The forest breathed in slow silence.
Afternoon light dripped through the branches, scattering across the soft grass.
Running footsteps shattered that quiet.
Tsukasa broke out from the last line of trees, slowing only when sand cushioned her steps.
She stopped at the edge of the shore.
Her pale silver-gray eyes narrowed.
Before her, the ocean spread wide and impossibly blue.
Its reflection flickered across her lifeless irises like a ghost of color.
Another set of footsteps approached from behind.
Tsukasa shifted her gaze, just slightly, toward the sound.
"There you are," Fuji said as he stepped out from the shadows of the trees.
"Oh look. The obedience dog."
Her tone was flat. Cutting.
Fuji halted a few steps from her.
She smiled—arms spreading lightly.
"Congratulations. That's me," she said in a cheerful, almost mock-proud tone.
"No… thanks," Tsukasa muttered, annoyed.
Fuji's smile faded into something hard.
"It's time to come back, Tsukasa."
Silence followed.
Only the ocean whispered behind them.
"No."
Tsukasa spoke one word—and an invisible force slammed into her.
She shot backward, skipping across the surface of the water before stabilizing herself.
Her feet rested on the ocean as if it were solid ground.
(What… was that?) she thought, scanning the horizon.
Nothing.
Just endless ocean stretching into forever.
"Looking for me?" Fuji's voice slipped into existence.
He stood a few meters in front of her—like he had always been there, but never was.
(This guy… he's going to be a problem. But I can handle him.)
"Tsukasa," Fuji said, excitement rising, "don't you wonder how I got here? I'll give you a hint… little… brother."
Her eyes widened.
Her jaw tightened.
"What the hell did you do to him?" she snapped.
Fuji's satisfied smile deepened.
"Well… let's say it served him right."
The exact words Tsubaki once said.
A flicker of shock crossed Fuji's face.
Blue lightning snapped across Tsukasa's body—violent, thunder-bright.
(Shit. She can use thunder magic.) Fuji steadied himself instantly, arms raised in a high defensive guard.
Tsukasa moved.
No sound.
Only the sudden displacement of air.
She appeared in front of him before human perception could catch up, her fist driving into his guard.
Fuji skidded backward, boots carving lines through the water.
Her speed kept climbing.
Her force kept building.
Tsukasa vanished.
Fuji lowered his arms, his left forearm trembling.
The landscape shifted—mountainous, rugged, harsh.
Both now stood on cracked stone, a few meters apart.
Tsukasa leaned forward, stance tight.
In a blink she struck—
Her fist crushed into Fuji's gut, lifting him off the ground.
Pain twisted his features.
They exchanged blows too fast for mortal eyes.
Blocks. Strikes. Shocks of impact.
The earth shattered beneath them with every collision.
Tsukasa drew back for another punch—
Fuji seized her wrist.
Her eyes widened.
He swung her upward, hurling her skyward by the arm, then smashed her into the ground to his left—
Then right—
Then left again, twice—
Then one final time to the right.
A crater roared open beneath the impacts.
He released her.
Tsukasa lay facedown for half a heartbeat—
Fuji stomped the ground.
The shock bounced her upward into his reach.
He twisted his torso and slammed a punch into her stomach.
Her body bent around the strike, air bursting from her lungs.
She hit the ground, sliding back, boots carving long trenches before she finally stopped.
Blood dripped from her lips.
Fuji leaned forward—
The sound barrier cracked.
Tsukasa activated her extra skill.
""Through Acceleration"."
(My thinking speed… multiplied a thousand times. Even if he moves at supersonic speed… he's slow to me now.)
Fuji hung in frozen motion.
His extended fist seemed suspended in thick air.
Tsukasa stepped forward, each movement leaving an afterimage behind her.
(I have to finish this fast. This skill eats through my stamina.)
She summoned the blade Tsubaki gave her.
Steel materialized in her hand.
But before she could strike—
Something impossible occurred.
Everything went black.
Sound vanished.
Light vanished.
Time itself… stopped.
Tsukasa and Fuji froze mid-motion, unable to move, unable to think, unable to even exist properly.
All matter fell silent.
Tsk… why did you stop time on this small fry?
Momo stood on a high cliff, looking down at the flat land where a massive black cube rested. Tsukasa and Fuji were trapped inside it.
"Pfft—haha! My bad. I didn't want to scare them since we just showed up," Beatrice said, scratching the back of her head beside her.
"Yeah. And Master Chloe will get angry if she finds out we let outsiders step into Lord Haruto's land," Momo added.
Beatrice smiled excitedly, hands on her hips.
"So what are we supposed to do with them?" she asked.
"They crossed our borders illegally, so… I guess we should kill them," Momo said calmly.
Beatrice's golden‑amber eyes sparkled.
"Yappe!" she cheered, raising her arm high.
