Trials of a True Shield Hero

by theoneandonlyedster

After returning from Glass's World, Fergus Ward, the Shield Hero, faces new trials as he embarks on a mission to liberate the missing residents of New Rurorona. But his journey doesn't end there; the fates of the other missing Heroes lie in the balance as Fergus sets out to find them before darker forces take hold. M rated for mature content/language. OCxRaphtalia. Part 3 in series

4. Sadeena and the Murder Clown

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this latest season of anime as always.

Not much I need to say here aside from an apology that this wasn't out as quickly as I originally intended. I was aiming for Wednesday, but given how exhausted I'd been from work and how stressful the past couple of days had been, Friday was a more realistic target and was still within the deadline I'd set myself.

Enough waffling, let's get into the chapter and the fights to come! As always, I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime/manga/Light Novels. The only thing I own is my OC, Fergus Ward. Enjoy!

Chapter 4 – Sadeena and the Murder Clown

The unanimous decision, made by all of us including those not taking part, was simple. We abandon the pretence of acting weak and instead focus on going all out. Given this might end up being a match where all the marbles could be on the line, there was little else we could do. Nothing less than our absolute A game would suffice even to stand a chance against Nadia, or what we'd seen of her power anyway.

That night we all made sure to get a good rest after finishing off our meal (at Filo's insistence, especially given her point that wasting such good food would be a waste of money), and all throughout the following day we got ourselves into shape with workouts, practice spars, meditation and anything else we thought might give us an edge in the fight to come.

But as evening downed, the destined battle which Nadia had hinted to me previously a few nights ago was upon us. So once more making our way to the underground coliseum, and after being wished luck by Filo, Rishia and Vulpix before they went to take their place up in the stands where they'd be cheering and praying for our success, Keel, Raphtalia and I descended into the waiting area to limber up and get ready for the fight ahead, perhaps the last battle we'd be fighting here whether we won or lost.

Of course, we were all hoping for the former outcome, but much like Nadia herself…what might happen afterwards would remain shrouded until we prevailed in the arena.

~ToaTSH~

"And now…it's time for the main event you've all been patiently waiting for! This season's championship match of the coliseum!" The announcer's voice was still clearly audible even amongst the growing cheers and excitement of the crowd, who were all eagerly waiting and/or hedging their bets on the fight to come. "Will the winner be the newly formed Team New Blood, whose astonishing rise through the ranks to this point will forever go down in history, or the Drunken Lightning who is consistently one of the top fighters each season? Will you bet on the new kids at horrifying 10 to 1 odds? Or play it safe and bet on the nigh-undefeatable goddess of victory? The choice is yours! Now…it is time for our combatants to enter the arena! First off…the rising stars of the season…Team New Blood!"

"10 to 1, hm? Those are the worst odds we've had against us so far…probably a combination of Nadia being so strong and us being relatively new on the block…" I thought to myself as the gates opened before us, we stepped once more into the blood-stained arena to the cheers and roars of the crowd, with several cries coming down from there wishing us luck and to beat the odds with Filo's cries the loudest of them all. But such as the focus and determination radiating off of all 3 of us that we didn't acknowledge or even turn our heads to meet their cheers. Instead, each of us was starting unblinkingly through our masks at the gate on the other end of the arena which, as if noticing us watching it, started to rise open itself.

"And their opponent…the deadly and voluptuous Drunken Lightning herself…Nadia!" If the cheers for the three of us had been loud, then the reaction when Nadia's name was announced was deafening. As the now-familiar black-haired beauty made her way gracefully through the door towards where we were waiting, you could hear declaration after declaration made by male tones professing their love for Nadia and how each of them was her number one fan. "So not only has she got power and reputation on her side, but also the majority of the crowd…" I grimaced as she closed the gap towards the three of us, her normally serene expression betraying nothing.

"Good grief…I warned you to forfeit this match, Rook, but it looks like you and your teammates didn't listen," she said with a sigh. As she spoke, I saw out of the corner of my eyes that both Keel and Raphtalia stiffened slightly, as if they once again recognised the voice but still couldn't place where they'd heard it before.

"No, we heard you alright," I replied stonily, unwilling to show any of the doubt that was currently creeping into my head given how confident she looked. "But we have our own reason for being here…one that's worth far more than any amount of money on the line. Given we've come so far on our journey already, you'll have to excuse for not backing down when the end is in sight, not even to someone as strong and with as fierce a reputation as you."

Judging by the chuckle she gave as a response, my answer had pleased her. She came forward, hand outstretched which I initially took as her wanting to shake my hand out of respect and to show that there would be no hard feelings displayed in the fight ahead, but as I reached out my hand to meet hers she unexpectedly brushed past it and wrapped her arms around my neck once more, causing me to squirm uncomfortably as Raphtalia and Keel both let out noises from behind me, with the former's being an annoyed growl, the latter's being an amused chuckle as Nadia leant up and whispered in my ear something that almost froze my heart on the spot:

"You trying to raise enough money to free the slaves that used to live in Rurorona Village, aren't you… 'Rook'? How very kind of you." The tone of her voice hinted that she knew there was more to me than I was letting on, but that wasn't what was most pressing on my mind right about now. "How the heck did she figure that out? Either that or she's probing to see if she can try and get me to let it slip…" Before I could give her any sort of answer though, she leapt back a couple of feet and spun her harpoon around a few times. "Fighting here is a good way to make money towards your goal," she carried on, her voice carrying now. "But I do not lose to people who only fight in the coliseum in order to get rich quickly. If your only goals here are selfish ones, then you do not stand a chance of beating me."

"She's baiting us…trying to make us angry and slip up. But we know we're fighting for a worthy cause, and that's all that matters!" "No need to hold back, you two," I told 'Blade' and 'Shadow'. "This one's going to be our toughest challenge to date, so let's give it our all and win!"

"You can count on me!" "I'm with you, Rook!" They both replied, shifting into their battle stances as I held my Shield up and outwards straight at Nadia's face, her only reaction to our show of defiance being to narrow her eyes slightly and harden her jaw as she stared us down, showing no fear despite our numerical advantage as the crowd, perhaps sensing the fight was about to begin, were on the edge of their seats and cheering both sets of combatants on.

