Chapter 4: Overpowered much?...no?
The atmosphere was formal and unexpectedly reminiscent of an office setting. The scent of wood permeated the air, harmonizing with the building's aesthetic. Murmurs, carefully balanced, echoed through the well-furnished interior. The simple appearance of the surroundings seamlessly blended with the medieval-like ambiance, leaving Takumi utterly bewildered.
After hesitantly agreeing to Kurayami's question, Takumi found himself speechless. While he had been prepared for unusual occurrences, nothing could have prepared him for what followed—a tear in the very fabric of space and time! The transition felt like a surreal daydream; one moment they were in his dorm room, and with a snap of Kurayami's fingers, they found themselves transported to an entirely different world! In that moment, Takumi felt as though he had lost all sense of reality, a sensation anyone in his shoes would surely have experienced.
"Hold on just a second here, you're telling me that there are two other worlds apart from Earth, each with actual living species that we don't know about?" Takumi mumbled in complete disbelief, with a slight sense of betrayal, as if he had expected her to mention this before agreeing to her "challenge."
"Yes, exactly as I just said...we have Etheria and Luminescia, in addition to Earth," she responded, taking a small sip of her drink. Then, she turned to face the office-like interior of the building, a sly smile playing on her lips.
The smile was intentional, a subtle jab at Takumi for not inquiring enough before agreeing to everything the demon offered. After all, a demon was a demon. Now, all he could do was curse himself as he waited to see what would come next.
But he hadn't suffered any significant loss from this; rather, his knowledge had greatly expanded. He now understood that Earth was not the only habitable dimension; there were others, such as Etheria, which could be simplified as the realm of elves, orcs, and humans. Despite wanting to dismiss it as mere fantasy, Takumi found himself believing everything he saw. The concept of a world where humans, orcs, and elves coexisted was beyond his wildest imaginings...it was simply unbelievable.
According to what he'd learned from Kurayami, Etheria was a vast world populated by three races, along with an additional race known as the "Ethereals"—monsters that roamed the lands, terrorizing anything in their path. These Ethereals posed a significant threat to the three races, prompting them to form alliances in an attempt to eradicate the entities. However, their efforts proved futile, as the Ethereals seemed to be infinite in number. Consequently, the races isolated them into groups and hives, burying them in caves or sealing them off in enchanted forests using a mystical practice known as magic. Takumi couldn't help but sigh at the sheer surrealism of it all. Magic? Ethereals? Elves and orcs? This wasn't what he had signed up for, yet alas here he was.
In the current era of Etheria, the buried hives and enchanted forests proved to be lucrative opportunities for anyone interested. Ethereals often possessed rare materials or durable weapons, making them valuable commodities for trade. To Takumi, it felt like he was living in a video game, registering, defeating enemies, acquiring loot, and earning rewards. Viewing it this way helped ease his tension, if only slightly. However, it couldn't mask the fact that he was essentially immersed in a game-like scenario, about to embark on farming expeditions against the mentioned enemies. And thus cue the office like building they were currently in named "The Guild" where they were patiently waiting for further instructions.
And as if staged to follow a certain plot, a knock on what seemed to be a registration booth echoed in the room, followed by instant silence. Everyone's attention turned toward the noise, including Takumi's...but excluding Kurayami.
"May I have your attention, please?" A young female voice announced from within the booth before her figure appeared standing on it.
In an instant, the crowd's attention was captured. It appeared that whatever information she possessed was crucial to them. Acknowledging her success in gaining their attention, she quickly flashed a slight smile before scanning the crowd
"Firstly, we welcome you to today's Hive raid. We understand that not all of you are from the kingdom of Knights, so I am here to advise you all to abide by the kingdom's rules and guidelines, lest you find yourselves on the wrong side of authority," she calmly stated, subtly implying a threat towards the kingdom's outsiders, Takumi included.
"With that out of the way," she continued, pausing her crowd scan, "we hope you all enjoy the raid today. May the Goddess' light brighten your path and purify your bounty. The hive shall be opened in a few minutes," she concluded, her tone akin to chanting a prayer.
