Special thanks to CrazyLich79 for his help with this chapter.
I don't own Arknights or Type-Moon content.

Ursus Empire's Western Heartlands / June 10th, Year 1094 / 10:14 AM / Sunny…

Walking aroundthe camp, Agnessa enjoyed the fresh morning breeze whilst she searched for Yelena. The elder Draco was content with the bond she established with her adopted granddaughter in the time she's been spending with the Reunion movement, much to a certain wendigo's embarrassment. The yetis have been quite adorable, following in their eldest sibling's footsteps like little ducklings as they got to know more about their father.

Getting to know the little rascals was a treat as well, their never-ending banter providing great amusement to the old dragoness. From the reserved Ofnir's desire to craft a great weapon to the laidback Zack's dream of seeing the ocean to fish with his siblings, Agnessa spent a good portion of her time memorizing the diverse aspirations these exceptional children held, a trait she mastered over many long years caring for the countless children coming and leaving her orphanage.

Walking out of the camp and treading towards the training grounds, Agnessa was intrigued to find Viktor sparring with his adoptive father. The young Feline was doing a fine job withstanding the older Sarkaz's onslaught, even though Lazarus was holding back. Placing his forearm against the flat of his blade, Viktor moved his sword as fast as he could to block the ceaseless strikes, waiting for an opportunity.

Lazarus's flurry of blows eventually forced the younger fighter to his knees, and Agnessa watched as the young fighter was disarmed with a powerful swing from the older Sarkaz. His sword flying out of his grasp, Viktor charged right into Lazarus, a knife poised against the soldier's neck whilst his sword's tip was ready to pierce the young Feline's stomach.

"That was too reckless." Lazarus slowly backed off, his face somber and stern as he sheathed his sword. "You would have died." He chastised, a worry veiled behind his strict voice.

Viktor shrugged, wincing slightly as his sword hand flared with pain. "If I didn't push forward, I would've also been dead. Making sure to take out an enemy is not so bad in comparison." Picking up his sword, he took a deep breath and pointed it at Lazarus. "Let's go again. I'm far from done."

Lazarus sighed, looking over his adoptive son's figure with exasperation. "You've been training since morning, you should rest." He pleaded, voice soft as he gently grasped his son's shoulders. "Obsessing over this isn't how you grow stronger, Viktor."

Viktor shook his head and silently backed off. "This is not enough, old man." Moving to a more secluded corner, the young man silently resumed practicing on his lonesome.

"He is a very diligent child." Agnessa commented as she stood next to Lazarus, observing the young man as he swung his sword repeatedly, his posture unfaltering despite the strain. "But that isn't what's troubling you, I take it."

"He's given himself a burden he cannot hope to bear." Lazarus clenched his fists tightly, a bitter sense of helplessness making his chest ache. "I'm afraid of what he stands to lose from this reckless training. He missed out on a lot as it is." Sighing despondently, the Sarkaz slowly walked away from the training grounds hoping to find some time to think.

Agnessa watched as he left, her hands clasped behind her back as she approached the silent Viktor. Standing close to him, the draco could tell the young feline was stubbornly pushing himself beyond his limits by his shaking hands. "Keeping this up won't make you any stronger, young man."

Viktor gave no response, his grip tightening on his sword as he kept his breath steady with every swing. Fighting to maintain his rhythm despite his aching muscles, all his focus was instantly shattered when the lady next to him lightly poked his shoulder. His stance immediately faltered and his exhausted legs nearly gave out on him, but he managed to keep from falling.

"What's the big idea?" Viktor glared at the smiling Agnessa, his annoyance was only further amusing the laidback dragon lady.

"Tempering your body requires rest just as much as training. Continuing this foolishness will hold you back." Her eyes observed him for a brief moment, her smile sympathetic as she placed her hand on Viktor's shoulder. "You are dead on your feet, young man."

Viktor grit his teeth, saying nothing as he flopped down. His limbs felt increasingly heavy, yet the pain remained secondary compared to the bubbling frustration. "Damn it."

Agnessa sat down next to him, falling into a routine she learned after long years spent dealing with and nurturing young sprouts like the little feline beside her. "You don't strike me as a foolish or ignorant youngster. For what reason do you push yourself so thoughtlessly?"

Viktor remained silent as he looked at his hands, noticing the injuries in his palm. His face remained stoic, a clear memory remerging in his head and breaking his silence. "Once, I couldn't protect my brother Kondrasha nor could I even help the old man against his killer. I don't ever want to experience that again." He clenched his fists, eyes looking ahead with burning determination. "I can't use strong arts like Frostnova and Talulah, and I'm not even as good at fighting as the old man and Patriot." Viktor reached out with his hand, trying to grasp something only he could see. "Edward taught me how to hone my skills, but my current improvement rate is too slow. I can only make up for it with more training."

Agnessa nodded, her eyes glinting with mischief as she patted his head. "You're a thoughtful child." She chuckled as Viktor fidgeted uncomfortably under her affectionate praise, his indignant glare only making him look more adorable. "You shouldn't give your elders such mean looks. You'll make me sad and then I won't help you." She held back her laughter when the young man's ears perked up instantly, his tail going stiff.

