Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 174: Star Players, Part Three

{Lianna}

Once again, in Miss Taylor’s Virtual Reality simulation center, Lianna and Enverna, joined by Mel and Zura this time, engaged in rigorous training against various Fiends.

The air crackled with spells and the clash of weapons as they honed their combat skills.

Lianna swiftly dispatched Fiends from afar, her arrows finding their marks with deadly accuracy.

Recently, her Archery skill had gone up, confirming one of her suspicions.

At some point, she didn’t know exactly when, her proximity buff with Enverna began to affect her potential.

And, with the buff being as strong as it was, Lianna had been making incredible progress in that department.

Archery: 25

Looking over at Enverna, Lianna saw that the same was true for her.

Her Lance skill had shot through the roof.

Lance: 39

Slowly, they were making it so that they weren’t just strong, they were now becoming skilled.

In the distance, Mel unleashed powerful spells that engulfed Fiends in arcane flames or froze them in place, providing crucial support to the team.

Zura, ever vigilant and protective, guarded her companions, deflecting incoming attacks and providing cover when needed.

Enverna darted through the battlefield, striking at vulnerable points with calculated thrusts.

The group was a well-oiled machine at this point.

The simulated Fiends, grotesque and fleshy, surged forward in waves, their digital forms menacing yet no match for the coordinated efforts of the team.

As the last of the Fiends fell before their combined might, Lianna’s voice rang out in praise, her words carrying genuine admiration and satisfaction.

"WE DID SO GOOD!" Lianna exclaimed, her smile bright with pride. "We’re actually getting so much better!" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

For no reason in particular, Lianna’s gaze then turned to Mel, and with a playful grin, she moved to hug her friend from behind, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. The girl on the receiving end blushed.

The group then removed their VR headsets, returning to the real world with a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie lingering in the air.

Just then, Lianna’s phone with an incoming call, displaying Athene’s name on the screen.

[Athene?]

Curiosity piqued, Lianna excused herself from the group and stepped outside the simulation center to answer the call.

"Uh, hey, Athene! What’s up?" Lianna greeted.

Athene’s voice, measured and decisive, cut through the line.

"Lianna, we need to talk. In person, preferably. It’s urgent."

Lianna’s brows furrowed slightly, her mind racing with questions.

"Sure, we can meet. How about my dorm room in like 30 minutes?"

A brief pause followed before Athene responded.

"That works. I’ll be there shortly."

With that, the call ended, leaving Lianna with a mix of anticipation and curiosity swirling within her.

---

The atmosphere in the dorm room at the Watchful’s Guild headquarters was tense yet familiar as Lianna, Mel, Zura, and Enverna gathered on the couch, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

Athene stood before them, her demeanor a little more subdued than usual.

Without preamble, Athene delved into the reason for her urgent meeting.

"I was attacked," she began.

Lianna’s eyes widened.

The room fell silent as Athene recounted the harrowing details of her encounter.

"The attackers were primarily Children of Mana," she explained, her gaze scanning each face in the room to gauge their reactions. "They were armed but carried nothing else than their clothes. No provisions, no escape plans. It was as if they were prepared to meet their end in that fight."

Athene paced from side to side, her eyes low like she was seeing the fight play out right in front of her.

"But that’s not the most troubling part," Athene continued, her tone grave. "The last assailant, the girl who managed to escape, displayed a very... troubling ability."

Athene looked up now, meeting everyone’s eyes.

"It appeared as though she could mimic or copy my Traits and Instincts," Athene revealed, her words hanging heavily in the air. "That’s how she was able to avoid dying to me, and I suspect that’s how she was able to defeat Xi."

Lianna almost gasped.

[She can... copy Traits? And Instincts?] Her mind was racing in several different directions. [What else can she take?]

"How is that even possible?" Enverna spoke up, her voice reflecting the disbelief shared by everyone present. "Instincts are supposed to be unique. An Instinct that lets you use others’ Instincts..."

Athene’s expression hardened, her eyes reflecting determination despite the uncertainty of the situation.

"I don’t know," she admitted, "but it’s clear that we’re dealing with a dangerous adversary, one who not only possesses incredible combat prowess but also has the ability to adapt and replicate unique abilities like ours."

Mel, usually composed, couldn’t hide her concern.

"If she can copy Traits and Instincts, how in the world can she be beaten?" She asked.

"Well, there is one silver lining," Athene responded. "It seemed to me like she can’t copy attributes. That’s why I was able to push her back. I’ve never been one to rely on spells and tricks, and my Instinct is only usable once my opponent is wounded. The girl had no angle to exploit in my case. But," she looked at each of them, "will that be the case with you if you end up fighting her?"

That was the big question, of course.

[If she ever stands in front of me, she’ll get access to my {Target Analysis}. She’ll be able to see what all of us can do.]

Chills went down her spine.

[I need to avoid her. No matter what.]

"Thank you for telling us, Athene," Lianna spoke up, her voice conveying both gratitude and determination. "Hopefully, we can find a way to stay one step ahead of her.

Athene nodded in acknowledgment, a shared sense of resolve settling among the group.

"That is the idea. Stay vigilant," she advised, her gaze lingering on each of them. "And if you encounter anything suspicious or have new information, don’t hesitate to reach out."

With that, Athene bid them farewell, her departure leaving a lingering sense of urgency and determination in the room.

The group remained seated, their minds racing.

A powerful enemy was lurking somewhere in this city.

An enemy who, if Lianna’s quest was any indication, could bring about the end of the world with her skillset.