Alice smiled as she stroked the sleeping Mikoto's hair. After the heavy injuries the two had experienced from their battle against each other, or at least, the heavy exhaustion, Alice had found one of the many large bedrooms in the cathedral and tucked Mikoto in without a word.. Mikoto had muttered she didn't feel tired.. but had fell straight to sleep.

Alice sat next to the bed.. and continued to chant Sacred Arts over both her sword and the Master Sword, which had become cracked and damaged from the duel, attempting to repair it. As she did, she couldn't help but worry about Eugeo and Kirito.

Those two had come here searching for her as well.. trying to find their old friend.. and now they were stuck somewhere in the cathedral, probably wounded. Alice had already wrapped an eyepatch around her injured eye.. she touched the patch before thinking angrily of Quinella.

She remembered that witch.. how she had enforced a Piety Protocol on her.. and turned her into an obedient slave. She knew that woman needed to be defeated. destroyed.. She was the reason the Human Empire was such an unfair corrupt dictatorship.. that nobles could consistently find loopholes and abuse their power..

"H-hey." Silver Crow walked into the room, carrying a small jar in his hand. "Is this it?"

"Yes.. thank you." said Alice taking the jar and slathering some oil over the blades of the two swords. "This allows the blades to stay nice and sharp. I have to say it's no wonder the Master Sword survived a hit from my own Fragrant Olive Sword.. it's priority is higher... thank you strange being.. you've been kind to us."

"Strange being huh?" Silver Crow looked at his duel avatar for a minute. "I guess.. this world's never seen robots or things like that before."

"Robot?" Alice blinked with confusion. "What's a robot?"

"N-nothing really!" said Silver Crow, not sure how he would explain the concept to a girl who had grown up in a world of magic, swords and medieval government.

"Crow.." Black Lotus levitated through, her beautiful, deadly, looking avatar turned her head to look at her student. "It seems that we landed in a floor that has absolutely no dangers for now.. it's quiet."

"Don't be fooled Lotus-sempai." said Alice. "An Integrity Knight waits for us on the next floor.. as we are extremely near to Quinella's chambers.. and there is Thevos and Dusk to worry of.. "

"What do we do..?" Crow asked. "It seems like no matter what we're going to have to fight."

"Then fight we shall.." Lotus said, bringing up a gleaming blade arm. "After all.. anybody who fights against me.. is going to lose a few limbs at least.. "

"What about Kirito?" Mikoto had awoken, and was rubbing her eyes. "And Sinon.. Eugeo too.."

Alice bit her lip. "It's.. not that easy. Quinella doesn't probably yet suspect I'm out of her control. There probably won't be a better time for a surprise assault.. and.. Mikoto.. with your power.. I think you're probably capable of defeating her. If there's one thing I'm certain of.. the normal laws of the world don't effect Stacia's blessing."

"It isn't Stacia's blessing." said Mikoto. "I found out.. I'm an Esper Alice... a psychic whose managed to use a greater percentage of her brain.. my mind twists my OWN reality to create my power."

Alice blinked with surprise. "That's.. even more outlandish.. but.. how could you know?"

"It's complicated." said Mikoto. "But.. the important thing is.. I don't think my power is exactly something Quinella can control. If it's my personal reality.. then it's beyond the system."

Alice went deep into thought for a minute. It was a straight way up to the cathedral. Yet.. as Mikoto said, there was still Kirito, Eugeo, and that archer girl to think about. However.. the best way to help them was to defeat Quinella, and hopefully get the Integrity Knights to regain their senses.

"So.." said Mikoto. "What's with the dragon?"

"Amayori?" said Alice. "Each Integrity Knight has their own dragon which they control, it is our main mode of transport."

"Lucky." Mikoto muttered. "getting your own pet dragon."

Alice laughed. "Honestly, it's not as if the dragons like us.. we use a Sacred Art to bind the dragons to our control. To tell you the truth, I'm betting if I relinquish Amayori from the System Control, then he'll just fly on away and ignore me."

"Wait.. you control a dragon!?" said Crow. "Then.. couldn't we just fly on up to the top of the cathedral?"

Alice felt surprised by this statement. "I'm sorry Crow-san.. but my dragon's been injured greatly from the fight with that strange Scarlet Rain girl.."

"You said they were heavily injured when they escaped." said Lotus fervently. "How heavily injured?"

"I can't exactly say." said Alice. "When Amayori finally tore that giant fortress apart.. I found nothing on the inside.. she had already escaped from it.. and I don't know if that strange form of her bleeds. And the second, Yuuki Kono left behind blood.. but was gone.. "

"Damn.." Mikoto muttered. "I spent 2 years in this world.. and now.. everything just went to hell."

Alice stood up and handed Mikoto her sword. "There is nothing else to do now.. we must reach the top of the cathedral."

