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Twilight Bridge: Immersion

"Fake realities will create fake humans." - Philip K. Dick. A group of college students get mysteriously trapped in a virtual world being reborn without memories of their previous lives. After regaining his memories as Mado, Jaden Inferno embarks on a grand journey in the massive world of Lacrima. While venturing through the Realm, Jaden discovers new secrets, and unfolds new mysteries as he reunites with his former classmates, and faces new foes along the way. ********DESCLAIMER******** This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. • New chapter every week. • WARNING: Some scenes contains strong language. ● SABERTOOTH. All Rights Reserved

Sabertooth2000 · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
46 Chs

The Power of The 5th Level

Jaden was still traversing the labyrinth that is known as the Flowershade's Waterways; a multi-layered underground water supply system for the city that resided in the middle of the endless desert of Evalis. Tagging along with him were two Space Pirates, Vincent the strategist dagger wielding snop, and his hot-tempered short magic user partner, Mika. The three had recently encountered Feona, a fleeting member of the Deranna Resistance Force who decided to join them until she reunites with her companions.While walking through the narrow linear path, a screaming sound echoed all the way to them. "..BURN TO ASHES!.."

That voice!, Jaden halted for a second, and them hurried straight toward. I can't be hearing things. That definitely was Noor's voice.

"Wha—?!" Mika snapped. "What's gotten into him?! Hey GET BACK HERE!"

The other three sprinted after him. It didn't take long for them to reach a dead end. Or more of an open end as the four stumbled near the ledge of the narrow path. Jaden's foot was right at the edge whereas the nearest ground was way too far and below. Waterfalls were running down starting few meters beneath the rectangular whole in the wall they were in.

Jaden gazed toward the square shaped blue-bricked floor way beyond his reach. There, he saw three people who were struggling against a large jelly-like monster.

"Huh! Those are—!" he gasped.

"Apparently, looks like a Jallipingue Lander—a vicious one." Vincent said. "Creatures like these hate the breeze, so they resort in steep damp corners."

My UI can't get anything at this distance, Jaden clenched his jaw. "Isn't there a way to stop it?"

"Arial Mystic Arts would," Mika said. "But I can't do such a thing from afar. It's hopeless.."

"Really..?" Jaden dropped his shoulders in disappointment. He then gazed back at the three people fighting the monster. There was nothing else he could do. Was praying that they survive by some unforeseen miracle out of the question? Jaden didn't know what to do.

But the following second, a flashing memory of Eugene throwing away a sphere of blinding light into the battlefield, when both him and Jaden, were fighting against the mysterious Death Gun.

Bingo!, Jaden thought. I've seen Majd does it once. But all I need now is Arial art! A long ranged Sacred Art with strong wind. That's my only bet, so I need to concentrate.

He stretched his left hand forward, and took a deep breath. He tried gathering all of his consciousness inwards.

The Mana streaming in my veins, it got a pulse of it's own, Jaden closed his eyes. Focus. Trace the Mana—no! Lead it towards your hand. Visualize it's shifting...

As he breathed steadily, Jaden felt as though the Mana within him was resting still, and then started to slowly seep toward his left arm. Once he felt an unresisteble urge to let his left hand blow out—

—Now!

"System Call!" he uttered, opening his eyes. And at that moment, a new panel popped up in his UI.

...SACRED ART COMMAND UNLOCKED...

Jaden continued regardless. "Generate Arial Element!"

"What?!—" Mika was taken by surprise. How could a simple theif be using such refined magic?!, she thought.

"Are you—for real..?!" Feona exclaimed.

"Humph.." Vincent drew a smug on his face as gushes of wind began converging gradually around Jaden's body.

"—TORNADO WHOLE!" Jaden yelled, and a powerful, great twister beared down at the square-shaped floor.

~FOOOOWIIINN!

"GUAAAAAAAHHHH!" the Jallipingue tried to hold it's ground against the destructive wind, but not for long.

