Chapter 6: The Guardians Emerge, Victorious

Two Months Later

Jenny sped through the obstacle course fast enough that her steps and movements kicked up a trail of dust. Her arms and shoulders glowed with a slight aqua light, enabling her to fire arrows with blinding speed pinning unsuspecting jumping orange mushrooms to the surrounding trees and reducing walking stumps to splinters.

She skidded to a stop when the course came to a dead end with a wall of trees and thick bushes and immediately nocked an arrow, listening for the sound of possible attackers all around her. From behind her, a small green snake launched itself from a bush. Jenny spun around and pinned its head to a tree. Meanwhile, walking stumps began melting out of the nearby forests, creaking and snapping as they walked. Jenny reached for her crossbow and fired a spear of flaming aqua light into the ground, making it heave as dozens of bolts shredded through their wooden bodies. A small man wearing a mask made of wood over his face and brandishing a tomahawk ax prompted Jenny to draw her bowstring as aqua light appeared from her hands in the shape of an arrow: The Spine Arrow.

The light pierced through the mask and skull of the creature; it let out a squeaking growl as it fell to the ground before fading away as blue dust. As the beast disappeared, the trees blocking Jenny's path swept aside, allowing her to complete the training course. Over the past two months, Jenny had become a well-defined young woman; her usually jaw-length hair now came down past her shoulders, which also took on a green tint. No longer was she the slim, athletic track runner from Ohio; she was now a toned and deadly archer.

"Well done, Jenny. You have performed your training much better than I could have hoped." Athena called. Jenny smiled with pride as she slung her bow over her shoulders and hugged Athena.

"Thanks, Mom. Never thought I'd even get the hang of using the Emerald Crystal." Jenny said, holding up her hand where an aqua-colored mist hovered in her hand. From behind her, Aran and Lillianne jumped down from the trees where they had been watching.

"I too am very impressed, Miss Jenny. I'm a bit confused about why your power is not completely green." Aran asked. Jenny looked back to the cloud and shrugged.

"I'm… not entirely sure. It might be because I'm accidentally using a bit of mana when I use the crystal's power. It might get better over time, it's all still a little new to me." she answered. Aran nodded before reaching into his knapsack, where he pulled out a paper package for Jenny.

"This is a gift for completing your training, The Huntress Armor. It will help you on your journey." Jenny reached for the package and pulled the twine ribbon away to reveal the black and gold armor within.

"A new bow is waiting in the equipment shed." Lillianne smiled broadly as Jenny ran to is, seeing the name 'Ryden' written across the arms in gold leaf and a new crossbow, the Mountain, sitting on the floor. When she came out of the dressing room, she resembled a huntress even more than before. The snug-fitting top accentuated her curves with a one-sided bikini over her chest. A short gold skirt over close-fitting black pants adorned her legs, while dark grey boots edged with gold protected her feet. Finishing the ensemble was a black hat sporting a feather in the band.

"I'm beginning to think that I won't need that Sky Lineros; this looks amazing," Jenny grinned, admiring herself in the mirror, slinging the quiver and bow over her shoulder while hanging the crossbow on her hip.

"These are also for you from me: a pair of earrings called the Snail Eyes," Lillianne said holding out a small pair of silver earrings decorated with a green gem. Despite the momentary pain of making a hole for them to go through, Jenny put them through her ears, then posed while drawing her bow and admiring her stance in the mirror. Athena stood off to the side leaning against the wall, watching her daughter's posing, remembering her training under Mercedes. When Jenny faced her, Athena stood and nodded.

"The villagers will be reassured once you return to Herb Town." She said, placing a hand on Jenny's shoulder before Aran looked through the door.

"We must go and collect Helen. She should be finishing the last of her training at any minute." Aran stated as the four of them began running through the plains toward the thick forests of Ellinia.


Helen waved her staff to the side, casting a fire spell that roared through branches blocking her path and obliterating them like paper. The smell of rotting wood wafted into her nose as Dark Walking Stumps came lumbering forward, shooting tiny roots from the ground toward her. Helen pointed her fingertips at them, spreading her hand as a lavender mist swirled from her arm. Streams of lighting shot down on the stumps, burning them to a crisp and spreading burnt splinters everywhere. Above her, a giant green spider hung down from its web, waiting for any prey to wander into its sticky silk. Helen hadn't recovered from the spell she had cast at the walking stumps and collided into the web, sticking to the threads.

The spider being as big as Helen was tall, walked toward her with slow menace. Before it could sink its fangs into Helen's arm, a cloud of lavender enveloped her, teleporting her a short distance away. holding her staff at arm's length, Helen drew her hand across the shaft like a bow. A blue cloud plumed from her hand, creating a giant bow and arrow of divine light. The Sacred Arrow hit the spider through the heart, making it scream in a high-pitched note as it melted into a sickly green pool of blood on the ground. Helen then pointed her staff to the web; cold air billowed from the head, freezing the silk, and allowing her to break it into thousands of tiny shards.

No sooner had she broken the web than a pack of boars charged at her. Helen drove the end of her staff into the ground, making seal movements with her hands and fingers. She touched a pouch on her belt and pulled a small drop of poison out, inflating it like a bubble until it burst, causing its vapors to fall over the pack. They instantly stopped and began to convulse, letting Helen walk across the finish of her obstacle course while holding her breath just as Aran and the others came to where Grendal stood.

Jenny almost didn't recognize her friend; the girl she had known now only existed in her facial features. Helen's red hair had grown, cascading down to the middle of her back in luscious locks that had turned a light shade of lavender. Meanwhile, her bright eyes seemed to house a strange, powerful light deep within them. Despite the changes both had gone through, they still ran and hugged each other upon meeting gazes.

"Jenny! You look so different! You look good! Especially with that outfit and new bow of yours." Helen commented, running her hand over the green and yellow bow.

"I could say the same for you. I almost didn't recognize you!" Jenny answered, motioning to Helen's now more notable figure.

