Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Iluna's gaze unconsciously drifted once more toward the two black cats already far along. They walked side by side along the street, inconspicuously camouflaged by their fur in the darkness of night.

"Hmm?"

The two black cats rubbed against each other while moving forward, as if it were not winter but spring. They naturally shifted left along the deserted path, bypassing a small area before continuing forward, as if there were something in the air.

Iluna squinted slightly, letting go of her crossed arms. The spirit flowed within her soul, but it wasn't converted into the power of the Circle Sorcerer through the Four Elements, nor into the Witch's power to wield the 'Edict' series of secret techniques learned from Miss Galina.

The spirit surged into the left eye forged by divine power, and as a dark golden glimmer flashed through her pupil, the world became exceedingly real in an instant.

She did not see the so-called "thief," but in what appeared to be empty air, she saw a woman in a black upper and red lower long dress, her hair bound up.

She held a large silver book, standing outside the extinguished "Hyde Bookstore" window, looking intently towards the direction of Yordle Palace. She was not alone. To her left stood a middle-aged man in a crisp black suit, with an air like a university professor; on the other side was a casually dressed young man with brown hair, tossing a metal die, his hair looking unwashed for some time, unusually messy and greasy.

Of course, although a young man, he seemed about twenty-five or six. There was a holy emblem hanging at his chest, but from the distance, Iluna couldn't discern it clearly.

"A book with a silver cover?"

Iluna was startled, and at the same time, Miss Pawo suddenly looked suspiciously at the book in her hands that turned pages automatically, her expression also shocked as she scanned her surroundings.

"That book noticed me watching them but doesn't know where I am?"

Iluna immediately understood, and at once recalled the instructions received before the action:

"Tonight's primary target is [Thief Jack], normally don't disrupt the arrangement. But if a target with additional value appears..."

Regarding whether the Vice President of the Truth Society, Miss Pawo, had value, Iluna of course had her own judgment. Without hesitation, the copper whistle hanging around her neck was already in her mouth, and with a sharp low whistle piercing the long night, heard only by the Church Ring Sorcerers, the night, solid as an oil painting, was shattered in an instant.

Her left hand grabbed the [Judge's Holy Bell] at her waist and shook it, unleashing a burst of golden lightning that leapt from her right hand. This burst of thunder finally made Miss Pawo realize which corner the watchful gaze emanated from, but it was evidently too late to counterattack. The first thing the three saw was the Sunlight Gun, flying from a black vortex, almost at close range.

The flying speed of the Golden Thunder Spear was far faster than the reaction speed of the three Circle Sorcerers, but the book, regarded by Luviya as an Angel-Level Relic, 'The Smowell Codex,' actively influenced the Sunlight Gun.

The thunder burst, yet bizarrely without sound. This strike was completely blocked. However, the giant silver book also lost its airborne capability, descending to the ground, where Miss Pawo deftly picked it up.

The figures of the Church Ring Sorcerers, summoned by Iluna's whistle, were drawing near. Iluna did not wait for reinforcements, as the Brass Life Ring emerged behind her, transforming into a golden balance; having already thrown the second [Sunlight Gun], she charged towards the three enemies.

"Discovered prematurely, proceed as planned."

Miss Pawo, clutching the large book, spoke into the darkness to the two beside her, as the High Ring Sorcerer of the Truth Society grabbed the young man tossing dice and leaped into the sky, only to encounter two Low Ring Sorcerers ambushed on the rooftop.

Several figures flew from the distance, but before reaching Silver Cross Avenue, were blocked by other figures. A patrol team rushing to the scene on the street was still hundreds of meters away; Iluna had already faced Miss Pawo, who displayed the Six Rings Life Ring:

"The Chosen One?"

Miss Pawo recognized Iluna's identity, casting spells while retreating into the shadows lining the street. Core Spirit Rune [Number] and Enlightenment Spirit Rune [Defense] resonated, and the arcane light Iluna had never seen adhered to Miss Pawo, who willingly announced the name of the arcane technique:

"Number Tuning."

A dimly glowing circular base formation appeared under the female sorcerer's feet, but the numeral '1' was at the center of the ritual circle. With the arcane effect, the dim numeral '12' transformed into a brilliantly illuminated '23.' With a cost at the expense of the arcane amplification's effect being immediately depleted, she dispersed the not fully powered Sunlight Gun aimed by Iluna.

"Showy, yet merely Six Rings."

Iluna, of Five Rings, muttered softly:

"Balance!"

She did not look directly into Miss Pawo's eyes, but after the sweep of the dark golden balance's glow, the female sorcerer's movements were noticeably less swift than before. The rotational speed of the Six Rings Life Ring plummeted, resulting in the failure of the subsequent arcane attempt.

