So, according to a Famitsu article, CG's seem to still be a thing in the story mode, and Ragna is wearing a school uniform with Ruby and Yu. Best thing I've seen all day. And Rachel seems pretty excited about getting that keystone from Ragna. Thanks for streaming some of the story mode IGN. But, let me not forget to thank my beta Wild Blue Sonder for looking this over! All your suggestions were great, and thank you!

Makoto: I g-guess we s-should r-r-recap.

Kagura: I-I'm freezing my balls off here…! L-Lets, hurry up!

Yasha: Huh. Joke is, I don't think he's kidding.

Hibiki: We have finally begun our confrontation with the Imperator, attempting to retrieve Kushinada's Linchpin. Only to be interrupted.

Ragna: T-Talk about a real d-dick.

Saya: B-Brother… I'm so cold…

Makoto: J-Join the c-c-club.

Celica: A-Aunty, did you p-pick the cards?

Akahana: I did, and it's your turn, Jubei.

Jubei: My turn, is it? Alright then, what is it?

Akahana: My biggest shame. Guess we can hear the tales of your past now.

Jubei: My biggest shame, eh? I ain't got nothin' if I'm bein' honest. Haven't done nothin' that'd make me look back and be flustered.

Luna: Of course, not! Master Jubei is the coolest!

Akahana: Then we can just go through your old photo album when you were a baby swinging around a tiny sword and shouting attack names?

Jubei: What!?

Kokonoe: Dad, what's she talking about?

Nine: I'm interested as well, dear… What's that about attack names?

Jubei: Nothin'!

Ragna: M-Master's b-b-blushing?

Celica: W-What is it, f-fa-father? Wait, is t-that what I hear s-s-sometimes at night?

Jubei: Don't listen to her, Celica.

Noel: B-But what about those b-baby pictures? I want to see M-Mr. Jubei as a baby.

Saya: S-So do I-I!

Celia: Frozen stiff and that's all you two can think about? Wow… Talk about having a one track mind.

Rachel: I-If you all recall, we are still f-frozen. Kindly refrain from this foolish banter so we can g-get back on track.

Valkenhayn: Indeed! Quickly, Jubei, answer the question! Madam Rachel's life is at stake!

Jubei: The hell it is! I can see you keepin' in that laugh—you just don't wanna ask it.

*Valkenhayn whistles off*

Jubei: And I'll clarify: I wasn't just callin' out random names—I was makin' sure I was in tip-top shape. The bathroom is the only time a man can be alone.

Kagura: P-Preach it.

Makoto: P-Pervert.

Kokonoe: At least we got through that pretty fast.

Terumi: I wouldn't mind hosting my own show… I'll call it… Wheel of Terumi! You all spin the wheel—and whoever it lands on, I kill!

Yasha: Done already.

Terumi: Point?

Lambda: L-Let's begin t-the chapter now.

Bullet: Dear god, what happened?

Nu: You all look cold.

Ragna: N-No, s-sh-shit!

Jin: Let's begin.

Chapter 33: Growth

Bullet's growling invaded Tager's ear, her displeasure evident in her body language. A relentless foot tapped the disfigured ground, her brown eyes darting about in search of something to punch. With her arms folded tightly across her chest, irritable fingers matched the tempo of her foot, drumming more rapidly as she continued to seethe. Tager had a mind to distance himself from the ticking time bomb at his side, but what good would that do? They were partners in this endeavor. If he attempted to calm her down, perhaps she would reveal some aspects of her personality, although there was no telling what lay beyond her defenses.

"Be at ease, Bullet. My sensors aren't picking up anything, so you don't have to be on-edge," Tager said, though he suspected their isolation was the source of her irritation.

"But that's the problem–I'm stuck here with no one around to fight! I figured I could kill some time beating back those Sector Seven idiots, but no one's shown up yet!" Bullet slammed her fist against her palm. "Ragna gets to have all the fun while I'm stuck here watching the birds! It's ridiculous—I'm a mercenary, not a park ranger!"

"But there are certain times where you need to be calm and rational. Getting angry won't solve anything. As a mercenary, aren't you obligated to complete the assignment no matter what it is?" Bullet's expression softened a little. "Battle or no, we were given a task, and it will be completed. Our mission is to secure the Lynchpin and ensure it does not fall into enemy hands. We are just as important as those on the front line, if not more."

