Hi there!

So, uh...apparently things are turning out differently, here. And...it continues a bit here.

And apparently, Shamir's goals are pretty intense, and Parvos is totally on board with them.

...Or is he?

Who knows?

Frisk: Not me.

Chara: Or me.

Asriel: Wait a minute, I'm still a bit lost...

Anyway, here's another chapter!

Chapter Start!

Papyrus was incredibly glad that Undyne pushed him to continue training, and that his soul was empowered by Asriel's Angel's Blessing. Or else that first attack would have done some rather significant damage due to the killing intent behind it.

A wall of bones rose up between him and Shamir, defending against the latter's dual sword attack. His face showed the amount of shock shown for this unexpected turn of events.

"NOW HOLD ON FOR JUST A MOMENT!" Papyrus interjected while he kept the bone wall up, his shock immediately turning to half-concern, half-annoyance. "YOU CAN"T JUST ATTACK ME OUT OF THE BLUE LIKE THAT! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" He was initially greeted with silence, as Shamir's blades became coated with lightning and he cuts straight through the bone wall. Papyrus was able to swiftly duck under the slice as he passed over him. Shamir swiftly turns around and slashed at him again, which was blocked by an even stronger wall of bones. "SERIOUSLY! YOU'RE BEING VERY UNPLEASANT RIGHT NOW, AND IT NEEDS TO STOP!"

"Your thoughts do not matter to me in the slightest." Shamir responded as he pushed against the bone wall. Papyrus narrowed his eye sockets as he pushed back, which resulted in the bones jetting outward from the wall, forcing Shamir to abandon the attack and jump back, a few bones piercing through his cloak.

"IS THAT SO? YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN MY THOUGHTS? I DO BELIEVE I CAN PERSUADE YOU TO THINK OTHERWISE?" Papyrus asked.

Shamir shook his head as he stood up and held his sword out to him threateningly. "I'm afraid not. I have my orders. And unlike my mostly aloof partner, I intend to carry them out, down to the letter."

"THOSE ORDERS INVOLVED KILLING 01 AND 02?!" He was answered with a stream of lightning being shot from Shamir's paws. He rose another bone wall to defend against it, and could feel the pressure the lightning was placing on said wall. He grunted slightly as he could see chips of the wall begin crumbling. HE IS BEING VERY RUDE! NOT ANSWERING ME APPROPRIATELY, INSTEAD JUST CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ATTACK ME...THIS IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE PREDICTAMENT I SEEM TO BE STUCK IN. Not to be outdone so easily, Papyrus rose one hand as a stream of bones jetted from the ground, creeping their way towards Shamir. He stopped his lightning attack and jumped out of the way before he could be pierced.

Shamir didn't let up his assault in the slightest. He instead rushes towards Papyrus again and swings both of his blades down. A bone staff swiftly materializes in the skeletons hands and he blocks the dual strike, feeling the pressure behind it as he felt the ground beneath him slightly crack. Papyrus was slowly becoming more and more glad that this wasn't a busy street, or else passerbys might have been endangered. Still, it didn't make his current situation any more favorable. But nonetheless, he had to deal with it as there wasn't anyone else around.

Papyrus searched quickly for an opening he could expose. There was a bit of frustration when he sees that there weren't many he could use that would lead to the mere incapacitatation of his attacker. Whoever he was, he's been well-trained in combat. If Papyrus was to make any progress, he couldn't waste too much time thinking of less harmful ways to resist. Eventually Shamir will figure out how to completely shatter his guard, and that will lead to a less than optimal time.

"SIR. I'M KINDLY REQUESTING THAT YOU STOP THIS ROWDY BEHAVIOR. WHATEVER THE REASON YOU HAVE FOR DOING THIS, I'M SURE WE CAN SIMPLY TALK THIS OUT-" Papyrus briefly dodges a sword slash that went completely over his head, and it unfortunately sliced a bit of the silk from his scarf. "WHY ARE YOU STILL ATTACKING?! THERE'S NO NEED FOR THIS! PERHAPS YOU SIMPLY MISHEARD ME...?"

