p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 19/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party stepped out of the elevator, everyone being together again. They arrived at the main gate, seeing the boss and a few other members of P.I.I with him. The boss turned to the party. "I hope you all brought your A-game." He said. "We want to see how you people handle a situation like this."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit raised an eyebrow. "You better be helping us with this thing. I don't remember asking for an audience."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We're helping, don't worry." The boss ensured. "We've got healing and assistance ready when the battle starts."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Zelkova was glad to know they had other healers. So their odds were higher./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Anything different about this anomaly? ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What do you think we should be expecting? (Ask the party)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, let's get to it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Is there anything out of the ordinary from this anomaly?" Bereit asked The boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"This one seems to be nothing special. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect anything dangerous." The boss answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What do you think we should be expecting? (Ask the party) ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, let's get to it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You guys think it'll be another dragon?" Bereit asked them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'd assume it would be, yes." Fallen answered. "But, for all we know, there's more than Erpels down there."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'd imagine there would be more, if it's a whole different dimension." Scharf suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit nodded, agreeing with what they said. "We'll just have to wait and see." Bereit said, turning to the boss. "Alright, let's get a move on."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss nodded, as him and everyone else walked forward, walking out of the main gate./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"All three of the main gate guards saluted The boss as he walked by. "Go get 'em, sir!" The brown haired one called out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at Imbir, realizing he no longer had his gun, but another one. An assault rifle. "You think you'll manage without your gun?" Bereit asked him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I've improvised in the past. This isn't anything different." Imbir answered. "In fact, these are a lot lighter than they look."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, lucky you." Bereit said. "Might grab myself one of those."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm only borrowing this. I can't keep it." Imbir pointed out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. "Of course it is." He said, not knowing what else he expected. He looked at The boss, realizing he had the opportunity to ask some questions. He got closer, walking right next to him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the fortresses location. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the P.I.I./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So, the fortress." Bereit said, looking at the boss. "It's got a unique location."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss looked at him, with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It's surrounded by hills and hills of sand. Is that a tactical thing or...?" Bereit explained his question./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, that's mostly from out Monster Repellant Soundwave emitter." The boss explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Now that's a mouthful." Scharf commented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yeah. We'll come up with a shorter name eventually." The boss said. "The sound that it emits is at a level that we can't hear, but also pushes sand away with each burst of sound."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Huh, interesting." Bereit said, looking back at the fortress for a moment./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the P.I.I. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing else./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"How long was the P.I.I around for?" Bereit asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss laughed. "How long you want to bet?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit wasn't sure how to answer that. And a part of him thought it was a rhetorical question./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Good you didn't answer. Because it was rhetorical question." The boss said. "All the way back when airships and sea ships didn't even exist. The P.I.I used to be known as 'The Undead Purgers.' But with time, we decided to adapt a more formal and realistic approach to our name. And thus, here we are now. With guns, scientists, and an understanding to our enemy."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wow. That long ago..." Bereit said, curious as to what they must have been like back then. What kind of things they must have done to be able to kill anything paranormal./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing else./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Umm... if you don't mind me asking, what's that clawmark?" Bereit asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss was silent for a moment. "That's... a little too personal."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit was disappointed that he wasn't going to get an answer, but Bereit did understand. "Yeah. Sorry." He apologized, to at least give him that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party travelled a fair distance, until they finally came across the anomaly, that turned out to be still developing. The cracks were barely even spread out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It doesn't look like the other ones we've come across. Perhaps it hasn't had the time to open properly?" Zelkova asked, turning to The boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, here's when it gets interesting." He suddenly said. "Most anomalies come from the sky, and open wide immediately. But this one, it's developing on it's own. Without that pillar of light." The boss explained. "The way I see it, the anomalies are developing on their own."