As night fell, and Nia and Robyn were hauled off to a bed at the inn, everyone was getting some rest from all that will be happening while they make their way to Indol.
As Robyn slept, he began to have a horrible nightmare.
Nightmare
Robyn and Lilika were running from the same goons that were plotting to use the Great Tree as profit and sell their knowledge worldwide. This time around, they had weapons.
"Stop them! They must not know of our plans!" A man yelled.
"Lilika! We got to get out of here! We need to alert everyone!" Robyn yelled with horror.
"I know! But first…HYAH!" Lilika shouted as she kicked a device that triggered an alarm of danger. Suddenly, a gunshot was fired and Lilika screamed and fell…dead.
Robyn stopped and ran to her body.
"NO! LILIKA!" Robyn screamed in fright as he held her lifeless body. The goons caught up to them and surrounded them. "WHY!?" He shouted as his eyes became glossy.
"I'll tell you why…boy." The same man said as he approached him.
He was in the same lab coat that Robyn and Lilika wore but was older than they were. He had long blonde hair, blue eyes, light skin, and was holding a unique revolver gun in his hand.
"We can't afford to have you ruining this plan. If you want to die so badly, then please…just say something." The man said while aiming his gun at Robyn.
"Klaus…you monster! This is saving the world. Why would you do this?" Robyn asked while holding Lilika tighter.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Any final remarks before I put you down?" Klaus asked while readying the gun and Robyn gently laying Lilika on the ground.
"Just this: You won't win, and you won't get what you want. You'll only be dooming us BOTH!" Robyn screamed as he pounced onto Klaus to snatch the gun. Klaus kicked him off and took aim.
Robyn looked back only for him to see the gun at point-blank range. Klaus pulled the trigger, a loud bang echoed, and it everything went white.
End
Robyn screamed as he shot his eyes opened and sat upright. He was hyperventilating, sweating bullets and looked around. He saw a few members of the group sleeping around him. He then got up and took his coat and left. He put it on and was making his way outside to get some fresh air.
Meanwhile, Vale was up with Mayonaka chatting about many things seeing as they are more nocturnal.
"Hmm?" Mayonaka asked herself as she saw Robyn walking by as he was.
"Robyn?" Vale asked as they got up and they followed him but kept their distance.
Robyn made his way outside towards a sitting area. He saw a strange guitar that was called a Torigonda, He was adjusting to his liking on how to play it and tuned it.
He then took a deep breath and began strumming the string instrument. He was playing a slow song. Thus, he begun to sing.
'My whole world is so small and so slow
Like my life has dealt such a low blow
I've seen everyone having such normalcy
And live in a big city.'
'I've seen my world has been changing
Like I've been drinking mead
But I wondered what the world will be like
If I'm not me.'
While the both of them were hearing the song, Nia joined them while rubbing her eyes.
"What's all the noise?" Nia asked.
"If I were to make any guesses, he must have had a nightmare terribly frightening…or at least one in the form of a distant memory." Mayonaka said.
"I've been known to handle dark moments, but even I know that this is too much." Vale said in a whimpering voice.
Robyn went on.
'The world others live in is so full
Their worlds are so sharp but mine is dull
What could I do to live in their world?
I see them with their lives being so reserved.'
'I've seen their world as it's been changing
Like they haven't drank any mead.
So I wondered what my world would be like
If I'm not me.'
The more that Robyn was singing this song, the more it was getting to Nia. She felt her heart sank and break a bit for not only how much of a singer he was, but how depressing it sounded. She was now regretting everything she said to him yesterday.
The song continued.
'And our world is not so evenly connected
And I dreamed of hoping to show my world being reflected
Their world is so happily with a dream so big and strong
My world isn't so heavenly
Where did I go wrong!?'
'And I wondered why we live in separate worlds
Why can't we be equals like many horses in a herd?
I want to be like them but how can I if I'm lost?
If I change for the wrong ways, it's at a cost.'
