In the outskirts of Tokyo, there lies one of many modest apartment buildings. One of these in particular, held the apartment of a former Noble. Certainly a far cry from the lavish home one would expect. It was small, the wooden floor mostly empty, save for a folded futon in the corner, along with a table in the center, with four folding chairs. Sat on them was the owner himself, along with the other three tides. On the table, there were simple meals, burgers and fries for all four. As Alarick glanced around at them, annoyed expression came onto his face. He decided to speak on it, unsurprisingly.

“I’m still trying to figure out why it’s always my place…”

Zhao glanced at him, speaking.

“I don’t have one.”

“Neither do I.” Kazimir added.

“And while they let me stay there, I don't like leeching off of Yudei’s parents too much.”

“So doing that to me is better?!” Alarick responded, gaining a shrug from Arctaius.

“What can I say, you got a nice place… Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” He responded. Alarick sighed as he leaned back into his chair.

“Man, can’t you get a part-time job or something. Arctaius, you’ve worked with mechanical stuff before, so have you, Kazimir. I’m pretty sure you two could get enough money for an apartment somewhere..”

“You’re not wrong, but do we really have that much time on our hands?”

Alarick went silent at this, as he stopped eating, even if temporarily. Considering what the russian had said, as well as the situations they’d gotten themselves into in the last week alone. Those holy order guys, and now some “General” Appearing out of nowhere. Considering all that, he Conceded.

“Alright, I'll give you that.”

They resumed their meal, with Kazimir the first to finish, standing up and strolling over to a trash can near the door, stepping on the switch at the bottom, and opening the lid. He threw the container within, as he began to speak.

“You guys heard about that new place that opened up, Rahl’s? I’ve heard their food is pretty good. We should go check it out after all this blows over.”

“Don’t think that’ll be happening anytime soon, but I don't see why not. What do they have anyway?” Arctaius questioned.

“From what I heard, they have corenan food.”

Zhao perked up at this.

“Corenan? That kingdom that broke off from earth’s governments back in 1995, right? It’s unusual to see them move back to earth. I thought they prided themselves on being self-sufficient from Earth.”

Alarick nodded.

“Strange indeed, but it would make sense that they aren’t all the same. I will say, it’ll be an interesting experience. Haven’t had their food before. May want to wait until the popularity dies down, though.”

Zhao nodded in agreement, before speaking.

“Yeah, If we went now, We may not even be able to get a Table.” Arctaius glanced at him.

“But, if we did- could we even afford it? Something nobody else has, bound to be a lot of credits involved.”

Kazimir strolled back to the table, re-taking his seat.

“:Oh yeah. Don’t know how I forgot about that… Maybe we really should look into getting work. Not like the government pays us or something.”

Arctaius shrugged.

“I mean, it’s not impossible to get that set up, but do we really want to do that?”

“I can tell you one thing, I don't. I may not be a fan of noble politics, but I'm not falling as far as to accept government handouts… Don’t need those smug guys from the Blutstein branch coming around… especially considering they know I'm alive.” Alarick responded.

“Hah, Zaisen wants to talk about smugness. Oh, I'm sorry- Von Zaisen.”

Arctaius smirked at this, as did Alarick. A somewhat common activity before the two of them. One they enjoyed very much at that, their respective meals resumed, as they sat in silence, until a knock on the home’s front door interrupted them. Alarick raised an eyebrow at this.

“Who could that be at this hour?”

Arctaius took the chance immediately, responding to his question with.

“Why are you asking us? Not like we would know who pops up at your house.”

Alarick’s gaze shot back to him.

“Clearly I was asking myself.”

“If that’s the case, then why say it out loud?”

Alarick did not respond to this as he got up from his seat. Walking, his feet creaking on the hardwood floors, until he reached the front door. As he opened it, immediately clinging to him, was a brunette with large pink orbs. Her sizable chest pressing against Alarick’s as she brought herself closer. Though it wasn’t visible to the other three. The Empire of Gythros’ Princess Iris Vi Galanos.

“Wh- Again?! Come on, you don’t have to do this every time.”

Iris closed her eyes with a smile as she retracted.

“Whatever do you mean? Isn’t this normal between a couple?”

“Who said that’s what this was?!”

“Come on, just admit it already…”

“Admit what?!”

