Chapter 37: The End of Sablesummit
Lars and Lucia had spent enough time around each other that they were both able to form a strong enough emotional bond for them to share a mutual liking for each other. In fact, Lars's plan after the raid had been to finally stop beating around the bush and find some private time away from the others to confess to Lucia. Seeing her in the clutches of Maelys, on her last legs, caused his emotions to overflow.
The Mind Magic boost he got from anger was statistically, at the highest multiplier that it had ever been.
"Mind Magic: Kraftvoller Gedankenstoß!" Lars yelled, releasing the blast point blank into Maelys, who was launched back into the wall. Lars didn't let up, launching two consecutive Telekinetic Sweep attacks at the Midnight Sun Mage. Maelys, who was starting to feel the heat, quickly raised her hands to defend it, but Lars was faster, and she took the brunt of the two attacks.
"Bastard," she coughed, her cutesy attitude completely disappearing. A dark scowl spread across her face, and her red eyes crackled with fury. "Violet Lightning Magic: Double Purple Amp!"
Two bolts of lightning rushed at Lars, but he cast an Infinite Thought Shield to dissipate them both. He barely made a noise as he cast Resonant Concussion, the shimmering barrier knocking Maelys down. She struggled to her feet, but another barrier hit her again, this time giving her a slight upwards trajectory. Then another, and another, and another barrier hit the woman. She was getting battered like a ping pong ball.
Lars finally let up his assault, and Maelys pulled herself to her feet, breathing heavily, the bands that were holding her magenta hair in ponytails were nowhere to be seen, and it now fell around her shoulders. Her clothes were tattered, and her head was spinning as she staggered, struggling to keep her balance.
"Motherfu-," she began, but was then cut off by the hilt of Lars's disconnected naginata handle swinging in a graceful arc to knock her upwards. She landed on a pile of crates, the various liquids inside them breaking and leaking onto the floor. Maelys lay there and was still, her chest rising and falling. Lars panted heavily, the adrenaline still flowing through his body at high speeds.
"You next," he said, pointing his naginata at Acroma, a vein bursting out of his head. The scientist, his face cool as ever, simply sighed mockingly and pointed to where Maelys laid.
"It doesn't appear as though she is ready to give up," the scientist cooly remarked as Maelys pulled herself to her feet.
As Maelys staggered to her feet, her eyes flashed with a feral fury, and violet lightning crackled around her hands as she pushed herself upright. "You think you can finish me off that easily?" she snarled, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth.
Lars narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around his naginata. "Stay down, Maelys. You're outmatched."
Maelys merely laughed, a dark, mocking sound. "You haven't seen anything yet." Her grimoire flared with a vicious purple light, and arcs of electricity rippled across the room. "Violet Lightning Magic: Frenzied Storm!" She thrust her hands forward, summoning a dense storm of lightning bolts, each crackling with raw, destructive energy as they shot toward Lars.
With a grunt, Lars planted his feet firmly on the ground, his grimoire hovering beside him as he poured his magic into his defences. "Mind Magic: Infinite Thought Shield!" A shimmering, translucent barrier materialised before him, absorbing the relentless barrage of lightning. Each strike left shimmering ripples across the barrier, but Lars held strong, his focus unyielding.
Maelys snarled, pouring more magic into her attack. But Lars saw his opening.
"Mind Magic: Kraftvoller Gedankenstoß!" Lars shifted his stance, letting the shield dissolve, and unleashed his telekinetic force in a concentrated blast aimed straight at Maelys's chest. The impact sent her reeling, her body crashing against the far wall with a bone-rattling thud.
For a moment, Maelys lay still, the breath knocked out of her. But Lars wasn't finished. He could feel the surge of power within him, the protective fury driving him to end this fight once and for all.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent his naginata blade spinning through the air toward her, the weapon charged with telekinetic energy as it spiralled through the air. Just as she was struggling to stand, the blade sliced through a page in her spellbook, cutting off her access to her grimoire. Sparks flew as pages scattered, the remnants of her spells dissipating into the air.