"You're not so bad yourself. It looks like you've been able to control the Emerald Crystal a bit."

"Yeah, but not much. I'm still using mana at the same time for some reason," Jenny said, holding up her hand where an aqua-colored cloud appeared. Helen looked it over, narrowing her eyes as she thought.

"Are you thinking of the crystal's power as something to add to your Mana?" Helen asked, watching the cloud more closely.

"I guess? I haven't really given it much thought. My mom said that controlling it was like controlling mana, so that could have something to do with it." Helen shook her head, holding up her hand as an intense violet cloud appeared in her hand.

"Controlling the crystal's power is the same, but tapping into it differs greatly. It's a separate energy altogether," she explained, the cloud of energy in her palm making Jenny's skin itch with static.

"Well, that's easy for you. Most of your magic is based on Mana Manipulation."

"It's not as hard as you think. It just takes some practice. I started by using mana and crystal power simultaneously, but Grandpa gave me some tips on how to single it out. " Helen said until Grendal cleared his throat, making Jenny back up a bit so that he could speak to his granddaughter.

"Helen, you have surpassed my expectations as a mage. Even your control over the Amethyst Crystal is impressive. And as such, I am extremely proud of you." He smiled as Aran stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Helen, you are truly the Guardian Mage. The pain, tears, sweat, and blood you shed haven't gone unappreciated. In honor of your completion, the Fairy Attire awaits you inside the library." Helen teleported away to change while Grendal, Athena, and Aran stepped away from the area a bit.

"Tell me, Grendal, has Helen unsealed the Amethyst crystal?" Grendal shook his head.

"Not entirely. The majority of its power is still sealed. As Helen said, I showed her a few pointers, but she has figured out the rest on her own." Aran nodded in understanding, turning to Athena.

"And what of Jenny? It appears she hasn't been able to gain as much control. Have you taught her how to use it?"

"I taught her how to use it. However, she has often expressed that she cannot yet distinguish the differences between her mana and the Emerald Crystal's power." Aran sighed, putting his hand to his forehead with an uneasy grin.

"I don't like to be the pessimist in this situation, but the power of the crystals won't grow until they are unsealed. Can't you unseal them yourself?" Aran pressed.

"That would be unwise," Grendal answered. "While we masters wielded the crystal's power, I placed the nearly unbreakable seal on them to prevent its emergence in the other world. That power has now passed on to these children. In doing so, not only has the power changed but the nature of the seal as well, so releasing it could prove deadly. When the time is right, the seal will break." Aran crossed an arm over his chest and rested his chin on his fist, dropping his shoulders until Helen returned. Jenny and Lillianne could only stare in wonder at her transformation just by changing clothes.

"You look much more like a mage now, Helen," Lillianne grinned as she handed her a beautiful pair of teardrop-shaped plates of onyx centered on a chip of Amethyst called The Dark Shards. Since Helen already wore earrings, she quickly changed them for the prettier ones as Grendal lowered a ring of gold onto her head.

"I'm almost jealous," Jenny smirked, helping to put on the earrings.

"I have already spoken to Dark Lord and Olsen. They will meet us in Perion, where we will collect Matthew and Jack." Aran announced. Helen looked around at her training grounds before remembering something and teleporting away. A moment later, she came back with her old clothes from Ohio in her arms.

"Why are you bringing those? We don't really need 'em anymore." Jenny asked.

"It's something to remind me of home," Helen answered, teleporting after the group as they sped off to the mountains in the north. Even from their vast distance, they could see dust and smoke rising over the mountains where Jack and Matthew were training.


Matthew's two-handed sword rang loudly as four unsuspecting walking stumps split in two. Jack jumped over him with a bright crimson fist drawn back as Matthew reached for the sword on his belt. The connecting punch obliterated a charging boar, dust, and a few leaves swirling in the air. A massive log fell above Jack, but Matthew quickly drew his Viking sword from his hip, spitting it in half with a wide swing.

A blue cloud descended over Matthew while blue streaks covered Jack as giant boulders fell down a hill behind them. With explosive strength, Matthew's swings cut each stone like clay, while Jack's thunderous punches reduced them to pebbles.

"I thought that thing was going to be tougher," Jack said through huffs, drawing his pistol and firing two well-placed shots into the head of a Horned Ghost rising behind Matthew, nearly grazing Matthew's ear. Matthew flinched, rubbing his ear until he saw something behind Jack.

"It's all in perspective!" In a blur, Matthew stabbed his two-handed sword over Jack's shoulder and through the stone mask of a creature readying to pounce Jack, causing it to disappear in a cloud of mana. Near the end of the course, Lillianne watched from a high vantage point, eager to see Matthew. Over the past two months, she had visited the Perion training grounds and spent time with Matthew during his downtime, and watched him as he trained.

At the end of the course, a thick stone wall stood between Jack, Matthew, and their goal. Matthew sheathed the Viking and readied his two-handed sword while Jack holstered his gun and adjusted his knucklers. A red glow surrounded them and their weapons as the wind gently swirled. Jack took a few steps back; Matthew braced his stance. Threads of red lighting began to spark from the hilt and around the knucklers until Jack let out a screaming grunt, creating a perpendicular cyclone as he charged forward. Matthew drove his sword forward just as Jack passed him.

They hit simultaneously with enough force to shower the finish line with small rocks and dust, making Dances and Kryin dart away to avoid the debris. Jack and Matthew walked across the finish with an aloof saunter, exchanging hand slaps like a secret handshake. Lillianne shivered when she felt the excess power of the ruby crystal wash over her. The only other person Lillianne had seen with that much control over the crystal's energy was Helen, and both instances made her realize just how powerless she would be one day.

"What do you think, Lilly?" Aran asked. Lillianne jumped in surprise, unaware of Aran's coming up behind her.

