Disclaimer: I don't own Gate or Nihon-koku Shoukan, as they belong to their rightful owners.

Arc 2: A City, A Diplomacy, A Dragon

Noble City X: The Last Hour Part 3

"In times like this, there are people who would be pursuing what is important to them—to save their own lives. Some would have to take drastic measures and use force to survive, and some have gone down another path and chose to help."

- New World Journal

The western gates, as many had imagined, would appear to be a very organized place, with an orderly crowd waiting their turn to leave the city and adhering to the gatekeepers' rules. Even though this was not the case, to begin with,

"Ahh, this is so fucking messed up!"

From the words of the Great Fiery Chef of the Orient, he perfectly described the current scenario at hand.

"Let us out first!"

It was a certainty—a chaotic one.

"Let everyone outside!"

"We don't want to die here!"

Crowds of locals, merchants, and even foreign visitors rushed up to the only exit they knew, while guards did their best to keep them under control and the panic from spreading.

Though the results were already inevitable,

When the announcement came through the city's Siren Tubes from the Prime Minister himself, almost everyone in the other districts packed their belongings and headed straight for the Western District.

It created hope for everyone, but it also brought a common headache.

A Major one.

For established business owners like a certain old blonde geezer, he was just one of the people who found themselves stuck in this kind of situation.

Alongside the rest of his staff, Gordon Ramsay stood near the city's gigantic walls as the man rested on them while rubbing his already-lined forehead in disappointment.

"We can't leave the city that easily, Chef."

One of his staff members had been relaying the message to him throughout this time, and he was eagerly waiting for some good news.

That didn't even come.

"As much as the others...and also including me, we are going to make a decision that we will not leave without Selina." He paused to get a good reaction, when not, he followed with "And also those two men in strange green outfits."

He was confident this time around.

The response was as usual.

"Of course, we won't be leaving you, donkey! I just fucking ask you to check the current situation at the Gates. For fucks sake!"

His temper got the best of him.

"Oh yes, chef! Thank you for reminding me, chef!" The staff member, with donkey ears, was taken aback as he simply nodded and proceeded to head toward the other staff members, who were setting up a temporary stall on a vacant spot.

Anna, who was beside the blonde geezer, turned her attention towards him." Are you sure about this?" she asked.

Gordon nodded and took a deep breath." Well since this place was safer than we thought." His eyes observed the poor residents and refugees, who had no choice but to wait and had been fighting off their hunger. "We might as well extend help to those in need," he explained, grabbing a certain apron.

His answer definitely surprised the rest of the Lonely Lamb Crew.

He wasn't just one of the usual business owners who would often move out of every place once a catastrophe took place.

When the opportunity arises, the blonde geezer will not hesitate to lend assistance, and he will do so sincerely.

Soon, the poor and hungry residents began to take notice of the long, cloth-covered wooden table. The various pots and pans, unique cooking equipment, and ingredients as well

They all thought this was going to be a cooking show, yet they slowly realized as a banner simply attacked the bottom front of the table, which read...

"Ramsay and Friend's Food Foundation Program."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Your Highness!"

"Milady!"

"Captain!"

"Pina!"

From time to time, The rest of the Rose knights would occasionally call out the redhead by her usual monikers. The journey had led them down a potentially lost path, but they had not given up on the search.

Truth be told, from what they saw on the magical screen back at the Palace Guest House, seeing the state of the city on the ground and in person was way worse than they had ever imagined.

Everything was rather silent, though the feeling of death and destruction was present in the district itself.

Hamilton had this concrete plan of searching every detail of the ruins. In fact, it was her own emotions that pushed her down that path.

Then why would she be searching for the ground rather than the skies?

The young girl gave a frustrated look.

Her mind was on it again.

"Hamilton, are you sure the captain could be somewhere here?" One of the young knights asked.

This was certainly getting ridiculous and useless.

The girl subtly cringed before sighing.

"I apologize, Elizabeth." She replied." It was my assumptions that led us here in a cycle." She clarified." Her Highness is still in the skies but not in this area."

There were whispers amongst the girls.

If the Princess was still in the skies then what way could they help their captain?

"So please, let's continue moving on from here." The girl said, as she immediately directed her horse toward one path.

The rest of the girls then looked toward her.

They could tell the girl was struggling with her worries, and it wasn't looking good. They needed to show their support for her cause. Not only that, but the emotional aspect is also significant.

Amid that silence, their horses suddenly reacted to an unknown presence as they made a series of noises. Not long after, the ground slightly shook enough for them to be startled, followed by remnants of a shockwave from a certain direction.

All of the girls then decided to look in a specific direction, with the darker clouds converging and small, multiple dots moving at a speed.

Then quickly came a huge, menacing roar that nearly brought the horses to dwell into their fears.

She felt that heartbeat and widened her eyes in realization.

Surely, that's where her childhood friend is right now.

"Hamilton?" Elizabeth asked once more with concern." Are you alright?"

The girl remained silent for a brief moment, then gazed at the rest of them.

Giving a simple nod and smile.

"Don't worry about me," she said as she turned towards the main path." We have to continue no matter what."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

She could remember the explosion that almost engulfed her and the pain that she felt in her left waist.

Like a leaf, she instantly fell towards the open skies. Her mind was at a halt as she was in a state of disbelief.

She stretched forth her hands as if to relay whatever pleas she had left in her.

Pina didn't know what to do at that moment. She was in between death's door and the open spaces of life.

Could this be over?

Will she be able to keep that promise she made a long time ago?

As she looked above, she saw Mera trying her best to save her from the fall. Even though her world had slowed down, she was less than a minute away from landing on the ground, with a possible impact that could take her to the next world.

She had no choice at this point but to close her eyes and let the moment flow.

Yet something had happened after that, and she didn't feel anything yet, her consciousness fading to black.

The next time she opened her eyes, she found herself looking at a familiar face.

Pina recognized him somehow.

She tried to recall the moment she had met him.

Was it back at the palace?

Was it in the city itself?

Or both?

Then she heard him speak for the first time.

"Your Highness..."

It took Yuji about five mentions to finally bring the young lady to her senses. She tried to get up when she felt the heaviness, so the man had to assist her.

"Mr. Yuji?"

"Careful there.."

It wasn't just Yuji who had surrounded her; moments later, she heard a small growl that slightly boosted her senses, and she moved backward out of cautiousness.

The larger mass stood next to the latter. For a brief moment, she mistook the creature in front of her for one of the bloodthirsty enemy wyverns she had previously fought, but as her vision became clearer, the creature in front of her was far different.

The corrupted wyverns didn't even possess those adorable eyes, and another obvious thing was observing her out of curiosity.

"Princess, I know you've been through a lot, but you have to listen," Yuji explained. "Believe it or not, but this big fellow saved my life, and he was the one that saved you too."

The young lady was surprised by his words, but the more she observed, the more she realized that this dragon-like creature was different.

This was... a dragon, but from unknown origins.

