Sometime later, a soldier came in.
"Enemies in the castle!" the soldier said.
"Kind of figured this would happen. They have guts, I'll give them that." Rayleigh said.
"We have no choice but to hold the enemy off here." Jade said.
"There is no doubt that they're fighting the soldiers in the front lines protecting the civilians. Let's split into three groups and clear them out." Cheetah said.
"Good thinking. Team One will reinforce the treasury defenses on the fifth floor." Glacius said. "If the Daemon forces break through here, it's all over. They'll be the last line of defense."
"Got it." Rayleigh said.
"Team Two will head for the lower floor from the east stairwell, engaging the daemons and moving to rescue civilians." Glacius said.
"Leave that to me." Nesma said.
"And lastly, Team Three will engage the Daemons from the west stairwell and rescue civilians on that side." Glacius said.
"Understood." Cheetah said.
"Alright. Everyone group up and get ready to deploy." Glacius said.
Everyone managed to evenly distribute into three groups and got into position.
"Now, begin the operation!" Glacius said.
Cheetah's team went down the stairwell and saw a civilian in danger. When they got close, another group of Beastfolk emerged from behind.
"Crap! They came from behind us!" Luke said.
"Don't worry about the ones that slip past! My team will take care of them." Rayleigh said.
Luke groaned a bit before relenting. "Alright. Don't let us down. You're the last line of defense, after all."
Cheetah's team relented and focused on the enemies in front of them, rescuing the civilian.
Nesma's team ran into the same situation on their end, only the Daemons were attacking a soldier.
"Don't worry about me. Just focus on the enemy line." the soldier said.
"No way! We're helping you out. Rayleigh's team can take care of those guys." Glacius said.
They were able to rescue the soldier, leaving the enemies that slip past to Rayleigh's team.
"Rayleigh is sure gonna have his fill at this rate." Agursu said.
"Yes, but… That's just the way he likes it." Glacius said.
Nesma and Cheetah's groups managed to work their way through the castle, taking out Daemon soldiers attacking civilians and leaving the ones that slip past to Rayleigh's team. However, everyone reunited upon hearing Yukiha scream and headed straight for the rooftops.
"That's far enough, Grossa!" Valfor said.
"This woman, she has violated the law… So she must be punished." Grossa said.
"Again with all that 'law' crap! Is that all you ever talk about?!" Rayleigh asked.
"Hmph… You lot again." Grossa said.
"My eyes still bear the punishment that you gave me." Azura said. "But it hasn't changed what's in my heart. I will never stop helping the people important to me!"
"Ah, I remember now. You're the ones from the museum." Grossa said. "Once again, you all surprise me. But I exist only to maintain the law. Thus, as recconcilable foes, we are fated to do battle!"
"Bring it on, then. You're going down!" Rayleigh said.
The assemble group put up a fight against Grossa, who at some point, struck Rayleigh with his sword, dealing minimal damage.
"You did not seem to be hurt at all." Grossa said.
"Like that? I've got the toughest hide out of anyone standing here!" Rayleigh said. "So watch where you're swinging that sword, eh? Wouldn't want it to break on contact."
"Is that so? In that case…what do you think of this?" Grossa asked launching a dark blast. "As physically-inclined as you are, Sorcery is sure to hit a lot harder." he said before seeing Esmeralda dig her claws into him. "Another one? No…Something is different."
"We may seem primal to you…but we are not your average beasts… Don't you forget that!" Esmeralda said as her claws were imbued with ice as she slashed at him rapidly, before sending him upward and launching an ice blast.
"Hey, forget about us? Light Spear Cannon!" Zenji said as he struck at Grossa with a sword, then pointed diagonally towards him, dealing multiple slashes.
"I'm in too!" Matthew said as he dealt multiple flaming punches before rising up to Grossa in a pillar of flames.
"Now for the final blow! Behemoth…Bash!" Zamazenta said as he rammed right into Grossa, sending him flying.
