Kael channeled his ability. A surge of crimson-tinged emerald mana enveloped him, swirling from his feet and gradually rising until it covered the very top of his head. Then, with a sharp, glass-shattering sound, the shroud of mana burst into fragments.
Kael was gone.
Startled by the sudden disappearance, Pip spun around, frantically searching every corner of the dim cell. He yelled out, "KAELLL! Where the hell did you vanish to?!"
"Over hereeee!"
Pip looked down, scanning the floor, only to spot Kael's reflection rippling within the puddle of rainwater. The man was grinning mischievously from inside the water. Suddenly, a volatile surge of mana swirled upward from the puddle, gradually solidifying into Kael's physical form until he completely materialized outside the iron bars.
Pip stared in absolute disbelief. Stuttering, he asked, "Y-You... you actually crawled out from that puddle?"
"Of course! Pretty high-class, isn't it?" Kael puffed out his chest with immense pride.
"No, that's just disgusting. How can you just comfortably crawl out of a dirty puddle like that?" Pip replied, pinching his nose in revulsion.
"Hey! For your information, I can travel through any reflective surface, alright?!" Kael snapped, visibly irritated.
"Right, right... but more importantly, how am I supposed to get out?" Pip asked, growing anxious.
"I have no idea," Kael replied, completely helpless.
Seeing no other choice, Pip decided to take matters into his own hands. He took a deep breath and began to whisper the incantation:
"Cubic Chain Domain—ACTIVATE!"
Surges of cubic energy began to manifest and accumulate rapidly within the palm of his hand. But suddenly, Pip noticed something was terribly wrong. Instead of enveloping the cell door he intended to destroy, the cubic energy shot straight outward, completely bypassing the dungeon walls.
Out in the streets, citizens gasped in utter terror as massive, glowing white cubes manifested out of thin air, converging into a single point in the sky. Suddenly, the cubes violently unleashed gargantuan chains in every single direction across the metropolis, interweaving to form a colossal, inescapable birdcage over the entire city.
Thinking his power was just acting a bit strange today, Pip didn't stop. The massive chains began to constrict, shrinking at a terrifying speed visible to the naked eye.
Locus, who happened to be patrolling nearby, looked up at the sky. His usually cold, composed expression instantly twisted into pure, unadulterated rage. Stripped of his dignified demeanor as a high and mighty Royal Guard, he lost his temper and roared at the top of his lungs:
"YOU ABSOLUTE BLOCKHEAD! ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE CITY?!"
Suddenly, a sharp, icy chill ran down Pip's spine. He shuddered, thinking to himself, (Great, I must be catching a cold.)
Meanwhile, Kael realized things were spiraling out of control. Seeing that the destructive energy wasn't gathering on the cell's iron bars at all, he screamed at Pip, "STOP! STOP RIGHT NOW! SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG!"
Startled by Kael's frantic warning, Pip snapped out of it and instantly deactivated his ability. Just a fraction of a second more, and his chaotic mana would have completely pulverized a nearby building.
Heavy, ominous footsteps echoed through the dungeon as Locus descended into the underground cells. His head was lowered, casting his face in complete shadow and masking his expression. Spotting him, Pip waved and yelled out, "HEY, LOCUS! I'M OVER HERE—"
Receiving no response, Pip felt a sudden knot of dread tighten in his stomach. His instincts were spot on. Locus suddenly lunged forward, closing the distance instantly. With a single, devastating punch, he shattered the heavy iron bars into twisted scrap metal, reached inside, and violently dragged Pip out by his collar.
Only now could Pip see Locus's face clearly. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, his teeth gritted so hard they ground together, and his entire visage was twisted into a terrifying mask of pure fury. Locus roared, "YOU... YOU ALMOST CAUSED AN ABSOLUTE CATASTROPHE, YOU UTTER BLOCKHEAD!"
CRACK!
A resounding blow echoed through the damp dungeon. Pip felt like a gaping hole had been punched right through his skull. He collapsed onto the stone floor, curling into a ball and writhing in agonizing pain as he clutched his head.
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Seeing his newly minted comrade getting brutally beat down, Kael stepped forward, intending to intervene. But Locus snapped his head around, fixing Kael with the glare of a bloodthirsty demon.
BOOM!
A thunderous strike caught Kael square in the face. The sheer force blasted him backward, slamming his body into the stone wall. The thick structure cracked under the impact, and Kael immediately slumped to the ground, knocked out cold.
Without a shred of mercy, Locus grabbed both Pip and the unconscious Kael, effortlessly dragging the two idiots across the floor like sacks of rice.
After leaving the dungeon, Pip and Locus walked side by side, engaging in conversation. As they walked, Locus began to recount the ancient history of the world. Pip listened with rapt attention, while Kael still showed no signs of waking up after that devastating punch.
