Whilst writing this chapter, I seem to keep remembering other games with good BGM's for this story. I've got too much of a memory it seems. :P


Operation: Rescue Beli!

We went inside the shared accommodation and to our surprise, Nikki wasn't there.

"Hello, are you here Nikki?" Tiffany called, but to no reply.

"That's strange, isn't she normally inside the house?" Kyanna asked.

"Maybe she was late for a very important date." Gavin thought.

"Yeah, I don't see that happening." I scratched my head. "And who said you could pull out a reference line?"

"I don't know, just felt like it."

"This is why I don't work with morons." Monica sighed.

"What did you say?!"

"Let us be calm, there has to be a reason why Nikki is not here." Rai-Lin said.

I'm glad we have a guy like him to keep things under control when I can't.

"Oh, my phone went off." Tiffany picked it out of her pocket. "Hello, Nikki...yeah, I'll put you on loudspeaker."

"Must be urgent." I said.

"Listen everyone, I just heard." Nikki spoke from the phone. "The item seller has been kidnapped!"

"Beli!" I exclaimed. "But why?"

"I don't know, it just happened so quickly. I think the Quintet are involved in this."

"Hmm." Rai-Lin hummed.

"Something on your mind?" I asked.

"It has to be one of the two remaining members of the Quintet."

"I know which two you mean, it's either Kali or Arthur, right?" Monica asked.

"Precisely, but I do not believe that Arthur would volunteer to kidnap. Kali would most likely commit such a sin."

"Kali, huh? Isn't he the guy who spends most of his time in the desert?" Gavin asked.

"Yes, that would be where he would take his hostage to, the only one I'm aware of is Heatwave Desert at the far west outside the city."

"Then we've got our next goal." I said. "We'll have to put our plan with using the keycards on hold, there's no way I'm gonna let the Corporation resort to taking hostages!"

"I knew you'd say that." Kyanna agreed. "I know we're a little tired, but we have to go back out there and rescue Beli."

"Yeah, we have to." Tiffany added.

"I want to help too." Monica said with a weak smile. "We Quintet members like to follow orders, but kidnapping is totally not cool."

"Agreed." Rai-Lin added. "But I may suggest that we rest and prepare for the next day."

"Actually that is a good point." I agreed. "It's gonna sound heartless, but we need to rest as it's already night time. But first thing in the morning, we'll leave for the desert."

The others agreed, so after a night of sleeping and into the next day, we left the safe zone and travelled west out of the city and found a sandy path that led into a desert.

Entering Dungeon: Heatwave Desert

BGM: Command & Conquer Generals OST - One Path To Freedom

"This has to be place." I said as we set foot onto the warm sand.

"Ewww, this is totally too hot for me." Monica complained. "I need a cold shower."

"Same here." Kyanna added. "I can stand the heat, but not by this much."

"Nice to see you two getting along." Gavin remarked. "Ooof!"

Tiffany elbowed him. "Don't you know how to talk to girls?"

"What are you all doing? Come on, we cannot forget the reason why we're present here." Rai-Lin reminded.

"Yeah, we're gonna rescue Beli from that kidnapper. Let's move out, folks!" I declared.

We walked on the sand and began our search for Beli. Although like with all the other dungeons we've set foot in, the monsters were not making it easy. The types here were snakes, cockroaches and skeleton soldiers. Seeing the cockroaches at a big size gave me the shivers, but with the six of us together, they were no match for us.

As we advanced to the next area of the dungeon, I had something on my mind that I wanted to know.

"Monica, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." I said.

"What is it?" Monica asked.

"How did Jenny and Hannah fall out with you?"

Monica was a little hesitant to answer.

"Oh...is it that personal?"

"No it's fine, I was just taken back by it. It began two years ago when we were planning the next Summer party. When the three of us heard you had moved away, we chose to set up the next prank on a guy, but what I suggested was too boring for those two girls. When they thought of something much worse, I told them that I didn't like it and they twisted what had happened to you as an excuse to throw me out."

