The Story so Far: Deciding to join the unlikely duo Alice and Luka on their journey, Balthazar watches from afar Luka's talent. So early in their quest, the three begin to reveal their lives to each other, as much as Balthazar detests doing such. The journey just begins, and the tale weaves no ending in sight.

Darkness wrapped around Balthazar. He felt pulled in all directions, and he was bound by something hard, metallic, and tight.

"Do you like the gift I gave you, Balthazar?" An angelic voice asked.

Ilias. "Huh. I've been bound worse by a Behemoth." He growled.

She laughed, and appeared in his subconscious, lighting it. "Poor Balthazar, you don't even know what I gave you."

Mustering his strength, he pulled on the chains binding him. They were the same chains which only he could see when he was awake. "These chains again… What the hell are they?"

Ilias shook her head. "As a Sinner, I only progressed what would naturally happen." She paused, and grabbed one of the chains binding Balthazar. "These chains are special. No one, not even the Alipheese Fateburn the First, or the first Monster Lord, are able to break these chains. Do you know why?" She gave a twisted smile.

Balthazar's eyes hooded over. "So no matter what I do, it's to Hell I go. Oh well." He looked up, glaring at Ilias. "I was never really the type to fit in to normal standards. I've heard rumors of the Chains of Hell… I just assumed that since I was alive…" He figured.

"That you could be alive that you couldn't be bound to the chains? Most people die immediately when the chains pierce them. You were able to survive, because you're resilient." Ilias explained. "But no matter what you do, just remember…" She was cut off as the dream distorted.

Balthazar awoke to being rocked. His senses were slow at first, but as soon as he saw Alice shaking him awake, his hand withdrew from his katana. "What the… Why are you shaking me? It's still night." He noticed.

Alice looked grim. "I know. I didn't want to have Luka's input on this subject. He's asleep."

Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Balthazar groaned quietly. "What's so important that the pseudo-hero can't hear?"

Alice folded her arms. "You know what. I've been watching you sleep for a while."

"Creepy incarnate. Why would the Mon- Er… What's so important that you'd watch me even as I sleep? I told you I wouldn't try killing anyone." Balthazar joked.

"Sixty six chains." She stated simply.

Balthazar's eyes darkened. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Alice flicked his forehead. "Don't play games. I can see them too."

"What?" He exclaimed. "The- You can see them, huh." He observed her watching as a surge of light traveled down one of the chains fixed to his ribs. Her eyes traveled down the length of the chain before it disappeared into obscurity. "What about them?"

Alice folded her arms. "Those are the Chains of Hell, said to have bound the first Monster Lord in Hell."

"So they are." Balthazar waited. "Is this going somewhere?"

"You're a Sinner." She stated. "I've never known Ilias to brand someone with the Chains of Hell so liberally. At least, that's what my teacher told me in the past."

"Title of Sinner, huh?" Balthazar chuckled. "I like that. The Sinner Balthazar. Rebel to Ilias. It has a nice ring to it."

Alice stood, peering down at Balthazar expressionlessly. "You really are an idiot. Haven't you heard the stories of Hell?"

Balthazar shook his head. "I'm too young for such old stories. Whoever told you them must be quite old themself, unless it's a passed-on story."

Alice was silent for a second. "My teacher told me stories she's heard. I'll just say this; it's not a place you want to be for eternity."

Balthazar smirked. "I don't plan on it." He paused. "I never told you why I'm really coming along, have I?"

Alice tilted her head. "Your purpose isn't really Hellgondo?"

Balthazar shook his head. "No, that part's true. Hellgondo is my destination. But I plan on making a diversion to your castle."

Alice stared at him darkly. "For someone who hates Ilias so much, doing her bidding seems rather hypocritical."

"Yeah, sounds like it. But I'm not in it to kill you, or even fight you. If Luka makes it to the end, so be it. His choices are his own." Balthazar rattled on. "I don't care if he defeats you. Some other monster will replace you. It's a fact. The cold reality of truth. I'm going to your castle, to Hellgondo, for two reasons."

"Those would be?" Alice asked seriously.

Balthazar sighed. "There's someone I failed in Hellgondo. She won't be impressed at my defeat, but I have to see her anyways."

"Her?" She looked intrigued.

"The woman who became my mother when my real mother died." He said softly.

Alice tilted her head. "There are relatively little to no humans in Hellgondo." She stated.

"How do you think I know so much about monsters?" Balthazar chuckled. "A human will know barely anything about monsters. A monster, on the other hand…"

Alice nodded. "I think I get it now. When your father ended your mother's life, you ran away. Somewhere along the line, you were able to make your way to Hellgondo, where you lived with a monster for several years. Is that right?"

Balthazar nodded. "You got the gist of it."

"You're different. But it explains some things." Alice commented.

"What? You sound as if you still want answers." Balthazar observed dryly. "I think I'll play a guessing game. I'll say something strange if you guess correctly."

"Huh? Strange? Everything you've said up to now has been strange, considering you're a human." Alice looked as if she couldn't believe what she heard.

"See? This is the glory of the game."

"I don't want to play games with someone like you."

Balthazar looked shocked, but it was clearly fake. "Someone like me? That sounds offensive, you know." He waited, but she didn't respond. "I want to kill the Goddess."

Alice continued to stare at him. "That's the first time I've ever heard of a human saying such things. It's understandable for a monster but-"

"That's why you're wrong." He interrupted. Alice looked shocked at his now deadly demeanor. "The whole story isn't so easy to explain." His aura disappeared as he picked his ear. "Anyways, as for the reason you woke me up, yes, you aren't hallucinating. These really are the Chains of Hell." He reflected on the dream Alice woke him from. "Ilias confirmed it as you woke me up."

"So you're seeing her in your dreams." She stated.

Balthazar nodded. "It's why I took a walk when I finished earlier. I didn't want to stay awake, but I wound up falling asleep anyways."

Alice slightly smiled. "That won't do you any good. Sleep is important, especially if you want to confront Ilias."

