A vicious struggle resumed at a discussion's end, one that resounded to a now metallic argument that vibrated through the abandoned church once more. Two heavy and continuous exchanges, where one of a joshing authority triumphed over the labored thrusts of a black and silver spear. Astrid was of pure focus toward Ursa—and only her—as she immersed her very being in her perpetuated trance.

“You’re wasting your efforts, hopping Neman. No matter how many times you try—”

A sudden swing upward on a descending Astrid was received with a strained grunt and block from her now disheveled self.

“Tch!”

“—I’ll keep sending you back!”

Akin to a human volley, Astrid was sent flying toward Essylt as said person frantically erected a weakened, translucent shield of red in order for Astrid to catch herself. And without hesitation, Astrid connected and propelled herself forward using that same shield as a force to act against as it then shattered. Both were seemingly nearing their limits against the untouched hound.

“Khahaha! We should be approaching the end of this farce a bit soon, hm?”

A plunging spear, a desperate chase toward one’s target. Astrid continued her barrage to no avail as Ursa brushed off her every attempt.

“I can see it in your movement, feel it in your attacks—you're exhausted. You’ve grown weaker during your time in Cretho after all. Khahaha! A shame. Nevertheless, simply relinquish yourselves already. You have no freedom in this world, Effigies. You two belong to Aldebaran.”

“To hell with you and that bastard! I belong to no one but myself! For as long as this spear is my hand—”

“Right, then I’ll just rid you of that burden.”

Another slamming of Ursa foot thundered and breached, as Astrid halted in a sudden inability to move. She was stunned, numbed as she couldn’t feel anything for that mere second. And that was all the time Ursa required as she released her grip from her weapon and palmed Astrid’s gut with an air devouring strike. Her boot then aimed for Astrid’s spear in hand, connecting and separating the two from each other.

“Khahaha! You let go of your lifeline rather easily! Now, here’s another!”

“Gha!!”

Ursa twisted her body, her empowering drive toward Astrid’s chest as the air was knocked out of her a second time, leaving her skipping across the church’s grounds and in Essylt’s direction. Essylt halted her involuntary barreling with another shield as she now held a pained expression at what Astrid’s loss implied.

"You damned hound..."

“That was a suitable exercise at least. Now, how about we head on back to Ospus together—!?”

A sudden heartbeat as if the church itself was alive. One that now was synced with every person’s own ticking chest, as everyone’s pulse tethered to a skip—to a clutched struggle and slow beating.

“That is...?”

Wearily, Lukos had dragged himself and two others to the side of the church as he was now eying Eru—like everyone else. Eru was now on her knees, clenching at her face and keeping it hidden. Unmoving and visibly nothing out of the ordinary about her own appearance. And yet, a formless and gaping shatter hovered above her, as a spectral and translucent, skeletal-like arm eerily crawled out. A sudden voice, an indistinguishable whisper of nonsense grated against everyone’s ears.

“Pokigubr. zuhhtroovenui? pokigubr. kica ongukr caze? pokigubr. ki lurozefis. pokigubr. pi ingubr efzezu. pokigubr."

Liar. Understand? Liar. Is that so? Liar. I know. Liar. I hear you. Liar.

An unwelcomed guest? It didn’t matter. Everyone was on the same page now at a mere glance. Everyone instinctively knew that, whatever it could be, it deserved their attention regardless. Whatever disagreement, objective, intent or desires they once held, paled in comparison to their now kindling urge to figure out what it was that held them with a vice-like grip. It was unusual—no, it was incomparable. Unutterable as it silenced their thoughts, in turn laid bare their subconscious and primitive fright. It had begun.

“To think you...had one of these here this whole time... Now this is an otherworldly, unexpected treat...”

Ursa’s voice was far removed of that prior amused and commanding tone. A slight quiver, a skipping and forgetting to even breath came about. Her own strained look now spoke volumes as she tightened the grip around the hilt of her sword, readying to lunge at a moment’s notice. No questions, nor a need for any answers as she immediately felt what she was compelled to carry out.