"You're not in any position to make demands, skeleton. Nor are you in a position to even negotiate."

After Shamir coldly stated this, he sends another stream of lightning ricocheted off of his paws, nearly hitting Papyrus in the side. Taking advantage of the distraction, Shhamir rushes forward and kicks him hard in the ribs, sending him flying back a couple feet. Hoping to stop his own momentum, Papyrus erected a bone wall behind him, and he slams into it upon impact. He was rewarded with a slightly bruised spine, but what mattered was that he stopped. He looked up to see Shamir coming at him again, and found himself dreading that he might have to try a bit harder to get the attacker to stop. Papyrus gripped tightly on his bone staff and swung right when Shamir was a couple feet in front of him. Unfortunately, Shamir was able to see this a few seconds early, and swerved under the strike, before he struck upward with a lightning coated dagger from one of his hilts.

NYEH...THAT...WAS...NOT PLEASANT... The lanky skeleton mentally muttered. The attack left a gash in his battle body, forcing him to step back a few feet. Shamir one again takes the opening, as he pushed his paw outward, a gust of wind suddenly pushing Papyrus further back, this time not leaving anything to cushion his slamming into the ground. THAT...WAS EVEN LESS PLEASANT...

Shamir buffed as he approached the down skeleton, who was trying to recover quickly. "Hmph. This is supposed to be the power of the so-called Royal Guard...you bring shame upon the name. You're pathetic." He rose his sword above Papyrus's head, intending to behead him. "Vanish, and turn into dust, pretender."

"...THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS MANY THINGS...AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD THINGS...BUT PATHETIC IS DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THEM..." Papyrus muttered quietly. "I DO NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE, OR WHY YOU'RE DOING THIS...BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO CEASE THIS ATTACK...OR ELSE I WILL HAVE TO RETALIATE A BIT MORE FORCEFULLY."

"I've already told you. You are in no position to demand such things."

"...VERY WELL. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS THE OUTCOME YOU CHOSE."

Shamir was not impressed with Papyus's possible intimidation, and swung his sword down on his neck. His eyes widened significantly when he noticed that it did close to nothing. Papyrus barely flinched. What...how...how did he?! The density of Papyrus's bones hardened, just enough to render the attack on his neck ineffective. He had learned his lesson from unfortunate experiences. For some reason they always go for his head. That wasn't going to happen again on his watch, as he had a feeling neither Sans or Undyne wouldn't be too pleased about it.

"THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY BROTHER'S BONE MAGIC. HE IS SKILLED WITH LONG-RANGED AND PRAGMATIC BONE ATTACKS, AS WELL AS HIS INCREDIBLE EVASIVE MANUVERS AND SUPERIOR SPEED. MY BONE MAGIC RELIES ON MY SUPERIOR CLOSE-COMBAT SKILLS AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH." Papyrus declared as he slowly stood up, grabbing hold of Shamir's wrist. "AND I HAVE BEEN VASTLY IMPROVING IN CLOSE COMBAT, SO UNDERESTIMATING ME...MIGHT BE CONSIDERED VERY POOR JUDGEMENT."

"What...?" Shamir muttered, before he looked down and noticed that his soul had turned blue.

"YOU'RE BLUE NOW."

Papyrus clenched his fist and sent it hurtling into Shamir's chest, sending him flying back. Though he used his other hand to grab onto his soul and pull him back for another punch, this time to the cheek. The trend nearly continued a third time, but Shamir caught on. As he was being pulled back toward's Papyrus again, he coated his paw in lightning and attempted to pierce through Papyrus's battle body. He didn't catch on nearly enough, as Papyrus slammed him into the ground before the attack could make contact. Shamir groaned as he felt the telekinetic pressure forcefully keep him on the ground. To escape, his body surged with a large burst of lightning, Papyrus had to release his grip on his soul in order to jump back and avoid the chaotic streams of electricity. Shamir growled viciously as he got back on his feet, pulling out his swords again. Papyrus was honestly getting aa bit irritated with how things weren't turning out like he hoped, but not irritated enough to be openly hostile.