Hope shone in Viktor's eyes, his back straightening as he turned to the matriarch. "Can you help me? Really?" His voice was soft, bordering on pleading as he awaited her response.

"It is possible. Although you haven't succeeded in using arts, casters aren't always the most dangerous enemies." She hummed thoughtfully, her hands inspecting the young man's arms and legs. Done with her examination, she gave a simple approving nod. "You have trained yourself well. However, your fighting style is based on sparring and experience without any solid foundation to it." Standing up, Agnessa placed herself in front of Viktor and smiled. "That's where I come in. Given your slender build and tendency for speed, your current fighting style could use some refining." The draco slowly unsheathed her sword cane, the gleam of the ominous dark steel sinister and unholy.

Viktor could feel his throat grow parched as his body shivered, an unnatural urge to flee gripping his heart. He shook his head, trying to repress the sudden terror only to visibly flinch when the woman placed her left hand behind her back, her blade pointing upwards in a regal stance. In mere moments, the friendly and gentle matron was gone, replaced with a creature of tyrannical might the likes of which the feline couldn't hope to match.

A voice at the back of his mind screamed for him to run away, that he was going to die if he stayed still. He struggled for breath between coughs, his hand grasping his chest as his heart bashed against his ribs. This feeling, this utter state of weakness, was all too familiar.

It was the same as the day Kondrasha died…and Viktor refused to suffer defeat a second time.

'Don't underestimate me!'

His lip bled as he bit deeply into it, the pain banishing the darkness clouding his mind. Only when he regained clarity did the pressure lessen, a defiant smirk spreading on his face as his body stopped shivering.

Agnessa remained silent, reconsidering her initial assessment of the ambitious feline. "Now that you're focused, I want you to observe my movements." Taking a deep breath, Agnessa's sword moved. With her sheath held behind her back, she stabbed and slashed with a speed and agility Viktor could hardly keep up with. Her footwork was intricate and fluid, keeping a steady momentum as her sword danced through the air.

Just as quickly as her demonstration began, it ended with a flourish as the sword wielder placed her weapon back in its sheath. Viktor was left speechless, not even humoring the chances he had against such attacks had he been on the receiving end of her blade. Such a display only fueled his desire to learn what he could from the lady before him, despite the large chasm separating them.

"Your goal in the coming days is to learn what you can of the swordsmanship you've seen. I'll be testing you every step of the way while I'm still here. We'll be starting tomorrow, so rest well." Watching his tenacious gaze, Agnessa grinned while helping him off the training grounds. Settling him down on a crate, she suddenly recalled the reason why she came to the training grounds to begin with. "By the way, have you seen Yelena anywhere? I couldn't find her with the other Yetis." Agnessa's eyes trailed to the other people in the area, her eyes narrowing when she failed to find her granddaughter.

"Frostnova? She passed through here a while ago. She went to the forest." Viktor pointed to the trees before he rubbed his eyes as the fatigue settled in. "Although I don't know what's taking her so long, either."

Agnessa frowned and silently left for the forest, her senses reaching through the trees and foliage until she located the cautus hidden in the depths of the flora. Taking her final turn, the matron was surprised to find Yelena steadying herself using the tree next to her as she vomited the breakfast they had together a few hours ago. In an instant, the distance between them was crossed and the matron held the little rabbit through the experience. Agnessa's delicate brows furrowed when she saw the blackened blood mixed in with discarded food. Her lips pressed tightly together, forming a thin line as she carried the exhausted girl and placed her away from there.

It seems today was rife with foolish children.

"Reckless child, why did you come here without a companion?" The draco's gaze turned stern, her voice carrying a low tone as she softly caressed Yelena's back. Observing her disheveled appearance, Agnessa removed her hair band and meticulously tied the young rabbit's hair into a neat ponytail.

"I couldn't. My siblings would have been too worried to focus on their duties, and people would have found out." Yelena spoke through tired coughs, the disgusting taste of her contaminated blood making her visibly cringe. "I can't let our momentum get broken on my account."

The rabbit's stubbornness didn't impress the older lady, sighing wearily as she sat down next to her. "Honestly, this stubbornness was the one thing I hoped didn't rub off on you from your father." Reaching inside her overcoat, Agnessa pulled out a small flask and passed it to her granddaughter.

Accepting the drink gratefully, Yelena took slow sips of the liquor inside. The aroma wasn't particularly strong, but the sweet and soft taste it brought was a pleasant surprise. A smile unknowingly made its way across Yelena's face as she drank more of it, the terrible bitterness washed away by a wave of warmth and comfort.

"It's called Любовь зимы these days, but it was originally known as Радость императора, the Emperor's Joy." Taking the flask back, Agnessa took a nice sip of her drink. She appeared absent-minded for a second, nostalgia etched in her gaze whilst she drank. "It is said it was named as such because it was the first emperor's favorite drink, a trait shared throughout the generations." Turning to the cautus, Agnessa smiled as she patted her head. The young rabbit seemed to relax, her tense shoulders easing, and her troubled thoughts momentarily silenced.

