Unmei Force: Vengeance
Chapter 13: Isidro Joins and Casca Returns
On the path to Albion, during dawn...
The ginger-haired boy watched from afar, hidden behind a rock, as Richard and his group slowly prepared themselves for rest, slowly nodding off one by one, as the boy waited for the opportune moment/
'F... Found them.' He thought to himself, as he looked quite tired himself. 'They've been running for a whole damn day and a half, since noon yesterday! If I hadn't hitched a ride with those refugees, I would have lost sight of them. And not to mention that they are quite vigilant through the night. So why are they resting now? Doesn't matter.'
He slowly sneaked towards the group, eyeing Guts's massive blade, before then noticing that Richard's twin blades were lying in rest quite far from the wielder himself. He then moved towards them, with a devious grin on his lips.
'So refined, and so swift...' The boy thought to himself with interest, as he placed his hands over them. 'I'll bet these blades are one of a kind.'
As he made to lift his blade, he suddenly felt hands clasp around his wrists tightly, shocking him, as he came face to face with an unamused Richard, as he froze up.
"Trying to steal my blade? Boy, don't think that just because you're a kid, I'll spare you if you dared to attempt it." Richard remarked, before standing up, his full height menacing the boy greatly.
'I... I'm dea-' The boy thought, before Richard slapped the boy's hands off his blades, and sheathed. 'Eh?'
"Ginger hair, sneaky attitude... You're the one that Puck told us about." Richard remarked. "You've chased us up to here. I'm impressed in all honesty, for such tenacity and determination is respectful if it comes from a kid like you."
"Well, thanks, I guess." The boy muttered, before he noticed that Meiling suddenly woke up as well, although she was very aware of the situation, slowly walking over. "She a light sleeper?"
"She doesn't sleep normally at all. When she sleeps, she is merely in meditation, fairly aware of the world around her at all times." Richard explained, before Meiling stopped beside him.
"What is your desire to come after us? Are you looking for someone to support you?" Meiling asked.
"Heh... Heheheheh..." The boy laughed, before he scoffed bitterly. "Y...Yeah, you wish! I ain't about to be under anyone."
"Who said that you need to be a subordinate in our group. Surely you haven't noticed Elma over there?" Richard stated, pointing towards the small demoness. "She's as much of a vital part of the team as all of us are, because she's the one who keeps us healthy and fit. So then, how about we do this: You help us out with whatever talents you have. Surely that your survival in this world alone for so long isn't mere luck, no? In exchange for that, I'll give you a proper sword to fight with, and I'll have one of us teach you how to fight. It's not subordination, because it's an equal exchange of terms. Sounds fair? I'll talk it over with Guts. He's the other leader of the group, besides me."
"...Fine." The boy responded back. "Name's Isidro. Don't you forget it and call me 'kid'. I hate anyone who thinks I'm some simple brat."
"Very well, welcome to our merry band, Isidro." Richard gleefully responded back.
"Before you get taught how to fight, have you ever killed someone, whether directly or indirectly?" Meiling asked.
"...One or two directly. Can't exactly say how many I indirectly ruined." Isidro answered back hesitatingly.
"Well, you're going to need to get used to your fair share of killing here. Because a lot of things die. People, bandits, monsters." Richard answered back. "Hope you're not squeamish, tend to get gory when we're on the attack."
"Monsters...?" Isidro asked.
"You'll see. Either way, you need a better blade. Having a sheath is good for having a blunt weapon, but you need an actual blade." Richard responded back, pulling out a small silver blade for Isidro, who caught it, and was amazed at how Richard summoned the weapon like nothing. "This is both durable and sharp, as well as the right size to wield it efficiently for you. Not to mention that it's enchanted with demon-slaying properties, although through minor enhancements, you'll do fine with this?"
"Yeah. It'll do." Isidro agreed, dazzled by the blade, before he then heard the sound of distant rumbling, which was sounding like that the source was heading towards them. "Huh!?"
"Hmph. Nowadays, demons also torment the day, as well as the night." Richard grumbled, before he then pulled out a battle horn. "Plug your ears, young Isidro. I blow quite loud."
The ginger-haired boy immediately complied, as the moment he did so, Richard let out a massive bellow from his horn, jolting everyone awake, as they grabbed their weapons and readied their stances for battle.
"So, we got incoming?" Guts asked, before then looking towards Isidro. "Who's the ginger midget?"
"Hey!" Isidro shouted, offended by the comment.
"Yes we do, and we'll talk later. Just know that he's Isidro, and he's with us for the rest of the way." Richard answered back, before the rumbling sound reached a volume where he was sure that the source was within sight. "And they're here already. Quite fast for a bunch of shambling spirits."
They all saw wagon wheels rolling speedily towards them, as they rotated too fast to show what was on them, as Isidro was surprised. "W-Wagon wheels...!? Moving on their own!?"
"This is new." Guts smirked, as he eyed the wagon wheels, as they came to a halt, revealing what was on them, which horrified some of the group.
On every single moving wagon wheel, there was decaying corpses on them, with their torn limbs tied to the spokes of their wheel, as the rotting heads turned towards the people, as Elma fought back the urge to scream in fear, as she saw the horrible sight before her.
"W-What are they...!?" Gus exclaimed.
"Son of a bitch..." One of them rasped in a curse.
"Damn you..." Another one screeched.
Isidro, in disbelief of what he was seeing, started to pinch himself hard, hoping to wake up from this, as if it was a nightmare, before Antonio bonked him with the hilt of his blade.
"OW!" Isidro exclaimed. "What was that for!?"
"You ain't dreaming, kid." Antonio answered back with a shake of his head. "Get used to it, because you're going to see things like this every passing night."
"What the hell is all this!?" Isidro demanded.
"Vengeful spirits, roaming and cursing the world as they go. They seem to want to curse anyone they find, regardless of their involvement with whatever caused their death or their vengeful desires." Richard explained. "So basically, undead army."
"More like hell's angels." Guts quipped.
The wagon-bound spirits gnashed their teeth at the group, hurling various curses towards them, before several of them darted towards the group, as Isidro turned to make a run for it. However, the front-line of the group destroyed the spirits with a single strike, obliterating both wheel and spirit.
"You might want to stay back on this one. These kind of spirits aren't your speed." Reimu warned Isidro. "You look as fresh as a recruit, and that'll get you torn apart by them, if you tried to fight. So leave the hard work to those who are experienced in it, alright?"
"Shit..." Isidro remarked, as he watched the others tear through the wheel-bound spirits with ease, with magic and strength flaunted amidst the chaos. He slowly backed away, right into Elma, who was working hard in blessing the group and healing them from afar.
As he bumped into her, it knocked Elma to the ground, as her staff clattered to her side, as well as Isidro falling on his bottom. When he turned around, he saw the downed demon girl, who was hurriedly trying to get up, before she turned to Isidro and bowed in apology.\
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get in your way..." Elma apologized quickly.
'She's cute...' Isidro thought with a slight blush on his cheeks, as feverish thoughts ran through his head. 'And she looks like to be the same age as me... Geez, this girl is potent and beautiful at the same time. I got to get close to her, so that I might have a girl who might stick with me for the entire way.'
He then shook his head, before he then sighed. "Nah, it's not your fault. I was being clumsy there, bumping into you without looking." He returned the apology with a slightly guilty tone. "Look, I promise that I'll keep you safe. Just in case some of these creeps slip through. I might not be much, but it's the thought that counts, right?"
