By the time Nathan and Ivan arrived with Colin, the sun had reached the upper western side of the sky, their gaze soon looking at a area where the forest cut off, showing with it a rising mountain terrain. What caught Nathan's attention, however, was the castle that seemed to be waiting for them at the midway point of this region, aligning itself in the middle of where the forest met the mountains. "The Eastern keep overlooks the valley that acts as a border between Zandar and the kingdom in the East, which is ruled by the lord we're meeting today." Ivan spoke, looking to Nathan as the man slowed his horse, looking at the keep. "It's a testament to the strength of the land here for it to remain as in place as it is."

"The Eastern kingdom doesn't have a name?" Nathan asked, making Colin turn to him as they were approaching the Keep.

"They've been in a civil war for three years since the fall of their king, and all the sides have their own names for the kingdom." Colin spoke, making Nathan look at him surprised. "From what I've heard, the area is currently settled into a fight between two of the kings sons, the queen's brother, and a neutral faction that refuses to take part in the fight. Because of that, we've mainly kept from using any name for their kingdom as a way to remain neutral in their war."

"Well then, I suppose that would make sense since choosing to trade with them by any of the names would give the others reason to attack." Nathan nodded in understanding before he looked at the other two, their horses nearing the keep. "But there's probably a fair amount of people leaving their kingdom to escape, or who turn to a life of banditry along the outskirts."

"That's the reason for Prince Colin's task of knighting the lord's son, Randalph." Ivan responded, making Nathan look at him confused. "The young man's taken it upon himself to fight the bandits that have been swarming the area, and it's thanks to his efforts that both the people of this land and others who are just seeking shelter are able to do so safely. From what I heard, he deals with most of these matters alone as well."

"One man dealing with so many bandits and the citizens coming into it? I think he'd give you a run for your money if he can take on the monsters we did at those caves." Nathan responded, the group soon turning along the main path before they came across a string of knights marching to the keep, a noble at the lead with black hair and a beard, the standards on their armor showing a black velociraptor. "Well, it seems we're not the only ones meeting with the lord of the keep."

Ivan's gaze hardened, Colin gripping his reigns as he nodded. "Knights from Pendric, one of the factions fighting in the east and serving under the oldest of the sons of the fallen king." Colin spoke, his gaze on the group as they entered into the keep. "They've been demanding the people who have fled from their lands returned to them, but the Lord in Orathan has refused."

"This group ahead is probably to act as a show of force, despite them not being able to point their blades at us without leaving themselves vulnerable to the other factions." Ivan continued for Colin, his gaze on the last of the knights as they entered the keep, the gate shutting behind them. Nathan simply nodded, looking at the shut gate. "However, Pendric has the strongest military force out of the rest, and the prince himself is ambitious, so he may use this as an excuse to start a war with Zandar if he ends up winning the war."

"Which could end up poor on a political scale, given that the people are normally indentured servants tied to the lands they live at." Colin spoke, soon stopping his horse momentarily as the three were in front of the gate, the knights looking down at them as Ivan held up his sword, the symbol of Zandar emblazoned on the hilt. "It's the same over here, which is why I can't understand the Lord's actions since it jeopardizes the peace we currently have."

"Well, maybe you can ask him when you meet with him." Nathan responded, the gate opening as he nodded to it, Ivan putting his sword back at his side as he clicked his heels into his horse, the three moving in as the imposing passageway revealed itself.

"The people aren't yours to keep, Lord Darian!" The shout was clear as Colin led the way to the entrance of the throne room of the keep, the visible sign of the noble shouting at a large man with blazing red hair who made Nathan's eyes widen, catching Ivan's attention as he looked at him. "They've illegally left their homes and crossed into your borders, and we demand them back! Once Pendric reunites from this war-"

"Then we can safely negotiate the matter further, however right now I am inclined to treat them as guests in my lands." the man responded in a gruff voice, his emerald eyes seeming to blaze as he leaned forward in his chair, his stare seeming to make the noble shrink despite the knights on either side of him. "Don't think I haven't heard of the way your people are being treated thanks to this civil war of yours, especially after the forced conscription policies your king has implemented to increase the number of soldiers for your side."

"It is not your place to question our king's policies." The noble started, making the other man stand from his seat.

