Once they finished taking care of the enemy, they cross countless sewer pathways. They didn’t waste any more time and run over the. If Alastor’s memory is correct, they should be in the metropolitan right now. The abandoned train station was in the east of Jules Market, crossing the way, they would find an empty warehouse in which they could use to get in the underground tunnel that led to their underground base.

All of the sudden, they heard a loud grumble, which rattled them.

“What the hell is that?”

“An earthquake?”

“Gruu.”

They looked back at Liber that reflected in his eyes the tiredness he had endured during this whole time. Then another growl from his stomach came to abrupt.

“You hungry?” asked Cid.

Liber shook his head.

“He’s also tired.” Said Alastor. “Alright, you can have that one sack of green peas.”

Remembering what the keeper said before, it is best to rest and give Liber some food. Liber earned it and should be praised.

“I can’t believe you’re easily tired. You didn’t do anything.”

“Just for you to know, Cid. Liber is the one who leads me to you and saved your ass from getting barbecued. You gotta thank him for that.”

“Oh,” guilt had overtaken him. “Sorry. I guess I owe you for saving my ass.”

Cid remained on guard as Alastor sat down with his back against the wall. Sherry was seated in front of him, she is still unconscious. Still, Liber is not yet done eating.

Without restricting, he allowed his eyes to fall and go to slumber.

Everything seems to be real, but at the same time, everything looked so strange.

He was back in the Haven, the Glade.

Everyone looked so happy. There was no conflict, no people fighting over something stupid. All is well and all people he knows are there, almost.

Over the corner, he sees Ken happily chatting with his friends. Tin was less boyish and was talking with girls, but they were interrupted by Cid that was dared to come close to them.

Linda on the other hand was more feminine. She was clad in a beautiful dress, mask by powder and lipstick.

He gazes at the barstool, where he would sit in the corner and ordered his favorite wine. He was enjoying and savoring the taste of it, holding the perfect shape of glass when someone interrupts his moment of silence.

It was a woman, the hateful woman he depresses the most. She was the one who put him in the psychological terror he did not think he’d survive. He had never forgotten her. After all, she was the one who put him in six days coma and another eight days of psychological recovery.

“You?!” shouted Alastor. His eyes couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Under the supervision of Rod, she was taken into custody and had her locked in a cell for two years.

Alastor was greeted by a woman who wore a seductive red dress. Her hollow eyes send a chill onto his spine and make him dry his throat when she met his eyes. She sat beside him and curl her black hair and gazed at him with a lustrous grin.

“You like my outfit?” she asked.

“Maine…”

“Hm?”

“How come you’re here? You’re supposed to be…”

There was a pause. He finally realized what has happened.

“Oh. About that, I was given a chance when I take the plea not to put the students in that hellish torture again. Although, I was kind of disappointed. Torture is the only way to make a person realize things and make them stronger than before. I don’t expect that an empty shell like you would understand what I mean, but I hope you would accept its benefits.”

Alastor gritted his teeth, annoyed by her remorseless remark.

“You bitch tortured us for fun!” shouted Alastor. He quickly rose but was stopped as if he was his body was being controlled.

“Shh. Lower your tone. You’re ruining the night. You’re always such a buzzkill even before.”

“I don’t believe anything of this. Why won’t you show yourself and let’s end this in real life?!”

With her bewitching smile, everything became distorted until the Glade became a house of fire. It was hot like a blazing inferno creeping over the place.

“What the fuck do you want from me?

Her voice rang across the place. “I want you to join us.”

He scoffed. “Join you? Go and fuck yourself.”

“Oh well, as I expected. I never thought that you would want to come anyway.”

“How come you’re able to escape?”

“That’s another riddle for you to solve. I only came here because my boss wants you to join us, even though I warned him not to. You’re far too innocent to see things beyond your little preconception worldly ideas.”

“The only thing you’re good at is to torture and piss off other people. You’re a coward, hiding in a mere lowkey illusion.”

“Careful of your words. You might regret that. How do you think you were able to see through my illusion? It’s because of me. I told you there’s a benefit out of pain.”

“Like what? Lobotomizing people and having them crippled to near-death? What a fucking joke!”

“Don’t be such a buzzkill. I’m not here to fight. Like I said, my boss, wants you to join us.”

With a firmed grip Alastor comes up with an unwavering decision, “No. I know that all of you will only do worst.”

“Oh well.”

“What’s exactly the point of all of this? Why come after me, knowing that I won’t come after you?”

“Let’s just say, I also, slash, we want to know how you’re going. Did you ever fill that void in your heart? Have you come to the realization that everything you’ve fought for means nothing?”

“Enough with this nonsense! Show yourself!” he demanded.

The blazing inferno was suddenly distorted and the venue changed like a film in a theater. He was now in an open space of a forest, beyond the woods was the mansion of their Haven, the Glade, behind him was a flower field, in which he does not remember that such thing exists.

A certain voice of a man rang behind him.

“Come with us Al.” A man greeted him. “Everything is burning, can’t you see it? Don’t pretend to be blind. You know to yourself that hell will break loose and everything you’ve cherished will become naught.”

The forest, including the mansion, was on fire. Alastor looked behind and saw a man wearing a black robe. He has pale white skin and has a symbolic tattoo that is all over his face.

“You are?”

“We haven’t officially met. I am Augustus.” He softly said.

“What do you want from me?”

“We want you as one of our ranks. You are one of all people who were able to resist and survive the ‘Blank Catastrophe’ of Maine.”

“For what cause?”

“The True Haven. The clock is on the run, there is no hiding from it. The War of Blights is coming and there is no stopping it. So, why not join us and help us to create our True Haven? A haven in this hellish paradise.”

Alastor shook his head and unsheathes his sword out of its scabbard.

“Never.”

“What does it take for your blind eyes to see the black flames scourging around us.”

“Enough with this nonsense!”

“Pity you.”

As Alastor sprinted towards him he waved his hand and everything went black. Alastor falls into the infinite darkness.

“I hope the next time we’ll meet, there will be a change of thought about our proposal.”