The tornado soon pulled it's jelly-esque body, and blended it for few laps in 360 degrees. And when the twister dragged along, it slapped the monster hard on the opposite wall, causing it to disintegrate into bits of green neon clusters.

~SMACK!

~Clusth!

After the wind rested, Jaden fell down on one knee in exhaustion. His UI showed him that his MP bar had decreased by 50% at once.

"..I..made it.." he yelled through the panting.

Jaden then glanced at the three people on the lower ground all safe and sound. They were the people he wanted to see the most.

"HEY, YOU GUYS!" he called for them while still catching his own breath.

"I can't believe you made it down here!" Petra said.

"Well, a lot happened.." Jaden scratched the back of his head as he replied.

With the aid of Vincent's Warping technique, Jaden and the others were able to descend down to the ground of the second floor. The place around was surrounded by waterfalls from three different directions, and stairs leading down to a large gate.

In the middle of the square-shaped floor, Jaden introduced Eugene, Petra, and Julia to his new companions by circumstances.

"Dude!" Petra said. "We were worried about you!"

"Sorry—about that.." he replied.

"Do you know these people?" Feona asked Jaden.

"Sure! They're my fr——" Jaden stopped halfway and searched for a much more proper description. "..Comrades."

"Didn't think you had aquaintances in the sewers.." Vincent sneered.

"Humph! I bet they're his theif-club." Mika turned her head away while crossing her arms.

"Wh—what..?!" Eugene stammered.

"Grunge cake says what..?" Petra grumbled.

"Say it again.." Mika glared back.

Jaden sighed and interrupted them. "No, that's not it.." he then winked to Mika. "Though Grunge Cake suits ya well.."

"Why you.." Mika's face flushed in anger.

"Anyway. These two are Vincent and Mika. They may not look the part, but they are legit Space Pirates." Jaden addressed them, and then pointed at the quiet lady facing the other side. "And that's Feona. She's a member of the Insergants."

Hearing him mentioning her name, Feona turned toward Jaden half-heartedly. "—Resistance." she said.

At that exact moment, Julia's eyes locked in with hers.

"Huh..!" Julia immediately recalled the black scarf lady she bumped into in the Underground Market-place. "Ha—have we met..before..?" she asked.

Feona's shoulders retracted instantly in response as she avoided Julia's gaze. "..I don't think so.."

"Whoa!" Eugene's mouth dropped open. "So, this is the Key..!"

"Yep." Jaden showed both Eugene and Petra the Golden Key of Azerrak.

"Holy shit..!" Petra embraced the Key in her hands. "These things are fuckin' real!"

"This is the first time for me." Eugene said in awe. "Did the Copper Key looked the same—Ouch!"

Jaden had to slap Eugene's elbow before he had rambled all the information out in the open. He then turned to see Vincent giving him a sharp look, "Hmmm.."

This guy..., he thought. He's still dangerous even if the four of us go up against him. Not to mention the shorty partner with anger-issues. I can clearly imagine her roasting me with that explosive magic, and—

"Hey, where are you going?!" Julia called after Feona, who took off down the blue-bricked stairs. Her voice drew the attention of the others.

"I am looking for my companions." she replied. "I see that you people are not going to proceed any further. So, I will continue on my own."

"But this place is dangerous. You shouldn't go on your own!" Julia said.

"That is not of your concern.." Feona replied with furrowed brows.

"Wait, you said you're with the Resistance, right?" Eugene intervened.

Jaden noticed Safi looking back at Majd, and the latter nodded.

"We have something to tell you." Julia told her.

Petra, Julia, and Eugene filled Feona and the other three in on the events they had gone through until they arrived to this floor. The instant they mentioned Captain Olin, Feona's face turned pale.

"How could he—!" she clenched her fists.

"That Afallan commander put us in a bit of a pickle.." Petra replied. "If it weren't for that uncle, we couldn't have gotten here in the first place."

"Yeah, he saved us." Julia added.

"But we couldn't save him.." Eugene lowered his gaze. "I'm really sorry.."