“Nether Mystic: [Ire of the Black Dog]!”

A sudden shift in form under her hood, as scattered markings on her face flourished in an inky flare. Her contrary smile widened, and her mouth brimmed with steel-piercing fangs as her body readjusted to a bestial crouch. Ursa was now in a ‘kill or be killed’ state of mind as she sped forth. Despite that, everyone else remained frozen in place with eyes locked unto a stilled Eru.

Don’t bother moving—any of you. I don’t have time to spare on anything else but that. Will I make it in time? I don't think I'll have a second chance if this fails.

She pitted every passing second with the odds of her own chances against the emerging presence. And as she leapt into the air, with her titan-like blade in both hands, she invoked her entirety against her target—Eru.

“Nether Mystic: [Gehenna’s Vestige].”

A sable flame wrapped in a splitting and crackling lightning, one that would surely decimate the church along with her prime target. Yet, that didn’t matter to her. The Effigies wouldn’t come out unscathed by far, but they weren’t at the focal point of the strike. Still, she would risk their possible deaths if it meant extinguishing the flickering infernal before her.

Be without your decanter of flesh. You have no place here.

She strove to sink that devastating blade directly upon Eru, yet her effort was then met with an uncompromising voice.

“Gu nnkinuinuipote. gu ritrtu nnzunn, zewes oobrguinqne venui oninqrone rupoesnuipoinqtu. lurozefis efzezubr nnpoguiotu.”

A piddling. A mere pup, of strained and thinned bloodline. Know your place.

The single skeletal-like arm didn’t budge, it didn’t motion even slightly as its palm still rested near Eru. Yet, a sudden crack to the space itself emerged upon Ursa as she froze in place. And as if she were snatched from behind, her body was suddenly dragged and slammed against the wall across from Eru. The fracturing of the stained glass above her, descended, as the noise of raining glass occupied the church now. Ursa couldn’t move as she was forcibly held against the wall by something.

“Eru! Get a hold of yourself!”

Lukos attempted to call out to the stilled Eru, yet she didn’t budge even a tad as her hands remained over her face. He gritted his teeth, while slowly walking toward her. Someone wouldn’t allow him though, as the metal sound of his armor tapping against a spear could be heard. Astrid was now holding out her weapon, blocking Lukos from proceeding.

“...What are you doing, Astrid...? We need to help her!”

“Don’t move...”

“What are you—””

Astrid’s face was stiff, baring semblance to only one other time Lukos had seen her with that expression. She was absolutely frightened. Her eyes hadn’t left Eru even once either as she trembled in place. His own eyes then met with the sight of her rattling spear, repeatedly tapping against his armor as he grimaced in hopelessness.

“Gu ritrtu nnzunn...? venui efzezu nuiguer rizeiolu rief rupoesnuipoinqtu!? Don’t look down on me, you pointless beast of yore!! Nether Mystic: [Descent of the Black Dog]!!”

An instant crumbling came from the wall Ursa was held against as she suddenly broke away from the invisible grasp. And the moment her boots pressed against the shards of stained glass, she shot forth once more. The force of her movement cleared every bit of debris in her path as she began moving on all fours. Her once separate purple and white eye, were now completely bathed in that deep red.

“Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill! I’ll put the both of you to death!! In flesh, and especially in spirit!”

“Wesgupoor luinqnuibrne. gu uhgunnpollca, ritrtu nnzunn. efzezu rubrte kivurozeriinqef nt Nuikica.”

False kindred. A hapless, mere pup. You bring ignominy to Dis.

The skeletal-like arm finally moved, but only with the lift of a finger. Ursa’s eyes widened as she halted her dash completely, and suddenly, an unseen barrage tore at her entirety. Over and over again. To her, each strike felt as if it were ripping through her—and completely apart. Yet, her flesh was still attached. The scattered blood in the air was simply coming from her throat. Still, she had no say in her current reality. Only in mind could she retreat.

I can’t keep up. Estreth never said anything about something like this. Why? Why is something like it here? That shouldn’t be...