"Dad! I told you never to call me that. I'm not a little kid anymore!" Lillianne blushed, turning away, hoping he hadn't seen her intensely staring at Matthew. Aran chuckled until he felt something appear behind him. Spinning around, he drew his halberd Maha from his back, expecting to see a troupe of Black Wings soldiers. Instead, he saw Olsen and Jin jumping down to where Matthew and Jack were standing. Olsen wore a red close-fitting shirt with a golden-colored mail sleeve. His red pants also had golden-colored shin guards, a red cap with goggles sat atop his head, and heavy steel chainmail boots adorned his feet.

When Jenny and Helen showed up at the finish line, they hardly recognized the boys standing before them. The last they had seen of Olsen, he had long blond hair and twinkling blue eyes. Now his hair was softer looking, cut just below his ears and draped over one eye, the majority of which was beginning to turn a pastel pink. Matthew and Jack had lost some weight but gained more muscle mass. Matthew's hair had grown out to the middle of his back, turning an almost cranberry red. Jack's hair has also grown out, standing on end in long spikes, stained a dark crimson. Jenny immediately let out an excited squeal, running to each of them and giving them all a tight hug.

"You guys look so different! I almost didn't recognize you!" She said. Jack and Olsen looked at each other momentarily as Jenny hung from Matthew's neck.

"Jenny? Is that you?" Jack asked, pointing to her with wide eyes and a surprised laugh.

"Yeah, it's me; who else did you think it would be?" Jenny asked, putting a fist on her hip.

"Dang, girl. Look at you! You look amazing!" Jack complimented until he, Matthew, and Olsen caught sight of Helen, who glided towards them. All three only stared in disbelief: was this the same Helen they knew from Ohio?

"I could say the same for you three. Time has been working its magic on all of us." Helen answered. Off to the side, Jenny groaned under her breath and nudged Olsen in the ribs. Sure, Helen was captivating, but she was too in her own way. Helen broke the silence when she noticed how intensely colored Jack's and Matthew's hair was tinted, even more so than Olsen's.

"How is it that all of us went through the same rigorous training, but only Jack and Matthew's hair has almost completely changed color?" she asked, holding up a few strands of her lavender hair. Aran scratched his forehead briefly and then turned to Grendal as though asking for help.

"Perhaps they have a natural affinity for controlling the crystal? Jack tripped the Ruby Crystal first, albeit by accident." Gendal answered when Jack spoke up.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that. As far as controlling it though, it's not that hard."

"It's really not," Matthew continued.

"So then how were you able to tap into it? What do you think about accessing its power so easily?" Helen asked. Matthew and Jack looked at each other and shrugged while Matthew answered.

"I just use it. I don't really think much about anything in particular."

"Being a bit of a brute can do that," Olsen answered with an edge in his voice.

"Hey, calm down there hotshot," Jenny said, patting his shoulder with the back of her hand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I meant that Jack and Matthew's fighting style requires less intensive thought. Perhaps that is what allows them so much greater control." Helen looked over to Olsen, noting that the patches of hair with color were almost as saturated as Matthew or Jack.

"So then how did you accomplish your control?" Helen asked. Olsen crossed his arms, looking over to Jin with a bit of subtle malice before answering.

"The crystal's power isn't so much another form of energy as it is an extension of your person. It's always there, just not as something one is aware of, like a person following you from a distance." Jenny nodded, trying to compile all the methods she had heard for controlling the crystal's power. Athena taught her thoroughly in Mana Manipulation and gave her extensive lessons in controlling the Emerald Crystal. But Jenny simply could not wrap her mind around keeping her mana separate when using the crystal's power. These new perspectives might give her the boost she needed.

"So did any of you have to fight off Black Wings?" Jack asked, removing his knucklers and grabbing a nearby towel to wipe the damp dust and sweat from his face.

"My father and I went searching for them every other day. It's one of the reasons I could gain so much control of the crystal."

"You went searching for them? Jin, I know you want to make them powerful in as little time as possible, but that's just suicide!" Kyrin interjected.

"It was a necessary risk," Jin answered coldly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It was one that was foolishly taken. What might have happened if Olsen faced a soldier much stronger than he?" Athena asked, furrowing her brow.

"Then I would have stepped in. I did not task Olsen with foes he could not defeat."

"I must agree with Kyrin and Athena. While the risk of coming here meant that facing the Black Wings was possible, at least the training grounds would have assisted them. Leaving the grounds in search of the Black Wings was much too big a risk, especially without the training they now have." Dances interjected. Jin huffed, turning and walking away from the group until Jenny broke the silence.

"Mom actually helped me fight off a couple of them. I almost got smacked in the face by one though." Jenny laughed nervously, holding up the shoulder piece of her training outfit that had been burned.

"Looks like you were able to avoid it just in time. Nicely done," Olsen replied with a slight grin, holding up his forearm to show a scar running from his wrist to his elbow.

"I feel you there, Olsen. Matt and I got tagged too." Jack said, pulling up his shirt to show where a few bandages were wrapped across his torso. Matthew tilted his head to the side, revealing a scar on his neck, just below his jaw.

"Wow, the Black Wings are nothing like the game portrayed them. " Helen said, leaning closer to Jack and holding her hands over the bandage while a pastel green glow emanated from them.

"Hey, what are you…" Jack backed away from her gesture until he realized the pain in his side had diminished significantly.

"What was that?" Jack asked, putting a hand to his side.

"I think it was Heal, the first spell a Cleric mage gets on the first job advancement. What happened to you, anyway?" Olsen asked as Jack took off the bandage while Matthew explained.

"About two weeks ago. While we were running the course, I was behind Jack trying to catch up when a fireball hit him. I kept the Black Wing's mage too busy to cast another spell until Dad and Kyrin arrived."

"You two need to work on your spatial awareness. Doing so would have prevented this from happening. I can show you how after we return to Herb Town." Olsen said, crossing his arms and lowering his brow. Jack glared at Olsen, a smirk turning up the corner of his mouth as he shook his head until Matthew remembered their training completion gifts.

