Before he could even react, the searing brightness of her flames reflected in his cornea—followed by a blinding flash of light that swallowed everything.
Then...
[Bloodline ability (Incubus Order level 1) has been activated.]
Mason's eyes glowed red, and for a brief moment, everything around him became still, almost as if time itself had frozen.
He heaved a sigh of relief as everything was frozen in place, and even the blazing fist of the madwoman had come to a complete stop.
"WHEW, that was close." He stepped away from Lillian, rubbing his eyes repeatedly as he tried to make sense of everything that had happened.
[Master, this is your first time utilizing your bloodline ability asides the preamble, due to your level of mastery, the Incubus Order is only effective for about 30 seconds.]
"Thirty seconds huh, at least that's enough time to escape this madwoman."
[Her output levels are exponentially high, would you like to review them?]
"Wait seriously? I can review them?"
[That's right, it's part of your basic abilities as an Incubus.]
"Well that's something, show me her output levels."
[Bloodlust: 6]
[Romantic interest: 0]
[Spirit power level:.....]
"Bloodlust six!? Wait, you mean she actually came at me with the intention to potentially cripple me!? And what's with the pause on her power level?"
[It took a while to accurately measure her spiritual power.]
"Oh hell nah, what the fuck do you mean it took a while to accurately measure her spiritual power!?"
[Spirit power level: 5000]
"5000!? She came at me with a power level of 5000!? What would have happened if that punch actually landed!?"
[Despite your enhanced strength and durability, at the level you are right now, you'd be dead.]
"Damn, this woman really is craz-"
BOOM!
An explosion tore through the office walls, blasting chunks of drywall and metal outward. Mason was thrown off his feet by the shockwave, landing hard on his butt as smoke and fire licked the edges of the shattered walls of Mr John's office.
Leon stood still, unfazed by the chaos that had just erupted around him.
COUGH COUGH!
Mason coughed as the smoke and dust began to settle. Standing before him, framed by the wreckage, was Lillian—her lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile.
"Not bad, kid." She praised him softly as the flames around her fist died out, leaving only a wisp of smoke curling into the air.
"You managed to dodge my crimson fist, a feat no one I've ever faced in battle has ever accomplished. A D-rank Spirit Isn't capable of such a feat, that means you must have awakened far before the evaluation ceremony."
She stepped toward him, each footsteps echoing with quiet authority.
"Even though you awakened much more earlier before the ceremony, no matter the potential you have, you shouldn't have been able to dodge my fist."
"That means you've been trained, and trained well by the looks of it, I knew something was off the moment you concealed your energy during the evaluation, concealing one's spiritual powers is a skill even C-ranked casters find difficult, who's your teacher?"
Mason stayed silent, overwhelmed from the very beginning. The gaping, charred hole in Mr. John's office wall—the force of her crimson fist—served as a brutal reminder of what he'd look like if he ever took a hit like that, what he'd look like if he didn't have the Incubus Order ability.
"Teacher?" He snapped out of his thoughts, the weight of the moment crashing back into him. " I don't have a teacher."
"I see." Lillian glanced back at Leon, who gave her a slow, deliberate nod of approval.
"Kid, how would you like to take the Spiritual Caster's entrance exams?" She glanced back at him, offering a once-in-a lifetime opportunity.
"The Spiritual Caster's entrance exams?" He pushed himself to his feet, confusion clouding his thoughts.
"That's right, the evaluation ceremony was merely a screening, the evaluation ceremony was merely a requirement pass, the Caster's entrance exams is not something any awakened can take. Over the years we've lost newly awakened casters in the exams, to prevent that from happening again, we placed a stipulation."
"Only C-ranked casters and above can participate in the entrance exams." Leon cleared his throat, his voice cutting through their conversation.
"From today's evaluation, we managed to procure a total of three newly awakened casters, four including you."
"So what do you say, Mason Harris? Will you partake in the Caster's entrance exams?"
For a moment, Mason stayed silent, before letting out a soft sigh, his face remaining unreadable. "As much as I appreciate the invite, I'm afraid I'll have to turn it down, like I said, family reasons."
"I understand you have personal reasons to not join the academy, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for you. I can sense it within you kid, the thing every caster craves for, its our mutual connection, the search for strength. You want to get stronger don't you?"
'System.'
[Yes master?]
'What do you think of this?'
[I recommend that you take the exams master.]
'Why? Can't I just get stronger from quests and missions?'
[Because you still have a lot to learn about your spiritual powers, while I provide ample information about the use of your abilities, human experience is critically necessary.]
"I'll think about it."
"The exams are in two days, you have until then, Mason Harris, I'll keep your principal updated about the location." As she finished, both she and her accomplice turned and left the classroom.
"We'll pay for the damages."
[Smart choice master.]
"I'm still undecided, besides I can't tell this living battering ram no after the stunt she pulled, if it wasn't for the Incubus Order, I would have been toast. I'm not complaining and all, but that was a short thirty seconds."
[That's because, the thirty seconds time limit hadn't elapsed.]
"What?" His eyes widened in disbelief.
[The thirty seconds countdown wasn't used up master.]
"What are you trying to tell me system...?"
[Master, Miss Lillian Montclair's crimson fist broke through the Incubus Order before the time limit elapsed.]
His eyes darted to the door, his mouth hanging open as if he'd seen a ghost. He was shaken to his core.
"Are you trying to tell me, that beast... Broke through the Incubus Order, which has the ability to freeze time under my command?"