Maelys's eyes widened as she looked up, panic flickering across her face. Lars pulled his weapon back, the blade returning to his hand in a seamless arc. He approached her slowly, his expression hard.
"Stay down, Maelys. This fight is over," he said, his voice cold and final.
For a moment, it seemed like she might lash out again, but with her grimoire damaged and her magic severely weakened, she slumped, the fight finally leaving her. She glared up at Lars with a mixture of hatred and disbelief. "You'll regret this… all of you."
But Lars just turned his back on her, dismissing her threat as he glanced toward Lucia and Madeleine, who were watching with relief and admiration (grudging in Maddy's case) in their eyes. The moment of victory had solidified his determination, the fire inside him now calm but fierce.
He looked at Acroma, who was still standing with a faint smirk. "You're next," Lars said quietly, his voice filled with the resolve that had carried him through this battle.
…
The wiry noble gritted his teeth, his hands shaking as he poured more mana into his barrier. Myla's relentless assault had already chipped away at his confidence. Behind him, five other nobles finally rose, each one hesitating for only a moment before steeling themselves, sharing a single, grim nod. They had underestimated this intruder, but there was no way they would let her leave now.
Myla's eyes sparkled as she saw the others joining in. "Six on one? Now we're talking!" She tightened her grip on her staff, barely containing her excitement as she squared up against the small army of nobles.
The wiry man flicked his hand, and in an instant, icy chains erupted from the floor around her, lashing out to bind her arms and legs. But Myla merely laughed, wrenching her arms back with brute force, snapping two of the chains in an instant. "Is this it? I expected more from the so-called 'elite!'" she taunted, breaking the remaining chains and charging forward.
One of the nobles—a tall, gaunt woman with piercing green eyes—raised her hands, and vines surged from her fingertips, twisting toward Myla like snakes. "Maybe you should know when you're outmatched, commoner!" she sneered, her vines wrapping around Myla's ankles, trying to hold her in place.
But Myla only grinned, digging her heels into the floor to tear the vines free as she yanked the woman forward with surprising strength. "Nice try, twig," she snarled, swinging her staff to knock the noble off her feet and sending her skidding across the polished floor.
Two more nobles advanced—one with molten fire at his fingertips (the fat one) and the other crackling with electric sparks. They hurled a combined wave of flame and lightning at her, a searing wall of energy that sizzled through the air. Myla barely had a moment to react, slamming her staff into the ground as a dense wall of wood erupted in front of her, shielding her from the impact.
The fire and lightning slammed into the wall, causing it to smolder and char, but Myla pushed against the shield, laughing as she absorbed the brunt of their spells. "Come on, is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice carrying over the crackling of magic.
The wiry noble from earlier, still nursing a bruised ego, spat in frustration. "You arrogant peasant!" He raised his hand, calling forth a shimmering sphere of light that began to condense, growing larger and more blinding with each passing second.
"Oh, this looks fancy!" Myla taunted, bracing herself as the sphere expanded, filling the room with a hot, humming energy. But instead of retreating, she charged directly at him, barreling forward with reckless abandon.
The wiry noble's eyes widened, and he hurled the sphere toward her, its brilliance scorching the air around it. But Myla ducked low, sliding under the sphere with incredible speed, then sprang up right in front of him, bringing her staff down in a crushing blow.
CRACK! The impact shattered his concentration, the spell dissipating into harmless wisps of light. He staggered back, clutching his shoulder as he glared at her, his fury barely contained.
"I thought you nobles were supposed to be tough!" Myla laughed, turning to face the rest of the group, her eyes gleaming with exhilaration. "I've fought common thieves with more backbone than you!"
The noble with electric powers stepped forward, his hands crackling as he prepared another strike. He smirked, sending a bolt of lightning arcing through the air straight at Myla's chest. But she moved like a blur, sidestepping the bolt and slamming her staff into his side, sending him flying into the wall with a painful grunt.
