Hina and Luka had suddenly appeared in front of Sora. He wasn’t happy to see them because they brought some guests with them.

“And those are some pretty strong guests too.”

Sora mumbled.

“Hm? Isn’t that Sora?”

Hina spotted him while clashing with Isabel.

“Sora? You’re right. Did we really travel so far?”

Luka was wielding her regalia and was having it try to devour Didier. He punched it away and flew towards her. She formed her golden flame sword in her other hand and blocked his palm strike. Her black serpent regalia tried to swallow him but he sent it flying with a backhand punch. Luka immediately created some distance between them.

“To think that we would be forced this far.”

Didier looked at Sami who was fighting Sapphire and Chrome.

“Sami!”

“Hm? Oh, Didier? And Luna too?”

Sami kicked Sapphire away and avoided an attack from Chrome before leaping back and landing beside his brother.

“I didn’t expect to see you using your Odachi. You look like you took some damage too. Are your opponents that powerful?”

“Look again, Idiot. They’re wearing the Zodiac Parasite Suits.”

Didier looked at the girls again and seemed a bit surprised.

“So the Kaiser set us up. He gave both sides firepower and have us duke it out.”

He shook his head.

“There’s no reason to try to get rid of us. The Luna Family is still an important asset for New Era; so that means that there’s another reason.”

He looked around and spotted Sora.

(I recognize him from his files in New Era. He’s one of Ringo’s protégés along with the girl Isabel is fighting….Were we sent to test them before they return?.... No. The Kaiser wouldn’t care enough about people who will join a different branch in the organization to do that….Then it must be their current leader. This Miko kid.)

He sighed.

“So this war is just a test for him…”

“What are you sighing about?”

“Nothing important.”

He looked at Sora again. He noticed that he was glaring at him.

“Luka, who is that?”

Luka landed beside him.

“Isabel’s older brother I think. He’s incredibly strong. I’ve been trying to get him to draw his sword but I can’t.”

“You mean not yet, right?”

Luka nodded with a grin.

“I’ll definitely make him draw it and then defeat him after.”

Sora nodded.

(Sorry to say this, Luka. I doubt anyone in this city can beat that guy. My instincts are telling me that he’s almost as strong as Kirika…. Not that I can tell you that.)

He smiled.

“Luka, I’ll create an opportunity. When it comes be sure to leave your mark on him. Until then, give it your all.”

“You don’t need to tell me that.”

The infinity symbol in her eyes started spinning and power started flowing to every inch of her body.

*Bam!*

Magic power surged out of her body with so much intensity that Sora had to retreat. Luka’s entire body spasm like one big muscle. It then released a burst of electricity, and suddenly underwent rapid changes after reabsorbing it. Her scales turned yellow, her hair started glowing and looked like it was made out of lightning, her wings and tail also changed into lightning, and her body started giving off a bright glow as her skin started to look radiant.

“Dragonite: Elemental Form-Lightning Mode!”

A bright light flash and Luka disappeared from where she was. She appeared in front of Didier and blast him away with a burst of electricity. She flew up in the sky and created dozens of giant lightning spears behind her. She fired them the down at Didier who knocked them away with his bare fists.

“I’m going to make you use your sword if it’s the last thing I do!”

Luka dove towards the ground and shouted. Meanwhile, Hina and Isabel were really going at it. Isabel cut a building and made it fall on top of Hina. The building exploded and a giant reptilian monster rushed at her. She sheathed her sword and her body flickered and she appeared behind the monster. It exploded into slices. Roars resounded and dozens of similar monsters rushed at her.

“She really has some interesting abilities.”

Isabel smiled and accelerated towards the monsters. She cut them down one after the other. Blood and body parts flung into the air. She cut one down the middle and passed through it’s splitting corpse.

“?!”

She sensed danger and looked around. That’s when she saw something moving in one half of the corpse. Before she could see what it was a blur flashed before her eyes. Her torso suddenly became burning hot. She looked down and saw a cut across her body. Purple flames were coming from the cut and invade her body.

“Ahhh!”

She kneeled down and held her chest and looked up at Hina who was holding a sinister-looking broadsword.

“Die!”