"Oh, really?" Elma asked. "Thank you..."
"Call me Sir Isidro." Isidro pridefully stated, puffing up his chest slightly. "I'll be your squire in shining armor in no time flat."
Elma was slightly touched by Isidro's devotion to her, as Isidro raised his sword, eyeing the entire fight from afar, and in front of Elma, who also helped him out by implanting several blessings to make him a better fighter. Puck watched with intrigue within Elma's clothes, as Isidro guarded Elma faithfully.
Suddenly one of the wagon spirits rolled around the group, as it rushed towards Elma and Isidro, as Isidro was slightly surprised by the ambush. However, he quickly regained his composure.
"I got a pretty lady behind me, who needs my protection. Like hell, I'm going to run!" Isidro exclaimed, before he then raised his blade. "Take this!"
He then swung down his blade, as his attack was enough to take out the spirit, cleaving through wood and flesh, thanks to the enchantments and blessings he had. He then sighed in relief, before he then looked around for more enemies.
However, that was the only ambush he had to deal with, as he was both relieved, in that he didn't have to fight much, and disappointed, in that he couldn't show-off to Elma and make her think more of him with his courage and determination.
After a while, the attack was repelled, as everyone was in relief, since there was no more enemies, as confirmed by both the response from the Brands, and Richard's sensing. They then converged together, as Isidro and Elma walked towards them.
"Alright, so that was the kid that Puck was telling us about, who was watching me, you and Judeau fight the Bakiraka back in that town?" Guts asked Richard.
"Yep. His name is Isidro. Don't know what good reason he's sticking with us for, but if he wants to join, he's in. After all, I see some value in him." Richard explained.
"And just so you know, I hate being called a kid." Isidro interjected.
"I see. Can he fight with that sword?" Link asked.
"Not quite, but I think that with some help from you and Corrin, he'll do well." Richard answered back. "Everyone, introduce yourselves to dear Isidro here. You too, Puck."
Puck then came out, as Isidro raised his finger to point at the elf. "Wait, you're that thing from before, who told me where to go! You're with them!?" He asked with surprise in his voice.
"Yep. And just so you know, if you want to get to Elma, you got to earn my approval. Don't think that cutting down a single spirit makes you worthy of being her boyfriend." Puck stated.
"Tch... I won't be worth it now, but you just wait." Isidro muttered to himself, before the introductions began.
Eventually, everyone introduced themselves, as Isidro memorized their names and personalities in his mind.
"Right, so you're all heading to some holy ground called Albion." Isidro asked, to which several members nodded in agreement. "To save another friend of yours called Casca. You guys are either the most daring or suicidal group that I ever heard of, intending to openly oppose the church if it will bring her back."
"You underestimate our determination to bring her back." Virion stated. "Such a sweet lady like her does not deserve to be left alone and longing for our company."
"Right... Anyway, I said I'm sticking with you all, so I am." Isidro responded back. "Pleased to meet you all. I'll earn my keep with you all, I assure you."
"We have spent enough time talking. We need to find Casca as quickly as possible." Judeau told the group.
"Right, let's move on." Guts agreed, before the group continued their journey.
As they continued on into the night, they encountered a figure that was familiar to Richard and Guts, as the others were shocked, some drawing their weapons, suspicious that the new arrival would have been an enemy, with the smoky mist obscuring the figure of the person in question. When the mist dissipated, it revealed the Skeletal Knight, which caused everyone to be stunned.
"One monster after another. Tonight's a monster bumper crop." Puck remarked.
"No... I don't sense the same malice and dark vengeance on him." Elma argued back.
"That's our old chum, right, Richard?" Guts asked the other black-haired swordsman.
"Indeed. I think this is a good time to introduce him to everyone here." Richard stated, as the Skeletal Knight trotted towards them.
"I thought that I'd get your attention. You and your companions seem to be in good health, Struggler and Rebel. I trust that the young demon sage that is amongst you is the reason for that." The Skeletal Knight stated, as his eyes fell onto Elma.
"Yes... It indeed is. Who are you?" Elma asked back.
"My name is not much importance. You may call me the Twilight Knight, as your companion, the Rebel calls me." The Skeletal Knight responded back, before noticing the drawn weapons from some of the members. "Lower your weapons, I am neither your enemy nor a threat."
"Just do as he asks. He's honest in his words." Richard added, as the others lowered their weapons.
"You two know him? I don't think that Guts would have many human friends, but of all things, a monster?" Puck asked, alternating between looking at Guts, looking at Richard, and looking at the Skeletal Knight. "That's not to say I discriminate against monsters. He may not look like it, but he's not much of a talker. Please be nice to him, and do the same with Richard. I'm Puck-"
"You shut up for a moment." Guts growled, covering the elf's mouth with a metallic finger.
"An elf, an interesting thing to have with you, Struggler." The Skeletal Knight stated, gazing at Puck, who stopped struggling to get Guts's finger off his mouth for a moment. "Hmm... Two years prior, and the ties that bind are still strong, amongst all of you."
"What do you mean?" Judeau asked, before he then saw Guts's expression crease significantly.
"He means that he's aware of our mission to save Casca." Richard explained. "But what are you doing here? Surely it is of dire matters, if you wish to speak to us as a whole."
"I have told you before. I am the foe of the inhuman... No, the inhuman from this world, in recognition of those in your group, who do not share the same qualities as those born here." The Skeletal Knight stated. "An apostle is known to be located where I'm headed, possibly the leader. Where they lie, is also the land that you seek."
"H... Hold up! What do you mean!? Not that...! Not that they're at the Tower of Conviction. Are you saying the God Hand are there as well!?" Guts exclaimed, as the group turned to him.
"God Hand... You mean those unholy demons back in that day under the eclipse...!?" Gunter exclaimed.
"They exist everywhere in this world. Any place negative human thoughts swirl in a large concentration. But at the same time, it can be said that as a huge body of thought, they cannot take flesh in this world. Thus they also exist nowhere." The Skeletal Knight responded back.
"Once again, you lost me." Guts growled.
"No, I understand what he means, Guts." Richard offered to explain. "What he means that the God Hand exist both everywhere and nowhere, is that their state of existence is determined by the environment they stand within. Next you'll tell me, Twilight Knight, is that given a large enough concentration of negative energy, it allows them to take form in the world, if only temporarily."
"Indeed it is so." The Skeletal Knight confirmed back. "Did you not see it too? The dream of the Shining Hawk? Likely every human in this world was witness to that same thing in their lucid dreams. It was a revelation, that someone who signifies the Hawk is going to appear in this world."
"The Hawk...? Don't tell me...!" Judeau exclaimed, as he paled in realisation of what the knight was talking about, while Guts was frozen where he stood.
"I ask you this. That girl who was with you all. Where is she now?" The Skeletal Knight asked, to which he was met by silence. "I see. Your silence answers it clearly. The power of God descends to Earth, and the concentration of that idea is called the 'Festival'. And that festival is essentially a divine work, it traces a phenomenon in the divine domain."
"Traces a phenomenon?" Guts asked back.
"The flocking sheep who've been led to the blood-spattered holy ground desire the 'Hawk of Light'. And you all, and that girl will come to throw yourselves into their midst. It nearly parallels that other time..."
