The world inside was a huge cavern complex. This place was a screaming death trap because of how many things can happen within these halls.

Red Spire

Boss Hunt

Defeat the Boss 'Arakhai, the Ravaging'

Defeat Condition : Venerators die.

Joshua could see holes from the top half, where a chilly wind blew through above them.

"Oh, I don't like this." One of the members said, it was the mage with the blue hat.

"What was it?" Jack asked her.

"My clairvoyance got blocked. I can't see past through the first area. Our enemies are crimson or, and they seem to be expecting us. We may have to be more careful,Jack." Jack nodded as he readied his blade.

Arakhai's Passive Has Activated.

Lack of Aggression : Cannot fight or attack Arakhai's Kin until lifted.

"What!?" Their bodies sheathed their weapons.

"Jack?" One of the warriors asked.

"Best comply, I know this looks messy. It is fucking messy but it's been forced upon us. Keep our calm."

"Follow." They heard the voice that called them, they complied. Joshua checked his status screen, seeing his familiars were in wait. Then noticing by the Suicide Division, Commander 151's sprite was observing the situation. When Joshua caught a glimpse of the crimson orcs. It was clear how fundamentally different they were from high orcs. Crimson orcs have crimson skin, with inscriptions of the demonic all over their bodies. Pure,raw unadulterated power but also with the fact that they were skilled.

Joshua then watched 151's sprite go to the members of the Suicide Division.

'Identifying enemy from research. Preparing new weapon systems and tactics.'

'Suicide Division had prepared new tactics against Crimson Orc, Lord of Thorns. We will be ready when you summon us.' Joshua looked at Commander 151's sprite saluting him while wearing the black graycoat with the fur.

Joshua followed Jack's group to the deep end, wehre there 10 thousand Crimson Orcs and the named Crimson Orc leader, Arakhai, the Ravaging. Joshua glanced at the stats, this guy was pathetic. It was a level 150, but they were nothing. Just sheer numbers. Though he could see Jack and the others looking a little uneasy.

They stepped in front where Joshua just kept an eye out for them. 10 thousand Crimson Orcs. They were dead serious about making this tough.

"Who is the leader?" Jack stood forward only to take a javelin to the chest. The others panicked, tending to Jack. Trying to heal him.

"AH...How fun. To watch humans cower in fear before us. Hmm?" Arakhai looked at Joshua who was calm.

"Cower before me, and you will all live. Besides, I think having human slaves suits us really well. Besides... It'd be good if you were all pets." Joshua put the bag down and took out the things from Zephyr's saddle.

Joshua's Mask of Thorns showed itself, along with his Coat of Crimson.

"Ho... So you've killed Garalakh.. She's but a whelp when compared to me." Joshua did not say a word as a crimson orc swung its weapon at him, only to have a hand sticking out from Joshua's shoulder, then a blade piercing the crimson orc's head.

Vizel appeared, pulling the blade out of the crimson orc's neck. Alec, Mitchell, Krieg, Lugasa, Ice Reaper and Ferno appeared by his side.

"Suicide Division." Joshua spoke as they heard marching from the path behind them. Screams filled the air for an entire minute. Arakhai was unable to see. The Suicide Division made its debut walking to Joshua and kneeling before him. Drenched in the blood off the crimson orcs that were at the entrance.

"Your orders?" Commander 151 asked.

"10 thousand against you guys. How are the odds?" Joshua asked.

"These poor red skinned bastards. They should have at least 2 million if they wished to deal with us." Commander 151 snickered at the remark of one of his men.

"Suicide Division! Troopers, Horsemen! Ready your bayonets!" The Suicide Division members readied their bayonets.

"Goliaths, Rogues, Demon's Bane, Crimson Reavers. I doubt they'd prove as a good warm up. Do you wish to fight?" Commander 151 asked as he pulled out a shovel and a whetstone

"Well, I'd love a bit of a bout with some ugly bastards." One of the Reavers spoke as they fist bumped each other.

"Humans, you d-" Arakhai was silenced by the gaze of Commander 151.

"I wasn't done speaking to my men yet." Commander 151 spoke with a haunting voice over the crimson orcs. Joshua was watching how the crimson orcs were shaking by their feet. Arakhai was shaking by his throne. Sharpening it a bit.

"Lord. Are you leaving command up to me or do you have a strategy in mind?" Commander 151 asked, turning his back as a crimson orc charged at him. Taking a step to the side, where swing of the club missed. 151 swung the shovel to the neck, having its sides to cut through the flesh. The blade got stuck halfway, 151 grabbed the head of the crimson orc and tilted it upwards.

