With a powerful headbutt, Wingal finally rendered his opponent unconscious. Nearby, Goyusha and Krypton were trapped in a deadlock, their blades meshing against each other like a serrated jigsaw.

"Who are you?!" Goyusha demanded.

But his foe remained silent.

"Are you the ones behind the disappearances?!"

Still no answer.

Deciding that persuasion wasn't going to get him anywhere, the Dimension Police agent applied greater pressure on his sword, then shoved with his shield when Krypton least expected it.

The Invader bounced back, spinning his savage spear artfully.

"Be careful!" Wingal warned. "If he hits you with his blade you'll fall into a deep sleep and won't wake up!"

Side-stepping a lunge, Goyusha kneed the creature in the ribs and sent him flying with a diagonal slash. Cracks had formed on the hostile entity's armour.

But before he could stand, Goyusha was above him, tip of the sword poised at his throat.

"I want answers."

However, in a flash of red light, he vanished. Shocked, both Goyusha and Wingal swept their gazes instantaneously to the other Invader, only to find the fox disappearing in a similar fashion.

Goyusha cursed. "Wingal, sniff them out!"

The High Dog nosed the air acutely, then shook his head. "The trace is gone."

"Damn Invaders," the robot sighed wearily. "You've met them before?"

Wingal nodded. "The one you were fighting. He attacked the Capital during the new King's coronation. But he was alot stronger back then. And he was killed, by my friend."

"So they can even come back from the dead? Great. Just great."

"They're here in Star Gate too?"

"There have been a few sightings. But we lacked the means to track them down since they don't turn up on radar," Goyusha explained. "We suspected that they were involved with the recent Nova Grappler disappearances but we couldn't be certain due to a lack of evidence. But I guess your nose proves it."

Wingal's brow furrowed in worry as he pondered the true meaning behind the recent activity of the Invaders.

But at that point in time, no answer could have possibly been available to him.

…

An untold distance away, deep within a space of hollow darkness, the mechanical yet arcane physical workings of the two Invaders christened Krypton and Jailer Tail were restored to their original maleficent beauty under the watchful eye of their Creator.

Satisfied with his work, the Creator returned his children back to the company of their slumbering brethren.

The unexpected interference of the denizens of Cray had forced him to test the limits of the meagre power he was as yet able to materialise upon the planet's surface.

But there was no reason to worry. No reason to feel afraid. His plans were progressing smoothly despite the failure to capture the artefact known as the Blaster Blade. It was all simply a matter of time.

Another Invader appeared. No, two.

Both were identical in appearance, distinctly humanoid and feminine. Vivid masquerade masks shadowed their faces, clasped to misty clouds of violet hair that streamed behind them. Their slender figures were clad in lilac-flavoured suits out of which sprouted hypnotic butterfly wings that glistened remarkably in the unfazing twilight.

Between them was a man. Dressed in all the garb of a wrestler, he was kneeling on the darkness with his eyes shuttered in an expression of dreamy contentment.

The Creator extended a tendril of his omniscient consciousness and brushed against the mind of the captive.

The reaction was immediate.

The man recoiled violently, sputtering curses as his neck rotated from side to side in a bombastic attempt to recognise his surroundings.

"Who are you people?!" he cried in a bestial outburst of fear as his pupils focused onto the endless abyss. "What do you want from me?!"

On command, one of the new Invaders wrapped her arms around his armpits in a powerful lock, impeding his movements.

Panicking, he struggled in a desperate attempt to break himself free from the hold but his efforts were in vain.

In line with the will of her Creator, the other Invader took up a position some distance away.

A phantasmal bow materialised at the flick of her wrist. Summoning a matching translucent arrow into her grip, she pointed it straight for the wrestler's chest.

Realising the purpose behind his captors' actions, the man broke out in a cold sweat. "No.. Please.. Why are you doing this to me?"

Cold and silent, the Invader allowed her projectile to fly true.

There was neither the whoosh of the wind nor the snap of the string as it sailed through the void.

THUNK.

An eerie screech afflicted the area as the man vanished in a wave of pulsing monochrome, simply to be replaced by a tiny dark orb orbited by a duo of black circles accentuated with blood-red outlines.

Feeling the man's existence fall hopelessly into his domain of absolute control, the Creator exerted his will.

The ball shook slightly as it floated upwards, joining a vast collection of similar orbs that had been hidden in a pocket of space high above.

Pleased with the results, the greater being willed his pair of faithful servants to return to the land of Cray where they may resume their fruitful hunting. They complied.

