"Monaco, I've found some big footprints over here."

Neclaytia waited for his reply, but it never came. She stood up from her crouching position and stared as the boy looked off into the distance, silent and still, as if listening to the wind. She stood quietly, observing his behavior as if he were a new specimen, bewildered by how different he was when detached from everyone else. Suddenly, his left ear perked up to alarm him of her presence and he glanced at her before walking towards the footprints, "It's rude to stare."

"Sorry," she admitted to her action. "However…you were pretty spaced out there. What were you thinking about?"

He crouched beside the large print on the forest floor and said, "I wasn't thinking about anything. I was listening the whole time. I just refused to talk."

She sighed, "Really, Monaco? I'm trying to be friendly here."

"Stop trying," Monaco ran his hands through the dirt that was crushed by the huge foot. "This may have been the Woodspirit. There's no other beast around here that could make a print like this…unless it's the other BOSS the villagers encountered."

Neclaytia scoffed at his back, but noticed his broad shoulders that poked out from his clothes and his muscular arms carrying a vein or two, emphasizing the training he must have indulged in recently. He looked over his shoulder at her, "We'll stick to the same plan as before. I'll take lead while you give support when needed."

"Why am I playing support? I'm better suited to lead," she countered.

He stood and glared at her, piercing through her pointless stare, "If you have a problem with it, then I'm guessin' you won't mind fightin' over it, huh? Grow up and learn a thing or two from me."

"What can I learn from someone who doesn't share my compassion? You only see me as flesh and profit. I have no reason to follow you," she said and passed him without any hesitation. "This is why I shouldn't be partnered up with you."

He grabbed her back by her blazer and she stood surprised as she looked at him over her shoulder. He had his usual lazy expression, but a spark of anger resided in the depths of his eyes, "Don't ever say nothin' that has never came out of my mouth."

They stood still for a long moment and soon Monaco had let her go, taking lead without her consent, "Follow me or cooperate by yourself."

She crossed her arms underneath her chest and watched him walk off, sneaking further into the depths of Lemprasa Pond. She sighed and followed after him, feeling defeated and wondering how come she wasn't partnered with Nier like usual. She was compelled to work together with Monaco and meant to get along with him. In her mind, she just couldn't see that as a possibility with the way they encountered conversations and their ideals. She caught up with him and walked in stride with his steps until they reached a waterfall down the path they were on. The waterfall dropped in a calming rush from the opening in the cliffside and settled in the wide pond below. The whitecaps of the water vibrated against the surface of the pond as it descended and kicked up, slapping its own brethren uncontrollably. The air was vaguely familiar to Neclaytia as she lagged behind Monaco while they walked down a sloping path, gazing at the glittering pond from the sun's light cutting through the trees and the multiple tiny fish swarming in packs through the clear water. It made her features glow with affection of being able to see such a ravishing place.

"Get down!"

Neclaytia stood dumbfounded as Monaco dove at her, puzzled by his sudden burst of worry. She was forced to the ground, just barely missing the deleterious claws of a huge entity. Monaco wrapped his body around her own and rolled off the sloping path, sending them crashing into the pond below. Once they had hit the surface, they scattered from each other from the impact without their consent and a crackling eruption followed their escape. Neclaytia was soaking wet as she gazed up at the towering beast that stood before her and swiftly she stood to assume a battle position; however, the beast got the advantage and swept its clawed hand at her. She gasped loudly and back stepped away, but was slapped by an abrupt tide of water from the sweeping attack and thrown into the deeper part of the pond.

She turned over in the water and swam closer to the sloping path, but the beast was onto her before she could escape. She managed to reach the higher side of the pond, although she was finding it hard to keep her footing because of the slippery rocks underneath her feet and she fell once again. Neclaytia ultimately drew her katana and prepared herself to absorb the blow from the monster; however, Monaco came out of nowhere and was armed with his twin crimson-blade daggers, slashing violently at its oaky and vine infested legs. It reacted passively, swiping its backhand at Monaco, but he dodged with ease and rolled beside Neclaytia. She stood once again and placed her sword before her, revealing the blessed lime blade from the heavens, the Shingi to Giri. Monaco sunk into the water a little, holding one of his blades in front of him and the other at his side, "This isn't the Woodspirit. This must be the other BOSS we heard about. Ivan called it Poata I believe."

A steamy cloud came from the demonic mouth of the monster as it chomped its round teeth against each other. It roared with its jarring mouth that consisted of sharp lining and restricted cuts, afterwards manifesting a murderous presence within its beady golden eyes. Neclaytia stared over the bright algae crawling over its broad shoulders and the roots stabbed into its skin, "This could be a buddy of the Woodspirit. Don't take it lightly."

Monaco ignored her comment, "I'm taking the lead."

She beamed her dazzling eyes at him, "This isn't the time for that! We're in battle!"

Monaco kicked her away, saving her from being split open by the Poata's claws, "Follow up on my attacks and we'll take it down. Whether you like this or not, when we're in battle, the people who you fightin' with are your best assets. Become a tool for me and help me kill this thing."

She yelled, "I'm not a tool!"

Monaco chuckled lowly, amused by her defiance, "You'll have to be if you want to live."

"Bickering in the middle of battle? What nonsense!"

Together, they stared up at the individual in a black Victorian tail coat with multiple golden chains wrapping around his broad shoulders and lined white buttons climbing up from his waist to his snow white bowtie. He stood easily on the shoulder of the Poata and tipped his black top hat towards them, "How do you do, mercenaries?"

