"I just… I don't get it." Reitia said in dejection. The flight had been relatively uneventful, the Slayers regaining their composure and strength by eating their energy rations. Charlotte was currently with Artorian, treating his injuries from his fight with Matthew. That fight was the source of Reitia's mood, the climax of it leaving a back taste in her mouth.

"I mean, I'm not dumb. I know they didn't like each other. But… Matthew tried to kill him. Why would he do that?" The question was vocalized by the Slayer multiple times, yet no one else was able to willing to give an answer, the adrenaline gone from their escape and replaced with the nervous outlook for the coming battle.

"…Maybe he knows something we don't." Emilia said, fully aware of what drove Matthew's execution attempt, but unable to explain it. Things were too crazed for the reveal of the Abyss, not when they were in a ship with limited maneuverability. Even then, she figured everyone present had an inkling that something was wrong with Artorian.

"But what? It's not him being a Variant. Otherwise you, Sakura, and the Hunters would've been just as targeted."

"Probably his first targets too." Krovanh noted, finding the opening to speak up. "I don't like admitting it, but me and Nesat are completely outclassed by him. Artorian would have a chance to fight back, killing him first doesn't remove the problem, two kills is better than one, even if he's stronger."

"But that's the problem!" Reitia shouted. "Matthew's not a killer! He can be harsh, he's stubborn and damn it he can be impossible to talk to at times. But he'd never just kill someone! He has to have a reason, and I'd still slug him if he did! Artorian's our friend, how could he… how can he… why?" The fire in Reitia nearly dimmed right away, Sakura moving to sit next to her and rub her back.

"I'm sorry Reitia, this must be harder for you than you predicted. It's not fair to you." The idol comforted, trying to relax her. All of them were on edge, too much having happened in the week for everyone to calm down. And Reitia practically turned against her life to help Artorian, going against Warslran and her childhood friend to help someone she's known for less than a year.

"Thank you Sakura… I just hate being in the dark like this." The Slayer admitted. "I understand Artorian and Charlotte not talking to me, but Matthew's never been one to treat me like a kid. He knows I can take the heavy stuff, but he's clearly been lying for months, whatever reason it is I won't forgive him until he spills everything and I punch his jaw."

"Well, your burns aren't as bad as expected." Charlotte admitted, applying ointment to the burn markings across Artorian's face and exposed arm. "Your defense has gotten impressive, I'm not sure how many people could have endured Matthew's full power."

"I'm not concerned about any scars, I'm just lucky Sakura was able to use her powers to stop his lightning." Artorian responded, unbothered by the burn the ointment caused his skin on contact. At the rate it was going, he knew Matthew would have eviscerated him completely, he was only alive right now because Sakura's Variant Virus kicked in and she was able to disrupt Matthew's equilibrium.

He wasn't sure on the specifics, but clearly Sakura's voice went past Variants and Savage, otherwise the other Slayers would have had free reign. It was a comforting thought, even if Sakura wasn't a fighter now, that she's trying she could be good backup for everyone. One Variant to replace him after this.

"Shit!" He flinched back as Charlotte smacked her hand onto his face, hitting one of his burns intentionally as she gave him a stern stare. "The hell was that for Charlotte!?"

"You were thinking about dying, weren't you?" The Abysswalker looked away in return, Charlotte's stare remaining as she looked up to him. "Going into a mission thinking of death is bad luck, especially for someone like yourself. We're doing this to save you as much as Karen and Miharu."

"We both know that isn't-"

"And who says that's the case?" Charlotte questioned. "Are you suddenly an expert on the interactions of the Abyss on a human-Lord hybrid? Are you certain you're just going to lose yourself over one bad episode? No, because no one has a clue about it." Charlotte then turned to the pilot controls, the autopilot engaged as she kept work on locating the Anti-Slayer's outpost. "So stop thinking about dying, because it's anything but guaranteed at this point."

"Thousands of years for stronger people make for good arguments." Artorian said under his breath.

"Gods, if I knew you were going to be in your moody phase now I'd have read up on "How To" books for that." Charlotte groaned. "Maybe then you'd be more annoyed than suicidal. I swear to you Artorian, you'll see Karen and make it back to Little Garden. We have something that can be used as a temporary stand in for the Pendant Karen lost."

