Out of every city in Pantaiyanilam, Novus was the most advanced. So much so that some never learned magic in their life. Studies of bioaugmentation—since the first invisible woman—rapidly improved. However, consequences rose when AI and cybernetics combined. After learning from it, the science field focused more on the organic side of life. Now, the city only allowed chipsets that boosted runic skills artificially.

In a flying car, Tokino saw an entirely new world. Instead of other vehicles, pods littered the sky. Each moved through an orderly, vein-like transit system. No matter what, they never strayed away. Even the citizens walked with extreme discipline—no time wasted. Lights brightened the city to the point that no block got left in the dark.

Every building had numerous billboards and even ones that flew around the sky. Tokino gasped with her mouth covered upon seeing the larger-than-life skyscrapers. The general plan was each taller building would be arranged within rows of equal size. One made an exception: the mage estate at the center towered all others. Its massive gold eye surveyed every nook and cranny in Novus.

Another transit system sprawled on the city’s surface, and Tokino’s chauffeur drove her to one. She waved him goodbye. “Amazing….” On a brochure, she realized every building was a singular body. Suddenly, she heard an elderly sneeze beside her. “Do you need a napkin, sir?”

He turned and saw her calm smile, so he nodded immediately. “Thanks… I’m still recovering from this,” he showed her orange veins on his neck.

Minutes later, Novusian brigade mages kneeled before Tokino outside the estate. “This way, ma’am,” one raised an arm. “Don’t be afraid. Only other mages can go through this wall.”

She realized that guards barred citizens from going in. They politely led them to a minimall in the same building. The mages walked her to a device on a wall. “Do you know how to numb the pain with runes, ma’am? Anesthetics are always ready.”

“No, no. It’s fine,” Tokino walked past him. “My mother taught me when I was eleven.” She moved her right eye on the device. A needle instantly pierced right through her brain.

The holographic screen displayed all of her credentials. “Tokino Shinsei…” a female voice verified her status. “…Welcome to our brave new world. Do you have an older sibling by chance? :)”

The mages told her to ignore the question and accompanied her inside.

As she phased through the wall, she gazed upon another world inside. Every other mage displayed a stark contrast to the strict nature out in the city. Not only did minibars lay everywhere, but each volleyball court had a large pool nearby.

Tokino turned to the mage in front of her. “Excuse me. Why is everyone here acting differently? Even children out there looked serious.”

He chuckled. “You’d be surprised if you had dinner with their families. Our city may be the cornerstone of technology, but we’re still human.” He adjusted the metallic holes in his hand and diagnosed his neck chip. All systems were online. “I must say, though. There’s one guy here that is too human. Like an animal, even.”

Her mind stood confused over his words. If such a man was more animal than human, he could be unintelligent and reckless. However, she shook off any ill guesses. “Keep it together, Tokino. Remember what Mama said. People aren’t like you.” In the end, she hoped for the best to come her way. Unfortunately, it became wishful thinking.

The top floor housed the throne room. Novusian mages angrily ranted at one man, littering bento boxes and sake bottles on the king’s table. “Dude, look at this shit!” one threw away some. “You think just ‘cause we allow leisure in the building means you get to be a pig!?” He pointed.

He shrugged with his eyes closed. “You snooze, you lose, fam. You should’ve told me before I got access to this crib.” He turned to Tokino and doubled down on his preferred body shape. “I like ‘em big n’ squishy. It ain’t degradin’. I only swing that way. And the only flat ones I like ain’t girls at all.” He chuckled.

After hearing such risque remarks, her cheeks reddened. She looked down and sighed. “I’m not flat. I’m moderately ample, thank you very much.” She cleared her throat and lent a handshake. “Tokino Shinsei. Former Hiveran citizen. Rapier specialist. At your service.”

He grinned and complied. “Hokori Udemaeno. Former Shibuya citizen. Proud slayer, including in bed. Nice to meet you…” he bowed.

Tokino’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing his Japanese. Yet, she understood none. Her name only came from her roots—traced back to the infamous Edo Period-style nation. In all her years born in the otherworld of Parallaxis, she smiled over the new experience. She cleared her throat again. “I see… You’re a reborn human. I’ve never met one before. I’ve seen shows portraying people like you as heroes slaying demon lords.”