A bit more. Just a bit more. And everything would fall into place.

…

Sanctuary Guard Dragon stared at his reflection within the mystifying water surface.

His left eye, once blue, was now stained in the brightest crimson. And it burned. Like a hellfire that was greater than the flames of any Kagerou that had had the luxury of scorching him.

The noble beast grimaced as he fought to suppress the excruciating pain, clutching at the wound on his chest.

It had grown, expanding into an ominous cloud of sheer black that swallowed a large portion of his body, mutilating his glorious armour of shining ivory.

He shook his head wearily. He didn't understand what was happening to himself. And trying to understand only served to deepen the ache. His memories of recent times were in pieces. Shattered and unlinked.

But what frightened him the most, frightened him to his very core, was the overwhelming desire creeping in the depths of his mind and soul. The desire to destroy. Anything. Everything. Without restraint.

He shuddered.

Some distance away, atop a grassy knoll, a girl clad in bronze runic armour lay on her belly, observing the troubled creature through the transparent lens of a twin-scoped device.

Satisfied with her observations, she stealthily crawled backwards until she was out of sight before standing and dashing away.

A brief journey took her to a small encampment nestled in a verdant grove.

Tents of an assortment of colours were pitched orderly along the circumference of the vegetation, each anchored to a sturdy tree.

The members of the Jewel Knights scurried about in flurried activity, managing the duties required of their stay.

As the scout entered, she offered a passing greeting to the sentries, then made a sharp turn and stepped into a substantial red tent which displayed the United Sanctuary flag.

"Milady." She bowed.

"At ease, Lilica," answered Ashlei.

The lord of the Jewel Knights stood by a triangular device which was projecting a holographic image of what seemed to be a map of the surrounding terrain. Beside her stood Tabitha.

"Sanctuary Guard Dragon's position remains unchanged as per twelve minutes ago. He still waits by the river that runs through Cornelius Valley."

"Alright. Good work. You may leave."

Saluting sharply, Lilica turned on her wheels and departed.

"With that, no threatening activity has been picked up over the course of the past three days," said Tabitha. "It would be safe to assume that he has been cured of his.. destructive tendencies."

Ashlei nodded. "Let us cut all the spying and attempt to communicate. Prepare a party at once."

"Who shall we bring?"

"As few as possible. Let's see.. Amarin, Gabrielle, and.. Salome."

Tabitha frowned. "Did I hear you right, Milady?"

"Yes, Tabitha. Salome."

The assistant remained rooted to the spot, lips taut and hands clenched tight as if she was on the verge of spouting a retort.

But, thinking better of it, she relaxed herself and backed away. "I shall see to it at once."

The doorflap fluttered as she exited.

Alone with her thoughts, Ashlei granted herself the luxury of a sigh. Tabitha was an excellent aide. Her wisdom and loyalty was second to none. But her attitude.. certainly had its own flaws.

"Something troubling you?"

Unsurprised by the sudden voice, Ashlei clasped her fingers around the sapphire pendant which hung around her neck and brought it close.

"Nothing much, Soul," she spoke. "Just thinking about Tabitha."

The image of an azure dragon with a gold crown flickered in the radiant cyan beauty of the jewel's surface, real yet unreal.

The beast's maw opened, and a melodious yet wild voice whispered through the glittering stone. "She only has your well-being at heart, Lady Ashlei."

"I know."

"How are things progressing with my brother?"

"He seems to have calmed down. We're going to try and talk to him."

The dragon seemed pleased by this information. "I pray for your success. My brother is not one who would harm humans with ill intentions, but do not hesitate to use my power to subdue him if necessary."

"Understood."

And with that, the image faded into the foggy depths of the cerulean crystal.

Ashlei rose. Grabbing a pure-white blade engraved with ornate patterns and sculpted artistries, she forcefully removed the sapphire around her neck and plugged it into a hollow chasm dwelling within the core of the sword where the blade met the hilt.

There was a flash of the softest blue as the gem slipped seamlessly into the crevasse.

"Let's go, Adriana. It's time to get to work."

…

One foot after the other, Salome trodded down the sandy path which lead to the place where, she had been told, Sanctuary Guard Dragon awaited.

A faint sense of nostalgia was instilled in her as she followed Ashlei and their miniature crew of Jewel Knights. Though the scenery was vastly unfamiliar and her distant memories were vague and unclear, she could barely recognise the place where she had spent her childhood. The praerie where her village had once stood.