Majd.., Jaden thought. The three of 'em have gone through some tough times. I can sense Majd's frustration. But we can't sit here and mourn. We gotta keep going.

"In that case, we have to get movin'." he told them.

"Yeah. It won't be long before Imperial ranks catch up with us." Mika supported him.

Jaden turned to Vincent. "You said there will be an exit on this floor, didn't you?"

"What can I say? It seems from the looks of it, we are going to pass through that gate first." Vincent replied.

"That gate, huh?" Eugene muttered.

"What's it gonna be, Madz?" Petra asked him.

Putting her question on hold with a nod, Jaden walked down the stairs to Feona and Julia. "Feona, we're all gonna keep moving forward. We're escaping into the Underground. What about you?"

"I cannot flee with my skin and turn back on my people.." Feona shook her head. "But, I also cannot stay in this useless place. So, I'll accompany you a bit further."

"Great!" Julia's face brightened gleefully in response.

What the heck is she so giddy about?!, Jaden wondered. Feona is still a total stranger! 'Guess all this time in the Waterways has gotten into her head..

"Feona is coming!" Julia announced.

"All right," Vincent led the way toward the huge metallic black gate. "Follow me, dear Sewers-raiders.."

"You heard the boss! Better obey, you midgets!" Mika spat as she, Eugene, Petra walked behind him.

Jaden nodded for both Julia and Feona who were still standing still, and took off.

"Let's go too, Feona." said the ginger haired girl.

"Why are you so fixated on me?" Feona asked her. "I might stab you in the back, or leave you behind later on."

Julia dozed off for a second before answering, "I really don't know myself, but you don't seem like a bad person. I honestly got this weird sort of—feeling. Like I've known you before.."

"What..?" Feona crocked her head in confusion. "How come I don't remember meeting you before?"

"Haha!" Julia retracted. "Doesn't make sense, right?"

"Heh." Feona cracked a slight smile before she walked passed her. "Let us deal with this place. After that, I'd like to find out more about this feeling of yours.."

"Oh, okay!" Julia sprinted after, and walked with her toward the gate.

From one of the rectangular openings on the far wall, a group of shady people were watching Julia and her group.

"It's Vincent, my brother!" one of them said. "We found him!"

"But he's not alone.." another one added.

"Keep following them." said their boss. "Once they get distracted, sneak on them, and slit his throat."

"Aye, Captain.."

"Hehehehe.."

~CREAK!

After manging to open up the large black gate, the group entered another wide area. The moment they all stepped inside, silver armored soldiers circled around them from all directions. "WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED!" one soldier yelled.

"LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS, AND SURREDER, AND WE WILL NOT KILL YOU!"

"Oh, great.." Petra complained. "We can't fight right now!"

"Yeah, we're still worn out from that last fight.." Julia said.

"Mika.." Vincent gave his short partner a smile. Mika sighed, and summoned her staff.

~Shiinnn!

"..Through the power of life and light, heal us from all our blight.." she itterated. "HEAL!"

~Plinnn!

A soft green aura enveloped everyone on Mika's side, and regained them all their strength.

"Amazing..!" said Majd.

"I don't feel drowsy anymore!" Julia exclaimed.

"Grunge cake, you're cool..!" Petra said as she materialized a long Rod of Light.

"Save it, Vampire's buttock!" Mika shot back.

The armored guards realized that these intruders were not going to comply. So, they took their stance, and raised their weapons. "STOP THEM!"

"UUGGGGHHHAAA!" they clutched on them from all four sides.

"Ready for another rumble, Jaden-Not-Theif?" Vincent took out his twin daggers.

Jaden summoned his Engineblade, "Just don't get in my way, Space Pirate.."

"Cut it, there they come!" Feona readied her white sword and charged forward before the two. "Haaaaa!"

Jaden and Vincent covered her back as they clashed with the heavy spear wielders.

~Clank! Clank!

~Slash!

