Night fell over the ancient city, but the moonlight couldn't fully illuminate the moss-covered rooftops. Yuta walked silently among the shadows, his black coat fluttering slightly in the breeze. In his hands, a rolled-up scroll with the map of the immortal witch's fortress, and an ironic smile painted across his face.
"Impossible? They never learned not to underestimate humans."
Even among legendary thieves, Yuta was different. He didn't stand out just for his audacity, but for the unique touch of magic he could manipulate: simple, yet lethal when used correctly. And tonight, he was about to prove that not even the most powerful witch on the continent could intimidate him.
The fortress rose atop a hill, surrounded by magical barriers that flickered in shades of violet and green. Every stone seemed to pulse with ancient energy. Spectral guards patrolled the walls, and floating runes prevented ordinary approaches. Still, Yuta did not hesitate.
"Nice party, huh? I just hope they saved some champagne for me."
With a swift gesture, he drew a circle on the ground and lightly touched the scroll. A purple energy emerged, seeping into the barriers. The magic was basic, but he manipulated it cleverly, creating illusions and distorting magical sensors. The runes glimmered and flickered, but did not trigger any alarms.
Yuta leapt from rooftop to rooftop, each movement calculated with masterful precision. He wasn't just a thief; he was a strategist. Every step, every breath, every distraction he created had a purpose. Inside the fortress, the air was heavy, imbued with ancient magic. Soft whispers seemed to float through the corridors, unconscious warnings for any unprepared intruder.
And he was prepared.
The main corridor was full of traps: invisible blades, pools of corrosive magic, runes that discharged lightning. Yuta dodged gracefully, manipulating small magical crystals that acted as temporary shields. Each challenge only widened his smile.
"This is almost fun."
Finally, he reached the treasure chamber. The item was there: a black crystal pulsing with pure energy, capable of altering reality itself at a touch. It was the prize that would make any thief legendary. And Yuta was now the only human brave enough to face it.
But he was not alone.
A pink glow appeared on the ceiling, slowly transforming into a tall figure, wrapped in an aura of power. The immortal witch looked at him in disbelief.
"A human… using magic…? This is… impossible."
Her eyes shone with shock and caution. Yuta merely smiled.
"Impossible is just a word for the weak."
The confrontation didn't start with direct violence. First, she unleashed defensive runes, traps that could destroy any careless thief. Calmly, Yuta manipulated his magic circle and dodged, each spell blocked or redirected with precision.
The witch's shock grew with every move. She had never seen a human wield defensive and offensive magic with such skill. Every attack she tried was repelled, every illusion created by the thief confused her perception.
"How… a mere human…?" she murmured, almost in panic.
Yuta stepped forward, confidently taking the crystal. A wave of energy tried to disintegrate him, but he improvised a barrier, protecting himself with minimal magic and maximum creativity.
"Time to leave before I get bored."
In an instant, Yuta vanished from the room, leaving only the witch's rune flickering in frustration. He moved through corridors, rooftops, and magical gates, each step calculated to avoid detection. When he finally reached the top of the hill, he took a deep breath and gazed at the city below.
"Another night, another legend."
In the underworld, rumors began to spread: "There's a thief who uses both defensive and offensive magic… and no one can stop him." Yuta's name was already starting to become myth.
Meanwhile, the witch remained in the fortress, her disbelief and rage mingling in an almost palpable aura. She had never imagined a human could challenge her – let alone escape.
The Vheren Forest whispered in shadows and magic. Each step Yuta took echoed among ancient trees, yet there was no sound to give away his presence. He gripped tightly the backpack containing the Azheran Crystal, the artifact stolen from Lilith, the Immortal Witch. Each pulse of the crystal emitted a black glow, slightly distorting reality around him, as if the forest itself hesitated to stop him.
"This thing's going to give me far more fame than I thought… and enough money to never worry again," Yuta murmured, trying to maintain control over the crystal's unstable energy.