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party all had shocked expressions, knowing that they were going as far as growing on their own. Worry went through all their minds, wondering how far could it spread? And what would happen if it covered the world?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"1supst/sup person/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It was at that moment I realized we were in deep shit. Real deep shit. The fact that we were facing more than anomalies. We were facing a plague. That could infect the world./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3suprd/sup person (Bereit)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at the anomaly, as he started walking down to it. "It ain't gonna close if we don't do anything." He pointed out. But the moment he said that, the anomaly opened up, wide enough for someone to fit through./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A dozen winged knights flew out of the anomaly, all carrying a different array of weapons. Their reflective white coloured armours emitted a particle-esque mixed colours off themselves, matching the colours inside the anomaly. They all turned to the party, aiming their weapons at them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Enemy sighted." One of the knights called out in their slightly muffled but echoed voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And here I was hoping for some help." Bereit said, as he then reached for his sword, but The boss put his hand out, telling him to stop./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss stepped forward. "We aren't here to fight you. We wish to parley." The boss spoke./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We do not parley with the enemy. His Lordship deems you enemies. Say your prayers." The knight said, as the rest stood in a fighting stance./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wait!" Fallen said. "I'm the one that closes the anomalies. Let me speak with your... umm, Lordship." Fallen insisted./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the knights flipped their spear and threw it at her. Just before the spear pierced her chest, a hand came out of no-where, catching it by the point. Fallen slowly opened her left eye in fear, seeing it was caught by that familiar blue hand./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stepped in front of Fallen, taking the spear with both hands and snapped it half, having a rage riddled expression./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Guess it's war then." Bereit commented, drawing his serrated sword./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Kill the summoner!" The knights shouted, seeming to target her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone drew their weapons, as did The boss, his being a marksman rifle with a green coloured bayonet. "Open fire!" He shouted, as the few soldiers started firing at the flying knights./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Though the soldiers' bullets weren't doing any damage, one knight flying towards them, them jumping away from the coming battleaxe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir realized that his bullets weren't effecting them either. He cursed under his breath, then pulled his machete out, it being his only line of defence./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit fought against one with duel shortswords, swinging wildly at him. Bereit parried and dodged each swing that was thrown at him, as he then crouched under a double cut, and countered with a strong uppercut that was covered in his lightning. "Scharf!" He called out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf turned to Bereit, taking aim and firing his sniper right through one of the eyeholes of the helmet, breaking right through the armour./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stood by Fallen and Vanessa's side, as she grabbed one of the incoming knights and turned him into ice, then crushing him into icey dust under her fingers./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir soon joined the side of Vanessa and Fallen, thinking it was his best position to take./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit jumped back from a knight carrying a greatsword, having massive build ups to each swing he threw at him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit ducked under one swing as an overhead slash came his way, Bereit blocking it just in time. The ground around him cracked, Bereit groaning in pain from the impact./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You stand no chance! You best accept your death while you can!" The knight informed. "Believe me. The last thing you would wish is to be on his Lordship's bad side."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at the knight, inhaling deeply, and then blew fire out of his mouth, right in the knight's face. Bereit then pushed the greatsword away, and stabbed him through his neck, and ripped his sword out. Bereit smacked his lips a bit. "Ugh, that tasted weird."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the soldiers were being held by the throat by a knight, but it's head jerked to the side, from the recoil of a bullet, coming from Vanessa. "Fight someone with a fighting chance." She said, spinning her revolver on her finger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knight flew towards her, splitting it's blade in half, and threw one at her. Vanessa moved her head away from the incoming blade, and then shot right at it's head again, this time the bullet going through it's helmet./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knight crashed into the sand, going limp./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen hid behind Shiva, watching as she finished off each knight one by one. But then that feeling came back again. The idea of her being useless in battle. She wanted to get in, but Shiva stopped her, offering that she would take care of the few that remained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva... you know what I want to do." She said, as if Shiva knew./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva looked at her, having a regretful expression for a moment, until the anomaly opened more, but light blasted out of it, everyone turning to see it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The light slowly stopped, until it faded away, and someone was floating in the air./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It's the Newly-Formed." One of the knights said to the other./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen stepped in front of Shiva, recognizing the shape that was presented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"br /"Fallen..." The voice said, as it then stepped out of the fading light. The white hair, the black robes, it was him. Ruhe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen gasped. "Ruhe! You're..." But he was different. His eyes were a bright orange, with a sharp look to them, and his body had scales, along with developing horns. "You're..