Next chapter is up hope you guys like it.


As Roxanne fought against this warrior Irene, she could immediately sense something strange about her arm. The yoki signature was vastly different than the rest of the body, almost as if it was foreign in nature. This foreign yoki must have come from an external source, as it was far stronger than the rest of the warrior herself.

Still wondering about this, Roxanne was left completely horrified when Irene's estranged arm suddenly awakened and began to lash out in a succession of blindingly fast strikes. This was a technique the likes of which she'd never seen before, and Roxanne couldn't properly account for every one of them. The challenge was bordering on difficult, and though she knew where and how to move herself, Roxanne knew it would only take a single stray strike from this devastating technique to end their fight.

"That arm, it's not yours is it? Roxanne smiled.

"Correct. I had a replacement from a particularly powerful former number one warrior. I do believe her name was Chloe, she had quite the reputation. I've grown to enjoy the power contained within it."

Simply ridiculous!

she awakens her entire arm and then sends it in a frenzy?

I simply must have this technique...

actually...

I think i've already got it.

Attempting to flood her own yoki towards her own arm, Roxanne promptly awakened the limb and attempted her best at replicating this technique against the original.

Noticing this attempt at her technique, Irene countered with her own but backed away in surprise as she stared at Roxanne Suspiciously. She simply couldn't believe it. Did this warrior who predated both her and Teresa just perform the quicksword? There was nothing mentioned like this in the archives, and especially not for Roxanne. Was there something more to her than was known?

"What do you...call that? it's so very interesting." Roxanne said playfully.

"Some call it Quicksword."

"Awakening a single arm...Why didn't I ever think of trying something like that? But how do you control it? I almost cut myself a few times! look at my clothes! Roxanne said, frowning at the scrapes across her clothes."

"So you...just learned the technique now? how is that even possible?" Irene said.

Amazing. Though the level is pathetic next to my own, Roxanne already learned the basics of the quicksword from simply one encounter...

Not even Clare can best that...

This Roxanne of Love and Hate...

Just what exactly are you capable of?

"Hey...so do you have to meditate to control it or something like that? Or does it simply get easier with time? It's just so fascinating and I want to use it just like you do! at this point I'm actually a little worried i'd kill myself so i'd rather not attempt that again..." Roxanne said.

"Don't even bother," Irene snapped, "Someone like you doesn't have the heart to control such a technique."

"Oh yeah and who are you to judge me? what was your former rank exactly?" Roxanne said.

Irene looked coldly at this most interesting warrior. Though Roxanne no doubt had incredible potential, she was also arrogant and apparently very dangerous. She wasn't unsure whether it was even worth engaging in conversation with her, no matter how brief.

"I was Number two." Irene said softly.

"Well then I guess I have jurisdiction over you then." Roxanne smirked.

"Not exactly. the ranks back on our respective islands have no meaning here. Being the number one amongst the regulators, I have executive power in this place." Irene said.

"Well then who the hell was number one during your time? Even stupid Cassandra's technique would struggle against you!" Roxanne smirked curiously.

Irene stood silently, curious about this former warrior of Legend, Roxanne. She did briefly read through the archives from time to time, and it was Roxanne amongst others that stood out the most for her. As far as she could remember, Roxanne was said to be statistically one of the strongest Claymore to have ever existed. Given her history of being one of the lower ranks, her ascent to the top was said to be the quickest and most impressive the organization has ever seen. Among the three resurrected ones, it was Roxanne of Love and Hate whom she had told herself to execute first if they ever were to ever meet.

"Oh you mean Teresa?"

Roxanne's blood froze for a moment as she smiled in delight, "Teresa...I'm really starting to love that name..."

Irene wasn't sure how to respond to such a strange comment from this equally strange warrior. She took a quick glance Teresa's way and was relieved to see her and Cassandra still merely at a stare down, not actually in combat just yet. Nearby, Priscilla and Marcus continued their duel against each other, but this didn't seem to concern the wavy haired warrior in the slightest. Her attention seemed completely drilled upon Cassandra. It was impossible to say what they were saying to each other, but Teresa was never usually the talkative type after all.