Its overall appearance piqued her interest to the point where she assumed it was a stray dragon from the rarer regions that had become entangled in this mess.

"He is the Flame Dragon's son."

Those simple words immediately dispelled her doubts and revealed yet another shocking revelation to her.

Little Foot gave a small growl in response.

Pina was rendered speechless for a few moments. Her thoughts returned to the dark dragon she had seen a while ago, and she wondered if that beast was the mother of this offspring.

It was impossible.

If that was the flame dragon, then how in the world had the beast become such an abomination?

She tried to connect the dots.

Then her mind went running up at the same time as she recalled everything that had happened.

The intense aerial battle between her and her once-former mentor

The hellish skies

The explosion that happened between her and the man

The pain she felt in her waist

Her expression changed as she looked down towards the source of that so-called pain, and when she finally checked for possible wounds, Surprisingly, there was nothing, except a small burnt hole without any trace of blood.

"Pina?" Yuji called out to her again.

By this time, the redhead widened her eyes as she remembered her "Companion."

"Mera!" she exclaimed worriedly as she tried to look around.

Yet, at the same time, there was a familiar chatter from her side.

The feathery image was the one that caught her attention, and not long after, the griffin herself approached her and gently rubbed her head as it dearly missed her.

Pina smiled as she embraced her companion and small tears fell from her eyes.

"Mera, I thought I'd lost you," she remarked.

Meanwhile, Yuji and Little Foot were happy to see the two reunite, though they chose not to reveal what had transpired before the girl had regained consciousness.

"Easy there. Don't fight, alright?"

"We are not going to harm her."

Fortunately, the griffin recognized the man's scent from before.

Yuji breathed in deeply. "With that out of the way, may I ask what happened that brought you here in the first place?" he asked, already curious to learn the truth.

Pina's mind went alive again, and she turned towards the skies.

"Oh no, he muttered before turning towards the man.

"Miss Parna!" She mentioned the name." I have to go back... I have to help her." Her panic emerged once again as she tried to get up.

"Hold on a sec!" The man replied as he calmed her down." You can't just go back there."

"Why?"

"That whole place is a mess right now."

The young lady stared at him. She didn't quite understand what those words meant, but she understood the way he had said them.

It was chaotic in that specific area.

Pina slightly frowned." That's why I am going back!" She replied, standing up to her statement." She did many good things, and I can't let her suffer and be killed by them in vain."

"I won't let that same thing happen again!"

She was tired yet still furious.

This was the first time that she had let out her emotions.

How many times does she have to witness good people who did many good things in life suffer?

"People like her. They don't deserve this kind of life." She added more as the tears fell.

How many times has she done something that would make the situation better only to end up most tragically?

Yet some people still stood by her side and genuinely helped her face the challenges and struggles.

Yuji gave a sad smile as he placed a hand on the latter's shoulder.

"I know that feeling," he remarked giving a sorrowful face, "losing your loved ones and going through a very deep struggle."

Little Foot gave a small growl, while Mera added her sadness as she comforted her companion.

"Yes, there were a lot of times that I felt lonely, and I thought the whole world was out to get me," he explained, as slowly the princess looked up and saw his smile.

"But aside from that, there are people who still care and believe in you."

At the same time, a ray of sunlight shone down on them. Hope had found a way to rise again in some way.

Pina wiped the tears from her eyes, giving a small smile. She then brought her attention to the main battle zone.

"You know, I do wonder if there's a way for the darkness to be destroyed," Yuji said as he brought up the white crystal.

He recalled catching a glimpse of that certain black crystal that was absorbed by the beast.

It was rather an absurd idea, but could this possibly be the key to stripping the enemy of its power?

Then something came up at that moment.

"That's it!" He widened his eyes as he turned towards the young lady.

"Your Highness, are you planning on heading back? We might as well join you and lend you help whatever we can." He gave a confident smile.

Pina was slightly taken aback by his words, though she immediately accepted his help.

"Thank you, sir Yuji. But may I ask, in what way would you help me fight the enemies?"

The young writer nodded, having faith in this unusual idea that he had come up with, as he gave a grin.

"We are going to give that bastard a taste of what pure light is all about, literally."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It was a well-deserved reunion.

Those hours that both groups were separated and experiencing mayhem across the city felt like months. When the LAV carrying Tomita, Hitoshi, and Selina arrived on the scene, a surreal feeling enveloped the trio.

"Finally! It took you guys a long time!" Kurata exclaimed cheerfully as he raced towards them.

By the time he got to them, the Otaku soldier pulled both men into a brotherly embrace.

"Where the heck have you guys been?" Higashi followed up with his question.

"We were about to ask you too."

A little chuckle came from Furuta.

"I suppose your walkies are not even working, and that's why we can't contact you."

Higashi raised both eyebrows." Wait, you were searching for us the whole time?" he remarked." Don't tell me that old sarge had to do something with it."

He received a simple nod from the man.

A weary yet still confident Shino stepped up, projecting this casual facade, and said, "Looks like you guys have been through hell?" She asked, giving a slight yawn.

"Been busy killing those stupid lizards, I guess?"

Tomita replied with a shrug." Guess so...been through some stuff that could kill us." He sighed, upon recalling meeting a lot of new faces." And we got a chance to meet The Great Gordon Ramsay."

The young woman, along with the other two, gave puzzled looks and blurted out...

"Gordon who?"

Shino replied, not even familiar with the name.

Hitoshi slightly cringed." Well, that's another story for another time," he explained, though as he was about to speak, a certain cat girl entered the conversation.

"His name is Gordon Ramsay, and don't ever forget Nya!"

She emerged from behind behind behind behind behind behind behind the big man's back.

As soon as Kurata saw her, his eyes widened in surprise and excitement." Oh sh*t, it's a cat girl!" His mind yelled though he kept his composure on the outside.

"And you are?" Shino then followed up with a question.

The new face amongst the crowd grinned.

"My name is Selina." She finally got the chance to introduce herself." And I am the best hostess in the entire Orient!"

With great pride and confidence, she represented her establishment very well.

Tomita groaned while Hitoshi looked away with a certain giggle.

Both men were witnesses to her special, secret expertise.

Instead of expecting a warm reception, Selina had to endure the confused and astonished looks of the trio, except the Otaku soldier, who gave a grin of approval.

"Well, my introductions can be a little surprising, but you'll get used to it," she grinned.

To continue the more important conversation, Furuta stepped up.

"By the way, Shino-san, what happened to the other LAV?"

Alas, they finally noticed the most obvious.

Shino gave a weary sigh while Higashi cringed.

"It's a long story." He was the one to explain." Remember, we had gone through some shit, and the LAV had to die right in the middle of whatever was happening a while ago."

Tomita raised both eyebrows." Wait, so you mean you left the vehicle somewhere on ground zero?" he asked, while the rest nodded in confirmation.