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I am Ruhe, the Newly-formed dragon. I am one of the few first to begin my transformation. To become a dragon. An Erpel." He said, his voice completely changing to a deep and doubling voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No..." Fallen said, her happiness in seeing him again completely fading away. "They turned you... you're one of them."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Silence, woman!" A knight shouted. "With him here, your deaths will be swift, yet painful. Prepare to-"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe put his hand up, silencing him. "Fallen... I am sure you are filled with wonders of what happened. To me, when I fell in that anomaly." He spoke. "I'll tell you what happened. I was reborn. And you can too." He then put his hand out. "And all of your friends, if you wish for a better life. For everyone in the world."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Not happening, Ruhe." Bereit said, walking to Fallen's side. "I think humanity is fine just the way it is. We're not turning to dragons."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You don't understand, Bereit. We do not wish to exterminate humanity. We wish to change it. To make it better." Ruhe explained. "Dragons were brought to this world first for a reason." He added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If that's the case, why didn't you just come and tell us directly?" The boss spoke up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe turned his head to The boss. "With that Ehre family, The P.I.I and all other forms of resistance in the world, we were outnumbered. And we knew not of what your people are capable of. Dragons are extinct in your world. So now, we come prepared. A plan, an army, a new age form humanity."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe." Bereit spoke again. "Go ahead and try all you like, we're not joining your cause." Bereit then stepped forward. "Maybe the dragons were killed off for a reason."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe sighed in a disappointed tone. "Very well. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to kill people I care for, but it seems to be inevitable." Ruhe flew in front of the two knights. "Report to his Lordship. I will deal with them."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knights nodded and retreated to the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit stepped forward. "I'll handle this. You guys stay back. It's gonna get ugly."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit, what are you doing?" Zelkova asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit threw his sword to the sand, and slapped his palm on his fist. "Showing what happens when you screw with humanity." He answered, as lightning began to surround him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You're making a grave mistake, Bereit." Ruhe said, as his hands were emitting the strange light. "But this can be your chance to die early."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wishful thinking, Ruhe." Bereit then jumped at Ruhe, their magics clashing against each other. As they did, the crack began to spread more, seeming to react to their magical clashes./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit's fist rammed into Ruhe's chest, sending him flying back with a blast of lightning. He then flew at him, as it lead to another punch, and one last one, but it was blocked by a barrier, made by Ruhe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe countered with a slash across Bereit's face and then kicked him away. Bereit charged lightning in his hand as he flew back, firing another large bolt of lightning at him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe reflected it, the bolt flying another direction. "Do you not see what you're doing?" Ruhe spoke, showing his hand to the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at it, seeing that the anomaly was growing bigger and bigger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Your Lord's magic. The lightning of the first Ramah to exist. And your Lord's Fire. The very flame of the first Ifrit. Do you understand what I am telling you, Bereit?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit's eyes went wide, slowly connecting the dots. Remembering things his parents had told him about The Lords. "Shut it!" Bereit shouted, making a long blade of lightning and slashing at Ruhe, though Ruhe dodged it with swift movement of his body. There was no way he was believing that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You're one of us. An Erpel."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I SAID SHUT UP!" He screamed, going for another charged attack, but he felt Shiva's hand grab him by the wrist, Bereit turning to see /br /Shiva shook her head, and then looked at his hand, seeing the fire he was growing was growing out of control. She gently cooled it down for him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva! Let me go!" Bereit demanded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sooner or later, Bereit. You will be what you were born to be. An Erpel. A pure Erpel." Ruhe went back to the anomaly, as he slowly went down. "With my leave, this anomaly closes. But your fate remains the same." He said, as he then disappeared, along with the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit took his hand away from Shiva, looking at his bandaged hand, still having the burn marks on them. He groaned, clenching his fist./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit..." Fallen said, gently approaching him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I forgot... I knew I was a Lord... but an Erpel..." He looked down. "I... I need time alone..." He said, as he gently moved Fallen to the side, walking past everybody. "Don't bother coming to find me."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone was stunned by Bereit's sudden change. It must have been because of his so-called 'Secret' being revealed to everyone. But was power such a bad thing to hide? Or was it WHAT he was?