A few minutes later, they both came back. Matthew wore a black robe trimmed in gold with a gold dragon embroidered into the front. Silver-colored grieves adorned his feet, and a Great Helm of Ruby guarded his head. Across his back was a giant Black Scimitar while the smaller straight sword, the Silver Gladius, hung from his belt. Jack wore a white tank top with a handkerchief around his neck, loose-fitting brown cargo pants, and sturdy leather shoes. A Sea Man's hat was on his head, while the leather bracers on his forearms accented the Primes he wore. On his hip hung the larger Cold Colt pistol, displaying silver scrollwork down the length of the barrel.

After Jenny, Olsen, and Helen had finished admiring their new clothes, Lillianne took three pairs of earrings from her nap sack. She handed Olsen a set of Amethyst plate earrings, then quickly gave Jack a pair of rare Red Emerald earrings. When she came to Matthew, she took his hand, placed the same Red Emeralds in his hand along with a small piece of paper, and closed his hand over it.

"Take these as a gift from me for finishing your training." She said, her cheeks flushing at the feel of Matthew's hands in hers. After a moment, Lillianne was suddenly very aware of how tall she was compared to him, standing almost a foot taller than him. Matthew's heart skipped a beat when he looked into her eyes. Flashes of his dream on the ship came to mind, and he recognized her face as the girl in his arms, covered in blood. Matthew was about to say something, but she quickly backed away as the masters gathered them to one place so Aran could speak to them again.

"Your training thus far has been preparing you for what lies ahead. Things may seem easy now, but trust me, they will only get harder. To help protect you on your journeys, I have one final gift for you all: The Gaia Mantles. These Mantles were created by Minerva by powerful magic and were hidden deep within the caves of the mighty Zakuhm." Reaching into a second knapsack, Aran pulled out an elegant black cloak, unfolding it and letting it sway in the breeze.

"Lady Helen, I give you the Ebony Gaia Mantle of Shadows. This mantle will guard you and any it covers from any magic cast upon you: the stronger the magic, the stronger the resistance. Some ancient writing on the hem of this mantle holds a powerful spell to use against any foe. Decipher the writing, and you can wield its power." Helen accepted the heavy cape as Aran fastened it around her shoulders and pulled another from his knapsack.

"Master Olsen, I give you the Crimson Gaia Mantle of Fire. This mantle will protect you or anyone it covers against any sort of fire, even against the relentless breath of Horn Tail. Use this cape well, and it will afford you the power over fire, allowing you to bend any flame to your will and even to use it as your own." Olsen stepped forward, clearing his throat a bit as the warm cape was draped over his shoulders and fastened in place.

"To Miss Jenny, I bestow the Azure Gaia Mantle of Water. This mantle can calm any storm and will defend you or anyone it covers from any water or wind-based attack. Listen to the waters and the power flow within this cloak, and you will unlock its secrets. " Jenny almost seemed like she was drawn forward as Aran placed the cape around her shoulders and secured it.

"Sir Jack, I endow you with the Emerald Gaia Mantle of Earth. With this mantle will protect you or anyone it covers from even the worst of Earthquakes, landslides, or rocks hurled at you. Listen to the voice of this grand mantle, and it will allow you to bend the earth to your will, even call upon the rocks of the deep to your aid. Be firm, unwavering, and this mantle will teach you the secrets that even I cannot fathom." Jack bowed his head once he had stepped forward while Aran fastened the cape to his neck.

"And to you, Lord Matthew, I give the Golden Gaia Mantle of Light. This mantle will guard you or anyone it covers against even the strongest of physical attacks; not even the sharpest sword will cut through its cloth. Embedded into it is an ancient code of Knights that will grant you power from the Spirit of Light when recited in full." Matthew knelt as the cape was draped over his shoulders and fastened to his elegant robe.

"Each of these gifts, while elegant, are tools; use them wisely, and you will be the greatest of heroes this world has ever seen, greater than even my companions and I." The Five admired one another's capes as they followed the masters towards Ellinia when a musty sweet smell began to permeate the air. The ground vibrated, making small rocks around them jump and shudder while a low rumble echoed toward them.

"What was that?" asked Olsen, drawing his dagger to the ready while trying to find what caused the vibration.

"That was a creature I thought had been dealt with many years ago," Athena whispered.

"What? What?" Jenny asked, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow.

"That is the very first of beasts we eliminated from the Ossyria, the Slime King." Dances answered, grinning mischievously as he remembered what he and the other masters had fought before leaving for the world of Earth. The five looked at each other before Matthew spoke up.

"You mean…. The Kerning City Party Quest boss?" Aran raised an eyebrow as he looked to Grandal who nodded.

"Erm, Yes, him. This will be your first mission tomorrow. Go to him and question him on what the Black Mage has planned, get whatever information you can out of him, and then eliminate him. He was as much a threat to the people of Ossyria even when he wasn't under the influence of the Black Mage." When Jenny spoke up, Helen put a hand on her chin, looking to think very intently.

"If the Slime King is the same one we are familiar with, then wouldn't leaving him alone be just as effective?" Helen asked. Aran looked puzzled and looked to Athena for an answer, and once he was made aware of the world that these five knew, he better understood Helen's hesitation. Grendal interjected.

"The world that you knew is not the same as this world. Many things are different, but some are similar. The Slime King that you knew was more like a key to solving a puzzle. The Slime King of Ossyria is, in all actuality, the central nervous system of a very aggressive plant-based bacteria. If he is allowed to remain, the Kerning Swamps, and eventually all plant life on Victoria will become dangerously violent. He must be stopped to prevent that danger from arising." Helen stepped forward.

"Should we take some potions with us? If this is as dangerous as you are making it out to be, then I would think taking some would be to our benefit." Dances nodded, wrinkles appearing on his forehead as he thought.

"I am not sure if there are any potions here to give you. There might be a few potions within the Great Hall, but that is an uncertainty."