“Rutuvuzess, rutu wesrevuzekrkrnd. krin cakirizupoguiobrzuri zewes efzezubr rupoesnuipoinqtu fiskist iotuguor. efzezu venui efzezubr nntuzennpotu cauhgust potugubrro, zewes krin zurotrbrte nuizeriinqkise zewes Zuca.”

Begone, be forgotten. The simulacrum of your bloodline will cease. You and your people shall learn, of the unerring dominion of Us.

Another crack in the space where she stood, yet differing from prior. Her expression was telling, of one who had completely resigned—dead and empty. And as the shattering space spread open further, she was dragged inside. It then shut upon her entry. Ursa had seemingly disappeared. The church was now in eerie silence, no one moved. Only five people and a hovering bird remained as Essylt had stealthily retreated too.

“Lu, hear me out...”

Astrid’s voice cracked in whisper, fearing how the man near her would react to her next set of words.

“...You won’t approve of this, I’m certain of that. However, I need to do this...”

“What are you talking about, Astrid...?”

Her spear was now at her side as she shifted her stance, in her usual preparation for a readied lunge. One in the direction of the kneeling Eru.

“Astrid...?”

“I’m sorry, but she needs to die here.”

She could feel the change in his gaze, one in whom was appalled by her decision. She wasn’t met with a response of rage, nor a further string of questions as to her reason though. Instead, Lukos moved in front of her with his back toward Eru. Unsmiling with his eyes on her, his stern gaze didn’t leave her indecisive one.

“I can’t let you do that.”

Her brows trembled in hesitation, yet she knew this wasn’t something she could back down on.

“You don’t understand, Lu, every part of my very being is urging me to put an end to her right here! My body and soul are screaming to me, telling me that this thing shouldn’t exist! I’m begging you, Lu, stay out of the way! I have to do this!”

“I won’t let you, Astrid.”

He remained firm in his decision in a solemn tone. He actually did understand. Or at the very least, he understood Astrid’s personality rather well by this point. He knew it wasn’t because she truly wanted to, but instead that it was because she truthfully felt that she needed to. Yet, that expression of hers was one of imminent remorse. He wouldn’t stand aside for neither Eru nor Astrid.

“There has to be another way.”

“But what if there isn’t...? What if...”

Of sudden movement, the further protruding of the spectral, skeletal entity was being removed from its shattered realm. And as Astrid caught said movement with her eyes, she reaffirmed her decision to pounce as Lukos tensed in response.

“Please, move out of the way, Lu!”

“I can’t do that. I won’t—?!”

Abrupt chaos ensued. Four separate instances took place, back-to-back, as the arguing duo suddenly was caught unaware of what was transpiring. First, came the sudden cave in of debris from the falling church's ceiling—creating a now open view of the sky. Second, was Astrid taking advantage of the situation.

"I'm sorry—?!"

"Ghrg."

A sudden stab. The sinking of her spear had pierced Lukos' armor as he remained firm in his decision to stop her. She had attempted to rush around him, lunging in full. But he knew her far too well after all. And he also understood, that this would be the only way to stop her as his hands wrapped around the spear.

"...Like I said, I won't let you do that, Astrid..."

"I..."

A bitter smile was flashed her way as her quivering hands were released from the lodged spear. And then the third instance appeared as the cause of the ceiling's collapse was now hovering over the desecrated building. An unexpected appearance, of a colossal, red bird. Its shriek then plundered the hearing of everyone inside.

"Wesguee rutuvutukrca rupokivuuhkrne ritokrteca. Fistu ioseletrvutu seiotu riretu, ndnuitugubrte luinq."

Fate begets blighted meetings. We converge once more, endearing kin.

The fourth and final one, involved Cruubi. The once silent bird that remained near Alisa and Hilm, was now strangely glowing for some odd reason. That brightening transformation bloomed into an expanding sphere, and suddenly a light blue liquid came spilling out of the illuminated orb that was once Cruubi. The liquid rapidly darkened into a cobalt blue as it then swiftly moved to encircle the stilled Eru. It then shifted its form completely behind her, to that of a giant wolf with a maroon-red woven seal over its mouth.