Two of the remaining nobles, seeing the dire situation, finally abandoned their reservations and joined hands, their combined mana swirling together in a brilliant orb that grew brighter and brighter. "Prepare yourself, woman," one of them said with a sneer, as their spell built to a crescendo.
Myla raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of curiosity and excitement. "Oh, this'll be good."
The orb of mana exploded outward in a blinding flash, a surge of raw energy rushing toward her. She barely had time to brace herself, lifting her staff to absorb the blow as the force knocked her back a few steps, her heels scraping against the polished floor. But as the dust settled, Myla still stood, bruised but grinning, her staff scorched but unbroken.
"Is that all?!" she shouted, her voice booming through the chamber. "If that's your best shot, you're in for a rude awakening!"
Her own mana surged, filling the room with the smell of fresh earth and wood, her staff radiating a fierce green glow as she took a deep breath, then charged at them with renewed vigour. One by one, she picked them off—each strike precise yet rough, each movement relentless yet controlled. She dodged, weaved, and countered their spells, her laughter echoing through the chamber as she sent each noble tumbling to the ground.
In the end, all six nobles lay scattered around the room, some groaning in pain, others completely dazed, their fine clothes torn and dirtied. Myla stood victorious, breathing heavily but triumphant, her grin wide as she planted her staff firmly on the floor.
"Well, that was fun," she said, her voice laced with amusement as she surveyed the wreckage around her. "Thanks for the warm-up, ladies and gentlemen. Next time, bring a real challenge."
She picked a bag of money from behind where the stocky man lay. "And I'll be plundering you now."
With that, she turned on her heel and strolled out, leaving the once-proud nobles sprawled on the ground, humiliated and defeated.
…
"Mind Magic: Kraftvoller Gedankenstoß!" Lars yelled, raising a hand and firing the blast at the scientist. The battle was really getting into his blood, and despite the stakes, a crazed smile appeared on his face.
Acroma dodged the attack, magic pulsating at his fingertips, the blast careening into a nearby wall. In contrast to Lars, his expression was stoic and unmoving as always, his white researcher's coat billowing in the wind created by the force from the mind mage's attack. He raised two fingers on each hand up in the air, side by side. A magical rune circle appeared below Lars's feet.
"Alchemy Magic: Nitroglycerin," the scientist said, an unnatural smirk appearing on his face. The air in the rune's area around Lars combusted and exploded.
Lars felt the sudden pressure in the air, his instincts kicking in as he sensed the danger beneath him. But before he could react, a force yanked him backward, dragging him out of the nitroglycerin explosion's radius. He stumbled, blinking as the smoke cleared, and there was Lucia, her eyes blazing with determination, a floating card glowing beside her.
"The Empress," she muttered, brushing off dust from her uniform. "I hate the damsel-in-distress trope. I'm a Blue Rose knight, Lars. You're not doing this alone."
Lars' chest tightened, an odd mix of relief and pride swelling within him. "Lucia, you…"
"Save it for later," she cut in, glancing sharply at Acroma, who was adjusting his glasses, a mild smirk playing on his lips. "We've still got work to do."
Suddenly, a portal shimmered open nearby, and out stepped Oda, his casual grin clashing with the intense glint in his eyes. "Thought I'd wait for an opening," he said, raising a brow at Lars. "Looks like I timed it right."
Lars chuckled, relief momentarily flooding through his veins. "About time you showed up."
Acroma merely scoffed, his eyes shifting among the three of them as he adjusted his gloves with a maddening calm. "Three on one?" he mused. "I was hoping for a fair experiment."
With a quick flick of his wrist, a new rune appeared in the air. Lars instinctively raised his naginata, his mind already forming a plan. "Let's finish this together."
Lucia nodded, flipping through her Tarot cards. "Then let's see how he handles this." She held up The Chariot, and a spectral steed manifested between her and Lars, granting them both a burst of energy. Lars felt his strength swell, his movements quickening.
