Step Forward

A person entered the meeting room.

"What's up?" Kai smiled at the woman

She replied, "The heroes what to meet up to discuss how to move forward."

"Ah...now?" Laasya asked

The informer nodded her head and Laasya had a conflicted expression.

"Go where ever you plan to. We'll update you." Jaxon went "It will probably be super annoying."

"Thanks. I'll quickly finish up what I have to." Laasya told

"Let's get suited up and meet our heroic counterparts." Sebastian smiled

Kali smiled, "LET'S GO!!"

A few moments later--- The villains wore expressions of boredom as the heroes bickered with each other. Some understood why Laasya ditched them and wanted to have plans as well.

"Good thing we never fight in the public." Ajkula frowned "So demeaning."

" Let them blow off some steam." Kali giggled taking out bottles of champagne. "Anyone?"

"Pass over Dea." Executive Tigre beamed " To another boring meeting."

"They should grow up, already." Executive Gris sighed sipping her glass happily

The doors opened and the villains prepared snacks for themselves. The person leading, I- rank Daylight looked at Shadow Hound before turning to the other heroes. She bit her lower lip while surpassing her anger and despite her frustration, Daylight kept her composure.

She felt second-hand embarrassment for her fellow heroes that lowered themselves to argue in front of villains. Withstanding the temptation to join in, she kept her eyes forward, determined to remain levelheaded even in the face of adversity.

"STOP IT!!" Daylight went

"Why-" one began

Roberto interrupted, "I called them. The Hunters, Mercenaries, and Adventurers too."

"This hero branch has sunken quite low since they lost the country to Blood Lily." Chester teased

"We came to help, yet again."

*Crunching*

The heroes looked at the villains staring intently at them and passing around chips and dip.

"Don't mind us. Please continue." Beast smiled

"Enjoying yourselves?" Goldilocks frowned

Leonel nodded, "Very much. Thank you in advance."

"W...we'll work with you," Lioness growled

Drone dropped her glass, "Come again?"

"We'll do our best to make this alliance work. As well as the appearance of a third party, happy cooperation." Greg told

Executive Oaie replied, "Did not see that coming. I honestly don't know how to feel about this."

"I guess we're getting serious." Road Maniac sighed "One moment-"

The villains chugged down their champagne and finished up their chips. They dusted themselves off and changed their facial expressions.

"Alright. We're ready." Shadow Hound informed

Fali asked, "Do you know who the third party is?"

"Unknown individuals that are upset about villains entering the country." Ajkula lied

The heroes nodded in understanding and the villains swallowed their salvia hoping the heroes didn't find anything suspicious. The villains knew that the people were from another dimension, and the Players knew those from another dimension were their seniors in the System.

"I see. That might be the cause." Chrono went Nine came up front and Goldilocks stared daggers at him.

Hunter, Eddie came up and grabbed Nine's collar but couldn't pick him up which he found strange.

"Did you kill Hannah?" Eddie frowned

Nine answered, "Ah...that lamb. Yes, water under the bridge."

"YOU-" Eddie growled Nine's droopy eyes looked back at the hunter who reluctantly let him go.

Nine had a thick metal bracelet on his wrists with chains that led to his waist and neck with collars of thinner metal. He raised his hand and a holograph of the country appeared. On the holo-map red arrows appeared and Nine's eyes skimmed over it before looking back at the heroes.

"Well, I must say. The Nights race is smart." he smiled

Samurai exclaimed, "What do you-"

"I see." Executive Galo grinned "Now this is interesting."

The Nights race wasn't just mindlessly clawing up you barrier heroes."

The tension grew with the villains' interest. It would appear the Nights race had been attacking the strongest and weakest areas of the barrier more which was fascinating.

"How did they know how to find those points on your barrier?" Ixtal smirked "Seems something fun is happening."

"Spies?" Elemental gasped

"Or they are skilled at finding such places." Gadget smiled

" Either way....your barrier is about to collapse."

"We better pack up our bags." Silencer aka Waniya frowned

"What a hassle, we just got here."

[ Exiting to the Safe Zone is prohibited.]

"Of course, we'll help you!!" Ajkula went "We would never abandon our allies."

"Change of heart?" Tatiana frowned

Roberto interrupted, "Thank you so much for your assistance."

Ajkula and Roberto shake hands strongly with smiles.

"Happy....cooperation." Ajkula spat out

"We can go to the next country if this only croaks right?" Dea whispered

The villains nodded to her suggestion with a second thought. Naturally, the heroes didn't trust the villains who so readily offered help.

"We'll kill them if they're suspicious." the heroes had agreed before coming

"When will this end." everyone thought in agony as they tried to have a friendly expression

Meanwhile, Laasya was in an alley with blood dripping down her wounds. She looked at the opponent with interest.

"Nights race." she went "Why are you here?"

"You are what they call....a villain." the Nights woman smiled "Why are you here?"

A smile appeared on Laasya's face, "Is there anywhere I can't be? We blaze a place over the bones of others."

A man appeared behind the Nights woman and his thigh bashed into her skull. She was pushed toward a woman who tried to kick her. The Nights woman twisted her body mid-air, digging her hands into the soil to stop her movement.

"What?" she panted

In the cracks in the ground under Laasya, boiling lava oozed everywhere, and the Nights woman noticed lava oozing behind her as well. They were isolated from the outside world not. A wolf came out of the lava and snapped the woman's ankles as the man attacked again. Laasya took out a whip from the lava and looked at the woman coldly.

"We are the unit Hellgate."

*creak*

A gate rose from the lava and the Nights woman knew she had to run. This wasn't something she should tackle alone. The woman and man noticed she tried to run which only made them smirk.

They both advance and their thighs hit her sides and broke her ribs. The gate opened as another Nights race appeared and magic circles appeared everywhere. He stared at Laasya.

"This...is war," Laasya announced