Lumine was visibly panicked. "What-what ulterior motive? What are you talking about? Since we're going to be a group, why can't we get familiar? What's wrong with that?" she defended herself. Her hands flailed, her words tumbling out in a flustered rush as she tried to regain footing.
"I already said that I don't want to join the group, but you still want to follow me. Why else would you act like this if not for having an ulterior motive? Your acting is so horrible that even a gullible person like me can see through it," Valenia exposed her.
Lumine shook her head frantically. "No, no. I don't have an ulterior motive. I'm really trying to get along with you, Val. My instinct told me that traveling with you will be much safer!" Her hands waved in a flurry, her voice pitching higher as she plastered on a shaky grin.
What the heck! Is my acting really that bad? Did I look like Megumin in her eyes? Argh, I don't care. I'm gonna act innocent no matter what. Her mind scrambled, doubling down on the facade despite the sweat beading on her brow.
And so, although Valenia saw through the deception and tried her best to expose Lumine, making her reveal her ulterior motive, she still failed to do so as Lumine continued her bad acting persistently.
Eventually, the other ladies noticed the commotion and came to see. They were dumbfounded to see Lumine trying her best to get on Valenia's good side. Among them, Lumine was usually a little snobbish, but now she was acting like this, her tone unusually friendly. What happened? Their brows furrowed, exchanging glances as they tried to piece together the odd scene.
They probed into the situation, and all they got was the fact that Lumine wanted to travel with Valenia no matter what. Even though they knew Lumine had an ulterior motive, they couldn't make her tell what it was. Lumine continued acting like a good friend to Valenia.
Her smiles were too wide, her words too sweet, a performance that fooled no one but refused to crack. Even Megumin, the dramatic queen, couldn't help but feel impressed by Lumine's tenacity to maintain her facade.
That night, Valenia and Slashy tried to leave the group sneakily, but Lumine immediately knew what their intention was and was ready to follow along. Her shadow loomed like a persistent pest, catching Valenia's every move before she could slip away.
Later, Ziana told Valenia that Spirit Gourmet Maestros practiced a method that could enhance their sense of smell to an extreme degree on whim to help them discern aromas, and it was crucial for them to assess and refine flavors.
Valenia was shocked to learn about this. Are you saying that she discerned and locked on my smell? You're supposed to use that skill for cooking, not stalking!
In the end, Valenia gave up and decided to travel with the group because it didn't seem like she could get away from her new stalker unless she killed her. Although Valenia had no problem killing people, she still couldn't do it just because of this. All she could do now was find Anda and let her expose Lumine with her methods.
In the following days, Valenia joined the ladies in their mission to loot everything from the ruined ancient city.
Every time Lumine found some riches, she'd give half of them to Valenia to prove that she was serious in befriending her. Valenia could only accept them, or Lumine would pester her more to receive her goodwill.
Two weeks later, six rich ladies and a huge mantis exited the ruined ancient city, heading toward the colossal tree on the horizon.
---
A year had passed since explorers first set foot in the Mystic Realm, or, more accurately, the Titanis Continent of a neighboring planet.
At the edge of a dense, steaming jungle, a high-level demonic anaconda slithered through the trees like a living mountain. Its thick black scales shimmered with a metallic sheen, and each movement crushed undergrowth beneath it. Its eyes burned with primal fury as it honed in on a lone figure—Ava.
She was small, almost delicate at a glance—petite frame, fair skin smooth as porcelain, slender arms that seemed unfit for battle. Her outfit hugged her form: light, flexible gear paired with sleek shoes built for speed and grip. Yet there she stood, still as a statue, unflinching as the serpent's massive head reared high. The moment it lunged, jaws gaping, she was gone.
Ava reappeared mid-spin, her body a whirl of motion, one leg unfurling like a coiled lash. Her kick slammed into the anaconda's eye with surgical precision, the impact bursting outward in a sonic boom that rattled the jungle. Leaves shivered; branches groaned.
The beast hissed, recoiling in pain, but Ava was already gone again. She moved like a phantom, her body twisting and bending in ways that defied reason. Her arms and legs snapping through the air, each strike a streak of force faster than sound itself. Every hit landed with a concussive BOOM, sending shockwaves rippling through the serpent's massive frame. Scales cracked under the onslaught, and the ground beneath them trembled.
The anaconda tried to get in a few hits with its tail, but Ava swiftly dodged them mid-air. After dodging, she quickly launched a counterattack. She cartwheeled through the air, her spine arching impossibly far, then brought her heel crashing down in a devastating arc. BOOM! The blow split scales and splintered bone, the jungle quaking as if struck by a storm.
The anaconda lashed out, now trying to crush her by coiling its body, but Ava slipped through like silk threading a needle. She wove through gaps no one should've fit, her body bending into angles that seemed to defy the limits of flesh and bone. In a sudden flash, she arched backward, hands brushing the earth, then rocketed upward. Her legs spun in a spiraling double-kick.
BAM!
Her attack hit against the serpent's jaw with a sickening crunch that knocked its head sideways, dazed.
The jungle pulsed with the aftermath, trees swaying, leaves raining down from the shockwaves. The beast swayed, its movements sluggish, eyes clouded with confusion. Ava saw her opening.
She took a breath, her body coiling inward like a spring wound tight. Then, in a single fluid motion, she launched into the air, flipping upside down. Her muscles tensed, channeling every ounce of speed and flexibility into one final strike. Her boot arced down, aimed at the soft scale above the serpent's eye.
BOOOOM!
The impact roared outward, a sonic boom so fierce it stripped nearby branches bare. The anaconda's skull buckled, collapsing inward as the shock liquefied what lay beneath. Its massive body convulsed with a final, shuddering thrash, then went still, slumping to the earth with a heavy thud that sent tremors through the undergrowth.
If Leyvi had seen the way Ava fought just now, he would've been utterly shocked. It was nothing like the sparring sessions they had back at home.
Every strike she delivered—whether punch or kick—was like a devastating whip, each one followed by a sharp sonic boom that cracked the air.
Her body moved with inhuman flexibility, coiling and twisting in ways that seemed impossible. Watching her, one might think she was boneless. No, she might actually be boneless! How else could her limbs bend and coil like that?
"Good," Ava said, brushing hair strands behind her ear. "What a lucky day. An anaconda volunteered to be my energy source this time. I don't have to waste time going further."
She swiftly extracted its demonic core, then stored the massive corpse in her space ring without a second thought. With that done, she turned and exited the jungle.
Ava dashed across the land using her swift movement technique, each step a blur of wind and motion. Ten minutes later, she arrived at a ruined town situated beside a large body of water.
From the remnants near the shoreline, it was once a port town.
She slowed her pace, strolling along the beach, letting the breeze wash over her. It was peaceful here. Quiet. Soon, she reached the only building still standing in decent condition—a weathered mansion, its surface drained of all color. Made from some kind of ultra-durable stone, it likely belonged to the town's mayor or wealthiest citizen in the past.
Ava pushed open the heavy doors, her voice echoing through the empty halls.
"Barbara, I'm back!"
Very soon, a simple but pretty woman descended the staircase from the second floor.
She moved with graceful steps. Barbara's long black hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, framing a poised figure dressed in a white dress that hinted at faded scholarly embroidery. Her sharp eyes carried a spark of intellect, softened by a warm smile that crinkled the corners of her face.
This was Barbara, the lady from the Institute of Universal Energy, whom Protector Alexandra had introduced before they crossed into this realm. She had been part of the original team assigned to study and stabilize the portal, along with two other members. But something had gone wrong, and all participants had ended up scattered.
Ava and Barbara had been together and became good friends since they met each other a year ago.