41. A New Horror

Arganan, Doug and Dylas all approached the castle, first checking with Volkanon and the other staff to see if Arganan having Prince/Princess Points was possible. Given that Arthur gave up his rule as Prince to Frey, it made more than enough sense that Frey had Princess points to spend on a license. But for Arganan?

"Let me see here…" Volkanon surveyed the Order Symbol, putting his hand to it to swipe through and examine.

"You can use the Order Symbol?" Arganan raised a brow.

"Before Princess Frey arrived, as well as Arthur, Lady Ventuswill ruled this town by default. However, given how she cannot leave Selphia, and rarely left the castle itself as is, most people approached me for operations on the entirety of Selphia. That's how I have access to it as well." Volkanon answered. The elder head butler moved his hand across the screen a few times, swiping a bit, before pausing and reading. "Well…"

"What is it?" Doug asked.

"It seems that Arganan has accumulated many points." Volkanon's eyes widened. "But he's not a noble from Norad or Selphia itself…so how is this possible?"

"I assume it's because I'm related to Calista." Arganan shrugged. "Doug and Dylas brought up that theory, actually. I might not be Count of Lazulis, anymore, but I'm still related to her. And Lazulis did start trade with Selphia around the same time I first came here, right?"

"Hmm." Volkanon looked towards Arganan, raising a brow. "It could be so. The only other alternative is that your niece may have wanted you here for a reason other than your recovery."

"Like…an ambassador, or something?" The former Count frowned. But why hide that from me, if that's the case? No matter what the reason was for Calista to send him here, at least he was here to help Frey right now. He had to count that blessing.

"Let's just get the test over with and get flying." Doug managed, shaking his head. "The more we stand around talking, nothing's gonna get done!"

"What's not going to get done?"

The four of them looked up to see Ventuswill stand from where she rested. Arganan had assumed she would be okay due to one Rune Sphere being restored to her, since Doug got it from Ethelberd the last time they encountered him, but…she appeared fully recovered.

"Lady Ventuswill!?" Volkanon's eyes widened as he faced her. "How are you…? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, but thank you." Ventuswill offered Volkanon an acknowledging smile, before looking towards Arganan and the others. "I heard that you three are planning to head to the Sechs Empire to help Frey?"

"Yes." Arganan answered, nodding. He took a deep breath, looking up at her. "Are you going to stop us?"

"No. She'll need all the help she can get." She shook her head, grimacing. "I can't let her get hurt like that. Not after all she's done for me. And…I can't let Selphia be at risk, either. Take the test and get the license, Arganan. We should get going as soon as possible. I can accompany you three there."

"Great!" Doug cheered. Even Dylas couldn't help but smile a little.

Arganan moved towards the Order Symbol, but then looked up at Ventuswill. "Do you have any idea why I'm in the prince and princess points system as is?"

She nodded. "I do, but…let's focus on saving Selphia, first. Or else we won't have a system to return to."

The airship license test was much easier than Arganan expected, despite a lack of studying on his part. It was so easy that he couldn't help but wonder why he didn't bother getting it earlier, when he first arrived in Selphia. Also, why didn't he know that the points system was being applied to him so he would eventually have the ability to get a license? It would save him a lot of trouble in the long run, as well as a lot of debt.

However, at least he got the license now.

Bad news? That didn't improve his driving whatsoever.

"Ugh!" Arganan heard Dylas groan from the back of the small airship. "Is there any way you drive smoother?"

"I'm sorry," the former Count could help but snap back, "But I happened to get my license twenty minutes ago. Try to give this second-timer a break, will you?"

"As long as we don't crash," Doug managed, sighing, "And we don't die, we'll be fine. Right? Hopefully?"

"Maybe." Arganan sighed. "You don't think I'll be forced to pay an additional fine for driving an airship badly given the whole situation, will I?"

"Hopefully not."

"If we die, this is your fault." The former Count could help but laugh, but he tried to keep a good eye on the clouds and the various flying beings in the air as he continued to drive. "You're the ones that made me get the bloody license in the first place!"

