After fending off the attack on Brodia Castle from the Elusian Forces, the group travels to the border between Brodia and Elusia and found it to be a snow covered landscape as a blizzard blew through.

"Diamant, where's the king?" Alear asked.

"He's headed to the front line. Our orders are to wait here with the rear guard." Diamant said.

"Will do." Alear confirmed.

"Here. Take this." Diamant said, holding out the Ring of the Young Lion.

"The ring? You didn't give it to your father?" Alear asked.

"I tried. He wouldn't take it." Diamant said as Emblem Roy appeared.

"The king said that if anything should happen, he wants you to keep my ring safe." Emblem Roy said.

"But what if he needs it?" Alear asked.

"Father wants a fair fight. Not to say that using the ring is unfair. But we Brodians have a particular sense of pride. He wants to stand in his own strength and asked us to respect that." Diamant said.

"I understand. I'm just not sure our enemies will have the same code of honor. Let's be at the ready. If push comes to shove, we want to be able to help." Alear said.

"It's a plan." Diamant said.

"Agreed." Emblem Roy added.

"It looks like the battle has begun." Alear said.

Both the Brodian Army and the Corrupted stood for a moment before they then charged at each other as both sides began clashing. King Morion then brandished a sword, and with a battle cry, charged forward while cutting down any Corrupted that tried to attack him before stopping in front of a pale skinned man with long grey hair that wore black robes.

The King of Elusia, Sage King

King Hyacinth

"Your invasions of my country come at a very high price. And now you will pay it!" King Hyacinth said, holding his right hand out to King Morion with an arrogant smirk.

"Hahaha! Do you really think you can withstand the might of Brodia?" King Morion asked.

"Yes. My army is blessed by Lord Sombron himself." King Hyacinth said as King Morion scoffed before charging at him as he dodged before pushing him back with a kick.

"Damn you!" King Morion said before charging in again and managing to land a cut on King Hyacinth's cheek and eventually causing him to collapse on one knee as he held him at sword point. "Well then! Is that all the power your dragon's got?"

"He is not yet at full strength. Not until the ritual…" King Hyacinth said as he pulled out a ring which was gold and had a green gem in the center.

"Ritual?" King Morion asked.

"The one by which we shall reignite his true glory. And for that…we need a sacrifice of sovereign blood." King Hyacinth said as he slipped the ring on, his eyes turning red before grabbing King Morion's sword as a dark aura emanated from him. "The blood thus offered…will be yours!" he said.

"What?" King Morion asked as King Hyacinth stood up and the Emblem materialized next to him, which was someone very familiar to the group as she readied an arrow.

King Hyacinth then launched King Morion back as the Emblem fired, shooting straight through King Morion's chest as he then collapsed while King Hyacinth laughed.

"You guys saw that, didn't you?" Sachiko said.

"Yeah… That was Lyn, without a doubt." Mayumi said.

"She must be the Emblem entrusted to Elusia." Azura said.

"Good thing Cheetah, Captain Cold and Poison Ivy aren't here to see this. They would've been really pissed and tried to charge in themselves." Sachiko said.

"Which wouldn't be a good idea, considering what Hyacinth just did to Morion." Esmeralda said.

"You have lost this battle, Former King of Brodia." King Hyacinth said as two figures stood before him, a man and a young woman.

The male had dark green hair in a low ponytail along with a red tattoo over his left eye and on both sides of his bare chest along two metal piercings on his bottom lip as he wore a mage outfit with a tattered robe.

The young woman had mid-length curly blonde hair as she wore a hot pink and black maid-like outfit.

"Well, he's not getting any lighter. Come on." the male said.

"We know what to do, Your Majesty. See you later." the young woman said as the two began carrying away King Morion as King Hyacinth simply smirked.

"My father! They're trying to take him away!" Diamant said.

"We won't let them!" Alear said.

"So you say… But you are wrong." Princess Ivy said as she stood in their way.

"C'mon, we really gonna do this?" Ty asked.

"Whatever the cost, you will hold them here, child." King Hyacinth said.

"Yes." Princess Ivy said.

"Oh, and, Ivy? Don't forget that ring was given to you by our Lord Sombron. Your failure to protect it was a grievous one." King Hyacinth said as Princess Ivy was silent. "It is your duty to reclaim the ring now. I take my leave to Elusia. Do not fail me again." he said as he left.

"Is he seriously sending his own daughter to her death? He hasn't even given her an Emblem Ring to defend herself with." Nesma said.

"I don't think she even cares, look at her." Connor said, seeing how Princess Ivy's face was stone cold. "She's completely okay with it."

"Even she doesn't deserve that." Rebecca said.

"We'd better get this done so we can help King Morion. However, I think we're all in favor of sparing Ivy's life." Hope said.

"Agreed. That goes double for Kagetsu and Zelkov too." Adora said.