"Team New Blood vs Nadia! Let this season's championship match…begin!" The announcer shouted above the increasing roar of the crowd as the bell sounded. Even though the three of us instantly started moving as the last echoes of the bell faded out, Nadia was already on the move, her harpoon's blade already aiming straight for my eyes. Without hesitation I quickly brought my Shield up and parried her blow, forcing both the blade and the rest of the harpoon upward and catching her momentarily off guard, as though she was surprised by how easily I'd been able to block her attack. But as Nadia's harpoon arced upward from my parry, she shifted her stance, using the momentum to swing the weapon in a wide, horizontal arc. The blade sang through the air with deadly precision, forcing me to brace my Shield to block it. The impact rattled up my arm, but I held firm, gritting my teeth as she pressed her weight into the attack.

"Not bad," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. "But can you keep it up?"

Before I could respond, Raphtalia was already closing in from her right. Her blade flashed as she aimed a precise strike at Nadia's exposed side. But Nadia moved with an agility that belied the weight of her weapon, twisting her body and using the haft of her harpoon to deflect the blow. Sparks flew as steel met steel, and Raphtalia was forced to backpedal to avoid a counterstrike.

At the same time, Keel darted in from the left, her twin knives a blur as she aimed for Nadia's legs. Her attack was just as swift as it was feral, and for a moment it seemed like Nadia might be overwhelmed. But with a fluid spin, Nadia planted the butt of her harpoon into the dirt and vaulted herself over Keel, landing behind her in a single, graceful motion. Keel whirled around, eyes wide as Nadia's harpoon came down in a powerful vertical strike. She barely managed to sidestep the blow, the blade slamming into the dirt with enough force to send up a spray of dust and debris.

"She's fast!" Keel shouted, retreating to regroup with me.

"Don't give her a moment to recover!" I responded, already moving to intercept as Nadia advanced on Raphtalia, her harpoon spinning in a defensive arc that made it nearly impossible to get close. Raphtalia feinted to the right before lunging to the left, her blade aiming for Nadia's shoulder. But Nadia countered with a swift pivot, catching the strike on the haft of her weapon before driving her knee toward Raphtalia's midsection. Raphtalia twisted just in time to avoid the blow, but the manoeuvre left her off balance.

"You're going to have to do better than that!" She taunted, her voice carrying a mocking edge as she pressed forward. "Don't think that just because you have the numbers you also have the advantage!"

"Her mind games extend to the battlefield too…should have expected nothing less…" "She's trying to bait us! Don't let up!" I shouted as I stepped in front of the others to block her next strike. Her harpoon came down in a powerful overhead swing, but I caught it with my Shield, the force of the impact sending a sharp jolt through my arm. Using the momentary lock, I shoved her weapon aside and bashed forward with the edge of my Shield, aiming to push her back. But Nadia anticipated the move, sidestepping with an almost casual grace that left me swinging at empty air.

"Nice try, Rook, but I've seen that move plenty of times before," she taunted, a smirk playing on her lips that caused me to growl under my breath. "Damnit, Fergus! Focus! She's just trying to get you angry! Don't get sloppy!" Keel used the opening to lunge at her from behind, her knives flashing as she aimed for Nadia's legs again. This time, Nadia whirled around and swept her harpoon low in a wide arc, forcing Keel to leap backwards to avoid the blade.

"She's reading us too well," Raphtalia said, her breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight as we briefly regrouped.

"She's skilled," I replied, repositioning myself between her and the others. "Stay coordinated. She can't hold us all off forever."

"Think again," Nadia said, her smirk widening as she lunged toward me with blinding speed, her harpoon thrusting straight for my chest. I deflected the blow with my Shield, but the force behind it made me take a step back. She followed up with a quick, sweeping strike that forced Raphtalia to duck and Keel to sidestep, her movements as fluid as water. "Come on," she spoke once more, her voice low but sharp. "Is this all the vaunted Team New Blood can manage? I must admit, I'm not impressed so far."

I could hear the growls emanating from my companions as my strategic mind worked overtime to try and find an opening in her impressive defences. "She's toying with us…testing our limits – but for how long?" As if she could read my mind, she spun her blade over a few times before resting it in a defensive posture as the faint yet familiar signs of sparks began to emanate from her weapon's tip. "Watch out, you two! She's using her magic! Get low and stay behind me!" I shouted. They both immediately ducked down without question as I braced myself in preparation for her next action.

"Don't let this hit you directly, otherwise you'll die! Drifa Thunder Bolt!" Spinning her harpoon over, she let loose with a massive bolt of lightning that arced straight at us. I grimaced and dug my feet into the ground, raising my Shield to either deflect or block the attack, and as it hit I was glad I'd braced myself as the force behind her spell was almost enough to push me back on impact and would have bowled over for sure if I wasn't in a defensive stance. Letting out a defiant roar I pushed back, forcing my Shield and her spell upward causing it to hit the roof of the coliseum in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a massive hole in the middle of it which caused the crowd to gasp and Nadia herself, for the first time since I'd met her, to lose her composure, an opening I didn't want to waste.

"Now then Shadow, you're up!" I shouted, planting my Shield above my head. A split-second later I felt the impact of Keel's feet as she nimbly springboarded off of it towards Nadia with a snarl and her daggers bared in front of her.

Unfortunately, Nadia's moment of hesitation had only lasted a split-second as, seeing Keel flying towards her, she quickly leapt back and slammed the butt of her harpoon on the ground, summoning a blue ritual circle beneath her feet as lightning once more wrapped around the weapon's haft. "Give me the power to avoid my enemy's attacks and turn their strength back on them! Drifa Lightning Speed!" The lightning from her spell enveloped and electrified her body instantly as she dodged Keel's attack at the last minute, and as the demi-human flew past she was struck by several arcs of lightning from Nadia's body that caused her to cry out in pain and fall to the ground.

"Ke-Shadow!" Raphtalia cried, almost slipping up out of concern for her friend.

"Don't let up, Blade! She'll be fine!" I ordered as my Mana Vision tracked Nadia's movements. Even though she was darting around at speeds faster than the naked eye could perceive, my Mana Vision was able to keep track of her aura and her location, thus allowing me to see where she would land. "Gotcha!" "Air Strike Shield! Second Shield! Dritte Shield!" I yelled, causing all three of my ethereal shields to spawn around her, one to her back and the other two to her side preventing her from going anywhere but forward.

"Oh my, aren't you all just full of surprises?" She exclaimed with a gleeful smile, which was short-lived as Raphtalia took this opportunity to dash towards her with her blade bared causing her to girt her teeth and hold up her harpoon in preparation to meet the attack. But just as I turned to view the outcome, my attention was diverted by a glowing blue pulse hidden beneath the ground in Raphtalia's path. Focusing my Mana Vision, I quickly unravelled, to both my surprise and horror, that it wasn't just any magical trap…it was a field-change trap!

