One by one, Alice and her friends woke up, stretching their tired limbs. An energetic voice sounded through the room, and they could guess who it belonged to.

  "All right, girls! Rise ‘n shine!" Teigen exclaimed, stretching her arms out with a yawn. "It's Valoria time, this time!”

  Everyone else, still feeling the effects of their early wake-up, mumbled their agreement.

  "Yeah, yeah, we know, Teigen," Rachel grumbled, running a hand through her unruly hair. "Don't have to remind us, though.”

  Teigen simply gave a chuckle, unfazed by their grumbles. "Just making sure you girls don't slack off or forget about your plans."

  Alice rolled her eyes, a hint of amusement in her voice. "As if that would ever happen. We're just not morning people, Teigen.”

  "Well, better get used to it soon, girls," Carmen interjected, stepping into the room fully dressed. "You'll need to be on a tight schedule from now on. By the way, I got a surprise for ya."

  Noelle stepped into the room, a warm smile on her face. "Alice! Everyone! I'm back. It's wonderful to see you all again.”

  The mood in the room immediately brightened at the sight of Noelle. The girls greeted her with smiles and words of welcome.

  "Noelle! You're back!" Rachel exclaimed.

  "It's awesome to see you again!" Teigen chimed in.

  Zalgo gave a grin. "It's about time you showed up."

  Carmen smirked. "Took your time getting back, eh?”

  "I know, I know," Noelle replied, her smile never wavering. "But I promise I have a good reason for it."

  "Oh? What's the reason, huh?” Rachel inquired, her tiredness temporarily forgotten.

  "Well," Noelle began, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I had to have a meeting with the Goddesses so that they could give me more guidance on my mission to better lead and protect you three through this war between Light and Dark.”

  The girls were a bit awake at this point. This sounded important. Teigen, with her usual enthusiasm, asked, "So, what did they say?”

  "They instructed me to ensure your well-being at all times," Noelle replied, her expression serious yet gentle. "But that's not all. I have something important to share with you all."

  The girls perked up at those words, their curiosity piqued. What other important information could Noelle be holding onto?

  "Important? What is it?” Rachel asked, eager to know.

  Carmen, now intrigued, echoed the question. "Yeah, what important info do you have for us?”

  Noelle, noticing their anticipation, began, "I have a gift for each of you.”

  The girls' curiosity and excitement grew tenfold. A gift? Whatever it was, it sounded interesting.

  Rachel was the first to break the silence. "A gift? What is it?"

  Zalgo, her intrigue evident, added, "Yeah, what's the gift? You got me curious now.”

  A smile formed on Noelle's face at all the curious questions. "The Goddesses have given me gifts imbued with special abilities, intended specifically for each of you.”

  "Wait, for real?" Teigen asked incredulously. "Those three are gonna get a gift with special abilities?”

  "Yes, absolutely," Noelle confirmed, nodding her head. "Each gift is tailored to suit and enhance your unique Void Magic ability, helping you reach your full potential.”

  Noelle's words hung heavy in the air for a moment. The girls looked at each other, silently mulling over her words. The thought of receiving a gift imbued with special abilities was mind-blowing...

  She first stepped up to Alice, her hands clasped together. "Alice. Your Void Magic ability allows you to manipulate thread via your conjured gloves, giving you a very versatile skill to work with. I have the perfect gift that can help your capabilities soar.”

  Alice, her heart racing, could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her Void Magic ability already gave her a powerful advantage in combat, but having a gift to enhance its potential? The possibilities were infinite.

  She could only imagine the power she'd command then. "So, what's the gift?" Alice asked, her voice slightly trembling with excitement.

  Noelle's smile widened as she looked at Alice. "For you, Alice, I have a pair of bracelets. They'll channel your aura even more effectively when manipulating your threads.”

  "Bracelets...that can enhance my ability?" Alice repeated in awe. No way.

  Zalgo let out a small gasp of excitement while Teigen exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Oh man, that sounds really cool, actually.”

  Noelle nodded in confirmation. "Yes, the bracelets will not just enhance your control, but also strengthen the strength of the threads as well. So, you'll be even more devastating in combat.”

  Alice, her eyes now sparkling with excitement, couldn't help but ask, "Can I see them?”

  Noelle's smile only grew wider. "Of course you can."

  With that, she reached into her bag and pulled out the bracelets. They gleamed under the light, made of a strange but shiny silvery material, almost liquid in appearance.

  Alice's heart skipped a beat. The bracelets were just as she'd envisioned - sleek, beautiful tools that would enhance her powers.

  Zalgo stepped forward to get a closer look, a hint of envy in her eyes. "Wow, those are actually pretty cool.”

  "Right?" Noelle said, holding the bracelets out to Alice. “Try putting them on."

  Without hesitation, Alice reached out, taking the bracelets from Noelle. As she wrapped them around her wrists, the metal almost seemed to mold and change, conforming perfectly to her wrists. It was both odd and fascinating.