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party stepped out of the elevator, everyone being together again. They arrived at the main gate, seeing the boss and a few other members of P.I.I with him. The boss turned to the party. "I hope you all brought your A-game." He said. "We want to see how you people handle a situation like this."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit raised an eyebrow. "You better be helping us with this thing. I don't remember asking for an audience."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We're helping, don't worry." The boss ensured. "We've got healing and assistance ready when the battle starts."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Zelkova was glad to know they had other healers. So their odds were higher./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Anything different about this anomaly? ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What do you think we should be expecting? (Ask the party)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, let's get to it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Is there anything out of the ordinary from this anomaly?" Bereit asked The boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"This one seems to be nothing special. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect anything dangerous." The boss answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What do you think we should be expecting? (Ask the party) ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, let's get to it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You guys think it'll be another dragon?" Bereit asked them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'd assume it would be, yes." Fallen answered. "But, for all we know, there's more than Erpels down there."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'd imagine there would be more, if it's a whole different dimension." Scharf suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit nodded, agreeing with what they said. "We'll just have to wait and see." Bereit said, turning to the boss. "Alright, let's get a move on."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss nodded, as him and everyone else walked forward, walking out of the main gate./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"All three of the main gate guards saluted The boss as he walked by. "Go get 'em, sir!" The brown haired one called out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at Imbir, realizing he no longer had his gun, but another one. An assault rifle. "You think you'll manage without your gun?" Bereit asked him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I've improvised in the past. This isn't anything different." Imbir answered. "In fact, these are a lot lighter than they look."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, lucky you." Bereit said. "Might grab myself one of those."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm only borrowing this. I can't keep it." Imbir pointed out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. "Of course it is." He said, not knowing what else he expected. He looked at The boss, realizing he had the opportunity to ask some questions. He got closer, walking right next to him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the fortresses location. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the P.I.I./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So, the fortress." Bereit said, looking at the boss. "It's got a unique location."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss looked at him, with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It's surrounded by hills and hills of sand. Is that a tactical thing or...?" Bereit explained his question./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, that's mostly from out Monster Repellant Soundwave emitter." The boss explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Now that's a mouthful." Scharf commented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yeah. We'll come up with a shorter name eventually." The boss said. "The sound that it emits is at a level that we can't hear, but also pushes sand away with each burst of sound."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Huh, interesting." Bereit said, looking back at the fortress for a moment./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the P.I.I. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing else./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"How long was the P.I.I around for?" Bereit asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss laughed. "How long you want to bet?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit wasn't sure how to answer that. And a part of him thought it was a rhetorical question./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Good you didn't answer. Because it was rhetorical question." The boss said. "All the way back when airships and sea ships didn't even exist. The P.I.I used to be known as 'The Undead Purgers.' But with time, we decided to adapt a more formal and realistic approach to our name. And thus, here we are now. With guns, scientists, and an understanding to our enemy."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wow. That long ago..." Bereit said, curious as to what they must have been like back then. What kind of things they must have done to be able to kill anything paranormal./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask about the glowing clawmark. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ask nothing else./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Umm... if you don't mind me asking, what's that clawmark?" Bereit asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss was silent for a moment. "That's... a little too personal."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit was disappointed that he wasn't going to get an answer, but Bereit did understand. "Yeah. Sorry." He apologized, to at least give him that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party travelled a fair distance, until they finally came across the anomaly, that turned out to be still developing. The cracks were barely even spread out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It doesn't look like the other ones we've come across. Perhaps it hasn't had the time to open properly?" Zelkova asked, turning to The boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, here's when it gets interesting." He suddenly said. "Most anomalies come from the sky, and open wide immediately. But this one, it's developing on it's own. Without that pillar of light." The boss explained. "The way I see it, the anomalies are developing on their own."