"Blade! Watch out!" My cry was too late as Raphtalia's foot hit the ground right where the trap was, and the moment her foot made contact with the floor, a faint glow rippled outward beneath her, like the shimmer of sunlight on a calm sea, before erupting with an explosion of shimmering blue light sending water gushing forth like a tidal surge much to shock of the crowd who instinctively either screamed or dove for cover. Before either of the three of us on Team New Blood could react, the liquid spread rapidly until it had transformed the once-dusty arena floor into a vast, churning pool of water that rose up to our waists, its surface alive with rippling waves as it battered against us. Thankfully, both Keel and Raphtalia were able to react quickly from their prone position (in the former's case) and the middle of their attack swing (in the latter's) and were able to quickly swim back to where I had once more planted my feet in the ground to stop the water from sweeping off my feet.

"Neat trick," I genuinely complimented our opponent who, in contrast to our struggles, was standing serenely amidst the waves, almost as if the water was answering her beck and call. "Out of everything we'd planned for when it came to fighting you, a field-change spell was the last thing we were expecting."

"I'm so glad you're pleased, handsome," she replied with a flirtatious smile and wink as the water gently lapped against her body. "Boundless Sea is a Coral magic spell that temporarily submerges the entire area, but the credit is not mine." She indicated upwards towards the stands with her harpoon, and as we looked up we saw several individuals stretching their palms over the side of the arena, the same blue magical circle that had appeared beneath Nadia earlier glowing around each of their hands. "They must be adding to the power of the spell or keeping it maintained…" I realised as Nadia continued. "The sponsors and ringleaders wanted me to put on a good show, hence why it was set up just before our battle in order to make things that much more exciting for our adoring audience!"

"I see…so field-trap spells aren't outside of the rules either…" I murmured as both Raphtalia and Keel, having fully recovered, made their way to my side once more. "Hardly seems fair against those who can't cast magic but…I guess in a place such as this there aren't really any rules, right?"

"My my, you really are a quick learner, aren't you Rook?" Nadia replied approvingly. "That is correct…anything goes so long as you can give the people what they want. And that's what I fully intend to do right now…time to take this seriously!" Her eyes suddenly narrowed as she set her jaw determinedly, all traces of her former amusement gone as the water in her vicinity started to swirl around her like a whirlpool with her at the centre, and as the water picked up speed the crowd's cheering pick up as though they were anticipating what was coming.

"Stay on guard! We don't know what's about to happen!" I told my teammates as we braced ourselves for a potential attack, but what we got instead was something else none of us had been expecting or even brought up during our strategy session.

"Hold on tight folks, it looks like Nadia is about to transform! Try not to get caught in the waves everyone" The announcer shouted as the swirling water around Nadia intensified, churning faster and faster until it was nearly impossible to see her through the vortex even with the capabilities of my Mana Vision. The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch, their cheers deafening as the whirlpool rose higher, its surface glowing faintly with magical energy.

"What's she doing?!" Keel shouted, her knives raised defensively as the water surged around us.

"I don't know, but be ready for anything!" I replied, tightening my grip on my Shield as I squinted against the spray.

Then, with a deafening roar, the whirlpool exploded outward, sending a wave of water crashing against us. I braced myself, the impact nearly knocking me off my feet. As the water settled, my eyes darted toward where Nadia had been standing—and what I saw sent a chill down my spine.

She stepped forward from the dissipating mist, her form utterly transformed. Gone was the teasing, agile woman from moments before. In her place stood a towering figure, her body resembling that of a humanoid killer whale. Sleek, black-and-white skin glistened under the magical glow of the arena, her muscular frame radiating raw power. Her arms and legs, now thicker and stronger, flexed with barely contained energy, and her tail—sharp and powerful—swayed behind her as though ready to strike. Her blue eyes had taken on a predatory gleam, and as she grinned, rows of sharp, glistening teeth flashed menacingly.

"Is that…a killer whale demi-human?!" The sight was still shocking, but given everything I'd already seen in this world it was hardly the most surprising thing I'd borne witness to.

~ToaTSH~

"Here I come, Team New Blood! Brace yourselves!" Before either of the three of us could react any further, Nadia dived into the water itself, her powerful new form cutting through the water with ease. Her movements were so fast that if it hadn't been for my eye's abilities, we'd have lost track of her in an instant. As it was I was barely able to keep my eye on where she was going as she swam hither and tither, hoping to catch us off guard with her speed. But even though I could see her, the others couldn't, and before I could call out Nadia re-emerged from the water and leapt high into the air before coming down towards Raphtalia, the tip of her harpoon pointing between her masked eyes.

"Blade!" I shouted, panic rising within me as I desperately tried to get towards her, but the water was impeding me and slowing me down to the point that it was a slog just to take one step. As such I was helpless as I watched Nadia bearing down on Raphtalia. But weirdly, and from my perspective frighteningly, not only did Keel not react at all to what was happening, but Raphtalia seemed both calm and accepting as the killer whale came towards her. But just as Nadia was about to strike, Raphtalia's next few words caused all of us, including Nadia, to stop dead in our tracks.

"Is that you…Sadeena?" She murmured just loudly enough for us to hear just as the tip of Nadia's harpoon reached her.

"She knows her name?" I murmured, my mind racing to catch up with the pieces falling into place. "Wait a minute…" Memories surfaced unbidden—the faint flicker of recognition on Keel's face when we first met this woman above the coliseum, her tail twitching with unease as though caught by a ghost of familiarity. Raphtalia's furrowed brows as I described Nadia to the group later, her eyes distant as if grasping at the edges of a forgotten memory.

And then, just before the fight began, that moment of hesitation. Both of them had stiffened as they entered the arena, their gazes lingering on Nadia longer than anyone else's, like puzzle pieces finally locking into place. But it wasn't until now—until they saw her in her killer whale form—that they'd finally realised who this was.

But rather than answer anything, it just raised more questions. How did Raphtalia and Keel know her? For how long? Where had she been all this time if she did know them? These questions echoed through my mind as we all, including the crowd surrounding the arena, waited with bated breath for what would happen next after this temporary lull in the fighting. For the moment we all just stood there, frozen to the spot with Nadia…no, wait…Sadeena's harpoon still hovering a few inches from Raphtalia's face.

Eventually, it was the massive killer whale herself who broke the silence. "Oh my…this was something I was not expecting…" She murmured, only loud enough for us in the arena to hear.