"Pft." The tension broke as Balthazar rebuilt his inner walls. "It doesn't matter. It'll be awhile before I'm up to par again. I can't defeat you ergo I can't defeat Ilias."

"You can't defeat me? I can feel such an immense power from you." Alice pondered.

He frowned. "Yeah. I had that power once. I can't use it anymore. When I confronted Ilias, she sealed my strength." He thought back.

"Black Moon Blade!"

The moon turned red. A man stood, in red and dark gray clothes, a katana extended to the sky. Balthazar's shadow welled up from the ground, and rose in the air, encompassing him in a sphere of liquid-like blackness. A black blade cut the sphere, and it dissolved to show that he now wore pitch-black robes, and his blade took a more sickly appearance, a black blade with three crescent notches a the end of the blade, and a wicked curve which rested along the edge of the blade, giving the prior katana a backwards appearance, and thickened, like a long-sword.

He stood on leveled off top of a mountain, with a rocky trial leading back down. Clouds began to form overhead, and lightning danced across the sky. Sheer power flowed off of Balthazar as he took a fighting stance towards the sky.

"Come, Ilias! I challenge you to your death!" His robes waved about as wind blasted past him. "You might want to come down for a bit. If not, you'll give me no choice but to break down Heaven's Gates and confront you in heaven!"

Ilias' light fell down through a hole in the sky. "To break the sacred law of rebelling against me?" The disembodied voice resounded throughout the area. "You do not seem to know your place." Thunder cracked through the sky as a rogue bolt of lightning touched one of the adjacent mountaintops.

Balthazar scoffed. "It seems that you don't particularly know what's going on! I'm here to defeat you, Ilias!"

"A human cannot defeat a Goddess." Ilias chided the human. "It is impossible. You are weak, I am strong."

A bolt of lightning descended towards Balthazar. "That won't be enough!" He yelled. His blade intercepted the bolt of lightning, which stuck to the blade for an instant before he swung aside, the massive current followed, discharging from the blade. "The next time you use such a technique… I'll send it right back towards you!"

Holy light began to concentrate on Balthazar. However, he sidestepped it, returning to the red light emitted by the moon. "What a shame, Balthazar. I had hoped to utilize your power to bring about a new world." A disappointed voice said.

"Hell's Lightning…" Electricity surged down his black blade, and he raised it towards the sky. The blade's electricity extended indefinitely, soaring in the atmosphere as he attempted to reach Heaven. However, a bolt of lightning connected with it, and Balthazar was unable to direct the surge away from him. In seconds, he was engulfed in an explosion, and sent flying into the air.

"Shit… I didn't expect this much power…" He muttered.

Balthazar looked up at Alice. "All of the power that I created over seven years… Gone. But the seal is already loosening." He clenched his left hand. "It's still there, like you said. It just needs to be brought back out." He raised an eyebrow as he returned to his back. "Any other questions or can I get some more sleep?"

Alice shook her head. "I think that will sate my curiosity for now." She dismissed him. However, a thought crossed her mind. "Wait. What was the second reason?"

Sleepily, Balthazar shrugged. "I'll let that be a surprise for you." Alice frowned, but turned around, dropping the subject.

Balthazar looked on as she curled around a tree. She's certainly a curious one. He thought as he fell back to sleep.

Several hours later, an annoyed Balthazar was rudely woken up again. "I-Ilias!" Luka gasped as he jumped up. He thought for a couple seconds. "Yes… I can… I can do this!"

It appeared as if Luka's sudden optimism and energetic outburst had awakened Alice as well. "Ugh…" She groaned, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. "What's with the noise this early in the morning?"

Balthazar scoffed. "Maybe if you could sleep through the night you wouldn't be so tired now."

Alice dismissed the thought. "Whatever. Just hurry up and get me something to eat, Luka."

"Hungry as ever." Luka thought aloud.

After a while, the three finished their meal. It was the same meal as the night before, but Luka realized that they were starting to run rather low on ingredients.

Luka seemed to perk up, and said a quick prayer. Alice rolled her eyes, and Balthazar sighed. "Already saying stupid things so early in the morning?" She teased.

Luka's voice rose defensively. "I'm just giving my thanks to Ilias. After all, one of Ilias' five commandments is to be dutiful in one's prayers."

"Five commandment? Ilias must certainly like to make humans do stupid things." Alice commented.

"… …" Balthazar simply stared at the two bickering.

"And to do those things so happily… Are you happy being slaves to her?" She taunted. "Besides, doesn't Ilias hate monsters?" She asked. "Doesn't that go against the dream you want to make reality?" She looked attentively at the pseudo-hero.

"It's a dangerous thing to go against a God." Balthazar stated. "You can either end up sealed away, as merely a soul with no ability to interact with the world or even pass on, or end up with your existence completely shattered."

"Even if that's the case…" Luka responded.

"Besides, it's completely irrational, her prohibition. Most monsters require humans in order for their species to continue to exist." Alice pointed out. "If you think about it, then there are just as many humans who have broken that prohibition."

"True. I didn't really think about it that way." Luka nodded. "Wait, does that mean that there are people who go out of their way to break her laws?"

"Are you just realizing this now? You're such an idiot."

Luka staggered back. "Wait… Wait a sec! Wouldn't that be an extremely efficient method to exterminating monsters if they aren't able to have children?"

Balthazar sighed. "And thus you have it. Ilias is committing mass genocide, if you think about it. Some force of good."

Luka's will cracked. "I'm… Certain that Ilias has some sort of plan."

"Some plan. Must be truly divine if we humans can't see hide nor hair of it." Balthazar scoffed.

Luka shifted his eyes. "Anyways," He rubbed his hands, putting the topic to the said. "It's about time that we set out. We're wasting daylight here."

The three set out on the beaten path. Soon, Luka couldn't help his instincts, and started conversation. "You know, I've only been to Iliasburg once before. It's a really huge city!"

Balthazar rested his arms behind his head. "Sure. Says the boy from the village so small it's only defining point is a temple." He laughed.