"Oh yeah? And what's this miracle-!" Artorian looked in surprise as Charlotte held up the old lighter he usually carried, realizing she must have swiped it from his variable suit sometime before he was quarantined. "When did you-?"

"I learned a lot of things from Artorias that he didn't want me to, apparently he's never been good at feeling his pockets get picked." The woman said with a grin, flipping the lighter on for a bit. "I think this has enough emotional connection to work for one or two times. At least until Karen gets something she truly can put her miracles in to."

"That's if it works."

"It will."

.

.

.

"It wasn't your fault." Artorian said after the painful silence, Charlotte's grin fading away as she closed the lighter.

"It might as well of been."

"Your detection system had never been tested on such a large scale, you'd have no way of knowing the energy density would throw off the scans and spread everyone thin." He continued, trying to put the woman at peace. "Dad died in a fight anyone else would have, no one can defeat that many Trenta alone, especially after being injured and exhausted."

"It was still my responsibility. I sent too many Slayers across the board, and my friends were the ones that paid the price." She said with somber eyes. "Artorias, Ornstein, Meiko… I even failed Vitaly by not being there when she needed me. None of us were, and now look at the mess I got us into. A stupid teenager thinking his death is coming tomorrow instead of decades from now."

"I'm eighteen, I'm an adult by the world's standard."

"You will always be a kid around me." Charlotte countered, looking at his with a smile. "After all, I've seen what that face looks grown up." It hurt to admit, but he looked closer to his father every day. The scar across his face, the tired eyes… and the damn crimson glow of his iris. She didn't know Artorias before his eyes were red, but the Lord bestowed her the knowledge that they were once blue, and she felt confident in her theory that they were the same color Artorian's was.

It obviously was the Abyss' doing, and she could assume now that Artorian's eyes would remain the vile color, a painful reminder of the blood that's been taken from his family for generations. It was looking at Artorian, and the guilt she felt in how similar he looked to his father, that she was reminded her greatest shame. That ten years ago she tried to break away from that part of her life, and the boy in front of her suffered as a result. That he was suffering now, and that maybe if she didn't run, if she didn't falter after the Second Attack, none of this would be happening right now.

"After everything you don't even have the stomach to admit you don't care! That you never cared!"

Vitaly's words rang painfully in her ears, remembering the mockery she received from the proxy as it tore into her. For all her kindness, all he sweet words and attempts at generosity for others, there was one person that deserved it the most from her. And she kept that away for eighteen years. First out of a sense of duty, the lie she told herself; and then out of guilt, the reality she couldn't escape. And she thought she had any right to consider herself a good person?

"How can you not hate me?" Was all she could ask, looking back at her console. There was a shaking in her voice, the boy sitting next to her understanding what was tearing away at her now. The stress and anger in his body dimmed for a moment, as if the Abyss was allowing this moment of clarity. It was something he took advantage of, letting his voice soften before he spoke.

"Because you didn't run away."

It was all he said, but the memory was impossible to forget for either, even in the desperation of the day. It shook Charlotte to her core, the woman fighting the tears in her eyes as she tried to focus on the job at hand. She didn't have the right to break down, not until they were all back at Little Garden and she could apologize.

"Just come back. Please."

"I'll… I can only promise to try."

"I understand the application, but the Arclight hasn't had an official flight for atmosphere escape yet, much less a slingshot reentry." Erica brought up, the remaining members of Selections walking towards Judal's personal hangar on Little Garden. Thanks to Matthew's attack, most of the runway they used was too damaged to be used with the experimental spacecraft, but it didn't mean they lacked alternatives.

"I admit, I'm hesitant to it as well." Claire responded, understanding the concern going around. "No doubt a part of this is Judal's desire to test his skipper project, but he wouldn't recommend it if he wasn't desperate. Whatever is happening behind the scenes, he's willing to put his money where his mouth is."

"I'm grateful for such confidence from my little sister." Judal said, the Slayers seeing him open the door before they reached for it. "Unfortunantely this is not meant to be a test run, my skipper project may in fact be pushed back as a result of this. But we are out of options, so we have to lay all the chips at the table."

"It's still a lot to ask for, especially since there's only been sim-flights on the Arclight." Erica continued to voice her concerns, although everyone shared it to some extent. "Making such a dangerous maneuver is a burden on any pilot, and this is a first of a kind. They'd have no way or adjusting when there's nothing to compare to."