"[Sonic Leap]!" Eugene carved his way through the enemies.

"UGHHH!"

"RAGING BLAST!" Petra blasted the heavy tanks.

~BLOW!

~CRUMBLE!

"Majd, look out!" Julia rose her electric purple barrier, catching those trying to ambush Eugene from the back.

~ZAP!

"WHHAAA!"

"Thanks, Safi!" Eugene and her went back to back.

"Can you open a way for us?" she asked.

Eugene nodded, and casted a Sacred Art. "Blizzard Element • Discharge!"

An Antarctic wind froze an entire troop of soldiers. Eugene and Julia were able to break through with ease.

"Hey, look out!" Mika shouted. She spotted another troop throwing fireballs down at them from patios above them. "They're more up there!"

"Those insolents!" Feona took cover behind a rocky strand.

~Bang! Blow!

"Agh, BLIZZARDA!" Mika swang her staff which casted sharp pointy icicles that flew like missles toward the enemies.

~BLOW!

~Bang! Bang!

"Shit! They're taking cover!" Petra said.

"We gotta reach to them.." Jaden said.

Hearing him, Vincent charged out in the open.

"Ehh, hey!" Eugene yelled, but Vincent carried on regardless.

When he got close enough, Vincent threw one dagger toward the evil armored guards. It span upward until it pierced one soldier near the shoulder. But right before he could remove the dagger off, Vincent vanished from where he was, and reappeared in front of the soldier in a blink.

"Didn't know the view is nice from up hear..!" he cracked a smile, and grabbed his dagger, and slashed the enemy with one motion.

"Ughhh!" the soldier bled out and collapsed.

"All right," Vincent proceeded forward. "Who'd be next?"

Vincent combated each soldier as he kept his pace. His daggers slashed and slited all the way through. Every move he made caused serious injuries on his enemies.

Those who were down below watched as Vincent dropped all the guards above down to where they were.

"What power..?" Feona's jaw dropped open.

"That's amazing..!" Eugene admitted.

"Yes!" Mika smirked. "You're all witnessing the power of the most dangerous Space Pirate in the Realm; Vincent Hindergrass!"

The most dangerous Pirate, huh?, Jaden watched in awe. There's no other way to it. This guy is capable and determined. A natural born leader. He's everything I'm lacking. I bet if he sets out to get all the Seven Keys, he'd get 'em all with ease. Heck! He's almost sure that he'll snatch the Golden Key from me anytime he pleases..

~Drop!

Vincent landed on his feet after he finished the job. "That'll be that, I suppose.." he said.

"Great work, boss!" Mika gave him a thumbs up.

"Now.." Petra turned left and right. "Where's that exit? This place got me claustrophobic!"

~Blink!

"Watch out!" Eugene jolted the moment his eyes glimpsed a mysterious blinking light floating right above their heads.

"What the fuck is that..?" Petra watched it in confusion.

"I have never seen anything like it." Feona panicked.

The glowing object started fuzzing in and out, ripping the atmosphere all around it.

~Vivivivid!

This looks familiar, Jaden jogged his memory. He had seen this happened before when he fought for his life against a gigantic statue that wiped out an entire squad of Demon Hunters back in his home planetoid. A sole survivor, Jaden kept every moment of that horrific experience etched to his heart.

"Ahh!" Julia jolted back, scrunching the heart area of her chest.

"Safi!" Eugene looked back at her.

"What's the matter?!" Vincent asked.

"My chest..feels heavy.." Safi managed to reply.

"What..?" Petra muttered as she gazed back up. "Could it be 'cause of that thing..?"

"Ugh..!" Mika retracted, covering her tiny ears. Her face tensed in irritation. "Something—something is coming.."

"Huh..!" Jaden turned to face the now irregularly glowing orb above as it grew in size.

The orb then went enveloped by a blaze of fire, and continued enlarging. And in few seconds, a figure that was identical to a horse emerged, but it was covered in burning flames. It was way bigger than Jaden and his companions. A gigantic horse sprout straight out of the depth of hell.

