The group continued their journey towards the Gododdin region in order to take the trial of water in its shrine.
"Okay, looks like it won't be much longer before we reach the place where the shrine is located." Abby said.
"Would be better if we could find and purify the Lord of the Land while we're here." Genis said.
"Be careful what you wish for, Genis." David said.
"Besides, if we can beat the Lord of Calamity, we can save all from the Malevolence but we can only do that if we pass these trials. And if someone can keep their aquaphobia in check when we get there." Zinia said looking at Raine.
"Will you stop with that, already?!" David asked.
"Hey, lay off her!" Hope said. "She's got aquaphobia, we get it. You don't have to bring it up so much. Don't let them get to you, Raine." Hope said.
"Don't worry. It's fine. Thanks for standing up for me, you two." Raine said.
"Besides, you do remember that aquaphobia was the result of her being traumatized, right?" David asked.
"Look, we get it. She was capsized at sea, it was traumatic. We get it. Look, let's forget the conversation and just hope we can pass this next trial." Zephyr said.
"Zephyr's right. We can't allow our insecurities to get the better of us." Presea said.
"Kind of hard to do if they keep getting thrown around at every turn." Zelos said.
"Some insecurities are unavoidable which is why it is crucial to face them head on." Heart said.
"Speaking of insecurities, I have located the water shrine. It is to be standing before us." Abby said.
"Then let's get this over with." David said before we get a sense. "This sense… Someone else is coming!"
"Is it a hellion...or something more horrifying?" Jexi asked.
"More like another Shadow Pokemon…huh?" David said. "Its...moving away from the shrine."
"Away? Its running away?" Kenshin asked.
"Then, does that mean something more dangerous lives inside the shrine?" Zexi wondered.
"Besides the shrine's guardian, it's hard to say." David said.
They then entered the shrine where they saw waterfalls falling from very high heights with bridges connecting at every fall.
"Pair up with me, Raine. I think we'll work good together if we fight as one." Hope said.
"Well… Alright." Raine said with a nod.'
Sitting in the middle of the room was a seraph in a lizard mask. "It's been some time since a Shepherd has come here." he said. "I welcome you to Lefay, the shrine of the trial of water."
"You're...the seraph that serves Amenoch." Lailah said.
"Correct. I am Altul, the protector seraph who serves Amenoch." he said.
"Amenoch… Do you know who from a thousand years ago could've been offered to him?" David asked.
"Like I said, I cannot tell who's been offered to whom…" Raine said. "But it's most likely Melchior, I master of water and ice magic who values reason above all else. He even swore that he would never hurt a single plant."
"Nature lover, huh? Interesting." Teba said.
"Okay. Main point. What must we do to…" Indigo said before a monstrous voice was heard from way up.
"My sword! Where is my sword?" the voice demanded as from high up dropped three swords that pierced the ground.
"Whoa! What the hell?!" David asked.
"That was Asura." Altul said.
"I've heard of him. He is a powerful Hellion that is sustained by rage and can fight on for an eternity." Lailah said.
"Why does that not surprise us?" Lloyd asked.
"So is the trial to quell Asura?" Sorey asked.
"No. You must find out the reason why Asura became a hellion in the first place." Altul said.
"Okay. Psycho therapy. My favorite." Rose said sarcastically.
"I'm starting to see why the Shadow Pokemon and Cipher chose not to come here." Aria said.
"More like this guy chased them away." David said.
"So, we just go through this place and find Asura. But if we find him, you think we'll be expecting a fight?" Hope asked.
"It is very likely. Asura is not one for simply talking." Altul said.
"Well that's a good plus up I guess. But I'm not worried. Raine's got my back today." Hope said.
"Ah yes, a pure White Mage." Altul said.
"So THAT'S what you are, I was having a hard time guessing." Rainbow said.
"So she's a White Mage? What can she do?" Hope asked.
"Healing, support, and Light Magic." David said. "Seriously, that's RPG 101."
"Riiiight…." Hope said. "I won't be a problem being with you, right Raine?"
"Not at all." Raine said.
"Well if that's all settled, let's go find ourselves Asura."
