Gilligan and the warriors walked through the capital and into the southern parts of the land. As they came to one of the few town squares, they overheard many of the people talking about a Duel that had taken place here last night.
Gilligan walked up to one of the townsfolk. "I beg your pardon, but could you inform me of the events that took place last night?" He asked.
"You mean the Duel? It was spectacular! I had never seen anything like it before in my life. Oh I do hope they Duel again soon. Something about that masked man was so alluring. I like a man with a sense of mystery about them." The woman gushed over the events like it was some sort of romance.
"Y-Yes, I see. Do you by chance know where they went after the Duel had concluded?"
"Unfortunately no, otherwise I'd be there myself now."
"Well, thank you for your time, Miss." Gilligan bowed and continued with his investigation. The others, except Orchid, all joined in and asked as many of the townsfolk as they could. As Orchid kept to herself, she turned a corner only to find a massive crater cutting through the street and partially into the building adjacent to it.
"Hey, guys!" She called out to the warriors. They all joined her quickly and soon shared the same feeling of uncertainty.
"Was this from the Duel?" Asked Travis nervously.
"'Fraid so." One of the men who was working on the repairs sighed.
"This couldn't have possibly been from just one dragon, could it?" Seravis laughed.
"No. Not one. Three." The man answered. Seravis felt his stomach drop. That should have made him feel better, but knowing their enemy had at least three dragons under their control, and that they didn't use them on him back at the mountain base only made things worse.
"Alright, listen up." Gilligan started. "We know they have dragons with them, so we must be careful, but do not cower in fear. Together we stand a chance." He cheered his men on. Most of them proudly cheered back, but Seravis and Carder had their own opinions.
"Oh, if you're lookin' for that man with the mask, he and an elf were headed for one of the inns, I believe." The repair man spoke up.
Draegor was seated in his chair, relaxing his thoughts when Bella slowly walked down the stairs, tired and weak. "We will need to get your wounds fixed soon if we are to continue our travels." He said coldly.
"We don't have the money to pay for that." Bella coughed. Even though Tori's medical efforts helped, her cuts were starting to worsen. Draegor only sighed. Just then, there was a knocking on the door.
"What in the world?" Bella yawned.
"I will see who it is." Draegor stood up and answered the door, but not before morphing back into his disguise. "How can I help you?" He answered, but he immediately recognized two of the men in the group. It was the two boys he had bested back at the mountain base.
"That's not him." He heard the one named Seravis whisper to the leader.
"Good day, sir. My name is Gilligan Grand, Leader of the Grand Knights. We were informed that a certain individual had taken refuge here. Perhaps you could assist us?" Gilligan requested.
Draegor, however, was staring at one of the members of the Grand Knights in particular. They were an elf girl, but he sensed right away something about her that was very different. Then he noticed her necklace. "So…" He grumbled, "That is where you have been hiding."
"I beg your pardon?" Gilligan asked, but he and the others were not prepared for what happened next.
"Cast: 'Ookazi'!" Draegor chanted and an explosion of fire erupted from the door and at the warriors. All of them were knocked back, and when they quickly got to their feet, they saw the cloaked man with the mask as black as night. "I know you are there, so come out already!" He roared in anger.
"It is him!" Carder panicked.
"Well he's not getting away this time!" Seravis shouted as he charged Draegor.
"Seravis! No!" Gilligan commanded but it was too late.
"Activate: 'Gravity Bind'." Draegor chanted and all the warriors, except Travis, could feel a heavy weight to them. Seravis fell to the floor, unable to continue his attack while Draegor began to walk directly for the elf girl.
Orchid had never felt fear like this in all her life. This man, this… demon, seemed ready to kill her outright and for no apparent reason. She could practically see his aura of darkness surrounding him. "What's his problem?!" She thought to Young.
"Run!" The voice ordered firmly.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Orchid turned tail and began sprinting as hard as she could.
"Run all you want! You will not be able to stay hidden forever!" The demon called out to her.
"Alright, spill it. He's clearly talking to you." Orchid demanded to know.
"Now is not the time." Young answered.
"Not the time?! Seems like there's a lot of things you should be telling me right now!" Orchid shouted aloud, but Young remained silent.
Draegor continued to walk towards the sprinting elf, but Travis, who was unaffected by the Trap, attacked the masked man from the skies.
"Skill: 'Gale Force Strike'!" The harpie chanted.
"Activate: 'Magic Cylinder'." Draegor countered using his Trap to redirect the harpie's attack back at him. Travis fell to the ground in pain.
"No!" Gilligan shouted, unable to attack.
"Skill: 'Magic Removal'!" Keinath chanted and destroyed the Trap that prevented the others from attacking.
All of them charged the masked man, who turned to face them.
"Enough!" Bella shouted, standing between the two groups. Everyone froze. "Draegor, you mind telling me why you attacked my niece?"