"I'M GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURRENDER PEACEFULLY. I ASK THAT YOU TAKE IT SO THAT THIS ENDS A BIT MORE PEACEFULLY THAN IT IS BECOMING." Papyrus declared, lowering his hands and leaving himself defenseless. "I WILL SPARE YOU NOW, AS I DON'T WISH TO BE YOUR ENEMY. JUST COME WITH ME, SO THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN YOUR ACTIONS."

Shamir blinked in confusion, before his lips pulled back into an agitated snarl. "Spare me...? You SPARE me?! How about you spare me your arrogance! You're not superior to me in ANY shape or form!" Shamir roared as his body was coated with lightning, and he rushed at Papyrus with renewed killing intent. Papyrus stepped back a bit in surprise, as Shamir prepared to cut him down with his blades. Papyrus immediately defends by grabbing Shamir's soul again and pushing him back a great distance, though his claws digging into the ground helped to stop his momentum.

"WHAT?! I NEVER GAVE THAT SORT OF IMPRESSION...DID I SERIOUSLY GIVE OFF THAT SORT OF IMPRESSION? I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE! IT NEVER EVEN CAME TO M-" Papyrus was cut of by Shamir slashing at him with his lightning coated swords, in which Papyrus deflected with his own bone sword. "HEY! I WASN'T FINISHED APOLOGIZING! WHY MUST YOU BE SO RUDE?!"Shamir was about to lash at him again, but he was stopped in place by Papyrus surrounding him in a cage of glowing blue bones. He had to completely stop moving or else they would pierce straight through him. "I'M GOING TO HAVE TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE, SIR! THIS IS GOING WAY OUT OF PROPORTION! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT." He said, carefully summoning a skeletonal hand from the ground, which took hold of his phone and began secretly texting a message to Undyne. This person was proving more troublesome than expected.

"You're the only one who's going to get seriously hurt in this encounter, skeleton." Shamir said coldly. "You'll lose your concentration eventually, and I WILL cut you down once you do."

"THAT OUTCOME IS UNLIKELY, SO YOU JUST SIT THERE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE-" Papyrus paused as he suddenly looked down at his armor. A lightning coated knife had pierced deeply into his chest, and it seemed to be because Shamir was able to move his tail around the bones and expertly threw into him without his notice. He lost concentration and stepped back a few feet, removing the throwing knife from his battle body before falling to his kneecaps, grunting in pain. "...WELL...I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO YOUR TAIL..."

"Amateur." Shamir growled as the bones dissipated, and he charged his swords with lightning. "You made a critical error in judgement. Now you're going to pay for it." He raised his swords and prepared to cut him down for the second time. "With your life..." With these final words, he swung his blades down once more...

(Meanwhile, In the Underground)

Asriel didn't move an inch, lest this mystery girl choose to cut him down where he stood. And there was a pretty sure chance that Chara and Undyne would be horribly upset by that. Speaking of which, the reactions of the others varied. Undyne was still surprised by how quickly the girl drew her blade. Alphys was incredibly nervous. Frisk was surprised that the first encounter didn't really go the way he might have hoped it would. Muffet seemed interested in might what might come next. Chara seemed ready to rush the girl should the blade even nick Asriel. If Asriel adapted an expression, even the smallest twitch of pain, Chara would not hesitate to attack the girl with no restraint. He's protective like that.

"I'm gonna ask you again. Who. Are. You?" The girl repeated, her eyes narrowing behind her mask. Asriel swore that he heard a growl behind her question, signifying her quickly decreasing patience. Asriel blinked and shook his head a bit to regain his focus. He needed to placate her hostility or else she might attack. He needed to assure her that he was not an enemy. She's likely to have been asleep for a long while, and just woke up in a new environment. Of course she was on her guard.

Asriel decided to answer, raising his paws in a placating matter. "H-Howdy...my name is Asriel Dreemurr..."

