The captured trio were taken down to the bottom of the tower. Anything that could have been useful was taken from them. Reaching their destination ended up in a barren storeroom with several other people who were just mulling around. Obviously these people were more victims of the Blood Alliance, though to what extent or reason didn't really matter. One of the guards shoved Yuri in, "Now shut up for a while!"

Yuri wasn't too thrilled with being pushed around like that, "What's the deal?"

One of the other prisoners came up to the guard. He was an older man, probably a traveling merchant, "Please, I've got to get out of here!"

"It's always somethin' with you, isn't it old man?" the guard was ready to cut the old man down without a second thought.

Aile moved between him and the blade, "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to point your dinner knife at your elders?" The guard tried to strike her down, but she turned, using one of her helmet wings to block his sword, and it didn't even leave a scratch. "Want to try that again?" The wing opened up, knocking back the guard's arm and sword.

Yuri and the Dragon Rider were now flanking Aile, much to the guard's worry. The other one outside called out, "That's enough."

The guard left, slamming the door behind him. Aile wasn't worried that her armor was damaged, though she finally disengaged from her merge, grabbing hold of X and H. "Too bad they took my other Biometals otherwise getting out of here wouldn't be so perplexing."

Yuri turned to her, "Can't you just power up with H and X again?"

"I could, but all I really have are swords and my electric strikes in that form. Or I could just use X's buster, but I'd have few close quarter counters if I charge my shots. Though I'd prefer not to stain my hand with blood if I don't have to. But besides that, I need to rest a bit. All of that flying and the battle earlier may not seem like much but it does take a toll."

Seeing that they weren't going anywhere anytime soon, the Dragon Rider pulled his helmet off, and took Yuri by surprise. Beneath the helm the rider had soft smooth skin, blue hair tied in a bun, two outstretched pointy ears that stick out about 7-8 inches to the sides along with strange light blue furry things coming from the back of the Rider's head, "A woman…and she's Krityan?"

As much as Aile wanted to ask what a Krityan was, she had seen a few like her in some of the towns they've been in. Though Aile attention quickly turned to the hole in the Krityan's shoulder armor. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

The Krityan smiled, "I'm fine, thank you. And thank you for keeping Ba'ul safe."

"Ba'ul?"

She smile, "Yes, my friend."

Yuri recalled, "Oh, you mean that monster."

The strange Krityan removed her bulky armor, putting it aside though she had a surprisingly eye-catching outfit that left very little to the imagination. A little white shirt that didn't even go to her shoulders and covered her upper back while a blue bra-like short covered her rather impressive sized breasts. She had a skirt-like cover around her back though it also partly concealed a small knife strapped to her left leg. She also had very clean white gloves and a pair of blue boots that matched her ensemble.

While Aile was recovering Yuri started up a new conversation with the Krityan, "So tell me. Why do you keep destroying blastia?" She hesitated, something Yuri noticed, "Not a big deal if you don't feel like talking about it."

She turned away, "…I'm afraid it's not as impressive as you might think. I destroy them because I want to."

Yuri suspected she wasn't being truthful, though he wasn't going to push it, "You're right, I'm not that impressed. So that's why you mashed up Barbos' blastia too."

"Yes, but I didn't finish the job."

Yuri looked to his bodhi blastia on his wrist, "And can you just let this one go?"

She turned back to look at it, "There wouldn't be any fun in destroying something like that."

Yuri checked out the door, then to Aile. "Have you rested enough?"

Aile slowly picked herself up, "I'd prefer a bit longer, but this is enough to Megamerge."

Yuri turned back to the Krityan, "Say, why don't we team up a little longer."

"Hmm… It's true I missed my chance to destroy the blastia on the roof."

Yuri smiled, "Then it's decided."

"So, what do we do?" openly curious about Yuri's plan.

"Hmm…" Yuri examined the Krityan again, "There's one way I was thinking we could get out of here without relying on Aile."

She smiled, "Well, if you think it might work, what's the harm in trying it out? I always say, 'Those who can should'."

