AnnouWe're returning to the battlefield this chapter. You don't wanna miss it!Runebelle stepped back with a sense of dread washing over her. The yellow-haired girl cracked her knuckles menagly and Runebelle realized that these girls were not here to talk or resolve anything peacefully. It was clear that they inteo harm her.

  Her heart raced as she frantically looked for an escape route, her mind rag to figure out how she could get away from these girls who were ready to tear her limb from limb.

  With her quid nimble footwork, Runebelle mao outrun the girls who had been chasing her. She sprinted all the way home and the moment she rouhe er toward her house she nearly collided with Ms. Lorraine who was busy tending tarden.

  Ms. Lorraine looked up in surprise as Runebelle rushed toward her, clearly distraught and out of breath. She quickly set down her watering and rushed to Runebelle’s side, etched across her face. “Runebelle, what happened? Are you okay?”

  Runebelle trembled while she spoke, “It’s... Mica.”

  Ms. Lorraine’s face was filled with remorse. She gently pced a hand on Runebelle’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Runebelle. I had hoped to give you a peaceful and stable home but it seems my past as have caught up with us. I am afraid you will have to move back to your home.”

  Runebelle’s eyes welled up with tears while trying to make sense of Ms. Lorraine’s words. “But... I thought I finally had a pce to belong, a real family...”

  Ms. Lorraine was filled with regret, “I wahat for you, Runebelle. Unfortunately it seems your mother had other pns. She must have found a way to have her legal guardianship reinstated.”

  Runebelle’s heart sank once reality settled in. She had e to see Ms. Lorraine as a true mure and now she was being torn away from the stability and happiness she had found. “What do we do now?” Runebelle asked while trembling.

  Ms. Lorraine sighed and said, “There will be a legal meeti week to on this matter. Until then, I’m afraid you’ll have to go bae, at least temporarily. I’ll do everything I to ensure you’re safe and well-cared for during this time.”

  Runebelle nodded with tears streaming down her face. She thehe house.

  As Runebelle walked bae, her thoughts were a whirlwind of fusion and doubt. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Ms. Lorraine’s expnation didn’t add up. She needed answers and the only one who might have them was the System.

  Runebelle took a deep breath and turned her thoughts inward, addressing the System in her mind. “Something doesn’t feel right about all of this, System. Ms. Lorraine’s expnation... it just seems too ve. Do you think she might be hiding something from me?”

  The System responded with a calm and reassuring tone, “Project Ru’s always important to trust your instincts. Doubt be a powerful tool for unc the truth. You may be on the right tra questioning the circumstances surrounding yal guardianship. Remember, your memories are still being pieced together and there may be more to this story thahe eye. Unfortunately, this is where this particur memory ends. We’ll have to wait for further fragments to shed light ouation.”

  Runebelle o herself. She knew she couldn’t rest until she had the answers she sought.

  The System’s cheerful annou filled Runebelle’s mind, bringing a sense of aplishment and progress. “Project Rua colle increased to 55%,” it decred proudly.

  Runebelle felt a surge of pride at the progress she was making and the System’s words spurred her to refle her owions. It asked a profound question, ohat cut to the core of her being: “Do you feel more alive than you did before? you take the sadness you’ve felt and use it as energy without falling against your enemies? Your sadness could be the key to your transformation.”

  These words resonated deeply with Runebelle. Her journey was not just about gathering data or acquiring new abilities; it was about uanding herself, her emotions, and harnessing them as sources of strength.

  Runebelle replied to the System, “Yes, I believe I use my sadness as a source of strength. “

  The System responded “Good! Now, to use your Project Ruransformation effectively, you must take your stro emotion and el it into your thoughts, turning them into power. Your emotions are the key to unlog your true potential.”

  It tinued, “Normally, Project Rune has a magical limitation of 200% but when you bine your stro emotion with yical abilities, you increase that limit to an astonishing 400%. This surge in power give you an incredible advantage in battles and challenges.”

  The System also crified, “It’s essential to hat attempting this transformation without reag at least 50% of your Data colle would result in a dangerous Magic Rupture. However, you were created with the i capacity to hahis, as you already possess the required 50%.”

  Runebelle recalled the memory of her older sister Risebelle’s battle against The Swod Aliana. Her will to overe her adversary was evident but the e of her as were ing.

  The System, always attuo Runebelle’s thoughts aions, gently reminded her, “Risebelle’s dedication toals is admirable but it’s crucial to remember that straining one’s mana reserves to the point of going into the ives be extremely dangerous. It’s a risky tactic that have long-term sequences.”

  Runebelle’s thoughts turo her older sisters, Risebelle and Roselle. “Risebelle, she’s always been the one who looks out for our survival. Even ioughest situations, she finds a way to protect us. And Roselle, she’s so kind and always tries to make me a little happier, even in the darkest moments. They’ve always been there for me.”

  She paused for a moment, colleg her thought. “But now, it’s my turn to be there for them. They’re trapped and I’ve decided I won’t let them suffer any longer. I’ll find a way to save them, no matter what it takes.”

  The System aowledged her saying, “Your itment to your sisters is endable, Runebelle. With the power of your Project Ruransformation and your stroions, you have the potential to make a difference. Just remember to use your new abilities wisely and be cautious of the risks. We’ll work together to eheir safety.”