Ventuswill groaned as she flew beside the airship. "Focus on driving, Arganan! Doug, Dylas, for the love of Selphia, please stop fighting!"

Wait…now that he was driving the freaking airship, what were they supposed to do once they reached the Sechs? Arganan looked back towards Dylas and Doug, who had their own individual weapons with them. "What is the plan to defeat Ethelberd? Are we just meeting up with Frey and the others and insisting that we help them, or…?"

"We can shoot Ethelberd from above." Dylas pointed out. "This airship has cannons we can use. If we get there just as Frey and everyone else are fighting Ethelberd, we can catch him off by surprise and give them a chance to take him down for sure."

"What if he's defeated by the time we get there?"

Doug shrugged. "We can, uh…pick them all up and give them a ride home?"

Arganan sighed. "You two didn't think this completely through, did you?"

"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing." Dylas grimaced. "Blame the dwarf."

"Hey!" Doug glared at Dylas. "Who was the nag that said we should do something to help Frey and the others!?"

"You wanted to help too, you dummy!"

Arganan did his best not to swear as he glared at both men. "Calm your arses down, both of you! We're not going to get anywhere if we keep arguing, okay? Save it for when we get back home!"

"Fine." The other two muttered. Arganan could only sigh and look ahead, only to notice what appeared to be a large, floating island. It was clearly metallic, full of many reflective, tall structures, and Arganan noticed a few flying machines hovering about. He frowned, gritting his teeth.

"I think we have company." Ventuswill warned, frowning as she continued gliding in the air. "The Sechs noticed us."

"Have they?" Doug approached Arganan to take a good look from where he stood, and grimaced. "I don't think they've seen us yet. Try to get the airship higher up so they miss us."

"Okay." Arganan did his best to try to steer the airship to fly a bit higher…

And that was when a laser blasted past the ship, barely missing it by a few inches.

"Damn!" Dylas used a ray of water to block the next laser. "They spotted us already!"

"Should I try to do something to ward them off!?" Arganan called back. "I can reflect their attacks with the Outsider's power."

"Try that. I'll take hold of keeping the airship on course!" Doug quickly took over the steering wheel from Arganan. The former Count moved to the other side of the airship, opposite of where Dylas was, just in time to see another flying machine float towards the airship and fire. Arganan willed the Outsider's power to appear, and create a shield it did for him before. The translucent, blue light appeared before him, making the laser bounce off it instead of hitting the ship. In fact, the laser itself ended up hitting the same machine that initiallyl fired it, making it spiral and fall out of the sky.

"Yes!" Arganan heard Doug cheer. "Keep it up!"

Arganan and Dylas both kept up deflecting attacks, while Doug did the driving. Ventuswill, too, also deflected attacks from the flying machines with her own magic powers. Ironically, Doug, who did not have a license unlike Arganan, drove better than he did, keeping a steady pace.

"How the hell did you fail your test!?" Arganan yelled at Doug halfway through fighting the flying machines. "You drive better than me!"

"I guessed on the last question." Doug grimaced a bit. "It didn't work out."

"Of course you did." Dylas muttered, shaking his head as the last of the flying machines fell. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey! It was a fifty-fifty chance I'd get it right!"

Arganan looked around, checking for further flying machines, but there were none. "Doug, I think we're in the clear. Are we any closer to the Sechs Empire?"

Ventuswill flew ahead a few paces before nodding. "We're almost there! Get ready to strike."

At this point, the airship was close enough that Arganan could see a clearing, as if acting like a main courtyard area (though whether it could be a courtyard was debatable, given that there was very little plantlife compared to metal surfaces. Ethelberd stood there, and Arganan saw several figures suddenly rush into the clearing.

"Frey." Arganan breathed.

"What?" Arganan heard Dylas ask, approaching him. The former Guardian peered over the edge of the airship, eyes widening. "Doug? Ethelberd's here! Same with Frey and the others!"

"What!?" Doug gasped. "Are they battling already?"

