Having successfully made their way into the compound, much easier than they expected. The four now found themselves walking through the stone-laden corridors. Silence between them. Having no information to give one another, was there truly a reason to talk to the other three strangers? They certainly didn’t believe so... That was until they reached the end of the path they were on. And, much to their frustration, they saw something that they’d seen many times through their trip, another fork in their path, this one, however, went 3 ways, East, west, and north respectively. Arctaius took some more steps forward, stopping in the small room that linked the paths together.

“Yet another one… How many of these are there?”

Alarick stepped forward as well.

“The way they've organized it-- It's like a labyrinth. It looks like they've purposefully made it hard to sneak through. Likely to stop any attempts at entry. So I suppose they weren’t COMPLETELY Unprepared… Though, if we cared less about being secretive, We could’ve just blown this place up.”

Arctaius’ gaze began to move around the room.

“I’ll agree with you on that… This doesn't look too good in terms of security...Though that works to our advantage, what’s stopping somebody from entering behind us?”

Kazimir soon walked past the two, leaning on the stone walls as he closed his eyes.

“Just means we’ll have to be quicker. But given that we don’t know where the exit is… That would be a problem.”

Zhao put his hand on his chin in thought.

“Perhaps there is a clearing or something of the like.. we can use it as a marker of our progress.”

“That seems like a good idea.”

Kazimir stood up straight, as Arctaius began walking to the east.

“No telling how long we could be here if we don't do that… Alright, then--”

Arctaius’ words ceased, as he felt a tingle on his spine. A feeling that soon spread to the rest of those within the room.

“I sense another proto-human… And they aren’t weak either.”

Kazimir’s head shot to the west, he soon pivoted his body as well.

“So do I… Let’s move!”

They soon began a dash to the west, moving through the tunnel, but they found that nothing was there. As they reached the end of the first hall, they soon found themselves in another fork.

“Tch. Where are they?”

As Alarick spoke, Arctaius’ eyes began to fly around once again.

“I'm going to use my infrared vision… I could find them that way…”

Arctaius closed his eyes. For a few moments, they remained that way. Until he opened them once again, and his eyes began to move around. The cool areas around him muted, he took notice of something at the very end of the central hall. It was there that he saw 4 distinct humanoid shapes. Just like that, there were his targets. He closed his eyes once again, opening them, as he returned to normal visual light.

“4 heat signatures, North.”

Arctaius soon began a quick dash forward, with the other tides soon following. As they approached the bright, harsh lights at the end of the tunnel became more prominent. As they cleared the path, they entered a stark white room, with a high ceiling. It was nearly empty, save for two doorways, and a bridge near the ceiling likely intended for the troops that stood in front of them. Fully armored in black plates, with gauss rifles slung over their shoulder. Well, they were, at the least. As they entered, they were quick to aim at them, ready to fire.

“INTRUSA!!”

“¡¿Cómo han entrado aquí?!”(How did they get in here?!)

“Investigaremis eso más tarde, ¡no dejes que lleguen más lejos!”

However, before they were able to fire, Alarick rushed forward, though, to them, it was something much more like a blur, he stamped his foot onto the ground, breaking through the white tiles, and bringing out the gray stone underneath.

“Child’s play! Multi-Earth Cutter!!”

Soon, shards of the stone broke off, as the shards began to morph, creating rigid edges, these sharpened stones soon took the shape of daggers. The blonde soon went to grasp them between his fingers, flinging them at the guards, and, with them not being nearly fast enough, they were soon pierced, and died as a result. However, that was not the end of it, as soon, more guards came out in droves, from both of the two doors.

“If there’s this much of them... Then we must be getting closer.”

Alarick’s gaze moved between the two groups of soldiers, as he raised his foot.

“Works better for me…”

He stamped his foot onto the ground, as it began rumbling below those there, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the guards, who began to let out confused chatters.

“Earth Palisade!”

Soon, the ground rumbled once again, as walls of earth, 20 feet tall at the least, and thick as well. It looked to them that there wouldn’t be a chance for them to escape. With that taken care of, Alarick began to turn his attention back to the three. At the least, until Zhao squinted his eyes in his suspicion.

