The Story so Far: Settling the rumors of a group of monster bandits, Luka brings the two factions together, the young girls learning their lessons. The three travel to Happiness Village, where the nearby Harpy Village has been abducting men. Defeating the Queen Harpy, and after much debate, the two villages are wound together in the red string of fate. On their journey, the travel to Enrika, they mysterious village guarded by Dark Elves. After a brief and confusing conversation with Micaela and witnessing strange behavior from Balthazar, the three set back to Iliasport. There, they learn that sudden and powerful storms prevent any ship from setting sail. Learning of a cave not too far from Iliasport that contains a legendary artifact known as the Poseidon's Bell, the three set out for the cove. Inside, they encounter two legendary monsters, the first a Seven-tailed fox named Nanabi and the Heavenly Knight Tamamo, the former of which had proven powerful enough to render a released Balthazar unconscious. Only losing by an unexpected surge of insane power from a sleeping Luka, Nanabi is sealed. The latter, Tamamo, tests Luka's resolve when she reveals Alice to be the Sixteenth Monster Lord, and gives hints on Balthazar's secrets. Luka questions Alice as Balthazar move backstage and converses with Tamamo. Later, Alice and Balthazar question Luka thoroughly, but he is determined to keep both of his companions together, seeing no true evil coming from either person. Now, with the Poseidon's Bell in hand, they return Iliasport, only to set sail into potentially the worst battle of Luka's life.

Exiting the treasure cove, the three make their way back to Iliasport. Even on the walk back, Luka noticed that Balthazar's wounds were healing at a noticeable rate, albeit not as fast that Luka could via his meditation.

Luka turned around, walking backwards and looked at Balthazar. "Hey. So… When Alice and I were talking and you went into that treasury…?" He started. "Tamamo followed you in there, right? What did she want?" Balthazar said nothing as the three walked. "What? What else do you have to hide?"

"I'm not hiding anything." Balthazar replied. "I just don't want to talk about it. If you had any brains in that head, you'd be able to figure out what Tamamo and I discussed."

Alice suddenly slowed, matching Balthazar's speed. "I have my suspicions about what you two talked about. Would I be correct in assuming it has to deal with Alma Elma's identity?"

He nodded. "You would indeed be correct. She gave me a few tidbits of information on Granberia's sizes and invited me to be her husband; what else would she be talking about?"

Alice scowled. "You didn't have to be sarcastic about it. I was just curious, is all."

"Yeah, well, it's not something I don't want to let anyone just listen to." Balthazar said.

Alice nodded. "… I suppose that you have your rights to privacy."

Balthazar closed his eyes, nodding gratefully. The three continued on their way in silence, eventually the hours passed and the sun began to sink as they returned to Iliasport. With the bell in tow, the three paused alongside the docks.

"I don't suppose I could persuade you into staying the night at an Inn, can I?" Balthazar asked, rubbing his shoulders.

Luka scratched his chin. "Eh, I don't suppose why not… I mean, it might make more sense for us to leave in the morning. Besides, we'll be able to recover from Nanabi's attacks…"

Alice sighed. "I'm not completely sure that's what Balthazar was originally implying."

He nodded. "That's… True… I'll be fine in a few hours. But look at the horizon. A ship must have attempted to take sail… Or perhaps it's just a regular storm."

Luka extended Poseidon's Bell in the air. "But with this, we don't have to worry about those rogue storms."

"True. But think about your scenario." Balthazar said, mimicking Luka's poor stance. "The ship is unaffected by the storm. But what about you?" He asked. "It's night, completely dark save for the light of the lamps, and you have wind and rain obstructing your pathetic stance and form, as well as your vision." He said. "If it's a storm summoned by Alma Elma, then she's actively patrolling now. You'd have to fight in those conditions."

Luka looked down. "I never considered that…"

"Obviously. If you start to think like him, you'll be more of a warrior that can even be considered a Hero." Alice stated.

The three retired to a nearby Inn, all three of them renting a single room with a balcony. It was small, but it had two beds, a few closets, and essential enmities despite its unlikely size. Balthazar stood on the balcony, wearily watching the night's storm close in from the sea.

Alice, in human disguise, walked up on Balthazar. "Hey. Get inside before it rains."

Balthazar sighed. "I suppose." He said, watching lightning lance the sky above him.

The lamia watched as Balthazar slowly withdrew, closing the glass balcony doors behind him. "So?" She asked, looking around. Luka had gone off for a bit, to accumulate a few extra supplies before they left in the morning. "There aren't any unwanted influences now."

Balthazar stretched, then returned his back to Alice. "There are… Still reasons why I shouldn't talk about it."

"What do you mean?" She asked. Suddenly, an unpleasant thought crossed her mind, and she grabbed Balthazar, turning him around and staring at him. "Does this have anything to do with me?"

He avoided her gaze. "It does. Directly and indirectly."

"What the hell does that supposed to men?"

"I don't know, I'm still working it out myself."

Alice let go of Balthazar, dropping her hands to her sides. "Then it might be easier on your mind if you let more than one person try to decipher your thoughts."

Still, Balthazar didn't move, merely turning his head. "I don't know what might happen if I say what I think. Right now… None of us can do anything about it."

"About what?" She asked, her voice rising. "You keep avoiding what you want to say!" Her eyes flashed, trying to force him into revealing his mind, but she then remembered his innate ability to resist her. "Spill what you're thinking!"

"I was told to find change the true ending." Balthazar stated.

"Change the… True ending?" Alice scoffed. "What the hell does that even mean?"

Making his voice slightly higher, he mimicked Tamamo. "'The spirits have told me that a better future exists when darkness pervades one's vision.'"

"That's… Both vague and specific. Did she really say that?" Alice questioned.

Balthazar laughed. "Mind you, I don't pull a voice that high for fun."

She rubbed her chin. "Why did she choose you to tell you this?"

"You were curious about why I knew so much about Incubi, no?"

"No… No way." Alice shuddered, taking a step back from Balthazar. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Well… If you think about it, are you really surprised?"

"I… Don't know what to think…" She said, shaking her head. "I knew you were acting strange coming from Enrika… But…"

Balthazar laughed. "Oh gods, you had it figured out back then!? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Stop laughing, idiot!" She yelled. "Why didn't you mention it to me earlier!?"

Balthazar shrugged. "I fancy a surprise." He smiled devilishly. "Besides, even if I didn't tell you, it looks like I'd end up revealing it anyways."

Alice slowly paused. "What… Do you mean?"

Balthazar tilted his head. "Oh? You mean you don't know what some of the triggers for an Incubus is?" He looked Alice over. "I can tell you, there are two basic ones-"

Alice discarded her human form, binding him with her tail. "That's an awfully vague way of trying to say you like my physique."

Balthazar struggled. "Woah! Hold on, you didn't let me fin-" However, before he could conclude, Alice had skillfully exposed Balthazar, victoriously coiling her tail as the bottoms of his robes were removed. However, as Alice eyed him, a sort of confusion washed over her. "Euh…" He said. Both simply froze in awkward silence. "I… Never finished my statement…" Another round of silence. "What? After toying with Luka, what are you so surprised about?"

However, Alice disregarded him, simply eyeing his exposed body. "… I know you just admitted to it… And everything makes sense if it's true… But…" She had a hard time trying to force her thoughts in form. "Aren't Incubi… I don't know… Larger?"