"Grandmother, have you ever been to a city called Flore in Syracuse?" Yelena suddenly asked, leaning into Agnessa's hand reluctantly as she grasped her red shroud.

"I went there a few years ago to visit a child I knew. I raised her mother and she wanted me to meet her. Why do you ask?" The draco's eyes shone with intrigue as she passed her flask back to Yelena.

"Is it a dangerous place?" Yelena didn't meet her gaze, choosing to stare absentmindedly at the flask, her focus elsewhere.

"I guess it's not that bad as far as Syracuse cities go. There are much more dangerous areas to be in." Agnessa could tell the reason behind Yelena's question, a fond smile on her face as she chuckled. "I'm sure your brother would be ok, given what I've heard of him from Buldrokkas'tee. Taking better care of yourself is the best thing you could do for him right now." Pulling the rabbit into a warm hug, Agnessa sensed the weakness Yelena tried to hide as the ill girl couldn't put up any resistance like she used to.

Yelena nodded in silence, refusing any help as she pushed herself up on her own. Gazing intently at her minutely trembling fingers, intimately sensing how weakened she is, Frostnova's eyes narrowed. Every time she was assailed by her Oripathy, she was reminded of her childhood, a time when she could only cry helplessly. Closing her eyes, Yelena could perfectly picture the familiar steadfast figure standing in front of her, always outside of reach despite her desperate chase after him, the singular resolution to become stronger fueling her endless pursuit.

Painful coughs did not disturb her thoughts as her hand pressed against the harsh bark, yet it made the distance between her and his back even more prominent. The unmistakable sense of failure weighed heavy on her heart.

Yelena knew in the depths of her heart what her current condition entailed. Her body will grow weaker with time as her illness festered. If nothing is done, it would only be a matter of time before she will be unfit for battle.

Was she stronger now than she was before, or as weak as back then?

Yelena refused to allow herself to fall further behind no matter what it took.

"Grandmother…can I get any stronger?" Clearing her throat, Yelena wiped the blood on her lips.

Agnessa didn't have the heart to chuckle at the irony behind the situation she was in considering her conversation with Viktor, her annoyance showing in her squinting eyes. "You already wield great strength, surprising even for one so young and who grew up in bad conditions." Agnessa flicked the young cautus's forehead, her jovial attitude replaced with a strict reprimand. "Do not be blinded to your efforts in your pursuit of greater heights."

Yelena's gaze would not be swayed, awaiting the matron's answer. Agnessa paused for a brief moment, unsure whether to be proud or fed up with such a bullheaded line of thought. "Given your condition, conventional training will only keep your current skills sharp and fix some of the roughness in your techniques. Further strength can only be obtained at a price."

Yelena's face betrayed nothing as she considered Agnessa's words, her eyes blazing with newfound resolve. "Please, help me." Slowly, Frostnova began to kneel.

Agnessa's hand quickly grabbed Yelena's shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. "Silly child, what kind of grandmother could allow their grandchildren to beg?" The draco sighed, helping the tired rabbit to her feet once more before the two began to walk back to camp. The matron knew better than to ask if Yelena was certain about her choice, realizing just how dedicated the yetis are to growing stronger.

All for someone else's sake. Agnessa supposed it was only natural for the younger siblings to chase their eldest so blindly, each in their way.

"Rest well for the next few days, you will need it." Parting ways with Yelena in front of her tent, Agnessa was glad to see the young rabbit following her instructions. "And Yelena." Calling out to her one last time, the draco tossed the flask to her granddaughter with an encouraging smile. "It is said Emperor's Joy contains the taste of one's best years, so you should save it for happy occasions."

"I understand, grandmother." Yelena nodded and placed the flask safely in her pouch. Looking at the draco's leaving figure, Frostnova grasped her shroud tightly before going to rest.

Syracuse's city of Flore / June 13th, Year 1094 / 3:00 PM / Cloudy…

Being a don of a famiglia comes with its share of aches, having to navigate between the many blood feuds, rival famiglias, and the new bloods trying to make names for themselves. Be that as it may, it was doubtful any Syracuse city could claim to suffer waves as wild as the ones running through Flore right now.

The Covenant has always been an oppressive tyrant looming over all the other criminal organizations, their blade ever poised to obliterate any who dare challenge their authority. Thanks to the years of peace, many of the young bloods grew to harbor notions of defiance as each made preparations to be the one to overthrow the seemingly untouchable rulers.

The daily tolling of the church bells reminded every one of them still alive of the true implications of facing off against the Covenant entailed. Death loomed over the entirety of the underworld, thugs, cleaners, and assassins proving to be nothing more than fuel to the fire consuming it.

Edward took note of the Covenant's latest victim, another lesser famiglia near the industrial sector, and wondered if he could still find some traces he could follow to reach them. He had dedicated the last couple of weeks to reading up on all the intel Wu'an and Dante provided, wondering just how his brother got involved with such a dangerous group. The magus could only hope their boss would provide the answers he sought once he found them.