"Just as it isn't your place to decide how I treat those who enter my lands!" Darian's voice seemed to boom through the area, making the knights surrounding the noble step back from the strength of it, even Ivan and Colin moving back in surprise. The only one who didn't move was Nathan, whose eyes were trained on the lord, catching Ivan's attention. "The people are the lifeblood of the land, and to use them like cattle in the way your master does shows just how short of a lifespan his kingdom will live by if he keeps it up!"

The silence that followed was palpable, giving Ivan the opportunity to tap Nathan's shoulder, snapping him out of his focus on Darian. "What is it?" Ivan asked, making Nathan shake his head, snapping him out of his stare as he did so. "Do you know Lord Darian?"

"No, it's just…" Nathan started, soon pausing as he looked at the lord, his eyes trained on the man as he sat back in his chair, his stare hard.

"If all you've come here for is to give empty threats, then leave." As Darian spoke, his gaze focused on each of the knights, a chilling smirk seeming to play on his face. "Unless you think you and your knights can take on a Keep of Zandar."

The noble opened his mouth, soon closing it before he turned quickly, walking quickly away as his knights followed. "This isn't the end of this." the noble managed to spit out before he sped past Colin and the others, his gaze hovering on Ivan for a moment before he continued walking. As Darian's eyes watched, his eyes soon trained on Colin, making him stand and walk over to him and the others, soon kneeling to one knee as he kept his head low.

"I apologize for the scene here at your arrival, My Prince," Darian spoke, his tone completely different from the commanding tone he showed before, his voice gentler as he lifted his head up to Colin with a smile. "You've grown quite a bit in the last five years since I've seen you."

"It is good to see you as well, Lord Darian." Colin responded, nodding to the lord as he rose from the ground, his towering presence compared to the smaller boy making the interaction almost comedic in Nathan's eyes as Colin looked back at where the noble and knights had left. "I heard you were quite strict on your stance before the eastern kingdom, but wasn't that a bit too harsh towards a neighboring kingdom. Despite their stance, they still have the highest chance to win the civil war."

"That is dependent on if their prince can hold his own against his brother." Darian responded before he shook his head, waving his hand for the group to enter the room as he walked forward. "I know your father may not approve of my actions at the moment, Prince Colin, but after what my son told me of their lands in his time traveling there last month, the people have good cause to leave their lands."

"Is this on the report he sent claiming that the lands were becoming lawless?" Ivan asked, making Darian nod as they walked past the throne, revealing a door that he opened to reveal a war room, a large table showing a map of the region on top.

"And more besides," Darian agreed, his hand soon resting on a bag, gold coins scattered out of it as he looked at the prince. "My son found signs that Pendric has been placing their people in a chokehold for months, made only more apparent with the status of how their people are when they flee to our lands seeking shelter. Even Pendric's 'conscripted troops' act as mere bandits to their own people, taking as they wish regardless of the fact that the war they're fighting is a civil war with countrymen. Those very same men tend to come over the border in hopes of taking from our own lands, but it's thanks to Randalph's efforts against the smaller bands that we can focus on holding the border together."

"His actions in holding the bandits in the region at bay, correct?" Colin asked, only getting a nod from Darian as the prince looked around. "Speaking of which, where is your son? Surely you got my father's letter of wanting me to knight him."

"He caught wind of strange rumors further in our lands, so he went out to investigate it himself." Darian responded, Nathan just looking over everything as he entered into the room, his gaze focused on the map in the room, the lord catching sight of his gaze before looking at Ivan. "May I ask who this may be beside you, Ivan?"

"This is Sir Nathan, a wandering knight from a foreign land, and an ally that aided me with an issue a short time back." Ivan responded, soon walking to Nathan and patting his shoulder. "He's a true friend that I could trust with my life."

"And I'd gladly give mine to help as well, if needed." Nathan responded, his gaze falling on the coins before he looked at Darian. "In the meantime, you said strange rumors. What kind?"

"There's talks of bandits moving in strange ways, vandalizing villages and homes but not taking anything from them." Darian responded, making Nathan just nod as he picked up one of the coins, looking it over as the lord watched him. "Those coins are also found on some of the bandits we caught, which are especially strange."

"I can tell, they're extremely smooth, unminted with any designs for a land." Nathan stared at the coin with a focus, his gaze looking over the edges. "The rims have a detail to them that's too intricate to have been normally made without focus, however, especially with these small holes inside them…"

As he said that, they soon heard a horn blast three times outside, making Darian smile as he patted Nathan's shoulder. "Well, in the meantime maybe my son can shed more light on the matter, given that's the signal for his return." Darian spoke, walking back outside, Nathan's gaze still focused on the coin as Colin followed the lord.

