Sanemi had ventured into the forest a few moments after Akaza, shaking off the uncertain feeling in his gut at the familiar voice that had invaded his mind for that fleeting moment.

He had intended to catch up to Akaza but had been forced to stay back when the golden light lit up the forest as if it were day. By the time his eyes readjusted to the impenetrable darkness once more, the same voice called out to him.

Sanemi.

He glanced to his right, sensing a presence a few feet away. Counting on Akaza to hold out on his own or at least the other slayers to assist him, Sanemi ran through the underbrush in a straight line. He stopped sharply, teetering on the edge of a steep fall where a treacherous river flowed below. He scanned his surroundings and saw a figure surrounded by what seemed to be a group of devolved demons across the river. The figure seemed to hold well against the devolved, wielding only their bare fists. There was a graceful twist of their body as they slipped between the figures, taking them out as they passed.

He wouldn't have even taken a second glance except those moves were very familiar. He only knew a certain famous household in the Slayers compound who moved with such a deadly grace.

And only one who could move like this.

Gritting his teeth, his mind refusing to admit the impossible, he located the largest tree he could find and pushed at its thick trunks. The roots groaned in protest as it was forced free from the soil, the tree steadily leaning forward into the waters. With another push, the tree fell across the bank, providing a bridge.

Sanemi quickly crossed, having lost sight of the figure as they withdrew deeper into the trees. He observed the devolved as he passed and noted they were cleanly taken care of. Frowning deeper to himself, he picked up speed and caught up to the figure, who had stopped to look up at the stars to gauge their surroundings.

"Stop." He ordered, before she could run away from him again.

He was sure it was her. The tall lithe figure, the proud stance. She turned towards him, pausing to assess him as he was doing the same with her. Her face was hidden in the hood of her cloak.

He opened his mouth but couldn't find any other words. He stepped forward instead, allowing the moonlight that peeked through the clouds to reveal his face to her. There were many markings on his face and on his chest, from that day.

If it was really her, she would not forget all of the scars they both bore from that day. Some not readily visible.

The figure stilled, before raising her hands and pushing her head away from her face.

The familiar violet gaze that haunted him since that day gazed at him with determination.

Mitsuri fended another attack from the devolved as she continued running alongside Iguro. "Where have all of these other demons come from? I hope there isn't a village nearby." She called out with concern, deflecting another attack to her left.

Iguro cleanly sliced the heads of three devolved that lurked too closely to Mitsuri as he picked up speed.

"Our focus is on Enmu. We need to capture him alive." He answered calmly.

Mitsuri nodded, still worried about the surrounding and praying they wouldn't come across any innocent victims. She stopped suddenly as Iguro made a quick gesture. He crept towards a clearing as Mitsuri followed suit. Just as Iguro was about to indicate to Mitsuri to split up and attack from the other end, there was a rustling ahead of them.

Iguro barely jumped out the way, his voice drowned out by the crash as Mitsuri jumped back as well. He tried to reach her side, where she was surrounded by the devolved when he felt someone stronger to his left. He raised his sword in time to deflect the attack from Enmu.

His eyes were blank as he growled at Iguro, trying to reach out to him with his clawed hands.

Iguro chanced a glance at Mitsuri, who took down a few devolved and skirted another before leading them into the clearing where she could fight with more open space. He glanced back at Enmu, who's empty gaze continued to bore into him.

"Enmu, if you can hear me, I will try my best to help you." Iguro jumped back, narrowly avoiding a slash to his side. "But I cannot guarantee you will survive if she is hurt."

At those words, Enmu paused for a moment, before letting out another ear-splitting howl. Another horde of the devolved emerged from the trees and headed towards Mitsuri, where she was already struggling to cut down the remaining demons that surrounded her.

Enmu then glanced at Iguro with a triumphant growl. Iguro narrowed his eyes, raising his sword before him, then charged forward.

Hyakkimaru had just entered the forest and decided to follow the faint sounds of fighting ahead, when he raised his blade to deflect a pale silver light that suddenly attacked him.

He looked at the direction of the source of the power with a calm gaze, as Apollo stepped out from the shadows.

"You are a warrior in another time, another world. My fight is not with you." He reasoned, his silver gaze cool and otherworldly as he observed Hyakkimaru.

Hyakkimaru kept his sword in a ready stance as he observed the God.

"If you intend to destroy my own world once you are done with this one, then it is my fight."

Apollo did not respond for a moment, as if assessing the situation and weighing the infinite possibilities.

"And if I give you my word that we will not invade your home?"

Hyakkimaru pointed the blade towards him, allowing the dark flame to envelope it. He noted Apollo's neutral expression, but he caught the hesitation.

"There is no honor when you offer such vows. I cannot trust anything a false God promises."

Apollo coolly dismissed the words, a calculating look in his gaze.

"Can you trust that she will stay by your side from now on?"

Hyakkimaru stepped forward, his lips pulled into a firm line. "Do not dare to mention her name to me. You have no power over me."

Apollo lightly shrugged. "I may not." He agreed. "But Micah certainly does."

Hyakkimaru gripped the sword, wanting to attack but now the seed has been planted.

"What do you mean?" He tightly asked.

Apollo cruelly smiled, sensing a victory. "Have you considered that she has come back but it may not be for good?" He briefly scanned the other futures, his eyes darkening, before he continued. "There is another in his group that is here now. Your fellow slayer should already come across her." He revealed.

Hyakkimaru shook his head, ignoring the words despite the nagging doubt that now began to gnaw at him. He prayed Mio would be under Micah's protection before he made up his mind and charged forward.

Rengoku spit out blood as he rolled away from another terrifying blow from Akaza. His vision began to fade in and out of his one remaining eye, while the other was already closed shut from an earlier attack.

"Akaza, don't do this. Break free from their hold and help us defeat them." Rengoku repeated, struggling to stand up from sheer will, one arm already hanging broken by his side while the other gripped his sword.

Akaza stood a few feet away, no recognition in his eyes. Only a slight sneer before attempting to attack again.

Rengoku parried the attacks, his arm beginning to feel like lead from the sustained efforts. Akaza reached out as if to claw his side, in which Rengoku moved to deflect. To his surprise, the demon grinned maliciously and moved at a speed even he could barely see. A blur and then a moment of clarity as the clawed hand reached out to his chest.

"No!"

It was Mika who had shouted and struggled to push Akaza back with Mio. Rengoku felt his eyes begin to fade in and out of focus, his consciousness following suit as blood ran freely down the wound across his chest. He glanced up to find the girls holding desperately at Akaza's hand, the daggered fingers breaking away from where he had been struck.

He stepped back with a shake of his head.

"What are you doing? Let him go!" He bellowed, summoning what little strength he had left inside of him as the flames surged around his blade.

Mio and Mika were thrown to the side as Akaza shook them off easily. Rengoku dug both feet securely into the ground, ready to attack but found Akaza had shifted to the side and aimed his clawed hand once more towards his chest.

It was as if time stilled and Rengoku could see everything as they were. He saw Mio and Mika bruised but fine as they struggled to reach him. He could see Micah overpowering the female God.

Even in the back of his mind, he could feel Iguro and Mistsuri fighting, their inner flame bright and strong.

He closed his eye with a calm smile on his face.

So be it.

He could hear his mother's soothing words.

Protect them, my strong and bright son. Lend them your powers, for you were born with such strength to protect them.

Opening his eyes once more, he prepared himself for Akaza's attack.