"Ugh... I'm lost..."

Just when I got a great idea, this happens?

This place is more like a maze than a bandit hideout. How the hell did they even make something like this?

I would really like it if they are more stingy with their money. That way I will have more on my shadowbroker treasury!

Such a waste.

I was planning to show myself to the bandits, and surprising them by showing my powers. It will be cool. The one they thought they already got in the palm of their hands is actually a hidden power capable of sweeping them in a single flick of their finger?

That's so freaking cool!~

But I can't even see any bandits now. If I saw someone, they are already dead. I would be really happy if Alpha and the others ignores some so I can have some fun. It's unfair that they are the only one to play as the shadowbrokers.

"..." I felt a presence quickly approaching my position. Seeing an indent on the wall suddenly rising, I kept my cool even if I think secret passages like that was amazing.

From there emerges the leader of the bandits. What's his name again? Grass? Grief? Greece?

Also, does he really have this kind of power? He have more magical presence than Alpha!

... Meh, whatever.

"You... how did you get out? Tch... doesn't matter, you are coming with me!"

Wait, I was looking for an audience(victim) for my shadowbroker mode. I think the bandit leader is enough for this. He might survive at least two minutes to me.

While my head is still lowered, I let his hands get a bit closer until it touches my hair, then immediately take a single step forward, lower my stance for a bit, and hit his sternum with a well place elbow strike.

"GUHAH-!?"

He reels from the shock as he takes several steps back. His eyes looks shocked at what I did, before quickly glaring at me.

"How!?"

I got back to my normal standing posture. Raising my head and smirking while looking down at him.

"Your role on this stage is over. It is time you left the stage!" I randomly spout as I raised my arm to the side, then forming my blade with my slime suit. Along with that, I also take the moment to change into my Shadow form.

Theatrics like this is cool if I say so myself!~

"... W-what... an ebony blade that shines in the darkness..." He looks surprised before he glares at me. "You're with them!?"

He jumps at me, unsheathing his sword and going for a stab. Though I meet his stab with my own. Letting our swords meet without an inch of error.

Hmm... what a disappointment. He have all this strength, but he is just dumping all of his power without sense.

I mean, if I was force to choose between power and talent, I will choose power all the time. Without power, you can't defeat nuclear with talent alone.

Though combat without talent is very dull. It's a bit grating to my sensibilities.

That's why... right, let me give him some lessons.

"Lesson one."

I take my time getting closer to him with a casual stance. One step. Two step. On my third step he slashes at me with all of his might. Seeing that, I flow a tiny bit of my magic to my feet and use it to kick the ground, sprinting at him instantaneously and getting into his personal space.

With his blade hitting only air, I have enough time to move my sword and let the edge of my slime blade caress the skin of his neck. After that I jumped back.

With just the right usage of magic, speed, power, and reflexes can be used efficiently!

"Lesson two."

I take another moment to get near him. This time without using any magic at all. I can see him becoming hesitant whether to attack me or defend, though ultimately he takes a step back. Within that time frame I quickly dashes at him and hit his leg, going a bit deeper and giving him a light wound.

Attack, defense, and movement can't be done at the same time. There is always a gap in time to transition from one action to another. By reading the magical flow within the body, it is easy to predict the enemy's next move.

"Lesson three."

I'm just getting started!

'Just when did I get this overwhelmed?' Grease thought as he was kept being punished by slashes that only wounded him lightly. Everytime the girl moves, another small wound would appear on his skin.

This is so different than when he fought the one who is calling herself Alpha, or even the time he got defeated at the Bushin Festival by the princess. Going further by his memories, he finally recalls how he first takes the path of the sword and got beaten badly by his master.

Yes, that comparison is apt to what is happening to him right now.

Still, despite the countless wounds she have inflicted on him, she's not finishing him off.

He don't know why. Maybe she was enacting revenge due to how they treat her when she was still in captivity?

He thinks that might be it. The girl always look so gloomy everytime he comes into the cell. Though she always cries and scream when they got near her, but he receives the reports of his subordinates and always heard that she is always looking gloomy and seems to be deep in thought.

Is that it? Was she actually contemplating what she is going to do to them?

The crying can be an act, but those time when she was just brooding on her own? She might actually be hesitating?

The girl might be a member of that group that seems to know the existence of the cult, but she is still a small girl. Someone of the same age as the daughter that he have lost.

"Why?" He wanted to ask, why she is doing this?

To see someone of his daughter's age doing things like this, he can't help but become hesitant. It is fine if it's those group of girls, they have the aura of malice only people from the underworld can see.

Though the one he is fighting right now? She doesn't have it!