Arganan shook his head, looking towards Doug. "I think they're about to. We should wait for the right time to strike. See if Frey and the others can get the Rune Spheres back, first. The last thing we want is for the fighting to get worse if we instantly join in."

"Arganan has a point." Ventuswill managed. "We'll have to see what happens."

"Give me the Rune Spheres! Now!" Frey's yell came from below as she stared down Ethelberd, holding dual blades in her hands. Zael, Therius and Arthur all were with her, weapons also drawn.

"Why in such a rush?" Ethelberd raised a brow, looking Frey in the eye. "Do you sense my power? Has it made you cower in fear? If so…then I'm disappointed in you, Frey."

"What?" Zael asked, but Ethelberd ignored him.

"Earthmates, the ones loved by the earth and blessed by the runes. I was defeated once before by the one who had the power, when I tried taking over the continent. But…" He shook his head, a smirk appearing on his lips. "I'm rather thankful for you meddlesome twerps. I might even…respect you. You earthmates reached a different stage of being, which humans can never hope to obtain. As I see it, they are the closest things to gods."

"What are you talking about?" Therius asked.

"If you're one of them, I trust you won't disappoint me!" He took out the stones briefly, and Arganan noticed Ethelberd's whole being glow along with him before he put them back, "If you want them back, you'll need to stop me with your power, with your own hands!"

Ethelberd and Frey struck at each other with magic and blades alike. Zael, Arthur, and Therius also backed up Frey. Arthur tried to fire several spells at Ethelberd, missing a few times. Therius managed to get close enough to get a few hits on Ethelberd, but was blasted back by a spell.

Zael tried to get close to Ethelberd to try to grab the Rune Spheres, next. Unfortunately for Zael, he missed, as Ethelberd managed to sidestep him in time before counterattacking. Blade to blade, steel against steel, both men clashed with each other as Arthur struggled to find a good timing to shoot a light magic spell at Ethelberd without hitting Zael. Frey, meanwhile, backed up, using the time to heal Therius while Ethelberd was occupied with Zael.

"You." Ethelberd looked Zael in the eye as the two clashed blades, pushing against each other. "I can see that your power is similar to that old man I saw accompanying her, some time back."

"He's my uncle." Zael snapped, "And unfortunately for you, he's not coming. You're not laying a hand on him or the rest of Selphia."

Arganan could only wish he could say, aloud, that he was in fact here. However, he didn't want to give away his, Doug, Dylas and Ventuswill's positions. Not yet.

Frey managed to get several hits in on Ethelberd, despite the old man's efforts to fight the group. With Arthur, Zael and Therius' help, Ethelberd looked pretty winded, despite having the Rune Spheres in effect.

Ethelberd managed to barely sidestep another one of Frey's attacks, laughing. "Hahaha…yes, you are indeed a true Earthmate! This is the power I've been longing for!"

"What are you talking about?" Arthur raised a brow.

Ethelberd simply smiled, taking a step back. Despite the fact that he could easily be beaten, he looked far from willing to give up, given the malice in his eyes. "I was naïve and foolish before. I see that now. To take over the world was my desire, but…you Earthmates gave me the chance to see how small my desire truly was. Even if humans can rule the world, they're just humans. We can never be gods. It's simply above us. However…what about Earthmates?"

Zael frowned. "What about them?"

Ethelberd snorted, looking in Zael's direction as if the man were nothing but a lowly beast. "If I were to obtain the very power that once destroyed my ambitions, the onwho wields the magic that seals even the Holy Dragons and destroys the gods…then why would I not be a god? I've finally found which I've been seeking…"

"The Rune Spheres!" Therius's eyes flashed. "That's why you wanted them, isn't it?"

"These, too, are their creations!" Ethelberd laughed. "I'm in your debt, Earthmates! At long last, I've obtained the keys to enter the realm of the gods!"

"So that's it? That's your master plan? That's why you wanted those spheres?" Frey frowned, shaking her head. "If anything, I should be the one disappointed in you."

"You speak as if it's an unworthy goal…but YOU already have the power that everyone desires!" Ethelberd snapped back. "You're in no position to doubt my motivations! After I was defeated by the hands of an Earthmate, I scoured the world for means of being one, just like you. This is my true power…augmented through the Rune Spheres!"

