“Way of Escape”

The cloaked woman slowly removed her hand from the substance, facing exactly where the two were hiding, as at this point they decided they might as well come out.

"Alright.. Now, who the hell are you?"

Nico said, approaching the woman as Lucy followed behind him. The woman suddenly leaned forth, slowly pulling the closk over her face.

"It's me! I'm gonna get you out of here."

To his surprise, there the red headed girl he met before stood, Rowlocus. She had a smile on her face, her finger over her mouth in a gesture for him to keep quiet.

"Eh..!? How'd you even get in here???"

Rowlocus giggled, removing the cloak as she then glanced over Nico's shoulder towards Lucy, who was gently smiling back.

"Oh? Who's that, your girlfriend?"

Nico quickly flicked her in the forehead, Lucy laughing as if the idea of them dating being a complete joke, Rowlocus stumbling back from the flick.

"I don't even like her as a person, let's just get out of here."

As the two girls stopped laughing, Rowlocus then nodded as she quickly walked over to the cauldrun, pushing it with struggle as underneath was a manhole.

"Let's go..!"

She pried the cover off, before slowly letting herself down into it. Nico and Lucy followed, landing in a shallow body of water.

The place seemed like a sewage system, as with that understanding the three quickly got out from the water to the side.

"This place smells like shit.."

Nico mumbled. The three looked around as it was almost pitch black down in the sewers, Rowlocus failing to start a lighter, which was likely out of gas.

After a moment of her failure, Lucy shook her head as the blue flame upon her candlewick returned. Rowlocus' eyes widened as she tried to poke at it, Lucy slapping her hand back on attempt.

"Don't touch, just lead us the way."

Rowlocus nodded, grabbing both of their hands as she ran off with them, the two a bit startled by her sudden movement as she travelled through the sewers.

"C'mon, it's a long walk..!"

The two began matching her speed, following Rowlocus, before she came to a sudden stop, the two tripping forwards.

"Damnit, what the hell was that fo-"

Nico exclaimed before Rowlocus covered his mouth, pointing over to a light coming from the corner. To realization the three reacted frantically, scurrying around as shey tried extinguishing her candlewick.

"Over there..!"

It seemed too late, a guard already calling them out as they came out from the corner, a large group, and they didn't seem like the average knight.

They instantly began charging towards the three, Nico looking around frantically, before looking down to an old board on the floor.

He tossed the board up, and pushed the two girls behind him. As the board fell back down, just as it aligned with his arm he shot an explosion forth, igniting the methane as the explosion spread throughout the sewer.

The board acted as a shield to the explosion, Nico struggling to stand his ground as the explosion shot force the sides beside him, barely an inch away from hitting the girls.

The board lasted just as long as the explosion, breaking into pieces as Nico was sent back, Rowlocus and Lucy catching him.

"You could've gotten us killed, y'know..!"

The guards were now a complete crisp as Mico stood back up straight, dusting himself off.

"Whatever, let's just go…"

The three continued on their travels, Rowlocus leading them to the exit as she pointed to the ladder. The three climbed out, Nico first peaking around to check if the coast was clear.

"We did it, we're free..!"

Lucy jumped around joyfully, Rowlocus joining her as they giggled in excitement. Nico sighed to how childish they were being in this situation, looking around as they were in an empty street.

"It's broad daylight, does this play feel a little empty to you guys..?"

The girls regained focus, looking around with Nico as he slowly walked forth, staying cautious of the surroundings.

The street was empty, it felt dull and lifeless, though they still had the feeling of being watched. A sudden noise could be heard as Nico instantly fired an explosion towards it.

The explosion oddly didn't travel all the way, as if it hit something on it's travels. As the dust settled Nico glanced to a figure behind the explosion, The Leader finally returning.

"So you escaped, and it appears Lucy is still alive?"

Nico and Lucy rushed to him, as Rowlocus just stood there confused. The Leader stood there with his hands behind his back, as when Nico tried to hit him for earlier, an invisible force stopped him.

"The fuck was that.. and what have you been doing this whole time..!?"

Nico seemed pissed at The Leader, Lucy holding back and trying to calm him down is Rowlocus walked up to them.

"My apologies, Ryoto, but at least you've gathered the intel to win next time."

The Leader suddenly tore the bandages off of Nico's head, placing his palm to his face, as a yellow aura, flowing like a wave shot out his hand.

In the matter of seconds Nico's bloodied and broken face was suddenly healed, Nico is slight surprise as he felt his healed wounds.

"I'm not gonna question your weirdo magic anymore… How do you expect me to win next time, that guy's insane..!"

The Leader shook his head, removing a small device from his pocket as it seperated, forming a holographic tablet.

"That man is the ruler, named Malik. From my.. testing, this devil species is very malleable. Basically your relentless blunt attacks won't do anything."

The Leader unsheathed a sword, tossing it to Nico as he caught it, examining the blade, and refining the edge using the metal fo his fingers.

"Eh.. I haven't done sword stuff since like, middle school.. and it's just a regular sword, I doubt it'll do much."

The Leader began walking off, closing his tablet as the three followed him, confused on what he was planning to do.

"Well, we'll just have to find an upgrade. Follow me."

The Leader lead them through the street, loud noises and music heard in the distance as they approached what seemed like a carnival.

There were many people around, Rowlocus acting frantically as she threw her cloak at Lucy, not worrying much about Nico or The Leader, as The Leader was masked, and Nico already looked like them.

"Ah..-! Warning next time..!"

Lucy put the cloak on, the four entering the carnival as they looked around, games and vendors seen everywhere, as The Leader stepped out and faced the three, his arms held out to the sides.

"Here we'll find what we need."