Gathered around the ruin site that Casper was trapped, was a huge crowd of people. Reporters, government officials, and even guilds filled up the bulk of the site while other bystanders stood off in the distance.

“We are here at the sight of a Ruin Anomaly in progress. A man by the name of Casper Clay is allegedly trapped inside after an unknown change took place inside of the ruin while he was undergoing a test for entrance to the Red Owl Guild. While no official statement has been made, it has been deemed impossible for anyone to enter the ruin while this change occurs. ” A reporter rattled on in front of a camera.

Deeper in the crowd, Sunny and Rusalka stood together, eyeing the ruin from afar.

“Did you call Evanora?” Sunny asked impatiently.

“Yes, I contacted the High Mother,” Rusalka corrected, in spite of the event unfolding before them.

“And?” Sunny ignored Rusalka’s reprimanding tone and demanded a response.

“And she has made it clear this is a delicate situation. If none of the guilds can gain forcefully gain entrance, it isn’t likely we will be able to either.”

“Is that really it?” Sunny asked with a look of disbelief.

“The High Mother is on her way as we speak, but it is doubtful she will take any overt actions. We are not authorized as the guilds are.”

“Bullshit,” Sunny spat, turning her eyes back to the guild.

“I believe that Casper is extremely capable. At least, the High Mother has made it clear he is someone important."

“That’s because you just want what he knows,” Sunny muttered under her breath, "All of you are the same," she added.

Elsewhere, other guilds spoke in hushed tones.

“What’s Red Owl’s stance on this?” A man bearing the symbol of an arrow on his armor spoke to a woman.

“While we know ruins can suddenly undergo changes, this one had maintained a steady RE signature for years despite its strange nature. So, we think Casper Clay may have triggered the change since our own guild member was ejected from it,” she replied.

“If he manages to make it out, let it be known that the Eternal Sword guild has already made plans to recruit him. He passed our test with flying colors and we are in the process of negotiating a contract. I bet he simply came here to be professional,” Another man suddenly spoke.

His words were all half-truths, but in the world of guilds, there was a need to be ruthless and cunning to procure some of the strongest individuals in the world.

“You–” Just as the woman was about to say something, her eyes darted to a man dressed in a large shirt with baggy sweatpants and sandals. A trace of alarm flashed on her face before she gathered herself.

“Yo!” A man with messy blonde hair and a pair of sharp eyes waved casually.

“What is an executive from Sleeping Lion doing here? You aren't needed in the states?” One of the men asked stiffly.

“It's especially surprising to see one with a class-six gift,” The woman added.

“Ya’ know, I just came here to help out and stuff.”

They all seemed to release a collective scoff, doubting the man’s words while he ignored them.

“Anyway, I couldn’t help but notice you all were talking about the guy in there. Yeah, the government is gonna want to speak to him if he makes it out, but after all that finishes–”

His lazy expression turned cold and threatening while a vicious sneer appeared on his face, “Sleeping Lion wants to recruit him, so it’d be nice if you kept that in mind.”

“Are you threatening us?” The woman from Red Owl inquired calmly.

“Huh? Oh, um, of course not,” The man’s face broke into a wide smile as he scratched his head awkwardly. “It was just a heads up.”

Without waiting for a reply, the executive from Sleeping Lion walked off while whistling to himself in a carefree manner. Unable to see the several hostile gazes attempting to pierce into him.

As different people reacted to the sudden Ruin Anomaly, there was one who stood out of sight.

On the roof of a building, a man who escaped all notice watched the tittering crowd with an amused gaze. Behind were two other individuals with obscured appearances.

“I can’t believe Ezekiel sent us here to deal with a few small fries,” He mumbled to them.

"Whatever, we're here now so let's go see what's been happening with our connections. There is no need to waste any more time on this little uproar."

Without knowing one of their targets was trapped in a ruin, they didn't linger and left the area without being noticed.

…

Unaware of the chaos outside, Casper lay half-submerged in a pond of clear water. His wounds had closed, but he was still without an arm. His eyelids quivered before he jolted awake with a gasp.

Taking deep and rapid breaths he stared at where his arm had been cleanly severed.

“Damn it,” He spoke hoarsely as his shoulders trembled.

“Take a moment to ready yourself,” The Guardian spoke as soon as he noticed Casper was conscious.

“Fuck you!” Casper growled. “How the hell am I supposed to fight with one arm?!”