"Guess that makes sense… heh. You know, it's kinda funny how much you remind me of my commander. Always told me something similar, to be calm and all that."

"He sounds like a good man."

"…He was."

An alarm disrupted the silence as Tager looked to the bushes ahead. "It seems we have company, Bullet. Judging from these heat signatures, there are about forty of them." He wondered how so many managed to get so close since his sensors hadn't picked up on them until now. He guessed they had teleported into range. Tager put two fingers to his ear. "Kokonoe, Celia, do you copy? We're about to encounter enemies. How do you want us to handle them?"

"By any means necessary—doesn't matter as long as your point is secure," Celia replied. "We've got our own issues to deal with."

"What happened?" Bullet asked, frowning.

"One of the Nox Nyctores crashed Ragna's party. Jin is the only one able to fight right now since the others are frozen stiff."

"What!?" Bullet gasped.

"Leave that problem to us and focus on your own task. I'm picking up more signatures descending on my end. Whatever you do, just hold your ground," Kokonoe instructed.

Bullet wanted to argue, but as Tager said she had a job to do, and Ragna had one too. Biting back her words, she prepared herself to engage. Footsteps pounded the ground as Sector Seven soldiers poured from the greenery, surrounding Bullet and Tager with swords, axes, lances, and guns. She smirked. "At least I won't be bored." She edged forward, unfazed by the arsenal before her. Standing around with her thumb up her ass had gotten her fired up to punch something; now she couldn't complain. Knuckles antsy, Bullet dove into the fray.

Bullet effortlessly ducked a horizontal swing aimed at her head and brought her fist up with enough strength to not only send the man sky-high but knock out his two front teeth as well. She then vaulted over an incoming lancer; the minute the lancer contorted to face her, Bullet's leg whipped into her face. Dazed, she couldn't avoid the punch that turned her vision white, broke her nose, and left her unconscious. Bullet turned to clothesline her next foe, then grabbed another nearby soldier by the neck. She spun around in a single, fluid motion and slammed him headfirst into the ground. However, this left her open to attack as another swordsman attempted to drive his blade through her skull… only for him to be crushed by a massive robotic fist. Bullet fired her Armagus, blasting the upper portion of her opponent before standing up.

"Don't leave yourself open like that. If I hadn't shown up, you would be dead," Tager scolded.

"You've got my back here, right?" Bullet asked without a real care in the world. She sidled up to Tager while disarming an incoming axeman, blasting him into his allies with a Piercing: Engage. She drew up her fists, smirking. "As long as I have someone watching my back, there's nothing to worry about!"

"Heh, very well," Tager consented. Although her logic was foolish, he felt more at ease now. Where Bullet had been extremely guarded just a few minutes ago she now displayed more enthusiasm than he thought possible. A mercenary through and through.

"Let's go!" Bullet surged back into action, Tager following in her wake.

Wadatsumi Castle: Battlefield

The battle between Jin and Setsuko raged on. Even relying on his drive, Jin found himself having a hard time keeping up with Setsuko. Something was very wrong and Jin couldn't put his finger on it. His strikes carried more weight, more precision than before. Currently Setsuko had him on the defensive; he deflected blows from Ryūjin with Yukianesa, but barely. Each attack rattled his body, metal shrieking in his ear at a pitch that might very well leave him deaf. Jin summoned a condensed ball of snow to his palm while leaping some distance away. The moment he landed he fired the wild blast at Setsuko who simply countered with his own, the forces clashing until cancelling one another out. Jin gritted his teeth, stealing a glance at his frozen family and allies.

Jin withdrew from his musings just in time to block a mighty diagonal slash from Setsuko, the force of it pushing him back several feet. His labored breathing was visible in the near zero-degree temperature. Unlike him, Setsuko appeared to be fairing just fine. "You seem to have improved since the last time I saw you, Jin Kisaragi." Setsuko's grin faded after a moment, turning to disgust. "The fact you still breathe vexes me. A chill runs up my spine every second I know you still draw breath." He regarded Jin narrowly as his foe assumed his stance once more. "Blame that man for your suffering. But fear not– your family, friends, and that accursed hero will follow you to hell. Be sure, Tsubaki will be waiting at the underworld gate."