Ivan, however, looked over at Nathan, noticing his hard gaze before he walked beside him. "What is it?" Ivan asked, noticing Nathan's focus on the sides of the coins, his gaze on the holes he pointed out in them

"I've seen these kind of coins before..." Nathan responded, pulling out a small black dagger from his sleeve before he tapped the coin in his finger, causing a clear ringing sound to come from it that seemed like a song, making him nod. "It's Leos Gold…"

"You know where it hails from?" Ivan asked, getting a nod from Nathan as he placed the coin down.

"As well as who could've given it to the bandits, sadly." Nathan then sighed, looking over to Ivan. "It's something I'll need to tell the lord as well, since it very well may be my fault this happened."

With that he pat Ivans shoulder, walking past him to the exit. "What do you mean by that?" Ivan asked, following behind Nathan.

"The towns were attacked, yet had nothing taken, correct?" Nathan looked over at Ivan, his face grim. "That means they're not doing this for profit, they're doing this to bait someone out. More specifically, me."

-Present Day, Nathan-

"It's good to know that we have a key fragment already secured in Zandar," Kendall spoke from a TV, Philip standing in front of it in his office while Nathan was leaning in a corner, looking over a book he had grabbed from the library after asking to check for something. "You're sure that it's made to keep anyone from finding it, Nathan?"

"Positive. The Magna Defender saw to it himself, to the point where even their own tech couldn't see through it back when Ivan was still around," Nathan responded, closing the book with a sigh, still not finding what he was looking for. "Furio can look all he'd like, he won't find anything."

"That's good news, at least." Kendall responded, soon looking back to where her computer was. "In the meantime, I figured out what they were distracting us from. There was a ripple in the scans near a lab, and it happened to have a similar device to what we used to scan the door with."

Hearing that, Nathan looked over at the tv, his gaze serious. "Meaning they have a chance to find the other two fragments." Nathan then sighed, shaking his head as he pushed himself off the wall. "But we're still in luck, Furio doesn't know that the key is shattered as well as how many fragments there are, but we're also at a disadvantage since we'll have to work to scan the areas as well."

"About that, Eric may have figured that out for us from his research on the door." Kendall responded, making Nathan look at the screen confused. "When I was looking over the door before, I found that there were several locations that had the writing on the wall but none that were too significant. Eric's writing, on the other hand, had several points over in Zandar and some other areas, one of which being the writing on temples at an island near Hawaii that formed seven hundred years ago, which is now a big tourist spot."

"I think I know the one, Kamohoali'i, named after a god of the region." Nathan responded, nodding as he did so. "It didn't exist back in the previous timeline, and I never really saw anything of it when I went over there in the past, though it was fairly recent after it had formed back then and people had started moving onto it…"

"Well whatever happened in between then and now, the writing for the Galaxy book appeared there," Kendall responded, looking at Nathan. "I'll see if Eric can let me borrow his notes since I need help from him understanding the Zandarian in the cave system anyway."

"Understood, and Eric will probably help out with that far more than expected if he enjoys history as much as I remember." Nathan responded, soon walking over to Philips desk and setting it down before he turned back to the tv, seeing Kendall still staring at him. "What?"

"Speaking of Eric, he was fighting monsters over here when Horn attacked." As Kendall spoke, the screen shifted to a hallway where Nathan could see Eric fighting Horn, making him tense for a moment before his eyes widened, watching Eric's movements as he fought the monster. "He's fine now, as I'm sure Zika probably told you already, but Zika seemed to know the kind of ability it was that he used."

Nathan just kept quiet, watching the screen with an interest as Eric seemed to move around the strikes, his swordplay seeming to dance on the screen while Horn was moving quickly. Then, as he watched Eric draw his weapon back,that's when he caught the glimpse of a blue flame seeming to lightly build along the blade. "There's plenty of things similar to it, but that kind of ability in particular has been around on the planet for longer than I've been back on Earth, which says a lot about it alone." Nathan then sighed, shaking his head as he looked up at Kendall. "He's using Earth Power. Last I heard, though, the users of the art practically vanished a century ago, which makes it interesting that he even learned it…"

"That doesn't explain what it is." Kendall responded, making Nathan sigh as he leaned back on the wall.