"True, any human pilot would have too many variables to trust it for the first flight. Especially since its still a prototype craft." Judal agreed, however the response caught everyone's attention as he led them to the hangar to the experimental Arclight. It was incredibly sleek, much smaller than most of the early spacecraft humanity developed before such projects were shut down. After the Savage struck, humanity had no time to travel the stars, everything that went up were early warning probes and satellites, even then these are often targeted and destroyed by Savage when they approach.

The Arclight was made to be capable of escape velocity and reentry, using an experimental energy generator with a Savage's core as the power source. It removed the need for traditional fuel, but made non-Slayer pilots less optimal, one of the controversies Warslran expected to come out when they revealed the finished model.

"Ignoring the UN ordered you to shelf the project, what's your solution then?" Claire asked. Judal, for all his polish and diplomacy, was just as much of a rule breaker as Artorian was. Artorian was on a personal level, Judal brought his controversies to the world stage, which made his exploits more difficult to obtain. But he found his way through the slope, and Claire knew if someone had a solution, he was the best bet outside of Charlotte.

"Why, with only the most qualified individual Warslran has to offer." Judal said, turning to face his Slayers before holding a small data slate up. "LiZa lacks the issue of human reaction time, and possesses an understanding of energy few could compare to. If anyone can fly the Arclight and get you to Artorian within the hour, it'd be them."

"Liza!?"

"Huh, that makes sense actually." Erica pondered. "As an artificial intelligence, they lack the limitations a human pilot has. And even their processing power would be enhanced by the energy the Arclight is powered by."

"I will work at my peak. The energy will supercharge me, in a sense." Liza said over comms, the data slate in Judal's hand glowing as she took the form of a holographic cluster of data. She still required to keep up appearances, her identity as Little Garden's power source still classified even to Selections.

"Are you sure?" Claire asked, looking between the false avatar of her sister and her brother. "This is risky, I trust LiZa but if we're wrong, if something goes wrong."

"I promise Claire, it will work."

"I'd give you a safer option if they'd work, but this is the best we have." Judal added. "You won't have a faster transport or more qualified pilot to fly it."

"We don't have a choice, if it gets us to Abyssal in time, then we have to take it." Matthew stated, the Lord getting a harsh glare from his fellow Slayers at the insult.

"Keep that up and you will be grounded Matthew." Claire spat, stepping in front of him as she glared up to him. "You're on thin ice after that stunt you pulled, Artorian and everyone else are our allies. No matter what damned Lord custom has you thinking like this, Artorian Abyssal is a human being, and will be treated as such. Am I clear?"

"This is not the time to debate-"

"Am. I. CLEAR?"

.

.

.

"Crystal, ma'am." Matthew stowed his objection at the order. There was no arguing at the current moment, he was going to be under her attention for the time being. He just needed to get to Artorian, so he'd need to play by her orders until he got there.

After that, he'd accept whatever punishment came next.

It was painful, the silence in the jet as the Slayers traversed the Salem desert. Charlotte was true to her word and had located the Anti-Slayer bunker. It was nearly a kilometer long, trailing across the Gizem Canyon, a scar in the desert formed by the superheated sands from a collision of over twenty Trenta during the First Attack. It was a bad omen, the radiative remains scattered and lost beneath the endless sands. The only evidence was the glass crack that dug into the sea of dust, and the splatters of green sand that stained the orange and yellow hue.

The base was one large superstructure, running the canyon with stained white and grey metal. Scans detected several large power sources, Charlotte assuming there was a prototype Anti-Savage Rail Turret. It was perfect for hitting a target in the air, meant to stop Savage meteors from hitting cities like they had in the past. But it was still in development, meaning there were even more moles in Warslran then expected.

An alarm began to blare in the main chamber of the jet, some standing up in time as Artorian stepped through the door from the cockpit. "We're within two minutes of reaching the base. If you need to eat, scarf down whatever rations we have." He followed his own advice, grabbing a aluminum covered bar and tore it open. He made sure to pass the container with the superfood around, everyone getting one before devouring his own, stuffing it down in one bite.

"So what's the plan?" Emilia asked, biting off half her bar. The normal culinary appreciator didn't bother to notice the taste, accepting and understanding she didn't have time to let anything distract her.