Balthazar snatched his robes, dressing himself. "You too?" He scoffed. "God lord, if you let me finished in the first place…"

Alice was shocked, nearly speechless. "But of all of the stories and rumors I've heard about Incubi about being huge beasts… With a lust incredible… Why're you…" She paused. "Unexcited?"

Finally finishing his outfit, He looked at Alice sheepishly. "I thought you would have figured that one out by now too." He said, as rain began to hit the doors behind him. "Well, it's not like I wouldn't be excited by having a beautiful woman like yourself practically attempt to rape me… But…" He rubbed his neck. For the first time, Alice watched closely, and noticed a sight she had never seen before.

"No way." She breathed. She slid close to Balthazar, touching his neck as he tilted his head to let her trace what she had found. "These are… Scars." She said, tracing them. "Not cuts… But punctures?" She looked at him questioningly. "The scarring here would only register for two years…" She began to piece Balthazar's history pieces together, resuming her human form.

"So now I've made the scarring noticeable, you can tie it all together?" Balthazar laughed. "Then I want to see the bow on top."

"The monster you lived with for seven years… She was a vampire, wasn't she?" Balthazar remained emotionless, watching Alice sort out his past. "You lived with her for seven years, and as a human and monster duo, you would have been an easy source of food for her, especially with a vampire, who could in theory live off only blood."

"In theory." Balthazar repeated. "But, as it turns out, also in practice."

Alice's eyes widened. "She drank your blood for seven years? As a young child… You should have been drained dead!"

"Eh, you get caught up on the big details, but you overlook the small ones. What do you think she'd do, kill off her partner on accident by draining all of my blood?" Balthazar asked.

She scratched her chin. "No… But again, you don't particularly have the scent of someone seasoned in bed."

"… You can tell by scent? You called Luka's meditation creepy, but what's with that ability?" He said, slightly audible, but mostly under his breath.

"So she siphoned."

"Yes and no. When I was younger, she took it easy on my body, barely draining it and living on scraps, resorting on hunting others when I was particularly weak." He explained. "But like I said earlier, humans can gain the spiritual energy from monsters the longer they're in contact."

"So you accidentally became an Incubus. I see…" She nodded. "And since it was through non-sexual methods, you didn't become the lustful beasts that are made out in legend." She paused, looking him over. "But wait, how can you be sure you're really an Incubus?"

"Trust me, there's ways to tell. Like you said, it was through non-sexual methods. So what do you think I did when I was with her? Lounge around and do nothing?"

"Huh. So all that time, you took to training yourself and your body." She paused as she realized what sort of training Balthazar had put himself under. "My… That sort of training is unimaginable! Even if you began to develop the ability to restore lost blood quickly, training with pints of blood gone…"

"… It developed the Incubus likewise. When I trained, it became powerful. It isn't a lustful Incubus… It's one that would destroy anyone and anything that pissed it off, or even caught its attention." He finished.

"I didn't think that was even possible… As Monster Lord, I've never heard of such stories… Not even Tamamo taught me much about Incubi… Only to avoid them if I could." She murmured.

Balthazar laughed at this. "And here you've been, sleeping with one as a warmth partner. How ironic and hilarious."

Thunder shook the Inn. A few seconds later, the door to their room rattled, and Luka burst in, sprinkled wet with rain. He looked out of breath, and dumped his load of supplies on the ground as he slouched onto a couch in the room.

"Good Ilias, it's starting to become a downpour out there…" Luka exclaimed. True enough, as more lightning flickered in the sky, the rain fell harder and harder.

"Not unforeseeable." Balthazar stated. "You imagine that if Alma Elma has been creating storms to wreck ships, these storms would follow natural lives… It'd be odd if they only fizzled out after the ship was sunk."

"I guess that's true. And it'd take quite a storm to shipwreck the ones they've been sending lately though." Luka said, pointing out the just barely visible ships in the harbor. The thick sheets of rain nearly obscured the vision, but lightning lit the vessels easily.

Alice crossed her hands, but she shook her head. She knew that the prior conversation with the Incubus would get nowhere, not even if she tried to exert her power as Monster Lord. "Whatever. We won't have to worry about that since Poseidon's Bell should keep us afloat." She stretched, no longer caring for conversation. "I'm bored, so I'm going to sleep." She declared, taking one of the two beds to herself.

Luka nodded. "I could rest awhile too." He said, visions of his conscious fight with Nanabi flashing in his mind. "I'm going out too." He said, claiming the other free bed.

Balthazar scoffed. "Damn, I should have picked one before…"

Alice looked at him, watching as he paced the room. A mental conversation unfolded between the two of them, simply by staring.

'Oh hell no, you aren't sleeping with me.'

'But… We've slept together a few times already…'

'I was wondering… You did something to me, didn't you?'

'I did something!? You're the one I had to dissuade a couple nights back! What right have you to condemn me?'

'What, you think I'm a monster so I have to immediately violate anything I sleep with?'

'I could ask the same! Just because I'm an Incubus doesn't mean I get off on sleeping women…!'

Even in physical silence, the mental silence only oppressed the two further. Alice smirked, but rolled over. Balthazar could just barely make out her giggling. "Pft. Yeah. Be that way." He called out, getting a questioning look from Luka. "Meh." Balthazar's eyes wandered around the room, resting on one of the wardrobes in the room. Carefully, he prodded around the base, and with a dexterous leap, made himself comfortable on the top of the flat wardrobe, not unlike a cat.

Sleep came quickly to the warriors. Alice, however, was locked in the realm of the wake, and she had no choice but to watch lightning flicker through the pouring thunderheads, and listen to the torrents of rain mixed with lightning.

"Jeez…" She muttered under her breath. "I trusted him with my identity… But he didn't trust me with his?" The conversation ran through her head multiple times. She rolled on her side, and glared at the sleeping teenage boy, who seemed oddly comfortable on such an apparent uncomfortable surface. Well, it's not like he didn't just tell me… I'm not really mad… But… She shook her head. Hora…. This is confusing… Eventually, her wandering mind drifted off into unconsciousness as well.

A dark void surrounded Balthazar. However, just enough light was present to accentuate dark-colored pillars that ascended to the sky: a black even darker than the dark fog. Balthazar stood alone in the darkness of a slight valley. However, soon that was changed as off one of the nearby pillars a figure descended.

"Yo." The figure called out. Him. The Incubus incarnate. Balthazar wasn't dreaming, he was trapped momentarily in his subconscious. "Having fun out there?" The Incubus asked.

Balthazar gave the Incubus an irate look. "Guh… What do you want now? I thought I got rid of you awhile back?"

The Incubus simply shrugged. "Willpower alone won't sway me aside. I'm you, remember? Or did you miss that lesson in Incubi One-oh-one?" He chuckled at the obscure joke. "Anyways, whatever progress you made, that Ilias woman undid." He smirked.

"I'll beat you into submission again. I was able to subjugate you before, I can do it again." Balthazar frowned, his blade slowly appearing stuck in the ground under his palm.

The Incubus smirked, mirroring Balthazar completely. It seemed as if a color-distorting mirror was in front of Balthazar, the naturally honed movements mimicked by the battle-honed Incubus. "You know… Here, in our little world, those binds that we're under don't exist here." He raised a hand, which on Balthazar would normally follow with a shackle and chains. However, no such chains followed when Balthazar followed his Incubus counterpart.

"So that means…" He thought aloud…

"That if you want to subjugate me, this'll be a nasty fight with consequences if you lose…" The Incubus finished.

