"Rena! Protect our hide!"

Allegretto clutched the grip of his gun blade and forced his blade through the beastly Blue Wendigo on all fours—feeling his dark blade connect with its blue humanoid flesh and rip out its intestines that splashed against the jagged walls.

Another group came from the south which was roughly a party of five to six, and Allegretto positioned himself to encounter the spiritual beings that resembled a deformed wolf with grizzly blue fur stretching over its body and they had ferocious beady ruby eyes that stabbed at its prey with a hypnotized thirst for blood. His back met with Altair's and slowly Rena and Nier made their way closer to them after finishing off their attackers. They were surrounded immediately by the Blue Wendigoes that demonstrated pack-like activity as they circled them ambiguously and their golden canine teeth being revealed once they hovered inches off the floor in a sneaky manner. Nier took the form of a great fox and lowered her head close to ground, revealing just a glance of her razor sharp canines to her predators.

The pack of Blue Wendigoes struck first in unison as they galloped with swift speed once their dirty claws and rough palms crashed against the unstable floor. Altair slammed his gloved hand into the ground and the pentagram on his glove bolstered with a luminous glow, "O ancient and wise Earth, become my sword and guider against my foes!"

The floor became unsettled after Altair's chant and almost as instant as when the Blue Wendigoes leaped at them, deadly shards of towering rocks raised up from the ground and stabbed them. Most were impaled in the core of their being while others escaped with a simple graze due to their quick instincts. The party broke a part once again and Allegretto and Rena double-teamed a single Blue Wendigo without hesitation. Allegretto brought his blade over his head and swept his blade at its side, but it dodged with a simple roll and Rena filled in with briskly speed by running her fist into its gut which was followed up with flurry of unthinkable jabs to its face and finally she snapped its leg with powerful kick.

Rahhhhhh!

The Blue Wendigo screamed in agony, but Allegretto put it out of its misery with a back slash that severed its head from its body. Rena was suddenly approached by a Blue Wendigo from her blindside, but she sensed the predator and crashed her knuckles against each other that formed a mystical crimson flame that covered her hands. She ducked to the overhead swipe and slid her foot against the ground to position herself in front of the Blue Wendigo while still holding her knuckles against each and together, she compelled her fists against the chest of Blue Wendigo. The monster reacted expectantly with a lingering cry, but she twisted her fists in its chest and a scorching flame threw it into the air and devoured its body.

Nier finished the last attacker after burying her canines into its body—enjoying the toxic flesh and snapping its neck without remorse. Altair surveyed the wide ancient corridor that had scars of past struggle and plaguing conflict, "I believe that was all of them."

Allegretto placed his hand against the cracked wall and stared up at the high ceiling that had ancient murals portraying multiple bodies and mystical beings coexisting together, "We are getting close. I didn't expect so many of them to be at this level of the Ashaq Underground Prison."

Nier shifted back and licked the lingering trail of blood that rested near the corner of her mouth, "Those Blue Wendigoes are supposedly the souls of the prisoners who were sentenced to death here in the past, correct?"

"That's what history has told us," Altair said after fixing his wooly scarf. "This prison was a symbol of despair. This is where infamous individuals from all over the world spent the rest of their days for their crimes. Some were well-known thieves, others being mass-murderers back in the period of the earlier wars between the kingdoms. This was the best place to get rid of any poisonous people on our continent."

Rena crouched beside one of the motionless Blue Wendigoes that rested near a rusty grate that had spread odor into the corridor, "In death we meet many mysteries unknown to mankind, but in life we are forfeiting the unthinkable."

Allegretto nodded absentmindedly to her words, "Those words ring true. We are blind to what we believe we see while the unknown prowl in the darkness. That's what exactly Corruption stands for."

"What's the story behind them? Surely they just didn't form overnight," Altair furrowed his brows.