"There's someone else further ahead too." Weisz said. "Can't really see them in all this snow."

"Let's push closer while we deal with the Corrupted." Natyal said.

With that, the group proceeded to slowly advance through the snow.

"The snow's really swirling now. I wonder if I'll be able to find Prince Diamant. Couldn't be a worse time for meditation, but I've gotta clear my head." A young woman said. She had long dark blonde hair in a ponytail as she wore knight armor, wielding an axe and shield.

The Corrupted forces were quickly bearing down on the heroes. While they were doing that, Ivy had Kagetsu and Zelkov occupy forts across from each other so they could call in reinforcements.

"All right. Time to attack!" Kagetsu said.

"Bring out the *Corrupted.*" Zelkov said.

"Looks like Kagetsu and Zelkov are calling in backup!" Bow said.

"As long as they occupy those forts, the reinforcements won't stop. We'd better focus on them first." Lana said.

"We'll get to them." Hope said, as they finally reached the armored female's position.

"Jade?" Diamant asked.

"Prince Diamant!" Lady Jade said, having just fought off a few Corrupted. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Is this the one you were talking about at the castle earlier, Diamant?"

"Yes, this is my other retainer, Jade. As I've said, she serves as a border guard." Diamant said.

"She's tough, to be able to hold the front line all the way out here." Hope said.

"What valor…" Mondstadt Noelle remarked with awe. "I envy your bravery, Miss Jade."

"Thank you. But Prince Diamant, what's going on?" Lady Jade asked. "Is everything alright at the castle?"

"Yes. The Divine Dragon helped us. However, Father… He's in peril. Jade, I relieve you of your border duties. You're with me from now on!" Diamant said.

"Of course!" Lady Jade said. "I'll hold the line here. You all focus on taking the forts ahead."

"Allow me to assist you." Mondstadt Noelle bowed, summoning her Whiteblind claymore and stood beside Lady Jade in a defensive stance.

"Tsubasa, let's take on Kagetsu, you and me!" Gemini offered.

"Hai. But remember, do not kill him. He might be one of our allies later." Tsubasa accepted as she and Gemini rushed towards Kagetsu.

The stalwart Samurai saw them coming, and jumped down from the fort to face them, drawing his Wo Dao.

"If Princess Ivy stays, I stay!" Kagetsu said.

"You're for sure a Samurai there, Kagetsu. But why's a guy like you workin' for Elusia?" Gemini asked.

"Princess Ivy allowed me into her service after I came here to Elyos, departing my homeland." Kagetsu said.

"Oh, you a traveling sort?" Gemini asked.

"Not quite… I more or less ran away." Kagetsu admitted.

"You ran away from your homeland? Why?" Tsubasa asked.

"Because if I stayed, then I wouldn't be able to see the broader world." Kagetsu said. "You both must know what that's like, I'm sure."

"Well… yeah, I always wanted to see stuff beyond where I came from. But goin' places was mostly for revenge at the time." Gemini said.

"And I'm only following my family's teachings… but that changed when my grandfather betrayed me and my friends, and killed my father without a second thought." Tsubasa said.

"Such pasts… I can only imagine how deep the roads must be." Kagetsu said. "But enough talk. As we are on opposite sides, we must fight. And I forgive you should either of you slay me."

"Kagetsu… yer such a nice guy." Gemini said as Kagetsu prepared for battle. "There ain't no way I'm killing someone like you."

"Even so…" Tsubasa prepared a combat stance with her katana. "We will not falter."

With that, the three started dueling, Kagetsu being able to keep pace with both of them. As they were dueling, meanwhile across at the other fort, Zelkov had his own problems in the form of Ty, Esmeralda and Glacius.

"We meet again, great annunciator." Ty smirked.

"Are you *referring* to the way I speak?" Zelkov asked.

"You always empathize one word per any sentence you speak, what else am I talking about?" Ty replied. "But in all seriousness, we don't have to do this. We're gonna spare your charge's life, and by proxy, you and your samurai buddy will be spared too."

"We understand where you are coming from. Es and I were assassins as well. We had to do a lot of dirty jobs for dirty people just to get by." Glacius said.

"But there is a stark *difference* between you two and myself. You were hired for your tasks because you were *forced* to do them. I seek things out to give my *life* meaning." Zelkov said.

"To give your life meaning… I guess it can also be the same for myself in some aspects." Esmeralda said. "Come then, Zelkov. Let us create a spectacle no one here will ever forget!"

"Yeah, no hard feelings, okay?" Ty asked. "Just remember, you were given the chance to run or surrender."

"I could have run, but I *remained.* Now, I must *fight.*" Zelkov said.

The fight between the four soon escalated into a clash between dagger, fist and claw. While both retainers were tied up, the rest of the group slowly but surely made their way to Princess Ivy.

"Ivy! You aren't going anywhere." Jexi said.