A bright white moon began to blaze in the sky, but it quickly dulled into a blood red outline which gave the entire valley a slightly red tint. The blades implanted in the ground darkened into a mid-night black, and a dark cloak and robes enveloped both adversaries. The two sharply grasped their lengthened blades, brandishing them at each other in fluid mirror movements.

The night eventually ended, with a muggy morning which only intensively pressured the port city. A few large, hazy clouds hovered over the city, only locking more humidity into the area. The morning light slowly filtered into the room, waking Alice from her slumber. Groggily, she rubbed her eyes, taking in the morning. She stretched in human form, and walked over to the balcony.

A startling thud redirected Alice's attention and made Luka jump into consciousness. Balthazar had fallen over off the top of the wardrobe, and as Alice looked over him, she noticed erratic behavior. His breathing was irregular, and his sclera were completely black, the yellow irises from before had recolored his eyes. A maze-like pattern spread from his eyes as he rested on hands and one knee.

"Ugh… That's a wake-up method I don't plan on repeating." Balthazar groaned, the tracings of the maze-like markings retreating to his eyes. "Huh. I could have sworn my eyes were open… Am I blindfolded?" He grasped at imaginary wrappings around his eyes, growing frantic when he couldn't find any.

"Balthazar? Ilias… Are you okay?" Luka asked, still trying to shake off sleep, obviously unaware of Balthazar's plight.

"J-just fine." Balthazar lied reassuringly, blinking without sight. His hands waved over his face, and the darkness reverted as if drops of liquid touched his eyes, returning his sclera white. Slowly, his yellow irises turned the normal dark brown, and Balthazar lowered his hand from his eyes.

"Still creepy." Alice muttered as she watched the conversion.

The three changed for the day, then ate a simple breakfast, composing of simple servings of eggs, toast, and bacon. After the small meal, the three returned to the docks, feeling the oppressive humidity bearing down on them.

"This'll be my first time leaving the continent." Luka noted as they neared the port.

"It's also the first time I'll step foot on the Sentora continent." Luka looked at her strangely. "I've passed over it via the sky a few times, though."

Luka shook his head. "How could I forget such a detail? I thought you only started your journey a few days ago anyways?"

Alice nodded. "That's right. After I set foot outside the castle, I flew straight to Ilias Temple. That's how I met you."

"How strange that the force of the blast sent you directly closer to the source of Heroes. It's like Ilias was making it easy for you." Balthazar mused. "You know, I was born on Sentora, but a lot of it was when I was just a kid, before I moved to Hellgondo."

"Wait, you actually moved there?" Luka asked in shock.

Balthazar blankly stared at Luka. "Oh. That's right. Yeah, I moved there with the help of a monster. Why?"

"That seems suspicious no matter how you look at it."

However, the conversation stopped short when the three realized that the harbor was upon them. Little activity, besides regular maintenance and shifting of supplies from various smaller ports on Ilias, occurred, leaving Luka to scout out for a suitable vessel which would carry them.

Balthazar, however, took the reins of the search by disappearing amongst the labor, using his uncanny ability to find and assess people from afar. Rounding the party up, Balthazar pushed Luka to who appeared to be a captain of a vessel.

"Ah… Excuse me?" He asked, thrust in front of the captain. "We'd like to board a ship to the Sentora continent."

The captain, adjusting himself and placing a pipe in his mouth, laughed. "Oh boy…" He gasped. "Oh. You're serious, aren't you lad?" He grew grim. "You know what happens to any ship that sets course to Sentora?"

"I have, and we've come prepared." Luka said, boasting the old Bell to the captain, although he didn't recognize it. "All we have to do is fix this bell to the bow, and no harm should come to us."

The captain shook his head, giving a lengthy puff from his pipe. "Hah! If such an old and dirty bell would weather these storms, I'd be a rich man."

Luka sighed. "Look, if you give it a chance, you'll see I'm right." He looked around the harbor, finding a small boat large enough for the three to comfortably rest on. "If you let us borrow a small boat, we could prove ourselves."

The captain, now irate, waved his hand at the group, looking over his crew as they prepared a small load of cargo. "Bah, I don't have time to listen to some kid's prank." Alice stepped forward, lightly pushing Luka to the side. "Oho? What a fine woman… I'd give you a special ride." He said, lewd undertones not entirely hidden.

Alice's eyes flashed. "Follow my commands." She ordered.

At once, the captain straightened out and saluted. "Yes Ma'am! Your wish is my command." He said in attention.

Alice gave a quick glance at Balthazar. "I was starting to think that I was losing my touch." She muttered. "Set course to Sentora. Start preparations immediately." She ordered.

"Understood!" The captain complied, and immediately boarded his ship. "Oi, you lot! We have a new course! Drop the cargo for Iylia, and give it to someone else who wants the job." The crew, utterly confused, slowly picked up their pace as their orders changed. Returning his attention to Alice, he bowed, taking off his hat completely. "My ship is yours." He said, before turning back around to supervise the group.

Luka tilted his head at Alice. "Did you just use mind control?"

Alice nodded, giggling. "These are the eyes of a high-ranking monster. Using them, I can charm, confuse, petrify, or incapacitate a target at my will."

Luka shuddered. "That's quite convenient… It's like you're a walking abnormal status affliction machine." He thought aloud. "Anyways, thanks for the assist."

Alice shook her head. "Don't get the wrong idea. It would just be annoying to be stuck here."

Breaking the dialogue, the captain returned, arms folded with pride. "Come aboard! She's ready to set sail!"

A lone crew member walked up. "Captain, what's our destination? Who are they, anyways?"

The Captain growled at the soldier. "You idiot, watch your mouth in front of these fine people! These fine travelers are…" He paused, Alice's hypnosis not filling the blanks for him. "Who again?" He asked.

Alice shook her head. "It doesn't matter." She commanded. Luka fumbled a measly thanks, while Balthazar tilted himself in a small bow.

Nestled on board, Balthazar took quarter on the crow's nest, which was vacated by the captain just for him. Alice decided to take up the Captain's Quarters, and Luka paced the length of the vessel. However, as the daylight hours ticked away into evening, Alice came out of seclusion, and began to train Luka once more in monster form. Balthazar watched from above, slowly slouching over so he could see their progress. Luka was practicing jumping techniques, which focused on climbing on high places. Slowly, but surely, Balthazar slid off the sides of the crow's nest, and deftly slid down to the ground as Luka executed a semi-decent Demon Decapitation.

Finally back in earshot and out of the muffling winds in the high masts, Alice was clear, loud, and commanding. "This technique was a favorite of Desureia the Harpy, who was known as the Death on Wings. She smashed the skulls of three hundred adversaries, their blood covering the fields in a slick mess."

Luka staggered back in disarray. "I wanted you to teach me more… Hero-like… Abilities…"

Alice took his complaint in stride, swatting it aside as a well-practiced motion. "There's a big issue in using this technique though." She said. "As you experienced, you need to be a great height to use this technique. And since you're human, the ability to fly is out of your command, and your speed won't allow you climb objects quickly and effortlessly. So there's the condition. You must have an easy route to a high distance. Even if you have the stamina to execute Demon Decapitation, you can't use it if you can't gain the right high-ground."

"Being controlled by the nearby battle features… That's sort of annoying." Luka complained, not noticing he had said it aloud.

"Fool. That proves you're still just a kid." Balthazar said, demeaning Luka. "Any fight you're in, you always take advantage of your surroundings. Just like the time I knocked dust in your eyes." He reminded. "If you're too naïve to take advantage of the terrain in combat, you'll end up losing. Fix that habit, and you might be able to make it to Alice's Castle after all."