"...The Eclipse." Richard darkly finished the sentence, as everyone was shocked at hearing those words. "It's an attempt to imitate it to the greatest degree."
Guts then became silent, as his eyes gazed emptily forward, as no-one could tell what he was feeling. However, Puck, who was close enough to sense his emanating emotions, could feel the strong torrents of emotion, ranging from sorrow, rage, confusion, insane glee, and denial. He then slowly raised his other arm to his face.
"So you mean... that this will happen... One more time...!?" Guts responded back, torn between ecstasy of slaying the countless apostles that may come, and unbridled rage from his burning vengeance.
"Indeed. But unlike you have done once before, Rebel. The course of this festival, will remain unchanged. That is, if you do not possess the knowledge and the means to perform such a heaven-defying act." The Skeletal Knight told him. "This world is as moonlight reflected on the water's surface. The moon's light will not be extinguished. So long as the moon exists in the sky. Moonlight will remain on the water, and this is a thing that which already was. What will follow now is a shadow, no more than a shadow cast high above the earth by light from a distant dying sun. The proof of this is our unexpected meeting. We already subsist within the current of casualty, as shadows in the water, however we exist beyond the physical realm."
Everyone was silent, as Richard's expression was one of deep understanding, while Guts was silently contemplating something, before he then scoffed loudly.
"Who cares about shadows? Casualty? We decided on the Tower of Conviction, and go there on our own feet. We weren't ordered. We chose." Guts argued back. "Besides, you forget that we don't give in at all, and instead bite back at those who try to lord over us with pre-determined fates. The names you gave us. Struggler and Rebel. That whole casualty bit is pretty shady anyway. That proud monster, Zodd, once predicted that we would face a death we couldn't escape, and you said that it would have been the same. But look at us, even through all the hell we been through, and what we did, every one of us is alive and kicking, with Judeau alongside us. Sure, you helped us out that time, but this time, we're going to do this by ourselves, by our own strength. I'm not the same man from two years ago. I've gotten a hell lot stronger, and even more clever at that, too."
"...Rebel?" The Skeletal Knight asked, after listening to Guts speak.
"...You forget that even in the Eclipse, I turned fate to our benefit." Richard responded back. "Had it not been for Antonio's timely rescue, Elma's healing, the support of the others, Judeau would have met his fated death, dying in the arms of his comrade Casca, and shattering her spirits. Not to mention that I managed to save Casca from being violated by her betrayer, ruining her mentally and physically. Yes, it's true you cannot remove the moonlight from a puddle of water. But you would be wrong to say that nothing can be changed. Even mere ripples can change the image that the moonlight have, and as inevitable as you cannot remove the light, you cannot prevent ripples that form from splashes formed by our hand. I have changed fate many times before, and I have told the God Hand, that if they try to wrench their casualty to their side, then they will pay dearly for their attempts. Hopefully, they will be smart enough to know a lost cause when they see one."
"It seems that you are aware of what you will do. You are both truly fishes that breach through the surface of the water, rippling it greatly with each leap." The Skeletal Knight answered back, as he turned away. "However, I will warn you all of one thing. Although she is of sound mind, if you are not careful, you will lose your friend once again. She must never be chained up again, and will remain by your side, through all trials and tribulations. Only then, will she be able to recover what she once lost. Until then, may we meet again at the holy ground where the blind sheep gather."
The skeleton knight disappeared through the horizon, through a burst of fog, as everyone watched him leave.
"I hope so as well..." Richard stated, before he turned around to come face to face with a distressed Judeau. "Judeau..."
"...Was all of it true? I could have died, had it not been for Antonio and Elma...?" Judeau asked with despair on his expression.
"Judeau, if you're going to talk about how I should have let you die, or that you want to bemoan about your miserable fate, know that it does not concern you. Ever since we came here, your fate has changed for the better. There is no need for you to concern yourself with dying anytime soon just because it is willed. Your fated time to die has long passed. Only way you'll die is peacefully in your sleep at old age, and we'll keep it that way." Richard sternly told him.
"...Jeez, shut down just like that." Judeau answered back, looking a lot more hopeful with Richard's words. "Well, thanks for the slap back to reality."
"No problem, just don't think about it too much. Think only about how we're going to save Casca." Richard answered back. "Either way, let's rest for the night. Meiling, keep watch for us, alright?"
"I understand." Meiling nodded, as everyone settled down for the night.
At the refugee camp in Albion...
Yuna entered Luca's tent, as the brown-haired girl was tightening the bandages around Casca's face. She had a grim expression on her face, while the other two noticed. Nina was in a nearby bed, as she was sleeping soundly.
"Yuna... Has things really reached this point...?" Luca asked with concern in her voice.
"Indeed... Our speedy gain in wealth is accruing suspicion amongst the other refugees. While most of them are grateful, some of them are harboring animosity and envy towards us. I do not know the reason for why the numbers of the latter group have increased so quickly because of our constant success... But if this keeps up... The worst case will come." Yuna stated. "A good deed does not go unpunished around these parts. Had this been anywhere else, almost everyone would be grateful that we're the reason everyone is more well-fed than they should be, and we would have no-one who would secretly speak ill behind our backs. This is truly revolting."
"And just because we were seen leaving the camp, and returning with a stripped Nina..." Luca responded back with a slightly fearful look in her eyes. "If this keeps up, the hunters will catch wind of these rumors, and we will most likely be... persecuted as heretics and tortured to death."
"Then what do we do?" Casca asked. "We don't have the proper supplies to mount an escape away from Albion, to any nearby towns. Even then, the Holy Iron Chain Knights would most definitely hunt us down, if we run by foot."
"We can only pray that there will be more time for us." Yuna stated. "I have made a prayer to God just last night. He has told me that if we persevere, then hope will most definitely arrive for those who remain faithful to God, not the false teachings that have been propagandized by the Holy See. They will not show mercy to anyone in here, not as long as Mozgus remains in power here."
Nina then slowly woke up, as she then saw the women talking amongst each other, as Luca turned to her.
"Luca...? I'm... I'm really sorry..." Nina cried, as tears ran down her eyes, as she rubbed them off. "I don't know what I was even doing... With everything that had happened... If anyone caught wind of this... We'll be caught... And then... Then what could happen...? I... I'm really... scared..."
"Calm down, Nina... I'm sure that these rumors will die down." Luca assured Nina, lying a little to help calm the blonde girl down.
"I can't! Even barring those rumors, if Joachim's body is found... then... then I'll be..." Nina quivered.
"Nina... I know what you been through. But the more we panic, the more the people will grow suspicious of us." Casca told Nina firmly. "We need to keep calm, and act like nothing has happened. You told us that Joachim fell into a chasm. It is very unlikely that they'll be able to find his body along it, and even then, there is nothing to truly connect you to the crime."
"But... But..." Nina whimpered, before Yuna placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do not fret, Nina." Yuna answered back. "I'm sure that you'll be able to forgive yourself for what you have done, and make up for your mistake, by renouncing your participation in that barbaric religion. As long as we make sure that you aren't associated with them, you will have a proper alibi to prove that you are not responsible."
"But the hunters... They won't care if you are innocent or not... If you're seen guilty... the sentence... it will remain guilty until your death..." Nina spoke with utter terror in her voice.
The other women were eerily silent hearing those words, as the inevitable situation dampened their morale greatly.