Sipping his coffee, Edward caught sight of the lung approaching him silently whilst her gaze observed the decrepit factory not too far from them. "Your information was spot on, the place reeks of suspicion."

"What did you find?" Wu'an lit a cigarette, her eyes observing every point of entry she could see from their position.

"I confirmed the presence of unusual security around the premises of the building, disguised as drunkards or homeless beggars. I suspect even stricter defenses inside." Throwing the newspaper in the bin, the magus crossed his arms and kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. "They're keeping a low profile, but there were some fading tire tracks close to the entrance."

"I did some digging into the factory, and it seems there's been energy usage from it. Whoever's working with these guys has friends in high places." The dragon lady exhaled a puff of smoke, eyes indifferent underneath her glasses as she checked her handgun before she stepped forward. "Let's see what they're keeping in there." Her voice was noticeably low as she put her face mask on.

Watching Wu'an, the magus could understand the impatience she was trying to suppress beneath her composure. There was a sour feeling in his chest ever since he discovered his brother's disappearance, one which only grew with every passing day. Nevertheless, he had to push on with care if he hoped to find him again.

Even if it meant tearing down every nook and cranny of this city.

Sneaking around the watchdogs and their handlers was simple enough, and the two managed to approach a ventilation shaft. Reinforcing his body and pulling his sword from the inventory, Edward jumped, stabbed the blade deep into the wall, and removed the vent cover. Wu'an whistled at the unnatural display, amusement flickering in her eyes as she put her glasses in her pocket. Gazing up at the vent high above, her eyes quickly assessed the potential climbing route. The factory's weathered walls presented a challenge, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

Wu'an stepped back, measuring the distance between her and the first ledge. With a burst of agility, she lunged forward, fingertips grazing the rough surface. She swung her body upward, relying on the strength in her arms and core to propel her higher.

Each ledge became a stepping stone as she ascended, finding hidden handholds in the unaligned bricks and crevices in the aging facade. Her movements were a symphony of precise jumps, fluid vaults, and calculated lunges.

The lung's hands and feet danced across the wall, her mind fully engaged in the intricate choreography of the climb. She balanced on narrow ledges, trusting her instincts and honed sense of balance. The bricks, worn and unpredictable, became her partners in this daring performance.

In a few brief seconds, she hoisted herself into the opening to find Edward checking the inside with a small flame in his hand. Turning to his companion, the magus nodded before they proceeded inside and to the threshold of what lay hidden within the building. Their crawling eventually ended once they arrived at an opening to one of the unguarded restrooms.

The scenery outside of the restroom was within their expectations, as they took note of the goons patrolling the area leading to the basements. Taking the lead, Edward carefully climbed the stairs as he stalked a lone sniper. Wu'an kept watch as the magus grabbed the thug and pulled him out of view, magic circuits coming to life.

"You will tell me everything I want to know." Magical energy seeped into Edward's voice, his spell taking effect as the mafioso ceased his resistance. "What are you guarding here?"

Once his mouth was freed, the goon began to answer. "We don't know what happens underground, only cleaners do. Our job is to make sure no one unauthorized gets in and nothing gets out from there." His voice was completely monotonous, eyes distant and completely vacant.

"What do you know about what's happening?" Edward glanced at his partner, the lung assuring him the coast was still clear.

"The don's got a visit from some Leithanien bastardo, offered a hefty sum for regular guard duty." The magus could feel a certain apprehension in the lupo's voice, clearly disturbed by the person in question. "Something ain't right about him, felt like everything was dying around'em. They started bringing in homeless and stranded people and taking them down the stairs, never to be heard from again. An old pal said he heard screams coming from there, some nasty business way out of our pay grade."

Sharing a glance with Wu'an, Edward took a deep breath and pulled a picture of Enzo. "Take a good look at the lupo in this picture. Was he among the people brought in here?" Edward's arm tensed as his hold grew tighter, waiting for the thug's answer with bated breath.

The mafioso's eyes slowly turned to Enzo's picture, before he shook his head. "Never seen him before. They only brought the homeless and people from the suburbs, ones no one would miss." He gasped once Edward's hold relaxed, air rushing to his deprived lungs.

Both infiltrators sighed in relief, thankful their worst fears hadn't happened. Ordering the thug to return to his position and stand there, Edward observed the plethora of guards covering the entrance to the underground. "I'll go in there alone. We can deal with the guards here once I see what's inside." Equipping the class card and tracing Carnwennan, Edward quickly descended the stairs.

The draco's eyes widened once her comrade disappeared right in front of her, the suspicious versatility in his abilities bringing her pause. "He is Enzo's brother, after all…both a pain in my ass." She sighed, exasperated, taking a vantage point and surveying the scene.

Edward placed himself behind cover close to the two henchmen near the door, picking up a piece of brick and throwing it to an isolated corner. The resulting sound had its intended effect of bringing them away from it long enough for him to sneak through. Running down the stairs, he was struck with a sickening stench which only grew as he approached the source.