Alice paused, staring at the ring which Luka wore. "… Hey… Luka? Excuse me a bit… But can I see the ring you're wearing?"

Luka made to pop his fingers. "Alice, I already told you that you can't eat it."

Alice frowned. "Who do you think I am? Watch your mouth… I won't eat it or steal it, I'm just interested in it."

Luka hesitantly allowed the ring in her sight again. "Is it okay for you to look at it while it's on my finger? I promised my mother that I would always carry it with me."

Alice nodded. "That's fine…" She muttered, taking Luka's hand and staring at the ring intently. She shook her head. "The residual thoughts from this ring aren't anything special. The hidden power you unleashed doesn't appear to be related to the ring."

"That thing that happened when I beat Nanabi?" Luka asked. "When you said I continued to fight her even while I slept?"

Alice nodded. "Though you may not recall, that power you exhibited was extraordinary. A rig like that couldn't possibly give you such power."

Luka wondered in awe. "Was it so amazing when I was asleep?" He asked, looking at Balthazar.

"Why're you looking at me?" He asked, leaning against a mast. "I shielded you and took a direct hit from Nanabi's Seven Moons."

Alice continued, disregarding the interjections, almost entirely to herself. "Maybe… One of your ancestors was some high-ranking monster or something." She propped her head up and looked at Luka. "Usually, monsters only have female children… But there are some exceptions, so it isn't unheard of. In some uncommon mutations, the offspring can be male. In that way, a human male is born. But taking a handful of those scenarios, some still retain magic potential, if not the power itself." She explained. "Even as the Monster Lord, I've only heard of a couple rare cases."

Luka shook his head at the notion. "A monster… As one of my ancestors?" He asked. Did one of my ancestors break Ilias' commandments?

"At any rate, it's only a guess. You power was without a doubt unordinary." She sighed. "If you have such an amazing latent power, hurry up and master it idiot." She berated.

"… Even if you say that… It's…" Luka couldn't form a strong argument.

Alice scoffed. "If you have potential power like that, you're sure to develop it as you fight. Ergo, we'll be training a lot more from now on."

Luka resigned. "I knew that… By the way, Alice? You said that you could feel thoughts from my ring?"

Alice nodded, as if the subject unimportant. "Yes. But it isn't anything special." She said. "Not does it seem to be affecting you. Just random thoughts of a mother worrying about her child. It's probably your mother."

Luka smiled. "I see… My mother's feelings."

Alice regained her analytical viewpoint. "I also thought your mother might have been a monster, however I cannot feel any magical remnants like that from the ring. The owner was definitely human."

Luka rolled his eyes. "Of course she was. Besides, my mother died of sickness…" Disease sometimes spreads, after all. And hearing of monsters afflicted by the same ailment as a human is unheard of.

Alice nodded. "I see. I'm sorry I made you think of something painful."

Luka shook his head, unfazed. "Don't worry about it. By the way, what of your parents?" He asked. Balthazar leaned in expectantly, forcing Alice to back up in surprise.

"I… Have no idea about my father. Our race only recognizes and cares about the mother." She admitted. "It may only have been a random human my mother attacked, it's difficult to say. I don't care if she ate him or not though… But with my other's character, she probably didn't." Luka nodded. Balthazar resumed his post against the mast. "My mother was the fifteenth head of our family… But she's no more now."

"I see." Luka said. Well, it makes sense. If Alice called herself the Sixteenth, then the previous head of the family would have to die. Slowly, the conversations died down as a gloomy aura set upon the vessel.

Alice, noting that, resumed stance as instructor. "Anyways, that's enough distractions. Let's resume training."

However, as if on cue, the sea's waves began to pick up. Just like the rumors, the storm had formed nearly out of nowhere, as not even the crew had time to pick up the storm's presence. The once peaceful air of the sea vanished as a huge, threatening cell of storms materialized, bringing forth both rain and wind, with lightning's light constantly outlining the shape of the churning clouds. On the bow, Poseidon's Bell began to glow faintly, and the rocking waves were dulled to manageable currents which negated most of the impact. The wind was toned down so the masts remained intact, and the rain's torrent did not begin to sink the ship.

Balthazar sniffed the air, and solemnly grimaced. Appearing on the tip of the bow, a scantily clad thick-horned woman with purple hair wearing no more than leggings, thong, and vest, underneath a seafarer's trench coat swayed dramatically around her at all times, materialized as if out of the air itself. Even as she settled, the trench coat remained spread, as if small currents of air constantly ruffled it back behind her, keeping her skimpy cloths layered back. Then, as if on cue, a tail appeared out of the jacket, which swayed with nearly its own mind.

Luka jumped at the sudden intruder, but his already drawn Angel Halo was kept sturdy at his side. Almost as soon as the storm appeared, it quelled just as quickly. "You…?"

Balthazar took a few steps back. "Alma Elma… Yet another of the Four Heavenly Knights crosses our paths." But she really is a Succubus… This isn't going to end well…

Alma licked her lips. "Ah. These must be the humans that have caught your attention…" She said, her voice much more feminine than Luka would have thought plausible. "You sure look delicious…" Without a second thought, she turned to Alice, and bowed. "Lord Alice… According to your order, I'll exterminate the Heroes who have been attacking monsters." She took a second to look over the two men, but doubled on Balthazar. "Or rather, Hero who has been attacking. The Sinner will be collateral damage." She stated. "May I execute your orders of self-defense?"

Alice briefly nodded. "I don't give exceptions. I'm just observing the boy, and the Sinner is following of his own will." She explained. "I'm not protecting them, nor giving them any special services."

Alma smiled, a tint of surprise coloring it. "Ho ho? I didn't think you'd say that. But I understand." She giggled, and looked at the two. "It's like that, guys. I won't let you through this area." Luka drew Angel Halo. Alma expectantly waited for Balthazar to draw his katana, but he kept his sheathed, not even going so far as to prepare to attack. "What are you waiting for? I heard from Granberia that you were able to fight on par…"

"You expect us to fall for your trap?" He asked. He shook his head at Luka. "Sure, the boy has his blade drawn because he's an idiot, but…" He paused, mulling over his thoughts. "If you're fighting in self-defense, then if I don't attack, by your own logic, you won't interfere."

Alma opened her mouth in surprise. "I see that Granberia and Tamamo were correct when they described the Chains of Hell…" She extended her hand, curving the air, and several links of a bloody chain materialized. "Such bindings… I had never expected them from a living human… But the odds should be higher amongst those affiliated with the Monster Lord." She said. "How can you prove that you aren't attacking monsters? Tamamo reported herself that you were involved with a fight with one of her minions, and you directly fought Granberia herself. That makes you a threat."

Balthazar nodded. "True." He agreed. "I can see your logic. I'm surprised that you're going so far to label me as an enemy though… However, the Chains themselves mean that I can at least have the benefit of the doubt that I'm on your side."

Alice groaned. "Mother of…" She complained. "What's with this clash of semantics?" She asked herself.

Balthazar waved a hand at Luka. "My blade is not drawn, when you pressured it. I think your first enemy, if we must fight, is waiting patiently." He pointed, resting his wrist against the hilt of his katana. "I suggest you start there. I won't assist him."

Luka took a step forward, taking Balthazar's place as he stepped back. "I guess I have to fight after all."

