Standing on a hill, Alice let out a soft sigh as she closed her eyes.

She felt the wind brushing against her hair as the mix of Abyssal and Nightmare energy could be felt through the air.

As expected, the closer they got to the capital, the more barriers Alice sensed. Trying to force past them would destabilise her portals leading to disastrous consequences.

However, even though they had to exit the portals early, they could still see the capital in the horizon.

"I believe an hour or two of travel by foot should get us to our destination within good time." Lab walked up to Alice while Elias was sprawled out on the ground.

Alice nodded her head silently while looking at the distant capital.

Elyndor, capital of Extalia.

Also known as the city beneath heaven.

Even from afar, Alice could see a colossal white tower piercing the skies at the very centre of the city. A line connecting heaven and earth, vanishing into the clouds like a divine spear.

Around that tower, the city layered itself in its glory. Though from this distance, the only thing Alice could see was the tower.

A testament to the situation of Extalia. The nation where its laws are focused around the privileged few who sit at the top rather than those who support it as the foundation.

When one peers into Extalia, they would only see the prosperity brought forth by its noble families and the Royals.

Squinting her eyes, Alice gathered her energy into a single tiny spark and took aim.

*BANG!!!

Just as she fired the energy, it collided with the outer most barrier.

She could see a ripple spreading across the barrier as it dispersed the energy used in her attack.

While it wasn’t a very strong attack, Alice could already estimate the durability of the outer most barrier.

’Even if a six Sigil Hunter strikes this, it’ll take considerable force for them to break through.’ She folded her arms in deep thought. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

If you cannot bypass this barrier and step through, you’ll be placed under a kind of pressure that limited your power usage. The closer you got to the capital, the stronger this effect became.

But like her triggered casts, this barrier seems to be one with conditions attached to it. The stronger you were, the more potent the rules were. Yet if you were weak, these rules meant nothing. A safety net put in place to ensure the safety of the capital.

"Is that... the capital?" Elias mumbled, rolling himself back onto his feet as his movements were sluggish.

"You’ve never been here before?" Alice asked as he shook his head.

"I spent most of my time trying to figure out a cure. Do you think I’ll have the time to explore Extalia?"

"Do you even go anywhere?" Alice raised her eyebrows.

Ever since bringing him out of the Abyss, Elias has show little to no knowledge about the outside world. The only thing he cared about was trying to make a cure for side effects.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"For your information, yes, yes I do. But enough about me, why don’t we focus on you. What was that back there? In the Void?" He asked as Alice shrugged.

"Thought I found a trace of someone I would consider to be my dad. Thankfully he’s not there but he’s injured so far. We’re looking for my mother figure so that I can find my father figure."

Elias raised an eyebrow.

"Shouldn’t you just call them mom and dad? Why are attaching figure at the end of it?" he asked curiously.

"If a kid you saved started calling you dad, would you be concerned? Or would you understand your importance to them if they compared you to what a father would’ve been in their life?" Alice rolled her eyes.

While she may call Allura and Kaden her mother and father figure, she also understood that both of them might not have the same perspective.

To them, she might just be a random kid they helped save.

But to Alice, they were different. She would give the world to see them happy and that was from the bottom of her heart.

Elias couldn’t say anything in return.

Indeed, if a kid he saves called him dad, he would also be confused as hell.

"I simply perceive them as my parents due to everything they’ve done for me."

It now made sense for Elias. Why Alice would give up finding Feris in order to find Allura.

Meanwhile, Alice closed her eyes and spread out her senses. She wanted to see if she could find a trace of Allura now that they’re close to the capital.

However... there was nothing. Not a single trace in fact.

Was she too early? Was Allura not here? Or... Was she hiding her tracks?

Alice took a deep breath and exhaled.

She glanced up at the sky with a look of longing in her eyes.

She wanted to find Allura as soon as possible.

She wanted to talk about the journey she’s had to endure thus far. The things she’s learned, the friends she’s made. She wanted to show Allura how far she’s become. To help her resolve her curse with famine.

She wanted to help Allura and Kaden reunite. To see the two of them happy like she did in the reflections of the past that she experienced.

Then, at the end of it all, she wanted to stop Nyer from achieving his goals.

"Let’s go." Alice spoke as she took a deep breath.