There is no malice on her strikes, and it's all shallow attacks. Even the way she looks at him is still so sad, like she wasn't even registering what she is doing.

He have to know. Why does a girl doing this!?

"We lurk in the darkness and hunt down shadows. That's the only reason we exist." She said that so coldly, but her voice have some solemnity in it.

He felt his heart clenched at that. Hearing her words, it felt like she was so lonely as she says that.

"Are you planning to go against them!?" The darkness that lurks on the world. He have tried to go against them, and was utterly beaten. Now he lost everything and was consumed by it too.

The girl only gazes at him, making him feel like scratching his head. Can't she see that what she is doing is absurd!?

"Regardless of how strong your groups are, you can't defeat them! The darkness of this world is deeper than the abyss!" He wanted her to stop and just leave.

He have been against this from the start, but the order of the cult asks for Arisa's capture too. He can't deny their orders. This girl looks so sickly, it just reminded him of his daughter.

If there is next life, he wanted to apologize to his daughter. He is just here trudging along on this dreadful life, and letting injustice come and go.

He can't do anything, and so does this girl. Or so he thinks, because right now he is hoping the girl can somehow see sense and hide. She have the capability, she shouldn't waste her life on something like this!

"Then we dive, no matter how deep."

That tone of finality, he can hear the determination deep within that solemn tone of hers.

He widened his eyes at that, surprised. Before finally letting out a cackle, and then a laugh.

"Hahahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!" He laughs, as if he understood now.

He can't save this girl without showing her the truth of this world.

"I see." He muttered under his breathe, before taking the bottle of red lozenge within the pocket of his cloth, and then chugging all of it's contents.

If you truly want to oppose the darkness!

If you truly want to destroy the injustice!

Defeat me!

He let out a scream as he felt his body exploding and imploding. He can feel a surge of power that seems to break down his bones and nerves, and hold it in at the same time.

"HURRAAAAAAAH!"

In an instant, he was already in front of the black-cladded girl. His single swing was blocked, but the girl was thrown to the side of the wall due to the sheer force of his swing.

The girl seems to have managed to recover herself midair, and uses the momentum to step onto the wall and land on the floor, getting into the stable footing.

Though quickly, he got in front of her again and once again slams his sword to her small frame. Battering her away and away on each occasion she recovers herself.

"This is power! This is strength! You should give up now!" He screams at her, clobbering her forcefully regardless if she blocks or parries.

Though as the time passes, she is still standing without anything staining her hooded suit.

"AGH?" He got surprised when he felt another slice to his stomach, causing him to tremble in anger. "USELESS!" He let out a scream and goes for a series of wild strikes.

Regardless, he wasn't hitting her. Unlike him who was accumulating wounds. Still, she can't do anything. Every wounds she inflicted easily regenerates. His transformation is the symbol of unfairness that this world represents.

No matter what kind of talent she have, no matter how skillful she is, true power can't be defeated.

Though he will admit that he can't really touch her. As their battle goes on, he is becoming more hopeless as the girl is practically untouchable.

Why? Why can't I hit her!?

He can't understand. Even while being hit with the absurdity of his violence, she is just standing there calmly. Looking at him with that solemn gaze beneath her hood.

"Playtime is over."

And then he finally understood.

'Beautiful'

A beautiful purplish light converges around her blade, as if darkness itself has been sucked. It glows with a light so natural and perfect. As if illuminating the wretched appearance of his corruption.

"I see..." He finally understood why.

She is not delusional. She actually can do it. He is the one being taught a lesson here. The one who lost on the fight against the darkness.

As the girl swings her blade, everything was cut in it's path. The air. The space. Then his body. Without him noticing it, he was already looking at the ceiling with his fading consciousness, above him is half of his torso as the girl is walking away behind him.

"Millia..."

The last thing he saw is the recollection of his beloved daughter. Then it's only darkness.

"Hmm... what is this I wonder?"

I was trying to loot the body of that bandit leader when I saw this dagger of some sorts. It have some words written in it, but I actually don't care about it.

"Lady Shadow. We are here."

"Oh, Alpha." Good timing.

I passed her the dagger I got from the bandit leader. I think she might like it.

"What is this?"

"Something important..." I said with a shrug.

After that, we left this place while being escorted by Alpha. Well, I'm actually following them because I can't find the exit.

That bandit leader is pretty strong. Though I am thankful for him because he gave me some inspirations to say those cool one-liners.

I think I heard Alpha mutter why I am smiling, but it doesn't matter. I'll just bask in this feeling of accomplishment until I get home.

A/N: Some butterflies occured