"Your voice is so irritating. It's beginning to make my ears bleed!" Jin bridged the gap between them with a single lunge, and with murderous intent he brought Yukianesa down to collide with Ryūjin. The impact was so great a crater formed in the frozen ground beneath his feet. Jin redoubled his efforts to get past Setsuko's defenses. A frosty aura coated his sword from hilt to tip, adding some weight and forcing Setsuko to retreat. Jin kept on him, and while his swings looked wild to the untrained eye, they were truly precise and controlled. Setsuko didn't keep his guard up for long, counterattacking effortlessly as Jin danced on his toes, dodging and blocking. Jin waited for the moment Setsuko felt too at ease; when it happened, he abruptly slashed upward and knocked the man off-balance, leaving his chest wide open.

Jin thrust his blade forward with bullet-fast precision… but suddenly halted the attack and dove to one side instead, avoiding an icy spear that sprang from Setsuko's palm. Upon righting himself he winced at the sharp pain in his side, touching it to discover a crimson stain on his glove. "You managed to avoid that. Impressive," Setsuko remarked.

"Save your self-satisfaction!" Jin flung himself at Setsuko, closing their distance in less than a second while slashing at his neck. Once again their weapons clashed and sang. Once, twice, three times Jin swung with the intent to cut right through the man, but to no avail. He dealt Setsuko a fierce blow and immediately followed with Moonsong…

Only to watch Setsuko to catch the arrow and shatter it like glass.

"Hmph. Did you truly think such a paltry attack would work? I insist you try harder, Jin Kisaragi. Otherwise, killing you would be meaningless. Or is this the full extent of your powers?" He vanished, instantly reappearing behind Jin. "I expected more from someone who wields the Power of Order."

Setsuko aimed to cut Jin right in half, expecting his blade to sink into flesh only to hear ringing metal as his sword clashed with Yukianesa. But the parry was held in poor form, Jin cursing himself for it. He contorted in an attempt to act before Setsuko could, again proving too slow as a foot drove into his abdomen. Emerald eyes widened, his breath stopping short as the wind was knocked out of him, and his grasp on his sheath loosened. Setsuko afforded him no time to recover, blasting him with a frigid torrent. Suspended in the air, Jin could do nothing as a flurry of ice pellets rained down at Setsuko's command, sending him crashing to the ground. The mist cleared to reveal Jin's struggling form, a single trail of blood running down his face.

"I'm not… done yet."

"A truly pathetic display. I assume you learned such stubbornness from your brother." Setsuko shook his head in dissatisfaction. "Is this what the Kisaragi family has become? Breeding weak, simple-minded creatures like you? Wielding your blades like infants, knowing nothing of form? But I suppose I shouldn't have expected much from his genes. You and Yayoi are no different in that regard."

"Silence!" Jin rose up and made a dash for the man, their blades colliding yet again.

"So zealous. Mastering your drive ability is not such an easy feat. Yet, like an eager reader rushing to the final page, you hurried through without reading the full content of the book. Sadly…"

"Guah!?" Jin suddenly found himself coughing blood. His eyes slid from Setsuko's cold gaze to the cone of ice lodged in his chest.

"…this story does not have a happy end for you."

"D-damn you!" More blood fell from Jin's lips as his quaking hand grasped Setsuko's arm. "I-I refuse… I refuse to accept this! Defeat is not an option! I must…"

"Avenge her?" Setsuko scornfully spoke. "Please. What is the point of vengeance if you do not have the strength to enact it?" Setsuko extended a hand, snow forming a vortex in his palm as he prepared to finish off Jin.

"Heh," Jin smirked and squeezed his arm.

Setsuko's brow quirked. "Something amuses you? Or have you finally gone mad from Yukianesa's influence?"

"No. I believe you have misunderstood, so let me make myself clear—I have no intention of avenging Tsubaki."

"What?"

"It as I said." Jin closed his eyes, recalling the time before their departure. "Back then, on that day… we made our decision to fight, to walk a path we knew may very well lead to our swift end. Despite knowing the risks, we held our weapons and clenched our fists, ready to finish what we started." He gripped Setsuko's sleeve as if to tear it. "Tsubaki was a dear friend…" Her countenance appeared in his mind, smiling that gorgeous smile that made his heart flip. "No, something far more than that. She meant the world to me—she was the world to me. And even though I wanted to protect her, I failed. Not once have I been able to keep her safe." Jin exuded a frosty blue aura then, which soon turned silver. It billowed around him like a veil, ruffling his hair and clothes.

'That aura… It feels like his!'

