Azrael and Phaeton found themselves in a large corridor with two pathways extending to opposite directions, they paused to scan the area.

“This building isn't that big, we should be able to find it in no time.” Phaeton said.

The building Azrael and Phaeton entered spanned more or less 30 rooms. This area was mostly used for the general maintenance and operations of the Stadium. The training and broadcasting rooms are only used during events hence the lack of people.

Phaeton’s face contorted in anger as he was kneeling in front of a dead body. “Damn these people! They even killed civilians.”

There were bodies scattered on the floor, all lifeless and bloodied. They weren't even armed.

“I know how you’re feeling. The sad truth is, people have been killed for less. The only way to make them pay is to do our job, so we need to focus.” Azrael said as he tapped Phaeton’s shoulder seemingly trying to console him.

“I know.” Phaeton then held his hands on the dead body’s face and shut his eyes close. He then stood up seemingly filled with anger.

Suddenly, Azrael detected a sharp concentration of mana rushing to their location. “What luck! Someone is tailing us.”

Azrael’s senses were already beyond average, especially since he was using light magic which has a high affinity towards mana detection.

Azrael scanned Phaeton’s condition. “If push comes to shove we need to be prepared to fight again.”

“Do you know where the utility room is?” Azrael asked.

Pheaton came to a sudden realization. “You mean to say, we rushed with the plan without even knowing where it is!?”

Azrael wasn't this your part of the plan. “Now what?”

”We don't have enough time” Azrael said.

“We will need to split up for us to increase our chances for us to cover additional ground.” Phaeton said as he looked at the fork ahead of them.

“There's already someone following us. We don't have the luxury to fight. There is also the question if we can even beat our pursuer together.”

“Hey! Are you that unconfident?” Phaeton asked.

Azrael shook his head. “It's not that. I felt that he’s extremely dangerous. He might not be as strong as Harken, but he’s not far. Should I also remind you, that the both of us have been fighting since our matches, we don't have much energy to spare. We will absolutely lose.”

Phaeton snorted. “We should really do something about your negative way of thinking.”

“I'm just being realistic man. So which way do you choose?” Azrael asked.

—

A few seconds after Azrael and Phaeton split up, another figure walked into the building. Aiden entered the structure, he came upon the same crossroad Azrael and Phaeton encountered.

“Where could those have gone? Either way, it could only be left or right. Hmm, there’s an energy signature on that side.”

He proceeded to the left where Phaeton was.

Aiden scanned each room as he passed them, unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found.

“Quite a bit troublesome. I don't know why boss still asked me to do this, we could have dealt with Demetrius together.” Aiden clicked his tongue.

—

A ray of light flashed as Azrael moved through the rooms and corridors quickly.

“These are all training rooms. Dammit, where is it?!” He quickly shrugged his frustration and he eyed the last two rooms.

“This should be the last one.”

Azrael was frustrated. He opened the door, the moment he saw what was in it, he had an ugly expression. He looked towards the opposite direction where Phaeton was.

“It's on the other side.”

Azrael thought about Aiden and the distance he was from them. Judging from his last detection of Aiden he was tailing them closely right until they split up, meaning he would have chosen one path just like the two of them.

“Phaeton probably hasn't searched all the rooms yet since I’m faster than him… This is bad, if Aiden picked the left side, Phaeton won't have time to broadcast our message. What should I do? Should I go to his side? But even then, I won’t make it. Shit! Shit!”

Azrael bit his fingers while trying to come up with a solution. The truth was, he already knew what to do, he was simply in denial.

Azrael grumbled in frustration. “Ahhhgg why do I keep doing this. This is unlike me”.

__

Aiden was just a few meters away from Phaeton and was carefully going through the corridor. The building spanned multiple sections, if he breezed through it, he might move his targets.

“Hmm. I'm sure they haven't got far

Aiden was already midway from when he started when suddenly he felt a surging spike of mana in the opposite direction he was in. This was the making of a strong spell.

He looked back and smiled. “So you guys were there.”

Aiden dashed towards the mana signature at high speeds.

_

As Aiden walked through the halls, he found himself on a dead end. The final room had one person in it. “You’re alone?”

He scanned his surroundings warily, at the same time he was trying to find out what kind of spell was cast a few moments ago. After confirming that it was only Azrael that was here he then asked.

“Where’s your companion, what exactly are you doing here?”

Azrael did not respond, however, he was already preparing to make a break for it.

“No answer?” Aiden sighed. “Nothing personal kid, but I'm going to kill both you and your companion if you don't spill whatever you’re plotting here, so I suggest you speak now.”

“Go to hell!” A beam of light blasted straight towards Aiden.

“Insolence!” Aiden circulated his mana, three overlapping magic circles were drawn in the air. The beam of light simply dissipated before it made contact with Aiden. “Even if you’re counting on a surprise attack, this is really pathetic, almost everyone can cast a mana shield.

Seeing that the attack did not work, Azrael, darted right for the exit of the room.

Aiden then pulled out a pistol from his holster and aimed in Azrael's general direction. “Escaping? No. We still have much to discuss”

The bullet chamber revolved. Sparks and pulses of light blue light shimmered, Aiden then pulled the trigger.

The bullet streaked straighten then abruptly bent to home at Azrael.

“What the hell, it follows.” Azrael tried to use evasive maneuvers and darted diagonally on the corridors.

Aiden then fired two more shots. Bang! Bang!