Her heart fluttered to an uneven rhythm, and she tried to distract herself by gazing at the peaceful imagery of waltzing butterflies.

"Nervous?"

Startled, the girl looked up at the companion strolling before her.

The Jewel Knight was taller and looked a couple of years more mature than her. A homely shade of milky brown, her hair sluiced across her shoulders and down the back of her polished silver armour in a neat bundle.

"A little," Salome answered, shy. "I've never been on an actual mission before. And I never expected my first to be with the acclaimed Jewel Knights."

The older girl offered her a warm smile. "You'll be fine."

"Thank you, uh.." Salome mumbled, desperately trying to recall the names Ashlei had given her before they had deployed.

"Amarin," the girl finished for her. "My name's Amarin."

Tabitha shushed them from ahead, forcing their attention to the front.

Not too far away, Sanctuary Guard Dragon knelt by the tranquil waters. The legendary creature seemed to have failed to notice their presence despite their proximity and was simply staring thoughtfully into the flowing currents.

"Do not be afraid," Ashlei commanded.

As they approached, the inevitable happened.

Roused from his daze by the patter of footsteps, Sanctuary Guard Dragon reacted instantaneously, swooping in reverse to face them in a defensive pose with his longsword.

It was then that Salome noticed the red in the dragon's left eye, and the ebony virus scarring his frontal torso.

But what shocked her the most about the esteemed hero's haggard appearance was the expression written on his face. Salome had seen the great beast on a few occasions before. And each time, the emotions painted on his face had been the same. Stoic nobility, graceful confidence, stalwart pride. But not now.

Now the only things present on his face were shock, anger, and.. fear.

"Sanctuary Gua-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" roared the dragon in a fit of unbridled rage, smashing through Ashlei's dialogue as he swept his giant blade above his head.

"Disperse!"

The ground split apart as the mystic steel struck the loamy earth, showering the land with sand and soil.

Tabitha, Ashlei and Gabrielle fell to one side. Salome and Amarin the other.

The world rumbled with all the finesse of a clockwork giant.

"Stop attacking us!" Ashlei shouted. "We just want to talk!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Launching himself into the air, he sped towards the knights, pupils glinting with unmistakable killing intent.

Tabitha jumped, spinning elegantly as she unsheathed an icy rapier entwined with vines and roses carved out of the frozen metal.

Sanctuary Guard Dragon readied his blade.

Their swords flew.

A circle of sparks blossomed in the heat of the grinding edges, eventually culminating in an explosive crack as Tabitha was swept aside by the powerful beast's sheer strength.

Ashlei braced herself.

The dragon swung.

Propelled along by the enraged beast's momentum, Ashlei's armoured boots skidded a fiery path down the river as she fought to push her attacker back with the force of her blade. The earth screeched in protest.

"Lady Ashlei!" Amarin yelled.

But just as she was about to fall, the cyan gem encrusted in her sword released a clear, sympathetic light, accompanied by the foggy echo of a ferocious roar.

Standing firm against the oppresive weight, Ashlei pushed Sanctuary Guard Dragon astray, slamming him into the vegetation.

A glowing aura of hallowed marigold hung over the leader of the Jewel Knights like a stellar cloak.

Stabbing her blade skywards in a brilliant flourish, she proclaimed, "Holy Charging Roar!"

The very air seemed to surge with power as the sky was imbued with a second burst of radiance. But this time, Salome could feel it.

The clarity of the notes in the resounding sound wave washed over her every fibre, infusing her entire being with a force beyond her understanding.

"It's Adriana's power," said Amarin in response to her questioning glance. "It can give power to its wielder and her comrades."

"Adriana?"

"The name of Lady Ashlei's jewel."

A thunderous crash signalled the emergence of a silver silhouette from the depths of the verdant canopy.

"Jewel Knights! To arms!"

Gabrielle was the first to move.

The beige-armoured woman pounced with feline dexterity, homing in on Sanctuary Guard Dragon's face with an iron broadsword cocked and ready to go.

WHAM!

The beast howled and recoiled.

Darting forward, Ashlei and Tabitha slipped through the dragon's snatching claws and struck at his ivory chest.

"Grow, Veronica!"

Upon Tabitha's command, a chain of thick, thorned branches grew from the lifeless vines entwined around her blade, ensnaring the fingers of Sanctuary Guard Dragon's right fist in a biological cage, sealing the gargantuan sword held within.