"I am not here as an avenger or agent of justice, and I don't think of myself as some hero." The silver aura enveloped Yukianesa. Setsuko hurriedly freed himself from Jin's grasp, watching in awe as the cone of ice that had impaled him melted. His emerald eyes, brimming with determination, shone so brightly they made the sun seem dim by comparison, and they too turned silver. "I am here to ensure her efforts weren't for naught, that what she worked toward wasn't in vain. And defeat you!"

"How revolting!" Setsuko spat, gritting his teeth. He lunged at Jin, expecting his wounds to permit him a clean slice. Jin did not attempt to move, instead dropping into an odd yet familiar stance and seemingly moving in slow motion. Setsuko anticipated cleaving Jin right in half with Ryūjin… only to cry out in disbelief as his blade was rebuked by a newly-sprouted Ars Magus circle.

"Empty Sky True Form: Judgement of the Sword!" Drawing his blade all the way out, Jin flicked his wrist. The flow of time came to an immediate halt for a moment, the battles waging around them falling silent. When the moment passed Setsuko screamed as numerous lacerations appeared all over his body. Blood spewed from the gashes as he was thrown off his feet, landing hard upon the ground. Jin sheathed Yukianesa with a firm click. "I will be Tsubaki's living will. That is my reason to swing my blade."

Setsuko hacked up blood while pushing himself into a sitting position. "To think you would inherit his drive…" His disdainful glower shifted to a smirk; he rose slowly, chuckling. "I must admit, I didn't see that coming. Yes, this is most interesting…"

"I will ask this once—what is your connection to the Kisaragi family? Why do you know its style? Speak, and I'll make your death a little less painless." Jin's voice held a dark, dangerous edge that would make even the mightiest warrior cower. But Setsuko just laughed.

"I have no obligation to tell you anything."

"Then this is where you meet your end." Callous in both tone and expression, Jin rushed Setsuko with the intent to cut him down where he stood but halted his advance when a figure unexpectedly descended like lightning, caving the ground and sending up a plume of dust. It dissipated slowly, revealing a man with strong violet eyes and shoulder-length raven hair. He wore a traditional indigo hakama, matching tabi and white sleeveless kimono, displaying his well-defined muscles. After exchanging a glare with the newcomer, Jin knew one thing was certain: 'This man is dangerous.'

"You finally arrived, Takeshi, but not in top form," Setsuko commented.

"Sorry about that. Had to plow through a lot of cannon fodder to get here," he rumbled, his voice calm and soothing, yet powerful enough to make the very earth quake. The man named Takeshi looked over the frozen statues, eyes narrowing when they fell upon Ragna. He made to approach, but a hand on his chest prevented him from proceeding farther.

"Wait," Setsuko commanded.

"Why're you stopping me? We should kill him and get it over with," Takeshi said.

"And if we do, what do you think will happen? Try using your brain more."

"You know, some of the things you say hurt." Takeshi faced Jin. "To think you let that kid get you this good. Heh, maybe I should take a crack at him? Seems like fun."

Jin resumed his stance, fingers hovering above the hilt of his blade. Confusion overtook him when Setsuko once again lifted a hand to stop Takeshi. "He is not your prey, he's mine. Let's retreat for now."

"A buzzkill like always… Alright, alright, I got it. But…" His lips separated into a wicked sneer. Faster than Jin could react, Takeshi bolted for the nearest target, Saya, only to switch gears and raise his blade to meet another that struck at him with the force of a cannonball. An unfrozen Ragna elicited several differing reactions while he held his ground against Takeshi.

"Brother!" Jin called.

With a ferocious swing Ragna shoved the gigantic man away, leaning Blood Scythe on his shoulder. "Sorry asshole, this one's off limits."

'He actually managed to break free from my ice?' Setsuko saw his other victims' prisons melting. 'Not just his own… Even at this level?' He smirked. 'As I should have expected from him.' "We're outnumbered," he said to Takeshi, "let's retreat."

"Roger that…" Takeshi groaned in disappointment. The ice-wielder gave Jin a sharp look before the two vanished in a gust of frosty wind. Both brothers relaxed once they had gone.

"What a pain in the ass…" Ragna sheathed his blade. "I don't think that's the last we'll be seeing of those idiots."

"Jin!" Celica scurried over to him, worried. "Are you ok!? Let me heal you!"

"No need, this wound is nothing." Jin walked right by everyone. "Let us continue. We have dawdled here far too long."