As Iris continued her goading, the tides continued to eat, ignoring the routine going on behind them. After all, it was not the first time this happened. And it likely wouldn’t be the last. Though, a passing thought came into Arctaius’ head, about the irony of the situation, especially given how much Alarick protested about his own escapades with Asami during their time as first years. A slight smirk made its way onto his face as he mumbled.

“Ain’t so easy, is it…”

Something that went unnoticed by the others. It took some time, but Alarick would eventually rejoin them, unfolding an extra chair for Iris to sit in. And as one would expect, she took a seat beside him.

“Corde, Rhuskov. Zhao, How are you doing?”

“Fine.” Arctaius responded.

“Pretty good, I'd say.” The russian wnsere, followed by Zhao getting up from the table.

“Fine as well.”

Iris smiled at this.

“That’s good…”

She began to trail off, as the smile on her face disappeared.

“But there’s something else we have to talk about. It’s concerning my father…”

Alarick frowned at this, knowing full well what this could end up being… He was never a fan of Ioannis Vi Galanos. A fact that he would make clear, regardless of his status as the Gyhtorsian Emperor. His obsession with gaining power for his empire annoyed him. But the next, his obsession with gaining honor for his house was something that he disliked even more. The former, he could understand, a little. But the same could not be said for the latter. Apparently, the distaste that came onto his face was visible to his allies, given the glances they gave him.

“He’s pressing me to convince you to retake your status. Either that or trying to marry me off to some suitor… From what I’m hearing, it isn’t any better for my brother.”

Alarick simply shook his head at this fact.

“It looks like I’ll never escape that, huh…”

He pondered speaking about this now. It was certainly a pressing matter, but there were other things for him to worry about.

“While I'm not exactly a fan of your father… Especially after that stunt he pulled with his invasion of Sanaib, that will have to wait. The demons are a more pressing matter. But believe me, I’ll talk to him about that…”

Something that was followed by Iris shaking her head.

“We’ll talk to him.” Iris corrected. The silence was soon followed by Alarick’s gaze going back to the table. He would soon grasp a container that lay in the center. While what he heard from Iris wasn’t something he enjoyed, there was this. He lifted the opaque top off, revealing a small cake, smothered in chocolate. He promptly pulled out a fork, bringing it toward the treat.

“Been some time since i’ve had some of this. Now to--”

Alarick promptly went silent, as the building around them began to rumble violently, Apparently, a phenomenon not limited to that building, given the expressions of the people in the area began to look around in confusion. Soon enough, the cake drifted off of the table, promptly falling as the shaking intensified. Alarick looked down at it with his expression unchanged.

“Oh well, I'll just buy another later.”

As Alarick spoke, Arctaius lifted himself from his seat, with his allies doing the very same.

“It looks like they’re going into motion earlier than we expected.”

“Sorry, Iris… I ask that you get somewhere safe. There’s a shelter not too far from here.”

Iris sighed at this development, before she stood, and began to make her way to the door.

“Alright…”

Iris opened the door, and ran out, closing it behind her, before she promptly began running to a stairwell that lay in the hallway. No sooner did the four run toward the window of the apartment, Alarick lifted it open before he jumped out, shooting into the sky. Arctaius, then Kazimir and Zhao followed. As they soared through the sky,they finally saw the source of the shaking, the air above them seemed to warp, twist, unnatural, no doubt. It did not take long for a bright red light to appear, over-powering the sun’s light as a whole, and tinting the sky red. Pouring out soon afterward, was a swarm of creatures. Considering what they’d seen before, it was clear what they were dealing with. The bulk of the demon force had arrived. Some stood upright, while others were quadruped. Some bore some resemblance to humans, while others had feathers and scales. They varied in size and shape. Roars and screeches echoed through the city as their descent continued. They continued their way forward regardless, as Kazimir spoke.

“Nothing we haven’t handled before.”

Arctaius cracked his knuckles, his eyes moving across the swarm.

“Let’s hurry this up.”

Now, they split up as they speeded ahead, each going toward their own mass of demons. And, almost on cue, the demons began splitting as well, each horde rushing at the new targets. Arctaius rushed ahead, as his body was cloaked in a golden light, burning the swarm of small arthropod-like demons that attempted to surround him. Soon after, he threw both of his palms out, launching out beams of golden light, hotter than the sun itself. They moved across different angles, shooting across the sky, and making short work of the demons. Making them disappear within a matter of seconds. The progressive waves that came forward did not fare any better, not coming anywhere close to their target.

