Kruger defended a swift horizontal swing from Altara's red magik greatsword with one of his knights which was wielding a broadsword. The two glared into each other's eyes for a second until Altara pushed away from the knight, stepping back. The knight desummoned into black and red smoke as Kruger ran back to Axel who was taking a defensive approach to the encounter by keeping back. Hugo landed in front of Altara, axe in hand.

"Your greatsword is more solidified compared to six months ago. You've been training haven't you?" Hugo asked Altara as he locked his eyes onto the two enemies. "That's good Altara..you still make me proud."

Altara looked at Hugo as he stood in front of him with his axe in hand, feeling a sensation of happiness inside of him. This feeling didn't last however as a shotgun blast from Konstantine rang out, the electric pellets from her enchanted shotgun flew towards Axel and Kruger, who used his Braveye to summon a knight to use as a shield. The knight took the bullets and fell to the floor, vanishing in black and red smoke.

"Tch! Those damn knights!!" Konstantine shouted out as she looked at Kruger.

"It is no matter, Konstantine. My magik pierces the knights like a bullet through wood." Jolene said confidently as she raised her glowing white palms towards Kruger, who grimaced. "Axel, the Saint's magik pierces mine. She is the one who caused my retreat." Kruger told Axel who stood behind him.

"Alright. Summon a knight with ranged weaponry and take cover behind that rock behind us. I will tend to the melee and after we will defeat the Saint and the girl wielding the guns." Axel ordered Kruger, who nodded and ran to a large rock in the ground behind them. Konstantine and Jolene targetted Kruger who took cover behind the boulder, summoning two knights with crossbows who exchanged fire with Jolene's beams and Konstantine's shotgun, the two taking cover behind trees.

Axel slowly walked over to Altara and Hugo with a smile across his blind face.

"A blind man walks into the battlefield with a smile across his face..hm. You are either cocky or strong." Hugo observed as Altara stood beside him, the two Spellswords staring Axel down with their weapons in hand.

"I will take that as a compliment. You are Hugo Blackblood, yes? You are already familiar with Grimjak, our latest member."

"Latest member huh? Tsk. Quit acting like you're a club of some sort. You are terrorists, that is it. We're gonna get rid of you assholes...but first I wanna know what you want with a dead man!" Hugo pointed his battleaxe at Axel, who chuckled slightly, moving his white fringe to the side of his blindfold.

"I won't tell you."

Axel's body quickly steamed purple as he continued to smile. Hugo frowned. "Fine then, I will hunt the rest of your bastards down after I've finished with you and ask them the same question!"

Hugo and Altara challenged Axel's magik, their bodies steaming blue and red respectively. Hugo launched the first strike aimed to the left of Axel with his battleaxe, Altara swinging instantly after to his right with his greatsword.

Axel extended his index and middle fingers on both hands towards the Spellsword's weapons, as soon as the weapons made contact with his fingers the weapons stopped in place. Altara and Hugo's eyes widened in shock and confusion and Axel quickly flipped out his curved, silver dagger and aimed a swift swing aimed to cut both of their throats. Fortunately, Altara and Hugo moved their upper bodies backwards and stepped back, dodging this strike. The two stood back from Axel who stood straight with his dagger in hand.

"Strong indeed..he stopped the momentum of our weapons with just his fingers. He must have spent a long time perfecting that technique, dedicating his magik into just that technique alone to strengthen it." Hugo mumbled. "But there is a way to get around it, and it is quite easy."

Hugo looked at Altara, who looked back. "Are you suggesting we strike again?" Altara asked, his eyes narrowing. Hugo simply nodded, and the two swung at Axel once more, who put his dagger into his mouth and stopped the weapons again with his fingers, he took the dagger out his mouth swiftly but saw Hugo's right hand let go of his axe, summoning a spear into his right hand. Axel frowned as he saw this, quickly dodging backwards..however, he was too slow. The spear's point thrust into his stomach. Hugo desummoned the spear in order to let Axel bleed out.

"Hm." Axel looked down at his stomach and felt the wound, blood leaking onto his hand. "A spear was a good choice. Any other weapon I would have dodged. I applaud you." Axel looked at Hugo and Altara, before starting to run.

"That coward!" Hugo shouted as he and Altara gave chase.

"Kruger! Let's get to that graveyard!" Axel shouted as he ran passed him. Kruger nodded and desummoned his knights which were shooting at Konstantine and Jolene, sprinting after Axel shortly after.

Konstantine fired a shot towards the two as they ran, but her attack hit a tree as the two went out of sight. Hugo ran passed Konstantine with Altara. "We've gotta go after them!"

Jolene's body steamed white as the group gained speed once more, their bodies steaming white too. "Anyone hurt?!" She shouted out, no one responded.

They soon reached an opening in the forest, inside was the graveyard. There were hundreds of headstones all varying in design and colour. Axel and Kruger were spotted in the middle of the graveyard. Axel holding onto his wound whilst catching his breath.

"There they are!" Jolene growled out as she charged ahead with Hugo and Konstantine. Altara, however, hung back. He felt like he was being watched from behind, glancing over his shoulder he saw nothing, shaking his head to himself as he started to run after the rest towards the two terrorists.