"Just who are you looking at exactly?" Roxanne said excitingly, glaring at the figures at the very centre of the battlefield.

The moment Roxanne took notice of a certain warrior with long wavy hair and a faint smile, Irene looked back over her stupefied face that almost seemed as if it was lost to a trance.

"That is Teresa. If you can't defeat me then you have no chance against her. Even i'm not bothering to try again."

"Wow that's Teresa? she's so impressive I must say...and so beautiful...so perfect." Roxanne said adoringly, her attention hopelessly locked upon this distant warrior with long wavy hair.

"Well yes...I suppose that's also true...but what exactly do you want with her? -" Irene said.

Instead of sticking around to answer, Roxanne, in her excitement suddenly left for Teresa's direction, kicking dust into Irene's eyes without any warning. Irritated, Irene recovered and followed on through the junken mess of the battlefield as she chased her target towards the centre. Irene was definitely right from her analysis before. Roxanne was no Priscilla or Teresa, but there was still undoubtedly a lot of potential within the girl, even though she's technically dead.

Arriving upon the centre, Roxanne rested along the edge of a gigantic skeletal tusk that stuck up from the earth among the many other debris around them. Irene arrived next to her, and still found herself terribly intrigued at the manner in which Roxanne stared at Teresa with eyes of fascination. It was an affection that didn't seem particularly normal, and was not particularity warranted for that matter either. Alarm bells rang in her head, and very quickly Irene didn't trust this Roxanne of Love and Hate all too much.

They noticed that Teresa and Cassandra had now advanced to merely testing each other with simple swordplay. The two held on quite well, both clearly talented in this field it seemed. Among the unofficial rules of swordplay, it was always appropriate to get a feel for your opponent before going all out, and this was something Teresa had always liked to drag out as long as possible.

As Roxanne synchronized her yoki with this Teresa, she could barely hold on to her weapon from excitement. The power Teresa possessed was colossal, her movements so perfect they made combat akin to more sadistic dance of death. Teresa merely smiled gently as she fought so effortlessly, looking as if a battle was akin to more of a bore. To Roxanne, it was as if the world had bestowed upon her the most valuable of prizes, a warrior that surpassed everything even in her wildest of fantasies.

"Cassandra will not defeat her...not somebody that strong. But that's still impossible!" Roxanne said, her expression suddenly horrifying, "How can someone be so powerful?"

"I do recall that you were particularly gifted with yoki sensing. Being this close to Teresa would be quite overwhelming I suppose."

"I would have traded an eye and an arm if it were Teresa back then instead of Cassandra...But I suppose the world needs chaos...funny how the world works." Roxanne grinned.

"For Teresa, I wouldn't have traded her for anyone. To me it was an honor to be the number two by her side." Irene said.

"But don't you hate her for it? for being so much better than you and knowing you could never surpass her?"

Irene nodded with a shameless agreeance, "That's true I have to admit. In a way I will always hate Teresa, but my respect for her as a warrior is absolute."


Arriving at the giant Colosseum, Rafaela and her group hastily made themselves upon the giant building, following the sounds of the crowds that roared from within. Reaching upon a suitable vantage point, they were welcomed by an enormous interior with thousands of people watching the action below like savage animals that cheered for the spill of blood. It didn't take long for her to locate the deceitfully graceful warrior with the streaks of long wavy hair upon the centre of the battlefield. A moment of awe ran across Rafaela's mind, but as she watched this warrior's movements and techniques, there was no doubt this was Teresa of the Faint Smile.

"So that's the awe inspiring Teresa in the centre huh? Wonder why those three wanted her so bad? And...I sense Riful is about." Luciela purred, leaning across the edge of the structure as if begging to leave.

Rafaela turned over to those around her, "Anastasia and Dietrich, I do not require your assistance and neither that of the rest. At this point we don't even know who the rebels are exactly."

"Hey no problem, But Audrey already told us who to look for so i'm sure we'll meet up sooner or later with this Miria." Dietrich said.

"I'm glad we have an understanding. But Raftella you stay where you are."