Amarin charged with a beautiful longsword and, not wanting to lose out, Salome followed.

Meanwhile, the white dragon struggled to free his immobilised hand while fending off the continuous assault of the three precedent knights.

Amarin soared.

For a split second, cold steel flashed.

Sanctuary Guard Dragon staggered.

Then came Salome.

Gripping her sword firmly in both hands, she summoned all the power she could muster and delivered it all in one final, decisive blow.

BAM!

The earth shook. The sands shifted. The air twisted.

And with a massive boom that ravaged the very heavens, the crude bulk of the giant paladin toppled over and smashed into the landscape.

As if on cue, Tabitha's wooden tendrils expanded their realm of conquest, seeking to capture the entirety of the fallen dragon in their embrace.

But the Jewel Knights' moment of triumph was short-lived.

With a mighty roar, the beast ripped apart the chains that binded him and reassumed his throne in the skies.

Tabitha cursed. At the same time, Salome experienced a menacing sensation rooting from the dragon's shape which was similar in nature to Ashlei's Holy Charging Roar.

"This power.." voiced Ashlei in a mix of fear and wonder. "..Drive?"

"I.. WILL DESTROY. ALL OF YOU!" Sanctuary Guard Dragon seethed, his voice cracking at the edges with irrepressible rage.

"Get ready."

At Ashlei's order, the Jewel Knights tensed themselves like tightened bowstrings, prepared to fire off at a moment's notice.

But their fate was to be interrupted by the arrival of a shadowy figure in a splash of the darkest lightning.

A knight. Or at least.. someone who looked like one. Armour that was blacker than the blackest night, elaborately decorated with vicious and gory spikes. And a helmet with a devillish horn, full metal except for a horizontal gash which glowed bloody orange where his eyes should have been.

"My apologies, ladies," spoke the stranger matter-of-factly. "But this beast is one I cannot allow you to bag."

Much to Ashlei's surprise, she was beaten to the chase by Sanctuary Guard Dragon who questioned, "Who are you?!"

Even stranger was the fact that the beast who had been mindlessly rampaging only a few moments ago seemed to have mysteriously calmed down with the advent of the armoured renegade.

"Suffice to say," the dark knight muttered, addressing the white dragon. "I am not your enemy."

Deciding that she had given the unknown man far too much opportunity for chatter, Ashlei swooped in with a strike of surgical precision.

A clash of sparks.

In a display of refined skill, her slim blade was parried by the glinting edge of a jet-black katana.

"Feisty," commented the man before deflecting her sword completely, then sweeping downwards with an almost instantaneous counterstroke.

Ashlei reacted instinctively, arching her neck backwards not a moment too soon.

Strands of her golden-brown hair spliced off into the torrential wind.

A single bead of sweat slithered down the side of her face. This was no ordinary opponent.

However, instead of keeping his stance, the dark knight resheathed his weapon calmly and folded his gauntlets across his chest.

"I have a proposition for you, girl." He declared.

Tabitha took a step forward with the intent of saying something but Ashlei gestured with her hand firmly, cutting her off. "Talk."

"Allow the dragon to go and I shall allow each and every one of you to leave this place with your lives intact. Deny me my request, and I shall have no choice but to subject all of you to the wrath of my blade."

Ashlei swallowed each word with trepidation. The man's killing intent was undoubtedly real. She could feel it pressing down on her like a mass of merciless gravity. She could feel the difference between their powers.

At that moment, she understood.

If they chose to fight against him, they would undoubtedly lose.

Her blood turned to ice. Not from fear. But from the injection of cold logic which decreed the rejection of one's mission in favour of one's survival.

Not the wrong choice. But not the right one either.

"Very well," she replied. "We have a deal."

"Wise decision." Nodding with satisfaction, the man turned and beckoned to Sanctuary Guard Dragon.

And as if there was some deep archaic connection between the two, the noble beast responded, taking off into the sunlit horizon.

It was only when the pair vanished beyond their range of vision did the Jewel Knights allow themselves to relax.

"That man's strength isn't normal.." murmured Gabrielle. "If only Lady Ashe were.."

A sharp glare from Tabitha caused her to silence herself in sour realisation of the words she had misplaced.

Immediately, all the Jewel Knights directed worried glances at their leader.

"Let us be off, sisters," Ashlei announced without revealing a single trace of emotion. "The King must be notified of today's events."

She stalked away quietly. But in the waning light of day, Salome could clearly see that her hands were trembling.

It was a sight that she would remember for the rest of her life.