"So they ditched you, right?"

"Yeah, it came as a shock to know that friends can fall out over petty disagreements like that."

I looked away. "I know all that too well..."

"I've never spoken to them since, but perhaps it was for the best."

"Sorry for butting in, but I'm gonna go on a limb and say that you did the right thing." Kyanna said. "It's sad to hear that there's almost no room for kindness in the world."

"Yeah, pranks are sometimes alright if they're harmless, but if they do something awful, then it shouldn't be done." Tiffany added. "But at least you've moved on from that."

"Well, thanks." Monica replied.

"Umm, shouldn't we be focusing on our goal?" Gavin asked.

Monica frowned. "No one asked you."

We resumed exploring until we came across a group of white tents and a pair of camels tied to a tall palm tree with a basin of water.

"I think we've found the hideout." I said.

"Hold on, let me deal with this." Rai-Lin walked ahead. "Kali, are you in there?"

"Huh, Rai-Lin...I'm coming out!" A voice replied.

Out came a man who was dressed in a long white sleeve dress and had a scimitar.

"We meet once more, Kali." Rai-Lin greeted. "However, I am unfortunate enough to tell you that the feeling isn't mutual."

"What are you talking about...Monica? And the traitor, Gavin?!"

"Seems like everyone knows I'm a traitor to the corporation now." Gavin sighed. "What else is new, eh?"

"Hehe and as for you travellers, you have a lot of courage to come here and find me." Kali said to the rest of us. "Are you friends with Beli, by any chance?"

"Heck yeah." Kyanna replied. "You better let her go!"

"No deal, I have orders from the Corporation to keep Beli with me, unless you hand over the keycards."

BGM: Command & Conquer Generals OST - Glory

"Screw your offer." I said. "I can already see we're gonna have to do this the hard way."

"Very well...you'll be buried deep in the sands by Kali Alfid, one of the Quintet, prepare to die by my scimitar!"

Kali appears!

"He doesn't seem tough, I think we've got this."

Mike used Hexagon Strike!

Kali received 235 damage!

"My turn."

Tiffany used Wind Thrust!

Kali received 300 damage!

"Prepare, ex-ally."

Rai-Lin used Silent Swipe!

Kali received 250 damage!

"Give back our Beli!"

Kyanna used 10-hit Combo!

Kali received 250 damage!

"Gonna get pumped up!"

Gavin used Four-Way Slash!

Kali received 200 damage!

"I'm totally gonna do this."

Monica use Paralysis Arrow!

Kali received 200 damage!

Kali is paralysed!

"Argh! I can't move..."

Kali is unable to attack due to paralysis.

"This is it, time to use my special for the first time.

Mike unleashed his special, Divine Octagon!

Kali received 500 damage!

"No! I can't lose...ugh!"

End of BGM

Kali defeated!

The party received 700 EXP and 1400 Munie!

Mike reached lvl. 22!

Tiffany reached lvl. 22!

Rai-Lin reached lvl. 22!

Rai-Lin learned his special skill, Blade Of Light!

Kyanna reached lvl. 22!

Gavin reached lvl. 22!

Monica reached lvl. 22!

Monica learned her special skill, Meteor Rain!

"Ugh...ngh..." Kali groaned.

"Wow, we've become this powerful." I said. "Now Kali, hand over Beli."

"You think I will hand her over just because you won? I won't let it happen!"

"Now you're just being a sore loser." Monica remarked.

"Hah...hah...no, I'll have to use the magic the Corporation gave...this time, I will-"

"Sorry friend, but you've got no chance, not anymore." A new intervened.

Suddenly, a whoosh came by and a slash occurred on Kali's body.

"Ack! Cough!" Kali spit out a bit of blood. "What...was...that...ack!" He then collapsed into the sand.

"What the...who's there, come out!" I exclaimed.

Then we saw a tall guy with a two-handed sword and an evil grin to match.

"Huh? It's you." Gavin exclaimed. "The Vice-President."