A bright flash appeared around Ethelberd again, and he glowed an eerie green this. He managed to blast back Therius and Arthur, followed by Zael. Arthur managed to stay on his feet, but Zael and Therius hit the ground fast. Arganan flinched as he saw Therius help Zael get up, bruises already forming where Argaann saw skin. The dented armor both of men now had made Arganan swallow at the sight.

"ThiS Is the PoWer I HaVe So Long sought!" Ethelberd proclaimed, his whole being still glowing green. "THIS IS THE POWER OF THE RUNE SPHERE! I FEEL IT WITHIN ME! TheRe is no PaIn…it is GLORIOUS. I am a GOD!"

"He's gone off the deep end." Ventuswill breathed. "We need to get closer and prepare to strike."

"On it!" Doug started driving the airship closer, while Dylas moved to aim the cannons at Ethelberd so they could shoot when they got the chance.

"Damn it!" Zael got up after Ethelberd blasted him back again, but Arganan could tell his that his knees shook.

"I can't back down now." Frey breathed, huffing. She, too, started to look a bit ragged, exhausted from Ethelberd's slew of attacks. "I have to save Venti. I promised that I would!"

"Still clinging to those false hopes?" Ethelberd sneered, looking at her. "How long do you plan on placing faith in a half-dead god!? That husk of a dragon has no more purpose. Little more than a doorstop! I am the one with the power of the gods at my disposal. Tremble before me!"

The Princess of Selphia shook her head. "You'll never understand…Venti is my precious friend." Frey glared up at him, spitting blood at his face. "She took care of me and became my dearest friend! And I don't want a selfish bastard like you dismissing her. You know nothing about her!"

"You bore me. You're boring, boring BORRRINGGG, EARTH MATE!" Another harsh laugh left Ethelberd's lungs as he made eye contact with the princess. "I've had enough of your sniveling. The trivia of your mortal life is unimportant, to me. Now DIE!"

"Fire!" Ventuswill yelled to Doug and Dylas. Dylas activated the cannons, and blasts of light rained down from the airship, hitting Ethelberd and forcing the man to stagger. Arganan watched as Ethelberd stumbled back several steps away from Frey, the former Count yelling to her.

"Frey!"

Frey's gaze snapped up to see Arganan and the others. "Arganan! Doug! Dylas!?"

"Reinforcements are here!" Doug yelled back.

"What!?" Zael, Therius and Arthur looked shocked as they, too, looked up at the airship.

"We brought some big help back with us, too!" Dylas yelled down to the others. "So…let's defeat Ethelberd!"

"Big help?" Frey questioned. Arganan watched Ventuswill fly ahead of the airship, and down towards the clearing where Frey and the others were. Arganan saw Frey's eyes light up, and he couldn't help but smile as she cheered. "Venti! Are you okay!?"

"You've got quite a look on your face." Ventuswill managed, looking towards Frey, landing by her side.

Frey nodded, her gaze softening. "Of course I do! You were…"

"You got back one of the Rune Spheres, right? That's how I was able to…"

"Venti…" Frey smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" Ventuswill smiled lightly, borderline-teasing. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Yes." A soft sigh left Frey. "I did."

"I see." She paused, then Arganan noticed her faintly smile. "I missed you, too."

"Venti…"

Ventuswill turned her attention to Ethelberd, frowning. "I can see the enormous amount of rune power in him, bestowed by the Rune Spheres. It's too much for a human to bear."

Frey's head hung at that. "Sorry Venti. I promised I'd get back all the Rune Sphees, but…

The Divine Wind groaned. "Have you given up already?"

"What?"

"We're going to get them back from him right now, you and i. just as promised." She looked towards Zael, Therius and Arthur. "And thank you, for helping her so far."

Therius offered Ventuswill a nod of acknowledgement.