A dimly lit basement stretches out before Edward as he cautiously descends the creaky, wooden stairs. The musty air clings to his invisible form, adding an eerie atmosphere to his search. His somber eyes surveyed the surroundings, searching for any signs of the secret facility hidden beneath.

The faint hum of electricity fills the air, drawing Edward deeper into the darkness. His enhanced eyesight pierced through the darkness, easily distinguishing the abandoned machinery and dusty cobwebs. The factory's past glory has long faded, replaced by an aura of desolation and bleakness.

'What could they be hiding here?'

Edward's footsteps echo against the concrete floor as he moves forward, following the noticeably cleaner portion of the basement. As he turns a corner, a series of metal doors came into view. Their thick, industrial design suggests a hidden purpose. Edward approaches the nearest door and places his gloved hand on the cold surface, silently pushing it open.

The door groans in protest, revealing a long corridor bathed in an eerie blue glow. Edward steps inside, his invisible form seemingly swallowed by the ethereal light. The walls are lined with stainless steel panels, and the air carries a sterile smell.

Edward's eyes narrowed as he glided through the corridor. Whispers of conversation reach his ears, growing louder with each step. Edging closer to the source of the sound and peering across a glass window, Edward saw a room filled with advanced medical equipment and operating tables. His breath catches in his throat as he observes a group of hooded figures clad in white coats, meticulously attending to their work.

"Subject number eighty-seven is showing promising results. The augmentation seems stable and the regeneration rate is approaching the desired parameters."

"We must proceed cautiously. We've had too many failures already."

'Why am I not surprised?' Clicking his teeth, Edward pushed onward in search of more information. Navigating through the corridors and the rooms, the magus took note of the heavily armed assassins keeping strict surveillance over the procedures. It only took hypnotizing the nearest guard into spilling names for him to find himself in their chief's office.

With the archosauria under his control, the magus proceeded to copy the files in their system before a sword ended his life. Storing the flash drive in his inventory, the magus exited the office and headed to the generator rooms. The facility continued to run smoothly as usual until everything went dark. Screams echoed in the pitch-dark hallways as the staff was cut down one by one, cleaners and researchers equally helpless amidst the dark.

A roar rang throughout the place, the primal explosion of sound reverberating through the air akin to a thunderclap and putting a halt to Edward's hunt. His ears twitched as rumbling sounds began to approach him, his eyes shifting their attention to a nearby wall until he reacted on instinct and jumped out of the way. A hulking mass of flesh and muscles barreled through the wall with unnatural speed, its howl deafening as it turned to the magus.

Edward's eyes narrowed as the creature's maw opened, the mangled corpse of one of the researchers falling to the ground. 'A werewolf…no, a deformed lupo.' The magus easily caught sight of the purple tag dangling from the creature's neck, the number eighty-seven etched in it drenched in blood.

'It appears we found their promising subject.' Eden's voice was low, a contemplative hum echoing in Edward's mind. 'Proceed with caution.'

The creature pounced without warning, its freakish speed rendering the distance between them void in an instant. Kanshou's edge bit deep into its side as the magus sidestepped its charge, yet the monster ignored the blow and continued on the offensive. Blow after blow struck its body, yet the wounds disappeared just as easily before Edward's eyes. Mundane weapons could only cut its skin, and its instincts were sharp enough to allow it to avoid the more dangerous armaments.

'Looks like they weren't kidding about its regeneration. Something feels off about it.' Edward frowned as the abomination attempted to bite his head, letting it bite into his metal arm instead. Its claws came from the side, only to be intercepted by two newly traced spears. 'Ignis, infer agoniam.' Flames gathered in Edward's free hand, compressed by his arts before he punched the creature's chest.

His reinforced fist broke through its strengthened muscles, flames exploding inside its body and charring its insides as it twitched helplessly whilst its teeth grated against the metallic limb. Only when it grew limp, did the magus pull his fist out of the scorched corpse, allowing it to fall to the ground.

Taking a deep breath, Edward kept his attention on the beast while he slowly backed away. Amidst the haunting silence, the magus tensed once the sound of writhing sludge reached his ears. Edward watched as the beast's body twitched erratically, a dark gooey substance overtaking his flames and spilling onto the floor as it filled the hole he made in its chest. The creature sprang to its feet, the dark matter spilling everywhere with every move it made.

'Its innards are charred, there's no way the body is alive. What is that thing?' Edward's eyes widened as he tilted his head away from the claws aiming for his neck, the attack barely missing his jugular. His arts provided little protection against the blackened appendages, his protective barrier melting under the corrosive effect the unidentified sludge possessed as the black claws slashed through reinforced muscle with ease.

The monster did not roar or growl, its body contorting in odd angles before it thoughtlessly launched itself at him again. Its feral and reckless advance made it easy for Edward to counter the swipe, Bakuya's edge severing its arm with a well-placed swing. The appendage kept moving and twitching as it tried to crawl back to the main body until Dyrnwyn reduced it to ashes, the holy blade's scalding flames proving beyond its resistance and regeneration.