"It's an ancient skill that's passed through the world for millennia with the intent to protect from threats away from the planet." Nathan soon held up his hand, closing his eyes as he concentrated before what looked like black lightning started to spark around his fingers, catching Phillip's attention as Nathan opened his eyes. "It was developed with the aid of the Galactabeasts before Scorpius was sealed away, around five thousand years ago if I remember correctly."

"The Galactabeasts have been to Earth before?" Phillip asked as the screen shifted back to Kendall, getting a nod from Nathan as he moved his fingers, the lightning seeming to dance along them.

"They go to the places they're needed most, moving from planet to planet with little time to rest as if guided by the stars." Nathan closed his hand, causing the sparks to fade from his fingers. "Because of that, they were originally called Starbeasts, with Torozord counted among them..."

"That's new information we didn't have." Kendall responded, looking over from the screen as the sound of typing could be heard on the other end. "What brought them over to Earth?"

"That I don't know, but I do know that it's the reason for symbols of the Galaxy Book being in other areas around the place, given that even in Ivan's time there were people who used Earth Power that had fought against Furio's forces." Nathan responded, closing his eyes again. "It could do with the first time the Galaxy Book was used to seal someone away, back a thousand years before Scorpius started his conquest through the galaxy."

"Do you mean Mutiny?" Kendall asked, making Nathan open his eyes and look at her confused. "The Galaxy Rangers had ended up in the Lost Galaxy during their travels and met with a space pirate inside by the name of Captain Mutiny who used people to collect gems and treasure from planets within the Lost Galaxy. I was wondering if it was the same here."

"Maybe, but I remember the Guardian being more foreboding about what's inside the Lost Galaxy, to the point that there's a page about them within it that he showed me." Nathan responded, closing his eyes as he focused on remembering the words. "If I remember the page correctly, it was told like this: 'From planets they sailed, draining life to gem, and thus were sealed to prevent evil's stem.' Pretty ominous in its own right… Either way, that just gives us another reason to not let the Galaxy Book fall into Furio's hands, even if his goal is focused on freeing Scorpius. We already have a good start with one of the key shards, but that still leaves the other two…"

This left the room in silence, save for the humming of the tv in front of Nathan and Philip before Kendall nodded. "We can talk more when you get back, then. The longer we stall for time, the longer Furio has a chance to reach the other fragments first." With that Kendall turned off the screen, leaving the area in silence as Nathan looked at the screen confused.

"Well, I can certainly vouch for Kendall and the others in their initiative when finding locations through energy signatures, our zords as a fact of this during our fight against Sledge and Arcanon." Hearing Phillip, Nathan sighed, nodding as he pushed himself off the wall. "In the meantime, have you decided on how you are going to make it back to Amber Beach? I don't expect a passport would help you much, correct?"

"I was intending to head to where my old home here was, given it should have a teleporter still functioning at it." After saying it, Nathan tilted his head as if thinking before he shook it, sighing as he put his hands in his pockets. "Actually, remembering how it was left thanks to the destruction from the Second World War, I doubt anything remains of it now…"

"In that case, why don't I help you catch a ride back on my jet?" Nathan's eyes opened to Phillip's suggestion, making him look at the prince confused. "I still have questions over my ancestor and Ivan, and it seems you have quite the tale with them outside of the legends told."

Hearing that, Nathan covered his face with his mouth, failing to stifle a chuckle as he looked to the prince. "I guess the history books don't really share that much about the more personal records, do they?" Nathen then nodded as he looked to Phillip. "I can agree to that, there's still plenty left to talk about for Ivan and the others."

-Ivan, Zandar-

"The coin isn't made by normal means, right?" Ivan asked as he and Nathan walked after where Darian and Colin had gone, making Nathan nod. "Then can I assume it comes from another world like the foes we were fighting before?"

"You can, and you'd be right," Nathan responded as they took a turn in the hallway. "The place is home to a civilization that is leagues beyond anything we can make for the next thousand years at least, or at least that's the case with the technology we have on Earth now. I've never been there myself, and the coins themselves are considered rare by normal means since the people who make them live in seclusion."

"But bandits have been found holding their coins," Ivan spoke as they came into the entryway of the keep, the gate they had come in from opening as a young man sat on a horse, a halberd resting on his shoulder. "Do you think it's the work of that foe you told me of, Furio?"

"It has to be, I don't know anyone who can travel from this world outside of myself, and that in itself requires a lot of prep time." As Nathan spoke, they watched as the young man pulled a chain, revealing a Stingwinger trailing behind him on it as he looked around the keep. "And that basically confirms it."