"My father's orders were plain. You will not pass." Princess Ivy said.

"He's leaving you to die, how can you just accept that?" Balthus asked.

"You don't have to die for that selfish old bastard's wishes." Caspar said.

"...That 'selfish old bastard' is my father." Ivy said as she prepared herself. "You do not know him like I do. I will see my father through this, or I will die here. That's all that needs to be said."

"I don't think we can talk her out of this, guys." Mark said. "No other option then. We'll just have to beat some sense into her."

"Right. I was just thinking that." Caspar said. "Let's beat her up." he said.

Ivy sent out a blast of fire from her tome, an attack that was powered through by Mark and Caspar.

"Caspar, think you can bring her down to earth?" Mark asked. "Last time I took on a wyvern flier, it ended with me being slammed into a cliff. Better to get them on the ground."

"Yeah…I know just the thing." Caspar said, equipping two shielded gauntlets with blades at the end. "Haaa!" he called out leaping at the wyvern and smashing it down to the ground.

"Whoa…those are some weapons." Theo said.

"Jarngreipr. They're the weapons from his house. It's their Sacred Weapon." Linhardt explained.

"Thanks!" Mark called to Caspar as he charged the earth bound princess. "Sorry 'bout this!" the half-angel said.

Ivy conjured a fireball and launched it at Mark, but saw the boy swat it aside. Ivy then closed her eyes, preparing for the inevitable…

Only to feel nothing but wind, as Mark's fist stopped just short of her face. The princess of Elusia opened her eyes, Mark gently flicking her on the forehead.

"What? You think you're getting off easy?" Mark asked. "Nope. We're not killing you."

"Then what is your intention? You already have me at your mercy." Princess Ivy said.

"Well, first you're going to tell us what your old man's plan is." Mark said. "After that, depending on the answer…we'll figure it out from there."

"...He's going to revive Lord Sombron." Princess Ivy said.

"But…I thought he was already back." Mark said.

"He's not. A ritual is needed to revive him. One requiring royal blood." Princess Ivy said.

"That's why they took King Morion." Homura said. "Where is the ritual taking place?"

"In Destinea Cathedral…in Elusia." Princess Ivy said.

"Then that's where we're going." Mark decided. "No time to head back to base, King Morion's life is on the line here."

"Wait." Ivy spoke. "If you're going to be cruel and spare me…then what will you do? You realize that I could hunt you down if I survive, correct?"

"Well, you could, except for one thing." Mark said. "You don't actually worship Sombron, do you?"

"...Unlike most of the country, I worship the Divine Dragon." Princess Ivy confirmed.

"Wait, how'd you figure it out?" Eddy asked.

"Well, I noticed that when we fought Ivy the first time, not a single enemy soldier got close to Alear." Mark said. "Reluctant to have her soldiers bring harm to them. Then there were her eyes: chock full of regret and sadness. Just like mine used to be!"

"...Yeah, right." Caspar said, decided to move on from that.

"So…guess that means we're going to Elusia as fast as possible then." Jexi said.

"And as for you…" Mark said to Ivy. "We're going to let you go. But first, a little punishment, on behalf of the Emblems your kingdom corrupted. Turn around for a second."

Ivy did as instructed, back faced to them for a moment, as she heard a few scattered whispers.

"(Hmm… looks like Mark has a plan for Ivy, at least that's what I think.)" Zi-O thought while observing the scene. "(If that's the case…)" He glanced at the Alliance with the Emblem Bracelets on their wrists, especially Dan's. "(Then I'd better pull off a plan of my own. And if done right, I'm sure they'll enjoy a nice train ride to Solm as an escape route. Sombron and the Four Hounds will never see it coming.)" He smirked.

"And now…face front." Mark said.

Ivy turned around, finding herself facing a floating eyeball.

"I'm a ghost." SE said flatly, clearly sounding unamused. "Boo."

Princess Ivy however fainted at the sight of him.

"...Do you have to do that to her?" Shirabe deadpanned.

"Oh dear." Thorani said.

"I don't get paid enough for this…" SE sighed, floating back into the crowd.

"You don't get paid at all." ZS pointed out.

"Exactly." SE said bluntly.

"Anyways…we'd better get moving." Mark said. "Ivy's retainers will make sure she's okay. Same can't be said for the good king."

"We'd better hurry to that cathedral and save King Morion, then. He may have made some bad calls, but Brodia still needs his leadership." Hope said.

"Though…we'll need to be cautious. If they've already started, we may end up meeting the Fell Dragon himself face to face." Ainz said.

"Right. We'll need to be prepared." Alear said. "Hopefully, we're ready for what's coming."

"(Don't worry, Alear. With the help of the Alliance and the Rebellion, you'll be more than ready… even though we'll be heading for another trap.)" Cure Starlight thought while glancing at Alear as the team made their way to their next destination; Destinea Cathedral.