"Mother of Kraus!" Rider shrieked, knocking another arrow against his bowstring quickly before firing. "How many are there?!"

"About thirty!" Drew shouted back, stabbing one of the Brobdingnagian Gumps. The trash particles scattered in its murky body, attempting to trap the Nightengale's blade.

Brobdingnagian Gumps were giant versions of regular Gumps, standing approximately three meters tall. They were slower than their smaller counterparts but made up for it with their range, power, and various moves, including shooting trash as projectiles or manipulating their shells to block incoming attacks.

Like I'm gonna let you! Drew roared internally as the Gump's trash clung to the shortsword.

Quickly, the Avian channeled Wind Otrio through the blade. The trash particles started to shatter as they penetrated the Gump's body. The viscous goop that made up the Beast's body rapidly swirled like a whirlpool. The Gump couldn't process what was happening quickly enough but knew its Core had been exposed. However, it would be too late by the time it could do anything.

With a thrust of his sword, Drew harnessed the power the swirling Wind Otrio created to push the Gump's tennis ball-sized Core out of its thick jello body.

[Vortex]

The Core shot out of the Gump, landing into a crack behind it.

There wasn't any place to breathe.

Drew jumped back from the spot he stood before. Rubble scattered through the air as a translucent club covered in shark metal sheets came crashing to the ground. The shockwave generated from the impact knocked the Avian back. The Gump took advantage of this opening and stretched its goopy arm towards the Nightengale.

There wasn't enough time for him to deploy an [Aegis].

Shit!

Suddenly, its arm froze, and a [Panel] with a glowing yellow lightning bolt on it materialized below the Gump, stopping it in its tracks. Then, from the bottom of his eyes, Drew caught a glimpse of flames cutting cleanly through the translucent Beast's body and a Core soaring over his head.

"Got you, Li!"

As Drew made his landing, he glanced up to see the fiery red hair of the Ifrit Princess standing before him with her chakrams at her side, then tossing one back into the injured Gump and yanking its Core out with the center of the chakram. He smiled, relieved that he could entrust everyone around him with his back.

"Thank you both!" Drew shouted, casting three green [Aegis] panels with the help of [Clone] in front of Elias, Wan, and Rider, protecting them from the oncoming debris from the Beasts, to which each of them countered with their respective attacks.

No one had ever seen Drew cast more than two [Aegis] panels at a time, so it was a rare moment to see him pull out all the stops.

That damn, Birdo. Elias silently scoffed while knocking aside two more Cores that he ripped out with the front of his tonfa pistols after pulling the Gumps within his range utilizing [Polarity] to manipulate the pieces of scrap metal they digested. He was hiding some more tricks up his sleeves.

"Someone, hand me a Core!" Rider's voice called from another side as he pulled back from the Gump he defeated with one of his last arrows.

Wan scanned her surroundings. There wasn't much time left before the [Panel] she placed underneath the enormous blob would dissipate. There was a Core a couple of meters to her right. The Siren tightened her grip around her fishing rod staff and cast her line toward the Core. The hook attached to the end of a blue Otrio core fixed to the line caught the dark sphere perfectly.

"Rider!" She called, reeling in her catch quickly while swinging her rod to the Unicron behind her. "Catch!"

Rider dashed to the center of the formation, placing him an equal distance from everyone else fighting the Beasts in all directions. The Core Wan sent into the air had begun falling. With his hand outstretched and gravity left to do the work, Rider caught the Core with both hands.

It's a shame, but this'll have to do.

[Restoration]

Warm lime-colored Life Otrio seeped out of the Core. The tiny particles floated through the air, landing softly on everyone's body before melting away like snow.

Drew felt his fatigue fade away. The numbing sensation in his body being lifted away was akin to a blanket. His depleted Otrio reserved fueled with additional Krasos.

He had seen Rider use his Ability but didn't realize he could also extract Otrio from Cores to perform [Restoration]. This was undoubtedly another surprise.

With his energy restored, Drew dashed towards another Gump. A goopy arm flung in his direction, blocking any path to its Core.

The Avian gnashed his teeth, reinforcing his arm and buckler for impact. I didn't think I'd use this here. 

The Nightengale's eyes darted over to where the others were. They were preoccupied with handling the other Gumps. Instantly, a light blue ring manifest around Drew's irises. The air surrounding him felt as if it had dropped a degree.