'Now I seen our worlds continue to change
Though mines been drinking mead
Since then I wondered what the world would be like…'
There was a pause to the song. Vale placed both her hands on her mouth, Mayonaka clenched her heart, and Nia was wiping away tears. But then, he finished the song.
'If I'm not me.'
Robyn continued to play the Torigonda until he made the final strum.
"If I'm not…me." He whispered and he finished the song, and he was still.
While he was still, the three of them went to him. He had his eyes closed and had his head down.
"Robyn?" Vale asked him while tabbing his shoulder.
"AHH!" Robyn screamed a bit from shock and looked towards the three of them. "Oh, it's just you three." Robyn said as while recovering.
"Why are you awake at this time?" Nia asked while she was still recovering from what she heard from the song.
"What plagues your mind Lord Robyn?" Mayonaka asked with a tilted head.
"Oh…it's just a nightmare. Sorry if I woke you guys." Robyn answered.
"Don't worry about that. I'm a night owl anyway." Vale said.
"What's bothering you?" Nia asked.
"Just a nightmare of that horrible day. Except this time around, me and Lilika were gunned down. As for the song you probably heard, that helps me get my mind off of it." Robyn explained.
"That's song is kinda depressing, isn't it?" Vale asked.
"It's full of emotions Vale. You see, back then, songs like that were getting way too commercial. It's a song as old as time." Robyn said.
"Oh…perhaps you fear losing the life of Mistress Lilika as well as yourself. You are both haunted by this incident all throughout your lives." Mayonaka thought.
"Maybe…but this song helps keep me distracted from remembering that fear." Robyn said.
"Anything I can do to assist?" Mayonaka asked.
"Just some comfort from my friends." He answered.
"Hey!" Cole's voice shouted nearby. They saw the old man from earlier running towards them. His scream caught the attention of everyone inside the inn.
"Old man. What's wrong?" Vandham asked.
"Iona…she's gone. It must've been them!" Cole said in a panic.
"Who do you mean?" Mayonaka asked.
"After you went, Malos…and some other guy paid me a visit." Cole answered.
"Malos was here?" Rex asked with shock.
"Who's Malos?" Robyn asked.
"He's a very dangerous man. You get on his bad side, you're done for." Cole said.
"He sounds like serious bad news." Lilika said with shivers going up her spine.
"Who was the other guy?" Nia asked as she stepped forward.
"Didn't catch his name, but he did have red glasses." Cole said while he was thinking more of the other person who visited him.
"Akhos." Robyn said.
"What would he want with Iona?" Nia asked.
"Wait…where's Pyra?" Rex asked as he just noticed that the Aegis is missing.
"She somehow slipped under my radar." Mayonaka said while they started looking around them.
"I haven't seen her." Lilika said.
"I know where…I think the Olethro Ruins." Cole said.
"Olethro Ruins?" Rex asked.
"It's where Addam led his army of the resistance from. 500 years ago. The place where the Aegis awoken. It's at the top of the great stairway" Cole explained more about it.
"Then we no time to lose. Let's get them before Pyra gets hurt!" Corvin yelled.
As they begun making their way up the stairs, the began to think about what do to.
"We need a fast plan, so we don't go rushing in." Lilika said.
"Don't worry." Corvin said with a smile.
They were now about to head up the first pair of great stairways that led to the ruins. Before they did however, Robyn and Lilika briefly saw a wonderous view of the stomach of the Titan.
Suddenly, Rex felt a pain hit him on his shoulder, causing him to wince and fall to a knee.
"Rex!?" Azurda yelled in concern.
"I'm fine, but Pyra is fighting alone. She's close though." Rex said as he was getting back up and they continued up the stairs to reach Pyra.
"Come on!" Jacu yelled.
Just then, they saw an explosion from the top. They all grabbed their weapons and prepared themselves.
