Meanwhile, in the musty depths of the castle, another group was slowly gaining a grasp on their whereabouts and the situation they suddenly found themselves in. Seven of the original party's members had gathered together in a dimly lit hallway after regaining their senses. The eighth of the group however was kneeling over in a corner, Laris was unable to keep his stomach from rising as Moira knelt down next to the blonde Miqo'te to help comfort him.
"So it's just us here? Where are the others?" Asugi asked.
"I guess we all got separated when Paris teleported us, she did say it was risky." Anna suggested.
"This is a problematic situation we're in. If our party is divided then it gives the enemy an even greater advantage against us, and on their home ground no less." Gaius alerted everyone.
"Then it would be best if we stuck close together and remained on guard at all times." N'athys added before a Miqo'te girl quickly wrapped her arms around his.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you. The depths of a dark and scary castle? I'm completely in my element here, demons dare not trifle with their queen nor her designated king." Jessika grinned at him.
"I fear we may have already stumbled into an enemy trap, watch out!" Rose yelled out. Suddenly the room began to shake as the entire wall behind them began to slowly creep forward.
"W-what the Hells is going on?" Anna let out in surprise as Asugi raced past her, leaning himself against the wall and trying to halt its advance.
"Trying to save yourselves are you? I'm afraid your attempts are futile." A voice echoed out towards them from a distance, as if amplified by magic to reach the group.
"That voice... Domitrien?" Moira gasped.
"The filthy cur who attempted to kidnap Ms. Svent. Do you really believe a simple trick will prevent us from proceeding further?" Gaius asked.
"You'll soon be eating those words. Rest assured I have far greater traps in store for you all. None of you will make it out of here alive!" Domitrien chuckled.
"Hey guys I can't hold this thing back." Asugi grunted as he strained against the creeping wall. The texture of it began to shift and swirl as a demonic figure pulled itself out from the stone surface, its torso hanging connected from it as the creature let out a roar.
"Monster! That's it I'm not staying here to die, let's run already!" Laris yelled as he began to sprint past the party towards the archway exit across the room.
"Laris wait, it's likely trap!" Gaius yelled out but it was too late. As the Au Ra finished calling out to him, Laris' next step forward landed upon a slightly raised slab of stone that let out a soft click as it pressed down. Immediately as the Miqo'te's foot touched the ground the room lit up from a sudden explosion at the archway.
"Laris!" A few of the members let out in shock. The smoke began to fade revealing Laris crouched on the fetal position with a magic shield slowly dissipating around him. Gaius placed his tome away that he had drawn to protect the Miqo'te and stepped forward.
"This is why we stick together, do you understand? You almost got yourself killed! Be more cautious from here on." Gaius grabbed Laris tail, gaining his attention and scowling while he lectured him.
"Alright, Alright I'm sorry! Please let go." The Miqo'te sobbed. Asugi quickly ran to the group and knocked on Gaius' chest with the back of his hand as he stepped in front of him.
"As careful as we have to be, we've got to get out of here now." He urged as he placed one hand on Gaius' shoulder and pointed behind him with another. A growl filled the room as the wall proceeded to close in on them. Turning back towards Laris the party noticed the the archway that once stood in front of them was destroyed by the blast, now widely open to a long hallway to which no end could be seen.
"How far does this hall go?" Anna wondered aloud.
"We've not the time to ponder right now. Mr. Nassau, do you have any plans on how to proceed?" Rose asked.
"Hmm... We'll have to keep a steady pace. I'll continuously scan the area in front of us for any traps while we try to outpace the Voidsent to our rear. As long as we're careful and keep our composure we should be able to make it out in one piece." The Au Ra explained.
Gaius raised his hand as aetherial readings began to appear in front of him, shifting and changing constantly. The group continued on a short distance until the Scholar's readings picked up another trap on the floor. Splitting up for the moment, the party hugged to walls and proceeded cautiously until Gaius signaled it was clear.
Everyone continued to proceed carefully around various other tripwires and trap switches until they came to a halt in front of a large hole in the ground that spanned the width of the room.
"Well it's too big to jump across, how far down do you think it goes?" Moira asked.
"Hmm..." N'athys wondered as he picked up a loose bit of stone off the ground and tossed it down the hole, anticipating the sound of it hitting the ground below but only being met with silence.
"Too deep to venture downwards I'm guessing" Asugi shrugged.
"We'll have to find another method to cross this gap, any suggestions?" Gaius asked.
"I have an idea!" Jessika let out, raising her hand forward towards the ceiling. A long glowing tether shot out of her palm and attached to the ceiling before pulling her up and swinging her over to the other side.
"Making the best out of your abilities, huh? Let me give it a try then." Anna said as she stepped forward, grabbing a turret from her pack and throwing it out in front of her. The device shifted and extended, the propeller whirling as it activated and began flying forward. Anna leaped up and grabbed onto it as the turret started moving, floating to the other side before deactivating it and landing on the ground.
