Fasten your seatbelts, for this is the penultimate chapter. We're almost there...

A Gauntlet Of Betrayals

We rushed outside the cathedral and the whole sky was changing from grey clouds to dark purple and black, and worst of all, a magic knight and a cryptid appeared and they were already wrecking part of the Sankt District with civilians running away from the scene.

"It appears your suspicion was proven correct, Miss Clotilde." Thomas said.

He then casted a spell that stopped the magic knight instantly, freezing it almost.

"What in the world?" I asked.

"The Partitioner's Power." Gaius said quietly.

"A useful spell indeed. I shall assist with the rest." Roselia used her staff to finish it off.

Vita and Emma teamed up to eliminate the cryptid.

"Incredible!" Machias said.

"This is what the Hexen Clan and the Gralsritter are capable of?" Elliot asked.

Suddenly, a pair of magic knights appeared when Alfin and Elise showed up, they were about to attack, but Patrick swooped in to stop the magic knights and we finished them off.

"Rean! Oh, I'm so glad you're all right." Elise hugged him.

"You too, Elise." He replied. "Thank you Patrick. You really saved the day there."

"I simply happened to be in the right place at the right time." Patrick said. "But what in Aidios's name is going on?"

"Does all this have something to do with that bell we heard?" Alfin asked.

I gasped and kneeled at her. "Princess Alfin...please forgive this worthless man! I should've tried harder to stop Ash, I was supposed to protect lives!"

"Alex...please don't feel like you've let the country down."

Emma got me back up. "Stop hurting yourself, Alex."

"We better explain what we heard." Rean said as we all explained the situation.

Alfin was shocked and a little upset. "Cedric..."

I sighed. "I'm sensing huge presences of magic knights and cryptids. I don't sense any here for now, but..."

"We need to keep her Highness and the others safe." Machias said.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that." Vita volunteered. "I can create a barrier around the girls school. That way, they should be safe from things like Magic Knights and cryptids."

"R-really?!" Juna asked.

"That'd be a huge help." Sara said.

Thomas hummed. "My my. We were counting on you, but..."

"I suppose we have no other options." Roselia nodded.

We all regrouped outside the school entrance.

"Patrick, please take care of them." Rean said.

"After Vita, you'll be the next most skilled combatant guarding them." Machias added.

"I shan't let so much as a hair on their heads come to harm." Patrick replied. "Please be careful, yourselves!"

"I never would have thought something like this would happen." Gwyn said. "All of you, keep your wits about you."

"You too as well." Gaius replied.

"I promise I'll come back safely." Alisa said. "After all, I still need to find out the truth...and exactly how much you know, mother. About Sharon...and the Black Workshop!"

Irina sighed. "My agreement with Sharon was always meant to end the moment the reappeared. The man she fought 10 years ago. The one who vanished into the flames she left behind. Now that our agreement has come to an end, there's nothing left to tie her down. I'm sure she can return to her former job without a care in her mind."

"So she's going back to being one of Ouroboros." I said. "Can't help but feel a little betrayed after all the help she's given us since we first met her."

"How much did you know, Schmidt?" Gwyn asked.

"Nothing more than a suspicion." He answered. "When I found his notes on the Panzer Soldats, I knew he intended to present them to me as a graduation thesis. Apparently, however, he's become consumed with some ridiculous delusion. So I will see this through to the end. I plan to find out what he intends to do with my third disciple."

"So you already knew about George?" Rean asked.

"Yes, I approached him knowing he was from the same place as Franz. The Black Workshop, headquarters of the Gnomes. Hidden away somewhere in Erebonia."

I sighed. "If Towa ever found that out, she would be devastated."

"If you're not convinced, then the only thing to do is go hear it for yourself." Irina said. "Sharon's true feelings and the truth about that man."

Alisa took Rean's hand. "Of course that's what I'm going to do! We'll do this together, Rean."