"By your own idiocy, yes." Balthazar reminded.

"You're taking the stage so courageously." Alma giggled. "How do you want me to violate you, Luka-boy?" She asked, her tail wriggled forwards and opened up at the end, a slimy maw opening. Quickly, a rush of pheromones and fragrance spiced the air. "Would you prefer my hand? Or my mouth? How about I squeeze you between-"

"Don't underestimate her physical capabilities, kid." Balthazar interrupted. Alma's face seemed to darken slightly. "Sure, she's a Succubus, but they have renowned physical strength to match their man-milking bodies if they deem a victim necessary."

To be fighting such an opponent… Am I ready for this? Luka asked himself, Angel Halo swaying.

Alma brightened up. "Oh, I know! I'll do it with my tail! Without using my hands, feet, or magic, I'll play with you!" She exclaimed. "Struggle as much as you can, and let me enjoy myself. After we finish playing, I'll suck you dry and steal your life."

Balthazar gagged and coughed as he retreated from the ever-thickening scent of Alma Elma. Luka only gave him a quick glance, unsure if he should distract himself from his enemy. "Alright… Let's do this." He said, slowly gathering his resolve. Striking forward like lightning, Luka took advantage of Thunder Thrust. However, the attack merely glanced Alma, and the effect was barely noticeable.

"Now, now, let's just have fun!" She said, her tail wrapping itself around Luka. He quickly escaped the near-complete bind, and retreated. "Fufufu… Don't you want to feel the pleasure a Succubus' tail can bring? Just let your guard down for a second…"

Luka shook his head, slashing Angel Halo in the air. "Just shut up!" He roared. He dashed in, swiping Angel Halo at Alma. She deftly managed to avoid the slash, and the three next swings of his blade that Luka used, trying to begin a combo on her. However, just as she expected the attack to end, he brought down the flat of his raised sword down, smacking her square on the head.

Alma gasped. "Jeez, come on." She teased, the attack having almost no effect besides humiliating Luka. "Now, why don't you let me try?" She asked, her tail instantly wrapping around Luka. The maw of the tail hovered over Luka's chest as it inched closer. "Did you know? Most monsters can take the energy of other living beings like this. It's so basic, but yet when a stronger monster uses it, it can be quite a useful tool for harvesting a human's life-force." Luka rocked his body, trying to free himself. "Now, now, just stay still and let me show you how pleasurable it feels to have a portion of your life force sucked out of you." Using a long nail, she parted Luka's shirt.

However, in the distraction created by disrobing him, Luka was able to struggle just enough to free himself. Adjusting his cloths, Luka panted as several strands of translucent green light coiled in the air and returned to his chest. "What the hell was that?"

"Pure, unadulterated life-force." Alma said slowly, her lips curving around the words to try to seduce Luka. "Most monsters that harvest it don't get the kind of reaction I can make though…" She giggled. "But you ran away! I was going through all of the trouble to show you that heaven, too."

Luka shook his head, and the two re-ignited their lopsided, one-way battle. Balthazar watched from as far back as he could, but he was slowly being overwhelmed. His body was reacting out of his command, and his grip was faltering. His irises turned yellow, the maze-like grid of black colored his sclera and traveled down even to his neck, several strands of hair turning white.

Alma knocked Luka back. "Fufu… Why don't you just surrender?" She asked, noting how little his attacks affected her. "You don't think you can actually win this, can you?"

"I'd never give up just because my attacks aren't superior! I'll even use this since I have to!" He exclaimed, jumped back, cutting a rigging's platform which rocketed him into the air. "Demon Skull Beheading!" He exclaimed as his arc reached its apex. From his height, he had easy access and setup to the technique, and as he swung Angel Halo down, he placed all of his weight and momentum into the blade.

"Kya!?" Alma, startled by the change in Luka's pace, accidentally caught the descending sword.

"N-no way!" Luka gasped. To so easily stop my sword… I don't have any other tricks left! He despaired.

However Alma didn't take advantage of the hole Luka presented her. "Aha…. It seems I lost." Luka looked in shock. "I promised, right? I wouldn't use my hands, feet, or use magic. But I caught your sword with my hand…" She said, chuckling a little. "I'll give the point of the round to you. Such a thing is fine, right Lord Alice?" She asked.

"As long as that's what you want, it's fine by me." Alice stated simply.

"So that's how it turns out." She said. "I'll… Huh?" She stopped herself in mid-sentence, finally taking notice of the background show. "What's the Sinner up to?" She asked amusedly.

Now aware of the shift in attention, both Luka and Alice observed the heavily cringing Sinner. He clutched his head, eyes closed with an extreme force. Several large locks of hair had turned white, and the black-gridiron tattoos had spread, completely taking over his face and shoulders. Slowly, the markings vanished; replaced with white skin so blank of color it fitted snow.

"Oh my, never in my wildest dreams!" Alma gasped, delighted in some fashion or another. Both Luka and Alice looked in horror at Balthazar, who slowly stood up, his chains now completely visible to even the crew members who had hidden away during the fight.

His voice, distorted in vibrations and slightly higher, echoed. "What the hell kind of situation is this?"

"Balthazar?" Luka asked.

"Whatcha' callin' me, dumbass?" Balthazar asked. His voice patterns completely changed, as did his stance as he drew his katana. "You're callin' me something I'm not familiar with. Did they start makin' up new insults? 'Cause that'd be a good one considering what a pathetic state he's in, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm not Balthazar."

Alma looked him over. "I can clearly sense your aura has shifted into something else. What are you? You smell like an Incubus…"

Balthazar shook his head. "You're right, but you're quite vague. I am… A sub-species of Incubi, a rare strain that is able to resurrect itself from a generation to the next… I am… A Lilu."

Alma walked up close to the Lilu, sniffing him. "I've not heard of a Lilu, save for myth. But even then, you're still an Incubus... It's been so long since I've seen one that I haven't made myself."

"An Incubus!?" Luka asked. "Wait… Alice!? What's going on?" He asked. However, Alice's know-all expression kept her cryptic as she nodded. "Wait… You knew about… This!?"

"To a degree." She admitted. "We… Talked about it."

Luka was silent. That… Explains a lot. His knowledge about Incubi… His knowledge about monsters… And his power…

"So, first think I wake up to is the Queen of all Succubae herself in person!" He exclaimed. "Amusing…" He grasped Alma's shoulder, to her surprise, and pushed her off. "Too bad for you, but I'm not like the 'Incubi that you make yourself.'" He mocked.

Alma frowned. "I suppose you're not." Wind began to pick up as she straightened out her clothes as the Incubus-possessed Balthazar drew his sword. "And here I thought you… Or, the other you, were smart enough not to fight."

"He was." The Lilu smirked. "But he's been significantly held back restraining me, and has always suffered that penalty." His blade began to twirl in his hand. "Did you know that there are two releases, or turn-ons, for an Incubus?" He asked, smiling. "You're well aware of the first condition. A Succubus is able to draw out the latent power of an Incubus."

Alma's smile faded. "Are you saying this was brought upon by my own hand?"

Dark smoke coiled around the Lilu. "How perceptive. Technically, I'm not truly in control. As you can see, I'm still undergoing Black Narcissus." He raised the back of his left hand and removed his glove, the black pattern finally extending past his wrists. "Aren't you familiar with this?"

Alma jumped back, frowning. "A Lilu… Black Narcissus…" She thought aloud. "I never imagined that you would appear next to the Monster Lord in such a small amount of time."