"Pl-" Then hacking the head off as he threw it aside, then chucking the shovel into the headless crimson orc's corpse. Then drawing his saber.

"Do as you command, 151. I'm curious to see how you handle them." Joshua said as 151 nodded. Raising his right arm,the soldiers and horsemen turned to their opponents. The other squads joined in formation.

"Charge!" The charge itself, made no sense from a normal standpoint. Yet, what they were about to see was different. The bayonets tore through the skins of the crimson orcs. The haunting pale blue eyes of the Suicide Division was one thing. A crimson orc shouted in glee after slicing the arm off a trooper. Only to see the same trooper fire pistols to the crimson orc's head, following it up with a horseman pushing the bayonet into the crimson orc's head. Pulling the trigger to blow the head off, then the horsemen created a firing line against the crimson orcs.

A Goliath threw a crimson orc down then charged into their positions with the heavy lances. Blowing the orcs to pieces, blood splashed onto the clothes of these Suicide Division members, yet they continued onwards. The crimson orcs threw themselves into the fight, trying to use their powers to cause fear. One Suicide Division member had been rendered to just a torso.

"Goliath, throw me!" The Goliath nodded, as another trooper pulled the pin off the trooper's back pack. Throwing the trooper ahead into the pack. Where an explosion occurred. Turning 30 crimson orcs to mince meat. The Crimson Reavers were having the most fun, their blades carved through the crimson orc flesh, blood splashed onto their skin. Not a smile, not a war cry. Pure silence. Only the cries of their rifles made noise. The Rogues used their jet packs to get moving. Their bowie knives burnt through the crimson orc skins. Occasionally firing their machine guns just to throw the enemies back. Then alternating between gun, knife and machete if needed.

"How... How can mere humans cause this much damage!?" Arakhai spoke not paying attention to 151 walking towards him. "Kill him!" Vizel cut down the 5 crimson orcs that went after 151.

"Thank you, Vizel. I will need to go deal with their leader myself." 151 spoke as Arakhai picked up his axe, charging at 151. When their blades met, 151 did not even shake or even falter in his footing. Merely pushed back by maybe an inch or two.

"How dare you!? How dare you defile my domain!?" Arakhai roared at 151.

"I'll make sure to rip your jaw first before I kill you. But... I've got a better idea." 151 pushed the sword downwards, then pulled a pistol, blowing off Arakhai's legs and arms in one go.

"Can't have you die yet... Why don't you watch your friends go first?" Arakhai was forced to watch as his crimson orc brethren and sisters turned tail. They were panicking as these haunting blue soldiers kept on fighting. No matter how many times they cut through their limbs, they got back up. They did not scream, they did not speak a word. Not even a grunt of pain. When their guns were useless, they kept on going with bayonet charges. When their entire gear is useless, they picked up the weapon from their downed allies.

The Troopers alone were enough to instill fear, because they would be thrown to the enemy as explosive devices. The Goliaths ripped off the skull of a crimson orc to kill another. The carnage that Arakhai witnessed, it was inhuman. How can it be said to be human? The exploded bodies of the soldiers shined in a blue light. Where they returned to their original state of having their gear and weapons. Getting back up, then charging in with the others.

Within seconds, the entire population of crimson orcs had dropped to zero. Joshua did not do anything at all, he just tended to Jack.

"Thanks... Joshua.. Why did you help us?"

"I can't fight, but the familiars can. Besides, I think the boss was just trying to mess with you." Joshua answered, then the entire team of Atlas looked at Arakhai, who was mentally broken.

"Orders?" 151 asked Joshua.

"Just take us home." 151 slit the throat of Arakhai, leaving the limbless Arakhai to bleed out slowly.

"Troopers, attend to the allies. Check for wounds and scars." 151 ordered as the Goliaths and the others made their way to Joshua's side.

Spire has been cleared.

With minimal casualties.

Joshua's familiars disappeared, with exception of Zephyr. When he stepped out he saw the SS ranked Sword Saint. The leader of Blade Sanctuary, a woman with blue hair and golden eyes.

"Lady." Team Atlas knelt to her, Joshua put the saddle aside and bags aside. The woman did not glance at Joshua who just walked away from it. Though Joshua did see a few members of the Investigation Bureau and Union Officers take note from the others. They shot glances at him, perhaps to report to the chairwoman.

This whole thing was messy, it wasn't a risk. It was a death trap. Though Joshua could see the experience has made 151 and the Suicide Division better. Seeing the words 'New enemy types discovered. Now crossreferencing data with others. New plans, strategies and tactics'

Although the Suicide Division was smaller, it didn't change that they were lethal. Joshua wondered how they would fare against enemies like tanks. Or other things.