"Okay, just go along with me on this." Yuri pointed to Aile, "And try not to get too involved." Aile really didn't trust what Yuri had planned, though if it doesn't require her to merge with the Biometals it was at least worth seeing what happens.

It didn't help that the Krityan started to crack her knuckles, "I'll just follow your lead."

Aile really didn't like the sound of that, "I'm almost afraid to see you two with Deesh now."

Yuri stretched his neck and arms, "Don't worry. It's a little nerve-wracking working with a pretty lady, though." Yuri then out of the blue punched the Krityan's face as she retaliated with her own punch. "Oh, that is it!"

The two were really getting involved now and causing quite the ruckus, enough that the guards finally yelled, "Pipe down!"

The two stopped the actual fighting as they continued to yell, "Cut it out!"

"You cut it out!"

"I said that's enough!"

"I've had it up to here with you!"

"Somebody get me away from this psycho!"

They need to goad the guards more as Aile helped keep the other prisoners out of the way and prepared for what they were really up to,

The guard finally had enough and rushed in, "So I'm gonna have ta teach ya a lesson, huh?"

Yuri and the Krityan turned with a sinister grin on their faces, both knocking the guard out with a double whammy to the face. Aile swiftly merged into Model HX and stunned the other guard with her electricity.

The Krityan smiled, "Ta-dah, we're free." The other prisoners quickly fled the scene, taking what was there's and a little extra before leaving through the front gates.

Aile checked the pulse on the guard before she dragged him into the cell, "Could you two at least discuss some of your plans with me instead of just acting on your own. Deesh is bad enough and she doesn't seem to care what others think."

Yuri didn't see the problem. "It worked, didn't it?" He turned to the Krityan, "Thanks for your help."

She walked toward Yuri, "I still think I owe you one more."

"Huh?"

She slapped Yuri one more time, "There, that makes us even."

Yuri rubbed his check, "Guess I overdid it back there…" He then rose his hand to her to hi five, "I'm Yuri. Yuri Lowell."

She gladly reciprocated, "Judith."

Judith raised her other hand, "Aile," happily joining in.

"Judith…?" Yuri didn't seem to like saying it, "'Judy' is easier to say."

She didn't seem to mind, "Fine by me. All right, on to the next objective."

Aile looked around, "Well, personally I'd like to recover my Biometals before doing anything major."

"Right, we'd be useless against Barbos without our weapons." Yuri looked around, his sight finally stopping at the stairs that were retracted to the next floor, "Well, we could check out the blastia on the roof. All we have to do is go up."

Judith looked to Yuri, "Won't your friends be waiting for you?"

"I don't mind taking care of the blastia first. We're already here. Besides they aren't in any danger."

Aile looked back, "I don't mind either, but most of them will probably start worrying soon enough."

Judith looked to the retracted ladder, "Up we go then."

Yuri looked up too, "And how exactly do we go up?"

"This is heavy." Judith had moved to a lever trying to raise it on her own.

"Yeah, just wander off…" Yuri then joked with Aile, "Reminds me of a certain princess."

Judith's big elfish ears were more than just show since she heard that whisper, "A princess?"

"Never mind." Yuri looked to the stuck lever, not expecting to be able to move it if Judy couldn't. "There's gotta be a way up around here somewhere."

Raven looked up to the imposing tower, "Well, wasn't expectin' that."

Deesh snorted, "The fleeing merchants already told us about this tower. Though if the sandstorm had to hide this, it would have been unnaturally stationary."

Shadow though seemed impressed, "Still for a guy like Barbos to manage to create a tower this big without anyone noticing means he at least knows how to be discreet despite his thuggish men."

Rita shook her head, "I can't see the practicality of such a base. Not to mention the poor blastia he had to clobber together to cause an artificial sandstorm."

Shadow started cracking her knuckles, "So what are we waiting for? Besides our grumpy lizard and the dirty old man over there, none of us are stealth specialists. Let's kick down some doors and crack some skulls."

Aile, Judith and Yuri managed to get upstairs thanks to a leaking pipe of aer that somehow powered up the sorcerer's ring. They were able to find most of their equipment save for Judith's spear. Aile confirmed from her Biometals that one of the Blood Alliance 'claimed it' when none of the others were looking.