"...Dreemurr?" She questioned, narrowing her eyes. "There's no way you could be a Dreemurr. King Asgore and Queen Toriel don't have children. Are you making fun of me?"

"W-What?! Golly, of course not!" Asriel shook his head hurriedly. "I wouldn't lie about something about that. Never!" That was a rough start if he's ever had one. A small part of him was slightly hurt at being called a possible lier, but he had to remember that there was a very high chance that this girl had no idea where she was. Asriel wasn't the smartest one around, but he knew how to put certain things together. She knew who his parents were, but not who he himself was. Not to mention that no one has ever seen her before, because she was trapped in the Artifact...and she doesn't seem to be aware of it.

He had to proceed carefully, as she still looked hostile. Time to talk.

"Um...what's your name...?" Asriel asked politely, hoping she would follow along. "I mean...I told you my name...it should be fair that you at least tell me yours...right...?"

He could see her eyes blink behind her mask, mostly out of confusion. "Uh...Red. My name is Red. I'm an apprentice training to get accepted into the Royal Guard." She shook her head. This was no time to be talking politely to a possible enemy!

"Royal Guard? I think I would have been aware that you were an apprentice for the Royal Guard, punk." Undyne said curiously, head tilted. "I've never seen you before. Then again, that's because you were trapped in some weird red orb. The Artifact thing."

"Artifact...I was trapped in an Artifact...?" Red blinked in confusion. She looked around her feet and saw that the shattered pieces of the once grand orb have been scattered around her feet. "I...don't remember being trapped in there." She actually pulls back her sword this time, placing a hand on her head. "Come to think of it...I can't seem to remember anything but my name, and I'm training to be a member of the Royal Guard." She lowered her head, and Asriel heard a slight whimper. "I don't remember anything else..."

Amnesia? Alphys wondered, a clawed hand on her chin. This would require some time to figure out in deeper detail. Red has no idea what time period she's in, nor does she have any idea of who Asriel and Undyne were. If she says she's a recruit for the Royal Guard, yet has no idea who Undyne is...then where did she come from? Or to be more precise, when did she come from And how come she's been trapped in the Artifact this entire time? Because judging by her reaction to it, she didn't do it to herself. But if she didn't do it...who did? And by Asriel and Frisk's description, the Annoying Dog seems to be the only one who seems to be aware of it, as he kept absorbing the orb in different timelines. However, this time he's completely left it alone, instead leading Asriel right to it so he could shatter it and free her.

There has to be a reason for that broken pattern. But for now, they needed to make it clear to Red that they were not her enemies, because she might not even remember having one. It would seem that she was merely acting on pure instinct and the memories she still retains, as she hasn't seen any of them before. For now, she and Frisk quietly motions for Asriel to continue the conversation, allow her to calm herself down and process what was going on. Asriel nodded quietly and turned back towards Red.

"Um...Red?"

"H-Huh? Wha?" Red blinked as she looked up towards Asriel. "Oh. Asriel, right?"

"Yes."

She gently made her sword dissipate from view, and folded her arms. 'So...your last name is Dreemurr...you're really telling the truth about that...?"

Asriel rubbed his neck. "You said that you don't remember much, and that you don't believe it. So I guess in order for you to believe me, I'lkl have to take you to my parents and prove that I'm not lying to you. I don't want us to get the wrong impressions of one another. So when we get back to the Surface, I can take you to Mom and Dad, and they can help us explain what's been going on since...however long you were trapped in the Artifact. We...we'll have to ease you into everything that's going on now." Asriel nodded. "So...until we can get this entire thing sorted out...I think you should come with us. I don't really think you have anywhere to go...do you?"

"I am quite certain that she does not. Considering how she was trapped within the Artifact, there is a very small chance that she has a place to stay." Muffet said, her head tilted. "Yes, we'll have to discuss her situation collectively as a group, as it is quite unexpected and out of nowhere."