Ragna eyed him for a second and said with a smirk, "Look who finally decided to grow a pair. Can't call him a crybaby anymore," before striding after Jin, followed by the rest of their allies as they made their way up the stairs. They gathered at the castle's massive, locked double doors.

"I'll stay out here and keep watch just in case anyone tries to come in," Makoto vouched.

"Me too," Saya said.

With that plan in mind, Rachel flicked her fingers and a seal appeared on the entrance, shattering the lock. The doors achingly opened, permitting them entry to the dark castle.

Ikaruga Ruins

Bullet drove her knuckles into the final combatant and hunched over, panting. She wiped the sweat from her brow and examined their handy work. Broken weapons lay beside their owners littering the ground. Drawing in a deep breath, she stretched and dusted herself off. Tager surveyed the surroundings, and after several scans discerned they had successfully eliminated all threats. "Kokonoe, Celia, we have successfully dealt with the enemy," Tager spoke into his communicator.

"Good. Ragna's team made it into Wadatsumi Castle and are en route to the Lynchpin. Remain on standby and—" Kokonoe suddenly went silent.

"Kokonoe? Kokonoe, can you hear me?" Tager received no answer from the other end.

"Don't bother, they can't hear you anymore." Bullet and Tager turned toward the condescending voice, leaping ten feet away upon finding the speaker standing right behind them. He had messy black hair and wore a white lab coat. The more pressing issue was how he'd appeared out of the blue, neither of them sensing a presence. He looked around in amusement. "You've done well to defeat so many with ease."

"Maybe you should actually train your men instead of fiddling with books. My old camp cook could wipe them out with her frying pan and spatula alone," Bullet remarked.

"You may be right about that—they're all such incompetent fools. I often wonder how Sector Seven manages to enlist so many insects. We haven't had a worthy soldier since the Mad Dog, but even he proved incapable of dealing with a couple teenage brats. That dog should've remained on his leash, wouldn't you agree?"

"Who are you?" Tager queried.

"Oh, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Benkibaru. As I'm sure you have discerned, I am a member of Sector Seven. Now that introductions are finished, answer a simple question and I'll be on my way."

"Do you honestly believe we'll tell you anything?"

"If you did, this wouldn't be any fun." The scientist exuded a dark miasma, his presence growing stronger; Bullet could practically feel the air vibrating. She readied herself, as did Tager. A maniacal grin lifted his lips. "I am still rather new to all of this. Please, don't die too soon."

Wadatsumi Castle: Underground Passage Depth

"Are we there yet? All we've found so far are cobwebs, roaches, and everything in between," Ragna groaned.

"C'mon Ragna, don't be so grumpy. It's your fault for not taking the shortcut I saw earlier," Celica said.

"If we did that, we'd never get here," he returned.

"Space is heavily distorted up ahead. I have no doubt the Lynchpin is there somewhere." Noel wore a worried expression which Ragna swiftly took notice of.

"Saya and Makoto are gonna be just fine. A couple idiots don't stand a chance against 'em," Ragna reassured.

Noel shook her head. "I'm not worried about them, really. I'm concerned about that Setsuko person and the one who appeared beside him."

"Huh? Who cares about them? If they come back I'll send their asses right back into the boundary." Ragna smashed his knuckles against his palm.

"Do not underestimate them," Rachel warned.

"Not you too…"

"She is correct brother," Jin added. "I only defeated Setsuko because he let his guard down. In any other scenario it would have been pure luck. And I fear he hasn't shown half of his true power yet which he still seems to be regaining. You would do well not to engage him unless victory is assured."

"That doesn't sound good, especially coming from you," Kagura remarked. "But I've got a question that's been bugging me ever since we got here. Ragna, couldn't you have unfrozen us whenever you wanted?" Ragna tensed then.

Rachel shot him a frosty look. "Oh? Is that a fact? Do you mind telling me why you waited so long to unfreeze me? I will ensure that you only receive second-degree burns."

"L-look, it's not like that! I just wanted to see what Jin was made of, that's all! You know, tough love!?" Ragna forced a laugh. Beads of sweat slid down his face as Rachel held up a finger dancing with electricity. "U-um, will you let me go if I apologize?"

"I'll think about it if you lick my boots," she offered.

"That's way too much!"

