Chapter 10 - Shocking Fakeout

The city, bathed in a deep indigo, surrendered to the embrace of night.

It was a canvas of solitude, and upon one of its lofty rooftops, Magnus sat, a solitary figure, his gaze locked onto the tapestry of stars above.

His countenance bore a somber weight, a rarity for those who believed they had deciphered the enigmatic man.

With a heavy heart, he whispered into the stillness, "I miss ya, Barom"

His voice was a fragile tremor amidst the quiet.

In this moment, Magnus revealed a vulnerable aspect of himself, one rarely glimpsed.

Perhaps, under the quiet aegis of the night, he allowed his true self to surface - a young man whose journey had thrust him into the cruel reality of life far too early.

But the melancholy did not hold sway for long.

In an abrupt transformation, like a storm brewing on the horizon, an unsettling grin crept across his face.

His eyes sparkled with an eerie determination as he spoke, with a mysterious aura surrounding him.

"I want to eradicate them, to snuff out their existence completely. Their offspring, their spirits—I'll strip them of everything"

The wind transitioned to Mia and Ava.

Ava wore a troubled expression, and Mia confronted her gently, offering words of comfort. "Don't push yourself too hard," Mia advised,

"It's okay to be afraid. We are, after all, only human...well, at least you are, hahaha...." Her smile held a hint of mischief.

Ava, overwhelmed by emotions, pulled Mia into a tight embrace. "Magnus reminds me of my father," she confessed, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

"The way he talks, it's just like him. My father used to talk about the harsh realities of the world"

"He loved me deeply, but he was harsh, he wanted me to be prepared for everything"

"But I never wanted to accept any of, the horrendous acts I may have to commit, even for my survival, My heart just can't."

"I prefer to save things, rather than kill them..."

Mia, playfully thumping Ava's head, said, "Silly young girl, don't overthink things. Stick to your beliefs, and I'll stand by your side!"

"Whether it's your father or that stubborn Magnus, with Mia Drakaria at your back, no one will dare harm you. The word of Drakaria is sacred, so don't fret about a thing."

Ava, touched by Mia's support, began to cry, her face a display of innocence. She clung to Mia with a teary smile. "Big Sis."

The first rays of the morning sun bathed the group in a warm, golden glow.

To everyone's astonishment, Zubair had somehow managed to construct a luxurious base overnight, leaving Ava, Skin, and Mia wide-eyed with disbelief.

They couldn't fathom how he'd accomplished this feat so quickly, but Zubair, wearing a smug and proud expression, simply remarked.

"In the heat of passion, a man can achieve anything, not to mention I'm called the King of Minerals for nothing now, am I? This much is easy!"

It was a statement that left the others cringing, struggling to wrap their minds around the clown of a person Zubair was.

In his characteristic fashion, Magnus materialized seemingly out of thin air, an air of urgency surrounding him.

He directed their attention to a map of Zibar, which he unfurled onto a nearby table. Jumping straight to business.

His voice resonated with authority as he declared, "Ya see this? This right here is the kingdom of Marmaros"

"It appears to be the largest, and not to brag or anything, my quick analytical skills make me the best fit for this mission"

"They are known for their strict adherence to the law, which is why I will depart there tomorrow"

"Now, moving on to the kingdom of Barbras, Mia, ya will be heading there. They seem to have a rather barbaric culture that might suit ya preferences."

Mia, her pride momentarily wounded, retorted, "Hey! I'm not a barbarian!" The others exchanged knowing glances, a hint of skepticism in their expressions.

A chorus of disbelief followed Mia's indignant protest, but the planning continued.

Magnus then turned his attention to Skin, his demeanor taking a more serious tone.

"As for ya, Skin," he began, "ya will be venturing to the kingdom of Askalis, ya can handle it, right?"

Worried looks were exchanged among the group, with Ava and Zubair advocating for a different arrangement.

"We can go on his stead Magnus, no need to push him so hard...", said Zubair in worry. "Y-Yes, I may not be strong but I can still volunteer to protect the weak!"

They volunteered to go instead of Skin, Skin remained silent, his thoughts shrouded in uncertainty.

The command from Magnus was clear, and it marked a pivotal moment for their group's strategy.

"Weak? Take a good look at yourself before calling others weak, you stupid bafoon..." To which Mia and Zubair came in her defense, "Hey! You are going too far!!"

Mia and Zubair, looked at each other awkwardly, as they came forward and said the same thing at the same time.