"Not completely out of nowhere. But considering Asriel's lead to this kind of thing was the Annoying Dog...yeah." Chara rubbed his neck with a sigh. "I really think we should gather the others and discuss this with Mom and Dad. Maybe they might know something about this." He shrugged. "Or...maybe they don't. Either way, we won't be able to make any progress by staying in place. Better we get moving and actively try to find the answers to our questions than sit here waiting for them. A higher chance of figuring things out in a bigger group, wouldn't you say?"

"I agree. We should get back to the Surface as soon as we can." Alphys nodded quietly.

Undyne nodded as well. Though she then blinked as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She takes it out and realizes it was a text from Papyrus. "Papyrus? What is..." Undyne's eye widened significantly, then narrowed as her lips curled into a savage snarl as she read the text fully. "WHAT?!" Everyone jumped at the sound of her enraged roar nearly echoing through the Underground. "Who has the...grrr...that bastard is mine!" She swiftly puts the phone away as a spear materializes in her hands. "Our new friend can wait, guys! We've got some serious business to attend to!"

"W-What..? What's going on, Master Undyne?" Asriel asked, suddenly worried.

Undyne gritted her teeth, grinding them together. "Somebody killed 01 and 02. Papyrus has him immobilized, but not for long. Asriel, do you think you can teleport us there?"

"H-Huh?! Well...I'm not entirely good at it like Sans, as he's more accurate with it." Asriel said while lightly scratching his cheek. "Though I guess that I can get us close to them at least. I don't have enough familiarity with the Surface to get an exact location on them."

"Good enough! Let's get going, right now!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Asriel nodded as he began moving onward. Though he felt his wrist being roughly grabbed by Red. "Huh...?"

Red sighed as she slowly lets go of his wrist, folding her arms. "I really have no idea what's going on here...but what I do know is that I really can't just sit around and do nothing if you need help. So...lemme help you guys out, okay?"

"Are you sure about that?" Frisk asked in concern, turning towards her. "You don't have a lot of things to go by, since you have amnesia. I don't think going out and trying to participate in something dangerous."

Asriel tilted his head. "Frisk is right. Maybe she should stay behind and-"

"I am not staying behind!" Red exclaimed, pointing out towards Asriel's snout, surprising him slightly. "Maybe I don't have a clue of what's going on...as a matter of fact, I am pretty sure I have no idea what's going on, and maybe I DO have amnesia...but that shouldn't be an excuse for me to do absolutely nothing when I can clearly do something! If I can be of some help to you, then I'm gonna help! There's no way around it, you hear me?!" Alphys considered this to be very poor judgement, though Chara simply shook his head.

"Eh. I say we let her go." Chara shrugged casually. "Judging by the situation, we really don't have time to be discussing it. Besides, it's highly unlikely that she's willing to accept no for an answer. She has that kind of look on her face. I know it pretty well, actually." He turned towards Muffet, who just happily nods in agreement and confirmation to his statement.

Asriel thought over this for a moment. Undyne was really running low on patience, and they were all running low on time, as Chara said. He was worried since red has just emerged in a world she was unfamiliar with, yet was so ready to throw herself into it with reckless abandon. They would need to keep a close eye on her and make sure that she doesn't get hurt. So with a sigh of defeat, he raised a paw. "Alright. Remember I'm not good at this like Sans is. I should be able to get us close enough to get there in time."

"That works well enough. Let's go already!" Undyne demanded angrily, tightening her grip on her spear.

Asriel nodded hurriedly as he focused his magic around the group. Reality shifted around them, and they all vanished in a colorful flash of light, the last thing being heard as Red's confused shout.

(Meanwhile, back on the Surface...)

Doggo, Greater Dog, and Lesser were patrolling yet another street. This time, it had plenty of humans passing by, occasionally giving them a pet or too. As they're constantly moving, Doggo was able to see them all, thus seeing the pets coming and not being caught off guard like Frisk tended to do to him. Greater Dog and Lesser Dog were elated by this. Having a new world of petting opened up to them, and now they were able to properly enjoy it. Apaparently the canines of the Surface have the luxury of being pet a lot, as they seem too cute to not pet.