"Lars!" Maddy called, having just regained full consciousness from her battle with Maelys. "I'm out of mana, Anubis is a very energy-inefficient spell. My apologies. Looks like I was the one not helpful in battle…"
"Don't sweat it," Lars smiled. "Just stay back, recover your stamina, and we'll deal with this." The mind mage turned his attention now towards Acroma, and the scientist simply met his gaze with cold eyes.
"Mind Magic: Telekinetic Thrust!" Lars roared, dashing forward and thrusting his naginata with a surge of force. The weapon's blade shot toward Acroma like a spear, glowing with mental energy.
Acroma's calm demeanour cracked as he sidestepped the strike, though he wasn't fast enough to avoid it entirely. The blade nicked his coat, ripping a small tear in the pristine white fabric. Acroma frowned, his annoyance evident. "Alchemy Magic: Cadmium Encasing!" He slammed his hand onto the ground, and silver chains erupted, weaving rapidly to form a barrier between himself and his attackers.
But Oda was already a step ahead, his hands weaving through the air. "Spatial Magic: Shuffle!" With a quick movement, he swapped positions with Acroma, leaving the scientist right in the path of Lars' follow-up attack.
Acroma stumbled, barely catching himself as he raised his hands to block. But Lucia was faster. "Card Magic: The Tower!" she intoned, and a towering barrier of magical energy erupted in front of Lars, blocking Acroma's path as he attempted to retaliate.
For the first time, Acroma's calm was faltering. "Impressive," he murmured, his gaze cold as he adjusted his stance. "But I'm not nearly finished." He pressed his hands together, conjuring a powerful glowing orb between his palms. "Alchemy Magic: Particle Blast!" A concentrated beam of energy tore through the air, hurtling toward Lucia and Oda.
Lucia sidestepped the blast, narrowly avoiding it, and retaliated with The Fool card, casting it toward Acroma. "Confusion's all yours!" she said, and the card struck Acroma, causing him to stagger as his mind was momentarily scrambled.
Lars saw his opportunity. "Mind Magic: Resonant Concussion!" he yelled, unleashing a telekinetic wave that crashed into Acroma, sending him reeling backward. Acroma struggled to regain his footing, but his cool composure was now replaced by frustration. He raised his hands to retaliate, only for Oda to unleash another portal, creating a dizzying maze of spaces around him that left him disoriented.
A glint of destruction caught Lars' eye, and he noticed one of Lucia's stray Strength cards spinning off to the side. It sailed through the air, crashing into a room full of Acroma's intricate machinery. The impact caused sparks to fly, and a section of his laboratory burst into flames as the machines began to topple.
In a quiet room filled with the soft hum of arcane machinery, a younger Acroma sat across from Lars's father, Ellion Mertens. Papers were scattered on the table between them—notes filled with sketches of experimental sigils, diagrams of mystical circuitry, and blueprints for projects that danced on the edge of the forbidden. They spoke in hushed tones, their words quick, impassioned.
Ellion leaned back, his gaze searching. "Acroma, you can't keep pushing these limits. What you're suggesting—manipulating natural magic with pure machinery—crosses lines even the kingdom's brightest wouldn't dare touch."
Acroma's eyes gleamed with a quiet defiance as he adjusted his glasses, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Limits are only the boundaries people set when they're too afraid to find the truth, Ellion. Imagine it—a future where magic isn't bound by bloodlines or noble heritage. Where it could be harnessed, replicated, and understood in its rawest form. It's science that frees us, that makes us gods."
Ellion sighed, frustration etched into his features. "But at what cost? Magic isn't meant to be dissected like one of your mechanisms, Acroma. It has life, meaning… You can't control it like gears and bolts without losing something fundamental."
Acroma's smile faltered, a flicker of something vulnerable flashing in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Science requires sacrifice. If I must be the one to bear that burden, so be it. I know what I'm willing to give up for progress."