"Shut up, man." Luka scowled.

"Hehe. If you make it to Sentora, you should see some of the bigger cities there. Some big cities and towns, all really unique." Balthazar said.

Alice looked at him suspiciously. "And? What about their food?"

A drop of sweat slid down Balthazar and Luka's face. "What, their food?" Balthazar asked. "Incredible. That's the first thing you ever think about with a new place, isn't it…?"

"That's not the only thing that goes through my mind, fool." She replied. "But, it's nice to know what's available before you arrive somewhere. Just like in my traveler's book…" She said, revealing the book in question. "There's an Inn known as the Sutherland Inn in Iliasburg, they have this delicacy desert known as the Happiness Honey-filled Ama-ama Dango. Supposedly, it's on the checklist of any traveling gourmets of the things to eat."

Of course it's about food. Luka sighed. "The hotel might not exist anymore. It's been five-hundred years since your book was made."

Alice looked at Luka with disbelief. "What? It's only been five hundred years, what makes you think that the Inn would be gone?"

"You've got the time concept of a monster down, well enough." Balthazar teased.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked. However she went silent and Balthazar's eyes narrowed slightly. Taking her own initiative, she slid off of the path, and became nearly invisible, even to Balthazar's eyes.

A large plant, two leaves sticking out of the ground, stood in Luka's path. "Eh? What is this?" He turned around to see Alice had vanished, and Balthazar had found a rock to sit on.

"It's an option." He held a hand in the air, shaking it so-so. "It's an invitation to find out what it is. You going to accept it, or play the safe route and ignore it?" He asked.

Luka shuddered. His hand reached out to one of the leaves… but stopped. "I think that would be a bad decision." He decided.

Walking forward and around the odd plant, he started back on the path. Balthazar said nothing as he jumped off of the rock and fell in behind Luka. Alice appeared shortly after, taking over Luka's right side.

"Where did you go Alice?" Luka asked.

She folded her arms as she slid beside him. "Like I said, if there's even a slight chance of combat, I'll take my own initiative to hide. I told you before, remember?"

"So you said." Luka replied. "So wait, that thing back there was a monster?"

"As long as you don't interact with it, it's harmless." She explained. "Or are you some wild barbarian who runs up and attack something without provocation?"

"I wouldn't do that! Unless if something gets in my way, I won't fight it." He declared.

"That monster was likely one that you couldn't defeat. You probably would have just become food for it." She said condescendingly.

"W-was it really that powerful?" Luka asked.

"No. It's just annoying." Balthazar stated. "That was a Mandragora. A nasty piece of work if you find a strong one. Fortunately, many waste their time alive sleeping underground, and do not gain much experience. Therefore, most are weak, and easily avoidable. Find a strong one though…" He paused. "They aren't fun. With paralysis, you aren't able to attack or guard. There's no way to struggle against that status either."

"Huh. There are all sorts of monsters and abilities out there, aren't there?" He said in awe.

"I'll say. Some are plain, some are… Interesting." Balthazar stated distantly.

Finally, after a while, the sun began to sink below the horizon. Overcoming a hill, the group of three paused, seeing a crescent -shaped large town nestled between mountains and a cliff.

Luka paused after the two others confirmed the sight for themselves. However, he folded his arms and looked at Alice. "We just can't go into that town as we are. Are you able to disguise yourself as a human Alice?"

"Tch. I don't like being in a human's form. It feels unpleasant. Why do I have to assume a human form?" She complained.

"If you don't take human form, you won't be able to eat your Ama-ama Dango, remember?" Luka persuaded.

"Crap. I guess you're right." She relented. Balthazar laughed. "Hmph." With small mutations, her magic allowed her tail to become legs, and her skin color turned pale peach. "Fine. Is this okay?"

"That's good." Luka praised.

Balthazar smiled creepily. "A little on the skimpy side, but it shouldn't be a problem."

Alice noted his gaze. "… Pervert." At which response, Balthazar merely shrugged uncaringly.

From there, the three entered the town. However, Luka noted that it was desolate of any activity. Even for the evening, it was deserted. Hastily moving towards the town center, the two were forced to follow along as Luka went in search for life.

He sensed a fight unfolding in the plaza center, and he hid behind a tree to gauge the situation. Looking down, he was able to see a Dragon swordswoman, dressed in armor and a sword at her side, sticking out of the ground.

"How weak. Is there not even a single strong person in this entire village?" She demanded.

She had the plaza around her littered with downed warriors, all knocked unconscious. Three warriors remained on their feet, two wounded but still able to fight.

"Are you going to fight me or what?" The Dragon demanded.

Luka gasped when he realized who she was. That giant sword by her side… One of the Four Heavenly Knights, Granberia, with a sword arm no human can match… Able to stand up against an entire human army by herself, while killing thousands... Such a powerful monster is attacking Iliasburg? Impossible! But Luka shook his head. It's happening right before my eyes though…

Turning to Alice for guidance, he turned around. "A-Alice, what should we… Do…?" He finished weakly, noting she had vanished. However, Balthazar looked on, not bothering to hide, but leaning on the side of a building, conveniently out of sight.

"Again. It's an invitation to battle." Balthazar repeated. "You either accept it, or ignore it. The consequences for either choice are severe though." He reminded. "Don't mind me; I'll keep watch like usual." He said, walking away.

"Great." Luka sighed. Even Balthazar's abandoning me in this situation. Does he not think I can win? Or perhaps, is he afraid of Granberia? He thought to himself.

Granberia addressed the soldiers, catching Luka's attention behind his tree. "So, only you three left, huh? Are you just going to stand there and watch while I claim this city?" She taunted. "Or will one of you try to be a Hero and stop me?" After the soldiers looked at each other fearfully, Granberia raised her voice. "Well!? Decide!"