"But what could have made Asura into a hellion?" David asked. "Given what we know about our Asura, it could be practically anything."
"Yes. In most cultures, Asura is a god of rage that could cause great destruction." Kenshin said.
As they traveled through the shrine, they climbed bridges and passed waterfalls before arriving at the top to see a large six armed monster wielding six swords battling a knight hellion before slaying it and looking at its sword. "This isn't it either! Where is my sword?" he shouted.
"Why the hell would he care about a stupid sword?" Blake asked. "And why go against Hellions?"
"I am the Shepherd! It is my job to defeat the hellions!" Asura said.
"I see… So he was a Shepherd back in his life." David said. "However, something happened and he became corrupted with malevolence. How tragic."
"Give it back….GIVE ME MY SWORD BACK!" he shouted ready to attack. "I'll take it back, you thieves!"
"Do you think he became a hellion when his sword got stolen?" Regal asked.
"No, there has to be more to it than that." Sorey said.
"Right. Becoming a hellion wouldn't be that easy if it was all it took." David said. "Especially if it's a former Shepherd."
"Highly likely, but I think we're about to do this the hard way." Hope said.
"GIVE IT BACK!" Asura said leaping into the air and crashing down, dividing the group up.
"Yup, hard way it is!" Hope said brandishing the Lightscale Trident.
"Rar!" Asura shouted as he was knocking away people left and right before he clashed his swords with Hope's trident, but was slowly pushing Hope back with ease.
"Raine, a little help, please!" Hope said.
"Sharpness!" Raine said as she casted a spell, boosting Hope's attack strength.
"That's more like it!" Hope said pushing Asura away.
"That sword...can cleave away the malevolence. I'll cut it all down. Hellions, chaos...even...you filthy humans!" Asura shouted raising a sword.
"Corrupt AND racist. Harsh." David said.
"I will destroy anything that can manifest malevolence!" Asura shouted.
"Sectonia, look out!" David said as Asura began clashing swords with Sectonia.
"He's strong…!" Sectonia said as she dodged an attack from Asura.
"What the hell is he wanting to do? Cut down the whole world?" Mikleo asked.
"That's the reason why Asura became a hellion." Sorey said.
"Correct." Altul said as blue energy entered Sorey.
"This power...It's the power of water. Wear him down!" Sorey said.
"Lloyd, think you can keep him distracted for a bit?" Sheena asked.
"You've got it!" Lloyd said.
"Just be careful. He's a former Shepherd, so he might get a read on you." David said.
"That's won't be an issue. I've seen the look in his eyes before. He's too blind by rage. All he sees are targets to slay for his own right of justice." Kenshin said.
"People like that shouldn't bother spewing the word justice." Lloyd said.
"Issues with that word? Best I don't ask." David said.
"I don't think you even need to, with what we've seen already." Lloyd said.
"Die!" Asura shouted going at Lloyd before Kenshin blocked.
"Three Sword Style: Cherry Blossom Storm!" Kenshin shouted slashing Asura's legs making him kneel.
"He's immobilized! Sorey!" Korra shouted.
Sorey had Armatized with Mikleo as water surged around him as he charged at Asura with a vortex of water around him. "My bow is the heavens! The vortex swallows you! Aqua Limit!" Sorey said finishing Asura as he fell.
"Give it...back...Give me my sword back...Altul." Asura gasped before he faded away.
"Asura was the shepherd a long time ago but let his power get the better of him. Even if he was purified, his body has already long decayed." Lailah said.
"His rage was the only thing that kept him going." Dezel said.
David clasped his hands in prayer. "May the Great Spirits show you mercy."
"So...do you think Altul stole Asura's sword?" Mikleo asked.
"I think we need to go back and get the story straight from him." Sorey said.
"Sounds like a plan." David said. As the group leave, David looked back and saw the spirit of an old man in white clothes with a monocle as he fades. "Those visions again…" David said as he moves to catch up with the others.
They soon returned to the beginning of the shrine.
"We've slain Asura." Jexi said.
"You have my thanks." Altul said.
