“Leave it to us bossman, we’ll get you there, ain’t no issue, just leave it to us!”

Ares had been wondering when his side quest was going to end.

He had dove into the lake and had manipulated the water effortlessly in a way to shoot him forward. Yet apparently it had been too slow, or at least that’s what the random shadowy figure beside him had said. He hadn’t even noticed them, but after a moment he realised they had been with him since he dove into the lake.

It was a creature that was shaped like an arrow’s head, though turned to it’s side. Like a manta ray crossed with an arrow. It was large too, and had travelled as quickly as Ares did as he tried to concentrate forward.

“Bossman, ya goin’ too slow,” it said in quite a low and careful way. “Ya won’ makes’t so quick like dat.”

With that a few more creatures from it’s back, shaped like itself but barely larger than Ares’ head, sprouted out and then surrounded him.

“Leave it to us, pops!” One had said before it took a position up ahead and then darted forward. With that, Ares moved several times quicker than he originally had.

“Whoa!” He managed to brace himself as his body was sucked along, but he moved his arms up ahead as though he was diving forward.

Ares wanted to ask just exactly what they were, but he needed every little bit of strength he could muster in order to keep up. He watched as the creature up ahead began to shake after some time before another sped up to it and then the original one up ahead spun, flying upwards and then outside the small water slip stream it had created.

“Good luck bossman!”

Then it was gone. Ares’ eyes went wide, but he couldn’t think about it. Instead each creature followed this pattern until a single remained, and it had begun shaking.

“Don’t worry, bossman. I’ll get you there! You ain’t gotta worry!”

It was shaking wildly and was slowly pulling back, closer and closer to Ares. It was then Ares could see a light in front of him. He reached over and grabbed the creature.

“You’ve done me well, little one,” he said before he pulled it to it’s chest and then when he was at the light, he tossed it aside outside the slipstream in case it couldn’t survive outside in the normal world. “See you around!” He nodded to the creature which had already spun away into the darkness.

Ares would need to ask Levi what those creatures were, for they had done him a great favour in speeding him up. He hadn’t managed to get a good luck at them, next time he’d have to.

Ares shot out of the lake like a rocket and then dropped down about half a mile forward, in the middle of the large pathway that led up to the second level.

The small uniform buildings surrounded his either side, with the Bitan remaining in between the streets that ran between the buildings.

One stepped forward, a guard that had stepped aside to allow Ares to land peacefully.

“What is the matter, Ares’O?” His voice was low and clear, there was no hint of anything other than duty.

“I’m busting out my people.”

“Busting out?” The guard stepped aside as Ares darted passed him.

Ares ran as quickly as he could, leaping over the guards at the top of the steps. “Saykkera! Gather the Nine, we’re leaving!” Ares said as he continued to run, trying to find them.

A shadow loomed ahead of him, and he quickly leapt over it, front flipped until he landed behind the figure.

“Ah, good,” he said as he turned to see Saykkera there, Emerli right behind her as the others that made up the Omni Nine began to gather around.

As they did, several more guards followed their heels.

“What is going on? What is the meaning of this?” Asked an older Bitan, another soldier it seemed. When he saw Ares, he looked surprised. “Where is Stah’O?” He glanced around.

“Stah’O and I seemed to have our differences,” Ares said. “I left him with the rest of the soldiers. The threat of the Reptai has been dealt with for now as well.”

The soldier seemed confused, but he grasped his spear in both hands. “What madness do you speak, Ares’O?”

“Well, it seems as though that Stah’O has betrayed me,” Ares said. “So I’m busting out my people before you can take them prisoner.”

The soldier seemed to understand the situation. “I will not allow you to leave if you are our enemy.” With that the rest of the warriors that had remained began to muster, several already coming to their position.

“Hear me now!” Ares exclaimed. “Though Stah’O has betrayed me, I shall hold no ill-will against you Bitan! Let us leave in peace, or we will fight our way out. There’s no need for any deaths to occur!”

“My brother has left me in charge of the people, I shall not have you leave whilst you are an enemy of the Bitan!” The older Bitan charged at him.

Ares was sure he had never met the Bitan before, though the thought was stopped when he found the Bitan had leapt up to him in a single bound.

Saykkera clashed with the Bitan with her claws, then used her tail to whip him aside. The Bitan took the blow to his arm, though Ares could see the scales had shifted to soften the attack as the Bitan skid to a halt.

“Saykkera’O, we have no ill will against you, but we must take Ares into custody,” the Bitan said.

Ares was rather hurt that the suffix had dropped from his name. It seemed as though this was even more serious than he thought.

“Saykkera, get Emerli to safety,” Ares said. “I’ll provide cover.” Ares raised his hands, yet Saykkera did not move.

She threw a look back to Ares, and then Emerli grabbed onto his arm. Ares looked down at her. He looked slightly puzzled.

“Go,” Emerli whispered as she pulled Ares.

Ares looked back to Saykkera but nodded. “Alright. Omni Nine, roll out!”