“The pests are coming.”

From sitting high above the building, Theo can see the crisis taking over. His smile distorted from the dissatisfaction that his army was being bested by mere mercenaries.

His murderous thoughts were briefly thwarted when Cain came in. He too was disconcerted by this attempt to overthrow them, what makes this feeling grow more annoying is the fact that Theo might have prevented all of this if he had acted sooner, but he knew already about this trepidation and he still allowed this to happen.

“Just as what you have said, all of the important items have been delivered in Vesoga Plain.”

“Good.”

Theo stands up from his chair and went to the table. The monitor lit up and showed catalogs of information. He swipes it until it shows a draft of an exoskeleton, the humanoid machine represents a striking resemblance of one of the astral beings that was known to humans, Ashura.

The replica stands tall at around thirty feet, it has a broad body that covers its sensitive interior parts. It has four arms that are in proportion to its blades hanging behind it.

“What’re you up to?” asked Cain.

“I’m sending these out, to make things even. I suggest you head out now. The destruction of this place is now near to completion.”

“Theo, tell me, what’re you really planning? Why are you willing to throw all of this?”

Theo smirked.

“Cain, don’t be so oblivious. You already know the rumors about our company, it’s only a matter of time for these people to raise their voices and weapons. So, I thought why not bring it down myself?”

“I don’t get—oh.” Cain paused in his realization. “I can see where are you getting at.”

“Now, do listen to me. Go. I will give them the satisfaction they need, but they will never see through the charades that I have laid.”

“Then, I must see myself out now.”

“That would be wise.”

Theo stares at the monitor for a moment before pressing the button. He sat down back on his chair looking down at the scenery of the commotion. Such explosions were displayed as if they were fireworks. Up in the sky, his eyes met the Blue Klitz as if they were testing each other. Sensing the danger on him, the Blue Klitz charged towards Theo.

He lifted his finger pointing at the monster.

“So, they have a high-level monster on the field, eh. No wonder why they were able to get through our defenses. I'm taking you out.”

In a split second, a ray of light, fast as lightning hit the monster’s wing. It squeals in pain as it loses its balance to flight. The Blue Klitz crashed to the few buildings before hitting the paved ground, the crash spared no one.

The Blue Klitz groaned as it tries to stand up on its feet.

The Leader saw what happened and gathered his strength to sway off the enemies that are trying to harm the Blue Klitz.

“Men! Stand your ground!”

His fellow mercenaries stood and attack the enemies.

“Does anyone know healing magic? The big bird is in trouble!”

Few allies came to heal and defend the bird, but it takes a toll on them to stand against the enemy. The enemies fell but did leave a huge scar in their ranks. What baffles them is that the enemy is slowly retreating.

“What the hell are they doing?”

“Retreat!” one of the enemies shouted. “They’re sending the Ashura-Tenrei.”

“Ashura-Tenrei? What the hell is that?”

“Reinforcement.” The Leader said.

An earthquake took over the place. Some of the building collapses, but it passes for a few moments as if the source finally groaned to halt. Then, two large shadows sprung up in the sky. All of them glances up, and in a flash, something landed in front of the two parties.

Alastor and the others look up at the large figure as it rose up from kneeling. Ken felt his soul leave his body the moment that the giant being drawn its weapon, fortunately, Meil blocked the attack with his bare hands.

“Snap out of it!” shouted Meil.

The gang heard his voice and prepared.

“No! You go to the damn building. I’ll take care of this.”

“But!” said Alastor.

“No more buts! Just go!”

Linda pulled them away from the fight and sprint the other way.

“There’s no way he can handle that thing!” Alastor reprimand.

“Don’t you trust him?” asked Linda.

“You don’t know anything about him,” Alastor replied.

“And you do?”

“He stopped for a reason, okay. Look, I know he joined for a reason, but I can’t let him fight that thing alone.”

“Relax.” Said Ken. “Just like you’ve said, he’s a veteran. It’s not like he’s going down that easy.”

Linda gently holds his shoulder, “He's gonna be fine.”

“All right.”

Alastor finally calms down.

Meil stumbles upon the pebble as he tries to evade the enemy. He conjured one of his Inquiara magic, Maximum Defense, it’s a skill that raises the person’s defense when facing danger, the more dangerous the situation is, the higher the Inquiara magic reacts.

His body was able to hold off the devastating attack of the enemy’s sword. He leaped out of the ground and coughed.

“There are a few more things I would like to confirm about your features, but what the hell. I’m just gonna do it like the old style.”

Meil charged against the enemy, he blocked every attack with his bare skin twenty times harder than metal. Getting the closure, he wants, Meil leaps towards the chest, his fist is flaring, and hits the enemy, pushing it back as it loses its balance.

Meil quickly regained his footing and observed the result of his attack. His attack barely bends the metallic chest of the Ashura-Tenrei and quickly cooled off.

“Not only fast, but also has an exceptional defense. Looked like it’s going to take a few more punches to take this thing down.”

He heard the sharp whistle of the Blue Klitz right on his eight o’clock. He clearly saw that the monster grabbed the very same thing that his face right now. He saw the Leader that they had contracted.

“Focus on the ground forces! I’ll take this thing away from here!”

His men withdraw and march forward to the remaining force.

The Leader saw Meil fighting the same thing. The two met their glances, and nods, as if they already what is inside their mind. Meil casually shielded the attack of the Ashura-Tenrei, and with a sheer stroke of his fist, the being flung high. Convenient to the Blue Klitz position, the similar Ashura-Tenrei was dropped to the other one, which results in considerable high damage.

