A week as passed since Leandros was recruited into the Spear Hero party.

Marius's eye were fixated by the tamed flames of the campfire. He knew another wave will hit soon. He remembered the stories Naofumi told him about the second wave before they found him.

"Whole surrounding is clear." said Leandros as he sat down to his spot.

"Good." said Marius.

Marius eyes then shifted to Malty, sitting across the campfire minding her own business.

"Anything on her?" said Marius.

"I didn't smell anything odd. Other than the perfume." said Leandros.

"But have you not loose sight of her?"

"Never."

Marius got up, "Watch the camp... And her."

"Will do."

Marius left the camp, purposely leaving the spear at his spot. After Marius left the campsite, Leandros noticed Malty was glaring at him. Keeping his eyes on the princess, Leandros pulled out his dagger and started sharpening it.

Hiding behind a tree, Rino was secretly practicing with a small knife.

"Careful you will not cut yourself."

The voice startled Rino and she dropped the knife. She was surprised, and embarassed, that Marius caught her.

"I-I was just... Well, since we don't have enough fighters, I thought I could-" said Rino.

"That will not be a problem." said Marius, "But keep practicing with the blade if you must."

Rino lost her words and her face blushed red.

"Return with the others. I will stand guard tonight."

"Yes sir." Rino picked the small knife then headed towards the camp before she noticed something, "But you didn't bring your spear."

And Marius kept staring at her, his eyebrows still frowning.

"N-Nevermind." Rino quickly hasten her pace back to the camp.

Marius sat down on a tree and placed his satchel on his lap. He inhaled, hold his breath, and slowly exhaled. Marius opened his satchel to retrieved a small carving knife and the small wooden figurine he carved out a week ago, now taking a familiar shape.

With rough yet gentle hands, Marius started to add more recognizable feature into the wooden carving. He carved out folds around it, forming a dress. He carved lines on the figurine's long flowing hair. He carved out more feathers into the wings.

And finally, he carved a face unto the carving. But the motion of the small blade scrapping chips of wood from the face began slower until it stopped. The hand that held the carving knife fell on Marius's lap.

Marius's frowning expression disappeared as grief takes over. He had carved a wooden figurine of Filo sitting down while holding their son, Icarus, still inside his egg. Icarus's death and that he cannot bring him back no matter what he do ached his heart.

And now the thought of Filo no longer have the same love for him, filled him with overwhelming despair. Marius closed his eyes shut and placed the figurine close to his heart and tears started flowing endlessly from his closed eyes.

"Filo..."


The Spear Hero party trotted through the crowd as they make their way to the Three Heroes Church. As they make their way, Marius was met with the citizen praising him as a hero. But Marius ignored and pressed on. Among the loud cheers, Leandros picked up whispers from the crowd speaking ill of him.

"Your kind is not welcomed here." said Malty who managed to caught up to Leandros, "Just so you know."

"Really? Didn't noticed." Leandros said sarcastically.

Finally, they reached the church and left their horses on a hitching post not far from the entrance. Led by one of the church's nuns, they reached the chamber that houses the Dragon Hourglass.

There, they saw Naofumi with a long haired demi-human beside him. Marius recognized the brown hair, the bushy tail and the pair of animal ears.

"Naofumi." said Marius.

The Shield Hero turned around and glared at Marius.

"Who are they, Master Naofumi?" said Raphtalia.

With his heart full of hatred for Marius's party, Naofumi left the hourglass and he walked passed Marius.

"Hey! Sir Marius is talking to you!" said Malty.

Marius glared at Malty in annoyance, before turning to his side and approached the hourglass. His eyes then shifted to the younger Raphtalia who stared at him in awed and noticed the familiar sword dangled on her hip.

"The sword." said Marius, "Have you trained well with it?"

"I have." said Raphtalia.

Marius nodded, "It is a good weapon... I know."

Marius then turned his head and saw Naofumi staring at him in anger.

"Your master is waiting."

"Oh, right!" Raphtalia immediately returned to Naofumi.

"We're leaving." said Naofumi as he turned towards the exit.

"Have you not heard about the rumors around your master, demi-human!" said Malty.

Naofumi stopped walking after hearing Malty's words. Marius slammed the spear on the floor and the thunderous sound made everyone turned their heads on Marius, except Naofumi. Marius glared at Malty before shifting his gaze at Naofumi.

"There is none to discuss." said Marius.

Naofumi continued heading towards the exit without turning back, walking passed Itsuki and Ren. Marius returned is gaze towards Malty.

"You will not speak for me!" Marius said with angered tone.