"Wait." Joshua turned to the Lady of the Blade Sanctuary.

"Thank you for protecting them. Sorry if they've said anything that has offended or insulted you."

"It's fine. I'm used to it." Joshua said as he vanished from sight.

"What's with that speed?" Jack said, where they turned to see Lady's reaction.

"So that's why Chairman Lee saw him highly. I'll need to make a report of this." Lady said as she went out to the Union HQ.

Going into a special room, where there were 4 others.

"Lady. I heard your team got into some trouble." General spoke as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Not everyday we hear something like that happen. We just got the actual combat report from them. Even the cameras on the others showed it." A man in glasses spoke, staring at his fingertips. They watched the combat footage.

"I know how this looks Jun, but this kid may be the real deal." General said as they see the soldiers that appear from behind.

"Gas masks? Bayonets? This is way too different. Their equipment is a mixed bag of things from our world but they are so different. Is this what makes the Lord of Thorns unique?" Another woman spoke, she was observing how these soldiers fight.

"Perhaps Caitlyn....No normal human, especially at level 100 would be able to fight against crimson orcs in a head on fight. Keeping him at E-Rank may be a waste. The other familiars are unique too. I couldn't get much combat footage from Alpha 1's expedition but he's good enough to put at A rank and S-Rank category." General turned to Lady.

"What did you think?" Lady shook her head.

"Can't get a read on him. I think in terms of speed he outranks us but one thing's for sure. I do want him on that Black Spire mission. We're sending our juniour members because we don't know how dangerous this one is. Caitlyn, how many of your Iron Guards are going?" Lady asked.

"I'm sending the best. From what we know an entire district got sucked up into it and there's a timer. We've got 5 more days before this. And the people inside the residents are operating normally. If we add this Joshua in, he'll be our second outsider." Caitlyn spoke up which her words got the others curious.

"Who's the other one?" General asked.

"The Noir Dancer. Skill wise, if you want me to be honest. She's SS quality. Her skills is very mixed. Not just normal combat. She's good with her magic, swordsmanship that takes on many targets. She's fast, and she doesn't use familiars. Hers are companions." Jun elaborated.

"Companions?" Lady asked.

"Familiars but they behave differently. She doesn't have to keep an eye on them like we do with our familiars but it seems that Joshua's familiars behave the same way." Caitlyn reported.

"You're telling em that Joshua has an army of soldiers as his familiars? That's a lot of damage potential...Their application is different, Joshua can run support while the Noir Dancer... Sorry what was her name again? Klaude?"

"Klaudia." Caitlyn corrected the General.

"Sorry, I'm normally on top of things but ever since Alpha 1's mission details turned foggy. I don't think there's much we can do. The new spire type... It's a rescue spire. So i'm planning to get as many A-Ranks and S-Ranks. Our enemy, according to Caitlyn's clairvoyance. It's like a faction war. Angels, demons and humanity. Our job will be to rescue as many humans as possible. Joshua and Klaudia would be perfect additions. Both of them are powerhouses." General explained where the others thought about it.

"We can't see some of their stats, but to compare. Klaudia has been active for a couple of years. So she has that head start to Joshua, though her growth is primarily because she handles every Spire solo where as Joshua joins Spires with teams either as an additional member or as a Resource Worker." Jun added on.

"I don't like leaving it to the young ones, and this will definitely have some issue with the others." General said. The atmosphere in the room was tense, because everyone here. With exception of Lady was slightly older. In their mid 30s to their early 50s.

"It's not about if they're young General. It's because these two have had rapid growths and how they handle things is unorthodox. Joshua and Klaudia ended up creating new spires. Research Spires, Trade Spires and Rescue Spires. There's definitely more to this. Besides, equipment wise. There's no record of them getting any equipment like the normal members but what I do know is that their equipment is similar to what we get from our Trials for our Unique classes." Lady spoke to them.

"We all are in agreement?" The 4 guild masters nodded then looking at their masked companion.

Lady of Blade Sanctuary

Jun of Apocalypse Raiders

Caitlyn of Iron Guard

General of Assault Works

"Perseus?"

"I am in agreement. I needed to get my bearings. Those two are strong and having them does reduce a lot of deaths on our end. Make contact with them. General, you're acquainted with Joshua. If the other S-Ranks have a problem tell them to watch Joshua and Klaudia fight. It will be an interesting one." Perseus said as he stretched his neck, Perseus was the Guild Leader of Seekers.

"We need to sort out our best Venerators. So let's get to it."