Chapter 168 168 - SUBJECT



As Ryan and Alice exited through the bathroom door, the two found the two sisters talking worriedly, both in their physical forms. Lux and Nyx seemed to be prepared for the party, wearing clothes that would easily go unnoticed in the crowd on the floors above.

Nyx was in a black dress, while Lux was in her white dress. But unlike the usual outfits, the two were wearing a more elaborate version. Before Ryan or even Alice could say anything about it, the succubus called out to the two with a gesture. Waving her hands and asking for silence, she pointed to one of the sheets where the Lightstones' documents were described.

"What, is that?" Alice said, while looking at her own name on a list. Then, Lux held out to her another folder that possessed the specifics of what was going on.

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Subject: Alice Lightstone

The results of the enhancement process are lower than the average expected through the proximity of the AL23 and AT54 tests. The mana density does not seem to increase even after infusion with the third energy core crystal, necessary to wait for the absorption to finish to complete the tests. The enchantment process for magical enhancement was effective, the global level circle is operative.

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Putting one of his hands to his mouth, Ryan stopped to think for a few seconds. Alice was horrified, partly from the shock of the news and partly because she couldn't yet understand how to deal with her own feelings. Frightened, she began to gasp for breath, and now that the infusion of demonic energy had just happened, everything was more intense.

The feelings of fear, happiness, joy and pain that she had long failed to notice in a greater intensity, now returned in full force. With a hug from Ryan, she calmed down. But as she looked at his face, she realized that he was not reacting well to this situation either.n0velUSb.c0m

"Ryan..."

His eyes were angry, and much more focused than usual. There were few moments when Alice had observed Ryan with that kind of pure anger, but at no time was that a good sign.

'I didn't notice these effects because it was a curse, if Demon Sight wasn't picking up on it, the most reasonable conclusion is that the mana flow that generates this system isn't in Alice. So they are using a Global level magic circle to affect her...'

Then, Ryan activated his Demon Sight. Watching the flow of mana and energies in the area, he was paying attention to how Alice's natural aura behaved, but the answer only came when he looked at Nyx. There was a gigantic concentration of energy just above her womb, where the mark he had given her in their first relationship lay.

'Gotcha!'

Slowly, Ryan released Alice and pulled Nyx close. With the two girls beside him, Ryan looked into both of their faces and sighed.

"I have an idea that might work, can I make a pact?" he said.

Alice nodded, a confident look on her face.

"I don't know what you want, but if it's an idea coming from you. It's okay."

At the same instant, Nyx widened her eyes in surprise.

"Are you sure about that? I don't know if that would work with humans" she said.

Ryan shook his head, it's the best option we have for now. Reaching out his hands, he placed his left hand on Nyx's belly and the other on Alice's belly.

"I will transfer the mark of the pact I made with her, I will alter a few things and then engrave it on you. Do you accept that? Alice Lightstone"

The girl again nodded.

"Yes"

Then the mana began to flow through Ryan's arms. A burning sensation surged through the palms of his hands, as if some sort of fire was burning, flowing through his fingertips. The energy went through Nyx's body, following the pattern of her tattoo, after a few moments, a bright, shimmering light began to emit.

The light went through Ryan's arms, which began to feel that slight pain of dealing with fire. The heat went through his arms, as he, concentrating needed to visualize what was happening.

With both eyes closed, Ryan began to pay attention to how that tattoo worked. It was a complex system of magic that had a few simple rules. The first one created the mental connection between the two, the second one created the memory connection between them, and the third one made the mana transition possible.

Understanding the logic of how that magic worked, Ryan then let the flow of heat be transferred through his arm and reach Alice's body. As that heat was transferred, he was drawing in his own mind what the girl's tattoo would look like.

'It can't be apparent, so I'll make it a mana reactive mark like Nyx's... Alice is a modest girl, so I'll make a small star-shaped mark. The enchantment needs to give me control of her mana flow, I don't need access to her memories...'