"I gotta say, I didn't think there was a name for my eyesight issues. But apparently it's called..Riddoch...Syndrome...? Yeah, that's what Alphys said it was, I think..." Doggo said with his arms folded, sighing. "That's a really weird name for it, but that's what it's called. I still don't think I can fully wrap my head around it." Greater Dog barked a few times while nudging Doggo slightly. "Of course I'm grateful that you're helping as my seeing eye dogs. It's a weird thing, a dog needing a seeing eye dog. I don't think I've ever heard something like that before. In fact...I don't think that the humans have heard of something like this before, come to think of it." Lesser Dog barked a bit. "Yeah, compared to you stretching your neck out like an elastic waistband to near-infinity, riddoch syndrone dog needing seeing eye dogs isn't very unbelivable. Even further, they're still tryin' to get used to the whole monsters on the Surface thing. Guess it's safe to say that anything can happen, right?"

Greater Dog wasn't entirely paying attention to the conversation at this point. Neither was Lesser Dog. They both seemed to simply be minding their own business as they turned a corner of the street, away from the humans. Lesser Dog continued sniffing around curiously, while Greater Dog continues rolling around a bit. Doggo could only sigh irritably as he realizes that they were easily distracted. They really needed Undyne's help with focusing on the job, and related issues like that. Unfortunately that would require more intense training...training he wouldn't entirely be happy doing, considering how rough she tends to be...and intense.

...Doggo smelled something foul in the air, and stopped Greater and Lesser from going any further. He looked around quickly. If he were to see something still, he would have to move himself a bit to make it visible to him. "Who's there? I can smell that you're close by!"

"...Hm. Looks like not all of the mutts around here are brainless. You're more in tune with your instincts. I admire that, really, I do." Doggo suddenly turned around, following the sound of the voice. His eyes widened before he was blasted back by a blast of black lightning, hitting the wall behind him. Parvos was slowly walking towwards the trio of canines, black lightning coating his paw. "Buuut...you now how it is with cats and dogs. They can get along...but I like the feuding better, to be honest. It's more fun."

Doggo slowly got up, his fur slightly singed from the blast. Greater and Lesser began growling at Parvos, who didn't seem affected at the least. Doggo narrowed his own eyes as he brandished his swords. "Who are you?!"

"Ya know, that's the second time I've been asked that question. Strange thing, isn't it?" Parvos shrugged as he shrugged off his hood a bit. His face was revealed to be a white-furred leopard with brown eyes. The rest of his robes still surrounded him, the Delta Rune still on his robes. "But enough about me, I can't send too much time here. My partner is a bit...indisposed at the moment. And I have to...uh...un-indispose him, I guess?" He scratched his nose in confusion. "I dunno if that's the right way to say that though...oh well!"

Lesser Dog didn't stand a chance. The second Parvos had finished his statement, a black spear of flames shot out of his hand and pierced straight through the canine. He was rendered to dust in a matter of moments, dying with a pained whimper. Greater's happiness diminished in an instant, as he whimpered pathetically at the sight. Parvos was about to lash at him with his daggers. Doggo was in front of Greater in a moment, deflecting the strike with his own daggers, gritting his teeth and growling.

"Greater! You need to flee! Hurry!" Doggo shouted to him. The dog whimpered again, not wanting to leave Doggo behind to fend for himself. "Now, Greater!" The dog still looked incredibly sad, but ultimately conceded to his wishes as he turned around and ran, discarding his armor in the process, it would only slow him down. Doggo turned back to the smirking Parvos, growling viciously at him. "Who are you, and why are you doing this?! Why would you kill Lesser Dog?! And why are you wearing the Delta Rune on your robes?!"

"My, this is so noble of you. You allowed your friend to get away so that he can warn the Captain. Guess it's true that a true pack looks after one another. You guys get along a hell of a lot better than me and Shamir do, I can tell ya that much!"

"You're not going to answer my questions?!"