  The bracelets, now securely fixed around Alice's wrists, immediately made her feel a subtle change. It was as if the material were a part of her, almost alive, syncing with her aura. The sensation was both foreign and comforting.

  "Oh wow," she whispered, staring at the bracelets in wonder. "They feel...natural.”

  The others crowded around to get a closer look. "Whoa," Teigen breathed out, her eyes widening. "They really do look cool."

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  Rachel, unable to contain her envy, added, "That's neat as hell. Okay, Noe, where's my and Zalgo's gift? I'm dyin' here!”

  Noelle chuckled at Rachel's impatience. "Patience, Rachel. Yours is coming next."

  She then turned to a visibly nervous-excited Zalgo. "And Zalgo, I have something special for you too. Your Void Magic ability to summon void spears may appear simple enough, but knowing how to use them expertly can make you an unexpected powerhouse in the coliseum in Valoria. I have the perfect item to help you bring forth that potential.”

  Zalgo gulped, her heart racing. She couldn't believe she was about to receive a gift from the Goddesses themselves. "You have something for me too? What is it?”

  Noelle pulled out a small, intricately carved silver necklace out of her bag. It was like nothing Alice or Zalgo had seen before. The pendant itself was a sleek and slim design with a dark purple hue, its surface polished to a perfect finish. But what was even more extraordinary was that the pendant seemed almost alive or fluid, the dark purple color pulsating rhythmically, almost like a beating heart.

  Noelle held out the necklace. "This, Zalgo, is the Gem of Void Energy.”

  Zalgo's eyes sparkled at the sight of the necklace, her heart skipping a beat. The Gem of Void Energy? She hardly dared to dream.

  Alice, also taken by the necklace's beauty, couldn't help but whisper, "Damn, that's...beautiful.”

  "It's not just beautiful," Noelle clarified, moving the necklace closer to Zalgo. "This necklace will amplify the power of your void spears significantly. You'll control them with even greater precision."

  Zalgo stared at the necklace, her hand reaching out slightly involuntarily, wanting to touch it. "Can I...can I try it on?”

  "Go ahead," Noelle replied, offering the necklace to Zalgo.

  With trembling fingers, Zalgo took the necklace and placed it around her neck. The gem immediately seemed to react to her presence, the dark purple color pulsating more rapidly. Almost as if it had a life of its own.

  As the Gem of Void Energy made contact with her skin, Zalgo felt a sudden yet gentle warmth spread throughout her body. Almost like the gem was acknowledging her as its new owner. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

  "Wow," Zalgo breathed out, reaching a hand up to touch the pendant. "This...this is insane.”

  The other girls looked on in a mix of awe and envy. The Gem of Void Energy was truly an extraordinary item.

  Rachel, barely able to contain herself, piped up, "Okay, enough! Where's my gift, Noe? I've been waiting forever over here!”

  Noelle couldn't help but chuckle at Rachel's impatience. "Easy there, Rachel. I saved the best for last. Your Void Magic ability allows you to conjure a railgun that shoots plasma bullets made of your aura, correct? Then you're going to love what gift the Goddesses made for you. It will make you a better markswoman and increase your aura reserves to give you a higher magazine capacity, if you will.”

  The mention of a gift that could enhance her marksmanship and aura reserves had Rachel's eyes glimmering with excitement. She could hardly contain herself. "Seriously? A gift like that sounds like a dream come true. Can I have it now? Please?”

  Noelle chuckled. "Yes, you can. Close your eyes and reach out your hands."

  Without an ounce of hesitation, Rachel shut her eyes and extended her hands. She could barely contain her anticipation.

  "No peeking!" Noelle cautioned, her voice tinged with a playful tone.

  Rachel, her eyes still closed, let out a childish whine of impatience. "I know, I know! Just hurry up and give it to me already!”

  "Patience, young grasshopper," Noelle teased with a chuckle. "Patience is a virtue."

  But Rachel could barely contain her excitement. She fidgeted, her closed eyes twitching with anticipation. "Ugh, easy for you to say. I'm about to explode here!"

  Noelle couldn't help but chuckle again. "Just a moment more…”

  After what felt like an eternity to Rachel, Noelle finally placed an object in Rachel's hands. "Alright, you can open your eyes now.”

  Rachel's eyes flew open, her impatience momentarily forgotten as she looked down at what was in her hands. She was holding a scope and a scouting device.

  A wave of realization washed over Rachel as she looked at the devices. They were meant to enhance her sniping skills, improving her marksmanship and providing her with valuable information about her surroundings.

  Her excitement returned tenfold as she glanced back at Noelle. "No freakin’ way! Are these for me?”

  "Indeed, they are," Noelle confirmed, a smile on her face. "The scope is a high-tech device that will improve your aim significantly. And the scouting device will provide you with crucial information about your surroundings. Together, they'll make you an even more deadly markswoman.”