Isabel dove to the side and avoided Hina’s blade that caused the ground to explode with purple flames. She clenched her sword and blocked Hina’s aggressive chase. The two locked swords and threw kicks at the same time. They kicked each other away and rushed at each other again. Isabel’s sword covered in frost while Hina’s was covered in flames. The two swung their swords and clashed causing ice and fire to dance around them as they locked swords.

(She’s growing while fighting me? Is she like Miko?)

Isabel leaped back and lowered her body while holding her sword in a thrusting position. She accelerated towards Hina, who slashed at her. She ducked under the slash and thrust her sword at Hina’s chest.

*Clang!*

Sparks flew when the sword connected. Isabel had to leap back to avoid a kick from Hina.

(As I thought, she really is adapting to my attacks. She’s beginning to read my attacks, something even Miko couldn’t do until he was at death’s door.)

A big smile appeared on her face.

“I’m really beginning to like you.”

A pink glow covered her sword.

“It’s a bit premature but I’ll show you my own sword arts.”

Butterflies made of pink light came of her sword and gathered around it.

“Lunar Butterfly.”

*Boom!*

Sami cut a giant crystal spear into two. He rushed towards Chrome while avoiding fireballs being fired at him. He accelerated and appeared in front of her thrusting his sword at her neck.

“Gong!”

A loud sound resounded and his body froze up.

“You son of a-”

He was kicked away by Sora.

“Profanities aren’t necessary.”

He smiled.

“It’s disrespectful to the ladies.”

Flames and crystals were fired at him. A couple of trumpets fired compressed sound and blew them back.

“Seriously? After I just saved your asses?”

“We don’t need your saving.”

Sapphire touched the ground and golems rose from the earth and rushed towards Sora.

“So ungrateful.”

A black instrument suddenly appeared in Sora's hand. It looked like a small U-shaped harp with strings fixed to a crossbow. It was a lyre.

“Mourner’s Song”

Sora moved his fingers across the lyre and began to play it. Sapphire watched as jet black figures started emerging from the darkness and stand beside Sora while shedding tears. He continued the play the lyre and the black figure rushed towards golems. The black figures clashed with the golem in a chaotic melee.

“Now then, ladies and gentlemen.”

A bone microphone stand appeared in from of him. The lyre then transformed into an electric guitar.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve held a concert. So I’ll put my soul into this performance.”

He smiled.

“Quite literally.”

He plucked the strings with a bone pick and an electric sound resounded through the area. Sora then started playing an energetic solo. The dark figures roared in excitement and started mowing down the golems. They charged towards Sapphire and was swallowed by Chrome’s flames.

“Time to cut your performance short!”

Sami popped up behind him and swung his sword. The image of a white tiger pounce at Sora.

“What are you talking about?”

Sora guitar solo became faster and dozens of dark figures appeared and blocked the tiger.

“The show must go on!”

His voice echoed across the land like it was coming out of speakers. The ground cracked open and started elevating Sora into the air making it look like he was on a stage. The Apostle’s Crest on the back of his started glowing.

“The fuck?”

Sami couldn’t understand what was going on. An orchestra of instruments appeared behind him. They were all being held by a dark figure. One of them was dressed in a black tuxedo and stood in front of the orchestra with a wand in his hand. This was the maestro. Sora stopped playing his guitar and stepped up to the mic. He nodded at the maestro and he moved his wand. The orchestra immediately came alive.

*BOOOM!*

Sami and the girls were hit by an overwhelming wave of sound. The soundwave blew them far away from Sora, damaging their organs and rattling their bones.

“What just happened?”

Chrome struggled to her feet and looked at Sora in shock. He looked like he really was about to do a performance. And that’s what he did.

“This song is called “The Devil’s Banquet.”

The maestro moved his wand instructing various musicians to play different tones to create an ominous medley. Sora’s voice mixed with the medley in perfect harmony.

“The world is on fire~!... The world is on fire~!”

Dark figures started appearing under his stage by the hundreds as the orchestra music became more aggressive. They all held weapons and had distorted expressions on their faces.

“The devil has come to play and everything on this earth he will slay~!”

He started playing his guitar and the dark figures lifted their weapons.

“Ask the gods to whom they pray~!”

The dark monsters started moving slowly.

“March my soldiers! Kill them all with no delay~!”