"You managed to last for quite a while." Grossa said as he got back up.
"So, how does it feel? Being defeated by humans and other lower creatures?" Matthew asked.
"Even so… I cannot shirk my duties." Grossa said.
"Even if doing so is the wrong path, Lord Grossa Radan?" Vivian asked.
"You're…a Daemon?" Grossa asked.
"I am Vivian Vin Esmerode." Vivian introduced herself. "I have great admiration for your dignity." She said with a bow. "However, if the world we granted humanity is not in its proper form… Don't you think your faith might be misplaced?"
"This world is…not in its proper form?" Grossa asked.
"Rain, Burning, Caged, and Snow… Is this what the world should look like, split into different realms to isolate society?" Vivian asked.
"We Daemons rule the humans, yes, but all the same, we ourselves know very little about them." Ignace said. "As the centuries have passed, so has our interest in them waned. That is how it feels to me now."
"The Great Barrier divides the earth." Nesma said. "But the Dark Current gushing out of it is not what the Daemons wanted."
"Yes, I can attest." Vivian said.
"It's more than enough proof that someone is distorting this world on purpose!" Glacius said.
"What? Is that really true…?" Grossa asked before someone swoops in.
"Lord Grossa." Rouge said. "I may have been presumptuous in overextending my forces, but I'm here to assist you."
"Oh man. Him again?" Aoesia asked.
"That won't be necessary. We are retreating." Grossa said.
"A-are you mad?!" Rouge asked. "We could crush these pests easily!"
"No we can't… They're too strong." Grossa said. "And this war may not be justified. I do not wish to lose any more troops in such a battle."
"Do you even know what you are saying? Kuwalsa and Kaido will not be happy with this tone you are giving." Rouge said.
"That's not my problem." Grossa said as the Daemons retreated.
After an exhausting war, the group reconvienes with Yukiha in the study.
"Thank you all for your assistance." Yukiha said.
"It is no problem, princess. We are just happy that the castle is safe." Jessica said.
"If there is any way we can repay you, we would be happy to." Yukiha said.
"Ah, yes. There is supposed to be an Ether Gear in this realm, correct? We should destroy it as soon as possible." Cheetah said.
"I have heard rumors of ruins being built at the summit of the Great Frozen Waterfall to the north, before the world was divided by the Dark Current." Juza said. "It would most likely be there."
"Thank you. We will be sure to take a look." Glacius said.
The group reached their destination and saw a sort of abandoned manor.
"That mark on the door. This must be the place." Esmeralda said.
"Definitely, I can smell a very dangerous scent in there." Cheetah said.
And dangerous it was. However, the group managed to defeat them and destroy the Ether Gear.
"Alright! That's Ether Gear number 4! Just one more to go!" Aoesia said.
"But where is that last Ether Gear? We've been to all four realms." Valfor asked.
"I may have a general idea." Tiggy said. "We will have to make some specific preparations, though."
"Let's worry about that tomorrow. For now… I think we all deserve a bit of a celebration." Cheetah said.
"Oh, I'm down with that!" Rayleigh said.
"Same here." Zamazenta said.
"I suppose we can join in too." Glacius said.
"I guess the matter is settled, then." Nesma said.
The group partied merrily into the night. Come the next morning, everyone was raring to go. By Tiggy's instructions, the Brionac reached a new mode and was soon rising in the air.
"Whoa… The Brionac is flying!" Renzo said.
"It used to be able to fly somehow, but my repairs weren't enough to fix it." Tiggy said. "But in combination with Azura's Signimancy and Vivian's Sorcery, we were able to get it up and running again. Everyone in the guilds pitched in to make it work too."
"Which means we can now reach more realms." Belladonna said.
"Correct! And there is one just by the Burning Realm that has been getting my attention." Tiggy said.
"Well, what do you all say we check it out?" Aoesia asked.