"Tch... Stupid band of brainless monkeys..."

Mia and Zubair, again in sync, "Hey!! You wanna die or something??"

Looking at each other awkwardly, again shouting in sync, "What the hell is the problem with you!! Don't copy my words!!"

Finally, they ignore each other and go to their respective corners, Mia with Ava and others, and Zubair with his wives

Magnus continued, "Ya pampered princess and ya stupid clown, you'll remain here on guard," he directed, emphasizing the critical nature of their duty.

"Protect this town at all costs. It's the first line of defense for our entire operation, so safeguarding it must be our top priority."

It was a responsibility they understood was paramount to the safety of their world.

Ava also received the added task of looking after Agha, a role she took on with a sense of duty and care, she replied with a fearful expression, "Y-Yes I'll do my best!"

But the moment of tension emerged when Magnus turned his attention to Skin.

"Back at ya..." Magnus seemed to see through the facade that Skin presented to the rest of the group.

"Ya, so-called cripple..." he remarked with a sneer, "Ya may have fooled the others, but ya aren't fooling me." Excluding a killing intent directly at Skin.

In response, a sinister smile curled across Skin's face, and an overwhelming aura of killing intent radiated from him, focused squarely on Magnus, countering his.

The atmosphere became stifling, and Magnus struggled to defend himself, his body tense, drenched in sweat, and his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Every single individual in the room was frozen, though it was exhausting Magnus didn't flatter against Skin's attack. Skin, recognizing Magnus's insight, finally spoke.

"This is strange... The spell I had used shouldn't have been detected by even a Supreme Mage... Who are you, Magnus... And what method did you use?"

Magnus covered in sweat answers, "Why does it matter... Huff... All that matters are your intentions right now... Huff..."

Skin withdrawing his killing intent, "Well for now... I'll stick with you lot, I'm still unfamiliar with this place..."

Shifting his gaze towards Ava, who is visibly shivering through fear, "Yes, I'll go alone. These individuals will only hinder me."

The declaration left everyone in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on Skin. Questioning as to what had just happened, their eyeballs were popping out of their eyes.

Magnus, now sporting a wicked smile filled with anticipation, issued a final warning. "Ya monster, you'd better not turn on us."

Yet, Skin's response was as cryptic as ever.

With an innocent yet malevolent smile, he remained silent, leaving the group with an unsettling sense of foreboding, a darkness they couldn't quite comprehend.

The declaration echoed through the room as Magnus proclaimed, "We depart tomorrow," and then vanished into thin air.

Confusion and concern spread among the group, and Ava turned to Skin for answers, "Oh... What are you talking about?? I'm still your regular cripple tho... your weak Skin!!"

He skillfully played dumb, concealing any knowledge of Magnus's actions.

Mia and Zubair, however, shared a knowing look, their silence speaks volumes.

Without divulging their suspicions, Zubair chose to exit, leaving the others in puzzlement.

Ava, with tears in her eyes, dripping down her fluffy cheeks, murmurs to herself, "Why do everyone always ignore me... I'm sorry for being weak... I am..."

Without dwelling on it further, she turned her attention to Agha, who remained in a deep slumber.

In a separate realm, Magnus grappled with his thoughts.

"Our chances of victory now depend on that crippled monster" he muttered, his frustration palpable.

"I'm not even sure I would win, even if I teamed up with Agha and Mia against him." With an air of frustration and anger, he, in his typical fashion, vanished from the scene.

Zubair left to his contemplations, couldn't help but wonder, "Sheesh

... What have I gotten myself into?"

Mia, on the other hand, sought answers. Turning to Skin, she inquired, "Seriously... What are you?"

His initial response was a calm and innocent smile, as he introduced himself as "Skin Ignis, a simple cripple and your friend"

But Mia pressed on, her tone growing more insistent.

Suddenly, a magic circle materialized behind her, and a spectral hand descended, resting upon her shoulder.

Skin's demeanor shifted, his countenance becoming more menacing as he declared, "I told you I'm your friend, and you should keep it that way"

Mia, gripped by an overwhelming fear, found herself paralyzed and at a loss for words.

She left the scene, biting her lip in frustration. "He's strong..." she thought, "Freakishly strong... How the hell did I not notice it before!! God damnit!!"

The perspective then shifted to Skin's back, and the environment around him grew sinister.

Mysterious hands emerged from two magic circles, propelling his wheelchair toward his concealed chamber, shrouded in enigma and foreboding.