With Pyra, she was struggling to fight off a man wearing dark armor similar to Akhos earlier. He was slightly taller, stronger, and had pale grey eyes. His hair was short and dark, and he was holding an ether tonfa courtesy of his Blade, which was a humanoid reptilian Blade.
"You can't beat me like that." The man said in a cold voice.
"Maybe I can!" Rex yelled as he jumped over Pyra and attempted to slash at the man.
"The kid!?" The man yelled before his Blade intercepted the attack with its ether barrier.
Rex was shot backwards and landed by Pyra, ready to protect her.
"Rex!" Pyra yelled with happiness that her partner was there. She then looked back at saw the others." Everyone!" She yelled once again.
"Surround them!" Robyn yelled as they all circled around the man.
The man looked around and saw them all with their weapons out. He then turned to Nia, who glared daggers at him, and smirked.
"Well, well…Nia. This is interesting. Made some new useless friends?" The man asked her.
"Enough Malos!" Nia yelled at him.
"Vandham, take Iona!" Rex yelled to the mercenary, who was carrying an unconscious Iona in his arms.
Gotcha!" Vandham yelled before he ran out of there.
"We'll take care of these guys!" Rex said while aiming his sword at Malos.
"Obrona!" Akhos's voice yelled out form the other side of the arena stands. "Do them in." He yelled before jumping and landed by Malos.
"Thought you never asked." Obrona said before channeling her ether energy to her Driver.
"Mistress! You may call either Blade when needed." Mayonaka yelled.
"Alright! Corvin, let's see what you got!" Lilika yelled to her new Blade.
"Agreed! Here!" Corvin yelled as he tossed her one of his swords.
"Malos, I'll take the other ancient one. I have a soft spot for the girl." Akhos said while glaring at Robyn.
"You're lucky that we need you two alive." Malos growled.
"You want us? You'll have to kill us!" Robyn yelled while aiming his ether cannon at Malos.
"You won't be able to beat us!" Lilika yelled before a big fight broke out.
Everyone was giving their all when they fought Akhos and Malos. They had a tendency to switch Blades from time to time so they can have a taste of the action.
"Damn! These guys are tougher than I thought!" Jacu yelled, only to feel her ether connection get interrupted thanks to Obrona. "What in the!?" Jacu yelled in confusion. Obrona laughed at her from that.
"Why you little!" Corvin yelled when he broke free from Obrona's ability.
"Be careful Corvin! Don't let her get under your skin!" Lilika yelled as she continued to strike at Malos.
"It's her ability remember?" Dromarch asked as he continued to aide Nia.
"Then let's try this!" Robyn yelled when he had an idea come to him and he charged at Malos. Malos was fighting Rex and Robyn took his ether cannon and slammed it into Malos's head.
"GYAHH!" Malos shouted in pain.
"JACU!" Robyn shouted while tossing the cannon to her. She caught it and grinned.
"About time! WATER BLASTER!" Jacu screamed while aiming at Malos. She then fired five powerful bursts of water at him, causing him to lose balance.
"My lady!" Dromarch yelled to Nia.
"On it! Aqua Wave!" Nia yelled when she tossed Dromarch her rings.
Dromarch used the rings to roar into, causing a wave of ether energy to both harm Malos and Akhos, but also heal the others in the process.
Malos glared at Nia and gripped his tonfa.
"I'll kill you for th-AAH!" Malos screamed in pain once again as Vale threw her lance at his face. "You really are a piece of shit you know that!?" He shouted at Robyn for having Vale throw her lance at him.
"Heh!" Robyn said with a grin.
"SPINNING DRILL!" Tora shouted as he took his weapon and got the upper hand on Akhos.
"Obrona…this is getting tiresome." Akhos said while adjusting his glasses from the attack.
"POPPI NOW!" Tora shouted and threw his shield to her.
"Roger Masterpon!" Poppi yelled when she caught the shield. "Poppi Spinning Slash!" She yelled. She began channeling her ether flow into it and it began spin. She then threw it at Akhos, damaging his armor.