"There is no time to brood about this." Yuna stated. "I'll personally distribute the next batch of supplies to the refugees."
Before she could get up, the other blonde-haired girl burst in, as she was frantically panting.
"Luca, Yuna, trouble!" The girl exclaimed.
"Lucie...!? What seems to be the matter?" Yuna quickly asked back.
"It's Pepe... She... The hunters... They grabbed her!" Lucie exclaimed, as everyone froze where they were.
As Nina and Casca remained frozen, Luca and Yuna shot out of the tent, as they followed the sounds of the commotion, as well as Pepe's distressed cries for help, as they found that Pepe was being dragged across the camp, her hands and wrists held in irons, dragged by a commander from the Iron Chain Knights, with a sizable escort with him, while the refugees allowed them to pass, watching the young girl plead.
"Nooo! Let me go! I haven't done anything!" Pepe screamed out loud.
"Shut up! There was an indictment! You can speak in your defence all you want at your trial!" One of the knights barked back.
"Look, she's from Luca's. You know, lately they've been oddly popular. Maybe some other prostitutes got jealous of them." One of the refugees murmured within the crowd.
"No, NO, NOOOO! Demon! Fiend! I'll be raped! I'll be killed! Oh God!" Pepe wailed.
"Pepe..." Fouquet stated, before she then saw that Luca and Yuna were pushing through the crowd with force.
"I swear... Commoners are all the same." The knight grumbled, lifting his visor, before pulling out a long whip, and lashing Pepe across the torso. "Be silent, gloomy wench!"
The knight then brutally thrashed Pepe over and over. "You rabble in delight in nothing more than smiling at others' misfortunes behind their backs, while looking down on anyone and everyone! When calamity befalls you, you alone possess pure hearts and clean hands. You act like children, believing yourself faultless! You call upon the name of the Lord without reflecting upon your own sin!" The knight spat. "Cowardly! Shameless! Despicable! You're no better than insects! Behold, evidence! A large crowd watches, and yet not one of them volunteers to aid you!"
Before the knight could whip Luca again, Yuna got in front of the whip's path, while Luca cradled the younger girl close to herself. The whip struck Yuna across the abdomen, as she flinched greatly.
"Yuna!" Pepe exclaimed.
"Urk... I'm fine, Pepe. A mere whip strike like this will not hurt me too much." Yuna assured Luca with a smile.
"Don't prattle on so proudly while you strike at someone from such a safe place." Luca told the knight with a bitter tone, causing the crowd to be in uproar, at Luca's defiant words.
"Oho, so there is one among with backbone." The knight smirked. "But don't you understand? If you defend her, you'll all be arrested."
"Even so. I REFUSE!" Yuna shouted in defiance. "You may strike me as many times as you wish, but you will not harm her again! Even if you decide to cut me down where I stand, I will not back down. Even if it brands me a heretic in the eyes of all present, I will not betray God's commandant, 'Thou shalt not betray thy friends'!."
"Hah. Then you will suffer the same fate as the wench!" The knight condemned Yuna.
"That's how it is. Whatever we say, you silence us with your threats. You rattle your swords, judging people from up in your tower. Everything you see is beneath you." Luca continued her defiant retort. "Have you mistaken yourselves for angels or something?"
"Is that all you have to say, girl...?" The knight responded back, as he was restraining his anger.
"She might have nothing more to say, but I will." Yuna stated, before raising an accusing finger to the knight. "You strike the innocent, under such a pretense. You call us insects merely because we are struggling to live. Yes, we may be insects, but we have a right to live and be treated fairly! Have you been so drunk in your own authority as a holy knight, that you have forgotten your own humility!? Have you forgotten that it is God's mission to save even the sinners, not condemn them!? You strike us with such sadistic glee, and yet you say that we're the impure!? It seems that you care not for God, only for your own pride! You think that you are free to do as you wish under God's name, and act like you're forgiven for what you have done! You would torture us, those who are in turmoil and suffering. You are no better than those who you persecute with your twisted views!"
The knight was silently brewing in rage, as his grip on the whip tightened, as it increased when seeing the defiant look in Yuna's eyes.
"But I guess that nothing I say will matter. You are already so indulgent in your own pride, that none of you would listen to reason or faith." Yuna stated. "If this is really how God's very men have turned out to be, within these walls... Then this is no holy ground, only a nest of corruption and false worship."
"BITCH!" The knight screamed, as he threw his whip at Yuna at full force.
"Yuna!" Luca cried, as the other girls did the same, including Pepe, who reached out for Yuna, who merely stood still, prepared to receive the blow.
However, the whip was cut in two, as the source was a large machete, wielded by a arm draped in dark red robes with long sleeves. Everyone turned to the source of the blade, who was Richard, who had his black hair tidied neatly, and dressed differently, with a long black robe, with a silver cape tied behind his back, and a white scarf that covered most of his neck, a chained silver pendant that bore the same symbol of the idol on it, and dual-wielding machetes. He also had small glasses in front of his eyes, as his appearance made him look like a authoritative judge.
Yuna looked at Richard, as she secretly smiled to herself, on the sight of Richard, while the others were shocked, as the crowd of refugees murmured amongst each other, as the whip-holding knight looked at his broken tool, before turning to Richard with a furious expression, as Richard's expression was completely cold.
"Who dares...!? Who are you, to interfere with the matters of the Holy Iron Chain Knights!?" The knight demanded.
"You are the Holy Iron Chain Knights. How truly unsightly. I see nothing holy about your actions." Richard spoke in a low and emotionless voice. "As for who I am... It will not matter much for you, but I shall grant you peace in knowing of it. I am Dark Inquisitor Richter, the Second of my Order, the Iscariot Order. Alternatively, I bear the title of 'Sacred Judge'."
"Dark Inquisitor? Sacred Judge...?" The knight mocked, before he then raised his blade. "Don't mock us! We're the only ones who represent God's will here! You who dares to speak as if you are of the same faith as him, are a undeniable heretic! We will seize you for your interference and your false proclamations."
"You truly are ignorant, if you will not respect the title of an inquisitor, albeit a Dark variant." Richard continued with a judgemental tone. "But then again, you are merely ignorant, and left in the dark. We of the Dark Inquisitors are never publicly announced as one of God's men, but we still remain so. Because we are not the ones who spread faith amongst the lands. No, we are never spoken or heard of, unless by those who are unfortunate to encounter us and lived to tell the tale. We are the Dark Inquisitors, the instruments of God's impartial wrath, never written in the annals of the churches, to purge the traitors and all falsehoods in the name of God, the very same one you claim to belong to."
"Shut up! Cease acting like you are one of His men!" The knight spat back. "We will have you burned at stake for your mockery!"
"And yet you give me such weak arguments." Richard retorts back bitterly, silencing the knight, before he then spread an arm out. "When I see the eyes of the refugees gathered in this holy ground, I see no faith within them. I only see fear and dissatisfaction within them. Even so, I sense that their lack of faith is not a result of their dissonance with the faith, but instead due to the cruelty and suffering done onto them. I have heard tales of what transpired here, men and women alike starved to death, all those who are condemned being killed either in dreadful loneliness or as a public display, all those who are within here, believing that they have been bound to a lesser hell of their own. And all of this... It points to the making of the one who is responsible for the rumours, being the main cause of them, the Holy See that you so loyally serve, I presume. Like I have told you, my mission is to purge traitors, those who use the Lord's name in vain, and those who manipulate his goodwill for their own gains. You are evidence right before my own eyes."