"The Rail Cannon stands as the biggest danger. They have energy cannons as well, but the rail cannon will blast Charlotte out of the sky moments after we're dropped." Artorian explained. "So we'll have to eliminate that. If there's an entrance we'll break in through it after destroying it. If not… we'll have made an entrance with enough damage."

"You… you want to attack the rail cannon directly?" Reitia repeated, dumbfounded at the plan.

"Why not? It's the biggest danger and requires a crew to manage. It also could prevent our extraction, so we'll have to deal with it sooner or later." Artorian argued. "Better to get it out of the way now, instead of waiting for it to shoot Charlotte and Sakura out of the sky?"

"Wait, me and Char?" It was Sakura's turn to object, getting the hybrid's attention.

"Yes, you're staying on board." Artorian answered, already seeing the argument coming. "This is an active combat mission; we're fighting against enemies that can and will try to kill us. This isn't a place for an idol with optimistic ideals about helping people."

"I'm not going to stay on the sidelines and do nothing, not with Karen and Miharu in danger!" Sakura responded, already Artorian showing signs of annoyance at the resistance.

"You haven't fought a battle in your life! Look around Sakura, does everyone look like they're prepared and ready for this!?" Artorian argued, motioning to the mixture of nervous and steeled expressions. "When we go down there, we are fighting with the intent to kill, because that's exactly what they are going to do!"

"I'm going, whether you like it or not!"

"We're thirty seconds to your drop off! If you're going you have to go now!" Charlotte announced, Artorian looking to the cockpit for a moment before back to Sakura, the Idol unflinching at his glare.

"Grrrrr… FUCK!" Artorian screamed, punching clean through a crate and nearly shattering it to piece, before walking back to Sakura and pointing to her face directly. "Reitia or Emilia, you never leave their side!" He didn't wait for an answer as he walked to the off ramp, Charlotte opening it and the impact of the torrent of atmosphere nearly sent everyone off their feet.

"Hundred On!"

"Wait, are we just-!" Before Touka could continue, Artorian had already jumped out of the jet, Emilia shrugging back to the group.

"Guess we are!" She said before running forward, throwing out her own variable stone and following after the Abysswalker.

"Don't miss the window!" Reitia and Sakura followed soon after, Nesat jumping last.

"Game time-GACK!" Krovanh grinned, prepping his variable stone but being stopped by his collar as Touka grabbed him. "The fuck are you thinking!?"

"…I can't fly?" Touka motioned, noting her martial arts uniform. It was at that moment Krovanh remembered she didn't have a Hundred, and didn't use one or even energy during their escape.

"Oh… shit." Krovanh sighed, before grabbing Touka's hand and pulling her with him. "Just don't let go and I'll handle the work!"

"Got it!" Returning the grip, Touka and Krovanh took the last jump before their time was up, immediately the Slayer having to pulse his energy to dodge a bolt of energy that nearly hit the two. The response from the outpost wasn't a huge one yet, a single aircraft not bringing the full might of the remaining artillery. However, the largest cannon, the rail cannon was targeting Charlotte as she was flying away, Artorian pushing himself rapidly to intercept as he saw the energy charge in the main chamber.

The torrent of wind and stray fire barely impeded the Abysswalker as he glided across the open air, summoning an energy barrier to deflect a beam of energy. He then gripped his Hundred with both hands, cutting apart a barrage as Emilia and Nesat were following close behind. Energy began to pool across the rail cannon, each Slayer detecting it and growing nervous, seeing Charlotte was still in range.

"What's the plan!" Emilia called out to Artorian, the Abysswalker keeping his attention solely on the silo of the cannon's ejection port. A mental count was going, as he knew there'd be only one shot at his plan.

"Emilia, Nesat, you two break off and use your Hundreds to boil into the firing mechanism. Get an opening and clear out the firing crew." Artorian ordered, before opening his comm further. "Reitia, guide Sakura with you and stay in the air for a bit longer. Enter the opening Emilia and Nesat make once I stop the first rail shot. Krovanh, do the same with Touka, keep her close on landing."

"Copy!"

'Alright Artorian Abyssal… all eyes on you.' As the teams began to bank off to achieve their order, Artorian allowed himself a single moment of doubt before his eyes flashed gold, his Variant Mode activating and energy blooming to life around him as he narrowed his body. He dropped fast, enhancing his descent with a stream of energy that cut into the open sky. Stray energy scattered around him, but were eaten up in his aura as he had his sole attention on the brightening rail cannon.