Rean kept a grip on her hand. "Definitely."

"Rean...Musse, Juna and Kurt, please be careful." Elise said.

"And Alex...before you go, I do have one thing to make clear." Alfin added as she showed a calm yet serious glare. "Please, stop my brother!"

She wants me to stop Cedric? "I will, Princess. And this time, I will succeed!"

"I believe in you, Alex...and everyone else from Class VII."

"We will, we promise." Rean said.

"Once this is done, we should have a long nice talk, Emma." Vita suggested.

Emma smirked. "That would be nice, but I won't hold my breath."

"Oh my..."

"Hmph. You reap what you sow, Vita." Celine remarked.

"Well, well. It seems Emma has matured enough that she can see right thought her secretive sister's lies." Roselia said.

"Oh, you're one to talk, grandmother." Emma replied.

Vita casted a huge barrier dome around the whole school building and handed the staff to Roselia.

"Very well, we are now ready to depart." She said.

"Indeed, let's be off." Thomas added. "Rosine, please take care of things here."

Rosine nodded. "Yes, I'll try to get in contact with Sir Hemisphere somehow."

I slapped my fists. "Let's get going, team...I don't wanna be on a time limit."

"To the Imperial Villa...no, the Gral of Erebos." Kurt said.

We made our way across the streets, seeing other cryptids and divine knights causing havoc along the districts, but they were put down by the armored divisions. We had to fight our way through the Vesta Street that was overrun by them, more showed up, but backup arrived and we went on ahead. Rean called for Towa and she assured backup would be on the way.

It took a while due to having limited means of transport, but we left the city and made our way to the Villa where the entire building and it's surrounding environment had drastically changed.

"So that's the Gral of Erebos." Gaius said.

"The Karel Imperial Villa is completely gone." Elliot added.

Emma nodded. "Yes, it's just like the Infernal Castle..."

"And that isn't all..." I clenched my fists. "...look who's waiting for us."

"Yeah, the Red Constellation has a battalion." Sara said.

"The Arc Royale is here too." Kurt added. "So the main campus in on their side."

Campanella laughed. "You've arrived even earlier than I thought you would. I expected to see Abyss there with you, but it seems you have a spectacular lineup even without her."

"Class VII...I knew you'd come."

"George!" I exclaimed. "What do you have to say for yourself, traitor?!"

Duvalie, Ines and Ennea appeared with four mechanical knights of their own.

"Your struggle is pointless!" Duvalie said.

"This is all our Lord's will." Ines added.

Ennea giggled. "Please don't think ill of us."

"Even the Stahlritter supports this?!" I exclaimed. "And here I thought your faction knew nothing except honor and dignity...but this...you've sunk so low today!"

"They've poured every resource at their disposal into guarding this place." Jusis said.

"Well, boss's orders, you know how it is." Xeno responded.

"If you wish to get past us, you had better be prepared." Leo said.

Gareth readied his rifle. "I will do all I can to serve Ms. Orlando."

"So you two factions were together...the whole time?!" I asked, loudly. "You know, I'm not sure I can take more of this. Out of the way, main campus students, I have no business with you."

"Hah! You have no authority to order us around." One of them said.

"By his highness will. We will put a stop to your advance." Another one added.

"What's wrong with them?!" Juna exclaimed. "There's no way this is okay!"

"Good or bad, they're still Erebonians." Kurt said.

"It's difficult for them to defy the Chancellor or the crown prince." Musse added.

"So...so what!" I exclaimed as I got angry. "All I see in front of me are enemies, traitors and cowards all combined into one! None of this is ever okay, it never should be! As long as I have these powers, I will put a stop to this, even if I have to go through every single one of these foes to do it!"

"Alex..." Emma said.

"Even if you did use your demon powers, you are still one man." George responded. "You can't expect to win against all of us at once. Let alone the rest of us who are already inside, preparing for the final step."

I sighed with disgust.