Parvos quietly shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Now...see, I can't really tell you all of that, because it's not something for you to know about. Don't worry about it, though. It's not like it's gonna matter to you either way." He pulled back and kicked Doggo in the chest, throwing him on his back. He gets up a bit, on all fours, looking up to Parvos with defiant eyes, even though he can't fully see him in motion. "A dog can't really bark any secrets if it's dead, am I right? So telling you would be a real waste of both of our times."

"Ngh..." Doggo gritted his teeth angrily at Parvos' nonchalant grin.

"Hey! Hey doggy! Play Dead!" Parvos slashed Doggo across the chest, as it was coated with dark lightning. Doggo coughed once, before he quickly vanished in a flow of dust. Parvos grinned cheekily. "Goooooood boy! Oh, wait...you're dead for real...oh well!~" He sheathed his daggers and sighed a bit. "That's another one down...though I did let that Greater Dog get away...ah whatever. It's not really gonna make a difference in the end, anyway."

"Are you finished here, Parvos?" The snow leopard turned around to see two other cloaked figures behind him, each of them having an ax in their paws. But this was not Dogamy and Dogressa. One was wearing a dark green robe, and the other was wearing a light green robe. Both of then were seen with a feline muzzle under their hoods.

"Yeah, I am." He placed his paws behind his neck and gazed up to the sky in wonder. "I still don't get the purpose of this test, though. I mean, I know I'm keeping it a secret from Shamir...he's totally clueless!"

"Our mission is to see if what our superiors are suspecting is true." The other one says, a bit more feminine than the taller male one. "Until what they are thinking of can be proven true or false, we're merely saying and do what Shamir currently orders us. He is unaware of what our true mission is...what your true mission is.

"I know I know." Parvos waved her off. "The guy seriously thinks he's stands a chance against the Dreemurr Royal Family on his own...that dumbass is soooo gonna die!" He laughed heartily, slapping his knee a bit. The two cloaked felines didn't respond, causing Parvos to groan. "Ribras. Rasha. You're being seriously dull. Not even a chuckle?"

"I don't enjoy this assignment, and neither does Rasha. As such, we don't plan on coming back from this mission, Parvos. For all we know, this may be the last time we see each other. Not that the experience with you in particular has been pleasant." The one known as Ribras sighed. "To think...we are merely pawns in order to progress a much bigger scheme...a scheme we don't even know about...and it starts with the murder of innocent monsters."

Parvos shook his head, shrugging. "You two are so soft. Ya know what you signed up for, and what you were getting into. You have no reason to hesitate now."

"You're the only one who enjoys this madness, Parvos, because you don't believe the consequences can catch you. Either that, or you simply don't care..." Rasha narrowed her eyes.

Parvos rubbed his neck, chuckling. "Hehe...yeah, I guess you're right." His ears flickered a bit, and he swiftly turns around to see a Whimsun gasping in fright. His teeth revealed a wicked smile as he slowly approached it, as if the poor monster were nothing but mere prey. "Ah-ah-ah...can't have you ratting us out either, ya shy little guy~"

"We can't let anyone know we're here, not now...not even something as silent as a Whimsun..." Ribras palmed his face, groaning in despair. "We're surely be burning in hell for all of this..."

Parvos stopped for a moment, thinking about those last words. "Burning in hell, huh...? Well, we made our choice long ago. So if this path is sure to make hell my final destination..." Parvos blasted the Whimsun with a dark ball of flames, unblinking as the poor creature couldn't work up the courage to scream, until it promptly vanishes into dust. He then turns his head towards his accomplices, his brown eyes turning a malevolent purple, smiling calmly.

"Then I might as well enjoy my trip down, right?~"

...

...

...

...Welp. I think I improved on building tension...maybe a little bit...

I dunno. Ya'll can judge that for me.

So far, Shamir isn't really sound that good a guy...wonder what might become of him...? And his so-called 'allies'...?

...

...Anyway, hope you're all having a great day! A new chapter may be up sooner, maybe not. Who knows?!

...wait. I do?

Huh. Weird.

Seeyah!