Chapter 21

Payment

"Bah, boring, boring! Are we almost at Magnum yet?!" Hoy whined as Kratos grumbled, if it was annoying the first time it was annoying the forth. Though the idea of someone like him being so obsessed with battle was...unsettling.

As the mercenary stared at Hoy there was a certain pureness to him. No, it was more than that, as Kratos stared at him what he was a truly simply minded being.

As Lloyd, Colette and Meltia continued onward took a step putting his hand on Hoys shoulder.

"Huh? Purple guy, what do you want?" It was a matter of fact way Hoy replied as Kratos stared down at him.

"Hoy, why are you here?"

"Golly, I said it was fight that Magnum guy! Though it's taking way longer than it should..." Hoy pouted slightly as Kratos closed his eyes.

"What about those captured in the ranch?"

"Huh? That has nothing to do with me, I just came here to fight!" Hoy response was what Kratos expected.

"I see, that is all I wanted to know..." Kratos remained silent leaving Hoy scratching his head.

"This is the main room again, right?" Colette asked as Meltia nodded.

"Yes, it appears that we have looped back around as planned, that must mean that the others found the correct way and we just have to wait for them." Meltia pointed out as Lloyd sighed.

"Can't believe we picked the wrong one..."

"It wasn't a contest." Kratos pointed out as a loud beeping noise echoed through the entrance of the human ranch.

Everyone's body tensed, everyone's but Meltia who smiled as a small floating orb hovered above her, the same orb she had sent off before. It was hold what appeared to be another card key as it handed it to Meltia before vanishing.

The woman smiled brushing her hair to the side. "It appears we have at least two of the three card keys...we best hurry s-" before Meltia could finish she noticed the teleporters at the back of the room starting to activate.

After a minute a large sum of people came pouring out of them, surprising the whole group. It was Neil and the prisoners that had managed to escape.

"Neil!" Colette cheered as the man walked up to them.

"Chosen one! As you can see we managed to find the people imprisoned here and the other group told me to tell you they found the way forward."

"What about Chocolat?" Lloyd asked as Neil shook his head.

"She wasn't with the other captives...she is most likely deeper inside the ranch."

"Magnius is probably using her as bait." Kratos added as Lloyd growled.

"Um, are you guys going to be okay without anyone to escort you out?" Colette asked as Neil simply shook his head.

"No, I know the basic layout of the ranch, plus all of you should help stop Magnius once and for all."

"Alright then, let's get going." Lloyd spoke as the five of them headed through the teleporter. A weird sensation over took their body before they landed in a seemingly random location in the ranch. They looked around noticing multiple forks.

"Golly, checking all of these will take so long." Hoy stated.

"No need to do something like that," with those words Meltia snapped her fingers as another orb appeared next to her. Though it's single eye flashed what appeared to be a map and their current location.

"We are here, so if I think where the main teleporter would be, it would be located around...here. We know the others probably won't be able to reach that room without all three keys so it is best that we head that direction." Meltia said.

"I guess the fact that we have two of the keys means we don't have to worry..." Lloyd smiled as the five of them continued.

Hoy heart was racing, he would finally get to fight Magnius, at least that was the only thing he was concerned about. He missed his chance to face him back in Palmacosta, and now he would get to see what was so special about him.

Of course a part of Hoy doubted he would be anything of note. Still, he could be used as a stepping stone, so when they met Demitel they would be able to defeat him.

After walking for a bit, they finally came across the other group. Just as Meltia had said they were stuck at the final teleporter, not only that but it seemed that they had finally found Chocolat.

"Hey!" Lloyd waved at the second group as he ran up to the as Colette followed.

"Lloyd, Colette!" Genis smiled as the young boy ran up to his friends as Hoy quickly followed.

"Decus! Alice, did you guys have fun!" Hoy asked.

"Hoy you idiot, nothing about this is supposed to be fun!" Decus snapped causing Hoy to pout.

"Aw...mine was pretty boring too." Hoy completely ignored Decus first as the young monster laughed.

"I assume you encountered Neil?" Raine asked.

"Yes, he is currently leading the people who were captured out." Kratos replied as Chocolat smiled.