Elsewhere, Alarick stood surrounded by a number of demons, many of which outsized the buildings around them. Even so, he looked undisturbed. He straightened the fingers on his left hand, as a familiar black glow cloaked it, as he flashed around the demons, coming in and out of their sight. Only to cut them as soon as he became visible.

“Void Blade- Cutting Surge!!”

With his words invoked, those around him were sliced and diced, what remained of them dissipating into red light particles. Elsewhere, Kazimir was surrounded in a wild red glow. With the thousands of demons attempting to approach him, having the same red glow around them. They found themselves stopped in their tracks. Soon after, Kazimir tightly squeezed his hand. The members of the horde were shoved toward one another, condensed into a small area, and crushed under the pressure.

Zhao flew through the sky as well, dodging strikes from humanoid demons he wielded strange shaped blades. Some of them held them within tightened hands or claws, while others had them attached to their body. Regardless of this fact, Zhao charged right into them, leaving cut after cut across their body, stopping their assault easily. Even as they swiped their blades at him, they found that he dodged, or let the strikes hit. Only to find their blades shattered against his iron skin. They continued this for a while. Cutting through the invading force as if it was butter, for what felt like almost an hour.

As the time passed, they all realized something. A fact that made them stop their assault, opting to regroup, all flying toward the same spot.

‘I don’t like this... There’s too many of them. We could take them all out at once, but more would come. We’re wasting time here.” Arctaius commented.

Alarick nodded, speaking.

“There’s collateral to worry about as well.”

“I believe we’d best confer with Miyamoto, she knows more about this than we do.” Zhao responded.

Kazimir’s gaze began moving across the city as this was said, eyeing the numerous demons that had landed onto the ground, attempting to make rounds through the city. It was only then that he spoke.

“We can’t do that just yet… We still need to take care of them.”

“I don’t believe there will be a problem, if the “Holy order” is still in the area. I’d be quite surprised if they weren’t. But, given this may not be the only point they’re entering from, that could change quite soon…We’d better hurry up.” Alarick advised.

Apparently, it wasn’t something that they disagreed with, given their lack of a response. Now, they began to blast off, making their way toward the city of Chikawa. Across the city, the holy order indeed began their fights against the demons. Though their numbers were dwarfed by the large number of proto-humans, those who kept their heads down, and made their way through their normal lives, did not stand by. Especially given the aggression of these creatures.As the battles continued on the streets here, the demons had spread elsewhere. As was seen within the Shima ward. A large crowd of North shima’s students ran away, panicking, screaming, from the monstrosities that had appeared.

Though they had proto-humans in their midst… They were nowhere near strong enough to make a difference. This situation would lead to Arctaius’ and Asami’s friends alike rushing down the street, running from a red-skinned demon that resembles a dragon. Though the ones below it moved faster, by virtue of its size alone, it managed to keep pace. Throughout all this, Akashi had but one thing to say. A question that was constantly in his head in situations like this.

“Why is it always us?!” He yelled.

“Less talking, more running!!!’ Yudei responded.

Megumi looked over her shoulder at where the beast approached them. It continued its approach, making it clear to her that they were not anywhere near escaping it’s grasp.

“This is bad!” Megumi Shouted, making Kasumi beside her do the same.

“You got that right!”

As they continued running, Kazumi began to fall behind, though not nearly far enough for them to see any danger in it. They continued forth regardless… Completely unaware of what would happen next. The dragon-like demon would open its maw, firing a pulse of red light that smashed into Kazumi’s back, tearing a hole through her torso, where her chest formerly was… The force of which sent her propelling forward, she would only come to a stop a few meters in front of them. The faces of all the students there were painted in surprise. Yudei was the first to stop.

“What?!”

Soon after, the others stopped in their tracks, looking down upon their friend. The results of the blast were clear, given the hole in her chest… Already, feelings of grief had begun to run through Asami. There was no way to deny that what she’d seen happened.

“Kazumi!!!”

Soon enough, Kazumi’s eyes glazed over, as her body fell limp. The fire of life extinguishing from her body… Miura Kazumi has met her end.

To Be Continued