"Are you two FINISHED!?" Ethelberd snapped, having recovered from the earlier blasts. The ruler of the Sechs Empire looked honestly annoyed at Frey and Ventuswill mostly ignoring him up until now. "Let's get this over with, Native Dragon and Earthmate!"

"Are you so sure about that?" Ventuswill stared down Ethelberd. "Earthmates are humans themselves. If the power you use exceeds your capacity, your body will collapse like a rag doll's. It's best if you give up now!"

Ethelberd frowned, a soft 'hmph' leaving his lips. "…You're right. This shell can't host the soul of a god. Therefore, it's inevitable..." His voice trailed into smaller mutters, shaking in head.

Ventuswill sighed. "There's no point in talking to him anymore. He's gone off the deep end. Frey, everyone, are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Good!"

Ethelberd's gaze snapped up at the others, before he yelled. "COME! SACRIFICE YOURSELF FOR MY GLORIOUS EVOLUTION!"

Dylas didn't hesitate to immediately shoot at Ethelberd. Ethelberd dodged, and Arganan tried his best to keep track of the soon-chaotic scene below him. Ventuswill almost got hit a few times with Ethelberd's attacks, though the Divine Wind was mostly fine, given her powerful state despite the lack of Rune Spheres.

Frey, Zael, Arthur and Therius were forced on the defensive, and Arganan used his Outsider's power to try to create temporary shields. Every time Ethelberd's attacks hit the shields, the former Count winced at feeling the brunt of the attacks himself. His knees shook, and he almost collapsed to one knee if not for Dylas running over and trying to keep him steady.

"Are you okay!?"

The former Count nodded, letting the former Guardian "I'm okay! Just shoot him down already!"

"I don't know if we need to." Arganan overheard Doug speak up. "Look at him!"

Zael pushed back at Ethelberd's attack, managing to slash at him several times. Even with Ethelberd fighting his hardest with the Rune Spheres powering him up, it was clear that the emperor grew more exhausted with every attack he gave. Therius stepped forwards as Ethelberd dodged one of Zael's attacks, bashing him back with the small shield attached to his arm, before slashing at his chest. A pained cry left Ethelberd as he staggered back, groaning as he held a hand to his chest.

"It can't be!" Ethelberd staggered back, huffing. "Ghh! Haha..." Despite the pain, he smiled. "Hahahahhaa…wonderful. Magnificent! You are truly impressive, Native Dragon…and you as well, Earthmate! Just as I expected...I was right….just I'd imagined!"

"What the hell is he talking about?" Arganan muttered. It's clear he's worn down…why isn't he giving up? Is he that foolish to think he can go up against all of us…even with the Rune Spheres, and despite us beating him down? There has to be more to this...but what?

"He's finished." Ventuswill breathed, glancing towards Frey. "He used too much rune power." Arganan thought he saw Ethelberd's entire figure flicker, just for a moment.

"I…am…the KING of the world…" A huff left Ethelberd as he shakily got to his feet. "I want more power…power to destroy everything…overwhelming power…I've been longing for it for so many years…my only desire…to take over the world…"

Arganan glared down at Ethelberd from where he stood on the airship, shaking his head. "You know what?" He snapped. Ethelberd's gaze snapped up at him, but the former Count continued anyway. "I was like you, too. And I pity you, if you solely desire power."

Zael looked up at Arganan, eyes widening. "Uncle…?" He breathed, but Arganan kept his gaze focused on Ethelberd, still speaking to him.

"I tried to get power, once, much like you. Not with Rune Spheres, but with something different. I thought I'd rule the world. I'm lucky to be alive, but I still pay the price. I learned my lesson. All that power will never be worth it. I can't be something like a god. Not like what you're trying to do." The former Count shook his head, remembering those past moments. Angering Mitra after provoking the Outsider itself to activate the Lazulis Cannon, the pain and recovery he went through, the discovery of his own powers… "It doesn't matter what lofty ends you desire, Ethelberd. You can't be something you're not. But that's why everything and everyone is precious. In equal measure. A shame that you don't realize that."

"Arganan is right." Ventuswill spoke up, and Arganan turned to look at her, seeing her offer him a nod of acknowledgement. "There are more important things in life than power."

