He remembered now, he can’t think of any correlation as to why he’s worried about it, but he is sure that is the reason, why he is so vigilant.

“Leoad, do you know anything about Nephirius?”

Leoad eyes widened, “What about him?” he asked. “How are they connected?”

“Because he is Theo’s father,” Gary said.

“So, you do know about it,” Theo said. “I shall not allow you to live.”

Theo dashed forward.

“Gary, he’s a fucking Arbi—” Before he could finish the sentence, Theo flew, his feet landed upon Leoad guts. Everything was so fast. Gary couldn’t keep his eyes following his movements. He stood frozen, unable to comprehend what just happened.

Theo limbered, jab Gary’s face, then his right hook went to Gary’s chest. His body violently shook as he stumbled back. His feet struggle to find balance as he vomits blood. Theo pulled his hair to level his face.

“How unlucky,” Theo said. His palm thrust forward to Gary’s stomach, pushing him and meeting the boulder. His body falls on the ground as if like a magnet pulled over to one another.

“And here I thought the Canary was supposed to be smarter, more diligent. You disappoint me.” Theo’s hand forms a blade embedded in white light. “I’m sure no one will miss you.”

Gary’s soulless eyes stare at him. Every strength he cultivated from his previous experience seems to be meaningless against Theo. Not only in prowess but also in knowledge, the gap is too big.

“Die.”

His hand arch and flashes as Theo flung it to Gary. With great effort, Leoad chanted powerful fire magic that blasted Theo in a few feet away from Gary. The flame is gone, but Theo is unaffected as his left hand opens widely from creating barrier magic.

“Impressive,” Theo said. “That one nearly burns me alive. Too close, but it won’t do anything good to you, except burning my clothes to ash.”

“He’s a tough bastard!” Leoad groaned as he healed his chest. He stared at Gary. “Gary, you must run and tell it to the others.”

“I can’t allow that,” Theo said as he chanted fireball magic.

“Oh no, you won’t.” A white barrier suddenly appeared before Gary, shielding him against the attack.

“For another one.” Leoad gritted his teeth. “I’ll return it to you.”

Theo’s eyes squinted as Leoad did the same magic he just performed now. Theo graciously evaded it. He jinked continuously as Leoad adamantly attacked him.

“Gary, you need to run now!”

“What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me.” He stopped and began to chant. “Feuer wall.”

Four corners of flame towering appeared and trapped Theo inside of it.

“Do what as I say!” Leoad shouted, “You have no match against him.”

No matter how Gary tries to stand up, his legs won’t do so as if they’re stuck on the ground. His heartbeat was faster than ever. This must be the effect after Theo’s attack. Leoad peered to the wall of fire that is seemingly peeled like a banana or tearing a paper by Theo.

“Useless effort,” Theo said. “It does not prove you’re mightier than me.”

“After what I’ve done for you, you chose to betray me?!” Leoad asked, his anger didn’t bother to mask nor fade into contempt.

“I betrayed you?” Theo spoke flatly. “Let me correct that remark. It is you who betrayed me. You were supposed to work for me with loyalty and exterminate those pests who brought inconvenience to me. Instead, you insist on turning them against the Canary with no assurance that you will succeed. I did consider keeping you in my ranks since you prove your worth to me. Well, I don’t mind sacrificing you since the next phase of my plan because your service is not necessary anymore.”

Theo didn’t waste any more time and his feet sprung forward. Leoad prepared for the worst and chanted barrier magic that engulfs his body.

“Erdkörper.” Leoad spoke aloud.

Leoad braced himself as he posed in a defense position against Theo. The gap between them is clear as crystal. Leoad already recognized that he couldn’t possibly hope to reach Theo from his current strength. Of all people, he had known and encountered, only Theo is fearsome on top of all. He’s the strongest enemy he had fought for a while, ever since the War of Blight twenty years ago.

He’s not surprised by his inhumane prowess, since he already takes a hint about Theo’s bloodline. His gene course through Theo’s blood. There’s no doubt about it. Theo is the son of the infamous Nephirius Barban Gantaros. On top of his lineage, he came to the most hateful country of all twelve continents and eighty-nine countries and kingdoms, the Hayan Empire.

Leoad could only hope that his magical barrier would protect him against the brute strength and fast movements of Theo as he stood there, waiting for a counter-attack.

“Auge von Mysthrry.” Leoad again chanted. His eyes glowed in green. With the effect of the magic, he can clearly see his movement. From his perspective, time slowed down. He steps back, raises his fist, and swings it to Theo.

He grins as he is sure that it will hit him. The only thing he misunderstood is that Theo wouldn’t mind accepting it. Theo understood the effect of the magic and didn’t bother to evade the attack as if he was confident.

Leoad attack bounces back against the steely skin of Theo. He couldn’t believe it. His attack didn’t affect Theo at all. It is too late to evade as Theo grabbed his shoulder with his left hand. His hand fast stead to fist and punch him right to the face.