"You... YOU...!" The knight trembled with fury, before Richard turned around.
"Very well, then I will ask of those gathered here. Who will speak in the defence of what has transpired here. Who believes that the Holy Iron Chain Knights are without fault here?" Richard asked the entire crowd of refugees. "If there is enough to prove that the knights are on the side of justice, then I will withdraw my own accusation of heresy here and now."
The knights watched as the crowd didn't respond back at all, as they seemed relieved and proud, but yet, they felt a sense of dread building in them.
"Hah! None of them will speak in your defence!" The knight laughed bitterly. "It seems that you are the one who is against God here!"
"Am I?" Richard asked back, turning his head back. "The silence of the crowd answers the question itself. They will not speak, because they are too enraptured in fear to speak. Had I asked any other question, that is, if they have felt like they have found a life that they could faithfully declare to be fair. In fact, if God does truly revere silence, then this very moment of silence is proof that my question has been truthfully answered."
He then immediately crossed his machetes, as he glared right towards the knights. "But I do not care for the lesser men. Speak. Who is the pontiff? Who is the inquisitor that is responsible for taking care of the matters here? If they have allowed for such uncouth acts to occur, then they will answer to me, for their actions has led to the corruption festering in the roots of the church. And as per my role... I will PURGE. Tell me now, lest this becomes a confrontation that will not end in your favour."
"SCUM! GET HIM!" The knight screamed with anger, as the Holy Iron Chain Knights moved to surround Richard.
"...So it seems that you have no intention to speak then. Very well, if you wish to raise your blades against me, of the Iscariot Organisation... Then you raise your blades to God by proxy. For that transgression... Those of you who attack me... Will pay your lives in penance for your sins." Richard stated, before drawing his machetes.
Richard then attacked the knights, as his machetes cleaved through flesh, both horse and human, dancing through the men, cutting them to pieces with little effort. The refugee crowd were stunned, while Luca and Pepe watched as Richard tore through the knights, as if they were nothing. The knight themselves, were become more and more demoralised, as their numbers waned.
Isidro came out of the crowd, as he snatched the key from the knight that openly mocked Richard before, who was already dead, with a large gash through his neck. He then walked over to Pepe and Luca, with the key in his hands.
"Okay, ladies. Now's the time." He told them, as both of the females looked towards Isidro, who had a astonished expression on his face. "The way you and that other woman lit into that guy was so cool. I think I'm in lo-o-ove."
"Who's the monkey?" Luca pondered to herself, before Yuna came over.
"Well, I must thank you for helping us out." Yuna stated, as Isidro turned around, and was wowed at Yuna's natural beauty.
"Woah, glad to be respected already!" Isidro exclaimed, before he then shoved the key into Pepe's irons. "Alright, hold still, let me pop those chains off."
The irons then opened up, as the four of them rushed back into the crowd, just as Richard finished cutting down a sizeable portion of the knights, with the others too afraid to step forth and fight Richard as well.
"This is a holy ground...?" Richard remarked, his machetes still bloody. "Then the faithful has truly fallen into disgrace, if this is what is considered to be sacred."
"All those men. And not a single scratch..." One of the male refugees remarked.
"So easily with just those small blades..." Another one said.
"It ain't human...!" Yet another refugee stated.
"You're... You're kidding me..." Luca stated.
"Leave." Richard forcefully declared to the knights. "If you value your lives, you will disturb the refugees no longer. If I see a act like this again, I will undeniably purge the Holy Iron Chain Knights that you represent, from the very face of this earth in retribution. Am I UNDERSTOOD?"
The other knights trembled, as their captain was amongst the many knight causalities caused by Richard, before one of the knights was brave enough to cry for retreat, as the knights slowly trotted away, all while watching Richard with fearful eyes. After the knights have disappeared, Richard then shook most of the blood off his blade, before then turning to the refugees, who were torn between unholy fear, and absolute reverence at Richard's actions.
"It seems that if the knights will not speak, then it relies on me to parley with you refugees." Richard told them, his tone returning to a stoic one. "Tell me, who is the one that is responsible for this debacle. I have seen the countless corpses that have been hung on breaking wheels. Too many to be considered a proper heretic hunt. Tell me, whose judgement condemned these men and woman to a untimely death?"
None of the refugees spoke up, as they merely chatted quietly amongst each other. That is, until Yuna stepped forth.
"I can tell you. The one who is responsible for this is Inquisitor Mozgus. Bloody Scripture Mozgus." Yuna firmly told Richard. "He is the one who is leading the men here, and the one who holds the supreme authority over this holy ground. Perhaps he's the only one that you might be seeking."
"Did you say... Inquisitor Mozgus?" Richard asked, before his lips twisted in a cruel smirk. "Oh... I see now. It has become clear to me. I have kept an close eye onto him, for I have lingering doubts about his true nature. Now I see that there is definite evidence of his wanton massacres and heretical defiance to the Lord... Now that I have the proper motivations to commit to it, I finally can start purging him. Out of all of the inquisitors that I have come to know, he is the most bloody and corrupted. Oh Lord, forgive me, for I cannot help but cruelly relish the moment that I claim his head in Your name, for I will have done your Will a great service, purging this shrivelled and poisoned root amongst your churches..."
Richard's smirk then disappeared. "Very well. As thanks for your cooperation, I will ensure that you and all refugees present, will be cared for properly." Richard answered back. "Once I call upon the right favours, you will be given salvation as you have been promised, but instead of emptily using it as a tool of propaganda, as a lie to raise false hope, I will not disappoint, for the Lord will not abandon the weak and measly, nor the misunderstood and misguided. As the Sacred Judge of the Iscariot Order, I judge you all to be faithful to Him. Should anyone question that, they shall have to answer to me, and have a proper reason to question a just verdict like that."
"You honour us, Dark Inquisitor." Yuna responded back, with a deep bow with hand over heart.
"I shall take my leave. I will need time to prepare for my meeting with Inquisitor Mozgus." Richard told them, as he turned to leave. "Know this, regardless of what the false prophets that have been under the strings of the inquisitor will tell you, as long as you maintain your faith in God, through me and not the corrupt inquisitor, you will be saved. All you need is to utter the words, 'I shall serve the Lord with dedication and truth', and you will be protected by divine providence."
Richard then left the camp, as the refugees were left confused by what has happened, all with differing opinions of what Richard has told them, some outright denying of trying to believe in Richard, while others who are more trusting of faith, believed in Richard's words, and hoped that he would return. Neither of them were Luca's group and Yuna, who were closely embraced together.
"Pepe... You're alright..." Fouquet stated with tears from her eyes.
"Yes... I was saved... I was saved by someone... Thank God... Thank God..." Pepe cried out in relief.
"There, there... We're safe for now." Luca soothed the other two girls, as Lucie also joined in the embrace.
Yuna watched Richard leave, with a slight smile on his lips, while Isidro looked around everywhere, as if he was expecting something.
After a while, Richard went into the camp again, this time in his proper attire and equipment, as he made a beeline for Isidro.
"Hey, Isidro. Have you found Casca yet?" Richard asked Isidro, who immediately turned back to them.
"Not really, although I found this bunch of beauties." Isidro responded back, gesturing towards Luca and his group, as well as Yuna.