While the others moved away, the nimble number ten made her way over to the edge, seemingly amazed at all the commotion down in the colosseum before her. Not many of them had ever seen so many people before, and especially not someone like herself.

"What do you want me to do?" she said.

Placing a boot over the edge and looking down to analyze the height of the fall, Rafaela thought out her next series of events strongly in her mind. This place was a public event guarded by guards and anything was possible. Any drastic actions would reap colossal repercussions especially with so many blades involved.

"For now," Rafaela said with a deathly stare, "Just stay here and mess up the mind of any enemy that engages myself or Luciela."

"Roger. Anything else?"

"If it happens to be the one with the wavy hair then don't bother. She'll find and kill you before you even know it." Rafaela warned.

With a nod, Raftella understood her orders, swallowing the lump in her throat as she moved off silently.

"We need to locate the rebellion leader. Audrey had said that she was Phantom Miria." Rafaela said to her sister.

"Why do you insist joining these rebels? Even if we find this leader i'm not interested in being led by anyone." Luciela said, her tone making her irritance clear.

"I merely said we locate them first. We need to know who our enemies and ally's are first."

-"But I wonder what Riful is doing here...don't tell me she joined their rebellion..." Luciela said grimly.

"I wouldn't be surprised. That one is probably plotting to screw them at any moment." Rafaela said.

"Probably, so I say you find Miria and I'll find Riful."

"Try not to cause any trouble." Rafaela said.


Miria clenched her jaw tight as she slammed against the edge of the battlefield outer wall. The impact crumbled the stone structure, flicking cracked tiles around in a mess. Lost to a daze, Her hearing was fuzzy and all she could feel were the wisps of dust that flew across her face, trickling down towards her nose. The impact was a little Rougher even with what she's usually comfortable with, and though Hysteria didn't seem to be strong physically, the extra speed she possessed no doubt made up for that during their clashes.

Moving off the wall, Miria shook her face, snapping out of her blurry vision and that infuriating ringing in her ears. Her eyes quickly sharpened, and not far from her, stood Hysteria, her face lost to a satisfied grin.

"You cannot hope to match my speed and accuracy. I best you in almost every way. I was hoping you'd at least be able to measure up to me... " Hysteria said.

Miria smiled back, wiping the blood from the edge of her lips: "It doesn't matter what you say, To me, it's an honor to do battle against someone like you."

Hysteria looked at her oddly: "Oh do you know me?"

"Every one knows of the massacre on Rockwell Hill...you've made quite the reputation. The warrior with the technique said to be the most elegant and beautiful of all...You are actually even better than I had imagined." Miria said.

Finding herself incredibly flattered, Hysteria pressed on further,: " You don't hold anything back I see. That's so interesting to hear as you know after all this time i've been actually holding back a little as well..."

As Hysteria rambled on, Miria turned over to her side and noticed Teresa hadn't even engaged in combat, and Interestingly, nearby was Irene and Roxanne watching on from the side. Both Priscilla and Marcus fought each other as usual however. At this point, Miria wasn't sure whether she should waste her time with Hysteria if she could be assisting Teresa and the others instead.

Noticing that her words were going on deaf ears, Hysteria quickly stepped forwards and instantly appeared before Miria with her incredible burst of speed.

Staring into Miria's dumfounded face, Hysteria whispered, "Hate being ignored more than anything."

Miria barely had ample time to dodge even a little of Hysteria's blade that cut through her flesh, tearing open streams of blood that escaped and drench her clothes. The taste of iron all to clear in the corner of her mouth.

Hysteria looked back at her wounded opponent with a shameless delight.

"So you can still stand? for someone like you that's actually quite impressive...but you cannot keep it up forever."

"You're right. I'd probably drop dead after a few more of those..." Miria said.

"So then you are finished. What a shame." Hysteria said.

"Not quite yet unfortunately for you,"

Flooding her body with a rush of yoki, Miria's eyes shot a demonic yellow, her muscles receiving an incredible new energy source. she pushed herself to the limit, only just managing to hold it back and make as much use of it's powers as possible. Against such an opponent, this most desperate of moves was something she would need to use to keep up. Besides, It was the moment she had dreamt of, and defeating Hysteria would be all the proof she needed she had it in her to surpass even this most elegant warrior.