Two soldiers rushed Granberia. However, a blazing fire encompassed her broadsword. One of the soldiers, not backing down from the heat, slashed at her, but she vanished. She appeared behind him, incapacitating him. The other attacking soldier cursed, but attacked Granberia's open back. Barely trying, she deflected his attack without turning around, and sent a blast of heated wind at the man. The heat from the blast reached even Luka's position. The man collapsed from such extreme heat, and the last soldier trembled. There are Four Heavenly Knights… All affiliated with one of the natural elements. Earth, Wind, Water… And Granberia must represent Fire. Luka thought.

From atop a nearby rooftop which overlooked the scene, Balthazar hid his presence. He was still able to look down from the edge of the building, but with his presence concealed, she should not have been able to notice him. One hand rested on his katana in either case, just to be safe.

Granberia turned her attention to the remaining guard. "Well? What about you?" She challenged. The man screamed and turned tail, fleeing from her. "A wise choice, to flee from a stronger opponent. But in the future, you can't call yourself a soldier or a Hero." She muttered. She looked around the plaza for any more challengers. "Is that it? Having your city conquered by a monster… Are there no complaints to this?" She roared.

Balthazar's gaze hovered over Luka's position. He seemed restless and fidgety. Balthazar recalled his earlier words. "It's an invitation to battle. You either accept it, or ignore it. The consequences for either choice are severe though." He mouthed.

Granberia sheathed her sword. "Well then. I've taken over this city. Next, I'll just have to-"

"H-hold it!" Luka shouted, revealing himself and approaching Granberia. His sword was in hand. He accepted the invitation to battle. Was it truly a wise decision for him? Balthazar thought.

Granberia crossed her arms. "What was that boy?" Luka appeared to start shivering. Even from his perch, he could tell the boy had cold feet. "Oh, you're wielding a sword, huh?" She looked him over. "Then I'll treat you as a warrior instead. No problems with that, I take it."

"Of course not! … Even… Even someone like me can be a warrior…" He said. The boy has courage. But he's a fool if he thinks he can defeat her. Even I can't, not in my condition. Balthazar firmly grasped his katana.

Granberia nodded, and pulled out her sword, holding it against Luka. "Very well then. Then I, Fire Swordswoman Granberia will be your opponent!" Luka forced his body to stop shaking, and pulled his sword out as well. "Good. Now give me your best shot!" She demanded.

Luka pulled back his sword, and swung as hard as he could at Granberia. However, Granberia's speed was too much for Luka to follow, and she dodged his strike. Looking in confusion, she tripped him, and he fell on his face. Rolling over, he was able to see Granberia now in front of him. He tried to get up, but she put her foot on the center of his chest. She knows the human body well. Pinning him down using his center of balance… She'd be difficult to fight.

"You're too green." She stepped a little harder. "But, you faced me when the adults cowered in fear. I respect that. You're young, and you're bound to make mistakes. But I won't let it slide a second time." She threatened, stepping off of Luka, allowing him to stand back up.

Brandishing his sword, Luka stared at Granberia. "It… It's not over yet."

"Did you not hear me? Or are you ignoring my advice?" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "I won't say it again."

"Prepare yourself." He took his stance.

"If you insist, boy." She took her stance again. "You won't regret it, will you?"

Luka was resolute. "There's no way I will!" He brought his blade up to his neck, parallel with Granberia's, and dashed forward. Demon Decapitation. Using it won't do him good. Balthazar noted. As his prediction unfolded, Granberia dodged the attack with ease, and kicked Luka, forcing him to the ground.

Putting her weapons tip in the ground, she folded her arms. However, she still looked shocked. "That attack… Why do you know a monster's technique?" She interrogated. Luka appeared to be in distress as he struggled back up. "Your swordplay is sloppy, and you're still immature. There's no way you could have invented that on your own. Who taught you that technique?"

Luka avoided her eyes. "Why should I tell you?"

Granberia simple smiled. "I think I might already know who it is. In fact, I'd like to have a match against her myself." She tilted her head. "Is she your master or something?"

Luka turned his head. "I won't say."

Granberia frowned. "If that's the case…"

Balthazar found his chance to enter. Jumping off the side of the building, he landed perfectly in the middle of Granberia and Luka.

"Y-you!" Luka exclaimed, startled.

Balthazar was completely serious. "Yeah. It's me."

Luka looked at him in disbelief. "I thought you weren't going to help me out if something like this happened." He said.

Balthazar breathed out sharply through his nose, but remained serious. "You honestly think this is something I'd pass on?"

Granberia looked astonished by Balthazar's arrival. "Oh? Where did you come from? Did you finally gather your strength when a boy who was more courageous than you was about to lose?"

Balthazar matched her gaze. Tension burst into flame as the two stared. "I wouldn't quite say that. Under normal circumstances, I would have let him just die. But…" He grasped the handle of his sheathed sword. "Like I said, I won't pass on this opportunity."

Granberia smirked. "You think you can beat me? You sure seem confident of yourself. Come on; give me your best shot." She raised her sword. However, Balthazar remained motionless, his hand on his hilt. "What are you doing? I told you to attack me, not stand around like an idiot!"

Balthazar closed his eyes. With a sharp noise, he drew his blade an inch. "I'm not one to engage first… But it seems like I'll have no choice but to attack with everything I've got. Uuuraa!" He dashed forward, his blade drawing as he dashed forward. Granberia was surprised at his speed, but blocked his attack as his blade left the sheath.

Granberia frowned. "I should have been able to see that attack faster!" Balthazar simply breathed out, guiding his next attack with liquid clarity. Knocking her sword out of the way, his blade traveled close to her, but she jumped back. "The hell?"

Balthazar took a few, calculated steps back, his blade diagonal to his body. "Normally, I wouldn't engage in conversation with a fight this serious… But…" He stopped, as Granberia vanished. He turned to his right, foreseeing the attack. His sword intercepted Granberia's but she used the force of her attack to force Balthazar into the air. Gasping in annoyance, he righted himself in mid-air, and sheathed his sword as he landed, leaving a single inch drawn.

