Insignificance

What stunned him wasn't the extremely tight and shiny clothes the woman was wearing or the mask, but the aura that he felt as soon as he laid his eyes on her. He could feel an aura of blood and domination coming from her.

The woman in front of him suddenly felt larger and larger, until he himself was nothing more than an unimportant insect before her. No, not even an insect, but only an insignificant speck of life. This feeling of insignificance came together with an intense feeling of submission. Why should he go against someone like this? Why should he resist? Why not just submit? Why even try, if it could only result in death?

Just when this feeling got even stronger something in his blood started to burn. 'Damn, not again.', he cursed silently. The last time that had happened he had ended in his current state, locked at 50 for each of his stats. But together with his boiling blood the feeling of hopelessness he had been feeling vanished as well. Slowly he once again grew until he was the same as that woman. Then his body wanted to grow as well, trying to suppress her now. But some kind of restrain held him back, making it impossible for him to do so.

'At least nothing bad happened this time.', Ivan sighed in relief. Only to realize that he had done so too early, as just after he had done so, his vision blacked out. 'Damn, not again.', this curse was the last thing he thought before completely blacking out.

The others too felt the aura of suppression coming from the woman, but their reaction was much smaller since the feeling was very muted. It was easy to see that she had dampened down her aura a lot.

So Ivan suddenly collapsing came as a shock to them. Cait who was the closest to him, hurriedly catch him, so he wouldn't fall down on the floor. She then carried him to one of the couches and laid him down, before turning towards the woman.

The others too had hurried over and after seeing nothing wrong with Ivan turned towards the woman as well. Before they could say anything, Jacky suddenly appeared between them and the woman.

"Lady Meilo, didn't I tell you to retract your aura, whenever you come here? How come something like this happened again?", she directly asked the woman. It seemed like it wasn't the first time something like this happened.

"How is that my fault?", the woman asked, "Look at them, aren't they fine?", she then pointed at the other people in the section, all of whom were fine.

"So. I told you to completely retract it. And even I can feel some leaking out.", Jacky reproached her.

"Well. You are abnormally sensitive to it."

"And so is he.", Jacky commented while pointing at Ivan.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry about it. My talent just broke through and it seems like my control isn't that bad yet.", although she didn't directly apologize, it was nearly the same.

"You know the rules, so you will have to pay for breaking the rules."

"Sure. Just take the money from my account.", Lady Meilo agreed readily. It seemed like she didn't want to fight with Jacky and as if the amount she had to pay wasn't that much anyway. "But I won't give anything to that guy.", she then continued on.

Jacky nodded, "Yeah. I think he should just be happy that it was you he resonated with."

When she said that Celine had a sudden look of understanding on her face. She had now understood what had happened, "So that's what happened."

Yevina and Key looked at her questioningly, "You understood what happened?"

"Yeah. And looking at this Lady Meilo, it shouldn't be that bad.", Celine said, before continuing, "But wait for Ivan to wake up, then I'll explain it to you all at the same time."

They turned their attention back to the conversation between the two women.

"But I'm really curious what he will have to do, to overcome the limit."

"If you really want to know it, then why not ask him."

"Nah. If I did, I most likely would have to kill him.", Lady Meilo shrugged her shoulders.

Jacky nodded, "You are right. Although I don't think you could do that."

"True, I won't be able to do that here, but what about after he left?"

"He comes from Mythelem.", Jacky said smugly while grinning at the other woman.

There was a look of surprise on Lady Meilo's face when she heard that. "Damn, how come someone like this comes from this realm?" She knew what it meant that that guy had resonated with her mostly suppressed aura. It usually required a great dominant bloodline for that to happen. And the realm of Mythelem was famous for being one of the most comfortable low-grade realms, not for their great bloodlines. In fact, nobody had ever heard of there being a great bloodline in this realm.

At the same time, it was the one realm, where she would be unable to get him.

"Well. It wouldn't be as much fun as to let him live and see what will come out of it.", she then said.

"Aha.", Jacky said seemingly not believing her.

"It's true. Lately, I have been bored, so something new would be fun. Sometimes I really regret taking on the position of sect master. It's just so damn boring. And I can't even leave."

"It's not like you can't. It's just that you have a feeling of responsibility, so you won't leave."

"Yeah. Sadly that's how it is."

"Then why don't you search for a husband and make a family together?"

"Because I haven't found anyone yet. All of them are so weak."

"Nah, you are just too strong."

"Whatever. If there isn't anything important, then I'll continue shopping now. I heard you got a new toy."

"Don't let me keep you. Enjoy spending your money."

Lady Meilo made a grimace at Jacky, before walking towards one of the saleswomen.

Jacky, on the other hand, walked over to Ivan and the rest. "I'm sorry about this.", she apologized. After all, Ivan was a customer and he had been harmed in her store.

"No problem. But this Lady Meilo, is she strong?", Celine answered.

"Yes. So there won't be any problem with the barrier for a long time.", Jacky answered, understanding her concern.

"Then it's fine. Later he can then try to break it. Although I'm curious about what kind of barrier it is."

"Me too. If you want, you can use one of the hotel rooms we provide for free, to stay the night.", Jacky then told them, "Take it as a compensation for him getting hurt."

"You have hotel rooms?", Yevina asked surprised.

"Of course. We offer an all-encompassing service here. And since we also provide alterations and sometimes have auctions, a hotel is a necessity."

"Thank you for the offer, but we will have to decline. It shouldn't take him long to wake up and we already planned to eat at home."

"Alright. Then do you want to wait here or take him home first?"

"I think we should take him home.", Key said while looking at Celine.

"Yeah. I think that would be best.", Celine agreed.

"Then let me send you.", Jacky said.

"You can send us?"

"Yeah. If you agree, then I can do it.", Jacky smiled proudly. There were two things she was really proud of. One was her store and the others were her skills in spacial magic.

"Then we will have to trouble you."

"Great.", Jacky then pulled out a simple black staff. She then drew runes into the air and a shimmering portal appeared. "If you go through here, you will arrive at the front of your villa.", she told Celine.

"How do you know where we live?"

Jacky laughed lightly. "I know Lara, so how couldn't I know where you live?"

"Oh, so that's how it is."

"Right.", Jacky pulled out a packet, which was wrapped in gift paper. "Please give this to Lara, when she comes back."

Celine took the packet and then lifted up Ivan with one arm. She was easily able to carry him with one arm, although his position didn't look that comfortable. But still, it was better than a princess carry, which would only make him ashamed, if he were awake.

Then Yevina and Key went through the portal first, after they had said goodbye to Jacky. After saying goodbye as well, Celine followed them.

After going through the portal, they found themselves in front of Lara's villa. Just as Jacky had told them.

"She really is impressive. I haven't heard of anyone having such good teleportation skills before.", Key said.

"Me neither. I wonder how strong she truly is."

"Not that it matters. And besides, since she is friends with Lara, maybe we can ask her after she is back. She should know more.", Yevina said.