A circular passage shattered the ethers delivered the hatted man and the madman on a place where the sun never shine. Westward winds strongly blows the fabric of their clothes as they walk further into the thick mist. The sky was clear; So clear that only a white surface can be seen above. There is no sun present way back to its origin though on the second thought, the illumination doesn't seem to have a source.

The hatted man savored the breeze. "Ah, How I've missed this place."

On the other hand, Tetsuo began swinging his body due to uneasy feeling inside fogs. He looked pretty displeased, crossing his arms in the process.

"Hng!! Just what did you find appeasing through this place. We have already walked half mile, but its utterly blank. I hate this place! Damn gloomy!" He exclaimed.

"Aw, Don't sulk. We'll be over there soon." replied the other guy; still enjoying the emptiness of the place.

Suddenly, on their trip towards the endless mist, a person pierced amidst the haze. A robe of azure conceals her identity that sways arounds every step. Even so, she kneels before their appearance the moment she felt their presences.

"I anticipate your arrival, our Honorary Upper Echelons." then completely bowed her head.

The mist eventually disseminated in the process, thus revealed its true aspect from their eyes. Boundless lands showcased with Various weponries struck the ground which remained propelled until the recent time. At the middle of it was a clear road towards a domain of some sort-- The place they were aiming for at the first place.

He shifted his gaze under the lifeless sky, "I guess we're already here..."

The submissive fellow then stood up, leading their way as they proceed from the lone path.

The ground softly quakes when their shoes hits the surface. Dust were scattered along the way while only the whistles of wind could be heard audibly. Those swords which buried its blades, left a certain amount of cracks that stayed as a mark of the past.

Despite the fogginess subsided, Tetsuo's expression did not change a little bit. His silent tantrums eventually formed a furious look and aggravatedly pouted.

"Hideo... Why are so fucking slow!!? Speed up, damn it!"

Heard his name mentioned, the one hatted man- Hideo refused to look back, However, chuckled as he enjoys the small walk.

"Man. There's no need to rush. Try aporeciating this warm welcome even once."

"--Welcome!? You call this a welcome!? With this amount of time, we could've accumulated another two of the shards if you're not slacking off like this!" the shouting reply of Tetsuo from Hideo's behind.

Suddenly bewildered by his own thoughts, he wandered his eyes on the fallen swords.

"Tsk... Where is this place anyway? We've been travelling the whole world, but I don't remember such a place."

Despite receiving a slight rude query, Hideo then followed his gaze. "Have you heard about the 'City of Apex" before?" then constanly flips his hat again.

" --City of Apex? You mean that Lost City of Flynn? I read lots about it in my mother's story books before."

"Indeed." thus pulled a thin cigarette out from his pocket.

He soon he burn up the coffin nail's edge by a cylindrical lighter then spew the smoke from his mouth while gazing into white void.

"Ah, The Lost City of Flynn... The city which became our ancestors' home after conflict resulted a war against the unpowered. The books said that It was built by thousands archmages just to hide themselves from the terrors under the lands. I am still uncertain about what happened that time, but this city once brought everyone happiness for centuries" he said. "However, in certain circumstances, another dispute of several factions sprouted out amongst people which ruined the peace of the city that resulted to a massive struggle between the two sides, and so the City of Flynn was drowned into the sea flames..."

"Well, That's the scriptures said. All that's left is this trace of war." he continued.

Referring to this desertion as he look forward, Hideo concluded the story behind this ruined amnesty. Though, he may look composed from behind, a sour expression drew out on his face which Tetsuo never saw since he is positioned at the back. However, when he caught up from his pace, Hideo reverted back to his cool, and so proceeded to follow the robed fellow.

A few steps more, another storm of haze obscured their vision. It was totally fuzzy in a short while, yet they gradually regain their sights as an underground stairway appeared ahead of the path. They soon ventured the subterranean way, and so it brought them into another shift of reality.