"I only know that they are conspiring against the deities and they had…"

Allegretto balled his hand on the wall and glared at the floor, "They were the ones who took Laima away. It's true that the deities disappeared, but only because they are in civil war at the moment. The war hinges on the appearance of Corruption and the traitors who betrayed Laima and the others. They aren't just aiming for the Slavery Order. They are building an army of slaves to add to the rule of Orsha, then finally, they will wipe out the other kingdoms and underhandedly eliminate Orsha."

"How do you know so much of their plans?" Nier stared.

"I…have a sibling that is a member of Corruption."

"A-A sibling?!" Altair gasped. "Why would—"

"It's beyond me what she seeks to gain from being among them, but she told me of what they were planning. In her eyes, there is nothing that can stop them. Not even the revelators," Allegretto explained briefly.

Rena stood and glanced over her shoulder at Allegretto, "Are you comfortable with fighting your family?"

"My family has been long dead. She…is only a reminder of the massacre of my family line."

Rena looked away from the group and noticed an empty cell rested at the end of the corridor, "I understand. You said we were close to our destination, no?"

Allegretto snapped out of his thoughts and glanced over his new family, "Ah, yes. The door should reveal itself if we have this."

He pulled out a glowing blue shard of a crystal from his pocket and touched the keen surface with caution, hoping not to stab himself with the handful crystal, "We should get moving. Then we can make way for Orsha to see about the progress of Neclaytia and Monaco. Hopefully, our other ally has met up with them now."

He suddenly took head of the group and walked around the defeated Blue Wendigoes— proceeding down the wide corridor with grates and dreadful cells housing the bones of the deceased members of the prison. The others followed after him and eventually, the party made it to the end of the corridor with no disruptions. Allegretto tried to open the cell, but it didn't budge at all. Rena patted him on the back, "I'll handle this."

He looked almost dumbfounded as he stepped back and Altair had an amused smile on his face as she crashed her booted foot into the cell's barred door and sent it flying into the room with no difficultly. Allegretto hesitantly smiled, "Thanks. I must say, your strength is beyond me."

Rena slightly blushed and placed a thick strand of her hair behind her ear, "It was nothing. Shall we?"

Allegretto nodded and he entered the dimly lit room carefully. From above, there were long streams of distasteful water coming down from the ceiling that pattered and echoed throughout the room while a shard of light came from the corner of the room, showing the upper floor. Their leader pulled out the crystal and without hesitation, it glowed brighter and revealed a winding trail of blue light. They didn't have to look far in the small room, for the trail ended beside the wall they were beside. They all watched in awe as the wall transformed into a polychromatic door dressed in colors of blue, green, red, yellow, and orange; however, shining golden gems were placed along the sides of the door.

"Well, this is quite an odd place to put your home," Altair stared at the magnificent door with ample interest.

"Indeed," Allegretto nodded and wrapped his hand around the bronze handle, turning it and being flashed with radiance.

The group moved closer to the door and were immediately pulled inside the door by an invisible presence. They were all thrown into the unknown currents of multi-colored radiance, but they floated down a steam of said light. Altair floated uncontrollably as he spun like a saucer beside Nier who had full control, "W-Whoa!"

Rena giggled playfully and flipped like a child, enjoying herself to the fullest as they floated through the stream of light, "This is pretty fun~!"

Allegretto searched over the atmosphere colored in varying colors with wide eyes, "So, this is another fragment of his power. The power of our allies is certainly odd."

Nier grabbed Altair's arm and helped him settle to a more fitting position. He sighed, "Thanks."

Rena swooped underneath them and grinned as she swiftly appeared beside Nier, "I'm getting the hang of this~!"

Allegretto's eyes met with a wall of light which seemed to be the end of the wondrous ride. They were pulled even faster now, and soon, they rammed through the wall and found themselves on the ground of a red carpeted living room. Rena lifted her head off the ground and rubbed her cheek that stung in pain, "Ow~."

Allegretto rested on his knee, "Is everyone okay?"

Altair and Nier repeated his action and nodded. They all stood and surveyed over the living room that was lit by the warmth of the fireplace at the other end. There were two elegant red wingback armchairs stationed near the fireplace and a round wooden was placed between them. Allegretto's eyes snapped open to the individuals seated in the chairs and he drew closer with his comrades behind him. A mystical air whipped around the mercenaries and they felt their bodies become more relevant in the living room. One of the individuals glanced over at them, "Our allies have arrived."

