In a field near the town of Geffen stood two spellcasters, facing eachother down. It was quite a nice day... the sun shone down on the two of them, and the sound of the birds' cheerful chirps filled the air.

"Alright, attack me!"

"Fireball!" Shouted Rachel, as she thrust her arms forward. Her trademark spell scorched the air, blazing straight ahead in Shichiyo's direction. Shichiyo extended arm, meeting the flame with his palm, which seemingly absorbed the fireball into itself.

"Not bad." Shichiyo remarked, clutching his hand. "I felt a bit of pain from that one..."

"Ah!" Rachel cried, covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm so sorry... are you okay?"

Shichiyo couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing the girl's caring words.

"Heh... don't worry, I told you not to hold back. I am quite alright."

"How touching." Alexandra added in a sarcastic tone, suddenly hanging upside-down from a nearby tree.

"Shush."

"Make me..."

"Ehehe..." A sweat-drop ran down Rachel's face. "Can't we all get along?"

"Heh, don't be so naive, girl."

"Just wishful thinking..."

Shichiyo sighed, wondering what he had gotten himself into. Alexandra hopped down from the tree, landing on her feet, and faced the two spellcasters.

"Alright, let's move on. I'm getting bored..."

"Very well. You did well, Rachel."

"Sure thing Alex, Chief!" Rachel smiled, stretching our her arms. "...Y'know, that has a nice ring to it. That's it!" Rachel turned to Shichiyo. "From now on, I'm calling you Chief!"

Not quite sure what to say, Shichiyo shook his head.

"...If you say so..."

With that, the three travelers set out once again. Along their way, many battles were fought. As monsters were mercilessly pierced by Alexandra's arrows, Shichiyo supervised Rachel closely, as her weak, but graceful flames slowly defeated the likes of Porings and Fabres. Everything was going smoothly for the group, so it seemed. As they gradually moving forward, fighting battles along the way, unknownst to them... they were being watched.

"Humans... such naive creatures." A tall figure chuckled to himself, as he ran a hand through his shoulder-length jet black hair. His eyes shone like rubies, and a crimson cape flowed down his back. "Heheheh..."

"Stop." Alexandra's movement came to an abrupt halt. A startled Rachel continued to walk, plummiting right into the huntress.

"Whoops! Sorry... eheh."

"Quiet." Alexandra didn't move a muscle. "I hear something in those bushes..." Slowly, she turned to face the bushes, aiming her bow with unrivaled precision. "Come out!"

"Have it your way..." Alexandra released her bowstring, letting an arrow fly into the bushes. A rustling sound was heard as the tall figure emerged from the bushes. He strode forward, smirking and holding an arrow between his index and middle fingers.

"No way!" Alexandra took a step backwards in shock.

The figure didn't speak, as his ruby eyes surveyed the three travellers. A suspenceful silence ran through the air, until being broken by the figure's deep voice. "So... you're the ones who destroyed my beautiful harpy?" He sighed, and shut his eyes. "I dislike those who ruin such beautiful art..."

"You call that freak art?" Irritated by the man's arrogance, Alexandra readied another arrow.

A glint of anger flashed in the man's eyes. "Learn to respect true beauty, girl..." He let out a calm chuckle. "Here, let me show you..." The man slammed his palms into the ground. "Rise!"

The earth below them began to tremor violently.

"What's happening?" Rachel panicked.

"Rachel, Alexandra... be on guard." A gust formed around Shichiyo as he raised a single palm.

Infront of them began to materialize a horrific sight. A green-skinned, humanoid looking creature with piercing neon yellow eyes. A single battered, crimson wing protruded from its back, and one of its hands appeared to be replaced with the head of a dragon. The man chuckled once again. "Heheheh... beautiful, is it not?"

The creature eyed the group with its piercing gaze, and let out a spine-tingling roar.

"I do hate to be brief... but I have important matters to attend to. Take care! Heheheheh-" The man chuckled sadistically, as a blue aura teleported him out of sight.

"Damn you!" Alexandra slammed her foot down, frustrated that the man had escaped.

"We'll have to let it go for now, Alexandra. Get ready!" Shichiyo thrust his arm forward. "Frost Diver!" The ground beneath him began to freeze, and razor sharp icecicles began to protrude in the beast's direction. Before it could move, the icecicles had impaled it, leaving it encased in ice. Shichiyo smiled with satisfaction, and sparks flew from his arm as he prepared the finishing blow.

"Wow, Chief..."

Rachel's awe was short-lived however, as the ice around the creature shattered and an angered roar echoed through the air.

"What?"

The creature slowly, silently began to advance towards the three.

"Get back, freak! Double Strafing!" Alexandra shouted as she quickly fired dual arrows in quick succession. The arrows pierced the creature's chest, and it moaned in pain. Its advance did not slow, however. "Damn..." She thrust her arm forward. "Bird!" Seemingly on cue, a loud screech was heard, as a falcon swooped down from above, closing in on the creature and attacking. Its sharp talons cut off the creature's arm, and as the creature roared in pain, Bird swooped backwards, landing on Alexandra's arm.

"Alex, that was great!"

"Graahh!" The creature let out a pained roar, and its dragon arm pointed at the group. Suddenly, the arm seemed to come to life, as it snarled, its eyes opening.

Shichiyo raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"

It pointed the arm at the group, and a ball of flame began to materialize within the dragon head's mouth.

"...It's going to fire!" Shichiyo quickly began to prepare a spell, but he knew deep down that he probably wouldn't make it on time. Still... he couldn't just give up. He couldn't just let his longtime friend, and his newfound apprentice die. He had to try something...

"GAH!" The creature let out another pained roar, as a blade sliced through its remaining arm, which fell limp to the ground. In a flurry of additional slashes, the monster was reduced to a pile of dismembered pieces.

A long, white haired figure clad in black lowered his sword, and smirked. "Shichiyo... where would you be without me?"

"Dalndox. It's been a long time..."

"Heheh. Indeed it has been."