"Goddammit, Megumin!" Ethox said, rounding on the Arch Wizard. "Why are you STILL attacking the castle?"

"Wait, I can explain!" Megumin said, looking embarrassed. "Until recently, using Explosion on a field was enough… but since I used it on a castle, now it's different. Now I don't feel satisfied unless I unleash it on something big."

"So you just couldn't resist anymore." Mirror Match sighed. "And after Ethox made a deal with this dullahan."

"Wait a minute!" Kazuma said. "She can't move after she casts Explosion, she needs someone to carry her back! Dude, did you sneak her off to the castle in secret?!"

"No way! I always keep my promises, I wasn't taking Megumin to the castle!" Ethox said.

" If it wasn't you, who's been-?" Kazuma asked before noticing Aqua whistling badly. "You IDIOT!" he yelled, grabbing her face and pulling on it.

"Stop, I can explain!" Aqua cried. "It's his fault that here aren't any good quests anymore, and I just wanted to get him back for it!"

Verdias' dark aura washed over them as Ethox looked to the dullahan.

"I had thought you a man of your word, Ethox. But it seems you can't keep your own explosion-obsessed maniac on a tight enough leash! For the past week, I've been preparing for the battle we agreed on, but now you've forced my hand!" Verdia declared.

Ethox sighed. "In all honesty, I should've expected this deal to go south because Megumin couldn't resist using Explosion on an actual target." He then drew his Keyblade. "Well, there's no use complaining over it now. I still haven't forgiven you for placing that Death Curse on Darkness. Even though it's lifted, that's still something I won't tolerate from someone who was once honorable. So if you wanna fight right now, let's fight!"

"Wait, what did you say?" Verida asked. "...My curse got reversed?!"

"Oh, whoops." Ethox said.

"But that can't be! That woman should be in insufferable pain right now!" Verdia said. "How could someone from this town be able to-"

"Turn Undead!" Aqua called out as she fired a yellow light at Verdia, vaporizing his horse and causing the dullahan to roll on the ground, yelling in pain.

"Was someone talking about me?" Darkness asked, approaching through the crowd.

"Yeah, I accidentally let slip Aqua lifted the curse on you." Ethox said. "That's on me, sorry."

"Why're you apologizing, he would've figured it out anyway." Ultra pointed out. "The fact that she looks fine is proof enough."

"It's impressive you know Turn Undead, Aqua." Ristarte said.

"What, you don't?" Aqua smugly asked.

"Hey! I'm a Healing Goddess, I don't do purification spells!" Rista pointed out.

"Hey." Seiya said. "If you guys are done flapping your gums, look alive. Headless Horseman wannabe isn't dead yet."

Seiya was right, as the dust cleared to show Verdia still standing.

"Grr…" Verdia growled. "I don't know how someone from Axel managed to be this strong, but it doesn't matter! I'll let my minions deal with the rabble!" he said, summoning a multitude of undead knights to his side.

"Wait, my spell didn't work on him?" Aqua asked.

"He is a General in the Devil King's Army." Ethox said. "He's probably too high level for even you, on account of you being less powerful here in Belzerg."

"Hey!" Aqua said.

"Besides, it did work." Kazuma said. "You freaked him out so much, he called for backup."

"This is not backup!" Verdia protested. "In battle, you do not fight the boss first! You fight the minions first-!"

"Whatever! Sacred Turn Undead!" Aqua interrupted, blasting him with a powerful version of the spell.

"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Verdia screamed as he was blasted and rolled around. "My eyes, my eyes!"

"That didn't work on him either? My purification magic doesn't affect him at all!" Aqua said.

"Didn't Ethox just say that he's too high level?!" Ristarte asked.

"Enough games!" Verdia seethed. "Slaughter them! Slaughter them ALL!" he ordered the undead knights as they charged.

"Here they come!" Ultra said, bringing out Buzzwole and Celesteela. "Get ready, adventurers!"

Verdia laughed. "Let me hear your screams of despair! I shall enjoy - huh?" he stopped in confusion as he saw the undead were all running towards one specific target: Aqua. She screamed as they chased after her.

"Why are they after me?! I'm a goddess, darn it! Life's not supposed to be this hard for a goddess!" Aqua screamed as the undead chased her.

"Where are they going? I'm a crusader, why does she get all the fun?!" Darkness asked.

"Maybe because she's a goddess and they're undead, there… I dunno, looking for salvation?" Kazuma asked.

"I'm not sure that's it." Mirror Match said.

"Well, what's your theory then?" Ultra asked.

"Karma." Mirror stated. "She harmed their master with Turn Undead and Sacred Turn Undead, so the undead are targeting her in a mixture of loyalty and revenge."

"This might actually be a good opportunity." Ethox said. "Megumin, if we can get Verdia and his minions all together, do you think you can blow 'em all up at once?"

