While Vilho and Danemon discussed the game, Gabrielle continued on with her own game against the mobsters. With two successful hits, only one more bullet needs to make contact with her for her to lose the challenge.

  "C'mon boys, show 'er whatcha got!" One of the men yelled.

  As the mobsters, invigorated by their small success, renewed their relentless assault, Gabrielle remained focused, her muscles and senses honed to their peak performance level. Despite the increasing difficulty and the growing number of shots being fired, she kept her cool and moved with astonishing agility, avoiding the hail of bullets with seemingly effortless ferocity.

  With two bullet strikes already landing, the mobsters grew even more determined to land that final shot and secure victory. They fired their weapons with renewed vigor, aiming to end the challenge quickly.

  Gabrielle continued to navigate through the relentless barrage of gunfire, her body weaving through the sea of bullets with remarkable grace. The mobsters, however, became frustrated with her quick dodges, one of the men complaining, "Damn, stop avoiding for a sec! Just stand still for some reason damn it!”

  The mobsters, fueled by a mix of irritation and desperation, responded by intensifying their assault. They fired their weapons with even more intensity, their determination to land that final shot unyielding. "Don't get too cocky!" another mobster yelled. "You'll slip up, and we'll get you sooner or later!"

  A lot of the men were so busy firing away that many of them ran out of ammo for a while. This brief moment of vulnerability was all Gabrielle needed, as they lack the ability to reload at superhuman speeds. Taking advantage of this, Gabrielle rushed through the mob, sending them flying like ragdolls all over the forest. There were only a few dozen mobsters left out of the hundreds that swarmed her, and the morale of these few remaining mobsters was at rock bottom.

  With the overwhelming majority of their allies having been felled by Gabrielle's onslaught, the remaining mobsters felt their morale plummet to a disheartening low. The once-proud and confident men, now reduced to a mere handful, found themselves facing a seemingly insurmountable opponent. Each of them watched in disbelief as Gabrielle decimated their ranks with ruthless efficiency.

  "Damn it..." one of them muttered, clearly frustrated and demoralized by the turn of events. "She wiped out all our guys so fast... What chance do we stand now?"

  From afar, a sniper was aiming his rifle right at Gabrielle's head. Pulling the trigger, the bullet rushed for the unaware woman. When the bullet was roughly ten meters away, she detected the projectile, but was too late to dodge as the bullet hit her in her cheek. Her aura protected her once more, but this marked the end of her challenge. The mobsters landed three hits on her.

  The mobsters, seeing the bullet hit Gabrielle, let out a chorus of triumphant howls and yells of excitement. They had finally hit her!

  "Haha! Yes!" One mobster exclaimed, high fiving his comrades. "Got her finally! She can't dodge forever!"

  As the mobsters celebrated, Gabrielle took a moment to handle the sniper. Enhancing her vision by focusing her aura into her eyes, she could see the sniper nestled in between two bushes. She cocked her arm back, and aimed a punch at the sniper that was so quick that the air from the punching motion itself became a projectile. The air-punch exploded the sniper's head, getting him out of the way and turning back to face the other mobsters after her stunt.

  The mobsters, witnessing the incredible display of power, were both shocked and stunned. They had never seen such strength before, and the sight left them momentarily frozen in bewilderment.

  "Damn." One mobster whispered. "That. Is. Terrifying."

  Another mobster chimed in, his voice laced with disbelief. "She just blew that guy's head off...with a punch from way over here! How is that even possible?!”

  Gabrielle couldn't help but smirk at the mobsters' reaction, finding their shock and disbelief quite amusing. "Impressed, fellas?" she taunted, her tone tinged with a touch of pride.

  The mobsters, still recovering from the shocking display of power, found their confidence shaken. They knew they were dealing with a formidable opponent, but the sight of Gabrielle's destructive punch had left them seriously intimidated.

  "I assume you enjoyed the little challenge," she continued, her tone condescending, "You hit me thrice, fair and square. But as you all can see, your little firearms won't lay a scratch on me."

  The mobsters remained silent, but one from behind had a different plan.

  "Big Homie!" he shouted.

  When Gabrielle turned to see the voice's owner, she was met with none other than a rocket launcher, which he fired with no hesitation. The explosion shook the forest, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. The mobsters, still concealed within the foliage, watched the aftermath nervously, praying that Gabrielle would be caught off guard this time. As the dust cleared, Gabrielle emerged, her clothes torn and her face speckled with dirt, yet still standing. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation.

  "Clever..." Gabrielle muttered, her voice laced with a mix of irritation and admiration. "...But not clever enough."

  Gabrielle suffering not even a scratch after a rocket strike was what really solidified that she was an utter monster that they couldn't ever hope to defeat, and for the first time, not only did they show true fear, but...they ran.

