"Haa… haa…"
Seraph knelt on one knee, her radiant golden armor cracked and dulled, her face pale and damp with sweat. Her light staff, once glowing with divine energy, flickered faintly as if on the verge of extinguishing entirely.
Before her stood not one, not two, but three Horror Specters, each towering above her like a shadow of death.
Their red, malevolent eyes glared down at her, brimming with hunger and malice.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. The battle had drained nearly every ounce of energy she had left. Her golden aura, once so bright and imposing, had diminished to a faint glow, barely enough to keep her upright.
Across from her, Ater stood with a wide grin, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. Beside him was Rey, now recovered, his arms crossed as he watched in silence. His gaze occasionally flickered between the monstrous Horror Specters and Seraph, his expression a mix of awe and unease.
Seraph's mind raced as she surveyed the situation, panic creeping into her thoughts.
'How did this happen?' she asked herself, gritting her teeth. 'How did I, one of the finest administrators, fall into such a desperate position?'
Her hands trembled as she gripped her staff tighter.
She knew the answer, even if she hated to admit it. The situation had proven far more complex and dangerous than her superiors had anticipated. They had underestimated Rey's resourcefulness as a singularity and, more importantly, Ater's overwhelming power.
'And it's all my fault. I told them he was no threat, so they didn't take it very seriously…' She sighed. 'How did it come to this? I know how… it's all his fault.'
Her glare of hatred pointed straight at Ater.
'I still don't know who he is or where he's from, but there's no doubt that he's not a Native of this world or the others. Is he like me? Was he plugged into this world? But how? The higher-ups would have noticed.'
Seraph was too confused.
There were no records of this being called Ater—at least, none at her clearance level.
But, that was only a part of her problem.
'I have no way to replenish my energy in this place…' She realized bitterly. 'The reserves I was given to carry out this mission are nearly depleted, and I'm nowhere near achieving my objective.'
Seraph's gaze darted between the Horror Specters circling her. Their monstrous forms oozed malice, their movements slow and deliberate as though savoring her helplessness.
'I can't handle this alone,' she admitted to herself, swallowing her pride. 'This isn't my failure. I couldn't have expected this kind of situation. I need to call for reinforcements before it's too late.'
She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stand on shaky legs.
~VWUUUSH!~
A bright light erupted from her body, pushing back the three Horror Specters and sending them flying across the battlefield.
They screeched in protest as they were hurled into the distance.
Rey shielded his eyes from the sudden brilliance, but Ater remained unfazed, his grin widening in curiosity.
Seraph raised her staff high, summoning every last bit of energy she had left.
A beam of light began to form, shooting upward toward the heavens. Its intensity grew brighter with each passing second, a beacon meant to pierce through the veil of worlds and reach her superiors.
~WHUUUUUM!!!~
But just as the beam was about to complete its ascent, a loud snapping sound echoed across the battlefield.
"Ah, ah, ah," Ater tutted, his tone dripping with mockery. His fingers lowered from the snap he had just performed, wisps of dark energy trailing from them.
The beam of light fractured, and then the barrier of light surrounding Seraph shattered like fragile glass. A dome of oppressive darkness descended upon them, smothering the battlefield in shadow.
"W-what?!" Seraph's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked around, her connection to the outside world severed.
The dome pulsed with malevolent energy, a prison crafted with meticulous care.
Ater chuckled, taking a slow step forward.
"You didn't think I'd just let you call for help, did you?" he asked, his voice calm yet laced with mockery. "I've seen that look in your eyes before. The desperation, the pathetic hope that someone stronger will come to save you."
Seraph glared at him, her golden eyes blazing with anger, but she remained silent.
Ater tilted his head, his grin never faltering.
"You're predictable, little one. Of course, you'd try to summon your superiors to clean up your mess. That's why I prepared for it. This little dome?" He gestured around them at the swirling darkness. "It cuts off all communication. No beacon. No signal. No reinforcements."
This was truly how to use a Null Art.
He paused, letting his words sink in, then added with a smirk, "Although, I have to say, calling for backup might not be the smartest move for you. Do you really think they'll come rushing to your aid after this embarrassing display? If anything, they'll probably punish you for your incompetence."
Seraph's knuckles turned white as she gripped her staff tighter, her body trembling with exhaustion and fury.
"But then again, it doesn't matter, does it? Whether they save you or not, you're finished. You've lost. And deep down, you know it." Ater shrugged, his grin widening.
The three Horror Specters regrouped, their massive forms looming over her once more.
Their combined presence pressed down on her like a suffocating weight, leaving her with no room to breathe or think.
Seraph's legs buckled, and she fell to her knees, her staff slipping from her grasp and clattering to the ground. Her head hung low as her golden aura flickered one last time before extinguishing completely.
"I… I admit defeat," she said softly, her voice trembling with despair.
Ater's grin stretched wider, his crimson eyes gleaming with triumph.
"Good girl," he said mockingly.
'Someone I struggled against was completely broken down and dominated so easily…'
Rey stared at Seraph's crumpled form, his mind racing with questions about what had just transpired. Beside him, Ater stood tall and proud, his aura of dominance unwavering.
He had been silent all this time, but Rey couldn't help but worry.
'I really don't know anything about Ater, and I still haven't forgotten what happened in H'Trae… when I couldn't sense him and Esme.'
There was no doubt that something was shady with Ater.
'If I had to guess, he's from the same world as Seraph…' He reasoned. 'That's how he can use this Ancient MajiK thing.'
However, even though Rey knew all of these things, what could he do?
"Master… what should we do to her now?"
Ater's voice interrupted Rey's thoughts, forcing him to look at the grinning devil that bowed his head before him.
'Why is he still treating me with so much respect when he's much stronger than I am? I'm so confused right now…' He sighed. 'Hopefully, I get some answers out of him once this is over.'
For now, he had to address the Seraph issue.
"Why don't we start with a few questions? Let's get to know the superiors she was trying to call."
"Good idea!"
Rey and Ater stood right in front of the trembling Seraph, both of them grinning like devils.