Sanctuary

by Mauled2Death

Pushing onwards to see his fate through, TJ's journey continues in book two of Frequency: Sanctuary. In order to gather his remaining memories he and his companions strive to defeat some of the greatest Agasuras Jienda has ever seen to collect the pages of a magical tome named Memorius Sanctum. Yggdrasil finds itself in a race against time to complete the book or die trying.

10. The Heartbreaker(Pheonix) Rises

The Seventh Harmony: The Heartbreaker(Pheonix) Rises

"Heroes don't do they just...are. What does that mean? Ha! I'll tell you when you're older." (Axle)

The next morning TJ woke up and quickly came to the realization that he was in the guild master's bed. Despite the two sleeping together in it the night before he could not help but feel somewhat flustered at the thought. The gentle ticking entranced him for a spell as his body and mind were waking from their befuddled state. He made his way from the bed, taking a moment to make it up before heading towards the bathroom. Once he had finished his business there he headed towards the living room and kitchen, the entire apartment alight with sunbeams that streamed in from the windows there and from Peorth's room. It was the first time he had seen the place during the day, and it felt even more homely-the pictures against the wall reflected the light but also bathed in it, making the smiling faces ever brighter. As he approached he caught a glimpse of the guild master preparing breakfast-she held a spatula in hand and seemed frozen in place, her cheeks flushed and her eyes staring down at the pan blankly.

TJ knit his eyebrows. Was she alright? He had never seen her looking like that, and it was rather concerning, to say the least. It would probably be for the best if he checked in with her. "Good morning Chief," He began and she turned to him with a start, eyes wide and her face flushing a deeper shade of red. In those moments he noticed how disheveled her hair was, but her reaction was even more of a shock to him.

"T-TJ...good morning. You startled me," She said as she sighed gently.

"Are you alright?" He knit his eyebrows with concern and she blinked.

She opened her mouth to speak, her expression looked surprised for a moment before she decided against it and patted her hair down gently, but her cowlick proved to be the more persistent of the two. "Ah..." She held down her hair as she turned her eyes to her slippers and frowned slightly, her cheeks flushed further. "Please excuse me for a moment." She slipped past him and handed him the spatula as she did before she disappeared around the corner.

He watched her go before he turned back to the pan and saw an omelet simmering within it. He did not know much about them, but he figured that if he flipped it every now and again so that it did not burn, it would suffice. As he did just that, he thought of the guild master in those moments and chuckled gently. The look in her eyes was certainly new-her usual piercing stare was replaced with that of a small animal's. At first it was rather unsettling, but now that the fact that she was alright came to light he felt a lot move relieved, and a little lucky.

The guild master returned shortly after, properly dressed and with her usual expression, albeit rather disconcerted after the sight. She closed her eyes gently, her hands clasped together as she muttered, "Forgive me for showing such an unsightly side of me. It was...irresponsible, to say the least."

TJ chuckled gently but hid his mouth with one hand. "What're you apologizing for Chief? If anyone should be, it should be me, but if you're worried about it still, don't be. You don't have to be at your best all the time." He grinned. "You should see me when I'm fresh out of bed. You'd be in for a real surprise."

She smiled slightly. "It would be a sight, I am sure, but seeing some of your expressions when you're fully awake is much more enjoyable I believe." His face flushed and he rubbed his neck sheepishly as she approached and took his hand and the spatula within it moments after. "Just like that."

He pursed his lips but he was a little happy. Perhaps their bond had grown just a bit after the previous night? He felt a greater joy at the thought. "Lemme' lend you a hand Chief."

After the two ate breakfast TJ donned his disguise while Peorth arranged a meeting with the others.

[Guild]Peorth: Just to be clear I will brief you all once more. TJ and I shall go to the GMA Elias Branch to meet with Curt, and from there we will go to Elfa. Kooh, you and Amata will make any final preparations that need be accomplished and meet us there briefly. From there, we will go through Captain Bong's Tunnel, to Captain Bong's Land and then finally to the Cookie Garden. Following that we will seek out the Instance Dungeon and begin the mission. Please relay this information to Amata, Kooh.

[Guild]Kooh: I'm on it Princess!

[Guild]Curt: You sure you wanna take me along for this Peorth? Robo would make for a better front line than I would.

[Guild]Peorth: I am positive in my decision. I shall be the vanguard alongside you. That matter aside, I have something else that I would like for RoboCurt to do.

[Guild]Curt: You're the boss. So how long until you and TJ get there?

[Guild]Peorth: Perhaps you should give us ten to fifteen minutes. I am going to visit Ignate to have this authorized as an official quest. Following that we will make our way to the branch without delay.

[Guild]Curt: Rep is important, but are you sure you wanna risk that? If any people catch word of that they might head there too.

[Guild]Peorth: It is risky, yes, but it is for more than just reputation to our guild. Completing the quest will assist all of you in attaining a higher rank, but knowing that there are other Instance Dungeons appearing will allow not only Elias and King Hejong, but the other cities to prepare themselves for subsequent appearances, without disturbing the peace. I will do whatever I must to have the matter handled discreetly.

[Guild]Kooh: Will you really be okay without me Princess?

[Guild]Peorth: Your concern is appreciated, but I assure you I am well prepared for whatever may come. As guild master, I must set an example for my guild.

TJ emerged, fully disguised and threw the rucksack onto his back, before following it with his guitar. "I'm ready when you are Chief." He said with a confident nod, his serious expression hidden behind the glasses.

She cracked a tiny smile. "Excellent. Then let us set out."

At her request the two stepped out of the apartment complex and made their way to the shopping district where the instructor Ignate waited. He was a young man who wore the Newbie Instructor's green coat, brown boots and crimson hat, both coat and hat emblazoned with a gold emblem. He wore a white dress shirt, a pendant on a necklace and both his ears were pierced with small gold rings. His chestnut hair covered his left eye and his other brown eye was visible.

Peorth approached him and held out an envelope. "I would like to request to have a quest authorized. Though it may still be unknown, a new Instance Dungeon has recently appeared, and my guild and I would like to investigate it. The names of the members who will be attending this are listed, among with all other necessary information." She placed a hand to her lips as she closed her eyes in thought. "In truth, the location of the Instance Dungeon is currently unbeknownst to us, but we do know which part of the world it is located in, so if you have not had the opportunity to we shall inform you of it upon our return."

Ignate smiled and TJ blinked slowly, somewhat caught in the man's charm. "Is that so? Then I'll pass this on to the higher ups and have them look into the matter. Your continued patronage is appreciated guild master Peorth. Best of luck on your quest." He said and saluted her with two fingers.

"Until we meet again." Peorth said with a nod, while the Abellan waved.

"So is that how you get quests? Or rather start them?" TJ had taken up a myriad of quests during his time in Yong Gyoung but following that he had put more focus into his own journey, save for the time he spent working in Aoich. It was hard to imagine considering what he was doing currently, but memories were a funny and unusual thing.

Peorth nodded solemnly. "Typically there are fees for initiating quests since it is done through the company, but at times rewards aside from those given by the original requester can be added. If, for example, there were two people who had an issue with Agasura, perhaps they would pool in rewards to entice adventurers into taking up the request. The company itself provides guild points for those who complete the request, and the amount varies depending on the difficulty of the challenge. When it comes to Cerebians, we can attain higher rankings with the assistance of guild points, but the system we use which is typically referred to as 'Contribution' can be acquired through all actions we take, especially in assisting Humanity, fellow Cerebians and/or defeating Agasura. Once again, the greater the challenge the greater the Contribution. What you will go through will prove to be a short journey in terms of growth."

He nodded solemnly. He would have to face a myriad of tough Agasura, but it meant that he would improve and grow stronger rapidly, and in the same vein he would climb up the ranking ladder quickly. "So why don't you send out our guild members on more quests offered by you Chief?"

"I do not do so because greater amounts of Contribution and guild points can be acquired by performing tasks for others. That matter aside, we must take into consideration the circumstances surrounding the quest. At times, Agasura will appear in great numbers, which could lead to such things as the goblin revolution or the mothman infestation. These can be dangerous to travellers and adventurers alike, so I research important quests and dispatch our members to handle the matters. Everyone has a very important part to play in this conflict."

The Abellan chuckled gently. "I could imagine." Perhaps for that very reason Peorth had requested that Curt come in place of Robo. Though he was unsure of the circumstances surrounding the choice, she likely had something that she thought he was the right choice for.

It was not long before the duo approached the GMA Elias Branch and found the Treasure Hunter waving them over, lightly packed, but still as ready as ever. Perhaps one of the perks of being a Treasure Hunter? Either that or Curt was not that worried about what they were in for.

"Hey you two. All set for our big dungeon spelunking adventure?" He sounded as easy-going as he looked, and TJ envied it a bit, but he felt more at ease in those moments.

"I think we're prepared for the worst. We've got the Chief after all." TJ chuckled with a grin.

"I'd say." Curt said as he poked the rucksack TJ carried. "You guys look like you're preparing for the apocalypse."

"Prevention is a measure we cannot underestimate under any circumstances," The guild master retorted.

The Treasure Hunter knit his eyebrows. "I'd expect no less, nor any other answer from you Peorth."

She smiled confidently. "My cause stands to reason." She glanced at the two. "Shall we then?"

TJ drew his warp crystal and Curt nodded. "Next stop's Elfa," The Abellan said as they all vanished.

The group appeared in the city of Elfa, the place much calmer than it was during the appearance of Avaritia. It had not been long since the last time they had come but the place felt new in a strange sense-perhaps the fact that they would traverse new lands and unfamiliar territory gave the Abellan a sense of excitement that he had not found prior.

Upon their arrival they found themselves nearby their other companions, Amata and Kooh stood near the stone and the latter waved them over.

"Princess! Over here!" Kooh called out to them while she waved with both hands.

"Ah excellent. You have arrived." Peorth said as Kooh flew at her and draped her arms around her neck.

Amata brought their supplies over with both hands with a grumpy look. "How do you deal with her on a daily basis? She's like a kid on a permanent sugar rush. Honestly!" The Governor huffed.

The guild master reached into her pocket and drew a pencil and notebook before she requested that she glance through what the Governor brought. With her approval Peorth tapped Kooh's arm to signal that she release her and she crouched down before she began to jot down notes on their current supply. "Her energetic nature translates to a strong ability in battle magnificently. Perhaps sometime the two of you should fight alongside each other."

The Governor of Fire knit her eyebrows and her counterpart grinned. "You know Princess, Alvaro said that I should act as Amata's rival to help her grow up a bit," Kooh laughed. "He sat me down and told me a bunch of stories of how he and the previous Governor of Earth used to go at it."

"Can you not? Don't waste the queen's time with stories of my...of my dad," Amata muttered sullenly.

"Why not? He was super fun! We watched home videos of Amata when she was just a little girl and she was learning to use magic...she was super cute and a total daddy's girl!" TJ looked on in awe as the Governor of Fire finally snapped and stormed towards Kooh, then started stretching her cheeks as she continued to talk. "You shoulda sheen the look on her fashe when he praished her! Adorabl-ow oww!" An angry vein emerged on the Governor's forehead as she stuck two fingers on each hand into Kooh's mouth and pulled harder. "Okay, okay I shurrender!"

"Are all of the Governors morons? The more I hear of the my predecessor the less I wanna know," Su muttered within the gem and TJ chuckled sheepishly.

"W-well...I'm sure he's not as bad as he sounds. Like the Chief said, we need to rest as much as we need to fight...and stuff like that." He said as he scratched his cheek. "He may have been a little eccentric but I bet he was nice."

"Being nice doesn't make a good God's Governor, smartass." TJ really knew nothing of the traits of a good Governor, so he decided not to press the matter.

Kooh rubbed her cheeks while Amata crossed her arms and turned away. "Do you need a hand Princess?" She asked with a smile.

"No, this should do just fine. But you have my thanks nonetheless." Peorth answered as she rose to her feet and placed the items within her dress. "With this I strongly believe that we are well prepared for our journey, but I must recommend that we remain on guard. Once again, we know not what waits for us within the Instance Dungeon, so let us proceed carefully, and ration our supplies. We have quite the journey ahead of us, I believe."

"Right." TJ agreed with a nod.

"You're the boss," Curt said.

"I'll follow your orders to the letter Peorth." Amata responded.

"Princess, is it time to go already? Promise me you'll come back safely!" Kooh said as she took her place before her.

"I will be perfectly fine Kooh, I assure you of this. Trust in me, and in our allies also. We will all return fine."

Kooh wrapped her arms around her cousin in a gentle embrace and Peorth did the same. "I know you will...but let me worry for you. It's the least I could do!"

The queen's lips curled into a smile. "You are already doing so much for me as it is. I would not be where I am without you. You should appreciate yourself more at times."

"Now kiss!" Curt said with a grand gesture. Amata looked at him in disbelief while TJ looked startled.

The Governor put her lips together and leaned in but Peorth placed a finger to them. "You should save your lips for the person you truly love, Kooh, and perhaps once you have started dating them."

"But I do love you!" Peorth chuckled gently.

Amata placed a hand to her face. "I can't believe she was actually gonna do it," She muttered.

"Now then, shall we set out? Time is of the essence, as you all know."

"Let's do it!" Curt said pointing forward.

As they walked away Kooh waved gently, a slightly sorrowful look in her eyes.

"So our first stop is Chunsik Tunnel right? I've never really been there before, nor seen it around. Where can we find it?" TJ asked with a look of curiosity.

"It's actually right over here!" Curt said as he walked a few more steps and stopped before a small grey cube-like building between a pair of palm trees. He stopped at the door and slapped it twice confidently.

A silver door rested at the front of it that was labelled by a warning in white with a red border that read, 'Chunsik Tunnel-please be wary of the Agasura and watch your step!'

"You know, I never actually noticed this."

"It's not typically a place people pay much attention to. Most aren't too confident about traversing the place because of how dangerous it is," Amata said.

"Have you been here prior Amata?" The guild master asked.

"Me? No, I couldn't really be bothered with it. I thought the entire place was kinda ridiculous and a waste of time...to be honest."

"Bet you're feeling wrong about that now huh?" Curt said with a teasing grin.

"Oh shut it would you?"

Peorth approached and turned the knob, to which the door opened with ease. "Let us make haste." She lead the party in followed by Curt, the Governor and the Abellan.

Chunsik Tunnel was damp, dark, and infested with unusual mole creatures. The walls were a faded violet, rusted in certain places turning it shades of brown and lined with thin, long vertical lights every now and again given some vision within. The ground floor was rather far below the group, and the entrance let them out upon a series of pipes that lead further into the tunnel. There were also many of them, creating a walkway while others were placed against the wall and rose ever higher to the roof of the place. It seemed that the Chunsik Tunnel was not just a way to get to Chunsik Land, but also a location for all of Elfa's water to pass through.

"Perhaps this is the reason that sign had said that we should watch our step. Should we slip we have quite the fall." Peorth said blankly before she moved forward as the first to walk along the pipe.

"What is this a circus? Why would anyone want to go to Chunsik Land if they had to go through this to get there? They might as well make a walkway or something." Amata muttered as she glanced in the doorway alongside TJ.

"I don't think this is a way anyone should take to get there, don't you?" Curt laughed. "I mean, let's be real here. Slide down those pipes the wrong way and your blood will wind up as rust on them sooner than the water dripping from the roofs would. It's not safe, period."

As TJ came out Peorth signalled them all over to where she was and Curt started to climb down the furthest of two thin brown pipes. The silver pipes they walked on could fit one to two adventurers side by side upon it, but any more than that and they would struggle to remain on it.

"If what I had learned is true, Chunsik Land once ferried visitors to and from Jienda to the island. Once the place had been overrun by Agasura, they had cut off all contact with the main continent and stopped the service. This path was a last resort that adventurers had begun to use to venture out there, and discover the situation behind the loss of a potential tourist attraction. I had not seen it for myself, but I have heard that it was quite the sight."

"So why don't they just start ferrying people across again? It beats having to go through this nonsense." Amata said as she followed after the guild master.

Su emerged from the crystal as TJ struggled across the pipes and looked down, then took his place after the other Governor. "'Cause ferries cost money, and that place can't bring in any. Only people who would go there are adventurers." She said.

"I'd pay for that rather than go through this." At the vanguard a rather large mole-like creature with gloved hands, stubby arms and feet attached to a spherical body assaulted Curt. It wore shades and a yellow hardhat and threw itself at him recklessly. He blocked it with his shield and thrust his dagger into its forehead before he removed the weapon and stomped it against the pipe. Following that he kicked it aside and the lifeless corpse fell to the ground amidst others that looked up at the group traversing the pipes. "You alright?"

"I'm fine. But we should really get a move on before more of these thing start coming after us. I don't like the way they're looking at me." Curt answered with a grin as he tipped his glasses slightly to look over the frame.

"I agree. TJ, are you alright?" Peorth asked as she looked over her shoulder while he struggled down the pipe.

"N-no problem. I've been through worse." He answered sheepishly as he carefully climbed down. Kimara was much, much worse, but he still had a distinct dislike of heights. Even if it was shorter, the fact still remained.

Peorth's gaze was unflinching. "If you feel unsafe, jump down. I will catch you."

Her kindness was appreciated, but the thoughts of people telling him he looked unassuming or girly or cute rang in his mind then. He was the Cerebian's Abellan and he was having trouble climbing down a pole. If he could not overcome this, he could not fight Asmodeus. He wanted to prove himself to his guild master. "That's alright. I can do this." He jumped off and landed, narrowly losing his balance but just barely managing to remain upright. "See? No problem!"

Her eyebrows were slightly knit but she gave him a nod of approval nonetheless. "As long as you are safe I will not stress the matter unnecessarily. Let us catch up with the others."

He followed in her wake as they regrouped with the rest of their party. As they moved on there were a couple more Agasura that Curt told them were called Dig-Digs left in their wake. TJ climbed up a nearby pole after Peorth and she and Amata swapped places. Curt looked at a pole that rested before him and the path before him that branched away from the other pipes and returned to the wall. He looked down below and without a second thought jumped down, leaving the Abellan in awe.

"That guy is gonna slip off one of these things and crack his head open. I've got no sympathy for him." Amata muttered with a shrug.

"I'd laugh," Su added.

Peorth climbed down the pipe and upon reaching the bottom drew her spear. Curt was flanked by a pair of Dig-Digs and she quickly rushed to his aid. He jumped over the one before him as Peorth followed in his wake and charged through both before coming to a skidding halt. With one mighty swing of her spear she hurled both off of the platform.

"Nice save!" Curt said with a grin, but his eyes remained focused on her spear.

"You must move cautiously Curt. Considering our position, if we are above, we cannot easily see what is below us. Though it can be considered a vantage, we must remember that the space we have to battle on is rather limited, and our bodies are not meant to traverse these pipes like theirs can." The guild master explained.

"This is the first time she's seen them and she's already figured out that much...wish we had someone like her in our guild," Amata sighed.

"Yeah the Chief is great isn't she?" TJ chuckled gently as he watched her figure leading them.

"This is boring as shit. When do we get to actually fight something?" Su asked with an exasperated gaze.

"If you and I use our magic here we'd sooner kill everybody." Amata said as she sent Su a wary gaze.

"That didn't stop you before."

"At least then I had the sense of taking it somewhere safe! Our allies are right in front of us!"

"Come on you two, let's work together again or somebody might actually wind up hurt this time." He was hardly one to talk, but he would prefer that they did not know that fact. If the three of them wound up fighting disaster would certainly ensue.

Nearby there was a ladder that lead to a short landing that bridged the first sector and the second, since the pipes did not extend there. Perhaps the reason for it was so that those who maintained the place could get around. TJ could not help but wondered if they had stopped coming since the appearance of the Agasura.

As the group moved onwards Curt pointed out to a new variety of the mole creatures-these wore overalls, a blue and white cap and black framed glasses. They had prominent buck-teeth and a pink nose like their Dig-Dig counterparts, but lacked the gloves-their beady black eyes were visible behind their glasses also.

"Better watch these guys, the Boku-Boku. They have a glare that can weaken your defenses something fierce." Curt laughed as he pointed at one with his thumb. "Should've seen what a pair of them did to Robo's MG after doing that. Man did he ever freak out."

"Let us remain on guard then." Peorth said.

"Leave this to me." Amata said as she stepped forward and drew her staff. She held out a hand and a flame appeared in the other, then she hurled it and a second at a nearby Dig-Dig and Boku-Boku, setting them both alight and frantically running about. The charred corpses soon came to a halt.

"I thought you said no magic." Su said glaring behind her.

"Before everyone else was directly ahead of us. Besides, if you were to use your earth magic here it'd cause this place to fall to pieces and the only way to get across would be to fly." Amata answered with a huff.

Su sneered. "You think I need magic? You're damn wrong." Su pushed her aside and drew her dagger before eyeing a DigDig in the distance. She reeled her arm back and hurled it with enough force to split its shades in two and lodge itself between the Agasura's eyes. She turned to Amata and grinned. "How was that?"

"Impressive...-ly stupid. You just threw your weapon away."

"Think I need it for these stupid things? This place is a cake-walk!"

The two started growling at each other and Peorth placed a hand to their shoulders. "The both of you are very strong in multiple respects. I believe that it would be best if you conserved your energy and put it towards doing battle with the Agasura. If what Curt has told me about Chunsik Land is correct, there will be a myriad of enemies that we will need to defeat in order to get to the Instance Dungeon at the heart of it. As you know, though I am a Warlord and I have a very limited set of abilities for defeating a multitude of assailants. That is where I will require your assistance most. But having you along for the journey as companions is also something I appreciate. Let us be on our way." The guild master walked away with those words and the two looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

Amata was the first to speak. "I...forgot what we were fighting about..." She said as she placed a hand to her face.

"Ugh...what's up with her? I dunno what it is, but something about her pisses me off," Su muttered.

TJ chuckled gently. She knew how to handle her enemies and allies skillfully. That was something he should certainly learn from her.

The guild master and Treasure Hunter climbed down the nearest pipe first and one of the BokuBoku noticed them. As another approached Peorth the one that faced Curt started hopping in place as it waved its arms, and sparkles emerged from it and surrounded it.

"Crap...it got us." Curt chuckled dryly as he held his shield up with his dagger by his side.

"Let us fight safely then." Peorth held her spear across her body in a defensive stance. The BokuBoku leapt at the guild master and though she parried the strike, somehow it had managed to force her back instead and she was halted as she bumped into Curt with a shocked expression. The creature too, took the blow but remained standing and started its approach anew. "Strong..."

"Right?!" Curt said as he stepped aside so as not to force the guild master back into the approaching Agasura. "The effect will remain for a while so we should clear these guys out before they do it again."

"Yes, that would be best."

Curt reached into his coat and drew two knives. He hurled them both and each pierced the glasses and eyes of the creature. It let out a pained shriek as his shield followed afterwards and bounced off its head, causing it to fall to the floor. Curt dove towards it and tumbled to his knees before he took hold of his weapon with both hands and plunged it into the Boku-Boku, then caught his shield. Peorth took a deep breath as she let her guard up and closed her eyes, opening them with a more serious look. Her party members held onto the pipe between the pair, each wearing uneasy looks but watching in bated breath. When the Agasura lunged at the guild master she stepped aside and with a single hand swung her spear behind her, causing it to fall face first to the ground. As she turned on the balls of her heels she twirled the spear and slammed it against its back before sweeping it away off of the landing.

"The battle is over." She said with a nod to her remaining companions.

"Such skill and grace...she's incredible..." Amata said mystified as she climbed down and stepped aside to watch Peorth move forward and meet up with Curt who was reclaiming his weapons.

"She's not that great." Su muttered as she climbed down followed by TJ. She moved ahead of Amata and went along behind the others as Curt gestured for them to follow.

"I think you'll learn a lot from her over the span of our journey Amata. The Chief really is something special." TJ told her with a grin and flushed cheeks.

She stroked her ponytail gently as she closed her eyes. "Yeah...I get that feeling too."

The group gathered together again after they climbed to the nearest pipe, a small gap separated them temporarily, and as they went ahead Curt brushed aside the charred corpses that remained.

"Are you feeling alright Chief? That blow looked really strong," TJ said.

"Yes, I am unharmed. It had caught me off guard, but my spear took the brunt of the attack. As Curt had told us, we must be careful with the Boku-Boku. If they lower our defenses, it seems that it would be best if we ended the battle with haste. Though it will not be easy, I ask that you move forward with caution and do just that."

"So we just gotta kill them quickly and not get hit right? I don't see why you're all making a big stink about it." Su said with a shrug.

"One or two of them is probably manageable, but we've gotta look at the big picture here. There's five of us, so you and I are pretty much out of the picture so long as we're grouped together." Amata muttered as she knit her eyebrows. "Maybe you could do something, but whether I use my SP or mana everyone will be in danger so...I'm gonna hold back. Still, you don't have your dagger and the other Wizard weapons aren't well known for being good for hitting things with."

"TJ disagrees with that statement." The Governor pointed to him.

"Huh? I do?" He asked looking surprised at the comment.

While she recalled their previous venture the Governor of Fire chuckled dryly. "I think the Abellan is in a league of his own. He's the first Bard I've ever seen that fights more with his guitar than his magic."

He chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck, then froze with a look of realization. "That's right! I'm a Bard!" He drew his guitar and gently strummed it to empower his allies.

"...You forgot?" Su asked with a look of disbelief.

As he strummed the final chords of his song he knit his eyebrows and lowered his head slightly. "W-well it's not that I forgot that, it's just that I'd forgotten I'd learned some spells along the way. You know, empowering spells and such."

"That's a staple of Bards TJ. You shouldn't be forgetting that before important battles. Though having them is better than not," Curt chuckled. "We're gonna need them, especially now, 'cause we're gonna have to go down there." He pointed to the ground floor, and Curt and Peorth aside, the others glanced over the edge of the pipe to see a group of angry looking Boku-Boku and Dig-Digs jumping up and down in anticipation of the adventurers becoming their prey.

"Isn't there another-" Amata looked back and followed the nearby brown pipe they had passed by and followed the wider silver variant towards their current location, noting that there was a gap between it and where they wanted to be, completely blocked off by a rising silver pipe. "Oh."

TJ continued to play and Peorth gazed at her party thoughtfully. "Perhaps it would be in our best interest if we changed our formation. Curt and I will remain as the vanguard and go first. TJ should follow after and provide support with basic spells such as the Arrows of Light. It would likely be the safest option. Suuba, you should come after TJ and keep your focus to using your SP spells. There is a bit more space but I assume once we get down there the battle will begin immediately and we will be surrounded. With that I believe we should be able to manage relatively well. Keep your wits about you, everyone."

"Sounds like a plan." Curt said as TJ nodded.

"Ugh just seal my powers why don't you?" Su muttered as she rolled her eyes.

Peorth smiled slightly. "I shall go first. Give me a couple moments before you come within a spear's range Curt. I would like to attempt something I had learned from Axle."

"But he's a Blader." The Treasure Hunter said with a curious look.

"That is correct. I do not plan on attempting his technique, but the means to which he did it may be just what we need." She stepped forward and hurled her spear into there, the weapon spun during its ascent and stopped at the peak as Peorth leapt for it. At the sight of it the Agasura began to flee and she came down with a crash as she plunged her weapon into the ground and raised her head, her bangs drifted through the air as her eyes became visible and she roared, "Field of Blades!"

All around her a series of spears emerged from the ground and impaled the Agasura who were not fast enough to escape. Following her Curt hurled knives in all directions before landing with a skidding halt, both arms crossed over with a knife in between each of his fingers. As the Treasure Hunter dashed past the guild master who now rose to her feet and scanned the battlefield, TJ quickly climbed down and leapt from a height he deemed safe, and upon touching down with a wave of his hand eight Arrows of Light surrounded him.

"Go!" He shouted as he pointed skyward and they dispersed from him, shooting out in every direction before they pummelled the Agasura that approached.

"Do not let your guard down yet! We have only been able to strike down a small fraction of them! There are more incoming!" Peorth shouted to her team.

One of the Boku-Boku that slipped past Curt started its spell and as the sparkles faded a sudden weakness fell over their bodies.

"Ugh...is this what it's like?" TJ asked as he placed his guitar upright and a hand to his arm. Just by his own touch he felt as if he could hurt himself by exerting a tiny amount of force. He shook his head and readied his guitar as he strummed it, calling forth more Arrows of Light. So long as he could repel the incoming Agasura he could create an opening for the others.

"I think we're pretty much clear on this side!" Curt shouted to the others amidst a series of corpses.

"Then we'll take this one." Su said as she landed by her companion and nearly caused him to jump aside.

Peorth stole a glance at those that approached her and those Curt left in his wake and noticed a moment after that those he had thought were defeated rose to their feet with an angry glare in their eyes. "Curt behind you!" She shouted.

He turned on the balls of his heels with his shield at his waist and narrowly blocked an incoming attack, but was still forced back. Curt took a knee and all around him other Agasura rose to their feet despite taking a series of attacks.

"Hang on Curt! Help's coming!" TJ shouted to him with a series of arrows around him. At his gesture they shot towards the Treasure Hunter's assailants and pelted them, stopping a few only briefly while a couple others charged toward him.

One of them leapt at him and sent him tumbling away while others moved into position.

Su charged in the wake of his spell as she roared, "You're so damn troublesome!" She came to a skidding halt and stomped the ground, raising the earth before her before slamming her first into it. "Earth Dragon!" The spell surged forth and rushed the Agasura down as she stormed forward with another ready. "Twin Dragons!" Following to the side and in the wake of the first two others rushed past Curt as they swirled around each other and converged in front of him, causing the Boku-Boku in the way to get knocked back into those with enough strength to remain standing. "Get on your feet dumbass! This isn't over yet!"

Peorth placed her spear in both hands and took on an offensive stance. She charged ahead and thrust her weapon into the nearest Boku-Boku while another decreased the effectiveness of her armour. After she impaled the first she thrust the weapon forward and took hold of the far end of the pole as she spun around and attacked with it in a wide arc, knocking aside a majority of the approaching Agasura. As another neared from her flank she turned to it moments before it lunged at her and she spun her spear as she shouted, "Windmill!" Flames followed in the wake of the attack as the creatures was pulled in and pummelled, and once it ended she slammed it down and felled it. "Not yet." She said as she turned to three approaching from behind. "Burst Lancer!" She pulled her weapon back and with a flurry of rapid stabs felled the three of them.

"Chief to your right!" TJ shouted and in her peripherals a series of small flashes of light went off.

As she turned she caught a glimpse of the creatures being struck with his spells and she gave an acknowledging nod before she hurled her weapon and appeared upon it as it struck a Boku-Boku in a group of the creatures. "Valor!" With a wave of her hand a surge of wind surround her and she drew the spear back as they turned to her. "Heavenly Ascent!" With a sweep of the spear the Agasura were flung into the air before she brought the spear above her head and spun it, pulling them all in before slamming the spear down in an upright position-each of the creatures that surrounded her fell on it one by one and found themselves impaled in order. With a sigh she brushed her hair aside. "It was just a tiny bit of mana and yet...I find myself rather tired. I feel that I lack training."

TJ chuckled lightly. If she had seen things from his perspective she would know why she felt so tired-and in spite of her complaints, she was not even out of breath. Though he was even more surprised that her lance could actually pierce through things-it was much more dangerous than he could have imagined, and even knew.

Curt rose to his feet as Su beat the Agasura back with her fist and the occasional spell, and he drew a couple more knives from his coat. "Alright I'm back in the fight. It's a good thing I came with more supplies than last time. These dungeons are way too huge to come lightly packed." He said with a shrug.

"Yeah that's great and all so how about instead of chatting up a storm you kill something!" Su hissed while she parried a lunge from a Dig-Dig and started rapidly punching it with her right fist.

"It's not my fault a certain someone decided to throw her dagger to show off." Curt said through pursed lips.

"You want some too?!" She pointed forward and the Twin Dragons spell surged forth and felled the Agasura before her. She took a couple steps forward toward him as other came towards her and she clasped her hands together. "Gold Dragon!" Curt smiled wryly as the head of the creature appeared before her and the earth trembled, causing the Boku-Boku to fall away and even Curt to feel a bit weaker.

"Let's hold back on the friendly fire alright? It was just a joke." He tossed the knives ahead of him and rushed forward in their wake, plunging his dagger into the nearest Agasura and grabbing its hand to hurl it into its companions.

"Tch." Su answered as she stepped forward and axe-kicked one and raised a foot to kick it back into the others nearby. She followed the attack with another Earth Dragon.

"Two left!" Curt said to her and she eyed the others in case they decided to get back up.

At those words a series of icicles rained down from the sky and stopped him in his tracks, while they felled the Agasura.

"I gotcha' covered!" TJ said with a wave of his hand.

"Could've fooled me," Su answered with a look over her shoulder.

The Treasure Hunter glared at her. "That's my line, don't you think?

The five regrouped and Curt gently rested against the pipe while TJ strummed his guitar gently and healed him.

"How are you feeling? Has the pain subsided at all?" He asked with a worried glance.

"Little bit more. I'm feeling a helluva lot better already." Curt answered with a sated smile.

"You sound like an old man," Su muttered under her breath.

"I am getting on in my years, I suppose."

"Are you?" Amata asked as she raised an eyebrow. "You really don't look the part."

He grinned and winked at her. "Do you wanna know my secret?"

She furrowed her brows. "No! The last thing I need to be worried about is my age. Besides, it's you. I can't trust any skin care techniques you're willing to suggest. Or at least, not without a grain of salt."

"I expected your words to be a lot more scathing Guvnor. You've grown up."

She sighed. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. I have my own pride to maintain." She closed her eyes. "Though I do agree with Su...you sound like an old man." He wrinkled his forehead at the remark.

Peorth finished sipping on an SP potion and placed the vial away. "Suuba, are you sure you would not like to replenish your Special Power? You may not find the opportunity will come around again for some time. I would highly recommend that you use this chance to do so." She suggested.

"I'm fine. If I run out of Sp then I'll drink some. Didn't use that much anyway." She responded giving the guild master a brief look.

"I see. How are you all faring?"

"Good to go," TJ answered. "I didn't do all that much fighting anyway."

"No problems here," Curt said.

"I'm ready to move forward too." Amata sighed gently as she turned her eyes to the far end of the tunnel. "The sooner we get out of here the better. I'm not fond of standing around."

"Then let us be on our way. If you would, Curt." Peorth said as she stood aside and he took the lead.

"Don't mind if I do." He said as he began to climb another nearby pipe. The group followed in his wake and as they climbed up they caught a glimpse of another Dig-Dig falling from where Curt was. "Looks like this part of the path is all clear. Let's move people!"

As they moved further in TJ glanced about and caught a glimpse of a giant '3' plastered on the wall, though faded and seemingly peeling away along with the paint and rust. It seemed to be a sign that the tunnel was broken into sections, which would likely help those working within to find their way around should they be confused about where they were. From his current position, it seemed that there was only a small fraction of the tunnel remaining. Looking straight ahead, he noticed the group would not be able to proceed-they would need to take the higher ground and carefully jump across each of the pipes to go on into the next sector, or at least what seemed to be it. During that time Su reclaimed her dagger from the Dig-Dig she had thrown it at.

"I hope you guys can jump with all that stuff. We can avoid those guys down there as long as we can reach." Curt said pointing to a pair of Boku-Boku that wandered across the pipe. Much to the Abellan's surprise, they did not seem to pay him any mind. "I'll go first." He got a running start before he leapt from where they stood and grabbed onto the brown pipe, then shimmied his way up to the top.

"You know, I think that's a terrible, terrible idea." Amata began.

"Why do you think that?" Peorth asked, in a stance that said she was preparing to follow suit-the God's Governor looked nonplussed.

"Well I mean, if we hit that thing with too much force it could easily snap. Next thing you know, water's going everywhere and we'll have to go out of our way to get up there. But that'd be the least of our concerns. As far as we know it could mess with the city's water supply, and the problem would remain unknown and unchecked until they can find some adventurers willing to go down here. If that encourages others to explore this area they could wind up wandering into the Cookie Garden and eventually to the new Instance. If word gets out, we're gonna have a repeat of last time easily. Great for Elfa's business, not so great for the adventurers who won't make it back out alive."

Peorth blinked. "You have really considered the potential consequences of our actions."

"Y-yeah it's just kind of a habit sometimes." The Governor rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"That's what we call being a pessimistic assface," Su said.

"More like using logic. Something I think you could learn to do for once in your life!"

"With that knowledge in mind," Peorth began, "I would suggest that we clear a path and move forward steadily, thus avoiding any possible dangers to the city and the adventurers of Jienda."

"How do you wanna play this Chief?" TJ asked while he glanced at the Boku-Boku.

"Since Curt's already gone ahead, let me handle it." Amata stepped forward and jumped down, and at the sight of her one of the two lowered her defenses, and angered her slightly. "Stupid thing...Flamethrower!" She pointed her staff at it and a series of flames surged forth and set it ablaze. It ran away from the flames into the other, set it ablaze and both fell from the pipe due to the collision. Amata sighed. "Someone should really make a note of this stuff. Going into areas blindly is asking to die."

TJ turned to the guild master. "Mind if I borrow that pencil Chief?" He asked.

"You may," She answered.

She reached into her pocket and handed it to him, before he removed his rucksack and started scribbling down what he saw in his Monster Manual. He could not recall how things had went in the past, but using the previous entries as a reminder he did things in a similar style. Somehow he felt a bit of nostalgia at the action and smiled at the thought, before chasing after the others as they moved forward. Thanks to Curt, the path to the next sector was clear, and thankfully short since they did not need to go to the ground floor.

Upon regrouping in the next sector the group looked upon another set of Agasura. These looked very alike to their counterparts, but instead had pink fur, long eyelashes and a white headband with a yellow flower.

"These guys are Hani-Hani. You need to be extra careful with them, 'cause they have this weird attack...where a heart appears and it hurts like hell. It hurts more than when they throw themselves at you. And they explode." Curt explained.

"That's rather...graphic. They don't look like the exploding type." Amata commented with a look of disgust. TJ shared that same look shortly after.

"I don't mean they explode, the hearts! They explode."

"I'm honestly surprised it isn't a bloodbath around here. Though how exactly do exploding hearts hurt? Explain." Su said.

Curt gave her an exasperated look. "You two are just screwing around, aren't you?"

"Hm? No I was completely serious. Some Agasuras can act pretty unpredictable, especially now. But if you visited this place after everything changed then you've probably seen it all." Amata said as she crossed her arms.

"I was totally screwing around." Su said blankly.

The Treasure Hunter chuckled dryly. "Figures that was the case. Anyway, point is, watch your back, and watch your front, 'cause neither side of them is safe when they do that."

"Don't you mean watch th-" Su began but was cut off.

"Whatever you have to say, I don't wanna hear it. Let's go." He rushed off and climbed down while Peorth held out a hand.

"It is not...safe...to go alone." She began which eventually turned to a mutter, and she lowered her hand. "Well this is quite the predicament. We must go."

"You might have pissed him off." Amata said as she watched Peorth pursue him.

"He's a big boy. He'll get over it." Su answered with a shrug.

As Curt drew his knives and hurled one, the Hani-Hani he aimed for fell on its face and the weapon flew over its head. He clicked his tongue and set his eyes on the one that ran past it and waddled over to him, and he threw the other at it-to his dismay it performed the same maneuver and avoided his attack.

"What the hell?" He asked with a look of annoyance. He drew two more and hurled one as the first got up, but this time where it was going to fall. Moments before it stepped into the range of the blade it stopped, lunged forward as if it was going to attack and jumped over the knife. He clicked his tongue and rushed forward with his dagger and shield. As he neared the Hani-Hani that followed behind the first, now took the lead and started jumping in place, a large pink heart appeared over its head. He raised his shield and backed away as he waited for it to burst, and as he lowered it to strike while it was open the other jumped on its head and latched on to his face. "Get off you little-" He dropped his weapons and struggled to pull it off of him as he stumbled about due to the increased weight.

Peorth neared and paused at the sight. "Please, remain still a moment Curt and I will attempt to remove it." She said.

"With your spear? You'll sooner put that thing through my head too!" He shouted as he stumbled back and forth.

While he argued with the guild master, the second Agasura waddled over to him as they all did, and lunged at his feet which threw him off balance and caused him to fall face first to the ground. The Hani-Hani that held on to him let go due to the collision but his body slipped from the pipe and he narrowly held on.

"Heh...I guess idiots of a feather fall together." He laughed mirthlessly. "Or at least similarly."

"I do not understand." Peorth answered as she placed her spear away and took his hands in her own.

"These idiots..." Su muttered as she rushed ahead with TJ and Amata following in her wake.

"Peorth, this is a terrible idea. You've got Hani-Hani on both of your flanks and you're trying to drag me up there? Let me go and protect yourself!" Curt hissed.

"I will not falter no matter how many enemies surround me." She answered while his eyes darted to one of the two coming ever nearer.

"Now's a bad time to be stubborn and helpful. Just do it!" The creature stopped next to her and prepared to lunge.

"I will not." It hit her left flank and she nearly lost her balance-she released Curt's hand for but a moment and quickly grabbed it before it fell out of her reach while she winced.

The other neared her and created a heart which burst into a series of smaller hearts next to her and forced her back into the first, both bodies slid across the pipe and remained sprawled out across the width of the pipe, but she still persisted in keeping Curt in her reach. As the two came to a halt the creature let out a whimper as it met a grim end to Su's dagger and the Governor looked upon them with disgust.

"Can you morons do anything right?" She asked before she pulled out the weapon and lifted the corpse. She hurled it at the other and knocked it from the pipe down to the group below. TJ felt thankful that they would not need to go down there, since it only ended in a dead end.

Following that Amata and TJ joined Peorth on both of her flanks and pulled Curt back up.

"Thanks guys. Thought I'd be food for those things down there. Still, you should've just done what I said Chief. You can't go risking your life like that too, or both of us might have wound up dead when it only had to be one of us." Curt explained.

"I would rather it be neither." She answered calmly.

"If your party is capable, and you're tough enough to manage it, sometimes you can get what you want." Amata said to him with a grin, her eyes focused on the Governor.

The Treasure Hunter closed his eyes and lowered his head as he smiled slightly. "Well I'm not dead so I won't lecture you about it any further than that. Let's stick together and get through this in one piece."

With Curt back on the front lines and the others following in his wake they pressed onwards. He climbed up and backed away from a Hani-Hani to his left and opted out for rushing the Boku-Boku on his right. Peorth followed up after Curt and caught it off guard as it pursued him, sweeping it aside with her spear and sending it into the darkness below. The dead end abruptly ended in a hole and made the group wonder exactly what waited below, but most were not willing to find out after the cries of the Hani-Hani faded away.

"Almost there guys. Hang in there." Curt told them. He climbed down another pipe and threw a pair of knives with a free hand before he jumped off and thrust his dagger into a Hani-Hani and threw two more into its companion, then reclaimed his weapons. "That's that. We're all clear."

"You have handled the matter deftly. You have my thanks." Peorth said as she climbed down and joined him.

"You saved my bacon back there so let's call it even."

"We made it!" TJ said excitedly as he joined them all. "Thank goodness!"

"This is only part one of our journey TJ. We've still got two more portions of Chunsik Land to get through before we can say that. But I think you'll really take a shine to Cookie Garden, so at least you've got something to look forward to."

Amata sighed, "I can smell the toothache from here."

"Enjoy it while you can. It's not every day you run into a place with a name like that." Su said with a grin.

Peorth and Curt climbed up a nearby ladder to a landing with a door that matched that which was on the other side of the tunnel. A red wheel served as the handle.

"Let us go forward." She placed both hands to it and began to turn it, the door flew open and the magnificence of Chunsik Land shined down upon them.

Chunsik Land, was by all means an amusement park. Roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, carnival stands with all sorts of food and prizes, and a massive castle far off in the distance with an opening in the shape of Chunsik's face, with eyes as lights and the mouth as an entrance, a series of lights spread from the bottom to the top to light the way in. In the sky was the symbol of Chunsik Land, a light designed like his head, round with a bear-like snout, short brown hair and a white toque. The light in the sky, was only one of many of the symbols scattered about the park-many of the attractions featured just that. Banners in a myriad of colours flew high from the stands and the castle, and the tiles upon the floor were in both yellow and red. The park seemed to be split into two sections, separated by a long river that ran through the heart of it all, and a couple of bridges allowed for passerby to get from one side to the other.

"Is this Chunsik Land?!" TJ said excitedly looking about. The place was like a festival of light-it was lovely, bright and colourful and exciting. "There's so much to see!" His excitement faded and he scratched his cheek gently. "But there's nobody here. Everything is still going on though...did they really need to close it?"

"Look over there TJ." Curt said before he pointed to something off in the distance.

The Abellan squinted and a short distance from where they were he saw a card that stood taller than him, that wore red shoes, had a pair of detached gloved hands, and carried a tall red spear in its left hand. It wore a hood tied with a golden buckle, a similar buckle around the gloves, and a beady pair of yellow eyes looked out from within the hood-three red hearts were placed upon the card itself, and a paper heart hung from the tip of its hat.

"Is that one of the Agasura here? It's...a card."

The Treasure Hunter nodded sagely. "Heart Three. There's another like it, but you should be wary of those ones. The reason the place is deserted is because of these guys, among others. They'd have to have adventurers on the premise the whole time just to keep the Agasura at bay, but you know how sporadic their appearances are. They could easily appear and hurt somebody. It's just not worth the risk."

"It seems like such a waste though." TJ looked upon it all and blinked slowly. "Though I don't know much about places like these. This is the first time I've seen such a place in all of my adventures. What do you do here?" Most of the group looked at each other in search of answers, some shrugged and others made thinking gestures at the question.

"I can't believe none of you have heard of an amusement park before." Amata said as she knit her eyebrows. "Take that Ferris Wheel over there-you see those little booth things? You get in those and the wheel turns. You and whoever else is in it with you can see the entire park from up there, and probably a lot more. There are other rides like roller coasters that go really fast, the merry-go-round and a ton of other rides. Humans go nuts for this stuff because it's exciting." She grinned. "There's even one that raises you high into the air before dropping you after it reaches its peak."

"That sounds downright terrifying." The Abellan shuddered at the explanation.

"It's all pretty safe though. If people were dying on this stuff the park would be shut down immediately. It's all for thrills."

"Why the hell do those dumbasses want to be scared? If they want some real thrills then they should pick up a weapon and fight!" Su hissed.

"We're talking about everyday people here not adventurers. They're not trained for that, and they'd die! Do you want a bloodbath?!"

"Not my problem." She glared at the Governor.

"But it was your suggestion."