The monster visibly flinched away from the fire engulfing the sword, its stump forcibly closed by the same unknown substance. Distracted by the looming threat, the foul creature found itself paralyzed by the black key stabbing its shadow. It struggled and flailed, but could not escape the wave of holy flames.

Although it withstood the blazing heat longer than Edward would have liked, the monster burned to dust in the end. The acrid smell of charred flesh filled the air as the remnants of the abomination scattered throughout the facility. Edward stood there, pondering the gravity of the situation. The battle had been intense, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this creature than met the eye.

Should something like this grow any further, it would spell disaster for many. Although it wasn't his match, an incomplete product had still withstood the complete obliteration of its innards and even bypassed his arts.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Edward surveyed the area, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. The room was now eerily silent, devoid of the monstrous presence that had threatened his life just moments ago. The dark sludge that had oozed from the creature's body had dissipated, leaving behind only traces of its corrosive nature.

Pain flooded his senses as he clutched his wound, the intensity forcing him to his knees. His senses were in disarray, his breathing cut short as he coughed out contaminated blood.

'I detected an unknown agent in your system. I'm dealing with it.' Eden's voice cut through the dizziness overtaking his mind, his body shivering as he kept coughing and spitting out what strength he had left, Edward pushed himself to his feet and slowly wobbled out of the facility and back to the basement door.

Taking deep breaths, Edward readied himself for a fight as he pushed the door open. Fortunately, there was no need for such as he was met with the sight of Wu'an sitting amidst the corpses of the watchmen. Noticing his wobbling posture, the draco hurried over to support him.

"What happened in there?" Her eyes narrowed when she took note of his injured shoulder, helping him as the two walked towards the exit.

"There's some experimentation facility downstairs. I took all the relevant information and dealt with the personnel already." Edward lurched forward in pain, his chest heaving as he struggled to steady himself. "We're going to need a lot of explosives. I want to blow this place sky high." He emphasized, his gaze briefly looking back to the door he came from before shaking his head.

"I thought you'd say that." Wu'an nodded, giving a sharp whistle as they approached the front door. The door opened, revealing Petros and his men. "Demolish this place, boys."

"Capito. Let's go." Petros began barking orders as his men carried the explosives inside, accompanied by their armed friends. The process went smoothly as the men left the factory to join them after a few hours, ready to deploy the detonators.

Edward leaned against the door as the group drove away from the site, a piercing pain jolting him however briefly. Explosions rang out as the dilapidated factory and the secrets it hid were destroyed and buried under the debris, putting a wrench in the endeavors the masterminds behind it are planning to achieve. Looking at the flash drive in his hand, a narrowed gaze settled in Edward's eyes as he passed it to Wu'an. "This should help us find out who's pulling the strings here."

While this case may not be directly relevant to their search, the potential consequences and intentions behind those experiments were far from positive.

Wu'an nodded, her thoughts mirroring Edward's as she checked their rearview mirror again. She quickly became confused when she noticed Edward's face visibly paling, his entire body tensing. "What's wrong, Edward?"

The magus remained silent, his senses heightened as he directed his full attention towards the female lupo sitting in the back of the car, a gentle smile adorning her face. Shock filled his brown eyes, but he was met with a serene and affectionate gaze from the lady. Her obsidian hair danced with the breeze as she covered her mouth with her hand, emitting a soft chuckle that sent a shiver down Edward's spine.

The pain assailing his head was foregone as he gazed unblinkingly at the serene lady who appeared from nowhere, his heart threatening to burst from his chest as she spoke.

"It's been a long time…Gioia mia."

Syracuse's city of Flore / June 13th, Year 1094 / 11:00 PM / Rainy…

A figure clad in a black trenchcoat walked under the downpour, holding his umbrella as he approached the ruins of the factory. The man stood in front of the debris, his face partially concealed under an elaborate half-mask. "Well, this is certainly an intriguing twist." He mused, his smile unaffected by the unexpected setback.

"You're taking this better than I thought." An annoyed caprinae walked next to him, his face twisted in anger as he stomped on the rubble. "All my efforts and research were wasted! And I was close to making a functioning prototype." The old man gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting with the unrelenting rain and his chuckling associate. "Why are you even so amused? That work was not cheap for either of us."

"Your project has always been secondary to me, its failure is not consequential to what I seek." Shaking his head, the enigmatic man's smile didn't change despite the growing agitation of the Leithanien mage. "It is quite a shame to see a promising partnership end like this as well."

The caprinae tensed, his hand reaching to his catalyst. It proved too late as a wind blade slashed and effortlessly bisected them both. The mage's corpse fell to the ground whilst his former associate watched with disinterest, a noxious, onyx-colored sludge bubbling and contorting around the fatal wound for a few brief moments. Turning around, the smiling man saw a hooded figure approaching him, their face hidden behind a mask bearing a haunting visage—a face divided between uproarious laughter and inconsolable tears.