Ethelberd went still. He seemed stunned, staring up at Arganan with widened eyes, and then towards Ventuswill. A snarl left him, before he shook his head. "No."

Ventuswill's gaze snapped towards Ethelberd, frowning. "You deny this truth?"

"It's nothing more than an excuse invented by those who gave up on their ambitions!" The Sechs Emperor scoffed, glaring backa t her. "I'm different…I won't be held back by such a minor hurdle. Not with a vessel like this…" A soft laugh left him at that. "These Rune Spheres have enough power to change the very nature of life. Native Dragon, you do understand my meaning…do you not? Although you should have been reborn, how it that you can stay in this world? You know what makes it possible, don't you?"

Ventuswill frowned, but didn't say a thing. Arganan swallowed, remembering how the Rune Spheres were what he, Frey and the others sought to keep her alive in the first place. Didn't Frey tell me that runes are the source of…life…?

A laugh left Ethelberd again as he scanned the others for their reactions. "The power of the Rune Spheres is the same that flows through you, Native Dragon…now that you've lost it, the flame of your existence is flickering, fading…"

That was when Ventuswill's whole being trembled once, twice, and then she fell forwards, collapsing like Arganan had seen her do before.

"Venti!" Frey rushed to the collapsed Ventuswill's side, the Divine Wind's name ripping out of her throat.

Even Arthur ran to check on Ventuswill, eyes widening. "A-are you alright, Lady Ventuswill?"

Ventuswill could only chuckle sheepishly. "Seems…I used too much power, too. I'm also…dying."

"What!?" Frey glanced towards Ethelberd, and then towards Ventuswill. "Let's get the other Rune Spheres back, then!"

The Divine Wind shook her head. "No."

"What…?"

"He's right." Ventuswill admitted. "My body should have collapsed, long ago. The Guardians hatled its progress all this time. I survived by twisting and draining their life energies…" She got up just enough to look Ethelberd in the eye. "Everything has meaning. So do the Rune Spheres. Their purposes were supposed to be determined when they were born. Using them for my own selfish ends makes me no different than you."

"You're willing to just die!?" Ethelberd spat, truly and purely stunned by such a statement.

Ventuswill simply nodded. "In spite of knowing the fate that awaits me, this is my duty. If I should ignore it…how can I take pride in anything I've ever done? How could I ever say, with no hesitation, that I'm glad to be born into this world as a Native Dragon? So yes, I accept it."

The Sechs Emperor smirked. "I think you misunderstand one thing about me."

Confusion crossed Therius' face as he looked towards Ethelberd. "What might that be?"

"I, too, am proud of myself and what I've done in my life…and the goal I spent my life trying to achieve is to abandon this human body and become a god. The Rune Spheres I possess, along with the circumstances that brought them into my possession, can make my dream a reality!" Ethelberd took out the Rune Spheres he still had, cackling.

Arganan's eyes widened, remembering how the one Sechs soldier used the Rune Sphere to fuse with a lizard and become a beast. Is he going to…?! "No!"

"ETHERLINK!"

A power green light emerged from Ethelberd. Slowly, carefully, Ventuswill's own body started heading towards Ethelberd, as if someone simply grabbed her and started dragging her towards him. The Divine Wind gasped, trying to grab hold of the flooring underneath her to halt any movement. "What…is this!? I'm being dragged towards him!?"

"VENTI!" Frey tried to grab one of Ventuswill's legs, trying to pull her back, but it was no use.

"It's no use struggling, Earthmate!" Ethelberd roared from where he stood. "I've meant to obtain the power of an Earthmate as a human. Using that power, I can combine human and monster into one entity! And then…through that technique…become a true Native Dragon! Into a GOD!"

"NO!" Zael rushed towards Ethelberd, trying to slash at him. The wielder of the Outsider simply got blasted back, and Arthur was forced to attend to him.

"No!" Ventuswill's expression turned pained as she tried to struggle against being dragged further towards Ethelberd. No matter how much she dug her claws into the ground, nothing she did could stop her heading towards him.