TJ turned to the guild master as the argument continued on and she seemed to have her eyes solemnly focused on the Ferris Wheel. "Is there something on your mind Chief?"

She closed her eyes before turning her head to meet his. "Seeing this does make me wonder a fair bit...it seems like a nice place. An amusement park, is a little like a carnival, or a festival." She placed her hands behind her back, one in the other. "Though now is not the time, later, perhaps I would like to return. If...or when that time comes, mayhaps you and I...could come again? I would like to ride the Ferris Wheel."

He smiled. "Yeah, definitely!"

Amata stopped arguing with Su to send the two a wary glance. "It couldn't be...could it?" She asked.

"You're over-thinking it." The Governor responded.

Curt grinned impishly. "Do you wanna take a bet on that?" Su clicked her tongue at the question and set her sights ahead. "Hey you two, we should get going. We can appreciate Chunsik Land later, right now we've got a hot date with a Sinner!"

"You are right. Shall we be on our way TJ?" Peorth sent him a glance, her lips curled into a tiny smile.

"Right behind you Chief." He answered as he ran to her side and walked onwards with her.

As the group moved forward the Governor of Fire let out a long sigh of relief. "You don't know how glad I am to finally walk on flat land, and I can finally start kicking some ass. It's been too long."

"Yeah all of what, five minutes?" Su asked sarcastically.

"If only." Her counterpart sighed.

"Well it's first come first serve." Curt began as he reached into his coat and drew some knives he had wiped clean. Without a moment to spare he climbed the ledge before them and hurled them into the back of the card, four through the card itself and one through the head. They pierced through it and the card flopped over as the knives fell to the ground with a dull clatter. "You've gotta be quick to the draw if you wanna fight."

"It's not like I'm that enthusiastic about fighting Agasuras," Amata huffed.

"You and Su went to town during our visit to the pyramids and you're saying you're not enthusiastic about it? Come on, you can't fool me that easily."

"That was because she-oh whatever." She drew her staff. "Try not to get in my way, and I can guarantee your safety. Cards are nothing but paper, after all. Agasura or not."

"Please be careful everyone," Peorth said.

"It was a lot worse last time Chief, but don't worry! Despite all the arguing and infighting everyone worked really well together," TJ remarked.

"Is that so? Then I would like to see it."

Amata grinned. "Well I can't pass up a chance to show the Queen how capable I am. Lead the way Treasure Hunter. I'll provide you all the support you could ask for, so you just do your thing." Curt smiled wryly, but proceeded anyway.

As they went on TJ glanced above them and noticed there were a series of platforms like drums that levitated above them, and there too were Heart Threes. Even Chunsik Land had been affected by the battle between the gods. It seemed that every stretch of Jienda and the continents surrounding it were caught up in it. He turned his focus ahead of him and caught a glimpse of Amata igniting the card ahead before hurling a fireball at the center of it, burning a hole in the center after setting the hat aflame, and causing it to burn up in a matter of seconds.

"This part of the adventure should be easy if it's just gonna be cards." The Governor of Fire said.

Where the remains of the card were burned to ashes and blown away by the wind a pair of large drums were stacked upon each other. Curt walked over to them and jumped to grab hold of the second, then pulled himself up from there. Amata stole a glance at the path he took and followed shortly after, lead by Peorth, TJ and Su. He leapt to the nearest platform, a series of irons bars and striped pillars were beneath it. Now looking at it from the same height, TJ could see what they looked like beneath him.

"Watch your step," Peorth added. She and some of the others stood on the next landing and awaited the two. Su jumped across first and he followed shortly after.

"The distance to Cookie Garden isn't long from here, unless you wanted to take a detour to see the other Agasura around here." Curt said. "And hey, you're in luck. There's a Save Stone near here."

"Really?! Is it an Iris Stone?" TJ asked with a look of disbelief.

"Heh, nope. A Chunsik Stone."

The answer put a damper on his spirits. It made sense that there would be a Chunsik Stone in Chunsik Land, but he had not seen an Iris Stone since he had gone to Foe Mansion in search of Pandora. Whether or not he could pursue her was not the matter that concerned him-he understood that she had gone beyond Jienda. What he needed to know was what clues she had left for him, and what they were meant to tell him. That matter aside, there was the warnings of the past within them, and the question that haunted him to this day-what had happened to her and what did he have to do with her disappearance? He was still yet to find any clues on her whereabouts, her piece of the Heart of Yggdrasil and what exactly she had kept inside of the locket. He let out a sigh as he watched the party move forward, the guild master within them. There were other mysteries to solve-to bring Peorth's wish to fruition, to unite the three factions and to end the war. But without a doubt, their fates were linked. One had to be accomplished in order for the other to come to pass. Though the stone here might not get him any closer to Iris, it may teach him something about his past, and through that he could forge ahead to the future.

Moving onwards the group found themselves at what seemed to be a dead end-before them was a small gap that lead to a platform beneath them, and a second further away and a fair distance lower. Upon where they stood was a ladder that lead to the landing below. A set of cards Curt had said were called Spade Fives, matching their red counterparts but wearing black with spades of the same colour upon them infested the area.

"You know, I actually think the Red Threes are worse. They throw cards, and those things cut like knives," Curt said.

"Afraid of a little paper cut?" Su asked with a teasing grin, and obtained an annoyed glare in turn.

"So long as they're killed before they can throw them, we'll be just fine." Amata added before her lips curled into a tiny grin. "Though if those things get anywhere near me they'll burn up before they get to my body."

"The protection of your barrier I assume?" Peorth asked with a hiked eyebrow.

"That's right." The Governor puffed out of her chest, while her counterpart razzed her. In a matter of moments the two were growling at each other.

"Well let's not waste too much time. We should try to get to Cookie Garden by nightfall or we'll burn ourselves out before we even step foot in that Instance." The Treasure Hunter chuckled dryly. "Half the battle is finding it, after all." He drew his dagger as he glanced over the edge of where they stood, then suddenly jumped down, startling the entire team. The sound of a card as it flopped to the ground followed, and shortly after the sound of paper tearing. "It's safe to come down guys! Let's move."

Peorth lead from there, joining Curt on the next floor followed by others. The Treasure Hunter had seemingly searched the area and regrouped with them to shrug.

"What's wrong Curt?" TJ asked.

"There's no ladder that we can reach around here, and I really don't think it'd be a good idea if we tried to jump over there." He pointed to a landing a short distance away. "Truth be told, if we tried that one of us could fall off from the momentum. Let's take the other way, it's a bit safer. Just try not to mess up the landing and you won't go face first into those bars." He walked past them and jumped down again after he walked past the felled card.

The group followed after and jumped down two landings before reaching the ground floor. One of the Red Threes caught a glimpse of them and immediately turned to them to start hurling cards. Curt raised his shield but Amata pushed him aside and a glimpse of her barrier became visible as a fiery wall appeared where the cards were and burned them to ashes. She pointed a finger at it and a flame appeared before her index which she quickly fired off. It pierced through the center of the card and set it aflame, spreading outwards before she followed up the spell with a Fire Blaster.

"Behind!" Peorth shouted as she locked spears with an incoming Spade and forced the weapon away. She took a step forward and stabbed three times, puncturing the card before knocking it away. "We must not let our guard down. The fact stands to reason that we know not what the Agasura are capable of during this time, but we must also remember that the enemies are new to all but Curt. Even with his knowledge, we know not the extent of their abilities."

Amata nodded. "Let's try and stay in formation. That way we can keep all of our bases covered," She added.

"Got it." TJ said taking his place behind the Governor of Fire.

Curt lead onwards again and a low platform with two drums at the edge of it stood in his way. He leapt to grab the top and peered over it to find a series of cards flying at him briefly after. He dropped down and let out a dry chuckle. "Lob a fireball up there would you?" He asked.

The Governor raised a hand and a fireball appeared before she hurled it at the approaching card. The flaming Agasura headed their way and moments before it toppled upon Curt, Peorth bashed it aside with her spear prior to it burning to ashes.

"Dangerous...but effective," TJ said with a hint of enthusiasm.

Amata smiled devilishly. "Oh you haven't seen anything yet, TJ."

Curt climbed up and placed a hand to his forehead to scout out the area. A Spade stood with its back turned to them, two cards of both colours on a platform above them, and a couple more Spades on an even higher landing. Upon that final landing was a platform where a Chunsik Stone awaited them. "Look up there. That's the stone for Chunsik Land."

"You say that like there's more of those stupid things." Su muttered as she focused on the card and tossed her dagger through its hat.

"There is. There's one here, in Cookie Garden and in Captain Bong's Castle."

TJ knit his eyebrows. It would really make his day if they were Iris Stones, especially if they were closely grouped together, but the fact still stood that this was clearly a sign that Iris was not the only one who had access to this power. There was Iris herself, Sir Levi, Chunsik and that strange Borroru fellow. It seemed that continents other than Jienda often featured stones that were not Iris', so to find the clues she left behind he would have to explore the other places on Jienda he was as of yet to see. Though it raised one great question...would there be time? "Think we could check out the first two? Since we'll be going there anyway. If the Instance Dungeon is somewhere in Cookie Garden, it's not impossible that it's near there, right?

While Su reclaimed her weapon Curt and Peorth started climbing the ladder towards the stone.

Amata waved him over and followed after them as she said, "You seem pretty adamant on visiting those stones TJ. I can see why though, being able to teleport to them is a pretty handy thing, though don't you think it would be better to search for that later?"

Curt climbed up to the top stealthily while Peorth followed as quietly as she could. The Treasure Hunter gave her a nod as he slipped a hand into his coat and she drew her spear, the former hurling the knives before he cut a swath through the card and the guild master rushed the other and plunged her spear through it as it turned to her. Their spears fell to the ground with a dull clatter and their bodies drifted down to the lower floor.

"Well it's...not just about travel. It's a bit of a complicated matter." He said as he knit his eyebrows.

She hiked her brows. "That so?" A grin followed. "Are you one of those adventurers who fell in love with the Iris visuals too?"

"That's not it!"

"Move it or lose it, losers." Su said as she brushed past the two and took her place back in the formation. Amata glared at the Governor.

Curt leapt up to the third platform and the Heart spotted him-before the Spade could he dashed to its side and spun it around as the cards soared towards it and split it open. Curt finished the job and threw two knives through the slit in the card and pierced the other. Peorth leapt from the ladder and stormed towards it and leapt through the air with a jumping slam. She twirled her spear above her head before she stabbed the Agasura and placed it by her side.

"All clear? Well done." Amata said as she climbed up shortly after.

"Take the helm TJ. There's a stone with your name on it." Curt suggested as he gestured to it.

"You're gonna have to explain why you're so adamant about seeing these things before this adventure is over."

"I will, promise." TJ said with a gentle chuckle as he climbed up. He stopped at the Chunsik Stone and inspected it. Unlike the stones he had seen thus far, it had an unusual shape. It seemed to be designed after Chunsik himself but completely monochrome, the body was human-like with Chunsik's face, and he wore what seemed to be jeans, a t-shirt and a vest atop it. A spotted beanie was on his head and two bracelets on each arm, a pair of sneakers on both feet and a stone tablet with words TJ could not read underneath Chunsik's butt. In his hands there was something, but the rainbow light from it was blinding. He felt hard-pressed to believe that what stood before him was indeed a stone, but if it worked like one his doubts would have to be set aside.

He reached out to the stone and at his touch it began to glow brighter. "Will you activate the Chunsik Stone?" It asked him.

He swallowed hard. "Yes."

Peorth looked up with a worried expression and placed a hand to her chest as her shard of the Heart of Yggdrasil resonated in tune with the stone, while time came to a halt.

He had seen the pair of men that stood before the gate where his past self resided. With the knowledge that it was indeed Peorth in that memory, perhaps the man that accompanied her was the king? The guild master hardly if ever mentioned him, but from the glimpse TJ got of him he could see his features were rather similar to hers in some respects. The image he saw shifted and he caught a glimpse of Peorth appearing in the gate. Following it he saw himself there on the other side, a somewhat sad expression as the girl looked back to him and the others turned away. Afterwards he saw her reach out, and his outstretched hand reach the edge of the gate. In the final image, he saw himself emerging from the gate, his hair now a darker shade, his wings gone from his back and his hand in Peorth's.

The Sound of Frequency came to him, but it began to become much weaker than it once had been. He placed his hands to his ears in anticipation of it, but it was shorter and quieter than it once had been. The ringing sensation that accompanied it had weakened substantially also. He blinked, dumbfounded both at the Chunsik visual before him and the recent occurrence.

It was without a doubt Chunsik, his platinum blonde hair parted to both sides of his head and put in fancy rolls at each side. He wore a purple tailcoat, matching pants and black and white shoes. Beneath the coat was a yellow dress shirt with gold embroidery and matching embroidery on the sleeves of his coat, with a cravat atop it. Upon his side a rapier rested and he wore an uneasy look with his hands clasped together.

"The original name of this place is Chunsik Land," He began, "the land was awarded to me for the distinguished service of my adventurers." Did that mean he had servants who fought for him? "But a traveller and a former colleague signed a contract with a demon out of jealousy of the island's beauty. Venturer of another world! Please help us so that the Chunsik Land that has fallen under a spell can go back to its true nature! Please save this location!"

TJ grit his teeth and braced himself. Who was the demon, and what awaited him in the next visual? "Yes," He replied.

In a flash of light he had seen himself once more, the boy now in a fettle position looking up to a faint light that poured in through a small window, closed off by a group of three silver bars. It was the inside of a cell. A series of runes were scrawled upon the walls along with magic circles upon each and every wall, including the floor. The words rang out in his mind, "Thank you, for allowing me to see my beloved Mother once more."

The sound of the Frequency returned and as the memory faded away he took a knee and gasped for air. What on earth did he just see? When did he get put in a cell and what had he done that warranted it?

"Are you alright up there Abellan? Did the sight of Chunsik surprise you that much?" The Governor of Fire asked. She scratched her cheek. "Hold on a second...I couldn't see it...are you sure you activated that thing?"

He took a deep breath and rose to his feet before masking his moment of weakness with a smile. "I'm alright! Just felt ill for a sec', that's all. Seeing Chunsik's face surprised me. Never did well with scary things..." He muttered as he climbed down the ladder and Amata appraised him curiously.

"If you say so...but I mean, if you're scared of that guy you're gonna have a hard time with a lot of Agasura."

TJ chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Agasuras, I can handle. That guy? No way!"

"I think I agree. Chunsik is terrifying in his own right. Those soulless eyes just...ugh." Curt wrapped his arms around himself as he shuddered at the thought.

"Babies." Su said as she rolled her eyes.

With a nod Curt began to move forward, but Peorth had remained still, her eyes looking off into the distance. Was she still thinking about the Ferris wheel?

"What's the matter Chief?" TJ asked as he tilted his head slightly.

She raised a hand in response and closed her eyes. "Listen. Can you hear that?" She asked in a quiet voice. He closed his eyes and listened to the best of his abilities as the rest of his companions stopped and turned to either of the two. He could hear the wind-only faintly, but he could not feel even the slightest gust in spite of the fact. "Something is coming! Above!"

At her call they turned their focus to the skies and just as the guild master had warned them a series of cards were parachuting down using their Agasuric companions.

"What the fuck," Su muttered.

"They're jumping down from the castle! We're gonna have to shoot them down before we get overwhelmed! Su, TJ, hit 'em with everything you've got!" Amata commanded the group. She drew her staff and held out a hand. "Ten Flames!" A series of flames appeared within the sky and set it alight in massive bursts, Flaming cards fell from the skies into the river and to other parts of Chunsik Land, but many more came.

"Ahh...oh man...alright, I got it!" TJ muttered uneasily as he prepared his guitar and strummed it a couple times, summoning a series of icicles as he did. With another strum they fired, but the cards drifted away from the direction of his frozen onslaught and neared.

"If any get past your guard we will dispatch them! Focus on the oncoming enemies and leave the ground to Curt and I, everyone!" Peorth told them as she took a battle stance.

"That works for me. I really don't wanna throw my knives away." Curt chuckled as he grinned.

Su sighed, "This is gonna be a pain in the ass." She held both hands out and a water sphere appeared before her to which she molded into a frozen bow and followed up with a series of arrows. She nocked one and pointed it at one of the paratrooper cards. "One shot, one kill." She let it fly and it pierced the card that it used to drift down, causing both to fall into the river.

"Yeah that's great." Amata said as she pointed a finger and fired off a flame to incinerate a card. "But there's seriously way too many for us to pick them off one by one!"

Curt took his side by TJ as two pairs of cards landed by the Abellan and upon the Chunsik Stone's pedestal. Peorth drew her spear and took Su's right as a pair landed there also. "Stay together everyone. No harm will come to you so long as I stand!" Spears were drawn upon her and she took the initiative, dashing towards the two who lunged at her at once. She jumped and planted a foot on both spears, bringing them to the ground before she sprung above the cards and spun on the ball of her right heel to roundhouse kick one of the two to the ground. The other turned to her and hurled three cards but she dropped to the ground and dove at it. The two came to a skidding halt and she spun her spear above her head before she slammed it upon its face and impaled the other as it flopped to its feet. She let out a sigh as she dusted off her dress and took a battle stance in anticipation of the oncoming reinforcements.

As a storm of fire rained down upon Chunsik landed and cards fell along with icy shards and arrows, an onslaught on ground carried on. Curt held his shield and blocked a multitude of cards as two other cards rushed towards him. He placed the dagger in his holster and reached into his coat drawing three knives. He reeled his hand back and the cards stepped aside. He cracked a grin as he lowered that arm and raised his shield hand, to which he hurled instead. The first of the two cards leaned back to avoid the attack and the shield collided the the card behind it, causing it to flutter back and forth. The Treasure Hunter hurled two of the three knives into the shoes of the first and dashed towards it, cutting a swath right through. As the other rose to its full height he grabbed its spear and plunged his knife through it and sliced it in two. He wrestled the spear out of its hand and leaned aside as the spear of the third card drifted past him, and he impaled its hat with the weapon before he rushed back to TJ's side. The card that stood atop the pedestal hurled more cards down towards the Abellan and moments before they hit Curt instead he caught his shield and deflected the weapons, throwing his third and final knife at it. As the card fell to the ground Curt chuckled and wiped his brow. "Looks like we're clear here, for now."

Amata let out an exhausted groan. "They just keep on coming. There has to be a way to nip it at the bud!" She complained.

"We could try and blow up the castle. I mean, that's where they're all coming from right?" TJ suggested with a slight chuckle.

Su nocked an arrow but turned an eye to him. "And become international terrorists? Great idea, smartass," She remarked.

"Well what other option do we have? I mean look at that thing! That fan is just so far it'd take a miracle to hit that thing, and because it's there they keep on flying down to us! At least the castle is hard to miss."

Locked in combat with a Heart Three Peorth turned an eye back to the Abellan. "TJ, that right there is how we can stop them. Without the power of wind they will not be able to reach us. Suuba, will you be able to strike it down?" She asked. She forced the card back and impaled it twice.

Su furrowed her brows. "Are you stupid? I might have a bow but at this angle and distance that's friggin' impossible."

"Then all that needs be done is to change the angel and shorten the distance."

The Governor frowned, seemingly more annoyed by the second. "So the fuck do you plan on doing then? You gonna throw me?"

"I will not be the one to do so." The guild master replied as she placed her spear down and turned to the group. "It will be TJ." The Abellan looked mortified.

Su face-palmed and Curt looked over his shoulder as he reclaimed his knives. "You know Peorth, I'm all for your wacky ideas and formations and plans and such, but even I think this is a little on the crazy side. That's saying something."

She tilted her head. "Is it not possible?"

"Guys focus!" Amata shouted as she held out both hands and a torrent of flames singed all who came within their range.

"Of course it's not!" Su roared in response. "You think he's got muscles on that scrawny body? Stop looking at his face and look somewhere else why don't you!"

"Magic does not require physical strength to be powerful Suuba. It requires two very fundamental things-intelligence and wisdom."

TJ smiled wryly as he cracked his back and called in some Arrows of Light. "So what do you suggest I do Chief?"

Her lips curled into a tiny smile. "Use your newly acquired power. That which your sister has bestowed upon you. With that, giving Suuba the height and distance she needs will be a simple task."

"Are you sure that's a good idea Peorth? Has he tested it yet?" Amata asked as she sent a wary glance to the Abellan and he averted his eyes in turn. "This is a bad idea. I can feel it."

"I have faith in him, as should you. TJ?"

"I'll give it a shot. How about it Su?" He asked with a glance to her.

"I swear to God Ah if you hurl me into something I'm gonna beat the ever living shit out of you." He hiked an eyebrow and smiled and she sighed. "In other words, don't fuck it up, got it?!"

"Leave it to me." He placed his guitar on his back and took a deep breath. He held a hand skyward and as he did a sudden surge of wind was exerted from him as his eyes flickered to crimson for but a moment and the golden streak in his hair began to glow for a couple seconds. "Avartita!" He lowered his arm, placed a foot back and with a single fluid movement, moved his entire torso, his arms outstretched. At his command a sudden force like a powerful gust of wind carried Su from where she stood and catapulted her into the skies.

Curt and Amata watched in awe as TJ collapsed to a knee and the Governor soared through the skies, preparing another arrow as her ascent came to an eventual halt. At the apex of her rise she let the arrow she had nocked loose and it soared towards the fan atop the castle. The arrow pierced the massive machine, and the card that stood sentry beside it and those that prepared to take flight all looked astounded as sparks shot out from it and it suddenly exploded, breaking off a piece of the castle and eradicating all that were too close to it. As the governor descended she turned into a series of spheres and returned to the Heart of Yggdrasil, then emerged briefly after while her companions fought off the final Agasura.

The Treasure Hunter pulled his dagger out of the final card and regrouped with the others-TJ sat on the floor with Amata leaning against him, her staff across her lap. Peorth scoured the area and Su stretched.

"Impressive," Amata said.

"It's us. You're gonna be perma-impressed if your expectations are that low." Su muttered with a snort.

"Thanks Amata," TJ chuckled. "I'm actually kinda impressed myself that we managed to pull that one off. Su handled it perfectly but...I need to do better. I have Avaritia's power but just that alone drained me." It was handy, but becoming better with that power was costly. As Vanir had said, his affinity for the sin would grow the more he used it, but he would also strengthen the blood bond, becoming more of an Agasura. Was his desire for strength greater than his fear of himself? Did he fear his enemies more than himself?

"You need not be perfect in all aspects, TJ. You have a myriad of talents, but mastering them all at once will be a difficult task. Give yourself the appropriate time to do so, and hone your skills to a fine point with the time you're given. Think of the battle with Agasura King Asmodeus as the last moment to which you will have to be at your strongest. Alas, you need not fight alone." The guild master smiled, both her lips and eyes. "We are here. All of Yggdrasil, and those who know of me will be at your back."

Amata gave him a pat on the shoulder which quickly turned into her using him to rise to her feet. "Her highness is right TJ. We're in this together now, and even if there are people who don't like you, at least you've got us. The God's Governors are a pretty big deal, you know." She said with a grin. "On the bright side, for a first-time that was pretty good, and you're gonna have a lot of those powers in the near future. Don't expect to master everything in a day. Took me years to master awakening and it still bleeds me dry."

He rose to his feet and stretched to let out a slight chuckle as Su stole a glance at him. "Thanks for the pep talk guys. I think I'm ready to go on."

"All set then? We're almost at Cookie Garden. Hang in there ladies." Curt said with a wave of his hand as he spurred the party onwards.

Curt took a running start and jumped to a drum that levitated between where they stood and where they wanted to be. "Right this way! Also if you don't like heights I wouldn't recommend looking down." He commented.

"Well that was certainly helpful. Got anymore oh-so-useful tips in that head of yours?" Su muttered as she hopped across after the guild master.

"You're picking a fight with the wrong guy."

Amata jumped across and TJ followed after holding to her back before he accidentally knocked her over, or fell off himself. She looked at him over her shoulder and he shrunk away slightly out of fear she would get mad, but instead she let out a gentle sigh. "You're not good with heights are you? Here, c'mon." She offered him a hand and he took it. "We'll both jump across on the count of three. I won't let you fall, and if you do I'll fly us back up, so stop giving me the puppy eyes already." She counted it down and jumped across with the Abellan in tow, joining the others at the other side.

"Didn't know you were afraid of heights TJ. You've done some pretty ballsy things despite that."

TJ knit his eyebrows. "It's not that I'm afraid I'm just not...I just don't like them, is all," He answered.

Amata chuckled, "You're a terrible liar you know. Stick to being honest. It suits you better."

"Well let's not hang around too long. The sun's setting and we're burning daylight as we speak." Curt said moving forward. As they moved on they found themselves at another dead-end. The Treasure Hunter walked to the edge of the landing they were on and jumped off without a second thought. TJ followed after him and glanced over the edge, to find Curt just a few feet below them and hurling a knife at an Agasura that seemed to be below where they stood. "This way guys." He jumped from there to the landing below them and the rest of the team followed suit.

As he reclaimed his knife they went on ahead to join him and Peorth looked over the landing they now stood on. "You may all go on ahead that way. I will meet you at the bottom." She told them.

"It looks pretty far down Chief. Be careful, okay?" The Abellan knit his eyebrows. It was unlikely that there was much need for his worry. He had seen her jump down from greater heights and still rise without a scratch, but he could not hide his worry.

"I will be alright TJ. Your concern is appreciated nonetheless."

Curt climbed down a nearby ladder at the opposite end of where they stood and Su followed behind him. TJ looked down while Curt stopped in place and waited for the Heart Three patrolling to pass by, and moments after it did Su leapt from the ladder and knocked it to the ground before slicing an 'x' into its back. A moment later the Spade Five that saw the event was knocked to the ground by Peorth's foot and executed. The other three came down shortly after and rejoined with the others. The group continued on, climbing a pair of large steps to where they found another landing before a levitating drum.

"Stand back." Amata said as she took to the vanguard and hurled a pair of fireballs at the Spade Five that stood on the landing. Before it could run it burned up into embers and its spear fell to the ground. "All clear. I assume we just need to get up there now?"

"That's the gist of it," Curt answered. The party moved onward, jumping across to the landing and onto the drum. Curt stopped there first, and crouched down as the card on the final landing approached and caught a glimpse of his companions. It jumped from the landing to where he was and as it came down he caught it with a rising slash and split it in two. The pieces of paper floated down beside him and the spear fell also, alerting the others beneath them. He looked down, blinked, and swore before jumping across in a hurry. "We gotta move it guys!"

Peorth nodded solemnly and charged ahead, jumping from the drum to the landing with skill and ease. She was followed by Su, then Amata and TJ followed up with the rear, but remained frozen on the drum.

"Come on, jump!" Amata shouted to him.

He looked back to the cards scrambling up the ladder and to what awaited below, and he began to feel dizzy. Memories of his fall in Kimara, the throbbing pain after being repeatedly stabbed with a crossbow bolt and the decisive moments as he and Choen Palm came crashing down to the ground in a jumble of broken bones and blood. His legs trembled and his body completely froze. Her smile-the final bloody smile she gave him haunted him, his vision fading to black, all of it.

"TJ you must jump!" Peorth's voice brought him back and he looked to her, the desperate and worried look on her face. It urged him to move forward, to take that step, and so he did...but he slipped. The moment his foot touched the edge of the landing his heel fell away from it and he began a rapid descent down before a hand caught his.

"You're gonna get yourself...killed! Get it together TJ!" Amata huffed as she gripped his hand with both of hers and struggled to pull him up. Her face turned red and her eyes were tightly shut as she exerted more and more force to keep him within her grip while he looked down, absolutely terrified. Curt and Peorth ran to her aid and started a chain of pulling to bring the Abellan back up while Su fended the cards off with Shattered Berg. Once TJ was back on the group fell back and Amata set the edge of the landing aflame as they all fell away.

The sun had just about set over the horizon and twilight began to settle in. After walking for a brief while to the edges of the park at what seemed a safe distance from the Agasura the group stopped running to take a breather. Peorth approached TJ with a worried look and he averted his eyes with a look of guilt in them.

"TJ, would you tell me what it is that ails you? If it is to this degree I fear greatly for your safety." She told him as she placed a hand to her chest.

He opened his mouth to speak but his eyes shifted to his companions, Amata giving him a certain appraising look, and by that he knew what she would say, and even more so what she had expected. His strong front would do him no good, but he feared speaking of those matters. What he had experienced then, he knew the reason for it but something in him was still trapped by it, and he had not overcome it yet. To add insult to injury he had seen that glimpse of his past with his meeting with Peorth and his being confined. The voice then too, was hers, from when she was a young girl. What had happened? Considering his nature-who he was, is, and is going to become, perhaps it was for that very reason he was locked away. Deep down he was a monster, and sooner or later that very thing may be what brings harm to his allies. He had gained more control over it than he had in the past, but were they any safer in his hands as an Agasura than when Choen Palm had control over him? Peorth's piercing sapphire eyes retained their focus on him and he felt like he would crumble and spill everything before her.

"I..." He began. I'm going to hurt you. "I'm just a little afraid of heights, is all." So kill me before I become the next Agasura King. "So I can be a little jumpy when it comes to those." He chuckled gently as he rubbed the back of his neck. I dunno if I should know more about all of this. "I dunno if I'll get over it soon, but I'll work at it." He smiled as brightly as he could, but his eyes could not follow, though unaware of it he looked like he was on the verge of tears. "If that times comes though, it'd certainly be better for all of us huh?"

There was a brief silence, but Peorth broke the silence as she smiled gently at him and said, "Yes, perhaps you are right."

"Hang in there TJ. I can give you some pointers on overcoming those fears of yours." Curt told him with a grin.

Amata sighed, "Whatever it is, we'll face it together." She looked off into the distance to the Cookie Garden. "Redemption only grows further away the more we extend the gap."

"Words of wisdom from a girl who won't ever change," Su remarked.

"Don't you think it's about time you grew a couple inches? You midget!"

TJ chuckled. He would have to cherish these times. If his experiences were any indication, if any of them were to die, it would likely be by his own hand. Some way, somehow, he would find a person or a way for the Cerebians to go on and defeat Asmodeus, whether he was there or not. They had the potential to be incredible-he felt certain that the legends were a thing of the past. He wanted all of them, every last one, to have a future. For that, there was no sacrifice too great, and no extent that he would not be willing to go to see that through.

The group continued on for a spell, crossing over from the hard man-made ground to the crispy cookie flooring of the Cookie Garden. The entire place was like a dream come true! Gingerbread trees, lollipop flowers in a myriad of shapes and sizes, whipped cream bushes and mountains of cookies, along with a mountain made of cookie dough. Massive bowls of ice cream and graham crackers were littered across the entire garden, along with candy canes that stood tall and proud and Chunsik shaped gingerbread men. There were even mounds of muffins and bread, accompanied by pies big enough to fit a whole family of people and then some.

"Is this it?! The Cookie Garden? It's...it's beautiful..." He started tearing up at the sight, both hands clasped together.

"Just looking at this place makes me wanna throw up." Su muttered as she placed a hand to her head and shook it. "We're setting up camp here right? If you need me, call me. I'm taking a break." Su returned to the crystal while TJ plucked a lollipop from the ground and licked it with delight.

"I kinda agree here. This is my first time here and I feel like I'll get a toothache if I stare too hard." Amata muttered as she crossed her arms and closed her eyes, a weary look on her face.

"It is certainly...colourful, I must say." Peorth added as she glanced across the area. "Even the Agasura are consumable, it seems." In the near distance a pair of twin aqua popsicles, each with a face on each ran side by side via their sticks, and that was not the last of them. "Nevertheless, time is of the essence. Let us have our camp set up before the night grows nearer."

Where they stood was on a platform that stood a fair height over the ground floor of Cookie Garden, solely made of chocolate covered tarts, cookies and ice cream sandwiches. Amata yelled at TJ's Heart of Yggdrasil for Su to come out and 'make use of herself' and the five set up camp for the night, in two tents. One for the boys and the other for the girls.

TJ set up his sleeping bag and smoothed it out carefully as Curt laid out his coat and removed the knives from it, carefully putting them away and checking his stock of weapons.

"You sure you're alright TJ? You gave us one hell of a scare back there. Bad memories got you down?" He asked, possibly for the sake of conversation, but there was concern in his voice nonetheless.

"Mm...no problem! I've faced a lot of bad things before but you know, I always bounce right back! I'm sure that'll pass too, just like everything else." The chance of that passing was possible, but his becoming an Agasura was inescapable. It was necessary, and he feared it with the bottom of his heart.

"Optimistic as always. Glad to hear it! Just try not to space out when Agasura are coming to impale your butt with spears. There are some things that bandages can't fix."

The Abellan laughed. "Well, I don't think we'll come across any enemies with spears here. And if they do have them...well, maybe they'll be wafer sticks!" There was a twinkle in his eye and Curt laughed dryly.

"I never knew you had such a penchant for food. You're a real surprise bag."

"A few surprises in life can make it really interesting, I think."

"That so?" Curt chuckled gently as he turned back to what he was doing.

"Excuse me." Peorth's voice chimed as her head appeared at the entrance of the tent.

"Ah!" TJ shouted as he placed a hand to his chest and the Treasure Hunter fumbled around in his bag.

"Do-don't scream like that. Scared the shit out of me." Curt said as he let out a sigh of relief. "And you should really knock first, guild master."

"My apologies," She answered coolly.

"So what brings you to our tent anyway?"

"Perhaps it is rude of me to impose in such a way, but may I speak to TJ privately for a brief time?"

Curt blinked, closed his bag and walked towards the entrance where Peorth vanished for him to make his exit. "Take all the time you need."

The sound of his footfalls slowly fading away made TJ's heart race. It sped up even more when the guild master stepped into the tent and crouched down near him before she asked, "May I?" TJ swallowed hard, nodded gently and watched as she lowered herself into a sitting position, her long slender legs over one another beneath her dress as she closed her eyes and got comfortable. "Now then, perhaps you may consider this intrusive of me, but as guild master I feel that your concerns are mine also. You need not do so now, but whatever it is that ails you, especially today, I wish for you to confide in me. I wish to help you overcome those fears however I may. Is that not possible?"

He opened his mouth to speak and pursed his lips-those earnest eyes that looked right at him were too much for him to turn around. He rubbed his left arm gently as he recalled the night they spent together, the feel of her touch, the sound of her voice. If it was just that, he could talk to her about it. "It's...I guess it's about what happened at Kimara. Those moments before I fell unconscious I just...I guess they're haunting me. But it's not just that, something feels off." That sickly feeling he had felt was one that was reminiscent of Choen Palm using her shard of the Heart of Yggdrasil on him, and though he had no definitive proof or a reason as to why, he felt her presence growing. "It might just be the Instance Dungeon here, but I haven't exactly felt...right. It happened a long time ago also but.." He shook his head. "Well, it passed. I think as long as I'm careful about heights I'll get along just fine." Would overcoming that pacify his distinct fear of the Heartbreaker?

Peorth took his hands and his mouth fell open. "TJ, what had happened at Kimara, I must apologize for. I too, was responsible for the events that played out that day, but I shall not make that mistake a second time."

"H-hold on Chief. You already apologized for that you know!" He sputtered as he averted his eyes. "Besides it was my decision in the end. Perhaps it wasn't the wisest decision but...somehow just outright killing her doesn't sit well with me. Even if I could do it now I...I don't think I can."

The guild master's lips curled into a tiny smile. "You are not the only one that feels that way. Many, many Cerebians do not wish to resort to that method, as do I. For that reason, we must go forward with confidence." Her smile faded and her expression returned to normal, but just by that alone he could tell that she was serious. "If there is anything I can do for you, then I shall. But I do not wish you to rush into your growth without the proper preparation, hence I have carefully watched over you. For that reason...no, I feel certain already that you have grown substantially. You had lead the party excellently in the Pharaoh's Chambers, and returned victorious. Even before that I felt that you were ready, so allow me to raise your rank, if you feel that you too are prepared."

He blinked slowly, taking the words in. A small part of him wanted to jump for joy, but he withheld that desire and gave the guild master a nod. "Please do!"

She placed her legs beneath her and placed a hand to his forehead as the crystal that symbolized her being a guild master took form in her other hand. It began to turn rapidly as the light within it shone brighter. "I, Peorth Emeria Ásvaŕtlim now promote you, TJ and your partner Suuba from Powers to Bashutz. Raise your head and receive this blessing." As she removed her hand TJ raised his head and his wings spread out upon his back, growing in size as feathers began to appear upon it-it shrunk to a smaller size, but retained the new look and faded away briefly after. "They cannot enable you flight still, but they are much more functional than the previous pair. They should increase the heights that you can reach, and the speeds you can reach when using them."

His excitement got the better of him then. "And I've got feathers too!" He said with clenched fist and a wide grin.

"Yes, you do," Peorth chuckled. "A wonderful look for you."

He chuckled gently, but the smile faded also. "I guess you don't know why I can't fly either, do you Chief?"

The guild master shook her head. "Alas, I do not, but I shall seek the reason for it with all that I am. If I was to hazard an assumption, it is likely a curse. I know not who placed this upon you, or for what reason they had clipped your wings, but I assure you, I will return this gift to you. You are as much a Cerebian as I, and you deserve that ability as much as anyone else does, but I must ask of you, have patience on the matter, and together we will get to the heart of it. Until that day comes, and even afterwards, I will be the wind beneath your wings. I know that we will succeed, so long as we remain together. Do not lose hope!"

"Eh? Huh?!" What did she mean by that? It was just what she usually said and yet...he felt rather embarassed by the statement nonetheless. He knit his eyebrows as his face flushed and Peorth smiled gently. Why did he feel this way around her? It had been this way for so long and yet...he still did not understand it, but he could not bring himself to ask her about this either. He would figure it out, eventually. Perhaps that too, he would find in his memories, or so he hoped.

"I should return to the other tent TJ. Rest well, as we will begin our search for the Instance Dungeon anew tomorrow-and should you have any other fears or concerns, please, do not be afraid to confide in me. Be it on the battlefield or off of it, I am by your side."

"Y-yeah...thanks Chief. See you in the morning. I-I mean good night!"

At those words she had stepped through the entrance but peeked through it once more to offer him a kind smile. "Yes, good night TJ."

The sun was just barely rising and TJ was already out of bed-his wings were upon his back and his hair a snow white as he leap through the sky, a series of Arrows of Light surrounded him, soaring at his command toward a series of icy bullseye upon frozen stands. He leapt through the air and moved in every which direction as he fired the spell at the targets before he would hit the ground and break out into a strafe towards the next. He leapt through the air and spun around once with his second jump before he fired his shot and landed with a somersault and fired another arrow. He got back up and leapt backwards before backflipping once and firing another shot.

"TJ," The sound of Peorth's voice caught his attention and he looked back.

Much to his dismay, he failed the landing and tumbled backwards a couple of times before he fell on his back. He tightly closed his eyes for a couple moments before he opened them to find himself laying down before the guild master. She looked down upon him, blinked, and pushed her skirt closer towards her legs. "U-umm...sorry Chief." He said as he sat up and scrambled to his feet.

Her gaze was unflinching. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah...that was nothin'." He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

She nodded solemnly, thoughtfully. "I see." She looked upon the targets that were scattered across the garden, some broken and some still in tact, those that he missed and those he was getting to but had not quite reached. "It is awfully early in the morning, but you have begun practice. That is very diligent of you."

He blushed slightly, his wings faded away, eyes returned to normal and his hair turned pink once more as a gentle gust of wind passed. "Since you upgraded my rank I guess the excitement got the better of me. I couldn't sleep so I decided to do a bit of practice...and next thing I knew I was doing this." He laughed sheepishly. "You were right though-with these new wings I feel so much quicker. That feeling of the wind against my face as I soar through the air...even if it's just for a couple of seconds there's something about it that feels so...liberating." He blushed slightly and lowered his eyes. "W-well...I won't stray too far from the intended purpose though! Battle practice is my main focus right now. My aim could use some work, to be honest. Had to learn that the hard way, and since I can only use a few Arrows at a time without transforming I need to be accurate. Every spell counts!"

Peorth nodded sagely. "That is true, TJ. But you must also remember that restoring mana is not simple when we do not have access to the Guild Room. It is not impossible, but we may have an extended stay, so it would be best if you did not use your 'Calling' ability unless you have a distinct need for it."

He knit his eyebrows. "Yeah...you're right. But it's the only way I know how to bring out my wings."

She cracked a tiny smile. "It may be the only way you know, but it is not the only way to do it, mind you. If you had any doubts or wished to know if it was possible if there was another means, you need only ask."

"Yeah I probably should've done that first. Think you can give me some pointers on that Chief?"

She nodded. "But of course. In turn though, I would ask of you to assist me in preparing a meal for everyone."

"Mrrgh..." Amata muttered as she stepped out of her tent. "After sleeping in my own bed it really reminds me why I don't miss the camping li-" She paused as she caught a glimpse of TJ and Peorth staring at her by a campfire and she walked backwards into the tent.

"Huh? Amata?" TJ asked slightly startled. "Did we chase her away?"

Peorth raised her index finger and answered, "TJ, the head maid had once told me that the moment a lady leaves her home she is stepping into a battlefield. It is ill-advised for one to do so without putting on the appropriate war paint." The Abellan blinked slowly. His eyes were focused on the guild master as she spoke-her face, her lips, her eyes and cheeks, and yet he could not see any war-paint. Perhaps he only had a vague idea of what it was?

"It's times like these that make me glad that I'm a guy." Curt muttered as he stepped out of the tent with an incredible case of bedhead. "Who needs make up, am I right? TJ?"

"...Yeah! Of course!" He answered with a moment's hesitation.

"You don't wear any?!" Amata's voice rang out from the tent. "Just what are you made of?"

"I'm au naturale," Curt answered non-chalantly.

"Like I'd ask you!"

"You mean me?" TJ asked as he knit his eyebrows. "Why would I need it?"

"You don't know the struggle." Amata answered and Peorth chuckled gently.

"Perhaps it is something you may come to find a use for later on. Some things come with maturity, after all."

The Abellan pursed his lips at those words. How many times had he been told he was too young for things? He still had two transformations to go before he would be considered an adult. Just how long would that take, and what exactly did it have to do with war paint? "I don't need something like that anyway..." He muttered under his breath.

After the group ate they packed up their tent and camping gear and prepared to set out.

"Is all of our gear reclaimed?" Peorth asked as she inspected their items and TJ hauled one of the bags onto his back.

"That should just about do it I'd say. We've barely left any tracks that we were here to begin with, next to the remains of the fire," Curt answered calmly.

"Let's get going then. It's still early but we can't say for sure how long it'll take for us to get to that Instance. Do you have a map Curt?" Amata asked. He looked at her incredulously and she furrowed her brows. "W-what?"

"You used my name. That's not something you hear everyday."

The Governor frowned. "You make me sound worse than I am. Honestly..." She sighed.

TJ chuckled, "You guys get along so well."

"I am inclined to agree." Peorth said with a nod.

Amata hiked her eyebrows for but a moment and decided to knit them instead with a shrug and a gentle laugh. "The two of you are in a league of your own."

Curt unfurled a map and held it out for the group to gather around. "Alright guys, check this out. It's a rough sketch of what the place looks like, so I say we follow this path, circle around here over to the mountains about here, and then come back around. We'll do a wide sweep of the perimeter and see if we can spot the Indun around the outer areas. If we don't, we'll camp out and do another sweep of the inner sections of Cookie Garden. Sound like a plan?"

"That works." TJ answered with a nod.

"Alright, let's go. Bring out Su TJ. It's one of the few times she's useful after all," Amata added.

"I heard you loud and clear, bitch." Su hissed as she emerged from TJ.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Shall we then?" Peorth asked.

"Yeah, let's. Before a fight breaks out here," Curt agreed.

He reached into his coat and drew a couple knives before hurling them at a pair of posicles. The popsicles split into four and let out a long agonizing scream. "Not Twin Icecream anymore now are ya'?" He said with a laugh.

"Ugh shut them up already would you?!" Su stomped the ground and much to her dismay, she had to substitute earth for rather tough crackers, but she could control them all the same. She hurled four pieces at each of the ice cream halves and each was hit and flipped over before being silenced. "Hmm...that felt pretty good." She said as she brushed a few stray hairs from her eyes.

"I can't help but feel that there was something off about that." Amata muttered as she looked about hesitantly, TJ following down the ladder shortly after.

"Like?" He asked.

"Like they were calling for-"

"Reinforcements incoming! Prepare yourselves!" Peorth shouted as she drew her spear and dropped her bag.

"Yeah, that." Amata sighed as she drew her staff.

"I take no responsibility for that!" Curt shouted defensively.

In the distance many more Twin IceCreams followed in the wake of others along with burgers, with everything on them, but no less threatening despite their delicious exterior. It was hard to say whether or not the fact that they hopped along the ground or the eyes and eyebrows they had were more unsettling, but the fact did not change that they were approaching rapidly.

"How do you wanna play this?" Amata asked. "I can probably blow them away with Ten Flames and a couple of other spells."

"You can take a backseat. I'll handle these ones, since you can finally stay out of my way." Su pounded an open palm a couple of times before she slammed her right fist against the ground and caused the land before her to rise up in a series of ascending pillars. Those caught in the wave were flung away as she dashed to the furthest of them all and leapt down to the ground. A cloud of dust was kicked up as the earth before her shattered and both burger and ice cream were tossed through the air.

"Everyone, let us begin!" Peorth shouted as she charged in after the Governor.

"You got it boss." Curt said as he drew his shield and dagger and rushed after her.

TJ took a deep breath and strummed his guitar, and ten Arrows of Light surrounded him. He followed in the wake of his allies and fired the arrows at the airborne targets as they engaged their enemies.

A series of flames rained down from the sky while Amata made a wall of fire to fight off the would-be attackers. Those that attempted to go to the right were ambushed by Su and her incredible earth magic-a boulder rolled over a myriad of Agasura and the Governor followed after cutting down those that were not devoured by her dragons. On the other side Peorth swept the flames up with her spear and melted the Ice Cream that neared her while flinging burger innards all about alongside Curt. The two fought back-to-back, mindful of the other's blind spots and flanks. TJ eyed the rear and fired arrows through Amata's spell, eliminating any Agasura that had gotten too close.

As the fight went on the area began to be covered in ice cream due to the melted Agasura and this made Peorth wary.

"Perhaps it would be best if we retreated for the time being. I cannot help but suspect that this reeks of ill omens," The guild master said uneasily.

"What, are you afraid to slip and get your dress dirty?" Su shouted nearby.