The structure charged with an incredible amount of power, circulating every centimeter with the power that felt similar to that of Liza. To think that much was needed to fire the cannon… it made him certain that disabling it was the only correct opening to the infiltration. As sparks danced around the barrel of the cannon, and the Abysswalker began to see a deep glow at the base, he twisted his body to realign himself, gripping his sword the tightest he's ever before, wishing he had his father's blade instead but not wasting another thought on it.

*GWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOSHHHH!*

It was an ungodly boom that came out of the rail cannon as it fired, the energy pooling and steaming out as the rail shot out. 50 tons of tungsten was launched at a percent of the speed of light, its target behind Artorian as the hybrid had no intention of getting out of the way. With both hands, he gripped a hold of his sword, roaring wordlessly as he moved by pure instinct, energy pouring across his blade and arms as the moment of impact came.

Agony went across his entire body the moment his sword touched the blade, the sheer weight and velocity could reduce a person to a mist without even slowing it down. It was as if every atom of his body was vibrating at the mere contact. Everything slowed to a crawl, as Artorian could only think in the moment the staggering feat this weapon could achieve. But that had his own brain cooking into overtime, an instinctual fear of death shooting his processing to the nano-second before a do-or-die predisposition took over.

Whatever thoughts happened in that fraction of a second, Artorian could only process the one that turned up as his best chance. His sword slightly dug into the rod of tungsten, friction reverberating in the hybrid's arms as he felt the push needed. Forcing his entire body against the agony of the impact, the Abysswalker shifted the blade slightly before delving it deeper into the metal, power exploding behind him as each passing sense had Artorian witness the rod go to his sides with sparks and molten mass.

With a last thrust of all the strength his body would allow, Artorian cleaved through the tungsten rod, shattering it behind him as his blade cleaved into the air. Time seemed to adjust back as Artorian's adrenaline cut into overdrive, and a rising rage fueled him to blast down at the rail cannon. Twisting his body to spin in a wide arc, Artorian slashed into the steel upon impact, his energy-enhanced attack nearly splitting the barrel in half horizontally, having used the same method of strike, slip and pulse as he did on the rod that was fired.

"Zaneizan… looks like even I can figure out new tricks." Artorian spoke to himself, looking at his blade. It was only for a second, needing time for his body to recover before he jumped off the structure, looking for the opening he ordered Emilia and Nesat to make.

His entrance was found in the form of multiple holes, rapidly cooling surfaces making it heated to enter. As he landed he ducked under the fire of N-Tranquilizer rounds, immediately back into action as he lunged across the room and slashed two men apart. A quick glance had him see they were in configurations of the armor found at Bankert's, as well as similar patterns to the ones who attacked the hospital.

The entire crew was armed, but there wasn't much that they could do against the efforts of three Variants, clearing the main room in a matter of a minute. The rest of the team were only arriving when Artorian's battle awareness lowered and he turned to them.

"You three didn't waste time." Krovanh said with a partial grin. Most of the group wasn't bothered by the sight of carnage in the area, blood and bodies expected in a warzone. Sakura however had to take a moment to steady herself, Reitia placing a supporting hand on her back when she saw her stumble.

"Hey, there's no need to look." She encouraged the idol, Artorian seeing the display before looking down in shame.

"I… I'm okay." Sakura lied, no one believing it but putting her effort in to walk ahead, the group meeting at the observation deck of the area. "So… so what do we do next?"

"We find the holding cells." Artorian answered, walking over to one of the holographic terminals before taking out a small data crystal. Charlotte gave it to him in advance, as she'd need to work intelligence without any proper operatives in the team. A quick search across the physical consoles and he saw where to insert the strange gem, watching it fade away before the holograms contorted in a strange digital bleed.

"Commandeering an enemy outpost in only two minutes, I'm impressed." Charlotte's voice rang among the room, before everyone's communication collars blinked to life. "There, I'm linked to each and every one of you now. And the base's security checks should be more manageable for us."

"Where's Karen and Miharu being held?" Artorian questioned, heading for the room's exit.

"According to the schematics they should be ten floors down and half a kilometer through the base." Charlotte explained, Artorian grabbing at the door's center and ripping it open to expose the elevator shaft.

"Anything between here and there?"