"THRASH! OBRONA! SHRED!" Akhos screamed as he tossed the twin blades to her
Obrona began slashing at Tora while witch cackling.
"MEHMEH!" Tora screamed in pain and he was on a knee.
Lilika saw this and she had to do something. Corvin aided her well so far, but now it was time to switch things up a bit.
"Corvin pull back! Mayonaka, you're up!" Lilika yelled. Corvin fell back and she swapped weapons with her respected Blades.
"Of course Mistress Lilika. Engage the weapon's halberd mode!" Mayonaka said while she channeled her ether flow to her.
"Got it." Lilika said as she began turning the crossbow into a halberd, only for her to toss it back to her and yelled, "Moonlight Miracle!"
She began to spin the halberd and created a powerful wave of dark energy that healed all of the allies on the field. In the process, she finished an element combination that caused a powerful dark wave of water on Malos, dealing massive damage.
"Now strike while you can. Sinister Obrona cannot be allowed to use her powers!" Mayonaka yelled to her Driver.
Lilika then charged at Akhos, striking him down. He retaliated by swinging his swords at her, causing her to keep her distance.
"Obrona…stop em." He said while blocking more of her attacks.
"Roger!" Obrona yelled while activating her ability, cutting off her ether connection.
"AH!" Mayonaka shouted as she was cut off from her Driver.
"Mayonaka no!" Lilika yelled with horror that she was vulnerable.
"Gotcha!" Akhos sneered with an evil grin.
However, Lilika found a counter to Obrona's ability, and she smiled from this.
"You might have disabled our Blade's attacks, but not this!" Lilika yelled as she ran to him, dodged his attack, and punched in his pretty face.
"AH! OH YOU GOT MY NOSE! OWIE!" Akhos screamed as he covered his nose that was dripping a bit of blood.
"ROLLING SLASH!" Rex shouted from behind and struck at Akhos's back.
"GAH!" Akhos shouted as the pain went down his spine, causing him to collapse onto a knee for a moment. He slowly stood up and glared at him. "I must admit, I've enjoyed playing my part in this hackneyed tale, but…" Akhos was saying until Obrona flew up behind him.
"Time for the final act!?" Obrona asked while activating her powers again.
"The final act in your production. Spoiler alert, you will both die here." Mayonaka said.
"Oh…we've only just reached the climatic battle." Akhos said.
"You're bluffing!" Rex yelled as he charged at Akhos.
"No! Rex!" Pyra tried to warn him about her unable to connect with him, but it was too late.
Rex attempted to slash at Akhos, only to have Akhos catch his blade with ease.
"What!?" Rex yelled with confusion.
"You may have the ether flow from the atmosphere, but…what would happen when we interrupt it to the extreme?" Akhos asked as he made a fist, cutting off all of their connections to the ether flow.
Meanwhile, Vandham returned and saw the action.
"Shit…don't look good." He yelled.
"Damn! The power's draining out of my weapons!" Nia yelled in frustrations as he looked at her rings.
"I apologize mistress. Corvin and I cannot give you power!" Mayonaka yelled as she felt useless from being unable to transfer power to her.
"Masterpon! Poppi feels weird." Poppi said to her creator.
Before Tora could say anything, Malos charged at them and slashed his tonfa at the group, sending them backwards.
"Why won't you leave Pyra, Lilika and Robyn alone!?" Rex asked Akhos.
"Simple. Not only do we want to have the Aegis's power for ourselves, but those two have a unique role in the sequel for our next role. It's Jin's desire…to erase all of humankind from the world." He answered before striking at Rex.
"What!?" Nia asked in shock before attacking Akhos.
"As if we'd ever cooperate with you!" Lilika yelled.
Nia continued to attack Akhos, and he just simply dodged or deflected the attacks.
"Did Jin seriously say that? 'Erase all of mankind?'" Nia asked with a look of disgust.
