“It sure is quiet here,” I said to break the silence.

“It sure is, right Bon?” Arron replied with a smile and looked at the frail-looking guy beside him.

“Y-yes! I’m not sleeping at all!” Bon suddenly announced like he got caught dozing off.

Because of that, Arron and I laughed out loud.

These two are Arron and Bon, the ones who also got assigned in the mission to protect God [Scorpio]'s weapon Rosanna from the killer who sent God [Scorpio] the letter in which the sender notifies him its plan of killing Rosanna. Arron is a 5th rank soldier just like me with Bon as his sole [weapon]. In appearance, Arron has a blonde hair and is wearing a black eye patch on his left eye. According to him, he is 22 years old. As for Bon, he also has a blonde hair but has a frail stature. He is at a young age of 15 according to Arron. Both of them are wearing yellow light armor with similar designs.

Right now, we’re guarding the front door of God [Scorpio]’s room in the middle of the night. All of us were sitting on our respective chairs, lined up near the door. Iwa is currently beside me, sitting like a doll while trying her best to be wide awake. As for Ciana and the others, they are now sleeping in a different room in this Inn.

“Raiki, how are you related with Iwa?” Arron suddenly asked.

“Iwa? Well, she’s a precious friend of mine,” I said and looked at Iwa with a smile. She then averted her gaze from me and bowed her head shyly. “But why did you ask?”

“Well, I just got curious because it is my first time seeing a [Hund] so attached to a [Katzen]. You must really be a nice guy,” he replied with a gentle smile.

“There are lots of things that happened to us, you see,” I answered.

“Bon is my little brother and my only [beast weapon],” Arron answered instantly. “Now that I realized it, did you defeated God [Sagittarius] and God [Taurus] with just the two of you?”

“Yeah, that is why I’m proud of my brother,” Arron continued and ruffled the hair of Bon.

“But of course, my brother is also strong. Some even call him the [One Snipe Man],” Bon boasted with a sudden big smile.

“Jeez, stop it. My title is [Cyclops Archer] and not that one. Raiki might overestimate my strength,” Arron replied and laughed.

“They surely get along well,” Iwa whispered with a gentle smile.

“You’re right,” I replied and smiled too. “Then, why did you become a soldier, Arron?”

He then tried to think for a reason and replied, “Well...because of its high profit I guess.”

“Well, that’s also my reason,” I followed and chuckled.

“But...” he continued with sudden solemn eyes. “I also become one because of someone.”

“Someone?” I repeated with a curious face.

“Well...a former lover. We’re not like that anymore though,” he said and forced a laugh.

“Uhmm, sorry about asking about that,” I said after realizing that I asked a sensitive question.

“No need to worry, it’s okay to me,” Arron said and gave me a smile.

“Arron, Bon, let’s both do our best to guard Rosanna. You two Iwa,” I said with a smile and drew out a fist.

“M-me too?” Iwa sudden asked with a flustered look and immediately drew out her fist towards me.

Then, both Arron and Bon looked at each other and with a nod, we four bumped fists.

Just like that, the night ended and we’re now escorting God [Scorpio] and Rosanna.

“Don’t keep your guard down, Raiki,” Rave whispered to me as we walk towards the [Sky Carrier Terminal]. God [Scorpio] and Rosanna is currently walking behind us with Ciana and Shikaze behind them. On the other hand, Arron and his brother Bon are currently on a high building near us, ready to snipe the sender of the letter anytime it showed up. As for the others, we just left them in the Inn.

“But I wonder why the sender wants to kill Rosanna,” I asked curiously.

“Well, it’s just a hunch but I think it’s because of revenge,” Rave replied seriously.

“Revenge?” I repeated with a puzzled expression.

“God [Scorpio] is the warden of the [Underworld Prison] and killed lots of criminals in death sentence. Because all Deities are immortal, the ones who will be targeted for revenge are the ones close to him...like Lady Rosanna.”

“About that...are all Deities really immortal?” I asked to Rave.

According to Ciana, she died and got reincarnated. That is why she’s no longer at level 100 anymore.

Rave then gave me a confused look and replied, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, Ciana was...wait. Let’s not talk about that now. Let’s focus on the mission.”

“You’re right. Sorry about that,” I followed and looked at Ciana. She then made a sigh and gave me her usual bright smile.

Then, we continued walking and after a while, we finally reached the Terminal. There, God [Scorpio]’s [Sky Carrier] welcomed us with a roar. It is a white dragon with around 20 feet high and 40 feet long.

“So that letter is nothing but a false threat,” God [Scorpio] said with a disappointed face as he climbs the [Sky Carrier].