“If you manage to achieve victory, your limbs can be easily replaced,” An unsympathetic reply came back.

Casper ignored the guardian's words and clutched his arm, forcing blood toward it. The surface of his skin became warmer while taking on a crimson shade, but nothing came of it.

“Fuck!” Casper screamed, losing his focus.

“Are you prepared?” The Guardian asked. “Or do you perhaps wish for me to end your life here?”

Casper glared at the guardian before he forced his blood to take the shape of a limb. His moment of panic and shock passed as his rationality came back.

The blood congealed into a limb, but its overall shape and quality was rough, though he figured it would work well enough. He cupped his hands and drank from the tiny pond before speaking.

“Is there something special about this water?” He asked quietly.

“It’ll keep you from death, but do not expect it to go any further than that,” The Guardian replied.

“I see…” Casper’s reply was even quieter.

Then without warning, he launched himself forward, firing dozens of blood orbs as he closed in on the guardian. Explosions rang out as Casper suddenly stopped and made a sharp turn. The muscles in his legs swelled under the exertion but he pushed himself further. Sprinting in a circle around the guardian, the relentless rain of blood poured onto him.

However, a rune was being drawn around the motionless guardian the entire time.

‘Now.’ Casper invoked the room as he stopped once more.

He felt his tendons scream after being forced to demonstrate a level of agility and stress he was barely accustomed to. As fire emerged within the circle, Casper covered himself in blood armor and made one more push. His blood felt as if it was boiling, but in spite of that, he kept his mind centered on one goal.

Pressing immense force onto his left foot, he lunged forward, covering a great distance. His ankle twisted grotesquely, but he arrived in front of the guardian and extended two scarlet blades.

He barely was able to perceive the greatsword deflecting the two blades, followed by a large fist smashing into his chest.

Before the pain or the sound of his ribs being crushed, he felt a popping sensation inside of his body before he skimmed across the sand and tumbled into the healing pond.

“Haa,” Casper let out a short cry as he struggled to breath.

The pain broke his concentration and with his ribs piercing his lungs, blood began to fill them. There was also the recoil of enhancing his physical body which forced his muscles to contract.

‘Calm down!’ He shouted inwardly.

Casper gathered his breath and closed his eyes. Steadying the flow of his blood, he forced it out of his lungs, falling into a fit of coughing soon after. Blood spilled from his mouth but he felt the relief of being able to breathe once more.

“Take time to ready yourself, if you do not choose death then you must defeat me,” The Guardian’s voice pierced through any of his current thoughts.

He lifted his and peeked over only to discover he hadn’t left a single scratch.

“You–” Casper stemmed the tide of curses that threatened to spill out and instead focused on recovering.

He considered all of his options.

‘The runes failed. The war scythe failed. Even my sanguina failed,’ he thought to himself with surprising calmness.

‘There is still the Art of Mortality as a possibility,’ he said inwardly.

He hadn’t made any progress toward it as he had only just begun understanding the Art of Sanguina, but it appeared he’d have to consider changing his approach if his streak of losses continued. He also had the Form of Bones and Form of Flesh to consider as well as Song of Silence, an ability that was meant to summon a so-called death fog.

Casper shakily stood up but not before taking several gulps of water from the pond. Through gritted teeth, he exhaled and knelt, aiming the Spectral Bow toward the Guardian. He released the arrow and it soared toward the stationary target but with a swing of his sword, the Guardian turned the arrow into nothing.

'It must be a magical weapon then,' He noted.

The guardian stepped forward and moved with a frighteningly quick speed. He bore down on Casper who used his crow-shift to escape but was instantly forced back into his human form as the great sword pierced through his torso.

With every shred of consciousness he had left, he poured out as much blood as he could. Staining the guardian’s armor red before setting it ablaze.

The Guardian said nothing, unperturbed by the fire, but he swung his blade downward with Casper still one it which caused the latter to smash into the ground. And, while still burning, he lifted Casper and brought him close so they both could share in the flames.

“Aaaaaaaah!” A horrifying scream of agony left Casper’s mouth as his flesh was seared. He struggled fruitlessly as the fire he created burned his skin.

Before any fatal damage could occur, he forced his blood armor to cover his body but the Guardian was quick to respond and slammed Casper into healing pond.

Casper lost consciousness upon impact while his body became embedded in the moist sand.

The Guardian returned to his previous position, stabbing his sword into the ground before waiting for Casper to awaken once more.