Arc 2: Noble City VIIS: A Worthy Sacrifice?

Disclaimer: I don't own Gate or Nihon-koku Shoukan as it belongs to its rightful owners.

Arc 2: A City, A Diplomacy A Dragon

Noble City VIIS: A Worthy Sacrifice?

As she made her way through the uneven terrain, she found herself stumbling repeatedly. The cup she was carrying on her head threatened to tip over with every misstep. Despite her difficulties, she felt a sense of relief when she realized that the small drops of water that had spilled had landed on her hand and not on the ground. It was a small victory, but it gave her the encouragement she needed to keep moving forward.

She didn't really get the real purpose of this task other than to make it to the end of the line and finish the whole thing.

"Oh my... I think she's really going to do it!"

"Come on Rory! Just a little more!"

The girl wasn't really alone either.

While with her fellow trainee priestesses, Rory discovered newfound motivation in the grand hallways of the illustrious Temple of Emroy. The sight of her companions and the splendor of the temple surroundings ignited a flame of inspiration within her.

She continued walking and pushing towards the end, but slowly because she didn't want to squander her one and only chance. Furthermore, as time passed, she grew to enjoy it. She raised her eyes to the others and noticed her best friend, Belle, who was still cheering for her, and a smile crept across her lips.

The only thing she had to do was not to lose focus, The line that she was walking along was surrounded by a blue ethereal essence that stood up tall amongst the rest, and from the farthest from her direction, their mentor carefully observed the task.

"You're almost there.." Her mentor remarked.

This was a very rare occasion when everyone's support was poured on her like a bucket of cold water. If she can pass this simple test, she should be able to pass the next ones in line. The spirit of the world and Emroy would then take notice and deem her worthy of a blessing. That, in turn, would finally help her family and allow them to live comfortably.

Everything was going well until she looked up again, and saw him amongst the crowd.

Her body froze as she didn't know how to react when their eyes both met. She had not seen him for a long time, but was she indeed surprised that he was here and a part of them of the church as well?

This was the reason her focus was fading, and not long after, she lost control of her balance and fell to the ground.

The crowd of trainees halted their voices and some covered their mouths in shock., especially her blue-haired best friend.

From the other side, her mentor sighed but in a good way." Well, not the finest endings in recent times but congratulations Rory, you passed the test."

When the young girl became distracted, she began walking faster than usual, and by the time she reached the finish line, she had tripped and taken an unintentional dive. Of course, there were ramifications because the cup of water was poured on her clothing, but it did not fall to the floor.

Following that, quietness took over the whole place.

Rory was speechless, for a second, she thought that she was going to start from the bottom again, yet in some way, she had to take the clumsiest finishes that a priestess would endure.

Her fellow trainees didn't continue their cheers but some rushed towards the girl to assist her, with Belle, leading the way.

"Are you alright?" She asked." You did a great job!" The girl added, bringing out her support.

Soon the admiration returned and the rest began praising her for her accidental accomplishment.

The young girl returned the smile but said nothing as her attention returned to the person who had distracted her.

She looked at him, but not with a frown.

She was intrigued, which prompted her to learn more.

As to why he was here, in the first place.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Upon completion of the task at hand, the day's lessons had come to a close. While her fellow trainees departed for the comforts of home or to explore the bustling city streets, the young girl opted to stay behind. She found solace in the stillness that surrounded her as she settled herself beside a towering pillar, her only companion the peaceful silence that enveloped her.

"Come on Rory, you don't have to talk to him, He didn't even receive his master's approval for him to become a trainee."

She recalled her friend, trying to persuade her to let go of the past.

"Even though the other girls have the desire to win his heart, I'll never fall for the looks!"

"They only deceived but the actual character is much worse..."

She shook her head and smiled.

Belle had become a dear friend to her, so much so that they regarded each other as sisters. However, there was one crucial secret that she had never divulged to Belle - the boy whom she had known since childhood.

The wind grew stronger as the young girl watched the sunset.

Something about this place was special.

The panoramic view of the historic metropolis was truly awe-inspiring. She couldn't help but ponder over the challenges that she had face and how far she had come to get into this situation, since leaving their hometown long ago.

"What a wonderful place to spend time isn't it?"

A familiar voice then caught her attention, and she realized that a certain time had finally come.

She turned to her right and met the dark brown-haired boy face to face.

"Rory..." The teen muttered her name with a smile.

The girl didn't say much, but she did smile briefly before returning her attention to the scenery.

"How long have you been staying here at the temple, Luscious?" she asked calmly, but she didn't hesitate to show her seriousness.

Luscious was taken aback by her words, but he understood what she was trying to say.

He eventually gave up and sighed "I can't even count...months or weeks maybe?" He tried to act innocently.

"B-But don't get me wrong, this is all but temporary.."

Rory made a face, indicating she didn't believe the whole thing. The attire that he was wearing wasn't that of a warrior nor an elite knight.

"You told me you were going to pursue your dream."

He slightly looked away, feeling that small shame." I know." He muttered as he looked up towards the sky." And I thought I was going to sail the seas and reach the promised land or become a famous warrior or even a pirate." He slightly chuckled, showing a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

"I didn't expect to be left here while they all went on their own adventure," he explained. "Now, I'm just trying to earn as many silver coins as possible in order to return home."

He couldn't believe it, even to himself. His whole confidence was almost reduce to none.

It was unfortunate that he did not receive the approval of his fellow party members, who believed he was not good or strong enough. However, the local priests were gracious enough to provide him with a home, and something to do.

For a brief moment, silence took over. The girl made a solemn expression as she looked at her once-former "Protector" that repelled the local village bullies.

"When I come back, I'll see to it that the village will never be raided or attacked."

"I will protect everyone."

The memory of those words echoed in her mind as she gazed upon the familiar face of her childhood friend. He had departed years ago to join a band of adventurers pursuing a common goal. Yet here he was, living an unremarkable life as a temporary cleaner of floors and walls. The shock of this unexpected encounter was palpable as she struggled to come to terms with the reality of the situation. How had he ended up here, and what had become of his once lofty aspirations? The questions lingered in her mind as she tried to make sense of this unexpected reunion.

"Even if this is just once, promise me that when my life is at risk, you'll be there to save me."

As Luscious stood there, memories of his childhood friend's promise flooded his mind. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of shame creeping up on him. Eventually, he gave in to his emotions and sat down, leaning on a nearby pillar. His gaze drifted towards the breathtaking view of the sea and city, lost in thought.

By then, he felt a place on his shoulder, and he turned to see the girl herself who surprisingly approached him and gave him a smile.

"I miss you," she said simply, resting her head on his shoulder, a small tear falling from her eye, indicating that she really did care for him all these years.

Despite a slight blush, the young teenager understood and smiled for the first time. It was something that reignited the fire within him, and from then on, he vowed that he would never look back to his weak past and that he would grow stronger until the time came when they would notice, and he would finally make a significant impact across the land, if not the world.

But, above all, he wanted to keep that simple promise.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

940 years later.

The ravages of time continued as the Noble City witnessed various battles taking place.

Those between the defenders of the towers and the walls and the dark wyvern army were spreading their reign of terror from above.

The streets also had their own conflict, with Maihark's Constables defending the various safe zones from the attacking dark corrupted dragon-like creatures.

And, of course, a band of unlikely heroes from different walks of life who continued the fight throughout the districts using a combination of magic and non-magic.

Amongst all that, there was one battle that was ongoing and was much more complex compared to the others.

