"Well this sucks." Kazuma stated, as the group with Raphtalia were locked inside of a prison cell.
"You all should know, you're only here until we turn you over to Master Kyo." the guard who had led them there stated. "I recommend getting as comfy as possible, you won't be so lucky once you're in his hands." he said before he marched away.
Raphtalia grabbed onto the bars in an attempt to pry them open, only to fall slack, suddenly feeling drained. "My power…"
"You're wasting your time. The more you use your power here, the more it gets sucked away." a voice said as Raphtalia and her group turned to see L'Arc, Therese, and Glass behind them in ropes. "And you can't force open the door with that tiny body."
"Mr.L'Arc, , and too!" Ginseng said.
"Wait a minute…kiddos?" L'Arc realized.
"Then that small one must be…" Glass started.
"Raphtalia?" Therese asked.
"Huh…it is her!" L'Arc said. "How did you guys get into our world? Where's the Shield kiddo? And why's Raphtalia so small?"
"It is a long story." Natyal said.
The group recapped everything that had happened to them, and how they got locked up to the three Vassal heroes. For L'Arc, Therese and Glass's part, they were locked up because they fell into a trap set by Kyo.
"So we're all stuck here together." Kazuma said. "All because Kyo screwed us both, isn't that a coincidence?"
"And Naofumi's probably going crazy with Raphtalia not with him." Xion noted. "We have to escape somehow and get back to him and the others."
"How are we going to do that when this cell is siphoning away our power?" Subaru asked.
"This may be a risky idea, considering the circumstances…" Papyrus spoke up. "But perhaps by working together with the Three Vassal heroes, we can all escape as one!"
"Uh…I'm not a Vassal Hero. But that does sound like a good idea." Therese said.
"So…why do L'Arc and Glass still have their weapons? I thought they would be taken." Frisk asked.
"It's part of the package deal. A Vassal or Cardinal weapon can't be stolen." L'Arc said.
"Hmm…our powers and abilities are weakened, but…they can still be used, right?" Sans asked.
"Uh, yeah. That's right." Therese said.
"I see what you're getting at, brother! Our abilities on our own will not destroy our cells, but if we combine them…!" Papyrus started.
"We could…but that's not what I'm gettin' at." Sans replied. "We'll need to take the quiet route first. Right, Raph?" he turned to Raphatlia.
"Yes, I understand." Raphtalia said as she began to give off a golden aura.
The guard passed by the cell the group was stuck in, before he noticed it was empty. "They're gone!" he realized before he quickly entered the cell, only to see everyone still there. "Huh? Where were you all hiding a moment earlier?"
"Nah. We were just waitin' for you to get in here with us." Sans said.
"Huh?" the guard said as his seal was stolen by Raphtalia before the group made a break for it, escaping into the woods.
"Hahahaha! Illusions! Not a bad play!" Xion said.
"I didn't know you could do that, Raphtalia." Ginseng said.
"It's all I can do at this level." Raphtalia admitted. "I haven't had to use it for some time."
"You should use it more often. A sword-user they'd never see coming! It's genius!" Subaru said.
"The others should be in the country called Sikul." Asia remembered. "That's where we need to go."
"We'll tag along. Heck, we'll even get you to Sikul. Let's just say I know the way there better than you think." L'Arc said.
After their escape from prison, the group was traveling the land in disguise.
"So what should be our plan?" Kabuki asked.
"We'll use Return Dragon Vein to get back to Sikul. Closest one is in Raybul." L'Arc said.
"Sounds good." Kazuma said.
"Hopefully we can level up Raphtalia along the way." Subaru said.
"With us by her side, it's no doubt possible." Kagetsu said.
As they traveled and leveled up in those couple of days, they soon reached Raybul, right when something was going on.
"Huh…there's a lot of people running around." Wendy said.
"Hey, what's going on?" Frisk asked a civilian.
"There's been a candidate chosen to try and wield the Katana Vassal Weapon.' they said.
'A new Vassal Weapon user?" Therese asked.
"Great. Just what we needed." L'Arc said as he sighed a bit.
"This could be trouble. They could pick up on me and L'Arc. The mere presence of a hero can tilt the balance of power." Glass said.
"Okay. Not sure how it's a problem for L'Arc though." Raphtalia said.
