Alaricks gaze stayed locked on the beast in front of him. Which simply returned his gaze silently, umoving. Alarick’s eyes darted around. From the beast itself to the area around it.

“If I’m going to guarantee my victory, I need to weaken that thing...Give myself a better fighting chance.”

Alarick’s thoughts are soon interrupted, as a downright gigantic fist comes flying at him, as the golem thrust it’s arm forward. Shattering the glass within the manor’s windows, as a boom rolled through their eardrums. Alarick moved out of the way of the punch, which crushed the ground, throwing chunks of earth into the air, with dust following soon after, as the pulverized ground was reduced to a crater. Alarick began to look around studying his opponent. That is until that same arm began moving, drawing back from the crater, the fist shot toward Alarick. He stood unmoving at first. But as the fist drew closer to him, Alarick's eyes darted to his right, seeing the oncoming fist, he flew out of the way, narrowly dodging the strike.

“Looks like size doesn't matter with this one…It's fast..” Alarick mumbled.

Before he finished his thought, yet another strike flew at him, this time, with the other arm. However, Alarick takes notice, and flies backward, moving out of the way. Landing on the wall of the Manor, feet planted on them, he stomps, as a large number of stone spikes fly out of the ground. Elsewhere, Kazimir takes notice of what he was trying to do… And quickly thought of a way to help out. a red glow surrounded his body as he moved his hand up, and soon, this very same glow covered the spikes. As they broke off from the ground, they swiftly flew up towards the arm used to attack Alarick. As the arm is impaled, the vines are severed. The arm itself eventually fell off, with a loud crash following afterward, as well as a cloud of dust. Arctaius stood by Kazimir, looking down at the arm, and then at his ally, before focusing on the beast itself.

“I’ll try to provide some support in this fight.”

“What you just did… Telekinesis, right?”

Kazimir nodded.

“Haven't had this ability for long, only since I got out of Gythros. But I can at least do this much.”

However, unbeknownst to them, a frown found its way onto Alarick’s face. His gaze soon shot back to the two, as he yelled.

“Stay out of it. I can handle this myself!”

Alarick put his gaze back onto the golem, who seemed to have shifted its attention to its severed arm. It pushed it toward its body, until it reached the stub. Vines shot out, curling around the severed limb. Soon, weaving and wriggling around, as if they were snakes. Until, the arm was pulled back, and completely reconnected. Alarick clenched his fists as he put his gaze on the golem once more.

“Should've known it wouldn't be that easy…”

Alarick bent his knees, looking at the recently reconnected arm, squinting his eyes, before jumping up. He reels back as he draws closer, before twisting his body and throwing his fist forward. As he hits, many of the vines are ripped apart... But, ultimately, there was little damage. Alarick quickly begins his attempt to pull out, moving back. However, the Golem’s creator would finally jump into action, leaping off of the thing’s shoulders, and landing In Alarick's path. Just like that, his counterattack would begin.

He began throwing lefts, and rights at Alarick, moving around him as he did so. Leaving him caught in the middle, unable to retaliate. Alarick found himself battered, strike after strike. But, he wasn’t going to let this continue for long.. All he needed was an opening… And soon after, he spotted it, a single lapse in his opponent’s speed, his leg shot toward Lafeyah’s, hitting the side, and forcing his legs to fold, at the least, temporarily. As the man regained his balance, before reeling its right hand back and throwing another punch, sending him between the Golem’s fists…. And once again, caught within a storm of blows, before crashing into the ground, scarring the land with a crater once again. Alarick lays there for a few moments, unmoving. Before, he soon sat up and wiped the blood off of his mouth.

“That was unpleasant, to say the least...But even so, I may have figured out a strategy.”

Alarick’s previously expression disappeared. A frown turned into a smirk, and his brows returned to their normal form. All the while, he looked up at the man and his beast. He began to levitate, floating out of the crater. Lafeyah, standing on the beast’s shoulder, turns his gaze to him. On his face, a look of discontent.

“What are you smirking about?”

“You see... As you’ve displayed here, simply throwing strikes isn’t going to be effective. Even then, by looking back on this battle we’ve had here… I know exactly what it is that’ll end this.”

Arctaius put his hand on his chin as he focused his gaze on Alarick, his mind combing through his statements, and the past battle.

“Just earlier.. when he used those spikes - they pierced right through that thing. If what i’m assuming is right… If blunt attacks don't work- “

“Then piercing ones will.” A certain monk continued.

