Jaun asked Soren if he would ever consider joining Zereth and his party, but Soren brushed it off, saying they were more than capable on their own. Jaun smiled, feeling reassured as they enjoyed their dinner. Then, Soren suddenly remembered he had a new type of tea. He asked Aster if he could go upstairs to fetch it, but he didn't notice the egg shaking wildly inside the cluttered box. He glanced at it briefly before heading back down the stairs, proudly showing everyone how to brew tea for the inn's upcoming drink menu.
Beyond the borders of Cardaltha, a fierce guild fight erupted. Fira Lucia gasped for breath, realizing her attacks barely scratched Hark's armor. What was even more unsettling was how Hark moved with an eerie calm, as if he felt neither pain nor fear. Fira Lucia could feel the ache throughout her body, knowing she was losing this battle of endurance. In a surge of determination, she tapped into her inner fury, her blood boiling as flames enveloped her. Hank merely watched, resting his broadsword on his shoulder, inviting her to strike whenever she was ready. Overwhelmed by her anger, Fira Lucia charged at him with relentless fury.
Zereth and Arnac found themselves trapped in a pincer attack, with Ryker and one of his subordinates closing in on them. As Zereth raised his lance, ready to defend himself, Ryker's voice echoed around them like a haunting specter. His subordinate stepped into the light, introducing herself as Duvet. She was dressed in dark funeral attire, her shimmering purple eyes captivating, topped off with a fancy black hat, a dark-wood staff, and a glimmering purple pendant. What was truly striking, though, was how the grass beneath her feet seemed to wither away as she stretched her arms toward them, ominously chanting, "Requiem."
Arnac and Zereth, quick on their feet, managed to dodge just in time as a surge of dark energy struck the ground where they had been standing, creating a small crater. Seizing the moment, Arnac attempted to counterattack, but Ryker, lurking in the shadows, landed a solid blow to his face. With a maniacal laugh, Ryker melted back into the darkness.
Duvet twirled her staff, invoking a ritual that summoned a dark spirit, which pursued Zereth relentlessly until it caught hold of his cape, slamming him to the ground with a heavy thud. In a tight spot, Zereth felt the dark energy coalescing around him, ready to explode, but the spirit held him down firmly. With a scoff, Duvet declared victory, but just as suddenly, the spirit vanished, and the residual energy dissipated. To their surprise, Zereth transformed into his Belerophone form, effortlessly banishing the darkness that surrounded them, causing the evil spirit to disappear as well.
Ryker, taken aback by this display of power, revealed himself from his hiding place. Arnac wasted no time and charged at him, but even without the cover of darkness, Ryker proved to be a formidable opponent, skillfully dodging Arnac's attacks. Despite not wearing any armor or wielding weapons, his fists were lethal.
Arnac was taking a serious beating, unable to land a hit on Ryker, who seemed to read him like an open book. Backing away, bloodied and frustrated, Arnac shot a glare at Ryker while placing a hand on his mask. Zereth noticed this and thought to himself, "This is bad." In a swift motion, Arnac snapped his jaw mask and tore away his robe, revealing a scarred mouth and body. The only striking differences in his physique were the unusual muscular traits and the various markings he had. "You are homunculus," said Ryker, and an ominous aura surrounded him. As he opened his mouth, a row of sharp teeth was revealed. He let out a growl that echoed like a wild beast, and his muscles swelled, radiating heat. He charged at Ryker, who skillfully dodged and landed a punch, but it barely fazed him. Finally, Arnac struck, leaving a deep, horizontal gash across Ryker's bare chest. Ryker staggered back, shocked at how dramatically the fight had shifted.
Lilia found herself chased by a nimble assassin, running frantically while casually erecting barrier around her to shield her from the brutal strikes, the assassin finally revealed himself to her, he dons a tunic and remarkably looks like a goblin, clutching a sickle, he looks at her like prized prey while casually licking his blade. While Thrun is engaged in a brawl with a stone man locked in a slugfest sending shockwaves across the forest.
Arnac closed the distance and leaped right to where Ryker stood. Once again, Ryker managed to evade him, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked in a charged stare. In that moment, Arnac caught up to him, leaving Ryker suspended mid-air with no way out. As Arnac grabbed his face, Ryker could do nothing but struggle against the grip. He tried to break free, but Arnac's strong arm held him tight. Finally, Arnac brought him down to the ground, careful to avoid stepping into the shadows where Zereth maintained her glow. Duvet attempted to help, but Zereth kept her busy. Ryker felt like his skull was being crushed. Just when he thought all hope was lost, he spotted an opening, a beam of light shining through behind Arnac's head, casting a shadow. Ryker reached for it, and in an instant, it felt like he was being pulled into it.
