They were still on the rails, this time leaping at each other where the path became conjoined. Forcing each other to crash at each other at high speed. Their blades clashed where Joshua and Fitz had broad grins with glares that made them enjoy the battle. Pushing each other back as the thorns and ice formed a new path for them to clash once more.

The petals formed over Joshua's blade, while the snowflakes formed over Fitz's gunblades. The gunblades were coated in their elements and they put everything into one strike. The explosion sent Fitz flying to the ground, crashing into the wall. When he regained his composure, Joshua's gunblade was at his throat.

Fitz pushed the gunblade away, pouncing at Joshua. Kicking the gunblade aside then punching Joshua's head. Joshua quickly blocked the blows while Fitz was on top of him. Taking the hits as Fitz was punching through. Joshua elbowed Fitz's stomach, then throwing Fitz aside. Now they were down to their fists. Their gunblades were in each other's territory. Joshua standing in the ice of Versalia and Fitz in Mulligan. Joshua's mask of thorns flew off from his face.

Akin to a coin of the same side, the two of them dashed at each other. Fitz took up a boxing stance, unleashing a fury of quick jabs to keep Joshua on defense. Joshua weaved through a few but still took a few to the face. Where his mucus and blood was on Fitz's fist, Joshua punched Fitz's stomach. Two hits then followed by a shoulder charge to push Fitz back.

Closing in further, two jabs to the face where Fitz headbutted Joshua in the entire fight. Fitz and Joshua took a moment to breathe, circling each other as they coughed out their chipped teeth. Clearing the blood and mucus from the nose, their bodies had red swelling and purplish bruises just from the fight itself. They continued their slugfest. An onslaught of fury from both sides.

Kicking Fitz's leg, a strike to the neck and bashing Fitz's head into the ground. Drawing Ashen Phoenix to Fitz's neck.

"I give up. Guess there's no tomorrow for me after all."

The battle has reached its conclusion. The Gods in attendance have observed the fight.

This duel was won by the Lord of Thorns.

Lord of Thorns what do you wish to do with the Cold Cage?

Joshua offered his hand to Fitz.

"I'm going to need someone who will do whatever it takes to destroy some people. Could use a hand with the Outsiders too." Fitz took the hand with a smile.

"Deal."

You have made a Covenant with an outsider.

Fitz Hermann, the 3rd Cold Cage shall be your ally from this point onwards.

He cannot betray you nor your Familiars.

His power of the Cold Cage will strengthen your Familiar's strength, instantly reviving them and bringing them back into the fight.

Wields a pair of Gunblades known as Orthrus.

The Cold Cage is a counter to the Lord of Thorns. Where they can turn the ones who are allied to them be in a state of pure loyalty.

Cold Cage's ice elements include the white ice and black ice.

The Cold Cage's power derives from its name. An ice cage that was built to restrain the beast within.

Though a beast, Fitz Hermann is an enthusiast to military strategy, weaponry and even theoretical systems. He will be a good ally for the Lord of Thorns.

The battle concluded, where Fitz looked at his Legari that was defeated. Then his Familiars which included Fool of Zero along with a few others.

"I'm sorry about beating your little Vizel to a pulp." Merlia spoke as she puffed her pipe.

"Not an issue to me." Joshua said as the citizens who had been turned to Legari transformed back to normal humans. Where Joshua stepped out with the damaged clothes that he had, his mask was broken far too badly to be used. He needed to bring it back to Bellwitch to help it get fixed. Same goes for Fitz's gear too. Joshua stepped out of the capital, where he could see his Familiars kneeling before him.

Seijuro, Kael and the two Seraphs were outside. Seijuro and Kael enjoying a cup of sake together while One Winged Seraph joined them.

"Oh ho, so you entered a Covenant. Now that's an interesting thing. Quite rare to hear such a thing in the first place."

"What's so interesting about it One Winged?" Joshua asked, where Final Judgement gave a nod.

"I will answer it on behalf of my cryptic elder brother. A covenant means that you see someone as an equal and this means that they are not considered as a Familiar. You can bring Fitz Hermann to join us during the Trial as an ally to face against me. In that battle. Only the chosen one shall answer the call with his allies, and not with his Familiars. I'm sure you can see the difference of our strength, do you not?" Joshua had to admit it, Final Judgement and One Winged Seraph's attacks were far greater than anything that Joshua had faced. If he had taken those blows, he would have died in an instant.

