Project Lumina

The fight was just getting started, Abell and the thief against Wido. The narrow cell gave the two of them a clear advantage-too small for Wido to effectively move and throw his weight around. But this didn't slow Wido down.

With a roar, Wido lunged forward, his massive form crashing into the thief. The thief, agile and quick, managed to duck under Wido's arm, drawing his daggers in one swift motion. He slashed at Wido's side, the sharp blades leaving a faint trail of blood across the officer's armor. Wido grunted but barely flinched, his anger rising.

With a swift backhanded swing, Wido knocked the thief across the cell, sending him skidding against the stone wall.

Meanwhile, Abell rushed forward, his eyes locked on Wido's movements. He threw a series of punches aimed at Wido's midsection, but the officer easily blocked each one, his thick arms deflecting the blows. The thief, recovering quickly, darted back into the fray, slashing at Wido's legs with his daggers. Wido grunted as one of the blades grazed his calf, but again, the officer showed no sign of weakening.

In retaliation, Wido swept his leg out, knocking the thief's feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Wido then turned his focus to Abell, who was circling carefully, waiting for an opening. He lunged at Wido, landing a solid punch to the officer's jaw. Blood splattered across the floor as Wido staggered back, momentarily stunned. But the larger man quickly regained his balance, a grin spreading across his face.

 "Disgusting rat" Wido growled, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Don't touch me."

Before Abell could react, Wido's large hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground. The thief, struggling to get back up, saw the situation unfolding and hesitated. Abell's face was turning purple as he struggled for air, his fists pounding uselessly against Wido's hand.

The other prisoners watched in complete and utter shock. People never dared to challenge Wido or any other guards.

"Oh man, we finally get to see something interesting down here, feels like a present," said a tall prisoner

"Hehe, I get what you mean. How 'bout a quick wager? 100 sols Wido whoops these two kids' asses," another prisoner questioned.

"Whattt, you know that's not fair; I don't even have that much money."

"Heh, damn cheapskate." The other prisoner said.

"That's enough! I'm trying to enjoy the action here. Now shut up!" came a voice from a cell above, carrying authority.

The female prisoner had a tough, rugged appearance with messy, shoulder-length dark hair and sharp, calculating eyes. Lean and wiry, she wore practical, worn clothes and carried the scars of a rough life, exuding an aura of defiance and resilience.

"Yes, sorry, Ma'am," the prisoners responded in unison.

"Why am I even fighting this battle?" the thief questioned himself. He tried to rise, but the pain was overwhelming. He glanced at Abell, struggling within Wido's grasp.

"Hey! I thought we were fighting together. He said struggling to breather under Wido's pressure.

"Tch whatever this fight wasn't ever mine to begin with." The thief said while turning his back on him.

As Abell struggled to hang on, his body bruised and exhausted, he made a decision. The situation had become too dire—Hugo's warnings echoed in his mind "don't use your trait please.," but survival was the only thing that mattered now. He couldn't afford to wait any longer.

With a deep breath, Abell closed his eyes and stopped resisting, focusing inward to summon his trait. Lumination. He had no other choice but to use it, no matter what the consequences might be.

At first, the onlookers were silent, but as Abell's body slackened and he went limp in Wido's grasp, the prisoners began murmuring among themselves.

"He's done for," one prisoner whispered from a nearby cell, disbelief in his voice. "Look at him, he's giving up."

"Pathetic," another muttered, shaking his head. "Guess he couldn't handle it after all."

The smugness in their voices was clear as they watched Abell seemingly surrender. The thief, his mind racing, saw Abell's stillness and couldn't help but think, I might as well try to escape if he's giving up.

"I knew he didn't have what it takes," a tall prisoner sneered, leaning against the bars. "Looks like the light's fading already."

"Quiet down," came a more authoritative voice from a cell above, silencing the murmurs. "Let the boy die how he wants."

The female prisoner, observing the scene with sharp eyes, let out a quiet sigh. "What a waste," she muttered, her expression unreadable, but a touch of disappointment lingered.

Meanwhile, the thief, already planning to flee, watched Abell's apparent defeat and thought to himself, There's no way we're getting out of this… He flicked his gaze toward the exit, weighing his options.

But just as he began to back away, a sudden pulse of light erupted from Abell's form, blinding and powerful. The sword of light, his sword, shimmered into full existence, glowing with such intensity that it illuminated the entire cell. The prisoners froze in shock.