"It's her…it really is her…" Keel almost collapsed to her knees in relief, her voice full of emotion.

"It is you, isn't it Sadeena?" Raphtalia had now lowered her hood and removed her mask, her red eyes shining with tears as she continued to look desperately at our opponent, her voice cracking as she sought the answer she was hoping for. "Please tell me it is…we've missed you so much…

"If…if you're calling me by that name…" For the first time since I'd met her, the now-confirmed Sadeena's voice, usually so calm and in control, was also cracking with emotion just like Raphtalia's as she stepped back, lowering her harpoon while the water started to die down around us, allowing myself and Keel to get closer to the pair. "Then that means…no way…Raphtalia, is that…really you? From Rurorona?"

"That explains how she managed to suss out what we were here for…" I realised.

"Yes, it's me…I can't believe it…after all this time, we've found you!" Raphtalia looked as though she was about to cry from joy. If it wasn't for the fact that we were currently in the middle of a gladiatorial arena, I could've sworn she looked as though she was about to jump up and hug the massive killer whale standing before us as, for the first time since we'd arrived in this place, I started to breathe a little easier upon the recognition of a potentially powerful ally.

"Wait…if you're Raphtalia…then that means Rook is…?" Sadeena's eyes darted in my direction as my true identity seemed to dawn on her at that moment.

"Yes…the Shield-Hero and my saviour, and the current lord of what was once Rurorona Village…Sir Fergus Ward..." she answered, indicating her head in my direction. I stepped forward and nodded, confirming my identity to Sadeena. "And as for Shadow, she's another face from Rurorona that you may recognise…" As Keel also stepped forward and removed her mask and hood, Sadeena's small, beady eyes only widened in further recognition.

"Wait…Keel, you're here too?" From her tone, it was clear Sadeena was struggling to decide whether to laugh or cry from relief.

"Yeah, it's me Sadeena…" Keel's eyes, normally so laser-focused, now radiated warmth and happiness as she smiled back at her.

"Oh my…two of my dearest friends…and the Shield-Hero himself…of everything I expected to happen today, this was something I did not anticipate…" She said with a sigh as the water settled down at our feet, high enough to still soak our footing but not so treacherous that it would impact our footing. But before either of us could speak up, the crowd started raining down boos and expletives, clearly not happy with the long pause in the fighting. Picking up on this, Sadeena's small eyes narrowed before she proceeded to explode into motion, leaping off of her tail and in my direction with her harpoon aimed directly at my eyes.

"Sadeena, wait!" Both Raphtalia and Keel exclaimed with shock, but instead of reacting in the same manner I realised immediately what she was doing. Better to get the crowd back in a good mood by resuming the fight rather than letting the silence drag on and letting their mood and anger sour even more. Playing along, I quickly got my Shield up and met the harpoon, the clash of metal-on-metal echoing around the arena once more as Sadeena lent her massive head in closer before proceeding to whisper so quietly that only I could hear her.

"You came here to free the former residents of Rurorona from slavery for Raphtalia and Keel's sake, didn't you?" She asked quickly

"That's right…I'm keeping the promise I made to them when I freed them and rebuilt their home, and will give my all to see it through," I replied just as quickly in a resolute whisper.

"I see now…you really are a noble soul, Fergus Ward the Shield-Hero…" she said with a ghost of a smile before leaning in even further and whispering even more quietly. "We end this now…I'll come at you with my most powerful lightning attack. Counter it, and have the others strike before I notice." She then leapt back a couple of feet, raising her harpoon towards us as she spoke now in a louder and more dramatic tone. "I shall finish you off with my most powerful spell! It's over, Team New Blood!" She exclaimed grandly, but not before giving us a wink.

"Bring it on, Nadia! We won't go down without a fight!" I shouted back as I played along before whispering under my breath to both of my companions: "She's going to launch an attack. I'll block it, and then you two use your illusion magic to flank her. Keel, you strike at her rear, Raphtalia, you go in from the front."

"Understood…we'll hit her with our most powerful stuff," Keel answered as she and Raphtalia crouched in a ready position, both of them having caught on to what Sadeena and I had planned.

"She's a demi-human, and with her form, she can take whatever we throw at her," Raphtalia reassured me as I looked at them both questioningly, wondering why they were willing to go all out against their friend while lightning started to spark around the blade of Sadeena's harpoon. "It also has to be convincing for the crowd so they don't suspect foul play. Don't worry, Sir Fergus…Sadeena knows what she's doing, so let's play our part too."

"Right," I nodded in understanding as we faced her down, bracing ourselves for her incoming attack. Lightning crackled and danced along the blade of Sadeena's harpoon, the charged air thick with power, sending sharp tingles racing across my skin. The arena fell into an uneasy silence, the crowd holding their breath. The tension was suffocating. Then, with a sharp cry, Sadeena thrust her harpoon forward, unleashing a massive thunderbolt. The attack ripped through the air like a vengeful god's fury, its light bathing the arena in flickering electric hues. The moment it was loosed, I reacted.

"Lightning Shield!" I roared, abandoning the pretence of secrecy. Sadeena had already revealed my identity, so there was no more need to hold back.

My Shield flashed and transformed, shifting into a new form as the spell slammed into it with the force of a raging storm. The impact sent vibrations up my arms, the sheer power behind it threatening to drive me into the wet ground. I held firm, gritting my teeth as the elemental energy coursed through me, my entire body crackling with the force I was absorbing. The Lightning Shield pulsed with a deep azure glow, crackling arcs of electricity tracing along its semi-transparent surface, shifting like a storm contained within a barrier of polished metal and raw energy. Jagged glyphs of glowing yellow etched themselves along its rim, shifting like flickering sparks. The air around me hummed with static, my very breath tasting of raw electricity.

"Hold… hold!" I growled through clenched teeth, every muscle in my body straining. I planted my feet, keeping the Shield angled high to ensure none of the lightning arced into the water at our feet. Behind me, Raphtalia and Keel took cover, trusting me to endure the assault. As the energy built higher and higher, I shifted my stance. "Almost there… just a little more…"

Then, with a fierce roar, I flung my Shield upward, releasing all the stored energy in one colossal burst. A pillar of blinding white light erupted into the sky, the redirected energy exploding outward with a crack of thunder. The force displaced the air violently, sending up a billowing wave of steam as the heat met the damp battlefield. In an instant, the entire arena was engulfed in an impenetrable fog.