"It's better than nothing. Let's go check it out." Jenny suggested, following Dances and Matthew back into Perion. Inside the Great Hall, Dances went to the stone platform he typically sat on and pulled a drawer out, revealing a few stubby bottles with white, orange, and red colored liquid inside. Putting a few bottles of each in a knapsack along with some bandages, he closed the drawer and gave the sack to Helen. Jenny's curiosity peaked and looked into the bag to see a rainbow of color but lowered her brow.

"Um, there aren't any Mana potions in here. Isn't that a big thing that we'd need?" Kyrin chuckled and held up a stubby bottle of a blue liquid.

"In the game you're used to, you can either wait for your mana to regenerate or drink a potion. Here though, mana restorative, like this, is something only to be used as a last resort. If you use mana restoratives too much, your body will eventually become reliant on it and will no longer be able to make its own mana."

"So then what do these do? Do they still restore health?" Jenny asked, uncertain her questions had an answer.

"No, these potions actually assist your body to heal in certain ways. This white potion will help your body heal from cuts, broken bones, and even bruises. The orange potion boosts your immune system and speeds up your energy recovery. And finally, the red potion will help to recover from any blood loss."

"Wait, blood loss? How dangerous do you think this fight going to be?" Jack asked.

"It's just a precaution. There is a chance you will need it, but it would be unlikely." Matthew raised an eyebrow, looking at Jack and lifting his eyebrows high.

"I know that Jack getting burned was an eye-opener, but this sounds more dangerous than you've been letting on." Jin came forward, drawing his dagger and looking over the blade.

"Yes, this is much more dangerous than you have faced thus far. You will be leaving the helping magic of the training grounds. You will be facing a creature many times your size that can and will hurt you. You will also have to kill."

"So then, what have we been fighting against for the past two months?" Jack asked, realizing that he hadn't seen even one of the creatures he trained against even bleed, which Grendal answered.

"The training grounds provide creations of creatures using mana. These creatures replicate the physical attributes to better prepare you to face the real creatures."

"So all we gotta do is get into the swamps and get rid of this thing. Easy, just like the game," smiled Jenny until Matthew answered.

"Jenny, this isn't a game. This is real. What you're talking about doing isn't just finishing a quest: we're going to be killing something. Sure, we've been training with fake stuff, but this is a real live thing." The five looked to one another as the realization of what they had been doing up to that point was nothing compared to what they would have to face, and what Aran meant when he said to 'eliminate' the Slime King.

When the next day dawned, the five were instructed to meet in the southwest part of Lyth Bay once the Slime King had been defeated. Matthew, Jack, Jenny, and Helen followed Olsen as he led them to Kerning, hardly able to believe that the city they knew had become a desolate ghost town.

"This is where you've been for two months?!" Jack asked, looking around at the cracked or broken buildings. Olsen nodded as he looked over his shoulder.

"Yes. This is Kerning City. My dad said it used to be a pretty nice place before The Black Mage was brought back."

"Bummer." Jack sighed. They followed the main road that led to a big drain pipe, the entrance to the swamps behind Kerning. Just before they exited the culvert into the swamp, Olsen stopped them, listening to the air around him.

"Olsen, what's the matter?" Jenny asked.

"You don't feel that?" he asked, looking back at her wide-eyed. Jenny shook her head as she slowly drew her bow.

"If this thing, which is supposed to be the weakest of all party quest boss monsters, is working for the Black Mage and can emanate this level of evil, I can only imagine what the Mage himself is like," Olsen shivered. After Olsen moved forward, Jenny too felt an icy chill race down her spine as her skin became rough with bumps. Jack, Helen, and Matthew also felt the chilling cold as they neared the end of the pipe that seeped into their very beings. Matthew drew the Gladius while Jack tightened his knucklers, and Helen prepared a hot flame in her hand as they entered the swamp on a mossy bank.

"Split up, but stay within eyesight. Holler if you see it." Olsen commanded quietly. Carefully, they trekked through the mud and vines, occasionally giving a wide berth to a group of Alligators or Crocodiles. They all were thrown off balance when the ground jolted, making the mud and vines ripple. Jack quickly crouched to the ground to keep his balance before remembering his mantle. He pulled it around himself, and instantly, the ground below his feet stopped shaking. Once the bank around him stopped quivering, Jack pushed aside his cloak to see the Slime King a few yards ahead of him. To his left, Matthew stood stunned; he knew the Slime King was big in the game, but the blob before him was massive.

"Are you the Slime King!?" shouted Jack as he widened his stance, his fists flaring red in preparation to attack. The blob turned its eyes to him, wet squelches echoing in the air from its body.

"And what would you do If I say that I am?" he asked, his voice much more sinister than Jack was ready for, stunning him into silence.

"We have some questions to ask you," Helen said firmly, putting up a brave front as the Slime turned its eyes to her.

"Really? And what is it that you want to know?" Bubbles inside The Slime King's transparent green body floated up as though it were becoming increasingly agitated. Matthew stepped between Helen and the slime.

"What does the Black Mage have in mind? Going through all this trouble just to get the Masters to return can't be his only goal." Matthew demanded as the Slime smiled.

"You're right, that isn't his only goal. His goals are so much simpler and yet so far advanced that you can't even fathom it. The Black Mage would laugh in your face if he were here." Olsen landed next to the Slime as something black flashed in front of Matthew. A slit in the Slime King's jelly-like skin appeared, and the cut began to ooze thick, green liquid.

"We aren't here to play 20 questions you snot drop. What is The Black Mage Planning? If he wanted to destroy Ossyria, he would have done so already." Olsen sneered. The Slime King looked to Olsen and slowly blinked as it shook his head. The oozing liquid pulled back into the giant blob's body, closing the cut.

"Drop the tough act, it's annoying." The Slime King growled. Olsen didn't know what it was, but he could sense that something was coming, something big and painful.