The figures rushed towards Sami and the girls. They ran like beasts, some even on all fours. Sora’s musical performance became more menacing and more figures appeared from the darkness. This time they were gigantic and carrying burning weapons and had demonic grins on their faces. They lifted their weapons in the air and roared with excitement.

“Bring me death, show me massacre! Tear off their limbs and nail their skulls to a black pillar!”

The monsters roared and charged to back up their allies.

“What kind of nightmare-fuel shit is this?!”

Sami said while cutting through Sora’s minions. Sapphire and Chrome also battle against them with their flames and earth. A group of giant dark figures rushed at them attacking them with their weapons. The earth trembled in their wake and the girls found themselves having to retreat several times. This all happened while Sora continued his performance. The longer it went on the stronger the monsters became. Sami soon couldn’t cut through them as easily as before. They were agile and could avoid his attacks before using their overwhelming number to ambush him.

“Blood rain! Love pain! Burst open your skulls and slurp up your damn brain! Numb hearts! Novocain! Beat you to an inch of life and then hung you from a fucking chain!”

Sapphire was swat away by a giant burning club. Chrome came to her rescue but was quickly overwhelmed by the number of creatures throwing themselves at her. They pulled her by the hair and started stomping on her body.

“Life lost! Soul drain! Scream all you want but it’s all in fucking vain~!”

Sami cut a giant monster in half and beheaded dozens of smaller creatures. He rushed towards Sora but his feet were grabbed by dozens of hands that burst out of the ground. He cut those hands to piece but had a giant hammer slammed down on him. The hammer shattered and he rushed at the monster holding it. Dozens of creatures latched on to him and slowed him down so that he gets squashed between a giant mace and a club.

Sora grabbed the Mic and screamed into it as all hell broke loose around him.

“This~! Is~! The Devil’s~! Banquet~!”

His voice echoed across the battlefield.

“Now that is an interesting technique.”

Didier said while evading Luka’s countless lightning attacks. He accelerated towards her and cut her body in two but she dispersed into lightning. She appeared behind him blast him with dozens of lightning bolts before flying up.

“Is this is the chance he’s talking about?”

She said while looking at Sora. Meanwhile, Hina was surrounded by pink butterflies. These butterflies had wings that were as sharp as blades. She clashed with them while repelling Isabel who would disappear into the swarm of butterflies. She would appear for a split second and cut Hina before disappearing again.

“What kind of cowardly fighting is this!?”

“I told you that this isn’t complete yet. I can’t afford for you to break it already. It would really hurt my pride and probably make me lose confidence.”

“Screw your pride!”

“What’s the problem with using tactics during battle? If you want to defeat me then defeat this sword art I’m using.”

“You!”

Hina gritted her teeth. That’s when she heard a familiar voice.

“This is Sora’s song?... Song?”

She thought about it for a bit and smiled.

“So he’s gonna use that.”

Meanwhile, Sora stood on his stage and scanned the battlefield.

(Good. Everyone’s focused on my music.)

The electric guitar suddenly changed back into a lyre. The orchestra behind him disappeared and the music stopped. This sudden change caused everyone to focus on him even more. He smiled and started playing the lyre.

“Grim Medley.”

A depressing sound like a thousand souls crying from the depths of hell, mixed with music from the lyre and spread throughout the battlefield.

“W-What the?”

Chrome suddenly felt weak and unmotivated. She became extremely depressed and tears even fell from her eyes. The same thing happened to Sapphire. The two fell to their knees and started crying and were unable to think straight. The monsters started to merciless beat them without giving them a chance to retaliate.

“The fuck is this?”

Sami became bewildered as he wiped the tears from his eyes. His movements became dull and he couldn’t attack as he wanted. This happened to Isabel as well. Her sword art crumbled and Hina who had her ears plugged could see her clearly. As for Didier, he didn’t start crying but his movements did become slower and rough.

“This is a problem.”

“Sure is!”

He looked up and saw Luka swinging down a gigantic electric sword. He wanted to move but his body wouldn’t listen to him.

“Shit.”

The sword crashed down on him and an explosion erupted completely devouring him. At the same time, Hina accelerated towards Isabel and swung her sword. It slammed in her midsection and the sounds of bones crushing reached her ears. Isabel was engulfed in purple flames sent flying through dozens of buildings before crashing into the earth and creating a crater where she laid out motionlessly with her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“Wha?!”