Abell's eyes snapped open, his focus now razor-sharp as the radiant blade crackled with energy. His body surged with newfound strength, and the air around him hummed with power. In an instant, the tables had turned.

The thief froze, his heart racing. "He has one too?" He said looking all surprised.

Abell stood tall, his luminous sword in hand, his will unwavering. The fight was far from over.

The rest of the prisoners looked on in shocked silence as the glow from Abell's sword intensified.

"WOW, he has a trait?" one prisoner exclaimed, eyes wide. "You still wanna wager, man? I'll bet all my sols."

Camus stirred awake, jolted by the blinding light. His eyes snapped open, scanning the cell block for the source of the radiance. He spotted Abell and Wido locked in a tense standoff.

"Crazy kid, he was actually serious about fighting that monster, haha," Camus chuckled, shaking his head.

But his amusement quickly turned to something else when his gaze landed on the hooded figure standing in front of his cell. Gaius.

Camus blinked three times, squinting in confusion. "You stupid brat! What are you doing here?!"

The hooded figure slowly turned to face him, eyes wide with shock. "Father? Why are you here?"

Camus scowled, his anger rising. "I could ask you the damn same, Gaius! Were you caught stealing again, or worse, taking some shady job?"

"It doesn't matter; I was just about to leave," Gaius replied, his voice cool and measured, completely unaffected by his father's anger.

"Answer me!" Camus snapped, growing more irritated.

Gaius sighed, unfazed. "I was just returning something to that guy over there, that's all."

"Returning something? That's a surprise," Camus muttered, a hint of surprise slipping through his tough exterior.

But his attention quickly drifted back to Abell, who was now glowing fiercely in the heat of battle. Gaius's eyes were fixed on him, unwavering. Camus noticed.

The female prisoner, watching from above the block, leaned forward, her sharp eyes catching the glow of Abell's sword. A faint smile tugged at her lips, a look of quiet approval.

"Now that's a trait…" she murmured under her breath, loud enough for a few others to hear. "Don't see many like him around here. It's like he said we're moving into a new era. She giggled to herself.

Nearby prisoners nodded, their expressions filled with surprise and admiration. Abell's trait was rare, and the radiance of his luminous sword stood out even in the grim atmosphere of the prison.

Her gaze shifted to Gaius, who remained locked onto Abell, tracking every move the boy made. The woman's expression softened, a knowing look in her eyes.

"Wonder why's he's not fighting anymore such a shame" she muttered with a small grin.

Camus, still observing Gaius, felt a shift in the air. His son's intense focus on Abell wasn't just about the fight. Gaius wasn't merely impressed; he was absorbing something. Learning?

Camus mind raced, realizing that his son wasn't just looking at a fight. There was something more to Gaius's interest, something that might change things for him.

Abell rushed at Wido, his ethereal sword glowing brightly as he swung it with precision and power, each slash cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. His movements were fluid, almost as if the sword had become an extension of his body. There was a sense of freedom, an adrenaline that surged through him with each strike, pushing him forward.

Wido's face twisted in pain with each hit, his arrogance faltering for a moment. Abell's confidence grew with every attack, feeling not only the weight of the sword but the power it gave him. He pressed on relentlessly, each strike faster than the last.

"What happened to all that authority? Are you done?" Abell taunted, a maniacal grin spreading on his face. The momentum was shifting, and it thrilled him.

Wido's eyes narrowed with fury. "Insolent child," he snarled, his voice seething with anger. "Rats like you get an inkling of power, then want to rise above the ruling class. Know your place. No matter how much power a rat gains, it's still a rat."

With a roar, Wido surged forward, the fight changing instantly. He swung his fist, a brutal backhand that barely missed Abell's side. Wido's raw strength began to overpower Abell, forcing him to retreat several steps to avoid a crushing blow.

Abell gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his balance against the guard's overwhelming strength. His ethereal like sword barely deflected the sheer force of each attack. Despite the glowing weapon, Wido was a mountain, and Abell was a windstorm struggling to move it.

With a grunt, Wido growled, "You're still nothing but a child playing at power." His next swing cracked against Abell's sword, sending him skidding several paces across the floor. Abell's grip tightened on the blade, his resolve firming up.

But Wido wasn't finished. He lunged at Abell again, faster this time, and the fight was far from over.