The moment she finished, the crowd resumed their chatter as if no information had been conveyed. Kurayami, similarly oblivious to the announcer's words, focused solely on ordering another drink. In contrast, Takumi felt his body tense with each passing second.
He understood why the others weren't bothered by this information; they were accustomed to it, after all. But for him, it was different. From growing up watching anime shows where the main character effortlessly dispatched monsters, to being reborn just to face the same challenges himself, the tension was palpable. Even Kurayami noticed, responding with her usual sly smile.
"What the hell am I getting myself into here?" He exclaimed in a low tone, dropping his head onto the surface of the table with a soft thud.
"Oh, quit being a baby. It'll be fine. I'm only here to show you how to use your new abilities, maybe even help you hit a jackpot with them," Kurayami mumbled in response, taking another sip of her raspberry-colored drink.
"Quit being a bab... hold on a second! How on earth am I supposed to act normal when I'm about to get pounded by a beast I've never seen in my life?!" Takumi protested, darting his gaze straight at the indifferent demon before him.
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but may I have a word?" A female voice called out from the other end of the table, instantly capturing both of their attention.
It was the female announcer, a young woman with azure-colored eyes and a pair of sharply pointed ears. An elf. Their appearance wasn't much different from a regular human, though they were undeniably more attractive. However, it was the atmosphere around her that Takumi couldn't quite place. Unlike Kurayami, who emitted a clear aura of malice, the elf exuded the opposite, causing him to slightly relax.
"Are you Hiroshi Takumi and Kurayami Hime? The two who applied for the High-Level Hive entrance license?" she inquired, her gaze shifting from Kurayami to Takumi, filled with a sense of doubt.
"Guilty as charged. What do you need?" Kurayami muttered, her annoyance evident as she continued to drink. However, she remained willing to hear the woman out, knowing they needed the license.
Ignoring Kurayami's crude behavior, the woman simply pulled out two pieces of brown-colored paper from a waist pouch and slid them onto the table. Each was written in a language Takumi clearly didn't understand.
"Your identities can't be confirmed, but that won't be an issue. What we need to clear this application is a simple power test, essential for anyone applying for a raid license," she calmly stated.
"A test?" Takumi mumbled hesitantly, knowing there was no way he could pass any kind of test.
If it involved reading, he couldn't understand their language. And if it was a combat test, the best he could do was some self-defense skills he learned from viral videos on Ytube. He was essentially screwed, no matter what he tried.
"Yes, just the usual energy crystal power test. It won't take long, but I advise you to make a decision quickly... the high-level hive will be the first to open in a few minutes," she responded, gesturing towards a separate section with fewer people. "It would be best if we headed there now to clear things up before the hive opens," she continued in her usual calm and composed manner.
Before Takumi could even utter a word, Kurayami had already finished her drink and stood up, stretching her limbs slightly.
"I guess if it's necessary, we can't do much about it. Let's get this over with already," Kurayami commented crudely, grabbing Takumi by his cloak's hood and dragging him towards the section the announcer had indicated. This left the female announcer wondering whether they were even qualified for the high-level test. Nonetheless, it wasn't her job to speculate; all she could do was escort them to the designated area.
What caught Takumi's attention first were two slightly large light blue crystals positioned at one end of the room, each guarded by two medieval knights clad in iron armor and wielding iron weapons, perfectly complementing the room's aesthetics.
Interestingly, the two crystals appeared to maintain balance without any visible support. Takumi sensed a faint pulse of energy emanating from them in a peculiar manner, almost soothing him. Was this effect a result of his demonic abilities? Or were the crystals radioactive, emitting waves of energy that could harm him from within? He couldn't discern the truth.
"Do we start with the left one or the right one?" Kurayami muttered, releasing her grip on Takumi.
"Oh no, we'll attend to those later. First, we need to verify your certification with the low-grade crystals," the female explained, gesturing towards one of the guards with a slight smile.