It happened in many different parts of the city, the normal eye wouldn't have the chance to see it but only catch a glimpse of two auras clashing together creating powerful waves of energy around, causing structures to instantly crumble into bits like breadcrumbs.

Rory had never felt such a rush of adrenaline before, and for the first time in recent years, she was actually involved in a life-threatening situation. She had never faced an opponent who she thought was on the same level as her.

She found herself clashing her weapon against him. The infamous halberd of death, which had slain thousands of souls and powerful entities, was attempting to inflict harm on the young man.

As the situation unfolded, he displayed an impressive ability to hold his own against a person with whom she shared a long history dating back to their childhood days. Despite this, she remained emotionally detached and devoid of any deep sentiments towards him. Instead, her primary reaction was one of disappointment, as her initial suspicions were proven to be correct.

She knew this was going to be a struggle to overcome.

When it came to casting spells, it was an entirely different ball game for her. She realized that using too much magic wouldn't be effective in the current situation. Thus, taking the battle to the other endless realm wouldn't give her the upper hand in making crucial decisions.

The weapon that the young man had in his possession was truly a gift from the divine forces. It was a lengthy blade that bore a striking resemblance to the revered odachi from the Kingdom of Fenn. Despite being able to wield the larger halberd, the young man found that the blade lacked a bit of speed in comparison to the latter. Nonetheless, there was another reason why he preferred the blade over the halberd.

At this point in the battle, the Apostle of Emroy had to switch up her tactics and take a more defensive approach. She opted to block and dodge her opponent's attacks, rather than trying to strike back.

"Why are you holding back?" Luscious asked as he kept on attacking, trying to bring her into focus.

How many times they had sparred throughout the centuries?

Rory didn't respond and surprisingly, she kept a distance and eventually decided to flee this time.

The move caught him off guard, and he dashed to keep up with her.

He could tell something was wrong. He didn't believe in that particular emotion right now, but he wanted to be certain.

Then out of the blue, the girl spoke.

"You don't have to do this, Luscious."

She was serious about this." There's nothing to gain, even if you acquired all crystals." She added." You will only succumb to its influence, and the sacrifices you made will be for nothing!"

"So please...tell me...who are you serving under?"

Despite, the statement she had said to make him realize, he gave a small chuckle.

"It would be my pleasure to tell you my own story," he said. "However, you haven't answered my question...and it's quite simple."

"Where are you keeping it?"

Rory remained silent.

"I know, it wasn't just Parna, Who are you working alongside."

"You don't have to lie, it's useless by this point."

The nerve of someone to actually use the crystal to summon the spirit of the world to defend a decaying city.

The girl felt a growing sense of unease. Her opponent was actually thinking. He had already figured out some important details about the plan. He'd find out where he was sooner or later. She had to do something to stop it.

In a flash, Rory vanished from sight and reappeared above her opponent, who was caught off guard. Before making the move, she whispered a phrase that triggered their weapons to clash with an electrifying surge of magic. As they battled on, Rory's halberd transformed into a sleeker and more agile version, allowing her to unleash a devastating torrent of slashes that sliced through multiple parts of her foe's body. Her swift and precise attacks left the young man reeling, unable to keep up with her lightning-fast movements.

Luscious, with remarkable foresight, was able to predict her next move and skillfully sidestepped the potentially fatal attacks that could take down an average person in a mere instant.

"All that long break from combat really made you slow." He teased her, in a familiar manner, letting out a smile.

Suddenly, he sensed a looming danger behind him. Swiftly, he pivoted to defend himself from an unexpected attacker. To his surprise, he faced yet another assailant, this time from a different direction. Despite being outnumbered, he managed to maintain his composure and skillfully dodged a third attack. His agility was impressive as he leapt out of harm's way.

He widened his eyes in realization.

His doubts were cleared when he felt magic being cast, and thus he smirked.

"So you even dare to summon the twin warriors from beyond?"

Before him, stood a pair of individuals, one being a man and the other a young woman, both adorned in the attire of Emroy's esteemed warriors. The duo was encircled by a mystical aura, signifying their arrival in this realm was authorized by an apostle and sanctioned by the supreme spirit.

He didn't easily believe that it was them but rather fakes.

The two warriors soon charged at the young man to engage him in combat with the Oracle of Emroy observing.

The girl's refusal to go all out on him surprised Luscious. Facing two well-known warriors from history didn't make the situation any more interesting to him.

He knew there was a plan behind that facade, and it was to distract his mind.

The young man slightly nodded in understanding as his hand balled into a fist and he cast his own magic.

"If you want me to get distracted from my main purpose? So be it." He remarked as a darkish essence manifested." I will take your focus away from whatever goal you are pursuing." He then raised his hand and commanded a number of structures to rise from the ground, including the current area they were in.

Over time, multiple structures were split in half, creating numerous massive fragments that shot into the air.

The large debris became their only way to stay afloat.

The girl and her two summoned warriors were caught off guard by a sudden event. Chaos erupted as debris came hurtling towards them, threatening to crush them. Meanwhile, the dark wyvern riders from the group were completely oblivious to what was happening and ended up colliding with the unforgiving concrete. It was a hectic and dangerous situation that left everyone scrambling to stay alive.

When Rory heard the roar of a wyvern from behind her, she turned around and slashed the beast in half, its rider helplessly falling to his death.

By this point, more wyverns had taken notice and were flocking to the unusual battleground.

Luscious' plan had worked, as he immediately leaped towards the two summoned warriors, who were still avoiding the attacking debris as well as the wyverns themselves. By the time he reached the first warrior, he had drawn his sword and stabbed her through the chest.

The first warrior's eyes widened in surprise, and her body quickly transformed into a blueish stream that evaporated into thin air.

The second warrior felt the sudden change, and by the time he turned to his right and met the edges of the blade, his head had been separated from his body, and all of him had become an essence and returned to the lifestream.

He looked around for the girl, but his attention was drawn to several towers with blue flames by the bells, now that his opponents had vanished.

"So that's why you're trying to keep me distracted." He smirked.

"Do you think that by delaying time, those kingdoms will send help to save this old and dying city?" he asked confidently.

"It will be too late no matter wh-" He was suddenly cut off as the girl immediately charged at him.

This time she pushed the latter away from their battle site as both found themselves falling towards the ground.

"How were you able to capture and taint the Flame Dragon's heart?" She spoke once more, as their clashed of blades resumed.

"I am not in the position to answer that." He replied back, trying to gain the upper hand." I supposed, that Draconian Apostle would be the one to clear your doubts." He added.

"How an incompetent and reckless caretaker she is!".

With a surge of power, Luscious amplified his magical energy, causing the sinister aura to intensify in its visibility. The young man wielded his weapon with precision, slicing through the air with a fluid motion. Suddenly, a massive burst of energy materialized in the atmosphere, hurtling straight towards the unsuspecting girl.

In a split second, Rory managed to dodge the attack. However, the impact was colossal, hitting a long stretch of shophouses, and causing them to crumble to the ground in an instant.

"If you can't be honest with your words, then you leave me no choice but to force you to spill out the truth," the young man smirked again, his gaze shifting to a specific building.

There was a small evacuation site nearby, specifically a house for abandoned and parentless children.

Luscious brandished a menacing dark crystal and with one swift strike, shattered the walls of the fortified structure. The very foundations seemed to crumble and turn to dust, revealing a group of women and children who had sought refuge within. They appeared dazed and disoriented, clearly shaken by the sudden and violent turn of events.

As the young man snapped his fingers with a determined look on his face, a sudden barrier materialized around them, blocking any escape route. The women quickly sprang into action, shielding the frightened children from the unknown danger lurking ahead. The little ones huddled together, seeking comfort and safety in each other's embrace.