He chuckled again. “Well, I did meet a demon lord. Pretty chill guy; he even let me have his girls for one night. I offered him mine in return.” He walked past her. “By the way, ‘rapier specialist’ is a myth. It don’t exist even in my wildest dreams.”

Tokino’s eyes squinted, and she walked closer. “Excuse me? What did you say?” She looked up at his towering build. The other mages face-palmed and shook their heads from afar. They lamented how quick it was to grab her attention.

He looked down. “It doesn’t exist. Simple as that. It’s a glorified turkey skewer for the W-E-A-K. Or as I like to call ‘em: whackass mofos.” He smirked intently.

“What!?” she squinted further.

His eyes rolled. “Aight, Imma be real with ya. It’s a glorified dildo—turkey skewer lookin’ ass. Believe me, kid. Masochists are way out there. Only whackass mofos call it a ‘rapier.’” He grinned at her and everyone. Even when the Novusian mages knew of his schtick, they clenched their teeth and grunted.

Tokino panted with her eyes lit up. She moved with heavy steps. “Why not say it straight, you jerk! You view everyone as weak.” She unsheathed her sword and pointed at his face. “Mark my words. You wish you’d never known pain until now.”

He snickered, “Hahahahahahaha!” and sighed. “I’m on the same boat, kid. You won’t like me when I’m angery. Like how I hate jizzing too early as she sits on top. For real, my girls know their stuff back home.”

Tokino’s soul reached the tipping point. She abandoned her conscience and thrust her rapier at blinding speeds. Everyone felt the reverberating air in the throne room. For all her efforts, she only hit an afterimage. She gasped internally and realized she no longer held her weapon. She heard a yawn from behind.

He did some stretches. “As a Japanese dude, lemme show y’all some origami.” He folded the sword with immense ease.

Everyone stood in shock, and Tokino gasped. “You bastard!!” She flash-stepped before him and prepared a straight punch. “Give it back!”

He chuckled once more. “Sure… Not sure how it’d be useful from now—” Suddenly, the rapier sprung back into shape like an untwisted balloon animal. Even he got startled as it flew out of his hand. Meanwhile, everyone raised their eyebrows.

Hokori picked up the sword and observed closely. It looked brand new—no dent or deformation whatsoever. Innumerable questions fired within Tokino’s mind; she ran toward him to retrieve the heirloom. However, the double doors banged open from afar. “All of you! Prepare for combat!” exclaimed a man.

The Novusian mages saluted with a ‘yessir.’ Tokino stood with her eyes squinted, and Hokori laughed hoarsely. “Yo, pretty boy! Gotta say you do be lookin’ like a better snack than usual. Too bad ya still ain’t my type.”

The man shoved him. “Silence, simpleton…! I must do this in haste for now.” He kneeled before Tokino with his eyes closed. “Feuer Glatteis, eldest brother of three.” He stood up. “A million apologies for the haphazard greeting. I long to see your kind mother again.”

He turned to the others. When Hokori opened his mouth, he shouted at him. He walked back and forth with his hands tied. “I’m afraid tonight spells a dark hour for all Novusians. Dear brother Leuchten heard vibrations in the wind. His innate ability concluded that the king and Charmant got captured underground. Wamdue and his rebels are to blame.”

“Hol up. Hol up….” Hokori raised his hand and walked. “You tellin’ me that guys who can sink islands bent over for some diet RoboCops?”

He turned to him with stern eyes. “I assure you it’s far more absurd. Reports tell me a third party helped their cause. A no-name arms dealer, they said.”

“Then, why don’t you and your lil bros deal with it?” He pointed with a raised eyebrow. “It ain’t like you’re a trio of invalids.”

Feuer paused for a moment. His heart sank, and he slowly walked toward him. “I sent Leuchten on a suicide mission. As for Hagel, he went on his own path. Worry not. They can commute even at the ends of the earth.” He held his chest. “Your fight is our fight, Hokori. Remember that as you lay dying.”