"Rose, Instructor Thomas, is there any way to get past the barrier?" Rean asked.

"It will be extremely difficult. Even with the help of your Divine Knight." Roselia answered. "But if I were to combine my spells with this twerp's partitions..."

"We may be able to manage it." Thomas finished.

They both took a step forward and got ready to cast thier combined magic.

"You're gonna open a way through for us?" I asked.

"Of course we will, and you need to control your powers, Alex." Roselia said. "Whilst the time limit has not started, you should be able to use your true powers without anything holding you back due to how strong the dark aura around here is."

Just then, the branch campus train arrived, Towa, Randolph, Michael, Tita and the branch campus students got out and they were ready for battle. We then heard an orbal bike approach...Agate and Tio had arrived to help us.

"Tio Tot, you made it." Randolph said.

"Yes, I hitched a ride." She replied.

"Agate, where's Schera and the others?!" Tita asked.

"We were in a pretty rough spot, but she chewed me out and sent me ahead." Agate answered. "Asked me what the hell I'm good for if I'm not by your side at a time like this."

Tita blushed.

"Agate and Tita." Randolph teased.

"Sitting in a tree." Tio added.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Fie smirked.

"Shut the hell up!" Agate responded.

I sighed as I calmed down. "Guys, this is hardly the time..."

"All the players have taken the stage." Campanella said.

"Let us begin." Roselia responded.

"The two of us will take on the members of Ouroboros." Thomas said.

Just then, the battle across the entrance ground began, I noticed Towa and George exchanging harsh words and then his red doll proceeded to attack her, I zoomed in front of her and knocked the doll away.

"Alex?" She asked.

"Forget about him, Towa." I replied. "He's become a full-blown traitor and I heard it all...whatever happens, he's going to pay for what he did to Angelica. And I'll gladly tear his red doll apart."

She nodded. "Rean! Everyone! Now's your chance!"

Thomas and Roselia casted a small cube through the barrier and Emma casted a huge spell that transported us through the barrier and we teleported to the inside. We were in a very large tower building.

"So this is..." Machias paused.

"We're inside that huge black egg." Fie said.

I was on my knees, the emotion I was bottling up, was too much to hold in.

"Now that it's just us here, I can finally...hic...let it out."

I wailed a little as tears fell down my face, not caring if anyone was watching or listening. I felt Emma wrap her arms around me and my left hand was held by Rean and he was worried for me. A cold dark fact was reminded by all of us.

"Of course..." Machias whispered.

"If we don't succeed." Elliot said.

"It'll be a matter of time before he becomes a demon forever." Laura added.

"There's no way we can let that happen!" Sara exclaimed. "Remembering that is another reason why we have to win."

"That's right. We're going to a put stop to all of this, no matter what." Rean agreed. "Alex, I don't think you should battle. Save your strength until we get to the very end."

"I have to agree." Celine nodded. "Your mind isn't clear enough to fight."

I shook my head. "No, I still wanna do my part. Roselia said it was okay for me to use them, so I will. But only in small doses."

"If you say so."

I got up and after sharing an emotional embrace with Emma, I calmed down.

"This place...I've never felt power like this before." Rean said.

"Yes, it's far beyond that of the Infernal Castle." Emma added.

Sara nodded. "Pretty big, too. Could be a...500-arge drop?"

"Yes, based on the echoes, I would guess that's about right." Gaius replied.

"Let's go." Juna said.

"I'm certain they're waiting for us." Kurt added.

"That's right..." Rean replied. "...what awaits us here is our ultimate battle, but there's no need to be afraid. We've all trained for over two years, each of us honing our skills. Together, there's nothing the united Class VII can't overcome! We will halt the Great Twilight! We will rescue Altina! And on behalf of everyone who sent us off, we will all return alive! No matter what!"

"Rean..." I rubbed my eyes. "...you're damn right. What the hell was I thinking?"

