Luna let out a quiet breath, her expression turning serious.
"I'm sorry if I can't provide concrete information. The answer may be in the secret library… but because time flows slower there, it might take us hours to find it."
She paused, her gaze shifting between Ken and Lucy.
"I also don't know what the Zodiac Fragment vessels will do. Some of them are already being controlled by the Zodiac Fragments themselves. What they seek is powerful energy… that's why I want to prepare both of you for whatever may happen," Luna said.
Her voice lowered.
"Some Zodiac Fragments will likely search for vessels that are not under their control… and I am one of them. So it's very likely that I will become their target as well," Luna added.
A tense silence filled the room.
Then Luna straightened slightly and raised her hand.
"Now, try to concentrate. Feel the warmth surrounding your bodies… gather it, and release it through your hands," Luna instructed.
Ken and Lucy followed her words.
They closed their eyes.
Almost instantly, they felt it—
A heat… wrapping around their bodies like an unseen flame.
Luna watched closely.
Lucy was the first to react.
A powerful white aura began to form around her body, glowing intensely. The mana radiating from her was immense—pure, yet overwhelming, almost destructive in its intensity.
Then came Ken.
A dark aura erupted from his body, black energy swirling violently around him. The entire room trembled slightly as an oppressive wave of mana filled the space.
The air grew heavy.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Luna's eyes snapped open.
Sensing the terrifying power being released,
she immediately tried to stop them both,
afraid that their combined energy could bring destruction at any moment.
Luna quickly stepped forward.
"It seems this place isn't suitable for us… we need to move somewhere else."
She was about to open a portal—
But suddenly—
Her expression changed.
She sensed something.
A presence.
Mana.
Close to their house.
Without hesitation, the three of them rushed outside.
There, standing in the distance…
Was a man.
An ordinary-looking human—
But carrying a terrifying power.
A Zodiac Fragment Vessel.
Luna immediately raised her hand, attempting to use the same power she had used before—the one that saved the woman who almost exploded from being unable to withstand the magic within her body.
She spoke firmly:
"Lumen Exsolvere!"
But nothing happened.
In an instant—
The Zodiac Fragment vessel vanished from sight—
And reappeared behind Ken, reaching for his head, attempting to absorb his power.
But Luna sensed it immediately.
Without hesitation, she cast another spell—
"Tenebris Paralysis!"
The vessel froze.
Unable to move.
However, the strain was visible on Luna's face. The spell consumed a large amount of mana, and with her limited reserves, she struggled to maintain control over the Zodiac Fragment.
Her breathing grew heavier.
"Do something!" Luna shouted, clearly struggling.
At that moment—
A voice whispered to Lucy.
Soft.
Mysterious.
It spoke a spell.
Lucy's eyes widened slightly.
She raised her hand, instinctively following the voice she had heard.
"Lumen Devouris."
The wind suddenly intensified.
A violent gust swept through the area.
The man—the Zodiac Fragment vessel—let out a painful scream as a radiant light burst from his mouth.
The light flowed—
Drawn toward Lucy's hand.
Absorbed.
The glow faded.
At the same time, Luna collapsed to her knees, completely drained from holding the paralysis spell.
The man fell unconscious.
Silence followed.
They immediately called for an ambulance.
After a short while, it arrived.
The responders assumed the man had simply collapsed while walking, unaware of what had truly occurred.
Meanwhile, Luna rested after the incident.
Her magic had been severely drained—from opening a portal to another dimension and from using a high-level spell to restrain a being capable of movement and magic.
Ken watched over her, worry evident in his eyes.
Inside the room, Ken and Lucy stayed beside Luna, who was still unconscious.
The atmosphere was quiet.
Heavy.
Lucy looked at her hands.
She tried to use her power again—
But she didn't know what spell to use.