"Give it up. I already told you that you can't match my speed, no matter how far you go." Hysteria said.

Noticing the beginnings of Miria' technique, Hysteria prepared herself for yet another one of those slower phantom techniques, but jolted in surprise to parry this new attack from the thundering spiky haired warrior. Though it was a speed that was still slightly inferior to her own, it was a dramatic increase from the past, and thus was taken by surprise. Her parry ended up a clumsy one, and Miria's blade scraped across her right shoulder as she raced by in a blur.

-"Hey! Have you lost your mind!" Hysteria yelled, glaring hopelessly at this warrior than now neared her limit, threatening to awaken with just a nudge.

"I suppose seven years of meditation in the north made it possible for me to do this. It's the one area where I surpass you in."

"Yes...but that's simply ridiculous... you're absolutely crazy..." Hysteria said with a awestruck look to her.

"Perhaps. But now that i've seen what you can do, only one of us will be standing at the end of this."

"So confident you are..." Hysteria said, closely scrutinizing this strange warrior.

"You've had your chance at the top, but now it's my time and I cannot have you interfere.' Miria said.

Hysteria smirked: "Fine by me, but don't expect me to dig you a grave or something."

"Don't worry, I, however, will dig you a good grave," Miria said, her face darkened, jaw almost that of a yoma.

A sudden rush of nervousness embodied Hysteria, faltering her near perfect form for a moment. There weren't many situations where she was forced to deal with something that moved as fast as herself after all. Miria was also very skillful in her swordplay, deceptive in her movements and strikes. To Hysteria, the imperfect nature of the phantom made this opponent very unpredictable, and brought this fight to a level of danger she wasn't quite comfortable with.

Another one of Miria's burst strikes had managed to cut her, and Hysteria's calm nature now boiled with retaliation. She skillfully sidestepping another of Miria's reckless charges, and countered with her own technique, performing another menacing slash across the former number six, the sight of blood making the damage all to clear.

"Even with that extra speed it gets easier to evade as I study your movements. Give it up."

Miria didn't respond, Instead, she just continued to pant heavily looking curiously over to her side as if noticing something approaching.

What's this?

Her senses alerting her, Hysteria was intrigued to see the faint glow of a raised blade a moment early and successfully evaded the kill attempt made by Ophelia. She retreated away, touching down a nearby overlook of nearby junk.

Miria looked over annoyingly at Ophelia: " I've got this so what do you think you're doing? Go get the other one."

"The strongest amongst the regulators don't ask for help as long as the battle is one on one, besides, i'm obliged to act to such situations." Ophelia hissed.

Looking over, Helen, Deneve had now arrived as well, the two surrounding Hysteria from opposite sides, pronging the agitation across the resurrected warrior who suddenly didn't seem as comfortable with things all of a sudden. Through all this, the colosseum roared with life, the crowds excited to see a complete bloodbath.

Noticing other regulators quickly surrounding her, Hysteria was prepared for anything. This was a situation all to similar to back then by that hillside a very long time ago. Attackers surrounded her from all directions, and most of them possessing the power of single digits no doubt.

"Wow this one's really tall..." Helen said.

"Nice observation there, guess who this one is?" Deneve said.

"I'm getting a little bored of all this. I simply wish to meet this Teresa. Tell me where she is." Hysteria said annoyingly.

"There's currently quite a long Que. for Teresa so in the meantime you'l deal with us instead. You see, you just committed a trespass crime, and such a this is a punishable offense." Ophelia said.

"What makes you think I care?" Hysteria said.

Miria lowered her bodies' yoki for a moment, returning her eyes to their natural silver state. She had originally intended to battle Hysteria one on one to prove to herself that she could surpass the legendary warrior, but did not wish for her to die in such a way against Ophelia and her band of regulator thugs. Hysteria wasn't the type to surrender, and such an engagement would only result in a massacre.