"What are you? I've never known a human… Not one as young as you… To be able to be so precise and powerful." Granberia questioned. "Who are you?"

A vein of irritation welled up in Balthazar. "Why does everyone insist that they must know my name?" He complained, drawing his blade again as he dashed towards Granberia. She simply side-stepped the attack, and countered with her own swing. "I've seen that attack coming." He whispered, as he used the momentum of his dash to roll and avoid it.

"You're annoyingly good for a human. I can sense you're really powerful, but you aren't able to hit me. That's odd." She commented. Balthazar said nothing; his concentration could not be broken. He ran and jumped, lunging his blade down at her. "Come on, this has got to have been your most easily noticeable move yet!" She intercepted his blade, and sent him flying into a building on the other side of the street.

Deftly correcting his flight, he landing on the side of the building feet first, and bent his knees. Using his own momentum from her attack, he jumped off the building at an even faster rate, blade extended. In an instant, Luka gasped from the sidelines as sparks dance across the evening light. Granberia and Balthazar both stood, backs to each other and blades extended from their sides.

Slowly the two faced each other. "I have no choice. You aren't considering leaving, are you by any chance?" Balthazar asked.

"Like hell I would. If you think that was enough to drive me off, you're dead wrong." Granberia held her blade tightly.

Balthazar seemed mournful. "Then you leave me no choice." He held his blade at an odd angle, almost as if he was going to give his blade to Granberia. Such an odd stance. Luka observed. "This might not end the fight, but it'll let me know what's going on." He explained. His eyes seemed to sharpen immediately, and an incredibly dark aura seemed to pervade from him. "This one attack will end this fight!" The blade kept the same angle, but he held the blade closer to his body so he could grasp the blade with ease. "Mortal Sin." In a nigh-instantaneous clash, the blade collided with Granberia in a one-second lock that seemed to last for hours. The energy in the lock increased as Balthazar used the advantage of being closer to Granberia and pushed her back by an inch. However, the attack quickly wore out, even in the hour-long lock, and she pushed him back.

The two exchanged looks. Out of Luka's complete surprise, Balthazar sheathed his sword completely. "Welp, that's it."

Granberia looked at Balthazar with shock. "What do you mean 'that's it'?" She questioned accusingly.

"I can't win." Balthazar was sincere. "You said it yourself. I have a lot of power, but I can't hit you. What good is a fight with a lot of stamina if you can't use it? It's like forcing a river through a dam. I'm not able to utilize my power." He pointed at Luka. "But isn't he something?" Granberia raised her sword.

"When are you three going to stop being idiots?" A familiar voice called out. A few seconds later, Alice appeared, arms folded and annoyed.

"A-Alice! You're… Back?" Luka gasped.

"Impeccable timing." Balthazar stated.

Granberia looked to be in surprise as well. "Y-you!" But she made no movement to attack Alice, out of Luka's surprise. Instead, she fell to one knee before her.

"Granberia… Just what are you doing?" She ordered. "Who ordered you to do this?"

Granberia kept her eyes affixed to the ground. "No one. I decided by myself, in order to get rid of those annoying Heroes."

Alice frowned. "Go away, you annoyance."

Granberia resisted her order. "But if I leave, more and more Heroes will just-"

"I said, 'go away'." She commanded. "If you go berserk here, how am I going to eat my Ama-ama Dangos? Answer me!"

Granberia looked sheepish. "If that's all you want, let me secure the city and I'll-"

"You think it's fun to sight-see with such an event happening?" She scoffed. "How many times am I going to have to tell you to leave? Or… Is that how you show your loyalty?"

Granberia relented to Alice. "Very well, if that is your wish." She glared at Luka and Balthazar. Slowly tearing her eyes away from them, she vanished. Luka collapsed as soon as Granberia's presence vanished.

Balthazar leaned against one of the buildings. "Alice, you…!" Luka exclaimed. For some reason, she avoided his eyes. "You were pretty awesome out there." He smiled.

Alice looked thunderstruck. "… … That's it!? After all that happened, that's all you have to say?" She asked incredulously. "Are you truly that stupid?" Luka responded with a blank expression. Balthazar sighed, rubbing his wrist.

"And you!" Luka exclaimed, getting back up. "Just what kind of a fight was that!? You were all over the place, and, and!"

Balthazar rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He grimaced.

"How do you just ignore your own feats? You could have wiped the floor with her!" Luka exclaimed. "When you used that attack… Immortal Sign, or something like that! You were so serious! Almost even deadly in just your aura!" Luka cheered.

Balthazar straightened himself and knocked Luka over the head. "'Immortal Sign'? Did she kick your hearing out of your head earlier?" He yelled. "Gods, I can't believe this." He paused. "That attack wasn't called Immortal Sign. The name of that technique was Mortal Sin." With that, the air drew cold. "It's not something I can teach. It's a technique I made up on my own. I'll never teach someone like you that move." He said.

In the background, people started to come out of their homes. 'Is she gone?' 'That monster, did she run away?' 'Those three over there! I don't get it, but they somehow drove her away!' More and more citizens were coming out of their houses, murmuring in excitement. Eventually, the three were surrounded, much to the distaste of Balthazar.

'Thank you! A little bit longer, and this would have been a monster's city!' 'Even though you're so young, you were so amazing! How did you ever drive that monster away?' The citizens began to praise them. Slowly, after being thanked countless times, the citizens began to return to their normal routines.

"By the way, you there. Person." Alice called out, grabbing the attention of a random citizen.

"Person? What kind of a name is that when a have such an interesting name like Cervantes!" He complained.

"I don't care." She flatly stated. "Where is Sutherland Inn?"

Cervantes pointed towards the setting sun. "Just go west from here. You can't miss it."

Alice dismissed the man. "Hah. Did you hear that Luka? I told you so."

Luka sighed. "… Incredibly old Inn."

With renewed vigor, Alice pushed the three forward. "Off to the west! I know where we're staying tonight!"

"Y-yeah. Whatever you say Alice." Luka sighed. Balthazar simply smiled as the three moved.