"But that demi-human have to know-"

"I will not hear it!" Marius shouted, almost loses control of his temper.

Malty backed away in shock and the whole chamber fell into silence. Marius took a deep breath as he calmed himself down. He turned his attention back to the hourglass and presented the spear.

The red orb on the spearhead glowed and shot a red beam at the hourglass. Marius GUI appeared and it showed how much time left before the next wave.

Twenty hours and counting.


In the inn where the Spear Hero party spent their night, Marius sat on his bed as he inspects his armor. Meanwhile, the Legendary Spear was placed at a corner of the room far away from him.

After he was done with the inspection, Marius took his satchel and opened it. He took out the wooden figurine of Filo and began to caressed it.

Now that Raphtalia was found, it is only a matter of time before Naofumi finds Filo. Marius wondered what to say or what to do to win them back.

Before grief could fill his heart again, Marius quelled it by focusing on tomorrow's battle. He placed the small figurine on a small table and he extinguished the candlelight with his fingers.

Marius placed his armor on the floor of the bed before he laid on his bed. He turned to take one long look at the wooden figurine. With his whole body relaxed, Marius closed his eyes and he eventually fell asleep.


Morning arrived, and Marius made his way to his party member. He looked at the top and saw the timer...

Thirty seconds left.

He reached his party who have already gathered outside the inn. All of them turned their heads towards their leader.

"Are you all ready?" said Marius.

All of them nodded.

"Good."

"Any rousing speech before the wave starts?" said Leandros.

"We were choosen by fate for this reason and this only. Do not disappoint."

"Works for me."

"Sir Spear Hero." said Rino, "Good luck!"

Marius nodded.

Five seconds and counting.

Four ...

Three ...

Two ...

One ...

The timer reached zero then a blinding light surrounded them. They were then teleported to a different area. The skies were blood red, drowning everything in the same color.

"The skies!" said Rino.

They all looked up and saw multiple vortexes floating on the red skies like twisted clouds. Soon, swarms of monster came pouring out of the vortex. The sight frightened everyone, except Marius who saw the same thing before the Time Reversal.

"This way! Come on!" Ren shouted.

The Sword Hero party started charging towards the wave boss, followed by The Bow Hero party. Marius drew his spear and followed them along with his party. As they were closing in on the boss, Marius started to recognized the layout of the land they were on.

He quickly stopped and look to his right. There from the distance, he saw the Lute Village completely vulnerable to the monsters and no sign of help from the outside.

"Hey! Why are we stopping!" said Leandros.

From the distance, he saw Naofumi and Raphtalia running to the village to help them. Marius made a decision and turned to his party.

"All of you will join the other heroes party and fight in my behalf." said Marius.

"Wait, you can do that?" said Rino.

"That is my command." said Marius.

"And what about you?" said Leandros.

"I will aid the Shield Hero."

"How about we just let the Shield Hero do all that while we fight the boss?" said Malty, "Besides, the knight are in their way."

"There are only two of them against many. And the castle is too far away." said Marius, "Now do as I say!"

And Marius left his party to save the Lute Village.

"Well." Leandros unsheathed his pair of daggers, "You heard him."

And Leandros began charging towards the wave boss to join the other heroes, followed by the rest of the Spear Hero party.


Naofumi ran through the village, drawing the monsters away from the villagers. As he ran, he saw more monster infront of him. Suddenly, Marius appeared and decimated the monsters.

"What the hell are you doing here?" said Naofumi.

"Helping." said Marius.

"And what about the wave boss?"

"They will handle it."

The monster chasing Naofumi began closing in on them.

"What is your plan?" said Marius.

"Drawing them away from villagers." said Naofumi, "I'm keeping this up until the wave stops."

"Then I will clear a path."

Marius then turned around, slaying the monster that were on Naofumi's way. Marius began cutting down monsters that were trying to harm the villagers. Behind him, more and more monsters began to gather behind Naofumi as he lured them away. Then, a larger undead soldier emerged from the houses and blocked their path.

Marius threw his spear at the giant undead's leg, cutting it and the undead fell. Marius then unleashed the Flames of Ares and tackled the giant, and with the enhance strength Marius pushed the giant to a building. A feat that shocked Naofumi.

"Go!" Marius shouted.

And Naofumi continued leading the monsters away.

With the giant undead pinned on the wall, Marius summoned his spear back to his hand and climbed the undead's torso. He sliced the undead's neck then grabbed the head. And with one powerful pull he ripped the undead's head off it's neck.

Another giant undead grabbed Marius and tossed him in the air before swinging its metal club at Marius in mid-air. The blow threw Marius further away and he crashed into a barn.

