It was morning as the group continued on their journey before arriving at a small shrine where waiting outside was a man with blue hair. "Who are you guys? This is…"
"You don't need to treat us like this, Python." Lukas said.
"Lukas! I knew you'd make it out. I thought those soldiers punched your ticket for the boneyard." he said.
"Is this man a friend of yours Lukas?" Jago asked.
"Names Python. I'm a member of the Deliverance. You all probably wanna speak with Clive about now. He's further in. Just watch out for terrors." Python said.
"Terrors? Why are monsters like these in here?" Alm asked.
"Technically they were here first." Python said.
"Then why make headquarters here with monsters inside?" Ace asked.
"We're just sorta...borrowing their catacombs." Python said.
"And you have disturbed their sleep." Stoj said flying in front of Python.
"I-I'm sure that wasn't intentional. On the plus side, this could help us get some training in." A villager named Faye said.
"Yeah...if you call attacking the living dead training." Joker said.
"It's probably not that bad. How many of these Terrors are in here?" Betty asked.
"We're not sure ourselves, but they never attack in large groups." Python said.
"Since they're undead, then they're weak to light and fire attacks, which should be no problem for some of us but it could also be bad because some of us are weak to light and fire." Ace said.
"Yeah. Relying on advantages is not a good habit if you can't control your abilities." Maki said.
"Then I take it no one has any further objections on this development?" Python asked.
"We're good." Roy said.
"Then let's get in there and fight them." Zephyr said as they headed inside. As they walked the catacombs, they noticed the terrors only spawning near tombs.
"What is with these things?" Lacy asked.
"Terrors are only known to spawn the closer one gets to Mila's power. Cutting them down only makes room for new ones to take their place." Silque said.
"So should we fight or avoid them?" Al asked.
"If they approach us, fighting is unavoidable." a villager known as Tobin said.
"Wait...I sense something...coming from underground." Gemina said.
"I feel it too." Ace said putting his hand near his sword.
"What is it?" Hope asked.
"Look out!" Ace shouted as he shoved Hope out of the way from a thrown dagger.
"What in the?" Hope said as they saw a hole opened up as walking out of it were several soldiers with the black lion tattoo on their bodies and a large man with a huge drill.
"Damn...those guys again. They must be planning to invade by tunneling under." Soul said.
"You the last of the beasts?" Ty asked.
"That's right. I am Digger...the last of them." he said. "And the one to be digging your graves."
"If that wasn't the most cliche line I've ever heard, i dunno what is." Sting said.
"Shots fired!" Stoj said.
"You got served!" Ace said as he was standing on the ceiling pointing at the beast.
"We don't have time for you! Get outta the way!" Sora said.
"Stubborn eh? Fine. Take em out!" Digger said as the soldiers marched in.
"Crap!" Connor said as the group was forced to take on the Terrors and Black Lion grunts at once.
"Hold on… If light attacks can damage Terrors, then healing techniques should damage them, too." Kirumi said as a magic circle appeared under her. "Strands of embrace, give name to the luminosity that begat this majestic land. Revitalize!" Kirumi chanted as a circle of light covered the field, completely healing the group while wiping out the Terrors.
"David, what do you say to a little team attack?" Ace asked as he and David were behind each other.
"Just say the word." David said.
"Alright follow my lead!" Ace said holding his hand in the air gathering magic power with David doing the same.
"Grand Cruz!" The duo shouted as they were surrounded by a pillar of Light with Crosses floating upwards engulfing the area finishing off the rest of the terrors.
"Alright!" Connor said. "There goes your equalizer, Digger."
"I don't need an army of undead skeletons to do my bidding." Digger said spinning his drill up.
"Whoa, now. Hey, you're way too much drill for me. That's why I brought her." Connor said as Hisako slithered out from behind him.
"Sic em Hisako!" Ace said as Hisako crawled on all fours towards the beast and disappeared but he had a fearful look on his face when he saw Hisako behind him.
"(I will devour you.)" Hisako said as she fazed into Digger's body possessing him.
"What the…. Where'd she...gah!" Digger said as his body started cracking and crunching because of Hisako possessing him.
"Whoa. Never knew ghosts could make a body bend that way…" Leonis said.