Momo's expression softened with curiosity, her glowing crimson eyes narrowing slightly.
"On second thought… maybe we should keep the girl," she said quietly, tone thoughtful.
Beatrice lowered her arm, confused.
"Eh? Why the girl?" she asked.
"Well… I heard Master Chloe say we need more servants to help out. Something like that," Momo replied, unsure but trusting her gut.
A wide grin spread across Beatrice's face.
"Oh, I heard that rumor too! Let's take her in—hehe~ another friend for my list," she said happily.
Momo smiled naturally at her.
"Beatrice, can you resize that black cube so only the girl gets out?" she asked as the wind swept through her long platinum‑blonde hair. The silky strands flowed past her waist, light bangs brushing her eyes beneath her crisp white maid headband.
"Of course! You know I have full control over everything inside that black cube of mine," Beatrice said proudly.
"Okay," Momo answered simply.
"All right then—let's go down first." Beatrice bent her knees slightly to jump but paused. She turned toward Momo with a playful grin.
"Want to get on my back? It'll be horrible if you broke your little legs," she teased, pointing a thumb at her back.
Momo's eyes widened before narrowing into a cute, angry stare.
"Tch… coming from someone with a small upper body and long legs," she said sharply.
Her height was 5'3. Beatrice stood at 5'9.
Beatrice burst into laughter, holding her stomach.
"I'm just playing with you… no need to get so serious," she said between laughs, calming down slowly.
Momo looked away over the green forest, cheeks puffed adorably, arms crossed.
Beatrice's smile faded into worry—she misread Momo's cute sulking as real anger.
"Oh… Momo, I'm sorry—" she began, her tone soft and nervous.
Momo turned slightly, noticing the worry in her eyes.
"We shouldn't be playing around. We don't want to disappoint Master and our lord," she said calmly, tucking a hair strand behind her ear with elegant ease—pretending nothing happened to stop Beatrice from feeling guilty.
(Sigh… she's really bad at reading people's emotions.) Momo thought, internally annoyed.
Beatrice brightened instantly.
"Yup! Let's go!" she said, pointing forward.
Momo nodded with a small smile.
Both vanished in a flash of light, reappearing instantly before the black cube.
They had used ""Instant Teleportation"".
Up close, the cube's surface looked like outer space—its black expanse sprinkled with flickering star‑like dots.
Momo glanced between Beatrice and the cube.
"Beatrice, what exactly is this black cube?" she asked.
Beatrice smiled down at her.
"This little thing is one of my unique skill sub‑skills, ""Abyss Cube"". It's an open pocket dimension. Everything inside is under my absolute control—space, time… all of it. It operates fully on the 4th dimension," Beatrice said proudly.
"You don't say… huh," Momo muttered, slightly suppressed by how absurdly powerful yet strange the ability was.
The ""Abyss Cube""began shrinking. Piece by piece, Tsukasa's form emerged until she fully exited the cube.
Fuji remained frozen inside.
Tsukasa blinked, shock and confusion mixing across her face.
(What happened…? Did something happen?) she thought.
"Heeey~!" Beatrice waved cheerfully with both hands.
Tsukasa jumped back in alarm.
(What the hell!? I didn't sense their presence at all!)
Her shock faded only because her eyes locked on Fuji—frozen in place.
"Huh? Why is he frozen?" Tsukasa asked.
(My ""Through Acceleration"" is already gone…)
(I see… since ""Abyss Cube""operates in the 4th dimension, 3‑dimensional beings like her can't fully perceive or interact with it…)
Momo analyzed quietly.
Tsukasa jumped backward—
—but she reappeared in the exact same spot.
Momo had used ""Spatial Manipulation"", rewriting Tsukasa's spatial vector so her exit point overlapped her entry.
Momo stepped forward twice.
"We'd appreciate it if you don't run," she said honestly.
"We just want to talk," Beatrice added.
(Talk…? But I definitely jumped back. What is happening…?) Tsukasa thought, shaken.
"What is there to talk about?" she asked, forcefully ignoring everything she didn't understand.
"We're asking you to become a servant for our lord. Swear your body, soul, and existence to him only," Momo said.
(Servant…?) Tsukasa's breath caught.
(I hope she accepts. If not, we'll have to kill her—and that guy.) Momo thought grimly.
"Why should I?" Tsukasa asked.
Momo smiled faintly.
"We've noticed you're running from something. If you accept, you'll have protection, comfort, power—everything you desire. But only with full loyalty," she said.
A tight hope pulled at Tsukasa's chest.
(Power… if I accept, I might grow strong enough to protect my family.)
Silence wrapped around them.
Behind Tsukasa, Beatrice slowly raised her left hand. Veins bulged. Her nails lengthened—sharp as blades.
She was ready to kill Tsukasa the instant she refused.
She leaned forward slightly, a thin smirk forming.
Momo noticed with a side glance.
