HP: The Arcane Thief
chapter-230

"So, you're the second overseer?" Asked Axel, looking at the woman with vigilance. She didn't look like a Krackhead at all.

She had blonde hair, and grey eyes, making her look similar to Daphne. And she was wearing a dress that seemed to have been woven out of a giant leaf.

Overall, she looked more like a tree spirit rather than a cult follower.

"I mean, you're on the side I'm killing, right?" He asked, just to be sure, before he started going on the offensive.

Zeta stood up, slowly rising into the air.

"Yes I am. And I take it, you are the infamous Crown Prince everyone has been talking about?" she asked, studying him back.

Axel sighed in his heart. He really was hoping for things to end quickly here so that he could be on his way back. But of course, his luck simply won't have it.

'I mean, second overseer? Here?!'

"You are mistaken, lady. I am not the crown prince. I am just a random passerby who just happened to stop by to admire the nature," he said, looking around.

Zeta just shook her head.

"You know, you can't imagine my surprise when I sensed you, of all people, approaching this place. And with the Royal Trident too. I suppose Aslot really is dead then?"

"Well, I do hope so."

Zeta just looked at him in wonder.

"How old are you again?"

"Thirt—Oh, I should be around 14 now."

Axel was about to say 13, but then realized 6 months had gone by while he was recovering. The realization brought another wave of lamentation to him. He wanted to spend these months chilling at Hogwarts.

Zeta sighed. "Aslot was suppose to be an important figure for out Aetherian expansion. Aside from him, you've also killed three other overseers. I don't suppose you have any idea how big of a loss you've caused us? Teritus has been planning this for decades! And we almost succeeded had you not come and ruined everything."

Axel looked at the woman incredulously. He was really triggered by the victim outlook of this woman.

"Excuse me? I was living peacefully at Hogwarts, minding my own business. And you all were on your way to conquering Atlantis. It was you guys who suddenly had the brilliant idea of trying to fuck with me. And you sent two Overseers to boot! 'Bring the boy alive.' Those were your orders , right? Well, here I am now. Do whatever you can!"

Zeta just stood there for a moment, looking stunned. "So, you wouldn't have come to Atlantis had those two not bothered you?"

"Well, no. Not really. My real target is in another world."

Zeta sighed, as if she couldn't believe it. "I'm really sorry that we disturbed your life. But this situation might still be salvageable. You've already had your payback and we no longer have any enmity. So, if you just return the Royal Relic, we'll escort you back to home. And I will personally guarantee that no one from the Kraken will ever bother you."

Axel snorted. "No thanks. I think I'll keep it. And I really liked the Kingdom. So I think I'll keep that too."

"Young man, are you sure? The consequences of your actions can be extremely severe."

The innocent demeanor was slowly fading from Zeta's face. Light magic began revolving around her, looking quite dangerous. "Just listen to me and go away. Or there will be consequences."

"No, YOU listen to me. You guys have already inflicted whatever pains you could have possibly put me through. Ever eaten a [Soul Extinguisher]? I have. And let me tell you, that fucking hurts. So, you guys have already fucked around all you possibly could. Now, it's time to find out just what I do in return. And let me tell you, I haven't even started yet."

Axel. Was. Pissed.

Recalling the Soul Extinguisher still sends shivers right down to his soul, and he has also lost 6 months of his life. His suffering aside, he could only imagine what Daphne Martina and Akiko had thought about his disappearance.

Well, SOMEONE must pay for this. And even after killing Aslot, Axel feels light years away from satisfaction.

Water gathered around him, creating an ominous atmosphere as his eyes glowed blue. "Now, let me give you a chance. You're already on the wrong side. So either die on your own, or let me walk you through it."

This woman was already with Kraken, the Second Overseer at that. Meaning, her goal is to destroy Atlantis, and the other worlds after this. No matter what, Axel is not planning to let her get away.

Light magic began oozing out of Zeta as hair lifted up in the air, revealing her pointed ears. "You should be less confident about fighting an Aetherian Royal in her own territory."

Before the fight even started, the Trident began shaking. "M-My prince, I don't think we should fight."

"What the—?"

Axel's momentum faltered upon the sudden cowardice of the Trident.

'What are you talking about?!' He demanded.

"This can't be… the Forest… the World tree… And those ears… this is not good!"

Before Axel could make sense of the situation, Zeta made her move. A beam of blinding light emerged from her palm, passing right through Axel's chest.

Axel was left standing, looking at Zeta's palm in shock. "...Too fast."

This was, by far, the fastest attack he had ever faced. Even faster than Nerio's Sniper attack that cut off his hand. In fact, it was so fast that it had already passed through his chest before his brain had even registered the attack.

And the power too! The beam passed right through, tearing through his chest like it was paper!

"I warned you." Zeta shook her head sadly. "I usually don't like to participate in bloodshed, but you left me no choice."

"Not so fast."

Axel's wound closed up in a blink of an eye. It was good that he had activated [Water Body] before the fight had even started, and before he even entered this ominous place. Or that attack could have killed him.

Zeta tilted her head, looking at Axel's wound curiously. "It's my first time seeing the Atlantian Royal Bloodline in action. It's inferior, but quite impressive."