"If you surrender your weapon you can keep your life. Of course you'll be locked away and discipled, but don't worry, you'd be reasonably safe under my watch." Ophelia sneered in a crudely a suggestive manner.

Hysteria cringed at the thought, and suddenly her voice felt a little wary, "You think i'll play your game?...nobody is touching me..."

"Admit it your screwed. Look around you. You're completely surrounded and overwhelmed. I actually hope that you survive in the end. People like you are always fun to mess with near death."

Four regulators then approached Hysteria, and in the blink of an eye, the first two immediately fell to their knees in perfect synchrony with blood spraying from a set of fresh wounds inflicted by Hysteria's blade. The other two attempted to strike at her afterwards, but avoiding them was all to easy as she sealed their fate in a similar manner. The weight of dead meat and armor collapsed with a loud thud, staining the ground in pools of red around Hysteria's boots and Ophelia merely watched on in complete fascination.

Hysteria seemed hopelessly irritated, a bloodthirsty look to her eyes, "I will not hesitate to kill anyone else who approaches me. I will have no sympathy for those who attempt it."

"Oh yes I just love people like you...It will be fun to break you..."

Miria looked over accusingly at Ophelia. She was not amused at the way Ophelia handled this, and decided to intervene,

"That's enough Ophelia. You should at least show a little respect. " Miria said.

"This bitch killed most of her own comrades," Ophelia snapped back, "So it's not like she deserves your sympathy..."

"She did a horrific act yes," Miria said as gazed into Hysteria's stare for a moment and noticing the growing distress in her, "But no matter who it is, everyone deserves a chance to die with dignity."

"And you think you can kill her Miria? it's not like you can defeat her one on one."

Miria's eyes caught Hysteria's for a second time, holding back the strangest of urges to send a smile her way but forced the thought away. Hysteria was someone so admirable in every way after all, and a death by Ophelia and her goons would be a terrible end for this most glamorous of warriors.

"Give me two minutes. If I don't kill her by then you can move in," Miria said.

"That's pretty fair actually. Two minutes is all you have Miria,"

Miria cringed at the unsetting grin that came across Ophelia's face, then, in a flash she thundered towards a surprised Hysteria with a plan already set in her mind.

Raising her weapon in suspicion, the braided warrior said, " Miria...you're the first one that I plan to kill anyway. Do you wish to die that badly?"

As Ophelia and the rest of the regulators moved away, Miria looked straight at Hysteria and sent a single wink her way before saying,

"Listen to me. If you want to live you're going to have to lose to me."

Hysteria remained silent for a moment, unable to find the words to respond. Never before had she heard anything so absurd in her entire life. Just what was this warrior saying? was this merely an attempt at a joke?

"What a ridiculous idea. Why should I trust you? you already lied to me once before." Hysteria said.

"You're a little low on friends so you'll just have to take my word on that. Let me knock you unconscious and I guarantee you will wake up safe and no where near any bars. If you don't accept my offer, you will only be slaughtered by everyone else anyway and you would never meet Teresa."

"Teresa is nearby?" Hysteria said.

Miria looked over at the direction of Teresa, directing Hysteria's gaze to the distant wavy haired warrior.

"That is Teresa..."

Gazing upon the centre of the battlefield, Hysteria wasn't particularly impressed by this warrior, though for some reason she felt strangely familiar for reasons she couldn't quite explain. It was almost as if they had met once before, but just couldn't quite put a finger on it.

Hysteria looked back at Miria and the two engaged in a brief stare down as they took a step backwards to put a pause to their battle for only a moment. Hysteria found herself stricken by Miria. For some reason she could feel that Miria was someone of a genuine nature, something she had never felt for with anyone else she had ever encountered.

Still skeptical, Hysteria asked curiously. "Why are you doing this? what's in it for you?"

Miria smiled back at her, "Because somebody like you deserves a death worthy of your title. If things work how i planned, we can continue this fight some other time when there aren't others around to interrupt. Unlike these brutes, I will give you a clean death."

"That's so noble of you, but If you betray me I will make you regret it." Hysteria said warily.