Rory paused, a tinge of frustration creeping in. It was a situation she never enjoyed.

She really wished that the "Chirithy" was here to assist her, but considering, he was in the middle of pursuing his own task, she had no choice but to face this all by herself.

Luscious stared right through her eyes as he pointed his weapon toward the poor civilians.

"This would not have happened if you had simply told me where the crystal was," he explained, starting the countdown.

"At the end of the day, their lives are depended on your decision..Rory" He added, his weapon already summoning dark magic.

It was apparent to him that this particular vulnerability had plagued her for a considerable duration. Despite earning numerous titles such as "Angel of Death" and "Goddess of War," which supposedly indicated her lack of empathy towards those who begged for mercy, he saw beyond the facade. To him, the supposed apostle he was confronting was merely a young woman with a good heart.

The sound of children's cries echoed throughout the orphanage as the women, struggling with their own mental and emotional pain, tried to comfort them.

However, something unexpected happened that caught the young man off guard.

Rory stood up straight, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"The Wyvern Headquarters of Maihark, that's where the crystal is kept."

Quietness reigned for a few moments.

Luscious found himself at a loss for words. He had not anticipated how effortlessly he would be able to coax the truth out of the girl. Her truthful account was evident not just in her words, but also in the way she spoke, moved, and held herself. Every aspect of her demeanor conveyed an air of sincerity that was hard to ignore.

As he gazed upon her countenance, he couldn't help but recognize the familiar expression she wore. It was one of regret and guilt, a face she often displayed when overwhelmed by those emotions. Despite any potential resentment or anger he could have felt, he instead found himself feeling a sense of pity towards her.

A faint smile crept up on his face and before anyone could register, he released his weapon and in a split second, he disappeared from the vicinity.

After the chaotic commotion settled, Rory swiftly made his way toward the group of women and children to ensure their safety and well-being.

"Thank you, Your Holiness!" One of the women cried out as tears were falling from their eyes.

The rest followed suit as they let out their emotions, with some of the children approaching and hugging her.

The Oracle of Emroy sighed in relief. She gave a smile and said." Don't worry, everything is going to be alright..." She assured them."

Not long after, a group of constables arrived at the scene, and, considering the attire and the symbol that was embedded in her clothing, the men immediately recognized her.

"Your Holiness, what has happened here?" One of them asked.

Rory simply gave a nod and a serious look." Gentlemen, please take them to the western gates, it's the safest place to avoid destruction." She simply instructed.

"As you wish madam..." The lead constable bowed as he and the men finally escorted the rest of the women and children out of the scene.

She looked up at the sky, all by herself, and caught a glimpse of the massive figure of the dark fire dragon as it maneuvered its way towards the specific location.

"Just as I suspected..." She thought to herself, having her doubts cleared as she made the right choice of deviating herself from the fight.

All that fiasco was just an illusion and the real one was actually controlling the dragon from the inside.

"Clever..." She confidently smirked, knowing that it was time to move on to the next plan.

For now, the tension had shifted towards the skies.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The emergence of the lifestream was surprising to many, especially for the rest of the imperial wyvern army, who had expected to encounter a very smooth and easy invasion.

Due to the sudden and unforeseen shift of circumstances, most of them were left with no choice but to simply bear witness as the events unfolded within the confines of the energy barrier resembling a dome.

Captain Julius was in a frenzy trying to piece together what he had just witnessed. His mind was racing with the infinite possibilities of what could go wrong and how he could possibly explain it to his superiors without coming across as a traitor leading them into a deadly trap. It was a daunting task, but he knew he had to find a way to make it work.

This wasn't the outcome that he had expected.

"Captain Julius, what in the heavens is going on?" The commander of the Wyvern army asked calmly.

Despite the man's gentle tone in asking the question, the individual felt a rush of cold sweat pouring down from his forehead.

"Commander, I uh...I will see to it that there will be a way for us to destroy this magic barrier!" He acted firmly as if he was true to his word.

Yet, in truth, he didn't know what to do.

Although, he went ahead and used his manacom in order to contact the first batch of the army, who were able to enter the city.

"Do you all hear me? This is Captain Julius!

He needed to know the current state of their objectives.

Not long after, the voices began to emerge, but it wasn't the response he was looking for.

"C-Captain! We are currently engaging in a fight with the unknown rider!"

"It had already taken down a huge number of the group."

The serious voice of a wyvern rider spoke, even alerting the rest of them.

The man made a puzzled face.

"What do you mean by a rider? All of them are gone as far as we know." He argued back, not believing the latter's statement.

Maihark's finest wyvern riders were all killed during the ambush.

"We have to confirm sir or else-"

The voice was going to respond when suddenly the man from behind the manacom was cut short and instead screamed.

"Do you read me? What happened!?" Captain Julius was trying to keep his own worry at bay.

Unbeknownst to him, he was met with the expectant looks of the men. They were all keen to hear any news or updates. However, unknown to him, there was also a sense of unease among the group, including the commander. Something was clearly bothering them all.

The onset of their trembling hands was beyond their control, causing their entire bodies to shake uncontrollably. Despite their efforts to resist the sensation, they found themselves grasping their own shoulders in an attempt to steady themselves. The wyvern commander, too, was struck with a rush of anxiety upon witnessing this phenomenon.

"How long this will end?" He thought as he didn't want the situation to go that far.

How long could they contain that power that was given to them and the sole reason that brought them back?

At this point, a massive shadow could be seen joining the ongoing aerial battle.

The commander then caught a glimpse of someone he immediately recognized.

The red silhouette and an image of a young lady riding what appeared to be a griffin.

"Your Highness?"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The battle was in full swing.

It was the first time Maihark's own skies were filled with smoke, explosions, flames, and even bodies of both humans and wyverns being tossed around.

The towers which reached a specific height was enough to witness the event unfold. The surviving knights of the defense corps, used the available ballistic as they tried to reduce their enemies' numbers once again.

Suddenly, a barrage of massive arrows soared into the sky, aimed directly at the swarm of wyvern riders hovering above. It seemed that the unknown rider's clever tactics had created just enough chaos to allow the arrows to find their mark, striking down several enemy wyverns and causing significant damage. The battle was far from over, but this small victory gave the opposing army a glimmer of hope.

Amidst the dark clouds and emerging sun, the lone griffin continued its work, as she maneuvered her way through the skies towards the nearby wyvern riders, who failed to notice its presence. Resulting in them seeing this blur and then suddenly finding either the rider or the wyvern itself receiving a big slash on their necks and thus falling to their deaths.

"On your right!" Pina exclaimed upon seeing the next distracted wyvern rider.

Parna simply nodded as she gripped her blade tightly, and by the time they arrived at the rider, she had stabbed him in the back before he could defend himself, quickly pulled the blade out, and then shoved him as he fell from his wyvern.

She wiped the blood away from her forehead not noticing the unusual blackness of it.

Some of the wyvern riders fought back as they unleashed powerful flames.

Pina took charge and instructed the griffin to swiftly change course. Parna didn't waste any time and unleashed her magic, conjuring a powerful water rune that extinguished the flames in a heartbeat. This opened up an opportunity for Mera to speed up, allowing the bunny warrior to unleash their deadly slash attack on the riders. The assailants were no match for the bunny warrior's quick action and fell to their ultimate demise.