Zhao and Liang continued to keep their gazes on the battle, though their blades remained aimed at one another.

Alarick began a rapid descent, stomping his feet as he reached the ground. The ground began to rumble as he did so, shifting around, before what looked to be another spike rose. At the least, until it began to change, into a large, Blade-like form, resembling a ram-Dao. The end facing the emperor, riddled with sharp edges and ridges.

“If you thought putting this thing in front of me would take me out, you don’t understand battle!!”

“Damn!” Lafeyah Hissed.

“It’s time to end this--Earth Cutter!!”

Alarick grasped the bladee, quickly, pushing it down onto the emperor. It quickly puts both of its arms forward, crossing them over its torso to stop the attack.However, its legs begin to bend, as its “knees” Buckled.

“I won’t be taken out that easily!” Lafeyah yelled in response.

As he snaps his fingers - more vines rise from the ground. Roping around the vines that form the emperor’s legs. But they didn’t end there, more shootout, breaking the ground, with some seeming to keep him supported as support beams. Lafeyah turned his gaze directly toward Alarick. Elsewhere, Liang’s eyes scanned the two combatants.

“If I know Lafeyah... He's got something planned…”

That he did, he threw his arm out, his palm facing the blonde youth.

“I'll extend the thorns.. Time- I'll aim for his vital organs... If it doesn't kill him, it will restrict him long enough..”

“Thorn Maelstrom!!”

Thorns began to rain on Alarick once more. But, he took notice. And, unlike last time, he wouldn’t be drenched. He stomped on the ground once more.

“Earth Plaiside!!”

The ground rumbled once more, until, bursting out of the ground, were ethan walls, coming to Alarick’s defense, in front of him, and on his left and right. The thorns fail to pierce the thick walls. Something which caused Lafeyah’s face goes from one of distaste to one of surprise, as Alarick bends his knees, leaping up toward Lafeyah. He takes notice of this, leaping down off of the emperor’s shoulder to meet him. As Alarick throws his fist out, so does Lafeyah. Their punches slipped past each other, with their opponent catching their arms. Alarick soon throws a punch at Bijan's stomach with his free arm. The latter dodges, flipping over alarick’s back and sending an elbow toward his spine. Or, attempting to, at the very least. As Alarick soon flings him over his shoulder and into the ground. The ground breaking underneath. Alarick’s eyes dart to his left, as the emperor itself begins to turn its attention toward the two.

“I need to be quick!” Alarick thought.

Alarick soon lands as Bijan jumps out of the crater. Alarick puts both arms up, bending his knees. His opponent takes notice, planting his feet into the ground. Attempting to prepare for the strike.

“The tables have turned!!”

In a flash, Alarick takes off running, before this turns into a dash, almost as if he was flying. And though Bijan puts his guard up as Alarick throws his fist out, the resulting punch breaks right through his guard, followed by Alarick only uttering a single word.

“Schachmatt(Checkmate)!!!”

Alarick’s fist crashed into Bijan’s cheek, sending his head reeling to the side, as he loses his footing. Soon, sent flying back with the force of the punch, demolishing a wall as he crashed into the manor. Elsewhere, the vines around the emperor's legs begin to unfurl. Soon enough, the emperor is cut down the middle by the large blade. For a few moments, Lafeyah laid in place, his face covered in bruises and mouth bleeding.. At the least, until his eyes closed, and, soon, opened up once more. He shot up, looking around with, not an expression of aggression, or rage. But rather, pure confusion. Had something changed?

“What the hell? Where am I?”

Lafeyah soon stopped moving his gaze for a moment, as he took notice of the cut mass of vines, as well as the blade laying on the ground. He clicked his tongue as he closed his eyes.

“Dammit, I lost control over my mind again... That woman's abilities are a nuisance.”

Lost control of his what? Now, it was their turn to look confused, Alarick began stepping toward him as he spoke.

“That woman?”

Lafeyah looked as he walked toward him. Lafeyah shoved his hands into his pocket, strangely calm for someone they’d just been fighting.

“Yeah, let me explain myself. The reason I involved myself with the Ardamites is because of my parents. I couldn’t believe in this “Ardam '' so easily. Eventually, they simply disowned me and threw me into the military. One of the Apostles can control minds. And believe me-- I am nowhere near the only person to be affected by it. However, now that my mind is once again my own. I will join you all.”

The two stood in silence as Kazimir and Arctaius continued to watch from above. Kazimir glanced at him.

“What do you think? Should we let him in?”