“Hold on... Corde-- Did you not say there were 4 signatures here… Those four couldn’t have been proto-Humans, and we know for a fact that those in the wall aren’t. So where is the one we’re searching for?”

They went silent for a moment until they felt a familiar feeling in their spine. Though they didn't know who the protomis belonged to, they knew that it was the same being.

“I sense something. A proto-human is nearby.”

Arctaius’ gaze began to move around the room, unwilling to be caught by surprise, he would take care to find the opponent long before he was able to attack them.

“Just like that, there’s our Target...But that raises the question of where he’s hiding.”

Their question was soon answered, as a swish filled their ears, and their eyes moved in the direction of the sound, as a blur made its way to the footbridge near the ceiling. And as the blur stopped on the rails, it was then that they saw a man, with a head of short auburn hair, with a broad-shouldered frame. He was older than the four, if not told by the beard on his face, dotted with some white hairs. Then by his aged facial features. With some wrinkles covering his features. Though, the hair was much longer in the front, some strands of which covered his face. He soon pushed them back, revealing golden orbs. Which soon began to move between the four. He cracked his knuckles as he parted his lips to speak.

“It seems these are no ordinary intruders… Looks like I’m getting involved.”

With a boom filling their ears as he did, the man burst forward. He turned his gaze toward the earth raised around the troops. It was then that he raised his hand, pointing it at the walls on the left.

“Disperse!!!”

Though for some moments, it looked like nothing had changed, the walls around the soldiers soon began to form cracks, as their shape began to deform. Within a few more moments, they broke into rubble, painting Alarick’s expression with surprise.

“My Technique… It’s gone.”

Soon, he landed in front of the clusters of his troops, his gaze staying focused upon the four. But, he did not stop there, rushing forward to meet them in battle. Alarick squinted his eyes as his muscles tightened, prepared to return the opponent’s challenge. As the man got within striking range, he launched a fist at the Blonde’s stomach, but he sidestepped moving around his fist and throwing a strike of his own, a Kick aimed at his side. However, Valiego would soon dodge as well.

“Tch.”

As Alarick prepared to launch another strike, he was a moment too slow, caught by a return strike, Courtesy of the guard. He was soon sent barreling backward. However, some feet away, he began to skid, ripping apart the ground below his feet, until he came to a stop. It was after this that the guard took his stance, putting his fists up in front of him.

“Trespassers. I am Anrique Valiego. Commander of the Çeron royal guard. I’ll make this clear, You have 3 choices. You may tell me why you’re here, be ejected...Or Be eliminated”

He began to walk forward, though, slowly, and Arctaius soon did the same, as she shoved his hands into his pocket. Though it looked like they just walked to some of those there, in truth, their eyes moved across the opponent’s body, looking for even the slightest movement. Though this was not limited to them. As, in the same way, the tides, and even the guards did the same.

“We come for only one thing, we’re looking for a faction that calls themselves the Kaemerge Empire… They have caused us much misfortune in the past. And, given what we know, along with many others”

Valiego’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of that word, Kaemerge… Alarick soon began walking as well.

“We plan to find this group.. and destabilize any possible operations they have here. However-- we must figure out where they are.”

Valiego soon stopped walking forward, as his thoughts began racing.

“Kaemerge…? I’m

“Fine then. I will allow you to proceed. But I warn you, Do not cause trouble. I will not hesitate to Strike the lot of you down... The exit to the courtyard is on the right door. Take the first left after that and exit that way. Keep in mind-- I will be watching.”

Wordlessly, they began to act upon his directions, beginning their dash to the right, Alarick glanced between his allies as they began to form up once again.

“Do you really think we can trust his directions? He could easily be leading us into a trap.”

Arctaius glanced at him.

“You're not wrong. But if he is, we’ll simply have to find our way out, and make sure to get rid of him when we do.”