"Sure, but only if they're all together." Megumin said.

"Perhaps the goddess can help with that." Mirror said as he pointed to Aqua running back towards them, the undead still chasing her.

"KAZUMA! ETHOX! HELP ME!" Aqua begged as the horde grew closer. This caused everyone to scatter as the horde now had Kazuma wrapped up the chase, leaving only Darkness by the gate.

"Quit following me, go the other way!" Kazuma protested. "Dinners on me if you do!"

"Dinner will be on me if you do something about THEM!" Aqua said. "They just don't give up! I tried using turn undead, but it doesn't work!"

"(Crap, there's too many of them!)" Kazuma said. "(wait! Ethox is getting Megumin ready, right?)"

That was indeed the case as the Nobody stood with the young Arch Wizard on a nearby rock, overlooking the chase. "Aqua, follow me!" he said.

"Where to?!" she asked as they lead the undead minions right back to Verdia and split off from them.

"Alright, he caught on to my plan!" Ethox said. "Okay Megumin, light 'em up!"

"With Pleasure!" Megumin said, casting off her eyepatch. "My name is Megumin! User of the finest magic Crimson Demons possess. Conjurer of Explosion Magic. Behold, my fearsome power. EXPLOSION!"

With that, the spell was cast as the area around Verdia and his forces was reduced to a crater. With the light faded, there was no trace of the undead knights.

"Everyone here has been left speechless. A side effect of using Explosion, no doubt." Megumin said proudly, before she began to wobble and fall until she was caught by Ethox.

"Whoa, I gotcha, Meg." Ethox said. "Feel better now?"

"Yeah… that felt so good…" Megumin said.

"(Her spell probably wasn't enough to kill Verdia, but she got rid of all his minions, and likely caused him some damage.)" He smiled. "(Now I'd better get her to safety. The real fight's just beginning.)"

Verdia recovered, having taken minor damage and hefting his sword.

"A clever plan, warrior. Very amusing. However, it takes more than simple tricks to beat me!" Verdia said.

"No more tricks." Ethox said as Darkness approached as both drew their weapons. "Just a straight up beatdown."

"Perhaps you will allow us to assist?" Mirror asked as he walked next to Darkness, sword drawn.

"You should've stayed in that crumbling castle!" Ultra said. "Celesteela, use Flash Cannon!"

The Ultra Beast pointed its cannon arms at Verdia and fired, the dullahan blocking the attack with his sword, if just barley. Mirror formed three walls of crystal around the general, blocking all routes except the one in front of him, making Darkness's charge unavoidable.

"Have at you, Verdia!" Darkness said.

"(Perfect! There's no way Darkness can miss her target now!)" Ristarte pumped a fist in thought.

Darkness ran at Verdia and slashed her target with all her might….

… causing the three crystal walls to shatter, leaving Verdia himself unharmed.

"(SHE MISSED?!)" the rest of the group, nay, all the gathered adventurers thought in unison.

"(Oh my god, what kind of person does Ethox have in his party?!)" Kazuma asked himself. "(He was standing still, and she missed him! How is that even possible?!)"

"Darkness, if we survive this, you're getting sword fighting lessons!" Ultra shouted at the crusader.

"Well, that was disappointing." Verida said as darkness charged him again. "NOW DIE!" he yelled slashing Darkness down across the chest.

"DARKNESS!" the group cried out in panic.

"She's okay! Though her aim stinks, her defense is the real deal!" Ristarte called. "Still, you gotta get her outta there, she can't take too many more hits like that!"

"Rista's right Darkness, you gotta pull out!" Ethox said as Darkness positioned herself upright with her sword.

"I am a Crusader! I will not stand down when yours and other lives are at stake! It is my duty to protect!" Darkness said. "B-Besides, this one… oh, this one knows what he's doing." she then flushed red.

"Oh boy, she's gone to that place again." Ultraman sighed.

"How shrewd, he's been shaving away my armor, each stroke takes a little more." Darkness fantasized. "Instead of stripping it all away, he has chosen which parts to leave intact. He wishes to publicly shame me, by leaving fleeting glimpses of my naked flesh in between the cracks of my armor. You fiend… standing there plotting where your next blow will land. Very well. Hit me! NOW!"

"Huh?!" Verdia asked in confusion.

"(Man, she thinks up these thoughts on a whim. Wait a second… I can use this!)" Ethox thought. "Hey, Darkness! Try not to be so perverted around us, kay?"

"You called me perverted?" Darkness asked. "This is not the time or place for insults! It's taking all I have to endure this public flanning from this monster! Wait...are you taking turns with me? What kind of delicious torments are you and this dullahan planning?!"

"We're not planning!" Verdia protesteted.