After a short walk, the three came upon the Sutherland Inn. "Ah, there it is!" He exclaimed. Curious, he knew that the cost of expense would be hard on his wallet. He read the sign.

"2,400,000 gold? Per person!? For one day!?" Balthazar and Luka exclaimed in unison.

Luka calculated how long they could stay, out of both interest and grief. He concluded they would only be able to stay at the in for six seconds. If I was baptized, we could have stayed here almost for free… Luka despaired.

Turning to Alice, he broke the news. "There's just no way we can stay here. If all three of us stay here, we could only afford six seconds apiece."

Balthazar sighed. "Well that's a bummer. Oh well. I'm used to sleeping outside." His words were received by piercing stares by Luka and Alice.

"If I knew this was going to happen, I should have let Granberia take over this city…" Alice murmured. Luka gasped in shock.

Just then, one of the soldiers from the plaza who had been defeated by Granberia strolled up. "Pardon me, step aside." He slipped past the three to the receptionist, who glared at him. "Hey owner, I'm a Hero. I'll take the Hero's rate." He commanded.

The owner looked outraged. "What kind of stupidity is that!? What kind of Hero gets knocked out by a monster instantly?" She pushed the failure of a Hero out of the Inn, where he fled, somehow able to keep an air of grace. Idiot. Alice thought.

"B-but I'm a Hero!" He exclaimed as he fled.

"Someone like you calling yourself a Hero…" She yelled. When he was far enough away, she cupped her hands around her mouth. "And stay gone!" She turned her attention to the group of three. "Oh! If it isn't the three who saved the city!" She praised. "Please, stay the night!" She insisted.

"Uh… We… Don't exactly have the money." Luka admitted, embarrassed.

She shook her head. "I'll give you the special Hero's Rate! I'll just send the rest of the 7,199,994 gold as a bill to the Ilias Temple."

"Th-thank you. But we're not baptized Heroes." Luka stammered

"Nonsense. A baptism doesn't make you a Hero! You're actions are!" She said happily. Balthazar rolled his eyes, making sure it was incognito.

"That said, you got your ass beat." She reminded. "Balthazar was the only one who really put up much of a fight."

The words shattered Luka. "Oh, give me a break…" He sighed.

The owner rushed the three in, giving them two rooms, two for the 'Heroes', and one for Alice. Luka was still trying to calm down, before from adrenaline from the fight, now from anxiety from being in such a luxurious room. Balthazar seemed unsure where to sit, as if he had never seen such materials before in his life. Alice stood, back in her monster form, munching on the Ama-ama Dangos she had ordered.

With Balthazar restlessly pacing around the room looking too anxious to even sit down, Luka turned his attention to Alice. "Is it good?"

She smiled. "Yes! It's sweet!~" Her tail swung lightly, reflecting her joy.

"Oi, but don't lose your transformation. If someone see's you…" Luka warned.

She sighed happily. "Fuuu… That was delicious. Very sweet."

She resumed her human appearance, and rang a service bell. The owner appeared, and took the dishes from Alice. She looked at Balthazar, who had gone pale over his unknown predicament. "What ever is the matter?" She asked.

Balthazar shuddered. "It… It's nothing. I…" He seemed genuinely thrown off from his usual composure. Luka looked curiously at this new side of Balthazar. "W-where can I sit? Where'll I sleep?" He panicked.

The owner laughed. "What are you asking? You've passed that chair five times now! It's okay for you to sit down on it!" Balthazar gave the chair an uneasy look, but remained upright. "Anyways, how did you like our specialty?"

Alice nodded and smiled. "Even though it's so incredibly sweet, it doesn't override the flavor of the dango." She licked her lips. "Absolutely delicious. If you were a monster, I'd make you a duchess."

The owner laughed. "You're certainly a strange one!" As soon as she calmed, the three's attention returned to Balthazar, who had begun inspecting every element possible of the chair, and she began to laugh again. But soon, her face fell. "Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get enough Happiness Honey lately, so we're out of more Ama-ama Dangos." She looked crestfallen. "Since Happiness Village doesn't have enough men, I suppose there's no helping it."

Luka tilted his head. "Did something happen in Happiness Village?"

The owner nodded and thought. "Hm. That's right, if it's you guys, I'm sure you can do something about it! If you could beat that swordswoman, I'm sure this'll be a piece of cake." Luka nodded. He was too far in the exaggeration to change his story now. "Anyways, have a good rest."

Luka thanked the owner again. He felt in heaven, being able to sleep on such soft beds for once. As soon as the owner left, Alice returned to her monster form.

"Hm. I'm hungry again." She stated.

What? But… "How? You just ate all of those dangos!" Luka was surprised at her gluttony. "Go back to your room."

Alice looked at Luka. "The dangos went to another stomach. My other one wants human life." She said. She licked her lips. "Like I said, someone unbaptized looks so delicious."

"H-hey! Wait!" Luka protested. However, Alice caught him in her tail, and pushed him on the bed.

"Actually, if you're going to do that, I want to borrow him for a bit." Balthazar interrupted. Alice looked at him in surprise.

"You want Luka? But why?" She asked, annoyed.

Balthazar rolled his eyes. "I won't stop you from whatever you want to do with him." He said. "However, before that, I want to test him. If you really do… Do that… And if you're as… Ehem… Aggressive as I think you are, he won't have the energy for what I want to do." He extended a hand. "Gimme."

Alice sighed. "Fine." She uncoiled her tail from Luka.

"We'll be back. You can come if you want, but you might get bored." Balthazar admitted as he opened the door. Alice returned to her human form.

"I'm only coming because I want to make sure that I get him back." She professed.

The three walked outside of the Inn. After stating to the owner that they'd be back shortly, the two gained ample room.

Luka looked at Balthazar with relief. "Thanks for saving me." He shuddered.

"I didn't save you kid. She'll have her way with you, but you're useless once you pass Critical Ecstasy." Balthazar explained. "It's when your health bar is depleted. You can see it, can't you? I'm sure Alice taught you how." Luka nodded. "Good. That saves time. Now draw!" He yelled.