  Rachel's eyes widened as her fingers traced the scope's surface. "This scope...it's amazing.”

  She couldn't believe the goddesses had provided her with such powerful tools. Her excitement was palpable. She looked up at Noelle with new awe in her eyes.

  "Thank you so much, Noelle," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "This means the world to me.”

  Rachel's eyes widened as her fingers traced the scope's surface. "This scope... it's amazing.”

  She couldn't believe the Goddesses had provided her with such powerful tools. Her excitement was palpable. She looked up at Noelle with new awe in her eyes.

  "Thank you so much, Noelle," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "This means the world to me.”

  Noelle smiled at Rachel's gratitude. "You're welcome, Rachel. Why don't you try on your scouting device right now? It has many different ways to alter your vision for any situation. It has night vision, infrared, and many other modes. It even allows you to see through a solid object!”

  Rachel's eyes widened at the description. "See through a solid object? That's... that's unbelievable."

  Without hesitation, she put on the scouting device, eager to experience its capabilities. As it settled onto her face, a cool sensation tingled across her skin.

  The scouting device's interface flickered to life, and suddenly, the entire room seemed to shift. Every detail came into hyper-focus. The colours were more vibrant, the objects sharper. But that wasn’t all.

  A new, transparent world layer appeared, projected onto the physical world she was familiar with. This extra layer contained valuable information: details about people and objects in the vicinity, their attributes, and weaknesses. It was like seeing the world in a whole new way.

  She stared around her with wide eyes. “Oh my Goddess…”

  “Pretty neat, huh?” Noelle asked with a knowing smile, clearly anticipating Rachel's reaction.

  Rachel could hardly find the words for her astonishment. “Neat is an understatement. This is amazing! This is...wow. I didn’t even know something like this existed...let alone that I'd have one…”

  "Well, now you do," Noelle said softly, watching Rachel take it all in. "And there's even more to it. Try activating the X-Ray function.”

  Rachel blinked, still adjusting to the new capabilities of the scouting device. She looked around, taking in everything with a whole new depth of understanding. "X-ray…right.”

  With a thought, she triggered the X-Ray function.

  Immediately, the world shifted again. The colours darkened and faded, and the world became almost ghostly. But what replaced it was a surreal revelation.

  Every person in the room became transparent, their bones and internal organs now visible. The details were so detailed, she could almost tell what their medical history was. It was both fascinating and unnerving.

  "This is…incredible," Rachel breathed out, turning her attention to the walls of the room.

  With a thought, she turned the X-Ray function towards the wall, expecting it to show the innards of the wall. Instead, the wall remained solid.

  "Why is the wall still opaque?" Rachel asked, confusion creeping into her voice.

  Noelle chuckled gently. "The X-ray function can't penetrate certain materials. It's specific to living organisms. It allows you to see through flesh and bone. Concrete? Sorry, but it can't do that. You need to use the see-through feature for that.”

  Rachel nodded, amazed by the technology. She looked down at her hands, which were also transparent. "Wow, I'm...really seeing me, aren't I?"

  Noelle smiled. "You are. You see your own bones and organs in X-Ray mode. But that's not all. Try activating the Aura Sight.”

  That caught Rachel's attention. "Aura Sight?"

  Noelle nodded. "Yes. The device also has a function to see auras. It might be difficult to do so right now, though.”

  Rachel wasn't sure what Noelle meant, but she steeled herself for another try. She concentrated again, focusing specifically on activating the Aura Sight.

  The world seemed to shift yet again. The normal world flickered back into focus, but now, additional colours and energy glowed around all living things. It was like seeing the world in a completely new way. She could now see the aura around Noelle, Zalgo, and the other girls.

  "Oh wow..." Rachel managed, her eyes wide. "Are these...our auras?”

  "Yes, indeed," replied Noelle, observing Rachel's reaction. "The Aura Sight function allows you to observe someone's aura, which provides us with a glimpse into their personality, emotions, and energy. It's a unique insight into an individual's inner self.”

  Zalgo's voice was tinged with wonder as she chimed in. "Wow, we're truly ready for Valoria now, aren't we?”

  Rachel reluctantly took off the scanning device, letting out a breathy laugh. "I feel like we’re super-powered now. No wonder those goddesses have chosen each gift carefully.”

  Zalgo nodded, her excitement palpable. "We're not an ordinary group anymore, are we?”

  Noelle smiled at their realization. “No, you're not. You're unique. And these gifts from Goddesses will make you even more so. Now, you three, there is no time to waste; it's time to go to Valoria so that we can right the wrongs concerning the mafia!”

  The girls shared a charged look, their spirits fired up with the possibilities their new gifts brought.

  “Right!” They all agreed in unison, their voices ringing with determination.

  Noelle nodded with satisfaction. "That's what I like to see. You'll need that courage where we're going. Now, gather your things. It's time for Valoria.”