"Duh, we don't have a choice." Shino spoke this time, rolling her eyes." It's either we get turned into food eaten by demonic lizards or escape by going full old school on the wagon and fantasy by riding big yellow birds."

Kurata chuckled at her statement.

"Nice way of describing it."

Tomita sighed in return. "Well, it's a good thing you guys are alright," he said."

"Old Sarge had been really worried, so we have to go back to the mansion."

"Mansion?'

"Yeah, about spoke." The rest of the team had to relocate since we couldn't squeeze in with the other evacuees."

"So who the heck owns the mansion?"

"That Ernest guy... He's a noble or whatever you call it, remember?"

The young woman shrugged in response, before gathering herself again.

"Well, with that said, I think we should probably head towards that mansion and..."

A certain blue-haired teen stepped up just as she was about to finish her sentence.

"Ms. Shino, I don't want to be the opposition, but we must not leave."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Are you kids alright?"

The fact that it had to be a so-called blonde villainous woman to ask that question.

Tuka, who had previously witnessed her taking a certain boy's life, was in for a surprise. A while ago, this woman took the risk of saving them from the monstrous horde.

They were perplexed yet still cautious of her.

"Stay away; if you do anything to these kids, I'll personally take you on!" Sara had to step up and be the protective big sister she is to them.

Aldon, who also spoke up despite still recovering from his injury,

"Yes, don't try to do anything foolish," he exclaimed, even trying to shield them acting as if he was their protector throughout this time.

Elrena found herself pleasantly surprised by their boldness instead of feeling daunted. Their display of courage actually amused her, and before she knew it, a genuine laugh bubbled up inside her, filling the room with high energy.

"Oh, you children..." she replied." Why would I do that?" She wondered to herself aloud.

"Do I look like someone who'll kill innocent kids for no reason?"

Silence then came in, though most of the children slowly gave nods, still not fully believing her claims.

The now slightly annoyed Elrena gave a groan and made a face." Kids nowadays," she muttered to herself as she moved her eyes and saw Chirithy of the Demi-Goddess watching closely at her actions.

She smirked in response." These people are really for real." Even her thoughts had something to say.

Then she moved her eyes again and saw the elf girl, who was still being observant. Although this one caught her interest and vice versa,

Tuka had been struck with a little awe during the brief battle, and her curiosity had gotten the best of her, she wanted to know how this mysterious woman had dealt with the enemy.

"You seem mesmerized, kiddo," she remarked, giving a smile." Even though you're an elf, I am the older one here." She flipped her hair and added, "If you want to reach this level, then don't go on looking for a fight since you alone won't be able to stop that monster."

The wind suddenly grew stronger as a distant roar could be heard, followed by massive sounds of crashing.

"What are you planning to do?" Terra muttered to himself.

For Elrena, she simply smirked and turned her attention elsewhere.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Lelei, this is not the time for acting like a hero."

A little argument had started.

"Ms. Shino, I'm not bluffing, and I'm very serious about this."

Just as they were about to move forward with their initial decision that the girl had come at just the right time,

The place that they were currently in was already turned into a battlefield, and now it is an even more ruined place.

Who in their right mind would try to stay here and continue fighting?

Lelei continued to speak.

"I am not saying that we should go and hunt more beasts to kill," the girl explained while pointing towards that specific area." The Apostle of Hardy is fighting that dragon, and she needs all the help."

"Wait, she's an apostle?" Higashi wondered, giving a surprised look.

Shino crossed her arms and said, "Yeah, she's an apostle, and that's her job in the first place." She calmly argued back, "Why should we interfere in this?"

"Because that monster over is no ordinary beast," Lelei replied again." Even the Flame Dragon herself can't even defeat it, since its power stems from the dark crystal key."

She fired back with her knowledge.

"Dark Crystal?" Kurata wondered." You mean something like an ancient massive power boost?" He tried to dig into his knowledge in terms of his local pop-culture references.

Lelei took a deep breath." I am not sure how it got here, but the description of its power matches the old accounts of the early archmages." She explained further, reminding them of the time she had spent in the Great Library not long ago.

"It can corrupt anything and even make a life of its own."

"It would take more than just an apostle and a Guardian Dragon to beat it."

Shino, on the other hand, had no idea about the lore that was being relayed to her as she entered an unknown territory. The only thing she could make out was that whoever the girl was referring to sounded more dangerous and powerful than what they had faced.

Besides, the young mage was serious about this.

"So if we even try to escape?" Higashi followed." It will still follow us?" He added his question.

Then, at that very moment, an unexpected person entered their conversation.

"More like, once it's done with the both of them, then that beast will finally focus on burning the entire city to the ground."

Everyone's attention had turned towards that certain blonde with a smirk.

Shino, Higashi, and Kurata held their rifles cautiously as they immediately recognized her as the person who had stabbed the boy from behind a while ago. Meanwhile, the trio of Tomita, Hitoshi, and Selina were befuddled.

Except the cat girl, as she sensed a power from within her.

"Look, I am not here to scare all of you," the blonde girl said, slightly raising her hands. "I am only here to support that girl," she explained, winking at the blue-haired teen.

Her words sounded like she was trying to deceive someone, but for Lelei, a part of her felt that this time her current actions could be trusted—just this once.

She gave a slight nod. She was somehow ready to listen.

Elrena saw this, and she continued, "She's right." She said while gesturing. "Even if we are this far from the main battlefield, the beast's powers would still grow and affect the entire surroundings." She pointed towards the dark skies.

"And don't forget that there are still hundreds of wyverns trying to enter the city."

"Don't treat this as if everything is over, and let fate decide your destiny.

Her statement did bring some realization to them.

"So you're saying that we are the only ones that could stop it?" Tomita spoke for the first time.

Elrena slightly smiled." Of course not," she bluntly said." It will take a lot of everyone and not just you people to kill one powerful monster."

Everyone was silent as they were put into second thoughts.

At this point, escaping could just be a never-ending cycle.

However, the blonde woman had other plans, as she knew this was the moment for her to leave.

"Hey wait!" Terra attempted to prevent that opportunity, but it was too late.

As the corner of her lips lifted into a sly smirk, she raised her hand, ready to cast her magic. Her fingers moved with a fluid grace as she channeled her power. A thick, pinkish essence began to manifest around her, swirling and pulsating with energy. The essence grew stronger and brighter, encircling her completely. And then, without warning, it vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

Silence returned to the area once again as most were put into a conflict of thoughts.

They were left with a quite friendly warning from the woman.

Yet, the main decision was certainly there for them to follow.

Lelei still stood by her grounds as she waited for their answer.

Even if they leave, she will choose to stay, knowing that the necessary tools are available for her to perform that certain magic.

On the other side, Tuka gave a small nod to support her friend.

As for the men in green, they were left with no choice this time around.

Before they could agree, Shino seriously eyed the blue-haired mage.

"Fine, we'll follow your idea," the young woman said before adding, "but you have to make sure that whatever you find will take that giant bastard out."