"Surely you knew. Better than anyone. You know what humans are really like." Akhos said and pushed her away, causing her to stumble backwards.
Lilika was waiting for the opportunity to strike at Akhos while he was focusing on Nia. Akhos saw her coming as she attempted to attack him, and he blocked her attack. Suddenly, Vandham arrived and snatched her before Akhos could get the upper hand.
"Lilika! What are you doing!?" He asked while he and Roc blocked his attack. Roc stood guard while glaring daggers at him.
"You've seen the capital. You've seen the ships, weapons, soldiers, you name it. All poised to invade Mor Ardain. Doesn't it make you want to laugh? Every corner of the world is defined by such vermin." Akhos explained more of what he meant.
Meanwhile, Malos was fighting Rex and Robyn.
"But that's nothing new. They haven't changed a bit in 500 years! No wonder father abandoned them!" Malos yelled as if he was continuing what Akhos was explaining.
Robyn had Vale's lance and was attacking him from a distance. His lance connected with his tonfa and they were in a lock.
"Hate to break it to you Malos. I've seen things over four times longer than that!" Robyn yelled while breaking the lock and jabbed him in the chest, only for Malos to slash at him and sent him into the stands, unable to move from the pain.
"Robyn no!" Vale yelled with horror. She ran to him and sat by him while placing a hand on his head.
Pyra then got in the way of Rex and shielded him.
"Father didn't want us to wipe out innocent life!" Pyra yelled at Malos.
"Then why did he make us? Get real! That's what we're for." Malos said. Before he continued, his body began to channel dark energy. "To descend on the world and eliminate these pests!" He finished.
He then allowed the energy to explode out of him. This power startled everyone.
"What…? Is that power coming from his Blade?" Vandham asked as everyone was watching Malos.
"It's too…." Nia was trying to say but couldn't say much due to shock.
"Playtime is over. Let's do this. Akhos!" Malos yelled while glaring at Pyra.
Akhos twirled his swords a bit before saying, "Agreed." He then sneered at all of them.
Malos charged at Rex and Pyra and attempted to slash at them. Pyra attempts to create a barrier to stop him, but it didn't do much. The shield exploded and Rex and Pyra were sent into the stands next to Robyn, who was trying his best to get up.
Poppi and Tora flew past them and tried to strike at Malos. However, his Blade intercepted the attack and sent them flying backwards. Poppi slammed into stands and Tora landed on her.
"Poppi!" Tora yelled in fright.
Nia and Akhos glared at each other.
"How very noble. Next!" Akhos yelled while swinging a sword at Nia. Dromarch blocked the attack and fell to the ground.
"Dromarch! Bastard!" Nia yelled and grew angrier.
"Over here!" Obrona yelled, gaining Nia's attention. Before she could do anything, she slashed at her with her claws, and she was sent flying.
"UGH!" Nia yelled when she hit the ground.
"Tora! Nia! Damn!" Rex yelled before getting up.
"Stop! Rex! It's no good!" Azurda yelled into his ear, trying to get him to stand down.
"Don't…do it Rex." Robyn struggled to say but he was to hurt to move.
Malos's Blade punched Rex and sent him backwards to where he was.
"Rex!" Pyra yelled while trying to get to him. Malos got to her before she could reach him and punched her in the gut, temporarily subduing her.
"Nia! Pyra! I've got to do something to help! But…what!?" Lilika asked herself. Little did she realized that while she was thinking about what to do, Malos snuck up and clobbered her at the back of the head, causing her to fall.
"Hmph. Hitting girls isn't as much fun…" Malos said while looking down at the woman.
"Malos you're the icon of chivalry." Akhos said with a grin.
"Mistress Lilika!" Mayonaka yelled while going to her Driver and readied herself to protect her. She then glares at Akhos. "I doubt you have any room to talk, Dark Lord Pretty-Boy!" Mayonaka hissed at him.
