Master: Darren will handle the situation. He's stronger than anyone here, Including myself.

Red: Fine.

Master: Now I know most of you are thinking this is a trap. And it probably is. So here is the plan.

--- Chapter 30 ---

Master: First, Darren, you will go inplace of Red. From there you will take care of the situation. Next, to defend, I will send Sole, Ame, Elias, El, Red, Hiro, Luna, and lastly… The nine.

The room goes quiet with murmurs in the crowd as they look over to a circular table in the back with nine figures sitting at it, one being Mavis. Luna is confused but remembers what Red had told her.

Luna: So there SS rank? If there is anything like Darren they must be strong.

Tilda: They are strong, but nothing like master Darren is.

Luna jumps by Tilda just showing up and answering her thoughts.

Luna: How do you keep doing that?

Tilda: Doing what?

Luna: Like, reading my mind! Is it part of your fortune telling?

Tilda: My secret!

She says, making a cute yet taunting smile.

Luna: Oh come on, please?

Tilda: Fine, part of fortune telling is reading people.

Luna: Oh I see! You're just really good at reading people, and telling them what they want to hear!

Tilda: I mean I am good at reading people, but it's not really that hard to read you.

Luna: I'm that easy to read huh?

She sheds a tear of pain.

Tilda: Yup pretty much, but to answer your question, Darren is one of the few SS+ rank.

Luna: That's the same rank as my parents.

Tilda: What are you thinking of, you look distraught.

Luna: Oh it's nothing.

Tilda: Oh, ok. It's not nothing.

Darren: ALRIGHT!

He starts to head to the door and puts his helmet on. He gets to the door and looks back, extending his hand to give a thumbs up.

Darren: Good luck everyone!

He leaves. Red looks over to the nine.

Red: Those guys.

Maves head perks up and looks over at Red with the menacing aura. He quickly looks away to avoid eye contact and begins whistling.

Master: You guys head out now. We know not when their attack will begin.

Red: Alr-

???: Alright sir.

Red: Lauft…

They start to head to Branders cart and realize there's not enough room.

Lauft: Welp, guess we’ll have to squeeze in everyone.

Mave&Red: No.

They look at eachother then look away.

Mave&Red: Hmf.

They both walk to different carts, leaving the group to just look around.

Lauft: Guys, we can fit in one cart, I mean it's a tight squeeze, but cant we just get along for a day?

???: It's fine Lauft, if this maximizes their teamwork it's for the best.

A guy with red hair and multiple scars, looks to be around 16 or 17 says in a deeper voice.

Lauft: Zetsu, with all do respect, Brander is the fastest “steed” we have, and isn't this timely?

Zetsu: We need time anyway, it's getting dark, and even though dark is the best time to attack, they would not attack the night they delivered. They're cocky, announcing an attack. They want us to be there. Plus, night time is not a fighting asset to us. We need our team at full strength.

He looks at Sole, who starts to head to Reds cart.

Lauft: Ok, I understand.

They get in their respective carts, The nine in one, and our group + this El girl.

Luna: Hi! I don't think we met yet.

El: Hiya, the name’s El! Well, Ellie really, but everyone else just calls me El. Your the new girl right?

Luna: Yup! The name is Luna.

A light flashes and Gadreel comes out of nowhere.

Gadreel: And I'm Gadreel!

El: Oh you're a summoner?

Luna: Mhm, apparently haha.

El: Thats a cute cat.

Gadreel: CUTE?! I'm an ELITE holy fighter! I am NOT cute!

Luna: Yah he really is cute.

Gadreel: Did you not hear me?!

This banter went on for a while, before she notices everyone is silent but Hiro laughing to himself.

Luna: Why are you guys so quiet?

Red,Sole,Elias,Ame: …

Luna looks over to the giggling Hiro.

Hiro: I don't know if I should say haha.

Luna: Please explain it for me.

Hiro: Fine, so for Red, he's paired on a team with a group he doesn't exactly like, well not all but a majority, and especially Lauft, there power is similar, and he always one ups him. And he acts so nonchalant and friendly about it, I would call them rivals, but rivals need to be close in strength.

He says laughing at the end.

Hiro: Next, Sole, that Zetsu guy is his rival, and the only one who can beat him that isnt people like Darren and Master. It comes close every time but he just doesn't win. Lastly, those two work their asses off, and on two missions in a row get made a member, not a leader.

Luna: Wait who is the leader?

Hiro: Zetsu I would assume. He's the strongest of the 9.

Luna: Wait, if Sole can keep up with Zetsu, doesn't that make him SS level power?

Hiro: Yup, though at the time Zetsu wasn't SS, since Sole wasn't home for two years.

Elias: Would you actually stop talking.

Hiro: … Sorry.

Luna looks over to their cart. She sees Maves playing with her teddy bear, Zetsu staring blankly at nothing, Lauft smiling and conversing with a cutesy girl who laughs, seemingly at a joke. A guy with his legs crossed tossing what looks like a dice in the air and catching it. A nerdy looking boy with round circular glasses. A quiet, pink haired girl who looks really shy. A quite red haired boy. And lastly a girl wearing a leather jacket, legs crossed and taking up a lot of space. She has pink and black hair holding a paper cup with a straw and drinking from it.

Luna: If they're bringing out people like this, why am I here?!

They eventually pull into the city and head into a hotel-like establishment.

Red: *Yawn* We drove all night! I'm super tired, time to catch some Z’s!

Lauft: We need shifts, so I’ll take the first watch. I'm not tired at all!

Red: You little. You know what, i'll also take first watch

As they decide rooms, a conversion takes place that is of interest.

Astra: Is everything prepped for tomorrow.

Nero: Indeed it is sir.

Astra: Good. And your little, science experiment. Is it ready?

Nero: Once again, indeed it is.

Astra: Good. Everyone. We strike at nightfall.

A yes sir rings in this area.

This was the last night of restful sleep we would get for a long time.