Ethelberd smiled. "Why are you so upset? Did I not warn you well in advance? I said, even if you don't come to me, I will most assuredly come to you!" Ethelberd shouted back at Frey. "I thought about destroying you first, but…since the Native Dragon came right to my door, this whole plan is much more convenient."

"Ghh!" Ventuswill was getting closer. Arganan tried to use his Outsider's power to maybe lift Ventuswill, and hold her up and away from Ethelberd. Even as the glow of the Outsider's power surrounded Ventuswill, he found that trying to lift her was fruitless, fighting too hard against Ethelberd's

"Lady Ventuswill!" Arthur cried out. Therius, too, tried to grab one of Ventuswill's legs to try to hold her back from Ethelberd like Frey was doing, but then let go to try to attack Ethelberd. Ethelberd easily, too, blasted him back.

"Become a part of me." Ethelberd commanded, as Ventuswill went closer towards him against all her will. "Grant me your godly powers!"

"We can't let this happen!" Arthur yelled, having just finished healing Zael. "If he fuses with Lady Ventuswill, who knows what could happen!?"

Dylas tried to shoot Ethelberd, but the blasts simply dissolved upon impact with Ethelberd, having no effect. "It's not working!"

No matter what Frey, Arganan, Arthur, Therius, or anyone else did, Ventuswill soon got close enough to Ethelberd. Both him and the Divine Wind were shrouded in light together. Frey tried to hold onto Ventuswill, but Arthur pulled her back, out of worry for her safety.

When the light vanished, Ventuswill stood there…but it wasn't her voice that spoke.
"yes…YES!" Arganan grimaced at hearing the mangled voice of Ethelberd booming through Ventuswill's mouth. "NOW I have the power of a god and the vessel to match it! The perfect form for a conquerer! It's wonderful! Positively STUNNING!"

"No!" The scream ripped out of Arganan's throat before he could hold it back. He thought he heard Doug swear, before speaking up.

"Uh…guys?" The dwarf seemed more than a little worried. "Any idea how to handle this?"

"I…" Dylas looked just as stunned and horrified as Doug was. "I have no clue."

"Rrgh!" Ethelberd suddenly shook his head, and then it was Ventuswill's voice that could be heard. "Frey.."

"Venti!?" A gasp left Frey as she looked up at the dragon. Ventuswill looked pained, jaw clenched as she looked down at Frey and the others.

"Please…defeat me. Send me back to the Forest of Beginnings with him. It's the only chance we have…to stop this…"

"But…" Frey started, but Ventuswill shook her head, flinching.

"Plea…se...stop him! Ghaaa…." She shook her head, and it was Ethelberd's voice that replaced hers once more.

"Ugh! Foolish dragon doesn't know when to give up! She was worshipped as a god all this time. Stands to reason she'd fight me to the end…but no matter." He shook his head, looking down at the group. "Now, then…how do you like it, Earthmate? Does Ventuswill's skin suit me? Am I…beautiful?"

"You're a fucking monster." Arganan hissed, and Ethelberd hissed, looking up at him briefly before looking towards the now-trembling Frey. Therius and Zael looked ready to brace themselves for whatever attack might happen next, even as Ethelberd laughed at their faces.

"Poor Frey. I feel sorry for you…I warned you once, and you ignored me. Now, look what's happened! But, not to worry. The power of Ventuswill flows within me…to show my gratitude, I shall make my first order of business the burning of Selphia, to ashes!"

"No!" Arganan wasn't sure if it was his or Frey that yelled it, but Ethelberd's gaze turned up towards the airship where Arganan, Doug and Dylas were.

"How about," Ethelberd stated, before his eyes flashed, "I destroy you and your friends, first?"

Sudden winds hit the ship, pushing it back and forth in the air. A yelp left Arganan as he lost his footing, just as Doug yelled something about the ship being damaged. The former Count tried his best to regain his footing, but he felt himself slip…

Just enough for him to go over the airship's railing.

"Arganan!"

Arganan wasn't sure who screamed his name as he fell towards the landing below.