Mutual agreement

As Dazai and the others emerged from the temple, the cool night air greeted them, carrying the scent of damp earth and ancient magic. Maleficent stood waiting, arms crossed, her piercing green eyes locking onto him the moment he stepped out.

Dazai smirked, brushing off the dust from his coat before meeting her gaze.

"Well, looks like I completed your little task, didn't I? And as promised, I'll be taking my reward," he said, his tone casual but laced with expectation. "What I want… are mana crystals. And I know for a fact this forest has an abundance of them. With the addition of your mana, of course. Oh, and I got you a new resident."

He gestured toward Medusa, who stood silently at his side. Nearby, Akatsuki leaned against a crumbling wall, his arms folded, watching the exchange with disinterest.

Maleficent let out a soft sigh before stepping forward, gripping Dazai by the collar. Before he could react, she crushed her lips against his in a forceful, deliberate motion. The sensation was brief, but the moment their lips parted, a faint, glowing mark—horned and intricate—etched itself onto the side of his neck.

Dazai stumbled back, touching the mark instinctively, his expression caught between amusement and irritation.

"What is it with women and kissing?" he muttered before pausing, his fingers brushing over the lingering warmth of her mana. A familiar sensation stirred within him. "...This feeling… I've had this before."

Maleficent tilted her head slightly, an amused smirk curving her lips. "Those of us who aren't human transfer mana in different ways," she explained. "Normally, we don't need to; mana surrounds us, fills us with every breath. But in cases like this… it's the most efficient way to share it."

She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. "Of course, if you'd prefer another method—"

Dazai raised a hand, cutting her off with a knowing glance. "No need to finish that sentence. This was more than enough."

She gave a small nod before shifting her stance. Then, as if struck by a thought, her expression grew more serious.

"Why do you need my mana, Dazai? I doubt you're running low on your own. And more importantly—" Her emerald eyes narrowed. "I felt something else in that temple when you entered its depths. A presence."

Dazai exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "That's a long story," he muttered. "And not important right now." Then, with a dismissive wave of his hand, he shifted the conversation back. "I needed to analyze your mana signature. Now that I have it, I'll be sending people to harvest the mana crystals. Make sure they're at least ten feet tall—break them down and refine them."

Maleficent's eyes widened slightly at his demand, but she said nothing. A deal was a deal.

Dazai chuckled before turning to Medusa. He observed her for a moment, humming in thought before snapping his fingers lightly.

"Authority—Full Control."

The shift was instant. Medusa's golden, serpentine eyes flickered—then softened, fading into a normal shade of green. Dazai reached out, gently tilting her chin to face Akatsuki.

Akatsuki's breath hitched as their eyes met. His instinct screamed at him to look away, but it was already too late.

Nothing happened.

Dazai let out a quiet chuckle, his amusement evident. "Heh... it worked." He stepped back, his expression contemplative. "So Authority really does override reality… just like Deadmourne—no, Maria—said." He glanced up at the crimson moon above, something unreadable flashing across his sea-blue eyes. "Now I really have to wonder… why did the Red Moon give me this skill? This is getting interesting—"

Before he could finish, Akatsuki scowled, cutting him off. "Hey! What the hell was that?! What if it didn't work? I could've been turned to stone!"

Dazai waved him off lazily. "Relax, it was a mutual agreement. You're fine, aren't you?"

Akatsuki's glare didn't waver, but he let out a frustrated exhale, shaking his head.

Ignoring him, Dazai turned his attention back to Medusa. "Now then…" His tone shifted, carrying a weight that hadn't been there before. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."