"M…Malos…" Pyra was saying as she was getting back up.
"I didn't want to face her, that I was truthful of. She forced my hand into it." Akhos countered.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING HER!" Vandham screamed nearby. Rex saw Vandham ready to fight. "YOU READY REX!? Another lesson for ya. Something else you can do with a Blade." Vandham yelled as he took his scythes…and plunged the sharp grips into his gut, shocking everyone.
"Valliant Lord Vandham!" Mayonaka yelled while she was healing Lilika.
"What…bastard!" Malos yelled as he too was surprised to see this.
"He's channeling the ether flow from his weapons to his body." Akhos yelled while realizing what's going on.
Vandham charged forward and fired a powerful burst of wind right at Akhos and Obrona. Obrona used a barrier to shield them. It was futile though as it broke and sent them backwards. Malos began to fight Vandham man to man.
Nia nearby was getting up and her eyes widen. She runs a bit closer to them, only to stop and clasp her hands onto her chest.
As the fight raged on, it was getting more intense and Vandham was trying to get Rex to flee.
"YOU GOTTA MAKE IT TO ELYSIUM!" Vandham screamed at Rex.
"I won't allow it!" Malos yelled and slashed his chest with his tonfa, causing Vandham to cough up blood in the process. "Give it up!" Malos growled while slowly approaching him.
"R-Rex!" Pyra yelled to her Driver and tried to get up.
"Just go Rex! Remember to fight your own war!" Vandham said.
Malos slashed at him one last time. Vandham slowly fell to the ground. His scythes vanished from his body and he was dead.
"VANDHAM!" Rex screamed with horror.
Roc reverted back into its Core Crystal. Everyone watched as this happened, and all were morning their deaths.
"Oh please. What a cliché." Akhos said while adjusting his glasses.
"YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS! FOR VANDHAM!" Rex screamed while charging at the murderer with so much rage.
"N-no…we have to go…" Pyra was trying to say to Rex.
"You're a pain in the ass. Little shit!" Malos yelled as he retaliated against Rex and sent him flying backwards once again.
"REX…ENOUGH!" Robyn screamed while trying to ignore the pain, but wasn't doing well.
"So long kid!" Malos said before attempting to strike at Rex again.
"N…no…" Lilika whimpered.
Just before Malos's tonfa could reach Rex, the world around them shook.
"REX!" Pyra screamed at the top of her voice. In the process, the gems on her head and chest glowed bright, gaining everyone's attention.
"Wha…?" Robyn asked while falling to his back and looked at Pyra.
Pyra hovered into the air and her body vanished. She was rematerialized into a new form. She now had long blonde hair, golden eyes, and a new white variation of her clothing with smaller shoes, longer arm gloves, and a single strap around her thigh.
"Pyra!?" Rex asked. Just then, his sword deactivated and transformed into a white blade, channeling a golden energy. "What is this!?" Rex asked again.
"What the…?" Lilika asked.
"The lovely Lady Pyra is…" Mayonaka was saying while finish healing her Driver.
"Y-you can't rewrite the act now! It's too late!" Akhos yelled as he charged at her.
The new form sternly turns towards his direction. The emerald gems glowed once again.
"Hey idiot! Look out!" Malos yelled to him.
"Uh!?" Akhos asked as they looked up. A giant bolt of lightning struck in front of him. "GYAH!" He screamed from the blast.
"Akhos!" Obrona yelled in fright, seeing the danger they were now it. Another bolt struck the stadium, causing half of it to fall to the Cloud Sea beneath them.
"You awoke at last…Mythra!" Malos said with a grin. He charged at Rex and their swords connected.
The newly named Mythra created a powerful barrier.
"Mythra!? Pyra! You're…" Rex was saying while turning to look at her.
"I am not Pyra. I am Mythra. Pyra…she's a different self that I constructed." Mythra said with a bit of a snobbish voice.
"A different self?" Rex asked.