"Remind me not to piss her off." Papalne said fearfully.
Jexi then approached Digger before giving him a punch and knocking him out.
"Hey, don't hit him too hard." Connor said before he was hit. "What was…"
"You could have killed him with that stunt of yours." Jexi said.
"(You okay in there, Hisako?)" David asked.
Hisako then came back out retaining her normal posture.
"Look Jexi, I get it. Having Hisako possess him was a bad call." Connor said.
"(I didn't kill him. But I did contort his body so much that he won't ever commit crimes for his group again.)" Hisako said.
"(You sure made sure of that…)" David said.
"It doesn't matter if what she was doing was good. It's still too far." Jexi said.
"That man spoke ill of the dead which made her enraged to possess him." Ace said.
"That's just the way Jexi is. That guy was still human, after all." Himiko said.
"Yeah, the sooner I can purify Hisako, the better. That naginata is a curse to her." Ace said.
"Oh, I see." Hope said.
"In any case, all adversaries are dealt with. Let us proceed." David said.
"Yeah. The sooner we reach Clive, the better." Jexi said as they continued onward.
"What do you think that power was, David?" Ace asked as he walked.
"What power are you talking about?" David asked.
"When we did that attack to finish off the terrors." Ace said. "I didn't expect the spell to be so powerful."
"Oh yeah. Well, he's a little secret… I'm actually half-Lunarian." David said.
"Lunarian? Like the people of the moon?" Ace asked.
"Yes, on my mother's side. Lunarians are more potent in the ways of magic than most humans." David said.
"And me being a Nephilim makes me an expert in Light and Dark magic but I never use the Dark half for a good reason." Ace said.
"I'm sure it's a very good reason. Anyway, you saw Kirumi pull off that spell earlier, right?" David asked.
"Yes. I can tell there's a lot of potential in her in the arts of Black and White magic, she might even become a sage if she masters both." Ace said.
"Well, the reason she can pull it off is because of a blood transfusion. After a certain incident, she wound up in critical condition. To keep her alive, a blood transfusion was required. She had to gain the blood of someone with the same blood type, so she gained Lunarian blood...MY blood." David said.
"You did the right thing to save her life. She looks up to you and cares about you as a teammate." Ace said.
"Well, as far as we know, her title on Danganronpa is the Ultimate Maid." David said.
"Even if she is the Ultimate Maid. She still sees you as a friend and leader." Ace said. "She owes you for saving her life. Make sure to support her and the others every step of the way and they'll support you including me."
"I will. Thanks." David said.
It wasn't long before they stood before the leader of the Deliverance himself. A young blond haired paladin named Clive.
"Clair! Thank gods you are safe." he said.
"I am and it was thanks to Sir Alm and his friends." Clair said.
"I see. And this must be Alm. Welcome." Clive said.
"Uh..thank you." Alm said.
"Now...to discuss something. This was something I was going to ask your grandfather...but I suppose you'll fit it just as well." Clive said.
"And what is that?" Alm asked.
"Alm...I would like you to be the new leader of the Deliverance." Clive said.
"Wait...What!?" Alm said in shock.
"New leader?" David asked.
"Yes. We need someone who could possibly inspire courage among the knights and who could possibly lead us to a new era." Clive said. "I've taken it as far as I can but...it's just not enough."
"Do you want to take up the mantle as leader, Alm?" Al asked.
"I don't know. But...if this is the only way to save Zofia...I suppose I have no choice." Alm said. "I'll take on the role as leader." Alm said.
"Alright, but I suggest we should take a break before heading to Zofia." Ace said.
"Clive, are you serious about this?" a man asked.
"Fernand...I cannot carry on like the way the Knights of Zofia operated. We are not all nobility anymore. We are a mix of those with common blood." Clive said.
"What do you mean by that?" Nana asked.
"The Knights of Zofia were originally those of noble bloodlines. But with the siege of the castle...it's now a mix of the common man." Connor said.
"It's a disgrace is what it is. You think people will rally under some...farmchild?" Fernand asked.
"You hold your tongue!" Al said defending Alm.
"I only joined this army because YOU were leading it, Clive!" Fernand said. "And now you want to hand the reigns to these commoners?!"
