Chapter Four: In the Lair of the "Purple Serpent" (The First Encounter with Mira)
They arrived at Arcnos Castle. A towering edifice of white marble, surrounded by massive walls that absorb the light of Edenia's sunlight. But Ryoma, with his Void Vision skill, could see tiny violet lines seeping out from the security crystals along the walls, like a snake slowly strangling the castle. Siya led him to the Magic Tower, where the crystals were processed and distributed. There, he met the second person who would change his path. Among the swirl of floating crystals and ancient magic books stood a young girl, looking younger than Seiya, with jet black hair flowing behind her like a night streak, and deep purple eyes that radiated a rebellious intelligence. She was holding a piece of completely purple crystal in her hands, and trying to transform its energy into magical fire, but the fire was coming out turbulent, mixing blue and black. The girl (Mira) (screams angrily as she throws the crystal to the ground): "Damn it! The mana in this crystal is dead! It refuses to obey standard magical laws! It's like it's programmed to self-destruct!" Sia (approaching her cautiously): "Mira... the outcast genius witch. Are you still trying to tamper with the tainted mana?" Mira (turning to Seiya, then her eyes fall on Ryoma): "Foolish? I'm trying to save this blind city! While the witches celebrate, I see rot seeping into the bones." Ryoma walked towards her, his hand extending towards the purple crystal lying on the ground. Ryoma: "You see the rot, but you don't know how to amputate the affected organ." Activate (Void Analysis: Level 2) thanks to the 0.1% unlock. Ryoma saw the 'corrupt core' inside the crystal. With one precise touch of his finger imbued with Void Sovereignty, he grabbed the core and squeezed it. A cry of pain came from the crystal, and the violet color faded away like smoke, leaving the crystal transparent, pure, and magically dead. Mira looked at him, her purple eyes widening in astonishment mixed with fear. You haven't seen anyone manually "uproot" the corruption from the crystal. Mira: "Who are you? How... How did the demonic mana not blow up your hand? And how did you know where the core was?" Ryoma (coldly): "I am Ryoma. I have come to kill those who corrupt crystals. And you, little witch... if you want to be of use, stop messing with mana, and learn how to use the Void to amputate corruption."