Chapter 1 - The Crimson Island
This happened the day before she arrives in Pandemonium.
It was a hustle and bustle night in Zelva Island. Flame Eater Anton – The Seventh Apostle was defeated by the combined efforts of heroic adventurers and Empyrean Fleet. His gigantic lifeless body is half-submerged in the sea. It became a volcanic island which continuously erupts and spews hot molten lava, and volcanic ash endlessly. They made a base of operations here to stop The Ninth Apostle. Everyone prepares for their new journey onward to the next world.
At Grim Seeker's camp, in a private tent there are two figures inside of a dimly lit room.
A beautiful purple haired woman was preparing a hot beverage for her visitor. She is the founder of the Grim Seeker, a group created with the purpose of foiling Hilder's plans. Azalea Lott merrily serves the freshly brewed coffee. "It's been awhile Amaretto, I'm glad that you've come." It was directed to the girl with a long eggplant-colored hair, in contrast to her hair color, a cute golden moon crest pin was clipped to it. She wore a black medium length skirt and a dark tube shirt overlaid by a violet jacket. The Pandemonian girl is busy reading a bundle of documents.
"Indeed, how are you? There's a rumor about our group being in disarray to the point that it created another faction within Grim Seeker."
"I'm doing alright, somehow. It's true that there's an internal dispute, I have yet to confirm about that rumored faction."
"Sounds rough huh, must be hard for you to lead these kind of people. I've met Nigrumnex and Candidumnex during my travels, I was going to ask them about you but they keep blabbering about worshiping the apostles, later on they went hostile at me but I managed to subdue them." Telling what transpired with the fellow Grim Seekers, she's holding her temple in an annoyed manner.
"Seriously, what's up with them? I know that they are a weird bunch but I didn't expect they will resort to that extent. Supposedly I'll interrogate those priests further but they got away." Good grief...
After hearing the story, Azalea's composure slightly went off. "In behalf of them, I apologize for their rude upbringing to you. I'll make sure that they will be punished accordingly. However, they went missing together with the Soryuns and other members after the Noire Ferra incident."
"Missing? That sounds like a bad news, they could be scheming something right now. In any case, why did you call me here?" Amaretto abruptly changed the subject to shift the mood despite she knows that the current turmoil within the group can't be ignored. She set that aside.
"I-I need to ask you a favor, I can't shake this awful feeling about Apostle Luke. I still want to believe that we can still talk things out with him, I am asking this not because I am the leader of Grim Seeker but as your friend. Please protect Luke." Azalea said those words with a bitter expression.
"...I'm not sure about that, the majority view him as a huge threat and most of them wants him dead and besides, Luke is surrounded by his strong bodyguards." the Overmind took a sip of coffee.
"From the looks of things, you are one of those reasonable people I can trust. I tried asking other adventurers but it seems they are determined to end the apostle. If we let things goes on like this, we are just simply playing right to the plans of Hilder again."
"I am aware but asking me that now is not a simple feat, I'll be going against the De Los Empire, Empyrean, Adventurer's Guild and the rest who wants to kill the geezer."
The troubled woman gives a worried smile as she heard the response of the girl. She understood that they are in a dire spot, the situation isn't going well because of the people planning to raid Luke's laboratory.
The girl carefully pours another serve of hot coffee in her cup. "It's not that I am going to decline your request, it's just that it's troublesome. Though, don't place your hopes high at me. I might fail at all." Then she slowly took another sip.
"Oh dear, please stop being humble, I acknowledge your abilities. You are one of the subjugators of Apostle Anton. I've heard a lot of your astonishing accomplishments."
Amaretto chuckled after hearing her compliments though she shrugged it off. "That's not true, I just contributed a little to that battle, and the final blow was delivered by other adventurers. I am just there to give a support."
"I really like your modesty my friend, anyway I have something to show you."
Azalea stood and reaches the scroll from the shelves; she spreads it across the table revealing a map with strange symbols and writings for a certain place. "There's still time, they won't be able to easily penetrate the stronghold of Luke. That apostle is too crafty; he is the most meticulous and cautious apostle existed." Trusting those facts, she believes that her plans have the possibility to succeed.
