Triple X System

Back in Lumia kingdom, specifically the towering castle. A massive tree could be seen now planted at the center of it. Sprouting up touching the skies, it’s branches adorned with beautiful colorful flowers.

The roots of the tree, firmly planted down to the ground digging deeper into the Earth’s core. While the stems from below sprung up, moving with life wrapping around the caving in castle walls.

Somehow liquidating a bit, latching on to the blocks and roof top. Forming several thick robust pillars of stems. Not only holding the castle in place, but beautifying it also.

”I wonder if they can stop it?” Lisa calmly sighed, her hand emitting a faint green glow.

The energy radiating around her was weak, it’s vibrant green glow turning dull. Getting drained quickly from the high use of her mana pool in the fight with the dargon.

Dealing assault long range damages, whilst defending herself alongside Kyle and the rest. Multitasking herself with the large supplements of her mana in healing Troy.

”I can’t hear the explosions anymore.” A tinge of anticipation and worry settled in her heart.

It was clear the fight had drawn to an end, but she was oblivious to which party won. Dealing with matters of her own, tending to the sick and injured individuals present here.

”Mhm!” A figure sharply groaned, awakening from her slumber.

”W-what happened?” Ona stuttered, her bright orange eyes fluttering open.

Gazing round, her vision was still slightly impaired. But she could see blurry sights of pillars and royal household appliances. Indicating she was currently at the castle.

”You’re awake, that’s good to know.” Lisa flashed a light smile towards ona.

Recognizing the voice, ona sprang to her feet. Causing a jolt of migraine to assault her head from the sudden protrusion.

”You shouldn’t be too hasty to stand after what you passed through.” Lisa scolded in a warm tone to which ona grunted. Her hand placed to her head.

”W-what happened here? How long was I asleep? What’s the current situation of the king and the kingdom?” Ona shot a barrage of questions at Lisa. Her tone laced with urgency, steadily making her way towards her direction.

Chuckling, Lisa bore a subtle weak smile on her face. Light wrinkles forming just below her lips, barely visible. Even her smooth white skin had turned a shade of pale. A testament of reminder to the price of using her healing skill.

’She’s treating them.’ There was a bit of confusion in ona’s eyes, watching Lisa use her healing skills.

As a person of noble lineage and influential status, she was restricted from such. Even for support to aid other high nobles like herself, and even the king. Which made her question why she chose to use it on commoners.

”If I’d taken them to the medical bay they wouldn’t have survived.” Lisa spoke, answering the question on ona’s mind.

”Which I’m not so sure that charming young man would take likely.” She giggled in a rather wary tone, making ona raise a brow.

”Huh? Who are you talking ab-” She paused, her eyes setting on the two figures before Lisa.

They were a man and woman with short black hair, wrapped in green lushes of paradise. Emitting a faint green glow, which was absorbed by their pale bodies.

’These are Kyle’s parents, which must mean a great battle must’ve occurred here.’ It was no doubt a fight had occured here, leaving remnants from the spoils of war.

Which from the looks of things was by no means small. ”If I’m correct this was an invasion?”

Ona asked, prompting a slight nod from Lisa.

”To answer your earlier questions yes, we were invaded and attacked. Not by neighboring settlements or planets. Or even humans for that matter, but beasts.”

”Beasts?” Ona repeated with a hint of confusion. ”Are you trying to imply a group of mindless beasts came together and plotted to invade the kingdom and cause this much destruction?”

She questioned with defiant eyes, not in any mood for games.

”Yes.” Lisa replied with unwavering certainty.

’What the hell is going on?’ The space commander clearly recalled the last set of events with Wheeler and Ronan. But that was all, no flashbacks or recollection after Ronan disappeared.

Which led to her waking up her to learn an invasion had occured during her vulnerable state. And as if that wasn’t enough, the charge was led by mindless beasts?

”They’re not mindless beasts, at least not completely.” Lisa interjected, more calm than ever.