“[Uhefnuibrzezuca cauhkituponui].”

A sudden projection of a water-like shield eclipsed over the interior of the church as the red bird immediately strove to strike down on them with its beak. The two collided, further disturbing the church with violent shakes once more. It then lifted itself into the air, scattering gusts, and seemingly flew toward the sky.

“...”

With their orange and intense eyes, the giant, cobalt wolf studied Eru and the skeletal entity.

“You were right to send me after all, it seems. If this had gone any further...”

In a sudden leap, the cobalt wolf’s prior position was met with a shattering crack as it was now standing in front of Eru after evading.

“[Ruerguiouhte cazegulu].”

At the tail end of the wolf’s words, the kneeling Eru was then splashed with a wave of peculiar water that had formed around her. For the first time since she had placed her hands over her face, she was now quivering slightly.

“Eru?! You—!”

“Calm yourself.”

Flustered by the situation, Lukos removed the spear and was readying to rush to defend Eru. He was then stopped by the side glance and telepathic voice of the cobalt wolf.

“Rest assured. I was sent to rescue this human.”

In a questioning stare, his attention was then diverted toward Eru once more as she began to writhe and cry in agony. However, the skeletal-like arm was silently beginning to retract within the gaping shatter that lingered above her.

“Aaah... Aaaaah.... Aaargh!”

“The blessing bestowed unto that garment of hers should do the rest. It didn’t respond to her initial outburst, so I simply forced it to activate instead.”

After a minute, Eru had slumped to the ground—unconscious—but pacified and alive. Lukos rushed over to her, double-checking to make sure as he could now see her breathing lightly. A gentle radiance covered her garments as they then were turned lusterless a short moment later.

“What was all of that...? And who or what are you exactly...?”

“...I’m connected to a man named Albel, if that helps to ease your concerns. But enough about that, I’d advise you to leave here before that other one returns.”

“That’s right, that bird...”

Lukos looked toward Astrid, who was gripping at her own sides with a pained expression. Her current feelings were obvious to him, and even so.

"Astrid, you mind taking care of Eru for me? I won't be able to carry three people by myself."

"That's..."

"Listen, I won't fault your decision from earlier right now. You believed in your course of action, not for your own sake, but for the greater good after all. And just as I held a belief that was against yours—I don't regret that outcome."

He smiled her way once more, as she nodded with her eyes at a downcast and accepted his request. As Lukos then directed his line of sight back toward the cobalt wolf, they had already disappeared. With no other reason to remain and everyone in tow, they headed for the boarding house.

❖

The battered church now stood silent, seemingly empty. That is, until a small creature popped its head out from a small hole in the corner.

"Eeee!"

A red-furred monkey, one with horns that protruded from its eye sockets—wrapping around its head. It began looking around, searching for something as a set of footsteps approached.

"Eeee! Eeee! Eeee!"

"You told me to come, didn’t you? The fastest way for me to get here was with his help, okay?"

The small creature had now leapt onto the white full-body, bag-like cloak the girl was dressed in. Sitting atop her hood, it began complaining again.

"Eeee! Eeee! Eeeeeee!"

"You have to admit, it was a pretty cool entrance though, right?!"

"Eeeeeeeeee!"

"Every time! Can't you be impressed with at least one thing I do! Hmph. I thought it was cool..."

In a pout, her eyes began to drift across the interior of the church. A small smile had taken shape under her mask as she was thinking back on what she had saw.

"She shared the same scent as the one that was on Yoyo, from when he helped that person out, didn't she? She really is the most interesting one in this city! I've never seen anyone like her before."

"Eeee!"

"See, then we were right all along. Yoyo was being so reserved, always wanting to do things properly. We should just get to it, right? Go, go, go!"

Sparring with the air, she was readying herself. She then began looking through the hole in the ceiling, her hand was over her mask as she now scanned the sky in search for her other friend.

"Eeee!"

"Right?! Right! It's time to have a bit of fun then! We were sent here to do a job after all!"