Money, Oh, Money

Vienna‘s looting had gone fine so far. Perfect even. She gained almost a billion sealing from different banks in the south.

They were so inefficient; Vienna lost all respect for them. Star Clan is her least favorite holy clan to start with.

Vienna admired intelligence and monarchy. Star Clan proved to lack both.

The moon clan on the other hand was more tricky to loot from. Their security far from incompetent.

During that looting, Vienna’s scheme went without a hitch until the security caught on.

In her astral form, she departed with Ivy, passing through the walls and then started filling the lengthy bags with token shells.

On the third bag, Vienna saw one of the guards enter the vault. The short stature women possessing blonde hair in bob layers, soft features, dark yellow eyes, and dressed in a blackish green security uniform.

Vienna waits patiently for the guard to show some signs that she noticed her. Only those with a winter mark or extraordinary senses can see astral projections.

The guard ignores her and strolls down the aisle.

Vienna almost looks away, feeling her emotions descend into a relaxing state but upon recalling even if she can’t see her, surely she spots the bags and Ivy.

Usually, one would feel upset or fearful of their strategy having holes—miscalculations—but Vienna isn’t one of those.

She feels elated, a rare sight.

A wide smile spreads her features brilliantly as they immediately attack her the second upon realizing they’re folly is up.

White-blue arrows rush towards the Child of Heaven, their precision accurate, emanating a radiant mystical aura.

Vienna deftly conjures a shimmering web of stars. The collision of her shield and the arrows resonates in the background as Vienna silently orders Ivy to escape to the heavenly realm.

With calculated and fast movements, Vienna stows one more load of token shells and hurls it onto Ivy back.

“I feel like a wreckage truck!” Ivy growls a complaint. “I should be tearing things—like flesh!” Her luminous midnight blue sharp fur shimmers like diamonds. “A delivery creature! Me, the almighty tiger!”

Vienna rolls her eyes, mouth lifting up into a gleeful smile. “Get the money out of here!”

In the next second, Vienna spins around to the enemy, with an elegant dark dagger emerging in her hand.

She thrust the dagger forward, a slash of a glorious streak brand the atmosphere, tearing through face tissue.

The woman leaps back hastily with a blank expression, blood dripping from the deep gash on her nose and counters with more arrows.

Vienna’s shield begins to crack under the force of arrows, her eyes narrowing at the immense energy within them.

‘What a surprise.’ Vienna brows raise lightly. ‘I don’t think she’s using a divine mark. Is she from another realm?’

The second guard footsteps pound shallowly against steel, his mouth agape.

At that moment, as the woman guard cloaks her head in a bubble of unique energy, a godly scream rings out in violent torrent, causing shockwaves through the air and deafening Vienna eardrums.

In her peripheral vision, standing at six feet and ten inches is a male figure, with short dark hair styled in a side part, light gold eyes, a hooked nose and lithe frame.

Vienna jumps high, steps of starlight dotting the air as she leaps off them, advancing towards the male guard, while subsequently halting the arrows and sending them back to the caster.

Hot wetness leaks from the sides of her face, yet she paid no heed to the pain. It’s barely a flicker to the boisterous battle.

As the male guard directs his scream straight at her, the pressure of the sound frizzles with electric energy, drawing out more blood.

Vienna pushes through it and when he is within range, she executes a quick strike, smoothly permeating the blade into muscular tan flesh.

His fatal wound heals swiftly in the proceeding moment. He sheaths a metal sword, retreating back as he searches for an opening.

A menace smirk curves Vienna's mouth, her heart hammering so fiercely she’s shocked it hadn’t erupted.

“Yes, don’t die.” Vienna’s detached silky rich voice sounds frighteningly lively. “Play with me some more!”

“You’re fucking insane.” He bristles. 

“Perhaps,” Vienna muses as she and the male guard trade blows with deadly speed and accuracy. “But that is not my concern.” Her free hand raises, wriggling playfully at their surly expressions. “It’s yours.”

The female guard sneers, countless arrows framing the ceiling and then striking down wildly.

During the battle, the room remains as it is, only shaking and staying upright. The structure seems to be made of magical material, and Vienna senses the walls absorbing the power they release.

Suddenly, Vienna excitement visibly wanes upon sensing reinforcements approaching.

Channeling on star, the atmosphere slows to an unmoving state. Her left palm faces upwards, siphoning the arrows.

Instantly, Vienna notices the energy absorbed is different; smooth and rough in a way solar and stella isn’t.

Vienna unleashes the magical arrows—now morphed into beams of starlight.

With accurate control, she slows down the attack, savagely making it cease a meter before both guards, surrounding them in what appears like an inescapable cage.

Time manipulation is unique. Most people can solely use it for simple abilities; stopping time for a few seconds, slowing attacks or returning them, or rewinding objects.

Even a true Ophanim feels drained after using those skills.

However, if someone focuses training entirely on time manipulation, they can achieve more powerful skills. For instance, stopping time for hours, or even turning back time.

Vienna had such talent, so she takes her time to finish looting the vaults, noting the endurance of the steel walls and floor, imagining creating a spacecraft with a similar fortify.

Vienna drapes two bags over her shoulder, the heavy weight straining her muscles.

“It was fun while it lasted, more competent security,” Vienna says flatly, her expressionless face molded back on.

Her movements are calm and graceful as she phases through the ceiling, carefully navigating the route she mapped out in her brain.

In the steep vault room, filled with round safes, marble columns in each corner, the guards were obliterated just as backup arrived.