Hall

*yeppa, new chapter here, and I'm going insane (jk jk unless). So yeah, enjoy. Peace out and Deus vult :))*

"What should we do now?" asked March, just now having accepted that the place they were in was a lot creepier than it seemed at first. From nice flowers that could be twined together into a colorful piece of decoration to a coarse desert with some strange, ancient-looking tower growing out the ground. 

"No matter our choice," mused Black Swan, focusing just a little more than she'd usually allow herself to. The issue was serious this time, unlike her usual encounters. "I think we'll be forced to enter sooner or later. It's most likely a morbid game we're walking into." 

Himeko nodded, her arms crossed as she kept thinking of the worst-case scenario that could unfold. 

"We're pitted up against a formidable foe that we know almost nothing of. His abilities seem to far outperform a majority of the enemies we were up against. It will, most likely, end up bad for us no matter what we do, and yet we have no other choice. It's about what might give us a chance to survive." 

The words she'd heard come out in such a cold, mocking tone were glued to her. 'Breaking' sure wasn't on her list of things she had in plan, since the security of the group was her responsibility, or at least that's what she saw it. Still, her heart was heavy as Mark was nowhere to be seen, but the thought that Firefly was with him did bring some peace of mind. Together, they should be able to face off most foes. 

"In the end, it all revolves around entering that tower. It seems that even the sandstorm has stilled for the time being. I guess we have no other choice but to embark on this journey. It's all part of being a Trailblazer, both memories and danger," stated Welt, holding his cane firmly. His eyes moved over to Himeko, his fingers going for their natural motion of fixing his glasses. 

"Is there perhaps something you've worked on in your spare time that we could use, Himeko?" he asked calmly, and the woman slowly began thinking. 

"Well, I haven't focused much on weaponry or the likes, and we've been busy in the past. Still, I do have something, albeit rudimentary, that would probably be suitable for the occasion." 

She motioned for them to follow, all of them except for Pom-Pom, who was bound to remain on the Express. He watched them move along, going to a different room all while he was left alone. It was the norm at that point—the same scenario he's lived more times than one could count. 

The group walked to a specific room, one that March had no idea of despite having been on the Express for a good while. Blueprints, parts, and a lot of equipment lay scattered about, with the Navigator in the center. She knew exactly what to look for, picking up some sleek weapons from a specific box hidden away under a table and a lot of spare parts. 

"Welt probably knows that I used to work on these things in the past before I decided to settle on my sleek suitcase weaponry." 

Her words were soft, interrupted by a few heaves as she pulled out a few well-made weapons, their sleek designs a sign of her refined nature, with the advanced technology implemented remaining a testament to her knowledge and capabilities as an engineer. All of them were foldable, turning into suitcases, as sleek as the designs allowed. 

"Miss Himeko, did you actually make these yourself?" asked March in an incredulous tone, the revelation feeling like something pulled out of a movie. The one item that elicited that reaction in March was a sleek-made rifle that turned into a suitcase a little bulkier—and heavier—than Himeko's current one. 

"Yes, I have. These are some prototypes from back when I was thinking on a weapon of choice." 

March, being the one used with long-ranged weapons, grabbed the suitcase, her frame able to carry it fine, even if it would surely tire her out by doing it for too long. Instead of keeping it folded, she stretched it out and slung it over her shoulder, the rifle reaching comfortably to her upper thigh, yet somehow it suited her. 

"I did learn how to use swords on the Luofu, but I'm confident enough in my abilities. I guess that something remotely close to my bow should work better, right?" she chuckled, while Black Swan nodded, admiring how the weapon looked. 

"It suits you, Miss March," she mused softly, nodding a bit as her soft gloves rubbed together, her own gaze falling on the table. 

"Hm, I guess I should make-do with this one, right?" said Welt, grabbing one that opened into a double-edged sword, with part of it having teeth like a saw, a press on a button placed just a bit below the guard needed to start it and have it act like a proper automatic saw. 

The last weapon remaining was for Black Swan to take, a weapon nearly identical to Himeko's own, but the sawblade was a bit smaller in diameter and also a touch shorter. 

"That's the first version of my current weapon. It wasn't exactly within the parameters I liked, so I decided to make a new one that suited my taste more." 

Black Swan gave it a try, swinging the thing as the spinning saw disk came to life, reaching high speeds. 

"I don't mean to ruin the fun, but how do we keep them powered?" she asked, turning it off before folding the mechanization. 

Himeko opened a box filled with small, dark cylinders. 

"These are the batteries needed, but be attentive when handling them," she warned, putting as many as she could into some pouches, splitting them for everyone. 

"They pack a lot of energy, more than you'd expect from something this small, but they're also dangerous and will explode under harsh conditions in a large blast." 

March took the pouch handed to her by Himeko, who showed them all where to insert them, with the ones introduced into the rifle moving in from the side, where a lid awaited, blending in with the materials. One battery went in, and the weapon was ready to fire. 

"Then it's time we go out, right?" she asked, and Himeko nodded, getting a pouch herself. 

"I believe that is the case." 