"Alm is no mere commoner. He is of Sir Mycen's blood!" Clive said.
"Mycen? Damn him and his blood! They may consider him a hero, but no one knows where that wench came from!" Fernard said. "His entire story is a disgrace to Zofian nobility! And yet you invoke his name to control your men? Pathetic."
"That's enough!" Sectonia said.
"I lost my taste for this long ago. We were supposed to be a band of noble knights, united in purpose! Upholding a tradition! Restoring the old order to Zofia!" Fernand said. "But now you let in these ruffians like Forsythe and that Python."
"All good men who have proven themselves time and time again on the battlefield." Clive said. "Are you suggesting I deny them fair reward for their achievements?"
"You know...I think I'm done with your deliverance." Fernand said as he marched off.
"Clive, aren't you going to go after him?" Alm asked.
"No, let him go." Clive said.
"Yeesh, what's his problem?" King asked.
"Fernand has always treasured the old ways of the Zofian Knights. He has closed his heart to the common folk." Clive said. "We both knew this was coming."
"Sometimes, a fight is just unavoidable. It will happen one way or the other." Volta said.
"I wish there was a way to end all this fighting." Azura said sadly.
"I agree. It's bad enough that the world is in a state of war. Fighting amongst ourselves won't solve anything!" David said.
"Which is why we need to end this as soon as possible to ensure the peace!" Ace said. "I don't want to see people close to me out for each others blood."
Sectonia looked the way Fernand left, deep in thought.
"You okay, Sectonia?" David asked.
"Y-yes. I'm alright. It's just that what Fernand said got on my nerves. I'll be stepping outside for a bit. I'll need the fresh air." Sectonia said as she walked out.
"Do want to follow her with me and make sure she's ok?" Ace asked David.
"Yeah. I'll take you up on that. We'll be back in a minute." David said.
"Let's go." Ace said as he and David headed outside following Sectonia.
As the two reached the outside, they saw Sectonia looking to the sky.
"Sectonia? Is everything okay?" David asked.
"I want you to be honest with me. Though I was a former queen, I still travel with David and the others. Does that make me no better than a commoner in the eyes of people like Fernand?" Sectonia asked.
"Of course not! I've seen your actions throughout our journey and saw how much you cared for our friends. It doesn't matter if we're of noble or common blood we are all equal. And I promise to both you and David that I will support you and the others every step of the way with all my heart." Ace said.
Sectonia couldn't help but giggle at that statement. "You probably wouldn't believe that if you knew the kind of person I used to be."
"Forget the past, embrace the future, that's what my brother always told me." Ace said until he felt an evil presence. "Come out! I know you're there." Ace said as he blocked a thrown dagger with his sword.
"Sadira." Ace said with venom in his tone as the spider assassin revealed herself.
"That spider motif… It brings back a lot of dark memories." Sectonia said.
"I knew I would find you here, Neptune. And where is that blue haired wench?" Sadira asked looking around.
"Don't you dare speak of Azura that way." Ace said before Sectonia put her arm in front of him.
"Ace, let me handle this one." Sectonia said.
Ace moved his hand away from Breidablik as he stood back.
"Welcome to my web." Sadira said as she dashed towards Sectonia.
Sectonia manages to block her attack with her sword before firing a shot of lightning.
Sadira kneeled on the ground and looked up to the three.
"Damn you! Mark my words, this is far from over, very far from over! You won't have much luck against the next agent." Sadira said as she launched a web rope and escaped.
"She got away. Still, wow, Sectonia! You really are getting used to your new body. You took out that Sadira woman in one hit!" David said.
"I agree. That was amazing swordsmanship and magic you dealt! Thank you so much for helping me, your highness." Ace said as he smiled and got down on one knee bowing.
"There's no need for that gesture. I was just protecting my comrades. It's the least I can do to make up for what I've done." Sectonia said.
"Still, I can tell from what she said that she'll be back. You'll need to be ready in case she comes back for Round 2." David said.
"I will be. Thank you two for believing in me." Sectonia said. "Now, let's head back in. The others are probably getting worried."
"Yeah. Let's go." Ace said as they all headed back in until Ace stopped to see his necklace glowing again.