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers, the sheer spectacle igniting their excitement anew. But within the thick mist, our real plan was already in motion. Sadeena, momentarily blinded, stood unmoving within the swirling vapour. But with my Enhanced Perception, I could see her silhouette through the haze, the faint glow of her mana pulsing with her breath.

"Go!" I hissed under my breath, making quick hand signals toward Sadeena's position. Raphtalia and Keel, cloaked in their illusion magic, melted into the mist without a sound.

She had no idea they were already closing in until it was too late, and by the time the mist had cleared and she noticed my companions were no longer at my side, there was nothing she could do as they closed in for the kill. Emerging from the smoke like the shadow that had been her moniker during this fight, Keel slipped behind Sadeena, her daggers flashing as she drove them into the flesh of Sadeena's tail that was keeping her upright. The strikes were precise, swift and devastating, forcing her to stagger forward with a gasp of pain.

But before she could recover, Raphtalia struck. Emerging from the mist like a shooting star, her katana pulsed with radiant energy, its edge shimmering with a constellation of glowing embers. She had been charging her magic all throughout her sprint, and now, just as she closed the final distance, she unleashed it. "Stardust Blade!" she called out, her voice ringing through the arena.

The moment her blade met Sadeena's side, the built-up energy erupted in a dazzling explosion of light. A shower of luminous starbursts cascaded outward from the impact point, their golden glow reflecting off the swirling water. The force of the attack sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, creating a brief surge in the ankle-deep water as Sadeena let out a strangled cry. Her harpoon slipped from her grasp, vanishing beneath the waves as she staggered backwards. Her once-mighty stance faltered, her body trembling under the weight of the expertly executed assault. Then, before our eyes, her sleek, black-and-white killer whale features shimmered and faded, her body shrinking back into her human form.

As she started to fall back, she looked towards us, her lips curling in the faintest of smiles. "Well done…you beat me…" she murmured before, with a dramatic flourish, she collapsed back into the water with a resounding splash, her body motionless but still breathing.

"They…they are too strong…" she groaned out loud so the audience could hear her as the water around us started to vanish. "I can't beat them, so…I surrender…" With another ghost of a smile, she collapsed back fully into the ground and closed her eyes as the crowd erupted both in cheers and in shock at our unexpected yet decisive victory. Even from the roar of so many voices, I could hear Filo, Rishia, Vulpix, Hickwaal and even Belcanis' cries and shouts of delight. One or two however didn't look so visibly pleased, and as I got caught up in the excitement of our victory with Raphtalia and Keel I noticed one of them in a white suit stand up angrily from his chair and stride over towards what appeared to be a sponsor, his hands gesticulating wildly and spit flying as he no doubt wanted to know how this could have happened.

~ToaTSH~

Turning back to look at Sadeena, I expected there to be another teasing remark or cryptic comment coming our way even after our battle, but what I saw instead was shocking from what I knew of her. She was lying there looking utterly spent…not just physically, but in spirit too. Her breath was ragged, her once-playful smirk replaced by something far rawer. And then, I saw it.

The faint shimmer of tears welling in her eyes.

"I was working so hard to buy them back all this time…" she murmured, her voice carrying a weight I hadn't heard before. "And now…" She let out a sigh—one that spoke not of frustration, but of helplessness. A kind of despair that I recognized all too well. And that's when the full picture finally clicked for me.

I had misjudged her…badly.

I had seen Sadeena as an enigma, a self-serving mystery who played games for amusement, toying with us simply because she could. But now, at this moment, I realised the truth—she wasn't fighting for herself. She had been fighting for them. For the very people I had sworn to protect.

Rurorona had been her home too. It all suddenly made sense - why she had tested me, why she had interfered with the arena fights, why she had gone to such lengths to warn me. She had been buying time, working within the system she loathed, sacrificing her pride and her very name to ensure those taken from her home weren't lost forever.

And now, because of us, she feared she had failed. A wave of respect swelled within me, along with something else—regret. For not seeing it sooner. For assuming the worst.

"Now…you are no longer alone in this fight," I swore as I strode towards her and knelt at her side, my hand resting firmly on her shoulder. "We didn't come this far just to let our goals – yours and ours – slip through our fingers at the last moment. Trust in us to help you once more, and we WILL bring our people home. This I swear on my honour as the Shield-Hero" As I spoke, I let out a wave of healing magic that washed over her skin and quickly mended her wounds, leaving her pale skin unblemished from Raphtalia and Keel's attacks, before then offering out my hand to her. "Let's get them back together, alright?"

Her formerly exhausted eyes flickered up towards mine, searching as if trying to gauge whether or not I was lying. Sensing this, I removed my mask and locked her gaze with mine unflinchingly, leaving no room for doubt that she could trust us. After holding my gaze a short while, her eyes flicked to where Raphtalia and Keel had knelt at my side, and as they nodded in affirmation of her words, her body finally relaxed as she took my hand and allowed us to help her to her feet.

"I know I haven't given you much reason to trust me during the time you've gotten to know me," she spoke up, cautiously at first before her voice gathered strength. "But watching how you've acted, seeing your face and your eyes that radiate both honour and honesty, and seeing Raphtalia and Keel, two of my dearest friends, put their faith and trust in you…I will do the same, and stand with you." As we shook hands, I smiled at her and was just about to speak up again to wave off her apology when the ring announcer interrupted us.

"Unbelievable! What a shocking and thrilling conclusion, leading to an upset not many were expecting!" He yelled as everyone's eyes turned to face him. "Their rapid rise through the ranks these past few days has been nothing short of spectacular, and now they have capped it off by defeating the odds-on favourite and tournament veteran, Nadia! Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the championship match and this season's champions…Team New Bl-!" Before he could finish exclaiming the result, the sponsor in the white suit I had seen earlier had angrily thrust a piece of paper into his hand which he quickly read before speaking up again, his voice changing from excitement to a nervous stutter, especially as he paled when seeing the sponsor watching him with expectant anger, arms folded. "This isn't gonna be good…" "Oh-um…I'm sorry folks, but it seems the sponsors have decreed that the outcome of this championship match will be declared invalid!"

"WHAT?!... They can do that?!" My hands clenched into fists as I tried to suppress my anger at being so close to our goal, only to be denied at the final moment because someone wasn't getting their money's worth. Before I could cry out at this selfish act, the ring announcer continued to speak over the boos and jeers from the crowd who were visibly unhappy with this announcement. "Instead, there will be an exhibition match between the two groups of fighters who have just participated against a brand-new fighter who has yet to make an appearance here with us!"

"Oh my…so near and yet so far…" Sadeena sighed with melancholy, as though she'd half-expected such an outcome.

