Abyssal Awakening

*BANG!!!

Shooting forward, the examiner created a field of clones before flickering through them with her true body.

Meanwhile, Alice furrowed her brows and tried her best to track her down.

She only had one chance to use Void Flux – Cleave at full power. Not only that, but she also had to be careful not to hit the examiner directly otherwise it could prove to be lethal.

Even without Cayla, Alice was able to spot the instances where the Examiner manifested in one of the clones. How the lightning sparks would shift and the source of the gaze would change locations. Alice could sense it all.

Taking two steps back, Alice created four blood mirrors in front of four clones, cutting off the examiner's path of retreat as it narrows down the choices to just three.

Taking another step back, she created another mirror, narrowing the choices down to two!

Naturally, the examiner understood what Alice was aiming for and the teleportation between her and the clone began to speed up.

If Alice were to choose wrong, it would allow the examiner a perfect chance to attack her from cover.

Seeing the blood mirror manifest in front of her, the examiner curled her lips into a smile.

'She chose wrong!'

But just as she was about to attack, she noticed her mistake.

The mirror wasn't teleporting her away but rather teleporting Alice to her! She never chose wrong. Alice simply chose to attack!

Seeing Alice appear in front of her mid swing, the examiner felt a chill down her spine as she immediately halted her attack and tilted her body to the side.

*KRKK!!!!!

Feeling a graze against her cheek, she glanced back and watched as Alice's strike collided against the wall. Seeing the deep crevice left behind after the energy dissipated, her smile began to twitch as she held both her hands up.

"I give up. You pass."

If a four star Hunter was actually able to pull off this kind of technique then there was no worry that they'll struggle with four star commission. After all, those who can use techniques outside of the abilities granted by Sigils are those who are backed by large families or influential figures.

While she doesn't know who Alice was backed by, there were records of sponsorship in the past thus she could only assume it was the same person.

With the exam now over, Alice dispelled her blade and recalled all the blood she had used to create the blood mirrors.

"You'll get your four star license once you head to the main reception. But I must ask, how did you know which one was the real me?" She asked curiously.

"You have my record right?" Alice asked as she nodded her head.

"First Sigil, hallucinations. I created two illusions without deploying a single blood mirror. The only one that reacted to it was the real you." Alice shrugged as the examiner widened her eyes.

She was so preoccupied with Alice's other Sigils that she completely overlooked the hallucination aspect of her first Sigil.

In this regard, it was her oversight as the examiner.

"I see… Alright. Congratulations on getting your four star license." She laughed, patting Alice on the shoulder as this young Hunter had shown far more promise than what she originally expected.

Bidding farewell with the examiner, Alice made her way to the reception and got her new Guild ID. From three stars onward, each of the new IDs would take a slightly different appearance.

For the four star license, her ID now had four silver stars above her name along with silver linings against a black background.

Putting her license into her pouch, Alice left the Hunter's Guild. Just when she was about to go back to the Academy, she could feel the Underground crest vibrate. A sign that the branch manager has collected the information she wanted.

Making her way to the Academy so that she could disguise herself as Kale once more, Alice walked to the docks.

Upon approaching the entrance to the Underground, Alice was welcomed in without a single word.

'Seems like they're expecting you.' Alyss chuckled.

'Obviously. If the branch manager sends me a notice, would the workers dare make me wait?' Alice shrugged while making her way down.

[Tis would indeed make a bad host if she did.] Cayla nodded with a smile.

Walking past the main market and towards the suspended platform with the sealed Lord, Alice entered the dark office once more as the branch manager was already waiting by the table for her.

She sat on the surface while resting her hand on a small stack of parchment next to her.

"Welcome Ms Grani, it has been a while has it not? I do apologise for the… severe delay in delivering your commission. As you may know, the Zenia's hold a rather tight grip on their information and digging things out isn't as easy as one may think." She chuckled while Alice couldn't help but doubt.