"Well, what's done is done. Thanks for having a drink with me Seijuro. By the way, Lord of Thorns... Go visit Bellwitch. Get yourself repaired. I've had Ice Reaper reset the 52 Lives of the Avatar of Destruction to its maximum potential. That should give you more things to do. Thanks for lending me Ice Reaper for a bit. It's been a while since I could go all out with the guy." Kael said as Ice Reaper returned to Joshua's side.

"It was fun, Kael."

"Don't worry about it. When Ren gets older, he can have you by his side. Besides, he's already the next Avatar of Destruction." Kael left without a trace. It was like he was never here.

"King Maximilian." Maximilian raised his blade.

"The war against the Drusken Empire is now over!" The celebration of it was met with open arms as the Princess of the Drusken Empire revealed the truth that the Cold Cage came and had used his power to overwhelm the entire Empire with his influence. Then using technology that he had earned from different worlds. Cold Cage was a traveler of the worlds but the sight of many things had changed him completely. Among his Familiars was Fool of Zero who was his first, then followed by a few others. The demon lord was not part of his Familiars, but an outsider summoned by the Drusken Empire itself.

Princess Arlia Merlo explained that the demon was the one who turned everyone into the Legari and it wasn't Fitz, though Fitz was a little unsure how to take that motion. There was a moment to mourn for the dead, and Princess Arlia Melro has been made the Queen of the Drusken Empire. Now paying reparations for all the damage that was caused. The humans who have been turned cyborgs were given special treatment and care to ensure that they will not be hacked anymore.

With this, a celebration was had where Lugasa and the Bellesk challenged each other to a drinking game. Where people watched the Bellesk fall one by one, leaving Guren and Lugasa being the ones left at the table. Cold Cage on the other hand was spending his time walking around the Lunaria Kingdom to take in the sights of this breathtaking world. Seijuro was enjoying sake right beside Iacus, Donovan and the Maximilian as well as Aurelia.

They seemed to have had a lovely conversation, The Crimson Reapers, Void Dancers and the Daemon Punisher's were keeping to themselves as usual. They took off their helmets, where the Daemon Punisher's had scars over their heads but they looked human enough. The sight of them was enough to get the women of Dulavis to talk to them, or better yet to flirt with them.

Joshua could see how bothered they were by it, since all they've known is war. If memory served Joshua right, most of them are bachelors because they can't date anyone at all. More like it was due to their steadfast nature at work. The HDF was enjoying the celebration, while the Lions were just sitting around drinking and eating as much as they wanted. Their M-Frames began to patrol the entire area, trying to map out various locations.

Quest Spire.

Cleared.

This will now be a Trade Spire/ Special Class development grounds.

Any Venerator may attain the class of Draken provided they do the training.

Joshua? He needed to be alone for a moment, so he went away. Leaving the spire first, the mask that covered his face was in his pocket. Nobody would think that it was the Lord of Thorns walking amongst them. He went back to his base, where he could see more requests set for them.

He needed a break but he also needed to visit Bellwitch. He looked at the request board, this time there would be more coming over for him to work on. Assigning the new teams to their jobs. They'd be having the night off, they at least deserved that. Moreover, Joshua had one more thing he needed to do.

Stepping back into Mulligan, where Joshua looked at all the damage that was the same as before. Heading back to his house, where he went to Rayland's room, looking for a key of sorts within the drawers. Then making his way on Zephyr to the Mulligan Police Department. Seeing the griffins, elves and wyverns just moving about. They did not pay much attention to him, just focused on staying away from his gaze.

The door to the police department wasn't anything too crazy, but Joshua went inside to log into the computers. Looking for cases that Rayland had worked on, seeing cases which had their records sealed or investigations dropped. They had files of that in the file cabinet, which Joshua proceeded to take. Making his way to the chief of police's HQ, where he found more boxes and files. A safe that he ripped open. Revealing documents and USB drives.The documents had photos of Joshua along with his family, particularly that Joshua was bullied in school.

There was even a phone that was inside, where Joshua found a recorded voice message. The mayor, chief of police and various other figures talked about how to stop Rayland. So their plan was that Joshua was beaten up in school, then they would try and make his death look like a suicide. The officers who will handle it and the people that would be involved.

There was a name that was there. Spataro. This name may be the one that Joshua would have to deal with, but he'll do that later.