With renewed confidence and determination, we began our journey downwards to the bottom floor of the Gral. But we knew that there would be powerful and familiar foes along the way and they will stop us the moment they see us coming. When we made it down a floor, we could see McBurn and Arianhrod in the distance. We rushed along the pathway and soon encountered them.

"I didn't expect you of all people would have supported the Chancellor's plan like this." Rean said.

"Same here, I thought the Stahlritter was meant to be honorable and chivalrous." I added. "Seeing you stand against us is the complete opposite, I feel disappointed in you."

"I am not surprised you would think of me that way." She replied. "But it is all for the sake of the Grandmaster's Phantasmal Blaze Plan. But that aside, this is an opportunity for me to settle the past."

"Seems like things are about to heat up." McBurn said. "It'd be a waste if I didn't jump in here, too, yeah?"

"Well of course you would." I replied. "But I've already proven my worth against you. Now Arianhrod on the other hand...I have a chance."

"Very well, your chance to face me has come." She brought our her long lance. "We couldn't battle last time back at the fortress, but this time, we will. I only ask that your friends aid you."

Laura nodded at me and took a step forward. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lianne Sandlot. I greet you today in place of my father, Victor Arseid.

"Descendant of Arseid, I welcome you. However, you needn't address me by the name 'Sandlot' today. That 'S' now belongs to your family. The warrior you see before you is nothing more than a ghost of the past."

"So you're just like Rutger and Crow." I replied as I drew out my gauntlets. "Then it'll be a pleasure to prove to you my worth!"

"And I shall fight alongside as one, Alex." Laura said.

"Well, demon kid and the lady knight aside." McBurn intervened. "You two, Little Miss Barely-A-Witch and Newbie Knight. Don't you think it's a bit too early for you to die?"

"Watch it, asshole! That's the love of my life you're talking to!" I exclaimed.

Emma then brought out the staff that Roselia had, she must've given it to her. Gaius then stood forward to join us.

So the battle was set, McBurn and Arainrhod against myself, Emma, Gaius and Laura.

*Battle Skip*

Well, no wonder they threw out the strongest two at the start, I was already exhausted.

"Gahaha! Get out of here, Angbar!" McBurn brought out a dark purple sword. "You're persistent, I'll give you that, but don't end up like your dear old dad."

"You have no right to speak about my father." Laura replied. "Alex, everyone else, leave this battle to us."

"That's right, there's still a long way to go." Emma said. "And Alex, please don't do anything stupid...I love you."

I nodded and gave her a quick kiss. "I love you too, Emma...always."

Rean nodded. "We'll leave them to you, but be careful."

As Laura, Gaius and Emma kept them busy, the rest of us rushed on to the next part that led us to an elevator. It took us down to the middle floor and we kept on pushing through until we reached the next section where we still couldn't see the bottom, but we did spot four familiar foes from a distance.

"HEEEEEEY! OVER HEEEEERE!" One of them shouted.

I sighed. "Shirley sure likes to be loud and proud."

We rushed on to where they were and I could see the faces on Fie, Sara and Alisa, I'm sure Rean would like his turn whilst I recover for a bit.

"You two sure seem to be getting along." Fie said to them.

"Never thought I'd see the leaders of the two most bitterly-opposed corps shooting the breeze instead of each other." Sara added.

"Well, to be honest, I'd really rather pick a fight with him." Shirley replied. "But this is what Lady Mariabell wants, so whatever."

"Mariabell? Is she another enforcer?" I asked.

"Well, if it comes to that, why don't you go ask her yourself?"

I frowned. "Considering how dangerous you Society people are, I think I'll pass."

"Mariabell Crios is the daughter of the former mayor of Crossbell." Juna said. "I did hear a rumor she'd become one of Ouroboros's bigwigs."

"Is that so?" Kurt asked.

"Well, we can't really afford to underestimate you guys, y'know?" Rutger responded. "That's why we had to drum up some decent fighters for this little show."