Arctaius remained silent as he focused his gaze on Bijan…

Part B

Elsewhere, within the Yamato kingdom, sat the site of the channel 15 news building. Currently occupied by the crew, security, and a young anchor. Her long auburn hair was tied into a ponytail. The same color as the clothing she wore. Though, that was not the focus of the ones watching, rather, it was the blurry picture seen on screen, the city of Niopolis, with a number of craft seen in the sky.

“Welcome to channel 15- World News The Kingdom of Santa Maria has declared a state of emergency, just moments earlier - an attack began on the city by a group that exited unidentified aircraft, along with HAUS… Particle beams lit up the night sky as buildings were demolished. The Manor of the Ceron Royal Family itself is currently being attacked - in what seems to be a repeat of the attacks 16 years ago…Strangely enough-- happening not too far after the Shima inferno- where 500 died, and 2,500 were Injured”

This was soon cut off, as, on another channel, two men sat on a desk, one with a shiny bald head, and a long thick beard, which reached his chest known as Tomozuka. The other, long black locks, his face devoid of any hair, was the one called Suzumara. Like much of their show, the two bickered.

“First the Shima Inferno- and now this, These attacks with too many unknowns- they must be connected somehow.” Tomozuka yelled.

“You said it yourself- there are too many unknowns, there’s no way to tell that these events are connected!!” Suzumara responded.

Just like that, he was cut off by the flipping of the channel. This time, however, there was something entirely different on the screen. Standing behind a podium, just within the camera’s view, posted above the large crowd, with the Yamato Kingdom’s flag draped in the background, was another man, with his hair slicked back. Wearing a rather extravagant white suit, with the Imperial Chrysanthemum pinned on Yamato's own Emperor Shin.

“Believe me when I state-- that the ones responsible for the Shima Inferno- and the recent attacks--”

Soon, this went black. The one responsible sat in a small room, the sunlight coming in from the window. Sitting on her bed with a remote in hand, was Asami. Sighing as she turned her gaze from the tv, to her window. He hadn’t even been gone for that long...

“Geez, Just what is he getting himself into...He goes over to Santa Maria and a battle starts..? These Kaemerge guys really must be as bad as they said they were.... Though it’d be stupid to think they aren’t after what happened over here.”

Just like that, she fell into silence once again.

Back in Santa Maria, however, there was one more battle that needed to be completed. A tense mood had formed between the two martial artists. Neither Zhao nor Liang turned their gazes away from each other. As it had been before, their hands stayed on their blades, a clear warning to their opponent.

“Now then… Does that not say a bit about this group you align yourself with…”

Liang scoffed.

Align myself with? Don't make me laugh. I may be within this little group. but I have no interest in spreading the belief in that god of theirs.”

“ If that were the case, then why are you here fighting with them?”

Zhao dropped his left leg, as he began to move his blade once more, in preparation for a strike. Liang frowned at the question, as he swiftly sheathed his blade.

“My reasons for fighting are no business of yours.”

Liang dropped his left leg as well, and, rather than withdraw his blade once again, he took another from his side, a chain, riddled with sharp edges, connected to a hilt, much like a sword’s. His trusty weapon, a chain whip named the Tiantang Zhi Nu.

“Now then...Let’s get back to what’s important... It’s time for you to die. I don’t let my targets escape me!”

His words were soon followed by the flick of his wrist, as the chain began to spin beside him, sending gusts of wind out with the pure speed. Before, it flew at Zhao. However, to his surprise, a blue glow began to grow around Zhao. One that redirected the end of his weapon. Sending the point back toward him. However, this was quickly stopped, as Liang swung his arm, bringing the blade back to its rigid base form.

“A Qi field..."

Zhao squinted his eyes, as he began to move his eyes around.

“A normal blade would be shattered against my field. It seems he knows how to do it as well… Protomis forging...That skill is rare enough on its own, but he’s good at it.”

Zhao finally stopped contemplating, charging forward blade in hand. Liang, in response, leaped above, thrusting his chain down from above. Zhao, weaves out of the way, dodging. Liang redirects his whip. Leaving a small cut on Zhao's arm. But not much otherwise. He swung again, and this time, Zhao failed to dodge once more, leaving yet another small cut on the hand that held his blade. Deciding to press the attack, He soon began to thrust and return the blade time and time again. Leaving cuts across his body. Zhao frowned at this development.

“That speed!! He’s adept with that. If I'm going to win, it looks like I'll need to go on the defensive.”

To Be Continued