Ellion shook his head slowly, almost sadly. "One day, Acroma, you'll realise that some sacrifices are too great. And by then, there might not be anyone left beside you to pull you back."
Acroma's face hardened, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I've made my peace with that."
Back in the present, Acroma's face twisted in barely contained rage as he watched the flames consume his machinery, the one constant in his solitary pursuit of knowledge. The crash of shattered metal and sputtering flames filled the air, igniting memories of Ellion's warning.
He clenched his hands, feeling the crunch of his broken glasses in his grip, his knuckles white with fury and desperation. This was everything he had sacrificed for—the hours, the isolation, the unspoken regrets he had buried so deeply. He had given up friendships, trust, even his own humanity, all for the pursuit of science, for the power of knowledge. And now, these intruders, these fools, were tearing it apart.
With a calm that belied the fury blazing in his eyes, he looked up, the fires flickering in his gaze. His voice, when he spoke, was cold, dangerous.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
"You," he hissed, his voice low and venomous. "You fools have no idea what you've just destroyed."
Lars narrowed his eyes, his naginata poised as he prepared to strike again. "Doesn't seem like you're in a position to lecture us."
Acroma's eyes flashed with a dangerous resolve. "Very well. I'll make sure none of you leave here alive."
He extended his arms, and a complex array of runes and formulas appeared around him, swirling like a cyclone. With a flick of his wrist, the air around him began to vibrate with an ominous hum, and glowing orbs of alchemical energy floated menacingly.
"Alchemy Magic: Biofission Surge," he said, his voice eerily calm as the orbs surged outward, scattering in all directions like explosive seeds. Each one landed with a deafening blast, sending shockwaves through the room.
Lucia raised her hand, clutching The Tower card, and a barrier sprang up around her and Oda, deflecting the worst of the blasts. Lars, shielded by his own magic, launched forward, using the momentum of The Chariot's speed boost to manoeuvre through the explosions.
He clenched his naginata, his mind magic flaring. "Mind Magic: Splitting Headache!" he shouted, focusing a potent mental attack on Acroma. The scientist staggered as his mind was bombarded, his concentration momentarily shattered. Lars gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of his determination into the spell, forcing Acroma to his knees.
But Acroma's fury was relentless. With a snarl, he reached for the alchemical orbs still floating around the room. "You won't win," he spat, forcing himself back to his feet, though his breathing was ragged. "Alchemy Magic: Elemental Transmutation!"
The orbs shifted, becoming dense pockets of elemental energy, crackling with fire, ice, and lightning. He hurled them at the trio, his attacks wild and chaotic.
Lucia met his assault with The Chariot, summoning spectral horses that charged forward, trampling the orbs and disrupting their paths. The magic dissipated in bursts of light, and Acroma gritted his teeth, visibly rattled as his attacks crumbled.
Oda leaped through one of his portals, appearing behind Acroma in a flash. "This one's for the Coral Peacocks!" he shouted, delivering a kick that knocked the scientist forward, sending him stumbling straight toward Lars.
Without hesitation, Lars channelled his mind energy into his naginata. "Mind Magic: Telekinetic Thrust!" The blade glowed with power as he struck, the force of the attack sending Acroma crashing to the floor, his face contorted in pain.
Lucia stepped forward, her gaze steady and unyielding as she held up The Fool card again. "You might think you're clever, Acroma," she said coldly. "But your arrogance was your downfall."
Acroma lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his body surrounded by the wreckage of his machines. His hands twitched as he tried to summon one last spell, but Lucia's attack had shattered his concentration. He slammed the floor one last time, the impact reverberating throughout the hall.
"You'll… regret…" he muttered, but his words trailed off as his strength gave out.
Lars lowered his weapon, his eyes meeting Lucia's as a moment of quiet settled between them. "Thanks, Lucia," he said, his voice soft but sincere.
She gave him a small smile, her expression finally softening. "Anytime. But don't go getting yourself blown up again, got it?"