As the two youthful ladies valiantly attempted to resist the Saderan wyvern riders' onslaught, the looming specter of the flame dragon continually plagued their thoughts. Their eyes roamed frantically, taking stock of their surroundings in search of any possible signs of the fiery beast. Despite their desperate search, no trace of it could be found, leaving them plagued with uncertainty and apprehension.

Despite the presence of the sun's illuminating rays, the heavens remained shrouded in a blanket of ominous darkness.

In that short time, the black-haired beauty had wondered how the possible heir to the Saderan throne had the abilities or experience of aerial combat. The young lady did make a number of good attacks against the riders who even hailed from her own kingdom.

This person wasn't the one she had expected for a long time. Contrary to popular belief princesses are supposed to be damsels in distress.

"Milady, if I may inquire, how did you gain such experience in aerial voyage?" she queried, unable to contain her own curiosity.

The redhead gave a small smile.

"I apologize for not being able to elaborate in detail, but a family friend of ours invited me and my siblings to ride one of his eagles and then I fell in love with the whole aspect of riding through the skies," she explained, gently patting her beloved pet." And as for Mera, she was a gift when I was little and I've been riding the skies with her whenever boredom returns."

Parna blinked a couple of times, giving this amused look. Certainly, this was very different, despite the lavish lifestyle and rich spoils, the princess herself preferred something more akin to improving one's life.

Adventure was already a part of that.

However, there was one aspect that she had been wanting to ask since witnessing the latter's display of combat back at the main palace and even now. Of course, she understood that the redhead had gone through military training in her kingdom but the way she acted during the battle was something different entirely.

"Almost as if she had been doing this for..."

"Miss Parna! They're approaching again!"

Her thoughts were cut, and the bunny warrior returned to her senses, upon seeing groups of dark wyvern knights heading toward them and this time, they'd already figured it out.

"Your Highness! What in the world are you doing!?" Exclaimed by one of the wyvern knights.

Pina couldn't control her emotions as she answered back with a strong voice but in a calmer way.

"What does it look like?" She said." Of course, I'm preventing death and destruction caused by you people!"

The wyvern riders were taken aback by what she had said." You don't understand Milady! We were only ordered to spread out fear so they will surrender and that peace will be achieved if one gives way for the other."

Parna slightly cringed, knowing that the damage to the city had been done and it was obvious that a lot of people had perished by now.

"Who gave you the order!?"

"Adem?"

The men were in silence as they didn't know what to say.

"We had no choice milady, even if we wanted to object or resist, we don't have the power."

Pina was deeply disturbed by the manner in which the men were handling the situation. She couldn't help but wonder if they had lost their sense of reason and integrity. Were they no longer capable of analyzing and comprehending the gravity of their actions? It was a troubling thought that lingered in her mind.

"You've all been tricked!" She argued." That man gave us the responsibility of establishing peaceful connections with Qua-Toyne through proper diplomatic means, have you not been informed?"

The leader of the group sighed in return and seemed to ignore her statement, as soon an unknown force began to take influence.

"Milady, please join us in achieving victory for our homeland." He said, raising up his fist as his voice also began to change.

Parna had sensed a strong energy emerging from within them and it made her worry even more.

"If not then, you'll have to suffer the consequences.."

As the group of wyvern riders approached, a deep crimson energy emanated from them. The man leading them lifted his hand, which suddenly appeared more demonic, with sharp claws stretching out towards his targets. His hand grew in size, as if possessed by some dark force, as he attempted to forcefully grab his prey.

"Look out!" Parna exclaimed, luckily able to react in time as she used her blade to slash the man's now monstrous arms, but still, it wasn't effective.

"Do you think, you could harm us with your simple blade!?"

The Saderan wyvern riders were now becoming unrecognizable.

Parna couldn't comprehend what had transpired, but the latter recalled a similar case during the palace incident not long ago.

Meanwhile, the rest of the men attempted to charge at them once more, and this time they moved faster than before with their own swords finally being drawn.

"Kill those two!" One of them yelled out.

Upon receiving this information, Pina took charge and ordered Mera to take action. The griffin quickly swooped downward, expertly changing its speed and maneuvering in such a way as to force its pursuers to follow. In the meantime, Pina and Mera were able to strategize and formulate their next plan of action. The bunny warrior then drew out a powerful materia crystal and hurled it into the air, ready to unleash its full potential.

The crystal itself glowed brighter until a flash of light occurred as the magic activated.

A circular essence was created and immediately, the griffin flew towards the energy itself, thus completely disappearing.

One of the wyvern riders was taken aback but retained his arrogance.

"We can sense you! Don't even try to-"

As the portal appeared above them, he was cut off in his speech. Soon after, the man felt something heavy land from behind him, and Parna herself slashed his disgusting and twisted neck.

Black blood emerged like waterfalls and his body was then kicked off away from the wyvern by the young warrior bunny.

The rest of the enemy were taken by surprise. Because of that, they decided to charge at culprit all at the same time

With swift precision, Parna extracted a second crystal from her pouch and deftly positioned it atop the formidable dark wyvern. Instantly, the creature's willpower was overpowered by the potent magic imbued within the crystal, leaving it completely subservient to the woman's every whim.

"Don't let them get away!" More voices were heard as both girls became instant targets.

Pina gave the latter a look, gesturing to split up in order to divide the pursuers into two groups, yet in the midst of that, a giant shadow loomed.

A familiar roar was heard as everyone looked behind and saw the flame dragon emerging from the dark clouds with its mouth wide open.

Everyone froze with the exception of Parna, who looked up and yelled at the redhead.

"Pina! Get out of here as soon as possible!"

By then, the girl came to her senses as she directed Mera away from the scene.

As the girls were preparing to depart, the dragon's latent power suddenly erupted in a massive burst of flames from its gaping maw. The inferno engulfed the entire group of wyverns, reducing them to blackened, smoking husks in a matter of seconds.

It also created another strong shockwave that almost sent the girls flying down, yet they were able to keep their balance.

After successfully neutralizing the wyvern threat, the two found themselves confronted with a new enemy. This time, it took the form of a corrupted flame dragon, which relentlessly pursued them. The creature's massive wings beat forcefully, creating powerful shockwaves that reverberated throughout the air. They knew they had to act fast to avoid being caught by the dragon's fiery wrath.

The whole spectacle was witnessed by a number of citizens from below, as many eyes were glued towards the sky upon seeing a giant dragon flying in circles as if it was trying to catch an annoying prey.

Some were amazed and some were terrified.

Those same people could only hope it didn't crash into the ground again.

As for both young women, they were exerting their best effort to evade the creature, which was impossible for them to beat. It might be a bit slow but it was its determination that gave them problems which caused them to not stop or else face the result.

That was until, the creature itself suddenly halted, before heading in a different direction.

"W-Where is it going?" Pina asked.

At first, Parna didn't believe what she was seeing, but she couldn't look away as the object moved steadily towards a specific structure in the distance. As she watched, her eyes widened in shock, and she caught the attention of her companion.

"Milady, this may be absurd, but we must follow the dragon now"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It eventually came to the point where the tower and the headquarters itself had been serenely clouded for hours. Any potential threat appeared to have vanished into thin air. There was not a single dark wyvern in the area, nor were there any signs of the city's dark corrupted dragons.

The threat of the dark-influenced knights that resided in the headquarters had been put to rest, something that definitely surprised the trio.

The question that remained continued to bother them.

Should they leave or stay?

Yes, they had the responsibility of guarding the crystal as it continued to make its magic and protect the noble city but the paranoia of anticipating an attack was there.