The girl furrowed her eyebrows staring down at the map with serious expression. She points her index finger at a particular part. "Solium Machina..." She muttered these words looking at the complexity of the map. "Luke could be hiding there, if I remember correctly, that is the deepest part of the castle and it has several layers of defense mechanism."
Hearing those words, Azalea's curiosity to the subject about Luke's whereabouts grows. "Are you certain with that information or are you just guessing?"
Amaretto crossed her arms as she explains her reasoning. "This is just my hunch, logically thinking, if your life is in a grave situation your survival instincts will tell you to go to the safest possible place you can be. That geezer isn't a fool who will just stay put and welcome his possible murderers. As we speak, he might be increasing the security level of his laboratory now."
"You have a good point there. Tomorrow we will be going to Pandemonium. We need to find an alternative method to establish connections with Luke."
"Did they found out the way to go there?"
"Yes, the joint collaboration of various adventurers and investigation team discovered the pathway to Pandemonium."
"Apparently, a homunculus named Becky helped them. She deliberately led them to the exit."
"What? That's strange... a creation of Luke assisting people that is trying to interfere with him. I don't know what exactly happened there but at least it was convenient for everyone."
Baffled by Azalea's explanation, she continues to examine the map. "If you don't mind, I want to tag along with you tomorrow. Though, I'll be on my own once we reached Metro Center."
Hearing those words, Azalea delightfully agrees. "Sure. You are pretty much welcome. We will be leaving at six in the morning. Please be at the camping ground by that time."
After finishing the last cup of coffee, she happily nods.
"Ah by the way Amaretto, don't you feel excited for tomorrow?"
"Why should I?"
"I mean, the place we are heading to is your homeland, don't you feel anything about it?"
She tilted her head to the side. It's true that this girl's origins are from Pandemonium. She left her home to seek purpose in Arad, she met Kate before getting transported to Arad. Kate is a Summoner who gave her a refuge after fleeing from Metro Center. She sends her to Arad in hopes of finding a reason as she looks for a way to restore her dying world.
"It would be a lie if I say I don't, somewhat I feel homebound and yet I felt that I need to do something about this situation first. I wonder how Kate and the others are doing now..." A feeling of loneliness and distraught are welling up inside her. After tidying up her belongings she stands up.
"Well, it's time to leave. See you tomorrow Azalea, send my regards to Erica."
Azalea smiled and gently waves to the leaving Overmind.
The girl exited the tent. She stretches her stiff arms while yawning. The cold breeze from the Twilight Sea blows through her long hair. Amaretto's stomach starts to growl.
Crap, I almost forgot to eat. She suddenly remembers that, she didn't eat dinner yet so she went for a little walk and look for a nearby food stall. A scrumptious smell wafting in the area, it was a skewered mutton. She bought two skewers and proceeds to look for a place to sit. She cautiously bite the hot grilled mutton, enjoying her meal a young man sporting a medium length light blue hair greeted her behind. "My, my, that looks delicious."
Interrupted by those words, Amaretto turned around and gave the young man a stern look while biting the mutton in her mouth. "Hah, please don't give me a look like I committed some serious crime." Looking at the scowling Overmind chewing the meat, his smile didn't waver. "Alright, as to appease your anger I brought you a drink–"
Amaretto quickly grabbed the canned soda from the boy. "You are? What are you doing here, Arabesque?" Arabesque is an Eternal, another Pandemonian who got transported to Arad. He wears a dark blue long sleeves and trousers with a unusual fashion to it.
Startled by the girl's sudden action, he adjusted his black scarf to gather his lost composure and said. "Of course, I am planning to return to our homeland. I have some business to attend there." He then sat down with an ample distance between her.
"I see, I haven't seen you for a long time. You seem doing well." Finishing her first skewer, she went to the next.
"Ah, yes. I've went through a perilous and strenuous road such as completing Wesley's Strategy Set and my prized Savior's Glory Rod." He told his achievements with a prideful attitude then he took a gulp of soda.
"Ehh, not bad. So you've participated in Anton Raid too. I didn't see you there. Maybe you are in a different raiding group."
"That must be the case, well anyway have you found the answer yet?" The boy nonchalantly asks.