"I'm grateful to have such a warm greeting in this dreary weather." His voice was laced with condescension and contempt as the sludge receded into his body, any sign of damage gone without a trace. "Had I known the infamous grinning mourner would come here, I would have prepared an adequate gift."

"Seeing one of your toys broken is enough for me, Umbra." The rebuttal was sharp and cold as the grinning mourner's hand left his pockets. Taking advantage of the man's momentary surprise at the mention of his name, the grinning mourner crossed the distance separating them and froze Umbra's body from the neck down in the blink of an eye. With a snap of his fingers, a wind blade separated the head from the frozen body.

Standing over his foe, the eerie mask particularly notable under the street lights. "What are you planning?" He squatted down, voice laced with anger.

"Different forms of arts…I see. You are the failed corpus." A sardonic smile curved upon Umbra's lips, betraying a hidden disdain and superiority. "Have no fear, all will witness my undertaking soon enough. It would be such poor taste to tell a faulty product about it."

"We'll see how long you can keep your smile once I'm done with you, freak." The masked man watched as the head began to dissolve into sludge, flames bursting into life in his hand before it engulfed the unsightly muck. His job done, the grinning mourner sighed and left the area.

His hunt is far from over.

Lyudmila didn't like idling or lazing about. Sitting at her boss's bar, the fox felt irritated watching the days go by as everyone else went from fighting one faction to another while she was forced to watch over her master. She's been stuck at the beck and call of the Covenant's donna after getting defeated so mercilessly by the monstrous woman. The memory still brought chills to the young vulpo's spine and she drank deep of her drink to drown the recollection back into the darkest corners of her mind.

The only reason she survived was due to the fact the donna knew her master well, allowing Lyudmila to keep her life. Her teacher joined them not long after hearing news about her capture, only to end up trapped alongside her student. In the end, she was told she could leave when she impresses the boss lady enough.

Something which is never going to happen if she stays in the stronghold doing nothing! That terrifying bit-

"Hey, Lyudmila!" A hand grabbed Lyudmila's head and she froze still in fear. Turning around ever so slowly, Lyudmila nervously looked up to the tall frame of the very same lupo haunting her thoughts. "Y-Yes, boss?" The vulpo whimpered under the feral grin on the she-wolf's face, her amber eyes glinting with excitement.

She's only this excited when she finds a new prey she's interested in. Lyudmila gave a silent prayer for the poor soul.

"A little bird told me Enzo's brother is in town, looking for us to boot. I want to see what he's like." Easily carrying Lyudmila with one hand, the intimidating lady smiled at the little fox. "And you're going to help me." She let out a burst of boisterous laughter and completely ignored the rapidly paling fox.

Lyudmila deeply regretted her earlier thoughts as she was dragged into another bout of training under the pitying look of her helpless master. The old wolf could only shake her head, knowing any resistance is futile against the unrestrained troublemaker even if everyone in their base teamed up against her.

The night would be filled with the pitiful cries of the Covenant's resident fox and the hearty laughter of its indomitable commander.

Omake: Wild "Tales" of Eden: Pops or Gramps?

Another beautiful day had calmly passed for the Reunion movement's leaders, having finished their daily duties and had gathered around for a merry dinner together under the shining light of the stars and moons. Talulah smiled gently while watching as Alina and Hoederer were taking care of the children as they were sent to bed, glad to see her friend had finally found a capable assistant to help with the little gremlins.

She noticed W and Ines approaching her, the former annoying her comrade as usual. "Hoederer is a better caretaker than I expected." Talulah noted idly, holding back her amusement as two kids clung to the mercenary's arms.

"Oh yeah, he's a total mom." W openly laughed at her superior only to get smacked by Ines for it.

"He has to be to have made something out of an idiot like you." Ines grunted and crossed her arms, her eyes softening somewhat at the sight of the helpless swordsman following Alina's instructions.

"Hey! Talulah!" Petrova called out to them, the little Yeti beckoning them to come to sit around the campfire.

The three girls left the two caretakers to their lively company, sitting with everyone else. Watching her companions, Talulah felt the weight of Edward's absence all the more. Looking to the skies, she wished she could hear from him again if only to know he was okay. Talulah knew the others began to feel the same way too, trying to drown their longing with their training and his stories.

Speaking of stories…

"Okay, everyone." Petrova clapped her hands, smiling as the small talk was put on-halt as she gestured to the papers in her hand. "We've decided to shake things up today, so we're going with a new story!" The young Kuranta's brow twitched when her siblings responded with boos and dissatisfaction, her irritation boiling over rather quickly. "Shut it! This was decided by the majority! If you don't like it, vote harder!" Her harsh response silenced the opposition, clearing the stage for her to begin the storytelling.

Amidst the darkness of the night, the group sat together as close companions, listening to yet another wild tale.

Fairy Tail Guild / X791…

Approaching the run-down building serving as fairy tail's guild hall, a lot was running on a number of the guild's mages. Sleeping for seven years does that to people, and some of them are still coming to terms with the fact so much time had passed while they slept in Tenrou island after their encounter with Acnologia.