Lilu laughed maniacally. "It's great, isn't it? Hundreds of years of waiting to be reborn, and it's in the very form I fought in all those centuries ago!" The Incubi's smile darkened. "Of course… To be slain by Ilias… What an insult." He clasped his sword after replacing his glove. "Anyways, I think that's enough of the history lesson. What do you say, Succubus Queen? Entertain me for a bit?"

With startling speed unlike before, the Lilu-possessed Balthazar homed in on Alma Elma, but she vanished as if made out of air. Appearing on top of him, she sent her foot dropping down, but it was caught by her target. "Even with my powers of Wind…!" She exclaimed as he tossed Alma in the air at a mast. She lightly jumped off of it as she touched it, but she was visibly distressed.

"Oh…" He smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, that's the power of a Wind Elemental." He commented, watching as streams of air began to flow between them. "Back in my day, the Wind Elemental joined a warrior named Odin, and was known to cut an entire mountain in two just by waving her sword at it. That power… Is it some knock off?"

Alma tilted her head at Lilu questioningly. "O…din?" She asked, visibly confused. "That isn't a name that I'm familiar with. And what do you mean a knock off!?" She refuted. "My power is the essence of Sylph!"

The Lilu froze; his expression staying still as he learned. "Interesting."

The two stood on guard, waiting for the other to strike. "Eh… I suppose that there's no helping it. I don't think that I could beat you as you are now, with your power boost." She said, waving her hand. "Besides, it sounds like you aren't going to just attack the Monster Lord out of spite even if I was in the mood."

"Oh…?" He turned around to face Alice. "I'll be damned. I'm traveling with a descendant of a Goddess too." He said. "You're pretty fickle to just up and go." He noted, returning his attention to Alma.

"I'm as 'fickle' as the Wind itself." Alma smiled, licking her lips. "Anyways, if formalities are complete, I'll be on my way." She said. Hastily, a small tornado of wind and water obscured her, and when the winds died, she had vanished. With her departure, her fragrance which heavily hung in the air vanished as well.

Luka, however, kept his sword raised, slowly backing away from Lilu. "Wh-who the hell are you?"

The Incubus turned, but seemed distracted. "Didn't you pay attention?" He coughed up a black, viscous liquid, and wiped his mouth. "Damn. He's a persistent one…" He said, as his skin turned ink-black.

Alice's tail swayed impatiently. "So you're the Incubus who resides in Balthazar. You said your name was Lilu?"

He shook his head, but his reactions were notably slowly as the grid-like Black Narcissus began to retreat. "No, I said that I was a Lilu. I'm a subspecies of Incubi. My name is… It seems like my time in control isn't here yet." He interrupted himself as the Black Narcissus retreated to his neck. "If my name hasn't already been forgotten by history, you'll know me as Lugalbanda. I am one of the first Incubi to exist, and I am a force of darkness that binds the world. I aim to subjugate Ilias." He laughed darkly as his sclera turned white.

"So you have the same goals as Balthazar." Alice stated. "But you're not him. I don't care who you are, Lugal-whatever, but I'll personally make you kneel to me if you so much as… Oh?" She stopped as Lugalbanda's final signs of possession wore off and Balthazar fell unconscious. "Huh. That was… Different."

Luka simply stood dumbfounded. "What the hell…?" He asked to no one in particular. "She was pushed back?" He asked, beginning to show signs of happiness.

"Not using hands, feet, or magic, and having Balthazar possessed by an Incubus force her back even further makes you happy?" Alice asked.

"In a one-on-one, if she was serious I wouldn't have won, would I?" Luka asked.

Alice sighed. "Struggling that much when she was only using her tail? Before even considering winning, try becoming someone worthy enough of at least challenging her."

Retreating, Alma Elma returned to Alice's castle in one of the main chambers. In the hall, a lounging Tamamo rested on one of the several couches which decorated the room. Granberia stood idle, looking out of a window.

"I'm back " Alma exclaimed, drawing the attention of Granberia and Tamamo. "Defeated by Luka and his partner, I've returned."

Granberia turned around, approaching Alma Elma, as did Tamamo. "You lost? Please don't tell me you lost to Luka. I'd think it better on your reputation if you at least lost to that Balthazar guy. Unless you used a crippling handicap…"

Alma smiled. "Now that's a story of itself." She smiled, her tail coiling in the air. "Technically, I lost to both of them. Ehehe…"

"I don't believe this." Granberia scowled.

Tamamo nodded. "They both have some incredibly potential. This new generation is so full of surprises. I've seen Luka's amazing secret strength!"

Alma excitedly mimicked Tamamo. "Turns out, that Balthazar is an Incubus host."

Granberia perked up. "So is that why you took so long?" She mocked, laughing. "Ahaha! You decided to mate with the Incubus, didn't you?"

Alma shook her head. "As tempting as it normally would be, your assumption is wrong."

Tamamo cocked her head. "Eh? A side of you that's rarely seen came out and you got serious?"

Alma nodded. "For a moment. It turns out that the Incubus kid hosts a Lilu. Anyone recognize that name?"

Granberia shrugged. "Sounds like the name of a –cubus monster." She walked towards the door. "When I met them earlier, Luka was an amateur who just picked up a sword and Balthazar was a runt who had his power sealed. If these two really got more powerful… I want to see for myself."

"… She's gone already." Tamamo observed.

Several more hours on the ship past. Eventually, dusk became dawn, and Port Natalia became visible in the distance. The regular motions of the crew continued, but the barrelman began to shout down. "Vessel portside! No distinguishing marks Captain!"

The crew became tense around Luka and Alice. "A pirate?"

"Pirates?" Luka gasped, as the crew began to adjust the ship.

Alice stared on at the flagless ship. "It appears that way. We should stay out of their way if it comes to a nautical battle."

The captain walked forward. "Armaments?"

The barrelman leaned over the crow's nest, trying to determine the pirate's weapons. "I… I have no idea what this ship is sir! She's loaded to the brim with cannon sir! She's larger than a typical galleon… And… There's really large unusual cannons on board! I think… She's the Dreadnaught!"

The captain was stunned. "The Dreadnaught? In these waters? Men, all cannon broadside, wait to fire!" The men busily pushed the cannons to the portside, and the Captain addressed Alice and Luka. "If that Dreadnaught is what she looks to be," He said, looking through a small scope, "Then by and large, we're standing on our graves already."

Luka's eyes widened. "Have they been known to attack random vessels like ours?"

"It's not out of question to think they will." The captain said, watching the Dreadnaught. "It looks like it's leaving Port Nautilus though… I don't think it means harm right now. Besides, look at the ramparts." He said, giving the scope to Luka. "The cannons are still in place, and everything's intact."

Alice crossed her arms after looking for herself. "Perhaps the pirates were simply trading."

The captain shook her head. "I'm afraid not, milady. Those guns are why it's called a Dreadnaught. That ship is a harbinger of destruction or so the rumors say."

"She's coming in close captain!" A crew member yelled. "She's got her cannons broadside! Orders sir!"

"Hold fire! Don't fire until they do!" He ordered.

Luka looked at him in shock. "Are you insane? We're losing time to retaliate!"

Several tense seconds passed before they dragged on over minutes. Neither ship fired, but the tension in the air was tangible, and could be cut with a dagger. As the Dreadnaught kept on its way, the two vessels passed, and soon were out of each other's range. The crew sighed.