Judith picked out a random spear to use for the time being, and though she seemed attached to the weapon she didn't express much hope of finding it anytime soon.

The team fought their way through a group of Blood Alliance and monsters guarding the next floor. Aile's left arm transformed back from its cannon form and back to her hand before she defused with Model X. "That arm cannon is pretty powerful to stun a guy in one shot. Why don't you just use that one?"

Aile looked to Yuri's sword, "The X-Buster is powerful, but doesn't handle all that well when an opponent gets too close. Besides, it's a lot less strenuous to use just Model X alone when there are so few enemies around. And this tower climb feels like it's going to be an endurance run."

Aile pushed open the doors to the second floor to a scene of Repede, Rita, and Raven dealing with members of the Blood Alliance and some of the monsters protecting the tower as Rita blasted the rest, "There, that's the last of 'em!"

Aile looked impressed, "It seems everything out here has been taken care of already."

Deesh sheathed her blade, "If you wanted to take them down, you should have been faster."

"Yuri! I'm so glad you're alright!"

Yuri wasn't expecting to see Estelle among them, "Estelle, why are you here? You guys are supposed to be looking after the town. And dragging Estelle along…"

"I decided to come myself." Estelle asserted.

"That's right!" Karol joined her, "We were all worried about you…"

Rita scoffed, "Hey, just for the record, I wasn't worrying about him."

Deesh huffed, "I only came because I want to see this to the end."

Shadow looked up to the tower, "At least it wasn't too hard to find."

Raven leaned in, "Well, I for one was worried sick."

Yuri didn't think so, "Yeah right. And when did you just start showing up wherever we go, anyway?"

Raven sighed as he shrugged, "It's like this, see? The Don's havin' a fit sayin' there's no way he'll let Barbos make a fool outta him, but I'm the one he sends to do his dirty work."

Yuri looked back to the door, "Well… Now that you're here I wonder what you can do with this."

Deesh snorted at Aile, "Then there was no point of us coming here. You three should have been enough."

"Three? Who are you…" Judith walked over answering Estelle's question.

Raven quickly moved to Judith, "…A-and who might this lovely Krityan be? Is she a princess?"

Rita looked rather annoyed at Raven's flirting, "Layin' it on a little thick there, old man."

Yuri turned to them, "This is Judith. We were locked up together."

Judith simply waved with a smile, "Hello."

Everyone started introducing themselves, "Hi, I'm Karol!"

"I'm Estellise."

"Rita Mordio."

"Shadow."

"Deesh-Lursha. Or Deesh for short. The war beast beside me is Strider. The other creatures are following the 'pack'."

"And I am the great…"

"Old man." Rita quickly interjecting into Raven's introduction.

He was quick to correct her, "It's Raven! R-A-V-E-N! Raven!"

Karol murmured, "You have to wonder about people who introduce themselves like that."

Shadow laughed, "Yeah, usually that's the kind of guy you end up getting kicked in the balls after he tries groping your ass."

Deesh huffed, "Speaking from experience?"

Shadow kicked a few stones around, "Helps to be ready for anything. And these legs are really good at kicking."

Raven looked away after the criticism, "Hmm…That didn't quite have the 'ring' I was lookin' for."

Aile looked up, "I think we should focus on the climb up."

Judith smiled, "Hehe… What an interesting bunch of people."

Raven immediately turned around, "Ooh! I think she likes me!"

Rita was done, "Idiot…"

Estelle however was curious about their new companion, "Judith, what were you doing in a place like this?"

Judith hesitated for a moment, though she also didn't seem like she had a quick response either. "I came to have a look at the blastia."

"All the way out here? Why?" Rita didn't seem too convinced by Judith's half-truth.

"I—"

Yuri stepped in, covering for her, "She was captured while she was on a sort of…research trip."

"Yeah, the Kritya do like their research…" That seemed to placate Rita for now.

Deesh looked to Yuri, "Seeing as you coming from inside the tower, that means your aquae blastia wasn't below."

Yuri didn't seem to want to remember, "Yeah, we couldn't find it."

Aile assured him, "If Ragou didn't have it, then Barbos probably does here your missing core."

