The sound of whimpering was the first thing that came to mind when Gales started coming to, his eyes slowly opening to see that his trusted Palamute was next to him, Nudging him, licking him as he tried making sure he was alright. "Hey Garm…" Hearing his partner the Palamute barked, jumped slightly before running in a full circle and went back to aggressively licking him. "I'm glad your ok too." The Hunter muttered as he started to sit up, groaning as he did before taking a breath and looked around. "What I miss?"

"Not much…" Garm snapped to attention as he turned his body going rigid as he started to growl. "Just the greatest Dive in history." Gales turned as he saw that the masked individual from before was walking up to him. His glaive balanced on his shoulder as he stared off into the distance.

"You!" Gales made quick work turning around, grabbed his greatsword and got to his feet.

"Easy there." The masked one stated. "Don't hurt yourself." They recommend "I'm done here. So I won't be fighting anymore."

"Where is everyone?" Gales asked as the figure just made a gesture elsewhere. Everyone was 'here' scattered across the destroyed battlefield. They were unconscious but they were still alive it seemed. The Deviljho was gone; mutilated by some kind of intense heat with the entire upper part of its head completely torn off. A part that was currently beneath Ignia's talons and being thrown towards the forest.

The Great Wyvern released a triumphant roar, signaling his victory over the intruder before lowering his head to take a breath as his eyes stared at the masked one.

His gaze didn't waver.

"Relax, big guy." The figure stated. "We're done here."

"What?" He looked at Gales. "What do you mean we're done?"

"Exactly that." He shrugged. "I had my fun, so it's time for me to go." He stated as he turned and started walking off. "See ya."

"Hold on!" Gales shouted. "Why did you even attack us?" He asked. "Are you responsible for helping this Deviljho get here?"

"Not a chance in hell." The figure stated as he looked back. "I just stepped because I wanted to screw with you."

"What?"

"You heard me." The figure stated. "I saw an opportunity to screw with someone so I took it." He admitted.

"You came here… just to screw with us?"

"That's what I said, didn't I?" The masked man did this exaggerated shrug. "And before you ask 'why', it was for fun." He stated. "It was a good break from my current assignment." He admitted before turning again to better address the youth. "Not only that, but I got to see something very interesting." He admitted before falling silent. "Either case I gotta run, got things to do and places to be."

"You think we'll just let you go?" Thorn was already behind him, drawing her blade as she started to swing it.

All she cut was air.

The figure had jumped into the air and proceeded to step on her shoulder before jumping off and higher into the air.

"Damn it!" Something rushed out from beneath the trees as it grabbed hold of the figure as Ignia's face turned skyward and roared. "What is that?"

"A Zerureusu?" Gales muttered. "What the hell is that thing doing here?"

"Great timing Fafnir." The figure stated as he hung onto the wyvern's leg as it continued to hover in the air. The beast looked to Ignia, the Apex of these lands and just made a light noise, not quite a growl and certainly not like a roar. "Anyway, time for us to get lost, so if you don't mind." The figure looked at his partner and whistled. I'll see you around, Hunter."

"Hey!" Gales shouted as he stepped forward. "Wait a minute!" His words fell on deaf ears, as the white and blue wyvern - Fafnir turned and took off towards the forest, leaving the Hunters alone with Ignia.

The Wyvern in question just stared at the retreating beast before it's eyes turned to the Hunters as the others started to slowly get back up.

"Ow~"

"Fuck that hurts…"

"What just happened?" Ignia heard the inconsistant babble before turning towards the sky, his attention turning to Gales as he growled.

"Ah~" Gales raised his free hand to his head as a sudden headache started to hit him. "Not again…"

"Easy Gales…" Thorn muttered as she looked at Ignia and prepared her longsword. "Keep it together."

"We're done here."

"Huh?" Gales' eyes widened as he heard a voice in his head, this one different from those that he'd heard earlier today. "That voice…" Ignia looked away as he spread his wings and started to lift himself off the ground before taking off, though in a different direction from Fafnir.

"He's leaving?"

"Thank the Five…" Karma grumbled, picking himself up. "I don't think we could handle him right now." He admitted. "Or at all."

"Yeah…" Gales muttered as he felt Garm hit him in the leg with his head. "I'm ok…" He told his partner, lowering a hand to pat his head. "Come on, we need to make sure everyone's still alive."

"You seem to be in a good mood." Landing on Fafnir's back, Siegfried smiled as he removed his mask. "Did you enjoy your little outing?"

"You have no idea." He replied as he looked at his counterpart. "Best free time I've had since I was given this assignment." He admitted. "So far anyway."

"I see." Morgana returned his smile with her own as she stared off into the distance. "Well then, I hope you had your fun, I'm not certain when you will get another moment to unwind as you did.

"Well, you never know." Siegfried remarked. "Things might be entertaining for a while."

It feels kind of strange; finding Harribel so quiet.

No… it's not a strange feeling at all, it's just one she'd rather not experience. The absence of life. It wasn't that the city was empty, no, it was just that fact that something was missing.

Calista happened to just know what it was.

From her spot behind a residential balcony, the woman in question looked outward, her gaze turned toward the wilds that consumed everything that was outside the city's borders.

"It's almost nightfall." She notes. "I wonder how long the Expedition will last." Calista mutters as she reaches for a cup of tea and takes a drink. "Should I pray for their safety? Or simply have faith in their abilities?" She wonders as she takes another drink. "They are all good hunters… hopefully that is enough…" Finishing her tea, Calista takes a breath before looking elsewhere. "Still, I can't focus all my attention on them…" She admits before narrowing her eyes. "After all, there are… other matters that need attending." It's around the time those words leave her, she notices a Halk resting in the distance.

Same Halk as yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before then.

"What are you watching…" Calista asked. "Who are you watching?"