The impact is hard and bounces him off on the ground. Leoad is glad that his magical barrier lessens the damage he received. He stood and wipe the blood on his face coming from his mouth and grind. He spits out a tooth.

“Only one hit? My barrier barely stood against your attack.”

Leoad felt his head spinning as he gets a grip and bit his lip to focus. Theo launches at him again. Leoad was astounded and quickly chanted another barrier spell. The only thing he could do is to buy time is for Gary to escape, but it seems that he’s not on his right mind to think. As much as he wants to knock some sense out of him, he can’t, Theo is charging against him.

And again, Leoad received fatal damage. He groaned as he slowly stands.

“You’re much more capable than the other one.” Theo commended. “I’m impressed. Let’s see if you can stop this one.” Before he can begin to attack, he was blasted by a fireball out of nowhere.

“You alright?” Lance asked as he stops and came straight to Gary. “What happened?”

Gary didn’t reply. His eyes are voided. Lance shook him off.

“Get a grip, man!” Lance shouted.

“Huh?” Gary muttered. “Lance.”

“Yeah, it’s me,” Lance said. “Now, would mind telling me what happened here?”

Gary simply glances at Leoad.

“He was beaten by that bastard,” Leoad said.

“And who are you?”

“Leoad.” He introduced. “I’m from the Canary.”

Leoad was about to get closer, but Lance raises his guard.

“How do I know you are one of us?”

“There’s no way I can prove to you that I am one. After all, this is top classified information. Please, you have to trust me.”

“Gary? Is he for real?” Lance glances back at Gary.

Gary nods and said, “He helps me from getting caught.”

“Is that so?” Lance said. “Fine. I wouldn’t mind returning the favor for saving my comrade.”

“Lance?”

“Hm?

“Why did you come after me?” Gary said.

“You’re a valuable and irreplaceable agent of Canary.”

“I see.”

“On top of that, you’re our friend.”

“Thank you.”

Hearing those simple words, Gary felt his spirit uplifted. He finally stands to his feet and gave a wry smile.

“Finally,” A voice rang behind the curtains of flames. “Another pest has come and made things easier for me. How convenient. What a stroke of luck.”

The flames had finished in a single scythe of sharp wind. All their eyes squinted and widened the moment they saw the mark they’re familiar with now that Theo’s upper body is naked. The torn clothes finally detached and they could finally see the mark that they’d focused on.

“Shit,” Lance swore.

No words can describe what he feels right now. Fear, anger, panic, confusion, everything is mixed on his head right now.

“What the fuck is the meaning of this?!” Lance shouted. “What do you want?!”

Leoad taps his back, “I understand your root, but don’t let that anger get over on your head.”

Lance took a deep breath before reflecting on his composure. His eyes are determined.

“Is he what I think he is?” Gary asked.

“Yes,” Lance said. His eyes remained at the man. “He’s an Arbiter.”

Theo with a serious expression slowly marches forward. The rest awaits and steeled themselves as the epiphany of menace is coming towards them.

“Well, then, on your knees,” Theo said.

In a split second, Theo vanished in the thin air. Leoad glances from right to left and noticed the shadow enlarging beneath them. He looked up and saw Theo chanting. A handful of a ball of fires forms as Theo waves his hand.

“Incoming from above!” Leoad warned.

The three of them evaded. Each of them was chased by three fireballs. Lance shielded himself as he stumbled back with his earth barrier. Lance glances back at Theo as he landed on the ground. He sprinted towards him when his attention is on the others. He kicks the ground and leaps to him. He swung his fist furiously with his poise strapped to his violent emotion.

His eyes widened as Theo evaded it without looking back as if he has an eye on the parietal part of his head. His feet dragged across, arching and turns around leaning forward and catches Lance's arm with his left-hand place to his deltoid decentralizing the force and having him slam on the ground.

Lance groaned as he lifted his gaze and saw Gary successfully evade the attack by flipping continuously. The fireballs land on the ground. He felt a tingle on his leg fleeting through his joints and to his ankle, losing its ability to muster the strength. His expression was stirred with pain and discomfort as Theo kick his gut and pulled him up by choking him.

Leoad didn’t receive high damage because of his magical barrier and he carried on to stop Theo from fully harming Lance. Theo glances from right to left, seeing the desperate faces of Leoad and Gary. He throws Lance to Gary and pursues to face Leoad. Gary caught Lance as they tripped on the ground.

Leoad’s thrust his feet forward and stopped in motion. His waist twisted to the right along his arm protruded back and just like a charging handle from a gun, he clutches it and swung it towards Theo. Just as he expected Theo caught onto it as he too stopped from charging and take a step back.

Leoad shifted his weight and his feet to a big leap. His left hook swung again and he failed miserably twice.

“Just like that,” Leoad spoke on his thoughts.