"Yeah, I'm not planning anything!" Ethox said. "For Darkness, that is! I got you off guard! Infestation Wave: Bullet Form!"

Ethox fired a rapid burst of water bullets in the shape of rats as Verdia dodged them, some of them hitting Darkness, which she didn't mind.

"Alright, just like I thought!" Ethox said. "He's weak against water attacks!" he called to the other adventurers. "Anybody who can use Create: Water, blast him!"

"I get it!" Kazuma realized. "Okay, let's do it! Create: Water!" Kazuma called as he fired the spell at Verdia, other adventurers doing the same. But Verdia was dodging them all.

"It's not working. We need to add more power." Mirror Match said. "Aqua! Please, join in!"

"Her?!" Kazuma asked. "Unless she actually knows water spells, she's completely useless!"

"I think you're doubting who's with you, Kazuma!" Ethox said.

"He's right, you know." Aqua said, approaching. "Of course I know water spells. If I wanted to, I could cause a flood."

"Then cause one!" Kazuma pleaded.

"Not so fast. You have some nerve calling me useless. I want an apology." Aqua demanded.

"Alright, I'll apologize to you later! Just quit being useless and do something!" Kazuma demanded.

"You just called me useless again! Alright you big meanie, I'll show you what a goddess can do." Aqua pouted and began charging. "I call on all my followers in this world. It is I, your goddess Aqua."

"Whoa…" Ethox said as he took in the sight.

"Uh oh!" Verdia realized.

"Heed my call. Answer my prayer. And show this world thy power." Aqua continued.

"I have to get out of here!" Verdia said as he turned to run away, only to be grabbed by both Darkness and Ultra's Buzzwole. "Gah! Let go of me you degenerate!"

"Your words are like hammers…" Darkness swooned.

"Sacred...Create: Water!" Aqua called as her power was released, calling down a MASSIVE pillar of water that rocketed towards Verdia.

"AAAAAAH! You gotta be-!" was all he could yell before being engulfed by the flood, as it spread and drenched everything in its way, including everyone else.

Once the flood ended, the field was damp with puddles all around, most of the adventurers dazed on the ground. Verdia, severely weakened by the attack, stood up. "In the name of all that is unholy, what were you thinking?!" the dullahan shouted at Aqua. "Woman, are you insane?!"

Aqua wiped her mouth before pointing at Verdia. "Get em, Ethox!"

"My pleasure." Ethox said behind Verdia as all 12 symbols of his Keyblade glowed and he was in position.

"Wait… what are you doing?! Is that some sort of secret technique you possess?!" Verdia asked. "But… you're all novices!"

"Maybe we are… but we're still the winners here!" Ethox said as he charged. "May the light and darkness in you be revealed! Unparalleled Eastern Arts: Twisted Spirit Purification Slash!"

Verdia raised his sword in an attempt to block the blow. The defense was in vain, however, as the slash broke through his sword as cut in across his armored chest. The dullahan kneeled in defeat as the slash worked its magic, his body starting to dissolve into the twin streams.

"W-What is this-?" Verdia said in confusion. "Why do I feel… so at peace…?" he uttered before he completely dissolved as the streams formed the symbol of the Dao in the sky before the sound of a gong signalled its disappearance.

"You said you were an honorable knight once, a long time ago." Ethox said. "I suppose I'm just a big softie, because that attack seems to always give its targets peace while they die. Maybe one day, Verdia… you can be the honorable knight again." he said before he bowed. "Go in peace and be reborn anew someday."


Ethox's Journal, Entry #7:

...and that was how the battle with Verdia finally came to an end. The next day, Kazuma and I were celebrated as heroes, each of us given a reward of 300 million eris. Upon this, Kazuma immediately wanted to announce his retirement from adventuring, as he wanted to stay away from danger. It was both a blessing and a curse, then, that we all then got slapped with a bill for damages to the outer wall. Turns out Aqua's Scared Create: Water broke part Axels outer wall down. Them's the breaks, am I right?

I suppose Kazuma will never be able to escape his duty to defeat the Devil King. That said, I am relieved that all his money is going towards repairs. If he had retired then and there, I wouldn't have been able to properly assure myself that he's one of the ten or not. However, there's something Kazuma said during his decision to retire that really made me wonder:


"C'mon Kazuma, you can't be serious!"

"Nope, I am. I'm through risking myself in dangerous situations. I'm not giving people another body to mourn."

"Look, I'm sure Aqua and your parents would be sad, but-"

"I wasn't talking about them."


Something about the way he said that… it made me wonder if he's had to go through something like that. He sounded… I dunno, remorseful? Wistful? Like it's something that's really affected him? Well, it's not my business; if he ever tells me, it'll be his choice.

Well, that's really all I have to write for this entry. Here's hoping the rest of our stay on Belzerg isn't as crazy as this!