"GET BACK!" Olsen shouted, throwing his hand down to draw two shuriken and turning to face the incoming threat. From the trees around them, thick vines shot down. Helen unleashed her fire spell, turning the vine to ashes. However, Jack was hit in the chest, throwing him under the water. Jenny's right shoulder was hit hard enough to numb it, spinning her around and throwing her against the ground. With a broad swing, Olsen hurled the first shuriken at the vine, and the second cutting through the vines aimed for Jack and Jenny. Matthew felt a stiff punch to his back, knocking him forward and knocking the breath out of him.

"Matt! Behind you!" Olsen shouted. Wind curled around Matthew as he stood and swung behind him, splitting the second vine coming at him. Helen teleported to Jack, pulling him from the water, then teleported to Jenny. With a quick wipe of his face, Jack launched into Slime King as a horizontal corkscrew, exploding part of his body. Jenny reached for her crossbow with her left and took aim at the slime where Jack had hit. Three rings of mana encircled the bolt, creating a small shock wave as it fired into the Slime, further exploding its body.

Olsen rushed behind Jenny, drawing his dagger and obliterating a rush of vines aimed at her. Meanwhile, Helen appeared beside her, placing a glowing green hand on her shoulder.

"Hurry it up! I can't keep this going forever!" Olsen commanded, his dagger becoming another whirl of metal and mana

"Just hold them back a while longer. Jenny's nerves were shocked into short-circuiting. I can heal it, but it'll take a bit."

"Forget me, we need to take care of the Slime King!" Jenny shouted, shoving away Helen's hand and grabbing her crossbow again. Matthew sheathed his Gladius and drew the Scimitar from across his back, light gathering at the hilt before bursting and propelling it through the Slime King's body. Another shiver ran down Olsen's spine, snapping his attention behind him to see the Slime King's body compress.

"He's gonna jump!" Olsen shouted. Jack leaped back, compressing mana between his hands into and grenade, pulling the pin with his teeth and lobbing it under the blob as it left the ground. Mana gathered in Jenny's crossbow to form a bolt as rings surrounded the bolt, again firing it with a shockwave, knocking the slime off center. Helen focused on the head of her staff, casting a frosty spell on the water, creating a tall spear of ice just as Jack's grenade landed in the water.

The Slime King landed on the spear, driving deep into his body as the grenade detonated. The Slime King's body exploded, hurling globules of slime and shards of ice in all directions, some of which sliced through their skin. Matthew, Jack, and Jenny all hissed through their teeth as they examined the razor-thin cuts on their arms, faces, and legs.

"Ok, good plan. But next time, let's try to find cover before we get showered in ice." Jack called. Helen huffed to herself, once again calling on her healing magic to reset Jenny's nerves and heal all their small cuts.

"Do you think we got him?" Matthew asked, looking back at the exploded puddle of green slop.

"I don't think so, look," said Olsen, pointing out that the Slime was pulling itself back together. Jenny nocked an arrow and was beginning to draw when a vine wrapped around her. Images of Stumpy crushing her flashed through her mind as she felt the vines wrap tighter around her. Ghost pains in her chest and arms pulsed, remembering the feeling of her bones giving under the pressure.

"How can I still be unable to avoid this?!" Jenny thought until Olsen cut apart the vines in a hazy blue blur.

"FOCUS!" he yelled, rushing to the slime as it reformed, cutting through its skin to slow its progress. Red flames shot up around Matthew as tiny tongues of fire appeared on Jack and Olsen's shoulders. Matthew's scimitar roared with power, swinging hard enough to split a chunk from the Slime King, but felt a wave of exhaustion come over him.

"What the heck was that?" he thought, only to be thrown aside as a root tossed him into a nearby tree, leaving him gasping for air on the ground. Helen drove her hands forward, freezing the two parts Matthew had cut in place. Jack drew his pistol, backing away from the Slime King and firing on one of his eyes. Olsen jumped to the surrounding trees, using them to accelerate his movements, cutting the Slime King's body and throwing flaming shuriken into his Jelly-like body. Jenny fired as she ran, using a combination of her Spine Arrow and Bomb Arrow to punch through portions of his body. Helen then cast lightning strikes upon the frozen body parts, snapping them out of existence. At the end of their volley, the Slime King looked like melting jello.

"Now, will you tell us what we asked you?" Jack asked, reloading his pistol and snapping the cylinder shut. Olsen halted in a tree above the scene, readying another pair of Shuriken. The Slime King remained silent and turned his remaining eye to them. The ice holding his body apart broke, allowing him to pull the goop of his body back together while healing the wounds they had inflicted. Matthew sprinted from behind, spurring Jack, Helen, and Jenny to attack. However, Olsen didn't move: something about their approach seemed off, and thought back to what Grendal said before they left.

"Many things are different, but some are similar." That one thought kept repeating in his mind. What was so different about this slime than all the other slimes he had faced while training? Granted their training was against mana creations, but even they had the attributes of any regular slime. What were they missing? And how was the Slime King different from the one he knew about in the game?

"Everyone! Retreat and regroup!" Olsen called. Matthew looked back for a moment and then raised his sword high as a blue light gathered around the guard, propelling his sword with ground-shaking force to split the Slime King again, allowing them to retreat. Once a fair distance away, Jenny was the first to ask what it was that Olsen was thinking.

"Do you remember what Grendal said about some things being different? What if the Slime King is one of those instances?" He said, prompting the others to think along the same lines.

"Now that I think about it, one thing seemed different about the Slime King here. Something was floating inside of it towards the top, which was connected to its eyes." Helen said as she looked up to see whether or not the blob was coming. Jenny noticed that Matthew breathing harder, leaning against a crook of roots. She went to him and touched his shoulder, wincing as she reached.

"Hey, you alright?" She asked. Matthew rolled his head to face her.

"I don't know. I used some of the crystal power, but it wore me out after just one use." Helen overheard him and placed a hand on his arm as a pulse of magic flowed through his body.

