Glitched Goddess: My Skills are maxed out

Seraphine carried Kana carefully through a winding series of narrow tunnels, her robes brushing against the damp stone walls as the faint echoes of their footsteps filled the silence.

The further they went, the thicker the air became, as though the very earth was holding its breath, guarding this place from the world above.

At last, Seraphine reached a concealed chamber hidden behind an illusionary wall—a secret sanctuary she rarely allowed anyone to enter.

She placed Kana down gently on a soft, velvet-covered bed tucked into the corner of the room.

For a moment, Seraphine lingered, crouching beside Kana, her fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

Her crimson eyes studied the girl silently, searching for something she couldn't quite name.

It was strange. Seraphine had stolen, tricked, and manipulated countless people before, but none of them made her hesitate like this.

Kana lay perfectly still, her breathing shallow and even, feigning unconsciousness.

Seraphine, however, made no move to restrain her further or search her belongings. She simply watched.

Minutes passed in heavy silence until finally, Seraphine straightened, a faint sigh escaping her lips.

Without a word, she turned and walked out of the room, her footsteps fading down the corridor.

The moment the sound disappeared, Kana's eyes flew open.

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as she sat up and scanned the unfamiliar room, her gaze darting toward the heavy wooden door across from the bed.

This was her chance. She slipped off the mattress, landing silently on the floor, and hurried to the door.

Gripping the ornate handle, Kana twisted and pulled with all her strength, but the door wouldn't budge.

"…It's locked with magic."

She muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling up inside her.

The soft, mechanical voice of her system chimed in.

[Would you like to override the magical lock using your available skills?]

"Yes! Hurry! I don't want to be here when my kidnapper comes back to… to… do whatever she's planning to do!"

Kana whispered urgently, glancing nervously at the door as though Seraphine might appear at any second.

[Affirmative. Engaging skill override.]

A faint glow pulsed over the door's surface as the magical seal unraveled in intricate strands of light. With a quiet click, the lock disengaged. Kana's heart leapt with relief.

Finally.

She cracked the door open slowly, peeking outside into the dimly lit hallway. It was silent. Empty.

Her breathing steadied as she stepped into the corridor, her bare feet making no sound against the polished stone floor.

Freedom. She could almost taste it.

But just as Kana took her second step forward, a soft, cool hand landed gently on her shoulder.

"Where are you headed?"

Kana froze, her entire body going rigid. Her throat tightened as she slowly turned her head, dread pooling in her stomach.

Seraphine stood behind her, mere inches away, her crimson eyes calm and unreadable.

Kana's instincts kicked in. She spun, attempting to catch Seraphine off guard with a sudden strike aimed at her abdomen.

But Seraphine moved like flowing water, sidestepping effortlessly before Kana's attack could even graze her. In a blink, she caught Kana's wrist, twisting it behind her back in a smooth, practiced motion.

"Wha—hey! Let go!"

Kana struggled violently, but Seraphine only tightened her hold, wrapping her other arm around Kana's waist and pulling her completely off her feet.

"You have impressive strength, but you lack control."

Seraphine said, her tone measured and almost gentle,

Kana thrashed in her grip, her feet kicking uselessly against the air. Seraphine's strength was overwhelming, her movements precise and unyielding.

"You might have raw power in those arms, but without proper training, it means very little against someone like me."

She continued softly, her breath warm against Kana's ear.

"No!" Kana hissed, twisting and pushing against her with all her might, but Seraphine's hold didn't falter for a moment.

With effortless grace, she turned and carried Kana back toward the room she had just escaped from, ignoring Kana's struggles as though they were no more troublesome than a feather brushing against her.

When they reached the room, Seraphine finally set Kana down, releasing her wrists.

Kana stumbled forward, regaining her balance, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. She shot a glare at Seraphine, her body tensed like a cornered animal, ready to bolt again.

But deep down, Kana already knew she wouldn't make it—not without using magic. And the problem was… she didn't know which spell would even work.

Seraphine, noticing her silent calculation, leaned casually against the doorframe, her gaze steady and unwavering.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice smooth yet carrying an unshakable authority.

"You're wasting your energy."

Kana blinked, her hands balling into fists.

"Excuse me?"

"You're not in trouble, Kana. I'm not going to torture you… or harm you."

Seraphine said softly, tilting her head slightly.

Kana hesitated, her guarded stance faltering for a brief moment as suspicion clouded her expression.

"…Then why?"

Seraphine's lips curved faintly, though her smile held no warmth.

"I only want one thing."

Kana stiffened.

"The necklace you have."

Kana's fingers instinctively reached for the small pendant around her neck, clutching it protectively.

"If you give it to me, I'll let you walk out of here untouched. You'll be free, and no one will come after you."

Seraphine continued calmly,

Kana's mind raced, her grip tightening around the necklace. Every instinct screamed that giving it up was a mistake—but staying here felt just as dangerous.

Seraphine's crimson gaze locked onto hers, patient but sharp, as though she could see straight through her hesitation.

"Well? Shall we make both sides happy?"

She asked softly, her tone deceptively calm.

Kana swallowed hard, her heartbeat loud in her ears, knowing full well this choice wasn't as simple as Seraphine made it sound.

'It can't simply be that easy, right? Seraphine had a lot of chances to go for the necklace when I pretended to be unconscious, but she did not take it away. What else does she want from me?'