"No time for that!" Mythra yelled before the fight resumed.
Rex was able to dodge and strike back a Malos and Akhos. He was able to see their movements and was able to counterattack.
"No, it can't be! My powers are useless?" Akhos asked.
Meanwhile, Robyn started to black out from the pain.
"Rex…go get em…ah." Robyn was able to say before he passed out.
"ROBYN!" Vale screamed in fright and held him tight. Jacu took the ether cannon and had it on hand while they got around him.
"Be…be careful Rex." Lilika said while getting up.
"Mythra...looking good. Things are heating up!" Malos yelled.
He and Akhos charged at Rex while they crisscross each other. Rex, thanks to Mythra's foresight, was able to counter them and fight back.
"This is it. The true power of the Aegis. Takes me back. I've waited for so long to see it again. Mythra! Welcome back!" Malos yelled in excitement that she has returned.
Lilika knew that she needed to get back out there.
"Thank you for healing me Mayonaka. Now, let's get in there! Corvin! You're with me." Lilika said while facing the eagle scout.
"Agreed!" Corvin said while tossing his sword to her.
"Robyn! Look at me! Look at me!" Vale yelled while holding his head. She then began to sob a bit while placing her forehead onto his, fearing that she may turn back into a Core Crystal.
"We need to protect him." Rex suggested.
"Okay!" Lilika said while they all poised to protect Robyn.
"Once we have him, you're next!" Malos sneered at Lilika before the fight continued.
With her newly revealed power, Mythra was able to do more damage to the lot of them. Her true powers were being unleashed.
"Lilika, ready to show them what I'm capable of?" Corvin asked.
"You got it!" Lilika yelled and tossed him the sword.
Corvin channeled his power into his sword and yelled out, "FUGA DAEMONUM!" As he shouted this, he created blades of light energy. He then shot them at Akhos and Malos.
"See the light, Akhos!" Lilika yelled at him.
"ARGH!" Akhos grunted from the attack.
Just then, Rex and Mythra aimed their sword above them.
"SACRED ARROW!" They shouted in unison. Large light energy rained down at them. The Blades were using their ether barriers to protect them, only shatter instantly and it had a major cost.
"Wh-what is this!?" Obrona yelled as she and Malos's Blade were vanishing. "Akhos!" She yelled before she reverted into her crystal.
"OBRONA!" Akhos screamed with horror. Both of their weapons vanished, and they were completely defenseless.
"For a bad guy, you cared for your Blade as your partner. Innocent for a man so cold." Mayonaka said.
"Whoa, chalk another one up for Rex and his partner." Lilika said as she stood down.
"I don't…" Akhos was saying while looking down at the dimmed crystal.
"We gotta retreat. Akhos!" Malos yelled at him.
"Obrona…" Akhos whispered and, to many of the other's shock, a single tear poured out of his eye.
"We don't have time for that!" Malos yelled before slamming his fist to the ground. Causing a wave of dirt to be blasted at them.
After a while, the blast settled, and they were gone.
"What!?" Lilika yelled when she saw that the bad guys were gone.
"Looks like we won." Tora said while putting his shield drill away.
"Robyn…" Vale whispered while she and Jacu held him.
Mythra's body glowed, and she turned back into Pyra. The second she turned back to her, Pyra collapsed and passed out. Nia went to her and adjusted herself, so she was upright and rested on her shoulder.
"We did it…but at a terrible price." Lilika whimpered while everyone looked towards the dead body of Vandham.
"Vandham!" Rex yelled before he fell to his knees and started crying.
Lilika and Mayonaka dropped to their knees, bowed their head, and closed their eyes in sorrow.
A great man has fallen today, and new secrets were revealed. They all got the unconscious ones back to the inn and they spread the word that Vandham was killed. Lilika and Robyn were now in greater danger than they ever were. They now had to prepare themselves more than ever. And their first step for that…was to reach Mor Ardain.