Although most of the thoughts going through their heads were thrown to the side when they saw the sorry state their family fell into in their absence. What news they heard during the trip home didn't inspire much other than anger, knowing what their friends had to go through while they were away and how much burden they were made to bear so unexpectedly.

"Looks like some troublemakers came again." Jet sighed as he and Droy led the group in the direction of their guild hall. Despite the trouble ahead, the two remained relatively serene.

"They never learn." Droy snickered, nudging his friend when the ground began to shake. "Pops is going to send them flying again." Steadying himself, he gave a smile to their concerned friends. "Don't worry, we're not in danger."

A group of nameless goons was promptly sent flying from the building, landing with a hard thud in front of them. The S-class mages tensed as a giant figure jumped from the hole in the roof, his roaring laughter making everyone flinch. Staring down at them was the biggest man they'd ever seen other than their master. His wrinkles did not diminish the sharp features and defined jawline, his chiseled physique and bulging muscles exuding a strength belying his age. The plethora of terrible scars across his torso did put some of the mages on edge, some speaking of injuries bordering on fatal.

Wearing only a black bandana coupled with light, loose pants tucked into black boots, the giant of a man erupted into hearty laughter, his booming guffaws traveling far and wide. "You're finally back, I had a feeling something happened." Crossing his arms, the shirtless big man inspected the newcomers.

"These are the members we told you about, pops. We finally found them." Jet smiled widely while gesturing to his old friends. "These are the best Fairy Tail has to offer, along with our old master." Noticing the curious glances of Makarov and the others, Jet immediately introduced the stranger. "Everyone, this is Edward Newgate. He's been with us for a month after we helped him out. He's been looking after us ever since."

Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard, took a closer look at the supposed elites of Fairy Tail. He could sense some notable strength from a number of them, definitely above all the other members he's been with. His eyes narrowed once he met Makarov's, a certain tension growing as he looked down on the much smaller man.

"You have my gratitude for taking care of my children." Makarov's heart ached at the state his children succumbed to, yet thankful no further harm befell them. Still, he offered a cordial smile and a respectful nod to their benefactor.

But…why did he feel so irritated by the smirk Newgate was giving him?

"They are my children now, little squirt." Newgate declared, his smile growing even wider under his prominent mustache.

Makarov's smile froze before slowly receding, his jovial expression replaced with a cold stare. "Care to repeat that?" His voice turned low and cold, the two elders' auras scaring the other mages.

"They are my sons and daughters now. I can't have a son who's older than me, but I'll let you take second billing for my children's sake." Whitebeard looked on with amusement as the tiny man grew bigger and bigger until he was even larger than him.

"You think I'll give you my children that easily, punk?" The two began butting heads, their strength cracking the earth around them as they went back and forth.

"Be careful! You're going to-" Macao quickly ran out of the decrepit base and tried to appease the two. The guild didn't have money to repair the damage their scuffle would cause. His voice betrayed him when the two old men shifted their attention to him, causing him to run right back in there.

No one could blame him, as even Gildarts and the other S-class wizards steered clear away from the two old-timers. In no time, push came to shove as the two giants began their bout in earnest while the others enjoyed their reunion. While most people would have a hard time chatting with friends while the ground was shaking, it only took the young mages a few minutes to get used to the destruction being wrought just outside the doorstep.

It would be hours later when the two men would put their sacred battle for the position of father of the guild on hold to completely demolish Twilight Ogre and all its members on their own.

It would be the first out of many days the Fairy Tail guild would experience alongside their new pops.

Name: Ahkmatov Edward Viktorovish. (Formerly Edward Miles)

Race: Ursus.

Age: 24 years old.

Element: Fire, Air, Earth.

Originium-Cell Assimilation: 10%.

Originium blood concentration: 0.17 u/L.

Arts: Telekinesis.

Current condition:

Contaminated.

Inventory:

-"Introduction to the field of Alchemy. "

-" Intricacies of Transmutation. "

-" Advanced Bounded Fields. "

-" Advanced Runes and the engraving process. "

-" The paths of Healing magecraft and Spiritual healing. "

-" Holy sacraments "

-" Oriental Spiritual Evocation and Music "

-" Puppets. "

-Ursus weapons and Equipment.

-Food and Rations.

-Flute

-Class card( Archer class heroic spirit designation: "Nameless" )

-Holy shroud.

-Carbon (30Kg)

-Ammonia(5L)

-Lime(1.7Kg)

-Phosphorus(350g)

-Salt(200g)

-Niter(100g)

-3500 LMD.

Points: 1000.

Artificial Ursus arm (manufacturing in progress: 98%).

Cautus Puppet Body (manufacturing in progress: 15%).

Wendigo Puppet Body (manufacturing in progress:10%).

Thank you for reading.

If you want to stay up to date with the progress of this story or the other ones, or if you have any questions about the stories, be sure to join my discord server: discord . gg/AP6xKzZXgU

Have a nice day and stay safe!

Next update will be The Wise King.