With a resolution made and their goodbyes said to Pom-Pom, who eagerly awaited their hopefully safe return, they walked out, stepping on the coarse sand with careful steps. Who knew what other dangers might lurk around? 

Welt walked ahead, the suitcase at his side, ready to snap open at a moment's notice. The large tower doors stood before them, having held on for more time than they could ever know. Some carvings were made in the large slabs of stone, and to their surprise, they could be understood. It was a simple message, short and to the point: Brace Yourselves. 

"What an ominous message; surely we'll be fine, right?" said March, trying to ease the tension a bit, both for the others and herself. 

"We will; don't worry about it, March," said Welt, preparing the sword before pressing his hand to the door, the cold material moving away as the tower rattled. The slabs slid across the ground, leaving behind fresh marks as their access had been granted. One long hallway, leading into the unknown. While somewhat reluctant, the group headed inside, their steps careful and calculated. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary; no door closed behind them, and instead, rows of torches lit up on the walls, illuminating the way inside. 

"Why does it all happen like we're in a movie? It's all but a good sign," sighed March, holding on a bit tighter to the rifle's strap, feeling the comforting weight press down firmly. 

"Movie or not, the situation remains unchanged. We have to go deeper inside," said Black Swan, looking around at the place. She could imagine the memories present, the thousands upon thousands of fragments scattered about, talking of past challengers who had been unfortunate enough to stumble into that place. Sadly, her abilities didn't work, so she was left unable to fulfill her duty as a Memokeeper. 

The hall led them down a flight of stairs, the torches following, showing all there was to be seen. March felt like she'd have freaked out if the bottom was dark, reminding herself of some horror movies she's seen in the past. 

For a good while, it was nothing different from that, until the hall took a sudden right, and light streamed in from the end, obstructing their view outside from the mix between darkness and the blinding beam. Welt, still walking ahead, took the risk of making his way out first, only to walk into an impossibility. 

"Is that... the sky?" he asked, his own words sounding foreign and misplaced in the current context. The others stepped out, staring at the area as well, just as confused. They were on the edge of a forest; the old oaks sprawled all over the place, covering the entire area. 

"I don't even know what to believe anymore," said Himeko, her voice as lost as her thoughts. She dared take a look over her shoulder, only to see that the tunnel was gone, and they were stranded in the middle of nowhere, just open field as far as the eye could stretch, and the forest splitting the area in two large zones. 

"Why didn't I see this coming?" she sighed, letting her forehead fall in her palm, shaking her head slightly. The entire situation was slowly becoming more and more frustrating, spiraling from bad to worse. 

"I think we have to keep moving forward, right?" asked Black Swan, trying to find some sort of lead around. Welt nodded, making his way through the trees. 

"Since we came to this view, it seems logical to keep heading in this direction. Keep your eyes peeled and focus, everyone." 

The forest, while dense, didn't pose too much of a challenge when it came to navigating along. Their steps were light, moving swiftly, while each sound got a reaction from them. Tension was long since part of their beings, keeping them on the edge, focused on the smallest possible noises. 

Black Swan's eyes scanned the area, and she stopped, motioning for the others towards what looked like a clearing further in. Traces of what looked like huts could be faintly made out, but they were still too far to see it for themselves. 

"Over there, further in. I think I make out a settlement of sorts." 

March took out the rifle, using the scope to zoom in and focus on the scene, trying to look through the trees as much as possible. Inside, she caught sight of a strange man with messy white hair, who for some reason wore a tailcoat suit that spun with his movements. 

"I see someone fighting," she said firmly, focusing on what could be seen through the small clearing. Some strange humanoid beings were trying to fight the man, who was skillfully swinging a long, curved sword, similar to Acheron's own sword in shape, but it was just steel, lacking the same glow. 

"It's someone with a sword, taking down some strange things that resemble humans, but their bodies look weird. I can't make out details since they move too fast." 

She kept watching until she felt the man's gaze on her, staring right at the scope for a few moments, enough for her mind to process it. He quickly turned back to battle, moving with grace and power. 

"He saw me," she mumbled, clenching the rifle. "I saw him look at me, stopping for a bit so I could know that he noticed." 

Himeko put a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze. 

"It's alright, March. You did well; don't worry." 

"Do we engage?" asked Black Swan, and Welt pursed his lips as he searched for an answer. 

"Judging by the situation, it seems like the only thing we can do. Perhaps the man might have an idea. I'll go alone. March, please keep watch with your weapon. If something happens, fire, alright?" 

She nodded, having calmed down a bit thanks to Himeko's presence. 

"I will, Mister Yang." 

The words left her lips with a touch of self-imposed bravery, her own attempt at besting any emotion that tried to surface in that situation and hinder in any way. 

"Welt, just," said Himeko, looking at him with worry, "be careful, alright? We don't know what else might be going on, or even if that man is here like us." 

"I will, don't worry." 

He walked ahead, the sword held firmly, a silent declaration of his past, of the battles he's been through. With or without powers, he wasn't going to go down unless he put on the best performance possible.