But the forest was not as silent as it seemed. A purple flash tore across the sky, followed by a roar of energy. Lilith had crossed the forest's border, something that never happened without purpose. The immortal witch hovered above the treetops, her black hair floating like flames, eyes shining with the intensity of a thousand suns. Her overwhelming aura bent the air, making every breath Yuta took heavier.
"Human… You dared to steal my crystal and cross Vheren? Pathetic… but clever."
The ground trembled as she cast a destructive spell, a blast of purple energy that shredded trees into splinters and twisted the very moonlight. Yuta rolled to the side, dodging by mere inches, feeling the magical heat brush against his skin. Every step he took was calculated, every movement a reflex honed by years of training as a thief and magic manipulator.
"She won't catch me… not if she doesn't understand how I use magic," he thought, activating a magic circle beneath his feet. A wave of defensive energy emerged, distorting and reflecting part of the witch's attack. But he knew: this wouldn't be enough to defeat her.
Lilith hovered above him, observing with a mix of curiosity and anger. She did not attack blindly; each spell was calculated to test Yuta's limits, destroying everything around him—except him, at least for now.
"Tell me, human… why did you steal the Azheran Crystal?"
Her voice echoed through the trees, piercing Yuta's mind like invisible blades.
Without hesitation, Yuta smiled.
"For someone important… and, of course, to gain fame and money. More than any thief ever has," he said, with that confident tone that always drew attention—and frustration—from those who faced him.
The witch frowned. Her gaze scanned every inch of the thief, trying to detect any flaw or lie. But Yuta was relaxed, toying with danger. One false move, and he would have been pulverized by her devastating aura.
"Human… you dare toy with me, but it will be your lesson."
Before he could react, Lilith activated the secondary artifact, Ebony, a crystal linked to Azheran. A column of black energy erupted from the ground, grabbing Yuta and pulling him down with force. The thief felt the earth vanish beneath his feet, and in a moment of imbalance, opened his eyes to see a portal forming below him—a tunnel of energy glowing in shades of purple and black.
"No… this won't get me!"
Yuta spun through the air, activating his displacement magic circle. Instinctively, he manipulated the portal, and with a calculated jump, landed on the human side of the forest, precisely in the central square of the city. The landing was far from silent; he stumbled, twirled, and fell to his knees.
The square was full of onlookers. Children, merchants, and guards stared at the thief who had fallen from nowhere. The crystal in his backpack still pulsed, emitting a faint glow. Yuta stood up slowly, brushing the dust off his clothes, and smiled with that infuriating charm.
"Hello… I apologize for the spectacle," he said casually, trying to hide his embarrassment. Some laughter followed, along with surprised glances. He lifted his head, still radiating the confidence that always defined him.
Meanwhile, Lilith remained in the forest on the other side, watching his escape with an expression of absolute disdain mixed with disbelief. The witch's energy vibrated through the air, and her whisper could be heard only by those sensitive to magic:
"This human… dares to challenge immortals… I will remember him…"
The square slowly returned to calm, but rumors about the human thief who dared to steal from an immortal witch were already spreading through the city streets. Yuta adjusted his backpack and began walking, trying to blend in with the passersby, but a spark in his eyes hinted that this was only the beginning of his legend.
Each step Yuta took radiated confidence. He knew the witch would pursue him again, but he also knew no one could predict his next move. The human world had just met the thief who defied immortality—and lived to tell the tale.
The city was still buzzing quietly, whispers about the human who had crossed Vheren and escaped from Lilith spreading rapidly. Yuta moved through the narrow streets, backpack on his shoulders, steps light and calculated, as if nothing had happened. Every curious glance and hushed whisper went unnoticed. He was not just a thief; he was the thief no one expected could defy the impossible.
The elite building rose before him, imposing, almost challenging. The glass reflected the afternoon light, and the entrance was guarded by several security personnel and containment runes—magical artifacts meant to prevent any intrusion. Yuta ignored them with elegant disdain, passing through the entrance as if the building were part of his daily route.
