NightField is an organization consisting of hundreds of members, among them individuals known as Hollows and Receivers.
Most possess intermediate level abilities, although some have only just begun to utilize the early stages of those powers.
As its name suggests, they operate throughout the Kingdom of Norn under the cover of night, navigating the nocturnal activities of wild witches and occult criminals.
Although their existence remains unknown to the general public, there is no doubt that certain parties benefit from their secret presence.
Rumors suggest that those connected to NightField harbor a secret agenda, one that has remained concealed for decades.
What is certain is that a large secret organization like theirs poses a genuine obstacle to other major factions and groups.
This is especially important considering that the Kingdom of Norn is filled with wandering sects and orders; such a landscape creates a constant risk of clashes and chaos.
After exploring this dangerous world for more than a decade, Zuhen Mudelk never expected that "they" would come to capture him.
Given Tell's ability, he should have been impossible to track, as his appearance changed every time someone looked at him, except for those he chose to reveal his true identity to.
How did they discover my disguise?
He felt confused as he struggled to escape the trap of fog and white smoke, searching for answers to these questions.
Facing an enemy whose abilities were completely unknown was one of the three things he wanted to avoid.
However, having experienced something similar before, Zuhen suspected that their "ability" was connected to his own Recipestele.
In a realm detached from reality, surrounded by thick fog and white smoke, Zuhen felt an infinite emptiness.
His brain felt as though it were boiling and his heartbeat slowed, turning every step into a wave of desperation fueled by adrenaline to survive and escape this strange place.
He ran frantically, far from where he had landed, yet found nothing that could lead him out.
A sense of resignation swirled through his mind and chest. Tell would not disappear as usual; instead, the spirit was busy criticizing Zuhen's reckless actions.
"Idiot... Idiot..."
Zuhen felt the tension as the muscles in his face tightened.
"Shut up!" Zuhen snapped, pushing Tell's small body away from his cheek.
His expression was grim as his mind raced to find a way out.
Several minutes passed, and a method that would change Zuhen's perspective of the world suddenly crossed his mind.
Glancing at Tell with a faint grin, he said seriously, "Tell... merge with me."
Tell's mouth fell open in shock at the statement.
"A... Are you sure? I thought you didn't want to, or that you didn't like the idea because of that problem...?"
Without hesitation, Zuhen said, his voice rising slightly, "Hurry up and merge with me."
Tell let out a long sigh and flew closer. Pale blue white spiritual energy flared from her tiny fingers, shimmering amid the fog and smoke surrounding them, and when it touched Zuhen's body, an unstoppable wave of power erupted.
...
Back in the real world, their battle caused the surrounding buildings to collapse; overhead, the sky trembled violently, accompanied by an unending roar that shook the ground beneath their feet.
A crease formed across Zavi's face; he had not even been given a chance to swing the Hoisline fan artifact.
The difference in strength between the three of them was enormous; moreover, an unending rain of sharp dust like diamonds continued to pour down upon Zavi, pushing him further into a corner.
He wanted to ask for help, but each of his companions was busy with their own enemies.
Aaron and Felina were fighting Andreas and a black haired man, while Zavi faced two men with long, wavy black hair.
As the battle raged, Zavi suppressed a groan; it felt as though his vision were obstructed by something.
Boom!
He deftly ducked to avoid black dust as sharp as diamonds, or perhaps something even more deadly, that shot toward him at the speed of light.
Zavi realized that if he had been an ordinary human, he would have already been dead before this pursuit even began.
One thing confused him: why were the two of them drawing him away from the others without actually launching any serious attacks?
A thought crossed Zavi's mind as he gripped the Hoisline fan artifact beneath his tailcoat; his steps slowed before he came to a complete stop. The two men also stopped at the same time, taking fighting stances to launch their next attack.
"I'm not in the mood today," Zavi suddenly said.
The two men glanced at each other, and the man with long, wavy black hair finally spoke.
"Why are you saying that?" he muttered, seeking an explanation.
Of course, they had already anticipated a sudden attack through Zavi's spiritual energy.
'He really isn't attacking?'
The man with long, wavy black hair activated a technique to observe his opponent's spiritual aura. Nesta could not hold the three of them for long, and Xiruz's condition seemed to be worsening as he pursued the ponytailed man.
While thinking about this, he glanced at his companion standing ahead and to his left. His gaze settled on Zavi, who was hiding his right hand beneath his jacket.
"I don't know what you're planning..." the slightly long black haired man said firmly.
"Huh?" Zavi was startled by the remark.