The next area was limitless. Ink and Bleach drenched the walls of unspecified kind which kept reverbrating every second ticks away. Amidst of them was nothing but two passages- One on their left, and one ahead. The leftmost was tightly sealed by runic symbols which bugged Tetsuo from the first sight. Meanwhile on the other path, he could feel an immense amount of sundry presence as if hundreds of auras were revolving inside

The stoic looking guide took the thing ahead in an adequate speed. "Let us hurry. They are all expecting for your today's presence." she said. And so the other two.

Reaching the obnoxius entrance, the undertone emanations grew more stronger as they stride more closer from its center. Echoes from the deep resounded underneath the surface until slowly, and slowly, a stupendous bevy emerged from its shadows.

They great mass of posse turned their eyes towards the entrance of the boundless space within.

The clouded identities began to make a flaunt in front of the two as they pulled down their hoods away, thus kneeled down before their presence.

A synchronized yell of the congregation shook the whole place. "Welcome! We have awaited for your appearance!"

On behalf of the whole congress the one who stands in front, gave her utmost regards on the two.

"We, the 12th and 11th division of the Crimson's domain , are pleased to see your today's presence" She prostrated herself. "On behalf of the 11th Head. I, Ayane Suzumoto as the 12th Head Sentinel , is giving my high respect from your anticipated visit."

On the other hand, the two were greatly impressed from the unexpected collaboration. Aware from the fact that each divisions has their own designations, witnessing this prodigious compound is jaw dropping even from their perspective. And so Hideo and Tetsuo was stunned.

Hideo's composure deacreased dramatically as he gently caress his head from blandishment.

Meanwhile, Tetsuo's face stretched out because of mad happiness. "Hideo! I am so glad that I accompanied you here! These sentries' expression of gratitude is so amazing that I am smiling from ear to ear!"

His only voice blared the boundless space, hence shook some of the kneeled sentries due to its booming sound. Amidst of them, one faced the other.

"Shht Shht!" he called the guy on his right.

The same person immediately shifted his gaze while keeping his head lowered. "What?"

"--You know, this is the first time I have seen these guys. Were they that special? And that other guy he's with, looks had a few screws loose."

Hearing the curious guy's thoughts immediately gave him goosebumps.

He then covered its mouth. "What the fuck are saying!? Those two were Upper Echelons. You hear me? UPPER ECHELONS!" he said. "That crazy man you are refferring to, have dissevered hundreds of Holders in an instant with his Procure you know?"

The guy suddenly gasped. "--D-Dissevered... You say...?"

"Yeah. So you'd better watch your mouth next time. I have heard that the last person which mocked Sir Tetsuo got his head split open with her brain intact and completely exposed." he replied.

The name Tetsuo Houjo and Hideo Suzuki... It is just ones of the renowned names in the history of Holders- Those names once shook the underground world of mages with their incredible strength.

At the present time, there

are still twenty four eminent names and aliases which revolves around the whole World of Magic. The Ones they call Heralds rules domination amidst the current Era where the vestige of Holders began to fade, and so together with the new generations' stars, both of them possesses a great amount of power within their hands that raised their ranks as the most dangerous Heralds. Regardless, these two also attains a fine position from the said organization.

Despite lowering their voices to the limit, the hollow space resounded the whisphers which alarmed the whole company as well as the main topic of the talk.

Tetsuo's brows blackened. "Hm! Who said that?"

Each by each, he mowed across the tight spaces between each individual, hence chased the source of the voices. It was successful to find those persons on the last column as dread drops obvious amidst their faces.

The outraged madman then grabbed them by the hand. "We are one of the Crimson's Upper Echelons. How frivolous of you to talk behind our backs!"

Every second passed, his grip begins to tighten up, attempting to crush their throats due to his anger.

Fear progressed into their limbs as it shake constantly just by seeing feeling the rage from his palms while trying to flail away.

Gradually, the strength from it grows stronger and stronger until a pale white reaction comes out through their skins. Their breaths was in the verge of the end, not until Hideo tapped hus shoulder. "Tetsuo. Try settling down for a sec there."