He smiled faintly and his nordic-colored right eye glimmered lightly, giving off an odd glow; however, his other eye was covered by his black-eye patch and his winter grey hair fell in slimy, twisting currents over his patched eye and drizzled just above his lean shoulders. Neclaytia was mesmerized by the man, examining his porcelain skin that was evasive of any scars or bumps and how perfectly sharp his jawline was, possibly managing the feat of slicing through the air. He was noticed by the Poata and the beast reacted accordingly by trying to grab the man, but he jumped above its reaching hand and in a single motion of his hand, he sliced clean through the beast.

Monaco's jaw dropped and he stared in disbelief, "W-What the…"

Neclaytia repeated his reaction, but stepped away from the Poata who sputtered out an oozing liquid and flailed uncontrollably to its doom. It fell into the deep end of the pond and created an enormous splash, but afterwards, it never surfaced.

The well-dressed man landed gracefully on the lushly grass on the outskirts of the pond and glanced at the mercenaries, "You should run along now. I've finished your job for you."

Monaco raised his weapon, "Who are you?"

"My name will mean nothing to you, boy," he said calmly. "Leave the premises, or would you like to be sliced in half as well?"

"Monaco," Neclaytia said quickly. "We're leaving."

"You'll let someone kill our target and walk away?" Monaco argued, staring bitterly at her. "We were tasked with killin' that thing. Not this pretty boy."

"On second thought," the man smiled wryly. "I will cut you both down. This will save the trouble I'll have to deal with during further tests."

Neclaytia clenched the golden grip of her katana, "We don't want any trouble. We'll leave; however, if you insist on fighting us, I will go all-out."

Monaco noticed the glow of her blade and was perplexed by the animosity that suddenly swarmed her entire existence. The man looked amused by her sudden words and actions, his smile stretching from ear-to-ear in delight, "Don't belittle me, girl. I'll break you where you stand."

"I've found you!"

He suddenly snapped his head to the voice and swiftly dodged the silver bullet aimed at his head. A croaking laugh came from him as he jumped away and landed close to the trees, "Oh, it seems you have indeed found me again, mercenary."

Allegretto, Nier, Rena and Altis ran over beside the outskirts of the pond and was prepared fully for combat. Allegretto pointed his black gun blade at the man, "I've been looking all over Orsha for you, Alfonse Lotus, also known as no. XIII of Corruption."

"You know me well, mercenary, but I can't seem to remember your pathetic name. You're a dog that's on a leash created by the goddess," Alfonse grinned mischievously. "Why pursue me? You cannot bring her back by following Corruption. If anything, it'll only harm those around you."

Allegretto's stony face cracked by him mentioning her, "That doesn't matter. You're destroying the lives of others. You monsters are plotting something bad and I can't sit down and let you do what you please to my world."

"I live in the same world as you, mercenary, but you fail to understand that we are on different plains and separated by the seat of power and governess. This world will bow to Corruption and we will make sure that we destroy everything you and whoever else loves dearly. That is the path we will go down and I can't wait to see you die with it," Alfonse chuckled slowly as his aura resembled a bloody darkness.

Neclaytia slashed at the air and gained attention to herself, "I don't understand! Why did you help us?!"

"I wasn't helping you at all, girl. You must be very confused. That BOSS was a pawn and my creation. It was replica similar to the Woodspirit and I killed off not too long ago. I ordered the Woodspirit to attack Lema with the lesser monsters to see how well my influence would last. It certainly lasted for a long time, so I'd say it was successful."

"So, it was you who did this?!" Altis glared harshly, giving him no quarter of sympathy as he pulled the hems of his black glove with a ruby pentagram over the top of his hand. "I don't know what your true motives are, but you've killed innocent people and we cannot let that slide!"

Rena stabbed her foot into the ground and made the surface crack underneath her booted foot, and she assumed a fighter's stance with her fingerless gloved fists raised while the majority of her strength was placed into her back leg, "You will not escape."

Nier shifted into large red fox after her words, revealing her canine teeth that was keenly placed. She lowered her black nose and her amber and charcoal legs moved restlessly as she had the urge to taste the blood of the man. Allegretto held the revolver-styled grip of his gun blade carefully, measuring the enemy cautiously and wondering about the lives of his comrades. Alfonse didn't wait for him to react as he bowed politely and swept his white gloved hand in a fancy farewell gesture, "I believe I have lingered in Lemprasa Pond too long. A change of scenery would be nice. Until next time, mercenaries."

Allegretto clenched his teeth and opened fire, but Alfonse disappeared in a current of darkness and the bullet sunk into the tree he was standing in front of. Their leader cursed under his breath and looked at his comrades, "Damn."

"How are you connected to him, papa?!" Neclaytia rushed towards her father. "What is Corruption?!"

"Stop," he said, and she obeyed without question once she was on land again. "I shouldn't involve any of you in this. This is too…dangerous."

Altis searched his troubled eyes, "Allegretto, I know this isn't my place to say this, but you owe at least your daughter an explanation. Our ears aren't needed, sir."

"Heck no!" Monaco argued as he stood beside Neclaytia. "We all deserve to hear! You've been runnin' off and leavin' your work on us a lot lately!"

"Monaco, stop," Rena snapped at him, making him bite his lip as he turned from the group.

"I will not put you all in this danger," Allegretto crossed his arms over his white jacket that had brown fur crawling over the hood and the hems of his jacket. "I won't let another family member disappear from my sight."

"I ain't your family," Monaco walked off and carried himself bitterly with slumped shoulders and a nasty scowl on his face, slowly meeting the darkness that had overtook his heart long ago. "I'm your damn co-worker."

Neclaytia glowered at his back, but her father's words burned into her memory, making her even angrier by what he meant behind them. She stared in disbelief at him, conflicted by what she believed her father to be, "I can't believe you. You told me that if you found any traces of mama…you'd tell me, no matter how small."

"Neclaytia…I—"

"Don't say another word," she said weakly. "I'm going home."