With a surge of determination, he launched a deadly strike at Arnac's neck. Arnac crumpled to the ground, visibly shaken, while Ryker, feeling victorious, insulted him as he loomed over, ready to deliver the final blow. Zereth spotted this and raced toward them, but Duvet's dark magic ensnared him, wrapping his legs in twisted roots. Meanwhile, Ryker conjured a shadow blade on his arm, poised to stab, but hesitated when Arnac let out a mocking laugh. As Ryker dodged a powerful swing from Arnac, he could feel the pressure mounting. Arnac, fueled by pain, unleashed a flurry of furious attacks.
In his mind, Zereth worried that Arnac was pushing himself too hard, urging him silently, "Hang in there, Arnac!" Just then, Ryker, feeling trapped, decided to flee into the darkness. But as his fingers brushed against it, he heard Arnac's triumphant shout, "I got you now!" A sharp pain shot through Ryker's back as Arnac struck him hard, leaving a bloody X mark. Just when Arnac was about to finish him off, he coughed up blood and knelt down, realizing he had reached his limit and the toll was finally catching up to him.
Ryker felt a chill of fear, a sensation he had long forgotten. It was the same fear that gripped him facing a powerful Ecrea alongside his family in a desolate town where destruction and death were commonplace. He vividly recalled the terror in the Ecrea's eyes, the moment he nearly lost his sanity. Now, as he sat there, the fear crept back into his heart, his hands trembling. A scream pierced the air, and Ryker watched as Duvet was defeated by Zereth, who stood victorious with his lance pointed at her. Ryker instinctively pushed himself backwards, terrified. But then a voice echoed in his head, urging him to keep going, for he was needed for an experiment. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, and he squeezed it, screaming and rolling in agony until he abruptly stopped and stood up calmly. He flexed his fingers, muttering, "This will do," as markings began to appear on his chest, exposing a core. Ryker then turned his attention to Arnac, kicking him lightly, but the impact was overwhelming, causing Arnac to stumble and break trees upon impact. Ryker's eyes glowed red, and he locked his gaze on Zereth, who felt a terrifying energy, wondering if this was the power of an Ecrea. Before Zereth could process it, Ryker went to his horse, stabbing it and causing it to immediately dematerialize, as Zereth fell from the horse and looked up, his eyes met Ryker's burning eyes.
Fira Lucia finally managed to tear through Hark's armor, revealing a soft flesh inside as she grew more excited. But what intrigued her the most was that not too far from her, she picked up another scent she had dismissed earlier. As the battle prolonged, she also sensed the presence growing weaker. She grinned and continued to attack, chipping away at Hark's weakened armor. He raised his broadsword to catch her off guard, but in her Ifrit form, his attempts were futile against her quick reflexes. She encircled him and attacked from all sides, piece by piece, until his armor gave way, revealing Hark's muscular body as the final piece from his helm fell off. Catching his breath but not losing determination, Fira Lucia cruelly made a deal. "I think someone not far from here is secretly fortifying you with a spell buff, but fortunately for me, her Aether won't last long against my overwhelming power, so let's try to make a deal." She pointed her finger at him. "You... or that person." Hark's heart sank, and he clenched his fist out of frustration as he thought for a few seconds and declared, "Take me instead." He raised his broadsword, pointing it at his chest and holding the blade, when a girl finally emerged from behind a rock, wearing a robe and a white garb, looking nervous. She knelt down and offered herself to Fira Lucia as Hark looked at her with shame, turning away. Fira Lucia undid her transformation and sighed deeply. "This... is making me sick!" She shot a glare and said, "You two surrender yourselves to Cardaltha and face the consequences that is… if you don't want to perish here." The lady's face lit up as she ran towards Hark and hugged him. Fira Lucia clicked her tongue, turned away, and ran towards the others.
Lila found herself in a tricky situation, feeling exhausted as the assassin's ability to multiply was draining her energy to maintain her shield. She had cast a few spells, but they were easily dodged. Determined to turn the tide, Lila reached into her pouch and retrieved a special charm given to her by the guild, a consumable item that could enhance her abilities, but could only be used once. "Looks like I have no other choice," she thought, as she pulled out a shimmering gem. The assassin was taken by surprise as Lila chanted and absorbed the gem's power. Suddenly, her form changed, wrapped in a shimmering white dress, and her staff transformed into a crystalline white with a golden orb above it. "So, this is... my Belligerent Factor," she whispered, as the assassin tried to flee, sensing the danger. But Lila caught him almost immediately, wrapping the surrounding area in a soothing white spell that undid every other spell except her own. The goblin's original body was revealed, and Lila pointed her staff at him, blasting him with a surge of energy that slammed him, causing him to lose consciousness, she reverted back to her normal form and knelt down, taking a moment to rest. Her whole body ached, and she couldn't help but grumble about how much it hurt.
Thrun had just finished his intense battle against the mighty golem, and as he caught his breath, he couldn't help but reflect on his own strength. The golem had been truly impressed by Thrun's resilience, and the young warrior couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Thrun stretched a bit and then looked at the golem, asking, "Shall we finish this?" The golem let out a resounding "Yes!" and the two combatants agreed to end the fight with one final, decisive strike. Channeling their remaining energy into their fists, they met in a sickening crack, and moments later, Thrun collapsed, while the golem smiled briefly before undoing his transformation and collapsing as well. It wasn't long before Thrun regained consciousness, stood up, and raised his fist in triumph, despite the pain he felt. Catching his breath, he greeted his rival with a job well done and went to aid his friends.