"Randalph, I see you've returned with a prize," Darian spoke as the young man got off his horse, pulling the chain with him as he looked at the creature. However, he soon shook his head before patting the man's shoulder, smiling. "Though I'm more glad to see you in one piece."

"Say that to the men who went with me," the young man spoke as more men followed into the keep, some bearing bandages and injuries on them as they wobbled into the area, making Nathan's face noticeably grim as Randalph looked at the creature behind him, his grip on the chain tightening. "We were going about our business dealing with bandits when some of them changed into these creatures, almost overpowering us. I almost cracked the pole of my halberd fighting these things with how hard their shells are."

Darian just looked at the creature as it picked itself up, trying to tug at the chain Randalph was holding and failing,making Nathan whistle as he walked up to the group. "Those creatures are fairly stronger than the average person, it's impressive that you can even hold it as you are." Nathan spoke, making Darian and Randalph look at him as the Stingwinger looked as well. Then, as if by sight the Stingwinger opened it's wings, trying to fly straight for Nathan with it's chained hands extended, the claws coming out almost fluently as Ivan reached for his sword. However, Randalph was faster, grabbing the chain with both hands and tugging it with all his might, pulling the Stingwinger back and swinging it into the ground, catching both Ivan and Nathan by surprise as the Stingwinger made visible bounce from the force, soon laying sprawled on the ground as Randalph sighed, wiping his brow.

"That's the fifth time it's tried to fly off like that, though the first it's actually gone after someone while chained." As Randalph spoke, he soon looked at Nathan, eyeing him suspiciously. "Given what you said, I'm guessing you've faced these creatures before?"

"Both of us have," Ivan responded as he walked to the Stingwinger, the body of it twitching as Ivan looked it over. "They really are the same ones that were in Ithlem when we met, Nathan. Do you think it's the same as last time with only the small fries?"

"Not this time, sadly." Nathan responded, holding up the coin as he looked it over before looking at Randalph. "This is the first time you've faced these creatures, right? Was there anything that looked like it was giving orders to them?"

Randalph just tilted his head to what Nathan said before he closed his eyes. "I didn't really focus on the details of the foes that well, I was too busy trying to protect my men." Nathan just sighed, walking over to the monster as Randalph's brow suddenly scrunched. "Wait, there was something the men said about one of these beasts looking different from the rest that had attacked the rest."

Hearing that, Nathan stopped, his body tensing as he turned over to Randalph. "What kind of details?" Nathan asked, looking at the Randalph as the man opened his eyes.

"From what they told me on the trip back, it was a monster that had a body as red as flame while using a weapon, unlike the rest of these creatures." Randalph responded, making Nathan's eyes widen before he moved towards him, placing his hands on Randalph's shoulders and making several of the men around them reach for their weapons from the speed, Randalph himself just staying in place as he noticed the panic in Nathan's gaze, raising his hand to stop the soldiers.

"Did they say what kind of weapon it used?" Nathan asked, the worry in his voice apparent as he looked over Randalph's gaze to try to discern any lies in his words. "Was it a sword? A spear?"

"It was a whip, one which seemed to have lightning coming off of it." As Randalph spoke, he held his gaze with Nathan, his hand still gripping the chain the Stingwinger was on. Hearing that, Nathan just looked at him with confusion, stepping back as he did so before sighing with relief.

"Good then, it's not Furio himself." Nathan responded, letting the soldiers ease up around them as Ivan walked over.

"Do you know who it is, then?" Nathan just shook his head as he looked at Ivan, his gaze still confused.

"No, and that's what worries me." As Nathan spoke, he held up the coin, looking it over as if trying to find some semblance of an answer. "I've fought many of Furio's monsters, but I've never even heard of one who could use a whip. If it's a red monster though, it has chance to be someone like Radster... Which village did you see them near?"

"South of the forest, the village of Ordin." Nathan just nodded as he turned, walking to the gate and catching Randalph and the others off guard as two of the soldiers suddenly stood in his way, Randalph placing his hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"To deal with the issue. Furio's actions are more than likely to draw me out, so it's only fair that I oblige them." Nathan shook off Randalph's hand, starting to walk again before Ivan stood in front of him this time, making him stop as he stared at the knight. "You've seen me fight and what kind of threat these creatures are, Ivan. Don't tell me you're expecting me to not go and deal with the problems I've caused."