Yuri couldn't agree more, "We'll just have to ask Barbos about it once we've caught him." As the others prepared to go up the ladder, Yuri noticed Raven wasn't moving. "What is it, old man?"

Raven shrugged, turning toward the tower, "Ah, nothing… Just thinking how you could really brag ta your friends if ya lived in a place like this."

Yuri couldn't get a read on Raven's rambling, instead choosing to ignore him for now, "Repede, come on. I guess, you too, old man…"

"You guess? What's that supposed to mean?" Once Yuri started going up the ladder, Raven's demeanor changed, glancing back behind one of the walls, "Aren't you a little old to play hide and seek? What's wrong with pokin' your head out every once in a while? These kids are really givin' it a go. They could use your help every now and again."

The mysterious Duke walked forward from behind the wall, "If such a necessity arises, I shall interfere. No such necessity exists now."

Raven relented, "All right, all right. I know you've got your own business to take care of."

Duke didn't seem too amused, "…I do not have the time for these clowning antics of yours."

"Jeez, watch where yer pointin' words like that."

Duke walked away, leaving the tower, "The affairs of this world hold no interest for me."

Raven soon joined the others, seeing Aile giving a detailed explanation about what to expect within the tower climb. "…So look forward to Blood Alliance members alongside tamed and invading monsters. Though I think our biggest concerns will be any mechanical failures that might occur while activating systems to lower the stairs. Given the unnecessary complexity of the mechanism expect to be at least an hour of fighting and moving cogs before we reach the top."

Rita however couldn't take her eyes off of Judith's weapon. With all of the important information given, she finally found an opportunity to comment, "So you use a spear too…"

"Oh, do you know someone who also uses a spear?" Judith's rather playful tone made it difficult to determine if she was being sincere about her question.

Rita though seemed to take her at face value, for the moment, "Eh, well not quite. It just reminds me of some jerk."

Karol knew where this was going, "Are you talking about the dragon rider?"

"Yeah…" Rita then immediately pointed at Aile and Yuri, "Hey, don't you two have something you need to tell me."

"What? Us?"

"Yes." Rita wasn't playing around, not with all of the roundabout she already had chasing Raven, "So where is that dragon freak now."

Aile and Yuri glanced to one another for a moment, with Aile speaking first, "When we arrived and damaged the tower, some of Barbos's men shot at us. So Yuri and I went down to deal with them. We saw the dragon flee the scene."

Yuri collaborated, "There wasn't really much he could have done once I was disarmed and we were forced to surrender. I'm pretty sure he wasn't too badly hurt…"

Rita pounded her fists together, "Good, because I can't very well beat him up if he's already injured!"

Raven seemed a little concerned by her comment, "Whoa whoa, that's the whole reason you came here?"

Rita huffed, pointing up toward the tower, "No! I also can't forgive this Barbos guy for what he did! Abusing blastia like that! Has he no shame?"

Yuri could understood, though he had other concerns, "That's no reason to bring the Princess along with you to a dangerous place like this."

Estelle quickly corrected Yuri, "It's not Rita's fault. I decided to come here, myself. I can't see bad people doing harm to others and simply let it happen."

Shadow spun her hand cannon on her trigger finger, ready to go, "Good, cause once we corner him, Barbos will probably prefer to go out swinging. Trust me. I've already kill a number of guys like him."

Yuri had long since given up trying to argue with Estelle. Instead he glanced down, "Captain Karol, don't let me down! I'm counting on your skills."

"Yes, of course! Come on," Karol rallying everyone, "let's go take that jerk to school!"

As the others followed, Yuri stopped Judith to whisper, "I'm sorry, but would you mind keeping your background to yourself? We've got someone who might kind of explode if she knew."

She nodded slightly, "Sure, I understand. That'll be best for both of our interests."

Yuri glanced back to the others ahead of them, "Though I think the lizard has already figured you out. I don't think she'll stir up trouble unless you start it."

"She does seem reasonable." Judith spun her newly acquired spear, already used to the difference in weight from her previous weapon, "Let's get going before they finish everyone in this part of the tower."