They went silent once again, as they made yet another right, and saw a stairwell at the very end. At the least, they were pointed in the right direction. As they ascended up the stairs, they found themselves in the rather large courtyard. Though it had patches of darkness, within the thick foliage, trees, shrubs, and some flowers spread across. The gravel paths within were lined with lights. Something that could serve to get them caught, something they all acknowledged. As they stopped running, their gaze focused upon the Manor itself, a large mansion, the brick-laden walls lined with windows. It was long, about 6 stories in height. They began to look around, in their attempt to find an entry point. At the least, Until Arctaius took note of an open balcony.

“Oi!”

His exclamation caught the attention of the tides, who moved to look at him. He soon pointed at the same balcony, and their eyes moved to follow.

“We’ll go through here.”

Alarick frowned as his gaze flew toward him.

“Like hell, we will. What if somebody is in there?”

Arctaius glanced back at him.

“Would you rather stay here, then?”

He went silent at this.

“Fine then…”

Alarick soon began to levitate, followed by Arctaius, Zhao, and Kazimir. They soon began to fly toward the balcony in silence, landing soon after, and making their entrance. They began to look around the room, rather ornately decorated, with the walls, and many of the objects within colored pink. Within the center of the room, a rather large bed sat, and on the opposite end, there was a desk, with a simple lamp. The layout, however, was anything but simple, cluttered with tens of papers. Kazimir began to step further inward as he glanced around.

“Why is this room so… Pink. did we land in a girl’s room?”

Arctaius stepped forward as well.

“To be fair, even most girls would find this ridiculous.”

Alarick soon began walking as well. Glancing around, until he took notice of something that the others who entered didn’t… They were not alone in the room.

“As true as that is, we have more important things to worry about.”

As Alarick pointed forward, The three looked up, there stood a blonde-haired girl, her braids extending down her shoulders. Though that was not what they took notice of, rather, it was the fact that she was almost entirely nude, though, at the least, most of her body was covered. Though the top of her bosom was exposed. Soon, she and Arctaius exchanged looks, with nothing said between the two. At the least, until Valaria yelled out.

“P-P- Perverts!!!! What are you doing here?”

Arctaius averted his gaze.

“Perverts? Hah, as if. I can’t speak for them. But I have no interest in you, Girl. I've got much more important things to worry about…Not to mention, you have no appeal the least. Why would I break into a place so secure, when I can easily find something better online.”

She frowned, arching her brows.

“First you break into my room, and then you insult me?! How dare you!”

She held the towel over herself with her left hand, before reeling her right hand back, and attempting to slap him with the right. However, he stood there with his expression unchanged, as he casually stepped back, moving out of the slap’s path. Of course, the commotion did not go unnoticed. Outside of the room, a black-haired youth wearing a simple black t-shirt and sweatpants groggily walked through the darkened halls.

“Man… I haven’t been able to get any sl-”

That was until he flinched at the yelling that filled his ears, a shrill sound, to say the least.

“That Sounds like…”

He began to run toward the source of the yelling, a white wooden door. He soon grasped the doorknob, and opened the door, as it swung into the room, Hideki Maeda had entered the room. And, as his gaze moved to Zhao, Alarick, and Kazimir, and then, back to the woman.

“Valaria- San, Are you alright!”

The youth’s words caught her, Valaria Ceron’s, Attention. Her gaze shot over to him as she turned.

“Who told you to come in?!”

Soon, her right hand barreled toward Maeda, and, as the palm crashed into his face, he was sent barreling out of the room, and crashing into the wall with a thump... Arctaius stood there, looking upon this display with a blank expression.

“Well... Doesn't she have some fire? If I didn't know better-- I'd say she's worse than Hoshi.”

Part B

Maeda began to rise, rubbing his cheek as he did. Which was now covered with a crimson handprint. Though, it was slowly disappearing as he parted his lips to speak.

“Man...How is she that strong?”

Soon, he focused his gaze on the room, as he began to stroll in. His eyes soon moved between the four, From Arctaius to Alarick, To Kazimir, and finally, to Zhao. He prepared to speak once again, until… He took note of the fact that one of them looked familiar. His eyes widened in surprise, as his gaze darted back to Arctaius,

“HUH, CORDE?!”

Alarick turned his gaze to Arctaius as the youth spoke.