Following a tough deliberation, the young captain made a decision and invited the chronicler to accompany her on their way to the nearby wyvern stables. Their objective was to investigate if there were any remaining winged creatures available for their use as an escape plan in case of an emergency. The captain held onto hope that at least one wyvern was still present, as it was their only viable option for a safe and speedy getaway.

Are you sure Frankel-san will be okay?" He asked that question, and the young woman simply laughed.

"Don't worry about that geezer." She brushed it off in a joking manner." He'd faced a lot of adversity until this whole ordeal." She explained further.

Yuji nodded, remarking, "And to think he'd been stuck there forever doing that job for years...I don't think any normal person would have accepted it or made it in less than a day." For some reason, the task reminded him of one of the worst aspects of his culture back home.

Ine simply smiled.", That's because...he made the pledge that he would protect and serve his kingdom." She explained." It's a matter of choice, Sir Frankel wanted to keep our home away from any path to destruction or even darkness."

"The siren and the crystal is just a part of it."

He was ready to risk his life regardless of the challenges. Even though, Qua-Toyne's government had its own fair share of corruption.

"Do you think If we save this city and prevent the crystal from being taken, will that solve all problems?" Yuji followed up with another question.

Quietness took over for a brief moment as the young woman could only smile back.

"Even if it didn't solve everything, I only hope that this would be the start of something new and that would inspire a lot of people to unite."

Upon opening the wyvern stable doors, the sight that greeted them was that of an almost deserted area, with massive haystacks scattered around, toppled barrels and empty buckets strewn carelessly. It wasn't the most appealing smell, but what caught their attention was a lone wyvern that had been left behind.

"I guess one got lucky," Yuji remarked.

When the wyvern saw the two, it started making a noise, as if to let them know it was still alive and well. The creature was overjoyed and relieved to see them.

Ine was the one who approached the domesticated dragon, smiling and motioning for the creature to remain silent before gently patting its snout.

"Don't worry boy, you're safe." She said.

Yuji smiled from behind, glad for the dragon that it wasn't alone to begin with. But, in the midst of that small heartwarming moment, he became conscious of something amiss.

It started in the form of a small rummaging sound that made their environment tremble.

Both of them were jolted by the sudden occurrence, leaving them both bewildered. Was it an earthquake? Yuji couldn't say for sure. Before they could even process what had happened, a deafening roar reverberated through the air, causing them to freeze in their tracks.

This time, the wyvern beside them reacted to an approaching presence and began to panic.

Ine glanced at the young man and vice versa.

The air was thick with dread, which could only mean one thing.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

In the control room, Frankel could feel the tension that permeated the air. As he gathered his remaining belongings, his mind raced with thoughts of potential escape. He reached for the glowing crystal that was still embedded in the stone tablet, his fingers closing around it tightly. The only weapon he had left was the trusty crossbow that had been his constant companion for so long. With a deep breath, he steeled himself for whatever lay ahead.

Everything in the room was silent, yet despite that, he was now on high guard.

The open window to the right was still giving him a good view of what was happening outside.

The scenery remained the same but his own paranoia was catching up to him. He could hear his own heart beating faster because of that. The cold sweat continued to fall non-stop.

Not until, an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke in the middle of that silence.

"Isn't wonderful to finally see what a legendary crystal looks like?"

The voice startled him and the latter turned around to face a young man in dark robes smiling at him.

Frankel instinctively raised up his crossbow and pointed towards the newcomer, while slightly taking a few steps back.

"If I were you, sir, I wouldn't waste my arrows quickly." The young man remarked crossed his arms and gave the man advice.

The older man narrowed his eyes.

"So you're the one responsible for attacking the city?" He hissed.

"Partially, and the rest was not really my responsibility, let alone other factions with similar goals," he explained. "I am only here to retrieve an artifact that could possibly help save this land."

Frankly let out a small smirk." Do you think, I am going to fall for that? There is more than one crystal, and some have not been discovered yet." He replied, his confidence brewing.

"And I know that you aren't even mortal to begin with." He added." I don't care if you're Deity, a God, or Not."

"You're not taking any crystal here!"

"And if you're with those Saderan Bastards tell them to fuck off!" His own anger went off.

Quietness reigned for a few moments.

Luscious nodded slightly, accepting the man's words without being moved by them.

"Well, that is a good guess except for the Saderan part." He replied, before adding." No one would really work for a kingdom whose days are numbered."

He then returned the conversation to him, saying, "And I presume you are a man who also worships the Goddess who has been forgotten or dead for years?" He made a sarcastic remark, which turned out to be correct.

The older man gritted his teeth, he was furious that a person like him could insult the beautiful figure that had been an integral part of the kingdom's history.

His hand was trembling when the mysterious young man took a few steps forward.

He could literally shoot him with the crossbow right now, but for some reason, he couldn't. He began to deny that he was being intimidated, and all he could do at this point was silently pray for protection.

Meanwhile, the young man gave a smirk." Pray all you want...No God would be able to protect you."

"It's just a matter of letting it go or facing the inevitable."

As he was about to reach for the crystal.

Another presence entered the scene as a familiar voice interrupted him.

"I don't think so..." Yuji had arrived, holding his handgun and aiming directly at him.

"Make one stupid move and you're going to find out the hard way." The writer tried to relay the threat in a professional manner, which amused the man.

His confident smile continued.

"So what do we have here? Some fellow with a toy?" Luscious commented, as he could sense the man's intention was legitimate. Thereby, he decided to summon his weapon once more.

But just as he was about to do it, his eyes widened in surprise when he noticed a certain symbol embedded in his green attire.

"The Symbol of the Emissaries!" He muttered aloud enough for the man to hear, which caused him to wonder.

Though, as he was about to follow up his words, Frankel from behind, managed to overcome the intimidation as he finally fired his crossbow directly at the young man, hitting him on the back.

He thought the young man was a done deal when he halted his advance and stood there as if he was going to succumb to the new wound on his chest but instead gave a devious smile.

"A very risky but bad decision." He remarked before raising up his hand which balled into a fist.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was the terrifying roar that signaled the arrival of the dragon.

The huge shadow loomed over Maihark's wyvern headquarters, and not long after, the creature decided to land near the tower, where a small event was still taking place.

The dark flame dragon took no time in using its massive claws to crush a huge chunk of the structure, causing the headquarters to crumble.

The room where Yuji and Frankel stood was not spared.

The interior immediately collapsed, and the walls turned into chunks of debris, while huge cracks appeared and then fell on the ground.

It happened so fast that the young man didn't have time to react, and half of the ground he was standing on was split in half, and he was, unfortunately, on the verge of falling into the dark abyss. Luckily, he was able to react quickly and grab onto the remaining cobblestone debris, which remained intact.

He tried to get a good view of what was currently happening around him.

Aside from the fact that everything was collapsing around him, he couldn't find any trace of the man, the intruder, or the crystal. He couldn't hear any voices. In the back of his mind, he came to know they were gone, and that was enough motivation for him to push himself upwards, albeit with limited time.

That was how long the debris he had been clinging to would last.

"Not yet! Not yet!". He kept telling himself, believing that he would make it. He would survive.

Yet, sometimes, the odds were not always on his side.

It eventually broke free as a result of the destruction and damage caused by the unknown creature.

Yuji found himself in mid-air, his world slowing down, and he didn't know what to do next. He couldn't fly or float. As he was falling to his death, this was the real deal. His mind went blank, and all he could do was let the shock take over. There was some horror, but ultimately, sadness took over.

Was this the end of the story?

As he reached his hand to the heavens, a sense of calm washed over him, and for some reason, he was prepared to meet his end. He couldn't fully control what fate had in store for him for whatever reason.