"UHHHHEEHEEEHEE!!"

"What kind of Lander is this?!" Eugene eyes widened.

The ginger haired girl raised her head up. "It's not a Lander..." she forced the words out. "This is—"

Jaden stepped before her, summoning his Engineblade. "—It's a demon!" he uttered.

"UHHHHEEHEEEHEE!!" the demon horse roared.

"Have you gone mad? A demon, here on the Fifth Level?" Vincent looked more interested than shocked. "True what they say: The longer you live, the more disappointed you become.."

"We need to take it down!" Feona prepared her white elegant sword.

Vincent drew his twin daggers out, "Mika!"

"Roger!" Mika summoned her staff, and began enchanting Mystic Arts.

Both of Vincents daggers emitted fire and icy blizzard.

"Looks like we ain't got a choice.." Petra materialized a multitude of Light Knives right above her head.

Julia struggled to stand on her feet, and brushed Eugene hand away. "It's okay. I can fight, too.." she told him.

"Are you sure..?" Eugene asked.

"I can't just stand here and do nothing.." she replied. "We have to keep going and find our way home, right?"

Eugene nodded, and drew out his sword.

She's so determined on going back home, he thought. I can relate to that. No one can afford to lose when they're fighting for their true desires.

—— We have to beat this thing, Eugene shouted in his head. NO MATTER WHAT!

The demon horse raised up its front half, and four large focuses of flames emerged right above its head. The four orbs soon started showering fireballs at them.

"Now, go!" Feona signaled, and charged forward.

"We'll try subdue the fire." Vincent said as he and Mika ran toward the side.

Hearing them, Feona closed on the large demon. She immediately thrust her sword at it in blurry slashes.

~Slash! Slash!

~Clank!

The demon horse used its head, and bluntly hit Feona.

"Agh!" she got tossed few meters away, and fell down to the ground.

As it was busy dealing with Feona, the demon went wide open. And as he was approaching, Jaden took the opportunity.

It's my chance!, he leaped in the air. [ARIAL SWIFT]!

~Clank! ~Block!

"Ha!" Jaden tried pushing his blade harder, but the horse twisted its enflammed body, and threw Jaden off.

~Drop!

"Jaden!" Petra yelled for him, and then unleashed her Knives flying toward the monster. "TAKE THAT!"

~THWIP! THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!

~Block!

"UHEHEHEHEHEEHHEE!!" the demon horse roared out loud, and enhanced the brutality of the fire showering orbs.

~Burn!

"..Reflecta..!" Julia materialized her purple shield.

"Now, boss!" Mika yelled, and jumped on Vincent interlacing fingers.

"Uhm." he prepared for tossing her as a catapult. "There you go!"

~Throw!

"Haaaaaaa!" Mika flew up toward the demon. "Blizzard Shield!"

Four pieces of heavy shields circled around the short girl in mid-air. With a gesture from her hand, the shields flew to collide with the fire emitting orbs. "GO!" she shouted.

~Poff!

"Uhhhaaa!" the demon lost orientation as the feild around was covered in smoke.

At that moment, both Eugene and Julia emerged from within the smoke. Eugene leaped forward, and slashed with his Blue-Rose Sword. "[Arial Swift]!"

~Block!

"UHHEHEHEHE!" the demon tried fore-heading Eugene, but the golden-brown haired boy countered fast.

"Blizzard Element • DISCHARGE!" he released frosting wind that froze the horse's nose, and it retracted.

"Eugene, are you okay?!" Julia yelled.

Eugene fell back on his butt. "Yeah. You keep going!" he replied.

My sword couldn't do any damage, but Sacred Arts repel it, he theorized while panting.

"Okay!" she ran toward the blazing demon. Julia converged Mana into her right hand, and it turned crimson. Then, as soon as she waved with it, a crimson clow-like shadows emerged and dashed against the wind. It made direct blow on the demon.

~SHAAAA!