  ★

  Elara, Alice, Rachel, and Zalgo all gathered with Venera. With her were four girls and four men, each one looking distinct from the next to the point they looked like they were each not only from different cultures, but even different time periods.

  "This is your key for taking down your target, Elara," Venera began, gesturing to each of the members of this unconventional crew. "I introduce you to...the Ignoramuses of the Abyss. IOTA for short.”

  Elara's eyes scanned over the group, taking in the unique appearances of each person. The eclectic mix of individuals intrigued her, though a touch of caution was still present.

  "Ignoramuses of the Abyss...?" she repeated, the name itself piquing her curiosity as she turned her attention back to Venera. "Quite the name. Who are they exactly?"

  Venera began on the far left, gesturing to the first member of the IOTA: A tall figure wearing a plain white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a black cape. The figure wore an Anonymous mask, amber eyes peeking from behind the holes where the eye-shaped holes on the mask were.

  "To start, this is Jax, from Euphoria," Venera introduced, "He's also called Why since he asks questions very often. Very inquisitive guy as you can imagine.”

  Elara nodded, acknowledging Jax, the individual in the Anonymous mask. "Why...an intriguing name indeed."

  Venera moved on to the next member, this time gesturing to a petite female with long, flowing blonde hair and emerald green eyes. The girl was dressed in a blue and white dress that resembled a gown from a Victorian era, a silver tiara on her head.

  "This is Charlotte, Jax's younger sister, from Euphoria as well," Venera continued, "More simply known as When, since she is very focused on time and clocks. The perfect time-keeper.”

  Elara couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the introduction of Charlotte, finding it slightly ironic that someone with a focus on time was given the name When. Nonetheless, she nodded in acknowledgment. "When...quite fitting."

  Venera moved on to the third member of the group, a lanky man who stood out with his rather sinister appearance. With sharp and gaunt features, he bore an unsettling aura that sent a slight chill down Elara's spine.

  "Next," Venera continued, pointing to the next IOTA member, "this is Iritscen, an astronomer and scientist from Quantonia. He has some rather wacky Void Magic skills, but I'm positive that element of surprise will be a significant advantage over your target.”

  Elara observed Iritscen, intrigued by the mention of unusual Void Magic. "An astronomer and scientist, you say? And unique Void Magic skills as well. Quite intriguing," she commented.

  Venera gestured to the fourth member of the group, this one being a blue-eyed, anthropomorphic wolf girl with a cold disposition. Her fur was mostly gray, with black fur near her extremities and long, spiky light blue hair. Her attire consisted of a blue shirt with a blue spiked choker and matching spiked wristbands, and a simple blue skirt.

  "Now we have Zofie," Venera introduced, her voice softening as she added, "an ice-user who also specializes in the Dark Arts.”

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  Elara's eyes widened slightly at the mention of someone besides herself specializing in the Dark Arts. "An ice user who is well-versed in the Dark Arts? Now, that's quite the dangerous combination," she remarked, her interest further ignited.

  Venera nodded, acknowledging Elara's remark. "Indeed, Zofie has quite the reputation in the magical world. She can be rather...cold," Venera's tone carried a hint of amusement as she made the pun, earning a smirk from Elara.

  "Anyway," Venera continued, moving on to the next member, "We have another unique one on our team. This is...Hikaru," she introduced, indicating the next figure.

  As Elara's gaze landed on Hikaru, she was struck by the uniqueness of their appearance. She couldn't quite place their gender, origin, or exact age, making them quite the enigma. "Hikaru, huh?" she noted, her curiosity piqued.

  Venera nodded, understanding Elara's intrigue. "Hikaru is quite the character," she smirked, amused by the air of mystery surrounding them. "They don't talk much but can be quite a force when provoked.”

  Elara was surprised by the mention of Hikaru's silent nature. "Silent and powerful, eh? I can see how that combination could be useful," she mused, her thoughts already racing with strategic possibilities.

  Venera gestured to the next IOTA member, this one being a young girl with cat-like features. She stood about four feet in height, with silver eyes, pointed ears, and a long, pointed tail. She was dressed in a white t-shirt, short black skirt, knee-high socks, and a blue collar with a golden bell dangling from it.

  Elara's eyes widened at the sight of the cat-like girl. "And this little one? Quite the...unique appearance," she remarked, taking note of the girl's feline features.

  Venera chuckled softly, knowing that the girl's appearance often caused a similar reaction. "That's Liana, an android from the Intergalactic Empire of Technica. She appears young, but don't underestimate her. She can be more than a handful when she wants.”

  Elara arched an eyebrow, her interest further piqued. "An android from Technica, huh? And judging by her appearance, she's not just any ordinary android," she mused, already intrigued by the possibilities.