"These sponsors are really getting on my nerves…" Keel ground out, her expression taut with fury, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Raphtalia too was shaking with barely concealed anger at being denied the freedom of her people right now.

"I know what you mean, even if I did figure this might be a potential outcome," Sadeena answered with another sigh of resignation before turning to us. "Well, it looks like I'll be fighting alongside you earlier than planned. Hope you don't mind teaming up with little old me to face our mystery opponent?" She asked with another flirtatious smile and wink.

"We gave our word, and I don't intend to break that now. We'd be honoured," I replied with a fierce smile that I saw reflected on the faces of my companions.

"So now…the unlikely team of Nadia and Team Blood will join forces in order to wage a war against…!" The announcer drew out the suspense for the expectant crowd as he pointed towards one of the arena gates which was starting to rattle open, and as it rose we caught our first glimpse of our new opponents which turned out to be…three of the oddest figures I'd set eyes upon during my time here.

First, three opponents turned out to be a falsehood as the figure in the middle approached, accompanied by what we immediately recognised as wooden mannequins which floated on either side alongside the figure that was presumably their summoner, a small harlequin-looking figure in a white-and-purple clown-cum-jester attire and wielding what appeared to be a purple pair of scissors in their right hand. Despite their small size and appearance, the aura they were giving off as they walked towards us along with that of her expressionless mannequins was both creepy and ominous.

"Careful, Rook…I get the sense this one's dangerous despite their small size," Sadeena quipped as she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to face our new foe.

"I feel the same. This is going to be tricky enough as it is, notwithstanding that we know nothing of their powers and strength," I added, Raphtalia nodding in agreement, as I reverted the Shield back to the Basic Shield.

"You really think this clown is doing to be dangerous?" Keel asked almost disbelievingly, but one look at our serious faces was enough to convince her that this…opponent…was going to be unlike anything we'd faced before. "Never mind, forget I said anything. I'll take this one as seriously as all the rest!"

"Presenting the opponent for our newly-formed alliance…the mysterious Murder Pierrot!" The announcer proclaimed as our named opponent and their mannequins stopped their advance only a few steps away from us. "Betting on this one will be available for the first ten minutes after the match starts, and of course we will be refunding your bets on the previous championship match right away!"

"Bugger…should've known that'd be the case once they threw it out. Oh well, no use crying about it…we can always get it back in this one…" "Alright everyone, let's do this. We've come so close to reaching our goal. Just this one last fight and we'll reach it, so let's give it our all!"

"Agreed, we can worry about everything else later after we win. For now, Sir Fer- I mean, Rook is right. Don't let your guard up for even a minute," Sadeena advised as she crouched, her harpoon pointing directly at our opponent.

"Right!" Raphtalia and Keel echoed as they also bared their blades towards our foe.

"Ladies and gentlemen…this final match of the night will now…begin!" The announcer shouted once more to the cheers of an excited crowd as what would turn out to be our last match in this arena got underway.

~ToaTSH~

"I'll end this quick with one strike they won't see coming! Instant Blade Mist!" Raphtalia exclaimed as she dashed forward, hand on the hilt of her blade before either of the rest of us could stop her. But just as she was closing in and about to draw her katana for the strike, our befuddling opponent made their first move.

"Spider Web," they spoke up in a monotonous voice, and from their left hand threads of what appeared to be wire shot forth and wrapped around the blade of Raphtalia's weapon, holding it in place and preventing Raphtalia from bringing her blade down for the strike. Even pushing with all of her strength, she appeared to be unable to break her blade out of being entrapped.

"Hang on, Blade! We got you!" I shouted as Keel and I shot forth to do what we could to intervene, but as we started to move the small figure's soulless gaze turned our way in the blink of an eye.

"Bind Wire" Swinging her scissors across her body, she directed her mannequins forward diverting our attention from Raphtalia momentarily, and as our focus turned to them they suddenly shot forth what looked like white sticky thread that caused us to stop in our tracks as it got all over our bodies and weapons, forcing us to stay in place as we tried desperately to get it off of us.

"The hell is this crap?!" I growled in frustration as I stamped, grabbed and kicked my way out of our sticky bindings.

"Sir-Rook! I can't hold this back much longer! Please hurry!" Raphtalia pleaded as she strained with every muscle in her body to not let the wires that were binding her and her blade overwhelm her and cause her harm.

"Damnit…we're not going down like this, not to some freaky clown and their puppets!" Keel roared as with a roar of effort she sliced through the last of the gunk covering her body before crouching down. "Rook! Give me a boost!"

"Huh? Wonder what she's up to…?" Reacting instantly to her request I knelt down and quickly swapped out to my Shield of the First Avenger. "Alright, Shadow! Let's bounce!" I replied as I held it out before me, causing her to sprint in my direction. As soon as her front foot hit the tip of my Shield, I activated the Springboard Shield skill that sent her soaring high into the air where, with a forward flip, she angled herself so that she would descend directly on top of the strange clown with her blades bared at lightning speed. Due to the speed of Keel's descending strike, all the murder clown could do was springboard back to avoid her blow. Though Keel's attack missed, it did succeed in disrupting her concentration and the bindings on the wires, causing them to falter which was enough to free both Raphtalia and her blade.

"Thanks, Shadow!" She exclaimed as both she and Keel relaunched the attack, each of them aiming to strike at our opponent only for the mannequins under their command to get in the way of their blows, forcing the girls to engage them instead as their puppeteer took potshots at them with the same sticky gunk she'd thrown at Keel and I just a moment ago. But since they were now aware of the attack, my companions were able to counter it by constantly remaining on the move while trying to find a way to break past the mannequins. As this was going on I'd rejoined the fray and was using my Shield and its various abilities to make sure they didn't get impeded by any more wires or gunk.

This odd dance continued for a while with neither side able to break through, and having already been through a tough fight against Sadeena earlier I knew that I and the others would tire quicker. Despite our plan being that of caution, it was becoming increasingly clear now that we needed to end things quicker or they'd end up tiring us out.

As if sensing my inner quandary, Sadeena, who'd remained on the sidelines observing the battle to get a read on things, suddenly appeared at my side, her expression stern. "We're not going to get anywhere like this, Rook! Sooner or later, she's going to overwhelm you all with those wires and threads!"

"If you've got any bright ideas, I'm open to them!" I snapped back as I parried a few more lines of wire shot in my direction.