Because the Terminal is an open area, all we can do is to roam our eyes around prepared to clash with the sender anytime.

“Thanks for escorting us here,” Rosanna said with her usual serious expression.

“I guess...that letter is really just a fake threat,” Rave said with a smile.

“Yeah, it looks like—” I followed but Ciana suddenly interrupted me.

“Raiki, at north-east!” she shouted.

Suddenly, a very fast arrow got fired towards Rosanna.

“[Lightning Bolt]!” I shouted and slashed the arrow into two before it reached Rosanna’s head. It was really a close one.

Rave then immediately looked at the direction where the arrow came from and reacted, “It...can’t be...” with a surprised face.

“Found ‘ya,” God [Scorpio] said with a blood-thirsty smile and shouted, “[Rosanna]!”

Rosanna then became a knife on his right hand and in an instant, they disappeared and reached the location of the sniper.

“[Shikaze]!” Rave shouted and a white staff formed on his right hand.

“[Ciana]!” I followed and a sickle appeared on my left hand.

“Raiki, let’s go! [Air Ride]!” Rave shouted and rode his staff. I immediately grabbed the rear end of it and we flew towards the tall building where God [Scorpio] went.

When we landed on the roof top, what we saw is the defeated Arron with Bon no longer in [weapon mode]. Both Arron and Bon are lying flat on the ground.

“I’m a fool for trusting you, Arron,” [Scorpio] said with a smile ready to kill anytime. “Why did you try to kill my precious [beast weapon]?”

Arron then tried his best to at least lift his upper body upright but he is now too weak to do it. Then, he shouted “for revenge” in a frustrated face.

“I...see. Then...” [Scorpio] whispered and slowly walked towards Bon.

“H-hey. Where are you...going?” Arron asked weakly.

[Scorpio] then grabbed Bon’s neck and lifted him up in the air. Bon then struggled, trying his best to remove [Scorpio]’s grip.

“B-bro...ther,” he yelped with tears starting to ran down on his face.

“Stop!” Arron shouted, trying his best to get up.

“Now, experience what you want me to feel, Arron!” [Scorpio] shouted in a furious face and his killing intent got stronger.

“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!” Arron yelled.

“[Holy Sword]!!!!” I shouted and slashed [Scorpio]’s wrist, making his dismembered hand fall on the floor together with Bon.

“Raiki!!!!” Rave reacted with a really surprised yet scared expression.

“[Light Magic]?” Arron reacted with a surprised expression. “Don’t tell me that Ciana is...[Virgo]?”

[Scorpio] then looked at me with a very intimidating aura, enough for my legs to shake.

(Raiki, run!!! You can’t defeat him!!!)

When I looked at his hand, it completely grew back and the dismembered hand on the floor turned into sand.

“Is that...Vivi?” [Scorpio] asked as he look at [Ciana] on my left hand.

(Raiki, watch out!!!)

Before I know it, I flew really far away and destroyed lots of walls as I continue to roll around in mid-air. When I opened my eyes, I am now sitting inside a destroyed building, hundreds of meters away from him.

“Ci...a...na...” I whispered weakly as I somehow see the silhouette of [Scorpio] carrying the unconscious Ciana on his shoulder. After I managed to draw out my hand, trying to reach them out, I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar ceiling of the Inn. It looks like I’m currently lying on a bed.

“This place is...” I whispered weakly.

After remembering what happened to me, I immediately lifted my upper body upright.

“Ouch!” I reacted after feeling a jolt of pain in different parts of my body.

“Raiki!” both Iwa and Honoka reacted with a surprised face and immediately went before me.

*ruu!* Ruby followed with a very worried expression.

“Raiki,” both girls cried as they hug me in relief.

“Ciana...that’s right! Where is Ciana?” I yelled with a very worried face.

Both girls then stood up and made a very sad expression.

“Raiki...sorry!” Rave sudden shouted and knelt down in apology. “I couldn’t even do a thing! I just...let God [Scorpio] took Ciana without a fight! I’m really ashamed of myself!”

Suddenly, tears started to run down on my face.

“Raiki...it’s my fault,” Arron suddenly said after appearing before me, standing. Just like me, he is covered with bandage all over his body. Bon, who is behind him, is also like that.

“Arron...Bon...” I whispered, remembering what happened to them back then.

Then, both of them knelt down on the floor and hit their forehead on the floor.

“Thank you very much for saving us!” both of them shouted. “But we sincerely apologize that because of us, Ciana got abducted by [Scorpio].”