"That means the only thing that we have to do is stop Magnius right?" Sheena pointed out not noticing Meltia walking up to the final teleporter taking out two of the card keys that she had in her dress.

"I suppose the rest of you were stuck here for awhile?" Meltia asked as Raine nodded.

"Yes, it seems that the teleporter requires three keys...though it seems that you were only able to find the other two." Raine pointed out as Meltia smiled.

"We were, now if you would hand me the final card key..."

Sheena nodded as she walked up to the silver haired woman handing her the last piece to the puzzle. Meltia slid all three keys into their correct slots as the machine flickered. The teleporter would most likely lead them to the control room as well as Magnius.

"Hehehehe, I'm so excited!" Hoy laughed, without any warning he ran into the machine.

"You idiot, wait for everyone else!" The rest of the group rushed after him all heading towards the teleporter.

Once again, the ten of them were transported to another part of the ranch. In the middle was a large strange machine that was displaying something random. Around them were lights and control monitors flickering in and out.

"So, this is the control room..." Lloyd frowned as they all stepped off the pad.

Before they could do anything else a large cackling was heard from above as a floating chair slowly floated above them. It was Magnius laughing at the group.

"So the forsaken chosen and her entourage of vermin have come to be slaughtered!"

"Forsaken..." Kratos repeated those words as Lloyd growled.

"Magnius, you got it wrong, the one who is forsaken, you're time here is up!" Lloyd responded as guards started to appear from the nearby teleporters.

Everyone lowered their stance, everyone but Hoy who was grinning at the entire thing.

"We're surrounded..." Colette stated as Magnius laughed.

"Stupid vermin I know your every mo-"

"Stop talking and hurry up and fight us, you're going to die here anyway so what you said before or after means nothing!" Hoy cut him off as the red-haired desian bit his lip before laughing.

"Well, it seems like a vermin has a smart mouth. Fine then, if you so eager to die I'll have my men start with you first." Magnius lifted his hand as three guards slowly started to close in on Hoy. Two holding whips and one with a sword.

"H-Hey Hoy..." Lloyd was about to draw his swords as Alice stopped him.

"Don't worry about him, Hoy is a true freak of nature, if it's just three he will be fine...plus."Alice eyes wandered to the rest of the guards closing in the group. It seemed that Hoy's outburst had shut down any conversations.

Hoy lowered his stance eyeing each of the faceless guards, but before the battle could begin Hoy turned back to the group, or rather at Meltia.

"Hey Meltia, you better not fight! If you do it would be boring!"

Meltia eyes widened before chuckling. "Oh very well, I much prefer watching...plus someone must look after this girl." Meltia then grabbed Chocolat's arm guiding her to the back of the room. She was there for one specific reason and if she didn't have to lift a finger she wasn't going to.

Hoy attention then turned back to his attackers. It felt like it had been ages since he had fought despite having a battle that same day. He grinned as his attackers smiled holding their weapons.

"Listen you inferior being...we will make you beg for your life."

"Golly, can we fight now?"

The desian twitched as they scanned Hoy. He was short, nor did it seem like he had an exsphere and while it appeared he had a bit more muscle mass than others of his age, but nothing to be concerned about.

"Still, just to be safe..." the guard with the sword turned to the two behind him giving them a nod. They simply nodded back they positioned themselves in such a way to quickly whip Hoy if the situation presented itself.

Hoy scanned them before waiting for them to make their first move.

"Gosh, if you won't start then I will..." Hoy took a step forward before kicking off the ground dashing towards his enemy. The guard quickly lifted his blade blocking a kick from Hoy.

His entire body shook, despite the blow not even landing it felt like the bone in his arm was about to splinter and break.

"D-damn it, hurry get him!" All confidence from the swordsman drained as his two partners cracked their whips aiming for him.

The swordsman lifted his blade ignoring the pain in his arm taking a swipe at how, but somehow Hoy lowered his body even further as if he was a spider the swordsman expected another blow, but Hoy turned his attention over to one of the desians with a whip.

The man flinched trying to aim his weapon with a sharp crack he aimed at how who was dashing towards him. However the moment he felt an impact through his weapon he realized he had simply hit the ground.

