On the way to Gallopolis. Axel and Erik walk side by side, in front of the group.

Hendrik looks around for any monsters willing to fight them. However, there were none. A common tactic of war was hiding then springing on unsuspecting foes. Hendrik would not be fooled.

Veronica was in deep thought... like very deep thought.

Serena looks to her sister, "Veronica? What's wrong?"

Veronica returns the look, "Oh, nothing, just thinking about those two monsters that attacked us a few days ago..."

Serena gives it thought too. Mordegan didn't have a second in command and they defeated Jasper and his Spectral Sentinels, so who was left?

Jade and Rab exchange glances, "I have a bad feelin' about this... Ye feel it too, Jade?" He says, his eyes scanning the area.

Jade nods, "Yes... something's coming..."

Hendrik looks up to the sky in response, an unusual sound is heard. "Does everyone hear that?"

Flap. Flap. Flap...

Hendrik suddenly shouts, "Eyes upward!"

A shadow flies past the group and lands in front of the group, causing sand to flutter around them.

The figure spins a katana to disperse the sand cloud

A black samurai, armed with wings is before them.

"I am Kage. My blade has yet to meet an equal. I come before you not as an enemy, but as a Messenger. I am not like my aggressive brothers, who've have face your arms in battle and were felled by them."

Hendrik draws his sword, "If you do not wish to follow their fate, then stand down and back away."

Kage sheathes it's sword, folding it's arms. "I do not seek vengeance. However. I cannot let you all pass. I challenge you all to a duel."

Erik growled, "Are you kidding me!? We seriously have to fight another one of these guys?!"

Hendrik looks to Erik, "It would seem so..."

Serena looks to Veronica, then to Kage. "What would you do to us, if we lose."

Kage stares at Serena. "As much as I'd regret it. I would have to slay the Luminary...my master wishes it..."

Axel frowns, "Why doesn't he fight me himself?"

Kage looks away. "I did not come to answer your questions, Luminary. However, I may answer a few if you defeat me."

Veronica scoffs, "You seriously don't expect us to fight in this blistering heat, do you!?"

Kage turns to Veronica, it's tone changes to a more calm tone, one of mutual respect. "I do not. In fact, I am willing to let you lot choose the location of our bout."

Veronica and everyone else raises an eyebrow at

It's sudden change of attitude.

"We fight here... tonight." Axel replies with the folding of his arms.

Kage nods, "Very well..." Suddenly, Kage extends it's wings and flies, the group sees him on the highest point of the Gallopolisian region. He wasn't going to let them go to the city, that was for sure.

Veronica shrugs, "What now!! Without Sylvando, this will be much more tedious!"

Erik sighed, "If we could beat Mordegan, Jasper and his Spectral Sentinels, we can beat Kage. I'm curious as to why he was so... I don't know, kinder to you."

Veronica thought about it too...why was he treating her like an old friend...? "I don't know why either..."

Axel looks up as Erik and Hendrik prepare camp. Might as well, since they can't advance any further.

The evening arrives and night is almost upon the realm. Rab and Jade were training, while Hendrik was practicing sword swings on a dummy.

Veronica and Serena sat beside each other, closer than usual, they appear to be.. whispering amongst themselves.

Erik seen this, but chose not to intervene on what the two were doing.

Axel stares at Kage. Neither of them had moved, locked in a constant gaze.

Erik walks to Axel, "You ready?"

Axel looks to his blue haired brother in crime, "To be completely honest? Not really... I'm just kinda worried about the whole thing..."

Erik shrugged and folds his arms, "I can't blame you. I'm not the one who'll lose his head if we fail.

Everyone looks at Erik. "Thanks for the boost in morale(.)"

Erik itches his head, "Alright, slip of the tongue..."

Soon, moonlight shines on the sands of the Gallopolisian region and with a gust of wind, Kage is before them once again. "If you are all ready. I shall initiate the duel."

Erik sighed, "Wait. Are we all fighting you at once."

Kage shook it's head, "No. But, the Luminary shall fight me last."

Serena stood forward, "I shall be your first opponent."

Everyone turns to face Serena. "What!?"

Kage growls in slight... worry. "Are you sure? I may overdo it and cause major da-"

Serena takes Jade's Paladin Lance, "Yes."

Erik suddenly gets in front of Serena. "Woah hoho! No! No way!"

Serena frowns, "It's my duty, Erik. As much as I dislike violence, I have no choice."

Erik makes his hands into fists, "Axel, stop her, damnit...!" Axel frowns, once Serena said, she stuck to it.

She'd stand in the open, facing Kage and taking stance.

Kage draws it's katana slowly, showing it's sharp edge.

Kage takes stance. "Whenever you are ready."

Serena suddenly spins the spear at high speed, before dashing forward, her spear engulfed in lightning.

