On top of the mountain.

After finishing making the poisonous powder. Esmeralda and Jegun were resting in the rooms, while Aspen plans to go back to the castle.

Kate was talking to Aspen.

"How're the men doing in the castle?" she inquired.

"They're doing great. Enthusiastic to kill monsters. The good thing is, it's nearly three days and no monsters come out from the castle. So the boys were able to relax and rest a bit," Aspen replied. "I'm going to the fruit garden to gather some fruits, I'll bring them to the boys to provide nourishment for their bodies," he said.

"Ah, wait, I'll go with you. I'll help you pick up fruits. I'll bring a basket!" Kate said.

"Okay," Aspen said, walking towards the location of the fruit garden.

A few minutes later.

Kate and Aspen were busy picking up oranges, apples, and grapes and putting them in the basket.

Fifteen minutes later.

Aspen looked at the basket. "I think it's more than enough," he told her.

Kate put the last red apple in the basket and smiled. "Yeah, the basket is full!" she agreed.

Aspen grabbed the basket holder with his right hand. "I'm leaving now. Any message for your beloved Ramza?" He grinned, teasing her.

Kate smiled coyly. "Tell him to take care of himself. You take care of yourself too!" she said.

Aspen smiled. "Okay, I'm teleporting now to the castle," he said and closed his eyes, activating the teleportation in his mind.

A few seconds later, Aspen vanished in front of Kate.

Ella found her sister in the fruit garden. "Sister, are you picking up fruits here for Grandpa and Granny?" she asked.

Kate shook her head. "Nah, I helped Aspen picked up some fruits to bring to the men who are guarding the castle," she explained.

"Ah okay, let's pick some fruits and prepare them for Granny and Grandpa when they wake up," Ella suggested.

"Alright," Kate said.

The sisters starts picking up fruits from the branches of the trees and filled the basket that Ella was holding in her right hand.

After they finished their task in the fruit garden, they went back to the house.

~

Aspen reappeared at the base of the castle. He found Ramza and Agran talking to each other outside the newly erected hut. "Hello, guys! I brought you lots of fresh fruits today!" he said cheerfully, putting the basket filled with fruits in front of them.

Ramza and Agran quickly picked up their favorite fruits and began munching on them.

"Thank you, Aspen. You're so thoughtful!" Ramza said, feeling grateful.

Aspen smiled. "Your beloved Kate helped me pick up the fruits," he said.

Ramza smiled.

"Where is Zemeth?" Aspen asked.

"He's patrolling around the castle. He will be back later," answered Agran.

"Ah, okay. Just enjoy the fruits, guys. I'll hover above and find Zemeth so that he can also enjoy the fruits. I'll take over in patrolling the castle for the meantime," Aspen said. He was about to rise in the air to find Zemeth. But he saw him above, hovering in the air.

Zemeth saw his companions eating something... curious, he lowered himself on the ground. "What are you eating guys?" he asked.

"Aspen brought some fruits for us to enjoy, pick any fruits you like! So delicious and sweet!" Agran said.

"Take your time, bro. I'll patrol the castle while you eat fruits," Aspen told Zemeth. He rose in the air without waiting for his reply.

Zemeth sat on the ground covered with banana leaves, he reached for the red apple. A minute later, he was enjoying eating the refreshing fruits besides his friends.

~

Inside the castle.

Maxwell looked at Ivy's sleeping form. He finished putting her in a deep sleep. He needs to put her to sleep so that she won't feel any pain after cutting her arms several times today.

He opened the door and allowed two vampire guy wearing a black hooded cape to enter the room. "Put Ivy in the makeshift bed - gently!" he ordered them.

"Yes, My Lord," the vampires replied in unison.

The vampires put Ivy's sleeping form in the makeshift bed and carried the bed outside. Maxwell followed them from behind.

They exited the vampire's den and rose in the air, going to the location of the blazing barrier.

A few minutes later, they finally landed on ground zero.

Maxwell looked around him.

Xenon was stationed in front of the dark armies while Lothaire was standing in front of the monsters.

"Everybody is ready?" he asked his brothers.

"Yes!" Xenon and Lothaire replied enthusiastically.

Maxwell grinned. He opened his right hand and the dagger appeared in his palm. "Party time!" he said.