"UHEHEHE!!" the horse demon wobbled for a minute, but that only managed to make it angry.

The demonic horse open its mouth wide, and a fireball, larger than any other, blasted at Julia.

"Reflecta!" she put out her shield at the right second.

~BRUTH!!

A stream of burning fire streamed down at the ginger haired girl. As she struggled against the bursting flames, her shield started reflecting the attack, but it was yet to cause any hit.

"No—you won't.." Julia pushed her hands forward against the demon force.

"FAAAAAHH!" the burning demon horse, in turn, unleashed even stronger fire power out of its mouth.

"Ahhhh.." the burning flames began to overwhelm Julia.

Jaden appeared from above. He bounced off of her sheild, just near the fire, and jumped at the enemy.

As he saw him going on an assault, Eugene mouthed the words as fast as he could, "Watch out! Normal attacks don't affect it!"

Then Mana attacks will!, Jaden raised his hand. "System Call • Generate Arial • Discharge!"

~FOOOAAM!

A sharp gush of wind hit the demon in the eye, and caused it to lose balance. Jaden then summoned back his Engineblade, and attacked the demon's face in mid-air. "[X-ROUNDER]!"

~Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Hit!

~Splatter!

The demonic horse lost its voice as Jaden blurry slashes severely injured it. It retracted backward, roughly losing balance. But at the heat of that moment while Jaden was yet floating above its head, the demon regained its awareness. It immediately stretched its mouth wide open, and prepared to exhale all the flames remained within.

"Shit!" Jaden gasped.

At that moment, seconds before the fire had engulfed him, Jaden glimpsed a bronze dagger floating near him. And the next second, Vincent appeared before him all of the sudden.

"That'd suits you right!" he grabbed the dagger, and released a freezing blizzard wave against the bursting flames of the demon.

~TSHAAA!

"Wha—!" Jaden startled as Vincent pushed the two of them down.

~Drop!

"UH—hehehemmm!" the horse demon went furious as its mouth got covered in ice. And it began charging forward in dashing speed.

~DASH! DASH! DASH! DASH! DASH! DASH!

The raging demon kept galloping in all directions. Petra, Julia, Eugene, Feona, and Mika all tried taking cover, but soon enough, their options became scarce.

"EAT THIS!" Petra tried her Raging Blast, but the horse avoided it with speed.

"We can't even catch this thing!" Julia said angrily.

"It went berserk!" Petra added.

"UH—HEHEHEHEHE!" the demon released its mouth from the frosting ice, and roared as the flames around it got more scorching.

"I can't believe Afallan had even brought demon to our lands.." Feona muttered. Julia noticed her sword holding hand tremorred as Feona faced the towering monster.

"Uh—!" Feona's hand was held by Julia's.

"We're in this together." she said.

"Indeed. Thank you.." Feona replied, and charged forward. "Huaaaaahh!"

Feona kept her pace as the demon rained fireballs at her. But Julia raised her Reflecta Shield to guard the way. Close enough to her target, Feona swang her white elegant sword various times on the horse legs.

~Slash! Slash! Slash!

"Uhehehehe!" the horse demon steered away to recollect.

"Horse-face trying to parry!" Petra yelled.

"Damn!" Vincent rose up off the ground, and threw his dagger toward the demon.

Right when the weapon flew near the demon's face, Vincent teleported, and attacked.

~Clank!

"Ugh!" Vincent got thrown away. He tossed away the other dagger. And once it nailed onto the wall up high, he teleported right up on it.

"Mika," Vincent signaled. "Now!"

"..Air • Breeze • Wind • Storm.." Mika raised her staff, reciting an incantation. "GRAND HURRICANE!"

~FOAAAAHHH!

A powerful twisting wind twirled all around the area, and a giant hurricane hindered the demon from moving.

"Time to blow off the candles!" Petra converged light in her hands before unleashing it all out. "RAGING BLAST!"

~BLAST!

~BLOW!

This wind is way stronger than Majd's Arts, Jaden struggled to get on his feet. This is a whole another level..