Fira Lucia caught Thrun's scent and reunited with him, noticing he was limping. When she asked if he could still fight, Thrun simply replied, "Always for my boss." Grinning, Fira Lucia led the way towards Zereth's scent. Meanwhile, Lilia rushed into the forest, feeling nervous about her teammate's wellbeing as she sensed a horrifying presence ahead. At the rendezvous, they found Zereth already defeated and passed out. Ryker seized Zereth by the collar, lifting him into the air as he gasped for breath. Sensing a few others had arrived, Ryker grinned and said, "Ah, more for this banquet I see." He tilted his head, looking at them with a sinister smile, then punched Lilia in the abdomen, knocking her unconscious and causing her to drop her staff. Fira Lucia pushed Thrun out of the way, dodging another of Ryker's attacks. She summoned Ifrit to fight, but Ryker easily evaded everything, seeming to toy with her. Stepping back, Fira Lucia asked Thrun to do something. He took out a pill, swallowed it, restoring portion of his vitality and readied himself for another brawl.
The two sides are going at it with everything they've got, as Zereth regains a bit of his consciousness and watches the battle unfold before him. His fingers twitch, but he's too drained to do anything, he can only look on in despair.
Soren and his companions were enjoying a cozy cup of chamomile tea at the inn, when Margareth playfully suggested adding it to the menu. Soren was pleased to have reintroduced this delightful beverage, knowing it would surely be a hit at the market. As they reveled in each other's company, Soren sensed an unsettling Ecrean presence upstairs. Making a hasty excuse, he hurried to his room, only to find the window open and a mess where he had hidden the egg. Vixra'al warned him the presence was slipping away, so Soren leapt out the window, transforming into his Iron Wraith form to give chase across the rooftops and walls, evading the guards' watchful eyes.
During the chase, Soren felt a slight feverishness, and his senses seemed muddled. Yet, he pressed on through the dark night, graced by the moon.
Ryker flexed his muscles and smacked Fira Lucia, who stumbled and crashed helplessly into a nearby tree. She glanced over at Thrun, who had just lost consciousness. Struggling to her feet, she felt her body reaching its limit. Ryker approached her calmly, but just then, Hark and his partner burst in, trying to reason with him, insisting he wasn't himself. However, as they stood their ground, it was clear they didn't stand a chance against him. Ignoring them completely, Ryker bypassed Hark's defenses, sending him sprawling to the ground while his partner rushed to comfort him, calling out his name. Ryker shrugged it off and continued toward Fira Lucia until Zereth, gasping for breath, managed to stand and shouted, "Stop…!" He trembled as he raised his sword. Ryker looked at him with pity, mistaking his sacrifice for foolishness.
In a flash, he disappeared from his spot and unleashed a barrage of strikes on Zereth, almost ending him. Just then, the earth began to tremble, and the leaves around them rustled ominously. Ryker, gripping Zereth by the collar and ready to strike again, paused and scanned his surroundings for an unseen threat. Suddenly, he yelled, "Above!" He glanced upward to find a colossal, translucent creature, its skin glowing softly in the moonlight, resembling a gigantic wolf. It snapped its jaws at him, catching him from the waist up as he fought to escape. The wolf lifted him off the ground, and with a horrifying crunch, Ryker's screams were abruptly cut off as he was swallowed whole. With a final gulp, the wolf sniffed at the injured and departed without causing any further chaos.
Soren was startled by a chilling scream echoing in the distance. Just moments later, he felt an odd sensation, almost like absorbing an Ecrea core. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through his head, and he caught a glimpse of a huge, dark figure lurking behind the trees. He steeled himself for whatever was coming, but as the creature stepped into the moonlight, it morphed into an adorable grey puppy. Relaxing a bit, he knelt down to give it a pat.
But then, his attention was pulled away, and he stood up to check out the source of the scream. All he found was a wounded Zereth and the others. Zereth looked at him with the last flicker of strength, whispering his name before collapsing. Soren shouted for him until his eyes had gone blank.
Zereth found himself waking up in the guild's infirmary, surrounded by other survivors of the attack. In the distance, he spotted Fira Lucia standing with Aster, wrapped in bandages. Fira Lucia glanced over and gave him a sweet smile, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing they were all safe and had made it through.
Meanwhile, at the inn, the ladies were completely enchanted by Soren's new pet, a creature he named Fenrir. They couldn't stop petting it and rubbing its fluffy cheeks. Soren, on the other hand, was still lost in thought about the mysterious creature he had seen earlier. Just then, Vixra'al chimed in, warning him that Fenrir might be the same creature. Sipping his cup of tea, he finally allowed himself to relax.