Hysteria took one last glance at the overwhelming forces that surrounded her. There were more of these regulators than she could count, along with Ophelia and others quite powerful ones as well. Perhaps she had bitten off more than she could chew, and did not think properly about the retaliation this place would throw back at her from being so reckless.

"You have my word. I will personally look after you while you rest. I am the leader of the rebellion and will deal with you later."

"You're very persuasive," Hysteria said with an alluring gaze, "But even if it all works out how you said I will still hate you."

"That's just fine. We can hate each other later." Miria said.

"...So what do you suggest?"

Miria tensed her blade, looking around to make sure nobody could hear their conversation. Luckily for her, the others were much too far away to hear what they were saying, but time was quickly running out and she knew it.

"On my seventh attack I'll slip by your left side and knock you across the side of head. Don't worry, i've done it before. You will fall unconscious but will wake up a moment later when the danger has passed."

"Just what am I agreeing to exactly? " Hysteria sighed.

"Relax. You don't really have a choice anyway."

Miria raced for Hysteria, making sure to release her yoki to the levels close to before to avoid suspicion. Though fighting back, Hysteria appeared to be playing along, though keeping her feverish stare upon Miria the entire time throughout their calculated duel. After the sixth phantom, Miria held her breath, prepared her muscles for another instant burst, and when she was ready, she raced for her opponents' left side as was agreed, and held her breath for what was to come.

Expecting Hysteria to take advantage of this moment and kill her, Miria couldn't believe it when Hysteria actually seemed to keep her word and remained as still as a statue with an exposed side. Because she was so sure that Hysteria would betray her, Miria intentionally shot at an off angle only to provoke a reaction from her combat parter but not be close enough to do anything.

Hysteria looked back at her with a confused expression, "Are you...trying to mess with my head? That was the seventh one was it not!"

Throwing this most elegant warrior a simple smile, Miria replied, "I'm sorry... forgive me. One more time,"

"I really do hate you..."

Shooting forward, Miria swooped by Hysteria's exposed side, going for a quick knee to the side of the head, throwing the taller warrior unconscious and causing her body to collapse to the ground. Grabbing her fallen figure, Miria placed the warrior soundly around her shoulders, sighing in relief that it was all over.

Hysteria actually kept her word...

Perhaps there's some room for redemption left in her.

I admit I was wrong to judge you so early...

Miria's thoughts ended as soon as she could see the regulators along with the others now approached curiously.

"Wow Miria...you actually beat Hysteria The Elegant! She's supposed to be a legendary number one so what does that make you?" Helen said.

Ophelia and Deneve were a little more skeptical, scrutinizing this odd situation Miria bore upon them. Most of the regulators and oblivious crowd, however, had no idea about what just happened and simply cheered in their oblivious roars.

"Hand her over. I'll take care of her from now on." Ophelia hissed.

"Sorry, but I promised something and I don't go back on my promises. Hysteria stays with me for the time being." Miria said, looking warmly at the peaceful warrior that rested against her shoulder.

"She better not cause any trouble under your watch Miria..." Ophelia sighed, "If she does then i'd be stuck with the paperwork and if that happens you're dead as well as her."

As if almost hissing at her, Miria said, "They make you do paperwork here? Did they make you their puppet all over again?"

Ophelia smirked with a pleasing arrogance, "No of course not. I merely make the number three do it and then I sign in the end."

"Well Raki told me that he's number two,"

"Don't believe that liar. He was cute and all but now he's just being a bit of a jerk. You don't want to see that man angry, or maybe you do if you change the perspective..."

"As if he...would ever touch slime like you..." Miria said.

"Watch it Miria...I could send you to the stocks you know."

"We have your back Miria, but in this case I do agree with Ophelia. Hysteria is dangerous and untrustworthy. You know especially what she's capable of..." Deneve said

"I'm glad I have your concern Deneve, but this is between me and her. Besides, we still have Roxanne and Cassandra to deal with, and not to mention that dragon-kin. " Miria said.

Everyone seems to be heading towards Teresa's direction... we should probably check out what's going on." Helen said.