"I've got one," she answered seriously, all traces of her usual flirtatious nature gone in the midst of this tricky situation we found ourselves in. "If we cast a Coral spell cooperatively, it should give us the edge we need and allow us to end this fight in one blow!"

"Coral Magic? What is she talking about?" Before I could question her, a memory surged through my head without warning, overwhelming my senses briefly as it burned a vivid recollection in my mind from when our sorely missed departed companion during our battles against the Spirit Tortoise and Kyo, Ost Horai, had used the last remnants of her power to buff my Shield to the point where it had been able to launch an overpowered attack that had succeeded in ripping through the heart of the Guardian Beast thus bringing its rampage to an end. "She must mean…ah, a buffing spell like the one Ost cast on me! But who would we be casting it on?!" "Alright, but let's make this quick. Blade and Shadow are struggling out there!"

"Come on then, there's no time! Link your magic with mine!" Without hesitation, she and I stood shoulder-to-shoulder as we each started focusing our respective magics around each other in an aquamarine aura that started to shake both the ground and air around us with the power we were harnessing, causing the audience around us to gasp and whisper in awe as we continued to pool our combined magics together until they became one, my Aura magic mixing with her Thunder magic as with a unified voice we cried out in words that were suddenly emblazoned into our minds and came without warning from our lips.

"Dragon Vein, we bid you hear our fervent wish!" We shouted, my deep voice mixing harmoniously with her dulcet tones as we each raised our hands to the sky while Keel and Raphtalia, perhaps sensing we were preparing for a powerful attack, did all they could to keep both the murder clown and their mannequins off of us. "Grant us the power to sweep aside the obstacles in our path and claim victory in this fight!" As those final words rolled off our tongues, we heard a distant crack as, through the hole we'd made in the coliseum roof, we espied briefly a large thunderbolt emblazoned itself across the sky overhead which, if my guess was correct, was a clue to what our spell would do.

"Oh my, so that's what we're going to be casting…" Sadeena marvelled before looking at me with her usual flirtatious smile and wink. "Just so we're clear, my dear and charming Rook, you remember we're aiming for their blade, right?"

"Of course I do," I replied with a wink of my own, having caught her meaning as the familiar targeting reticule appeared in my line of sight. As I did when I used it against the Spirit Tortoise, I took control of the aim and set it at my intended target. Once the power we had gathered had reached 100% according to my Status Menu, I gave Sadeena the signal. "Sorry about this, babe…I promise I'll make it up to you later…" "Descent of the Thunder God!" We roared as one, flinging our palms out in front of us as we let our accumulated magic loose. With another loud snap, a powerful aqua lightning bolt soared down through the gap in the roof and struck Raphtalia, our intended target who let out a cry of pain that seared my very soul upon hearing it, causing the rest of the combatants to stop as they all, including the lifeless mannequins, turned to watch what was going on . Despite my instinct being to stop the spell and go to her aid, the knowledge of what we were doing and how this would lead to our victory and the freedom of their people allowed me to keep laying into the spell with Sadeena even though it was causing the love of my life to scream and cave her body in on itself as she tried to bear through it.

"Blade!" Keel cried desperately upon seeing her best friend in sudden pain, reaching out her hand, but before she could move Raphtalia's cries of pain suddenly stopped as our magic suddenly flared up around her in an aqua aura that coated both her blade and her body, causing her to gasp and marvel along with the crowd as she struggled to comprehend the power flowing through her right now.

"Blade! We hit you with a Coral spell! Use it wisely, okay?" Sadeena called out with a wave while leaning heavily on her harpoon. With the power we'd expended to give Raphtalia the strength boost she needed, we were both struggling to stay on our feet.

"We've given you enough strength to finish this fight! Now do it!" I encouraged her through my weariness, bent over as I was with my hands on my knees, yet despite my exhaustion I was able to look up and give her an encouraging smile and thumbs up. "If this does the job, I'll happily take the ass-kicking I'm likely gonna get from both her and Keel for that…"

Understanding flashed through her eyes briefly before she nodded firmly, her body pulsing with power and strength. "Got it! I'll finish this with one blow!" She answered with a fierce smile before turning to face our opponent who'd watched this all happen seemingly without any reaction. But if the slight tilt of her head, usually a gesture of curiosity, was anything to go by, it would appear that she had been fazed slightly upon seeing the boost Raphtalia had gotten from our spell.

"I won't lose," she proclaimed darkly, leaping high into the air and away from Raphtalia. "Spider Net" Once again she sent out a large web of threads towards Raphtalia with the intent to trap her once more, but this time Raphtalia was unfazed as she dashed towards them at a pace too fast for the naked eye to follow. Bursting through the threads like the bolt of lightning that was empowering her, she managed to get directly into the clown's face while arcing her katana up towards her chest. But before the attack could land, the clown leapt back once more and shot forth her sticky gunk this time in a further desperate attempt to keep Raphtalia back.

However, the wielder of the Vassal Katana would not be denied as her blade started to glow. "Brave Blade: Mist!" She roared, and from the tip of her blade shot forth a lightning-imbued energy cross that punched through the gunk and struck the clown full-on, sending her careening back to the other side of the arena and causing her to crash to the ground which also somehow broke the spell on her mannequins, causing them to crumble and shatter on the dusty ground beneath us. But even as our opponent tried to struggle back to their feet, Raphtalia didn't let up as, with another frighteningly-fast burst of speed she shot forward and leapt into the air, her blade pointing up to the sky as she prepared to launch the finishing blow.

"Go on, big sister! You can do it!" I heard Filo shout even over the noise of the cheering crowd.

"You got this!" Keel further encouraged.

"Bring it home babe/Blade! Save your people!" Sadeena and I shouted as one.

"You're finished!" Raphtalia roared as her body and sword gathered up both her power and that of the aura we'd cast upon and channelled it all into her final attack. "Fusion Technique: Blade of the Thunder Emperor!" Combing her Brave Blade: Mist with mine and Sadeena's Descent of the Thunder God, she swung her blade downward at our downed opponent, and as she struck the ground erupted the blow as several lightning bolts shot down from the heavens to amplify the power of the attack even more, causing everyone to shield their eyes from the bright aqua glow that emanated from Raphtalia's blow as well as shield themselves with their arms against the dust and smoke that rose as a result of the impact.

"Surely that was enough…please let that have worked…" I pleaded silently as I tried to pierce through the smoke cloud to see whether the battle was over or not. We eventually got our answer as the steam parted to reveal our opponent lying seemingly unconscious on their back in the middle of the massive crater that had come about as a result of Raphtalia's powerful blow. Speaking of Raphtalia, she stood there motionlessly for a moment, taking in the devastation of her attack, before swaying slightly as her body sagged from the sudden and vast release of both her power and the powerful buff we'd given her.