"Sharon...why?" Alisa asked. "And just who IS that man dressed in black?"

"It's as the chairman said, I once visited your father on a mission. As a member of the Gnomes, he was researching something on Ouroboros's behalf." Sharon replied. "However, our negotiations broke down and I confronted him in combat. After a heated battle, I ended up causing the explosion that took his life. But Master Franz's body was never found. Despite all that, the chairman saved my life and even gave me a name. She said to me, 'Atone by working for the Reinford family. When he returns, you will be absolved of your duties'.

So that's how Sharon became a maid for the Reinford company.

"Though I doubt she was aware he was actually still alive. Regardless, my contract is now completed. I will return the name of'Sharon', and all the memories associated with it. I now resume my role as the Severing Chains."

"Sharon..." Alisa looked down.

Rean held her hand. "Alisa, I'm right here with you."

"Rean..."

"And you as well, Crow...no, Azure Siegfried."

"Heh, you finally got my name right." He replied. "I may only be here to fill out the roster, but I'll do my job. My life slipped out of my grasp, but Georg picked it up. I might just be a cheap knockoff, but I need to pay my respects to Alberich either way."

"So Georg 'saved you' in a way after the Vermillion Castle incident. Another reason for me to kick his teeth in." I sighed. "Anyways, Rean, this one's yours, I still need to rest up."

"Alright." Rean replied. "Let's give this all we've got!"

Rean, Alisa, Fie and Sara charged into battle against Siegfried, Sharon, Shirley and Rutger.

*Battle Skip*

The battle came to an end when Alisa stood back a brought out a white Orbal Gear that was similar to Tita's red one.

"Haha! You sure have grown up, Fie!" Rutger said.

"I'm surprised how good Sylphid's gotten, but you're not bad yourself, Purple Lightning." Shirley added.

"As for that Orbal Gear, where did that come from?" I asked.

Alisa got into it and had it set up. "Tio, Tita and I worked hard to get this up and running." She replied. "Its test runs are complete and now its ready for deployment."

Even Sharon was surprised. "I...I was not aware such a thing was in development."

"I did it in secret, so I could surprise you with it. Never thought I'd unveil it quite like this though. But do you see now? I'm not a child anymore! I'll make you see me as an equal, as a fellow family member! You too, Crow, as a fellow member of Class VII!"

"Heh, quite the speech." He replied.

"My lady, you truly have grown up." Sharon said.

"Well said, Alisa." Rean nodded. "I think I've fallen for you all over again."

She blushed. "N-not now, Rean..."

"Alright you guys, go on, leave this to us." Sara said.

"We'll catch up, soon." Fie added.

Alisa reached her hand out to Rean and he held it. "If you find my father down there, please get some answers...and Rean, I love you."

"Love you too, Alisa, leave it to me." Rean replied as he kissed her hand.

We went on as Alisa, Fie and Sara carried on battling them. Rean had that confident look going, he had faith that Alisa would be able to handle herself well with that Orbal gear. We took the next elevator down to the first part of the lower layer and after going lower, we saw the lower section where the bottom floor was now in view. But on our left in the distance was the last line of defence...the Ironbloods.

We prepared ourselves and rushed onwards to where they were standing, and I could feel my emotions rising up.

"Rean, Alex, Jusis...everyone." Millium said. "So you guys ended up coming here after all, huh?"

"Of course we did, you fool." Jusis replied.

"We didn't exactly have any other options." Machias added. "You should know that."

"It's a shame Ash, couldn't be with us, but..." Elliot paused.

I stood forward. "Okay, let's get this straight...Lechter and Rufus I expected this, and Claire has become too indecisive, she can't even make a clear choice when it's staring right in front of her."

"Ah!" Claire looked down.

"But Millium...I should've expected this after what I said back at the reunion party." I clenched my fists. "But still...seeing you on the other side, it hurts..."