"All right. As heroes, we should go and witness this moment with our very eyes." L'Arc said as he led the way.
The group ended up in a crowd, all of whom were watching a small shrine, which held a katana planted in the stone.
"I'm thinking that's the Vassal Weapon." Subaru said.
"Yeah, the Vassal Katana. But despite what they're all saying. The weapon chooses you, you don't choose it." L'Arc said.
"Now, candidate, come forward! If you truly desire the katana, draw it!" the guard said as stepping forward was Kazuki himself.
"Oh crap, it's Trash the Second." Kazuma whispered.
"It's Lord Kazuki!"
"He'll be the one to wield it?"
"For scum such as him, unlikely." Natyal said to herself.
Kazuki took hold of the handle only for a green light to shine from it before dying down.
"R-Raphtalia!" Ginseng said with a surprised expression.
Everyone was shocked, Raphatalia most of all, as the Katana Vassal weapon didn't end up in Kazuki's hands….but her's instead!
"Uh oh…" Kazuma said. "I think we've been noticed!"
"You all…!" Kazuki realized before he gestured to the guards. "Seize them! They've stolen the Katana Vassal Weapon!"
"We're getting out of here." Natyal said.
"Don't have to tell me twice, let's book it!" Kazuma agreed as the guards approached.
Raphtalia's group made a break from the site, getting separated from L'Arcs party in the process. They were chased for a while, but eventually found a good place to hide in an alley.
"I think we're safe now. You doing alright, Raphtalia?" Xion asked.
"Im fine… but, my Slave Crest is gone. It must be because I have this vassal weapon now. But, why would it…?" Raphtalia asked before her train of thought was suddenly cut off as the Katana Vassal Weapon pulsed. Grasping herself in pain, Raphtalia suddenly became aware that her body was growing. In the span of a minute or so, Raphtalia soon returned to her adult form.
"Raphtalia, you're back in your adult form!" Ginseng realized.
"Did the Vassal Weapon restore your levels?" Frisk asked.
"I…I think so, but…" Raphtalia said, disoriented.
"They're over there!" the group heard a guard yell, causing them to go on the run again.
"Ditch the stupid sword already!" Kazuma said.
"I can't. It's stuck to my hands." Raphtalia said.
"It's like L'Arc and Glass. They can't get rid of their weapons." Subaru said. "Raphtalia's a Vassal Hero now."
"Yes. The Katana Hero." Papyrus said.
"Everyone, look!" Asia pointed ahead to a flight of stairs. "We can put more distance between those guards up there."
The group made their way to the stairs, Raphtalia tripping on the way there, being helped up by Natyal.
"Come on. We need to…" Wendy said as the lights leading to a shrine lit up as a woman approached.
"It's…you. I've waited for you, Vassal Katana Hero." she said.
Raphtalia was led into the shrine as the others were forced to stay outside.
"Oh come on! We wanna hide too! We're being chased by…" Subaru said before they saw the guards catch up. "Well…crap."
It was at this moment that the doors opened up once more, Raphtalia emerging in a Miko outfit as she gracefully took each step forward with confidence.
"The Vassal Hero!" the guards said as they halted as they let Raphtalia come forward only for Kazuki to block their path.
"Return my Vassal Weapon." Kazuki said as he drew his sword.
"Sorry. Can't return what was never yours to begin with." Xion said.
"I don't want to shed meaningless blood here. Leave peacefully and you'll be spared." Raphtalia said.
"You have some nerve, talking down to me you disgusting thief. That sword belongs to me. I'm the only one who's worthy of it." Kazuki said. "Give the katana back to me, and I'll be generous enough to grant you and your friends painless deaths."
"You may think that. But there's something you should know about Vassal weapons. You don't choose them. They choose you." Xion said.
"And because I was recently chosen, you'll have to forgive my lack of discipline. If you don't move, none of us will guarantee your safety." Raphtalia said.
"If that's supposed to be your way of saying you might accidentally kill me, think again!" Kazuki said, charging straight at Raphtalia. But, he wasn't able to connect with a single blow, and in an instant, Raphtalia had connected with a strike of her own.
"Powder Snow." Raphtalia said as a trail of white snowy blood was left in her trail.
"Wait…did she cut him?" Subaru asked.
"No…she didn't cut him…" Wendy said as Kazuki looked at the substance. "She cut his magic."