Locus spoke, "It was during an era when humans and the Upo race had to forge an alliance to repel a demonic invasion. At that time, although our population and combat forces far outnumbered the demons, they possessed leaders. These supreme demons wielded catastrophic power for that era, and because of them, countless of our soldiers lost their lives. At our darkest hour, a sudden beam of light pierced the heavens, striking down upon the demon horde and annihilating nearly every demon in the vicinity. Once the ethereal light faded, the silhouette of a woman emerged. Her long, light-brown hair billowed gently in the wind, and she wore a simple white cloth robe that radiated an aura of sheer majesty. She was none other than the Grand Sage, Alf. She became our savior, the guide who ultimately led both races to victory and prosperity. She was one of the Twelve Divine Messengers dispatched to the mortal realm to aid our two factions."
Pip muttered under his breath, "The Twelve Divine Messengers..."
Locus began to explain further, "The Twelve Divine Messengers are chosen individuals who execute direct commands from the Gods. They possess supreme, absolute power—capable of obliterating a massive island in the blink of an eye. They are ranked from highest to lowest based on their sheer strength. And the strongest among them was Alf, who held the Rank 1 seat. Even though the Twelve Divine Messengers have gone through many generations since then, the most powerful and influential seat—Rank 1, belonging to Alf—remains vacant to this very day."
Kael gradually regained consciousness, blinking groggily as he muttered, "Oh... I'm outside already?"
Seeing him awake, Locus immediately let go, letting him drop unceremoniously onto the hard ground. "Since you're awake, walk on your own feet."
"As if I need you to lead the way," Kael shot back arrogantly, dusting himself off.
"Fine. Then I'll just revoke my sponsorship for you right now," Locus said casually.
"Wait, no! I'm sorry, please forgive me!" Kael instantly pleaded, his arrogance evaporating into thin air.
The three of them eventually made their way to a small, modest diner. The moment the staff spotted Locus's Royal Guard badge, they welcomed them with utmost enthusiasm. However, when their eyes shifted to the two Upo, Kael and Pip, their expressions instantly turned into blatant contempt. If not for Locus's prestigious status shielding them, Pip and Kael would have been kicked out of the establishment long ago.
As they seated themselves at a table, Pip eagerly grabbed the menu. Staring at the vibrant pictures of food printed on the paper, his mouth watered heavily in anticipation.
Locus sighed, "Order whatever you want. It's my treat today."
"Really?!" Kael and Pip shouted in unison, their eyes lighting up.
"Yeah. So just eat to your heart's content."
That permission was a fatal mistake. Pip and Kael proceeded to order almost the entire menu, causing Locus's face to turn completely pale as he realized his entire monthly salary was about to vanish into thin air. The two Upo devoured the food like a pair of starving rabbits, completely ignoring the bizarre and judgmental stares from the other patrons. They hoovered down dish after dish with such feral intensity that Locus actually began to fear the shop owner might throw them out just for being a public disturbance.
Once they were thoroughly stuffed, Locus finally leaned forward, his tone turning serious. "Listen, I can't keep sponsoring you two forever. If I abuse my authority as a Royal Guard any further, I could face a demotion."
"Then what are we supposed to do without you?" Pip asked innocently, wiping his mouth.
"You two need to be officially recognized as citizens of this city if you want to live a peaceful life here. However, standard citizenship is impossible for you since you are Upo. We have to take an alternative route," Locus replied, a heavy weariness in his voice.
"So, what's the plan?" Kael inquired.
"I have a way, but it relies entirely on your own capabilities," Locus answered, his expression stern. "You need to enroll in the most prestigious academy in the world—Aethelgard Academy."
"An academy? Aethelgard? What on earth is that?" Pip blinked, completely clueless.
"You seriously don't even know what the academy is?!" Kael gasped in sheer disbelief.
"What is it then?" Pip pressed.
Clearing his throat, Kael began to explain the grandeur of the world's finest institution:
"Aethelgard Academy is the breeding ground for the most exceptional talents across the globe. In fact, one of the current students there is actually a member of the Twelve Divine Messengers! Even though modern society relies heavily on advanced technology, Aethelgard remains the most legendary school because they train their students into the most renowned mages of our era. Furthermore, if you ever hope to join the ranks of the Twelve Divine Messengers, entering Aethelgard is the ultimate stepping stone to get you there."
Pip couldn't care less about the Twelve Divine Messengers or global prestige. The only thing that truly mattered to him was survival. He looked at Kael intently. "Does this place have food and a place to sleep?"
"Of course. And everything is completely free!" Kael grinned.
"THEN LET'S HIT THE ROAD TO AETHELGARD RIGHT NOW!" Pip cheered, brimming with excitement.
Locus immediately poured cold water on Pip's enthusiasm. "To get in, you must prove you actually possess genuine talent. Besides, the next entrance examination isn't for another two months."
"Two months? That's so long..." Pip slumped, his disappointment palpable.
"During these next two months, both of you must become significantly stronger than you are now," Locus commanded.
With that, Pip and Kael officially forged a new objective: to set foot into the prestigious sanctuary of Aethelgard Academy.
However, as they stepped out of the diner, Locus accidentally collided with a mysterious, cloaked figure walking by. The stranger lost their balance and tumbled to the ground. As they fell, the hood obscuring their face slipped off, revealing the distinct features of a young Beastkin girl.