The two men stared at Allegretto as he stood close to their chairs while the drifting flames from the fireplace illuminated his face along with its shadows stretching throughout the potentially barren room. The man on Allegretto's left smiled faintly, "It's good to see you again, Allegretto. It's been years, my friend."

"Indeed it has, Vyne," Allegretto nodded with a warm smile. "I'm looking forward to working beside you again."

Vyne smirked and his observing hazel eyes sparked as his thoughts were swarmed by old times with Allegretto by his side. He fixed his mechanical goggles placed on his head that forced down a good portion of his curly snow white hair that slightly cut above his eyes and washed over his ears, "How do you fare? I'm sure you have much to tell me."

Allegretto nodded, but his eyes wandered to the other individual who drank from a rum glass that held a bronze liquid and large ice cubes. The man placed the glass on the table and folded his hands over his lap while his legs were crossed elegantly, "I believe this is first we've met. My name is Serus."

"The famed Strategist. I've only heard stories about you. As you know by now, my name is Allegretto. It's a pleasure."

Serus was dressed in a tight dark tuxedo with a cane placed directly beside his chair. The hems of his wild shaggy hair was a crimson red that hovered above his shoulders while the rest of his hair was a crystal white. His silver eyes met the rest of Allegetto's crew, "This is the rest of Noblesse?"

"We're lacking two at the moment. I believe Kuroi should be with them," Allegretto stepped aside. "These three are assiting us in eradicate the Slavery Order."

Rena stepped forward and gave a small bow, "My name is Rena Bultesa."

"I'm Altair Sophist."

"Nier."

"You say you are Altair Sophist?" Serus stared.

"I am he," Altair nodded with closed eyes.

"The infamous traitor—General Sophist of Orsha, also known as the Land Scorcher," Vyne said as he examined the pained expression on Altair's face. "There's been many tales about you."

Rena stared at her comrade, feeling the urge to know more about him, for she never knew him to be that General Sophist because she didn't know his full name; however, Altair gazed at the flames that danced in his eyes and dismissed the conversation with ease, "That was in the past. I fight for a different purpose now."

"An interesting crew you have, Allegretto," Vyne analyzed them. "If what Kuroi told me is true, Altair is a mage that uses elemental magicks based off of chants, Rena uses her fists and command the fire blessed to her by the Goddess of Holy Fire: Gabija and Nier is a shapeshifter. I also heard that you have a daughter now."

Allegretto chuckled, "Yes. There is much to discuss. After all, it's been over eighteen years and you still look the same."

Vyne mimicked him, "I've started to lose track of time. I've been alive since forever it seems and revelator's never age. We're locked to our fate and meant to secure the peace of the world. Eliminating the Slavery Order is only a milestone, for the real threat lies within Corruption. They've been around as long as me, or at least, the first five numbers have."

"Then they are just as knowledgeable?" Allegretto frowned grimly.

"Not as knowledgeable as I," Vyne reassured. "They only carry numbers and unique prowess."

"That could be what they want us to think, Vyne," Serus interrupted. "We mustn't forget what happened to Klaipeda and their reoccurring hands meddling with the wars in history. As it stands, they may lure us into a trap yet again. I followed a false trail and I eventually butted heads with Rollo Lotus, no. VIII. He distracted me from helping Klaipeda, therefore I arrived late."

"I couldn't assist either," Vyne furrowed his brows. "I had to calm down Kuroi. His body was being taken over by the curse."

"We shouldn't speak any further on the matter," Serus looked over at Noblesse. "The present task is dire. We must provide a future for the humans."

Vyne stared at Allegretto carefully, remembering the past of his old friend, "I'd say it's time that we pay back Crowley Hamondale, don't you?"

Allegretto nodded curtly and his expression hardened, "As the last member of the Lapis family line, I must bring justice to the deceased."