Richard and Yuna then met eyes, as Richard immediately stiffened up with wide eyes. while Yuna smiled knowingly.
"...Richard?" Isidro asked, before Richard turned to him.
"Isidro, get the others. I need a moment to talk with this woman here." Richard told him with a serious expression.
The ginger boy was surprised at the sudden change in tone from Richard, before he then moved away and did as he was asked. Richard approached Yuna.
"You there. I need to speak with you for a moment." Richard told Yuna.
"...If you wish. I have nothing to hide after all." Yuna smiled back, before she turned to Luca and the others, who were listening into the conversation. "Don't worry, I'll be back quite soon."
Richard and Yuna then walked away together, as they moved to a spot where they were sure that they wouldn't be eavesdropped on without them noticing, as Richard sighed deeply.
"I have to say... You really gave me a fair bit of a surprise there. Of all the people I was expecting, I didn't expect you that much, if not at all." Richard told Yuna. "Still, I think that I can easily deduce or at least theorise why you're here and how you managed to get here without any problems. Isn't that right, Yukari...?"
"My, my." Yuna stated with a pleased smile, as she summoned a familiar hand-fan into her hands. "I always expected you to come to this point of time. After all, I eavesdropped on your plan myself, and aided it fairly well, did I not? But that's not what surprises you the most, is it?"
"Yeah, you stuck your lot with Luca, just so that you could keep an eye on Casca for us. Got to thank you for that then." Richard answered back. "Although, speaking of more things, you have another purpose of being here right? That's why you literally used one of Ran's tails to catalyse a high-grade cloning spell, to place a 'shadow' of yourself here, as this person, right?"
"Indeed you are right." Yuna nodded. "I'm known as Yuna here, as the female priest with a past of prostitution. Luca and her group see quite much in me, and we've bonded quite well. I even aided them more than they needed, and thanks to the fact that Casca was not mentally broken, the cult of the Goddess of Flames are none the wiser of Casca's true identity. Although that won't be for long, as you might have figured out."
"...What do you mean?" Richard dryly asked back.
"Did you notice that Casca and Nina were absent?" Yuna asked back, to which Richard's eyes widened in realisation. "Yes, for Casca, this is her first trip to the cult, but it'll play out almost the same. Why? Because Slan knows that she's going to need to up her game, so she gave them a small prophecy to nudge them towards finding Casca. So more or less, the same things are going to happen."
"...You jammed my sensor back there didn't you?" Richard accused with a annoyed expression. "While I played the Dark Inquisitor, I sensed around for them, only to find that they're not around here. I thought that Nina and Casca were already gone, possibly due to the events already happening, or that they're just out to collect some water. I hoped for the latter."
"Speaking of that, you really take inspiration from a certain blonde priest. Need I say that with how you went for the machetes?" Yuna smirked, before she frowned. "But indeed, your hopes are in vain. I did this, because the best chance that you're going to get to Casca is inside the cult den. Considering that Casca is willing to listen to reason and cares about returning to you and Guts's side, she won't hop down just because she thinks there is something missing around here."
'That's a good thing. But that still leaves Mozgus." Richard stated, as his expression darkened. "Someone like him... He doesn't deserve to die in fanatic joy. For someone who has misused faith to kill and torture, as well as sow discord and despair, a simple death is a mercy to him. I will chip down his shields of fanatical faith, and leave him broken, as he watches his own beliefs be thrown out of the window, when I come in as the new and better inquisitor for the refugees and men here."
"Either way, you're going to need to pull off some divine miracles, if you're going to get these refugees to believe in you more than Mozgus." Yuna stated. "I'm willing to help you in that department, if you can't pull it off yourself. After all, going Old Testament on the 'heretics' and demons would prove to be a useful tactic, along with sharing the 'all-encompassing saviour'."
"Going to be hard painting myself as the latter, with how I portrayed myself. But I can prove to make it work regardless." Richard stated. "Either way, just don't fuck up anything too bad. We still have a while to go, before we reach the end of all of this. If I were to make an estimate to when my mission here ends... I'd say it would be when Ganishka kicks the bucket in mist form. That's a fairly strong ending point for the arc it is involved in."
"Oh trust me, I know better to make things hard for you. Although..." Yuna stated, before she smirked again, flipping her fan over her mouth. "No promises~"
"Yeah, you definitely have a lot of Yukari rubbing off onto you." Richard sighed with a smile. "Anyway, we got to part, before the people on our sides get suspicious."
The two of them immediately returned, as Richard and Yuna returned to their respective places, with Richard noticing that Guts and the other have arrived, as they were waiting for him.
"Hey, I got good news and bad news." Richard told everyone.
"Tell us the good news first, please." Link stated.
"Good news, Casca's been doing well so far. She's still fit, and there is nothing wrong with her mind, just only missing all of us a bit." Richard explained. "But the bad news is that... She's not going to stay that way for a long time. Some cult nicked her, calling her some sort of revered figure or something. I don't know what they'll do with her, but it ain't going to be mere prostrations and prayers."
"Where is she then!?" Guts roared out aloud, frightening the nearby refugees.
"Don't worry, I was given the directions to their hideout. She's most likely there." Richard assured Guts. "So let's hurry. The more time we waste dawdling, the more likely that things will get worse with her."
Everyone agreed, as everyone rode for the cult's hideout, with Richard and Guts leading them.
In the cult's hideout in a deep cave...
Casca slowly woke up, as she found herself seating in a large wooden chair, which was being hefted up like a throne, by several men below her, all of them completely naked, which caused her to react strongly. She also felt the crown of thorns on her head prickling her scalp, as she wished to remove it, although she was afraid that she might hurt herself badly by trying.
However, her main concern wasn't her safety, but Nina's, as she looked around for her, although she couldn't even see a lock of hair amongst the sea of naked cultists.
'Where is she...?' Casca thought, as her own fears were growing. 'I don't know what has happened, but Nina could possibly be in danger. But what is going on here...?'
"Everyone! Tonight is a holy night to be remembered!" A elderly priest declared, dressed in tattered robes, holding a large wooden staff with a black crow tied to it, spread-eagled, in one of his hands. "As all of you know, the stone pillar deified in the Tower of Conviction is no longer potent nor significant! It has no power to manifest even a single mystery! The tower instead been reduced to a vile lodge of swine who use sophistry in an attempt to oppress and control us! But we are aware! Aware of the one truly deserving of reverence! The one possessing power!"
The elderly priest then pointed towards Casca. "Tonight, the harbinger of the promised day, the holy symbol denoted by our master in our visions, our sorceress! The Black Witch!" The priest fanatically cried, as the cultists cried in unison in both joy and reverence. "She is evidence of our belief! A miracle in and of herself! And on this auspicious night... one of our faithful shall be granted an honour greater than she deserves."
Casca turned around, as she saw in horror, that Nina was being dragged along by several muscular cultist men, as she screamed and struggled. Casca felt fear swelling up in her heart, as she could do nothing but watch as Nina was dragged towards the priest, who laid his eyes upon her with insane glee.
"Rejoice, daughter Nina! By this great task, you will expiate your crime of trying to steal her away for yourself." The priest stated. "We shall now cut out her heart! It shall be an offering to the witch! And after, the witch... shall mingle with our great goat and become a true member of our family."