"See lad?" The captain asked, giving an all-clear signal to return the cannons. "It's good to be cautious, but it's better to wise and anticipate your need of caution." He advised.

Soon after, their ship arrived at port. It was much busier than Iliasport, with the hustle and bustle of everyday market shopping taking place alongside merchant trading. A majestic-looking galleon followed their ship into port not long after. Mermaids littered the line of markets, selling wares, but curiously most of them happened to be wearing rags. Luka looked on excitedly as he watched the mermaids and humans interact, almost not even registering they were two different species.

"Isn't this amazing?" Luka asked. He turned around to face Alice, and noticed Balthazar finally had regained consciousness and had left the vessel. "Humans and monsters, coexisting! Even if it's only limited to mermaids here, it's still a small window to my dream!"

Balthazar stumbled on his companions. "Where the devil are we headed to now?" He asked, obviously still recoiling from his possession.

Luka scratched his head. "For now, we'll head towards the San Ilia Castle to the west. The faith in Ilias is very strong there, so they'll surely give a warm welcome to a Hero." He explained.

"A fake hero." Alice and Balthazar said in unison.

Luka shuddered. "I have the heart of a real hero." He refuted. "It's also a theocratic city where the King is the High Priest… I'd love to be able to receive the wisdom of the High Priest as a Hero." He said, lost in thought.

Alice shook her head. "I don't particularly want to go. The food seems bad too." She complained.

Balthazar rolled his eyes. "Grea-at." He scoffed sarcastically. "I was hoping to avoid that place altogether."

Luka frowned. "Just put up with it, okay? It might as well be a pit stop to Hellgondo, even if you have a quarrel with Ilias. Besides, if you go there, she might forgive you for your past." Balthazar laughed, but said nothing.

Her attention caught by the three's conversation, a mermaid caught up to them, and confronted them. "Um… Pardon me. Mr. Travelers, could I have a word with you?" She asked.

Luka nodded. "Umm… Sure, of course."

She shifted. "I noticed your sword and strange cloths, so I couldn't help but to think you weren't ordinary travelers."

Luka nodded, staring at Angel Halo, and over Balthazar's bluish-white garments. "I understand where you would think that. We stick out rather poorly, don't we?"

"But that weapon… Anyone who wields such a weapon…" She murmured. "Would you be willing to listen to my story?" The mermaid asked.

Breaking the casual comings-and-goings, a loud explosion rocked the air, and the ground shook underneath them. A building across the plaza violently exploded outwards and collapsed on itself.

"What the!? What just happened?" Luka asked, his hand reaching Angel Halo.

Balthazar completely drew his katana. "Is it that Dreadnaught!?" He wondered, turning around and gaining distance to view the port. "Damn, is Natalia under attack?" He asked, but his sword dropped slightly.

"Well?" Luka asked.

"I… Don't' see any aggressing vessels!" He yelled, returning to the chaos of the panicking crowd.

A mermaid rushed by them, heading towards the building. "That's the mermaid school!" She exclaimed frantically.

Alice sniffed the air. "I smell gunpowder. It smells like a bomb."

"A bomb!?" Luka repeated. "Could it have been left by the pirates?" The soldiers soon arrived, helping the mermaids crawl out of the rubble. The three watched, stunned as the scenario unfolded. Balthazar sheathed his sword, keeping an inch drawn. "Huh. It seems as if not too many were hurt." Luka sighed.

There are no calls of casualties, but there are only slight injuries, such as bruises, scraps, and a few burns. Luka hung his head in relief, but a flash of movement caught his attention as he recognized someone in the crowed, a ratty man covered in old, dirty cloths and a red cloak which oddly made him fit in. Luka tensed, noticing him. Alice, catching on, put a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong, Luka?" The man slipped back in the crowd, Luka's group the only ones to notice him. "Luka, answer me. You're sweating abnormally. Was that filthy man an acquaintance of yours?"

Luka shook his head. "Acquaintance… No. The guy probably doesn't even recognize me." He said quietly.

Balthazar stared through the crowd, as if watching something even more interesting. "Who is he?"

"He was my father's closest friend." He said. "That explosion makes sense now, seeing him. It is almost undoubtedly his doing." Luka closed his eyes. "You're still doing these things, Lazarus…" He said under his breath. "Let's move on, guys. We don't want to waste too much time now."

Alice shook her head. "No. Let's rest in the town for the night. Aren't you aware of how worked up you are?" She asked.

Luka looked down. His hands were visibly shaking, and he was wet with sweat. "No, I'm fine now."

Alice grabbed him by his shirt. ""You idiot, don't say things like that when you're in the state you're in. Let's find a hotel and rest for the night." Luka protested, but she dragged him, Balthazar following closely.

After paying for a room in the hotel, Alice resumed her lamia form. "By the way, who was that man, really? As soon as you saw him, you looked like you saw a ghost… As the saying goes."

"He's one of the leaders of that Ilias Kreuz group." Luka explained. "He might even be the top leader at this point."

"Ilias Kreuz again." Alice sighed. "You two really are caught up in that group."

Balthazar rapped his knuckles against a windowsill. "Damn it, Luka." He cursed, using his name for the first time. "Why didn't you tell us who he was earlier?"

"I didn't think it was necessary?" He asked, confused. "Besides, they're horrible people. What did you want with them?"

Balthazar gripped the sill tightly. "Damn it… I was so close." His knuckles turned white. "I need to find that guy."

Alice blocked the door with her tail. "No one's going anywhere, not until the situation's calmed down. Anyways, as you were saying, Luka. Explain Ilias Kreuz more in depth." She commanded.

Luka nodded. "Okay. They take a fanatical view of Ilias' teachings, and advocate the extermination of all monsters. 'Thou shalt not have intercourse with monsters'. They interpret that as meaning you shouldn't have any contact at all." He explained. "Don't talk to monsters, don't look at monsters, don't even breathe the same air as monsters… But they realized that the only way for this to happen was if they exterminated them all… And that's what they're trying to do."

Alice nodded. "So you would be their enemy, considering your dream. Coexistence is the polar opposite of their goals, after all." She stated. "Even among humans, there are some horrible people. I guess that makes you their enemy too, Balthazar." She said. "You're out to kill the Goddess they idolize and worship. They probably don't have any kind words for you."

"And the feelings are mutual." He replied.

Luka shrugged. "They preach about wanting to eradicate all monsters. Not even only the ones who attack humans on the roads, but going out of their way to attack monster settlements and towns." He spat. "I can't allow that to keep happening."

Alice speculated. "So they must have attacked that school. It makes sense. And here I didn't believe that there could be humans who were even more worthless than regular humans."

Luka shook his head. "Thankfully, most people don't listen to them. Even in my village where Ilias' teachings are so strong, most think they're too radical. They're just indiscriminately killing and destroying." He explained.

"Oh? So even amongst their own kind they're ostracized. Being isolated and rejected probably helped to fuel that frenzy. How worthless." She insulted. "But still, I'm surprised. I thought you didn't understand the world. Just waltzing through life with your head full of sugar and rainbows."

Luka folded his harms. "How rude. I'm not ignorant of the world." He stopped, a few seconds passing. "Wait. You don't think Ilias Kreuz had to deal with the Slaughter of Remina, do you?"

Alice scoffed. "Is that a joke? Thousands of humans and monsters lived in Remina." She reminded. "How could such a cultist organization like that have enough military strength to create such a massacre?"