"You've used up a lot of your mana. That could have a lot to do with it. My grandfather told me that the closer you get to running out of mana, the more easily you get winded. And from what I've come to understand about the crystal's power, it is much more potent than mana, so as a result ends up using much more of your body's energy to use it."

"If I'm already tired, then it'll wear me out even faster. But how come that didn't happen back at the training grounds?" Matthew asked. Olsen interjected.

"It was because we were in the training grounds. Remember, those grounds are there to help us. We're out here in the real world now with no support. Speaking of Mana, I'm running a little low myself. I think I have a few attacks and maybe one big one left, but that's about it. What about the rest of you?" Olsen asked. Helen took a moment to assess her stores and nodded that she still had an ample supply, as did Jack. However, Jenny noted that about half of her mana reserves were left.

"Then, our current method of attack won't work. The Slime King simply pulls his body back together. All we're going to do is wear ourselves out. If my thinking is right, then that thing Helen saw floating inside the Slime King is what's keeping it together. If we can destroy that, I think we can bring it down." Answered Olsen.

"To our credit, this thing is just a super mutated bacterium," Helen said when Jack threw his arms out and leaned in.

"Yeah! A giant freaking bacterium that has control of vines!"

"It got me too when I wasn't paying attention. It made me think back to when Stumpy had me and nearly crushed me." Jenny answered, looking through the knapsack for an orange potion that she gave to Matthew.

"I'll make sure that doesn't happen again, but we need to focus on the mission," Olsen said. A crackling branch made them all freeze, carefully pushing aside some of the vines, revealing that the Slime King was quietly rolling through the swap, looking for them.

"So, what's the plan?" Matthew whispered after drinking a potion and recovering some of his energy. Helen grabbed a stick, drawing up rude schematics to follow.

"Jenny, Jack, and I will create a diversion by attacking from the front. Matthew and Olsen, you will get behind and above him. When I give the signal, Matthew will jump down first to cut an opening. Olsen will follow closely behind so that he can get into the body of the Slime to deliver the final blow to whatever that thing is. Use your crystal power to make the attack more effective if you can."

"I need another couple of minutes before we go. I haven't gotten enough energy back yet." Matthew panted. With a final nod, they waited and split off from one another once Matthew had recovered. Matthew and Olsen crept as quietly as they could through the trees while the others ran into the path of the Slime King.

"What's this now? Are you going to try and make me talk again?" Slime King asked with a mocking tone. Jack drew his pistol, firing a round between Slime King's eyes, making its body billow away in a splash.

"Tell us now. We can do this the hard way or the easy way," Jack smirked, his arms tensing, almost itching to fight. Jenny nocked an arrow, watching Olsen and Matthew as they climbed a tree to get into position. When Matthew and Olsen were ready, Jenny fired a Bomb Arrow that exploded near the Slime King, splattering mud all over him.

Gritting its teeth, the Slime King jumped high into the air prompting Matthew and Olsen to hold onto the tree they stood on to keep their balance. Helen fired a frozen sacred arrow at the Slime King, causing him to shriek as a patch of his body splashed before being frozen. Once Matthew ensured his footing was secure, he scanned over the Slime King to confirm the existence of the cluster Helen had spoken of. When he did see it, he saw that it wasn't just a 'command center'; it was the Slime King's brain! Nerves intertwined throughout the goop, bobbing inside its body. Mana flared around Jack's fist as he threw a powerful punch, forcing the Slime King back, below the tree where Olsen and Matthew stood.

"NOW!" Helen shouted, freezing the ground around the Slime King to hold it in place. Matthew leaned forward, pushing himself off with enough force to nearly break the thick branch he stood on, followed by Olsen doing the same. Matthew drew his Gladius and cut a large opening on the unbroken skin of the monster. Olsen then pulled two shurikens from his stash, pale pink flames erupting around them as he hurled them into the opening, further deepening the cut. Just before diving through the opening, Olsen drew his dagger, plunging into the thick ooze of his body, aiming for the brain. The Slime King's eyes widened when it felt the increasingly deep cut into its body, realizing what was happening. Quickly, it began closing the wound, catching Olsen in its thick body mere inches from its brain.

"I can't have you doing something like that. Your parents made me have to heal for over 20 years, but now I won't be so easily taken down." A long, slick hair from the brain began growing while it moved further into the center of his body. The hair broke through the top of his head and stood straight up with a glowing glob of its body on the end of the hair. Olsen struggled to swim further down to his target. But the brain moved further down inside the Slime King's body every time he came close. Matthew tried to cut deeper to get Olsen out but missed as he swam deeper.

When the glob stopped glowing, drops from the Slime's body fell to the ground, beginning to hop around and attach to The Five's heads. As Jack, Helen, and Jenny fought off the slime army, Jack noticed the slime squashing its body as though it were getting ready to jump.

"Everyone! JUMP!" he shouted. The Slime jumped high into the air and landed with earth-cracking force, the shock of which blew Jack, Helen, and Jenny back. Matthew was thrown from his perch atop the Slime King, landing on his back in the mud, gasping for air. Jack managed to right himself and skid to a stop through the mud while shaking his head, trying to stop the ringing in his ears from the shockwave. When the ringing subsided, he noticed that Olsen's movements were becoming slower, and his face was beginning to turn blue.

"JENNY! Get Olsen some air now!" Jack shouted, running up and punching a hole in the slime. Jenny scrambled to her feet, aqua light engulfing the bow as she nocked and fired two arrows through the hole Jack had made. But even with the use of her mana in tandem with what little control of the Emerald Crystal she could manifest, it wasn't enough to reach Olsen before the Slime King closed the hole completely.

Olsen's struggling only sped up his need for breath, and the only way he'd be able to breathe soon enough was to take out that brain. Just as Olsen reached the Slime King's brain, his vision went black, and he passed out, hanging limp in the thick goop. Matthew finally regained his breath and rolled over when he saw Olsen hanging motionless in the Slime King.