Lelei nodded in response." I guarantee that." She took a slight deep breath." Thank you for understanding, Ms. Shino."

The Duke was carefully listening and observing their conversations from a distance. The chubby merchant grinned from ear to ear, knowing that this was the only way to end it.

So he opened his lips and declared it to everyone.

"So...when do we plan?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

He didn't ask for this in the beginning.

Nobody did.

Yet... He still had to face a re-emerging obstacle that he would often escape from.

Since those times from long ago when he finally cut ties with his roots, his past, and the memories with her that, in some mysterious way, he would cross paths with her whenever a major event would occur,

Perhaps this already counts as one.

The man stood alone on the rooftop of an old, abandoned building, situated miles away from the chaotic battle zone. As he gazed out at the scene before him, he felt like nothing more than a powerless spectator. His heart sank as he realized that he had not foreseen this outcome, and he couldn't help but wonder how things had taken such a drastic turn. The once bustling city below was now reduced to a smoldering wasteland, filled with the sounds of explosions and the heat of the fire. Despite his distance from the chaos, he could still feel the tension in the air, and his mind raced with thoughts of what was yet to come.

He was ahead of everyone and was also very close to claiming his goal.

"Luscious." Then he heard her voice once again.

The young lady stood before him, albeit awaiting whatever response would emerge.

He slowly turned around to face her, maintaining a calm facade.

"Tell me, Rory, why do you always get in the way?" He asked her straightforwardly, not wanting any alibi.

Rory, on the other hand, remained silent.

"Why do you keep on believing that I will come back?"

Yet he only received silence once again.

"Answer me!" He exclaimed this time.

Rory kept a strong facade as she continued to look at him. She wanted to see that certain aspect of him.

"Everything I do to fix the mistakes that this world has made, you always have to counter them."

"I don't oppose you." She finally spoke, even relaxing herself as she eventually chose not to engage him in battle.

"What I only want to see is if the simple village boy I saw years ago is still here." She reminded him again.

The wind grew stronger.

"What makes you say that?"

Rory flashed a small smile." You didn't intend to kill those people in the circus," she said, revealing a certain detail of the event." Something corrupt took over them, and you were forced to do it."

The man widened his eyes in slight surprise. It was, in fact, a hidden truth for him. He would not kill if there was no reason to.

"Perhaps that crystal itself."

In addition, his childhood friend was an Oracle for a reason.

"Rory, if needing my help to defeat the beast is all that you want, then there will be no problem with me assisting you in doing that." Luscious went straight to the point as he had thought.

Yet, it was only part of it.

The apostle kept a straight, serious but soft face." I want to know the truth about why the search for the crystals has been revived again."

"Who's leading it?"

Again, a very sensitive question, to which he couldn't even answer properly at the moment.

The young man remained silent, as there was a little struggle to tell.

At the same time, the roar of the beast was unleashed, and both felt the terrifying energy that it brought. Moreover, the Flame Dragon had been trying her best to beat it and slay it, yet her efforts were to be in vain soon.

Luscious looked towards the east as his eyes observed the ongoing scenario.

"Rory..." He called again.

"Just promise me that you'll never show yourself again."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was so strange, as the docks of the western ports were in tranquility.

The breathtaking, unspoiled expanse of the sky, stretching out beyond the horizon over the sparkling sea, created an ideal setting for a casual chat. The waterfront, with its invigorating sea breeze, provided the perfect spot to soak up the refreshing atmosphere.

The wooden bench was positioned in a desolate area where the former division captain of the principality's Wyvern forces sat huddled under a thick purple blanket to keep himself warm. It was evident from his trembling hands and feet that he was still feeling the chill of the surroundings. The silence that enveloped the area was only broken by the distant howling of the wind, but he was not panicking anymore. Despite the coldness, he remained calm and composed, his thoughts deep in contemplation.

In front of him was the group of merchants that had rescued him before.

Were they merchants to begin with?

Not long after, the leader of the group gave him a hot cup of tea, and the man immediately took a sip out of desire for anything to consume.

"Thank you, sire!" He was even able to thank him.

"I guess this place is more comfortable for our little chat," he remarked with a smirk.

"So...Captain Julius of the Qua-Toyne Wyvern Forces," he said, looking straight at him in the eye." It would be a pleasure if you could share your recent thoughts so that you won't be able to keep the bad memories from destroying your mind."

The wind grew stronger.

"Tell me, is Sadera really planning on invading and conquering Qua-Toyne by first attacking its precious capital city?" he asked.

The still-traumatized man slowly nodded.

"Y-yes and no," he replied, enough to make the rest wonder.

"How so?

The man briefly looked at a distance and went back, his eyes showing a certain hesitance.

"From what they've told me, they were looking for a treasure. I don't know how, but it's an artifact of great value," he explained.

"And as for..."

"The invasion was only a second plan. If they succeeded on their first objective, then they would possibly proceed on attacking the other major towns and the garrison at Ejei." He relayed everything he knew." All this if no one would try to interfere."

Captain Dalda nodded.

"I see...then that gigantic dragon that has been terrorizing the city... is it part of their plan?"

The man's eyes widened in surprise as he shook his head in denial after hearing his statement.

"I have no knowledge of a dark dragon being summoned alongside the Wyvern forces," he remarked." I was only told to secretly meet the Wyvern army, which will lead the aerial invasion days prior."

"I swear on the king's grave. I do not know of that beast's involvement."

No matter how they pressed him, he still repeated the same answer regarding it.

Captain Dalda sighed in response.

"Very well. But let me ask you another."

He was one of the several people who knew certain classified information.

"The Wyvern armies who are currently leading this attack... do you know who they are?" He asked once more.

The man gulped.

"Not that I fully know them. They were stoic, and even their commander, who would only give small answers,

"Where are they originally from?"

He was expecting that answer.

"Sadera, as they claimed to be."

It was somehow different, and that surprised him.

"That's impossible," he replied, his voice coated in disbelief.

"What do you mean, captain?" One of the members of his crew curiously asked.

It took several moments for him to reply, as he wondered.

"The Wyvern forces..." he said, as the rest listened." They were supposed to receive backing from His Majesty's Imperial Wyvern Army."

The rest of the crew looked at him with confused and curious faces.

"So you mean that the Welsh army that is currently attacking this place is not from Parpaldia?"

"That's what I'm assuming," Dalda simply said.

The mystery continued to thicken as the men slightly felt the hairs on their bodies stand up.

Despite that, the captain continued to push him for more answers.

"Julius, how did the Saderan higher authorities acquire such an aerial army like this?"

The man slowly took a deep breath."Adem." He mentioned the name." According to the closest information I received, there was an offer from the Empire of Parpaldia." He paused, swallowing more of his saliva." They were eager to support his cause, but in a short time, it was halted."

"Why so?"

"I don't know the real reason, but from what I have learned, it appears that Adem had allegedly turned to the darkest of magic and had summoned something more sinister."

The wind grew stronger, and the atmosphere slightly tensed.