The cultists chanted, as Nina was laid down on the ground, while a cultist pulled out a ceremonial dagger, and licked it, before walking over to Nina. At the same time, Casca watched a tall man, who wore a goat's head over his neck and head like a hood, with horns, eyes and face. Casca's panic peaked at this moment, as she spoke.
"STOP!" Casca shouted, as the cultists stopped moving, and looked towards her. "Stop this! I don't want her heart!"
"What is the matter, our great witch?" The priest asked back. "If you wish so, we will offer all of our hearts to you, if it will please you. But she might be the first, for she has sinned against you, and must be punished."
"I'm not your witch! I refuse to be a part of your twisted family!" Casca screamed. "I refuse to be raped by your insane representative! Release me now! RELEASE ME!"
"...It seems that our witch is a little delirious after everything that she has been through." The priest sighed dejectedly. "Men, restrain her. Hopefully, the offering will be enough to restore her state of mind. She'll see the truth soon enough."
More men moved over to Casca, as they pushed her down into her chair, as they pinned her arms and legs to the chair, as she tried to struggle, although she was not strong enough to handle the strong men who held her down. She could only watch, as the proceedings continued, as the dagger-wielding cultist lowered his knife towards Nina's chest.
"No... No, you can't..." Nina pleaded.
The cultist wasn't listening, as he raised the dagger to stab the blade in, as Casca instinctively closed her eyes, as she didn't want to see what was going to occur next.
However, what she heard, was not the sound of a dagger piercing flesh, but instead a flurry of footsteps and jingling metal, before they were followed by the sounds of battles, consisting of the crazed cries of the cultists, and the sounds of metal piercing and slicing through flesh.
"Great Priest!" One of the cultists cried, as he rushed towards the priest. "The lapdogs of the tower have come to slaughter us!"
"Damn them all! Men, prepare to fight for our witch! I will guide the great Goat to escape!" The priest declared.
The cultists immediately obeyed, as they rushed towards the battle, as Casca could see that the Holy Iron Chain Knights were slowly advancing through the large swarms of cultists that were trying to stop them bare-handed and naked. She did not hesitate to get off her chair, which was quickly abandoned, as she ran over to Nina.
"Nina! Are you alright!?" Casca asked Nina frantically, helping the blonde naked girl up.
"Elaine... Thank you... Let's get out of here quickly..." Nina stated. "We can get past the knights. They cannot lump us with the cultists, if we're clothed."
"But what about you, you're naked as well..." Casca remarked, as she then noticed that Nina's dress was nearby. "There! Your clothes are over there. Get them on, and let's move!"
"R-right..." Nina nervously responded back, as she got over to her clothes and slipped them on, before the two of them rushed through the knights, jumping above a mound of rock to get past the cultists.
However, their escape was cut short, when the same goat-headed man before appeared, this time looking more monstrous, as his body was more like a bipedal satyr with long human-like arms and hands. His member was converted into a large slithering snake, that seemed to have a mind of its own, slithering around the crotch of the goat monster. It tore through some of the knights brutally, causing the knights to flee. As they did so, Nina and Casca were seperated in the turmoil, as Casca was tripped over, and left behind, as the frenzied cultists and the goat monster slowly approached her. The monstrous cultists surrounded her, cutting off her escape.
"Elaine!" Nina shouted with horror, as she was dragged along by the retreating knights.
"A-Aaah..." Casca muttered, as she was horrified by the insane cultists surrounding her, before she turned around, and saw the goat-monster bend its head down, and lick her neck with its long tongue, which felt slimy and rough.
"Witch... Mingle with... Become family..." The monster growled in a deep voice, before it then grabbed Casca by the arms, hoisting her up.
The snake-like member began to move, as it slithered under Casca's clothes, rubbing against her own clit, as she moaned in pleasure from the motion, before it then slithered up to the breasts to do the same thing. It then moved right through the collar of her dress, as she found that it was staring directly at her.
"S-Stop... Please... No..." Casca whimpered, as the memories of being sexually assaulted by Femto in the Eclipse resurfaced, causing her to feel a deep sense of dread.
The snake member slowly slithered towards her mouth, intending to intrude through her throat in order to invade her entire body.
However, before the monster could do so, a large blade struck down right through it, cutting its left arm off, as well as bisecting the slithering snake member, causing it to go limp. Through the spray of blood, Casca could see Guts charging past her, as Richard did the same from the other side.
"Guts...? Richard...?" Casca muttered, with hope and relief in her expression.
Richard and Guts cut down the rabid cultists that charged at them on their fours, creating a massive swirl of blood that sprayed everyone. As soon as the cultists have been slaughtered, both of them lowered their blades and turned to Casca.
"Hey." Guts stated with a smile.
"Long time no see, Casca. You been doing well in our absence? Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. But this time, we're going to do this together." Richard told Casca with a warm smile of his own.
"Aah... Guts... Richard... It's really... the two of you..." Casca stated, as her voice trembled, and tears of relief ran down her eyes.
Judeau then took this moment to grab Casca, pulling her close in his embrace.
"There, there, Casca... We're all here now. You don't have to be afraid anymore." Judeau assured her, as the former officer cried in the chest of her comrade.
"We don't have any more reason to stay around here." Richard told everyone, as the rest of the group muscled past the knights. "Watch after Casca."
"Got it." Antonio stated.
"Wait! Take Nina as well! She deserves to be saved too!" Casca pleaded, as Nina looked towards the one who pleaded for her safety.
Nina was touched, as she tried not to cry and whimper, before she was taken by Meiling, who held her close.
"Stay with me, Nina." Meiling told the blonde girl. "I will ensure your safety."
"Thank you..." Nina quietly thanked Meiling.
"Alright, we're getting out of here." Guts stated.
"By the way, I found a back door out of here." Isidro whispered to Guts. "You owe me for this."
The group then made their way towards the back-door, as Farnese, with Serpico and Azan, watched them move.
"I-in any case, they seems to be opposing the heretics..." A knight told her with a hesitant tone.
"That doesn't exactly mean they're our allies. Did you forget!?" Another knight shouted back.
"But you saw that swordplay, right!? It was like a whirlwind, nothing like before!" Yet another knight stated.
"Shall we capture him too, then?" The first knight stated.
"...There isn't any need." Farnese muttered, before then raising her blade. "This has already become all-out combat! Kill all who do not submit and surrender!"
"But Lady Farnese...!" A knight pleaded.
"Silence! Standing here will only lead to increased casualties! Have you forgotten? These are heretics! We mustn't quail before those who oppose our god!" Farnese shouted. "Everyone advance! Annihilate them!"
As the group moved away, they watched as the knights and possessed cultists clash against each other. Judeau, holding Casca in his arms, shot a few throwing knives to take them out, as they proceeded along the path.
"No! Don't let them escape!" Farnese shouted.
"Lady Farnese!" Serpico exclaimed, before skewering the head of a cultist that tried to attack Farnese, before he then returns to the fight with the cultists.
Suddenly, Guts was ambushed by the goat monster, who noticed that the group were moving Casca out of the hideout, leaping towards him, as Guts quickly used his blade to block the horns that were aimed to gore him.
"Won't give. Witch... Mingle with-" The goat monster shouted, before Reimu then immediately threw forth a handful of ofuda that flew forward, landing on the ground, and forming a hexagonal formation around the monster.