Kage blocks the attack effortlessly, only to swing downward in retaliation.

Serena twirls the spear to deflect the attack and strikes again, this time hitting her mark, doing slight damage.

Kage inspects the injury, a slight dent, but it caused a slight bit of irritation, he'd move his shoulder a little, "Interesting..."

Serena spins the spear before taking it in one hand.

"I have trained for this moment. To defend The Luminary from any danger..."

Kage retakes his stance, "an honourable oath..." Suddenly, he'd gather energy in his sword, slashing toward Serena in a dance of slashes.

Serena inhales before spinning her spear once again in equal speed. Flashes occur and sparks fly as the two engage in a dance of skill.

However, Kage sees an opening and strikes, it was a desperate attack, causing the attack to draw blood.

Serena screamed as she fell, immediately doubling over in pain... however, Kage began to heal her gash, "You have been defeated...Who is next to stand against me?"

Jade takes the spear, pointing it at Kage. "Then I'm next!"

After healing Serena, he turns to Jade. "I've heard about you, Princess of Heliodor."

Jade charges at Kage. Multithrusting him at all angles, he raises his sword and deflects every attack, but fails to stop an ordinary follow-up, "Agh!"

Jade backflips, spear raised to guard any vertical and horizontal attacks.

Kage nodded, "Interesting indeed..." He'd advance, slamming his sword down on her, once, twice then thrice.

He'd slam down at twice the speed, causing a deep gash on her left thigh, "Gcch!!" Jade grunts, anchoring her spear into the ground and kicking Kage in the helmet, unbalancing him a lot. She then lunges forward and outward with Thunder Spear.

Kage dodges and causes another gash on her chest.

He'd heal her afterwards and Jade starts to attack.

Only a heavy metal clang is heard and she is bounced back. "Only my opponent can damage me..."

Hendrik growls, there was no way to get it over with.

Kage was a respectable opponent and wouldn't want to fight them. But alas, it was their opponent. Told to fight them by an unknown assailant.

Rab walks into the open, "Let's go, Laddie, lemme show ye how it's done."

Kage takes stance. Before Rab launches at Kage and with claws, begins to pressure it.

Kage dodges nimbly and swings as quick as possible, Rab backflips and takes a good look at Kage. The black samurai armour was lightweight, dented by Serena, who wasn't physically strong, but it was incredibly fast, so it was able to keep up with her.

Jade was a spear user, but Kage hadn't known about Multi-thrust, thus was an amateur at defending against it. Until now.

It was adapting. Rab would save his trump card.

He charges and the two cross weapons again.

Kage slams downward, and Rab sidesteps before jabbing his claws into an gap in the armour.

Kage swings and Rab ducks, backstepping to gain distance but Kage jumps forward, Rab raises his claws to deflect the attack and with precision and accuracy, counter attacks.

Kage steps back a little bit, giving a groan of pain, shaking off the pain, it raises it's sword again, only to sheathe it and takes an unarmed stance.

Rab advances and is suddenly flipped over Kage's shoulder.

Suddenly Kage does the Harvest Moon kick, Rab is knocked out of the ring, "Ack! Drat...!"

Erik steps forward. He'd keep his sword sheathed.

Kage hasn't healed once... Why was it being so honourable?

Erik charges, hurling his boomerangs at it. He just had to be quick and use his best attacks to whittle it down!

Kage deflects one attack before being belted by the Double Down attack.

Erik then dodges about, Doppelgängers appear beside him before lunging toward it, swords drawn.

Kage wasn't able to keep up with the assault, but one lucky hit strikes Erik down.

Kage pants as it heals Erik, however Veronica is before it. The whip in her hand and a stern look on her face.

Kage sheathes his sword, taking the unarmed stance once more.

Veronica takes her adult form, and attacks from range.

Kage raises it's arms to stop the attacks, but starts finding it's arms heavier and heavier with each guard.

Sooner, it was unable to lift them, it wasn't magic, but the whip's ability. It didn't say no to magic or any special requirements.

It realised they treated it with equal respect.

There was no winning this. "I respectfully forfeit... I cannot fight."

Everyone was surprised. Sure, Axel was glad he didn't have to lose his head, but why?

No point thinking about it, he'd get the answers he needs.

"Will you answer me?" He asked.

Kage nods, "What are your questions?"

"Who is your master?" Axel asked.

Kage lowers it's head, "The one who I serve comes from a timeline. A timeline where Mordegan had fallen, but at the cost of all of you. Driven to desperation, my master took Mordegan's power and used it to rule as the world's ruler.

He used it to revive his old companions, but they did not belong in the world of the living, and eventually died out once again. Driven to depression, he decided to spread his pain to other worlds, and by other words, other timelines.

He has picked your timeline as his current target."

Axel frowned, "His name...?"

Kage answered, and everyone was left speechless.

"Axel..."