Captain Dalda's expression had changed, as he had never expected to enter this kind of territory. He never knew that the supernatural would be more involved in the countless conspiracies that had emerged.

The question that remains right now

"What is going on?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Everything was a chaotic mess.

The district was almost unrecognizable.

The huge, thunderous sounds echoed across the city.

Structures instantly crumbled into pieces.

Most of the streets have been erased.

The battle continued to rage as the gigantic dragons fought to the death.

As the Flame Dragon prepared for another clash with her opponent, she drew upon her inner strength, summoning flames that enveloped her body and created an armor-like barrier. The intense heat emanating from her body was enough to make the air ripple and distort around her. With renewed power, the dragon charged forward, her wings flapping furiously as she closed in on her opponent. The two mighty beasts collided once again, their bodies slamming into each other with a tremendous force that shook the ground beneath them.

As the intense battle between the dark dragon and his red foe raged on, the dark dragon sensed an opportunity and decided to fight fire with fire. He too harnessed the growing power of fire, causing dark flames to manifest from his giant claws. With his newfound strength, the dark dragon unleashed a series of calculated strikes, aiming to break through the red beast's guard and emerge victorious in their epic confrontation.

With fierce determination, the Flame Dragon positioned herself before the enemy, ready to defend herself at all costs. Despite facing powerful blows, her impenetrable scales proved to be a formidable shield against the enemy's attack. She bided her time, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to unleash her own attack. Suddenly, a chance presented itself and she seized it. With a mighty roar, she stepped forward, channeling all her energy into her right claw. The surrounding air grew thick with flames as she unleashed a powerful punch that connected directly with the enemy's face, leaving a scorching mark in its wake.

The dragon then moved once more, using this chance to charge at the surprise dark dragon and tackle it to the ground.

The red dragon attacked its enemy with a crushing blow, but the enemy was quick to react and spread its wings to shield itself from the attack. It then seized the opportunity to grab the red dragon's neck and pinned it down. With the red dragon helpless, the enemy used its strength to push its face towards the ground with great force. The battle between the two powerful creatures intensified as they struggled to overcome each other.

The impact of the dragon's attack left a gaping crater in the ground. But the dragon was not done yet. It unleashed a second attack, intensifying the flames until they were a searing inferno. The flames rapidly spread outwards, advancing towards the enemy like a swarm of ants, determined to engulf them completely.

The dark dragon let out a roar, feeling the pain as it spread its wings once again.

This time, the flame dragon did the same and used its wings to bring them above.

The red dragon was able to get away from the enemy's grasp and instead used its claws to grab its neck, then proceeded to bring it down once more, thereby performing a big choke slam to the ground.

Thus, another huge crater was formed.

To top it all off, the red dragon summoned more powerful, reddish flames that erupted from the ground and surrounded them. This, in turn, would prevent them from exiting the entire district. Thus preventing more destruction from spreading.

The Flame Dragon was well aware that the relationship between humans and her kind was not ideal. There was still tension, but she would not allow any more deaths.

However, her enemy had a different plan.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Amidst their battle, some casualties began to emerge. mostly from the side of the Imperial Wyvern Invasion Army.

The flames that were unleashed by both sides were able to eventually engulf several groups that found themselves in the same area, and as a result, more burned bodies were dropping dead.

As the chaos ensued, a tiny camera happened to be situated right in the heart of the commotion. It diligently recorded every detail of the unfolding events, allowing the two men caught up in the midst of it to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. With the benefit of this footage, they were able to piece together the events leading up to the fiasco and make sense of what was happening around them.

"So this angle is good enough, Itami?" Carl asked, still unsure and hesitant to go nearer.

Itami slightly shook his head." Keep moving closer, Carl-san," he calmly said, his eyes still focused on the screen.

There was hardly any formal communication between the two of them. Gone were the "Lieutenants or the Majors" for a while, replaced with their normal names in this time of trouble.

"Base told us that they were able to connect directly to our drone, so that means what this thing sees, they can also see," the man explained further.

There were not enough options, and if they wanted this monster to be gone, then they had to push forward.

"Here goes nothing," Carl remarked, moving the joysticks in one direction as he commanded the drone and flew toward the battle scene.

Meanwhile, the tension in the battle increased as more strength and power were used by both dragons.

Surprisingly, the flame dragon was gaining favor. With the flame circle still in effect, it gave her more confidence to push with her attacks. The area is already becoming her territory if all goes smoothly.

She only needed to drain the dark dragon of its energy, as the circle already prevented it from gathering more power. Afterward, she could finally inflict heavy blows that would eventually expose its main weakness.

The dark creature was stumbling and losing its balance as its red counterpart continued with a series of strikes.

Yet somehow, it was able to raise its guard and successfully deflect crucial attacks. Though it remained in a stagnant position,

There was something amiss.

The dark dragon wasn't responding to similar attacks and only stood to block its enemy.

As a consequence, it continued to give the red dragon an advantage, and eventually... She made another strike and severed the dragon's entire right claw.

The dark beast kneeled as if its power were almost gone.

It seemed that triumph was almost there, as most of the flame dragon's plan had worked.

All she needed to do was cut open her adversary's body and destroy its weakness. She prepared for another strike, summoning more flames on its claws, but at that very moment, she felt something painful on her shoulder, and not long after, a certain claw pierced through and emerged from the other side.

She widened her eyes in shock as it was revealed to be the very same arm that she had cut down, and the dark dragon took the opportunity to manipulate that arm.

By then, the dark dragon had regrown a new one, this time with sharp edges that resembled blades.

The flame dragon lost balance as she was able to take off the severed claw and arm from her shoulder; though the surprise attack had left her shaken, and she fell to the ground this time.

It was her worst fear that the enemy did not waste time, as it proceeded to strike back with the intent of finishing her off once and for all.

Her mind quickly went towards her offspring as the dark dragon proceeded to use its deadly claws to kill her.

However, at that very moment, a beam of light appeared as a yellow orb confronted and prevented the beast from fully making its move.

XXXXXXXXXXX

It was in a nick of time that she was able to reach her destination, showcasing her giant scythe glowing with powerful magic as it was able to block the massive claws of the beast.

Giselle smirked, having been waiting for this moment to finally arrive.

The dark dragon was overcome with surprise regarding the newcomer to the fight. Despite its small form, it possessed incredible strength, and it was attempting to overpower it. Not long after, two more orbs arrived at the same speed, hitting the beast in specific spots of its body.

One in its thighs and the other directly towards the left waistline.

The impact of the damage created huge gaping holes in its body, which eventually started to heal. Although the two orbs continued what they were doing, the main one, in the form of the draconian apostle, acted as the decoy and the one to take all the beast's attention.

Mowto and Towato penetrated the beast's flesh, burning everything inside with the powerful magic bestowed upon them. They were well aware that the enemy's regeneration was a significant factor, and they had no choice but to step up their attacks. As a result, flames burst forth from the dark dragon's legs, annihilating the healing factor and rendering it immobile for the time being.