"You'd pick a fight with anything that moves, wouldn't you?" Amata asked as she hurled a pair of fireballs with a wave of her hand and opted out for firing a stream from her staff.

"That is a small worry of mine but not what truly concerns me," Peorth answered unfazed.

Some of the burgers that were caught in the Ice Cream slipped and fell apart, then stopped moving in their entirety. It seemed that their own allies had been their undoing, and due to it their numbers dwindled rather quickly, save for that which were as of yet to approach.

"We're almost there. Hang in there guys," Curt told them confidently.

What they could not see though, was that in the heart of the giant pool of ice cream a face began to emerge, and following that hands arose from within and trapped the vanguard.

"Well I hope you're happy Su," Amata hissed, "now we're all trapped."

"I didn't give you the order not to move. You decided that for yourself," Su said defensively.

"Is now really the time for that?" Curt asked.

The pool seemed to move slightly, and all of the burger parts that floated within it were slowly but steadily absorbed into the whole and moved towards the center in small lumps, along with the sticks of the Twin IceCreams. TJ took a couple of steps forward near Peorth and Curt and looked on along with them in horror as some kind of creature took form-a combination of a variety of things that should not have gone together, but could certainly make an Agasura.

As it began to swell and bubble the Treasure Hunter turned to his companion. "You're still in the clear right? Lend us a hand and get us out of this would you? I've tried cutting the hands, pulling my legs out, but nothing's working."

TJ looked down at it and stepped back uneasily as the ice cream seemed to slither towards him for a moment before falling away to join the greater whole. "What should I do?"

"I would suggest that you freeze it. If we can shatter that which binds us, we should be able to break free with relative ease, without having to worry over the possibility of being caught once more." Peorth replied.

"Got it. Hang tight guys." TJ placed his guitar on his back and held both hands out to Curt's feet before releasing an icy wind.

"Aim a little higher and I might become a Twin IceCream too." Curt said.

"If you become an Agasura..." TJ began with a worried look in his eyes, "I promise I'll give you the end you deserve." His eyes turned hungry rather quickly and he licked his lips.

The Treasure Hunter gazed uneasily. "Don't get any ideas y'hear? That was just a joke. A joke!"

Once the liquid froze he moved on to Peorth and she kept a watchful eye on the creature as it manifested. "We must make haste. There is little time and the others are still bound." She said. Once TJ froze it she took her spear in hand and chipped away at the ice surrounding her legs as Curt struggled to break a few pieces off the top. "TJ, you must go to God's Governor Amata without another moment of hesitation!"

"Lend me a hand over here after you're done would you?"

TJ ran towards Amata who looked exhausted but persisted in releasing a steady stream of fire around her. "What're you doing Amata?" He asked as he began to pant, feeling the effects of the heat just moments after nearing.

"I'm trying to evaporate this stuff so I can get out of it." She answered as she doubled over, her staff held against her lap.

"I can freeze it for you. You'll have to break out but it should save you some energy."

"Would you? I'd appreciate that."

He let out a sigh before he steeled himself and let out another icy torrent. His eyes darted between Amata's feet and the creature as it began to take form, the sticks of the popsicles came together to make arms and legs, and all of the burger parts coated each-ice cream dripped from every part of the body yet it still managed to keep itself together. "That should do it. I'll come and offer a hand as soon as I'm done helping Su."

She grit her teeth. "Bad idea. Lend her a hand and join the others in fighting that thing. If there's more of you stalling for time there's less of a chance it'll come over here and beat us to a pulp. With it's...ugh...body." He nodded solemnly and ran towards his final companion. "Can you even call those things fists?"

"Su I'm here!" He shouted.

"It's about time don't you think? I swear I'll have to build a freakin' stronghold around me just to prevent that thing from drowning me in ice cream." She sneered. Around her feet was a small pile of biscuits that stood tall and protected her body like a moat around a castle. "Well? Quit ogling me and do your thing already. If you don't that thing's gonna come over here."

"Seriously?" TJ asked as he looked up to it and saw as it towered over the guild master and Treasure Hunter. It brought down a massive fist and ice cream splashed everywhere as the two dodged to the side and struck the legs as it moved them and tried to stomp opn the adventurers. The Abellan swallowed the fact hard and began as soon as he possibly could.

Peorth twirled her spear and batted a part of the legs aside-it was difficult to tell exactly what was contained within the ice cream but the sound of wood cracking against her weapon was a sure sign that she had harmed it. The creature roared and slammed a fist down followed by the second as she leapt out of the ice cream and the hands reached out to get her once more. She spread her wings and flew above it to catch sight of Curt and stopped in place.

"Curt, I recommend that you fall back for the time being! The ice cream can still bind you despite our initial escape and it is not worth the risk!" She suggested. He looked up to her and gave an acknowledging nod before falling away.

It was not long before Amata joined her in the skies and glared down at the creature. It reached out to her and she reeled away with Fire Burst. In spite of the spell making direct contact with the Agasura it seemed to have little effect and this bothered the Governor. "That liquid is messing up my spells. I'm gonna have to hit it harder than that to get through it." She suggested as she frowned.

It took another swing at Peorth and she flew under the arm and next to it before thrusting her spear into it and pulling it back with slight reluctance, burger innards clinging to the head of the weapon until she cast them aside and flew out of its vision. "If you are to attack, you must find a way to destroy it from the inside."

"You might be right there."

The creature roared and stomped towards Su and TJ, the latter of the two looking on in pure shock.

"We must draw its attention before it brings harm to the others! Quickly!" Peorth flew past the head and plunged her spear into it before flying to the left flank and stabbing her spear there too. The creature turned to her and roared, the force pushed her away from it, and flung a couple globs of ice cream upon her wings, making flight even more difficult for her. She persisted nonetheless.

Amata stayed a safe distance away and hurled fireballs one after the next at it as she attempted to formulate a plan to get her spells within, but the flames she hurled barely seemed to faze it. "Hang back Peorth!" With a wave of her hand, ten flames appeared all around it and at her command they all detonated. From within the embers the creature emerged and grew ever nearer to the pair. Amata grit her teeth as flames started to surround her and thoughts of awakening danced in her mind.

"Hold out for now God's Governor! If we cannot stop it allow me to do so, but only until the last moment! We must believe in the strength of our allies and plan accordingly!" Peorth shouted to her as she flew closer to the pair.

The flames subsided as did the Governor's anger and she let out a sigh, both out of relief and out of concern. "Alright, I'll follow your lead."

"Well this took a turn for the shitty real fast didn't it?" Su muttered as she watched the creature come ever closer.

"W-what should we do?!" TJ asked frantically as he chipped away at the ice with his guitar to take his mind off the situation.

"We're gonna need ice. And a lot of it. You can do Shattered Berg, can't you?"

"Yeah...but at this distance it won't be very good. If I step foot over there I'll get trapped too and we'll both get stomped into ice cream by that thing."

Su crossed her arms, then nodded. "I'll make a path for you. Get in there and hit it hard with the spell."

"And then?"

She shrugged. "Hell if I know! I'm just planning on the fly. You think about that when you get to that point." She grinned. "Alright enough screwing around. Get ready!"

"W-what?!"

Su cracked her neck and placed a hand to her wrist to steady herself in place of her legs, then shouted, "Freezing Wave!" An icy beam was released from her hand and as she fired it she arced it vertically, the beam created a fine line towards the Agasura and froze a fair portion of its left leg as it approached and halted it there as it examined the spell. It continued higher into the torso and to a portion of the face, and when it flew off into the distance she ended the spell. "Alright there you go. Better move while you still can."

TJ grit his teeth, took a breath and released his wings. He leapt towards Su and once more to make the jump over her head-he landed and immediately began sliding towards the Agasura, the frozen wall that was a part of its body grew nearer. Peorth and Amata watched in awe to see what he would do, and as he got ever closer he jumped towards it and ran up the leg a couple steps before jumping away and performing a flip to right himself. "Shattered Berg!" He shouted as he flew through the air and above him a massive cluster of ice appeared before it cracked and shattered to pieces, raining ice chunks down upon the Agasura and freezing it in its wake.

"Now is the time, Amata! Prepare your spell, I will strike!" Peorth shouted to her companion while TJ skidded backwards. She held a hand skyward as she shouted, "Valor!" Following that she twirled her spear above her head as it gained a crimson glow and she pointed it at the Agasura. "Warlord Style Awakening Technique: Descent of the Zealot!" She flew towards it and in a moment disappeared. As if cut by the wind itself she reappeared on the other side of it and turned around only to vanish once more. From every which way a series of cuts appeared, and all sorts of vegetables, ice cream and pieces of wood were flung about before revealing an opening at the center-the wooden frame clearly visible as Peorth too became visible and her spear took up its normal look. "The battle is yours, God's Governor!"

Peorth's attack had bought her enough time to finish preparing her spell. "Scorn!" She held a hand skyward and a flame appeared above her hand and she closed her fist on it, before hurling the spell into the torso of the Agasura. As the ice cream poured over it and covered the opening once more, the flame within it crackled to life and expanded, the Agasura growing with it for but a few moments before it finally exploded. Ice cream and a variety of other foodstuffs were flung across Cookie Garden, Amata flew out of the way of the incoming frozen treat, and Peorth held out a hand to have her barrier protect her. TJ had slid back into and collided with Su, causing both to collapse atop each other and have a glob of ice cream fall upon them.

"Ugh...great. Now I'm covered from head to toe in this shit. And get the hell off of me already would you?" Su muttered as she pushed TJ aside and he fell face first into it. She removed her dagger from its pouch and sighed as she chipped away the rest of the ice.

"Well at least it tastes-ugh..." He opened his mouth and pulled a tomato soaked in the frozen treat from within. "Man...some things just weren't meant to be."

"Boy howdy are you ever optimistic about everything ever." Su muttered as she rose to her feet and shook off the ice cream.

"It'd be nice." He said with knit eyebrows. "Though what're we gonna do about this?" He examined himself, then removed his glasses. His eyes and around them being the only thing not covered in ice cream.

"What? We could do this." She held out a hand and a deluge of water enveloped the Abellan, washing away the ice cream and knocking him off his feet. He sputtered as he lifted his bangs from his eyes and glared.

"Oh haha." He rose to his feet and snapped his fingers, and a small cloud appeared above her head and rained down a shower on her.

"Cold as fuck!" She shouted as she stepped away from it and shuddered.

"You two done splashing each other?" Amata cracked her knuckles before hurling a fireball down between the two. They both stepped back with alarmed expressions and the God's Governor crossed her arms. "I can't really dry your clothes unless you wanna get undressed, so you can warm yourselves up around there. It won't last long, so enjoy it while it does."

"If I wanted your help I'd have asked. Though don't bother getting your hopes up for that, 'cause I'd sooner go to Hel than ask you for anything." In spite of what she said, she still crouched down and held her hands out to the fire.

"Just because we're allies it doesn't mean I have any qualms about setting you on fire. Try me, I dare you."

"Thanks for this Amata." TJ said as he held his hands out to the fire and sneezed, then sniffled and smiled slightly.

"Well done everyone. I must confess, to think things had turned out like so was certainly a surprise to me, but I shall take note of this unexpected incident for future reference. Though as I had expected, you all had faced the challenge with skill and excellent teamwork. I had no doubts that you would work out a solution."

"You made some pretty good calls there too, Peorth. But let's all agree that next time we step into some Agasura goop we get out of the goop first before we continue fighting shall we?" Curt said to which the whole team nodded in agreement but Su, who razzed him defiantly.

Curt took a vantage on one of the higher platforms and searched the area before rising to his feet and jumping down to join the others. TJ was mostly dry and looked rather satisfied, while Su still seemed to be wringing some water out of her shirt.

"Well, on the bright side it looks like those first few Agasura called most of the Agasura in the vicinity so we've got a clear path from here to the next Chunsik Stone. If we're quick, I think we can get there and out of here before more of those guys start cropping up," Curt explained.

"That is quite fortunate," Peorth said.

"I think so too," TJ chimed.

Lead by Curt they continued on, and TJ could not help but feel that he was being watched. He looked in both directions and caught Amata staring before she averted her gaze, rather late, but she attempted it nonetheless. He tilted his head and she puffed up her cheeks before turning back to him.

"H-hey...about those stones...I can't help but there's something off about you and them and I'm the only one out of the loop. So tell me already would you?" She asked with furrowed brows.

TJ chuckled gently. "Well, if I was to explain it in a couple of sentences...mm, lemme' put it this way. Each one of the stones seem to hold one of my memories. Doesn't matter where in the world it is, I save at all of them so I can gather all of the pieces and recollect my memory. It can be a bit tough at times, but there's a lot out there that I have to remember-now especially. If what Avaritia said is true, there's a lot from a long time before I came to know you guys that happened, and might be really important." Not only his memories of God Ah and Lady Amae, but of those he knew then and now-of Peorth, of Iris, and of the friends he once held dearly, both Human and Cerebian...and possibly even Agasura. What exactly made one family? Was it blood? Or belief? As he climbed up the stone Amata looked at him forlornly.

"You've really got it rough, don't you TJ? As the Abellan."

"It's nothing I can't handle." He grinned at her.

She clenched her fists. "Don't you ever think you're too kind?" No one said a word, and for a spell there was a long, harsh silence.

His grin faded away as he appraised her for a couple of moments, but his gaze softened and he smiled brightly. "Amata, kindness begets kindness. At least, I think so." Those words, he had not known where he had heard them, but he felt that they were close to his heart, and so he shared them with her. He reached out to the stone solemnly.

"Will you activate the Chunsik Stone?"

"Yes."

In a flash of light he saw himself in the throne room of Asgard's palace, the boy standing before the king, both Peorth and Freya looked upon him-the young guild master's eyes were focused on her father and worried while Freya looked rather entertained. In the next glimpse he saw the king with his right hand clenched and placed against his cheek while the other dismissed the child, Peorth on her knees atop her seat next to him with a pleading look upon her face, likely disagreeing with his choice. In the next picture he saw himself being lead down through the halls, the faces of maids and butlers eyeing him with confusion and pitying looks. In the next he saw himself tossed into the cell with a loaf of bread and some soup, and the final was him desperately eating what was given.

The Sound of Frequency brought him back to reality and he closed his eyes for a moment before opening them slowly to take in what he had seen. The sound, once again had weakened and had not bothered him as much as it once did, but instead left him to his thoughts. It seemed it was the king's decision that had him cast into the dungeon, but for what reason? Peorth fought to defend him, but what kind of discord was there between the royal family that lead to that end result? There was so much he was as of yet to understand-it had made him wonder what scars the guild master bore deep within her heart from all of the time he had lost. He looked up and the Chunsik Visual stood before him and began undeterred.

"Because of the power of the evil wizard, all of the residents of Chunsik Land have turned into monsters! I want to take the people who were fortunate enough to escape to Captain Bong's Castle. Both residents and guards who have fallen under the spell and turned into monsters are attacking throughout the garden! I don't know how long we can resist...please save this location!" The visual explained.

"Yes," TJ answered.

He was engulfed in light once more and as it faded he saw a young girl, clad in leather armour with a wooden mace at her hip and a keyring swinging around her left hand's index finger, her right hand outstretched toward the boy in the cell. "I heard Princess Peorth's pleas so I stepped in and I'm here to bust you out! Let's go!"

When the Sound of Frequency came back TJ was brought back to the present and time started to flow again. He placed a hand to the stone to steady himself as he looked up at the rainbow light atop it and clenched his fist before gently pounding it against the stone. "Jeez...Velvet..." He laughed quietly.

"You weren't kidding about that huh? Guess it's got something to do with us not being able to see the visual when you activate it." Amata said as he climbed down.

The Abellan nodded. "Mm...you're not the only one. Happens to everyone."

She tilted her head quizzically. "So what do you see?"

He looked surprised at her for a moment and grinned afterwards. "That...'s my secret!" She pursed her lips in frustration before letting out an annoyed groan.

The party moved forward into Cookie Garden and new Agasuras came into their view. One of the two looked like a sort of fish-shaped treat and it swam through the air as if it were in water. The other were gingerbread men, rolling doughnuts with a chocolate-covered stick.

"More flying Agasura?" TJ muttered sullenly. "The gargoyles were problematic enough, but at the very least these guys don't have talons. Still..."

Su furrowed her brows. "You didn't get the worst of it," She remarked. "If you ever plan on dragging me back into that shithole either I'm not coming out of that hunk of rock or I'm chopping my braid off."

Amata smirked. "Sounds like you guys had quite some fun before we crashed into each other again. We've got a long journey ahead of us, so why don't you tell me about it around the next campfire hmm?" She asked.

The Governor eyed her warily. "Tell you what," She began, "you tell us about your dear old dad and we'll tell you about our adventures."

Her eyes opened wide for a moment but quickly sharpened so she could glare at her counterpart. "You know there's not the slightest chance I'd ever agree to that! Your negotiating skills are terrible!"

"Focus you two!" Curt shouted as he fought back one of the fish Agasura with his shield. Peorth followed up from his flank with a soaring lunge and brought it to the ground. She pulled her spear out and an unfamiliar substance remained upon the head. "Thanks Peorth." She gave him an acknowledging nod and turned her focus onwards, the direction they were headed lead right to the castle.

TJ walked over to the defeated Agasura and stared curiously at the inside of it. "What is it Curt?"

"Fish Bread." The Treasure Hunter answered and the Abellan gave him a puzzled look. "Oh you mean what's inside. It's a confectionary called red bean paste. Never tried it before?"

TJ shook his head then blinked. "Wait you mean you've eaten these guys? You're really brave!"

"I didn't eat them I've eaten a non-Agasura version of it. The food came before the Agasura! The chicken before the egg!"

"It is known as a food called taiyaki. The next time that you pass through Aoich, I must recommend it. Perhaps it would be to your liking." Peorth said.

"Ah I see," TJ said with a grin. "Maybe a little later since we have so many sweets right here." TJ stuck his finger into the Fish Bread's remains and popped it in his mouth while Curt looked aghast.

"Do you think about anything other than food? Honestly." Su muttered with a shrug.

"I just wanna try a lot of different things."

"We'll be back so you can eat the other Agasura later. For now we should keep moving." The Treasure Hunter suggested. The Abellan nodded in response and the others followed as he went on.

As Curt lead the team he stopped and readied his shield. "Watch that Gingerbread Man. The second he spots us he's gonna roll that doughnut into one of us." Peorth took up a defensive stance next to him moments before the Agasura caught sight of them. It looked startled for a moment, ran to the other side of the doughnut with its stick and placed it back underneath in preparation to hit them with it. "Here it comes!" It lifted the stick and the doughnut fell over into its hands before it hurled it through the air.

Everyone looked on dumbfounded before the item fell between them and trapped Amata in the hole.

"Are you kidding me?!" She hissed as she struggled to wriggle free. "I can't...get out...quit looking at me and pay attention to it!"

The gingerbread man ran at them wildly swinging its stick and managed to get a hit in on Peorth's arm but had that very same appendange broken by Curt. Following that her spear broke it in two from the torso down and to ensure that it did not try anything else he stomped the head.

"We should not let our guard down so easily. Our enemies are all around us, so we must stay close and cover each other's blind spots." The guild master commented before thrusting her spear over the heads of all three Mages, each looked startled. As she pulled her spear back with a fair bit of force to hurl another Fish Bread aside into a pile of cookies stacked atop each other.

"Assuming that we're safe..." Amata muttered as she looked around the area. "How about one of you gets me out of this doughnut?"

Su grinned impishly, seemingly enjoying the sight more than she should have. "Why not take a page from his book and eat your way out?" She asked.

"I'm gonna hit you." She shifted her gaze to Curt who had all the intention to help her out of her predicament and jumped away as he brought his dagger down like a guillotine. "Are you trying to split me in two?!"

Curt frowned. "I'm gonna be honest with you here Amata. That's a giant ass doughnut you've gotten trapped in, and cutting through it using normal means isn't gonna be the easiest thing in the world. You think I wanna be elbow-deep in chocolate and sprinkles?"

"Oh the horror! The horror!" Su said while waving her hands.

"Then I shall-" As Peorth began and held out her spear to pierce the doughnut the God's Governor reeled away.

"You have my thanks but I'll have to pass on that offer." Amata said as she knit her eyebrows. "Can't any of you get me out without murdering me in the process?" Uneasy looks were passed around, the guild master looked somewhat defeated amongst them. "Abellan, what about you? You seem responsible enough to manage something like this."

He pointed to himself and she nodded. "I can give it a shot I suppose." He approached her and poked at the dough a couple times before licking the chocolate from his fingers while he forumlated a plan. He held out a hand and it was coated in ice, each finger extended further than his own with a sharp end. "Alright just hold still for a second..." She made a grimace at his plan but had requested him, so she opted out for closing her eyes as he raised his hand and sliced through so the point of the claws were still a fair distance from her and aimed straight down. He gripped the opening with both hands and tore the rest apart, creating an opening for her to wriggle free.

"You did it-and without impaling me to boot. Thanks."

He smiled gently. "I think the others would manage just the same."

She looked to them and back to him. "Would you-excuse me Peorth-trust any of them with that?"

He chuckled gently as he averted his gaze and scratched his cheek. "...Probably?"

"You wound me TJ," Curt added.

After their banter came to an end they continued on up a nearby ladder Curt drew a pair of kinves and hurled them into a nearby Fish Bread. Strong enough to take the blows it swam towards him and attempted to hit him with its tailfin but only met his shield. As it swam away he ran and jumped for it, moving here and there as it flew around the area, guided by him it collided into others as he reclaimed his knives and held on.

Peorth turned to the group as Curt frantically flew across the garden. "It would be best if we used Curt's diversion to our advantage! Let us strike while our enemy is not expecting us!" Peorth shouted to the others. She placed her spear over her shoulder as she spread her wings out and hurled the weapon. In moments the weapon collided with a gingerbread man on a nearby platform and she appeared with the weapon in hand, brought a foot down upon it to break it in two and use it as a stepping stone to take off.

"Peorth's got the right of it. Better to strike them down first before they get the jump on us in this narrow area. Better not to risk falling from here, I'd say." Amata spread her wings and drew her staff. "Think you two can handle the gingerbread men? Clear a path further ahead and that should do just fine, I'd say. About to over there. We can get down at that point." She explained as she pointed to a location a short distance away that would be difficult to reach due to the piles of sweets blocking their path-the only way to get past them would be to go over them.

Su clicked her tongue as TJ nodded and Amata took off. The Governor of Earth leapt from where they were to a location near where Peorth had landed prior, and as the Abellan followed in her wake, he spread his own wings. Though still rough around the edges, now was as good as any for him to put his practice to work. He leapt twice and came to a skidding halt next to his companion who scouted ahead before raising a hand and forming an icicle. It fell into her hand and she hurled it at a nearby gingerbread man and split a part of his head off before she drew her dagger ands ran down the ramp in the wake of her spell to finish the job. TJ looked up from where they were and caught a glimpse of his companions in the sky above-a series of fireballs flew through the air with burning Fish Bread falling in the wake. Red bean paste and Agasuras split in two fell also as Curt on his fish and Peorth easily cut through the Agasura and continued on.

TJ took a deep breath and turned his focus to the ladder above him. He jumped to it and pulled himself up as he caught a glimpse of a gingerbread man walking past-he fell back and took cover out of its line of sight as it walked past, and once its back was turned he leapt from the ladder and called three Arrows of Light to his side. He fired each and they pelted his target before he surrounded himself in light and shouted, "Starfall!" He shot down towards it and crashed into it before he skidded to a halt and drew his guitar. Moments after doing just that a gingerbread man caught sight of him and rolled his doughnut from the landing below TJ and up the ramp to where he now stood.

"Oh crap!" TJ shouted as he jumped and noted that it was not high enough to avoid the massive pastry. He jumped a second time and managed to escape its range, but gravity got the better of him and he fell down on top of it. He held on for dear life as it rolled back down the ramp and crashed into the ice cream sandwich the Agasura stood on-the next thing he knew both were falling off the landing towards the ground. As he neared it he felt something grab hold of his coat and pull him away from the doughnut. He raised his eyes and caught a glimpse of Su holding onto him with puffed out and crimson cheeks. She leaned over the landing she was on and held him up, the doughnut and the Agasura that rolled it lay defeated down below. "Su...thanks for the save!"

"I should...really just drop you...it's not even...that high!" She huffed. She let out a sigh and took a long, deep breath. "Get ready 'cause I'm throwing you!" She let go of his coat and he looked alarmed as he reached out for her hand-she caught him once more with both hands, while she rose to her feet, crouched down. With all the force she could muster she hurled him through the air and fell forward as he ascended. As he flipped through the air and saw her fall, she returned to the crystal and emerged as he both collided with, and grabbed hold of a nearby ladder. She drew her weapon and lunged at the nearest Agasura while he cracked a smile. She always had something up her sleeve.

He climbed up the ladder and saw a gingerbread man walking away so he leapt from the ladder and towards it while he drew his guitar and bat its head off before tumbling away. His landing still needed a lot of work, but he was getting the hang of it somewhat. As he prepared to get to his feet a doughnut rolled over him. Half-covered in chocolate he let out a frustrated groan and rose to his feet, only to find it reach the end of the ramp he tumbled down and roll back over him a second time briefly after, and back to the one who pushed it. Before he could respond it had happened a third time, but following the event he was prepared for it-as it returned for a fourth he slammed a foot down and the earth cracked beefore him in an arc, causing the pastry to fall on its side. As he got to his feet the Agasura that rolled it smashed its bread stick over his head and caused him to crouch down in pain. It poked him in the back a couple times and he stumbled to his feet with an angry vein protruding from his head.

"I've had enough of you!" He roared as he took a wide swing with his guitar and broke the Agasura in two. He huffed a couple of times before he let out a long sigh and glanced around the area in case anything else was coming after him. He saw Peorth and Amata regroup and land down below with Su, and shortly after Curt and his Fish Bread slammed into the ground and rolled to the Abellan's feet. TJ blinked in surprise, then laughed as he offered the Treasure Hunter a hand. "You okay? That landing was worse than most of mine!"

"Never been better!" Curt said as he dusted off his coat. "It's not everyday you get to ride a flying fish Agasura. You should give it a try sometime. Better than a roller coaster."

He thought about asking what a roller coaster was, but the idea of rolling around on a doughnut was more than enough rolling for his liking. "I think I'll just stick to flying by my own methods for now." That, and planes. Both were relatively safe, and not vomit-inducing.

They all regrouped and TJ surveyed the battlefield before them. There was red bean paste, flaming Agasura and fires all over. Despite how messy it was, it was much better than the typical bloodbaths he had become accustomed to.

"It seems that there are more Agasura such as these further in," Peorth said. "Though this is an effective method, it can be rather exhausting. Perhaps we should take a brief respite to decide how we should move forward from here, and plan out our path?"

"Yeah that'd be a good idea. Thrilling as that was I might actually split my skull open next time. If that happened we'd have a problem on our hands." Curt said with a sagely nod.

"Like the looming threat of a Sinner and Asmodeus isn't?" Amata asked with a hiked eyebrow.

"Can't kill an Agasura with an open skull."

"With or without your brain you wouldn't change much I bet. Should've let the zombies at it back in the Pyramids so we could test out that theory." Su suggested with a smirk.

"Why don't you be the guinea pig then?" He sent her a menacing glare.

Peorth drew a map and began to pore over it, drawing out paths with her finger that all of them could access while the others argued amongst themselves. TJ looked out upon the garden with a growing sense of unease, feeling that something was nearby. Was it more Agasura? The typical kinds very rarely, if ever had a presence-this was stronger, and it felt oddly close.

"Do you guys feel that?" He asked and their eyes turned to him, a mix of confusion and curiosity. "That energy. What about you Su?" The two shared one body, so perhaps she could sense it too.

"I dunno what the hell you're on about." She answered with a bored look.

He pursed his lips. "There's definitely something-it feels like Agasuric energy. A lot of it, but super concentrated. It's coming from somewhere over there."

"Could it be?" Peorth asked and exchanged looks with the Governor of Fire.

"It's possible..." Amata muttered.

He tilted his head and Peorth turned to him. "Perhaps your Agasuric nature is growing TJ. With your senses further attuned to it, you can sense the location of strong Agasura-not only that, mind, but also the places that they reside in. Instance Dungeons are not well known for giving off a presence, save for the period in which they are created and shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, I must ask that you take the vanguard and guide us towards it. If your intuition is correct, we will be able to reach there with time to spare, and begin our exploration before night falls." He nodded solemnly.

Now lead by TJ the party made their way closer to the heart of the garden. In the distance they once saw a fountain which seemed to be pouring liquid icing, but as they followed TJ their vision was blocked by a series of giant sweet treats. Tarts, pies, cakes and other such things stood in their way and they had to slide in between and past many of these things in the Abellan's wake to get where it is that they wanted to be.

"Is this really the only way for us to get there? I mean, there has to be a better path than this." Amata suggested as she crawled after Peorth between two slices of bread.

"It might not be the only way but I'm just following my instincts on this one." TJ laughed dryly as he sidled between a pair of Swiss rolls.

"On the bright side," Curt began, "by taking this path we're not getting swarmed by Agasura."

"Only an idiot like you would enjoy this kind of nonsense. I'd take beating the shit out of some weak Agasura to this any day." Su said as she pulled a small piece of the roll off and hurled it at the Treasure Hunter. "Food fight!"

It collided with the back of Curt's head and he glared as he turned around, Peorth stared him in the face with a blank gaze. "You want some?!" He grabbed a piece and lobbed it over the queen and Governor of Fire.

"Can you two not do that when I'm stuck in between you please?!" Amata cried out.

After walking past a pair of chocolate chip cookies stacked high they came to a road lined with lollipops like spears raised to each other, and to the skies that lead to the fountain, and even further to Captain Bong's Castle, and at the other side a mountain of giant treats awaited.

"That's it! I'm certain of it!" TJ said as he pointed to the mountain excitedly.

"What's it? I don't see nothing." Curt said as he emerged after Peorth, his face half-covered in icing with a strawberry resting atop his head.

"Maybe we can't see it just yet but...it's there. It's definitely there!"

"Fear not TJ, we shall not doubt you. Lead us well." Peorth insisted with a nod.

He nodded back and continued on across the road. Once he reached the base of the mountain he looked to the top with apprehension, but a certainty that there was something in this area compelled him to begin climbing. At the base were tarts-some covered in icing and others chocolate. One even had the Chunsik-shaped gingerbread man atop it, but thankfully it was not an Agasura. There was a strawberry cake that surrounded the entire mountain, with a large chunk taken out of it which allowed them to begin climbing. The second layer consisted of a myriad of doughnuts and round loaves of bread with an 'x' cut into the top, and at the peak was a doughnut and loaf of bread standing tall adjacent to each other. Perhaps that was where the entrance waited?

"So Chief, I hear you're pretty adept at mountain climbing," Curt said conversationally.

"Seriously? When did you learn to do that?" Amata asked as she followed nearby, trying to get a grip on a doughnut.

"During my teenage years. But yes, this is true. Kooh had taught me a myriad of life skills that I require both for survival, and for adventuring. I can assure you that such techniques are something that would serve you well throughout your life as an adventurer."

"Oh yeah, kinda wishing I learned that now. But hey, there's something for you to write on your resume. Consumable mountain climbing. That'll impress your boss." Curt said as he walked across a loaf of bread. The guild master chuckled under her breath.

"The fact that we've explored the Cookie Garden is more than enough to earn us some credit. Not many adventurers have made it this far from what I hear." Amata added thoughtfully. "My guild was thinking of doing a guild-wide excursion here up to Captain Bong's Castle." She smiled slightly. "Those guys love their Guardian hunts."

"Why?" Su asked as she sat down in the hole of a doughnut.

"It helps to take the initiates on tough ventures with the veterans so they can get a taste of the tougher fights and also pick up some pointers and necessary skills for partying with other adventurers. Especially those outside of our own guild. Considering that you and the Abellan are glued by the hip and have a God's Governor and the queen by your side, you probably don't need that much help, let alone need to give it in your guild-assuming that they're all veterans of course. But the others out there can't always be trusted to provide the backup you'd need in a bad situation. If anything happens, sometimes you have to know how to get through by yourself."

"Preach it sister." Curt said with a grin and she glared at him.

"Teach 'em how to keep themselves alive and they'll be fine. What more do they need?" Su asked with a shrug.

"A means to protect their party. It might not sound like something just one person can do-in fact, it isn't. It requires everyone's efforts working in conjunction to do that successfully." Amata replied.

"Well said, God's Governor," Peorth added.

"You're contradicting yourself," Su muttered.

"The point is it varies by the party! You have to know how to meet the needs that the situation demands! You can't always go in with the same assumption or you're just gonna get hurt. You'd be lucky if you made it out alive, let alone the rest of those who adventured with you. And trust me, you don't wanna be the sole survivor of something like that. It's not pretty."

"Is this coming from experience?" Curt asked.

"N-no...but I've heard the stories." Amata muttered as she knit her eyebrows. "I don't doubt any of your skills but you know, just in case. I'd rather not see that happen to you guys."

The Treasure Hunter smiled impishly. "Well aren't you just a big ol' sweetheart?"

She furrowed her brows. "That sounds so insulting coming from you. Come down here so I can hit you."

"Guys up here! I've found it!" TJ shouted to them.

Once the party regrouped at the mountain's peak they all looked upon the Instance Dungeon's entrance. Two gingerbread men stood adjacent to each other, each holding a wafer stick in hand and a long wafer was spread between the two-written upon the chocolate was something in Agasuric, and a gate sized donut served as the entrance-the hole was bigger to accommodate the swirling energy. A series of lollipops in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavours surrounded the gateway, as did the Abellan and his companions. TJ looked back at the writing and after staring at it for a couple seconds longer he began to understand the words.

"The Gourmet's Valley..." He muttered under his breath. "I guess that's the name of it huh?"

"As I had thought..." Peorth said as she nodded sagely.

"Seems like you've gained some new subconscious traits TJ. Makes me wonder what you're gonna learn when you integrate most of these guys." Amata said with a hiked eyebrow.

"I dunno...but it's both kinda cool and a bit nerve-wracking to be honest," He answered.

"Well? What're we waiting for? Cool new stuff is waiting inside, so move it or lose it sissies." Su said as she shoved the Abellan through the gate and walked after him. Followed by her the other three entered with caution.

In the City of Iron a laboratory hidden amidst a series of other buildings: refineries, factories and other such things. Deep within the confines of the building was housed the nightmare that TJ and his companions had fought prior, recovering from the wounds of their last battle and something much, much more sinister.

A man with sharp features and tousled navy blue hair along with a pair of circle-framed glasses stood hunched over a console. He wore a white coat, black pants and matching boots. The doctor stared down at the console as he monitored her current status-it was only but a matter of time before he deemed it suitable for her to be released from the tube that she resided in and took her first steps into the world after her transformation. He turned an eye to her and found her violet eyes looking back at him. After seeing her asleep for so many months the sight was rather unsettling, but he set the feeling aside and pressed a couple of buttons on the console. The liquid began to drain and as it did Choen Palm was lowered to the base of the tube. Once it had been completely emptied the glass on the tube was raised and she freed herself from the machines that were attached to her, lastly removing the one upon her face and taking a gasp of air.

"My...how long it has been. I take it that the surgery is complete?" Choen Palm asked, one eyebrow hiked. She was not fazed in the slightest by her lack of clothes.

"Essentially, yes. I must remind you though, that this is an experimental project. With it comes much greater risks than that of which I am familiar with, so I must insist that you return here regularly in case of any abnormalities. I will perform maintenance on it during those times. As for your current dilemma..." The doctor knit his brows before he turned to a nearby door in the dim room. "Mk. II!"

A young girl with bronzed skin, long silver hair and wide, shuttered grey eyes entered the room. Likely a young adult, she wore a fitting lab coat, black pants and matching work shoes. She carried a towel in one hand and a set of clothes in the other. Followed by her was a young man with shoulder-length scarlet hair tied in a ponytail and soft hazel eyes entered. He wore a long black pea coat atop a grey suit with matching pants and black dress shoes.

Choen Palm blinked. "Another Cerebian?" She asked.

"Oh excuse me my lady. I'd not the foggiest you were dressed so...modestly." He said as he stepped back out through the doors while Mk. II watched solemnly. As he did so the metallic doors closed upon each other in his wake.

As she accepted the towel from the young girl she began to dry herself off while the doctor answered, "He is the one who had funded this experiment. As you know, the cells of the Calamity Trigger were not easy to come across, and much was lost during the Cerebians' raid on Dark Moon Castle. Though I had lost many of the documents pertaining to it, that which I have committed to memory and recorded while performing tests on Mk. II have paved the way for your own transformation. Of course, the reports you have provided on your gene manipulation have also paved the way for seeing this experiment to completion."

"Spare me your drivel Dr. Truong. Tell me his name and his purpose. That is all I need to know." She finished getting dressed and inspected the outfit prepared for her. Mk. II gave a solemn golf clap to the new look. She wore a short white dress with a long navy blue coat that rested against the floor. Tied up at the back, with three belts around each arm, one below her chest and a series of strings that rounded both arms and her waist. The edges of her underdress was visible through the long open sleeves of her coat-it also featured crow's feathers around the neckline and a flower design on one side of it, roses and thorns. Beneath her dress were white fishnet stockings and thigh-high boots with a myriad of straps from the bottom to the top.

The Cerebian entered once more and bowed down before her. "Auerelius Rosario, at your service." He took a moment to inspect her outfit before meeting her eyes. "Now I see that you are curious as to why I am a part of this project, correct?" She crossed her arms and hiked her eyebrows to which Aurelius smiled in a charming way, not that it had any effect on her. "You see, I had caught word of an interesting fellow by the name of Vanir, and by extension Dr. Truong, his arch nemesis. You might wonder why a Cerebian would join the forces of those who stand against them, but it isn't that I have conflict with them-the only thing that I yearn for, is the queen's hand."

The Heartbreaker was not entertained in the slightest. "If all you yearn for is marriage, then you should seek out the problem child and ask her hand. It would do you no good to request my aid, as I plan to kill her should she stand in my way once more. In that regard, you should see me as an enemy before a companion, and would have been wise to strike me down prior to my awakening."

"Under normal circumstances that would be a possible conclusion, but alas, you may be my only hope in this regard. Marriage would be a simple solution to my problems, but under the current circumstances there is a hindrance beyond my control that stands between myself and the reigning queen. That being, the Abellan. I had heard that the only one who could stand up him was you, and this lead me on a journey across Jienda until I had finally caught word of your whereabouts. You needed the strength in order to deal a crushing blow to the Abellan and either defeat him or have him join you, and I need the Abellan away from the queen so that I may make her mine. Our goals coincide, and the only thing standing between the beginning of our beautiful friendship was money. Something I'm not in short supply of."

"And you're willing to go as far as jeopardizing your whole world for the sake of one lady's hand? I had heard love can make one do foolish things, but you are in a league of your own," She chuckled.

"Ah it is not so simple I fear! I do realize that such a wish does seem base, but it is much more than that. It is her bloodline that I have need of. Only the Ásvaŕtlim lineage can give birth to the next proxy, and I feel that if I can grasp this, I will have power immeasurable. Their clan is not only known for the proxy, but also the twin God's Governors. As you know, according to Dr. Truong he and Vanir are not of our world-there are others, aside from the Nine Worlds that exist beyond the boundaries of our own. With power such as that, I could claim a world of my own with the Queen's hand Jienda means little in comparison to that which lies beyond. 'Why settle for less?', I've always said."

"Hmph. You are certainly ambitious. I shall give you that, but because we are allies do not expect me to assist you in your conquest. It was not at my behest that you fulfill that which I required-it was of your own doing. I have my mission, and yours is of your own concern. I shall remove the Abellan and open the path for you, but whatever it is that you wish you must do of your own accord."

"I must remind you that you do have a duty to me that needs to be fulfilled, Choen Palm. In exchange for merging you with your piece of the...Heart of Yggdrasil, was it? You would eliminate the Usurper Heinrichter and do away with his summoned companion as well." Dr. Truong added curtly, with furrowed brows.

"Ah...yes...that. No matter. He will be an appetizer before the main course. He is not the Abellan, after all."

"That is true, but no reason to underestimate him. He, along with Mk. II served as the basis of your transformation. If there is anyone who could combat you, it would be him and the Abellan. I cannot help but wonder what exactly had prevented Mk. II from undergoing a full transformation like those before her...there was a rather large and aggressive man who had resisted the effects of the Animus Legionem's cells prior to undergoing a full transformation, but eventually had become one despite his body's uncanny ability to fight it. I had used similar methods on Mk. II and a couple of others, but they did not survive the infancy state. Perhaps it is a matter of willpower that prevents them from changing shape? I must perform further tests to confirm this suspicion. Nevertheless, in using the Heart of Yggdrasil in place of an opal, the effects of it will have a much greater impact on your body, so be cautious with how you utilize your abilities, and return frequently whenever possible. I know not what is contained within that gem, but I can say with certainty that it contains power beyond that which I've seen in all of my years."

"You may put your concerns to rest. I am Asmodeus' proxy, and in doing so my body has undergone an evolution to strengthen me far more than anything any other human could accomplish with science or magic. With this newfound power, I shall crush the Abellan and those other Asgardian children." She clenched a fist and grinned. "But first I shall do away with that one you call the Usurper. Where can I find him?"

"I would recommend that you start in the city of Elias my lady. I have caught word that he resides in the Old Town District," Aurelius answered.

She shrugged and smiled. "I've no reason to stroll through the city in search of one man. If he is a man, and one which stands beside the Cerebians he will come to me, if he knows my name. Thus, I shall smoke him out." As she walked away and the door opened in preparation for her, she looked over her shoulder. "It would be in your best interest if you started making plans for claiming the Asgardian, boy. I will make short work of the others, but I cannot guarantee her life. Nonetheless, I shall consider you an ally, for now." As she walked through the door she waved and it closed behind her.

"That is quite the catch Doctor," Auerilius said. Mk. II gave him a puzzled stare as Dr. Truong sighed and shook his head.

"Are you alright?" Peorth asked as she emerged from the gate after the others.

The group had found themselves on a tiny island of sand in a vast deep orange ocean-a tiny patch of grass stood at the center of the mound and a single tree rested upon it.

"The distance between stepping into the gate and getting out of it feels a lot longer than it really is." Amata said as she picked TJ up by the neck of his coat and dusted him off. "Seeing you faceplant like that proved that theory pretty nicely I'd say." She chuckled under her breath.

TJ stuck his tongue out and brushed the sand from it. "Ugh...where are we? A beach?" He asked as he wiped his hands and shuddered. After the moment settled he came to realize the sand did not quite taste like sand, but rather a tangy orange...sand.

"If this is a beach it'd have to win an award for being the tiniest beach in history," Su remarked as she crossed her arms.

"Without a doubt, this is the Instance Dungeon...but it seems we are not at the proper locale. There is an island in the distance, but we do not have a means to get to it," Peorth added. As she had said, in the distance there was a proper sized island, with all sorts of flora and fauna, and tall mountains that towered towards the skies.

"We're more resourceful than that aren't we? I mean you guys could just fly across, am I right?" Curt asked with a shrug.

"Essentially we could, but it seems that things would not be so simple." The guild master turned her eyes to the sky as a series of storm clouds passed over them and settled as far as the eye could see. "If we are to attempt it, we would sooner find ourselves soaked and bound to the water."

"If you can even call that water," Su muttered. "You can't even see into it. But the damn drink is shark-infested. I'll be damned if I'd jump into that."

"Let's consider our options-what do we know about this dungeon?" Amata asked as she glanced about the group.

"Not much. We just got here," Curt answered.

The Governor of Fire furrowed her brows. "It might be better that you open your mouth when you've got something productive to say. Or not at all, since that seems to be pretty rare with you."

"I aim to please." His grin enraged her further.

"If I may, since you had all attended to the previous Instance Dungeon, could you inform me once more of what you were tasked with in order to reach Avaritia?" Peorth requested.

"We had to defeat Agasura and gather gold from them to open the path to the boss room. We weren't stuck at the start though..." Amata sighed audibly. "Avaritia was even kind enough to leave us a nice little explanation at the start of the expedition. It might have been in Agasuric, but TJ was able to translate it so it worked out."

"So does that mean you think there might be something we have to do to get through this dungeon also?" The Abellan asked.

"Yes. I suspect that is the case. If I was to hazard an assumption, it is possible that the dungeon is built around its creator-just as is the case with the Instance Dungeons of the Guardians across Jienda, and those beyond it. Unlike the other Agasura, we must keep in mind that the Sinners are not monsters per se, but rather humanoid. That in fact, may just be the guiding light that we need to bring a conclusion to this confusion. Avaritia as a sin is also known as greed-an extraordinary desire to have more than one would need for survival, be it wealth, goods or other objects of abstract value. Guildmaster Eli has informed me that this Instance Dungeon was located within the Pyramids-a place rife with treasures of great people from a civilization of a long gone era. Given those circumstances, perhaps it would be in our best interest to apply the same process to the current Instance Dungeon."

TJ rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And this one is located in Cookie Garden. But it's all sweets here. Of the six sins left, which do you think it'd be?" He asked.

"Of course..." Amata muttered as she placed a hand to her forehead. "Gula-gluttony! It was so obvious!"

"So what the hell do we do on a deserted island that has to do with eating?" Su asked as she tapped a finger on her crossed arms.

"Drink the water. I mean, it's clearly not ordinary water, so go ahead and give it a shot," Curt said. Su wordlessly gestured to the water in way that seemed to say, 'be my guest'.

"Chunsik had mentioned something like this too-that an evil wizard had turned the people of Chunsik Land into Agasura. Not only that, but that a traveller and former colleague of his made a deal with a demon in order to do just that. Is it possible all of this is linked?" That matter aside, Chunsik had called him a 'Venturer of a different world'. Was it possible that Chunsik's message was addressed to him specifically? Or were there other adventurers that were not of this world? What of Iris' messages? Was he really one of Iris' only companions?

"I'd say it's possible, but Chunsik's Land has been this way longer than this Instance Dungeon has been around I think...still, given the situation at least we have a rough idea of what we need to do. To get to Gula, we're gonna have to eat-a lot." Amata said before she pursed her lips. "Looks like we've got a task well suited for you boys."

"I demand equality in this matter!" Curt shouted as he raised a fist in defiance. "Democracy! Democracy!"

"Oh give it a rest would you?!"

"Tyrant!"

Peorth turned to TJ and Su. "It seems there is very little around us that we could use to further our cause, but I would suggest we begin with this tree." She suggested before pointing to the tree. Though rather out of place, there was indeed a tree that was growing lemons upon the island.

"Ah! Fruit! Good idea Chief. I think if I call out my wings I can jump up there and get one," TJ answered.

Su sighed, "We don't have the time for that nonsense. I'll do it." She walked over to the tree and stretched her legs before letting out a sigh and raising her head, eyes focused. With a shout she spun on the ball of her right heel and kicked the tree with her left causing the fruit to fall from the tree-a small group fell to the ground and rolled away while she caught one. "Easy." She tossed the fruit up and down a couple times before drawing her dagger and splitting it in two. "Here." She held a half out to the Abellan.

"You're not gonna...squirt that in my eyes are you?" He asked as he placed both hands to his glasses and peered through his fingers.

"Oh for fuck's sake...no!"

He cautiously took the fruit from her and appraised it. Since she cut it in two, maybe he needed to eat the center part? The outside was a little rough.

As he raised his fruit to his lips Peorth held out a hand and began, "TJ I feel that it is only fair that I warn you that lemons and other such citrus are well known for their acidic properties which make them renown for their-"

He was listening, but he continued on nonetheless and regretted doing so. "Oh! That's sour! Gross!" He dropped the fruit and shuddered.

"...You didn't know that?" Amata asked with a look of surprise. "And I thought I was out of the loop," She chuckled under her breath. "You've got a ways to go."

"Look over there." Peorth said as she pointed to the water. Lemon wedges sprouted from the depths and rested atop the sea's surface, forming a bridge between their tiny deserted island and the main isle. "A path has formed, seemingly due to your actions. With this knowledge I feel that we can go forward. It may be difficult in the coming days, but I suspect that we will only need to eat from the island should we find ourselves at a halt in our journey-other wise, it may be in our best interest to avoid doing so. Constant vigilance, everyone."

"Before we go on though, I think we should check this out. Using lemon wedges as a bridge doesn't seem like the safest choice. They'd likely sink under the weight of one of us." Amata told them as she grit her teeth. "The last thing on my bucket list would be swimming with sharks."

TJ answered, "I can go-"

The Governor placed a hand to his shoulder and held him back. "No. No you don't. Do you remember the last time we let you go first?" She sighed. "Better me than you." She walked over to the first step of many and looked down with unease in her eyes. She eyed the fins of sharks swimming nearby, and shook her head, then clasped her hands together. "If you're watching me Rayinth, please, protect me." She stuck out a foot and placed it atop the first step before putting an increasing amount of her body's weight upon it. Despite it's shape, it had proven strong enough to hold fast against her and she found herself rather surprised. After taking a deep breath, she moved her other leg towards it and placed it down, balancing herself with her arms just in case-after a couple of moments of being upon the landing, she noticed that it did not sink nor sunder beneath her. "Guys, these are actually pretty sturdy. I think we can proceed with this." She stepped off of it back onto the island, letting out a silent sigh of relief before she regrouped with her companions.

"Your efforts are appreciated Amata. Now that we are here, it would be best if we decided how we should proceed. Given that we are unfamiliar with the lay of the land, and that I am a user of spears, I feel that it would be in our best interest if I took the lead. I will not let Agasuras at the vanguard bring any harm to you all." Peorth told them.

The Governor of Fire blushed slightly, but looked at the guild master with a somewhat upset expression. "Despite that sounding really cool," She muttered under her breath, "we've got bigger concerns. What if you get hurt, Peorth?"

Peorth tilted her head quizzically. "Be it a scrape or a flesh wound, it is of little need for concern. So long as I can still fight to see another day I shall rise to the challenge." She stole a glance at TJ and placed her right hand to her arm and paused thoughtfully for a couple moments. "But alas, should I recieve any grievous wounds of a sort that will disable me from lifting my spear and fighting alongside my companions, I will provide aid from the sidelines. I would die for my cause, but so long as I have a part to play in seeing this journey through, I cannot afford such a loss, nor can the Asgardians."

Amata's eyes shuttered as she heard the guild master's reply. "I guess we're in the same boat there. But in truth I can't imagine not fighting. The God's Governors stood by our goddess and the others in the war against the Agasura King and if that's how it was then, I feel that I need to be there when we do so this time. I want to be there." She closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled and looked forward. "With that battle just lurking over the horizon, facing something like this seems simple in comparison. I'm fired up now! Make that spear sing, your highness!"

"I shall not fail you."

As Peorth and Amata walked off their teammates looked on in awe.

"So you guys feeling out of the loop yet or is it just me?" Curt asked.

"Surprisingly, I think we're in the same boat. Never thought I'd see the day," Su answered.

Peorth drew her spear and stepped out onto the first wedge, carefully testing out the balance of it before giving an approving nod and signalling her companions to follow her. As they all stepped out onto the wedges and moved forward, the rain started coming down along with gusts of wind, gaining strength the longer they spent at sea.

"We must make haste, but proceed with prudence! We are within an Instance Dungeon so we cannot afford carelessness!" Peorth shouted as she looked back to the group.

Curt followed behind her with his coat pulled up to cover the sides of his head, and up to his glasses. Due to his inability to see he often looked to both sides of them as they proceeded. As he turned his head once more he caught a glimpse of one of the sharks approaching Peorth's blind spots and panicked. "To your left Peorth!" He shouted suddenly.

Though his warning came only a moment before the shark leapt out of the water, the guild master stepped back with a glint in her eye and hurled her spear with a mighty toss, piercing the shark's lower jaw just as she grabbed the pole and pulled it in. She whirled it above the heads of her companions and slammed it down in front of her. She placed a foot to the creature and pulled her weapon out as she inspected it.

"It seems this creature is no ordinary shark," She said calmly.

"You're not one to talk about being ordinary." Su remarked as she glared around Amata's left flank.

"It's a gummy shark." Curt said as he prodded it with his dagger. "Though you're pretty fast. Did you see it?"

"I did not," She answered, "but your warning had allowed for me to prepare a counterattack. That was a stance called Sagacity."

"Handy."

"Nevertheless, it may have been the first but I fear that it will not be the last. I highly recommend that we make haste, and escape. This is not an ideal place for us to challenge our adversaries."

"Let's go quickly then-I can see more of them coming in." Amata said after taking an uneasy glance behind them. A multitude of sharks approached and Peorth took her words to heart. She took her spear in both hands and charged forward, her companions following in her wake.

Once they made it about half-way to their destination the wedges they stood on began to tremble and froze them in their tracks. The sea became fierce due to the powerful winds and the path created for them began to come apart, their landings drifting away from each other.

"Hold fast everyone!" Peorth shouted to them as she fought to keep her balance and fend off the incoming Agasuras.

"At this rate we're gonna get separated!" Curt cried out as he drew his weapon.

"Yeah I'd say we're fucked. Good luck losers!" Su shouted. Another shark leapt from the water at her and she leapt above it to land atop it and plunge her dagger into its head. In a splash of water she vanished from sight but soon returned as she leapt from the corpse back to her wedge.

"Our best bet will be regrouping at the coast! Get there as soon as you can guys!" Amata suggested while she prepared a spell.

TJ tightly gripped his guitar as he watched his companions drift further and further away from him, while his adversaries came ever closer. Even if he was to call back Su now, she could not defend him in such a situation. He took a deep breath-he had fought without her before, so he could manage, right? Gummy or not, seeing the fins sifting through the waves and the sight of those teeth in the shark Peorth had felled was no less unsettling-even an Agasura made of food could still be dangerous, and two were rapidly approaching.

As they leapt out of the water he made himself as small as he could as he roared, "Get away!" Magic danced around him and turned to water which immediately spread out and froze, impaling both with a series of icicles that circled the lemon wedge he sat on. He took a couple of deep breaths as he opened his eyes and rose to his feet again, then let out a sigh. Peorth had warned him that he must be in control of his emotions or his magic would become unstable. He was fortunate this time, but next time he may be the one impaled by those icy spears. He dissipated the magic and glanced around him. He could see his allies in the distance and the possible figures of more sharks further out. He looked to the island that seemed ever further away and sighed. He placed his guitar into the water and used it to propel himself forward.

How long had it been since he had been separated from his companions? Su had not returned, and despite him paddling for such long periods at a time it had felt like he had made little to no progress at all. Night had fallen and unease had settled in, but he feared the idea of sleep. The moment that he let his guard down he would find himself within the jaws of a shark and drowning underwater. His paddling slowed down to a crawl and he began to do so mindlessly. He nearly let go of his guitar, and the sensation of the neck slipping from his palms roused him awake. He looked around and shook off his sleepiness before placing his guitar down to rest for a moment. Where were his friends now? Were they safe? Had they reached the island before he could? He sighed gently as he looked out at the land before him. He took off his coat and placed it down atop his guitar. He removed his glasses also and shook his head wildly, flinging water everywhere. He was soaked from head to toe, and felt rather sticky due to it. He was cold, wet, miserable and alone, and was still no closer to reaching the island.

He glanced over the edge of the wedge and looked at himself in the water. Though he could see naught but his own reflection, something in him seemed to try to resurface. Perhaps a memory, but the Sound of Frequency did not come. He grit his teeth and furrowed his brows, upset at how weak-willed he had felt because of the moment and placed his hand in the water to distort his image in the ripples. He sighed as he scooped some of the orange liquid into his hand and took a sip. It both looked, and tasted orange-something like juice. As he sat back and looked to the skies he saw a star-filled sky. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander, and his thoughts returned to the night he had stayed with the guild master. Her words rang in his mind, "You are not alone, TJ. You must realize this too. It is okay to be afraid, to have doubts, to be unsure in the face of new challenges-and when you are, I will be there. I will hold you just like this, and I will remind you as many times as you need that I will be here. I will not die, nor will I abandon you, and should you lose your memories, I will find you and walk by your side again. Whatever we may face, let us do it together." That warmth, the sound of her voice and her gentle humming-even now he could still hear it. He believed in those words, and even more so in her. He would see her again.

TJ awoke with a start and looked around rather startled, but found himself safe for the time being. He arose from his coat and rubbed his face gently. His guitar's design was imprinted into his face and left it rather sore, but he was not torn in two so he could be worse. On the other hand, three sharks swam around him and he found himself hard-pressed to be at ease. He moved slowly, and cautiously. He pulled his guitar from beneath his coat as he rose to his feet the creatures seemed to slow down as if waiting for him to try and escape. But he would not run away-not this time. He looked to the water, and with a wave of his finger attempted to move it-he did so without fail, but the effect was weak. Something about it or the Instance itself was interfering with his magic, but he would not be deterred. If Peorth was here, she would suggest that he best consider how to handle the situation-If he struck one, the others would approach and catch him at his blindspots. He was nowhere near as agile as the others, so he had to create an opening for himself to perform another cast before they could strike him down. He swallowed hard. He raised a single hand to the air. It was time to act.

With a single strum of his guitar three massive chunks of ice appeared above him and fell down around him with a wave of his hand. He dug his fingers into the fruit as the juice splashed atop him and nearly threw him off balance, but as it settled he caught a glimpse of one of the sharks as it tried to right itself following the wake of the waves and he rose to his feet. He raised a hand immediately and rapidly strummed his guitar to call forth three Arrows of Light, then clasped his hands together. "Icy bomb!" As he pulled them apart a large snow white sphere took shape and he lifted it over his head with both hands before hurling it into the water. In an explosion of water ice shot up like a pillar and the shark remained trapped within. He turned around as the other two approached and he pointed at them. As the first jumped out of the water he fired two arrows and it was knocked away from him, pushing his lift away as it splashed back into the water. The second pursued him and he fired the last at it, deterring it slightly but not stopping it. He took a deep breath as he placed his guitar by his side and awaited its approach. The moment he saw it leap from the water he swung his weapon and bashed it in the gills. As his body turned he placed his guitar back over his shoulder and spun around once, hands outspread and leaving an icy mist in their wake. Once he set his sights upon it once more, he clenched his fist and the mist turned to a series of thin needles. "Frozen blitz!" They rose up to the sky and he pointed where the shark was headed to issue out his creation-the needles shot towards the Agasura and impaled the creature which lead it to floating lifelessly in the water. Two down, one to go. He searched around desperately for the last, but glimpsed nothing as far as the eye could see. With a splash it leapt out of the water and he turned on his heels only to catch it moments before he found himself within its jaws. Fighting for dear life, he had a hand on both the top and bottom jaw, its teeth dug into his hands and his blood trickled down his arms. In a battle of brute force, he was at a loss, and against an Agasura even more so. As it stood, he could not use any spells. ...Or could he? He dug his fingers into the creature and concentrated, his mana trickled from him to it, and the liquid across it and within it began to freeze. As the force of its jaws slackened, he grinned devilishly. "Avarita," He snarled. His eyes flickered to red, and he forced it back as it was carried off by the winds and soared towards the frozen pillar, collided and shattered both to pieces. He collapsed to his knees as he looked down at his hand, red strings like veins coursed across his hand and down his arm but for a moment as he sighed. He was gaining strength by the day. If he was to defeat Asmodeus, he would need to be much, much stronger. But for now, if he could defeat Gula that would suffice.

After taking a moment to eat TJ continued paddling towards the island, and for the most part found himself much safer than he had prior. On occasion he could see crimson fish leaping out of the orange sea as dusk dyed the sky a scarlet red, and though still a fair distance he felt ever closer. If he continued at the pace he was going he would be able to make it before daybreak at the very least, and could take shelter on the shore. Much to his pleasure, the rain had come to an end and the shore came ever closer, but no clues of his allies were in sight. Long after night fell and the moon hung gently in the sky, he managed to paddle himself to shore and nearly threw himself into the sand relieved to be on land again. He was safe, alive, and at the destination that he and his allies had decided to meet. He made his way up to the grassy shores and placed himself against a tree. Perhaps he could set up camp for the night, but after the day's events he found it more fitting to take the time to rest and search for his companions the following morning. He undid his ponytail and wrung the pink strands free of any remaining juice, then leaned back and let out a long sigh of relief.

As he leaned back and closed his eyes, he felt his crystal emit a bright light and a familiar warmth and Su emerged from it. As she took form before him she stretched and turned to him. "Well. Looks like you made it here alive." She said with a grin.

"How long were you in there Su?" He asked as he sat up and knit his eyebrows. "I called you a bunch of times you know."

"She shrugged. "Dunno. Wasn't there the whole time, but I did see you fight those sharks." He pursed his lips at the answer. If she was there he could definitely have used the Frequency during that battle, and it would have been much easier. "Truth be told, I'm almost impressed. You won. Somehow."

"But if you were there why didn't you tell me?"

She hiked an eyebrow. "Wanted to see what you can do. Take it as a lesson. Sometimes you're gonna wind up alone and you'll have to defend yourself. Question is, are you gutsy enough to make it out alive?" She grinned devilishly. "Somehow you did this time which might be a good sign for you, but don't expect to get by on sheer luck next time. Those Agasuras aren't getting any weaker." She walked away and leaned against a tree before placing one leg over the other and lowering her cap over her eyes. "'Sides, someone had to keep those sharks off of you." She lifted her head for a moment and eyed him warily.

"W-what is it? Is it my hair? Does it look weird when I let it down?" He asked as he pulled it together into a ponytail with his hands.

"No stupid it always looks weird but that's not the problem here. It's that stupid skin-tight top of yours. If anyone saw that they'd see that stupid gem sticking out through it. ...Idiots might think you have a third boob or something."

"I don't have boobs!"

She snickered. "I'm surprised you know what they are. But we're gonna have to do something about that regardless."

He eyed the Governor cautiously. "So what do you plan to do?"

She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then smiled devilishly. "I've got just the thing for you. You're gonna have to take that top off though."

"What?! No!" She got onto her feet while still crouched down and leapt at him causing him to raise his hands in preparation for a collision, but felt nothing. As he opened his eyes he saw the spheres signalling the Governor's disappearance and nothing but. She suddenly emerged from his crystal with what looked like bandages in hand. His hands were wounded, but it was nothing that he could not remedy.

"Well? What're you waiting for? I'm not gonna undress you-who do you take me for, Kooh?" He had half a mind to say that would not change a thing, but he kept his lips shut tight and his brows furrowed. The God's Governor rolled her eyes. "It's not like it's something I haven't seen already. Besides, how many guys do you know worry about their chest?" She had him at a loss there.

"F-fine." He removed his coat and took off his top but still covered his chest with his hands uneasily.

"Get off the tree and I'll do it from behind alright? Jeez." He did as she requested and she knelt down behind him. "Now hold still..." She began to wrap the bandages around him, finding it rather difficult because of her short arms. "You know, I've gotta hand it to those Elfa villagers. Putting the dead's stuff with them to take into the afterlife is freakin' smart."

Eyes shuttered, he watched as she took the time to carefully wrap up and cover his chest. He remembered the battle well, the aftermath of it and all that came afterwards. Despite what they had been through, despite the fighting amongst them, the struggles, and the losses, they still had come this far. To the day, he still did not know what Su had given up so much for. Despite his curiosity, she had her own reasons for fighting, and had her reasons for keeping it a secret. He reached out and took a hand and this gave her pause.

"What're you holding my hand for? I'm in the middle of something here," She muttered under her breath.

"S-sorry it's just..." Her hands were small yet calloused. It made him wonder what she had seen before the two had come into contact. She and the Dark Moon-to think there would come a time where she would have to go back to end the matter was hard to imagine. He let go of her hand and she continued what she was doing in silence for a couple of moments.

"Just what? Do you normally touch girls without their permission?"

"Eh? N-no...I think." He knit his eyebrows. "I was just wondering why you're using bandages to cover up my chest."

"This? It's a binder, stupid. Might be bandages but I'm not using them for that. Beggars can't be choosers." She clicked her tongue. "Anyway, I used to have to wear 'em too so it's not like I dunno what I'm doing, so stop your complaining."

He looked over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of her flushed face before she turned his head back around with the palm of her hand. "You di-oof...why?"

Su sighed. "Got caught up in some stupid shit. That damn giant ass old man was the one who had caught me back then. One of those Dark Moon assholes put an arrow through my leg and I wound up eating dirt," She scoffed. "Swore that I'd kill him if it was the last thing I did, and I got my revenge. Snuck through the castle using phantasm magic and evened the score with him, but that was just the beginning. It's how I met my Master...Tamori. He kicked the crap out of me when we met, but he did it to save my skin. I'd completely wasted everything I had in me, and there wasn't a chance in hell I'd be able to take on the reinforcements that followed me to the top of the Dark Moon, or escape it. I'd sooner jump off the castle and wind up as roadkill in the streets than be caught dead by them. Instead he claimed I was dead and said he'd dispose of the corpse himself." Her hands slowed down to a halt and she clenched her fists against TJ's back. "If he hadn't...chances are I'd just be another experiment." She let out a deep sigh.

TJ blinked. "What happened next?"

"He took me as his student. He'd become a ronin after the emperor got killed but still hung around because he was sworn to the Dark Moon though he wouldn't fight for them again. He scored me an outfit but made me swear that I wouldn't divulge my identity to anyone in Owl Castle not that I was there to make friends, then started training me as the final student of a generation of something they called 'The Warriors of the New Moon'-pretty much, soldiers trained from the time they could hold a sword to adulthood. Had me disguise myself as a boy and gave me the name Setsuna. Went by that during my time there."

TJ scratched his cheek as Su finished the task and ripped a piece off before carefully tucking it in with the rest. "But if Tamori was part of the Dark Moon, why did he help you?" He patted his chest gently and frowned. The binders were rather...restricting, but he knew he would have to go to great pains to keep his identity a secret. People were wary of him since his adventure began, and with Avaritia's appearance they were even more on guard for him.

"Said I'd had a knack with stealth and guile, enough to make me a damn good kunoichi. That, and he said we'd had a mutual friend. Didn't tell me who though, and I'm still trying to find out. I'd heard he'd been pretty close with one of the emperor's generals but that's all I've had to go on."

"Maybe sometime on our journey we'll meet that friend." TJ smiled for her. "I think we'll meet and make a lot of new friends during our adventures."

Su looked nonplussed for a couple moments and he began to sweat slightly. Was what he said that odd? "Get out of here with that cheesy shit of yours!" She said excitedly before ruffling his hair. "You talk a big game for some Pinky."

He laughed as he brushed his bangs out of his face and caught a glimpse of her wearing a grin too. "This pinky thing isn't gonna catch on is it? I rather like my name."

"If it annoys you, I'll be sure it does. Later, loser!" She raised a hand and turned into a series of spheres before returning to the crystal.

That was certainly an exit befitting the Governor, but he had come to know something new about her, which was very rare. He felt a little bit of happiness at the prospect.

"TJ! TJ can you hear me?"

TJ picked himself up from the grass and looked around bleary-eyed. "Chief? That you?" He said aloud, groggily. He looked around for a couple moments, rubbed his eyes, put on his glasses and looked again.

"Yes it is I. I am thankful that I have been able to reach you. I had forgotten that the Instance Dungeons interfere with our guild badges, but thankfully since you had given the Heart of Yggdrasil to me once more, I can remain in contact with you." He felt relief wash over him at hearing the guild master's voice, a sure sign that she was safe, That feeling had nearly slipped away at a pause, but she continued nonetheless, "...are you safe?"

He placed a hand to his chest and sighed. "Y-yeah. I made it to the shore without too much trouble. Did you fare well too Chief?"

"Yes, I have arrived safely, but as of yet I have been unable to locate our other allies. I am positive that Suuba is with you, but Curt and God's Governor Amata are still as of yet to have shown any signs of their arrival."

"Amata did say that we should meet at the coast, so if we circle the island I think we'll find them somewhere. U-unless we were all walking in the same direction! We'd be searching all day and night!" He placed both hands to his head in a panic, both poorly wrapped in bandages.

"Allow me to offer you a remedy to that situation. I would like for you to use the Sunlight spell to create a beacon of sorts for us to find our way to you. Throw it as high as you possibly can-you need not maintain it, just for that short period. I will signal to you also. With that in mind, our party members should be able to discern where we are, and where we are headed."

"Got it. I'll do just that Chief."

"Your cooperation is appreciated."

He clenched a fist and a bright light began to take form in it. He held it skyward as he shouted, "Sunlight!" The sphere shot towards the sky, climbing ever higher before he deemed it enough, and it burst in a bright sphere of light. Satisfied with the effort, he searched the sky for Peorth's signal. Then he saw it-the clouds seemed to part, creating a massive opening in the darkness where the sun shone through, followed by the clouds swarming around and firing a single bolt of lightning down to the island. TJ jumped at the sight and sound and immediately began running. Was that really Peorth's signal? Or did something happen to her? He had feared for her safety and knew that he had to get to her as soon as possible. As he ran he tripped over a rock and fell face first into the grass, but still picked himself up and continued on anyways. He glimpsed further into the island as he ran across the shore, and could not help but wonder if his allies may have wandered in deeper in hopes of a shortcut. He pressed on across the coast, glimpsing a clear, crimson bear walking between the trees and sniffing about before eating some of the berries growing in a bush. He nearly froze in terror but ignored the sight, and continued on.

TJ had no track of time, but what he knew for sure was that he ran too long and was completely out of breath. Struggling to continue, he still stumbled forwards as he heaved for air and searched the coast for the guild master. He could not see her, not yet, but he had to continue forward. He straggled on for another period, and froze as he heard a sound-beating wings? He looked to the sky as he saw the guild master's figure over-shadow him, and she quickly descended before him. Were they going to collide? He prayed that was not the case. She touched down before him, and took a few steps forward before coming to a halt. Wordlessly, she took him in her arms and embraced him, her wings came to a rest around the pair.

"You are safe...thank God Ah. To see you healthy and hale is miraculous indeed." She said gently, her head resting against the side of his.

"I-it's good to see you safe too...Chief," He uttered.

After a few more moments Su emerged from the crystal and looked impatiently at Peorth's back. "You idiots are apart for one freakin' day and you're all over him like you haven't seen him in years. Don't you have any shame?" She asked.

At those words Peorth broke away, face flushed as her wings shrunk and vanished and she turned to Su. "I...I do not lack shame!" She cried out defensively before lowering her head. "I have yet to k-k..." Her words trailed off there. Was she going to say what TJ thought she would? His cheeks flushed also and he turned away.

Su rolled her eyes. "And that clown said I was jealous? Jeez..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Well whatever. At least you're not dead. If you'd gotten mauled by a shark or something that'd be kinda pathetic after that grand speech of yours."

"I can assure you, I will not fall so easily to just any Agasura. So long as-"

"Yeah, yeah I heard you the first time. Well now that we've found each other, what's your big plan this time?"

Peorth crossed her arms thoughtfully. "In truth, I do not have a specific course of action for us to follow currently. I suppose, in place of that we would have two options: the first, being that we return the way that TJ came. It is more likely that the others had washed ashore somewhere in that direction, considering the flow of the current following our separation and the distance between the rest of our allies and myself. The second would be that we wait here and hope they may find their way to us."

"Both of those plans suck." Su said bluntly, to which Peorth looked nonplussed. "But I'd rather be on the move than be stuck standing around with you morons. I say we find them."

Peorth turned to TJ and he nodded firmly. "If they're out there, the sooner we can find them the better," He answered calmly.

"Then we are in agreement. Let us be on our way." Peorth said confidently before leading the group onwards.

The guild master insisted that they stay closer to the coast because of the dangers that lurked within the forest-due to their dwindled numbers, they could not, and should not risk an ambush no matter how confident in their abilities they were. By her advice they had made it a fair distance safely, and once night fell they decided to set up camp for the evening. Su and Peorth went out to gather firewood while TJ put the fire pit together in the sand, and the guild master and Abellan had a meal while the Governor went back into the forest to scout out.

"I'll be fine by myself. These trees might be made of candy but it doesn't mean I can't climb them. The day I see a bear climb to the top of a tree will be the day I get mauled by one. If it's made of candy than I deserve it," were her parting words.

TJ ate a soup Peorth had put together using a myriad of ingredients she called 'non-perishable foods' which tasted good nonetheless, like everything she made. He looked across the fire as she ate solemnly.

"Chief...about earlier, that lightning bolt. Was that your signal?" He asked curiously.

She nodded gently. "Yes. Very rarely do Warlords such as myself have, or know how to utilize very simple spells or stances that are grand, aesthetically, that is. Though not for that purpose, I do have some other skills that would likely draw attention. That was but one of them," She answered.

"So you have lightning spells also? That's really cool!" TJ said excitedly with a smile.

Her face flushed and she looked up at him with her head lowered. "Thank you, but that is not particularly the case. That also, was a stance. I have a unique ability that allows me to have a certain mastery over the power of thunder." She closed her eyes gently. "That ability had earned me the unwarranted nickname 'Lightning Princess Peorth' from an old companion of ours. It was but one of two of their favourite jests."

TJ chuckled gently. "I'd bet they felt the same way then. It's not everyday you come across someone with a talent like that you know. At least, I think so."

"Just you feeling that way alone means the world to me." She smiled for him, and he did so in turn.

The following morning TJ climbed out of his tent and looked around for the guild master. Knowing her, she would already be awake and up to something, and his suspicions were spot on. She stood with her spear at the ready, and Su remained hidden behind a tree nearby with her dagger in hand.

"What's wrong guys?" He asked as he pulled his guitar out of the tent.

"Keep your voice low TJ. Suuba and I have heard movement in the bushes and we know not what waits out there, but it would be in our best interest to take the initiative in this engagement." Peorth answered before gesturing for him to take up a vantage nearby her.

He quickly and quietly made his way over behind a tree and waited in bated breath as sounds emerged from nearby bushes and raised the tension and cautiousness of his companions. It was possible a bear might be approaching-he had only glimpsed one, but they were not likely to be underestimated. Suddenly from the bushes something emerged, and the two that were ready to strike froze in place. TJ blinked a couple times before his mouth fell open. A muddy, disoriented looking Curt appeared from within the bushes.

"Oh man...I finally found you guys! Tried taking a shortcut through the forest when I saw your campfire and boy was that ever a mistake! I've got bug bites on my bug bites and there were bears and...it was one hell of an adventure! But I've gotta admit, some of those forest berries are pretty tasty. You eat one and before you know it you've already swallowed seven of the things. I could go for some more, to be honest." Curt explained as he regrouped with them. Peorth let out a sigh of relief and Su placed a hand to her forehead as she let out an annoyed snarl. "So? Who's happy to see me? Come on, my arms are open." He outspread his arms as he looked to each of the girls and finally TJ.

"I'd hug you but you've got a lot of dirt on you." TJ answered before looking away.

"Not you too TJ!"

The Abellan could not help but laugh at the reaction. "I'm glad to see you're back though! And the others are too. We've been looking all over the place for you and Amata."

"Same here. Gotta admit though, when I saw that signature ball of light I knew that had to be you. Had to go through hell and high water to get through that forest but it did save me a lot of time. This coast is freakin' huge."

"I've seen a fair bit of it for myself. Did you find any traces of Amata on your way?"

"I saw a lemon wedge washed up on shore. And a bunch floating out at sea but I don't think she died out there. I mean, we'd have to find a gummy shark with her innards inside of it somewhere." TJ did not find the joke amusing in the slightest.

"What should we do from here? Should we keep going?" TJ asked the party.

"I vote that we rest. I'll be able to crush a small child with my legs with all the walking I've done over the past few days."

"Give the baby what he wants. I say we continue on without her 'cause we don't need her, but whatever." Su shrugged and returned to the crystal.

"I suppose it would be best if we waited here. Should we continue our journey once we are all reunited, it would be best if we have taken some time to regain our stamina and set out once refreshed," Peorth suggested. "On that note, TJ may I ask of you to use the Sunlight spell once more? I feel that if we can send Amata a sign, she will find her way to us, especially if she is following the trail of the first."

"Leave it to me Chief," The Abellan answered. At her request he called forth the spell and released it as she had suggested before. He watched as the final fragments of light dissipated silently for a couple of moments. Just as Peorth had found him, and Curt had found them, Amata too would find her way back to the team. He would believe in her, and her wish to fight with them right up to the battle against Asmodeus. If he could help it, he would ensure it.

The guild master placed a hand to his shoulder. "Fear not TJ, for she will return to us in time. A God's Governor is not one to be underestimated." She smiled slightly. "You will hear it both from I and the history books of the Cerebians." Her expression shifted from easy-going to thoughtful as she eyed him. "TJ, may I borrow your Monster Manual for a spell?"

TJ blinked. Perhaps she wanted to look through it while they waited? "Sure Chief. Lemme' run and get it." He climbed into his tent and rummaged through his things before handing off the book to the guild master. "Here you go."

"You have my thanks. It may be some time before Amata arrives, so perhaps it would be a good opportunity to practice in any aspects that you may feel you are lacking in TJ." She suggested before returning to her tent.

He nodded solemnly. His training was going alright, and he was trying not to waste mana unecessarily. That aside, where he would likely need the most practice would be in mastering Velvet's song. He could do it-he could recall the sounds and pitches and play it in his mind, but if he failed at either aspect of it the song would prove fruitless, and that would be time wasted on the battlefield. Time the group may not have. With the thought in mind, he sat down with his guitar against a tree and gently strummed it with his eyes closed as he reminisced on the times he had spent mastering it with Peorth, and the end product.

As the day carried on into the evening a mighty roar pierced the skies and the group gathered around. Peorth returned with a pencil in hand, Curt a series of berries, both candy and fruit, and Su with her dagger at the ready.

"So I'm not crazy then? Awesome." Curt said as he popped a couple berries into his mouth.

"Are any of you familiar with that sound?" Peorth asked.

"Truthfully, I think it might be Amata. N-not Amata herself but Amata and her dragon!" TJ said and quickly corrected himself while he waved his hands.

"That's her lizard if I ever heard it. Watch the skies. We'll see her coming." Su suggested before going back to the forest and climbing to the top of a tree.

The group split up a short distance on the beach and sought out the God's Governor. It was not long before the massive dragon came into view, rising from the ground and circling around the island. In a series of cries and shouts, they attempted to signal the two out and after a brief while the dragon turned in their direction and approached. It steadily came down and landed on the coast where Amata climbed down and eyed him warily.

"I told you it wasn't gonna rain." She said to which he huffed out a flame in response. "You're a dragon. Why are you afraid of a little orange juice?" She crossed her arms. "It's not like you'll die if your mane gets a little wet! I could've died in that forest though!"

"Amata! Welcome back!" TJ shouted as he waved and ran over to her. As she turned he looked on in surprise to see her with a swollen right cheek. "Did something attack you out there?!"

"Yeah. There are these damn bears in the forest. I could've sworn the thing was gonna eat me, but instead it got on its hind legs and punched me out. He got what was coming to him, but my face blew up like a balloon and it's been sore ever since."

"S-sorry to hear that." He knit his eyebrows. "But you did make it back so I'm glad." He smiled.

She cracked a tiny smile. "Yeah...it's good to be back. The only other living thing I've had to talk to for the past few days is Bharva, and he wouldn't let me ride him until I convinced him that it wasn't going to rain." The dragon huffed before vanishing and she shrugged. "These spirits can be a real pain sometimes."

"It is very fortunate that he came to your aid. It would be difficult for us to travel the distances he is able by using our wings alone. But with you here, we are all reunited. Let us rest for the day and set out again on our journey tomorrow." Peorth said as she joined the duo.

Amata looked at her hands curiously. "What have you got there Peorth?"

"Hmm? This is a book that we have produced. It chronicles the monsters across the world that we have seen during our adventures."

"Produced...? Huh...so it's the only one. It'd make a pretty handy adventurer's guide though. You should do something with it."

Peorth chuckled gently. "I am sure that time will come, but first, we have a world that needs our aid."

Amata's stomach rumbled and she closed her eyes. "And I've got a stomach that needs filling...I didn't touch those forest berries cause they might be poisoned. Tell me more about that book over dinner."

The following morning TJ crawled out of the tent as he slipped his glasses on to his face. Upon the beach he saw the guild master, spear in hand and practicing solemnly. He slapped his cheeks a couple times to wake himself up and approached.

"Good morning Chief. Practice first thing in the morning?" He asked with a smile.

She opened her eyes and turned her head to meet his. "Yes. Though it may not feel this way, we must remember that we are indeed within our enemy's territory. By the day the Instance Dungeon grows, so I suspect we must be on our guard both day and night. Even now, those changes are visible to the naked eye," She replied.

"What changed?" He tilted his head quizzically. The guild master pointed to the sky and he looked, nearly losing his balance due to the sight. Hundreds of popsicles shot across the sky like rockets-where they were headed he had not the foggiest, but the sight was unmistakeable. "P-popsicles?! Are those Agasura?!"

"I cannot say, but if they are it would be in our best interest to keep an eye to the skies. The Agasura are all around us, and could strike at any moment. For the time being, it seems there is a lull in the chaos despite all that is around us. Let us prepare a meal and wake everyone. Once we are sated we will set out into the Forest."

TJ nodded solemnly in response.

The five had gathered around after packing up their things.

"So where do we go from here? We don't really have a specific path to follow," Amata told the group.

"Logically, I believe that we should attempt ro move to the heart of the forest. Considering that we were recently seperated, we have already traversed a majority of, if not the entirety of the coast," Peorth suggested.

"Important assholes like Gula like high places don't they? We should find a way to that mountain," Su added.

"Perhaps the best way to do so would be to follow the river? If we can find our way to it, we could ascend ever higher towards that very destination."

Curt shrugged. "No complaints here!"

"That sounds good to me too." TJ said with a nod.

"Alright let's go with that then. Lead the way," Su said.

With Peorth as the vanguard the group set out into the forest cautiously, taking in their surroundings as they proceeded further in. As one would expect of Gula's Instance Dungeon, the entire place was rife with berries and all sorts of edible flora-mushrooms grew by trees and berries on bushes in great numbers.

"So Amata you said you ran into some bear that punched you out right?" Curt asked.

"Can we not talk about that? My face hurts just thinking about it." The Governor answered as she rubbed her cheek gently.

"We don't have to, but if it looks anything like that it'd be good to know." He pointed to a gummy bear that sat nearby and picked berries from the bush before eating them. Amata began to sweat.

"Another one? And here I'd thought it'd be too soon before I saw one."

It raised its head at the sound of their voices and seemingly sniffed the air before turning to them.

"It has discovered us. Everyone, to arms!" Peorth shouted as she drew her spear.

While the others readied their weapons, the bear got on its legs and charged towards them. All but Amata looked on puzzled, before it stood outside of Peorth's range and got on both feet. She held her spear defensively as it roared at them, then put both of its paws before its face and took on a boxer's stance.

"Dude! It's a boxing bear! We need to catch this! We can be rich!" Curt shouted excitedly.

"Are you stupid?!" Amata shouted before she hit him atop the head with her staff. "That thing will break your bones if you tried to catch it!"

"Everyone, fan out! We shall surround it and defeat it!" Peorth commanded the team.

They broke apart and each surrounded it. It eyed each curiously.

"I'll make the first move!" TJ shouted as he strummed his guitar once and held out a hand. "Hailstorm!" At his call a series of iciles shot out from before him towards the Boxer Bear. The creature bobbed and weaved past the spell and quickly closed the distance before taking a swing at him. He gasped as he raised his weapon to protect his chest and the blow winded him and knocked him back. "Guh...that thing...is crazy strong..." He heaved as he rose back to his full height.

Su leapt against one of the trees and launched herself towards it. It leaned back to avoid her flying strike and as she hit the ground she somersaulted to her feet and spun on the ball of her heels to stomp the ground and raise the earth. It leapt asdide and knives rained down upon it as Curt took it by storm, thrusting his dagger into its flank. It roared and batted him aside. A series of spheres surrounded it and burst into flames courtesy of Amata, but it stormed through the fire and leapt at her.

"I will not let you!" Peorth shouted as she tossed her spear into the air. At the apex of its rise she leapt to it and spread her wings, then used them to dart down towards it and cut off its charge as she cried out "Swallowtail!" She came to a skidding halt and followed it up with Windmill. The final strike of the stance caused the creature to fall away slightly but return with two wide swipes.

"Peorth there are more Agasura's coming! Watch yourself!" Amata shouted before she hurled two fireballs at the trees that surrounded the guild master.

Peorth's eyes darted to the treetops and she stepped aside as she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a rather large package fall to the ground-the contents of it spilled out and when she caught a glimpse of the arms and legs, she knew it was an Agasura. What confused her were the tiny little rocks that came from within it. The boxer bear came back at her with a vengeance, thrusting a paw towards her but missing as she leapt back and spread her wings. Whatever was around her was not something to underestimate.

"There's another one coming! Watch your back!" Curt said as he tossed three knives into the back of the bear and a chunk of earth skidded past a moment after it stepped towards her.

The guild master checked both of her peripherals but saw nothing in sight-she turned and ran backwards to glimpse behind her and she caught sight of another Agasura-a large, crimson can of soda that said Abio Coke charged toward her clumsily before tripping and spilling its contents. As the liquid poured over the rocks, they began to crackle to life and struck her with unease. She beat her wings once and prepared to take off, but the liquid had caught up to her and upon the stones bursting the ground itself and her left wing was ignited. She clenched her teeth, her eyes shifting from it to the bear as she raised her spear but still found herself caught off-guard. It hit her with a single mighty blow and she fell back towards the fire. Moments before she fell into it she felt someone's arms wrap around her body as she and her saviour shot off to safety while quickly descending. She collapsed to the ground and tumbled into a bush while her saviour vanished over it and hit a nearby tree.

As she got to her feet she saw TJ lying face-first in the grass with his wings resting upon his back. "TJ! Are you alright?" She asked with a concerned expression.

He peeled himself from the ground and grinned. "No problem! J-just gimme a minute to get my bearings and I'll patch you right up!" He placed a hand to his head as it gently bobbed.

"I shall return to the battlefield. Do not worry for my sake." The rolling put out the flame on her wing, so she took the time to put it away and reclaim her weapon.

"What the hell is this?!" Su shouted. She placed both hands to the ground and ripped a chunk of it from before her and tossed it into the air. She pointed a finger and it shattered to pieces, raining down mud and dirt over the area which quelled the flames. The bear charged toward her and she drew her dagger once more. "Still not dead yet huh? Guess I'll have to put you out of your misery!" It took a swing at her and she stepped aside before it was followed by a second. She dropped to the ground and ripped a couple of blades of grass before leaping back and throwing them into the bear's face. As it brushed them aside and regained its vision, she took cover behind a tree and used two more to create a pair of phantoms that shared in her image. She commanded them to charge at it directly while she signalled to Curt to strike from above and ran in turn with her phantoms. The bear watched as each charged towards it and Su approached from behind. It turned to her as she neared and attempted to punch her before she fell back and her phantoms vanished. "Saw through me..." She muttered under her breath. "Do it loser!"

Curt fell from the sky and brought his dagger down upon the bear, his weapon met its arm and he was punched in the stomach and thrown away.

Through the bushes and past the trees Peorth's spear emerged and pierced the bear's stomach, she appearing on it and ripping the weapon out before reeling it back. "Burst Lancer!" She cried out. In a flurry of rapid stabs she had punctured the creature and felled it. "Is everyone alright?" She placed her spear upright by her side.

"I've seen better days..." Curt muttered as he hobbled over. "I swear that thing rearranged my guts with that punch."

Amata emerged from the cloud of smoke as she waved her hand gently. "I got along relatively safely, luckily. If it wasn't for Peorth I'd have wound up like the Abellan," she remarked. "Still," she said to Curt, "I warned you about those things!"

"You guys okay?" TJ asked as he climbed through one of the bushes. He looked to each of his party members with a disturbed expression. "It's worse than I thought! Hold on I'll have you guys fixed right up."

While TJ gently played a tune that allowed his allies to recover they discussed the battle's outcome.

"What have we learned about our enemies?" Peorth asked as she looked from one member to the next.

"The bears are boxers. No abilities, but they hit really hard, and are more agile than the others," Amata said.

"These idiots work together." Su said as she poked the can with her dagger.

"Pick that thing up and lemme' get a good look at it," Curt requested.

She glared at him. "Do it yourself you lazy ass." Curt muttered obscene things under his breath while the rest continued their discussion.

"It would seem the first of the two has a tendency to release an unusual type of stone that bursts upon being exposed to the liquid of this beverage." Peorth explained as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"I've seen some weird-ass Agasura but these ones take the goddamn cake."

Amata knit her eyebrows. "Unless my eyes were deceiving me those rocks blew up in a series of sparks. They might not have been big, but enough of those and they could set off an explosive chain reaction, and one that could easily burn us up," She added. "It's possible that the two need to be together for that to happen, but we can't write them off just yet. We can't say for sure just what they'd do if they were seperated. Despite them seemingly exhausting their use at their arrival, they still got up and prepared to fight again so I took care of them."

"I could tell." Curt said as he examined the singed wrapping. "You guys might find this interesting though. This stuff? It's candy. One that's pretty popular in Elias called poppin' rocks. Kids go nuts for this stuff." He tossed the wrapper aside. "Amata's got the right of it though-they need liquid to pop so our best bet would be making sure they're as far apart as possible if we see them. Either that or one of us is gonna burst into flames."

"That was nearly the case. If it was not for TJ's timely rescue I would be in great danger," Peorth said.

He smiled gently. "That? It wasn't anything really. I'm sorry the landing was so rough Chief," He replied.

"I would fancy a rough landing over losing my life anytime."

Eyes darted to the two and TJ's face flushed. "A-anyway...isn't that stuff kinda dangerous? I mean for kids?"

"The difference is that the candy in Elias is just candy. These things are Agasura. One of the two won't murder you if you try to eat it." Curt explained as he furrowed his brows.

The Abellan knit his in turn. "Are you sure those berries you ate weren't Agasura?"

"If they grow appendages I'll consider them Agasura. 'Till then though, I'd say they're pretty safe." He popped one in his mouth and grinned. "And delicious."

"Curt, I strongly advise against eating anything within this dungeon. We know precious little of the properties of the flora and fauna that can be found within, and I cannot help but suspect that there too, lies a danger beyond what we can see on the surface," Peorth explained.

"Oh come now Peorth, have a berry and stop worrying! They won't bite!" He held one out to her and she shook her head solemnly to which he shrugged. "More for me!"

TJ let out a gentle sigh as he stopped strumming his guitar. "I think that should just about do it. How do you guys feel? Alright to go on?" He asked.

"I am ready to move forward. You have my thanks," Peorth told him.

"I'm back at a hundred percent and ready to kick some bear ass!" Curt said with a raised fist.

"Let's get moving then. The longer we waste in this shithole the worse it's gonna get, and I could do without being stuck with you morons for an extended period of time, thanks." Su said as she climbed down from a tree and regrouped with the others."

"Then let us be on our way." Peorth said as they set out under her lead once more.

The land climbed higher and as they ascended through the forest they eventually found themselves near the river. Much to their surprise, it was wider than they had imagined, and without a doubt it would require flight to traverse safely, at the very least.

"So this is it. Should we just follow it?" Curt asked.

"For the time being, I believe so. It seems that we are a fair distance from the mountain, but if I was to hazard an estimate, I believe that we could reach by nightfall. Let us be wary of our location and that of the Agasura-if we make haste I believe we could have our camp prepared." Peorth explained as she looked back to the group.

"Right, let's go with that then," Amata said.

"But if it comes down to it and we need to cross the bridge, how will we? Should we just swim across?" TJ asked as he glanced into the river and saw his own reflection, but little else.

"I would not recommend that TJ. If the ocean was any indication, it is very likely the river is not safe either. You must remember that this is not an ordinary ecosystem." The guild master turned to Curt. "May I borrow some of your berries?"

"I knew you'd come around Peorth. Was only a matter of time." Curt chuckled as he shrugged and reached into his pocket, drawing a group of lint-coated berries.

She appraised them for a moment before tossing them into the river while Curt reached out to them with a dejected look. Moments before they reached the water small crimson fish leapt out, fangs bared as they feasted on the fruits and vanished beneath the water's surface. "I suspect it would take very little, if any time at all for those fish to devour flesh. The only possible way we could make it across would be to use something else as bait, and even then the time we are given would be scarce at best. We will find a way across. I can assure you-do not fear TJ."

He could not help but crack a smile. "I've no doubts."

They continued further up through the forest as the day pressed on, morning quickly turned to afternoon and afternoon to evening. As they went further in, the land became strangely barren and the trees had eventually become candy canes in place of the familiar spearmint trees, but the entirety of the area had a refreshing minty scent. Much to their dismay though, a heavy downpour had begun and the group found themselves soaked from head to toe and wanting for shelter-as far as they could see though, there was none in sight. Not even a tree to take cover under.

"Do you guys see that? Looks like a bridge." Curt said as he pointed in the distance.

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go check it out. I'm not climbing a waterfall." Su said as she stole ahead and proceeded towards it.

Once they arrived they noticed it was broken. The center of the bridge was shattered, and a half of each side clung to both portions of the land.

"Looks like we're stranded. Got any bright plans O great leader Peorth?" Su asked as she peeked at the guildmaster from underneath her bangs.

Peorth placed a hand to her mouth as she glanced around the area. "It would seem that the best course of action would be to build a bridge ourselves-or at the very least, utilize what materials we have on hand to build a makeshift bridge." She walked away from them briefly and rapped her knuckles against one of the massive candy canes rooted in the ground. "The insides are not hollow. If we were to break some of these and use them as raw materials, we could tie them together and lay them across the bridge to cross safely."

Su crossed her arms. "There's a big fat problem with that brilliant idea. It's not like we can just rip those things out of the ground. We're gonna have to break them, and the second we do, Agasura a mile away are gonna come running," Su commented.

"Su raises a good point, but we can't afford to stay here, and with the rain coming down we can't fly across either. If we're to follow Peorth's suggestion, we've gotta be ready to defend ourselves with everything we've got. You guys ready for that?" Amata asked the boys.

"I'll prepare some support spells for you guys. If a big battle's coming I'll be ready." TJ said before he began to strum his guitar.

"Bring it I say. I love a good fight!" Curt said as he crossed his arms and nodded confidently.

"I'm all for that plan. If all we need to do is kick some ass than I'm in," Su added.

"Suuba, I would like you to take up another task." Peorth said to the Governor. The young girl flipped her bangs out of her face so the guild master could get a proper look at her glare. "Of all of us, you have the greatest affinity for earth, and the strength to break through the trees. Thus I would like for you to do so while we fend off our enemies. We will keep you safe-you need only break and tie together those within your reach. Following that we will move them atop the bridge and make our escape. If the Agasura choose to pursue us, once more we shall set fire to the path we had taken to ensure that we are not followed."

"Your wish is my command, your highness." Su muttered through grit teeth.

TJ looked uneasily between the two-the tensions just seemed to be rising ever higher. Though the anger may have been one sided, he was well aware of what a discord between allies could lead to and feared risking such a thing. "I can swap out with Su, Chief. I have some control over earth too so I think I can handle that much."

Peorth shook her head gently. "I know that you are eager to assist in whatever means you can TJ, but we require you on the battlefield. Your support spells may prove to be our saving grace, but you are more than just a Bard. You are also our wild card. What may come to be, we may require your strength desperately." She looked away from him, into the distance. "If you still have doubts, stay close to me. I will protect you."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. I'll give it my all." If their first battle was any indication, he could hardly afford to hold back. He would need spells of a much greater caliber if he was to be of use to his allies. He had the Frequencies at his command, and now the power of Avaritia. He could not let them down.

"Everyone, to arms! Prepare yourselves for Agasura will come in droves once we begin, so you must not hold back, but only do so for the safety of our allies. If the difficulty proves too great, fall back and we will cover your position. Is everyone ready?"

"Ready when you are," Curt said.

"Let's start," Amata added.

"I...I'm ready." TJ said as he took a deep breath and looked out into the distance.

"Suuba, you may begin," Peorth told her.

"Whatever. Stand back." Su answered as she cracked her knuckles. She stomped the ground and the earth trembled, creating a long fissure towards one of the candy canes that quickly became a piece of rock jutting from the ground. It collided with the tree and broke it in two, causing it to fall to the ground as the cries of Agasura sounded through the area. Su ran across the candy cane and leapt down atop the curled top, then rolled it away as her allies took to the vanguard.

The first thing that came into view were the same popsicles TJ saw soaring through the sky. They shot across the landscape like rockets gliding just above ground and drifted past as the whole party stepped aside to avoid the attacks.

"As I had thought, those are Agasura also, but I fear not the last of them! Constant vigilance everyone!"

Boxer bears came in great numbers followed by more of the packaged rocks and Abio Cokes Curt named Pop & Rocks respectively. Peorth lead the charge, taking the initiative and drawing the focus of most of the Agasura to herself. Though surrounded, her spear danced amidst the Agasura and she had managed to keep them at bay.

Amata raised her staff high before bringing it down as she shouted, "Hellfire!" Magic circles opened up in the sky and a torrent of fireballs rained down upon their enemies while Curt jumped in and picked off any who had not caught sight of him. He jumped from one to the next with a dagger in one hand and knives in the other, hurling them to and fro.

TJ looked back to Su who had two candy canes down near the bridge and a series of rope she had laid out to tie them together. She may not have had the time to concern herself with his plight, but he was watching her. He would manage, even if he was alone. He pounded his fists together as he shouted, "I'm counting on you Su!"

"Try not to fuck this up would ya'?" She answered from nearby.

"Frequency!" His eyes lit up a jade green and he scanned the battlefield. Though for the time being his allies were safe, if one of the pops were to spill, it would quickly turn into a disaster for both ally and enemy alike. If they managed to hold out until the rain washed it away though, they would fair fine. Much to his dismay though, the enemies that were not stopped by Curt and Peorth headed towards him and Amata and he found himself at a loss.

"Time too put that skill of yours to work TJ. You've impressed me once." Amata said with a grin. "Think you could pull it off a second time?"

Had the rain been normal water he could use it against the Agasura, but he lacked control over it. The earth was tough also, but with the power of Frequency his skill was enhanced. He would not doubt himself now. He glimpsed at some of the approaching Agasura and raised a wall behind them in a half-crescent, than another in front and closed the two around them. He stomped the ground and the earth rose up before he hurled it into the circle and let out a sigh.

"We've got some bears closing in on us TJ! Get ready!" Amata shouted to him as she called upon a series of fiery spheres to act as sentries. Each released fireballs until the rain put them out. "I'll cover this side, so watch my flank!"

If it took his whole group to handle one bear, could he really handle two at a close range? He just had to make sure they could not get to him. He held a hand skyward and a massive iceberg appeared above him. "Shattered Berg!" He roared as chunks of ice shot forward and pummeled the Agasura that followed in the wake of the two. Others out of the fight were caught off guard but it would not suffice. TJ clicked his tongue as he drew his guitar and they came ever closer He strummed it rapidly and a sphere of water grew above him, increasing in size until it reached an incredible height and he hurled it forward. It crashed against the ground and he froze it, catching one of the bears by the leg in the trap but missing the other-to make matters worse more Agasura followed in its wake. It took him by storm and took a swing at him, which he narrowly avoided as he fell away. He placed his guitar to his back and stomped the ground before hurling the earth at the bear. It leapt aside and came at him again, taking wide swipes as he jumped back once and ran backwards to avoid its onslaught. As he did he found himself stepping on rocks and before he knew it fell on his back as a pop approached.

Amata came to a skidding halt and slid even further back as she followed it up with Fire Burst. "On your feet!" She shouted as she offered him a hand.

"Behind you!" He cried as he pointed at the bear.

As it raised a claw to strike her down a fireball from her sentry caught it in the back and staggered it while TJ got to his feet. Amata spun her staff around to bash it across the face and pointed the weapon at it to set it ablaze in a torrent of flames. "That's tha-hurgh!" A rocket popsicle drifted by and collided with her, dragging her a few feet before she hit the ground and rolled into Su's makeshift bridge.

"Oh for fuck's sake. Go sleep somewhere else, dumbass!" Su hissed as she tossed the rope at her incapacitated comrade.

Agasura were still coming in droves and TJ was running out of choices. He shook his head and pounded his fists together. He brought one down upon the ground and the earth shattered and took to the skies. "Mother Gaia!" He roared as rocks rained down and flew about in every direction, pelting the Agasura around him. He grit his teeth. "Not yet!" He raised a hand to the sky. "Gaia Burial!" The rocks surrounded the Agasura in an earthen storm and trapped them in before converging upon them. He let out a huff and shook his head. The memories he had gathered must have added spells to his repertoire. Was it possible that he could read Memorius Sanctum with his new memories? That aside, Peorth had said it would be a crucial skill to use in battle and if he wished for it, that the tome would lend him its aid. Now may have been the time to put that to the test. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and opened them with renewed fervor. "To me, Memorius Sanctum!" With a surge of wind the tome appeared before him, followed by a searing pain in his eye. He gripped it tightly as the book flipped open on its own and turned the pages, stopping somewhere within. Some of the text began to glow and the words shifted in such a way that despite being unable to read, let alone understand the Cerebian language the words came clearly to him. Could it be? He looked out upon the encroaching enemies and steeled his resolve. "Abide by the words of my contract and give me the strength to become the hope of this world!" At his words power welled up within him and his hair turned snow white while his eyes turned a sapphire blue. It was just a guess, but it may have been possible that those words were what he needed in order to transform.

He looked back to Amata as she got to her feet and cracked her back. "That damn popsicle got me good. And you!" She picked up the rope and threw it at Su. Who do you think was sleeping huh?! I've got half a mind to tie you to one of these candy canes and let you swim with the fish!"

"Yeah? Ain't no time like the present to settle an old score bitch! Bring it!" Su roared as she got to her feet and tossed the rope aside.

TJ lowered his head, closed his eyes clasped a hand to his chest and a tiny light appeared within it before he held it to the sky. It seperated into three and flew to all of his allies, Amata included, and the glow healed their wounds. "Can you still fight Amata? Don't push yourself." He told her with a worried expression.

She looked at ease. "That feels nice..." She nodded confidently. "Yeah, I'm good to go. The collision wasn't that bad, but it did wind me. Guess I owe you one huh?" She grinned. "I'll deal with you later. Let's go Abellan! Kick some ass, take some names, you know the score. You're in charge."

He could not resist the urge to laugh. "I'll do my best. I'll be counting on you too!"

He drew his guitar and rapidly began to strum it, the clouds above seemed to respond to his playing. Once it came to an end, with a wave of his hand the sound of rolling thunder echoed across the battlefield. "Thunderstorm!" TJ shouted out as bolts rained down upon their adversaries and ignited the field. Arrows of light surrounded him as he began a new song and Amata followed up with Ten Flames.

"Blow 'em away!" She roared as a series of explosions were followed up by her cackling excitedly.

It had not been long before the battlefield had soon turned into a field of corpses. Sparks rained across it and the Agasura that were unfornate enough to be caught in the friendly fire were set aflame, which made it all the easier for Amata to fell them. As the numbers dwindled a worn-down looking Peorth and Curt became visible, and with some aid from their companions they had felled the remaining Agasura.

The group came together at the bridge and TJ helped them ro recover any remaining wounds. His eyes remained focus on the guild master for a spell, her pale body bruised and swollen, but her expression stoic as ever-was she masking her pain, or did it not affect her?

"TJ, I see you have obtained the Calling ability. Might I inquire how this came about? Peorth asked.

"I just took your advice," He answered. "I called Memorius Sanctum to my side and though I couldn't read all of it, there were some words I could make out. It looks like they were the incantation to allow me to use that ability." He began to sweat. "I know you said to hold back a little on the mana consumption and I did! K-kind of..."

Peorth shook her head gently. "You need not fret. It is a good thing that you had done so. Given the situation we were in, I cannot say how long we would last in that battle without the timely use of your spells and aid. Curt and I found ourselves greatly outnumbered, and with multiple bears around finding opportunities to strike became much more difficult. If God Ah is good, I feel that we will not likely run into many more of them going forward, but as always we must be vigilant. We know not what lies ahead, so should we come across new Agasura, take a moment to consider how we proceed. As for those, I feel that I have come to a better understanding on their patterns, and should be able to handle any subsequent appearances."

"Thank goodness for that. If you've got any tricks in mind for those rocket popsicles, tell me all the juicy details. I think I've gotten hurt way too many times today." Amata added with a wry smile.

"I just built a goddamn amazing fuckin' bridge, and none of you have anything to say about it?" Su asked as she crossed her arms. It was quickly followed up by laughter and acknowledgements. "Fuckin' right." She muttered under her breath as she turned away.

"Alright everyone, let us move it in to place. On three! One, two..." Peorth and the others each grabbed a portion of the candy canes and hauled them over to the bridge before laying them out. "That should suffice. Let us cross quickly and bring it over. They did as suggested and left the gap open so no Agasura would follow them.

"By the way, I saw a cave or something some odd ways over there," Su added. I don't really care since I could just go back into the gem, but you might wanna set up camp there. Unless you like being wet."

"Dry land? Lead the way," Amata said without a moment of hesitation. "After being coated in O.J and fighting Agasura all day long I could do with a hot shower and a nice bed to sleep in. But I'll settle for a dry cave."

Further up river, just as Su had told them there was a large opening in the stone near the waterfall and the group took cover inside. Though they set up camp at the entrance, Su scouted ahead and soon returned informing them that the cave went on for quite a while.

"Perhaps this will lead us towards Gula. Considering that we cannot move any further up river without climbing the bedrock itself, this may be the best path for us to follow. Since night has already fallen, I suggest that it would be best if we set up camp here for the night and proceeded through the cave in the morning." Peorth told them.

"That sounds like a good idea to me. Let's eat," Curt shouted enthusiastically.

"Show me what you can do TJ!" Curt said enthusiastically.

"H-here goes!" TJ said as he swallowed hard. He held his hands out towards the rock and focused his mana towards it. A small crack formed in it and from within a tiny tree sprouted and grew a few feet. "How's that?"

"Perfect." Curt said with an approving nod. "Timber!" The Treasure Hunter took his dagger to the tree like an axe and chopped the tiny sapling down as TJ watched silently. He felt a piece of him be chopped down as he watched the tree fall to the ground so they could make firewood of it. "Are those tears I see TJ?"

The Abellan blinked. "Huh? I'm not crying."

"The eyes don't lie dude." TJ rubbed his eyes and checked his hands-they were dry. He glared at Curt and the Treasure Hunter grinned at him. "Gotcha!" The Abellan pursed his lips before he hit his companion over the head with his fist gently. "O-oww okay I deserved that one." After he made a fire pit with the help of TJ he dusted his hands off and signalled the guild master over. "Our part's done. The rest is in your hands."

"You have our thanks," Peorth answered.

"I'm gonna go check out these caves. Be back in a few."

Peorth's eyes followed him for a couple moments before they shifted to TJ and he nearly jumped back. "Would you be so kind as to light this TJ? I must gather the rations."

He thought of saying 'leave it to me', but could not utter the words so he saluted her instead. He rummaged through his bag and took out his flint before attempting to light the fire. After a few attempts the sparks crackled to life and the fire started up as he gently stoked the flames-he glanced over his shoulder and saw the guild master talking to the Governor of Fire. She returned and gave him an approving nod. "What were you and Amata talking about Chief?" He asked.

"Curious sort aren't ya'?" Amata asked as she leaned against him and pressed the headphones down to his neck.

"We were discussing the Cerebian lineage. If you are interested, you are welcome to join in," Peorth answered with a slight twinkle in her eye.

"I'd call it more of a lecture than a discussion, but when you phrase it like that it's pretty flattering." The Governor of Fire chuckled. "Peorth really knows her stuff. I've talked with scholars and know-it-alls from all over the place and most of them couldn't even dream of knowing what she does." She smiled gently. "And hey, maybe you might remember something by hearing what she has to say. I dunno if anything other than those stones can jog your memory, but learning a few things about us will do you a world of good." She crossed her arms and knit her eyebrows. "Though the one we need to study most is you, really. You could put our whole race to shame with how odd you are. If you remember something, don't be afraid to share. We won't bite, but we might poke and prod."

TJ blinked as Amata grinned at him and he turned his eyes to the guild master who listened with a keen curiosity, then gave a nod at his glance. She agreed with that? He could do without the poking, but if there was anything they wanted to know he would share. "I'm all ears."

Peorth rubbed her chin thoughtfully as Amata put the pot on the fire and added water. "Where do I begin? There is a mixture of myth and fact scattered about in our history. Some tales are embellished, be it by the bards as they are wont to do, or historians in search of the next link in the chain, to fill the gaps that they lacked. The texts claim that our race hails from the Creator Goddess Amae Herself, that it began with Her and the clans all descended from the seven warriors She had appointed to fight alongside Her and God Ah. Others say that there were many others Cerebians before that, and the basis of the clans were born from those that had followed the seven when they had went their seperate ways, following the battle against Agasura King Asmodeus and his army." Peorth took a spoon and stirred the broth evenly and steadily for a couple of moments. "I believe there is truth to both accounts. If we are to consider the origins of the cities that existed upon Asgard up until but a few short years ago, many of them still have strong ties to the past, and the clans that reside in them are proof of that fact. Among the many cities, there are families that hold to rituals from ages past, and pass on these very things to the next generation in their line. Though you may not be aware of it, both Amata and I are proof of that very fact."

"Y-you are?" TJ asked with a start.

"Indeed." The guild master nodded. "As you are aware, I am of the Ásvaŕtlim Clan, and for hundreds of years we have been known as those chosen by Lady Amae Herself. We bore the herald, and also one of Lady Amae's own traits-the power of clairvoyance. Over the years, this ability has waned somewhat through our lineage, and in doing so we have sought out new means in order to perform this feat." She reached into her pocket and drew her deck of cards. "This is my own. I had tried a myriad of objects and means to master my own innate abilities, and both Freya and I faced a myriad of hardships in order to come to one such conclusion, but in time I had found my way to this. That matter aside, we were not given just this ability alone. We were also those who were chosen to carry out this duty-to lead the Cerebians to salvation, to bridge the gap between us and mankind, and to put a stop to the Agasura once and for all." She stopped stirring and closed her eyes for a moment. I believe that God Ah and Lady Amae had decided many a years ago that we would be destined to meet. It could have been any of my ancestors from hundreds of years ago and yet...this honour has fallen to me. It seems that they had believed me to be the one that could lead our kind in earnest and then I had met you." She smiled slightly and her cheeks flushed. "I had always loved and admired my mother-when I was young and when we had first parted, I had believed that if she was to have been the one to have met you, that things would be different-that she would succeed where I had failed. Despite that fact it was I nonetheless, and she was always watching over me. She had guided me to you. It truly is, a miracle." She sniffed quietly and lowered her head. "Amata would you continue in my stead? I would like to focus on my cooking for now."

Amata smiled. "Sure. So TJ, I know you're pretty informed about the God's Governors so I can spare you a lot of details on that. Now I'm gonna shock you," She began.

"Eh?" He asked. She had electricity? Should he be scared? Would it hurt?

She cleared her throat. "A lot of Cerebians don't believe the God's Governors exist you know." He looked nonplussed. "Ha! Your face speaks for itself."

"B-b-but how?! I mean you guys are..."

The God's Governor of Fire nodded sagely. "Truth be told, a lot of the time we really don't stand out much. We usually appear in bad times and handle matters. My dad, grandpa, and all the other God's Governors before them lived pretty ordinary lives on Asgard, but if the Agasuras ever got out of hand they would join in to put a stop to them. Most of them have been watching, waiting for you to appear. They knew their duties, and they knew when you came from...wherever it is you do, that's when they would really need to buckle down and put all that training to use. Power like ours was something they tried to keep under wraps, even from the Cerebians, so most that haven't met us think of us as nothing more than a myth. Though back on topic, we hail from a clan too. Somewhere along the way our last name changed and then it got a little confusing but we're still the descendants of Rayinth, the first God's Governor of Fire. The other God's Governors are likely the same. Me, Su, that weirdo Kooh, and whoever that other guy is." Her face twitched. "It'd help if he came out of hiding already! He damn well knows we need him!" She huffed. "Still, a lot of the times our lineage really rears it's head when it comes to rituals and stuff like that. The prayer that I say before I can awaken is one of those very rituals you know. It's the way the God's Governors have chosen to tap into their power, and those words have been passed down since the beginning of time. That, and the look and outfit we take up." Amata grinned. "To think that my ancestors once wore that same garb is pretty cool. I'm willing to bet that you've got a couple rituals that you do too TJ. You might not be aware of it, but it's a part of our history. It's what makes us who we are, and though we might not realize it, it's a gift from our ancestors."

Peorth raised her head and her eyes focused on him. "It is as Amata says. The song that you play and the lyrics that accompany it are a form of ritual also. Music has been a very important part of our kind for many a years, but it is the first time I have seen it used to summon the spirit of another to fight."

"H-hold on a second there Peorth." Amata said with a cautious look and an open palm. "She fights? That Velvet girl?" TJ nodded. "Explain."

"You had heard of the Synergism ability that TJ has obtained correct?" Peorth asked.

"Yeah I heard that weird spirit he summoned mention it. It let's him summon the Einherjars right? But she also described them as the sealed Saints so does that mean...?"

Peorth nodded gravely. "Yes it is true. They are my felled companions. Felled, but not forgotten. The fact that TJ could speak to Velvet is proof that they are there, and though for a brief time may return to this world as themselves. That aside, it means they too, are waiting on the other side for us. I cannot help but wonder if it is possible that we will fight together once more and if so...perhaps I will see my family once more."

TJ's eyes shuttered-he wanted to comfort Peorth. Years later, though she knew her mother was gone it seemed that a part of her still yearned to see her. If Peorth admired her, she must have been something special. "I know we'll cross paths with them again Chief. I believe in Velvet, and I'm willing to bet the others would say the same thing. I'm not sure how long it'll take but we'll find those Sinners and rescue the others. Definitely!" He explained with clenched fists.

"So it's true then? That your clan can appoint new Saints? N-not that I had any doubts on the matter but you know how things can get blown out of proportion sometimes..." Amata muttered under her breath while she averted her gaze.

Peorth nodded. "That is indeed fact. That matter aside, there is a question that matter brings up."

"What is it?"

"I have heard that it was possible for our kind to summon. Leaving aside the God's Governor's uncanny abilities to call upon the powers of spirits, some tales say that there were Cerebians known for their ability to invoke the power of Cerebians who had gone through apotheosis and took their place among the gods, rather than becoming Einherjars. It is possible that the Invocation ability shares some similarities with this, but as of yet I lack the concrete proof to know."

Amata crossed her arms. "It sounds plausible though, doesn't it? I mean we have the ability to allow humans to become Confidants through 'Ascension' so it doesn't seem impossible that the gods could deify us. The only ascended Cerebians I could think of are Lady Amae's Seven Saints. Or at least, so I've heard. Most of the people I've spoken with claimed that Cerebians ascending to godly status was improper and that the only one who could be anything close to that would be the Abellan. But just the way they used the title made me think that even they had their doubts that he existed to begin with," She sighed. "I suppose if I wasn't a God's Governor maybe I would too. Still, despite you being the Abellan I had treated you rather unfairly TJ. Sorry-really." He gestured for her not to worry. "Still, it looks like there are really deep connections between the living and the dead. Those who are deified, your Saints, the Einherjars...and then there's Su..." Amata crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Tell me something Peorth. Do you know of the clan of shamans?"

Peorth nodded. "My family was once acquainted with one of the Artimen Clan. What of them do you wish to know?"

"I'd heard they were able to cross the borders between worlds-to access the plane between the world of the living and the dead. In that place they would purify the souls of the dead before sending them to the other side. Was it true that their quest was to bridge the gap between the two worlds? Could they manage that?"

"I cannot say whether or not that it was possible for them to do so successfully, as it may have been a path they chose to follow, or that the gods themselves had appointed to them, but it is true that they could go to such a place." Peorth looked down at the pot as she continued to stir it solemnly, thoughtfully. She had already added the ingredients and the fragrant smell nearly made TJ's mouth water. Though nowhere near as delicious as Peorth's home cooked meals, even rations tasted good after a day of adventuring. "The last of them...at least that I knew of, was murdered." She shook her head. "I cannot help but think that the person or organization who had done such a thing was a sympathizer of the Agasura, to have selected him specifically. We must be wary-those forces plague not only Jienda alone, but also the Big Apple and likely any cities upon the continent. Their forces have been around for more than just a matter of years." Peorth's expression turned grave. "If you are to seek out information, ensure that you do so through the appropriate channels, God's Governor. As the saying goes, 'there are snakes in the grass and wolves in the woods'. Proceed with caution, and choose your actions wisely."

Amata closed her eyes. "...I see. I'd heard about them from one of the members of Bastion, but to think they'd spread out that far." She clicked her tongue. "If they've got the gall to step foot in any of my territory they're gonna have to answer to me and the rest of Mezzalone. We don't take kindly to any who fight for the Agasura." TJ swallowed the statement hard.

After taking a spoonful of the food in the pot and tasting it, Peorth gave an approving nod. "It seems that our meal is prepared. Let us find Curt and eat, shall we?"

The following morning the group had packed up everything and eaten their meal before they made their final preparations to continue their journey.

"Stay together everyone. Light is scare within the caverns, so we must proceed with caution. We know not what lurks within the darkness so we must assume that our enemy is around us at all times," Peorth explained.

"It really is dark in here..." Amata muttered under her breath. "Do you think it's possible that there's some kind of trick to lighting this place?"

"Why not just have that idiot eat something again? If it worked the first time I'd bet it'd work again." Su suggested with a shrug.

"What do you suggest?" TJ asked as he glanced around the cave. As the God's Governor had said, it was rather dark-the only light within was that of the crystals that rested against and within the walls. The path was rather narrow, but if three or four of them had lined up side-by-side they could likely walk through. At least three of them could fit without tripping over a crystal formation. Su pointed to the crystals and he looked nonplussed. "I can eat a lot of things but I can't eat that."

"Can't knock it 'till you try it dude." Curt said as he glanced over at them. "Like those berries. Crazy tasty, but they don't grow out here." He sighed. "I've got a serious craving for some more but I really don't wanna mission back there to get them."

"So why don't you be the sacrifice then and stop yammering on about some stupid fruits?" Su asked with an exasperated gaze.

"Wow! You sure know how to make that sound tempting don't you?"

"Well you did say 'can't knock it 'till you try it' so all the more reason for you to go first Curt." Amata said with a devilish grin.

He raised a finger to object but opted out for frowning instead. "Me and my big mouth. Fine, I'll do it." Curt walked over and tapped one of the crystals a couple times to see how sturdy it was. He gripped a piece with his left hand and raised his right elbow before bringing it down upon the rock. A piece cracked off and he weighed it in his hand thoughtfully for a couple of moments. He eyed it, sniffed it and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Oh get on with it already would you? We don't have all damn day for your moronic antics," Su roared.

He eyed her solemnly, then turned his eyes back to the stone before sticking his tongue out. After one lick, he smacked his lips then grinned like a child in a candy store. "These are no gemstones! It's rock candy! The sweetness, the texture, everything about it is just perfect!" He tossed a piece into his mouth and chewed it. "Come on guys, give it a try! Stuff's great! I could eat it all day!"

TJ blinked, then held out a hand. "I'll give it a try." He said as Curt gave him a piece. Reluctant at first, he placed it in his mouth and sucked on it for a moment and noticed that it indeed tasted good. It was rather sweet in fact, although it looked like a gemstone and he began to enjoy the taste before he chewed and swallowed it. "Those actually aren't ba-whoa! Curt you're...you're glowing!"

"W-what? Oh man I am. I'm radioactive!" He said flailing his arms as Amata snorted out a chuckle.

"This is good. So long as we can maintain this light, I feel that we could proceed through the dungeon with much less fear. Even if there is a lack of crystals, with this much light the chance of any Agasura that attempt to take the initiative on us will not find their attempt met with simple success."

TJ began to glow gently too and he looked down at his hands. "As an added plus, we don't need to use mana to light the way either. We should take some of these back outside of the Instance. They might come in handy."

"You've got business sense TJ! A man after my own heart!" Curt added and Peorth looked at him incredulously.

"One of you only thinks about food and the other about money. Are you two sure you're not Sinners in disguise?" Amata joked with a shrug.

"Only one way to find out. Let's dissect 'em and see what we can learn from 'em." Su twirled her dagger in her hand and pointed it at the two with an evil grin.

Both raised their hands in solemn surrender.

"Guess I'll take the lead since I'm a walking talking lantern. Forward march!" Curt shouted as he pointed forward and the team followed in his wake. "Unless our princess wants to eat one of these tasty crystals." He grinned.

"Don't get smart," Amata said.

"In truth I am not very fond of sweets, but should you feel unsure about being the vanguard I have no qualms about the matter." Peorth added as she eyed him.

"Hang on a sec' there." The Governor placed a hand before the guild master. "Jokes aside, we'd been through something like this already back in the Pharaoh's Chambers with TJ. Can we not risk your life too please?"

"Thanks voice of reason. Not that I care." Su said with a shrug to which she received an exasperated glance in turn.

"No it's fine. Let's go." The Treasure Hunter answered before leading.

Curt went on with TJ nearby, and Peorth following beside him with her spear at the ready. Both God's Governors followed up after them, Amata carefully glanced back every now and then in case an Agasura snuck up on them. As the group walked Curt felt his way around by keeping his hand to the wall, but somewhere along the way he suddenly slipped and fell aside causing everyone to panic.

"C-Curt! Are you alright?!" TJ asked as he glanced to where Curt was and saw the Treasure Hunter just barely remaining on his feet above a swirling hole that seemed to lead into a lower portion of the caverns.

"Talk about a close call. Lend me a hand would you?" He asked as sweat ran down his brow. Peorth and TJ each took a hand and pulled him out from above the hole. "It's a good thing that there are more crystals ahead. We can actually see where we're going, and it looks like there's more holes too. If I do fall, one of you better be ready to sprout wings and dive after me. I don't think there's marshmallows waiting for me at the bottom of those holes."

"Well when you're impaled and bleeding out you can think of marshmallows if it makes you feel better," Su remarked.

"That's uhh...graphic." Amata muttered under her breath with knit brows.

Curt tossed a few more crystals and chewed on them as the glowing effect on him began to wane. "That's where you guys come in. Just don't get impaled with me would ya'? Or it's gonna be a huge problem for all of us," He said.

"Can we not talk about getting impaled? Or getting killed in general? I'd rather not picture that." TJ added with pursed lips.

"Worry not. We shall come to your aid should you fall," Peorth said.

"Good. I'll be counting on you then." Curt said as he moved forward. The path seemed to wind and rise as it did, crystals lined the walls and the ceiling of the caverns and holes like tunnels lined the path making it ever more dangerous for the group without the proper light. He placed a hand to his forehead and scouted out the area, but in the darkness it was tough to see what was ahead. He blinked once as he saw a crimson object that seemed to be approaching him. "Do you guys see that?"

"Get down!" Su shouted and everyone immediately fell to the floor. A popsicle, or what seemed to be one drifted over their heads and continued soaring through the caverns while leaving a frosty trail in its wake.

"Those are the same things I saw shooting across the sky!" TJ cried out as he raised his head.

"And the same thing that flew straight into my stomach. I'm hurting all over again just thinking about it..." Amata muttered under her breath.

"You know, if enough of those things come flying down this path there's a good chance we could get knocked into a hole. This place is way more dangerous than we think." Curt rose to his feet and dusted off his clothes. "It's getting pretty exciting!"

Su furrowed her brows. "Can I just...put this idiot out of his misery before he gets us killed too?"

"Please refrain from doing so," Peorth answered.

As they went onward they came to an opening, and found themselves in a wider section of the caverns. The entire section was littered with bright crimson crystals.

"What's up with these ones?" Amata asked as she walked past the others and tapped one. She looked through the area in case of Agasura and gestured a couple of the others over. Su and Curt were inspecting some by the entrance.

"I cannot say by just looking, but the separation in colour likely means that it serves a secondary purpose. I suppose that there is one definitive way to find an answer, but I cannot bring myself to ask any of you to consume such an untested subject without the proper knowledge of its effects," Peorth answered.

"Don't worry about it Peorth." Curt answered with his mouth full. "I'm already way ahead of you on that page." The guild master looked nonplussed by the statement.

Amata laughed, "You know, your willingness to do something stupid so we don't have to is almost admirable. Here's to hoping that you come out of that alive."

Curt swallowed. "To be honest, I didn't think that far ahead. What are the odds that I'll blow up or mutate or something, do you think?"

"A hundred to none."

TJ laughed this time around, "As grim as that is, when you put it like that it does sound kinda funny."

"So? Where's that third arm huh? I'm getting impatient." Su asked as she approached and crossed her arms.

Curt raised an eyebrow. "Third arm? Well if that's what you're looking for I already have one but you're a bit too yo-" It was not long before Su had him on the ground with her hands around his neck. "H-hang on! You're gonna stretch my neck out! I'll become a giraffe!"

Amata placed a hand over her eye and sighed gently. "These idiots..."

Moments after Su began throttling him Curt melted into the stone beneath him and an image of him was all that remained in the stone. The group looked startled, save for Peorth who crouched down and slid her hand across the image.

"It seems that the crystals within this part of the cavern contain a defensive measure, perhaps to aid us against attacks that would typically be unavoidable by any other means. It may be in our best interest to carry some on our persons and use them should the need arise, but sparingly."

Curt emerged from the ground and sat up with a bewildered look. "Well that's the first time I've ever been turned to stone. Any longer and I might've started to enjoy it." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Bit more and I could sneak a peek at-"

This time around Amata's staff came down on the Treasure Hunter's head and he bent over rubbing the top of it. "I know exactly what you're going to say, and if you've got the balls to say it aloud I'll set them both aflame. Got it?" She asked with a vicious tone.

"He reminds me of that moron Vanir. Gross," Su muttered under her breath.

TJ looked to Peorth who seemed to have her head facing the opposite direction, for some odd reason, and then to Curt who rubbed his head gently. "Want me to heal that up for you? It looks pretty painful."

Amata placed a hand to his shoulder and shook her head. "That's his punishment. Let him learn from it," She said.

After a short break the group continued on through the caverns, each carrying a few pieces of the rock candy they had discovered. Curt and TJ held on to the blue counterpart which Curt occasionally ate to keep the light radiating from him, but the intervals became farther and fewer between the further they went on. TJ could not help but wonder if he had acquired a taste for them.

Curt held out a hand. "Listen. You guys hear that?" Peorth and Su nodded in response. "Rocket popsicles, and it sounds like a lot of them are coming. Get in the walls!" The group each took out a piece of the rock candy and split up, each swallowing a piece before taking to the walls or the floor as a series of Agasura flew by in three waves. After they passed by the group emerged and regrouped. "Guess that explains what those are good for huh? Thank goodness for that."

"I believe it is far too early for us to let our guard down Curt. I can hear more Agasura coming. Everyone, to arms!" Peorth shouted, and everyone drew their weapons. From around the corner a large crimson boxer bear scrambled into their vision and rose to its feet before roaring at them. It took up a battle stance before it approached, and Peorth took to the vanguard to meet it. "I will strike first! Broken Wings!" She armed her spear and hurled it over her shoulder.

The bear stepped aside and the spear collided with a wall where Peorth reappeared and charged back in, causing it to turn around and focus on her.

"Quit standing aside idiots and get it while it's not looking!" Su shouted as she charged past them towards the teeming darkness where Peorth presided.

"Right!" TJ shouted as the others followed in her wake. He heard the sound of a scream and turned around to see a snake coiled around a crystal hanging from the ceiling capture Amata and pull her from the ground by her neck. Her staff clattered to the ground and she struggled to break free from its grip on her. "H-hang on Amata I'm coming!"

He put his guitar on his back and ran towards her, jumped up and wrapped his arms around her waist as he tried to pull her out from the snake's hold.

"Incoming popsicles!" Curt shouted from ahead.

"Oh...no..." TJ muttered. Moments before he let go of Amata's waist the popsicles came soaring towards him and the first wave caught his legs. His entire body turned as the second wave came after, and collided with his stomach before drifting by. He flipped through the air before falling face-first into the stone. "Guh..." He pried himself from the ground and wiped the blood from his nose and mouth before he stole a glance at Amata who was still constrained and Curt who was laid out also. Su dove from the ceiling and cut a swath through the bear before sliding beneath its fist. He spread his wings and glared at the snake before he jumped to the wall and from it to freeze the water in the air before him into an icicle and cut through the snake. Amata fell to the ground and lay incapacitated as she coughed and gasped for air, gently rubbing her throat. TJ came to a skidding halt and drew his guitar to lend his allies aid against the bear.

It blocked the shaft of Peorth's spear with its paw as it slid towards her and thrusted its free paw into her chest forcing her back while Su leapt on its and thrust her dagger into its neck. As she ripped the weapon out it reached behind it as it crouched down and grabbed her by the sweater before hurling her over its head against the ground. The moment she touched the ground it followed up with a jab to the chest and side-stepped as a series of icicles from TJ's Frozen Blitz came after it.

Earth magic was definitely out-not even Su used it, and he could see why. If he was to do so, the caverns could collapse and the group would fall into the dark unknown depths. So long as he had his ice magic, it would suffice for the time being. TJ grit his teeth and with a wave of his hand conjured a sphere of water before him. "I'll cut you down! Caster's Workshop!" He placed his hands to the sphere and shaped a short-sword before he caught it and charged ahead. With a leap he brought the sword down and found the strike caught between the bear's paws. It ripped the sword from his hands and punched him twice in the stomach which sent him reeling back. One eye closed and a hand to his stomach, he caught a glimpse of the sword he created as it flew towards him. Moments before it impaled him he found Curt standing before him with his shield raised-stopping the blow from felling him. "Nice save Curt!"

"Leave the sharp weapons to us TJ. Guitars are more your style." He added with a grin. He charged ahead and locked weapons with the bear while Peorth's spear grazed its flank. It stepped aside and dragged Curt's shield with it but he persisted in remaining in a deadlock with it.

Su peeled herself from the ground and rubbed her stomach with a look of frustration. "Goddamn Agasura...I'm gonna cut that fucker a new hole. And where's that useless ass Amata?" Thoughts of looking back to her danced in TJ's mind but the look in Su's eyes was one of caution. "More of them are coming! Get down!"

TJ drew a piece of the crimson candy from his pocket and readied himself to eat it as he glanced back to Amata, and saw the girl crouched down holding her head with a look of absolute terror on her face. He grit his teeth and dashed towards her using the strength of his wings. As he skidded by her he raised her chin and opened her mouth to put the candy in before he pushed her to the ground-perhaps subconsciously she ate it or swallowed it whole and was submerged in the ground as another wave of popsicles approached. He drew his guitar as a last resort and managed to fend off one of them just barely-the collision took a mighty toll on his body and left him completely weakened as a second wave followed after it. He shielded himself with his guitar once more, but failed to hold his ground and his grip on the weapon loosened. When he finally managed to fend off the Agasura, the strap on his weapon broke and both creature and instrument were flung into one of the holes in the cave. "No!" He shouted as he ran after it and reached out as he hit the floor, then watched the two crash against the walls and fall to the depths. As the ribbon upon the neck of his guitar vanished from his sight despair washed over him in tides. His fingers scraped the stone as he slammed his fist down and shook his head, fighting back his tears. Now was not the time. His allies needed him. He ran past as Amata emerged from the ground looking worn-out, but more at ease than before and turned the corner to find his allies struggling.

Curt rose to one knee as he coughed up blood and reached out to reclaim his dagger-a snake that arose from one of the holes had coiled around Su and used its body to restrict her weapon arm and her legs, and Peorth was still engaged with the bear but put on the defensive because of how close it was to her. He considered his options-who was he to help first? Who needed him most? He shook his head and ran to aid the guild master who was still locked in combat.

"TJ! You must not let your guard down! Lend your aid to the others...I shall-" She raised her spear to block a punch and the sheer force of the blow forced her back.

"You can't manage it alone Chief. I'll fight alongside you!" He shouted in turn as he approached it from behind with a series of icicles at the ready. With a wave of his hand they circled around him and fired from a myriad of directions. The bear pulled away from the guild master and TJ considered his assault a success, but he did not know what lurked around the corner. Moments after Peorth turned to defend her blind spot and what seemed to be a doughnut collided with her. It fell atop her and trapped her just like Amata had been previously, and she struggled to break free. "Chief!"

She grit her teeth and turned her gaze to him to offer him a reassuring, but clearly strained smile. "Worry not for me TJ! You must focus on the enemy before you concurrently!"

He wanted to disregard that order and break her free, but he would have to get past the bear first. 'It was just one bear after all, right?' Is what he thought, but he was wrong. The sound of another roaring brought his attention to what lurked within the darkness and unease welled up inside him. He would have to end the battle as quickly as possible to stop the second. He took a deep breath and charged towards it, and as if in response to the action it took on a defensive stance to await his inevitable attack. He reeled a fist back as a feint and opted out for jumping to the side as it took a pre-emptive right hook at him. It's paw barely grazed his shoulder as he drifted by and placed his feet to the walls of the cavern and leapt back towards it with a fist reeled back. It caught on to him quickly and turned on the balls of its heels to avoid his fist and hit it with one of its own, winding him, but in that moment he found his opportunity.

"Gotcha! Sub-zero!" He dug his nails into the creature's arm and from there onwards ice encroached upon its body and spread across it with incredible speed. He released it as it had completely frozen and landed on the ground before conjuring water once more. "Caster's Workshop!" He shaped it into a mallet and hauled it over his shoulder before swinging it horizontally. The bear shattered to pieces and the Abellan unintentionally flung the hammer as he collapsed atop the shards of ice and gripped his stomach. The pain from all the blows he took was really starting to catch up to him, and the last blow had done him no favours either, but Peorth and Su still needed him. He tried to force himself to his feet but the throbbing intensified and his body refused to move.

"Take a breather dude. I'll cover you." Curt told him as he rushed past, shield and dagger in hand. By the way he moved TJ knew he was fighting the pain he had suffered also, but TJ could only smile bitterly and thankfully for Curt coming to his aid.

"Hell's fuckin' bells!" Su cursed as she tried to writhe free from the snake's hold but to no avail. "Get me out of here already you useless sack!"

"Would that I could, but we've got a bigger problem standing before us, now don't we?" Curt stood face-to-face with the second boxer bear that approached. "Shall we..." He put away his shield and drew three knives with a grin. "Dance?" Placing both weapons to his side he charged forward and avoided the bear's first punch. The second one came just as quickly but he managed to avoid it and thrust one of his knives into it. It brought a fist down and he back flipped aside before hurling the other two knives into its right arm. It stormed towards him and he reached into his pocket to draw a pair of tiny yellow bombs in the shape of cylinders. As it drew nearer he sheathed his dagger and took out his flint, and ignited both before hurling them towards the bear. Sparks shot out from each and caused the bear to fall away while Curt drew his dagger and two more knives. He hurled one into the stomach as he leapt towards its left flank, the weapon drawing its attention from the bombs he lit as he ran beneath its arm and grabbed the knife he placed there previously and pulled it through the bear's arm cutting through it and causing it to fall away from the rest, but still cling to the body. As it turned to take a swipe at him the bombs he placed down crackled to life and consistently burst in a series of sparks allowing for another opening in the Agasura. Curt slid behind it and cut a swath through its back with his dagger while he lodged another knife in its upper back and tore another cut in it with the two in the other arm. It turned to him and tried to hit him with a straight punch but he crouched under it and thrust his dagger into the waist. "Good try but not close enough!"

He fell away at the sound of incoming popsicles and drew more rock candy from his pocket before eating it and dropping to the ground to hide within it. They passed him by and though they collided with the bear it did not budge-rather they seemed to be deflected by it and flew into walls and down a hole before disappearing from sight. He emerged from the ground and wiped the sweat from his brow before turning to the guild master. "You alright there Chief?"

She blinked before turning her eyes to him. "Yes, I am safe. It was fortunate that they were not flying low as the previous Agasura had on occasion. But alas, you must not lose focus. Aid us when the enemy before you is felled," She answered.

"You got it." The bear seemed to lose interest in the bombs after they fizzled out and Curt readied both his weapons to engage it again. "Alright, come on then, I'm not done with you yet."

"Watch your back dumbass!" Su shouted as another doughnut came rolling down the hill and collided with the Treasure Hunter's back, rolling over him and dragging him a few meters down into the caverns with it, rolling over TJ as it passed and coming to a halt once Amata blocked it with her staff. "And another one's down for the count. Worthless. So you got any great plans, O wise princess?"

The guild master knit her brows and closed her eyes. "I cannot deny that even I find myself at a loss." She began as the bear looked around and chose to approach the two. "To use my power here would endanger us all, but it may be our saving grace. But if I was to hurt you all I..."

"Over here!" TJ shouted as he rose to his feet with one hand still to his stomach. "If you'd thought you'd beaten me, you're wrong!"

"What do you plan to do you idiot?! You're a mess! You can barely stand!" Su hissed as she struggled some more and craned her neck in a vain attempt to gnaw through the gummy snake. "Just play dead or something!"

"I can still fight. This strength that plagues me...I won't fear it, not now!" He pounded his fists together and closed his eyes as he lowered his head. "Frequency!" He raised his head and his eyes flickered to crimson as he took on a pugilist's stance. "Come!"

"This idiot..." She had half a mind to place a hand to her face but could not manage it, which frustrated her slightly.

Despite his ability to move from where he stood due to weakness, and even more so his lack of a proper taunt, the bear still took the challenge and approached.

TJ swallowed hard-he was in control. He would not lose to neither Adonis, nor the darkness that lingered within him. To protect his companions, the power of the Agasura may be more necessary than he wished to admit, but now more than ever, one good strike and he would be able to end the fight. Using the Divine or Arcane Arts was too risky for everyone so this may have been his best bet. Whether it would succeed was another matter, but he would not give in. He took a deep breath and crossed his arms over before he placed them to his sides. "Sloth! Indomitability!" A violet mana crept out from the ground beneath him and surged outwards in a cone that surrounded him, leaving a swirling energy below him. The bear saw it as an act of aggression and charged forward as before coming to a sudden halt and reeling a fist back. It punched him once across the face and again in the stomach, but despite both blows hitting him directly he remained standing-his ponytail came undone and his hair fell into his face but beneath them a grin spread across his cheeks. "Wrath! Vengeance!" He stomped one foot down and forced a single fist into the stomach of the bear and the force of the blow shook the very ground they stood on. After a couple of moments ripples echoed through the creature and it burst, its pieces were flung all over and clung to the walls. TJ let out a sigh and brushed his hair aside as he smiled for but a moment, then gripped his stomach as he doubled over and retched, which was quickly followed by a torrent of blood and bile afterwards. He staggered as he wiped his mouth, then collapsed to the ground.

"TJ!" Peorth shouted as she got to her feet and ran over to him.

Amata shook her head and got to her feet as she helped Curt to his. "C-can you stand? Are you alright?" She asked.

"Just peachy. I didn't get hit too bad so go check on the others. Here, take my dagger." Curt offered her his dagger and she leaned him gently against a wall.

"Amata, may I ask of your aid?" Peorth asked with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Yeah hang on, I'll get you out in a moment!" The God's Governor answered as she carefully handled the dagger and cut away the Agasura that had Peorth trapped. "This thing too, isn't just a doughnut like the others. It has arms and feet...and eyes..." She shuddered. Once Peorth broke free she picked up TJ and cradled him in her arms.

"Hang in there TJ-my magic may be weak but I will try to help you as much as I am able!"

Amata smiled gently, but it quickly faded away after she caught a glimpse of the sorry state he was in. I'll go check on Su, so don't let your guard down while I'm gone okay?" Amata made her way further into the cave and caught a glimpse of her companion constrained and sruggling to eat her way through the snake that trapped her. Once she neared the creature, it hissed at her, to which the Governor of Fire gasped and fumbled the dagger as she fell back and her body began to tremble.

Su sighed and rolled her eyes. "Can any of you morons do anything right? Seriously!" She managed to struggle and sit up, then squirmed over to the dagger and picked it up with her teeth. Once again she craned her neck, but used the weapon to cut the creature in two, seperating the length of the body from the head and causing it to fall limp, loosening its grip on her. She freed herself from it and threw the carcass back into the hole from whence it came before dusting off her hands off and standing up. "Well? Let's go round up those others idiots."

Amata watched as Su walked off and closed her eyes. She had such incredible strength, but an even more incredible weakness.

Once the two joined the others they had all gathered by a wall, basking in the light of a crystal as they tended to each other's wounds.

"TJ I..." Amata began as she bit her lip. "I'm sorry about all of that. You got hurt protecting me, and then you even lost your weapon all because of my cowardice. I've brought shame to my father, and all of the Governors of Fire before me. As if the rest wasn't enough, I just keep putting you in all sorts of trouble."

"I don't see a problem with that." He answered with a weak chuckle.

"I see several! Look at you! I was completely and utterly useless in this fight for one stupid reason..." Amata clenched her fists and shook her head.

"And that is...?" Peorth gently stroked his hair and he grinned sheepishly.

"Snakes...I can't stand them." She pursed her lips in frustration, both at the thought of her weakness and of the fact she was stuck in a cavern with snakes. She shook her head. "It's not just them though...all of the creepy crawly things. Spiders, lizards, snakes, I hate them!" She shuddered. "I love Mezzalone, I do...but since it's hidden away within the jungle there are all sorts of insects and creatures that are just so...ugh." She sighed.

"So that was it huh? But how'd you manage against Apep? He was a giant snake, you know." Curt asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course I know that! It wasn't any less terrifying, but as long as they don't touch me I'm usually alright..." She muttered as she rubbed her neck uneasily. "That one came a little too close for comfort though." She shook her head. "Let's not...talk about that anymore, okay?" She turned to TJ with a fire in her eyes. "TJ, I'm going to find your weapon."

"Huh?!" He suddenly sat up and placed a hand to his mouth as his cheeks blew up and he swallowed with a disturbed expression.

"TJ, it is too soon for you to move. Rest a little longer please." Peorth took his head in her hands and laid it down in her lap.

Amata grinned. "Your weapon is important to you, isn't it? Even if you can fight without it, I can't just stand idly by while you have to give up such a precious item. I'll get it back for you, so believe in me, okay?" She rose to her feet and used her staff to chip a piece off of the crystal they took shelter under. She ate the piece and spread her wings. "I'll be back soon."

"Try not to die, would you? Or get impaled or something. It's bothersome," Su muttered.

"Thanks. Be right back!" Amata took off and flew towards the hole where TJ's weapon went. She placed a foot to the stone and began to slide down, further and further as the path twisted and turned leading her deeper into the darkness, she being the only light as the teeming unknown grew more and more around her. It came to a sudden and abrupt end and cast her above a sea of violet mana. "What...is this?" There was a teeming dark energy beneath the surface of the caverns-so much so she felt ill just by being near it. Was that the energy that sustained the Instance Dungeon? Such an incredible amount was gathered in one place, yet it raised the question of exactly where Gula had acquired such a grand amount and what would occur if there was more of it. The God's Governor placed a hand to her head and shook it gently. If she spent too long within it, she would sooner fall into it and be reduced to mana herself. She looked around and caught a glimpse of a formation of crystals with TJ's guitar resting atop it. She lowered herself and grabbed the weapon, taking one last long uneasy look before taking off and returning through the hole she came through-one of many.

After scouring the caverns and returning to the surface, eyes turned to her as she smiled and held out the guitar for all to see.

"You found it! Thanks Amata!" TJ said with a grin.

"No need for thanks, I did lose it in the first place you know." She placed it down next to him and rubbed her neck bashfully. If she was to protect her allies, she needed to overcome her fears-the path to awakening seemed further by the day, but in spite of it all she still felt that she had grown a bit from their recent endeavours. She looked to the guild master who looked after TJ, and she realized that Peorth had an unusually motherly air about her. At that moment the realization dawned upon her. "Peorth, I have a question!"

"Yes?" She asked as she turned her eyes to the God's Governor.

"Xenadia...you know about it right? If you've got any knowledge, anything you can tell me about it will suffice. It's just one of those things I can't seem to gather any information about."

"Xenadia...it has been quite some time since I heard that name. Are you curious about the path to awakening, God's Governor?" Amata nodded solemnly and Peorth smiled gently. "Your dedication to our cause is something I shall not quickly forget. I take it that you are aware of the place and what it serves as. As for it's current standing, in truth I cannot say that I know the exact means to return it, but I suspect that should the God's Governors complete their initial trials, we may find the answer to just that. It was said that God Ah had sunk both Xenadia and Atlantis to protect them-the former because the corruption of the Agasura had spread to the temple, and the latter to prevent that very thing from happening. Alas, with it vanished the acolytes, and many of those that studied the ways of the Derr Clan. Along with them, God's Governor Obermas likely fell also."

"Who in the seven hells is Obermas? One of our ancestors?" Su asked.

Peorth shook her head. "God's Governor Obermas was the overseer of the God's Governors. Her duty was to initiate the trials of the God's Governors when they had finished the preparations for their second trial. Alas, I have very little information on what other duties she performed, save for that of teaching the acolytes alongside the sisters of Xenadia, but it was said that when Xenadia fell, she had along with it. After hundreds of years another has not arrived to replace her, so it is possible the soul of Obermas still remains with the sunken temple. Nevertheless, the time will come where you may cross paths with her again. Should you, I have no doubts that a battle will be at hand, so you must prepare yourselves for it-in the mean time, strengthen your body and mind to face your first trial. When you feel the time is ripe, go forward and do so. Do not doubt yourself God's Governor, you have grown strong in the short time we were together, and I am sure you will continue to do so. Do not neglect neither your studies, nor your training, and you will be prepared. I can assure you."

"T-thanks. Hearing that from you is an honour, princess." Amata answered as she rubbed the back of her neck.

"I will continue my search for any information I can find on Xenadia and the trials of the Governors. As of yet, I have still much investigating to do in Lemanin, so there may be a wealth of untapped knowledge that awaits us, and the answers to the questions we seek. For the time being though, let us set our sights on the difficulties before us. There is more I know of Xenadia that I would like to share with you, but there will be a time for that. For now, let us rest a little longer before we move forward. Greater challenges lay ahead, and I wish you all to be both mentally and physically prepared to overcome them."

"So can you stop babying our ace in the hole?" Su asked with pursed lips.

TJ covered his face and Peorth blinked. "Is that what it appears to be? I see." Peorth closed her eyes. "But I cannot comply."

Amata scratched her cheek and chuckled dryly as she averted her gaze. "Well...skinship's important and all I guess?"

"If it'll get him up and fighting I've no complaints either. I'd say he earned it." Curt said with a laugh.

After their break was over the group prepared to set out once more after a short break. Amata glanced at TJ curiously, noting that he carried his guitar under his arm, and he had an oddly relaxed expression.

The God's Governor covered her eyes. "What happened to you? You're positively shining-but not in the same way as you do from eating those crystals," She remarked.

"A-am I?" TJ rubbed the back of his neck as he chuckled gently. "The Chief just has some kind of magical touch or something."

Amata placed a hand to her mouth and her face flushed. "I'm getting second-hand embarrassment from the thought of having seen that. Are you two regularly like that?"

TJ placed a finger to his chin as he attempted to recall such occasions and only thought of the night they spent together. "Eh? Uhh...no, not...regularly?"

A chuckle escaped her lips. "I'm hard pressed to say which of the two of you is stranger. But I'm glad you're getting along. Now if a certain someone wasn't being so stubborn..." Her eyes turned to Su and she received a vicious glare in turn.

"If you think I'm gonna do something like those two asshats you're wrong and dumb. Don't even give me that look."

Amata gnashed her teeth in fury. "Do you have a scorpion in your panties all the time or are you just that poison-tongued? You're already pissing me off!"

"Wanna settle it then?" Su drew her dagger from its sheath and pointed it at her companion. "I've been itching for a damn good fight and if I can put you in your place it'd be all the more enjoyable!"

"Alright you asked for i-" Amata reached out for her staff but grabbed air a couple times before she looked back. "Huh? My staff..." She looked around and caught a glimpse of TJ holding it with knit eyebrows. She looked back to Su as Curt flew by and missed as she stepped aside and he slid across the ground after a failed attempt at getting her weapon.

"There's no need to fight you two. We've been through enough rough fights as it is, and we haven't even gotten to see Gula yet. I'd rather not see you guys hurt each other too," TJ said.

Su clicked her tongue and sheathed her weapon. "Ugh...whatever. Let's just get this over with. The sooner I can stick that Sinner with the pointy end of my dagger the better." At those words she walked off.

Amata sighed, "You're right. This is becoming a pretty bad habit, isn't it?"

"As long as you understand, it is the first step to remedy a problem. Give it time Amata," Peorth answered.

"We're in this together now. If you've still got doubts, confide in us every now and again. If anything, I'm a pretty good listener." TJ said as he smiled and offered her the staff he had confiscated.

"I've no doubts that time will come. Just...you know, extend that same courtesy to Su would you? I'm sure she could use a shoulder to lean on more than I could."

"It is a decision I believe that she must make herself. When she is prepared, the time will come. Until then, we must consciously choose to move forward. The time we have is not something we can afford to take for granted. I will not hesitate either."

TJ nodded solemnly. "Right. We've got a tough road ahead of us, so we have to keep looking forward. Let's get going, Amata!" He added in confidently with an acknowledging nod.

She crossed her arms thoughtfully as the two walked off to catch up with their other companions.

The path ahead was dim, as the amount of crystals that lit their way waned, but the holes that filled the cave also had decreased greatly, and though far the group could see a light, muted as it was. As they climbed ever higher up a steep walk, they came to what seemed to be an exit to the caverns, but to their dismay the way was blocked by a large green substance.

"The hell's this?" Su said as she poked at it with her dagger. The substance moved at its touch, but pushed the weapon and her arm back out.

"Gelatin, if I was to hazard an assumption. If we are to proceed, I have no doubts that we must pass this first. The simplest way would be to cut through it, but I cannot help but suspect our plans will not proceed so smoothly," Peorth explained.

"No harm in trying though right?" Curt asked with a shrug. "I mean, the dungeon might be pretty tricky but I'm sure it has some...not so quirky quirks, am I right?" He receieved a variety of mixed expressions, but all of them seemed to disagree. "Okay maybe not, but we can hope." He munched on another piece of rock candy and Amata eyed him cautiously.

"Are you still eating those? You know we're already at the exit, don't you? You don't need to anymore," She said.

"I know. They're just tasty and I'm hungry."

"You packed awfully light for someone who eats so much. It's a good thing this entire place is practically edible or we'd all starve, you glutton."

"Curt, are you feeling ill at all?" Peorth asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Never been better. Why?"

"I see. Then it is of no concern. Shall we then?"

Su drew her dagger and twirled it in her hand before cutting a swath across the gelatin cube that blocked their way. As she rose to her full height and examined the cube before them she noticed nothing had changed, and she grit her teeth. "The hell is this? " She asked as she took a couple of stabs at it and realized her blade could not pierce it.

"Save your energy would you? If it didn't work the first four times it won't work the next ten. Let's try another method." Amata said. She placed a hand to Su's shoulder and pulled her away from it as the God's Governor muttered curses under her breath and walked away. "Do you wanna take a crack at it before I do Peorth? A spear holds more weight to it than a dagger does." The guild master shook her head solemnly and the God's Governor nodded in return. "Alright stand back everyone. A few good flames should melt this back into liquid in no time." She took a step back herself as she drew her staff and pointed it at the gelatin cube. "Flamethrower!" At her words a torrent of flames streamed out from her weapon and dispersed against the cube-once the spell ended she looked through the smoke but saw the cube had not been damaged in the slightest. "What is this thing?"

"If I was to take a guess this time around, we're probably gonna have to eat it." TJ suggested as he poked it a couple times, then charged into it and bounced right off. He came back with a vengeance, though. "Unless we can...push...it..." He placed one hand to it and a shoulder as she heaved and rapidly moved his feet in a desperate attempt to move it, but to no avail.

"You save your energy too. I think you were right the first time, so would you stop doing unecessary things?" Amata asked as she knit her brows.

"You're making me tired just looking at you. And hungry." Curt stepped over to the gelatin cube and ripped a piece off before sticking it in his mouth and eating it. "Mm...not bad." The girls looked incredulously and TJ chuckled. "Why're you all surprised? Didn't TJ just suggest that we do this?"

"It is not a matter of the suggestion, but more so that the solution was so simple. If we tear it apart, I believe we can proceed without a need to consume the product," Peorth answered.

"That and the fact you're still eating everything so readily," Amata added.

"Well? What're we waiting for? Let's tear this thing apart and get on with it." Su walked over and started ripping pieces out and casting them aside. TJ shrugged and joined in and the two went at it for a brief period while the others watched curiously.

"Hold a moment, you two," Peorth said as she turned her gaze to the bits that lay against the ground. The two stopped and looked back, the former positively more annoyed than the latter. The two turned their focus to where Peorth was looking and the tiny bits they had left in the wake of their task seemed to come to life and quiver, before they rolled across the ground to rejoin the whole. "It seems that this too, is not a trial so simple as we had once thought. But fear not, my companions for there is light in this darkness." Su crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow to which the guild master pointed at the piece Curt had eaten. It, unlike the rest remained out of sight, and within the Treasure Hunter.

Su looked to it, than to him with sheer disgust in her eyes. "I can't believe you ate that. I feel like throwing up just knowing that it's wriggling in your stomach."

Curt patted his stomach and grinned at her, and she bared her teeth at him in annoyance.

"So we're gonna have to eat our way through this? All of it?" TJ asked as he tapped it a couple times with his hand and tried to look through it. Despite being gelatin, the green cube was nigh impossible to see through.

Peorth nodded gravely. "That seems to be the case. Shall we then?" As she approached TJ held out a hand to stop her, and she looked at him slightly startled.

"Let me, Chief. I'll do enough for the both of us." His courage faltered and his stoic face quickly turned into a nervous smile as he scratched his cheek. "You're...not too fond of sweets right? If that's the case something like this is the least I could do. It's not dangerous either, so it's okay, right?" He turned his eyes to Amata and she raised an eyebrow before averting her gaze and brushing a few hairs aside.

"W-what're you asking me for? It's not like you need my permission. Do your thing," She answered.

"I'm not touching that shit. I'd sooner eat my own rotting arm than put any of that in my stomach." Su said to which Amata gave her a wilting gaze, one of confusion and exasperation before turning back to the boys.

"Wanna race?" Curt asked with a devilish grin.

"Hang on." TJ said as he placed his guitar down and took a deep breath. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go!"

"On three. One, two..."

At those words both reached out and ripped out piece after piece of gelatin and stuffed their faces as they forced their way from one side of the product to the other, creating a tunnel of sorts big enough for the others to follow in their wake as they made their way through. The further in they moved the more light came through, and after a couple minutes the two had each reached the end-a few sunbeams reached them as popsicles rained from the sky like mortars upon what seemed to be a battlefield. Wafer sticks, popsicles, rice dumplings and a variety of Agasura's corpses littered the area. It seemed that the Agasura fought amongst themselves prior to the adventurers arriving. What drew the most attention though, was the giant gelatin rabbit and the gingerbread men that surrounded it.

"It's a boss," Su said. "It's about damn time."

"That's definitely a boss. And it looks like its got friends too. We're in for a treat aren't we?" Curt asked.

"This...the presence of a guardian? No...it is weaker..." Peorth muttered under her breath.

"Looks like we're gonna have to beat this thing if we're gonna scale the mountain. Are you guys ready for this?" Amata asked as she eyed her companions.

"As long as we don't have to eat anymore that's fine by me. I think I'm-urp...feeling a bit ill after eating all that jello."

The God's Governor chuckled. "I'm willing to bet this one can beat by normal means. Judging by last time though, it won't be one that we could just simply beat down. There's probably some kind of means to kill it."

TJ nodded and turned his eyes to the guild master. "How do you wanna play this Chief?"

"It will be difficult for us to focus on the boss so long as the Agasura surround it. Amata, TJ, I would like for you two to clear out any extras. Suuba, I would like you to aid them until their numbers are dwindled. Curt and I shall keep the rabbit's focus in the meantime while we seek out a means to damage it. Is everyone clear on their roles?" Peorth explained before she looked amidst her guild members.

"Leave it to me!" TJ said with a grin.

"Crystal," Amata answered.

"I've got your back Peorth." Curt added with a grin.

Su sniffed. "Sounds easy enough. Since I can use my magic it'll be quick," She said.

"Good. We shall be counting on your aid TJ. Commence the battle once you feel you have provided all the necessary songs. Everyone, we begin!" Peorth drew her spear and charged in with the others following in her wake. "Curt, take the left flank! We shall strike it before it may retaliate!"

Peorth and Curt each took a side as the rabbit hopped towards the two. Curt flew past it and cut a long line across while Peorth came to a skidding halt and followed up with three rapid stabs.

"Right flank Peorth!" Amata shouted as her hand reeled back from throwing a fireball and she pointed a finger. "Ignite!" A gingerbread man riding a Swedish fish had a flame burst in its face and the rice dumpling skewer it carried fell to the floor moments before Peorth's spear met its chest and split it in two.

"You have my thanks." Peorth answered as the rabbit rose to its feet and took two swipes at her.

Curt jumped to the left foreleg and plunged his dagger into it before swinging to the top of it and grabbing hold of the ears. He held on tightly as it swung its head back and forth and cut a slit in it before he was hurled off and tumbled away. The scratches he got on the way down were quickly cured as a series of tiny green ripples and the sounds of TJ's playing helped him rise again. "Thanks!" He gave a thumbs-up to his companion and TJ smiled back.

The rabbit let out a long cry that seemed more like a bellow and at the sound the popsicles that flew across the sky turned into a sudden descent.

"Pain in the ass!" Su roared as she stomped the ground beneath her and hurled rocks to offset the course of the popsicles. "There's too many of these goddamn things! I've got..." She turned on the balls of her heels and hurled a rock into the face of an oncoming fish before she plunged her dagger into the eye. "Better things..." As it crashed to the ground she leapt towards the rider and knocked it to the floor before breaking its head off with her weapon. "To do, damn it!" Su turned her eyes back to the sky as more popsicles rained down upon them, but moments before she could prepare to counterattack a blue barrier like a grid took form and surrounded them-the popsicles that made contact were reflected.

"Doctrine of the Warden!" TJ shouted as he took his place amidst his allies and gently strummed his guitar. "This won't do will it? I'll try and expand the range a bit!" He began to strum faster but the song still continued in tune.

"You dumbass! If you'd just stayed away from the battle I wouldn't have to protect you!" She ran towards him and transitioned into a soaring kick to bring down a child-sized and shaped Agasura coated in sugar. It skid across the ground with her foot in its face and quickly met its demise as she plunged her dagger into it twice.

"Watch yourselves! There's some new Agasura popping up around here!" Curt shouted to his companions. The rabbit nearly collapsed upon him but he narrowly escaped it with a pair of backflips.

"Behind you Curt!" Peorth shouted as she brought her spear to the creature and sidestepped its swipe.

"Well shit." Without taking the time to look back Curt caught a blow from a dango as he rose to his full height and hit the ground hard before sliding beneath the jouster. Curt dragged himself to his feet before he rubbed his back. "Stupid dango jouster-oh..." The rabbit collapsed upon him and he found himself submerged within the jello, completely fettered.

"It doesn't look like he can get out of that on his own! What do you wanna do Peorth?" Amata asked with unease dancing in her voice.

"I will break him free. Please keep the incoming Agasura occupied please!" She clenched her left fist and with her right swung her spear horizontally-Yggdrasil's herald appeared beneath her within a magic circle and a powerful mana surged from her. "Wardlord Style Awakening Technique! Heavenly Rain!" She rushed toward it in a single movement and thrust her spear faster than the eye could see-the weapon punctured the rabbit a myriad of times during her flurry. The creature's entire body quivered and burst to pieces, flinging it everywhere.

Curt fell to the ground gasping for air, but quickly righted himself and brushed his bangs aside and grinned. "Is that how TJ felt when he was devoured? That's some unpleasant stuff dude. But you killed it so good job Peorth!"

"The battle is not over yet Curt! Remain vigilant, as we must strike the remains!"

Amata jumped back as one of the pieces flew her way and she turned to see the others scattered. "This just spells bad news..." She muttered as she raised a hand and cast a fireball upon it.

"Amata to your left!" TJ shouted as he craned his neck over his shoulder.

"More sour patch children are showing up!" Curt followed up the call while he crushed one of the jello bits with his shield.

"Piss off!" She roared as she swept its feet from beneath it and leapt back with a wave of her hand. "Mortar!" A massive fireball fell from the sky and collapsed atop the Agasura in a large explosion that incinerated any that were nearby. She looked through the flames and saw that the jello she had set aflame was still intact. "How did it-oh bullshit!"

The pieces began to quiver and gathered together again, but this time around there were two rabbits, but smaller than the original.

"It has not grown any weaker and yet...it seems that if we defeat it, it will only seperate and grow in numbers. We are embroiled in a battle with a very dangerous enemy! We must choose the following actions wisely everyone!" Peorth commanded the group.

"Fuckin' figures. Well? You got a brilliant plan this time around or what? If you can't kill the goddamn thing it's just gonna wear us down!" Su hissed. She reeled a foot back and stomped the earth before her causing it to rise as a solid wall. She knocked it over as one of the dango jousters came to halt before it and attempted to turn away only to be caught beneath the weight of the land. Both rider and mount were caught beneath and the rider met a grim end as Su leapt over and slammed her dagger through its head and used the wall to launch herself towards another that drifted past Amata.

The Governor of Fire reeled her hand back with a flame that was quickly quenched as she grit her teeth in annoyance. "You keep jumping around and acting flashy like that and I'm gonna set you on fire!" She grinned devilishly. "Accidentally on purpose, of course."

After commandeering the mount and stealing the rider's weapon Su turned the creature around and charged towards the Governor of Fire while she pulled the dango from the skewer with her dagger. "You talk a big game for someone who's about to get skewered! I'll make you a tasty treat for that Sinner!" Su roared in turn as she cackled.

"What are you-" Having only a moment to dodge she opted out for diving aside rather than waiting to see if Su would be the first to turn away. "Are you freakin' serious?!"

Su continued her charge and turned to skewer a group of sour patch children. Upon the fourth she rose into the sky through TJ's barrier and turned the fish into a nosedive towards where Peorth and Curt kept the rabbits busy. "Heads up losers!" As the fish neared the ground she hurled the skewer into Curt's target and leapt off the fish as it dove towards the other she flipped with a wave of her hand. A series of icicles surrounded her and were immediately fired down upon her targets as she spread her wings and landed.

The icicles remained lodged within the creature but the skewer was removed as it broke free from it and repaired the body.

TJ stopped playing his guitar and let out a long sigh. "Phew...sorry guys I think that's all I can do for now. Maintaining spells like that's really tough on the body." Almost immediately his body was blown back by a rocket popsicle colliding with the ground before him and he came to a skidding halt. "Okay whoa! This is worse than I'd thought!" He checked his flanks and caught sight of two sour patch children approaching him. With a wave of his hand he summoned forth a series of hailstones and fired at the two. One of them caught the brunt of the barrage but the other still ran forth towards him and latched on to his face while he struggled to back away from it. "Get off you little-" He found himself hard-pressed between dropping his guitar and swatting it with it, but realized the latter was in vain. After struggling for a few more seconds he dropped the guitar and pulled at the Agasura with all his might before finally freeing himself from its grip and hurling it to the ground. "Revenge!" He grabbed his guitar and smashed it into the Agasura before heaving and doing it a couple more times. He glanced around him and watched as more popsicles rained down on his allies and he grit his teeth. He took a deep breath and raised his hand to the sky, causing a sphere of water to appear above the palm of his hand. It shot up into the sky as it grew slightly over the period and spread out, forming a sheet of ice above where his allies fought. With both hands he maintained it, but it was taking its toll on him.

Peorth side-stepped as the rabbit leapt at her with a kick and missed her-it came around a second time and she leapt aside before thrusting at it a couple times and preventing a counterattack with Windmill. She stole a glance at TJ and the shield he created before charging the rabbit and causing it to fall away with a series of thrusts. After she created a distance she fell back slightly herself towards him. "TJ, is it not difficult for you to maintain that spell?" She asked with a hint of worry dancing on the edge of her usual stoic tone.

"It's nothing I can't handle!" He said offering a grin, but the beads of sweat running down his cheeks betrayed him.

She stepped past him with her spear following behind her and she twirled it over her head before slamming it into the earth. "Earth Render!" The ground before her quaked and shattered as a massive fissure yawned before her. She looked to the rabbit and saw there was still a fair amount of time before it got back to the two. "I need but an ounce of your courage, TJ..." She whispered as she put her spear to her back and wrapped her arms around him, bringing his down.

"Huh?! Chief wh-what're you doing? The shield..." The shield he had created shattered into thousands of tiny shards and fell to the ground like snow as the guild master let him go and stepped back.

"TJ, I shall fend off our airborne targets. Join forces with our allies and strike down the enemies before us."

"Eh? But..."

She placed a finger to his lips and smiled. "You must not doubt your guild master TJ. Believe in me with all your heart, as I do you, and know that I shall not falter. Now go." He solemnly nodded and picked up his guitar to face off with the rabbit as Peorth turned her eyes to the sky, searching for a target-checking the trajectory of its descent, and her response to it. When she found the location to strike she placed her spear upright and channeled mana to her. Once again a magic circle appeared beneath her with Yggdrasil's herald within it. "Release, Memorius Sanctum!" She held out a single hand the gilded tome appeared before her as her wings spread out and her hair turned snow white. She armed her spear over her shoulder as the book closed and vanished in a sphere of light, and she eyed her mark. "There! Shattered Wings!" She hurled the spear and as if a bolt of lightning traced the sky it shot towards the falling popsicle and pierced it before shattering it in two and shooting towards the next-after the first strike Peorth vanished and the bolt shot across the sky, Agasura rapidly falling to the stance.

Amata looked up in awe as they rained down without posing much threat and she grinned. "She never ceases to impress. With that we can focus on our enemies on the ground. Hop to it Su! Let's clean this up and lend TJ and Curt our power!" Amata told her.

Su dug her nails into the ground and tore it up in a massive wave that flung the Agasura through the air before they were struck by Arrows of Light. "Think you need to tell me that? The sooner these pricks are outta the way the better for me," Su responded.

TJ took a swing at the rabbit with his guitar and it jumped aside before kicking him in the ribs. He stumbled aside before he rose to his full height and strummed his guitar. A massive chunk of ice appeared above him and with a hand he ordered it to collapse upon the target but it jumped aside and rushed him down again. It lunged at him and knocked him to the ground before it hopped off of his face and left his glasses askew.

"This thing is seriously fast. How am I supposed to get it?!" He scrambled to his feet and rapidly strummed his guitar summoning a series of spheres of light. "Nine Arrows of Light!" The spell circled around him before he fired them in succession at the gelatin rabbit. It dashed across the battlefield avoiding the spells and using other incoming Agasura as a shield before charging him again. He took a swing at it but the Agasura jumped over his weapon and off of his face, knocking him to the ground. "Ugh..." He picked himself up and shook off his vertigo before stealing a glance at Curt. The two seemed evenly matched, the Treasure Hunter easily keeping up with its speed, landing strikes while avoiding being struck. "Got any tips Curt?"

The Treasure Hunter bashed the creature with his shield and fell back as he turned his eyes towards TJ. "Use the Frequency dude!" He answered, to which TJ furrowed his brows.

"That's more of a last resort sort of thing-" He caught a glimpse of the rabbit coming again and he decided to strike pre-emptively. He ran towards it and swung his weapon in a wide rising arc while the creature chose to run past him and take a swipe at his flank. He staggered forward and spun on the balls of his heels to run backwards and create some distance between the two. It was way too fast for him to keep up with, so he would have to put it in his line of fire and at that moment the realization dawned upon him. It had no advantage over him in the sky. He placed his guitar down next to him and watched as the creature charged at him again. He stomped a foot back and with both hands outstretched he froze it in place. "Avaritia!" The creature froze in place, only twitching ever so slightly, a sure sign that it was at the mercy of his wrath. "You're mine now!" He raised both hands skyward and the creature was flung into the air. With a wave of his hand a massive iceberg appeared above him and he shattered it. "Shattered Berg!" The pieces shot towards the rabbit and impaled it in rapid succession, splitting the creature into a myriad of tiny pieces that rained from the sky and fell with the remains of the popsicles Peorth felled. "One down!" He staggered as the Sound of Frequency hit him and he placed a hand to his head as he shook it gently.

"That isn't gonna do it TJ!" Amata shouted. She turned her head to catch a glimpse of more Agasura coming lead by a boxer bear and grit her teeth. She outstretched a hand and a magic circle appeared above them. 'Firestorm!" At her call flames rained down like mortars and burst like tiny explosives, scattering the Agasura. "Just splitting it apart will only make it grow in numbers! Neither fire nor conventional weapons will kill it! You need to find a way to eliminate it in which it can't regenerate!"

TJ let out a long sigh. "Seriously?" He looked at one of the pieces struggling to gather with the rest and he stomped on it a few times, causing it to separate once more but not stop for long. "This is gonna get troublesome..." Using Avaritia's ability may have had more of an effect on him than he had suspected-it was one more concern added to the list, but not one he could concern himself with now.

If things were not bad before, they got worse. A series of new Agasura approached lead by a bigger, more vicious looking bear. It was followed by a group of gingerbread men carrying icing tubes, and two more dango jousters. Su rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed huff. The others made it look hard to fight the bears, but all they did was punch. If TJ could e at its fist and punch it out, she could cut right through it in half the time. She stomped the ground and unearthed a massive chunk before hurling it at the Agasura, and catching four of them off guard, the bear not being one of them, but she predicted as much.

"Alright, come get some!" She rushed the bear and as she approached predicted that it would strike with its right paw if she lead it to believe she was gonna target its right flank. As she got close enough she side-stepped and prepared to cut the left flank but her blade met air as the bear stepped back and leapt into the air, to which it followed with a dropkick. She barely blocked the attack but the brunt of the blow forced her back. "What, the fuck." She muttered under her breath as her braid came to rest on her shoulder and she rose again. The bear pounded its paws together and roared at her. "You wanna go?! Don't think I'm finished with you yet!" She stomped the ground and unearthed two more pieces of ground before throwing both and they slid towards the Agasura. The bear stepped aside and the remaining gingerbread men attempted to do so, but each ran in opposite directions with the tube and made no progress.

She looked through the dust and caught a glimpse of the bear still approaching, and a dango jouster taking the lead. She tossed her dagger into the air, caught it and threw it into the face of the rider. The moment it made contact she appeared with it in hand and kicked the rider off of his fish before commandeering the mount and weapon once more. She drove the Agasura towards the bear and hurled the weapon at it only to miss, but she expected as much. She crashed the fish into the ground and sent it sliding towards the bear while she embarked and followed in its wake. As the bear leapt over the fish and attempted to kick her again she slid under it and raised her dagger to cut a long slit in its leg and into its waist before scrambling to her feet again. Agitated, it got back up and roared, while she grinned. "Now this is getting interesting." She said before plunging her dagger into the ground and raising her index and middle finger on an otherwise closed fist. The earth rose up and assumed her shape and form before taking up her colours and voice. The vie scrambled together and amidst the chaos picked up the daggers that took form as they did in a circle.

"Can you tell which of us is the real one? I'd like to see you try." She said as they rushed it from all sides. When the five surrounded it, it rose to its full height and raised its nose to the air. They all charged at once and in a flash of blades struck. The bear reached behind it and wrapped its arms around one of the five, and the moment it did the others froze in place and crumbled to pieces as Su looked on with a shocked expression. "What the fu-" Before she could finish swearing it hurled her to the ground head first and she tumbled away. As she struggled to get up she shook her head and gripped her dagger. "If this goddamn place wasn't made of freakin' chocolate, my clone techniques wouldn't be completely trash! Shit!"

"How you faring over there TJ?" Curt asked as he leapt back and ignited a pair of bombs before hurling them at the rabbit before him."

"I've seen better days!" TJ answered as he twirled on his heels and outstretched both hands to fire hailstones from each direction.

Curt ran towards the second that ailed TJ and threw a knife at it which caught its attention and caused it to turn on him. He blocked its jumping strike with his shield and cut the second as he turned around into a a low sweep. The rabbits both fell back and glared at him viciously and he grinned, hurled one at each, then turned his eyes toward TJ. The Bard was on the offensive, taking wide swings at the rabbit that leapt away from him as he continued his fruitless struggle that was a mixture of magic and physical attacks, none quite making contact. "You might expend more energy not using the Frequency than you would using it TJ!" Curt shouted. "They're gonna stall you out!"

"Unless you have a way to kill it for sure, what choice do we have?!" TJ heaved as he wiped the sweat from his brow and summoned five more Arrows of Light. All were fired, but none made contact. "Outright smashing it or cutting it to pieces isn't gonna work. How are we supposed to beat it?"

Through the smoke of his bombs the rabbits returned and Curt found himself caught between a flurry of kicks and swipes. He jumped, side-stepped, dodged and counterattacked whenever the opportunity came, but knew that if the group expanded again they'd soon be overwhelmed. He jumped over both as they both attempted to kick him at once and rained down his supply of knives upon them. "Watch your back TJ!"

A pair of gingerbread men carrying a tube approached the Abellan as the rabbit kept him busy, and aimed the tube at him before releasing a torrent of icing.

He shuddered as it covered his skin and he shook as much as it off as he could before chasing them off with hailstone, one of the two not fortunate enough to escape. "What in God Ah's name is this?" He swiped some onto his finger and tasted it. "Oh...icing. It's good."

"Now's not the time to eat!" Curt shouted desperately. He reached into his pocket and munched on a piece of rock candy. "I might be a hypocrite but that doesn't change the fact!" Moments afterwards he found himself juggling knives while fending off the creatures, placing as many as he could into his coat while fighting with those he could hold for but a matter of moments. "If you're gonna eat anything, eat the rabbit! That might do it in!"

"I-I can't! TJ complained. "The icing is hardening...I can hardly move my body! What should I do?!"

"Can you still play your guitar? Play a song or something that can melt it or delay it!" Curt answered as he found himself surrounded by all three rabbits, and a struggle beyond him began. They took turns attacking him, and the onslaught had him completely on the defensive, but unable to fend off all of their attacks.

TJ reached out and grabbed his guitar as moving his body became increasingly difficult. There was no way he could fit a song in, but there was something he was as of yet to try. With a single hand raised he strummed the guitar but once. "Help me out Caritas!"

At those words Velvet appeared before him, her eyes closed but for a few brief moments as she raised her weapon skyward. "You can count on me TJ!" The Asgardian Herald appeared beneath her as she bashed her mace against her shield and a pulse-like wave was sent through the area. Her shield and weapon attained a powerful glow as she took a defender's stance. "Temple Knight Style Awakening Technique: Light Bringer!" Velvet shouted. The Agasuras that had fought Curt, Amata and Su all flocked towards Velvet and struck at her without a second though nor a moment of hesitation, and she kept her stance as a sphere of light that shone ever brighter took form around her and seemingly absorbed the blows. After a few more seconds passed, with a war cry the sphere expanded all around her and most of the Agasura that attacked her vanished in a series of tiny spheres of light, save for the rabbit and the bears that managed to maintain one side of their bodies. Following the event Velvet vanished in a series of spheres of light.

The rabbit was forced back and split apart again, and unease washed over Curt. "Good plan but it was no good! The rabbit's gonna merge again if we don't do something about it!" Curt shouted.

"I have a plan...just get me out of here." TJ uttered, his lips barely able to move after the icing hardened. Curt approached and started breaking the icing off of his companion before he was soon joined by Amata.

Su followed up shortly after to deal a killing blow to both bears and rejoined the others. "So? That idiot princess is still up there playing with popsicles and we've got an immortal Agasura. Who's got an idea?" She asked with impatience in her voice.

As the two broke most of the icing from TJ he flexed his fingers and attempted to free his legs. "Let's think back to our fight with Avaritia! The only way we were able to defeat her was to take away her strength, which was her gold and items right?"

"Yeah and?"

"We just have to take away the rabbit's strength, which is its regeneration! Do you remember how the only time the jello didn't go back to the rest was when Curt ate it?"

Amata knit her eyebrows. "I kinda see where you're going with this, but even though it might be our only hope I'd rather not...to be honest."

"If that's what it comes down to..." Curt muttered.

TJ eyed the creature cautiously and struggled to free himself some more. "H-hold on, that's not what I'm getting at. We just have to trap the rabbit's pieces. If it's somewhere that it can't regenerate, then we just have to destroy it as is."

Amata pounded a fist into an open palm with a look of realization. "I get it!" So it'd be like breaking it down and then disposing of it! Rather than eating it and having stomach acids do it...we'd need something with a similar effect. But my fire won't work."

"I'll freeze it." TJ answered.

"How do you plan to do that, smartass? There's nowhere near enough liquid water in that thing to freeze it. It might be jello, but it's not just jello. It's still a freakin' Agasura, and you know how hard it is to do. I've seen it." Su explained as she crossed her arms.

"I've got another idea. It's a little dangerous but it just might work." When he finally managed to break his legs free he stepped out and shook off the remaining bits. "We don't have much time so I'll explain later! Just run as far and fast as you can!"

The group looked unsettled by the suggestion, but Amata decided to nod to the two while Curt shrugged, and they moved further away.

TJ looked down to his gem. "Chief, can you hear me?"

"Yes. What is the problem TJ?" Peorth answered through her own.

He chuckled gently. Despite being a bolt of lightning in the sky it seemed she still had a corporeal form. "That thing you did before...that giant bolt of lightning you called down on the beach? Could you do that again?"

"It is possible yes...but it is a very dangerous technique. I would recommend that you stay a safe distance if you wish for me to use it."

"I had a feeling it was." He swallowed hard. "But that's something I can't do. I need you to use it exactly where I'm standing. I know it sounds crazy but I have a good feeling this'll work out."

"TJ, I cannot put you in danger like that. Such skills are not meant to be used while allies are within range, and you are no exception to this fact."

"Chief, didn't you say to believe in you as you do me?" He smiled. "We promised, didn't we? Don't worry, and believe in me too. I'm almost out of time here, so I'll leave it to you to decide an opportune time to make your move. I'll be counting on you!"

"...If it as you wish, it shall be done."

TJ took a deep breath as he tapped his badge again and turned his eyes to the creatures gathering together. "Here goes! One more time Su! Let's use the Frequency!"

"I swear if you die..." Though she was far, he could hear her voice clear as day.

He grinned as he pounded his fists together. "Frequency!" His eyes flickered to green as he began to strum his guitar and water surged around him in a circle, spreading further and further across the battlefield and forming a whirlpool across it. He increased the speed of his playing and the range of his spell expanded, capturing the gelatin bits within the water and bringing them closer and closer towards him. Once he had gathered them all, with a final strum of his guitar the water around him rose into a sphere with him standing amidst it all as he placed the weapon down. He outstretched both hands as it absorbed him into it, and a grid-like barrier emerged from him and encased the water, freezing it over completely.

"Did he just...a barrier break?" Amata asked with disbelief.

"Oh that dumbass..." Su muttered as her body turned into a series of spheres and vanished.

"You don't think he's...you know. Do you?" Curt asked as he stared at the ice sphere sitting amidst the battlefield.

"No, he's not dead, but he's definitely unconscious." The Governor of Fire rubbed her temples. "That's one hell of a plan, but he doesn't expect us to leave him in there, does he?"

Suddenly the clouds began to gather and darken, and the sun was blotted out as lightning roared and thunder rolled. With one mighty strike a bolt came down upon the sphere and Peorth emerged from the smoke as she came to a skidding halt in the view of her companions.

"Peorth?!" Amata shouted in surprise.

"Yes. This was what TJ had wished for, but I cannot guarantee what the outcome would be. Come, let us go." The guild master said as she rushed back into the fray and cleared away the smoke with her spear.

In the center of a series of shards of ice, TJ stood still intact, his eyes still green and heaving. "Last step guys! You ready?"

Amata let out a dry chuckle, both out of relief and surprise as she muttered, "This is no time to be surprised huh? What'll you have us do, Abellan?"

"One last thing. Create a pool of magma. With that, we can put this thing to rest once and for all." Amata nodded and obliged.

"I don't often do this when I'm not awakened so I'll try something a little different. She plunged her staff into the ground and moments after she pulled it out she drew a circle around the area. She pointed the weapon at it and concentrated for a few moments before magma bubbled out from the cracks and spread out across the circle she had drawn. "Alright, you're up."

With a wave of his hands TJ called the shards together into a cracked and incomplete sphere, and steadily lowered it into the magma Amata created. As the ice slowly melted, the magma began to harden and once the entire thing had vanished beneath the surface of it, the Abellan lowered his hands and sat on the ground. "Man I'm tired..."

Peorth turned to him and gave him an approving nod. "That was a well executed plan TJ. To think that you had used the knowledge that to manipulate your own mana to control objects is simpler than using that of the target's. You had used the sphere of water to surround your enemies in it, and in doing so gained complete control over them while keeping them fettered. And to that end, they lacked a means of regeneration, while you had a means to ensure they could not escape." She nodded sagely. "An excellent plan, and one that was deftly executed. I am impressed."

"Colour me impressed too, TJ. You did some risky things there but it really came together at the end. Just...try not to put your hide on the line every time you come up with a plan would you? It's our job to keep you alive, mind you." Amata said with a wry chuckle.

Su emerged from the crystal with an annoyed expression. "The fuck're you doin' dumbass!? You tryin' to get yourself killed or something?! Might as well have us dig you a damn grave here and now if you're gonna do stupid shit like that, you fuckin' clown!" After that she stormed off in a huff. The girls watched solemnly while Curt shrugged.

"Well she's pissed. Maybe you should chase after her." Curt said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

TJ sneezed and a long line of mucus hung from his nose before he sniffled and it disappeared within his nostrils. "That'd probably be a good idea." He answered as he rose to his feet.

"Wait a moment TJ. Right now you need rest and a warm fire," Peorth answered cautiously.

Amata nodded solemnly. "That'd bed a good idea." She turned her eyes to meet TJ's. "Give her a minute to cool off. Knowing her she'll be back to her usual self sooner rather than later. Just needs to blow off some steam, that's all," She explained.

"Think so? I'll take your word for it then." He glanced off as Su disappeared at the exit to the caverns.

TJ felt as if he was falling-slowly, but with some certainty. As he did, he heard the Sound of Frequency, rather muted, but without a doubt the sound was unmistakeable. As his body slowed to a halt and he found himself floating in the unknown, his eyes slowly opened as the sound began to morph into something else. From what sounded like a long drawn out noise, it began to sound like singing-a man's voice, at that. The voice grew quieter as TJ looked around the darkness that surrounded him for the source, but found nothing.

"Who...who's there? Who's singing?" He asked. His own voice echoed back to him as the voice grew ever more quiet.

"Soul without a name...vessel of my kin...heed me..." The voice answered and the song came to an end.

A man's voice also, but one that sounded oddly ethereal. Following it, the singing began again, but this time it sounded like a chorus-when he heard the song he felt his skin crawl as he caught a glimpse of a mist as it gathered all around him and the chorus grew louder. It could not be, could it? Just as when Su had passed away...fear gripped his very being and he clenched his fists tightly as he looked down at his shoes.

"Tell me, Messenger of Light. Do you fear the darkness?"

His fists were clenched, but as his entire body trembled he uttered, "I'm not afraid. Not at all." It took all of his courage to muster those words, and he felt as if his entire being was being put into question at that very moment.

"You are brave, soulless one. I would not expect Amae to choose anything less than her greatest asset to rise to champion her cause, but you are not just hers alone. You are aware of this, are you not?"

"I dunno what you're talking about." TJ could feel a presence behind him-as it crept ever closer, the sky before him turned red while the horizon before him a solid black- as if the everything beyond were dyed those two colours. In spite of it all, nothing unsettled him more than the essence of creeping death that came ever closer.

"You are blessed with power beyond your ken, and you use it knowingly, both with skill and without. You embrace your inner darkness as your own-you take what has been bestowed upon you and shape it as you see fit. But in doing so, it encroaches upon the very foundations of your being and consumes you; you are aware of this, are you not? Alas, you serve a greater purpose than what Amae's followers will have you believe, but it is far too early for you to realize your destiny."

"My mind is made already. I don't care what anyone says! Not the Sinners, not Choen Palm, and not you! I won't change my mind! I won't!" The words came so naturally to TJ, but what he said barely scratched the surface of what he felt deep down. In the face of that being, he seemed to be nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum-a far cry from being the Cerebians' and Midgard's saviour.

"It seems that you cannot see what I do, but you will...in time. I pity you, marionette, for you are but one to dance to the song of the gods though you are destined to rise ever higher. It was our whims that had given you life, so you must choose what fate you wish to embrace. Will you rise above? Or surrender yourself? I look forward to hearing your decision."

He felt a hand stroke his hair and his entire body quivered before he fell to his knees.

The next thing he knew he awoke in his bed in a cold sweat, and looked around in fear. Curt lay sprawled out in his bed next to TJ's, sleeping peacefully despite the Abellan's sudden rise. He slipped out of the tent into the night and found Amata sitting upon a piece of chocolate by a fire. Though they had put it out, it seemed that Amata had some thinking of her own to do and decided to take some time to herself. The memories of the stranger that spoke to him still haunted him, but TJ was way too shaken to remain alone for a further extended period of time-the company of a reliable companion might help him settle down.

"Hey Amata...what are you doing up so late?" He asked as he tried to smile.

She looked over to him and blinked. "Ahh...nothing really. Did I wake you? You don't look so good TJ." She answered with a concerned expression.

"No, you didn't. I'm just a bit worn-out from using the Frequency, that's all. Something on your mind? You look pensive."

The Governor smiled a bittersweet smile. "Am I that easy to read?" She chuckled. "Well I do suppose I've got a few things to think about, but do you really want to hear my complaints?" He smiled at her and she knit her eyebrows with a gentle smile in turn. "Jeez...you're a pretty nosy one." She laughed gently. "You remember that talk we had after we completed the Pharaoh's Chambers?" TJ nodded. "Since I joined you guys on this expedition I've done a lot of thinking. The dynamic of your team, the way you fight and the ties that bind you together...it's...different. Different from what I'm familiar with, at least."

"How so?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Amata looked into the fire and brushed a few stray hairs aside. "You know how I am...my dad's a pretty big deal in Mezzalone, because he's God's Governor of Fire. Or was. Since I'm his successor, expectations of me are pretty big, so people typically leave me to do my own thing. Even within my own guild, even my guild master doesn't often give me commands. Due to that I just...I just do whatever." She clenched her fists against her legs and bit down on her lip. "Usually people would want more freedom, but I lack direction. Whenever I'm the leader of an expedition, everyone just follows in my wake and admires my strength, but doing everything alone is just...it's lonely, I guess. After the last dungeon, for once I've found myself with people who are on even footing, or could even surpass me. When it was just you guys, we were disorganized and messy, yet somehow still worked together. It's like the pieces of a puzzle...they just kinda...fit."

TJ smiled. "You might not be a member of Yggdrasil, but you've really fit in with the whole guild since you started hanging around. I'm sure the Chief and everyone else would always be glad to have you on our...expeditions? And parties and stuff too."

The girl laughed gently. "Your guild sure knows how to throw a party, that's for sure. Still...all of this has really got me thinking. Perhaps what I've needed is order in my life. The only person I knew of before that could offer just that, was my dad. Now that I'm older I've taken a bit more control in my life-on that thought, Samson too...gave me the same idea. He was the one that kept Su in line, and he brought me into it too. I used to be a pretty rambunctious kid."

"Samson? You mentioned him before right?" TJ asked as he tilted his head quizzically.

"Yeah, Su's uncle. He used to be her wrangler." Amata laughed again, this time with a lighter tone and he smiled. "He told me that having a Pledger would be a smart idea...and you know, after seeing you guys he might be right. This is the first time I've laid eyes on the princess and she's a total mama bear." At those words TJ tilted his head quizzically again and she grinned. "I can see why though-you're like a ferocious squirrelope on a good day." She pursed her lips and closed her eyes in thought. "Makes my maternal instincts tingle. But you'll understand what I mean later. Point is, the two of you are inseparable. You rely on each other, believe in each other and fight for each other. That closeness is one of the things that makes you so strong. To do what you did in that last battle, I couldn't think of anyone ballsy enough to attempt it, and if I was to I couldn't think of anyone who I would trust to do such a thing. But you? You convinced Peorth to do it without a second thought, and hardly a thought for your own safety. You have some incredible strength TJ, but not just physically. You've got the courage to back it up, and people that would follow you because they believe in you. Like Peorth had said, here ranks and titles mean nothing. Everyone is on the same footing, and you guys fight within each other's strengths and boundaries. I envy that, and the more I see it the more I'm beginning to understand what Dad wanted me to."

"You should give yourself more credit you know. Without your help I couldn't do half the things I've done, and won the battles that we had. If you were to take up the mantle of leader, I'd gladly follow in your wake, you know. I'd trust you with my life any day." TJ grinned and she eyed him cautiously.

"Do you say stuff like that to everyone? That's dangerous you know. It's no wonder you have those girls glued to you." She placed a hand to her face and sighed. "But I guess, despite that...unique ability of yours, you still have your heart set on one person. I can respect that. You take good care of the princess okay? She'll take good care of you too, I'm sure."

He nodded. "I won't take my eyes off of her, don't you worry."

"I'm not worried about that, but there is something else I am worried about. All things considered though, even I'd be hard-pressed to ask you to make a decision." At those words he moved with a jolt and a look of pure terror made its way across his face. "H-hey, you alright?" She tapped him on the shoulder twice and he shook it off.

"S-sorry I just...yeah! I'm good. No problem!"

Amata furrowed her brows. "Did something happen? Do you wanna talk to me about it? Are you still offset by what happened earlier?"

"Huh?! Y-you knew about that?"

"Uhh...yeah, I was there. Is Su getting ticked off that unusual an occurrence to you?" Amata crossed her arms.

"Oh...ohh that? No, no that's pretty regular. I'll sort that out."

The God's Governor knit her eyebrows. "If you won't talk to me about it, at least consider confiding in Peorth. If I was in her shoes...I wouldn't want to have any secrets hidden from me either." She rubber her arm gently. "If someone's precious to you, don't leave them in the dark, okay? Be good to them." She offered him a bittersweet smile before she clapped him on the shoulder. "Anyway, I'm gonna hit the hay. See you in the morning TJ. Good night."

"Night Amata." TJ looked into the fire as it quietly crackled and the embers rose to the sky. He did not wish to keep his allies in the dark, but not even he was courageous enough to brave the depths of his own inner demons, and a new situation arose when he least suspected it. Would he be able to face it alone if he chose not to seek the aid of his allies? Or would the darkness consume him? He held out a hand and a torrent of water poured atop the fire, leaving smoke and ashes in the wake of the Abellan.

"Will that do Chief? In spite of asking you to do something extremely similar yesterday I can't say I'm too...fond of having you do it too." TJ said as he wiped his brow.

The guild master chuckled as she patted her hair down-tiny bolts of electricity jumped from her fingertips to it and caused it to rise despite her best efforts. "Your concern is appreciated, and it is not lost on me TJ-I can assure you of that." She smiled slightly. "I do not fear the sky's might, and if you are to conjure it, even less so. That matter aside, a joint technique such as this may prove useful in the coming battles. As you are aware, our enemies will oft attack in great numbers which will prove to be a great challenge for me alone."

He raised an eyebrow slightly out of disbelief, but as he remembered just who he was talking to his face eased up and he cracked a smile. "You think so? I'll do my best not to disappoint then!"

"Your technique is perfect as is. Fret not for it."

Amata approached from nearby with a weary look in her eyes. "What's going on you two? I'd thought it'd start raining again with all that thunder I've been hearing. Either that or our tents would get struck..." She muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms.

"Did we wake you? My apologies." The guild master answered calmly.

"Sorry about that! The Chief and I were practicing together. I'd talked to her about what happened during our fight against Avaritia and well...she suggested we try one of our own. Thanks to her we came up with something that works."

This surprised the God's Governor of Fire. "A joint technique born between a Warlord and a Bard? They're scarce as it is, but you are the Abellan...then again..." She shrugged and smiled as she chuckled. "Abellan and Princess or not, I'm sure the two of you would manage it anyway. I'd ask you to show me but I'd rather not be struck by lightning today so..." She gave them a thumbs-up. "Job well done you two. I've got high hopes for the coming battles."

"We shall not disappoint, I can assure you." Peorth answered with a nod.

TJ placed a fist to his chest and grinned. "You can count on us Amata!"

"Is everyone prepared? It seems that we are drawing ever closer to the heart of the Instance Dungeon, and at this point in our adventure I have very few doubts that Gula is not within our reach. In the same vein, I must request that all of you excercise the utmost caution. The battles we have fought up to this point have become increasingly difficult, and the Agasura that challenged us grow stronger every step of the way. If Gula is near, this will be the greatest challenge we have faced here as of yet. Constant vigilance!" Peorth explained.

TJ and Amata let out a battle cry, both in agreement and to rally their group, while Curt nodded solemnly and Su crossed her arms.

"Not excited Su? Now's the time to get pumped up you know." Curt said with a teasing grin.

The God's Governor clicked her tongue before glaring at him. "Do you really expect me to get pumped up like these morons? They can cheer and wave their weapons all they like but if they're gonna get the shit kicked out of 'em anyway no point in getting all riled up. Waste of energy," She muttered under her breath.

After their discussion ended Amata and Peorth set off with TJ in tow, and he took a moment to turn around and wave to the two. "Come on slowpokes! We're going!"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah whatever...I'm goin'."

Curt cracked a grin as he walked after them. "I can feel your influence Asmodeus. Your grip on him, and her love for him grows more by the day. So which will reign supreme when the end times come, hmm?" He jogged slightly as he waved to the others. "Hey guys wait for me! Can't forget your MVP at the base of the mountain now can you?"

They pressed on and before them stood the valley, a pair of twins peaks reigned tall and true towards the skies butg only one had a winding path towards the top the group could follow, likely to where Gula awaited them. The sounds of a myriad of Agasuras that lived upon the mountain caught their attention, and warned them of what waited further in.

Amata crossed her arms as she glanced around. "We should keep an eye out for anything that stands out. I take it by now that there's something we need to do in order to move forward and not...you know, die horribly. Right now though? I'm drawing a blank." She knit her eyebrows and sighed.

"Wow was that useful or was that useful?" Su asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Moments before Amata could come up with a furious retort Peorth answered in her stead, "I suspect that it is far too early for us to find out what it is that awaits us. That matter aside, what are you doing Curt?"

All eyes shifted to the Treasure Hunter with the remains of a gummy snake hanging from his mouth. "Huh? Oh this?" He pulled it from his mouth and chewed quietly for a couple of moments. "Souvenir. You guys want some?"

Amata looked disgusted. "Yeah...no."

"Pass," Su remarked.

"N-no thanks." TJ said as he gestured the same.

"More for me." Curt said with a shrug.

Peorth blinked slowly as she eyed him curiously. "Curt, are you positive that you do not feel unwell?" She asked.

"You worry too much Peorth! You should have a crystal and calm down. Something sweet always cheers me right up when I'm down in the dumps." He reached into his pocket and took out one of the crystals from within the cavern. "I made sure to stock up this time before we left," He explained. "The only thing different about me is that I'm hyped up on sugar."

"Thank you but I will have to turn down that offer." Peorth answered calmly before turning away. "If you say that you feel fine I will not pester you any further, but please be mindful of what lurks within this Instance. I cannot help but feel that there are ill omens at work here-ones that are disguised to be harmless to both the naked eye, and to our sixth sense."

"Aye aye cap'n!" He saluted her.

Lead by Peorth the group started their trek up the mountain's walkway. The sounds of the Agasura grew louder and unease washed over a few of them but their stalwart leader continued rising ever higher, solemnly but cautiously. As she continued on the earth began to tremble and the Mages of the group placed a hand to the walls next to them.

"An earthquake? This is bad!" Amata shouted over the noise.

"The sound is coming from above. It must be a landslide! Everyone, move forward!" Peorth commanded them before rushing ahead. After they travelled a short distance pieces of the mountain tumbled down where they once were and the Abellan let out a sigh of relief. "It may have been the first, but I cannot help but feel it will not be the last. On your guard, everyone."

As they progressed a bit further they came across a pedestal with a large chunk of what looked like rock, but just as the rest of the mountain was, proved to be a piece of chocolate. The group stopped before it and passed wary glances about.

"There's a piece of chocolate on a pedestal." Amata said and Su sent a glance her way that said she had a snarky remark lined up for her speculation. "Before you say that, the reason I pointed it out is because I think it's a trap. The other ones weren't this obvious."

"Your statement holds some truth to it Amata," Peorth added.

"I think so too but...there has to be a reason it's here right? I mean, considering that landslide that happened not too long ago, we're not so safe up here. I'm reluctant about it too but...if we find ourselves trapped between, say an Agasura and a landslide, what are we gonna do? I'm not too confident about it, but I say we take the risk and give this a try. If you guys are unsure I'll volunteer." TJ explained as he eyed them all.

"For once I actually agree with him." Su added before pointing at the Abellan with her thumb. "But I d0n't agree with him doing it. Might as well have our resident gourmet here be the guinea pig if we're gonna take the bait."

"Is that a compliment I just heard? I'm touched!" Curt said as he clasped his hands together next to his face and his eyes sparkled, accompanied by a single raised leg. The god's Governor growled as she cursed at him.

Peorth looked at TJ with a worried expression before turning it to Curt. "Is this alright with you?" She asked.

"Oh sure! I'm not afraid of a little food poisoning and/or getting mauled by a bear. What's the worst that could happen, am I right?" He took the chunk from the grey pedestal with both hands and bit into it. "Mm...milk chocolate. Someone's got good taste!" His eyes opened wide while the others stepped away from the wall when it suddenly crumbled to pieces and revealed a small cavern in which they could take cover.

The guild master walked over to the entrance and peered inside. "It seems that this may be the use for them. If I was to hazard an assumption, it likely could see some use just as before. We can take cover within these caverns should another landslide appear or Agasura block our path."

"It'd probably be wise not to let our guard down though. The other things we used were both a bane and a boon to us. Especially those lemons." Amata crossed her arms. "Like you always say, we should probably be on our guard. I'm getting the feeling there's something off about this one too."

Curt placed the chunk back where he had found it and shortly after the pieces of the wall began to rumble before rebuilding.

"So we stay too long and we get trapped in, huh?" Su asked as she approached and rapped against the walls three times with her knuckles. "Figures they'd come up with something like that." She turned to Curt and shoved him. "Move it or lose it, loser." She turned back to the wall before cracking her knuckles and taking a mighty step back while reeling a fist back. She punched the wall with the force of the momentum backing her and only left an imprint of her fist in it. "Neither magic nor brute force could break this damn thing." She shook her hand off before sticking both in her sweater pockets. "I'd know. I used both."

TJ crossed his arms and tilted his head. "So there are landslides, a wall we can take cover in which probably will trap us in, and Agasura galore. I think this is gonna be worse than the caverns. Way, way worse," He muttered sullenly.

"All things considered, it would be best if we took up formation and used that to keep a lookout for any oncoming dangers. There is the possibility that Agasura will strike from our blind spots-alike to the caverns, we cannot see ahead, nor behind us. What lurks around the bend could easily catch us off guard, so we must use our senses to the best of our ability to foresee the attack and thwart it prior to being endagered by it." Peorth suggested as she placed her index finger and thumb to her chin thoughtfully.

"Though if we're to see what's around the bend, we're gonna be awfully far apart won't we? If a battle breaks out, some of us will be out of range to participate Peorth," Amata said.

"This is true, but that may work out in our favour. Just as before, the space we have to work with is very limited. Keeping that thought in mind, powerful and destructive magic and stances is not something we should use carelessly. Amata, Suuba, I would like for you to switch positions in the formation." She eyed the two as they swapped positions. "Once more, Amata I would like for you to follow after TJ. It will allow for you more space to cast safely, and for TJ to be near enough to all of us in case we should be wounded."

"No problem Peorth. Just tell me where you need me and I'll have it done." The Governor answered calmly as she and TJ swapped.

"You have my thanks." After inspecting the group Peorth gave an approving nod. "This shall suffice for the time being. Let us proceed."

The party continued further up the mountain with care, proceeding step by step. The vanguard was close together, lead by Peorth and Curt with Su a fair distance behind them, and TJ even further from her, but remaining within hearing range of his songs. As they proceeded a bit further Peorth held a hand out at one of the bends and stopped the others in their tracks.

"Something is coming! I suspect it is no small enemy either! Battle stations everyone!" Peorth shouted to the group as she and Curt readied their weapons.

"Sounds like a boxer bear judging by those huge footsteps. Might wanna switch with me Peorth." Curt said as he placed his shield hand to her shoulder.

"Just so you know, not all of them are boxers." Su added curtly as she furrowed her brows. "One of them dropkicked me." The two looked at her with confused expressions.

"I'll have some support songs up for you guys in a moment! Hang tight!" TJ said as he frantically strummed his guitar.

Curt blinked. "Changed my mind. You're up to bat boss! Show me how it's done!"

Peorth took up a battle stance as the bear turned the corner and rose to its full height and roared. She eyed it cautiously, almost expecting it to try and throw a jab, but as Su warned instead it charged directly at her with one arm out. Peorth strafed to the side to slam herself against the wall and dropped to the ground before she found herself caught in the bear's clothesline while Curt swung from the arm and plunged his dagger into its neck. As he landed he drew two knives from his coat and it came to a halt as it ran into a wall created by Su.

"You're mine now!" Su shouted as she fell from above with two clones surrounding the bear from both of its flanks. Each lunged at it and thrusted their daggers into its side while Su came down and plunged hers through the top of its head. It outstretched both arms and knocked the heads off both clones with a lariat and swatted Su away as she reclaimed the weapons and jumped back to the top of the wall. "Try not to lose your weapon, jackass." She hurled the dagger to Curt and he caught it with a salute.

"I know you've got my back!" He said with a grin.

"Curt! Now is the time!" Peorth said as she lunged forward, keeping her body low. When the bear came to a halt she rose and thrust her spear into the creature with Burst Lancer.

"Right behind ya!" He shouted as he ran across the wall and dove past the bear as it swiped at the guild master, narrowly missing him. Before he collided with Su's wall he turned over and used it to leap back at the bear, following in Su's wake as she sliced through its other flank. "Give us an opening!"

Peorth nodded once and stepped back with a retreating stab before she twirled the weapon above her head and it hit it across the back of the head. In the moment that it stumbled both Treasure Hunter and Mage alike plunged their daggers into the opening she created and cut outwards through both flanks. The bear fell in two pieces and the group put their weapons away.

"Are you guys okay over there? Is anyone hurt?" TJ shouted to them. Su placed a hand to the wall and it crumbled to pieces, revealing a worried looking Abellan.

"No problems here! That one was easier to defeat then the others! More like that please!" Curt laughed with a grin.

"I am thankful for this, but it was but one Agasura. They are prone to come in groups, as we are aware." Peorth said as she nodded sagely.

"Well we're not dead so why don't you lighten up a bit already? You celebrate like you're at the wake of a funeral." Su commented as she eyed the guild master. The guild master blinked, her expression somewhat surprised, but remained silent nonetheless.

The group continued forward and found another pedestal.

"Should we go inside?" TJ asked as he eyed it from where he was.

"I do not sense any danger. There is no need for us to do so now," Peorth answered.

"Then let's keep going. It'd probably be a good idea to keep it in mind that it's here, so if we need to come back we can." Curt suggested as he gestured them to move forward.

"That would be a wise decision. Let us proceed." At those words they continued on and Peorth came to a halt before turning back to the group. "Something is coming! Everyone, return at once!"

They all ran back and came to a skidding halt as TJ grabbed hold of the pedestal to stop himself from going downhill and picked up the chunk of chocolate. He immediately took two large bites and swallowed it, opening the path and taking cover with his companions in the safety of the darkness. When Curt was the last one to enter the Abellan looked out frantically for the guild master. "Chief? Where are you Chief?!" Su grabbed him by the top and pulled him back as a series of rocket popsicles flew past.

"Are you stupid? We hid for a reason!" She roared.

"But the Chief-"

"TJ, worry not, for I am safe." The guild master said as she arose from below and took her place on the mountainside. Her wings shrunk and she disappeared as she looked past them. "Though that cavern is not safe! It is inhabited by Agasura concurrently!"

"Get down!" Curt shouted as a bear stirred to its feet and rushed towards them as it snarled. He raised his shield as it swiped at him and knocked him back into Amata-the two fell backwards near a rock and a snake rose up and hissed at the two. Amata let out a shriek as she struggled to free herself from beneath Curt's weight and fled the cave before huddling outside with her staff tightly gripped between her fingers.

As Curt struggled to his feet the bear came back for him and TJ charged forward before bashing its flank with his guitar. "I won't let you!" He snarled as it turned to him with a vicious glare. With a wave of his hand three icy needles appeared between his fingers and he hurled them into the bear's face. It would do him well to pay closer attention to Kooh's spells, as there was much and more he could learn from them. Setting the thought aside he helped Curt to his feet as the snake bit down on his own and found Peorth's spear in its body shortly after.

The bear snarled and flailed about as Curt lent TJ a hand escaping and Su gestured them to the entrance. "Hurry it up would you? The damn thing is gonna close soon!" TJ limped through with his arm around Curt while the bear broke the needles in its face and ran after them. "Oh for fuck's sake!" She hissed as charged past TJ and Curt, who narrowly escaped and shoulder tackled the bear before falling off of the cliff with it.

Amata awoke from her fear and glanced off of the edge to catch a glimpse of the God's Governor turning into a series of spheres and vanishing as the bear tumbled down the mountain and deeper into the darkness of the valley.

Su emerged from TJ's crystal and sighed as the Bard placed his hands to his wound and healed it. "You fuckin' idiots! Can you not avoid getting killed even once?" TJ laughed meekly and she clicked her tongue.

"Thanks again Su," He added sheepishly and Amata nodded as she walked into their view.

"Same here. And sorry...again." She added with an apologetic bow.

"You need not apologize for something beyond your control Amata. If there is something you fear, then we shall be here beside you until you conquer it. We shall face that fear in your stead. It is not only a guild's duty, but also a party's duty to meet the shortcomings of its members and bring balance where it is needed." Peorth explained calmly.

Amata opened her mouth to speak but closed it solemnly and smiled. "Yeah...of course. You're right, Peorth. Thanks." Her smiled spread into a grin as she brushed her hair behind her ear. "I feel better already."

The guild master nodded. "TJ, how are you faring?"

"I'm good to go!" He said as he clenched his fists and rose to his feet. "You know, despite those snakes being gummy snakes, they bite really hard! Like the sharks!"

"What snake constricts people? I dunno what world you live in but that's no ordinary lizard." Su muttered as she crossed her arms.

"So it's a constrictor then? I guess it's a good thing then, since they don't have any venom." Curt said as he nodded sagely.

"Venom..." Amata mumbled as she covered her mouth and averted her eyes.

Su sent her a wary glance. "What kind of thoughts are you having?"

"Wh-I wasn't thinking anything dirty you pervert!"

"You're calling me the pervert when I haven't even said anything?! You goddamn sicko!"

"Now now you two. We must proceed calmly and cautiously. Now is not the time for fighting amongst ourselves," Peorth said. "Come, let us continue our journey."

They ascended ever higher and for a spell found themselves safe. It had been some time since the landslides came, and there were no signs of Agasura as far as they could tell, but the further they climbed the more energy they had exhausted.

"You mind if we stop and take a breather?" Amata shouted to the vanguard. "I've done a lot of adventuring myself but climbing mountains and...well, anything that's this exhausting really isn't my specialty."

"I have no qualms on the matter," Peorth answered.

"Fine by me." Curt added.

TJ laid his guitar down and sat down with a gentle sigh. Su leaned against the wall with a scoff and closed her eyes while Amata joined the group. "You got any more of that rock candy Curt? I could use something sweet to restore my energy." The Governor of Fire said as she approached.

"I knew you'd come around sooner or later." He said as he removed one of the pieces of rock candy and handed it to her.

"Under normal circumstances I wouldn't think twice about it, but we've already been in here quite a few days and our rations are running low. You can never be too careful." She placed the piece of candy in her mouth and sighed gently. "Though I'm not really one to talk, eating something from within the dungeon."

"They're not too bad, but it certainly makes you crave more." TJ said before he turned to Curt. "Would you pass some my way too please?"

"Sure sure. How about you ladies? There's enough to go around!" The Treasure Hunter happily exclaimed as he passed a piece to TJ.

"I don't want anything from you," Su hissed.

"There's enough Curt to go around to-"

"I'm gonna hit you."

"TJ, a moment?" Peorth asked and his head perked up at her words. "You said that it gives you reason to desire more...was that just the case with the crystals?"

He placed a finger to his lips. "Mm...well not really. I mean, that chocolate was really good too." He chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Truthfully it doesn't matter what it is, I'm just craving something to eat. I hope this is over quickly so we can have a nice warm meal." He raised his head as his expression glazed over and a trickle of drool ran down his face. "Ah!" He wiped his mouth and frowned. "That was...pretty shameless of me. You didn't see, did you?"

The guild master blinked solemnly. "I did not."

"She's lying through her teeth," Su remarked.

"Good try though," Curt added.

Amata punched his arm. "Both of you, shut it!"

"Is this the same case with you Curt?" Peorth asked as he stuffed a large chunk of rock candy in his mouth.

"Probbly," He answered with stuffed cheeks.

"This is cause for concern. If that fact is any indication, it means that one's desire to eat grows the more they eat within this dungeon. I would highly recommend that you put down whatever you have chosen to eat thus far. If we are to use that as a tactic in battle, we must do so sparingly, as it puts our well-being at risk."

"That's gonna be tough." Curt answered as he swallowed. "I mean, it's one of those things where once you start doing it, it's hard to just quit cold turkey, you know? I mean, I need more something fierce, and my stash is running out. I might have to gut someone before their stomach acid breaks it down." The eyes of his companions darted to him and he gestured for them to calm down. "A joke! It was just a joke! Don't look at me like that."

"Be careful everyone. I worry more for your safety by the moment." Peorth said as she knit her eyebrows and crossed her arms.

We'll pull through somehow Chief. We always do, so don't worry!" TJ said with a grin.

She smiled, but there was a sadness hidden behind it. "I take solace in your words...and yet I cannot help but fear for them even more."

After a short break the group continued uphill and found themselves at another pedestal.

"We now know that there is a chance that the cave will be infested with Agasura. We must be wary of what lurks within, and if we will choose to enter it knowing this fact. For the time being, let us proceed. If you feel unsure about what lies ahead, I would recommend you and Suuba trade places Curt. Should she find herself unable to escape, she has a means to guarantee that she should not fall."

"Ahh I'll be fine Peorth, but I do appreciate the concern. You just worry about what's ahead and I'll watch your back."

The guild master nodded and continued forward before drawing her spear. "We are nearing the top, but there is something that is coming, and quickly. Brace yourselves!" TJ was torn between playing a support song and preparing to run for dear life. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes before opting out for the former. As he started to play a group of jelloy doughnuts rolled down the hill, side by side and the guild master took a couple steps back before raising her spear skyward. "War Cry!" A crimson aura flowed from her and back into her before she held her spear out horizontally before her and blocked the three as they collided with her spear and forced her back a couple steps.

Su turned her head towards the top of the mountain and grit her teeth. "There's another landslide incoming!" She shouted.

"Everyone, fall back immediately! Do not dally!" Peorth carefully stepped back as she tried to avoid the landslide and momentum returned to the Agasura that assailed her-she barely kept her footing as she turned down the hill and followed in the wake of her companions.

The group turned at the bend and Amata grabbed hold of the chocolate chunk, but moments before she could take a bite of it two constrictors slithered down from above and landed before her, causing her to throw the item away in a panic with a shriek.

"I've got it!" TJ shouted as he ran towards the ledge and dove off of it to catch the pieces and spread his wings. With one powerful beat he pushed himself back to the ledge his companions stood on and found himself in Curt's arms. "Nice catch!"

"I could say the same to you partner." Curt said with a grin.

"Enough fawning, more eating!" Su hissed as she dragged Amata away from the snakes.

"R-right!" TJ said as Curt let him go and he took a bite of the chocolate and placed it back on the pedestal. He and Curt quickly got inside. "Everybody in!"

"Easier said...than done!" Su hissed as she attempted to pull Amata with her but failed. "You're fuckin' heavy! How much do you eat?! Shit!"

Curt rushed to lend them his aid but found himself blocked off as Peorth was pushed further back into Su, followed by Amata and the constrictors approached ever closer. "Well this is bad." He stepped back as the broken wall rumbled to life and began to repair itself, locking the two in the darkness. He pounded against the wall a couple times before cursing. "Girls! Can you hear me? Are you alright?!" He shook his head and turned to TJ, the shuttered brown eyes glinted in the darkness as the Abellan blinked solemnly. "It's a good thing I always keep some cr-shit."

"All out?" TJ asked with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Don't gimme that look. It only makes it harder."

"S-sorry." He averted his gaze. "I can still feel my mana so..." He clenched a fist and rised it skyward, creating a small sphere of light that brightened the cave. "Ahh!" TJ cried out as he collided with the wall, holding his guitar tightly.

"What is i-whoa! Bears huh? Looks like things got from bad to worse, didn't they?" Curt chuckled dryly.

"Get it away! Get it away!" Amata cried as she stepped back into Su and Su was pressed against Peorth's back, the whole group coming to a halt as the distance between them and the Agasura shortened.

"If you'd just calm the fuck down for two goddamn seconds I COULD THINK! " Su roared as she grabbed the hem of Amata's coat and tossed her into the wall. "Shit!" She stomped her foot down and the doughnuts that assaulted Peorth were flung through the air as the earth beneath them rose up with Su's fury. She pounded an open palm and turned on the balls of her heels to point skyward. "Mother Gaia!" Chunks of earth rose up from the chasm and pelted her targets as Peorth let her guard down and took a breath. "Fight's not over yet, princess. I wouldn't let my guard down if I were you." She turned her back to the guildmaster who took up a battle stance. "I saved your ass this time, but don't expect the same next time." She drew her dagger and engaged the snakes. One of the two attempted to wrap its body around her by flinging its head forward, but missed as Su dashed towards the wall and leapt over Amata to approach the second. It too, dove at her and she leapt from the wall and spread her wings to fly back into the fray with a downward stab. Her dagger pierced the snake and it hissed while the other turned around and threw itself at Su again.

One of the doughnuts had fallen from the mountain side but the other two crashed back down before Peorth and rose to their feet, raising their fists as if to challenge her with just that. She eyed it from head, to toe, shocked that such small legs could carry the weight of the creatures, and speculated that if she was to sweep beneath them knocking them down and off of the landing would be no challenge. She eyed the hole and realized if she did so, and it fell forward she could easily find herself trapped also, once more. She lunged forward once and followed with a second advancing stab, causing both to back away cautiously. They were weak, but not to be undersdtimated should they get too close-the sheer size of them would make them difficult to shift even with a Warlord's strength. She took another careful thrust and one of the two bumped into the other, causing it to lean back, forward, and stumble towards Peorth.

"What?" She asked as it came ever closer and she thrust into it before taking a step back and returning with a jumping stab. She pierced the top of it, and in desperation it turned to and fro, moving Peorth hither and thither as both seemed to fly into a panic. Her body hung from the precipice, and the sudden movements it made increased the difficulty of focusing a hundred times harder. It turned to the wall and Peorth collided with it, causing her to let go of her spear and slide to the ground near Amata as she let out a weakened groan.

"Get your fuckin' act together would you?!" Su roared as she turned a pair of glaring crimson eyes to Peorth. "I've got enough on my plate as it is!"

One of the constrictors wrapped itself around Amata's body and she shuddered silently as she struggled to break free of its grip.

Peorth staggered to her feet and shook off her dizziness as she placed a hand to the wall. Those eyes, and the rapid beating of her heart unsettled her deeply. TJ and Curt were in danger, and she felt certain that it was their presences that were growing weaker by the moment.

"K-keep it together...TJ!" TJ told himself as he pulled himself to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth. "Not yet...not yet!" His guitar sat near the entrance, on the other side of the two bears who both laid into Curt. One of the two pinned him down while the other punched him in the face mercilessly. TJ took a deep breath before pounding his fists together and raising his head. "Wrath! Brute Force!" He dashed towards the bear holding his companion down and dove at it with a flying punch. The blow connected with its head and he hit the ground hard before finding himself dragged on the ground by his foot and swung around onto the bear's shoulders. It grabbed him by the neck and by his legs and cracked his back before hurling him towards the other-the attack was followed up by a single haymaker that launched the Abellan further into the darkness of the cave, where he curled up and gripped his stomach as he reeled with pain.

"I'll cover you dude. Don't you worry!" Curt uttered with a bloody grin. His face was swollen and turning darker shades by the minute but he still drew knives from his coat and drew the bears' attention by hurling them. "We're not done here boys. Come on, come get me!" One of the two stampeded towards him before taking two swings at him-his speed was hindered but he was still able to avoid both attacks skillfully. He drew four knives from his coat and hurled each through the torso and arms. It attempted to get him with a hook from both arms but he dropped to the floor and threw down a smoke bomb. Within the cloud he rose to his feet and ripped out one of the daggers before plunging it into the back and pulling it across the body. He ran back and grabbed one in the right arm as it reeled back from another swing and cut a 'T' into the arm before jumping off the wall and over the other bear as it clotheslined its companion. Curt cut a swath through it and it nearly collapsed on him with an elbow but missed him once again as he descended on it with dagger and knife in hand. He rapidly stabbed it, leaving a series of marks within as it rose to its feet with him holding on to its back. The other swatted at him and he grabbed hold of its arm to pull it apart from the rest and loosen it as he ran around it. With its left arm it attempted to backhand him but missed as he crouched under it and found two feet in his face. He was sent tumbling back into a wall and hit it hard, then found one of the bears approach. It hauled him over its shoulders before spinning around and hurling him off of it.

"C-Curt...? TJ asked as he opened his eyes and blinked. He blinked once more as his vision was distorted and crimson from the blood that ran down his forehead, but despite his weakness he still attempted to rise to his feet. "N...no...I'm not strong enough..." He had the Frequency at his disposal. Whether he wanted it or not, he had tapped into the Chaos Frequency and it could give him the strength he needed again. Was it the strength he needed to protect his friends? Or just a borrowed power he used in his times of need? He gripped his temples as the Sound of Frequency echoed within his mind and he shook his head. Do you fear the darkness? The words of the shadow that encroached upon his psyche returned to him and he shook his head. "I'm not...I'm not afraid..." He watched as the bears drew closer to Curt and to him. He grit his teeth and staggered to his feet, his sclera were engulfed by a crimson light that faded when he blinked. ...it encroaches upon the very foundations of your being and consumes you...He clenched his fist as he heaved and the two eyed him, before drawing closer. "I...I'm in control..." He snarled as he lost his balance but for a moment and a dark energy surrounded him. "I will not...be conquered! I will...destroy..." His words steadily became a mix of snarls as he placed both hands to his head and let out a cry. His arms grew as a pitch-black coating engulfed them, his body fell forward and grew in size and his hands turned into claws. His face turned into a snout as he took the form of a large bear, one that towered over the others. They both charged at him at once and with one fell swoop he knocked one into the wall and dug his fangs into the other before ripping out a large part of its neck. He let out one victorious bellow before he collapsed to his knees and gripped his temples as he shook his head. "I am...I am in control..." His body shrunk back to its normal size but retained the silhouette shape to it as his eyes rapidly flickered between his usual crimson pupils and what they had become. "I am not a monster...I'm not...like them..."

"Good work TJ..." Curt huffed as he staggered to his feet. "But the battle's not over yet...so...act fast eh?"

One of the two bears rose again and shifted to and fro-the claw marks from TJ's strike and knife wounds from Curt were clear as day, but were not enough to put the creature down.

Amata looked both in terror and disbelief at the sight before her-a wolf black as night leapt at the snake that constricted her and pinned it down with its paws before tearing a part of the body to pieces with a vicious snarl. It pulled the rest from her and hurled it off the cliff before batting its next attacker aside with its paws and tearing through it also. "Su...What is that? That power...?" She asked meekly.

Ignoring the Governor's words the wolf turned towards Peorth who kept both doughnuts busy-one of the two had a series of holes punctured within but due to their immense size and shape, she found herself hard-pressed to land a proper strike on it without her weapon sliding through the hole. She turned at the sound of the wolf's approached and stepped aside as it leapt through the center of the Agasura and charged into it from behind, knocking it to the floor. Peorth saw her opportunity and swept it into the air with her spear before tearing it to pieces with Wind Wall. She set her gaze to the wolf again that leapt her target and struck in a flurry of claws and fangs, dancing around the target as it tore it apart piece by piece. Peorth hurled her spear and knocked it over, the wolf taking to the bottom while she ripped her spear out from the creature and turned on the balls of her heels to deal a final descending strike between the eyes.

Her eyes met with the clear, crimson eyes of the wolf as she placed her spear upright beside her. "It seems that you have come to my aid once more, Suuba. I owe you a debt."

The bear staggered over to TJ as he clenched his fists and dug his nails into the ground. "G-get away...I won't...become that thing...I won't...let Asmodeus have his way!" His declaration was bold, but what did he risk in choosing not to tap into that strength again, and what did he risk in choosing to do so? Would Curt be safe? Would he lose himself? Would that ability mean he was already transforming into an Agasura? Was it too late for him? He grit his teeth as sweat and blood ran down his face. It was not his time to die-if he had to use that power, he would. The bear raised its claw as he raised his head to prepare one last counterattack.

Suddenly the creature came to a halt, then finally collapsed on its side solemnly. Curt stood behind it with a pair of knives and his dagger in hand as he heaved out a few heavy sighs. "You know better than I do how dangerous using the Contemptuous Arts is TJ. Take a page from Peorth's book." He said as he raised a finger. "Constant vigilance!" He said in a monotone, but with a hint of enthusiasm.

TJ smiled weakly. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Curt shrugged. "There's that too. Now let's get your guitar so you can patch me up yeah? This coconut on my face makes it hard to see, and I think I'm severely bleeding internally."

"If you'll carry me over there you've got yourself a deal."

The cavern opened and an ailed looking Peorth and Amata waited at the entrance.

"Are you two alright?!" The guild master asked in a panic.

"A bit hurt but it's nothing a little music can't fix!" Curt said with a chuckle.

"I don't think I can heal all the wounds, but I can patch us up enough so we can fight again." TJ added as he knit his eyebrows. "I need to hone my songs a bit more, to be honest."

"Take all the time you need," Peorth began, "it seems that the flow of Agasura has come to a halt, so we need only proceed to the apex of the mountain and face off with the Sinner."

TJ and Curt sat against the cave's entrance as TJ gently strtummed his guitar and healed their wounds. He opened his eyes and turned them to the guild master who looked off into the valley, her figure standing tall across the orange dyed sky. Across a portion of her dress was both dust, and a few scratches that seemed to reach a part of her arms.

"Chief...you're hurt." He said quietly to which she turned to him.

"Am I?" She placed a hand to the scratches and smiled. "Did I worry you? My apologies. Alas, it is naught that you need to worry over. Focus your efforts on Curt and yourself. I can fight without concern for this." He knit his eyebrows but she offered him a confident nod.

"She's kinda right there, you know. You look pretty bad." Amata sighed. "You're practically bleeding out of every orifice. Both you and him." She reached into her pocket and drew a handkerchief, then knelt down near the Bard as he eyed her solemnly. She suddenly froze as her eyes shifted in the direction of Peorth who watched silently, and Su who leaned against the wall impatiently. "Use this." She dropped the handkerchief in his lap and grinned. "I'd rather not die today."

After a short rest the two got to their feet and stretched.

"Man I wish I hauled that bear out with us." Curt grumbled as his stomach followed suit. "A thousand ely says I could eat the whole thing."

"Don't. I'd rather not see that, Agasura or not." Amata muttered as she rubbed her arm gently.

"Oh come now, you've never eaten an Agasura? You've gotta try Prir-"

"I'm not listening!" The God's Governor raised a hand and walked away as Curt followed after her with his talk.

"Are you sure you can continue? You need not rush headlong into battle if you feel that you are still unwell." Peorth said as she approached TJ.

He offered her a thumbs-up and grinned. "I'm A-OK! Besides, I've been preparing for this day for a while now. If I wanna find out the truth of my past and the memories I've lost, I have to face my siblings. They know everything I don't. Besides, I feel like if I can face my past, I can face the future." He smiled at her. "Though with a courageous ally like you by my side even I'm not really afraid." His smile faltered and his face flushed as he scratched his cheek. "A-anyway, let's not keep Gula waiting shall we? Let's move out!"

She chuckled, "Yes, let us."

It was a short walk to the peak-once again lead by Peorth, the group ascended to the top, a flat landing coated in all manner of weapons and half-eaten Agasura, all sprawled across the ground as if they had either killed each other, or had been killed by the one who had summoned them. In the midst of it all sat a lone man wearing a crimson tank top, camo cargo pants, and olive green hiking boots. His appearance, similar to TJ's but his body huskier than his counterpart's. Alike to Avaritia, he had crimson eyes and his hair in cornrows.

His back was turned to them, but not for long. He arose from sitting cross-legged and faced them as he cracked his neck. "I've gotta give it to ya," He began revealing a series of fangs in place of regular teeth, "I didn't think you'd go all the way to me, but you did." He frowned. "So? The hell're you doin' here Sis? Instead of coming into my dungeon and screwing it up shouldn't you be focusing on father's revival?" He looked at the group with pure disgust. "And with a group of those filthy Cerebians at that."

"Don't you dare talk bad about them!" TJ roared as he took a step forward and glared. "You know nothing about them, and you're in no place to judge them!" Peorth placed a hand to his shoulder and offered him a nod, to which he let out a sigh and took a breath. "The reason I'm here, is to defeat you. But it doesn't have to be that way! You can still change-you can escape from this prison and fight to save this world we both live in. Turn your back to Asmodeus and his beliefs-his desire to destroy this world and help me and the others save it! I'd already met with Avaritia and she was vehement against turning against him. I don't want this to have to be the same way."

"You met with Avaritia?" He asked with disbelief. "Then the reason I can sense her presence here is..."

The Abellan nodded. "That's right. I've integrated her, and that'll be the case with you and all of the others if you guys are so adamant on destroying Midgard." TJ furrowed his brows. "I've no reason, nor mercy for you if you plan on doing the same!" He shook his head and sighed. "Even so, I don't think I heard the whole story from Avaritia. Even if I still plan to stand against it, I at least want to hear from you why-why Asmodeus wants to wipe out humanity, and whether or not you'll consider my offer."

Gula sighed this time around. "Let me save you the trouble. Under no circumstances will I join you and those Cerebians. As for humanity? They're nothing but a plague on Midgard. I'm sure you know that as well as I do, The world and the people that inhabit it can't live in harmony. Humans take up resources at an incredible pace, their population increases and further take up that which Midgard thrives on! They consume more and more and more and through all of it, they're bleeding the world dry! Have you ever asked what will happen when Midgard has no plants, no animals and no water to sustain those morons? Have any of you?" He looked upon them with disdain, before he raised two fingers. "I'll give you two possibilities. One! They would resort to war. They would kill and feed off of each other in the wasteland that they created until their numbers finally dwindle and die out once and for all. And two? They'll reach further out. They'll leave that world, and inhabit the other eight worlds so they can survive and thrive again, like the cockroaches they are! They'll just jump from world to world, whichever can sustain them, and destroy it. They'll only bring more war and destruction in their wake." He clicked his tongue. "Death's a mercy to them, one that they don't deserve. But it's what God Ah sent us to do, and if Father says that we abide by his word, then that's damn fine by me!"

Peorth took to the vanguard and stared the Sinner down. "If that is truly what you believe, then I deem you nothing more than incorrigible! If that is the regime that you and all of the other Sinners intend to follow then I shall be there to ensure that the corruption that you insist on does not come to pass! The Asgardians have learned to work with and fight alongside Humanity. Through this, we will heal the world's wounds, and in time find a balance between Man, Asgardian, beast and Midgard as a whole. Through this, all shall thrive without the need for pure unbridled destruction! It is nothing more than the inept wishes of Choen Palm, you and your siblings, and Agasura King Asmodeus himself!"

Gula looked at the guild master with both a mix of disbelief and surprise before holding out a hand and manifesting a scythe through a violet mana. He wielded the weapon in a fighting stance as he glared at her. "It's been thousands of years but you finally decided to show yourself, did you? It's no surprise that your lot killed Avaritia, but you're not gonna be that lucky this time around! I'll crush you and your merry band of friends and put an end to that bitch goddess' bloodline once and for all! After that, I can take Luxuria back and undo the brainwashing you put her under." He placed his scythe upright and turned his gaze to TJ. "Rather than have me defect, shouldn't you be the one to do just that, Sis?"

TJ glared. "I'm not your sister, nor am I Luxuria. My name is TJ. You'd do yourself well to commit that to memory, but it'll only be for a short while. My mind is made, and that means I'm gonna beat you."

He sighed. "Is it? You don't even remember what she did to you?" His gaze quickly turned sharp and enraged. "Of course you don't, because you're not Luxuria. Just some fake their precious Amae created for the sake of convenience! For the sake of stroking her own ego!" He clicked his tongue. "And it was her very lineage, the daughter she valued so much that cut you down before my very eyes. Now she's standing before you and giving you googly-eyes to get you to turn over to her side?"

TJ looked on in sheer disbelief. "W-what are you talking about...?"

"TJ, you must not believe in his words! It is nothing more than trickery to lower your guard!" Peorth warned him as she held a hand out.

Gula grinned. "That's right. You don't remember? She had used a spell that her beloved mother had lent to her, and killed you with it! Did you think that scar in your chest just appeared there? Hah! Of course they wouldn't tell you the whole truth! Those lying Cerebians!"

TJ gripped his temples as he heard the Sound of Frequency. "No...not now...I can't..." He fell to his knees.

"You can hear Him, can't you? Father is lending you his aid, restoring your memories-those that the Cerebians had taken from you. Don't fight it, you need to remember. Remember the truth, of who you really are, and what they'd taken from you."

"No...I..." TJ's consciousness faded away, and the battle that lurked ever closer seemed more distant by the moment, while another began.

The sounds of war surrounded him-battle cries and cries in the throes of death. The sound of magic crashing down into the earth and arrows tearing through the sky. Commands, songs, and war cries all blended together as his vision became clearer. When he could finally see, he saw two massive claws before him, and a short distance away a young woman clad from head-to-toe in full armour.

A snow white plate with a blue sunburst upon it-matching gauntlets, sabatons, a winged helmet and a deep blue cape. In her hands a lovely ornate spear. Though far, through the openings of the helmet he could see her face, and the blue locks that remained within.

"Do you dare to do it, Ásvaŕtlim? Come, I invite you! Do you have the courage to slay that which your goddess deems of such importance?! Choose wisely, for if you do not, I shall slay you, and one by one torment your precious Keruz!" They were his words, but they were not words he chose to speak, nor was it his voice. It sounded eerily similar to Adonis, and TJ feared for the shadow of doubt that crept upon him.