  Venera nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Precisely. Liana has an uncanny knack for technology and possesses a rather sarcastic sense of humor. But when the time calls for it, she can become quite formidable."

  "So...what exactly does she do?" Elara inquired, tilting her head at the android with a studious gaze.

  "Well, Liana, would you do the honors?" Venera requested, gesturing to Liana.

  Understanding the prompt, Liana didn't miss a beat as before the girls' eyes, two massive cannons and two equally sized turrets conjured beside her with the swing of a hand.

  Elara watched in complete shock as Liana materialized the huge array of weapons with a casual gesture. Her eyes widened, her awe clear as she attempted to process the sheer firepower Liana had unleashed. "Goodness...those are..."

  "Impressive, aren't they?" Venera asked with a smirk, well aware of Liana's capabilities. "So, as you can see from the rigging there, Liana is a ship-girl. Specifically, modeled after Technica's legendary battle ship: the RKS Liana.”

  "A ship-girl... That explains the appearance and the cannons," Elara mused, her eyes still fixed on the massive weapons. "She's quite the unique asset, I must admit."

  Venera nodded in agreement, a small sense of pride in her voice. "That she is. But wait, there's more," she added, gesturing to the next IOTA member.

  Following Venera's signal, Elara's attention shifted to the next member of the team. "And who shall this next one be?" she inquired, curiosity tinged with anticipation.

  "This," Venera began, turning her gaze toward the next member, "is Antiquus, called the 'Master of the Sky'. Now, as you can see, Antiquus is...a pterodactyl."

  Elara's mouth opened in slight surprise at the introduction of Antiquus. "A pterodactyl, huh?" she mused, her eyes taking in the unique creature. "A dinosaur, and one that can fly...interesting. What can Antiquus do?"

  Venera smirked, knowing well the extent of Antiquus' abilities. "Antiquus is a fascinating creature with a few tricks up his wing," she replied. "He possesses the power to control air and weather, and his talons can tear through almost anything."

  "And don't worry," Antiquus said, his voice gruff. "I can talk too.”

  Elara couldn't help but lightly chuckle at Antiquus' statement. It reminded her of Due; first a talking beaver, now a talking pterodactyl. How eventful. "A flying dinosaur that can talk and manipulate weather..." she remarked, amused by the unusual combination. "Quite the asset indeed."

  Venera chuckled as well, the atmosphere lightening slightly. "Exactly. But that's not all, as I've saved the best for last," she added, gesturing to the next and final member: a tan-skinned girl clad in armor and overall attire that practically screamed "medieval times".

  Elara's eyes followed Venera's gesture toward the medieval-looking member, her curiosity piqued further. "The best for last...interesting," she echoed, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

  Venera noted Elara's intrigue, a hint of satisfaction in her gaze. "Indeed. Meet...Adeyemi, from the Kingdom of Solum," she introduced, the name carrying a sense of regal authority.

  Elara raised an eyebrow, noting the girl's regal demeanor. "The Kingdom of Solum, you say...and Adeyemi herself?" she inquired.

  Venera nodded, a proud smirk on her face. "Yes, Adeyemi is a Knight from the ancient Kingdom of Solum, a skilled warrior and one who takes her duties as a protector very seriously," she explained, her voice carrying a note of respect.

  Elara's gaze studied Adeyemi with interest, taking in the dark-skinned knight's regal stance and the aura of dedication that surrounded her. "A knight, you say? Impressive," she remarked, her voice tinged with subtle admiration.

  "Indeed," Venera concurred, her gaze shifting to Elara. "And not only that, but she also comes from an era where the quantity of Void Energy was at its very peak in recorded history, which was about 14,000 years ago. As such…she's by far the most powerful IOTA Void Mage.”

  Elara's eyes widened upon hearing Venera's revelation. "14,000 years ago? That's...ancient," she mused, the magnitude of time adding weight to her words. "And she's the most powerful among the IOTA members in terms of Void Magic, you say?"

  Venera nodded, a glint of respect in her eyes. "That's correct. Adeyemi's expertise in Void Magic is second to none, and her skills, honed in the high-magic era, make her a force to be reckoned with. She's the crew's ace in the hole.”

  Elara's expression became more and more impressed with each detail. "I see...the most powerful, and from a time of high Void power," she echoed, her mind whirling with possibilities. "Quite the formidable addition to the team. So this is the squad I'll be working with, huh?" she asked no one in particular, taking a good look at all 8 IOTA members.

  Venera smiled, noting the interest in Elara's eyes. "That's right. You'll be working alongside this rather unconventional crew, but I promise that their capabilities make them more than worth it," she replied, confident in her team's abilities.