Instantly, the guard parted the crowd, moving between them and returning with a regal red pillow cradling two finger-sized crystals—a disappointment for Kurayami, who had her sights set on the larger ones jealously guarded by the knights.
"Sir, I'll start with you," the female announced, donning a pair of short white leather gloves before carefully selecting one of the crystals.
"It's straightforward to use. If you're unfamiliar, just hold it firmly. The crystal will draw out your energy to determine your grade or magical potential," she explained, passing the crystal to him.
With hesitation still etched on his face, Takumi glanced at Kurayami, who nodded encouragingly. Knowing there was no other option, he reluctantly accepted the crystal.
Silence engulfed the area, broken only by the murmurs of the crowd. For a brief moment, all was quiet until a soft azure glow emanated from the crystal in Takumi's grasp. To the surprise of many, including the lady, he had passed. It was a rarity to encounter individuals registering for a license above low-grade, especially someone as unassuming as Takumi—inevitably, their astonishment was palpable.
"Excellent news. Now, shall we..." the female announcer began before the crystal interrupted her.
The dim glow intensified into a vibrant crimson hue, as if the crystal had been corrupted. Its once lively blue exterior now transformed into a deep crimson, sparking speculation. Was it malfunctioning before their eyes, or was the holder somehow influencing it? Such manipulation was thought to be beyond the realm of possibility, achievable only by master craftsmen of a bygone era.
As she pondered this, the glow erupted into a blinding light, spilling out of the building and capturing the attention of everyone present.
BANG!
The room reverberated with the sound of a blast, followed by the swift dimming of the light—the crystal had shattered!
The shock on the female announcer's face spoke volumes. Takumi knew he was in trouble as he stared at the crystal in his hand, slowly disintegrating into red dust.
"Oh, Takumi, that's an energy crystal...I doubt you can afford to replace it," Kurayami slyly remarked, her tone dripping with mischief, aiming to exacerbate Takumi's predicament.
The comment sent a shiver down Takumi's spine. He couldn't even afford the cheapest E-coin, let alone a crystal he had never seen before—especially one presented by a knight on a royal pillow!
"Wait! Wait! No need to talk about money, right? This is... normal, isn't it?" Takumi blurted out, the mere thought of the cost sending a wave of panic through him.
"I... I mean, it's unprecedented, but we do have more crystals in stock, sir. No need to worry about it... I guess," the female replied, witnessing the rare crystal dissipate into dust from Takumi's hands.
In that moment, any preconceived notions about Takumi evaporated from her mind. He could very well be an undiscovered prodigy! Meanwhile, Takumi could only breathe a sigh of relief at her response. Financial matters were the last thing he was prepared to deal with; he could barely afford his own stack of instant noodles.
"Okay, then. How about we move on to the next one... shall we, sir?" the female asked, now hesitant to proceed with the tests but still motivated by her duties. Despite her uncertainty, a small part of her felt reassured—the second crystal was much larger than the one Takumi had held, indicating it could handle his energy without issue... or so she hoped.
BOOM!
The walls of the building trembled slightly as the knights guarding the crystal were forcefully propelled backward by the sudden explosion. The sequence of events mirrored that of the low-grade crystal: first, a dim azure glow, lingering longer than before, then a sudden brightening followed by a crimson hue before it blasted away like a bullet from a high-caliber weapon. The crowd erupted into chaos.
Takumi had shattered not only their expectations by utterly annihilating a medium-grade crystal but also their understanding of his capabilities. Unbeknownst to him, he had become an enigmatic figure, his true power remaining a mystery even after testing against the medium-grade crystal. Even the lady hesitated to allow him near the high-grade crystal, fearing the repercussions. If he managed to reduce the high-grade crystal to mere ashes, the consequences would be catastrophic.
As a result, it came as no surprise to anyone but Takumi when he found himself at the forefront as the gates to the high-level hive swung open, with Kurayami by his side. Left to ponder what he had truly gotten himself into, Takumi embarked on the next phase of his journey...discovering his new found abilities.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
yusuf_abdul
yusuf_abdul no need for wild guesses, Kurayami blasted away two crystals as well :)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone