-The Story So Far-

Upon a visit in Quarrycrest, Cyrus and his associates had found not only deadly experiments but somethings more disturbing...a translated copy of From the Far Reaches of Hell. While the dark arts intrigued Cyrus, he could not let his peers use such knowledge for evil. And so they have come to Stonegard where the tome was bound. But would they find answers here, or more dreadful questions?

"Stonegard...we're here." Morph said.

"So...what are we looking for?" Hawkeye asked.

"The one who translated this book. From what I gathered from these townspeople, the only translator here is a man named Dominic. He's been living in seclusion since the death of his daughter." Cyrus said. "But I think I can rouse him into speaking with us."

"I hope we can. Otherwise this trail is cold." Connor said.

Cyrus approached the house and knocked. "Dominic...I know everything. You translated a book to try and save your daughter's life...that book was From the Far Reaches of Hell. I have the copy here. You took care to omit the most dangerous passages. You seem to be a most respected scholar. But...I need your help." Cyrus said before the door opened.

"Come in." Dominic said.

"So...share with us...who asked for the translation?" Betty asked.

"It was fifteen years ago. A man came to me with a task of such import. I could tell from his words he was a scholar of high calibur. But in his red eyes...I could tell there bordered an obsession with knowledge." Dominic said.

"Wait, red eyes? No, perish the thought." Cyrus said.

"I hear that in years time he had accepted a prestigious position at the Royal Academy in Atlasdam." Dominic said.

"But that could only mean…. The guy who wanted the translation was Headmaster Yvon!" Betty said.

"Yes...Yvon. That was his name." Dominic said. "He came to me with a venerable tome in hand. That tome was From the Far Reaches of Hell. I didn't need to think twice. I was not blind to the risk."

"Yvon…" Connor said as they headed out. "So what now?"

"You can drop the charade." Cyrus said.

"So you knew." a voice said as a cloaked figure stepped out.

"What the? Where did she come from?" Volta asked.

"Yes, she's been following us since we first left Atlasdam." Cyrus said. "Isn't that right...Lucia?"

"Quite right. But I am not the one you want...you want Yvon? I can tell you he is in this town. He has a home here...near the square." Lucia said.

"Take us to him. We need to have a little chat." Mustang said.

After leading them inside, the group stepped in first before Lucia stepped on a button and Cyrus and Team Revival fell into a trap door.

"Aw, you gotta be kidding me!" Connor said as they fell through the trap door.

"Well...so nice to see you all again." a voice said above.

"Yvon." Volta said.

"You people have been a thorn in my side looking into that tome. So...how about we make a deal, work under me and I'll forgive these...tresspasses." Yvon said.

"What a kind offer...I refuse." Cyrus said. "I have a different stance on knowledge than you. I believe it should be shared, not hoarded only to be lost forever."

"I thought you'd say as much. Most unfortunate. You all should know this is my house and I don't get many callers these days. You all should know what that means." Yvon said.

"No one is gonna come to our rescue, is that it?" Mustang asked.

"Spot on. I'll decide what to do with the rest of you in a little while." Yvon said walking off.

"We gotta get outta here, he'll kill us!" Betty said.

"I'll blast our way out!" Connor said getting his rifle.

"Uh...I have a more...non violent approach." Morph said stretching her arm to the top with the open door. "Climb up."

"Good thinking, Morph." Betty said as she made her way up followed by the rest of the team.

"My word, how is it that you don't even feel the slightest bit of pain or strain on your arm?" Cyrus asked.

"Secret." Morph said. "Now...I can still feel Yvon's presence here. He hasn't left the house."

"That gives us the chance to stop him." Cyrus said as he climbed out of the trap with Morph stretching her way up. "Let us pursue him."

They made their way to the study where they saw Yvon in his study. "You? But...how could you have escaped?!" Yvon said shocked.

"Trade secret...now...give up now!" Connor said.

"No...I don't think I will." Yvon said showing a familiar looking crystal.

"A Blood crystal!" Mustang said.

Yvon then jammed the crystal into his chest and suddenly became a large, pale muscular figure with physical strength rising.

"I will show you the power I have obtained from the far reaches of hell!" Yvon roared. "I didn't have the former headmaster assassinated only to lose it all to you." he said charging at them.

"Hawkeye, fire on him with me! Aim for the crystal in his chest!" Connor said shooting his revolvers.

"Right!" Hawkeye said firing too only for the bullets to do little damage to Yvon. "No good. Its like he can't even acknowledge he's being shot at."

"What do we do then?" Betty asked.

"Move...now." Mustang said stepping before them. "Just stay back...all of you." he said snapping his fingers as Yvon's body lit up like a campfire.

"I will not fall...I am a man who has gained immortality from this crystal!" Yvon said.

"Immortality huh? In that case...let's see how many times I have to kill you." Mustang said snapping again as Yvon ignited again.

"Whoa… Mustang's going to town on him!" Connor said.

"Now three." Mustang said snapping again as Yvon ignited once more.

"What's going on? They said...that this was a key to immortality!" Yvon said as he was lit on fire once more. "They...they lied to me!" Yvon shouted.

"Sometimes knowledge is a curse rather than a gift." Connor said putting his thumb down. "Burn, you devil."

"This is goodbye." Mustang said snapping one final time as Yvon ignitied. Yvon soon stood there gasping as his body was slowly falling apart and collapsed into ash.

"This knowledge...it was a lie. I never should have trusted that witch...or…" Yvon said before he was completely ash.

"I don't feel sympathy for that guy. But I don't want anyone using those crystals. Lucia is still out there looking for The Far Reaches of Hell. We gotta stop her before she goes off the deep end." Connor said.

"I doubt she's looking for it. I say she's had it in her possession for awhile now." Cyrus said.

"I see. But...where to find her?" Connor asked.

"I've looked through Yvon's notes. The only place he's been other than Atlasdam is a place called Duskbarrow...in the Woodlands." Betty said.

"Then Duskbarrow is where we'll find Lucia. C'mon Cyrus, we gotta go after her." Connor said.

"All of a sudden, you're interested in helping me?" Cyrus said.

"At first, I thought I wasn't much of a knowledge guy. But doing this job with you, I see that there's a reason for it to exist. But some powers like those crystals shouldn't be in the wrong hands. So you can count on us to have your back as you head to stop Lucia." Connor said.

"Very well...we depart immediately." Cyrus said as they headed out.

And so Cyrus and Team Revival left Stonegard behind, having witnessed the nightmarish powers of the baleful Tome From the Far reaches of Hell.

But what do Yvon and his cohorts truly seek?

Whether ready to face them or not, the answers this group seek lie in Duskbarrow. The tale of the Scholar is set for its climax…