-"Miria." A powerful voice said from the blue.

Turning over, Miria was awestruck to see none other than Rafaela arriving over. From the cold expression to her to the distinct scar across her eye, there was no doubt who this was. This was a warrior who had lived longer than any of their kind, and was at a level above of that which could be called an average number one. Rafaela's rank was once number five during her time, but had a history that eluded both her and the archives.

"Rafaela...what are you doing here?" Miria said.

"It just so happens i've been brought forth from the dead. So I suppose i'd make the best of it and help you take down the organization."

Taking notice of the unconscious Hysteria across Miria's shoulders, Rafaela smirked, "That one across your shoulder...I wonder how you managed to catch her?" Rafaela said.

"Well let's just say i'm lucky. Is there anything else I should know? I suppose you all arrived from the island? So then Audrey was successful?"

Rafaela raised a brow, "Well she left with Rubel and yes it was her that led me along with the other warriors to the ship."

"Excellent. Then it's all going to plan so far." Miria smirked.

"Hey just what game are you playing Miria?" Helen said accusingly, "So Audrey didn't betray us?"

"I've underestimated you Miria as always," Deneve smirked.

"I'll explain later. For now we rendezvous with Irene and check upon on Teresa."


Moving down across the sides of the colosseum, Luciela sneaked her way through to the lower chambers of the giant building. Avoiding the guards, she effortlessly headed down a series of darkened hallways as she headed towards her goal. Meeting the end of the walkway, she kicked down a single door and smirked at a gobsmacked Riful and Dauf whom stood in the centre of a rather large darkened room. Giant steel cages contained monstrous yoma and awakened, as well as some other creatures that emitted no yoki and looked more like Dragons. Whatever this place was, Riful had probably already have found out by now, and it was this reason Luciela had tracked her down.

"You!..I could have sworn you fused with your sister! what are you doing here!" Riful screeched, completely flabbergasted.

-"Stay the hell away from Riful!" Dauf roared.

Luciela grinned shamelessly at them as she licked her lips, "Oh please as if i'm interested in a big fight right now, I merely came to talk."

"Talk?" Riful said curiously, gesturing Dauf to calm down and continue to inspect this new place they discovered, "Well there's nothing wrong with a bit of talk. I suppose it was Audrey who probably led you here."

"How did you know what?" Luciela said.

"I have my ways of knowing things. So I see you took that pill too? doesn't it just feel so nostalgic?" Riful said.

"It's been a very long time...but too be honest i'm only staying like this to avoid suspicion. As soon as things go my way i'm turning back." Luciela said running her hands across the bars of a cage that contained a strange dragon-like beasts.

"Human food isn't so bad actually. i've only recently began to appreciate it." Riful said as she pulled out an apple from seemingly nowhere and took a fresh bite from it with a loud crunch.

"Disgusting...how can you eat that..." Luciela said.

Smirking at her delightfully Riful said, "Though i hate to admit it around others, I quite admire the sour taste. You should try."

"i'd rather not. So what is this place anyway?" Luciela said.

"Some sort of a dungeon. It seems the yoma among other things are all prisoners here. Some just used for combat and others for food. But I suspect you didn't just come to just talk..."

Stopping along the edge of a particularly nasty awakened behind enormous black bars, Luciela stared the overconfident creature down mercilessly on the other end until it whimpered off into the corner of its cage.

"If we combine forces we could do things twice as fast. When we destroy this place, we each take half the food and slaves left behind and leave on our way. We both want the same thing in the end do we not?"

Riful giggled with a haunting innocence, "You barely even came by to say hello for decades, and now after all this time you want to be my ally? That's awfully rude don't you think?"

"We never were good neighbors were we? But i'm afraid that times have changed and we can no longer afford to sleep while the world progresses." Luciela sighed.

"I agree. But just so you know, my original intention was to ally with you but Isley ruined everything..."

"You mean his woman messed everything up...Priscilla." Luciela said angrily.