"Nay, friend, but you shouldn't go to deal with it alone." Ivan responded, soon looking at Colin, who was keeping quiet while standing by Darian. "Do I have permission to go to the town with Nathan, my prince? I can guarantee that whatever hardship we will face there, we can manage it together."

"That's a fool's task Ivan, even for you." Darian stepped forward, looking at the two men before he sighed, waving his hand to the rest of the soldiers that had come in with Randalph. "Look for yourself, these creatures caused this much damage to soldiers who were specifically sent to deal with the issues, and from what was said were lucky there weren't any casualties. What we need to do is gather a bigger force to deal with the situation-"

"All you'll do is cause more casualties!" Nathan's voice was cold as he interrupted Darian, soon drawing his blade and pointing it to the lord, making Randalph grip his halberd as the men around them drew their weapons, only to have Darian hold up his hand to stop them. However, Nathan's focus was on the lord as his voice showed a clear anger. "You don't know the monsters we're to face, I do. If it were simply the Stingwingers like what your son brought in, then we would've been able to do the same thing that me and Ivan did in Ithlem. That isn't the case here, there's one of the leading monsters over these creatures that's orchestrating this. It won't matter what kinds of troops you send to this, your weapons will mean nothing against those in charge. You have a fractured kingdom beside you that has a chance to turn towards your borders the moment their civil war ends, and you need every soldier for when that time comes."

"Then how do you intend to deal with the monsters there?" Colin's voice was clear despite the situation, breaking the tension slightly as Nathan kept his gaze on Darian, his grip on his sword tightening as the green gem seemed to shine on it, Ivan's gaze soon noticing the morpher on Nathan's wrist as Colin continued. "If what you said is true, then you wouldn't be able to deal with them with only your sword, right?"

Hearing that, Nathan suddenly smirked, catching the prince off guard as he lifted his sword away from the lord's face, resting it on his shoulder. "Who said my sword was my only weapon?" Then, spinning his blade, Nathan tossed it up to the sky, his body suddenly sheening with black lightning as he linked his morphers together before a small blast of wind shot out into the group, Ivan holding up his arm in surprise as the dirt around them shot up in the air, clouding the area. As it cleared, Nathan was in his black armor, catching his sword and sheathing it seamlessly before he looked at Ivan. "Like I said, Furio's doing this to try to draw me out, so it's better that I go by myself for this."

"That armor..." Ivan spoke, making Nathan look at the armor on his hand as he raised it, turning it over every now and again before nodding.

"One the first and last gifts the Magna Defender gave to me before he fell," Nathan then clenched his fist, lowering it as he sheathed his sword, looking at Colin. "Now isn't the time for me to explain things, not while Furio's forces are active, so I apologize for being impolite but I have to go."

With that said, and just as Ivan was about to raise his hand, Nathan jumped out of the keep, his form now blur as the soldiers around the group watched on in shock. "What kind of a friend did you make there, Ivan?" Darian's voice snapped Ivan out of his daze as he looked to Collin, soon walking to the young prince before kneeling in front of him.

"My prince, I implore you to send me to aid Nathan." Hearing Ivan's request snapped Collin out of his own daze, looking down at the knight. "While he's shown himself having that form, I fear for my friend's safety given the fact he doesn't know the enemy leading these creatures despite facing them should throw caution into the situation."

"He said that anyone who would come to aid him would simply be a hinderance, and I'm inclined to believe him given he just jumped over the wall of my keep like it was a twig in his path." Darian responded he looked at Ivan, who simply kept his head down as he knelt in front of Collin. "That's not the normal strength of a man, what can you-"

"I can't explain it now while such a threat is here, but I can promise that I'll be anything but a hinderance when aiding Nathan." As Ivan spoke, Collin just looked down at him before nodding.

"You two personally cleared the caverns in Ithlem from what you told me of your trip there, right Sir Ivan?" Ivan looked up at the prince, seeing the worry in the prince's gaze as he nodded. Then, Collin looked at Randalph, who was testing his grip on his halberd. "What about you, Randalph, could you say you could go and help with the situation as well if given the option?"

Randalph just looked at the two before sighing, shaking his head. "If I was given that option against that thing leading them, I honestly doubt myself in even being able to take it on with someone I trusted." As Randalph spoke, he turned his gaze to Ivan. "However, I'd go regardless if a friend was planning on facing them alone."