"We're here." Jin stopped, his allies following suit. Ragna tried to ignore Rachel's 'we'll continue this later' glare but it was too heated. Curiosity replaced his fear as he looked around, finding nothing but a worn brick wall.

Kagura frowned. "Are you sure this is it?"

"Yeah, I don't see anything. Did you get us lost, Jin?" Celica asked.

"No, we have arrived, we just can't see the gate. However…" Noel was staring in awe. "It seems she can. We haven't much time. Hurry up and open the doors."

The girl snapped to attention. "O-oh! Um, right! But, uh, how do I do that exactly?"

"Observe the door, Noel," Rachel said.

"Observe… Got it!" Noel nodded confidently. She closed her eyes to focus and energy radiated beneath her. Her hair fanned out, her clothes shifting to Mu's white coat and toeless stockings. Kagura whistled at Noel's form and Ragna took the liberty of being the Makoto, given she was elsewhere. 'Observe the gate. We can do this, Mu.'

'We can, and will. Concentrate, Noel… Focus on the power of Azure dwelling within you.'

At that moment a blinding light erupted, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. They opened them to discover that their surroundings had changed, standing in a massive room instead of a grubby passageway. In the center their prize hung suspended over an inactive cauldron, chained to all four sides of the room. Celica marveled at its beauty, her eyes wide with awe.

"This is amazing…" Noel breathed.

'This feeling… I think we've made it,' Mu said. Noel simply nodded.

"This is Kushinada's Lynchpin..." Celica awed.

"Seems like it." 'Just like in that vision she showed me.' Ragna recalled his time with the Imperator; his heart skipped a beat as his jaw clenched. 'Then was she really right about me dying?'

"I can't reach Kokonoe or Professor Celia from here," Lambda relayed after several attempts to make contact.

"Must be interference from the boundary. Space is distorted here and there, too. I don't think we should stay here long, so let's get this sucker outta—"

"WAIT!" A loud, gruff voice reverberated among the space. A figure descended in the blink of an eye and Noel shrieked, falling on her butt and assuming her normal form. Kagura recognized the man before them and facepalmed.

"And here I thought we'd gotten here first…"

"Who the hell is this old fart?" Ragna drew a hand to his blade but Kagura waved at him to stand down.

Bang greeted with a toothy grin, "My name is Bang Shishigami. I am so glad that you all finally arrived!"

"So this is the annoying guy you were talking about? You sure know how to pick 'em," Ragna said. Once Bang's gaze landed on him, he scurried over and prostrated himself.

"Please, forgive me!"

Ragna blinked twice. "Huh?"

Bang shot up, a bump on his forehead. "I am terribly sorry for not being able to defend Wadatsumi! You are the distant relative to Tenjo that Miss Rachel informed me of, correct?" Ragna gave Rachel a blank stare and she looked away in amusement. He sighed.

"I am, but what's that to you? And why are you apologizing?"

"I was by Lord Tenjo's side and could do nothing to prevent the catastrophe that fell upon the people of Wadatsumi. I hope you can forgive my incompetence!"

"If it'll make you stop groveling, then sure," Ragna agreed.

"Wonderful!"

"Hehe, he's funny. Were you Tenjo's jester?" Celica asked.

Bang gasped. "Jester!? I was one of his royal guards!"

'No wonder he bit the big one.' Ragna kept that comment to himself. "Anyway, you've got the key, right? Go activate the thing so we can get outta here. Kinda on a time crunch." 'I am, anyway.' Ragna raised his eyebrow at Bang's abrupt change in demeanor. "Hey, ya heard me? Or did all that whining make you deaf?"

"I wish to know why you are so distraught," Bang replied.

"What? I don't have time for this shit. The Imperator, Terumi, and their entourage are right outside. It's only a matter of time before they get in here!"

Bang lifted Rettenjo off his back and proffered it for everyone to behold. "I was given this by Tenjo. This fifty-five-inch nail houses the spirit of my former master, and I will not hand it over to any weak-willed fool."

"Weak-willed fool!?" Ragna spat.

Kagura stepped in. "Bang, we don't have time for this."

"You may not, but I certainly do." Bang stabbed the nail into the ground and an unexpected tremor toppled Celica, Noel joining her on the floor again with Lambda completing the klutz pile. "I see nothing but fear in your eyes." Ragna made a sound of indignation. "Based on Kagura's description of you I expected to find a man worthy of wielding this, but I see he overestimated you. I do not know what transpired before you arrived, but if doubt clouds your mind, you are not ready to so much as touch this."