What kind of information would an Abyss Lord struggle to obtain? Regardless, now that she has the information, checking it out was a must.

Just as she approached, the branch manager held up her hand.

"I do have to warn you though. As the broker of this information. Knowing it would get you tied up in something rather complicated. And even with the information I've gathered, some parts are still missing as I wasn't able to find out the whole truth. Are you willing to risk this despite the incomplete information?" She asked, narrowing her gaze at Alice.

However, a helpless smile appeared on Alice's face.

"Unfortunately I'm already tied up with them. Knowing more wouldn't change anything." Alice shook her head.

Her response interested the branch manager but she didn't say anything more and flicked her finger.

The parchment shot towards Alice as she grabbed it out of the air and scanned her eyes across the page.

". . ." The more she read, the deeper her brows furrowed as her grip tightened on the parchment.

"Seems like the information I've obtained has been rather satisfactory. Though seeing as how you're not surprised, you must've known this beforehand right?" The branch manager crossed her arms as she began to probe Alice's identity.

When she found out the information she gave Alice, not even she could hide her surprise. An Abyss Lord who's seen much of what's happened in the Abyss couldn't hide her surprise yet this girl in front of her could?

The branch manager had two conclusions she could draw from this as of this moment.

First, Alice already knew this kind of information. If so, how? Kale Grani, a combatant that appeared out of nowhere new this information was most definitely an abnormality.

The Second was more concerning depending on your stance. And that was she was directly connected to it!

If it was indeed the second possibility then who exactly is she?

Flipping through the parchment, Alice's expression grew cold as she took a deep breath and nodded her head.

"Thank you. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." Alice nodded before turning around.

"Thank you for your patronage. And by all means, Ms Grani, my branch is always open for you."

Watching Alice leave, the branch manager's smile faded as she tried to attach another tracker. It was far more discrete than the previous one yet the instant it made contact with her body, it was as though all of the energy was drained before it was dispelled.

Truly, she came with all kinds of surprises.

Even if she was curious, the branch manager understood that digging deeper may hold more risks than the benefits of satisfying her curiosity. Especially with the Zenia's tied up in this.

'I might've said the branch is always open to her but honestly, I don't mind it if she never comes back.' She thought to herself as it would be too much hassle. While she was collecting information, there were quite a few times when she almost got caught.

Shaking her head, she prepared a report to the main branch of the Underground as there would be no doubt that the Master would be interested in this information.

###

Leaving the underground without a single word, Alice made her way back to the Academy as she sat down on her bed.

Looking at the parchment once more, she clenched her fist and covered her eye with her arm.

'What now?' Alyss frowned with her hands crossed.

In the report that the branch manager gave her, none of the people that Erick brought with him were good people. All of them were involved in the gruesome acts done by the Zenia family. Moreover, both Melissa and Michael were deeply involved in what they call the 'Next Generation Plan'.

A plan to merge and create new Sigils, powers and Abyss Blood that were unheard of. Any method was welcome and they would go beyond moral guidelines if the experiment showed even the slightest sign of success.

On top of this, they were given new products produced by the New Generation Plan. Their Sigils and powers do not belong to any known species of Abyss beast.

Naturally, Alice could draw her assumption based on her current existing knowledge.

The Zenia's must've found a way to use her blood!

While Melissa and Michael were part of the New Generation Plan, Selen and her guards were potential 'candidates' for another plan.

The Immortal Bastion.

A plan to make use of the collar that tortured Alice for a decade, to repurpose it for soldiers who will not die in the midst of battle. A collar that will constantly feed them blood so that the task will be carried out successfully.

There were gruesome details of the experiments pertaining to both parties but this wasn't what shook Alice. It was what they were planning to do in the Inverted World.

To reclaim a lost 'relic' of the Zenia's. The foundation of their craft that is tied to the history of their noble family.

While the branch manager couldn't find out the truth and only the whispers of certain events, Alice knew of the truth.

Her birthday party! She was the 'relic' they wanted to reclaim!