"Wh-what?" Luka started. "Draw?"

Balthazar nodded. "Your sword. Come at me." He drew an inch of his katana.

"W-wait, explain to me first-" Luka stammered.

Giving no time for such antics, he pressured Luka. "Don't waste time. I'm an enemy. Give me you best attack!"

Luka shook his head. "I don't understand but…" He drew his sword. "I suppose I can spar." Suddenly, he remembered the strength Balthazar showcased earlier. "But wait! Are you going to be serious?" He exclaimed.

"Attack! Or I will!" Balthazar shouted.

Going with his wishes, Luka shook his head and attacked Balthazar. Not even fully removing his katana from his sheath, he blocked the attack. He pushed to the side, and Luka's sword followed. Using his open palm, he pressed into Luka's stomach, pushing him several feet back.

"Th-this strength…" He groaned. But he shook his head, and attacked Balthazar again. "Hiya!" He shouted as he jumped off the ground to give him an edge.

Balthazar silently watched the attack, parrying again with a partially drawn blade. "More! Fight harder! Fight me as if I were Granberia!" He taunted.

Resolution filled Luka. He rushed in to Balthazar, and began to attack in quick succession. However, each attack was met by Balthazar's half-drawn blade. Locking swords, Balthazar threw Luka off of him by fully drawing his sword. He's left-handed. Luka observed. His attacks will be different than most of mine. But I've learned how to take advantage of a left-handed warrior back in my training days in Ilias Village!

"Fight me seriously. Using any underhanded techniques just because I wield my katana with my left hand alone will get you nowhere." He placed his other hand on his hilt.

Luka was taken aback. "Wait! What? Can you read minds?"

Balthazar rushed Luka, and swiped his blade diagonally. Luka was barely able to defend himself. "Such a technique to read an opponent comes with the territory of many years of training." He explained. "I doubt you will master it before you fight the Monster Lord, but having the ability to sense another's thoughts in combat can both help bring together opposing forces."

Luka looked at Balthazar in awe. "Wow. Are you… Helping me?" He asked.

Brandishing his katana, he narrowed his eyes slightly. "No. I am testing your strength." He lunged his blade forwards, in a piercing attack which Luka glanced off of his blade.

Alice watched from the side as the two sparred. Luka has no chance. He's missing so many opportunities to strike Balthazar down. Is he doing this on purpose? She thought, watching the blades parry each other. Balthazar lost ground, and lowered his weapon near the ground. Luka cautiously approached the opening, but Balthazar swung upwards, bringing both dust and steel on Luka's unsuspecting body. However, he held himself back, making sure the attack didn't make contact.

Luka wiped the dust out of his face and coughed. Only when he was able to see again did he notice the katana centimeters away from his throat. "Uwah…" He gasped, surprised at the quickness Balthazar displayed.

Disappointed, he lowered his weapon then sheathed it. He sighed. "That's all. We're done." He turned around and looked at the night sky, his back to Luka.

Luka looked in confusion. "But what was this even for?" He sheathed his sword as well.

Balthazar twisted his head so he could see Luka, but most of his body remained still. "Your fighting experience is rather low. You couldn't see past my attacks, or read my movements. I thought you could dodge that last attack where I used the ground the throw dust at you, but even then, you fell right into the trap." He looked at him seriously. "If I was serious, you'd be dead." He declared. Luka shivered. "Anyways, I'm done with Luka. You can continue where you left off, Alice." He said, absentmindedly.

Greedily, Alice pulled Luka back into the mansion. The owner stayed by the side of the door, however, and approached the swordsman. "I saw you two spar. That was quite impressive." She said.

Balthazar sighed. "No." He objected. "My sword skills are too slow, and inefficient. An untrained eye like yours wouldn't be able to see the flaws." He cursed. "My skills weren't enough before, either."

The owner looked in genuine surprise. "Really? Gracious me, you looked like a master, sparring with your friend."

Balthazar chuckled. "My technique is raw, and only honed in the heat of battle. And that's a half-assed honed, at that. I had no real master, so I developed everything myself. Which is why there are so many flaws."

The owner shook her head. "If you keep looking at the negatives, you'll get nowhere. Focus on the positives, and you'll make progress." She chided.

If I am able to make any progress, it's by correcting my most basic flaws. My style is almost solely dependent on using my techniques. For the most part, I can't use them anymore. Which means, I have to start from the ground up. I'll work on getting the way of my sword mastered, then focus on unlocking my sealed powers. Balthazar resolved.

"Y-yeah. I suppose so." He said, but only to get the owner off his back.

She looked carefully over her guest. "Make sure to come inside soon. It's getting late. You'll want to be rested if you leave tomorrow."

Balthazar nodded. The owner returned to the inn, but Balthazar remained, staring at the moon in thought. My attacks were able to directly touch Granberia. Should I take it as somewhere to start with? Agh… It doesn't matter. I need to find someone to train me. Someone whose proficiency with a sword is masterful. I don't care if I have to learn a new style of fighting, or even have to adopt another sword. I must become more powerful than I am now. He stared at the moon for a long time, thoughts like those rampaging in his head.

Eventually, Alice appeared behind Balthazar. "You're still out here?" She asked.

Balthazar made no mentionable response physically. "Yes. I am."

She sighed. "I've been done for quite some time." She scowled. "You didn't think I'd take advantage of him all night, did you?"

He shook his head. "It's not that. I've just…" He trailed off, and weakly grasped his sword. "My style is pathetic. I know that." He admitted. "I'm just thinking to myself."

"Pathetic? You were able to drive Granberia back, even a little. For a human, that's quite a feat." She comforted.

Balthazar turned to Alice, anger flashing across his face. "A feat? A human? By the… I'm so sick of this crap!" A tear started to well up in his eye. "Damn it!" He roared walking off on Alice. "I'm doing everything I did before, but I still can't do anything to win. Why the hell did you make me think that would make me feel better!?" He unleashed his emotions on Alice. "Ilias was right, dammit." 'I'll take everything you hold most important to you.' Ilias' voice resonated in his head.