"Really, this guy is the Vice President?" I asked.

BGM: Fairy Fencer F OST - Have Doubts

"It's been nearly five years, old friend." He said, looking at me. "Don't you remember me?"

"Five years..." Then it hit me...no...there's no way that could be him. "...no way...KEN!?"

"Haha! So you do remember me, I'm touched but not surprised." Ken grinned. "Only someone like you could still remember the times we had, apart from when you failed to save me."

"No...this can't be, I thought I was done with you."

"Well that's you're so wrong, dude. I watched the trial and I was surprised to see our old friend going in the joint. But now that I'm here, I'm going to succeed where Andy so clearly failed and that is put an end to your journey, starting with your life!"

"I see you're as arrogant and immature as ever." I groaned. "You're the one who ended the friendship in the first place, ever since we were all at the police station with the parents."

"Oh yeah, I forgot I did something back then...how's that broken nose of yours?"

"Fully healed no thanks to you, so if you're here then that means..."

"You catch on quick ex-friend. You are looking at Ken Atkins, the Vice President of the Gladstone Corporation and the President has asked me for you to hand those keycards over, I warn you, I will not be a pushover like Kali or an ass kisser like Gavin."

"Hey!" Gavin exclaimed.

"I also now know where the other two Quintet members went to. Maybe the Corporation was wrong in picking you two to join the Quintet."

"That's enough." I intervened. "Don't get the other involved when we all know that it's me you want."

"Yeah, I could just go one on one with you right now and just end it, but that would be too lame." He drew out his two-handed sword. "So why don't you and your party go against me, I wanna see how tough you've become over the past five years."

"Bring it on, Ken! I'm gonna finish this and be done with you, right here!"

BGM: Fairy Fencer F OST - Unbreakable King

Ken appears!

"I can tell he's strong, but I'll show him who's stronger."

Mike used Hexagon Strike!

Tiffany unleashed special, Thrusts Of Loyalty!

Rai-Lin used Honourable Swipe!

Kyanna used 10-hit Combo!

Gavin used Six-Way Slash!

Monica used Qaud Arrow!

Ken received a total of 1200 damage!

"Not bad, old friend. But it's now my turn to show you what I've got!"

Ken used Double Wave Impact!

The party received 400 damage!

"Now that really hurt...we can't let this battle go on for too long."

Mike used Fire Slash!

Tiffany used Fire Thrust!

Rai-Lin used Honourable Swipe!

Kyanna used Surprise Uppercut!

Gavin used Six-Way Slash!

Monica used Flame Arrow!

Ken received a total of 1450 damage!

"What the...impossible!"

End Of BGM

Ken defeated!

The party earned 800 EXP and 1600 Munie!

Mike reached lvl. 24!

Tiffany reached lvl. 24!

Rai-Lin reached lvl. 24!

Kyanna reached lvl. 24!

Gavin reached lvl. 24!

Monica reached lvl. 24!

"What...dude, that's not supposed to happen!" Ken panted.

"Well it just did, Ken." I replied. "You were wrong, I've become much stronger than you think."

"No...you gotta be cheating, you and everyone else are cheaters!"

"Forget it, you lost...now stay down while I do something important."

"Buddy, we've rescued Beli, but she's out cold." Gavin said whilst Beli was being carried by Rai-Lin.

"We may have won this battle, but I feel that Ken was holding back, let's retreat for now." Rai-Lin advised.

"Okay, we got what we came for, anyway." I nodded. "Sorry Ken, but if you want that rematch, it's gonna have to wait."

"I just put a paralysis arrow on him, he's not going anywhere for a while." Monica said.

"Good thinking, alright everyone, let's get out of this desert!"

We rushed away, leaving Ken paralysed and beaten...I knew what he was going to say...

"This is only the beginning, Mike. I'll face you again!"

...and he was right, that was what I would call our first round.

As we left the desert and walked back to the city, there's no doubt that I will confront him again soon...


Next time! The party prepare to make plans to finally enter the Corporation Tower!