  Elara nodded, recounting the information. "An anthropomorphic wolf, an android ship-girl, a talking pterodactyl, a time enthusiast, a walking questionnaire, a mysterious individual with no discernable identity, a medieval knight from a high-Void Energy era, and a quirky scientist from the future..." she mused, "Quite the interesting team you've assembled here for me. I'm satisfied.”

  Venera chuckled knowingly. "I'm glad you approve. I handpicked this team, each member bringing their own set of unique skills and attributes. They may be a bit...eccentric, but they're trustworthy and skilled," she said with a smirk.

  Elara grinned, her eyes glinting with determination. "I trust your judgment," she stated, a hint of confidence in her voice. "If you handpicked a bunch of eccentrics, I'm sure they've got the skill to back it up. They'll be a great asset in my mission. Now, as for how we're gonna get to where my target is in time..."

  Antiquus took a step forward, looking down at the gem sprite with a grin. "Easy. You and the others will all fly on my back.”

  Elara arched an eyebrow at Antiquus' words. "All of us?" she echoed, surprised by the suggestion. "Can you handle all of our weight without any issues?"

  Antiquus shrugged nonchalantly, his confident grin widening. "I've carried heavier loads for miles without breaking a sweat," he boasted, a touch of pride in his voice. "Don't worry ‘bout me; I'm a sturdy prehistoric creature. We'll reach your target's location faster than you can say 'pterodactyl'.”

  Venera couldn't help but chuckle, amused by Antiquus' boastfulness. "He may be a bit boastful, but he's not exaggerating," she reassured Elara. "Antiquus really can carry all of you and fly for long distances without breaking a sweat. He's surprisingly strong for a prehistoric creature."

  Elara considered Antiquus' offer, her gaze flickering between the pterodactyl and her fellow IOTA teammates. "I suppose... if he's confident about his strength and ability, we'll take his word for it," she agreed cautiously, still somewhat skeptical of the idea.

  Antiquus was preening at Elara's agreement, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. "Smart lady," he remarked, his wings ruffling as if he couldn't wait to take off.

  Venera glanced at Elara, a smirk playing on her lips. "I assure you, Antiquus won't let you down. He's as reliable as he is boastful," she assured the gem sprite, her confidence in the pterodactyl unwavering.

  Elara chuckled at Antiquus' response, shaking her head amused. "Well, I guess his confidence is reassuring," she mused, her doubt slowly fading. "We'll trust his word and hop on his back. It'll have to do. So...let's take off then."

  Antiquus nodded, his wings flexing in anticipation. "That's the spirit," he replied, his tone filled with excitement. "Alright, everyone, gather 'round. Hop on my back, one by one. We're taking off.”

  The IOTA members assembled in a line in front of Antiquus, preparing to climb onto his back. Zofie, the ice-wielding anthro wolf-girl, stepped forward first, her cat-like agility evident as she hopped onto Antiquus' back with ease. One by one, the other IOTA members followed suit. Liana, the android ship-girl, effortlessly leaped onto Antiquus' back, while Iritscen, the scientist, clumsily attempted to climb on, struggling to find his balance. Antiquus, amused by Iritscen's struggles, couldn't help but comment, "Hah! Need assistance, big-brain?”

  "Shut up," Iritscen grumbled, finally managing to secure a stable position on Antiquus' back. "I may be knowledgeable, but I'm not exactly the most agile person, you know."

  Antiquus chuckled at Iritscen's retort. "Oh, I know," he replied, unable to resist a playful jab. "Just trying to help a 'big brain' like you up onto my back. Welp, everyone's secure, eh?”

  The other IOTA members checked that they were all secure, giving Antiquus a nod of confirmation. Elara glanced at the group, ensuring everyone was safely mounted on Antiquus' back. "Alright, we're all set," she announced, her gaze fixed on Antiquus.

  Antiquus flicked his wings, testing their mobility. "Good," he acknowledged, his tone resolute. "Hold on tight, everyone. This flight might get a bit bumpy. I'm gonna go really fast. Ya ready?”

  The IOTA members prepared themselves, some of them gripping tighter on Antiquus' back as they braced for a fast and potentially turbulent ride.

  Elara took a deep breath, her hands clenching tighter. "Ready as we'll ever be," she affirmed, her voice laced with anticipation. "Let's go, Antiquus. Show us what you've got.”

  Antiquus didn't need any further encouragement. With a powerful beat of his wings, he shot into the sky at an alarming speed, the wind whipping through the air as he ascended. The air pressure shifted and decreased around them, and the world below became a blur of colorful landscapes.

  Antiquus' passengers tightened their grips, the speed and altitude taking some time to adjust to. Antiquus glanced back, checking on the safety of his passengers, his eyes glinting with amusement at their varied expressions, ranging from excitement to mild nausea. With no time to lose, Elara tensed herself, knowing her time to seal Gabrielle's fate was drawing near…