"How am I supposed to make it across? I don't have any cool magic tricks or toys like that?" Laris asked.
"Not to worry, buddy!" Asugi grinned as he wrapped an arm around both Laris and N'athys and ran towards the wall on one side. He jumped up and began running alongside the wall for a few steps before kicking off it and landing over the other side as the blonde Miqo'te screamed in freight.
"W-well that was nerve racking, I wish you'd have told me of your plan beforehand." N'athys shook a little as Asugi let go of him. With a brief flash of light Gaius' apparel changed as he held out a staff in front of him. Together the three mages teleported themselves to the party on the opposite side before Gaius switched back with a flash to his previous attire.
"Right, let us press on." Gaius instructed.
"Uh-uh-uh, not so fast. Do try to remember that we reside in void-ridden ruins, and it just so happens I've had some of them contained in this very dungeon. Until now, that is. You may have squirmed your way through my traps but I'm afraid the trials that await you will not be so easy." Domitrien's voice echoed throughout the area.
There was an eerie silence following the Duskwights taunts, and then came a thumping sound, distant at first but soon growing louder and louder until an enormous creature came crashing through a wall.
"A cyclops, be careful of its gaze!" Gaius shouted as the party readied themselves to fight. The monster bellowed and swung it's giant club at them wildly as they each dodge its attacks. The cyclops paused for a moment, preparing to paralyze the whole group with one attack, but as it was charging N'athys let loose at arrow that shot straight into its giant eye.
"Quickly, now's our chance to escape." He yelled, beckoning the others to follow with as the giant roared and held its face in pain. As the party ventured down a newly opened corridor they noticed countless cells lining the walls. While not taking the time to inspect what was inside, it was obvious that there was some form of creature in each of them.
"Don't think it will be that easy." Domitrien's voice echoed again, following by clanging sounds as each of the bolts connected to the cell gates flew off, the doors collapsing to the ground as the imprisoned entities were set free. Voidsent of all shapes and sizes emerged from their cells and began to pursue the group.
"Quick, run! There's no way we can take on all of them at once." Moira yelled.
"We need to devise a plan and fast!" Anna replied.
"I think I have one. Moira, prepare to cast Flare while we're running and wait for my signal." Rose instructed as the Roegadyn nodded. The party continued to flee, nearing towards a flight of stairs with the Voidsent forces approaching still from behind.
"Now, the roof! Everyone else get up the stairs!" Rose yelled as the Black Mages set off two massive blasts that shook the room as the ceiling began to crumble, blocking off their enemies with a wall of rubble.
"Good idea, but what if this staircase leads us to a dead end?" Anna asked.
"If so we'll just deal with that when the time comes. For now I'm just glad to have those creatures off our backs." Laris panted.
"No time for rest yet, we've still got to get to Domitrien." Asugi said, patting the Miqo'te on the back as they continued onward.
"Urgh I tire of this, Leo take care of them!" Domitrien ordered.
"What is he talking about?" N'athys mumbled before something caught the corner of his eye as a blade came rushing towards him. Jessika jumped forward and blocked it with her rapier before it was deflected and she was knocked to the ground.
"Jessika!" N'athys let out as a silver-haired Hyur stood above her with blade in hand.
"No!" Gaius shouted as the assailant prepared to strike down into the helpless Miqo'te before him. In a flash of light, Gaius' attire changed once more with a large great sword in hand that parried the attack just in time.
"You're the foul creature that captured my sister aren't you, where are you keeping her?!" Gaius shouted.
"Sorry, but I don't know where the woman is. Domitrien however is likely to have the information you seek. Alas to get to him you'll first have to go through me." The Leo copy chuckled with a taunting grin as he raised his sword towards the Au Ra.
"You say that like it's a challenge." Anna remarked as she fired several shots towards him. The copy swiftly deflected each bullet with his sword before gathering energy in his hand and sending a blast of dark magic towards her, the Midlander woman barely dodging away in time. The blast passed, colliding with the wall of debris behind them and creating an opening for the Voidsent who slowly began creeping in from behind.
"By the Twelve as if things couldn't get worse." Moira let out as she began channeling magic.
"Now this seems like more of a fair fight, wouldn't you agree?" The false Leo grinned.
"Fair or not we'll still crush you!" Jessika yelled as N'athys helped her back on to her feet.
"Come, our efforts would be better spent on the Voidsent that approach us." N'athys suggested as he gently held her arm.
"I don't know which is worse, fighting a bunch of monsters or fighting an evil Leo" Laris said as he hopped on the spot indecisively.
"Having second thoughts? I'll choose for you!" The copy replied as he dashed towards the Miqo'te. Asugi leaped forward and tackled Laris to the ground as the swordsman swung his blade, narrowly missing them. Gaius lunged forward in the air towards the fake Hyur who quickly turned to block the attack.
"Seven Hells this fiend is fast." Gaius growled as he pulled his blade back and readied to parry the incoming attacking.
"Laris, we could use some assistance!" N'athys shouted out.