"Uh, guys? Company!" Kazuma called out as in front of them were two white tigers with tags on their foreheads, making their eyes glow red.
"Hmph. these two friends of mine are copies of Byakko, one of the Four Holy Beasts." Kazuki said.
"Holy Beasts…then they're guardians like the Spirit Tortoise?" Raphtalia asked.
"Not quite. It looks like they're only synthetic copies. They may look like real animals, but they're more than likely just clones." Xion said. "He's no better than Kyo if he's resorting to this."
"How dare you say that assholes name in my presence! If you all want to be Byakkos dinner, then so be it!" Kazuki said as the Byakko clones charged.
"Using copies of them is an insult to the real one, who raised me alongside the other three Celestial Beasts." Natyal said as she stretched her chain.
"Will you forgive me if I cut them down, Natyal?" Raphtalia asked.
"They're just clones. Do what you have to." Natyal said.
"Alright…" Raphtalia said, cutting them down in one swift motion as she sliced both their stomachs.
"I am so glad our lord is not here to see that. He would've been infuriated at Kazuki for this insult." Kabuki said.
"She defeated them? But that's impossible…" Kazuki said.
"The Spirit Tortoise brought more fight than that." Subaru said.
"Those clones were an insult to its strength." Raphtalia said. "We don't have to fight. Leave, and you'll be spared."
"Like I'd run from you!" Kazuki said as he recovered and charged.
"Very well." Raphtalia said as she retaliated instantly. "Instant Blade: Mist!" she said, executing a lethal slice across Kazuki's chest. Kazuki didn't feel the pain, but one mistake could end his life.
"I wouldn't move. If you do, Raphtalia's attack will take full effect." Xion said.
"I'll heal you!" one of Kazuki's retainers said, doing so.
"What're you doing, hurry and go kill them! We need to get my Vassal Weapon before they escape!" Kazuki ordered.
"But you heard her Kazuki, if you move, you'll die." the retainer said.
"And besides, the weapon chose Raphtalia, not you. So by my understanding, it was never yours to begin with." Kagetsu said.
"Why do you crave the Vassal Katana so badly?" Natyal said. "Do you truly wish to earn Kyo's favor at any cost?"
"Shut your mouth, you filthy demi human!" Kazuki said. "You are nothing but trash. You could never fit in with us humans."
"With humans who act the way you do, not always. That's why I stand with people like them." Natyal said, putting her hands on Ginseng's head and Raphtalia's shoulders.
"Grrr…shut up! I'll slice that stupid head off your…" Kazuki said as he took a step only to fall into two different pieces.
"Yeah…probably why she said not to move." Sans said.
"Huh…this is actually fitting for him. Its been a blast, Trash II." Kazuma said as they all headed off.
No sooner did they leave the temple grounds that Raphtalia collapsed to her knees, having overexerted herself.
"H-Hey, hang in there!" Ginseng said.
"I'm fine Ginseng… I just overdid it a little. Using a Vassal weapon is going to take some getting used to." Raphtalia said.
"Even so, you performed exemplary." Natyal said.
"Uh….yeah…maybe hold off on that?" Subaru suggested as a Byakko towered over them.
"This one looks stronger than the last two…" Xion said as the able fighters went into a defensive formation in front of Raphtalia.
"AVAVAGO!" a voice called as Gomorrah appeared behind the Byakko and chomped down on it before letting out a roar.
"Well, probably didn't need to go that hard, but always nice to have a witch like you backing us, Simon." Kazuma said, seeing the others arriving.
"Warlock." Simon corrected.
"Whatever. Glad to see everyone is here. But how did…" Kazuma said.
"We had help tracking down Raphtalia so it wasn't hard to figure out where you all were." Theo said.
It was at this moment that Naofumi approached Raphtalia.
"Master Naofumi…I'm sorry. I…" she said before Naofumi went and hugged her. "Everyone…thank you, for rescuing me. I knew you'd come."
"So your slave crest…" Theo said.
"Gone. It disappeared after I took the Katana." Raphtalia said.
"It means you're free now. So…are you going to…" Theo said.
"Master, everyone…I'm home…right where I belong." Raphtalia said as she kept close to the group.
"Yeah…" Naofumi said as the others grouped up. "Welcome home."