She stepped towards the capital and suddenly froze.

The moment she bypassed the barrier, a vile energy filled the air. Her pupils constricted.

She jumped back out of instinct, pulling both Elias and Lab with her. Both of them were surprised when they felt the repulsive energy spread from the barrier.

Abyssal energy instantly flooded Elias’s body as his eyes shifted to that of a blue.

His Sigils lighting up one after another while Lab snapped her fingers.

Flames flashed across her body as her suit was transformed into a battle dress with plated armour around the shoulders and chest.

Clashing her fists together, a single longsword appeared in front of her as she drew it from the flames. Then, with her finger in front of her face, she flipped down an invisible visor that caused flare to cascade down her hair, transforming into a silver mask while a broken flaming halo floated behind her.

As for Alice, she didn’t need the use of her resonance.

No, just her killing intent was enough as the world seemed to groan under her pressure.

The three relics of the Abyss harmonizing as she summoned Void Fang and transformed it into a sword.

"Pft my my, what a warm welcome. Is this how you speak to an old acquaintance? Now, where did the rest of the group go? I see... a doctor and a Lord. Two unfamiliar faces with fresh stories to share." A man stepped out of a rip in space as Alice narrowed her eyes.

While his appearance may be different...

That aura and tone of voice was unmistakable.

Zal-Ka’Rith, the Writhing Script.

An outer god that had ’betrayed’ them.

His new appearance was both... ’normal’ and abnormal at the same time.

He wore a simple suit with a long coat tail, a white shirt and a black vest. A pair of white gloves that reached up and adjusted his tie. As for his appearance however, that was where the abnormalities showed up.

His flesh was dark and from the stump of a neck, strange black wispy shadows could be seen drifting upwards before fading away.

If one looked closer, they would notice that these wisps were in fact words that have been closely packed together at a small font. It was a flow of script mimicking the movements of fire.

Then, from that flow of words, a single eye opened with a spiralling pupil. Once again, crafted from words.

He had a wide smile on his face as he approached Alice who simply flicked her wrist.

An arc of energy crashed down inches away from him, preventing him from walking further.

Zal-Ka’Rith paused for a moment before laughing.

"My what FEROCIOUS aura. Ah~ It simply wets the appetite upon seeing such a delicacy refined to such an extent." He moaned softly causing Alice to frown in displeasure.

"Why the f*ck have you shown your face before me. Last I checked, you f*cked off with your buddies after stealing what’s mine. And what about Isolde? I thought you promised her that you’ll help her kill Lumiria. Don’t tell me you’re going back on your word." Alice spat in annoyance as golden chains coiled around her right arm.

It wasn’t a complete manifestation, just enough where Velouria’s lingering seal could be used to fight against Eldritch entities if needed.

Zal-Ka’Rith folded his arms and tapped his chin.

"Would you believe me if I said I still intend to keep all of my promises? And I believe even though I may have ’betrayed’ you as you perceive it, I still helped you kill Kazira did I not?" He laughed.

This was news for Lab as her eyes turned to Alice in shock.

A six Sigil hunter managed to kill... an Apostle???

Not a Lord, not one who’s reached the pinnacle. A young girl who’s yet to achieve Lordship has killing someone beyond that of Lords!

"Yes, yes you did. But that doesn’t change the fact that your allegiance changed. Why should I listen to you ramble right now instead of straight up killing you?" Alice asked as she took a step forward.

In that instant, it’s like a malevalant beast had descended into the realm.

All of the anger, the helplessness, the frustration Alice felt upon seeing Kaden’s cage, her rage towards Nyer, was directed at the Outer God in this moment.

Lab felt the threat of death as she subconsciously took a step away from Alice.

Meanwhile, Zal-Ka’Rith’s pupil constricted.

His grin widened as excitement roared in his chest.

In the short time they’ve been separated, Alice had shown such growth. He wanted to feast on the story here and now! He wanted to break her apart and understand her!

But...

’No... I must control myself. If I eat the ’meal’ before it’s reached its conclusion, I would only live to regret my actions in the future.’ Zal-Ka’Rith held himself back.

After all, losing to ones desires was the markings of a fool.

And all he desired was to enjoy the finest story at its conclusion.

"You see..." He smiled.

"I’ve come here with a proposition for you."