His breath left his lungs as Alastor gawked to the panel. They made it to the top floor, but it was enormous, unlike the lower floors, the positions of the offices on this floor made it look like a maze. There was no alarming presence around here, nor did they encounter any kind of abominations. He entered first the room and saw a large door with the name of Theo hung above it. “Big red door and the name of the main man of the show hanged above the room. Yep, this is where the big bad wolf hiding.” Alastor said. “You guys ready?

Lance's baton sparked as he arrayed his glass. “Yes.” He replied. “Just to be clear, after this, we’re back on killing each other again.”

“Do what you want. It’s not like you would be able to catch us in surprise the next time we meet.” Alastor replied.

Cid and Port nodded. They together opened the door and caught a glimpse of the man whose slack off jaw watching the battles on the ground. They walked slowly, determined to be undetected, but an idea didn’t cross their mind.

“No need to exert effort for inconspicuous surprises. I know that you’re all here.” Theo coldly said. “Honestly, you took longer than I expected.”

“Well, maybe pulling off your monsters would do help for us to get here,” Port said.

“Then it would be unfair to me. There’s only me against all of you.” Theo replied.

“What a crappy excuse. For god’s sake, drop the act. We know what you are.” Lance said.

“Are you sure of that?” Theo asked. “I don’t seem to think that you told your friends about the knowledge you possessed.”

“What did he mean?” Alastor asked.

“You should witness,” Lance replied.

“There’s no need for a battle of words nor any nonsensical rambling. There’s only one thing we can agree on… and that is to fight.” Theo said.

“Before we could get to it. Would you spare us to know what could you possibly gain after this conflict?” Alastor asked, he must ask this question lingering on his mind. He already calculated his possible agendas, but the only thing that makes his mind at ease is by hearing those words coming from the man who started all of this menace.

“Power. Absolute power. It is every one that craves. Without it, you cannot hope to accomplish anything nor be able to protect anyone let alone yourself. As you can see what’s happening right is proof of my might.” Theo replied.

Lance had enough of it. Hearing his reason, he can only suggest what kind of man he is. A lunatic through the bone.

“Befitting words from a madman,” Lance said.

Theo chuckles. “Please, we’re all madmen on our own way. We all do not know, but there’s a demon inside of us that is sleeping and waiting to be poked and wake up from the dream we call reality. The only thing that keeps us blind is what we call hope.”

“You’re insane,” Alastor said. “You think killing us would mean that you’re going to win. Some people are going to replace us and will come after you.”

“How ironic coming from a hired hitman. Speaking of virtues when he has no idea about his true self. You are merely mimicking those words just to make yourself feel righteous in this rotting world, not knowing the hideous truth lurking beneath yourself that you’re denying all this time. You were raised in a home that is ruled by hitmen. I doubt that you have an identity you can claim.” Theo replied.

“You do realized that you’re fucked right? Even the word damn and screw won’t be sufficient enough to say how fuck you are.”

“We’ll see about that.” Theo boorishly replied.

“Shut up!” Alastor shouted.

Alastor grew impatient with their conversation and charged towards Theo and swung his sword down to him. In a fleeting moment, Theo easily avoided his attack.

“Did I hit the right nerve?” Theo asked.

Theo lifted his right leg and have Alastor feel a glimpse of his power. As Theo’s knee met Alastor's stomach, he was shook and blinked blurrily. He crashed against the cold wall, which as well contributed to his vomiting blood. His body shuddered and he groaned and shot him a look.

“Damn it.” He said in a strangulated voice.

“Don’t attack carelessly,” Lance said. “We have to coordinately attack him.”

“I honestly grew tired of this bantering,” Theo said. “Let’s dance, shall we?”

Before they can prepare, Theo already sprung to Cid. There was no time to process the plan as he was caught on surprised by Theo’s speed. He pulled out his gun and frantically shifted it, aiming at Theo. His directory was redirected when Theo caught his wrist, punching Cid.

Theo reigned off and pulled back when Lance attacked him. Cid shot him and Theo evaded it with blurry and inconceivable speed.

“It is not best to attack accompanied by agitated actions,” Theo said.

Cid grunted and raised his palmed. “Agni Magus!”

Dozens of fireballs emanated from his palm and flew towards Theo like rocket launchers set out to destroy. Theo flipped evading a few of them and when he was pinned to the wall, he materializes his sword. He grasped and in a single swift the fireballs deflected.

Alastor went for it and Theo exchanged sword attacks, but Theo proved to be superior as he caught the tip of Alastor’s sword before kicking him. Unbeknown, Port snuck behind him. His ring glows in red and produces a flamethrower.

The flame seethed. To the least extent, he expected that it would do damage to Theo but it does not. Theo stood unscathed and remained his composure. Port raised his arm that produces a shield as he accepted the attack of Theo.

Theo smirked. “Not half bad, but not good enough either.”

Lance hisses and embedded his palms together. “Raykudo Incursio.”

He exhibited a chain of lightning. It sparks wildly and shines brightly. Theo stared at him, he remained calmed and collected as he prepared for his enemy to make a move. What he didn’t expect is that Lance already activated his Inquiara Magic.

He felt a tingling feeling and when observed thoroughly, Lance was already gone. In the next second, Lance was already in front of him. It was too late to react as Lance laid off his magic and everything went bright.

The lightning did damage to the electronics and most of the machines that were displayed on that level of the building and reacted to a chained explosion. The explosion can be heard throughout the building and observing from below, the entire echelon was affected by it.

Through the smoke and debris, Port and Alastor struggle to find their comrades as they stumble to gain balance of their footing. Out of the graved, they saw a hand reach out. Alastor immediately grabbed it. It was Lance who’s been inside of it. He coughed as he observed the place.

“If you’re going to do a big and dangerous spell like that, you have to warn us,” Alastor said. “It wrecked the upper echelon of this building. I wonder how the others doin’.”

“You have to forgive me about that. Even I didn’t expect that it would do that kind of damaged.” Lance replied.

“Where’s the other one?” Port asked.

“I’m right here,” Cid replied as he walked towards them. “Looks like you fell on the previous floor.”

They observed and noticed that the explosion made a hole and destroyed the top floor. Confident that they won, the atmosphere changed, the rubbles and a few debris rose, and with a strong expulsion, the wind surge was drawn to one direction. They looked in front of them as Theo stood with a malicious desire. His body emanated a dark-red aura.

“You son of a bitch. You nearly killed me.”