"Sorry, but you're DENIED." Reimu coldly stated, before she then pulled out a spell-card. "Declare Spell Card: Divine Arts 'Omnidirectional Dragon-Slaying Circle'."
The ofuda immediately lit up with golden light, before they exploded into a massive hexagonal field of golden energy, that engulfed the goat monster, as it screamed out in a mix between agony and fury, as its body was vaporised by the blast of energy. As soon as the energy blast died down, there was no more traces of it anywhere.
"Come on, we need to get a move on." Richard stated, before they left the cave, as they found themselves in a small cliff-side passage that they followed along.
"Be careful where you step here." Gunter warned the others. "One misstep and the fall will kill you."
The others took the advice to heart, moving cautiously. Behind the turn around the passage, Serpico was hiding from them, as he slowly inched away with each step they made towards him.
'Too many people... Even if I tried to attack them now... I'm sure that it won't end well for me.' Serpico though, as he made a hasty retreat.
The group managed to make their way towards the end of the passage, where they had a clear path down onto proper ground, although there was no proper path down.
"Wait, how are we going to get down!?" Isidro exclaimed. "Were those thick-headed cultists going to jump down into deliverance!?"
"Not quite." Velouria replied back, as she tugged at a long piece of rope that was tied to a metal loop embedded on the cliff-side. "It seems that we can rappel down with this."
"With this many people!? How long is that going to take!?" Isidro complained.
"Not everyone needs the rope to rappel down." Richard stated. "Come on, we'll float down."
'Float?" Isidro remarked, before those who were capable of flight jumped off the path, as they slowly moved down onto the ground, "Wha!?"
"Get used to it, he's not a ordinary guy like you and me." Guts grunted.
Meiling then grabbed Nina, who was surprised, before Velouria hefted Casca over her shoulders.
"What are you doing!?" Casca demanded.
"Hold still, Casca. I can bound down this cliff safely. Just dpn't wriggle around." Velouria told Casca, before she then turned to Meiling. "Ready?"
Meiling nodded, before the both of them hopped down from ledge to ledge, as the carried women were frightened, and they remained like that for a moment, even after landing safely down, where Meiling and Velouria lowered their respective passengers down on the ground.
"God... I could feel my heart beating on my own rib-cage..." Nina shivered.
"Never have I felt such a dangerous thrill like that..." Casca added.
"Right, that leaves the others. Come on, line up and go down!" Richard called out to the others, including Guts, Isidro, Gunter, Virion, Corrin and Link.
They each came down slowly, one after another, as they quickly gathered up, and quickly fled when everyone was down on the ground.
As they did, Richard noticed a figure approaching them, as he quickly erected a ice barrier to block the figure's path, halting them in their tracks. And as he left, he noticed a small signature of demonic energy, which piqued his interest for a moment, before it then slunk away from his sensor range.
Back at the refugee camp...
Everyone gathered inside Luca's tent, as she and the girls were embracing Nina tightly, as they heard of what had happened to them.
"Luca... I'm sorry... I let Elaine suffer like this..." Nina sniffled back.
"All that matters is that you're both fine." Luca comforted Nina, glancing at Casca. "I'm truly grateful that all of you are unharmed."
"So I see... We owe quite the debt to them." Yuna stated, looking up at Guts and Richard. "What do you wish for from us, in return as our gratitude."
"Flee this land." Richard sternly told them. "It is no longer safe to stay within this 'holy ground'. If these threats exist, then no-one will be safe here. You would be best making for a town where you will be recognized as proper townsfolk."
"But we can't...!" Fouquet complained back. "Even if we have the supplies for it, if we go by foot, we'll be hunted down and killed!"
"By what Isidro has told me... You don't have much of a choice. You'll die if you remain here. May as well take your chances." Richard answered back, before reaching inside his pocket. "But I do have something of help, if you trust my assistance."
"What is it...?" Lucie asked, before she saw Richard pull out a paper tailsman inscribed with purple ink. "A paper charm...?"
"Not just a paper charm, but one that can consume and utilize magic, true magic." Richard explained. "When you are far enough, so that you will not be disturbed, hold this charm close to your chest, and huddle close. After that, close your eyes and wish for a town where you believe you will be safe in. The charm will whisk you all to the town, and burn up into ashes afterwards. I've also ensured to add some wealth in your hands, so that you will have enough to gain citizenship and live proper lives."
"...Thank you very much." Luca thanked Richard gratefully. "So I guess that this is farewell then, Elaine... No, Casca...?"
"Indeed it is. I've been looking for so long for these friends of mine." Casca answered back. "Now that I am reunited with them... I will stay close to their sides for the rest of the days. Still, I will not forget what you all have done for me back then. You helped me survive, and you eased my loneliness while I waited for my friends. You deserve a better life than all of this."
"We return your gratitude, Casca." Yuna stated with a warm smile. "Now go, you're free now."
The group then left their tents, as Casca immediately collapsed onto Guts, embracing him tightly,
"You're finally back... You stupid idiot..." Casca told them, as she pounded her fists against Guts's armor. "I can't believe that I have become worried sick about you all, so much that I went off on my own, just to find you all. I'm so ashamed for not believing that you would return eventually. But I'm finally back... And you're all here... Oh, thank God..."
"We won't leave you like this again, Casca. You have all of our words this time." Richard promised. "I'll make sure that you will be able to stand up against the threats we have faced, and fight like the brave officer that you have been all those years ago."
"Right, so... What do we do now...?" Guts asked Richard.
"Simple, we finish what we have started." Richard answered back, as he pulled out the inquisitor glasses from a sukima. "We take out Inquisitor Mozgus, once and for all."
"What...? But there's no more reason to be involved in all of this!" Gus exclaimed.
"Of course there is. As long as he stands and breathes, we will know no peace, for he will chase us more fanatically than the Holy Iron Chain Knights have done before." Richard argued back. "By doing so, he will pile corpse after corpse along his warpath, creating massive spots of negative emotion, like despair and hatred towards the unfaithful inquisitor. And that means more Apostles, which is bad for the entire world in general. Besides, the reason this place and all of the places he has been, became so fucked up, is mainly due to his adverse beliefs. He must be eradicated, for he is a bane to humanity's survival itself."
Gus was silent, as the others seemed to understand the reasoning behind Richard's words.
"Before I leave and return in my Dark Inquisitor alias..." Richard told Casca, before he pulled out a slender silver blade that was suitable for her. "Like I have done with Isidro, I will give you a blade to face against your enemies. This blade is far more stronger than what you have used before, and it will strike through both the physical and ethereal like a proper blade."
"...I see... Thank you for the gift." Casca thanked Richard, as she swung the blade a few times to test its weight and swing, before he sheathed it in her waist sheathe.
"It is merely in your best interests and survival. I will not let you fight without a blade to rely upon." Richard answered back. "And when I return, all of you must pretend that you are of no affiliation with me, or my identity will be likely leaked. If I can uphold my stern judge alias long enough, perhaps I can turn the fate of this festival, and save a few more innocent lives."
"So pretend that we don't know you. Got that. Think of it like working for the same goal, right?" Antonio asked back.
"Correct. Take your time to prepare. We will start the raid when night falls." Richard told them.
The group started their preparations, as Richard pulled out the idol pendant he wore in his other identity, staring at it.
"Mozgus... By faith, you have sinned and murdered, and so by karma, it will be by faith that you will be rightfully slain." Richard muttered to himself ominously.