only devastation behind.
She let out a faint breath—but the pain in her arm immediately caught up with her. The cracks spread further across her body, climbing toward her face, draining the energy within her even faster.
— It hurts like hell…
She dropped to one knee, overwhelmed by pain.
— Maelle…
She spoke the name of the voice in her head, which answered immediately.
"Atela, you are nearing the critical stage. I won't be able to help you if the infection reaches your brain. You must use your powers as little as possible."
She gritted her teeth and forced herself back up, placing a hand on her wound.
— Easier said than done.
She turned and dashed back into the forest like an arrow.
"I need to reach the capital and speak to Patriarch David as quickly as possible."
But behind her, the massive man stepped in and blocked her path with his hammer. The masked man appeared behind him with a sigh.
— Zep, now I get why she's the guardian… this kid is impossible to deal with…
Rod replied in a sharp, tense voice:
— You should've been in our place, Kay. I'm sure you would've loved it.
— Says the one getting beaten by a kid.
Zep, however, didn't seem concerned by the conversation. As usual, he remained silent.
Footsteps approached, cutting through flames and ashes.
— Where is she?
His deep voice echoed. The three men turned toward him.
— She went back into the forest…
Their leader nodded, his red eyes reflecting in the blazing flames around him.
— Find her. She can't be far.