"A trait needed for a knight, and a trait many would hold with you in Zandar." Darian spoke, walking over to Collin's side as he looked at Ivan. "But this isn't a simple threat, given how many of your own men were harmed in your last skirmish, Randalph. Knowing that, can you still say that you would be of aid without a doubt?"

Ivan just looked at Darian, his gaze focused on the older mans as he stood up. "I swear on my honor as a Knight of Zandar." Ivan's words held no faltering, making Darian smirk before Collin nodded.

"You have your orders then, Sir Ivan." Collin spoke, letting Ivan rise as he did so. "Go and deal with the monsters attacking Zandar, as well as aid Sir Nathan as needed."

"As you wish, my prince." Bowing one more time, Ivan ran to his horse as the gate opened up again. Then, with one click of his heels, he sped off in the direction Nathan had gone, now a black dot in the sky as he seemed to have jumped up again.

-Nathan, Ordin's outskirts-

Nathan broke into a sprint after he landed the second time, his gaze overlooking the area as he ran through the trees. 'But still, a red monster with a whip...' Nathan's thoughts wandered as he saw a clearing to the forest, his mind turning on which monster could be there. 'Radster has a blaster and spear, so I doubt it'd be him. It can't be Gasser either, he uses a mallet.'

As Nathan thought through the potential enemy, his ears caught the sudden sound of bug wings approaching him, making him grunt as he forced himself into a roll, narrowly avoiding a pair of claws as a Stingwinger flew over him. Standing back up straight, he drew his sword as more of the creatures surrounded him, his gaze over looking each as they circled him.

"So you're the one with the Galaxy book that Furio told me about." came a voice, it's sound gruffer than Nathan expected as he turned to the source, his blade pointing towards the source: a red monster like Randalph had described. He held a similar feel to Radster, even having the same symbol on their attire, however they looked more like a centipede than anything else. "It seems Budo was right, the Galaxy book is held by a successor of Bull Black."

"Bull Black?" Nathan tilted his head in confusion, soon changing to a defensive stance as the Stingwingers started moving towards him. However, the monster held up his hand, causing them to stop as they looked at Nathan, chuckling at his confusion. "I don't know who you are, but I'm guessing you're the one who was paying off bandits."

"Guilty as charged." The monster responded, a spark of electricity coming off him as he bowed as if to emphasize the point as he looked at Nathan. "My name is Dreddredder, of the Sambash Majin Gang. I was hired by Furio to draw you out, so it's nice you came here yourself."

"Sambash?" Nathan was even more confused, looking at Dreddredder as he kept his blade in its defensive stance. He remembered the name, though it was only in scarce rumors as he traveled with the Magna Defender: Space Pirates with little to no knowledge on them outside of having been around for thousands of years. "What's a bunch of pirates doing helping someone like Furio."

"Our interests are simply aligned, especially since it can put Budo into owing my captain a favor, and as such my job is simply to bring you to Furio under Captain Sambash's orders." As the creature spoke it pulled out a whip, Nathan watching as he noticed the leglike barbs along it as he took a defensive stance. "I could state the cliche of 'come quietly', but Bull Black's successors tend to never listen to reason."

"Sounds like my kind of guy," Nathan's words were cold before he immediately jumped to the left, his blade arcing through several Stingwingers and sending them flying, causing the rest to swarm like a enraged hive around him. The next few moments felt like an hour as Nathan dodged, blocked and cut through the Stingwingers, his blade moving like a constant arc as Dreddredder watched, walking forward. Before long, however, Nathan spun his blade to a back hand, spinning in a circular arc and cutting through the final Stingwingers surrounding him, panting slightly as Dreddredder stopped, clapping with his whip in his hand as Nathan turned to him, pointing his blade at the monster again.

"It seems Budo was right about the power of that armor having not weakened." As soon as he spoke, Dreddredder flung his whip at Nathan, causing the knight to dodge it as he redirected the strike, noting the electricity coming off it as the trail returned to the monster. "But their mistake was forgetting their old enemy."

"Old enemy?" Nathan looked at the monster confused before he heard another crack, making him hold his arm up to catch the whip as it spun around the armor on his arm, the lightning tickling but not making it through it. "What on earth are you talking about, and who's this Budo you keep mentioning?"

"You should focus more on the fight, Black Knight." As soon as Dreddredder spoke and before Nathan could react, a light blue current shot out and towards Nathan through the whip, making him brace for the pain to come. However, instead he felt himself weakening massively, as if his energy was being siphoned off as he got down on one knee, the monster laughing cruelly as he walked over. "Electricity is my forte, that includes the electricity and lightning attacks that's in that form of yours. Now stay there quietly while we get you ready for Furio..."

