[The Elf Kingdom: Royal Palace]
The grandeur of the Elven throne room did nothing to alleviate the suffocating tension in the air.
Opulent chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, their soft golden glow casting long, dramatic shadows on the rich tapestries lining the walls.
An exquisite throne of silver and emerald stood in the center, a symbol of authority and power. It was here, the Elf Queen sat, her elegant features hardened by seething rage.
She listened, her fists clenched tightly around the throne's armrests, as the elf messenger relayed the horrific news.
The Special Elf Squad she had sent after Aria and her team were found dead by the special investigation team..
Not just dead, but buried.
A direct insult. A defiance of her authority.
"Leave me!" The Queen's voice reverberated through the cavernous hall, a thunderous echo that sent a shiver down the messenger's spine.
He bowed hurriedly, stumbling over his own feet in his haste to leave. As soon as he was out of sight, the Elf Queen's composed facade shattered.
"Aria!" She growled, her voice a dangerous whisper. "You've gone too far."
Her slender fingers curled around a small crystal orb on the armrest of her throne, the smooth surface warm beneath her touch.
Images flickered in the orb – vivid, painful memories of the fallen Elven warriors. Her heart clenched as she looked at their peaceful faces, their lives snuffed out in the prime of their youth.
She wasn't particularly concerned about them as individuals, but as her tools for the progression of her ambitions.
They has been incredibly useful, and now they were no more.
This was a grave affront, a direct challenge to her rule.
It was not only a matter of personal vengeance now, but of her reign, of the respect and fear her title commanded. The lives of her loyal subjects were on the line.
"The time for subtlety has passed," she said, her emerald eyes blazing with a cold, icy fire. "Drastic measures are necessary."
Alone in the echoing silence of the throne room, the Elf Queen plotted her next move.
Aria and her allies had escalated the battle, and now, they would face the full wrath of the Elven Kingdom.
No… the Triumvirate!
*********
[Location: Gravitas Labyrinth]
"D-damnit…"
The alternate dimension I had found myself in had felt like the maw of a gigantic beast, its gravity pressing down on me relentlessly.
It was almost as if it wanted to swallow me whole.
The pressure on my body was intense, like the weight of an entire world compressing my every cell.
It had felt like walking through a pool of tar while the world pushed down from above. I had lifted my foot, stepped forward, and planted it down again.
Unfortunately for me, not every Labyrinth had to do with fighting monsters.
Every move so far had been a war.
Above, the Arcana I was after had twinkled teasingly in the sky.
It seemed so far away, a star I could only dream of reaching.
The cruel, oppressive gravity clung to my body, shackling me to the ground.
But the sight of my goal, the shimmering light of the Arcana, had fueled my determination, intensifying the flames of resolve burning in my heart.
"Damn it..." I gritted my teeth, mustering every ounce of will and power I possessed. "You're not out of reach..."
Every word I uttered had come out as a pained grunt, and each exhalation had felt like I was giving away a part of my life force.
I had focused my Magic, channeling the Nether energy through me, yet it barely did anything to change the situation.
The law in this world made it so that I couldn't resist it—at least not completely.
'Looks like I'm close enough now…' I finally halted, sweat dripping from my face as I stared at the prize once more.
'Let's do this!'
My body pulsed with the raw power, and I activated my trump card: Spellcraft.
Swiftly fusing my Nether with the overwhelming amount around me, I directed it towards the Arcana.
The gravity-controlling energy now began to swirl around the gleaming prize in the sky, its force starting to pull the Arcana downward.
'Alright!' I gritted my teeth harder, focusing with all my might.
The pull of gravity became more intense, more potent, and the Arcana started falling faster.
"Come... to... me!" Each word I had forced out had been a battle, a declaration of my will against the world.
It fell.
It kept falling.
I watched in anticipation as I saw it descend faster and faster; like a shooting star.
Finally, the Arcana descended within my reach, its luminescent glow casting a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness of the dimension.
I felt my heart thud heavily in my chest, and with the last reserves of my strength, I stretched out my hand.
"Haa…" The pull of gravity tugged against my arm, threatening to snap it, but I pushed against the force, reaching out further.
'A… little… more…'
Just when it had seemed I could stretch no more, my fingers made contact with the Arcana.
Its surface was warm, pulsating with power that thrilled through me.
An intense light burst from it, encapsulating the entire space, bathing everything in a blinding, pure luminescence.
I instantly closed my eyes against the glare, a triumphant smile tugging at my lips as I felt the Arcana's energy intertwine with my own.
'[The Star]... I see!'
The stong gravitational force ceased, and as I felt myself grow unconscious, I felt some whispers utter some things into my ears.
I could hardly hear anything, though.
"C-crap! I'm falling unconscious again?"
As I tried my best to fight the vertigo, I quickly safeguarded the Arcana, placing it in my satchel.
Once that was done, sleep overpowered my senses, and I fell unconscious.
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