Oda chuckled, clapping Lars on the shoulder. "Next time, maybe leave some of the fighting to us, huh? You were hogging all the fun."
Lars laughed, the tension finally melting away as he glanced at his friends, grateful for their support. Together, they turned toward the exit, leaving Acroma defeated and his ambitions in ruins. The battle had been hard-fought, but their victory felt all the more satisfying for the strength they had found in each other.
As they stepped out into the fresh air, the sun starting to rise in the horizon, Lars stole a glance at Lucia, his resolve stronger than ever.
…
In the dim, narrow corridor of the smuggler hideout, Team A pressed forward with precision, dispatching guards with well-practiced ease. Kirsch led the group, his Cherry Blossom Magic casting a veil of delicate, drifting petals that masked their presence. Behind him, Sharya and Yul moved with intense focus, their weapons drawn and ready, while Russell and Lilian covered the rear, ensuring no ambushes could catch them off guard.
As they rounded a bend in the corridor, footsteps and the glint of magic flared up ahead, alerting them. The two teams came face-to-face with Team B—Charlotte, Sol, Zoe, Dana, and Amaryllis—who had approached from the opposite end. Both groups exchanged determined glances, a silent understanding passing between them; the time for subtlety was over, and they could feel the finality of the moment in the air. With the combined force of both teams, the smugglers' stronghold didn't stand a chance.
Charlotte lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with determination. "This is it. We push forward with everything we've got," she said, her voice low but unwavering. "Let's end this once and for all."
A flicker of nervous energy passed through the team, but it quickly turned to resolve as the smugglers surged forward, armed with rudimentary magic and enchanted weapons. They charged with a mix of fear and fury, hoping to reclaim some semblance of control in their crumbling stronghold.
Kirsch stepped forward with a grin, his eyes alight. "This? This is nothing. Let's show them what true beautiful magic looks like! Cherry Blossom Magic: Dance of 100 Million Cherry Blossoms!" With a graceful movement, he unleashed a swirling tempest of sakura petals that blanketed the corridor, his pink petals drifting like gentle snowfall—until they collided with the smugglers, slicing through their ranks with deceptive elegance.
Sharya darted forward, her Clone Magic at the ready. "Cloned Prism Magic: Prismatic Assault!" she cried, as her hands mimicked Lilian's Prism Magic. An array of refracted light burst forth, blinding the smugglers with intense beams that ricocheted off the walls, creating an intricate display of colours that threw the enemies into disarray. Sharya's laughter echoed through the chaos, adding to the confusion.
Yul grunted as he barreled forward, his fists clenched. "Steel Magic: Iron Rush!" He swung with brute strength, battering smugglers to the ground with powerful strikes that sent waves of energy rippling through the air. Each blow destabilised the smugglers, knocking them off balance just long enough for Russell to step in, a sly grin on his face.
Russell chuckled, unleashing his Dust Magic. "Dust Magic: Suffocating Haze!" Fine grains of dust filled the air, slipping into the gaps of the smugglers' armour, clogging their lungs and making them cough violently. He added a twist to his magic, conjuring mirages that danced before the smugglers' eyes, causing them to strike at illusions instead of their real enemies. "Try hitting something you can actually see!" Russell taunted, winking at Yul. "Pretty good, right?"
"Stop showboating," Yul sighed, hitting another smuggler with Vis Ferri.
On the other side of the corridor, Charlotte and Sol had fallen into a synchronised offensive. With a commanding wave of her hand, Charlotte summoned her Briar Magic. "Briar Magic: Briar Wreath of the Rose Knight!" Thick, thorny vines twisted forth, trapping smugglers where they stood, their yells of panic muffled by the cloying plant life. Sol followed, placing her hand on the ground. "Earth Magic: Mud Wall Fortress!" she called, causing the floor to rumble and shift as walls of earth rose around the smugglers, boxing them in with nowhere to run.