"Altul, are you...who I think you are?" Lailah asked.
"It is as you suspect. I was the Seraph that used Asura as a vessel until reaching here." Altul said.
"Then...you did steal it?" Nami asked as Altul held a sword with a dark aura around it.
"This sword is made of a material called mythril. It is the purest of materials. It truly does have the power to cleave the world. It is why I hid it. But Asura, he was pure to the core. But it was that shining purity that tore him apart with worry and eventually cost him his soul. I'm sure out of all, I was the one he wanted to slay most of all." Altul said.
"Man, I didn't know… and he wanted it back…." Hope said.
"If he does not want it...I will take it." a voice said as darkness took the sword from Altul's hands. Standing at the entrance was a woman most of them were familiar with.
"Wait...you're that lady who was with Alisha in Ladylake! Maltran!" Lucy said.
"With this sword, I can truly cleave the world apart." Maltran said as they saw a dark aura in her shadow.
"She's...a hellion?" Tulip asked.
"Its pretty obvious she is. Which means we gotta fight her." Gemini said.
"I think not." a voice said as they were all frozen in place.
"Ice? Who would…" Tulip said as they saw Invel step out behind Maltran.
"So you both are hellions?" Hope asked.
"No, just Maltran." David said. "Invel is just Zeref's cleanup boy."
"On the contrary, his majesty does not even know I am here. I see you have found the sword." Invel said. "Will you keep our deal?"
"Yes. When the war between Hyland and Rolance is finished in blood, I will slay this demon you have warned me of. This E.N.D." Maltran said.
"You're planning to betray Zeref?" Hope asked.
"On the contrary, this is for his Majesty's own good. E.N.D was made to kill him. But if I eliminate E.N.D from the equation, then his majesty's reign can go on uninterrupted." Invel said pushing his glasses up.
"And you heard Zeref's whole story. So you know that E.N.D is…."
"I do. But would I really risk giving away its identity...especially with its life at risk?" Invel asked smirking.
"Of course you wouldn't." David said.
"There is a reason I am his Majesty's attendant. I am also one of Alvarez's top strategists. I stayed behind in order to finish it off, either by my hands or with a weapon wielded by a hellion." Invel said. "And come to think of it, you wanted to eliminate the princess correct?"
"Yes. Our dear princess, has outlived her usefulness." Maltran said.
"You're planning to kill Alisha? You can't be serious!" David said. "After all that you've done for her?!"
"We're done here. I suppose this is farewell." Invel said as the two of them left.
David used his ice magic to dispel the hold. "Really starting to hate that guy."
"I'm in the same boat with you there." Gray said moving away the ice with his devil slayer magic. "I'm gonna kick his ass next time we see him."
"Make sure you save some for me." David said.
"Still, this is quite the turn of events they put us in." Regal said.
"Maltran...to think someone so close to Alisha was a hellion and we didn't even realize it." Gemina said.
"She was certainly clever to hide it back in Ladylake." Jexi said. "But this opens a whole lot of problems now."
"With both armies still recovering, I don't think we need to worry about that right now." David said.
"And I doubt Maltran will make a move so soon." Aelita said.
"Right. We should just keep going and head out to the Earth Shrine. Which is...where?" Sora asked.
"Slight problem with that…" Leia said.
"It's near Pendrago." Raine said.
"Wait, isn't that the capital of the Rolance Empire?" Leonis asked.
"Oh great… We're in deep water now…" David said.
"How the heck are we gonna get near that place when we're a stone's throw away from Pendrago?" Hope asked.
"I doubt they'd notice most of us, but… We may still need to be covert." Sectonia said.
"And some of us might need to stay out of the way since some of us were very well seen during the battle." Jexi said. "That means me, Hope, David and Rainbow."
"Makes sense." David said. "I guess there are times where we should've just stayed unnoticed. Damn that Bartlow getting under my skin..."
Don't worry about it so much. Now, let's get over to the Earth Shrine." Hope said.
"And hopefully avoid getting on Pendrago's scopes." Ruby said.
A/N: Inspired by Jexi the Hunter and Hope the Victor