Disoriented, Marius slowly got up using the spear as a support. His entire body ached from the blow. Through the hole he crashed through, he saw the undead giant walking towards Naofumi along with the other monsters marching with it.

Marius endured the intense pain he experience as he gets up and walked towards the barn door. Marius opened the barn door and saw the village men fending off the remaining monsters.

Marius then heard footsteps coming at him. He readied himself to fight but saw younger Raphtalia running towards him.

"Where's master Naofumi?" said Raphtalia.

Then they heard bell sounds. They turned their heads and saw Naofumi sounding the bell on top of a watchtower while the undead climbing towards him.

"Master Naofumi!"

A large wasp monster appeared and flew towards Raphtalia with its stinger ready but Marius threw his spear at it. Raphtalia quickly turned and saw the wasp with the spear pierced through it. Then more monster closed in on them.

Marius stepped forward to shield Raphtalia, "Go to your master! Now!"

Raphtalia nodded and left for her master. Marius stomped the wasp death and pulled the spear. The monsters charged at Marius at once and he slain them with ease despite the pain.

Then, at the edge of the village several flares launched to the air and merged with each other. It then exploded and rained fireballs into the village, burning not just the monsters but also the entire village.

"Let me go! They're still inside!" said one of the village men as he was pulled away by the other villagers.

Marius saw the burning house the men was crying out for. Without hesitation, Marius ran towards the house. Not even a directed hit from the raining fireball could stop him. He crashed through the burning door not caring of the flames burning him.

He looked around for anyone who was trapped inside. Marius heard a crying infant and ran to its direction where he saw a pile of burning wood next to an infant being covered with a blanket. Marius ran towards the infant and carried the child in his arms.

Then Marius saw the child's mother who was crushed and burnt underneath the pile. More burning piles fell from the ceiling and Marius have to get out quick. He got up and ran to the door but it was blocked by more debris.

The heat inside started to become unbearable with the smoke making it hard to breath. Marius covered the infant's mouth with the blanket as he tried to look for an escape. He then saw stairs leading to the upper floor and he ran towards it.

Marius ran up the burning stairs, almost falling to the fire after one step broked from his weight. Upstairs, he saw a short hallway leading to an opened window. Marius charged towards the window while he held the child closer. He jumped through the window and landed on his back.

Marius groaned in pain from the impact. He checked the infant and was relieved to see the child still alive and crying.

"It's the Spear Hero!"

Marius heard the villagers running to him. The father of the infant took his child and the other villagers helped Marius up.

"Are you alright? That was quite a fall." said one of the villagers.

Marius grunted. With the help of the villagers, Marius tried get up but he collapsed on his knees due to the pain on his leg.

"Hey! Someone get some aid! He's not doing well!"

"No..." Marius got up using the spear as a support.

Then, the villagers saw the knights marching into the village from afar.

"Knights? Where the hell were they when we need them?"

Marius began walking forward.

"Wait! You're still injured!"

Marius ignored them and kept on walking. He walked passed burning buildings and charred remains of monsters being caught by the fireball. Marius made sure he had his spear ready to fight. Suddenly, one burning undead emerged from the fire and attacked Marius.

Marius stabbed the undead and it still tried to get its hands on the Spear Hero. Marius pushed the undead to a stone wall then crushed its burning skull with his fist. Marius pulled the spear off the burning corpse and continued.

Suddenly, the vortex above the village disappeared and the sky returned to its normal state. The sunlight hit Marius's face, knowing that the wave is over. Marius let out a sighed of relieve before continued onwards while dragging the end of the spear on the ground.

"The Spear Hero? What is he doing here?" said a knight.

Naofumi heard it and saw Marius walked passed the knight with a slight limp. Marius stopped and saw Naofumi, who just stood there. The two heroes stared at each other.

"Why are you helping us?" said Naofumi.

Marius turned his head and marched on without saying a word. The knights moved away to make way for him.


Underneath a tree, Marius sat on the ground while Rino healed him. The lingering pain goes away after Rino was finished and Marius was relief but still tired.

"You know, the other heroes were wondering why you sent us fighting with them. Especially the one with the word." said Leandros.

"They can say what they want." said Marius.

"Anyways, the knights came and say the king has rewards for each of you heroes."

"... Let me rest."

"Sure. I'll go clean my blades." said Leandros, and then he left.

Marius turned his head towards Rino who was still sitting near him.

"I'm keeping you company." Rino said with a smile.

Marius responded with silence as he glared at Rino.

"Oh... I'll join the others then."

Rino got up and left Marius alone. Finally by himself, Marius leaned back on a tree and closed his eyes to rest.