However, something grabbed his hand in the midst of this, preventing him from falling completely downwards.

When the writer looked up, he saw a young woman who had saved him. He was able to get a good look at her and notice her overall appearance.

She was stunning and albeit glowing, especially the smile she gave him to reassure him that he was safe.

Moments later, he was back on higher ground, and when he looked up, the woman was gone. Unbeknownst to him, he had failed to notice a small blue ethereal essence that remained and surrounded him.

He got up and wasted no time as his focus shifted towards finding them.

As Yuji made his way through the desolate hallways and corridors, he couldn't help but notice the devastation that surrounded him. The windows were shattered, leaving nothing but open spaces that exposed the sky above. He quickened his pace, his grip on his gun tightening as he remained vigilant for any signs of danger. Every corner he turned held the potential for an unforeseen attack, but he remained resolute in his pursuit of any clues that might bring him closer to his goal.

And by the time he got to the end, he was in for another surprise.

As he gazed upon the area where the control room once stood, he couldn't help but notice the transformation that had taken place. What was once a confined space had now opened up into a grand balcony, with no trace of the roofs that once sheltered it from the elements. Instead, the sky was dominated by ominous dark clouds, casting an eerie shadow over the scene. And then, he saw it - a colossal dragon, its black scales gleaming in the dim light. The creature had landed on a surface that was now unrecognizable, and before it stood the very people who had sought to control it.

With intense focus, Yuji grasped his weapon and moved with stealth through the scattered wreckage, his resolve unwavering as he sought to take down the mysterious perpetrator.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"This is your final chance..."

How many times does he have to convince this man that there is no chance of him surviving, even if he is going to fight him?

Luscious had given his ultimatum.

Frankel was on the ground, his wounds on his arm finally visible, and blood stains on his cheeks and clothing.

Despite the difficult situation, he clenched the crystal tightly, tenacious in his determination to safeguard it. His gaze drifted upward, fixing upon the otherworldly aura hovering above the city, its radiant energy shielding the people from the impending attack, even in its heightened form.

Blood emerged from his lips at the same time, yet he was able to keep a confident smirk.

"Final chance my arse!" The older man exclaimed as he still had that fighting spirit.

"You have to go through me first before you get your hands on the crystal." He added back, as he drew out a small combat blade, with his crossbow now destroyed.

Luscious was more amused instead of frustrated. He had forgotten why people were this reckless and would risk everything just to protect something that couldn't even save them.

With a slight shake of his head, he offered a subtle, solemn smile. There was a sense of recognition and to think that he had already provided the man with numerous chances to persevere.

"So be it." He simply said before commanding the dark dragon to open its mouth in order to unleash the flames once again.

However, in the midst of that, a voice yelled out from above.

"Sir Frankel!"

From the depths of the ruins, emerged a certain captain as she rode the lone wyvern towards them. She held what seemed to be a bow loaded with an arrow, and immediately fired it. The arrow in turn was successful in hitting its target, but it only hit the man's right hand, which pierced through it.

Luscious did not react but only smirked." How cute." He remarked, even admiring the young woman's bravery altogether, yet a single arrow meant nothing to him.

But at the same moment, another attack was launched, this time by Yuji, who managed to sneak towards a good spot where he got good aim and immediately fired the gun, hitting him on the chest and then once on the head.

His intervention via the Minebea P-9 startled the enemy, owing to the shock factor of being shot by a unique weapon he had no full knowledge of. It also caused the dark flame dragon to feel pain because their auras were linked. The man knelt for the rest of the time, his head bowed.

The chances of escaping had grown wider yet time was still limited. It's only a matter of time before he would recover and regain his footing.

He immediately rushed towards the injured man in order to help him get out of this place, at the same time, Ine directed the wyvern near to them.

As Yuji approached the man lying on the ground, he offered a helping hand. Once the man was on his feet, Yuji led him towards the direction of the wyvern. However, as they got closer, Yuji suddenly stopped in his tracks and handed over a crystal and a tablet to the man. He then pushed the man towards the escape point, ensuring his safety.

"What are you doing?" He asked, bewildered and surprised by his sudden actions.

Ine saw it and protested." Frankel, this is not the time for heroics!" She exclaimed." Get your arse towards here at this instant!"

The older man could only reply with a chuckle, "You two should go on," before returning his gaze to the enemy, who was on the verge of full recovery.

"We can't completely escape this one's clutches, but I might be able to buy you more time to fully escape and take the crystal somewhere safe," he added as he drew a specific materia from his pouch.

"Don't you want to meet your family again?" Yuji spoke this time, confident that he could persuade the man to join them.

"Like you told us before right?"

Frankel gave the latter a pat on his shoulder and a sad smile at the captain.

"My Family is gone." He said, before adding." And I apologize for not telling you the truth." A sense of peace overtook him.

The two were taken aback by his statement, and mixed emotions filled their faces, especially for the young woman. They knew where this was going.

The man was limping but he still had the strength left to make a move, before that, he gave one more determined and confident smile and then took a quick charge at the enemy.

As Luscious slowly regained his senses, he was suddenly met with the booming voice of Frankel, who was shouting at the top of his lungs while simultaneously unleashing his own battle cry. In the midst of this chaos, the grey materia glowed brilliantly as the magic was conjured to fulfill its objective. Despite Luscious' attempt to summon his weapon and bring his foe down once and for all, it was too late. In a swift motion, the old man grabbed him by the shoulder and forcefully placed the crystal on his chest. Luscious gave one last smile before the explosive magic was finally unleashed, ending the supposed conflict.

That scene was also witnessed by a certain bunny warrior and a noble, who had just arrived.

Soon after, a powerful explosion occurred, and a bright light engulfed the entire area.

Yuji and Ine managed to escape in time, via the lone wyvern that they had discovered in the stables. With the captain herself, fighting her own tears from coming out.

There was no time to mourn.

As the explosion rocked the surroundings, the imposing figure of the dark dragon emerged from the shambles. Despite being visibly shaken and injured, it remained in a state of fury, taking to the air once again to pursue its prey. The two figures it sought were still recovering from the traumatic event, their senses reeling from the intense experience.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Yuji exclaimed when he looked behind to see the creature determined for revenge." Ine-san, can we go a little faster?" He followed up a question, even though, he knew how ridiculous it was.

The captain gritted her teeth in frustration since it was a literal dragon chasing a mere wyvern, who could only reach up to a certain speed.

As the creature was about to near them, The cry of an eagle was heard.

Both of them looked to see a certain griffin, blocking the light of the sun which baffled them.

Yuji couldn't exactly identify its appearance but he recognized that sound and widened his eyes in realization.

Before he could even speak, the griffin swerved down towards them at full speed, and moments later, he was able to get a good look at the riders, especially a certain red-haired lady whom he met back at the palace. In the midst of that, the familiar black-haired bunny warrior pulled out a material crystal.

His world slowed down and he got a chance to look at her in the eye.

"Pina?" He muttered under his breath.

At that very moment, they were all consumed by the bright light and vanished somewhere, leaving their pursuer behind.

Subsequently, the dark dragon encountered an abrupt and excruciating sensation in its chest, causing it to tremble uncontrollably from head to toe. The discomfort persisted and intensified with every passing moment, prompting the beast to unleash a deafening roar. It struggled to maintain its altitude and was ultimately compelled to descend until it landed on the ground once more.

The creature landed on the city's eastern outskirts, where the majority of the ruined districts could be found.

Following its initial struggle, the entity persisted in its battle against an unseen adversary from deep within. As it pressed forward, the ominous beings that lurked along these very streets began to take notice, their reactions echoing the creature's own as they shuddered and bellowed in agony at its presence.