"Yep. That man striked first and he eliminated you before I could get to you. But things have obviously changed so all this could work to our advantage. "

"Do you think we can convince these pathetic yoma and awakened to work for us?" Luciela smirked deliciously as she scanned the maze of giant cages around them.

"I have no doubt, but it would take a bit of time to convince them all. Dauf has already started on a few but ended up killing them by accident. Most are simply born and bred as colosseum meat and are stupider than the average human." Riful said.

"But you've always been famed for your recruiting methods Riful. I've heard whispers that out of us three you are the best when it comes to these things."

"Ah yes,"Riful said innocently, "That's probably true, but usually I make Dauf do these things for me."

"Well there's one use for that brute. I've always wondered why you keep him around."

"Unlike most others, he is quite trustworthy. Can't really say that for many others..." Riful replied throwing Luciela a snakelike glance.

"It's not like I trust you either. In the end we can either either kill each other or go our separate way."

"Well then let's get the recruitment started." Riful said.


Miria and the others are no longer in combat...

And are all heading straight for me...

I wonder what's going on?

Looking over at Priscilla annoyingly, Teresa was dismayed to see the younger warrior stubbornly defending her from Marcus, though quite unsuccessfully at that. Marcus was simply someone Priscilla couldn't handle in her current form, especially after being an awakened one for such a long time beforehand. The threat of Priscilla awakening was quite large, and this was a situation Teresa did not particularly want.

Sending a series of clever sword combinations towards Cassandra, Teresa was quick to notice the warrior wobble her head at the very last moment to dodge her strikes effortlessly. Falling back to gaze over curiously upon Cassandra, Teresa scanned the yoki channels within this warrior's body, curious to figure out the nature of this odd maneuver.

Looking back at this strange warrior, Teresa said, "Good trick. But all tricks are figured out in the end."

"Whatever...I've had enough...so i'll..." Cassandra said.

Watching with a hawklike glare, Teresa jolted the moment Cassandra's body lowered to the ground in a gyro motion and rapidly came swinging over at her arms from inhuman angles. Though she parried the attacks rather simply, this was a technique Teresa had never seen before, and hadn't even remotely imagined something like it. It was almost as if Cassandra rolled her body on the ground like a snake, pouching upwards towards the closest limb in thunderously quick movements.

As the seconds ticked by Cassandra appeared to be getting faster and better at aiming for weak spots but Teresa saw through her movement and attempted a strike towards the centre of balance but jumped back in alarm as Cassandra threatened her arm off completely.

Teresa smirked as she broke away." You lack in sheer power, but you use this technique to make up for it. Pretty clever. I can see why you were number one." Teresa said.

"It's not something i'm proud of, but I can kill anything with this technique. Even you." Cassandra said.

"You think so? And just why do you want to kill me again?"

"Because...well, I just know I have to." Cassandra said sounding quite unsure herself.

"So you're just brainwashed? I feel sorry for you." Teresa said.

"I am not brainwashed..."

"No? then why are you attacking me then? is it because I did something against you?"

Cassandra remained silent as she wiped the dust off the side of her face. Listening on to Teresa, her recent decisions suddenly came into question as of late. In all honesty, almost everything was still a blur to her, and Teresa was merely a distraction she had mentally focused on to keep her mind at bay from over thinking. There was a lot with Roxanne that was still very questionable to her, and perhaps she didn't have her priorities straight after all.

"...Do you happen to know Rafaela? you have a similar fighting style as that one." Cassandra said.

"Rafaela...how do you know that name?" Teresa shot over curiously.

"I suppose you wouldn't know. But Rafaela is among others who had recently arrived in this place. Myself, Roxanne and Hysteria came in search of you..."

Teresa purred with a gentle innocence, "That is very interesting. So I imagine Rafaela's probably quite close by then..."

"Probably. Were you her mentor or something?"

Teresa smiled gently, "Not exactly, but I wonder what she's doing now after all of a sudden..."


Sorry for ending the chapter like this but it was already getting a little long and I decided to work on characterisation over pure action. So now the action in the colosseum has just started and the next chapter will probably answer any questions you might have so just wait patiently and I shall deliver.