However, the beast continued to resist the apostle, who was in the middle of overpowering it.

As Giselle approached the task at hand, she felt a sense of confidence wash over her knowing that her companions were doing the heavy damage. She had a hunch that the weak point in their plan wouldn't be in the lower levels, and she was determined to find it. With a focused attention to detail, Giselle eventually came to the conclusion that the weak point was likely somewhere in the upper areas.

The flames continued to spread, eventually reaching the waist and towards the chest.

Although the two small dragons were on their way up, they could feel that powerful presence emanating, and the moment they reached that part, something was able to halt them.

Giselle noticed the unusual pattern, and not long after, her eyes widened in shock upon seeing her companions being sent away from the beast's body.

For the first time, she felt a certain nervousness.

She focused back on fighting the main dragon, who suddenly had this evil grin before something burst out from its chest.

"What!?" Giselle exclaimed.

As the dragon's body convulsed, a dark figure began to take shape. It gradually transformed into a humanoid form, black as night. The figure quickly shapeshifted again, this time into a smaller version of the dragon. It was clear that this new form was capable of fighting the apostle herself on equal footing.

"Clever!" It said as its hand morphed into a giant sickle-like essence and by then it proceeded to attack the young woman, making her retreat for the first time.

Giselle was taken aback, finding herself in an unexpected situation at hand.

As she raised her gaze, she caught sight of the colossal creature looming over her, using the opportunity to launch a sudden attack and crush her under its massive claws. But just in time, a fiery red dragon appeared and intervened, blocking the beast's deadly blow. The dragon struggled for a moment, but soon regained its strength and stood firmly in front of her, ready to face the perilous threat head-on.

A sense of relief formed within Giselle, yet the brief moment of thought was gone as she was forced to dodge multiple strikes from the so-called will of the enemy that was able to manifest itself.

By then, the previous one-on-one battle had become a tag team match.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Are you getting everything?"

"Yes, sir..."

It was clear that this was no longer a little ruckus in the lower regions. According to one point of view, the last member was given commands by his superior." Make sure you capture every aspect, not just those gigantic monsters fighting."

"Noted, sir, though, what about the rest of them?"

The man chuckled.

"Don't worry, they are already veterans of the field, discovering great stories and even the tiny ones that could make a good impact," He explained before adding, " I know you're quite new to this, but going for the main highlight takes a lot of courage."

Especially, in this region of the New World."

"You're something else."

"Thank you, sir, but may I ask once we document and take these photos.." He paused for a moment, thinking of the next thing to say: " To whom are we going to send it?"

A small smirk formed around the man's lips.

"Again, these will all remain a secret, and it depends on how this certain event will unfold and end.." He explained." Remember, we don't have the power to pick which information should be published." He then looked towards the skies.

"You don't mean by..." He trailed off.

"Yes! It's up to the chief to make his decision whether this one is worthy enough to make the headlines."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We have to be there as fast as we can."

The skies were surprisingly kind to them at this moment as not a single enemy had sighted ever since they flew.

Yuji found himself riding on top of the adorable dragon while the mysterious Princess and her griffin companion led the way.

The man had been through so much for the past several hours that he was still in disbelief that there were more challenges to come.

It seemed never-ending at this point.

However, he could still sense that tension growing the closer they got to the main battlefield.

His eyes had been locked on the young lady.

The silence was indeed strong in her yet there was raw emotion that surrounded her.

Was she preparing for a possible battle?

Yes.

Does she need assistance with this?

Surprisingly, Yes.

"Could she take on an enemy who is possibly more powerful than her?

Judging by her confidence...It was leaning into another Yes.

Yuji was well aware that he was just a writer, a not-so-expert novelist with his dreams. But he did have a history with the JSDF back home, as well as an unlikely imagination, which could be one of the main reasons he was still alive at this point.

As for the Princess, She was indeed mysterious, yet somehow there was compassion and determination in her that was quite noticeable.

His eyes scanned the surroundings once more, taking in the sight of a city that had slowly but surely been liberated from the grip of corruption and darkness that had once consumed it. As he looked closer, he noticed that the enemy forces were concentrated mainly in one area - the main battle zone. It was clear that their attention was solely focused on that one point, leaving the rest of the districts relatively spared from any possible destruction.

Unbeknownst to him one secret factor was the ethereal essence which was slowly growing and emerging from the ground itself.

"I could see everything down there," He commented, referring to the clear view of the city streets.

Of course, he had flown in the skies before with helicopters and planes back in his world, but riding a dragon in the skies was on another level.

Then a thought came into his mind again.

"I wonder what happened to those girl knight friends of hers?"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It was apparent that searching for every spot was a bad choice to begin with. Let alone it consumed most of their time.

Fortunately, the decision was made, and they were finally going to the place that no one expected them to go anytime soon.

"Move forward!"

"Don't halt! Follow them!"

The horses had been galloping non-stop up to this point and the members of the Rose Knights were placed into a possible opportunity.

Hamilton led the way as they traversed through the streets, heading towards the heart of the eastern district.

Where all of the destruction and violence was currently taking place.

Her eyes were set on a familiar anomaly from the skies.

They had all heard the cries of an eagle from above and recognized it.

As for now, the young page fought to fulfill that promise.

"Don't worry Pina, we'll be there for you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From a distance, it looked as if there was a grand parade in the skies.

It was teeming with the dark imperial wyverns, each group flying in perfect formation that seemed to be on the brink of breaking apart at any given moment. They all had their sights set on one individual who had somehow managed to withstand their relentless attacks for hours on end.

Parna was a survivor and she never thought that one day a lot of individuals would be interested in following her at the same time.

"You won't get away!"

It was also enough to make her grin since all of them had murderous intentions and wanted her head so badly.

As she drew nearer to the main battle zone, the atmosphere grew increasingly ominous. Pockets of smoke billowed from various directions, casting a veil over the area. The deafening sounds of explosions and crashes echoed in the distance.

She could already feel the heat in the air, and moments later there were flames and two massive shadows constantly moving in front of her eyes.

As the thick smoke cleared, she was greeted by the breathtaking scenario.

A brutal but epic battle filled with death and destruction.

At this point, the thick smoke had helped her become undetected, and that gave her time to choose which area she would go to.

Then at that moment, her ears stood up as there was a presence that arrived from her left side and was followed by a certain distorted voice.

"You think you would get away that easily?

Then the monster from before and the one she nearly killed had returned.

Thanks to her reflexes, she was able to immediately evade the large fleshy, thick sharp bones of an arm that almost severed her head.

Erikus, in a grotesque form, appeared to settle a score with her.

Parna commanded the wyvern as she swooped downwards and the man quickly followed suit.

"You really won't give up do you?"

Her fingers closed around the unique three-barrel weapon once more, a determined glint in her eyes as she prepared to reload it. To her surprise, the weapon was far easier to figure out than she had anticipated. Contrary to her initial assumption, it didn't even require a person born with mana to use it.