But then...dust kicked up from the dirt floor in front of Altara, he stood back and fell on his backside, covering his face with his forearm. He coughed and slowly looked up, spotting a tall, eight-foot female figure with purple hair that stretched down to just passed her shoulders. Her black and red armour shined in the sunlight as the dust settled, her blue eyes looking down at Altara. It was Zedarka.

Altara felt a fear that he hadn't felt since his fight with his uncle, Nero.

Hugo quickly stopped his sprint towards Kruger and Axel as he heard the impact behind him. As soon as he saw the overly tall woman stand in front of Altara his eyes widened, his target was no longer that of violence, it was to save Altara. He started to sprint towards Altara, yelling his name.

"ALTARAAAAAA!!!!"

Everyone in the area, even Kruger and Axel, felt the pure magikal pressure from the woman. But Altara got the worse of it. His nose started to bleed as he continued to stare into the woman's eyes. Hugo got close enough to the woman, swinging his axe at the purple-haired menace from behind.

...

Hugo's summoned axe shattered instantly upon contact with Zedarka's skull.

Hugo was left in pure shock, standing back as he recovered from his own failed swing. Zedarka menacingly turned around to Hugo, her face plain. But before she could do anything to her attacker, Altara stood up, his body steaming red as he summoned his greatsword.

"HAAARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Altara swung his blade at Zedarka's neck..but it met the same fate as Hugo's axe. It shattered instantly. Altara coughed blood thanks to the magik strain from Zedarka, who turned around slowly. Her face was more phased this time.

Altara and Hugo stood away from the Heavener as she looked down at Altara. Both of the Adeptans were too confused and afraid to move, questions running through both of their heads rapidly.

Who is this woman?

What is she?

How and why is she here?

How is she this powerful?

But their questioning was cut short, a shockwave emitted from Altara's chest as Zedarka launched a punch that broke the sound barrier towards it. Before anyone could comprehend what happened Altara was sent flying through the forest away from the graveyard.

Jolene and Konstantine were watching the whole time, as was Axel and Kruger. The presence of Zedarka alone was enough for them to stop fighting. As soon as Altara was sent flying Konstantine gasped, starting to run after him straight away. Jolene ran right behind her. "DAMN IT!"

Hugo however weakly looked up at Zedarka, the look of worry quickly turned into rage. Before he could swing at the Heavener again, however, Jolene shouted out at Hugo as she ran. "HUGO! WE'VE GOTTA GET ALTARA! WE DON'T WANT YOU DEAD AS WELL AS HIM SO GET YOUR ASS MOVING!"

Hugo's eyes looked at Jolene, then at Kruger and Axel who stood in the centre of the graveyard looking at Hugo with tired expressions. Zedarka turned towards Hugo slowly, looking down at him. Hugo grimaced and swiftly ran past her, running after Jolene and Konstantine. Zedarka weakened her own magik to not cause Axel and Kruger strain as they ran over to her.

"Why did you let them go?" Axel asked, looking out into the forest.

"Because only idiots will come after us after witnessing my power. If they do wish to pursue us then we shall erase them, simple." Zedarka explained calmly as she walked past the two, the tall woman walking into the graveyard. "I have no time to chase down prey."

"But they know of your existence now. Isn't that something you don't want?" Kruger asked as he followed her with Axel.

"No one will believe them." She looked down at a grave with a white headstone. The grave read the name Kry Kenlok.

Meanwhile, Hugo, Konstantine and Jolene found Altara lying against a fallen tree.

"Oh god.." Konstantine ran over to him. His chest was caved in, his rib cage poking out and his neck twisted. He was bleeding everywhere.

Hugo looked down at his former student with a look of absolute disbelief and shock. He froze..only saying four words.

"Jolene..how is he?"

Jolene looked at the mangled Altara, checking his pulse on his crooked neck. She swallowed, her bottom lip shaking.

"He's dead."

Konstantine placed both hands on her head as she fell on her hands and knees, her normally calm eyes growing wide as tears streamed down her face. "Altara..no no..not you! NO NO! PLEASE!" The suffering Konstantine looked at Jolene, her tear-filled red eyes locking onto her white ones. She tugged at her trousers and begged. "You're a saint, right? You heal people..so DO SOMETHING! DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIM PLEASE!"

Hugo looked at Jolene, he spoke no words. But Jolene knew what to do. She crouched down beside Altara, her whole body steaming white..then soon glowing white. Her skin itself became crystal looking as she poured magik into Altara.

"This might kill me. But I understand his worth to you two...so I am willing. This is my duty, after all."

Hugo kneeled behind Jolene, placing a hand on her shoulder as his body steamed blue. He fed Jolene his own magik, closing his eyes. "As you said back there...we don't want you dead as well."

Jolene felt Hugo's touch and felt his magik rush into her.

"Thank you, Hugo."

Konstantine watched the two attempt to resurrect Altara, a lethal form of Saint Magik used extremely rarely thanks to the pure strain it puts upon a body. It was not guaranteed to work, but it was better than not trying at all.

...