"Your turn, boss!" Mika hollered.

Up on the higher walls, Vincent let go of his engraved dagger, and descend down. He freely fell toward the demonic monster. "Time to put the fullstop.." he smirked.

He began drowing with his fingers, and in front of him, a star-shaped outline was forged. Vincent pushed both of his palms against it in thin air.

"BURNING ATTACK!" he released a golden blazing sphere out.

The burning sphere spiraled down toward the demon, and the impact led to a succession of explosions that caught the horse demon entirely.

~BA-BA-BAM! Ka-BOOM!

"Ow!" the others covered up from the blow.

So this is.., Jaden gazed at the bombastic explosion. The 5th Level's magical strength..!

After the blinding light of the blow subsided, a humid smoke fogged the whole zone.

"Is it dead..?" Eugene asked.

"It better be.." Petra panted.

Everyone looked around warily for sometime to make sure that the demon had truely gone. But Jaden walked up to them through the fog and confirmed it.

"The demon has gone. I don't detect its presence anymore." he said.

"Wait, you can?!" Eugene was surprised.

"Demon Hunter.." Jaden pointed to himself sarcastically; as if stating the obvious.

"And yet, you couldn't hunt the damn thing alone.." Vincent interjected.

"Talk about some lousy rat hunter.." Mika cracked up.

"Zip it, Grunge-cake!" Jaden grumbled.

Timid to join in on their conversation, Julia felt a presence all of the sudden. When she gazed upward, her eyes caught a thin glimmer of something falling down at them.

What's that?, she felt confused. It's coming down on Mado!

Julia's body moved brainlessly, racing her way toward the heterchromatic boy. At that same moment, Eugene noticed her coming their way with a pale face gazing up. When he looked above, a sharp thin object was dashing its way toward them.

"Look out!" Eugene pushed Petra away.

"Whoa!" Petra retreated back into the fog as a transparent thin wall dropped and separated her from Eugene.

~Bam!

As a second piece of the transparent wall were about to fall down near Jaden, Julia tried stretching her hand out to pull him. But halfway through, the ginger girl hesitated. The air in her lungs felt trapped, and her chest tightened.

~Bam!

Julia pulled back her hand in an instant as she retracted.

"Huh?!" Jaden's eyes widened as the wall obstructed the space between him and Julia.

But the following moment, several transparent walls fell from above in succession. It formed a hexagonal zone that trapped Jaden and the others in the middle. Despite the Julia and Petra, everyone else were inside the walled zone.

"The fuck..?!" Petra looked cautiously around her in the midst of the thick smoke. But then, something struck her neck. "..Agh!"

"Huh..!" the timid Julia turned to witness a total unexpected scene. A mysterious tall figure dragged the unconscious Petra into the depth of the fog.

"Is that all?" a voice reached Julia's ear.

"There's still one more woman!" a different voice echoed.

Julia didn't know what to do anymore. Fear was blinding every flicker of thought she might have come up with. During that state of panic, Julia spotted a stone statue resembling an ultar. She marched toward it in a split second, and went hiding as her heart thumped up to her throat.

"What's this?!" Jaden looked at the walls surrounding him in panic. "Where're the girls?!"

"Petra is right out there!" Eugene replied. His voice sounded shaky.

"Who put this on our way?!" Feona tried hitting the walls with her elegant sword.

~Clank!

~Clank!

Mika thought about using one of her spells, but the second she rose up her staff, nothing occured. "Uhh..!"

Noticing his partner face, Vincent figured out the nature of their situation. "Oh well.." he dropped his shoulders. "This is a Mana dampener."

"What?! So that means—!" Jaden argued as a faint sound of spears cut him off.

"END OF THE LINE! WE HAVE GOTTEN YOU SURROUNDED!"

When enough smoke was cleared away, Jaden saw about thirty soldiers in their fighting stance. "Dammit.."

