Chapter Three

All was silent in the dark of night as the boy in black armor, who's soul was tortured after events aspiring the past several weeks, moved on to the bricks of the mighty Radiata Kingdom.

Several random guards gave him a suspicious look he walked through the streets of the Yellow Town of Sun and Glory.

"Master Jack?" By the time they saw the blood red glow in his eyes, it was too late.

Rather than greeting them back, he drew his blade and hacked them into several pieces.

A boy not too far away witnessed this murder and cried out.

Jack looked towards the source of the scream. It was a familiar pint sized blue haired and brown eyed kid with brown shoes, brown cargo shorts, white and green striped shirt, and green bandanna.

'He's making a lot of noise. I better silence him now.'

Jack walked towards the boy, ready to strike him down.

"Cody!"

A woman in green cargo pants, skimpy white top, and orange bandanna, had her daggers drawn and ran towards the demented dark knight. This woman, with her blue hair and brown eyes, was likely Cody's mother.

Jack effortlessly evaded her assault and kicked her hard in the back of the knees, forcing her to fall down.

The former Vancoor sergeant stopped pursuing the child and readied his blade to kill this woman in front of him.

"Mother!" Cody screamed.

Jack's blade began to move towards its target.

However, the woman would not be harmed as a large saber blocked his attack. Sparks were ignited from the friction of metal meeting metal.

"Master Jack, what has gotten in to you?" an all too familiar ex Rose Cochon brigade captain inquired.

"Uncle Ganz!" The boy cried.

"Miss Rynka, take Cody and get to a safe location!"

"Cody, we're leaving!" She did as Ganz suggested. Rynka took Cody's hand and they ran west towards their home in the Black City of Night and Lust.

"Master Jack, please answer me!" the former Rose Cochon brigade captain pleaded.

"Ridley was supposed to destroy this world so it could start anew. Now that she's gone, I must continue her mission for her."

"My good friend, please listen to me! It's clear to me that you have an affection for the late Lady Silverlake, but this is just beyond all reason!"

"There is plenty reason. I failed to save Ridley, now I must save her memory. I will start by embracing her destiny!"

Ganz could see the alien malice in his former comrade's eyes. "Master Jack, you have come down with a case of Algandars! I beg of you, cease with this madness and let me get you to the castle for treatment!"

Jack used his strength to push his former superior to the ground.

Ganz was helpless as he watched Jack raise the mighty Arbitrator. 'Father. Lady Ridley. I will be joining you shortly.'

However, that would not be the case. A bright light came out of nowhere. They both heard a feminine voice calling out. "Jack! Jack!" The light then disappeared after a mere few seconds.

Jack muttered, "R-ridley's... voice." He then lost consciousness and fell to the cold hard floor.

Ganz was frozen for several moments after witnessing this spectacle. He was almost as pale as snow. 'Could it be that Lady Ridley's ghost haunts Radiata?'

((((-))))

Jack awoke a couple hours later to find himself in a cramped, barely visible stone brick room. It was most likely that he was placed in the dungeon.

A mysterious voice called out to him, "I see you're finally awake."

"Who the hell are you!" Jack growl.

"You will find out all in due time. What's important is that you get out of here. Although Jack the Dragon Slayer was a respected name, the fact you have contracted Algandars and killed some soldiers shook up the people quite a bit. Larks could very well be signing your death warrant."

Jack grounded his teeth, his patience slipping due to the bloodlust that possessed him. "Why should I trust you?"

"Let's just say helping you in my best interest. Besides, if you die now you may never see her again."

"You mean Ridley!" Jack's eyes widened.

"Precisely."

"What am I supposed to do!"

"You should break out of here, first of all."

Jack grumbled, "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Quite easily. Not only does Algandars awaken your fighting instinct, but it also increases your strength many fold. Taking down this door should be no problem for you."

"Very well." Jack tried ramming the door and much to his surprise it popped off of its hinges and crashed into the adjacent wall, leaving a crater.

"Now fetch the Arbitrator."

Jack turned to his right and saw that the middle aged guard somehow slept through the noise his break out attempt caused. The arbitrator was leaning next to him.

"Whatever you do, focus on escaping. You can kill them all later."

Jack obliged. "Understood."

He tip toed to the guard and fetched the Arbitrator before running off. 'The Path of the Spider just might be my best bet.' On that self memo, he was headed to the sewer system.

((((-))))

In the upper floors of the castle, a short and tubby man with green eyes and a red face, clad in in a white robe, pounded his fist into a wooden desk. "I can't believe that perverted lunatic would kill people in my precious late Ridley's name! Larks, you must execute this fiend at once!"

"This is a most unfortunate chain of events," the blond lord calmly stated. "General Ganz, what say you?"

"Your lordship, despite all of the tragedies that have happened recently, it would be a waste to do away with him. Surely the Algandar's will be curable one day?"

"Damn it Ganz, now is not the time for your optimistic rubbish!" the red faced man screamed.

Larks closed his eyes. "I apologize Ganz, it seems we have no other choice."

The general lowered his head. "Very well, your lordship."

Lark opened his eyes and set his field of vision of the red faced individual again. "Lord Jasne, I will let you make the preparations neccessary for his execution."

He bowed. "You're far to kind, Lord Larks."

End Chapter Three.