"I…" Tsukasa whispered.
Beatrice's smirk sharpened.
"Accept," Tsukasa said finally.
Before the word settled, Beatrice lunged and hugged Tsukasa tightly around the waist.
"You're one of us now! So you're my friend," she said brightly.
Tsukasa smiled nervously, looking down at Beatrice wrapped around her narrow waist.
Momo smiled softly.
(Sigh… she was ready to kill her without hesitation. Now she's acting normal.)
Momo's eyes narrowed.
"It's great you two are getting along, but we still have business," she said.
"Business?" Tsukasa asked.
Beatrice let go and stood straight.
"Yes! We gotta kill that guy. Since you're one of us now—and my friend—that doesn't apply to you," she said happily, turning toward the ""Abyss Cube"".
(Huh!? If I refused, they would've killed me too…)
It didn't shock her much—every country punished unauthorized entry the same way
Beatrice walked toward Fuji without hesitation.
Since ""Abyss Cube"" was her own skill, its oppressive rules did not affect her in the slightest.
Her steps were unhurried. Calm.
Almost casual.
She reached behind her back and pulled free her enormous, decorated katana—gold hilt gleaming, the blade humming faintly as it cut through the air. With a smooth motion, she raised it high above her head.
Then she swung.
The blade descended toward Fuji's neck.
Wait!
Tsukasa's voice rang out—louder than she intended, sharper than she ever spoke.
Beatrice halted.
The katana stopped inches from Fuji's throat.
The razor edge gleamed as it caught the warm light, reflecting a thin, deadly line across Fuji's frozen skin.
Beatrice tilted her head slightly, glancing back over her shoulder.
Why did you stop me?
Her tone wasn't playful—just genuinely confused.
Tsukasa took a small step forward, fists clenched at her sides.
Can you… let him go?
Her voice was soft—but steady.
Momo's eyes narrowed immediately.
Her posture straightened, shoulders squaring.
Sorry, but we can't do that.
Her voice carried quiet authority.
Is there a reason you want this? Wasn't he about to kill you just minutes ago?
Tsukasa inhaled slowly.
Her fingers curled tighter, knuckles whitening.
Yes…
She lifted her gaze, fire burning behind her eyes.
But in the future—when I obtain true power—I want to take his life with my own hands.
Silence.
Beatrice blinked once.
Momo's crimson eyes widened just a fraction before settling back into focus.
Beatrice exhaled, then casually rested the long katana across her shoulders, blade balanced behind her neck.
Well… since it's such a good day…
Her voice lowered, stripped of her usual cheer.
I'll let this prey loose—since a friend asked.
Momo let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose briefly before lowering her hand.
I'll turn a blind eye… just this once.
Her voice carried reluctant resolve.
I truly hope Master doesn't find out.
Tsukasa relaxed slightly, tension draining from her shoulders.
Thank you.
Her voice was quiet, sincere.
Beatrice waved it off with a bright grin.
Nah, no need to thank us. We're friends, after all.
She leaned closer slightly, smiling wide.
And friends help each other out.
Momo nodded once.
Yes. But we should be going now—and introduce her to the higher-ups.
Beatrice nodded in agreement, then paused.
A curious look crossed her youthful, cheerful face as she suddenly turned back to Tsukasa.
Oh—wait.
She leaned forward slightly.
Can you use ""Instant Teleportation""?
Tsukasa tilted her head, confusion written plainly across her face.
I… ""Instant Teleportation""?
She hesitated, choosing her words.
Is that like those children's storybooks… where a mage uses ""Instant Teleportation"" to move anywhere in zero time?
Beatrice froze.
Her mouth slowly fell open.
Her shoulders stiffened.
No… waaay…
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
Tsukasa flinched slightly under their stares.
Did I… say something wrong?
She asked nervously, fingers fidgeting at her side.
Not really.
Momo shook her head.
I don't blame you. ""Instant Teleportation"" is so rare it's considered a myth.
She glanced at Tsukasa calmly.
But every subordinate under Lord Haruto can use it.
Tsukasa's eyes widened.
Her breath hitched—and her fist tightened, excitement sparking through her chest.
(No way…)
Beatrice burst out laughing, throwing her head back, hands planted on her hips.
So it's true—the outside world really is weak!
Momo stepped forward and raised both hands.
I'll use a ""Teleportation Spell"".
Blue, sparkling light spilled from her palms, flowing outward in controlled waves.
A massive, glowing geometric magic circle formed beneath them—etched with runes, four outer nodes rotating slowly as beams of energy rose skyward.
Tsukasa stared down in amazement—then gasped softly as an identical magic circle appeared above them.
A brilliant white beam descended from the upper circle, enveloping them completely.
In an instant—
They vanished.
Moments later, they reappeared within the main base of the Borderwatchers—
the guardians who stood watch over the borders of the Satoria Federation.