"THROW ALL THE WEAPONS AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"

Refusing to perform as she was told, Feona glared at the silver armored guards, and raised her sword.

"Now isn't the time.." Vincent pulled her hand back down. He then forced her to throw away the weapon.

~Tlank!

Feona and the others raised their hands in the open. And afterwards, someone emerged from within the still smoky area. He wasn't wearing any armor. In fact, he was dressed in a blue blazer befitting a royal emprror. Jaden was able to recognize him at sight.

That's Afallan's Council!, his eyes then traced a round glowing object that Gundolf was holding.

"Jaden..?" Eugene recognized the glowing piece as well. "Isn't that..?"

"Yeah.." Jaden replied in a raspy terrified voice. "A glitch.."

"He's been using it to bend the rules.." Eugene said.

"That explains why there was a demon.." Jaden replied. "They're bending the rules with it.."

"Just like——Death Gun!" Eugene clenched his jaw.

"So, I'll just stand here—pretending to understand what you're talking about.." Vincent interjected. But then, Mika stiffened as she saw Gundolf approaching them.

"He—he's coming..!"

"Humph," Gundolf gave his captured criminals a smugged look. "I believe you're out of luck."

"Are we..?" Vincent asked.

"The feet that brought you here," Gundolf said. "They will not take you forth.."

"I believe this image would be very dreadful for the eve of the Fete, Council Eisenhaur.." Vincent replied.

"Would it be..?" Gundolf narrowed his eyes for few seconds, but then turned around and walked away. "See these special guests get the utmost proper treatment."

As Gundolf announced the command, the troops gave him a stance and obeyed immediately.

Few hours after they got caught, Jaden, Eugene, Feona, and the Space Pirate duo were transfered up to the city. In the market-place of the Underground, the guards cuffed them in chains. And in front of a large crowd, they pushed them into a large carriage.

"..What's all this?!.." whispered the people watching.

"..They tried to steal from the citadel.."

"..Is that what the commotion last night was all about.."

Standing there in chains, Feona's jaw was dropped in disbelief. "They think of me as some common theif..!" she muttered.

Vincent stepped next to her, and whispered "Better than a common assassin."

When the armored guards forced the group to walk up, Feona declared with an assertive tone, "These people have done nothing! Release them!"

"Don't get angry—" walking right behind her, Eugene tried calming her down, but furious Feona pushed him away.

"Don't interrupt me, I'm thinking!" she replied.

"Come on! Move!" a soldier violently pushed Jaden and Eugene onto the carriage.

At that moment, a little boy with curly orange hair pushed his way amongst the hindering crowd. "HEY!" he shouted. "LET THEM GO! YOU HAVE TO LET THEM GO!"

"Talkid!" Jaden turned surprised.

Then, one soldier snatched the Golden Key out of Jaden's pocket. "And I'll take that. It's Lord Gundolf's property."

"Hey!" Jaden tried persuing him, but as he was tied up in chains, there wasn't a thing he could have done.

"STAND DOWN!" a guard struck him on the back of his neck.

"Agh!" Jaden feet felt cold, and he went dropped on the ground unconscious.

"NOOO!" Talkid pushed harder, and emerged out of the audacious crowd. But as soon as he ran toward Jaden, a couple of silver armored guards restrained the young boy on the ground.

"Don't move!" yelled the guard.

"Let me—go!" Talkid resisted, but his effort was fruitless. "You evil Afallanians!"

From the rear end of the crowd, behind a corner, Lara watched as her orphan friend was yelling from the bottom of his stomach. But the soldiers carried on regardless, and shoved Jaden, along with the rest into the carriage.

"Oh no..." she said, turning to the girl hiding next to her. "They will take them to some prison outside the city!"

The other girl was much older than Lara, and had freckles on her face with a ginger colored hair that styled in a ponytail. When Lara gazed at her, the ginger haired girl was crossing her arm as her whole body rigorred in panic.

"What are we going to do now, Julia?" she asked.

"I—I don't know.." Julia stuttered. "I really don't know.."