"-- How am I supposed to calm down at this rate? You heard them! They were looking down on us!"

Hideo replied. "I know, I know, but causing violence is not a good first impression for the new ones." then wore his hat. "Or would you want me to stop you in another way?"

Tetsuo suddenly dropped the two despite from the extreme vexation he felt. For some reason, only Hideo's words could stop his madness from leaking out. Tetsuo doesn't look agreed at all, yet his eyes widened shock.

He then faced the insolence of the two sentries. "F-Fine. I'll let you slip away from this once." then walked back in front alongisde Hideo.

He gently waved his right hand to Ayane. "Oh my my I apologize from the slight trouble he made. He got some anger issues lately, so I have to monitor him for a while." then chuckled. "But on a different note, You seem to be carrying a pleasing news."

The girl stood up. "Certainly." she said. "Recently, we have confirmed another shard's coordinates. Right now, my brother and the 11th Head are on the way to obtain it as soon as possible. On the other hand, we have also tracked Stygian Primrose and Flax Jester's location, but unfortunately, we are still searching for Aether's whereabouts at the moment."

Hideo looks satisfied. "Hm... I see. The 12th Division's Informational Tracing is indeed splendid."

"I am grateful that we have appeased you." she replied.

"--Make sure to hunt those three down. Those cheeky brats gave the whole organization once. Especially, that Aether; I've heard he once took down thirty-nine sentries while on their mission of retrieving the 9th Shard."

Hideo inserted his hands and took something thin on his pocket." Anyways, I've got an assignment for you."

He flicked the object as it flies through Ayane's palms. It appears to be a portrait of someone. Meanwhile, Tetsuo looked so worn out, hence sat beside the darkened walls, hugging his knees; trembling.

A snap of the lighter blared between Hideo's palms. Another stick of tobacco was lit up, thus vacuumed its smoke then gently blew it up the air.

"Its just an average school boy residing down, on Tokyo. A white haired young lad. Has an average build similar to his peers wearing a pair of dark-colored eyeglasses." he stated. "Apparently, I want him to be eliminated for special reasons. But I assure you, he won't be much of a problem."

Ayane's thoughts started forming a dozen of question marks since her first glance.

"This is bizarre... They look so identical at some point..." she muttered to herself.

Eventually, Hideo saw her gazing"--Hm? What's the matter?"

"A-Ah. Its nothing sir. I just thought he is someone I knew." then, her left brow elavated."But it is kind of strange..."

"--Strange?"

She nodded. "Yes sir. It is just strange..."

"It is just strange that you voluntarily took a picture with him."

Hideo's thoughts suddenly snapped. To think that Ayane would give a some sort of hint revolved around him at the beginning.

His composure gradually metled down. "A- No No No! Its a long story to tell, so just disregard it."

He was about to break down, yet luckily sustained as Ayane withdrew her query with a dumb expression. "Well, If you insist..." then put the image inside his robe.

Soon as a second of pause, Hideo turned his back. "I'll be expecting your report after a week. I originally came here just to ask you that favor, nothing else."

Ayane replied back with a slight bow. "Affirmative." and so Hideo took the shaking Tetsuo up against the floor.

The number of minutes passed, his trembling ceased. However, it is no mistake that Tetsuo's eyes were full of dread a while ago. He was known to be feared by most of the sentries around crimson, yet somehow, he is afrair from Hideo at some point.

His mouth was shaking as Hideo tapped him out of idling. " Wah- D-Don't scare me like that!"

"--Hahaha! Sorry Sorry." he said "Anyway, we should get going now. I am sure, those guys are already having a hard time finding us." Hideo replied with a chuckle.

The place around suddenly filled with a thick fog which obscured the sights of sentries. Soon, Hideo and Tetsuo walked amidst as eerie smiles filled their lips. The same smiles which will never be forgotten by anyone else.

Together and that grin, a thousand screech of steel boomed as they depart. "Let me be the one to set up the stage for you, Rine Ishida."