The Gump's arm slammed into the buckler, yet the Avian stood his ground. Wind Otrio gathered around his shortsword even faster than before. It swirled so quickly and sharply that it almost appeared to distort reality. Despite having no eyes or ears, the Beast sensed the change in Otrio—the prey before it had become different. Fear rippled through its Core, but it was too late.

The Avian thrusted his blade toward the Otrio, making contact with the Beast. Its viscous body was ripped apart by the powerful [Vortex] generated. Its dark Core was now exposed to the Avian, who swung with the side of his blade to knock. Now disconnected from its Core, the slimy ectoplasm scattered with rubble slid off the side of the path, dissolving into the polluted water below.

This was the first time the Avian had used the power of his Wings* in his Nightengale form.

A/N: Refer to Chapter 25 for information regarding Wings.

It felt weird, akin to a borrowed power, despite it being his own. However, now wasn't the time to think of such things. Getting out of this predicament was the top priority.

>>>

The two suns in the air hung high in the sky, indicating midday had arrived.

Five exhausted figures trudged out the dark sewer's mouth. 

"I'm beat!!!" The voice of a familiar Siren rang throughout the mounds of trash and debris. "Freedom!!!"

"That sure was exciting…" Rider exhaled a sigh of relief as he plopped down on the ground, holding a bag of Cores. "Mission accomplished."

The Avian rubbed his shortsword covered in grime with the back of the sleeve of his glorified plastic wrap hazmat suit. Elias just dazed out, smiling, the gears in his head working as he tried to process what had happened in the last three hours while also gazing at Wan.

"Kraus to Elias." Drew waved a hand in front of the Human, who had gone space case and was staring at the Siren, who had her arms stretched to the clouds. The Avian snickered and whispered, "You got one creepy ass smile going there, ya perv."

The Human snapped out of his trance upon hearing the Nightengale's voice. His face flushed red with embarrassment.

"It's okay," Sylvia laughed, coming up behind him, part of her mask still covered in Gump innards. "Just take this sight in and be lucky that we all came out in one piece."

Drew chuckled, relieved everyone had made it out without injuries and "smelling like the dumpsters."

"I'll take these to the Request Center tomorrow." The Princess spoke, gathering the Cores from everyone and consolidating them into her bag. "Great work, everyone! Be sure to get some well-deserved rest! Drew, do you mind staying behind for a bit?"

"Not at all," Drew replied, giving the Princess a thumbs up.

"If that's the case," Elias began, placing an elbow on the Avian's shoulder. "I'll see you back at home."

Drew chuckled, brushing the Human's arm aside. "Sure, see you there."

As Elias walked down the path, Drew took one last moment to eavesdrop on the conversations between the others, leaving him and the Princess behind.

"My arms are going to be jelly tomorrow." Rider groaned. "I can feel it."

"Upgrade from being a wimpy Medic." Wan laughed. "Welcome to the 'Somewhat Useful Supports Club.'"

The Unicron rolled his eyes.

"Hah, thanks for the warm welcome."

"How does it feel to be on the front lines?" Elias asked, patting Rider on the back.

"Terrible."

"Always nice to see everyone get along." The Princess grinned, placing her hands on her hips. "Some days, I wish time would freeze at these moments."

"Just take it in," Drew said, wiping a chunk of Gump slop off his shoulder. "Anyways, did you have something you needed to discuss with me?"

Sylvia nodded, her hair ribbons following along with her head motions.

"Not me, someone else." She answered, kicking aside an aluminum can. "But, I appreciate everything you've done. You could've gone elsewhere but decided to stick here with this thankless job." 

The Ifrit treaded slowly down an adjacent path to the one Drew took up to the sewers, the Avian following closely behind. His feet dug into the ground with every step he took. His heels grinding into the gravel while the midday sunlight hit his skin.

"It's nothing." Drew replied, "It's my duty as subject and your friend. As for this, this isn't thankless." 

Sylvia glanced at Drew, who continued speaking.

"It's only been a short while, but there's been a change. The air isn't as heavy here, and the residents are grateful to have someone who considers them as people. You have given them the luxury to smile. That's more priceless than anything else!" 

The Ifrit stopped in her tracks. Her head swung down to the ground. 