Heck, even the non-magic users would do so.

The main thing that helped her was the lone empty materia socket in one of the barrel's sides.

She immediately drew out one lightning materia and placed it on the socket.

"All is hopeless!" The enemies continued their taunting.

She waited for the right moment, even commanding Wyvern to slow down as she wanted to blast him again at point-blank range.

Yet, suddenly a couple of dark wyvern riders emerged from above to catch her off guard, causing the bunny woman to pull the trigger at them first.

The barrel released a wave of energy that directly hit them, with deadly blue lightning affecting their whole bodies and tearing them into bits and pieces.

The moment she heard the wyvern's screech, she instinctively reloaded her weapon. But before she could aim, Erikus swiftly intercepted and disarmed her by decapitating the beast. The violent motion threw her off balance and she struggled to maintain her seat on the wyvern's back.

Instead of falling, Parna found herself being grabbed by the neck.

"You made a big mistake." He remarked with a grin as he attempted to tighten his grip.

The bunny woman was trapped once more as she struggled and fought to keep from being strangled.

The twisted demonic hands of the man were just too strong.

Her consciousness was beginning to fade by that point, though she fought back with all her might.

"There's no escaping! You will die here."

He mocked her again..deciding to go for the quick kill as he let his arm transform into a blade and prepared to pierce her throat.

However, from a certain distance, there was a small bright light and Parna caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette.

She then heard an eagle's cry and a human shadow appeared to strike down the enemy. The commander himself was taken aback by what sounded like "Pop* sounds which were heard continuously and following that multiple bullets from an unlikely weapon directly hit him on the right side of his now complete head.

As a result, his hand was forced to let go of her, thus she fell into the open skies.

But at that very moment, something big quickly swooped in and caught her at the right time.

"Are you alright, Ms. Parna?"

She heard a familiar voice, apparently finding herself riding another unfamiliar creature.

"Yuji?" She muttered his name and saw his smile.

"H-How did you get here?"

The man smiled." Long story but let's just say... Pina is here to save you." He explained in the simplest way possible, even excluding the small part where he was able to get a good view and used his handgun to incapacitate the man.

She then returned her gaze to the same location and saw the redhead fighting with the man once more.

She couldn't believe it. Despite how much this girl has gone through, she was still persistent.

And that made her respect the girl even more.

"Your Highness." She whispered.

Then Yuji spoke again, directing Little Foot upwards as a huge number of enemy wyverns pursued them from behind.

His eyes set upon the chest of the dark dragon.

"I might need your expertise on this."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was the overwhelming strength that surprised her the most.

This was different than the big monster from before.

"Where do you think you're going, girl!?"

It spoke in a big huskier voice.

The being as there was no permanent form to it.

What appeared to be a representation of the dark artifact itself.

The entity focused on her as it moved at incredible speed and relentlessly attacked her with a series of deadly strikes even though she was able to evade it, it would still cause cuts on her skin due to the intense energy that persisted in spreading like a mist.

"How long since I've faced an individual that could go toe to toe with me."

The being said again, as it deviously laughed.

Giselle was forced to retreat as she couldn't even find an opportunity to counter her enemy. She flew through the hellish skies and then used her weapon to combat the being.

For some reason...She felt hesitant to fight it at close range as she felt this was beyond her level.

Even her surroundings were not helping. Chaos, insanity, and destruction were all present at the same time.

In a particular location, where the winds are particularly strong and the atmosphere is tense, the conditions may pose a challenge to individuals trying to move around. The forceful gusts of wind may impede one's ability to move freely and the overall tense environment could potentially create a sense of unease or anxiety, further hindering mobility.

Then there was the ongoing fight between the Flame Dragon and Dark Dragon as they blocked most of the path preventing her from moving freely and elsewhere.

Lastly, there are the annoying imperial wyvern riders, who can't stop looking for a fight and terrorizing everything.

Still...In order to survive, the Draconian Apostle had to kill someone, and whenever those imperial wyverns tried to intervene, she sliced them into pieces, adding to the chaos.

Her surroundings were no longer familiar to her.

It looked like the underworld itself.

However, it wasn't long before she found herself back on the ground.

A large shockwave was created when the dark dragon slammed the flame dragon on the ground once again. As a result, huge pieces of earth found themselves flying through the air.

At the same time, the entity grinned as it moved towards a large boulder, raised its hands, and commanded it to strike the girl hard.

Before she could react, the massive boulder slammed into Giselle, knocking her off balance and sending her plummeting to the ground at breakneck speed.

She landed on one of the ruined rooftops of the destroyed shophouses of the district.

Moreover, it didn't stop from there, as she caught a glimpse of the being that appeared right in front of her ready to strike her again.

Luckily, Giselle was able to raise her scythe and block the attack. She forced herself to stand up again and engage the enemy in close combat.

"No one has ever defeated me!"

The being started to taunt as he struck the girl once more which sent her towards a distance.

"I am the embodiment of the darkness!"

It screamed as it continued its onslaught toward her.

Giselle struggled but braced herself.

Right now it was impossible for her to escape, let alone even use her remaining magic.

Her weapon was the only thing that kept her protected from any lethal damage.

Then at that moment, her inner demons began to taunt her yet again.

"You're weak!"

"You're not supposed to be an Apostle!"

"No one will ever trust you!"

"Your kind will disappear from this world!"

They were all there in different aspects, jeering, shouting, and provoking her.

She didn't respond to it surprisingly as she even smirked to show her full confidence.

"As if..." She muttered, having no choice as she finally went toe to toe with the monster.

With the last vestiges of her inner strength, she tapped into the depths of her mana reserve, unleashing a tremendous surge of energy that emanated from her entire being. This sudden outburst of power enabled her to fend off the malevolent corruption, if only for a fleeting moment.

Giselle gave her battle cry and clashed with the enemy.

The cracks on the ground increased and became bigger.

The sounds of her weapon clashing produced strong waves that took out huge debris and reduced them to little pieces of rubble.

The battle continued in a frantic but immediate manner.

"He died because of you!"

The entity grinned as it saw the inner demons that continued to mentally torture the girl.

"You're not worthy enough to become an apostle!"

Memories of her failures began to resurface.

"You will lose your power and blessing!"

The day she took up the mantle was the day she was blessed with things the ordinary could never have but was also considered a curse.

She did forget what was like to live normally and witness the deaths of friends and loved ones over many generations...It almost turned her into a different person.

"You will die like a mortal!"

The words kept continuing and it never stopped.

Giselle fought hard to keep her concentration but every time those bad memories were brought up, it did affect her a bit.

The last image was that of her friend's dying smile.

Her inner demon was growing.

"No! I won't give up!" She exclaimed, pushing herself once more.

The enemy laughed as it enjoyed the rage and power that the draconian apostle was showing. It thrived in the negativity, sadness, pain, and wrath.