"Oh yeah?" Ragna slowly drew his blade, holding it in a two-handed grip. "Guess I'm gonna have to take that sucker by force! Don't blame me if I accidentally kill you, old man."

"To die protecting the will of my master…" He assumed a fighting stance. "…I would have it no other way." Bang regarded Ragna coolly, awaiting his next move. Celica made to stop him but Ragna was already leaping toward Bang, striking the ground instead of flesh. He looked up to find Bang standing atop one of the four pillars chained to the Lynchpin, pursuing him without hesitation. Lambda, Celica, and Noel attempted to go after him, but Rachel halted their advance.

"Stay and watch," she said.

"But Mr. Bang is our ally, right? So why do they need to fight?" Noel asked.

"It doesn't matter why. Ragna is in danger." Lambda tried to charge Rachel but she stood firm.

"You will not interfere with this battle. Unless, of course, you believe you can get past me." Without a word, Lambda equipped her Murakumo armor and prepared to fire at Rachel. By the time she aimed, Rachel's fingers were around her neck, disengaging the armor. Rachel ran a sharp electric current through Lambda as her eyes rolled back in her skull.

"Oh my god, Lambda!" Noel cried as she hit the ground.

Ragna glanced back at the commotion, gasping. "Rabbit, what did you—!?" He whipped around to put his blade between his ribs and Bang's foot but the kick was far too strong, breaking his guard. Bang's flaming fist followed, gauntlet active. It dug into Ragna's gut and sent him plummeting to the ground. Bang landed nearby, arms crossed and disappointment on his countenance.

"Pathetic… Were you really the one who bested the Mad Dog, Azrael? Or was this another man Kagura spoke of? You withhold so much when you strike. Did I perhaps strike a nerve?" Bang quipped.

"Shut your damn mouth!" Ragna reached for his blade, struggling to return to his feet. 'The hell is wrong with me!? My body feels so heavy!'

March 3rd, everything will come to an end. It is the day you die Ragna. Forever.

'Damn it...!'

"Please, stop this!" Celica tried approaching Ragna but a lightning bolt halted her.

"Celica, you will not move another inch. Do so and you will live to regret it."

"Why are you being like this, Miss Rachel!? This isn't you! Don't you want to help Ragna when he's in trouble?" She then looked to Kagura and Jin. "Please, help me get through to her! We have to stop this before one of them gets hurt or worse!"

"Bang wants to defend the honor of the fallen. There's nothing wrong with that," Kagura replied. "If you were in his shoes you'd do the same. So just watch."

"But still!" Celica drew a clenched fist to her chest and inhaled deeply. "Get him, Ragna! Don't let him win! You're stronger than him, I know you are!" she shouted.

"Hmph. You're weighed down with doubt even when there's a beautiful woman cheering you on? Are you not a man, Ragna? Or are you so blinded by fear that you can't see the very things before you?" Bang's eyes softened slightly. "You have a strong will, but if you allow your fears to take root in your heart and spread, they will contaminate your soul. You hesitate far too much and are easily distracted. Aren't you here to retrieve the Lynchpin?"

"Yeah, but you won't hand over the—!" Ragna gasped and looked back to find the nail driven into the ground. That son of a…

"You were so focused on me you completely forgot what you came here to do. You are young, foolish, brash, letting emotions cloud your judgment. Your goal is the Lynchpin and your first priority should've been to retrieve the nail. Instead you decided fighting with me was more important, but all you have to show for your efforts are injuries." Ragna lowered his head while his grip on his sword loosened, his pride shot. Bang brushed past him, pausing to whisper, "You are not worthy."

"Ragna!" Noel and Celica ran up to him. He avoided looking at them, sheathing his blade. Noel placed a tentative hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry," Ragna muttered. It was all he could say.

"Don't apologize," Celica returned, "it's okay."

Ragna approached Lambda to help her up. "You didn't have to knock her out, Rachel. Don't you think that was a little much?"

She shrugged. "She wouldn't listen otherwise."

"No mercy, as always." Ragna shook Lambda by her shoulders, smiling when she opened her eyes. Her arms immediately encircled him.

"You're okay. What happened?"

"A wake-up call…"

Bang plucked the Rettenjo from the ground and wrapped it back in his scarf, facing the Lynchpin. "How are we going to get it out of here? I doubt even I can carry it."