"U-uh right!" He gulped as he drew his weapons and ran towards the others who were fending off the Voidsent. The fake Leo and Gaius continued to trade blows, Gaius was able to defend himself but was left with no opportunity for a counteract as the Hyur slashed at him relentlessly.
"I see your strength is beginning to wane, how about I take care of you now and move on to your friends?" The Hyur mocked as he prepared to strike the Au Ra down.
"Oh no you don't!" Asugi shouted as he dashed forward and drove his elbow into the fake's spine, causing him to stop and stammer in pain. Gaius swung and knocked the Hyur down, his sword sliding away across the floor. Asugi raised a leg and slammed his foot down onto the doppelganger's stomach, causing him to cough violently.
"Your form is maintained by aether, right? Well I'd say that's a perfect snack for the pets you caged up back there." Asugi said as he grabbed the Hyur and lifted him up into the air above his head.
"W-what are you doing?! Put me down!" The Leo copy panicked.
"Sure, I'll put you down for good!" Asugi shouted as he began sprinting off before coming to a halt and throwing the doppelganger forward into the group of Voidsent his allies were fending off.
"Quickly, we must retreat while they're distracted!" Gaius beckoned as the party joined together and continued on down the corridor as the Hyur was held and clawed at by the vicious Voidsent who began siphoning his aether. Soon after his shrieks of pain and terror stopped as all that remained amidst the monsters was a small cracked materia orb, the colour faded at the loss of all the aether it once contained.
"Look, there he is!" Laris pointed out as they turned towards what seemed like another hallway lined with prison cells. In the center of the room stood a menacing Duskwight in formal attire.
"Impossible! My lord's creation should have been the end to you all. No matter, you will all do as I command." He began as he revealed a musket from behind him and aimed it towards the cell beside him, a faint, feminine figure could be seen beyond the bars.
"One false move and I'll refurbish this cell with your lovely Juria's blood." Domitrien warned.
"Domitrien you're truly mad, why are you doing this? Your father would be rolling in his grave if he could see you now." Moira yelled.
"My father was a pathetic boot-licker who never aspired to anything greater than making your family happy. I desire what should truly be mine, and soon with you and your daughter out of the way I shall take it." The Duskwight replied. He paused for a moment as the room shook ever so slightly.
"And what does Juria have to do with this? You've lured us here, just as you wanted now release her!" Gaius demanded.
"I'll do no such thing and take no such orders from the likes of you. For too long I've spent my life serving others, even now I live beneath a master. But soon I will be the one in command, just like I am now. I will pick you all off one by one until all that's left is poor little Juria here to deal with. Then I'll kill her as well." Domitrien threatened. Gaius clenched his teeth, struggling to contain himself for the safety of his sibling whilst he devised a plan.
"Don't you see? As long as I hold your precious sister's life in my hands you can't do a thing! You will all die here tonight and I'll laugh and cackle while I force the light out of each and every one of your pathetic little eyes! I'll-" Domitrien's maniacal screams were suddenly cut off by a loud crash as the roof above him suddenly caved in. Juria in her cell beside him let out a squeal as she instinctively jumped back against the wall. A giant gear collapsed on the ground from the ceiling above, damaging the cell gate and leaving a puddle of blood beneath it from where the Duskwight once stood.
A faint scraping sound followed from above as an Elezen woman steadily declined from the opening above, holding onto her lance that had pierced the wall with sparks flicking from the blade as it trailed downwards. The party all look onwards in shock by the sudden events as Leona tugged her weapon from the wall and dropped down, landing on the grounded gear below.
"Well that was amazing." Jessika finally spoke up. Gaius and Asugi rushed towards the cell to tend to Juria while the others approached Leona.
"Mrs. Mercer? By the Twelve how did you manage to get down here? What happened to you?" Rose asked as the Elezen placed her lance away and with a flash returned to her Samurai attire.
"I was separated with some of the others when we were ambushed by Reza inside a clock tower or something. Whatever it was, the mechanism was damaged in the fight and that gear came tumbling down in front of me and crashed through the flooring. I lost count of how many stories I fell through and the rest explains itself." Leona answered as she dusted herself off.
"Juria are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Gaius asked as he rushed to help the Auri woman off the ground.
"I-I'm alright, I haven't eaten since arriving here so I'm a bit light-headed but I'll manage. I also lost my weapon when that monster brought me here so I'm afraid I won't be much help to you all in battle, I'm sorry." Juria bowed.
"It's quite alright Juria, I'm just glad you're safe." Gaius said softly, pulling her in for a hug as his eyes began to water a little.
"We took care of that fiend that looked like Leo, now we just have to continue through this castle to find the real one." Asugi informed her.
"Then we best leave now. Last I saw he was in the midst of battling Reza and I wasn't able to see it through to the end." Leona explained.
"Then if Juria's okay we better get moving quickly before those Voidsent back there catch on to us again." Anna stated. Juria nodded and as the party made their way around the fallen debris they continued their navigation of the castle.