Gabriel's journey from his exile site to Ultima-Volcano Mountain took about two hours, as he traveled through the air, sitting casually atop a flying broom.
Of course, the broom wasn't his—it was one of the Magic Tools belonging to the bandits whose hideout he had seized earlier.
Now Gabriel floated high above, gazing at a region suffused with fiery Mana. The streams of scorching energy rippled like living red mist, making the place an ideal training ground.
"Truly… extraordinary natural Mana," Gabriel murmured in a heavy tone. "Good. This is perfect for Ash's training."
His black bangs quivered slightly as he furrowed his brow.
The geometric patterns of Gigan spun slowly behind his hair, and a faint magic circle appeared before him—like opening a second layer of reality.
In an instant, Gabriel could see farther than what would normally be considered possible, tapping into several 'eyes' from other existences around him.
There, he observed a variety of things: creatures born from fire Mana, mutated wild monsters, and—most intriguing—a woman.
"So, the Pale Mist isn't alone?" he murmured softly. "A mysterious woman dancing amidst the flames, huh? Interesting…"
Though his words carried a deliberately mysterious flair, Gabriel knew exactly who the figure was.
Mereoleona Vermillion.
Slowly, Gabriel guided his flying broom downward, hovering near the cliff's edge. For a fleeting moment, the urge to roleplay as a Harry Potter character crossed his mind.
He even imagined striking a dramatic pose with a billowing cloak, a wand and a large hat, chanting: Avada Kedavra.
But a second later, he shook his head. Training Mana Zone was far more important than roleplay.
The broom landed softly, and as his feet touched the ground, a distant explosion echoed—followed by a massive shadow hurtling toward him.
A giant, searing-hot boulder.
Gabriel reacted instantly. He drew the shovel from his back, and Mana flowed from his palms, enveloping the blade in a pale white glow.
"Schneiden!"
SLASH!!
The boulder split cleanly with a single horizontal swing. Shards rained down, scattering across the ground around him.
Gabriel lifted his head. His black bangs still shadowed his eyes, but his gaze fixed directly on the source of the attack.
In the distance, perched atop a chunk of volcanic rock and surrounded by slowly flowing lava, stood Mereoleona Vermillion.
The woman grinned widely.
A wild lioness smile, sharp and predatory, that drew attention instantly.
Her body lowered slightly, muscles tensing like a forest cat ready to pounce.
In an instant, Mereoleona leapt—shooting toward Gabriel with a speed that made the air itself quiver, leaving faint trails of fire in her wake.
The moment her feet touched the ground right in front of him, she didn't speak.
The lioness-like smile only widened, fierce and untamed—a predator who had just found a worthy opponent. The aura of fire around her swirled like a storm, consuming the air itself.
"Heh! Nice reaction," Mereoleona said, her gaze sharp. "Not many brats can cleave a molten rock that cleanly."
Then—without warning.
BOOM—!!
Mereoleona struck Gabriel with a straight punch aimed at his chest.
The blow wasn't lethal, but it was enough to send someone flying dozens of meters… and to assert who ruled this battlefield.
Yet for Gabriel, the world appeared as a series of broken frames, visual cracks forming from the Mana distortion emanating from Mereoleona.
His body moved instantly in sync with the prediction of his eyes. His Agility guided him a single precise step to the side.
Mereoleona's punch missed, hitting empty air and generating a small shockwave.
She grinned even wider. "Interesting."
Without pause, she twisted her body, turning her previous punch into a sharp kick sweeping from below to the side.
Gabriel's reflexes immediately raised the shovel to block.
CRACK—!!
But the shovel shattered instantly, fragments scattering like metallic dust. Mereoleona's kick slammed into Gabriel's now-unprotected defense, and…
WHUOOOM—!!
Gabriel's body was flung twenty meters away, smashing into a large rock, its cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
Volcanic dust rose into the air, shrouding the area.
Through the thin haze, Mereoleona's voice rang out clearly: "Get up. I'm not done."
"Ugh…!!"
Gabriel grimaced in pain. Even with his body reinforced by Equipment effects, Skills, and Job enhancements, Mereoleona's blow still felt like being hit by a small meteor.
Outwardly, he appeared calm, just wincing. But inside his mental space, Gabriel was actually rolling on the ground, cursing his luck and clutching his stomach while muttering softly:
"Ouch… that really hurts…"
But he endured it all to preserve the dignity of Persona Ash.
He slowly straightened his body, holding his breath, making sure his posture remained elegant and mysterious, just like the character he had crafted.
Once Gabriel stood fully upright, Mereoleona swung her arm back, retrieving something from a small bag on her back—a Grimoire with a pale white cover, adorned with faint wing motifs.
She lifted it without ceremony, her gaze sharp like a lion assessing its prey.
"Seems like you're not much for talking," she said teasingly. "No matter…"
Mereoleona spun the Grimoire in her hands, then—
"Catch this."
She tossed it casually, as if the book held no weight or importance. Yet the Mana clinging to it was clearly potent and unusual to anyone but Gabriel.
By reflex, Gabriel raised his right hand—
THAP!
The Grimoire landed perfectly in his grasp.
Ding!
________________
Five-Leaf Grimoire
Rank: Bronze
Type: Accessory (Bound Item)
Description:
A five-leaf Clover Grimoire bound to the User's soul. Can be filled with Dark Matter attribute spells and continues to evolve alongside the User's abilities and personal development.
Because it is tainted by negative magical energy, this Grimoire can amplify magical power but also corrupt the soul.
Control: +50%
Efficiency: +50%
Magic Energy: +50%
________________
A moment later, the pale white Mana rippling around Gabriel's body gradually faded.
He closed the notification screen and then looked at Mereoleona with a calmness that was almost eerily quiet.
Mereoleona squinted her eyes, her fiery aura slightly shifting—not gone, just refocused. Her gaze swept over the pale white Grimoire, which radiated a faint, chilling energy.
"Your magical energy… is intriguing, kid."
She stepped closer. Her movements were deliberate, controlled—like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Cold, yet not fragile. Not fear, not an illusion… something different."
She gave a small nod, then grinned.
"Good. Show me a spell from that Grimoire."
Her index finger rose, pointing directly at Gabriel.
"If you're just standing there holding that book—it's useless."
Her fiery aura surged again, curling like a small storm. "I want to see what makes that book stick to you."
Her smile widened—wild, yet brimming with excitement. "And after that… maybe I'll understand why the Grimoire, so cold, chose you."
Hearing that, Gabriel fell silent for a moment. He gazed at Mereoleona from behind his bangs, his expression calm.
"Why do you want to see it?" he asked, unhurried.
"Because I'm curious," Mereoleona replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She then sharpened her gaze.
"And… stop talking."
Her blazing aura surged upward once again.
"Prepare yourself if you don't want to die, kid!"
The Grimoire at her side, cloaked in Mana that shifted between white, red, and purple, flipped through several pages rapidly, before flames engulfed both of her hands.
___
Author's Note:
Don't forget give me Some Power stone and Comment... Ehehe~ 😌