"Blade!" Without a second's hesitation, I sprinted forward, catching her before she collapsed to the ground and lowering her gently into my arms as the others gathered around us. "It's okay, babe. I've got you…I'm here…"

"M-M-Master…Fergus…" She croaked, slowly opening her eyes and giving me a look of both exhaustion and cautious hope as she nestled into my embrace. "Did I…did I do it?"

"From the looks of things I'd conclude they won't be getting up any time soon," Sadeena commented almost off-handedly as she glanced at our opponent before smiling at the exhausted demi-human in my arms. "You really hit them hard, Raphtalia. Even I was surprised at how powerful your attack was."

"You did it, Raphtalia! We did it! We're gonna free our people now, all thanks to you!" Keel added in a quiet whisper, giving her best friend a thumbs up while the crowd cheered and whooped as they joined in the revelry of our apparent victory. However, just before we could bask in the celebratory atmosphere that had started up around us…

"Scape-Doll" the voice of the murder clown spoke up in loud whisper, and as we looked up we watched with astonishment as their battered body flipped over, revealing it to be nothing more than a wooden carving of her body. "Hang on…was that another mannequin?!" I wondered frantically as the others and I all looked around desperately, trying to figure out what was going on. But just as we were doing that, their wooden mannequin vanished in a cocoon of sticky threads that gathered on the other side of the arena before bursting open, revealing what we assumed to be their actual corporeal body. "I'm guessing you have more buffs cast upon yourselves, which would make trying to continue this fight pointless," they spoke up, their voice sounding like it was glitching out slightly as we and the crowd struggled to make sense of both what was happening and their words. "But before I depart, heed my warning: Your base strength is far too low for what is to come. You are only going to get yourselves killed. Unless you become a Hero no one can stand up against…" And with these words, their empty gaze turned to me and seemed to pierce my very soul "...the other world will devour you, especially if you found fighting me difficult."

"What are you talking about? Who are you? And what do you mean by the other world?" These were the immediate questions that sprung from my lips as I struggled to understand what they were trying to say. The only other world we knew of was the one where Kizuna and the others were from, and there was going to be no threat from them after we reached our understanding. "But in that case…they must be from another world altogether! How is that possible? And how many worlds can there be linked with our own?!"

"I've seen all I've needed to here and fought hard enough to earn my pay. Therefore, I will concede this fight," they spoke up in the same glitchy voice as smoke started to billow out from their small body. "We will meet again one day…hero. Try not to get yourselves killed until then." Before we could ask them what they meant or demand answers to our questions, their body disintegrated from sight resulting in confused noises and murmurs from all those watching as we on the arena floor, Sadeena included, struggled and failed to decipher whatever they had been saying.

And given their cryptic warnings and the odd way they both spoke and acted, I had a feeling that, much like was the case with Sadeena, we would run into them again. But given how instantly they vanished and the powers at their command, we'd have to be quite a bit more on guard for when they would reappear.

~ToaTSH~

Given that our mysterious opponent had forfeited the match before disappearing, the announcer had tried to proclaim us and 'Nadia' as the victors once more only for the same obnoxious sponsor in the white suit to speak up again before he could finish, trying to claim the result as invalid once again due to 'alleged foul play' on our part, accusing us of being a fake team to cover up that we were betting on ourselves and demanding our disqualification. However, this time around he was shut down by both Hickwaal and Belcanis who'd made their way down to the arena floor while the murder clown had been giving their parting speech.

Hickwaal declared us the winners under our true alias as the Shield-Hero and his party, resulting in gasps of shock from the audience as my true identity was revealed. Belcanis then ratified that, as the winners of the championship, we'd be receiving both our prize money and the earnings from the bets placed on us as we deserved. When the sponsor tried to accuse them of lying, expressing his disbelief that one of the Cardinal Heroes would dare take part in the underground fights, he was shut down by Hickwaal who assured them all that I was who they said I was with a brief mention that we'd had business dealings in the past.

Moreover, Hickwaal declared that Nadia/Sadeena, through her earnings and prize money over the years, was the rightful owner of all the slaves that had once been residents of Rurorona Village and that as a result no one would be allowed to take them away, resulting in further anger on the sponsor's part along with an outbreak of curious and questioning muttering from the spectators.

As for us, all we focused on was the news that the former residents of Rurorona were rightfully Sadeena's property and, as a result, would go wherever she went causing us all to let out sighs and cheers of relief as we held onto one another in the middle of the arena, where we soon joined by Filo, Rishia and Vulpix who came to share in the excitement and joy of our mission being over. And expressing joy and happiness at seeing both Raphtalia and Keel looking not only grown-up and strong but also safe and happy, sentiments that were echoed by the demi-human pair as they gathered Sadeena into a warm hug. Once they'd all broken apart, and after thanking me for looking after them, Sadeena asked if she could come back to Rurorona with us as our ally along with all of the former residents who now belonged to her. As you'd expect given how their return had been our goal the entire time, I instantly agreed prompting another round of cheers.

We'd not only managed to free the slaves but had also gained a powerful ally in the process. Safe to say, despite our trepidations at coming to such a lawless place originally, our mission here had been more of a success than we could have ever anticipated.

And that's another chapter in the books, covering the rest of episode 2. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as well as my unique spins on some of the fights, which I had to change slightly from canon due to Keel being involved rather than Filo. Next chapter we'll be dealing with immediate fallout, the introduction of Fohl and Atla and the return to New Rurorona.

Before we go, another tease of my next collab story with the co-author with whom I wrote my Overlord story. Hope you like it despite how brief it is!

~ToaTSH~

The trio looked mockingly at their fallen fellow Japanese otherworlder.

"Focusing all your gain on just your cheat," the green-eyed young man who had defeated him sniggered. "Rookie mistake"

"You need to be an all-rounder in case your cheat is taken away! Everyone knows that!" the blue-eyed one threw his hands up in exasperation

"Not everyone apparently," the third member of their trio muttered as they retrieved their opponent's fallen weapon

~ToaTSH~

I'm now going to sleep a lot this weekend to catch up on the hours I've lost, and thus hopefully be more energized for the upcoming week which I thankfully have off from work. This should give me a proper amount of time and motivation to get off to a good start on the next chapter. Until then, this is theoneandonlyedster signing out for now. Thank you as always for reading and I'll see you in the next one. Take care!