Shortly thereafter, the ominous aura of the dragon gradually dissipated and the body started to disintegrate. Before long, the recognizable form of the crimson fire-breather materialized, as she slumped to the earth in a state of insensibility.

Despite efforts to dispel it, the ominous presence persisted, coalescing into a manifestation resembling its previous host, albeit with a more sinister and demonic visage. This malevolent entity retained all of the malicious intent of its predecessor, drawing the wayward shadows back toward their point of origin.

The abomination then proceeded to head towards the center districts where most of the surviving population still resided.

It let out a devilish laugh as it was now finally free to do whatever it wanted, let alone, wanting more power from a certain crystal.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It was a scene that continued to baffle and intimidate the man.

Captain Julius didn't know exactly what to do in the face of the strange event.

The rest of the Wyvern army was plagued by an unknown force as they began to convulse and make sounds that made him uncomfortable.

He continued to observe rather than flee as he noticed a crimson-like aura emitting from each man including the commander himself.

The former wyvern captain felt compelled to draw out the magical flintlock barrel provided by the illegal smugglers, in case anything bad happened.

His own fear was growing from within.

"C-Commander, what is happening?" He nervously asked only to get ignored.

Though, not until, the man himself looked straight towards him in the eye with an intense look.

Every moment passed, and he was convinced to flee as per his own conscious.

He wondered if these men were even normal and trustworthy in the first place, but having witnessed this scene unfold, his doubts were cleared.

As soon as he was about to take off, the commander finally spoke and called out to him.

"Captain Julius." He said calmly." Why are you leaving?"

The man's body tensed as he didn't know what to say. He watched the rest remain in silence for some strange reason.

Unbeknownst to him that escaping was already too late.

In the blink of an eye, he found himself getting grabbed in the face before being pulled to the unknown.

Afterward, a menacing laugh was heard from the commander himself followed by the rest.

What became of the former captain was uncertain but his own wyvern was reduced to bits and his own unique weapon fell to the ground.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Everybody thought that it was all over after dealing with all the pests that tried to kill them prior.

They thought that they finally acquired the opportunity to go back to their respective places, yet considering how far they have gotten, they don't actually know where they were.

However, the main case that took over the entire situation was something else.

"Lelei, are really serious about this?"

"We can't just allow him to go on his own, we need to help him.

It began with the blue-haired mage encouraging the others, especially the men in green, to follow the young adventurer, and despite a minor disagreement that transpired...

Everyone agreed with the decision.

Once more, they were traversing the bustling streets, with Little Foot at the helm, his keen sense of smell the sole means of tracking the whereabouts of the boy.

Kurata and Higashi exchanged several glances, each wondering silently if the decision they were about to make was truly necessary. However, they both knew that the group couldn't afford to risk another split, as doing so would only leave them vulnerable to facing similar circumstances once more.

At least for now, staying together was the best scenario.

"Kweh! Kweh!"

The Chocobo exclaimed, sensing that they were nearing their destination.

As for Lelei, the girl was determined to clear her doubts and she couldn't really help herself to begin with, and had to take action. She didn't want to tell everyone the truth.

That something worse was about to happen.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Oh, this is really a wonderful day!"

Those words came in the form of a tease and a cheer.

"So this is how it feels like to triumph against an apostle!"

The young lady was filled with joy and excitement, as she swayed and twirled gracefully with two mighty dragons at her command. A sweet melody escaped her lips as she envisioned herself performing in front of a vast audience, receiving thunderous applause for her remarkable strength and cunning. Nonetheless, her true motives were concealed behind the facade of her cheerful demeanor.

Giselle exactly knew what it was.

She was in the worst position throughout her life yet, and things couldn't get any better upon seeing her own companions joining the mocking parade in front of her.

"Look at me! I am Giselle, the most incompetent and cowardly apostle ever to exist!" Elrena continued her mocking." Dancing with my own weak dragons while the whole city crumbles apart."

She gritted her teeth in annoyance.

"I am the one responsible for failing to contain the flame dragon, which probably already killed hundreds of people under my watch." Along the way, she was giving her a playful stare, bent on really torturing her mind.

"I deserve to suffer more shame and resentment rather than get excommunicated!"

Though, the draconian apostle kept up with her own smirk." You think, by just dancing there like a fool, that you finally accomplished your mission?"

The blonde replied with a giggle." Of course not, I still have some important things to do." She explained, raising her finger as if to teach her small lesson." And that's the job of a fool, try to pass their own foolishness to someone to the point, they couldn't handle it anymore.

She laughed once again.

Giselle kept nodding while showing that she was not affected by any words." Wait till I recover from this, I will make sure you eat your words!" She thought to herself.

"Giselle, please bear with me..."

The voice of a certain Chirithy entered her mind.

"So this is your plan? Provide me with continuous moral support while that twerp dances like a clown?"

Terra had his own frustrations but he didn't choose to dwell into it.

"I know, but you have to trust me on this." He explained." I might not be an expert on battles but I learned something..."

"Keep your enemies closer and let them bask in glory until the time comes for you to strike back."

As Giselle took in the advice, she knew that it was valuable and needed to be implemented in her next move. However, she wasn't quite sure how to put it into action just yet. Despite this uncertainty, she could feel a sense of positivity and hope within her, as she looked to her right and noticed her arm was finally starting to regenerate. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Elrena was still in her celebrations as she continued to triumph and watch the city in ruins.

In the midst of the chaos, Mowto's observant eye caught sight of the distracted girl and gently pulled her attention back to the matter at hand - the draconian apostle. The girl was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events but was grateful to Mowto for redirecting her focus.

Right there, the apostle still kneeled down but she was now in the process of losing her own sanity.

She was trembling and making sounds for no reason and the fact that her expression showed a hint of hopelessness.

It was enough for the girl to deviously smile back, asserting that her actions finally breaking her opponent's psyche. Although, she wasn't quite finished with that.

"Aww, so you finally decided to give up? How heartbreaking..." She taunted once again, picking up the latter's weapon as she proceeded to approach once more.

With a final goal in mind, she delved deeper into her own ideas. The theory was simple yet intriguing - to kill an apostle with their own weapon would mean taking their power for oneself. It was a risky move, but the potential payoff was too great to ignore. And so, with determination in her heart, she set out to put the theory to the test.

When the girl reached her, she used manipulation magic to hold her chin and force her to look up and meet her eyes.

Elrena smirked, expecting the defeated apostle to not say anything.

"Any last words?"

As she was about to raise the scythe in order to chop her head off, her opponent began to smile and gave a laugh.

"You're an idiot," Giselle muttered aloud, directly taunting the supposed victor.

Then at that very moment, the young woman's right arm began to glow as it fully regenerated back, though, it also transformed into something quite monstrous as claws were visible and she used that to grab the blonde's entire head and threw the girl to far way distance like how a frustrated kid would do, and eventually crashing towards a pile of debris.

As a result of that, the small magical cage that had trapped the familiar was finally dispelled.

"Mowto, Towato!" Terra yelled again, warning the girl of the next attackers.

Giselle didn't immediately recover her weapon as both of her mind-controlled companions made the quick move to prevent that from happening.

She found herself in a precarious situation where her only recourse was to avoid the relentless onslaught of attacks. She was forced to assume the role of a timid mouse, scurrying away from danger at every turn. Unfortunately, the escalating conflict also drew the attention of the nearby infested dark dragons, who swiftly descended upon the area to add to the chaos.