Mikoto took the Master Sword and sheathed it.. Alice couldn't help but smile as she watched Mikoto take the sword.. the same girl who had struggled to even lift the blade when she was small. "You've grown Mikoto-chan."

"Why of course." said Mikoto with a wink. "Anyways.. I'm a little curious about Arita-san's statement about using a dragon to reach the top of the cathedral when he can fly.."

Silver Crow scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "My flight ability is influenced by my ability gauge. Right now.. I can probably manage 50 meters and some horizontal side levitating.. and stuff."

"If we get into some big deal fights, we might be able to use Silver Crow's wings as a last resort." said Lotus. "For now.. let us play by caution.."

As Mikoto got up, she tugged on the sleeve of the gold coat of her Valkyrie armor. "I'm.. not used to this.. I don't even remember putting it on."

"It suits you." said Alice. "come.. there's no time to waste.

Things were quiet as they climbed a long white marble spiral staircase. Alice had to admit, it was a strange group. There was a former Integrity Knight.. or current one.. depending on how one viewed the situation. There was her childhood friend, who was now a competent elite swordswoman, and then there were these strange armored beings Silver Crow and Black Lotus.. one who bore great silver wings, and another who bore blades for limbs.

"By the way.." Alice said as they continued to climb the stairs. "This Sinon person.. Mikoto.. who is she to you?"

"Oh, that's my cousin." said Mikoto.

Alice felt her heart plummet. She had pummeled Mikoto's cousin to near death. If there was anything that made her feel the guiltiest.. it was this.

"There's the door!" said Silver Crow. "Come on!"

They wrenched the door open.. to find themselves in a great hall of sorts, with tapestries and pillars everywhere. It was an open air pavilion.. and the night sky could be seen. In the center of the room there seemed to be a giant crystal.

Suddenly, a large dragon, that was definitely not Amayori, flew down from the sky and landed on the ground.. seated upon the dragon was a familiar Integrity Knight in red armor with a red helm.

"I-I barely remember him!" Mikoto stammered. "That's the integrity Knight that took you away Alice!!

"Deusolbert Synthesis 7." said Alice. "Damn.. he'll be tough if all we can manage is close range!!"

Deusolbert dismounted his dragon, which flew back into the air and began circling the pavilion, roaring. "Alice.. what are you doing? You were supposed to take this prisoner back alive to the prison ages ago! And who are these strange ones in armor I've never seen?"

Alice felt a bit of relief. So nobody knew she had turned quite yet. She wasn't sure of the extent of Quinella's power, on whether she could sense when her Integrity Knights broke free from her control.. but.. it seemed that for now she could still control the situation to an extent..

"The prisoner is being used as bait to lure the others." said Alice. "As for these two, they are new creatures I created using Sacred Arts. A little invention of mine after studying the Sacred Language for a while."

"They are quite the creations." said Deusolbert, looking over Silver Crow and Black Lotus with interest. "The black one has a deadly beautiful look to her. But you needn't have done this Alice... the prisoners have been captured.. along with that one fairy girl."

"Wh-what!?" said Alice. "Wh-when!? Where!?"

"Our newest recruit managed to take them in all by himself. Lord Thevos granted him a great power.. it was incredible." said Deusolbert. "I mean.. look over there.. they're decorating the main hall!"

Alice stared with horror as she realized that the great crystal in the center of the room was actually ice. And frozen in the ice.. was Yuuki, Kirito, Yuniko, and Sinon..

"K-Kozuki-san.." Silver Crow said with a horrified whisper.

"B-but where's Eugeo!?" Mikoto said.

"Hey.." said Deusolbert. "What's that the girl's wearing..? Wait.. WHAT'S SHE DOING WEARING OUR VALKYRIE ARMOR!?"

Alice cursed and drew her sword, letting out a fast side slash at Deusolbert. Deusolbert leapt out of the way and drew a large red bow which ignited in intense flames.

"You Alice?" Deusolbert said incredulously. "Of all the people to betray us within the Integrity Knights.. you are the last one I expected.."

"Don't talk to me about betrayal!" said Alice. "It is our false queen whose betrayed us!!"

Deusolbert let out a whistle, and the dragon flew down to the pavilion roaring.

Black Lotus was a blur, she moved like a black lightning bolt.. her blades extending and flashing with so much speed and power, it was like watching a demon.

The dragon roared out in pain and toppled onto it's back as blood flew from it's body.

"DAMN IT!!" Deusolbert aimed his bow and fired off a volley of flaming arrows, flaming shockwaves blasting out from his bow with each shot.

Black Lotus deflected the arrows with her blade arms easily as Alice moved in.. slashing her sword in an elegant display of her own skill.