With that out of place question, she choked herself by the last mutton she was silently chewing.
God damn it. She hurriedly drinks down the soda to remove the clogged food. "What kind of frivolous question is that!?" She answered his question in an agitated attitude.
"My bad, remember when you told me before that your main reason why you are here is to seek purpose in life?"
"Did I say something cheesy like that? Well, not yet. I'm still looking for it..." She fixes her gaze at the twilight horizon. What a pain in the ass.
Scratching his head, he gave a vacant smile. "In any case, it's not that you are going to find it right away. It's a long process as you unravel your own path." With downcast eyes he continues.
"Apostles... There's six Apostles left including the unidentified one. The next in line is Constructor Luke." Arabesque's tone became serious. "It looks like Hilder is on a winning streak."
"Most likely, you know I've talked to her before. She told me that all of her actions are for the sake of restoring Pandemonium to its former glory."
"From a different standpoint, we, the inhabitants of that world will benefit from her acts. But her method is far too crude." Amaretto let out a sigh and continued. "Iris Fortunesinger said, for every Apostle killed, a part of Arad is getting destroyed while in exchange, it revitalize a certain percentage of Pandemonium"
"So It's like you need to break eggs to make an omelette but in a twisted way?"
She laughs at Arabesque."Really, that's your analogy? Well if you put it that way that might work."
"Incidentally, I tried exploring the outer parts of the laboratory, there's this ominous feeling that engulfs the whole place. It feels heavy and nauseating."
"You went there before? As for me, I didn't go there yet. I have other things to do so I let the exploration stuff to other adventurers."
"Haha, what a poor excuse for being lethargic, that's so you."
With those sarcastic remarks, Amaretto pouted and glared at the boy. She remembered the documents earlier. "But I really do. Speaking of that ominous aura, Azalea showed me the reports of expedition within the Castle of the Dead. According to it, some agents of Empyrean cost guard became unreasonably aggressive and starts attacking people inside. Not only that but a handful of adventurers too, they also created infighting. Unfortunately there are few casualties but thankfully nobody died."
"Mhm, this must be the cause of Black Nightmare. Luke increased the volume of it to prevent the intruders moving in." He deduced that, the sudden outbreak of violence between the adventurers and Empyrean soldiers who went there was the effect of the sinister Black Nightmare. Its victims in Arad and Empyrean showed the very same symptoms.
Rubbing his chin, he looks at the girl. "You are going to Pandemonium tomorrow right? I'll join you for a while, so I'll be in your care."
A purple vein immediately pops out in Amaretto's forehead after hearing his declarations. "D-Don't decide for yourself like that!"
"Oh come on, there's no need to be that upset. It will be like the old days again."
"Fine. Whatever, suit yourself." Regardless of being irritated, she welcomes Arabesque. "Old days huh... It brings back those memories." She stares at the ocean as she reminisces those days.
Long time ago, Arabesque and Amaretto were once in a guild together with their friends, a comrade in arms. Their guild is small but the bonds created from the journey and hurdles were memorable. It started during the Kartel invasion in Ghent. The rest of the members are strangers to each other, they were united later on with the goal of fending off the Kartel out of the city. Then they became a tight-knit group that transformed into a guild. Few months had past, after helping out the task force led by General Navarre in Slaugh Industrial Station. The guild begins to crumble down. One by one, the members started to leave due to their personal issues and reasons. Until it reaches the point that only two members left, eventually the guild disbanded and everyone went their own ways.
Looking at the vast dark sea, she murmured. "So much for being in a guild..."
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"Nothing, in any case be at the Grim Seeker's camp ground at six tomorrow. We will be joining their group. Bring everything you need."
Arabesque cheerfully nods and stands up after receiving her instructions. "Affirmative, we will meet tomorrow, have a pleasant evening Amaretto. It was nice talking to you again." Then he waves while walking away.
Before long, his figure melted into shadow amidst the chilly night.
I guess I'll be relying in you again, she thought.
With the soothing ocean breeze from the darkened sea, Amaretto's eyelids begin to get heavier. The heavy-eyed girl yawns once again and curls up on the bench.
"Luke... you are just digging your grave."