"A lot of traffic and… checkpoints they're setting up." Charlotte seemed especially concerned with the checkpoints, having the Slayers pause for a moment at the open elevator. "Hold on, there's an open hail on the comms, patching in and… oh no."

"Welcome Slayers, I'm so happy to see some of you finally grew a spine and tracked me down." Kai spoke over the comm with a proud grin, standing in the holding area, looking over to Karen and Miharu as he held his speaker to his face. "Now, seeing as my rail cannon has been destroyed, you all are likely aware I cannot prevent your probable reinforcements from coming to join the fun. But I wouldn't get comfortable just yet."

Kai then walked towards the main entrance, leaning against the door as he got comfortable. "Now my name is currently unimportant, however you will have the honor of my title. I am Envy, your gracious host. And beside me are Karen Kisaragi and Miharu… your special nurse." His hesitation came as he forgot the nurse's last name, already having lost interest in her father's tie to the hell he created.

"With me beside them, I decided why not make this little exchange interesting? A game of sorts." Kai's satisfaction was chilling to the core, as he looked towards Miharu particularly. "I have checkpoints, where important contenders are waiting to prove themselves. The old guard against the future of humanity if you may. You simply have to defeat each checkpoint, sounds wonderfully easy, except for the catch."

"I know there's seven of you. And I have three checkpoints. The rule is simple, if I see the same amount of people leave the checkpoint as entered, I will kill the nurse here and now." He explained. "But it's not that simple either. I hear Slayers are renowned for their physical prowess, so I want to see the speed behind you. Thirty minutes, that's how long the nurse has before I kill her. It's a fun game isn't it, my pawns against yours? Come Artorian, this game is long overdue."

"You're insane." Miharu spat at Kai as he deactivated the comm, the Sin giving a low grin at the woman's scorn.

"I'm forward thinking. I meant what I said when I mentioned this is for humanity's future. Slayers or Vessels, freaks of aliens or freaks of humanity. Who will come out on top? I think it's a fair argument to discuss what will dictate the soul of our people."

"And you think that justifies a death gauntlet?"

"Oh no, you justify the death gauntlet." Kai chuckled. "I'm getting Slayer blood either way, your blood will just be the bonus."

"Kai this… it doesn't have to be this way." Karen spoke up, finding it hard to think of what words can reason with him. He was a Vessel, introduced to the Abyss and allowed to let it fester. While his body was superhuman and the powers he granted would no doubt put him as an equal to a Slayer, the worst of him was amplified as well, his delusions even tricking him into thinking he had some saving grace, or of what he had done to her in the past.

Karen's voice brought a look of sympathy from Kai, as he knelt down to be closer in height to the girl to avoid coming off as imposing to her.

"But it does Karen, our world has been under the thumb of a monster and his decisions. Artorias doomed us to be subservient to a caste of freaks, but now we finally have a chance to actually stand up to that reign." He then held his hand up, Karen and Miharu watching in shock and disgust as his skin contorted, spreading out as calcium rich bone split between and covered his hand, almost as if like a layer of armor. "It's not pretty, there's no arguing that… but its what we as humans are at our core. And I'd gladly be a part of human's pure nature then the freaks of Lords and Savage piss."

"Even if it means becoming the exact freaks you rose against?" Miharu questioned, getting the Vessel to tilt his head with a mocking smile.

"Oh, does the ignorant has a theory?"

"It's common knowledge that the Slayers who use Hundreds and energy are categorized as Second Generation Slayers, meaning the generation Artorian taught was created through different means." Miharu explained, genuinely getting Kai's attention as he crossed his arms. "You and your subordinate mentioned something before, the Abyss if I'm correct. A common expression for the depravity of men, but also of the horrors of the unknown. And it doesn't take a genius to know whoever made you used something related in definition to gift your troops their powers."

She's had time to think on this, a day of recovering from Kai's previous assault and the temporary relief of Cronu's treatment had her ponder on what was going on. All she had to go on was supernatural abilities and the moniker Abyss: something that even Karen recognized given the face she made when the two Vessels revealed their abilities. And it wasn't hard for her to realize the one other name where that title was, and the implications behind it.

"Charlotte Dimandias is credited as the one who performed the surgeries for the First Generation Slayers, with Artorias Abyssal being the forefather and first successful Slayer created. But that isn't the truth, is it?"

"It's more than likely Abyssal's creation, what of it?"