Deusolbert turned as he fired his arrows, firing his arrows in a wide wave-like volley of flames. Alice braced herself for the powerful flames, as she knew there was no way she could avoid the arrows. but just as the volley made to hit her, Mikoto jumped in front, both the Master Sword and River Spirit drawn.

Mikoto slashed out one of her blades.. letting it glow as she activated the defensive move Spinning Shield.

The spinning blade deflected the arrows and Mikoto shouted. "Now Arita-san!!"

Silver Crow, who had already flown into the air, launched himself down, with his foot outstretched for a powerful kick. "Got him!!"

"Foolish ones!!" Deusolbert fired his flaming arrows with such speed, that he was able to fire at Silver Crow with 5 consecutive shots before Silver Crow could close in.

Haru was forced to flap his wings, creating a massive gust of wind to propel himself out of the way..

Deusolbert whirled around.. firing his flaming arrows around himself in wide arcs of flaming desolation..

Alice dashed alongside Mikoto and Lotus as they dodged the flaming arrows, looking for ways to close in while Silver Crow's flight was rendered pointless by his weakness against long range type fighters.

"VORPAL STRIKE!!" Black Lotus thrust her blade arm forward, and a great purple light exploded from it.. piercing through the flaming arrows at Deusolbert, who managed dodge with relatively good speed, causing the move to smash through several walls behind him.

"We need to get in close!" Mikoto said. "Or we'll never take him down!! Alice!! Think you can follow my lead?"

Alice nodded. "Do it!!"

Mikoto let out a yell.. and a barrage of electric power exploded from her body, causing a giant tidal wave of iron sand to start rolling towards Deusolbert. As the iron sand rolled forward, Alice ran close behind the wave, Black Lotus shooting forward right next to her.

The Iron sand crashed down at Deusolbert, who jumped out of the way, right as Black Lotus moved forward, her blades flashing in the moon light. "Death by Piercing.."

The bladed arm barely missed Deusolbert's head as he tried to dodge.. only to have Alice suddenly slice her own blade through Deusolbert's bow.. destroying it.

Alice then kicked Deusolbert in the gut, sending him slamming into the ground below.

"RRAAAHHH!!!" Deusolbert got up quickly moving his hand to the hilt of his sword, but right before he could.. a silver fist hit him in the side of the helmet, and Silver Crow moved in close, dealing a heavy quick set of punches and kicks, using his wings to beat Deusolbert further and further into the air.. forcing him to stay in the sky as he did his aerial assault.

Silver Crow then did an overhead kick that sent Deusolbert hurling back into the ground. "Now Mikoto!! Finish it!!"

Mikoto moved in with colossal speed, her two blades flashing as Deusolbert tried to draw his sword too late.

She's going to win! Alice thought. She's got it!

But a cold icy blade came.. slicing in between Mikoto and Deusolbert, blocking Mikoto's strike..

Mikoto's eyes widened with shock and recognition as she jumped back.. and with good reason. That sword.. was the Blue Rose Sword.

"What!?" said Alice. "That.. can't be.."

"Ahhh.. finally, you're here.." said Deusolbert to the figure standing in the shadows. "I knew you were good when you took down the criminals and froze them in ice.. but I didn't think you'd sense the trouble happening this quickly. It turns out Alice has betrayed us."

"Really now?" said the figure. "That's most unfortunate, she was such a skilled swordswoman."

"No.." Mikoto cried out, heartbroken fear apparent in her voice. "Not you.. it can't be you.."

Eugeo walked out of the shadows.. wearing a full set of blue Integrity Knight armor.. "I am Eugeo Synthesis 32, Alice Synthesis 30, you are under arrest for betrayal of the Integrity Knights, and the assistance of the escape in fugitive Mikoto Misaka."

Alice felt her heart fall down deep below. "She got to you.. Quinella got to you.."

"DAMN IT!!" Mikoto screamed as lightning exploded from her body, shooting into the sky and lightning the clouds, making the sky go stormy. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO EUGEO!?"

"That's.. frightening power." said Deusolbert said, looking at the lightning raging around them.

"That is fine." said Eugeo. "Lord Thevos gave me my new power in anticipation that Mikoto Misaka would be difficult to apprehend.."

A massive swirling blizzard exploded from Eugeo's body, the floor turned icy and giant pillars of ice began to levitate around him..

"I shall freeze them all." said Eugeo. "And the prisoners will return to where they belong... imprisoned for actions against the Integrity Knights...

Mikoto's gaze turned rageful as electricity exploded from her.. and she bore her two swords. "Eugeo.. if I have to beat you back to your senses.. then I see have no choice.."

"It is you whose lost sense.." said Eugeo.

And so Eugeo crouched, his blade glowing ,and he lunged at Mikoto..creating a powerful Sonic Leap combined with a terrible blazing cold blizzard.. determined to kill the friend he didn't remember.