"Jack! Can you throw me above this giant booger?" He called, wrenching his body out of the thick mud.

"Not with your swords, they make you too heavy," Jack answered as he punched through a smaller slime beside him and then elbowed another behind him. Matthew undid the buckles holding his swords and let them fall to the ground as he began running.

"JACK! BOOST ME UP! JENNY! SHOOT HELEN'S STAFF AT ME!"

"But what if I…"

"JUST DO IT!" Matthew bellowed as Jack threw him into the air. Jenny took Helen's staff and drew her bow, firing it at Matthew, who caught it. He then held it as though it were a sword, light gathering where the guard would be, and swung down. With no footing, the staff's momentum pulled him down like lead, plunging into the goop and driving the bottom of the staff through the brain. The Slime King's eyes became slits as he howled in pain while his body melted into a giant puddle. Jenny ran over to Olsen, wiping away the slime from his face and nose, trying to get him to breathe. She then set her bow down and began pressing on his chest in a rhythm.

"Come on, Olsen! I don't want my first kiss to be like this!" For nearly a minute, Jenny pressed on Olsen's chest until he abruptly sat up and coughed up small globs of slime. Matthew shook his hands off, yanking the staff out of the Slime King's brain and shaking it off as well. Some of the Slime King's body gathered into a mouth and began speaking again, this time in a higher-pitched voice.

"You have only begun to suffer! The Black Mage's plans are already in motion, and there is no stopping them!"

"We'll be coming for the Black Mage in due time. And he will be stopped." Jack growled.

"Don't forget that you are the ones who will reap the bloody seeds of battle! The Black Mage will be the supreme ruler!"

"What do you mean by 'Supreme Ruler?'" Helen asked angrily. The eyes of the slime appeared next to the mouth and seemed to smile.

"You're the smart one, you figure it out," it said before a vine began wrapping around Helen's leg from under the ground. The slimy mud still clinging to the vine made Helen freeze, panic racing through her mind as she looked down to see what had grabbed her, seeing flashbacks of her assault at the docks in Ohio. All at once, the vine tightened, and a loud crack was heard provoking a shrill scream from her as she was thrown to the ground. Frigid air erupted from Helen's hand, freezing the Slime King's remains, which shattered as Jack fired his pistol into it. The vine around her leg fell limp while the goop of his body melted into a puddle of inanimate liquid. Instantly, Helen reached for her leg where a large bruise had formed, groaning in pain and rolling to the side while beginning to heal it. Olsen came over to her, looking over her leg for a moment before pulling her hands away, still coughing up bits of slime.

"Why'd you stop me? I need to heal it!" Helen cried.

"The bone still needs to be set. Do you even know how to…"

"The healing spell can reconnect bones and put them back into place. If I were out of mana, then we'd need to set it." Olsen nodded, holding up his hands and allowing her to continue.

"If you were out of mana, you'd still be able to use your crystal power for the healing spell." Jack pointed out, kneeling next to her.

"Right now, that's not possible, at least not for a wound like this. I can't control the crystal to that level of accuracy at the moment." It was ten minutes before Helen was able to walk, allowing them to journey to Lyth Bay. During the trip, the thought of having made their first kill hung over them. Yes, they had killed something like a giant ball of slime controlled by bacteria, which Helen tried to point out. However, the victory still felt odd to them since the Slime King had been able to talk and even appeared to feel pain. Until then, the only creatures they had ever faced were mana creations incapable of speech. While they journeyed to Lyth Bay, all five of them used nearby streams to clean the thick mud and goop from their clothes and weapons.

Once they met up with the masters and returned to Herb Town, the ecstasy of the inhabitants allowed them to put their unsure feelings aside and greet them with open arms. Matthew felt unease as he would catch glimpses of Lillianne standing on the edge of the crowds. He thought it had something to do with the dream he had and how uncanny the resemblance to the woman who died was. He could tell she liked him, and he was attracted to her. Matthew wanted to believe that the dream was really just something weird his mind came up with because of all the pressure that had been put on him. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself, that explanation didn't feel right.

"It's just a dream. Probably nothing to worry about," Matthew thought, his attention going back to the swarm of people all around him.


The Mage's eyes grinned as lowered his crystal ball. He had seen the entire battle against the Slime King and was pleased with the results. Those children were going to be the finest heroes he had ever encountered once fully trained; everything was now in motion. Eleanor walked into his room, sitting down at his feet and leaning against his knees. It had been well over 40 years since she came into the service of the Black Mage, discovering him deep within the caverns of the Sleeping Wood among the abandoned mines of the Sharenian.

Her entire family, whom she was the youngest of, had fallen ill and died before she could get back in time with medicine from Mu Lung to cure them. In her grief, she wandered to the very place where the Black Mage had been sealed. She too was falling ill with the same sickness as her family, but the medicine did little to heal her. Seeing her in such a weakened state, whether out of pity or spite, The Mage treated her. In return, she pledged herself to him, latching onto him like he was her father, or something more. She had been cured by this man who seemed to have power beyond what she could fathom. Questioning whispers filled the air as The Mage stroked Eleanor's hair.

"In fact, yes, I have. I've just sent the Grand Skelegons to retrieve Francis' soul from his fortress of dolls in the Sleeping Wood." The Mage hissed in his throat approvingly, leaning down and kissing the top of her head at which she turned up to meet his hollow gaze. Whispers of instruction followed as The Mage held up his hand to reveal the images of six people. Eleanor was familiar with two such people, but she had only heard about the other four. Eleanor smiled and blushed slightly, laying her head down on his knees again.

"Thank you, master, I hope that I can live up to your expectations as a leader." She whispered. Even though he was the only thing in her life, she was thankful for him because she wouldn't have the power or vitality she had now without him.

"I know I've told you this a thousand times before, but thank you, Master. I owe you my life." She thought, happily sitting at his feet while watching the sunset from the window of his fortress.