”These set of beasts aren’t your typical average beast but a more advanced species of beast. Possessing somewhat intelligence and somehow similar humanoid traits.”

Listening to her ona’s face lost colour a bit. During her expenditures as troy’s right hand and her solo adventures she’d never encountered a humanoid beast.

Sure they weren’t folktales and rumors, but the idea of meeting on was very low. Considering planet orobos was a diverse planet, populated with species of different races. Already obtaining some knowledge which was recorded in the kingdom’s database.

”What about the king and winner of the tournament?”

”They chased the alleged boss of the beasts to the teleportation bay. As for the situation of the kingdom, the damage is severe with little casualties.

Nodding ona turned to leave, but was stopped by Lisa. Urging her not to make rash decisions, that’ll cause more harm than good in her current condition.

”Let me go, I can still fight. The king needs me!” She grunted, trying to separate her legs from the vines clinging to her.

”He doesn’t. Honestly, you’d be more of a burden than help after undergoing a possession.”

Pausing in her attempts to break free, she stared at Lisa with a dumbfounded expression.

”Possessed? Are you saying I was possessed by thess beasts to ensure the smooth flow of all this?”

Giving a light nod; ”It’s a solid theory, but that also meant the beasts were in custody of a device or something that enabled them to control people’s mind at will.” Lisa paused, darting an awkward glare at ona.

”But why go through all this and the risk of losing? They’re must surely be aware of Troy and the layout of the kingdom with how organized they were. So why go through the trouble of war and death, instead of simply brainwashing us?”

Hearing the floral ability user, her words sounded strange to ona’s ears. But the space captain was slowly catching on.

”Because they can’t? People who’ve awakened abilities tends to have stronger mental solitude than ordinary individuals. Not to mention dual ability wielders.” Ona blurted out, still unsure what miss Lisa was hinting at.

”Exactly. I don’t know know much about possessions, but they’re much much complicated than brainwashing someone’s mind. A possession usually means the full submission of one’s body to control, like a puppet. Leaving the mind active, severing connection with the body.”

”While manipulating someone’s mind could be done with an ability or item. Which begs the question if you were brainwashed or possessed by the beasts or perhaps another hidden figure.” Lisa concluded, leaving ona speechless in place.

The more she thought about Lisa’s words, the realization of the possibility she was possessed increasing.

Sure her mind was fortified with mana, which didn’t guarantee immunity. But temporary stronghold from some mental assault skills and so on.

’If I was possessed, then there’s only one person I can think of.’ She seethed in anger, tightly clenching her fist.

”I see you’ve figured it out, as expected of the great commander.” Lisa praised, genuinely applauding her perceptive nature.

”You have to released me now miss Lisa. If the king is in battle, I have to be by his side. If I die then so be it, It’s the least I can do to atone for my sins.” Ona hurriedly pleaded, causing Lisa to roll her eyes.

”Mhm-hmm~ As expected from a stubborn royal guard. You’ll atone for your sins one day, but not today. It seems the battle is already over.” Lisa giggled with a cheerful smile, though her face was pale and lacked nutrient.

And as if on cue, a huge explosion was heard and felt. Trembling the entire castle, even from such a far distance. A blue beam of bright light shooting upwards, into the clouds.

”That’s a whole lot of mana.” Ona muttered feeling the immense mana radiating from that beam.

”Ona! Lisa!” A voice pulled them from their gazes.

Looking they could see Reze with a bandage wrapped around her stomach region. Along with some space guards and civilians behind.

”Wait. I recognize those two, weren’t they present at the bay today? Reze said in a low tone, her eyes a mixture of uncertainty and ambivalent.

”Still cautious as always.” Lisa softly giggled. ”Anyways, they are related to the winner of the 54th annual hunger games.”

Hearing this Reze eyes widened a bit, finally realizing where they’d met. Apparently she got a glimpse of their unconscious bodies in Kyle and falcon’s back.

Not bothering to memorize their face, deeming them unimportant. Focusing on the one with strange blend of black and red aura. Overshading the little blue mana in his body.