Zoe's face was set with calm concentration as she directed her Ink Magic. "Ink Magic: Binding Glyphs!" Black glyphs swirled around her and snaked toward the smugglers, wrapping around them and draining their energy. Zoe's eyes were cold and calculating as she directed each glyph with precision, reducing the smugglers' strength and ensuring they could hardly resist.
At the back of the formation, Dana's Lens Magic amplified the potency of each attack. "Lens Magic: Refraction Burst!" she shouted, focusing her magic into blinding bursts of light that ricocheted off different lenses she had placed around the room, dazzling the smugglers. She adjusted her spells to magnify attacks or redirect any stray projectiles, her calm and steady gaze never wavering as she enhanced her teammates' magic.
Amaryllis moved like a shadow along the edges of the fight, her Poison Magic seeping into the air. "Poison Magic: Venomous Smog!" she whispered, as a misty fog spread around her, clinging to the smugglers who dared approach. Her every step left behind a trail of poison, and she watched with grim satisfaction as a few smugglers staggered, clutching their throats as the poison took hold. Her eyes were unreadable, a silent warning that none should dare get close.
As both teams pressed forward, their combined attacks wore down the smugglers' resistance. The narrow corridor was filled with flashing lights and surges of magic, creating a dizzying battleground. Lilian stepped forward, her Prism Magic creating a dazzling spectrum that flickered through the corridor. "Prism Magic: Prismatic Flare!" she cried, catching the smugglers in a stunning array of colours before using it to shatter their weapons, leaving them defenceless.
Finally, with the last of the smugglers defeated, silence filled the corridor. The teams shared a brief, collective breath of relief, the weight of their victory settling in.
From a swirling portal nearby, Oda finally emerged, a small, determined smile on his face as he approached Charlotte. "Looks like you guys could use a lift," he said with a smirk, then held up his grimoire. "We'll need something special for this one."
Charlotte nodded approvingly. "Spatial Magic boy, just in time. Let's get everyone out."
With a gesture, Oda activated his Spatial Magic. But as he prepared, another card floated through the portal, shining with power: Lucia's Magician card. It spun gracefully through the air, a glimmering beacon, and landed near Oda, infusing him with a powerful surge.
Oda felt the magic surge through him, his Spatial Magic amplified to a new intensity. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he called out the full spell with a resonant voice. "Mass Extraction Warp!"
A massive, complex magical circle flared to life beneath them, intricate lines and symbols glowing as the circle expanded to encompass both teams. The spell pulsed with an intense light, enveloping everyone, and they felt a sense of weightlessness as the warp began to stabilise.
For a split second, the teams were suspended between dimensions, a strange sense of calm filling them as they floated in the shimmering glow. Then, with a rush of air and a final, brilliant flash, they vanished from the corridor, leaving the smuggler stronghold empty, its defences shattered, and its heart broken by the unstoppable might of all three teams.
As they reappeared outside the smuggler hideout, Sablesummit loomed around them, bathed in the soft glow of dawn. The smuggler ring had been dismantled, their leader defeated, and their underground operations uprooted. The teams exchanged tired, grateful glances, the thrill of victory filling them.
"Good work, everyone," Charlotte said, her voice soft but brimming with pride.
Kirsch smirked, brushing a petal from his shoulder. "Of course it was. Did you expect anything less?"
Sharya rolled her eyes, elbowing Yul. "Here we go again," she muttered, but her smile betrayed her relief.
Charlotte's stern gaze softened as she looked at each member of both teams. "This mission wasn't easy," she said. "But you all fought well, trusted one another, and put everything you had into this."
Oda chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Guess we're finally out of this place." He looked around at the weary faces, a spark of gratitude in his eyes. "We did it together."
Lars, who was also outside, looked towards Lucia, who was talking to Madeleine. He walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Meet me in Kikka in three days," he whispered. "I have something to tell you."
A/N: The raid on Sablesummit is finally over! But the arc isn't quite finished yet! We still have two chapters to go.
and ho lee fak i didn't realise this chapter was so long