"A name like Abyssal, there's no doubt Artorias' method for creating the First Generation Slayers was to use the same thing that made you like this." Miharu pointed out, a serious stare coming from the man in return. "How does it feel? Being a coward, a monster, and a hypocrite?"

Kai said nothing as he stood up, keeping a firm stare down at Miharu and only her. The presence of the Abyss was felt across the room, the vile entity at the center of it deep in thought of the theory the nurse had come up with. His Liege was no Vessel, instead he was something far beyond that none of the others were allowed to discuss. On a deeper thought, it made sense to believe that Lord Raime and Artorias may have been similar organisms, both evidently being Lords and having a hand in creating super soldiers.

"I'll forgive the transgression this time, only because you've given me something to discuss with after this battle is over." Kai's calm response felt like a far cry from the appearance of it, the Abyss broadcasting the overwhelming bloodlust he was feeling in the moment. His desire to kill Miharu was hardly hidden, but it extended beyond just her.

"Can't have my prize for the death gauntlet be a corpse, it wouldn't be very sporting of me." The Sin spat before he turned, hesitating for a moment as a last thought crossed his mind. "You asked how does it feel? To be a monster?" He then looked back to her, his body shrouded in darkness as milky white orbs peered into the nurse. "It feels good. It feels really good."

"Bastards!" Krovanh shouted as he slammed a fist into the wall, growling after the intercom turned off. "They're turning this into a game!"

"Calm down, if we lose composure now we'll make mistakes." Nesat try to temper her brother, seeing him shake with rage at the situation.

"It's just like Vitaly, turning people into pawns and holding lives over our heads."

"I know, but it isn't us who is the lure."

"Shinshisho?" Touka asked, Artorian having remained still at the elevator shaft when the intercom turned on. As she got closer, she looked in shock to see the Abysswalker shaking, his hand trembling on the doorframe as he looked down to the darkness below.

'T-That voice… it couldn't be… could it?'

It wasn't the same, of course it wasn't. Ten years would change any voice drastically… but the foreboding and sense of dread was all too familiar. It was the way this Envy spoke that it reminded him of Kai, whether it was the truth or not, it was the thought that had him halt in fear, Touka reaching for him as she saw the anxiety in his eyes.

"Artor-!" Before Emilia finished calling for him, Artorian jammed a pair of fingers down his throat, forcing himself to wretch and puke out bile down the elevator shaft. The team watched as the hybrid gagged and spat whatever was left, one last forceful wrench getting the last of vomit from his throat.

"There… got it out of your system?" Artorian asked himself, spitting the taste out of his mouth as he stood upright and stared down to the familiar void.

"Are you okay?" Emilia asked, placing a supportive hand on his arm.

"No… but that doesn't matter now." Artorian answered honestly, not relieving Emilia but him not shaking her off was good enough to show he had some composure. "Just thought I heard a ghost, it isn't worth getting shaken over."

"So what's the plan?" Reitia asked. "Can we bypass their game?"

"No, not if he's tracking us." Artorian responded, kneeling down at the edge. "We're no longer doing a raid, we're in his house, playing by their rules."

"So all we can do is play their game?"

"Unless we're okay with Miharu dying here and now." The Abysswalker stated, the entire group returning silence before he nodded. "Good, glad we're all on the same page for that." He then stood upright again, shifting his sword in his hand while his shield shifted from his back to his arm. "We have no more time to waste then."

"How will we decide who stays for each checkpoint?" Sakura asked, the group taking the plunge and jumping down the shaft down the impending darkness.

"We'll figure it out as we go, but my only order is no one person is left alone." Artorian said, looking to everyone. "We are plunging into hell now, might as well do it with a buddy."

"Understood."

"Such fun, such fun." Kai chuckled with glee, fiddling with a cylinder device between his palms, sitting on a lone chair shrouded in darkness. "Let the game begin. Let's make our last one a good one, Artorian."

(A/N): A bit late on the release, and unfortunately a little light on what I had wanted. I'll admit this chapter feels a little less than desired, but in my hopes it's the last little jump I need to dig my teeth into the climax that's the arc. From here on it's a free flow balance of my writing, a method where I thrive in, so with luck I'll be swinging in hard and getting things out as intended. I'm sure it'll be a fun ride when we get there.

Until then, I hope this keeps you all ready for more and I'll see you in the next chapter. Peace!