With both eyes closed, Ryan gave a smile.

'This is going to work' he thought, as he finalized the branding process.

Now, he released all the energy to run over to Alice.

'Urf! That hurts a bit!" said the blonde, who received a sudden sensation of heat surging through her body. That burning sensation was increasing, the pressure of Ryan's hand lessening the pain a bit.

It was like a candle was pouring hot wax on her belly. Holding her breath, she accepted the sensation while staying focused. After a few seconds, Alice's belly began to glow with a golden light. Opening both eyes, she faced Ryan, who nodded.

"It's almost over, do you accept this pact?" he said.

Again, the blonde nodded.

"I've already agreed to marry you, of course I do"

The mark was completed. A small star began to shine, the light was relatively dim but it was enough to pierce through the white dress she was wearing.

"I made her invisible, only my magic contact makes her appear"

Blinking his eyes twice, Ryan activated his Demon Sight and looked at Alice's aura. Now, there was no outside energy or action.

"That's a bit strange..." he said, making both Alice and Nyx and Lux worried.

"What happened?!" The succubus shouted, while the blonde remained worried.

"Ah! it's nothing bad, just that now the mana of you two is quite similar..." he said.

"It's obvious that she would be similar, the energy you used to engrave the tattoo came from Nyx" said Lux, who sighed in relief.

"What do you mean by that?" Alice questioned.

"He doesn't produce mana naturally" Lux and Nyx answered at the same time.

"And yet he's so strong?! Even with the power to evolve, mastering that kind of energy is so complex"

"I had to be good at something, no?" Ryan said, laughing.

The succubus approached and spoke whispering in Alice's ear.

"He can even lie saying he doesn't deserve to be strong. But he's got a natural talent, too bad he's a stressed womanizer."

Near the door that led to the elevator, Ryan shouted to Nyx.

"I can hear you both, now let's get back to the party"

Holding out his hands, he used electricity to open the door.

'Creating an electromagnetic field is pretty useful against locks... Why haven't I seen anyone comment on that?'

The sound of the lock opening came amidst the silence of the night. But Ryan's enhanced hearing picked up a presence before it was too late. Before he opened the door, he heard the elevator descend and stop on this floor.

"I needed to check the accounting information, but the room is closed. Look"

The door opened with ease, leaving the man confused.

"You made me take the key in the middle of an official clan meeting? I'm not surprised your lineage is failing in income"

"But, boss! The door was locked"

"No, it wasn't! Everything important here uses magical locks, I wouldn't have any reason to lock this place, now get out of my face"

The elevator door opened, and after three heavy steps, it closed again.

That man remained confused, and defeated he just huffed and walked into the room.

"Is the window open?"

<'Ryan, are you sure this is a good idea?

'No, it sure isn't'

"It's a bit cold out here" Alice said, as she felt the wind of that dark night hit her body.

"I don't want you to catch a cold" Ryan said, and then carefully activated his fire aura. With a small amount of mana, he warmed her up.

"Hadn't we better get out of here?" she said.

Ryan was carrying her with both hands, as he walked along the wall outside the building.

"Yes. It sure is better."

- You sure do have a very quick mind -

<Sometimes I'm amazed at how you can be so perceptive>

'Come on, it was no big deal'

- Activating your shadow form to avoid stares, stepping out of the window to reposition yourself and evade them. While at the same time going unnoticed without alerting the mana traces. That was pretty clever -

Walking through the windows of the building, Ryan and Alice were soon near the top floor. And from a distance, they could already tell that the music had stopped.

"Did something happen?" he asked.

The blonde then shook her head in denial, "They must be going to the hall, they're going to hand out some medals and comment on the guild's biannual achievements."

Seizing the opportunity, the two quickly jumped for cover. And sitting on a bench, they pretended they had been there all night.

"I finally found you guys! Shall we go down?" Aether said