“You know him?”

Arctaius sighed as he walked away from his allies, opting to lean on a nearby wall.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Soon, Arctaius and Maeda alike began to think back to their past… More specifically, 2013, the date of his 7th grade year. Within the classroom, A younger Arctaius sat with his chin rested on his hand. Though, not nearly as large as his future self, comparatively, the amount of muscle he had dwarfed anybody within the classroom. Perhaps, even the entire school. Sitting to the left of him, was his longtime friend, with a head of Green hair, Yudei Sasaki. The two sat in silence, as did the rest of the class, at the least, until the teacher, a red-haired woman, stood from her desk. She walked to the front of the room, catching the attention of the students.

“Class-- We have a new transfer student arriving- please treat him well>”

Chatter erupted from the class, as excited chatters began across the room, most of which were about the new student. Who was he, where was he from, and, for some, was he attractive... Though some in the room were more neutral about this, not caring one bit. Arctaius glanced at the teacher, and then he looked down once again.

“I don't get this excitement over transfer students, it's nothing special in my opinion. All they did was move.”

Yudei glanced at Arctaius.

“Is anything special to you..?”

The chatters continued until the doors swung open, and a black-haired youth, with a head much thinner than his older self entered, with sunglasses, and a smirk on his face, and credits in hand.

“Yo- Yo- Yo, Maeda in the house!!”

The mention of his name made those within perk up, even more, a male student stood up.

“Huh-- A Maeda?!”

The girl to his left glanced at him.

“This guy must have lots of money!”

Arctaius raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused by his display.

“Yo Yo-Yo… In the House? What year does he think this is?”

His smirk seemed to grow at the words, as he began to lean on the wall behind, lifting his sunglasses above his eye.

“Yeah-- I don't like to brag but, I guess you could say that.”

Alright...Now he was starting to get annoying, Arctaius parted his lips.

“Don’t like to brag, huh? That smug look of yours says otherwise…”

“Hm?”

Maeda turned his head, looking at the source of the sound.

“Where did you come from?”

“What kind of question was that. I was here before, obviously…”

Maeda Scoffed.

“You'd speak to the heir of the Maeda corporation like that?”

Arctaius returned it with a scoff of his own.

“Why wouldn't I... You're getting money from your mommy-- So what?”

Hideaki Frowned

“What do you mean so what? Money makes this planet go round!!”

“Then I suppose your world won't be spinning for a while. With how much of a fool you seem to be-- you'll lose that money within a week.”

How dare he insult him like this! The boy soon arrived at his desk and began yelling.

“How can you assume that?!”

As he finished his statement, Arctaius decided to turn his gaze the other way.

“I didn’t assume, It's an educated guess. You, by your actions, have educated me in the art of stupidity, strange, isn’t it?”

What was at first snickers along the students, soon became a laugh, that expanded within the classroom in waves. All the while, the teacher eyed Arctaius.

“Corde!”

A student finally let his laughter subside, leaning back into his chair.

“As sharp-tongued as ever!”

All the while, a brown-haired girl, one who Arctaius knew, looked upon this with a blank expression. Though it was something she’d gotten used to. It didn’t exactly mean she had to like this fact.

“Corde again… he doesn't change, does he?”

Soon, Maeda pointed directly at arctaius, his brows furrowed, and face in a frown. Though, his intense gaze was not met with much of a response from any of those there.

“Get ready Corde-- I'm going to pay you back for all those embarrassments back in junior high!”

Arctaius was silent at this. He truly didn’t have all that much to say.

“You still care about that?”

All the while, someone within the room who had grown silent began to look between the five men. Why were they having this little reunion or whatever here?! She began to speak once again

“I don't know what you two have between yourselves, and frankly, I don’t care. But what I do want to know is why are you still here!!!”

Arctaius glanced over at the girl.

“You're still here?”

“Why wouldn't I be-- it's my room!!”

With those words, Kazimir glanced over at her.

“Oh, so my guess was right. So, then I guess we can talk to you about the excessive amount of Pi-”

“Don't try to change the subject!”

To be continued