Meanwhile, Elrena emerged from the debris with a visible bruise on her cheek and an annoyed expression that covered the rest of her face.

She wasn't going to allow that again, to ruin her precious skin and overall aura, the fact that she got outsmarted and to her own point of view, there wasn't anything wrong about a little vengeance in return.

Terra, despite his desire to lend a hand in the ongoing conflict, was relegated to the role of an observer for several minutes due to the fact that the magical barrier also drained most of his energy. and while he was still recovering his former strength, he caught a glimpse of a carriage approaching the battlefield from his peripheral vision. The carriage bore a certain teen who appeared poised to perform a decisive action.

And as well as a familiar voice.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Giselle!"

The young woman raised her eyebrows in surprise as she immediately recognized the figure that had entered the scene.

Her mind was swirling with numerous inquiries, all centered around the whereabouts of her companion. It had been some time since she had laid eyes on him, their paths diverging at the docks as they went about their individual objectives.

Albrecht landed on the roofs and dashed towards where the draconian apostle was currently at. He then used his small broad-buster sword and began slashing the dark creatures that also came with him.

With help almost there, Giselle tried to formulate a plan of her own, as the only way she could beat her companions without even hurting them was to actually take away what was making them crazy.

Within moments, she tapped into her restored mana energy. As the first dragon charged towards her, she seized the opportunity and placed her hand on Mowto's head. Instantly, magic coursed through her and the dragon collapsed, unconscious. Towato was next to feel her power as she swiftly became the aggressor, placing her hand on his and achieving the same results. Giselle's quick thinking and the taming ability which she had been honing for so long, had saved much of her time.

"Please go to sleep." A soft smile escaped her lips, as the two dragons were freed from the enemy's control when the dark essence came out from their bodies.

Meanwhile from behind, Elrena appeared once again with vengeance as her only goal.

This time she wasn't playing games anymore.

Once more, she grasped the weapon of the fierce apostle and swiftly lunged towards her unsuspecting opponent. With a sly grin, the blonde was convinced that she would triumph effortlessly yet again, but fate had other plans. Victory was not in her grasp this time.

As she prepared for the attack, a sudden force halted her movements, causing her entire body to freeze. Turning her head to the left, she saw Chirithy, who had been released from captivity, casting a spell that left her completely immobilized. However, even in this state, she managed to hurl her weapon at her opponent with her free hand.

As Giselle turned to assess the situation, the world seemed to slow down, giving her a moment to take it all in. Suddenly, her focus was drawn to her own weapon hurtling towards her at an alarming speed, causing her expression to shift from one of curiosity to one of concern.

Then in that same moment, a certain someone was able to reach her in a nick of time, thus shielding her from a possible death.

The young woman widened her eyes in shock, recognizing the eyes she had met.

"Albrecht..." She was able to let out a word and mentioned his name for one more time.

The teen knew it was coming and he had no choice but to make the risky move or else it would take his friend away. He dropped his weapon on the ground as he felt the pain that struck his back. His body started to become numb and blood slowly emerged from his mouth.

He didn't have much time left, and he brought his eyes towards the person, whom he treated like a big sister for a long time.

By then, he weakly smiled as he used the last of his strength and gently placed his hand on her cheek. He was glad to have at least met her again for one more time, before closing his eyes as his body gave away.

At the same time, Lelei and the others had arrived at the scene and were horrified to witness the whole thing unfold, realizing that it had already happened.

Little Foot let out a sorrowful wail.

The merchant looked away in pain and sadness.

Giselle found herself in a state of mixed emotions. Despite having taken the weapon away from the teen, it was already too late. The weight of denial settled heavily upon her, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.

This was just a dream...This was not real.

How many times does she have to experience and witness the death of a loved one?

How long will she endure this curse?

"You know when all of this is over...I guess I'll take a break from all of this adventuring and start a new life back home."

"Of course, you're forever welcome to stay if you want."

"You're actually the most genuine person I'd ever met."

"If this is our final mission together as a team, why not make the most of it?"

"I just want to thank you for being by my side for this long."

The young woman held the boy in her arms in silence, her head looking down as the good and old memories came back again.

Meanwhile, beyond the battle zone, a huge menacing roar rang out across the city, as a more demonic and twisted version of the flame dragon appeared, causing even more chaos from the east. Furthermore, the dark creatures increased in number, and the Saderan army's wyvern riders continued to cause more casualties.

Silence had eventually taken over, but not until, the blonde culprit gave in to her own arrogance.

"Aww, how bittersweet that this had to happen." She remarked, having no sympathy altogether and letting her own snarky side take over

"Though, still it doesn't really make me cry about it."

How wrong she was.

Not long after, a powerful force suddenly burst out from the apostle as she finally looked up revealing ember-slitted eyes.

For the first time, the real rage emerged and the wrath that lay dormant for centuries had been awakened.

To the factions that intentionally created the chaos, destruction, and deaths throughout the city, they were in for the surprise of their life.

The Real Apostle of Hardy finally stood as a smirk escaped from her lips.

She wondered who was the first person who was ever going to experience what "Punishment" actually means.

Her eyes caught the now speechless blonde woman whose body froze in fear.

"Doesn't make you cry about it huh?"

CHAPTER END

AN: Hello there again! this chapter originally was part of the previous chapter, but since there were just too many scenes to write, I had to make this a separate chapter altogether. Similar to the last one, it includes more action in both air and land, with Pina and Parna engaging in wyvern battles while the fights on land, are mostly from Rory and her old friend from the past. Yeah, I still kind of put more mystery on his background, and not really reveal it one go. I just thought it would be nice to learn more about a certain character as time progresses. The same goes for Elrena. While writing the chapter, there are various ideas on how to expand the background of the apostles (all of them). The recent idea a reader shared before was to make the Apostle in the New World have this kind of organizational structure (Like Gotei 13, Organization 13, or the Akatsuki) since the Gods cannot really and fully interfere with the affairs of the world's inhabitants. That's just an idea but I'll see if it really fits in the worldbuilding.

We also have the intro flashback with Rory, a different person compared to the current one we have. Past Rory is simply a normal girl wanting to help her family out of the hardships of life, with her also having a tough love relationship with her childhood friend. ( And regarding some promises that didn't really got fulfilled). For Luscious, the thing about his character is somewhat can be compared to Cloud Strife( From Final Fantasy Series) but only got half of the good ending in the end, basically a country boy with big dreams to get stronger and along the way something happened that changed him.

Of course, he won't go down that easily.

Then there are some characters, who made some risky but heroic sacrifices, about Frankel lying to them, and that his actual family is already gone for a long time, That scene was loosely inspired by the first Iron Man Movie, when Tony was going to save the good scientist that helped him but instead rejects his offer since he knew he was dying and has nowhere to go. For Albrecht, I am not sure if he could survive by this point, The scene where he shielded Giselle, was loosely based on the many times Frodo Baggins got stabbed throughout the trilogy, I am not sure which scene where he tried to shield a companion to protect him.

Just a little note that Albrecht is a pure adventurer, and doesn't belong to the isekai protagonist category.

Also, in the scene where the wyvern army, including the commander himself, is succumbing to a mysterious force (Not actually the work of a potion this time but something else entirely), there was a small hint regarding their past in the previous chapters, but I think it would be fit to reveal more about their background in the special chapters next.

For Giselle, well...I guess those bad guys wouldn't like her if she's actually angry.

With that said, thank you so much for giving your time to read the chapter I really appreciate it. Also, please forgive me for some grammar mistakes, since English is not my first language, and I have yet to find an editor.