To clear up the misunderstanding, he raised both hands before slowly sitting down and crossing his legs.
Both instinctively furrowed their brows as his right hand was directed toward them.
Millions of black dust particles shot rapidly toward Zavi, resulting in an unavoidable massive explosion.
...
At the place where Aaron, Felina, and Celvira stood, the four attackers assaulted them relentlessly, giving them no time to think or retaliate.
They used Shaman abilities, which were usually reserved for the backline, as a frontline tactic to inflict curses upon their targets.
They had previously succeeded in cursing Celvira by channeling hundreds of millions of curse laden microbes that formed crystals; however, Celvira managed to fend off the attack thanks to her status as the third level evil spirit, Nammeridya.
Under normal circumstances, she would have been free to act however she pleased during the battle. But now? She was nothing more than a fish caught in a net.
Aaron's breathing became ragged as he bent slightly, his mind filled with suspicion that someone was directing their movements from afar.
'But who? Could it be...'
He dismissed the thought when he saw the rude woman beside him repeatedly clicking her tongue.
"Hey, Felina..."
Without saying anything else, he used his supernatural grip to pull Felina's soul.
Felina had no time to react as her soul was pulled out, before Aaron immediately returned it to her body.
A turbulent wave of emotions swept over her; confused, she turned to the left, overwhelmed by a surge of confidence.
'Was it him?'
After thinking for a moment, she smiled. The stinging heat, biting cold, and deadly chill of the curse aura had vanished from her body.
Aaron had eliminated the pain, although he did so for no apparent reason, acting on instinct in the heat of battle.
Observing Felina's reaction, Aaron fell into thought. His gaze remained fixed on the four figures slowly approaching him.
'Something is wrong. Extraction should be able to separate their souls through physical or supernatural contact, so why couldn't I grasp it when I tried? As for the object Actitus gave me, I know it's only bait, but...'
A clump of dust resembling fine pollen floated toward him, but he easily brushed it aside.
He was no longer worried about his own condition, because Celvira was holding the four of them back.
'Actitus is fighting two black haired men, which means the two of us have to face their leader. So... should I fight them seriously?'
Aaron continued pondering why they were not attacking with their full strength. One thing was certain: he knew it had something to do with them, himself, and the four of them.
"Alright then..." Aaron muttered as he sighed.
Felina glanced at him, her brows furrowing.
'Alright? What does he mean...'
"Felina," Aaron said. "Can you blow it up?" Aaron pointed upward.
"You mean you want me to blow up the air?" she muttered, seeking confirmation.
"Yes," Aaron replied confidently.
That instruction was the only thing on Aaron's mind; beyond that, he could only hope his plan would align with reality.
Unable to hold back the four of them or that troublesome creature, the Recipestele, which was interfering with her spiritual essence on its own, Celvira was dragged backward hundreds of meters. Her feet scraped across the ground and stones until she was thrown in the opposite direction, landing right where her two companions stood, pale red blood running down and soaking her black boots.
"Tch. Have you found a solution?" she asked, her lips pursed and her hands clenched tightly against her chest.
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"Just try it," he said to Felina, then glanced at Celvira. "Find Actitus; you are the supernatural creature bound to him."
Celvira's pupils trembled, her mind going blank for a moment as the words pierced deep into her consciousness.
"H How did you know?" she stammered.
Her thoughts returned to the journey to Semilir City, particularly the time the two of them had spent on the train.
"What do you mean?" Celvira grumbled, her voice nearly rising.
Zavi turned toward her, staring at the confusion on her face.
"Yes, that man is very dangerous to you. At least for now, but don't forget the instruction I gave you earlier."
Celvira knew that the contract was increasingly testing the limits of her existence and her will in this world. Whether she liked it or not, she was forced to hold firmly to that important message while remaining by the man's side this Monday.
She glanced at Aaron, then shifted her gaze to Felina, who was imitating the motion of drawing a bow as pale blue light appeared at her fingertips.
The four enemies drew closer while launching attacks in the form of millions of black dust particles, but they were successfully deflected by Aaron's shadow and Celvira's spiritual pressure.
The plan went exactly as Aaron had imagined.
Then he did the same thing to Celvira through touch. After doing so quickly, he stepped into the shadow world and brought the four of them into a shroud of darkness.
The corner of Aaron's mouth curled upward as the world around him transformed into boundless darkness, while demons with horrifying forms watched him from every direction.
"Welcome to the realm of death..." Aaron muttered with a sharp, sinister grin.