"Do you take me for a fool, demon spawn?!" The lady roared in turn." She placed her spear to her back and removed her helmet, before tossing it down to the ground. "Lady Amae's word is absolute, and if you think that your inane jests will break my spirit or resolve, then you shall be struck down a fool!" As TJ looked on he began to see the similarities between her and Peorth. Her eyes, the shape of her nose and even hair colour were the same, though her hair was cut short giving her a tomboyish look. Her eyebrows were bushier, and her eyes and expression made her look much more ferocious than her current counterpart, but it was not a far cry to say that the two were alike in more ways than one. She clasped her hands together. "Hear my prayer, Goddess of Creation. Bestow upon me that which will purge the evils that plague this world. By your will I shall be the blade of evil's bane! Lend me your strength, my goddess!" She held a hand to the sky as a magic circle appeared beneath her with the Asgardian herald and from it a pillar of light engulfed her. "Amae's Benevolence!" As the pillar closed, becoming nothing more than a trickle of light upon the raised hand of the Asgardian, she lowered her hand to her side with a swing before pointing at Adonis with the other-the lowered hand now a blade of light split among her fingers which extended to her wrist. "With this one strike I shall eliminate you, cursed being!"

He laughed maniacally. "Are you courageous enough, or will you only talk, Asgardian? Strike me down!"

Her eyes remained trained on him, but in that moment they looked more serious than ever. "For Asgard!" In a split second, she was before him, with the blade piercing through the center of his chest. At that moment, time seemed to slow down as pain echoed through TJ's body and sent all of his nerves into a frenzy.

Adonis hacked up a spatter of blood onto the Asgardian's armour, adding to that which was already there among scratches and other various dents, and he grinned. "Come now, Asgardian. Did you think that would kill me? This is naught but a flesh wound! If you wish to kill the love child of a goddess you must try harder!" He took her arm and pulled it even further until her hand had pierced through to the other side. She looked shocked for but a moment, and quickly regained her composure. "That...that, is how you slay a god, Asgardian." He chuckled as he coughed up some more blood and grinned at her. "But the true fool, is she who shall live to tell." At those words his grip on her gauntlets fell away and his head fell limp.

She pulled her arm out and with a wave of her hand the spell dissipated in a series of spheres of light. She turned to her companions who were fighting nearby as she held the corpse high for all to see. "Take heart, my stout allies! My companions! We have struck down Adonis and dealt a crushing blow to Asmodeus' army! It is only a matter of time before this battle is ours! For God Ah, for Our Lady Amae and for Asgard, we shall prevail!" With her other hand she raised her spear as her rallying cry was answered by those who fought on the battlefield before her.

The memory faded away and TJ found himself back in the present, held up by an anxious Peorth. He looked back on with terror in his eyes, and her expression immediately changed. As he pulled away from her, she rose to her feet, looking downtrodden and heartbroken for but a moment before putting on a serious expression that remained trained on Gula.

"You saw it, didn't you? You saw how the Cerebians mercilessly struck you down, and used your corpse as a point to rally to," the Sinner snorted. "But I suppose it's as much yours as its Adonis'." His grin quickly turned sour. "Amae sealed Luxuria in the same body as she did with him of all people. The nerve of that woman! To give you life. All so that you weren't just some empty husk she had those Asgardians defeat Luxuria and seal her away within that vessel using that ridiculous gem. And now we have you. You backstabbing piece of shit! As if Luxuria wasn't enough, you'd taken Avaritia too, and now you want me? Heh! Don't count on it!" He pointed to Peorth. "As for you, Ásvaŕtlim or not, I'm gonna put you in the ground and take back what belongs to us!"

"Now just you wait right there!" Amata said as she took to the vanguard. "You're claiming Peorth is her ancestor? Are you an idiot? It's been thousands of years since the Agasuric War. Asgardians don't live that long, and they're two different people! Valkyrie Leigha was the hero of the Cerebians and the first Ásvaŕtlim in the clan. How many generations do you think it's been since then?!" She turned her focus to Peorth and TJ. "Rise up you two! Don't let his words shake you any further than they have-what he's saying and what's actually going on are way too different!"

Peorth let out a sigh. "You are correct, God's Governor. I know not what lead you to believe me for my heroic ancestor, but I shall tell you now that I am not her, but I shall aspire to be that which she was and aim ever higher! I shall continue the war that my lineage had waged and see it to the end, along with that of Agasura King Asmodeus! For the time being, I shall put an end to this mummer's farce and have you take back your words which sully my clan's name!" Peorth drew her spear and pointed it at Gula.

"TJ, I know you may have your doubts due to your memories, and even so, now but once more, I must ask you to put your faith in me! Together we shall go forward and pursue the truth that has been veiled, be it by the gods themselves or by one of the many you had come to know during your time. Take heart, and fight by our side as the Abellan once more!"

He tightly gripped his guitar in both hands as he looked to his companions. Peorth who earnestly requested his aid. Amata who gave him a confident nod and grinned, not showing a hint of doubt. Curt who gave him a thumbs-up and set his sights on the enemy before them, and finally Su who shrugged and placed her hands in her pockets, a sign that she approved of the guild master's words. "I believe you Chief. Together, we'll sort it all out." He said as he held his guitar, ready to play.

"You have my utmost gratitude TJ. Together, we shall bring an end to this turmoil."

"That'll be your first, and your last mistake TJ." Gula slammed his scythe down and the creatures that were once felled became animated and came to life once more. "You're in for a real treat!"

"We begin! Curt, take my left flank! Suuba, my right! Amata I wish for you to provide support and TJ support spells until I give you further commands!" Peorth shouted to her companions. "I shall keep Gula!

At those words both Treasure Hunter and Mage alike rushed past Peorth to take to the Agasuras that infested the area while Amata drew her staff and prepared a spell. The guild master hurled her spear and transitioned into a Swallowtail that came down on Gula but met the blade of his scythe as he parried the blow and stepped back.

"It's just like back then! An imitation of the Asgardian Princess barking her commands to her subordinates! But you're weak! You're nothing in comparison to your ancestor!" Gula snarled as he blocked Peorth's thrust with his weapon and attempted to pierce her flank with his own. "And Lux' vessel is a Bard now? Ha! If she had an ounce of Luxuria's power she could easily have the lot of you wrapped around her finger!"

Peorth back flipped away from the weapon and did so once more as he took another swing at her. "Companionship is not obtained through control against one's will! Burst Lancer!"

She lunged at Gula with a series of rapid stabs which he blocked, despite how precise her blows were. She reeled her weapon back and spun it over her head before slamming it into the ground. Strength welled up in her body in the moments up until that point, and she knew that TJ was improving just by the sound.

"Field of Blades!" A magic circle opened up beneath her as Gula backed away and leapt off the mountaintop to avoid the spears that threatened to impale him, along with the Agasura approaching Peorth's companions. As she took her weapon out she considered looking over the cliff, but opted out for standing her ground. A rocket popsicle with Gula's scythe wrapped around the front flew back up to the landing and soared towards the guild master. She dodged to the side and rolled to her feet before sending her focus to the Abellan. "TJ! You must defend yourself!"

He opened his eyes as his brother rushed toward him and he threw his guitar into the air. He held both hands out and reeled them back as he roared, "Avarita!" The popsicles veered off course and Gula was forced to abandon it as TJ pounded his fists together. "I'll crush you!" He snarled as his eyes flickered to red and he caught the weapon and held it by the neck above him. "Wrath! Demon's Armoury!" A crimson energy surged from around him and gathered to the weapon giving it the shape of a massive mallet. He took a step forward and leapt at his brother before bringing the weapon down upon him with both hands.

"You can use the other sins too huh?" Gula chuckled under his breath as he held the Abellan back with his scythe, the mallet ever closer to crushing him. "I'd expect no less from Father's protégé. You might have his skills but you lack both his and Ira's sense for battle!"

"Ah shit TJ watch it!" Curt shouted while he held back a gummy constrictor.

TJ turned his head over to catch a glimpse of a boxer bear charging towards him, and the next thing he knew its fist was in his flank and he was flung away as his guitar returned to normal. His body tumbled past the corpses of Agasuras Su felled which quickly put him near the edge of the mountain. Much to his surprise he was stopped by Su as she emerged from the crystal ahead of him and grabbed hold of his arm to hurl him back on while she fell away. Moments later she returned through it and landed before him. "For once can you try not to die?! Shit!" She snarled before she leapt over his head and plunged her dagger into a doughnut.

"T-thanks." He said as he rose to his feet and took a breath.

"There's more incoming!" Amata shouted to him as a fireball soared past his face and into that of another bear's. "Finish the job TJ!"

He looked to her and nodded. "Brute Force!" He twirled his guitar around once before batting the bear's head off with it.

"Lend Peorth a hand, we can keep these guys busy!"

"Got it!" He rushed to her side as she lunged at Gula and followed up with a jumping stab. As he side-stepped the attack TJ stormed in with a straight punch from his left hand and landed the blow. Gula staggered away as Peorth took her place behind him to surround him.

"Nice one." He muttered as he wiped his mouth and grinned. With one hand held to TJ and the other to Peorth, two violet wormholes opened and rocket popsicles fired out from both, causing the two to get away from him. "Heh! I'm just getting started!" He slammed his weapon down and another fell from a hole, but unlike the others it did not fly away as it left behind a flaming trail. He caught it by the stick and bit off the tip before hurling it towards Curt-at that moment, it flew just like the others and met the Treasure Hunter's shield. Moments afterwards the bear he was locked in combat with picked him up and suplexed him.

"What the hell was that?" TJ asked as he rose to his feet. His eyes shot open as he backed away from Gula who glided across the ground and swung his scythe in a wide arc-the threat of death loomed over the Abellan as he raised his guitar to prevent his head from being decapitated and he offset the blade's arc, causing it to pierce his left arm instead. He let out a cry of pain as he pulled away and ripped the blade from his arm, cutting his hand in the process.

"Broken Wings!" Peorth shouted as her spear pierced the Sinner's back and she appeared on it before she kicked him to the ground. "Are you alright?" She asked as she twirled the spear above her head and turned on the balls of her heels to deal a finishing blow.

"I'm okay, it's not too deep." TJ answered as he smiled bitterly.

"Good. Focus on recovering-" Peorth leapt back as the Sinner rose to his feet in a dance of blades, the scythe turning around him at an incredible speed, allowing him to rise ever higher but for a few moments. He landed with a mirthless grin.

"Not bad at all, Princess! But you'll have to do better than that to keep me down." He snapped his fingers and several wormholes opened where Agasura poured out-a variety of those that had appeared through the dungeon. "Keep 'em busy! I'm gonna make sure I slaughter this Ásvaŕtlim to ensure that the blood runs dry! If you lot don't screw up with the others, it'll just be to put this chump down and take back what rightfully belongs to Luxuria!"

"As if one or two of those goddamn bears wasn't a pain in the ass!" Su snarled as she stomped the earth and it rose up before her to block a punch. With a kick it slid towards the edge of the landing and collapsed atop the creature after they both fell off. "Keep him busy, and we'll pick these fuckers off. Just don't die. Got it?!" She rushed to TJ's aid and took up a battle stance as he gently strummed his guitar to heal everyone's wounds. "I can keep him alive."

"You have my thanks." Peorth said as she eyed the Sinner amidst the Agasura. "I shall not fall to your hands Gula, but I fancy the declaration. Come! For my allies, I will defeat you!"

"Will you now?" His crimson eyes flickered as he grinned. "Prove it!"

"I'm going. If you get caught, scream for help. I'll rescue your ass, as always. Now then..." She hopped on the spot. "Shadow Dive!" She vanished into the shadows and appeared behind one of the bears that approached TJ. She crouched down and placed a hand to its shadow-three crimson spears appeared around her and plunged themselves into it. A few of them turned to face her and she grinned. "Sloth! Shadow Envoys!" A series of the creatures appeared before her and leapt towards her targets, pinning the whole group down. She cracked her knuckles as she reeled a fist back and forced it into the bear's back-her hand pierced through and rested in the center where she closed a fist and opened it shortly after so a sphere of dark energy could take form. "Sloth, Envy! Hel Vacuum!" She pulled her hand out and with an open palm forced it into the bear's back once more. "Siphoning Rush!" The strike pushed it forward and as it was placed side-by-side with the others, the sphere expanded and everything within a short radius of it was pulled towards it. "Bring 'em as close as you can Peorth!"

"If that is what you wish." The guild master answered as she forced Gula back and lunged at him with another thrust. He jumped back as she spun the spear above her head and slammed it into the ground. "Earth Render!" The earth before her cracked and crumbled, then fell away causing Gula to leap off of it and tumble to his feet in order to avoid falling to his demise.

"Got any more tricks up your sleeve there Ásvaŕtlim? This is starting to get interesting!" Gula said with a cackle. "Ira would have a field day with you, too bad he's not here!"

"I need not tricks, nor illusions to battle. Only my tactics, strength, and the comrades who will fight by my side."

"Do it bitch!" Su roared as she turned her head to Amata, who was high in the sky with a flame above her hand. Su jumped and dove into the shadows once more.

"Screw you!" Amata shouted back as she hurled the flame down towards them. "Scorn!" The flame touched down at the bear's feet and burst, unleashing a fiery end upon all those in range, along with Gula. "That do it?"

"Don't jinx it now." Curt said as he wrestled another gummy constrictor to the ground and split it in two.

As the flames and smoke cleared away, amidst a series of melted Agasura and some that were reduced to mere ashes, a lone bear stood, the front half of it charred to a fine crisp, but the back half still intact with Gula crouched down behind it. "Clever girls! But not quite clever enough!" He laughed as he rose to his feet and the bear fell aside.

Su appeared from his shadow with a spinning slash and met his scythe's haft. "Are you fucking kidding m-" He forced her dagger back and she spun through the air as he hauled the weapon down on her. Moments before it pierced her chest she dissipated and emerged from TJ's crystal. Following the event Peorth took to Gula to occupy him while the God's Governors recovered. "Hell's fuckin' bells." Su stood at her full height but sweat ran down her brow, and though quiet her breathing had increased.

"You two alright? The Agasura are cleared out for now, so take a breather. Especially you, Su." TJ said as he placed his guitar down by his side.

"That'd probably be a good idea. Using these spells really eats up my mana. Gotta conserve some in case I need to awaken." Amata said with a dry chuckle.

The Governor of Earth glared at him. "You dumbass! This is our one chance to get him and you're telling me to get back in there?! Don't be an idiot!" Su hissed as she turned her focus back to Gula. I'm getting back in the fight!" As she rushed back towards Gula Peorth was forced away from him as he spun around rapidly with his weapon, leaving no openings for either to strike.

Once he landed with a wave of his hands more wormholes opened and Agasura emerged in the dozens. "I've no shortage of mana to keep you losers busy, so keep on fighting a hopeless battle," Gula said.

"This is getting really friggin' tedious." Su said as she clicked her tongue.

"We gotta restore our stamina when there's a lull in the battle! It's the only way we'll win!" Curt said as he stuffed his face with a constrictor he recently felled.

"Is now really the time for your goofy shit?!"

"This is pretty bad. I think I can do another Scorn and then some, but too many and I'll be pushing my limits." Amata said as she arose from a doubled-over stance.

"No need, I've got a plan! Su, you can return now!" TJ shouted to her.

"Another one of your brilliant plans? Whatever..." She muttered before she turned to a series of spheres and disappeared.

"Chief, let's do it!"

"As you wish." Peorth answered as she leapt away and held her spear to the sky.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes-when he opened them again they were their usual brown. He rapidly began to strum his guitar as the Agasuras all around them responded in a myriad of roars and snarls before beginning their approach.

"I'm not just gonna let this happen you know." Gula said as he rushed toward Peorth and was blocked by a flame.

"I'm not gonna let you have your way either! You seem to have fond memories of the past, so you'll have some stories to tell your sister when you see her on the other side! Stories of how you were crushed by this generation's Governors!" Amata roared.

"You? A Governor!? You're nothing compared to Rayinth! I'll stomp you into a fine paste!"

Amata took her place before Peorth who still held her spear to the sky, gathering mana to her. Just by being near her Amata could feel the energy welling up within her, and it seemed to be coming from both TJ, and the sky itself. The more concerning matter was-she was surrounded by Agasura, and especially by the type she hated most. All she had to do was buy them the time they needed to finish the cast-a simple task, and one made easier by a God's Governor. Her skin crawled at the sight of the snakes, but now was not the time. As Gula approached once more she slammed her staff into the ground and flames shot up in a straight line. He leapt back and in that moment she saw an opportunity. She let loose a Fire Burst and as it neared him exploded and forced him back, burning his hands slightly. She had enough time for the spell now. She raised a hand above her head and a flame took form before forming a bright sphere. "Inferno!" Fire streamed from it in four beams and rose in fall in succession. Keeping Peorth and TJ required her to limit it to three whenever it reached them, but despite the lack of she managed to singe and keep the Agasura at bay.

Through the Abellan's strumming storm clouds gathered and lightning flashed across the skies. His rapid strums came to a slow, and with one final stroke a bolt of thunder rained down upon the guild master and struck her weapon. "Duck Curt, Amata!" He shouted to them as he followed suit.

Peorth spun her weapon around as the thunder rained down upon it and it fired off in every direction. "Levin Storm!" She shouted as the bolts pierced, wounded and paralyzed any enemies tall enough to be caught in the range of the spell. When the thunder came to a halt, she reversed the direction in which she turned her spear.

"Everybody jump!" TJ shouted to them as the guild master slammed the spear into the ground.

"Levin Wave!" A wave of electricity rippled across the ground and electrocuted anything that was privy to the attack, including Gula. Lightning crackled through Peorth's weapon still, and her hair stood on end. "The time to strike back is now, my companions! Eliminate them!" She spun her spear around before slamming it into the ground and impaling any nearby Agasura.

TJ pounded his fists together and closed his eyes, then opened them moments later. "Frequency!" He placed his guitar down and turned to the Governor of Fire. "I've got an idea for a spell we can do together. Wanna give it a shot?"

"Though I think your ideas are a little on the crazy side...I'm interested. Enlighten me." Amata said with a mischievous grin.

Peorth pulled her weapon from the ground and looked to the Treasure Hunter who tore through Agasura with knives in hand. "Curt you must strike down Gula before he recovers! We do not have much time!" She shouted to him.

"You got it boss!" Curt ran over corpses and used one of the bears that was torn to pieces by the spears as a stepping stool. He leapt through the air and hurled knives down upon the Sinner, then came down with a winding slice that cut from Gula's shoulder down his torso.

Moments after he staggered to his feet while Curt followed up the blow with another strike. Gula blocked his dagger with his weapon but his strength was failing him-he had one hand to the bloody gash and quickly lost his weapon as Curt lunged forward and bashed the scythe from his hands with his shield. He reeled his dagger back and thrust it toward the Sinner but in that moment he found his weapon not in Gula, but the entrance of another wormhole. As he pulled away from it a bear came charging through with one arm outstretched and knocked Curt to the floor before throwing itself atop him.

TJ slammed a fist into the ground and created an aperture to which the earth before the two shattered, startling his companions but only causing them to lose ground briefly. He brought them into the sky and held them there. "Hit it Amata!" He said to her.

"Here goes!" She raised a hand to the sky and a torrent of flames emerged from it, before gathering at the heart of the rocks in the sky. She clenched her fist and it took the form of a sphere before bursting and setting them all aflame. "Let's do it TJ!"

"Comet!" The two shouted as the shards of earth rained down upon the battlefield, kicking up dirt and fire in their wake.

Peorth spun her spear around to clear away the smoke and set her sights on Gula. He was wounded and crouched down, but she noticed that the bear that had crushed Curt was caught beneath one of the comets. She could finish Gula, but she could not leave her ally to do so. She ran over to the felled stone and leapt into the air before bringing down her weapon upon it and shattering it in two. "Curt! Can you hear me? Are you alright?" She hauled the bear from his body and cast it aside.

"Nothing I can't handle Peorth. I'm gonna be real with you though, after getting crushed by both of those I think I'm gonna be laid out for a while..." He muttered weakly as he offered her a grin.

"I will get you to TJ immediately! Please remain stalwart!"

As she hauled him over her shoulder he laughed. "No princess carry? Too bad..."

Both TJ and Amata were worn out from the last spell and both were doubled over. The Abellan raised his head as he caught a glimpse of Peorth approaching and gasped. "C-Curt?! Hang on I'll patch you up right away!"

"How are we doing Chief? Is he almost down?" Amata asked as she stood with the aid of her staff.

"Yes, it seems so. Perhaps while TJ helps Curt to recover, Suuba and I should take the vanguard. I suspect that Gula no longer has the sufficient energy to summon any more Agasura, so we can end this battle." She explained while she placed Curt down before TJ.

"That's where you're wrong, Ásvaŕtlim!" Gula shouted as he held out both his hands. To his left, a wormhole opened and a ringer fell out of it and collapsed to the ground. In his right his scythe manifested once more and he used that very weapon to tear a fair chunk from the doughnut. He placed it in his mouth and after eating it, the wounds he had received began to heal instantaneously. "If you thought you could kill me with those weak attacks, you're gonna have to reconsider that strategy of yours!" He snapped his fingers and another set of wormholes opened releasing more Agasura. He picked up one of the gummy constrictors with his scythe and took a bite of it before hurling it off of the mountain. "Come on, I'm not finished with you lot yet!" He held out a hand and strings emerged from it before shooting towards the group. Peorth sidestepped and TJ blocked some with his guitar, just barely defending himself. The others shot past him and wrapped around the Governor of Fire which incapacitated her.

She fell to the ground and attempted to wriggle free but could not do so despite her best efforts. "This is bad...TJ, don't worry about me. Just focus on protecting yourself and Curt for the time being, okay?" She requested.

"I...I've got it." What were his options? What would be the best course of action? His mind was made-so long as he could protect his allies, that would suffice. He had to trust in Peorth, and believe that she could take on Gula. If what he said was true, he wanted to be the one to take her out without the aid of his minions. So long as that was the case, did that mean he would not summon any others? Or was it just a bluff? "Su, we need your help. I'll protect these guys, with my song so you'll have to fight in my stead." He began to strum his guitar and erected a barrier large enough to protect both Curt and Amata. He waited a few moments but received no answer from the Governor of Earth. "Su? Are you there?" What had happened to her after she last returned?

Gula held out a hand and more strings emerged to entrap the guild master, but she quickly dispersed them with Wind Wall and slammed the spear down before the Sinner. He leapt at her and she blocked the blow as he followed up with two spinning strikes. She dodged back to avoid both strikes and found her spear being ripped from her grasp as a series of strings were tied around it. Though he may not have looked the part, he was rather quick with his techniques and used both brute strength and that fact to his advantage. Peorth eyed him cautiously, then pinpointed exactly where his weakness lay. With a sudden jerk she pulled him towards her and kicked him in the stomach, forcing him back and causing him to lose his grip. There was not enough time to impale him with the spear, but she had just enough to lunge towards him and hit him with the end of the shaft. As he reeled away she swung it and knocked him aside, and he tumbled across the landing.

In that moment she saw another opportunity. "Swallowtail!" She shouted as she hurled the spear and leapt for it into a diving strike. He lifted his face from the ground and held out a hand where another wormhole opened and a rocket popsicle flew out, colliding with the guild master's flank and hurling her aside. She hit the ground hard and skidded to a halt before TJ's barrier startling him and the others.

"Chief!" He shouted as his eyes darted to a bear stampeding towards her. "Look out!" She staggered to her feet and immediately retaliated with Burst Lancer before it could hit her first, and while she recovered from the stance Gula followed in its wake, tearing a piece from its back and devouring it before raising his scythe to cut her down. "I won't let you!" TJ snarled as his eyes flickered to red and he dropped the guitar to the ground to retaliate.

"Stay back!" She shouted to him and stopped him in the middle of his charge. She blocked his scythe with her spear and the two were stuck in a deadlock, one that was not in the guild master's favour. "Such incredible strength...from whence...did he get it?"

"I'll break those scrawny little arms of yours, and then break you, Ásvaŕtlim! This is true strength! The strength that you can only dream of!" At those words he tore the weapon from her hand and reeled a fist back.

TJ lunged forward but was out of reach, and his crystal began to glow as Su emerged from it, the same crimson flash in her eyes. As Peorth staggered Su touched down and muttered a few words under her breath as she held out a hand and stopped the blow. Gula remained frozen but for a moment, and following it the sound of bones shattering reverberated across the valley as Su's left arm fell limp and with her right she grabbed him by the tank top while she wore a devilish grin-one of both rage, and playfulness. "Asmodeus' Vengeance." She finally said, finishing her invocation as a dark mana crept out from underneath her. She reeled her head back and slammed her own into Gula's-the force of the blow caused the entire ground below them to tremble and where the two stood, cracks formed. Just as was the case with Su, the sound of bones shattering followed after and she let the Sinner go. She turned away as blood dripped from his nose and his pupils shrunk, the look in his eyes one of sheer disbelief. "Well? What're you idiots waiting for? Finish the job!" At those words she returned to the crystal and the group awoke from their reverie.

"Leave that to me." Curt's voice rang out as knives rained down upon the Sinner and soon he fell behind him in a flurry of blades. Curt moved around him with skill and grace, plunging knives into him and cutting through him as he moved- as if he was dancing both arms and legs moved swiftly and gracefully, all while the blades tore through the target. "Death Blossom!" He said as he leapt away from the Sinner and with a wave of his hand, pulled all the knives out and back to him, revealing the strings that were tied to each weapon. At that moment blood shot out from the Sinner like a fountain as he collapsed to the ground and gasped in pain.

"Y-you...what have you..." He uttered as his body convulsed.

Curt fell to the ground and started screaming in pain also while Amata scolded him for being so reckless.

"The battle is over, Gula. You have lost," Peorth said coolly.

TJ approached and looked at him with disappointment, and a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Is this really what you wanted Gula? Did this have to be the way it ended? You're the second of the seven we defeated, and if that's any indication it means that chances are, you're all going to have to fall." He grit his teeth. "I don't get any joy from defeating you! But even so...even so..." He clenched his fists and Peorth placed a hand to his shoulder.

"You...sentimental...piece of trash! S-sympathizing...with your sworn...enemies? Don't screw with me!" He coughed violently and blood splattered on the boots of the pair. "You wanted this! You...you turned against Father! Against your family...for them! Filthy...Cerebians! And Humans! HUMANS!" He coughed again and wheezed violently, but still insisted on continuing his tirade. "They'll...destroy Midgard. Just you wait! If I couldn't beat you...Ira could. He will...you fake! Kill me...and integrate me...but know...know that those Cerebians...will only betray you!" He gnashed his teeth in fury. "Give us back...Luxuria...you...fake..." His jaw fell slack and he, silent.

"Fake huh...first that darkness, and now Gula? Just who or what am I? Am I really just some...some puppet?" TJ muttered under his breath. He placed a hand over his left eye and shook his head.

Peorth stood before him and removed the hand from his face before taking it in both of hers. "What the Sinners have to say is of no concern to you, TJ. They hail from an age long past, where they knew you and I and many others as different people-they come from a time of war, one where they only saw but one path, and pursued it without concern for other possibilities. Their beliefs need not be your own, and what they deem to be truth need not be yours either. In their time, perhaps you were indeed Luxuria. But does that make you any less TJ in this time? I do not believe so. So do not let your precious heart be swayed by cruel words and jests. You are much more than they will ever see you as, and I believe that your friends of the present can see that, as do I." The guild master explained, her eyes unflinching.

He placed a hand to hers and closed his eyes. "Chief...maybe you're right. I'll...remember those words. In hearing them I think I've found some solace in all of this...fog."

"I am pleased to hear this. Let us proceed with the ritual."

He placed his hands to his chest and summoned the pithos, then placed it down next to Gula. "Are you ready Elpis?"

His necklace began to glow and from it Elpis emerged before swirling around him and taking her place near the duo. "If it is as you wish, I shall begin Master." Elpis placed her hands to her chest and began to sing-just as with Avaritia Gula's body obtained an ethereal glow to it and began to dissipate in a series of spheres that rose up to the sky and gathered to TJ's crystal as they came back down. His left eye flickered to gold once more and he caught a glimpse of one of Gula's memories.

TJ could see figures upon a battlefield, perhaps during the Agasuric War. There were many and more, spells, arrows, weapons and corpses that littered the field, and both Cerebians and Humans on the sky and land fighting against Agasura. Among them, he could even see a group of Cerebians locked in combat with the dragon Invoke. What caught his attention most, was that from the eyes of Gula he could tell the two were not on the field, but looking down upon it from far away-who he was looking at, the Abellan had little idea, but it was the voice of a man that answered.

A young man with wild untamed hair that obscured a large portion of his face and eyes stood by Gula. TJ could only see his torso and above, but judging by the shape and design, he wore leather armour and wore a proud grin on his face as he spoke the words, "You see all that, Gula? That's ours. This whole world is our oyster! We just gotta reach out and take it! Wrestle it from the grasp of those filthy Humans, and offer it up to our old man. With him on our side, we'll finally be able to have a world of our own, and we can finally say goodbye to the Dark World. You, me, Lux and all the others. Let's not keep Superbia waiting, yeah?"

He found himself back in the present, accompanied by a familiar searing pain in his eye as the remnants of Gula entered the pithos. "One more Sinner, one more memory...yet so many questions..." TJ lowered his hand and shook his head. "But I'll save them...all of them, somehow."

Elpis' song came to an end and she looked down upon TJ. "The ritual is complete. The sealed Saint shall now return."

A powerful light streamed from the gem and as it began to die down, another of Peorth's Keruz stood before them. The young boy from TJ's memory in the City of Iron returned, wearing the same clothes as he had then: A long sky blue coat with an orange sash and matching scarf; rolled-up blue jeans and shoes made of bandages. His hair was tied in a ponytail and he had a camellia pin it also. Unlike his past self though, he had white hair and blue eyes.

Peorth looked on in sheer disbelief. "It was just as you said TJ...Ardoss, you have returned!"

TJ blinked in disbelief. "That's...Ardoss?" He tilted his head quizzically. "Calling?"

Ardoss opened his eyes as he squinted at the two. "Princess...and TJ." He bit down on his lip for a moment before he quickly smiled, albeit in a vain attempt to hide the bitterness within, but it bled through nonetheless. "It's just as that person said. We'd meet again, and here I am." His eyes turned to TJ while the Abellan's met his own. "You know...the last time we met, in that memory. I'd attacked you." He shook his head. "I shouldn't have, but I let my anger get the better of me. Wasn't very professional of me huh? Still..." He rubbed his arm gently. "You're here now, and with Princess Peorth to boot. I'm sorry for hitting you, and even more so for secretly doubting you. I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one of us who feels this way, but I want to say it before I miss my chance." He bowed down. "Thank you...for protecting the princess. You did what none of us could do-despite what I'd said, you've proved to be a hero in your own right."

TJ clenched his fists. How long had Ardoss kept those feelings bottled up? It had been years since their fall in the City of Iron, and nearly a year since TJ met him in his memory. Had he been agonizing over the matter that whole time? In this moment, he could put those fears to rest-if TJ could help him to find peace of mind, he would be willing. "All of that...it's alright now. You're here now, and the Chief is okay too. In truth, I'm glad you could forgive me after all that happened. Even now I still haven't forgiven myself yet, but I'm doing all that I can to make things right, one way or another. I think I could start by beating the Sinners." TJ answered as he smiled.

The Saint cracked a grin at those words. "It's the least you could do, I'd say." His eyes turned to Peorth and he bowed down once more, a hand to his chest. "It's been some time, your highness, but I'm loyal to the kingdom both in life and death."

Peorth nodded gently. "Raise your head, Ardoss. Be you a Cerebian or a Spirit your status will not change the fact that you were a precious comrade of mine," She chuckled gently, "though even then you still had a taste for formalities. If it is as you wish, I will not scold you for such a decision. But do not mind such small concerns of mine. You may or may not be aware, but TJ has lost many of his memories prior to his awakening some time ago. Would you tell him about yourself?"

The Mage blinked in surprise. "Oh that's right...your memories got wiped again, didn't they?" He knit his eyebrows. "You've got it pretty rough TJ. Still, if that's what you and the princess want I've got no reason to refuse." He cleared his throat. "My name's Ardoss, thirteen years old. Or at least I was." He rolled his eyes. "I was the previous God's Governor of Wind, a Wizard, and the youngest of Peorth's Keruz." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I did a lot of studying but I was always a bit indecisive about what spells I wanted to learn and whether I wanted to practice both the Wind element using SP and Mana. Some days I went without eating because I was so caught up in the books. More often than not...Straw Hat had to force me to eat." He sniffed. "But that's enough about me. What about you, TJ? Your hair's pink and you've got a snaggletooth now. How did you even manage that?"

TJ pursed his lips. "What's a snaggletooth?" He asked as he eyed him curiously.

"TJ, a moment?" Peorth asked as she stepped before him.

"Hmm?" She reached out to his face and tapped a thumb on one of his teeth.

"That, is a snaggletooth."

He reached up to his mouth and felt the same spot, noticing that one of his teeth was unnaturally sharp, and hanging out from within the upper half of his closed mouth. "What?! When did this...Gula!" He flailed his fists in fury. "Ahh jeez! First my hair and then this? Are they all going to do this?!"

"Are you saying the Sinners turned your hair pink?" Ardoss asked as he crossed his arms.

"N-no...that was me. Avaritia gave me a gold streak."

"It is no longer present in your hair, TJ," Peorth answered.

"R-really? At least it's only temporary," He sighed. "Leaving that aside there's something more strange and important here isn't there? Your hair and eyes!"

"This?" Ardoss said as he took hold of his ponytail. "It's not that odd. We could all do it."

TJ blinked in disbelief and turned to Peorth who nodded solemnly. "But...Velvet..."

"That is her normal hair and eye colour, but the fact still stands. All of my Keruz were able to undergo the first step to awakening. In doing so, using the Awakening Techniques was little challenge to them. One could say it is a requirement to becoming one of my Keruz," She answered calmly.

TJ's jaw fell. Just what kind of training did they go through to master that before he even knew how? He could hardly do it without Peorth's help. He placed a hand to his face and let out a gentle sigh. "Those guys are really something else. It's no wonder they were named the Saints."

Ardoss' eyes opened wider as he rubbed the back of his neck. "That reminds me, I had a message for you. From that weird...person...thing. They'd given me the name Temperantia. If you ever need my help, or need me to stand in and fight, just call me by that name and I'll do what I can, I guess. I've never done this before so...don't expect too much alright?" He rubbed his arm gently. "I feel my bond here weakening. I think I'm almost out of time so..." He took his scarf off and approached TJ before holding it out to him. "Here. It isn't much but I guess this can be a sign of our bond...or something. Might wanna stitch in some dark colours since your whole outfit's black."

TJ accepted the scarf and smiled gently. "Thanks Ardoss. You might have doubts but I know you'll be a big help to the team."

He knit his eyebrows as he turned around and rubbed his neck again. "Yeah, yeah...you can count on me." He looked over his shoulder to the incapacitated Amata and Curt. You guys look after these two alright? The world's in your hands now. And TJ...take good care of the princess okay? Just as you have up 'till now." He grinned as he turned away and raised a hand. "See ya' later."

TJ and Peorth waved gently. "Thanks again Ardoss. See you!"

"It was a pleasure Ardoss. Truly," Peorth added.

At those words the Mage turned into a series of spheres of light that ascended to the sky before entering his crystal-following his disappearance another page from Memorius Sanctum appeared before the group, and gently drifted toward the ground.

The guild master approached it and picked it up as she muttered, "This is...?" The book appeared before her and flipped open, adding the page just as it had for TJ before. "It is just as you had said, TJ. Now that we have acquired another page of Memorius Sanctum, it would be in our best interest to find out the contents within and learn Ardoss' song prior to the arrival of the next Sinner. I know not when or where they will appear, but it is best if we make haste." She looked to the sky as the sun peered over the horizon, ushering in a new day. "Nonetheless, allow me a moment to offer you my heartfelt gratitude. To think that I would have an opportunity to meet any of my comrades of the past was something I could not fathom, due to my own selfishness. However, both then, and now, you have indulged me regardless." She turned to him and beamed. "Thank you TJ. From the bottom of my heart."

He beamed right back at her. "Having you aboard was good for me too. So...thanks for tagging along."

Amata knit her eyebrows. "You two make an adorable pair and all, but this silly string is seriously chafing. Can you guys set me free and then flirt to your heart's content please?" She asked.

"Ah! S-sorry Amata!" TJ said as he ran over to help her out.

"Borrow my knife and carry me out would ya'? I can't move a muscle." Curt asked with a weak grin.

Elpis approached TJ while he helped his companions. "Master, you have acquired three new abilities for your Invocation technique. Would you like me to inform you of the details?" She asked.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Perhaps now was not the time, but if need be he could ask her later. "Mm...not now, but maybe later?"

She nodded solemnly. "As you wish Master. Should you have need of my services, please summon me once more." Following that she returned to Pandora's necklace.

After freeing the Governor of Fire both TJ and Peorth lent Curt a shoulder and made their way towards the pillar of light that appeared nearby.

"How about we strike a deal?" Vanir asked. "You let me murder that evil doctor, and then, and only then, I'll allow you to eat me with that...hand...maw...thing of yours. Great deal right? I think so too!" The barista stood in an Elias under siege-parts of buildings had crumbled to the ground and the pavement was littered with adventurers both alive and dead. Adjacent to him and a far distance away, an unamused looking Choen Palm stood tall with an adventurer in her grasp.

Her body was disfigured-the skin on her arms had grown and turned a deep purple and much more muscular than it once was. Her left hand had become a toothed-maw with an adventure caught between the two struggling to break free as he begged for his life. "Why would I agree to such a thing? I take it that it was not just chance you came to find me despite me coming for you Usurper. You wish to die, do you not?" She asked in response.

"P-please, don't kill me! I don't wanna die! P-pleas-"

"You annoy me. Can you not see that I have more concerning matters at hand? Die, you roach." She opened the maw but for a moment to clamp it down on the adventurer, and with one final pained scream his body fell limp and his lifeblood poured out from the jaws and fell to the floor, along with his corpse. "Now, where were we?"

"That's hella graphic man! I'm not okay with this!" The barista complained. He craned his neck to see behind him. "Any luck yet Little Blue?"

"I've been trying but I can't reach any of them! They're still within the Indun Vanir!" Kooh cried out in response. Near the beauty parlor was a group of other adventurers who were also wounded by the Heartbreaker-she was crouched down and healing the wounds of those who still lived by a hair's breadth.. "Five dead, seven wounded...this is looking more grim by the second. Is Skuld almost done with those wards? I can't use my powers as long as there are more people about..."

"I dunno. I'm not psychic, but it'd be pretty awesome if I was." The Heartbreaker flew at him as her hand transformed into a blade and nearly struck him down-moments before she did he raised his blade and defended himself. "You could at least have the courtesy to say you're gonna attack me! Sucker punches are shameless!"

She held the blade up and licked the blood of the previous adventurer from it. "I grow tired of your japes, Usurper. To think that Dr. Truong had struggled with a fool such as you is truly a wonder, but it is of little concern to me. A deal is a deal, and I shall hold my end of the bargain. Now die!" Both hands were transformed into blades and she rushed him down in a flurry of strikes.

He fell back as he blocked the blades instinctively, meeting her her strikes and avoiding those he could not. He back flipped away and she glided towards him as she placed both blades together to split him in two. As he landed on his hands the second time, he fell flat on his stomach as her blades stopped where he was going to be and he scrambled to his feet as he cut her once while retreating and followed up with a second while she turned to meet him.

"You know, without Skuld I'm about as harmless as a lamb. Just as harmless, but twice as adorable!" He said as he pointed both blade and a finger at the Heartbreaker. He even winked for good measure.

"Skuld is quite a patient girl, isn't she?" Kooh asked as she looked on in disbelief.

"I tire of your tomfoolery! I will bleed you and the God's Governor. Now enough of your games!" Choen Palm snarled as she transformed one of her hands into a massive claw.

The sounds of cries, those of adventurers who wished to join the fray approached and Vanir frowned. "You know, it's all fun and games until she breaks my bones and murders me. Those guys better hurry! I'm too young and beautiful to die here!" He added as he stroked his ponytail.

"Believe in them Vanir. They'll come, I know they will. The Princess would never let us down." Kooh said as she watched the battle unfold nervously. As it stood, she could not protect the adventurers, Vanir, and her identity. What would Peorth do if she were in her shoes?

The group found themselves back in Cookie Garden, and Amata backed away nervously as the gate to the Instance Dungeon crumbled and collapsed upon itself.

"Phew...it's finally over," She sighed with relief. "I can't wait to get back home and take a nice shower!"

"That was one hell of an adventure. Now that it's over I'll probably be bed-ridden for the next few days. Guess Robo's gonna have his work cut out for him," Curt chuckled.

"I am thankful that we have returned safely. Thank you for all of your hard work everyone. You have done a great service for both the Cerebians, and all of Jienda these past few days," Peorth told them.

"It's my pleasure Peorth." The God's Governor answered with a blushing smile.

"You know I love me a good adventure. If another Sinner pops up just gimme a call and I'll dive into the depths of Ktuka to fight 'em!" The Treasure Hunter said enthusiastically with a grin.

"TJ, it would be best if we took them home, since we both carry a warp crystal on our persons. I shall see Amata to safety, so would you take Curt?" The guild master requested.

"Leave it to me," TJ answered.

Amata knit her eyebrows. "You don't have to take me all the way home Peorth. Just to Ves is fine. My guild owns a hall there that we can use as a place to stay if we're far from home," She explained.

"Is that so? If that is what you wish, then I shall oblige," Peorth responded.

"What will you do after Chief?" The Abellan asked curiously.

"I shall return home."

"No way! You can't go back there now! It's way too dangerous!" He knit his eyebrows. "I know you're our guild master and you can handle yourself but I can't put you in harm's way like that." Did he really have the courage to ask? He shook his head rapidly and steeled his resolve. Peorth's well-being came before his fear of saying and doing something out of line-he had promised his friends he would protect her, and even more so could not stand to see her harmed...or worse. "You...you should come over. I mean stay over! A-at my place. Elias isn't safe you know...and there's enough room. I-I'll cook and clean and provide clothes and everything!" His face felt hot, he was sweating profusely and he was not even sure of what he wanted to say. "So don't go home tonight! Come with me! I mean t-to me...no wait not...umm...you know..."

"I think she gets the gist of it TJ. Better to stop there before you blurt out something you don't wanna say." Amata said with a chuckle.

The guild master looked surprised. "Are you concerned? If it gives you peace of mind, then perhaps I shall take you up on that offer TJ." She smiled.

"Before we leave though," Amata began, "I just wanted to say thanks. For having me along and stuff. Though our time together was a little short, I feel like I've experienced a lifetime's worth of things in that short while. If you're ever in need of an extra God's Governor, you mail me okay? Those Sinners are tough opponents, so having a reliable companion among your contacts will be a good idea." She grinned. "But in turn, when the time comes for me to go to Rayinth's Temple, I hope you'll come along too TJ."

"You can count on me." He answered as he saluted her.

"Pssh, isn't that obvious? See you later."

"We shall meet again briefly, TJ." Peorth added as she drew her warp crystal. The two vanished as she waved gently.

"Where are you off to Curt?" TJ asked when it was just the two again.

"Well since Elias is pretty much a deathtrap, leaving aside the fact that everyone's on guard, you wanna take me home with you? I'd completely forgot Robo was dispatched. Just throw me down on your couch, I won't get in your way, so take all the time you need with Peorth." He grinned impishly.

Get in his way? How? "Sure. Hang on tight."

Though it was daytime in the Instance Dungeon, it was nighttime in Belos, and the streets were dark and barren. TJ with Curt over his shoulders made his way up towards his home and opened the door before taking off his shoes. He brought Curt over to the couch and eased him into it carefully.

"Thanks dude." He removed his glasses and let out a sigh of relief.

"Get some rest. You worked hard in there," TJ replied.

"Yeah, you too. See you in the morning."

TJ made his way upstairs and into one of the rooms before sitting down on the bed. "Hey Su," He began.

"Whaddya want?" She asked from within the crystal.

"Will you come out?" She emerged from the crystal looking angry, per usual. He glanced at her arm and rummaged through his rucksack before drawing bandages. He patted the spot next to him and she furrowed her brows.

"Do you really expect me to do that? Are you stupid or something?"

He knit his eyebrows. "You're hurt. You don't have to hide it anymore."

"This? This ain't shit. And who said I was hiding it? Who the hell am I supposed to hide from? You?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Regardless of the reason, at least let me help you." She sighed and rolled her eyes before sitting next to him.

"Fine. Do your worst."

He unravelled the bandages and carefully began to wrap them around her broken arm. She winced every now and again, but whenever he stopped to check if it was too much to bear she would look away. "Are you alright? Just tell me if it hurts."

"I'm fine, so get it over with already. You're damn slow."

He wrapped up to her shoulder to be safe, then nodded proudly at his handiwork. "That should do it. Should be good as new soon!"

She sighed. "You really suck at this, you know."

He laughed at those words. "Yeah I do! But I'm willing to work hard if it makes things easier for you." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before rising to his feet. "To me, Memorius Sanctum!" The tome appeared before him and flicked open as his hair turned white and his eyes blue.

"The hell're you doing, idiot?!" Su cried out as she held her hand before her face to block out the wind.

The tome faded away and he sat back down before picking up his guitar. "When I use my 'Calling' ability...I feel stronger. I feel a bit closer to my past self, and the memories I had then. Like this, I might be able to ease your pain, if even just a little bit more..." He gently strummed his guitar as he hummed a gentle tune. Su sighed as she leaned against the bed frame and listened to the song.

After a short while there was a knock at the door and TJ woke from the reverie of his song. "That must be the Chief. Make sure to get some proper rest so your arm heals, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah thanks Mom." Su muttered before she returned to the crystal.

The Abellan hurried down the stairs and opened the door to meet with the guild master.

"Forgive my lateness. I hope I did not keep you waiting," She said.

He smiled. "Nah, not at all. C-come in!" He still had trouble believing this was a house that was for him, and the sensation of having visitors almost overwhelmed him with excitement. Even more so considering that his visitor was Peorth herself.

"Did something happen? I sensed a great power coming from this location recently."

"Eh? Oh no...nothing happened."

She nodded. "I see. It is of no concern then. How are you feeling TJ? Are you tired?"

His heart was beating so fast he was anything but. "N-no I'm wide awake. Surprisingly! Why do you ask?"

Her face flushed slightly as she brushed her bangs behind her ear. "I...had felt the same way. Since we are both awake, would you like to review what we have acquired from the most recent Instance Dungeon?"

He beamed. "Sure Chief. I'd love to!"

The two sat down at the table and the guild master called forth her family heirloom. She turned the pages to the most recent one and looked to him. "Are you prepared TJ?" He nodded solemnly. "Then I shall begin reading." Peorth began reading from the page and as she did, TJ's conscious self was taken back to another time and another memory of someone he knew not.