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party all had shocked expressions, knowing that they were going as far as growing on their own. Worry went through all their minds, wondering how far could it spread? And what would happen if it covered the world?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"1supst/sup person/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It was at that moment I realized we were in deep shit. Real deep shit. The fact that we were facing more than anomalies. We were facing a plague. That could infect the world./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3suprd/sup person (Bereit)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at the anomaly, as he started walking down to it. "It ain't gonna close if we don't do anything." He pointed out. But the moment he said that, the anomaly opened up, wide enough for someone to fit through./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A dozen winged knights flew out of the anomaly, all carrying a different array of weapons. Their reflective white coloured armours emitted a particle-esque mixed colours off themselves, matching the colours inside the anomaly. They all turned to the party, aiming their weapons at them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Enemy sighted." One of the knights called out in their slightly muffled but echoed voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And here I was hoping for some help." Bereit said, as he then reached for his sword, but The boss put his hand out, telling him to stop./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss stepped forward. "We aren't here to fight you. We wish to parley." The boss spoke./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We do not parley with the enemy. His Lordship deems you enemies. Say your prayers." The knight said, as the rest stood in a fighting stance./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wait!" Fallen said. "I'm the one that closes the anomalies. Let me speak with your... umm, Lordship." Fallen insisted./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the knights flipped their spear and threw it at her. Just before the spear pierced her chest, a hand came out of no-where, catching it by the point. Fallen slowly opened her left eye in fear, seeing it was caught by that familiar blue hand./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stepped in front of Fallen, taking the spear with both hands and snapped it half, having a rage riddled expression./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Guess it's war then." Bereit commented, drawing his serrated sword./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Kill the summoner!" The knights shouted, seeming to target her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone drew their weapons, as did The boss, his being a marksman rifle with a green coloured bayonet. "Open fire!" He shouted, as the few soldiers started firing at the flying knights./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Though the soldiers' bullets weren't doing any damage, one knight flying towards them, them jumping away from the coming battleaxe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir realized that his bullets weren't effecting them either. He cursed under his breath, then pulled his machete out, it being his only line of defence./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit fought against one with duel shortswords, swinging wildly at him. Bereit parried and dodged each swing that was thrown at him, as he then crouched under a double cut, and countered with a strong uppercut that was covered in his lightning. "Scharf!" He called out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf turned to Bereit, taking aim and firing his sniper right through one of the eyeholes of the helmet, breaking right through the armour./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stood by Fallen and Vanessa's side, as she grabbed one of the incoming knights and turned him into ice, then crushing him into icey dust under her fingers./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir soon joined the side of Vanessa and Fallen, thinking it was his best position to take./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit jumped back from a knight carrying a greatsword, having massive build ups to each swing he threw at him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit ducked under one swing as an overhead slash came his way, Bereit blocking it just in time. The ground around him cracked, Bereit groaning in pain from the impact./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You stand no chance! You best accept your death while you can!" The knight informed. "Believe me. The last thing you would wish is to be on his Lordship's bad side."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at the knight, inhaling deeply, and then blew fire out of his mouth, right in the knight's face. Bereit then pushed the greatsword away, and stabbed him through his neck, and ripped his sword out. Bereit smacked his lips a bit. "Ugh, that tasted weird."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the soldiers were being held by the throat by a knight, but it's head jerked to the side, from the recoil of a bullet, coming from Vanessa. "Fight someone with a fighting chance." She said, spinning her revolver on her finger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knight flew towards her, splitting it's blade in half, and threw one at her. Vanessa moved her head away from the incoming blade, and then shot right at it's head again, this time the bullet going through it's helmet./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knight crashed into the sand, going limp./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen hid behind Shiva, watching as she finished off each knight one by one. But then that feeling came back again. The idea of her being useless in battle. She wanted to get in, but Shiva stopped her, offering that she would take care of the few that remained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva... you know what I want to do." She said, as if Shiva knew./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva looked at her, having a regretful expression for a moment, until the anomaly opened more, but light blasted out of it, everyone turning to see it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The light slowly stopped, until it faded away, and someone was floating in the air./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It's the Newly-Formed." One of the knights said to the other./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen stepped in front of Shiva, recognizing the shape that was presented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"br /"Fallen..." The voice said, as it then stepped out of the fading light. The white hair, the black robes, it was him. Ruhe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen gasped. "Ruhe! You're..." But he was different. His eyes were a bright orange, with a sharp look to them, and his body had scales, along with developing horns. "You're..