He walked towards Ivy's location. She's sleeping peacefully in the makeshift bed. He reached for her right arm and cut it with the dagger. The dagger's blade was smeared with Ivy's blood. He raised the dagger above his head and the weapon finally turned into a sword. He rose in the air and cut up a portion of the blazing barrier using the sword.

Everyone watched in awe as the blazing barrier began to crack and the severed portion fell into the ground.

From their position, they can now see the outside of the castle.

Maxwell glanced at his brothers. "Released them!" he said.

Lothaire rose in the air, and the monsters dashed towards the opening in glee. They ran outside rampaging towards freedom like galloping horses.

A few minutes later.

The blazing barrier began repairing itself.

Maxwell watched as the last numbers of monsters exited the blazing barrier safely before it began shutting off completely.

He stared at the sword, it's now reverting into its original form. He walked towards the makeshift bed and cut Ivy's arm again with the dagger.

He raised the dagger in the air, the weapon was now turning into a sword. He proceeds to cut a portion of the blazing barrier, just wide enough for several dark armies to pass through seamlessly.

As soon the blazing barrier opened up, Xenon signals the dark shadows to exit the barrier.

Maxwell watched as the dark shadows rushed outside. "Good luck my dear enemies! That is just an appetizer, later, there'll be more!" he said, laughing hard while looking at his brothers who shared the same sentiment with him.

~

Meanwhile, outside the castle.

It was chaos. The Six has to face bravely the horde of bloodthirsty and flesh-eating creatures exploding outside.

Not time to talk!

No time to see what happened to their comrades, they have turned themselves into merciless assassins, killing dark shadows and monsters alike without mercy.

Although Aspen and Esmeralda managed to slaughter tons of enemies in the entrance in their invisible form using the poisonous powder, still many got away especially the monsters, they were now fleeing in all directions. The armies of dark shadows were attacking Agran, Zemeth, Ramza, and Jegun in all directions giving them no time to hunt for the monsters which the majority already spreads out and probably heading to the populous area.

Esmeralda watched in horror how her companions being outnumbered. So, the dark shadows mission right now is to solely attack them! There is no way they can prevent the fleeing monster from reaching the villages. She has to raise the signal now!

She zoomed higher into the air and recited a silent incantation in her mouth, she waved her hand in the air... producing explosions in the air... three times in a row... that look like firecrackers lighting up the sky. It can be seen far and wide.

Finished giving the signal. She lowered herself and joined Aspen in hunting the monsters that were fleeing away from the castle.

They were about to fly away when another opening was being created a few meters away.

Aspen and Esmeralda's eyes widened.

"Oh no! Not again!" Aspen said in shock.

"Let's go!" Esmeralda shouted, going to the location of the opening.

They managed to slaughter the first batch of monsters that exited the opening with their poisonous powder spray.

But then another opening was created...monsters were rampaging outside.

Aspen has to rush to the newly opened gap...while Esmeralda stayed to do her part in the second opening.

Esmeralda watched the huge numbers of creatures getting away, she feels hopeless, there nothing she can do right now, to come after them and kill them one by one requires for her to abandon her post.

Just when she thought that the third opening was about to shut off, another opening, the fourth one was being opened and this time, the dark armies emerged from the opening rushing towards the four men, surrounding them, trapping them all in the middle.

Oh, no! Esmeralda and Aspen watched in horror as thick darkness enveloped the men, they can no longer see their comrades due to the multitude of dark armies surrounding them.

Aspen and Esmeralda rose higher above the men and began spraying the dark armies with the poisonous powder.

The dark armies began to die one by one after inhaling the poison powder that was sprayed above them.

Soon enough, the four men break free from the deadly formation which the dark armies have created, they zoomed into the air at lightning speed.

In the next two hours, the four men fought the dark armies gaining an upper hand, while Esmeralda and Aspen went after the fleeing monster spreads out everywhere.

They don't have a hard time spotting the fleeing monsters because they're still daylight on the horizon, but a few minutes from now, the darkness will descend, and it will be hard to find those monsters.

Aspen and Esmeralda killed as many monsters as they can with their spray bottle along the way.

Half an hour later, darkness descended around the land.

This time, Aspen and Esmeralda run out of ammo. The spray bottle which contained the poison powder were both empty!

Esmeralda took Aspen's empty spray bottle. "I will go back to the mountain for a refill!" she said. She was gone before Aspen can even form a reply in his mouth.