"Just… what the hell really ARE you?" Asked Axel, getting serious now. This was no ordinary opponent. In some ways, she might even be more dangerous than Aslot.

"I already told you. I am the Aetherian Royalty." Zeta smiled. "As for what that actually means, I think your relic might have a better idea." She said, looking at the Relic which had been shaking for a while now.

"Tell me what the fuck is going on!" Axel demanded the Relic through the mental link.

"She has the Royal Bloodline of the Aether world. I don't even know how that's possible! It's called the Divine affinity!"

'Royalty from the Aether world?' Axel was really baffled.

"How did you even get here?" He asked, as another beam of light passed through him, cutting him in half.

Zeta shrugged. "I have no clue. I just found myself in the Trench one day, with no memory of the past and every part of my body hurting."

She raised her hands, and thick, thorny roots sprouted from the ground from all sides, attacking Axel.

"Oh, of course, she can control trees too!" The blades of the trident elongated as they moved under Axel's control, cutting down the roots.

'Nerithros! Tell me everything about the Aetherian Royal bloodline!' He asked the Royal Trident at the same time.

The Royal Trident was still shaking.

"It's known as the Divine Bloodline. It was the Aetherian Royal Bloodline that played the most pivotal part in Sealing the Entity! It is one of the most powerful Bloodlines! And not just in Atlantis, but in the whole Aether World. The Wielder has complete domination over Light and Nature! It's so powerful that they didn't even send any Aetherian Royal to live in Atlantis, exactly because they couldn't risk the Entity controlling one!"

'Well, I'll be damned.'

So much for not sending any Aetherian Royal here. The Entity still got one anyway. And they were the ones who sealed the Entity?

"Why are you supporting Kraken? Aren't your ancestors the ones who sealed the Entity in the first place?" He asked.

If she has the Aetherian Royal Bloodline, shouldn't they be on the same side? So far, the woman seems to be fairly rational to him. Axel couldn't understand why she would want to support Kraken.

Zeta tilted her head. "What do I care about my ancestors?! All I know is that I was in constant pain, my powers restricted under some ancient curse. It was the Entity who took me in and gave me purpose," she said.

Curse? Powers sealed? Axel found her situation familiar. His instincts told him that he was missing something important here. "So, you're going to repay the Entity by holing up here? How are you even helping the Entity?"

"First of all, there's a reason I'm 'holing up' here. I am protected here. If I leave this space, the Atherian would sense my presence and come for me. Judging by the state I was previously in, I think I'd avoid that."

"As for my contribution?" Zeta seemed to find the question funny. "You have no idea, do you? Don't you already know who sealed this place? Then you must also know who helped weaken it to this point."

Axel's eyes widened.

'Fuck!'

Now everything was making sense!

Atlantis has lasted for so long. There have been wars in the past too, but the Entity's influence has never been as strong as it is now.

Now they know the reason.

This bitch is using her powers to weaken the seal here far before the time of the regular check up, giving the Entity much more room for preparation. Due to that, there was a sudden Rebellion in the Kingdom, in which the King got injured and the queen died. From then on, things have been escalating more and more.

To put it simply, if the whole Atlantis is burning right now, it's this woman who lit the match.

Zeta seemed to like the look of realization on Axel's face as she smiled. "So, now that you know who you're actually facing, it's about time you get defeated."

At once, the roots attacking Axel quadrupled in number. Much more problematic than that, their speed increased to an abnormal degree.

?!

Axel was caught off-guard, having to let a few roots pass through him.

What he didn't expect was for the roots to absorb almost of him, causing to almost die. It was like have a thousands of leeches stuck to your body.

"What the—?!"

[Water Travel]

Axel escaped high into the air, regenerating quickly. He moved again because a light beam passed right where he was. Another one followed him right after.

Zeta was a bit frustrated. "How are you evading them? You should not even be able to see them!" She exclaimed, continuing her attacks.

Axel just grinned. "I suppose your bloodline is just so-so."

Of course he couldn't see the attacks. But he could anticipate when and where she was going to shoot. All he had to do was to evade before she attacked.

"Okay, bitch. My turn."

While evading the laser, Axel flew in, closing the distance. The three blades of Trident elongated, attacking Zeta like three independent knives.

But Zeta, who seems like she'd be blown away with a bit of wind, suddenly showed surprising agility, evading all the blades, her leaf-dress fluttering.

Not on that, a sword of light appeared in her hand, which slashed with speed that even cut the space.

'Super fast reflexes and super physique too?!'

Axel was disliking this bloodline more and more by the minute. Too late to evade, he had to let pass through his body, taking some damage.

"Surprised?" Zeta smirked, continuing her swings.

But all of the following strikes were dodged by Axel. "Yes I was. You have surprisingly small breasts."

Zeta's face fell. At the same time, a fist landed squarely on it, flinging her into the ground. "Couldn't react to that, couldya?"

…

A.N.: POWERSTONES! Today and Tomorrow

Next: Bitch-Slapping

Next next: Nature Destroyer

Next...next: Situation At Atlantis

Next...next: REUNION!