Kagura scoffed. "You say it like it's possible. No, we're gonna beam this baby outta here using the power of the Azure Grimoire. And we've wasted enough time here as it is, so let's get on with it."

"I most certainly agree." The eerie voice pierced the atmosphere, drawing their attention to a figure striding through the door, setting them on edge. The scientist just smiled at them, and there was something in his eyes that made them shiver like he viewed them as less-than-human, mere stones for him to step on. "Quite a number of you have gathered here. Oh, but where are my manners? I don't want to make the same mistake twice. My name is Benkibaru, and I will be taking the Lynchpin."

Kagura summoned his blade. "Pretty confident there. You think it's gonna be that easy?"

The man smirked. "As simple as it was to overcome the 'bodyguards' outside."

"Makoto and Saya? What've you done to them!?" Kagura demanded.

"You have a brain, don't you? Come up with something using that childlike imagination. Still, I suppose they're better off than that mercenary and her robot companion."

"You…!" Ragna's visage contorted with rage.

Rachel could sense something out of the ordinary, a pressure surrounding Benkibaru. 'What is this feeling?'

"Ah, one of them was your sister, correct?" Benkibaru looked at Ragna, relishing his anger. "I can assure you, she is very much alive… yet probably not in the form you remember."

"That's IT!" Ragna made a mad dash for the scientist, Jin and Kagura on his heels.

"Wait! Don't engage that man!" Rachel's warning didn't come soon enough. All three of their blades crashed into a barrier that refused to give way no matter how much strength they exerted. Benkibaru looked smug as several sigils appeared on the barrier, blasting his attackers with beams of light. The trio bounced and skidded back to their allies.

"Ragna!" Lambda's voice nearly cracked as she pulled him into her arms. Celica knelt beside her, gasping at the gaping hole in his gut that wouldn't heal for some reason. She examined Jin and Kagura, glad to see they didn't suffer matching wounds despite being fairly banged up.

"Alchemy…" Rachel bit out, scowling.

"It is wonderful, isn't it? So much power and it's all thanks to science. Ars Magus and feeble magic pale in comparison to the power I possess! Science truly trumps all other things in this world!" Benkibaru exclaimed. Two nails suddenly came flying at him, but he caught them and returned them to their attacker, multiplying them dozens of times over. Rachel swiftly put up a barrier to deflect the barrage but they were much heavier than she anticipated and she conjured the barrier far too quickly. She managed to protect her vital spots and the others behind her but a few got through, puncturing her thighs and slicing her cheeks. Noel ran to her side when she fell to a knee.

"Rabbit! You son of a…!" Ragna tried to rise, the blood he vomited forcing him back to the ground. "What the hell is going on!? My wound isn't…"

Benkibaru remained passive. "As it shouldn't be. While remarkable, there are ways to neutralize the grimoires' rather annoying regenerative capabilities. Look at Ōkami, for example. Copying the data from forging that blade was child's play."

"D-damn you!"

"Don't move!" Celica ordered, her healing finally taking effect.

Rachel winced and hissed at the pain in her legs. "How do you know alchemy? No human alive should possess any trace of its power, let alone be able to decipher the alchemic language."

Benkibaru flashed a little smile. "You could say I received a tip. Perhaps divine intervention told this person to grant me the knowledge because the gods saw me worthy." At that various sigils appeared around them, spawning soldiers in violet armor. Bang, Noel, and Lambda took up positions to protect their injured comrades. Benkibaru fixed his gaze on Bang, more specifically the giant nail. Bang sensed the look and in an instant felt somewhat lighter, turning to gasp at the nail in Benkibaru's hands.

"Time displacement!? In this space!?" Rachel gasped.

"What a marvel this is…" Benkibaru regarded the Rettenjo with eyes as wide as a child on Christmas day.

"Return that to me at once!" Bang demanded. Benkibaru didn't even glance at him, snapping his fingers instead. More strange sigils appeared around the cauldron in violet and red hues, the latter not at all promising.

Benkibaru smirked. "You have approximately one minute before the cauldron reactivates. Once it does… Who knows what will happen?"

"You piece of…!" Jin spat.

"I truly do hope you make it through this. After all, if any of you entitled brats are to die, it should be by my hand." The scientist spun on his heels and exited the room.

Next Chapter 34: Raid on Sector Seven

Bye. See ya next time. Hopefully, I can get the next chapter out soon.