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I am Ruhe, the Newly-formed dragon. I am one of the few first to begin my transformation. To become a dragon. An Erpel." He said, his voice completely changing to a deep and doubling voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No..." Fallen said, her happiness in seeing him again completely fading away. "They turned you... you're one of them."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Silence, woman!" A knight shouted. "With him here, your deaths will be swift, yet painful. Prepare to-"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe put his hand up, silencing him. "Fallen... I am sure you are filled with wonders of what happened. To me, when I fell in that anomaly." He spoke. "I'll tell you what happened. I was reborn. And you can too." He then put his hand out. "And all of your friends, if you wish for a better life. For everyone in the world."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Not happening, Ruhe." Bereit said, walking to Fallen's side. "I think humanity is fine just the way it is. We're not turning to dragons."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You don't understand, Bereit. We do not wish to exterminate humanity. We wish to change it. To make it better." Ruhe explained. "Dragons were brought to this world first for a reason." He added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If that's the case, why didn't you just come and tell us directly?" The boss spoke up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe turned his head to The boss. "With that Ehre family, The P.I.I and all other forms of resistance in the world, we were outnumbered. And we knew not of what your people are capable of. Dragons are extinct in your world. So now, we come prepared. A plan, an army, a new age form humanity."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe." Bereit spoke again. "Go ahead and try all you like, we're not joining your cause." Bereit then stepped forward. "Maybe the dragons were killed off for a reason."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe sighed in a disappointed tone. "Very well. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to kill people I care for, but it seems to be inevitable." Ruhe flew in front of the two knights. "Report to his Lordship. I will deal with them."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The knights nodded and retreated to the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit stepped forward. "I'll handle this. You guys stay back. It's gonna get ugly."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit, what are you doing?" Zelkova asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit threw his sword to the sand, and slapped his palm on his fist. "Showing what happens when you screw with humanity." He answered, as lightning began to surround him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You're making a grave mistake, Bereit." Ruhe said, as his hands were emitting the strange light. "But this can be your chance to die early."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wishful thinking, Ruhe." Bereit then jumped at Ruhe, their magics clashing against each other. As they did, the crack began to spread more, seeming to react to their magical clashes./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit's fist rammed into Ruhe's chest, sending him flying back with a blast of lightning. He then flew at him, as it lead to another punch, and one last one, but it was blocked by a barrier, made by Ruhe./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe countered with a slash across Bereit's face and then kicked him away. Bereit charged lightning in his hand as he flew back, firing another large bolt of lightning at him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Ruhe reflected it, the bolt flying another direction. "Do you not see what you're doing?" Ruhe spoke, showing his hand to the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at it, seeing that the anomaly was growing bigger and bigger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Your Lord's magic. The lightning of the first Ramah to exist. And your Lord's Fire. The very flame of the first Ifrit. Do you understand what I am telling you, Bereit?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit's eyes went wide, slowly connecting the dots. Remembering things his parents had told him about The Lords. "Shut it!" Bereit shouted, making a long blade of lightning and slashing at Ruhe, though Ruhe dodged it with swift movement of his body. There was no way he was believing that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You're one of us. An Erpel."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I SAID SHUT UP!" He screamed, going for another charged attack, but he felt Shiva's hand grab him by the wrist, Bereit turning to see /br /Shiva shook her head, and then looked at his hand, seeing the fire he was growing was growing out of control. She gently cooled it down for him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva! Let me go!" Bereit demanded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sooner or later, Bereit. You will be what you were born to be. An Erpel. A pure Erpel." Ruhe went back to the anomaly, as he slowly went down. "With my leave, this anomaly closes. But your fate remains the same." He said, as he then disappeared, along with the anomaly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit took his hand away from Shiva, looking at his bandaged hand, still having the burn marks on them. He groaned, clenching his fist./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit..." Fallen said, gently approaching him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I forgot... I knew I was a Lord... but an Erpel..." He looked down. "I... I need time alone..." He said, as he gently moved Fallen to the side, walking past everybody. "Don't bother coming to find me."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone was stunned by Bereit's sudden change. It must have been because of his so-called 'Secret' being revealed to everyone. But was power such a bad thing to hide? Or was it WHAT he was?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p