"Sir…" — the receptionist began, unsure whether to stop him or simply watch.
Yuta didn't look. He walked straight past, steps light, almost floating over the polished floor. Every human obstacle seemed irrelevant. He breathed calmly, yet his gaze remained sharp, ready for any surprise.
When he finally reached the door of the elite leader, Cronos, he pushed it open without ceremony and stepped inside. The room was large, luxurious, filled with ancient maps, mystical artifacts, and containment runes scattered around. Cronos stood, surprised by the audacity of the human.
Yuta casually threw his backpack onto the table with a "here you go" and sat down, leaning back with his usual relaxed posture.
"…Do you know what you've just done?" — Cronos asked, trying to control the growing nervousness.
"Just doing my job." — Yuta crossed his arms, glancing around, ignoring the heavy atmosphere of the room.
Cronos swallowed hard, staring at the black crystal pulsating faintly, reflecting the power of the immortal Lilith. He began to speak without realizing it:
"This… what you brought… is the Azheran Crystal. An ancient artifact, capable of empowering the Queen of Witches. If used… correctly, it can alter the course of any magical battle…"
Yuta raised an eyebrow, intrigued but showing no emotion. He had no real idea of the artifact's true value.
"And… you say you stole it? For what reason?" — Cronos pressed.
"For someone important… and, of course, to gain fame and money. More than any thief ever has."
Cronos composed himself, realizing he had revealed more than he intended. The thief had, without knowing, hinted at wanting to prevent the potential rise of the Queen of Witches. Yuta was unaware, but his words had connected the dots of a larger plan.
"So… unintentionally, you've given us something valuable," Cronos murmured. "This crystal… is one of the items needed to unlock the Queen of Witches' power…"
Yuta merely smiled, crossing his arms as if it were all a game. But there was more to be done. He leaned slightly forward, locking eyes with the elite leader, a sharp gleam in his gaze:
"Cronos." — his voice calm, but carrying a veiled threat. — "I want payment for the job. And if not… I return this crystal to Lilith."
Cronos swallowed hard. — "A-and… where did you get the crystal?"
"From the immortal Lilith," Yuta replied without hesitation. A chill ran down Cronos' spine. He knew the legend of the immortal witch well; no one had dared touch her, much less steal one of her artifacts.
With a reluctant gesture, Cronos activated a magical device on the table, and the screen before him flickered. Yuta quickly checked his Lunaxis account: another 700,000 had been transferred to him. He already had 1,000,000, now totaling 1,700,000 Lunaxis. A satisfied smile formed on his face.
"Try to hire me," Yuta said, standing up. "I've already received several offers, all declined."
Cronos swallowed, unsure how to respond, shaking his head:
"You don't understand… human…" — his voice trembled, unable to hide his fear.
Yuta was already a few meters away, hands moving lightly in the air, concentrating magical energy. With a swift gesture, he floated above the floor, disappearing before Cronos' eyes, leaving only a trail of purple shimmer.
The room fell into absolute silence. Cronos slumped into his chair, pale, unable to comprehend how a human could manipulate magic in such a way.
Outside, from an elevated point in the city, Lyra observed the scene. Her pink-purple eyes shone with shock and fascination. Her master had spoken the truth: there really was a human capable of using magic, and this human was not just any thief—he was someone who would forever change the dynamic between humans and witches.
Yuta landed gracefully in a nearby alley, backpack intact, account full, and a smile of pure pleasure on his face. The city was beginning to realize that something extraordinary had just occurred. The human thief who stole from an immortal witch and defied the elite was about to become a living legend.
As he walked through the shadows, Yuta murmured to himself:
> "They have no idea what this crystal really does… but very soon, I'm going to have a lot of fun with it."
And in the skies, still watching from a distance, Lyra kept her gaze fixed on the thief. The future partnership,