"I will show you all the mistakes you made! All of the deaths that happened because of you!" It attempted to strike her straight to what her heart was keeping.

Her enemy smiled as its plan had already worked prior.

Not long after, Giselle felt that certain weakness as her eyes widened in horror when the enemy made another strike that sent her crashing again.

The young lady winced as she could feel the pain.

It was slowly taking over her.

The being, who remained in the skies, had landed down on the rooftops as it walked towards the latter.

Giselle found herself breathing heavily. Her body was trembling for some reason.

"W-What's happening to me?" She began to wonder, bringing up her shaking hands.

She tried to grab her scythe but wasn't able to lift it and prepare, yet she kept her eyes on the enemy.

"There's no use...the darkness and fear is taking you."

She stared at it with confusion.

Unbeknownst to her, a dark essence in the shape of a rod had pierced through the back of her waistline, causing her sudden weakness.

The being chuckled evilly as it raised its weapon and was about to finish her once and for all.

"Your power will be mine!"

The only that Giselle could do was stare at the supposed weapon meant to kill her. She didn't close her eyes and chose to face it bravely.

She didn't do anything and waited for that moment to come.

However, at that precise moment, a shadow unexpectedly entered the scene, blocking the enemy's weapon.

Giselle blinked for the first time as she found herself staring at a familiar face she hadn't seen in a long time.

The outfit, the long hair, and the halberd...It was no doubt that this person would eventually be the one to save her.

"Treating your opponent like this while in a weakened state is very unfair."

She recognized the familiar voice.

"Rory?" The girl muttered under her breath.

The being was taken by surprise regarding the newcomer and followed a presence that appeared from behind it

Lucious sprang into action, grabbing the enemy's hand with ease. In a swift and fluid movement, he spun around and hurled the attacker's arm toward a massive pile of debris, sending a message that they were not to be disrespected.

The event happened so fast that it took more time for Giselle to comprehend what had transpired. An ethereal presence began to wash over all the dark energy surrounding her.

At that moment, she recalled a forgotten memory.

"Your name is Giselle...Right?"

That certain smile from a friend

"You don't have much to worry about them..."

The one who gave her the seeds of confidence and belief in herself.

"You are much stronger than you think."

She was one of the few people who helped her get to where she is now.

"My name is Rory, and someday, we'll be making a difference in this world."

The final image that was imprinted in her memory was that of a silhouette. The qualities were there...Youthful, Confident, with a Cheerful disposition and a strong sense of self. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the scene. The girl extended her hand towards her, leading her away from self-doubt and uncertainty. It was not the Apostle of Emroy that she had expected, but an ordinary girl with extraordinary dreams of her own, eager to embrace the future with open arms.

By then, Rory smiled as she helped her fellow apostle recover from the ground.

"I apologize, but we arrived late," she explained while giving a confident smug, before grabbing the dark rod-like essence from her back and destroying it.

Giselle was at a loss. She had not expected a certain rival to pop up at this moment. So much so that even Terra had not been informed of this specific information.

"An enemy like this should be treated with the worst punishment." She smiled, holding the dark rod-like essence and crushing it with her bare hands." Cheaters are often condemned and not to be forgiven."

Luscious responded with a simple, small smirk, keeping his gaze fixed on the enemy, who was now recovering.

Giselle stood up still in disbelief, yet she felt relieved and somehow thankful to them.

"Why?" She finally asked.

Rory simply smiled, handing her the scythe back.

"Let's just say we have the same goal of fixing this mess."

A little word of encouragement was given.

With each passing moment, a spark ignited within her, and that spark was hope. A smile slowly spread across her face until it turned into something else, a beacon of optimism in the darkness.

"On it!"

That smile turned into her usual tomboyish and brash grin.

As for Luscious, he could only shake his head as he watched the former friendly adversaries put aside their differences and focus on the enemy.

The demonic presence recovered quickly and was even more hungry for a blood bath.

"Show me everything!"

"All that you've got!"

The entity demanded as it gathered more power.

The trio was unfazed by its intimidation as they prepared for the next, and possibly final, round.

For the first time in hundreds of years, three powerful individuals had banded together once more to face and defeat a greater evil.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Now this place is just messed up."

The closer they got to the main battle zone, the more they realized that what they were trying to get into was no laughing matter in the first place.

The eastern district was a dead hellscape.

Something the Men in Green of the group had only seen in movies, and seeing it in person felt more terrifying than they imagined.

The tension in the air grew as the group neared their destination.

Lelei peeked through the curtains of the carriage one more time before going into her seat.

She savored the stillness around her, knowing it was vital to prepare for the impending consequential occasion. Her gaze lingered on the various objects carefully arranged on the floor of the carriage, as well as the book that she held tightly throughout the journey.

Regardless of the risk, she had to do it; otherwise, it would be the end of the land as they knew it.

With her being aware of the chances of survival by performing this powerful magical ritual she made the right decision not to tell the rest with an exception.

The carriage suddenly halted followed by the voice of the merchant.

"Ms. Lelei...I believe we are here."

Lelei could feel her heartbeat as the pressure started to kick in.

"This will be a very risky action and so I will ask you again..."

"Are you ready?"

The young mage stayed still, taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She could feel the emotions building up inside her, as memories of her master and sister flooded her mind. Her heart ached with the weight of the decision she was about to make, but she hoped they would understand and forgive her. She knew that what she was about to do would change everything, and she could only hope that her actions would be for the greater good.

She then opened her eyes with renewed determination.

"Yes...I am."

CHAPTER END

AN: Hello once again! It took a bit longer for this chapter to be published since everything got busy for me a while, though thank you very much for waiting.

So on with the chapter itself...The situation has entered its climax and there were ups and downs in the story in some scenes. Giselle is constantly tormented by her inner demons and past failures while fighting them off bravely.

The Dark crystal is the most dangerous of the several crystals that were scattered across the new world after the "supposed" demise of the Demon Lord. According to the anecdotes of the chroniclers, a part of the demon Lord's essence was absorbed through crystal, hence only rare individuals that have a similar negative power could wield it to an extent. It does get out of control when it's overused for a long period.

The enemy that Giselle is currently fighting is a representation of the crystal's will as it had taken a life of its own, basically possessing sentience.

The battle between the two dragons continues as the Flame Dragon can keep the monster from escaping to another location. Thus most of the major battles are now taking in one place. Combining all negative energy can attract even the majority of the enemy wyverns still beyond the forcefield.

During this time, Yuji, and his Author side imagination somehow pushed him into formulating this quite unusual idea regarding the crystal.

Then we have the scene of the Rory, Giselle, and Luscious teaming up and going to fight the dark being. Something that rarely happens in hundreds of years. But to clarify, Luscious is not an Apostle, the way he fights, acts, and his powers just makes him look like one. So yeah, He is different.

With that said, thank you very much for reading the chapter! Please forgive me for the occasional grammar mistakes, since English is not my main language.

I appreciate your time to give the story a chance :)