AN: I'm just gonna jump right into the story, 'kay? Oh, the reviewers are down at the bottom this time. Oh, and everyone's wearing their lvl 100 sets, which just came out recently (at least in Global).


"Here, take these." Druce tossed a Purple Fairy Robe and Skirt to Aradia, who looked at it skeptically.

"These aren't gonna give us much protection..."

"They aren't for protection. The harbor is under the monsters' control right now. We have to get in by passing as weak prisoners." He tossed a Dragon Robe to Alex who caught it and deftly slipped it on over his Neos set (a recent addition to the Ellinian Armory). Aradia scowled at her new armor and walked into the adjoining room to change.

"Aww, Aradia! Aren't you gonna change in here? We're all friends right?" Ryker asked. A shoe flew through the doorway and struck Ryker in the forehead.

Chase looked surprised. "She'd make a good Assassin," He remarked.

"Quit messing around and get your new armor on!" Druce admonished as he tossed the two rogues a Stealer set for each of them. Ryker grinned and pulled off his Kattinas, earning groans from the other men in the room.

"Jeez, Ryker! Keep your clothes on! We don't wanna see that!" Alex called, turning his back on the thief.

"Yeah, yeah... Pish, don't tell me you guys aren't enjoying this!"

Aradia stepped through the door with her new clothes on, her Bazura slung across her arm. "I'd be surprised to find anyone who would be remotely interested in seeing you like that," She teased.

Ryker scowled and Chase looked questioningly at Druce. "Umm... Are we gonna get weapons too?"

Druce nodded. "Yes, but keep your stronger ones with you. If we have to resort to fighting, we'll need them."

Ayrill, Chase's younger sister burst through the door, panting. "If you're leaving, it's gotta be soon! Grendel's about to organize a search party! He thinks monsters abducted you or something," She informed them.

Chase glanced at her as he plucked a Adamantium Guard Claw from the rack on the wall. "Aren't you coming?"

Druce shook his head. "We need a small party for this to work, and I'm sure Grendel will be in need of some stronger people to help fight."

Ryker grabbed a Cass Claw from the wall and slipped a Seclusion Wristguard on. "Man, it's been a while since I've worn these. I've forgotten what its like to be weak and defenseless..."

Alex grabbed a Niam from the rack. "It is a little disconcerting," he agreed.

Aradia pulled a Circle-Winded Staff out and swung it as a test. "Alright, let's get going."

Druce handed out Bamboo Hats to everyone. "Keep those on. We don't want anyone to recognize you."

They trooped out of the store, their hats pulled low over their faces.

XxX

Kronos stood with his back to Kane. "Welcome, to my army."

"I'm not in your goddam army! I'm just here for you to summon my master. When that happens, you'll be one of the first to die!"

Kronos smirked. "I'm sure... Now, before I bring your master into this world, I need you to do me a favor..."

"And what does an arrogant megalomaniac want a poor demon want him to do?"

"There are those... opposed to my rule--"

"Ha! The entire human population!"

"I wish for you to... exterminate the ring leaders. Grendel the Really Old, Athena Pierce, Dances with Balrog, and Dark Lord... They are fated to die by your hands."

Kane nodded. "Whatever."

XxX

The harbor was unnaturally quiet as Druce, Aradia, Ryker, Alex, and Chase trooped past the entourage of monsters that greeted them as they meekly (though Ryker still had a bit of his old strut in his walk) walked by. Aradia had summoned a dragon to act as their warden. It floated along before them, keeping a fierce expression on its snout. Suddenly, a Jr. Balrog stomped in front of them. "Who are you? Why do you bring these... humans here?"

The humans couldn't understand this, but the dragon seemed to be able to interpret. It chirped in response and the balrog glared at them once more. For a tense moment Alex tightened his grip on the Niam tied in his hands and prepared for the imminent attack.

The balrog stepped aside.

They walked past and up the ramp leading to the huge, looming ship that towered over everything else in the harbor. Ryker glanced around, taking in his surroundings with a practiced eye. The harbor was almost as it was before the monsters had taken over, except for the piles of bodies to the side. Ryker scowled when he saw that the corpses were faeries, their wings crumpled and torn, their limbs splayed out in awkward positions.

Another balrog let them on the ship, carefully scanning their faces. Ryker tightened his hold on his Cass. If the monsters attacked, the beasts would be joining the faeries in hell. As the first did, the balrog let them past, though it seemed far more suspicious.

Druce fell to the ground, coughing wildly. The balrog leaned over and kicked the old man with a tremor of disgust. Ryker chose that moment to act, just as they planned. He swiped through the ropes holding him with ease and leaped towards the balrog. Throwing the Cass to the side, he slid his Varkit from the sleeves of his shirt. "Assaulter!" He bellowed. Flickering from view, he sliced through the Jr. Balrog faster than the eye could manage to follow. "Band of Thieves!"

The shadows rose from the ground and molded into the forms five rogues. They snickered and mocked the balrog in deep voices, darting from side-to-side tauntingly. Ryker nodded to them and they simultaneously dropped a coin. As one they called out, "Meso Explosion!" The coins glowed and burst into flames, igniting a stream of explosions that rocked the ship. The balrog was thrown overboard; its matted fur catching fire as it howled in anger and pain. The wind blew a huge dust cloud over the surrounding monsters and they retreated, beating at the air with wings. Finally, a Crimson Balrog rose into the air, and with a shriek of rage, blew the dust away with a single flap of his powerful wings.

Ryker waved merrily at them as Druce steered the ship out of the harbor. Alex climbed the main mast and released the sails as the sun burst from behind a cloud. Chase sighed and nimbly darted up to the crow's nest. "Sky's clear, Druce!" He shouted down. Druce nodded and they floated out into the open air to the angry jeers of the monsters amassed at the harbor.

XxX

Grendel watched the ship pull away with a sigh. He turned to Athena, Dark Lord, and Dances with Balrog. "As we suspected, Druce has taken them to Ossyria. No doubt, they wish to make use of the holy force hidden there."

Dark Lord shook his head. "And he's taken our best fighters..."

"Do... Do you actually think they will succeed?" Athena asked hesitantly.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"But you think it a fool's errand, correct?" asked the warrior chieftain.

"Aye... I doubt the force will be of help to us in this battle... I have no doubt they will succeed in locating it and managing to defeat the Guardians... but I do doubt they will be able to use it. They will most likely be destroyed from the inside..."


AN: Okay, now I'll talk. Umm... Oh, yeah. I'm probably gonna write a sequel, seperate from this. That is, unless I'm relatively satisfied with the ending, I might just end it with one big cliffhanger. If I get bored I'll write the sequel... Okay, reviews:

Cookie: Yeah, Kane's much mo' ebil in this one. When I introduced that he had a master, it kinda changed his character. I mean, he couldn't be the cold and distant butt-kicking demon who just wanted to cause as much hell as possible. Now, he's a evil servant who'll do anything to get his master summoned, which will cause a fair bit of hell... Yeah. Those two are practically the same, though we'll see a big change in Caden eventually... -Cough- And I can't say anymore than that. But I can tell you how I planned to originally end the story. Okay, Akuji's like totally under the demon's control, then BAM! Caden pops in, regains control and starts fighting Akuji and Kronos pretty much at the same time. Then... Err... I realized that's been done waaaay too much and changed it. Anyway...

Okay, please review! I mean... It makes those really rich guys, like Bill Gates, become humble, poor, and prone to bouts of noble give-aways. Oh, and they give all their money to me! Muahaha!