Alice was shocked by his outrage. "Wait, don't you think-?" She started.

"No! I don't!" He burst out. "Granberia was able to see all of my attacks coming. I'm used to seeing fast movements, so I'm not exactly annoyed I could see hers, but my reflexes are slow." Tears started to drop from his eyes, but his facial expression was still wrapped with anger. "When I rolled to avoid her counterattack, I should have been able to attack, and disrupt her stance! The force from my sheathed attacks was easily absorbed!" His chains flailed wildly as he gestured.

Alice wasn't quite sure what to say. Balthazar breathed heavily, as his emotions drained out of him. Taking a deep breath, he slowly regained his composure. Alice noticed that he still shook a bit.

"Look. I don't understand why you're so distressed. But you can't just mope around because you think you got your ass handed to you on a silver plate. The skill you used at the end before you forfeited… Mortal Sin…" She grew pensive. "That was a technique I've never seen before. It was truly powerful." She acknowledged. "If your power was really all that you said it was, then if you used that skill with your strength uninhibited… That sounds truly frightening."

"I appreciate the sentiment." Balthazar spat. "But it doesn't' change anything. That Luka still has almost unlimited potential. I can sense it from him. All it took was three strikes of our blades, and I could sense his power. Go ogle over him."

Alice looked shocked. "You could sense his potential?"

Balthazar nodded. "It's there. If I don't make it, or decide to take my own path, he'll just keep growing and growing." He sighed. "He has the potential to defeat even you. He just doesn't know it."

"So what's wrong then?" Alice wondered.

He sighed. "My limit's coming close. I need to expand my basics so I can become stronger again."

Alice sighed. "Is power really that important to you?"

"…"

"Don't go on and on about getting more power if you have nothing to accomplish with it. So you somehow find a way to kill Ilias? What then?" Alice questioned. "You only have one goal in your life? You've been bound by the Chain of Hell, so even if you kill her, you're destined to go to Hell. But let's say you do it. Ilias is gone. What do you do with the rest of your life?" She attacked.

Balthazar said nothing. Rather, he couldn't. He had no answer for it. "I… Honestly have no idea. Well… I can think of a few things to do…"

Alice walked in front of Balthazar. "And?"

He avoided her gaze. "I don't know! I want to find out my lineage. I want to know things."

"That's it?" She asked. "If I wasn't in human form, I'd strangle you."

Balthazar hung his head. After a short silence, his head hung. "No. I've got nothing. I'm a meaningless human who wants to destroy Ilias because he was betrayed by her. I'll probably die a rebel, and be rightfully chained in hell…"

Balthazar was interrupted by Alice's hand, slapping him directly across the face. "What the hell?" She growled. He was too shocked to even mutter anything. "You'd take the judgment of some corrupted Goddess? More importantly, you haven't even planned for when you defeated Ilias!"

"Wh-what?" He wasn't able to form any refutes. When I won? What is she saying…?

"You go on and on about having lost all of your power. But what are you even doing? You sacrifice your life dedicating yourself to a goal in which you might lose everything!" She scolded. "But what you do have is the power to change the world as it is! You've never thought about trying to change society!" The Monster Lord folded her arms under her bust. "If you kill Ilias, her entire population becomes unsettled. They'll see you as an even greater enemy. The hatred that accumulates for you might surpass the hatred I have. You're trying to defeat Ilias but for who?"

"I-I-I.." Balthazar stammered. Damn her… I've got nothing…!

"If you're fighting Ilias for yourself, then you're setting yourself up for failure. If you're fighting to set humanity and monsterkind free, then you're walking in towards death blindly. Why?"

"…" Balthazar went silent. After a moment granted by Alice, he answered. "The world is a horrible place. Monsters and Humans fight each other in pointless wars, and bloodshed is everywhere. We take what we don't need, and the world suffers. Humans and Monsters breed hatred by past misunderstandings and false portrayals… We've gone too far, we're dying for no reason. I wanted to break that cycle, so I gave up my life in order to obtain power."

"So? Why kill Ilias? Why not try to persuade her to change her views of the world?" Alice questioned.

"She was responsible for my mother's death."

With this, Alice frowned. "I thought you said your father killed her."

"He did. But he and my mother were inseparable." He paused. "Then she knocked him into a coma, then did something to him. His mind was twisted. When he woke, he…" Balthazar growled.

"I see. So that's why you want revenge on Ilias. It's completely personal, but you've found a way to justify your actions."

"And if I have?" He asked, bitter.

"You're as much as an idiot as Luka. Maybe even more." Her arms held herself tighter. "Whatever. I'm going to sleep. I was hungry at first, and thought I could persuade you to let me eat, but I lost my appetite." She briskly turned around, leaving Balthazar alone in the night.

"No… I'm not like Luka." He responded. He made sure that Alice was still within earshot as he said that. "He's pure." Alice stopped, her arms dropping to her sides. "He's not confused about his ambitions. His goal is noble. If he's an idiot, then he's an idiot who knows what he's doing. On the other hand, I…"

"Idiot." She closed the door of the Inn behind her.

Balthazar sighed. "I never said I was perfect." He closed his eyes, letting the sound of the night surround him. "If I was, I would have thought it was some test that Ilias was giving me. But I'm not. I'm as defective as they come. I can't take anything in stride. So I ran away from the problem." He watched a rogue cloud pass over the moon, silent.

He returned to the Inn, and as soon as he touched the door knob, He felt Alice behind him. "You're an idiot, but an honest one. It's a good start. I think I'll let you be a warmth partner when we set out again."

She walked off, entering her own room. He smiled slightly as he entered Luka's and his room. The kid was awkwardly sleeping on a plump mattress, but he was out cold. He stared at one of the luxurious beds, and tentatively set himself on it. Before he was aware, he was asleep.