“You...don’t have to apologize. It’s my fault, that’s the truth...because I used [Holy Sword],” I whispered with a sad expression.

I then stood up and both Iwa and Honoka got surprised.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Honoka reacted.

“I’m...going to get Ciana back,” I said with a serious expression.

Iwa suddenly stopped me by holding both of my hands. Then, with tears welling down on her eyes, she said, “Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I have to,” I replied and looked at her with determined eyes.

“Then, we’re coming too,” Honoka said with a serious expression and looked at Iwa.

Iwa then nodded and followed, “Let’s bring back Ciana together.”

“We’re coming too,” Rave announced after standing up with Kumi, Shikaze and Aori behind him, all standing.

“Raiki...” Arron suddenly called after both brothers stood up.

I then asked, “Why?”

“Can I tell you the reason why I tried to kill Rosanna?” he continued with a regretful expression. “I want you to know our side too.”

“Go ahead,” I replied with a serious expression.

“Before I become a soldier, I have a lover. Her name was Aiza. We really loved each other and we supported each other in our respective dreams. Back then, my dream was to become a famous weapon dealer and her dream was to become a master cook. But one day, a friend made me join in a [monster hunt]. I then brought a bow that I recently made to help me in the hunt. And when the hunt started, I learned how good I was in using a bow. No matter how far the monsters were, I can successfully hit them precisely where I wanted. There, I saw the fun of battling strong opponents. My friends even got surprised how good I was in using a bow and arrow. Then, a couple of months later, I decided to tell Aiza that my dream changed, that this time, what I want now is to become a soldier. But her reaction was different from what I imagined. She outright opposed what I want to do, saying that it is really a dangerous job without hearing my side. Because of that, we quarrelled really bad and eventually broke up. Since then, I didn’t hear any news from her. That was why I decided to continue my dream to become a soldier together with my brother Bon as my [beast weapon]. It was a difficult road to join the [soldier challenge] but it was totally worth it after succeeding because we immediately defeated God [Sagittarius] in one try and I earned the title of [Cyclops Archer]. But several days after that, I heard a news that Aiza got beheaded by the warden of [Underworld Prison], [Scorpio] for the crime of attempted murder to a noble. I was devastated after learning that news. I know Aiza and she can never do something like that. And above all, I regretted the fact that she died without me knowing the whole incident. That was why I swore that I will avenge her, that one day, I will kill someone precious to [Scorpio] before his own eyes,” Arron told us and tears ran down on his face.

“So that’s...what happened,” Rave whispered with a sad expression after hearing his story.

“But...you know that killing Rosanna is not a good method no matter how you look at it,” I followed with a solemn look.

“Yeah,” Arron replied and wiped his tears. “I learned that after I almost lose Bon too. That is why I regretted the fact that I tried to kill Rosanna and I will never do something like that ever again. I learned my lesson already.”

“Me too. I was really at wrong too because instead of stopping him, I even helped him to avenge Aiza,” Bon followed with regrets clearly shown on his face.

“That is why please let us help you save Goddess [Virgo] too. It’s our fault to begin with so please let us join you,” both brothers said with a bow.

“I see. Then, I’m counting on you two. Everyone...thanks,” I said and smiled.

“But...you’ll need a [Sky Carrier] to chase after [Scorpio], right?” a familiar girl wearing a bandit outfit said after appearing on the open window.

“Wh-who are you?” Rave reacted with a surprised face.

“Long time no see, Raiki,” Aria said with a smile.

“Aria...” I whispered.

“You know her?” Iwa asked.

“She’s the one that we battled in the [Harlequin Valley] back when we’re still helping the small village,” Honoka explained with a serious face.

“Why are you here?” I asked with a wary expression.

“Don’t be like that, Raiki. I’m just here to help you,” she continued with a smile.

“Help?” I repeated with a confused look.

“I have a [Sky Carrier] so it will be much easier to catch up to them with my help, right?”

“But...why will you help us?” Rave asked, also wary of her actions.

“You see, I saw the whole incident at the Terminal. That is why I want to help you save her. Of course, I have my own reasons to,” she said and winked at me.

“Reasons?” I asked.

“I’ll tell you once we’ve arrived safely in our destination. So...is it a deal?” she asked without her smile disappearing.

“Okay, I’ll leave the transportation to you,” I replied with a serious expression.

“Raiki?” Honoka reacted with a surprised face.

“Can we trust her?” Iwa asked with a worried look.

“I don’t know but...” I said and looked at Aria. “...I’ll do anything to bring Ciana back. If I have to gamble because of that, I won’t hesitate to do it.”