Iluna knew that as long as she could prevent her from escaping within fifteen seconds, reinforcements would arrive next, so the Core Spirit Rune [Hero] shimmered on the balance's surface. In concert with Miracle Soul Rune [Glimmer], a small nail fell to the ground at her feet:

"Thorns of Light!"

In the darkness, a sudden flash of light appeared, pure silver thorns grew around Miss Pavo, and meanwhile, a Sunlight Gun illuminated the street.

The silver book was raised, silently blocking the Sunlight Gun, yet this time Miss Pavo was forced to retreat two steps, colliding directly with the flashing thorns, which pierced straight through her abdomen. Iluna manipulated the thorn bush to contract inward, while on the same moment, the supporting Circle Sorcerers finally descended from the sky.

Even though they couldn't use overly extravagant Arcane Techniques in the environment of Silver Cross Avenue, the Eleven-Ring Sorcerer, Five-Ring Sorcerer, and Ten-Ring Sorcerer still stood side by side to cast:

"Duel's Pact!"

"Sunlight Gun!"

"Scorching Ray!"

Old Mr. Modro from the Peace Church stayed a hand upon the chains extending to delineate the duel arena on the ground, a kind of Spatial Sorcery, forbidding anyone from leaving after encircling the dueling range; Iluna's Sunlight Gun and the scorching radiance from Miss Green, the Ten-Ring Female Sorcerer of the Sun Church, simultaneously pierced through the silver book and Miss Pavo's body.

But the lady of Six Rings, her wounds did not bleed; inside the wound were pages filled with text.

"False Body, not Arcane Technique effect, but Relic effect."

Old Mr. Modro, whose hair was white, remarked, while the injured "Miss Pavo" smiled at the three:

"The Chosen One truly deserves to be the Chosen One, indeed, cannot be judged by ordinary standards, able to come out on top upon first encounter. Tobesk is truly a hub of talent, even that ugly woman last time at Lakeside Manor was able to gain the upper hand upon first meeting. Chosen One, I'm honored to invite you to tonight's game, it's about to start, so remember not to be late."

She gazed at Iluna, her voice very clear, not at all like someone injured. She seemed so confident, that knowing look of having seen through everything was truly infuriating.

"Don't waste your time with her."

In a flat tone, Miss Green reminded, whereby Iluna raised a hand, igniting the silver flashing thorns, enveloping both "Miss Pavo" and the book, which was definitely not the original body. The flames quickly engulfed the paper-made pair, as the three from the True God Church observed the densely packed text flying out from the burning ashes, while the Whisper Element began spreading over the entire street like sewage dripping into clean water.

The trio hurriedly fetched their Holy Emblems, muttering prayers to combat the spreading of Whisper Element with Miracle Element. Fortunately, the supporting Circle Sorcerers quickly arrived, replacing the three in handling the elemental pollution.

"What kind of game was she talking about just now?"

Iluna whispered softly on the street, Miss Green shook her head:

"Don't believe anything a madman says, that person seemed to be the Vice President of the Truth Society, that book is quite recognizable."

Pausing momentarily, she added:

"Do not leave this district tonight, the Tobesk Northern Area has erupted in conflict, three High Ring Sorcerers have released an out-of-control Keeper of Secrets Level Relic."

"There's also trouble in the eastern outskirts, but it's not serious, the Cult Sect [Society of All Things United] held a ritual to summon an Evil Object, and the Dawn Church went to handle it, Loranta, of Twelve Rings, is responsible."

Old Mr. Modro from the Peace Church added his words too, meanwhile casting to seek Miss Pavo's original location but evidently making no progress:

"Someone wants to seize the opportunity tonight while the churches are protecting Yordle Palace to do something in the city. But after the lessons from summer, this time we will not repeat the same mistakes."

"Was she purposely letting me find out?"

Iluna asked doubtfully, suddenly bypassing the squad arranging the ritual, and lifted her head skyward. Miss Green and Mr. Modro each caught two bodies descending from the sky; Iluna recognized them as low-ring sorcerers from the Church of Nature ambushed on the rooftop, their necks cut open, blood seeping profusely but not yet dead.

The squad healer promptly reached out for aid, whereas on the rooftop, the "Professor" who had escaped and the cultists briefly flickered in the darkness, seemingly reminding those below of their location.

"Even if it's a trap, we must pursue."

Leaving the squad here to rescue the injured and handle the pollution, Miss Green grasped Iluna's arm, and together with Old Mr. Modro, flew toward the rooftop. At this moment, the Truth Society's professor and the dice-throwing cultist were already fleeing south down Silver Cross Avenue.

Despite the swift speed of the church's two High Ring Sorcerers, the two fleeing were still a step ahead, rushing toward the nearby Prophet's Society. A card from the third floor of the association shot out, leaving a mark on the neck of the "Professor," dressed in a sleek suit. But he disregarded the wound, pulling his companion aside and silently crashing through a window, ending up in a brightly lit room at the end of the Prophet's Society's second floor.