She had been blind to it but had already been acknowledged for her efforts, and it only sunk in now.

"Take pride. You are doing more than anyone else has asked for." 

"Thank you..."

Soon, the trash piles faded into dilapidated concrete buildings with their rusted steel roofs connected by webs of wires, which Drew was accustomed to after venturing through the slums. The gazes of the Untouchables made him feel a bit uncomfortable, yet he showed no signs of hostility.

The Avian's ears perked up.

A familiar bald elder rapping his walking cane stood before one of the crumbling structures.

"Mr. Halford, " Sylvia greeted, holding out her hand, which Mr. Halford accepted as he placed his cane behind his back.

"Princess, it's been some time since your last visit."

"How are things going here?"

"Splendid! Thanks to your Faction, the slums have been in a chipper mood. To what do I owe this visit to?"

"I've brought the Alchemist who helped make this possible."

Halford took a step forward and took a better look at the Avian. The Avain felt himself instinctually lean back at Halford's face and got closer to his own.

"Hmm, I recognize him alright. So he was the Alchemist. To think it wasn't the Unicron but this lad."

"Not what you're expecting?" Drew grinned, playing off of Halford's backhanded compliment. It had just hit the Avian that he hadn't spoken with Halford face to face until now. It was wild to think he went for half a year without talking to the person who helped the Faction take off.

"Not in the slightest. Most Alchemists I've encountered in my lifetime have been the stoic types. It's refreshing."

"I'm glad to hear that from you. It's an honor."

"What's your name, lad?" Mr. Halford asked, tapping his cane against the ground.

"Drew Li. I was informed you needed to discuss some matters with me."

"Oh," Halford's eyes widened. "I had forgotten due to age, but I wanted to entrust something to you." The bald man waved his hand, indicating that Drew should follow him, which the Avian obliged. "Princess, please, come in as well."

The Ifrit was startled by the sudden invitation and welcomed into Halford's humble abode.

The older man's place was nothing remarkable. The cracking concrete walls and makeshift steel roof that comprised the interior could be found with any other household that lined the slums. A plastic table with a basket full of fruits was surrounded by neon-colored stools along one side of the square layout of the room. A cot made from salvaged wooden planks was placed on the opposite side of the area, while shelves containing notebooks and old tech in every nook and cranny took up most of the remaining space.

Mr. Halford wandered to one of the shelves and removed a seemingly random black notebook.

"We had a guest come here a few years ago. An Alchemist who left this notebook as payment for his sudden visit before disappearing." Halford handed the notebook to Drew, its pages wrinkled, evident that it had been written in. "Unfortunately, we don't have anyone here who can use it, but given that you've helped us so much, I believe this is something worth entrusting you to. After all, that's what its author would've wanted."

"Thank you," Drew replied, flipping open the notebook. It was well organized with a table of contents directing the Avian to various regiment formulas, primarily optimizing current ones on the market in ways he never imagined possible. "Whoever wrote this wasn't just your run-of-the-mill Alchemist."

Finally, Drew reached the last section of the notebook.

It was a message that was a page long.

Greetings Halford,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your hospitality over this past week and entrust this notebook to your care. This place has been more welcoming than I anticipated, and I am sad to depart. My situation is unstable, and I'm afraid extending my welcome would only endanger the residents here. As my ride to Earth docks here tomorrow, I believe it's only fair for me to let you know who I am.

The world believes I've perished, but I am alive and kicking.

I needed to disappear from there, and the moment arose, so I took it. If anyone from there knew I was alive, they wouldn't hesitate to burn everything down to do so. Coming here was no mere coincidence. Someone I knew told me I could come to seek refuge. You know him, an old friend employed at the Manor in Ashforthe.

As I depart, if you can't find anyone within the slums, I would like you to share my knowledge with an outsider who you believe could use it.

Signed,

S.H.

"Sylvia," Drew gasped, shutting the notebook tightly. "I think we just stumbled across-"

Drew felt the words unable to escape his lips and passed the notebook to her.

It didn't take long for the Princess to understand what Drew meant.

A photo was glued to the back of the notebook. 

A familiar blonde-haired heterochromatic Djinn appeared. He appeared just as young as the last photo the Avian encountered at the Manor, but this time, he was smiling. On the photo was another written message. 

See you! 

-Keith H. Flemming