His head quickly darted around before he felt something similar to a sledge hammer hit his helmet. Without warning he was flung into a nearby control panel his body a broken mess as sparks started to to come from the machine.

"Wow, you guys are weak, Decus could probably beat the three of you without much problem." Hoy cracked his fingers before continuing. "I know you people creatures need some time warming up, but I don't think any of you can go any further..."

"Y-you freak!" The swordsman took a single step back as causing Hoy to smile as he ran towards his enemy.

Hoy's arm was reeling back preparing to strike from the left side, it appeared to be some sort of chop as the man lifted his sword.

Even if it would be painful he could guard against it. At least that is what he thought before he heard the sound of metal shattering. He didn't even notice the muscle mass in Hoy's arm doubling itself before impact.

"Huh?" that was the only thing the guard said as he noticed something odd. He was in the air, yet his lower body was still on the ground...that was really his last thought in fact as two thuds were heard.

The final guard nearly dropped his weapon as he staggered back. The floor was dyed red as his comrade body was cut in two, or rather broken in two.

Hoy just looked at the ground for a moment pointing to what he had done.

"Golly, see? How can you guys call yourselves superior when the moment I put some force behind an attack you fall apart...I didn't even need to use my nails."

The rush and excitement Hoy felt was slowly starting to fade away. These were just appetizers to the main course...no they were even smaller than that. Perhaps a tiny snack would be more appropriate.

He glanced towards the others, it seemed they were just about finished as well.

"You're not going to back down right?" Hoy asked bluntly as the guard flinched. His hand started to shake as he looked up at Magnius who almost seemed disinterested in the battle.

"H-ha, you inferior trash do you think I would be shaken by something like that?" He chocked own his fear as Hoy tilted his head, anyone with half a brain would be able to tell that he was bluffing. His shaking body being the biggest tell.

Who wouldn't even as a desian seeing someone you knew torn in half would cause some people to stop. It wasn't even like they were used to fighting anyone that were skilled. Most desians simply used their whips as torture devices or for the odd human that stepped out of line.

However desians fought to the death, no matter how pointless it may be. They always were confident and superior no matter what.

"Oh, okay..." Hoy took a step forward before dashing towards his enemy the man barely had time to lift his arm before Hoy grabbed it. Then in a swift motion Hoy jammed his elbow into into the man chest three times.

The guard stiffened before falling over.

Hoy pouted,tapping the desian's body with his foot. "Golly a disappointment too."

Almost on cue the rest of the group finished off the remaining guards as they all stared up at Magnius who was fuming.

"Tsk, the vermin that were escaping have been locked inside the ranch as well...to think I would have to actually take care of all of you myself." Magnius stood up.

"Escaping from the ranch...you mean the prisoners!" Lloyd called out.

"I don't care about any of that! Sending weak things like that out to fight...are you making fun of me?" Hoy was the next one to speak as Magnius chuckled jumping down.

In his hand was a large axe larger then most men along with a shield. Despite his impressive stature there was something wrong with the scene.

"Are you seriously planning on fighting all of us on your own? Even if you had guards with you, you wouldn't stand a chance." Sheena pointed out.

Even not including Melita it was still nine against one, maybe three at most. It wouldn't even be considered a battle.

"Ha, just like you vermin...so small minded. I was planning on saving this for later, but I got a little gift from Rodyle!" Magnius punched one of the control panels as the floor slowly started to split open.

At first there was nothing but a black void before what appeared to be a giant claw struggled to get out. For the first time since the battle started Meltia showed a hint of a emotion as a large scorpion like monster dragged itself out of the pit.

"That looks like the monster we fought before!" Decus called attention to the fact that the creature in front of them was similar to the one that Meltia had saved them from.

"Great, we can show how strong we have gotten since we fought something like that last time!" Hoy laughed as Magnius prepared his weapon.

A battle that was supposed to have been simple got far more complicated.

Author Note

Hoy's design was supposed to be a bit more...monstrous. Like his skin was supposed to be flat out grey and he only was supposed to have four fingers instead of five. Even his hair was supposed to be closer to tentacles and he would have been able to use them.

I scrapped it, going with a more simple design.