His demeanor changed into complete disarray. His heart sank worse than his, and he sat at the king’s throne. His breathing raised. He moved the seat to look over the glass wall behind him.

Tokino’s eyes lowered a little from afar. She expected many things, but melancholy was never on her list. The Novusian mages looked as if they walked in a desolated warzone. One pulled up a locket; tears welled up. She could not bear the dead silence in the room. She broke it immediately by turning to Feuer. “Let me go, sir. I’m ready for anything. I didn’t become a mage for a hero’s glory.” She unsheathed her sword. “I’m here to prove my strength. Is it too much to ask?”

He sighed and smiled faintly at her. “I need not of tired declarations, milady… I’ve already appointed you with him.” He pointed at Hokori. “Insufferable, his heart is. But at least it is fool’s gold within.”

He chuckled. “Ya got dat right, pretty boy.” He stretched again. “You comin’ or what?”

“Afraid not, simpleton,” he shook his head. “My two new companions have not finished their much-needed regimen. I yearn for the day when they become diamonds.” He closed the double doors behind him.

Hokori continued stretching and chuckled. He pulled up his Pocket Hub interface and made a call to an old friend. After explaining the plan, she yelled at him not to call her a “dude.” In the end, she agreed; the hospital gave her paid leave.

He yawned and walked toward the glass wall. “Please wait here, kid,” he turned to Tokino. “As for me, Imma goin’ my way.”

A brigade mage walked closer. “Your way!? Didn’t you hear what Feuer said?”

He cracked his knuckles and neck. “Don’t blame me, fam. ‘My way’ has been better even before I was an egg cell.” With a lone handgrip, the three-meter blast-resistant pane shattered into pieces. He put on his earpieces and played Kanye’s “Touch The Sky” on the way down.

Tokino stood in utter shock. She could not comprehend how much strength it took to achieve what he did. The other mages startled her in place. “We’ll wait here, too, ma’am. We need Kenkō’s help no matter what.”

She nodded with a smile and looked over the destroyed wall. The wind moved her lavender hair around. She looked at her rapier. “Sorry, Mama… But I don’t trust that man.” Her eyes squinted. “I hate him—a lot….”

Fifty kilometers away from the estate lay a nightclub. Every stripper inside danced livelier than before. The economy had reached another summit. On a long couch, a man drank and laughed with three women. Suddenly, he moved to one ear. “Bring home the bacon.”

After hearing those soft words, the woman held his hand and led him inside a private room upstairs. She cast a runic circle beneath his feet. Instantly, he got transported forty meters underground.

As he walked into a hallway, Wamdue’s men greeted him with a nod. Many trained in cybernetic combat inside halls. At the end of the path, the mentioned man patted his shoulder and gave out a hearty laugh. “Good to see you cheated death once more, Mr. Gatsby. We won’t find a better replacement in eighty lifetimes.”

He moved his metallic arm away. “You, too, mate,” he smiled faintly. “So far, I’m approaching a success story. I’ve gotten more orders because of you.” He walked toward a cell door. “May I?” he looked back.

“Oh, sure! Anything you want, pal.” Wamdue put his flesh-looking hand over a combination lock. The fingers turned into numerous disassembled ones that typed 2,000/m. He politely gave way to Elon.

Inside the cell, he looked around. Surprisingly, it had above-average hospitality; no speck of dust laid around the white room.

He squatted and looked over a glass wall. Even more surprisingly, the inmates smiled happily. Archmage Charmant drew a plethora of stick figures with awkward limb positions. The king built a crude version of an Automodachi. It could only make clicking sounds time after time.

Elon stood surprised that Wamdue’s men gave them multiple items. They even gave them proper beds and two bathrooms. He caressed his chin. “Fascinating, mates. To think that people bored out of their heads become more in touch with their inner child.”

Charmant chuckled. “Of course… It helps clear worrying thoughts. I won’t even mind if fair maidens saw me doing this.” He drew three more stick figures on the white wall.

He turned to the king. “How about you, mate? Got a story to tell?” He waited for a response for a minute but to no avail. “Oh, come on… Don’t give me the cold shoulder. It doesn’t fit your magic at all.”