As if on cue another entourage of Stingwingers appeared, and with them orange pirates, making Nathan try to force himself up but fail as the whip continued draining him, his gaze soon noticing a glowing line rising along Dreddredder's chest. "You used your own troops as bait." Nathan spat out, only getting a laugh from Dreddredder as he tightened his grip on the whip, the glow seeming to grow as Nathan felt his energy leaving him faster.

"I used my employer's troops as bait. After all, the Sambash Majin Gang is only loyal to the riches we plunder and our leader." Hearing Dreddredder's words, Nathan closed his eyes, the Stingwingers and pirates about to corner him. Then, just as they were about to grab him, he demorphed, slipping his arm out of the whip in a moment using gap from the loss of armor before he swung his blade as hard as he could to his right, knocking back a few of the creatures before he ran, his body stumbling from it's lack of energy as he heard the shout of surprise behind him. "Don't just stand there, catch him!"

'Idiot,' Nathan's thoughts berated him as he ran, hearing the creatures scrambling after him as he stumbled. 'Do it on your own, you thought. You'll know the enemy when you see them, you thought…'

As Nathan ran, he heard another set of flapping, making him try to duck again as he swung his sword over his head, feeling contact and seeing sparks as a Stingwinger flew past him and into the ground as he ran past it. Farther, farther, farther: that was all he could think as he ran back North, trying to find some kind of place to hide in and recover as he heard the flapping growing louder again behind him, making him push his body harder as he ran. As he took a turn to hide behind a tree, however, he felt as if the ground vanished from under his feet, causing him to fall forward into a large hole, his sword clattering in front of him as he grunted from the pain. However, he forced himself to remain quiet as he heard the wings closing in, looking up as he watched the Stingwingers flying over him, his mind pushing him back to his memories of Miranoi, how weak he felt as he tried to hide from the Stingwingers. Closing his eyes, he tried to pace his breath, suppressing the memory as he heard the Stingwingers wings starting to fade before he opened his eyes, looking up at the sky as he laid there, waiting to see if any other Stingwingers would fly overhead as he felt his energy slowly coming back.

'Their forces also have pirates in them, but I'm more worried over the fact that this has someone owing them a favor by helping Furio.' Nathan's thoughts went over what he knew as he crawled along the ground to his sword, hearing the wings fading as he gripped the handle. While Sambash was a well known pirate captain in the original timeline, Budo was a name he hadn't heard before. 'I can understand Furio hiring them, it's not outside of his usual habit of hiring mercenaries, but why are they so eager to help him?'

As he thought that and picked himself up, he looked at his morpher, pondering on if he should use it again as he heard rustling around him, more than likely the Stingwingers still now spreading out to search for him as he sheathed his blade. "No, morphing now will just make my location known from how over the top it gets..." With that he started running again, his gaze focused on the path he had come from as he did so. As he did, however, he heard a sizzling sound, making him look to see a black sphere falling towards where he had been hiding mere seconds ago. Pondering what they were as he ducked behind a tree, his question was quickly answered as it blew up, leaving his previous hiding spot a smoking mess as the orange pirates appeared in his line of sight, looking around the spot as he ducked behind the tree. "Of course they have bombs, what space pirate wouldn't…"

"Watch where you're throwing those bombs!" Dreddredder's voice echoed through the area as Nathan kept himself behind the tree and out of sight, his hand moving to where he sheathed his sword. "We want to capture him, not blast him apart. Seriously, how can we find the Galaxy Book if we take out the one person who knows where it is?"

Dreddredder walked to the trench as he spoke, the smoke from the previous explosion still rising out of it before he grunted, turning to them. "Yartots, make a sweep to the north and spread out, he seems to be heading in the same direction as that keep nearby." Hearing the monster's statement, Nathan's body stiffened as he gripped his sword. Then, turning to the north, he began running again, his goal now set on his recovery and figuring out what happened.

Hoo boy, it's been a while. Had a hiccup while posting this story and had to go delete and reupload the chapter. Plus side, however, it's finally put in! \o/ And now I need to figure out how to change the name of it to a crossover given what I'm pulling from...

So for basic summary, my mind decided "Hey what if we add stuff from Gingaman into the mix" and that's basically how we ended up where we are now. Regardless, here's to hope people like this thing.