Theo hiss as he evaded it. Theo stood for a moment and his eyes squinted, realizing something, but he proceeded with a doubt in his mind. Leoad smirked and saw the opportunity. His left-hand arch and fireballs form blasting Theo and were engulfed by the flame. The explosion had hovered him a few feet away from here.

“I don’t know how tough you are, but with that short distance.” He gasps. “It would do fatal damage.”

Leoad dragged himself as he headed to Lance and Gary.

“It’s over,” Leoad said.

“Did you successfully kill him?” Gary asked.

Lance remained silent as he has remained in the fire.

“I think so,” Leoad replied.

“Now, that would be a correct way of assumption, if your enemy is less than average than you lot.” Theo voiced out and walk out in the flames, unscathed.

“Impossible,” Leoad muttered.

Theo gave a gaze on the shoulder on the fire before closing his eyes and turning his head forward.

“I understand now,” Theo said and he opens his eye.

Leoad already what it meant. His fear had come true.

“Lance, Gary,” Leoad said. “You need to run and flee back to the city.”

“What?!” Gary asked, shouting. “We have a chance to kill him if we work together.”

“Idiot,” Leoad said. “We can’t defeat him. Not here. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. You guys go, I’ll be the decoy.”

“But…” Gary muttered.

“Gary!” Lance shouted. “This is our chance. If all of us die here, no one will know about the truth.”

Gary nods and they sprint. Theo raises his palm, pointing it to them, a ray of light hovered, piercing through the air towards them. Before it reaches Gary and Lance, a wall of crimson fire block it and spread, encircling them inside.

Theo gave him a mocking look.

“No matter how hard you try, you will not reach me, but you already knew that,” Theo said.

Leoad threw a sharp glance at him. His eyes are observing for any opening. Leoad sprints with his palm being engulfed by fire. Theo dashed intently allowed himself to be hit and be pierced by Leoad attack. Leoad was surprised by this. He didn’t expect that his attack that will manage to succeed, but he knew that it is no luck. He was purposely allowed to feel the joy of feeling the flesh and had it burn with his wealthy fiery hand– for only a second. He felt a tingle that crept on his spine and he looked up to Theo, unfazed and confident.

“I already figured out your tactic. You allow your enemies to think that they’re gaining the upper hand, but you’re just scanning their attacks, utilizing it with your own Inquiara magic. I believe the right word is Replica, no, yours is superior to that. Your Replica Inquiara magic can copy and enhance it by your will, with the expense of much more mana, nevertheless.”

Leoad tried to pull out his hand from being stuck on Theo’s chest, but Theo grips his arm from pulling back and forces it to stay inside of him.

Like a desperate rat caught in the cage, Leoad tried to use every magic he knows and repeatedly attack him, he gritted his teeth and desperately hits Theo when run out of ideas to make him stop.

“How does it feel that your own tactic was used against you?” Theo asked. “Are you done struggling?

“Fuck you,” Leoad swore.

“Before I kill you, let me ask you this. Why did you choose to betray me? You convince me once then that you don’t like the government of this country anymore and you despise the system you live in? Why the change of heart?”

“I lied and you had it wrong. My loyalty was never on the government and neither to you. It belongs to the people that I want to protect. I swore to help the system to be better so that the future generations wouldn’t have to live the days as you bastards ignite.”

Theo grunts, “Is that so? You’re willing to go beyond lengths even you won’t be recognized as an iconic hero?”

“I don’t have to be a hero. All I needed to be is to guide them behind the curtain.”

Theo who seems to finally reach his limit breaks his wrist. Leoad screamed in pain as he endured it.

“I trust no one will mourn for you?” Theo said. “This ends now.”

Theo raised his hand and fist it.

“If I going to die, I might as well kill you, along with me.”

Leoad closes his fist and the crimson walls slowly tighten and enclose. He closes his eyes, recalling the time when he was young and callous, thick-headed, but smart. He has many regrets, one of them is not able to make it in time the moment his wife delivered his child, but a complication takes place. The mother’s heart didn’t make it and in the middle of it, his children were choked by the umbilical cord and didn’t make it. Instead of wasting his time in sorrow and grief, he poured in the job and entered the Kelby Hives as a double agent. He barely knew himself after the psychological treatment he got from that woman to change his personality and to convince Theo that he’s one of them.

And now, in the twilight of his life, Leoad finally found peace.

Gary stopped moving forward as he heard a loud explosion blowing off the wind away in their direction. His eyes lifted, witnessing the fiery blaze towering high in the sky. Lance too noticed this and tap Gary.

“We have to go now.” Lance pointed up his finger in the sky and shoot a small light to it. “I’ve given Ina the signal. She supposed to catch up to us now.”

Gary speaks no word as they run inside the forest.

“You won’t be forgotten.” He spoke in his thoughts as he clenched his fist.

His heart lingered to determination by his sacrifice like a gem in the brooch. He pursues forward with indefatigable hope.