Sami was shocked to see what just happened to his siblings in a span of seconds.

“That bastard! He did this! I’ll kill-”

“Gotten over your grief already? Talk about mental fortitude.”

He turned around and a hand grabbed his face. He saw Sora smiling at him.

“Dead Tone.”

A burst of sound entered Sami’s body and attacked multiple organs inside him. His vision darkened and he collapsed on the ground with blood flowing out of his mouth. Sora turned around and saw his minions drag an unconscious sapphire and chrome and threw them at his feet. He blasted them with compressed sound and the suits on their bodies started shrieking. They ripped themselves off before being sucked into the sky.

“….Did someone summon them back?”

He said while looking at the sky. He looked down on the girls and spoke.

“Music influences our emotions. This is something that is well known. Just now, you guys experienced the effects of listening to a sad song, multiplied by a thousand. It only worked so well because my performance earlier made you all focus on my music. Especially when I cut it so suddenly.”

He stooped down beside them.

“Sami said that your suits depend on your emotions so you two had to be in a higher emotional state than the average person. So you felt the effects of my Grim Medley more than anyone else.”

He saw the girls grimace in their sleep.

“You must be having some sad dreams. My apologies.”

*BAM!*

He turned around and saw Luka with a look of disbelief on her face.

“He’s still alive….”

Didier was standing in front of her with a nasty scar across his torso. It looked like his body was barely holding together.

“Now, this guy is a monster.”

Hina walked up beside Luka and looked ready to fight.

“……..”

Didier silently looked around the battlefield. He then looked at Sora.

“Magnificently done. You turned the tables with one move. Your skills are indeed praiseworthy. I can see that you’ll be a great asset to us in the future.”

His body flickered and Sami and Isabel appeared in his arms. He then turned around and started to leave.

“You’re gonna leave just like that?”

Sora asked. Didier spoke without turning back.

“It would be a waste killing you three. Also, I can’t handle the consequences that would follow. I can sense that Bastian is dead, Natasa is…Well, in the middle of something. That girl there wrecked my sister so three of the four pillars have been defeated. So I judge that our involvement is no longer necessary.”

He stopped and spoke again.

“Oh, Flameheart girl.”

He turned his head.

“That last attack was marvelous. If we had a reason to continue then I would’ve definitely drawn my sword.”

He started walking again.

“Let’s pick this up another time.”

He disappeared before Luka could say anything.

“….Next time I’ll beat you by myself.”

“Speaking of which…”

Hina turned her head and grinned at her.

“You didn’t beat your opponent but I did.”

Luka’s eyes widened.

“Wait, that doesn’t count! You had help!”

“Hahaha! A win is a win!”

Hina laughed and did a victory pose.

“The position of Miko’s first wife is mine!”

“No! I won’t accept this! Plus I’m already his fiancée!”

“Don’t be a sore loser.”

She patted Luka’s shoulder and smirked.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make you my bride’s maid.”

Luka’s face reddened.

“Like hell, you will!”

She and Hina started arguing while Sora took a seat on the ground.

“Well, they’re full of energy.”

He laid out on the ground and stared at the night sky.

“I’m so gonna need a raise after everything is over.”

He immediately started to sleep. Meanwhile, Didier was moving through the country with lightning speed.

“Hm?”

He stopped when he saw someone in front of him.

“Princess.”

He laid his siblings on the grow and bowed to Mari, who was holding four briefcases.

“Didier after I finish retrieving the last Zodiac Parasitic Suit the four of us will return home.”

“As you wish. But I have a question.”

“Is it about Miko?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll answer your question. Yes, everything was to test his abilities.”

“Then, should I go fight him to better test him?”

“No. We don’t want to overdo it. Jin and Shòuxíng should be enough. If they aren’t there’s Bloom as well.”

She then smiled.

“Of course, there’s also the monster that’s getting ready to hatch.”

“Natasa, huh. Forgive me, but isn’t fighting all of those people back to back overkill? Especially, since we don’t know what kind of monster Natasa will turn into?”

“Overkill huh?”

Mari laughed.

“I think that’s what Miko was aiming from the beginning. If he’s not worried then why should we?”

“I see. Then what about Ringo’s kids?”

“Oh, them?”

Mari smirked.

“They’ll be joining us real soon.”