Luka slumped his shoulders. "I suppose that's right. Ilias Kreuz isn't a large organization. Even with such tense relations, they don't have the people's support. A city-wide massacre is out of their power."

After a few moments of silence, Alice's stomach gurgled. "By the way… I'm hungry." She smiled devilishly.

Balthazar let go of the sill. "That's it. I can't wait any longer." He declared. "Alice, move your tail. I'm going out." He ordered.

"Hold on there, what do you think you're going to accomplish?" She asked.

He grabbed his sword. "I'm going out to get answers." Was all he said as he forcibly removed Alice's tail. "I won't let anyone stop me now."

Alice simply watched him leave. "Jeez. He better not cause trouble." She sighed, and returned her attention to Luka, licking her lips lewdly.

Forcing his way through the port, Balthazar scanned the crowds. "Damn that rat." He cursed. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and removed himself from the crowd, picking up any odd motions. However, several minutes passed of him stealthily moving through the crowd. "I… Don't believe it… He can't be gone already."

Balthazar quickly moved through the streets in desperation. Come on, come on, come on! I can't sense the bastard at all! Where is he!? He chanted in his mind. "Your bomb was a piece of shit!" A voice punched Balthazar out of his thoughts, and he quickly hid behind an alleyway.

"I'm sorry sir! It was made just as you ordered!" A man pleaded.

"Whatever. I'll make the bomb personally, if I have to." The rat-like man growled. "This was a total failure."

"Again, I'm sorry sir!" The underling exclaimed.

"Oh well." Lazarus folded his arms. "Even if we've failed this round, at least we're still inspiring chaos."

"That's true, sir…" The minion gumbled. "What's our next target?"

Lazarus scratched his chin. "Let's see here. We should regroup at Gold Port soon…"

Moving like a shadow, Balthazar drew his blade, and was behind Lazarus with his blade at his neck in a moment. "So I take it you're important?" He breathed.

Lazarus was completely still. "Who the hell are you? How did you find me?"

"Oh, I was worried at first when I was looking for you…" Balthazar smiled. "But I just chance encountered you." He pressed his katana to Lazarus's neck. "I've got questions for you."

"Oh? What make you think I'll-" Lazarus was cut off by a building pressure to his neck.

"I have my suspicions." Balthazar teased sarcastically. "Tell me. Is Astaroth still amongst your ranks?"

"A-Astaroth?" Lazarus looked up. "Yeah, I know him. Astaroth's a high-ranking official in my Ilias Kreuz."

Pressing his blade tighter and drawing a few drops of blood, Balthazar leaned closer. "Where is he right now?"

Lazarus raised his arms. "To be honest, I don't know. He has his own division, and does what he wants."

"Fine." Balthazar backed off of Lazarus. "You're not completely useless yet." He muttered, pinching his forehead. "You tell that bastard: Balthazar's coming for his hide."

Lazarus smiled. "Oh, I see now!" He said, chuckling. "You're his brat! Astaroth's brat, Balthazar!"

"S-sir!" The minion gasped, trying to assess the situation. "Is he an ally? What's going on?"

"Astaroth had a kid with a fallen angel before he- Gah!" He was cut off as Balthazar's blade jabbed back at his neck.

"Sir! Oh Ilias…" The minion gasped, but was unable to do anything compared to the ferocity now exuding from Balthazar.

"What exactly are you talking about?" He roared. "'A fallen angel?' What the hell is this?"

"Oh?" Lazarus's mouth opened in surprise. "After all this time, you haven't been told the truth?"

"What is this shit about a 'fallen angel'? Tell me before I behead you!" Balthazar growled, digging his blade in Lazarus's neck to emphasize his point.

"I don't know much more than that. It's all he said about the subject." Lazarus objected. "I swear to Ilias."

"That doesn't mean much, coming from you." Balthazar cursed. "I don't give a rat's ass of who you swear to. Just do what I said. Tell Astaroth that I'm coming to kill him." He said. "If you're in the dark, there's no point in wasting time on the likes of you." Sheathing his sword, he turned his back to Lazarus. "I'll find out my heritage before I kill him." He said, leaving.

His thoughts were troubled as he wandered Natalia Port. He stopped at the docks, and watched the busy sailors go about their business. The galleon that had arrived after them was loading up again, even as night began to set.

Deciding on trying to take his mind off things, he walked along the merchant stalls before they closed, and found a food stall. A woman, human, but with oddly blue hair, worked the chocolate stall. It went down close to her shoulders, almost spiky and going whatever direction it wanted to. She wore a conventional baker's outfit, only lacking the hat.

"Ah, sir. Can I interest you in some chocolate truffles?" She asked. Dimly, Balthazar nodded. "Okay… These are my last batch of the day, so I'll give them out cheap since it's so late. That'll be ten gold for twenty." She asked. Balthazar tossed a few coins in the air, all neatly piling for the woman. "Enjoy~" She sang as Balthazar left.

With the bag of chocolates in hand, he sat down on a bench, watching most of the merchant activities die down. Occasionally, he popped one of the inch-wide truffles in his mouth, sucking on it for a bit before chewing. The sun began to sink into the horizon as he felt himself being approached.

"The port's in one piece, I don't hear cries of terror, you're not covered in blood, and there's no pile of used female bodies strewn about." A familiar voice observed. Alice walked up in human form, and sat next to him, crossing her legs and resting her head on her palm, her elbow on the arm. "I'm surprised."

Balthazar shook his head, smiling. "I thought I told you that the Incubus isn't like that. Anyways, I didn't feel like killing him. Besides… He said something."

"Like what?"

"About my mother."

"Such as?"

"Claiming she was some sort of fallen angel."

Alice sighed. "It was probably some ploy of his to pique your interest to let him live."

"Oh?" Balthazar leaned back on the bench, eating another truffle. "It might be. It might not. I let him live so I could find out, like you just said. I gave him a message for Astaroth-"

"Astaroth?" Alice asked. "Is that…?"

He nodded. "That's the name of my father."

"I see."

"…"

The silence became prevalent. Balthazar dropped yet another truffle into his mouth, his rate increasing ever since engaging Alice in conversation. "Hey. Give me one of those." She demanded. Wearily, Balthazar took one out a placed it in her waiting hand. "I've never seen these before… And my Guide doesn't say anything about these, really."

"They're just chocolate truffles. They're simple, and ordinary. Just little globs of chocolate coated with an extra layer of chocolate like a shell. But I remember there where these truffles I tried way back when I was a kid with my mother… They came from a town called Fey. Best chocolate in the world."

Alice looked in awe. "Yeah, that town isn't in my Guide. Where is it?"

"Fey… Fey…" Balthazar closed his eyes. "It's up in the northern half of Sentora… By the west coast. It's pretty secluded, last I knew."

"We should make a detour there, when we get that far." Alice commented.

Balthazar shrugged. "It's not my call, but I'm up for it."

"Well, if we don't have time, let's go there…" She paused. "We can go when all of this is over."

"Will it ever be over?" Balthazar asked mostly to himself, while looking into the darkening sky. "It's always one thing after another." He slowly looked down, at Alice. "This'll probably not end well. You're the You-Know-What," He rephrased as two sailors passed by them. "Which means you're a prime target for Ilias. If you want to go to Fey, you've got to stay alive until we finish this."

Alice nodded- the movement so subtle Balthazar could have sworn it to be an optical illusion. "I don't know what the future holds. But… Let's not make promises that might not be in our power to make."

"And here I thought I was supposed to be the downer in our group." Balthazar teased.