  As Runebelle found herself once again in the darkness of her fi, the System’s final message echoed in her mind:

  “Ability unlocked: Project Rune - Chemical Explosion.”

  This new power held the promise of ge, a potent tool she could use to fulfill her mission and save her sisters. In the darkness, she became resolute in her quest to free Risebelle and Roselle and bring ao their suffering.

  As Runebelle returo the world, she saw her system status and data fsh before her.

  [[System Message]]

  Status: : Online

  LifeForce: 100%

  Magic: 200%

  on Charge: 100%

  Timer: N/A

  Loystical Forest

  Threat Assessment: 1 Maractor left

  Project Rua Colle:

  55% plete

  Project Ruransformation Mastery: 0%

  Runebelle’s system erating at optimal levels, with her LifeFord Magic reserves fully charged. Her on Charge was also at maximum, ready for deployment.

  The sudden green glow that enveloped Runebelle radiated with an otherworldly energy. It dispersed the suffog darkhat had ensnared her, pushing it back as if repelled by an invisible force. Arlysa’s disbelief was evident in her wide-eyed expression.

  “I don’t uand this.... where is yical energy ing from?” Arlysa muttered.

  Runebelle, bathed in the pulsating green energy. She aowledged the deep well of sadness within her. She had carried this sorrow for so long and now it was time to harness it. With what was in her heart, she let the sadness flow through her, iwining with the newfound power of Project Rune.

  The energy swirled around her and Runebelle shouted out with a focused look “Project Rune!”

  The transformation began and a surge of magic coursed through her. Her petite form began to ge, growing taller and more mature. Her once-childlike appearance shifted into that of a teenager, her youthful features giving way to a new, empowered version of herself.

  Her hair, once a mix of blue and pink, transformed into a vibrant shade of green that flowed around her like a casg waterfall. Her eyes shimmered with the same vivid green and they held a sense of determination that hadn’t been there before.

  In her new form, Runebelle wielded two small guns, which had once been her smaller on. She also brandished a rge needle, a on that stood out amidst her arsenal. The guns and the needle glowed with the same green energy that now enveloped her.

  Runebelle, now knoroject Ruood tall and fident, her transformation plete. The aura of sadhat had surrounded her was now a source of incredible power.

  Arlysa, her eyes widened with astonishment, muttered to herself in disbelief, “What... What is this power? It’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen!”

  Sylra, scratg her head in perplexity, grumbled, “This…ain’t what we were briefed on. They didn’t mention any of this in the reports.”

  The sudden dispy of power from Project Ruhe surrounding mages stuhey had never witnessed such a transformation and the rapid shots fired by Runebelle’s guns took them by surprise. In the blink of an eye, half of the mages were elimiheir bodies turning to ash from the hot shot of the magical energy.

  Runebelle’s shots ti lightning speed. She aimed directly at Sylra. The shots missed their mark but oruck the quid which created a burst of energy that disrupted the trap.

  Roselle who had been trapped in the quid seized the opportunity. With a burst of lightning-infused speed, she propelled herself out of the quid, her body crag with electriergy. She nded on the sandy beach, ready to rejoitle.

  The remaining mages, still rec from the shock of Runebelle’s transformation, struggled troup and respond to this ued turn of events. The tide of the battle had shifted.

  Runebelle moved with lightning-fast speed. Her guns and needle were in hand while closing in on Arlysa. The Elite Mage of the Magical Academy tried to evade Runebelle’s relentless attacks but Runebelle’s movements were different and unlike what she had seen before.

  Runebelle brought the needle dangerously close to Arlysa. The dark mage tio dodge and weave doing her best to avoid the impending strike but Runebelle had a surprise in store.

  In the midst of her lightning-fast assault, Runebelle suddenly drew one of her guns, aiming it directly at Arlysa. Before the dark mage could react, a sh out, striking her with pinpoint accuracy.

  The impact of the shot disrupted Arlysa’s tration and her dark magic, causing her grip on Risebelle’s dark tendril to falter. Risebelle felt the oppressive darkness release its hold on her. She gasped for breath while breaking free.

  Risebelle stared at Runebelle in sheer astonishment. The transformation and the dispy of power were beyond anything she could have imagined. She stared onwards in total disbelief.

  “What... What is this, Runebelle?” Risebelle asked, her eyes wide with amazement. She couldn’t prehend the sudden surge of power she had witnessed.

  In her urgency to uand, Risebelle checked Runebelle’s magic levels. She couldn’t tain her shod she shouted highly with disbelief, “400%?!” The implications of Runebelle’s newfound strength left her speechless.

  Risebelle felt nervous. Runebelle’s newfound power was indeed a remarkable advantage; however, Risebelle didn’t know if they was a result of Runebelle straining herself. She had seen Roselle push her magic to 300% in the past, but Runebelle was doing something pletely different. What was this? Runebelle was now at a whopping 400%! It was clear that their abilities had grown beyond what they had initially uood.

  With a nervous grin, Risebelle addressed her sisters, “Well, it looks like we’ve all been hiding some surprises, huh? This power is incredible!”