"I know...I'm happy, but sad...but I've got my own reasons for being here." Millium replied. "Sorry, but I can't let you guys through."

Jusis nodded. "I see..."

"That's fine, we'll force our way through if we have to." Rean said.

"Still, I can't help but feel like what you said back then was just a lie, and now-"

"STOP! I WASN'T LYING!" Millium yelled as she interrupted me. "Class VII means the world to me, you all mean so much to me! But no matter how much I cherish my time with you guys, I will always be an Ironblood first! I know it hurts, and it's hurting me as well, but that's how it has to be!"

"Tch...dammit!"

"Alex..." Claire whispered.

Lechter sighed. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm fresh out of witty remarks."

"I hope you don't think too ill of us, Alexander. We Ironbloods simply cannot oppose His Excellency." Rufus said. "Though we understand you find this whole situation unfair. However, now that we know a piece of the truth, we cannot go against it."

"Even at the cost of the world?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes...even so."

"That's enough, Rufus." Jusis stood forward. "I can't understand why you're standing in our way. Your title of governor general, the connections you've made with nobles and hears of state in other countries. Your success wasn't handed to you by the Chancellor. Most of your accomplishments were won by your hand alone. In that sense, you wield immense power, to the point where it may even rival the Chancellor's. So tell me, why don't you oppose this insane plan?! Why do you continue to be an Ironblood?!"

Rufus smirked at us. "It's simple really, it's because I'm not my father's son. Put plainly, Helmut Alberea is not my father."

"Wha?!"

Well, that was a shock to all of us.

"It isn't as though I don't have the Duke's blood in my veins mind you. I am the bastard son of my mother and your long banished uncle." He announced. "Needless to say, Father is well aware of this. In order to keep the family name from being tarnished, he treated me as his legitimate heir. All the while, keeping his true son at arm's length, simply because of his commoner blood."

Sheesh, as if we didn't hate Duke Alberea enough, and now this?!

"If this is truly the way of the nobility, then I find nothing noble about it. Over time, I began to question the value of nobles to our country. In a different manner from how Machias or Prince Olivert did. It was then I met him. The man who ended the Hundred Days War, who restrained the Four Great houses, who rose from the ranks of commoners to Imperial Chancellor. He drove away the jaeger crops I hired to attack him and instantly determined it was I who sent them."

So that's how he first met Osborne and how the Ironbloods was founded.

"We may only be a replacement for the son he let go. But to me, Lechter, Claire and Millium, he is special. His unending charisma convinces you everything he does is the proper course of action. One could say we see him the way members of Ouroboros view thier Grandmaster." He then drew out his sword. "But enough talk, let's begin. We won't be making this easy for you."

I nodded. "Alright...Millium don't you dare hold back, because I won't!"

"Good, because I'm not gonna go easy on you guys!" She replied. "Jusis, Machias, Elliot, you should give him some help."

The three guys nodded and they joined with me as I noticed the eyes of the Ironbloods members changing colour.

"Full throttle, let's do this!" I exclaimed.

*Battle Skip*

"Harrrrrrgh!" I landed with a powerful fist to the ground and Millium was knocked off her feet. "Hah...now do you understand?!"

"Wow...you've gotten incredibly strong." Millium replied. "Okay...you guys win, go on."

"Go Rean and Alex, take the new Class VII with you!" Jusis said.

"Got it, let's move!" Rean replied.

As we rushed by, Machias, Jusis and Elliot battled against Claire, Lechter and Rufus whilst Millium stood back to take a break.

We carried on to the next area with the third elevator, now it was just the five of us, but we didn't have long left to go. We were on the second part of the bottom layer path. The monsters were getting tougher, but we still kept going until we reached a large archway that would take use to the bottom floor.

'Once we go pass this point...we may not return...until it's all over...'

Getting a little exciting isn't it?

Next time! The story ends on a cliffhanger where it all goes horribly wrong...