Unfortunately one of the bullets shot right through Azrael. “Ugh”

As Azrael tried to stabilize himself, he felt a sharp pain in the bullet wound.

Pain flared upon his whole right leg which causes him to further become outbalanced. His body crashed right at the floor, like a bird with clipped wings.

Azrael could hear Aiden’s footsteps closing in.

“Those are ‘mana-burn bullets’. Those bullets contain mana destroying properties. Every time you use mana, the materials on those bullets ignite, causing severe pain. Well, the pain is really just icing on the cake.”

Aiden came to view in Azrael’s line of sight. “He caught up.”

Azrael wracked his brains, he tried using a simple spell, but it was met with excruciating pain. It was very hard to concentrate on drawing magic circles.

“I seldom use these bullets, catching you really allows me to try out things. You see, these bullets are rarely used nowadays as traditional mages are rare in themselves. These bullets are useless against magic-weapon wielders.”

Aiden walked towards Azrael, he was only a few steps away. As he neared he cocked the gun and aimed it at Azrael’s head.

“Speak.”

Azrael didn't budge his stance, but in his mind, he was very nervous. “Am I really gonna die here? No-no-no. I refuse to die just because I got caught up in this stupid mess. I barely started my life.”

Azrael wanted to live but he could not bear the thought of spilling the plan and betraying Phaeton. “This bullet prevents me from doing anything.”

Azrael recalled the pain the bullet caused and thought hard.

BANG!

“Aghhhhh!” Azrael screamed in pain, Aiden nonchalantly fired the gun at Azrael’s thigh.

Aiden then loaded another bullet. “Your leg is most likely useless now. Think hard now, lest it becomes permanent.”

Sigh. “Why are you trying so hard for the Empire, you don't have even have an attachment to them. You’re just a recruit, right? Tell me and I’ll let you go. They won't even know that you helped after all you’re just a recruit.”

Azrael wiped the blood in his mouth and smiled. “Your incessant rambling makes it harder for me to help you.”

“Go die”

A searing pain spread throughout Azrael’s body as he activated a spell.

‘Blinding Light’

Aiden's field of vision was obstructed and his senses were completely overloaded. After a few seconds, he was able to recover himself, only to find out that Azrael had disappeared.

“That runt- Hmm. A trail of blood” Aiden saw bloodied footsteps

“Ughhhh” In one of the supply rooms, Azrael was groaning in pain, he used enhanced-light steps in order for him to move his body far away. The bullet may have punctured his legs but it hadn't harmed him that much physically. After realizing that the pain was the main thing he needed to deal with, Azrael just steeled himself to bear the pain for enough time to escape.

“This is the best first aid I can do, although this won't help much.”

Azrael then tore off the sleeves of his clothes and put them on his mouth. After analyzing his situation, he discovered that the source of the mana burn was the bullet itself. If that's the case, as long as he removed it, he would be free from its effects, essentially increasing his chances of survival.

——————

On the arena.

"Why don't you accompany me, princess?" Finn had a deranged look as he was slowly circling towards the princess.

“Scum! Do you think I'm that defenseless?”

You must be thinking that I’ll hold back against you. If you don't cooperate, I wouldn't mind dragging you with us.

The princess has a bit of combat training. Although lacking, she is able to defend herself.

“Hehe, I do like a bit of resistance”

“Here I come princess!”

Finn unsheathed his short sword, his stance was awkward, slightly slouching. After a brief moment, he made his move.

His body lunged forward with his arm reaching forward and his sword falling behind. He made a slash.

As the attack was incoming, the princess braced herself. She channeled her energy on her hands then a blue wisp of light formed into a barrier in front of her.

“Why arent you doing anything?! Help me!” The princess had a panicked expression as she shouted at Thanatos. Although she successfully blocked the attack she was already getting scared for her life.

Her many was fluctuating. Her training was limited, she knew how to attack, however she was already flustered beyond measure. She could only vent her frustration at Thanatos.

Normally speaking, citizens would automatically put her safety above else.

“Do something!” the princess shouted

“HAHAHA! Even your subjects don't care about you anymore.” Harken laughed and then looked at Thanatos.

“Even if your boy interferes he will get killed easily. I don't think he'll risk his life for you princess. Look at him, he's fucking shivering for heaven’s sake hahaha”

Thanatos was enraged, not by Finn's insults but at the princess’ remarks and demands.

“Why should I help you, you're a hypocrite. Even getting killed by this lowlife is not enough retribution for what your family has done.” Thanatos thought to himself.

Suddenly a louder sound ringed in his head “Are you going to throw everything we’ve done so far?!”

Thanatos clicked his tongue. He made his move.

Clang! A high pitch sound reverberate as Finn’s blade bounced off!

‘Claw’

“You punk! Didn't I say that you’ll get yourself killed if you interfere?” Finn shouted.

Contrary to expectations, he was actually happy and was suppressing his emotions.

He had planned to kill the boy in the first place, it's just that getting justification was even more satisfying for him.

“The royals truly have polluted the minds of today’s youth, even some random rat on the street wants to lick the boots of her highness”

He revolved his mana. “I’ll show you what happens to rats”

‘Strengthening’

“What did you say?” Thanatos muttered in a muffled voice.

“Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me? I said—-”

A swell of anger surged in Thanatos’ chest. Before Finn could finish his sentence, a purple mist generated and expanded outward from him.