Linda, Alastor, and Ken finally reached the Kelby Hive building, they take a deep breath before taking a few steps on the adjacent staircase. Alastor felt something odd about the place, thus, choosing to halt them.

“Isn’t it weird that everything seems off?”

“Yeah.” Linda agreed. She glances and noticed small red dot blinking. “It’s a trap!”

They jumped away before the bomb explodes. They were far away enough to not get caught in the blast.

“Well, that’s quite a welcome.” Said Ken.

“Yeah, you think? That’s gonna hurt our body tomorrow.” Said Alastor urbanely.

“Shrugged it off.” Said Linda. “Well, if we can’t get through the entrance where should we go?”

The three glanced up to the window and to the walls. They glanced at each other. They already knew what to do.

“You thinking what I’m thinking, right?” asked Alastor.

“Yeah. Now, the last thing we need is a distraction.”

With a stroke of luck, Cid with Liber arrived.

“Hey, guys. What’re we up to now?”

“Just in the right time.” Linda Shrugged. “We can use your help.”

The soldiers perched up and aimed their rifles at the entrance. Their senses heightened the moment they heard the explosion takes over outside. Thankfully, they already barricaded the entrance from inside, so that no one could enter the building. The commander of the squad already assessed the situation. There is no other way around for the enemy to get inside. The ground floor was completely swarmed by the private army forces of Theo.

“Maybe they’re dead?”

“Let’s hope so, but we can’t expect that all of them are dead.”

“Right.”

It might be too late to resign from this job now.

The men are in the position. All of them occupied the grandiose ground floor for the incoming attack. They already expected that the barricade forces won’t be able to fend off the enemies because over seventy percent of their forces lend to the city’s combat forces to subdue every criminal in the city.

“We’ll wait for the reinforcement. For now, we’ll hold them off.”

The atmosphere change, the temperature rises.

“Something’s coming.”

The barricade shook off by the attack of the enemy. They can already guest that it is fire magic.

“Hold your line!”

Their weapons aimed steadfast to the single barricade that was driven by the force of the enemy. The moment the attack stopped; they fell into relief, but it was a false hope they clung onto.

The barricade didn’t make it. Thus, it tore apart. Then, there came a deafening rain of gunshots. It was overkill in an attempt that they did. The bullets sprung like a firework to the hole that the enemy made. The commanding officer ceased them to attack.

He waited for a moment to see if they’d kill the enemies, but no luck. Fireballs came to enter the premises and burned his men into pieces. The attack was vicious and did not spare even the beautiful ornaments of the building.

A moment of silence came. The wind had come and washed off the flames. Some of his men were not able to find cover and got caught by the fire. The burnt crisp of their comrade hangs in the air. They did not flinch at the sight but were irritated by the atmosphere it leaves.

For the moment they have waiting for is the element of surprise of the enemy. He is sure they will come only at the available entrance they just blow the hell up. But alas, his analysis had betrayed him.

He caught a glimpse of the shadow on the giant window above. A moment of distraught, that’s what the enemies want. And now, everything went hell.

The walls blow and the fireballs suddenly flare out inside, adding more casualties.

That’s when he knew that they have completely misread the situation. Whether they barricaded the ground floor, they can still blow up the walls or use magic, and won’t stop them from climbing to the walls just to get inside. Yes, he already heard them, but he did not expect the lengths they can go.

The shadow from above swung and leap through the window, falling off along the debris. He heard his sword sheathe and undeniably came for him. His breath finally draws out to his lungs as his body falls onto the ground.

The moment Alastor made his landing, a deafening roar came. A torrent of bullets rained down on them. Alastor made a sprint, deflecting the bullets with his rapid and skillful sword movements. Cid and Liber came in, and his rifle explodes into life against the enemy while Liber graciously uses his fire attacks against the enemy. Cid uses shield magic to make sure Liber wouldn’t take a hit and continue to support the trio.

Linda and Ken made a sprint, the bullets whizzed over their heads and buzzed as they came past their ears. Linda produced an ice sword cut down the enemy. Ken almost stumbled down but regained his balance afterward. His erratic movements confused the enemy and did not manage to land a hit on him.

Ken thrust his fist to the enemy's guts. The brute strength forced its way in and destroyed the armor that protected the soldier.

Alastor breaks a sprint. His legs pump harder and shinned over the ledges, jumping over the ladder and to the upper level. He purposefully threw his sword to the enemy. The remaining forces stood in shock.

“Sword is overrated, don’t you think? So, why don’t we level down the playing field?”

Alastor grabbed the gun and punched the enemy to his chin. His movements are fast, erratic, and fluid, almost impossible to follow. He quickly changed to a handgun and uses the enemy as a shield. His hand movements are fast whenever he went for a quick kill, he always aimed the wrist and the legs before they could do anything to retort to his grim desire. He’s like an untamable beast. He quickly pressed forward and rolled forward, aiming for a headshot. Unbeknown, the other soldier already prepared a rocket launcher. Before Alastor could see it, the trigger has already been pulled.

Linda who foresaw the event quickly chanted her magic. A wall of ice protected Alastor from the blast. Although the shards break and cut through Alastor’s skin, he’s considered to be fine. Linda felt his sharp gaze.

“Hey, you’re welcome,” Linda said.