“Oh what’s takin so damn long? Burg shoulda’ came back by now. Unless, haha oh goodie then I can finally test the pet project I’ve been workin’ on haha!” Scarab walked towards a cage looking on manically, he pulled the sheets covering the cage down. Revealing a dark beast, a pet of the dark one, an armored scorpion. “Hohoo, this’ll give them a run for their money!” Unlocking the cage Scarab stood back commanding the beast “Now go knock em dead.” *GRRRRRRRRRRR* *PINCH PINCH!* The beast ran out of the cage at its full speed charging until meeting the group with full resistance.

“How much longer till we reach this bug?” Blurted out Wisp. “Well I wouldn’t know, cause if I did then I would have ended him myself by now.” Ziro replied, “Wait guys do you hear that?” “Hear what Zero?” Zero’s ears perked up same as Ziro’s. *rumble rumble rumble.* The group looked forward to prepare themselves, *SMASH!* The beast smashed through the door way in front of them, Kali cried out “A SCORPION!” “We can see that! It must be Scarab’s last effort to stop us.” “Your right Zi, SHADOW STEP!” Zero and Ziro vanished into the darkness and appeared over the scorpion’s body, landing on it’s back the two striked the tail with accuracy and rhythm.

*TINK TINK* “Crap armor Ziro retreat back.” Nodding Ziro vanished same as Zero. “Kali any ideas?” Wisp asked, “Well when we attacked that dark soldier I used Blind betrayal which seemed to burn his eyes. So maybe, BLIND BETRAYAL!” Kali casted a blinding ball of light which seemed to effect the beast same as it did for the soldier. Zero and Ziro struck again but were met with the scorpion’s stinger deflect. “Shit I forgot scorpions have multi vison not just night vision.” “Wisp cast some kind of flare while I use blind betrayal this should block all vision.”

“CASTING FLAME! BLIND BETRAYAL!” The combined solar flare and ball of light completely blinded the beast, rendering its vision useless Zero and Ziro took advantage of this and fully attacked the tail severing the stinger from the body. Just as they did however the scorpion got back up and grabbed the two elates and tossed them back with the stinger. The beast started to move forward pinching its claws. (If those get to us it’s all over. Think think think!) Suddenly a cold breeze sharply passed through the group and a beam of light broke through the sealing of the dungeon striking the beast melting right through the beasts armor face plate.

“That’s it! Zero, Ziro its face use the stinger!” The two got up grabbing the severed stinger and charged full speed at the scorpions face dodging the pincers and stabbing the face. The beast squirmed back and forth until dropping dead on the spot. Panting both Zero and Ziro cheered in victory. “YES WE DID IT!” “JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS!” The two hugged as they waved to get Kali and Wisp to follow. Back at Scarab’s view “WHAT?! DAMN IT! That was the last thing I could use. Lord Veksis is not gonna be happy with me. At least I can escape with my experiments haha!” He got up and headed for a ladder leading out of the dungeon,

“Damn elates always gettin in my way humph! Next time I see one im gonna..” “Gonna what?” “H….huh?” Scarab turned around to see the four standing behind him. “Yeah next time you see another Elate what are you going to do?” Zero replied angerly. Boldly he blurted out “NEXT TIME I’LL MAKE A MEAL OUT OF THEM!” Ziro threw her scythes at Scarab Grappling the bug like man. “How could you do that to your own kind? You know your soul wont be set free. So why?” Tearfully Ziro cried out as she spoke to Scarab. “You just took the words outta my own mouth missy. I’m not gonna be set free so why bother bein nice.” Sadistically he laughed straight at Ziro,

“Your so called queen is a fraud! The world is over and lord of darkness will rise and rule over all!” *STAB* “GAH!” “Zero!” “He talks to much way more then I do. I just couldn’t wait for you to do it.” Ziro dropped the body and turned to Zero crying. Zero held her closely saying “Everything is gonna be alright, you and me are safe and Layla, Julius, Solar and Arc are all free.” “Your… Your right” *Sniff sniff* “Hey guys? He said something about experiments, maybe we should look around if you want that is.” Kali with a concerned look asked, “Sure we should know what this sick freak was up to after all this time.” “Can you handle it Zi?” “I….think so Z.”

The two stood up and gravitated towards a sealed door. Pressing a button it opened to reveal a revolting sight to see. Entering the room Ziro curled over and vomited at the things in front of her. The room had tubes containing a green liquid, inside this liquid were elate bodies, body parts and organs. Wisp floated past Zero who was holding Ziro, still curled over, inspecting a table she noticed some pictures and writings. *GASP* “Ma’ma come here!” “What is it Wisp?” “Just, take a look.” Kali looked down on the table and shockingly took a step back, for on the table were pictures of Whispering Shadows, their locations, and their names. Four of the pictures had been Marked with and X, these pictures where of Layla, Solar, Arc and Julius.

These pictures where takin when they were alive. Kali looked at the pictures which almost seemed like they were taken in secret. She looked at the picture of Solar who looked like a beautiful young lady, in a black dress which went down past her knees and had a red a black stripped bonnet on her head. Holding in her right hand was her wand the very same one that the one dark soldier was holding. Strangely she looked happy and next to her was Arc at the same level of joy it seemed that solar had a bunny spirit and Arc was a cat. Arc had blue hair and sparkling white eyes the two where holding their arms together laughing, it seemed they where on some kind of date.

Looking over to the next image Kali saw Layla who was working on her Longsword, this seemed like an old photo since she looked so young in the picture. The sword was almost twice her size, and she was working on it with an adult male, maybe her father. She looked so precious and sweet, being a ferret she seemed quite small…and fragile. The next one was a picture of Julius, a monkey spirit who was on a training field, blocking a blow from an opponent, she looked strong and resilient. But she must have had an emotional side. Kali took the rest of the photos and whipped the X marks off the 3 pictures and walked over to Zero and Ziro. “Here, this isn’t much but I hope this will make you both feel more at ease, these three”

She handed The pictures of Arc and Solar, then Julius, then Layla over. “Were the only ones marked out. The others are still out there, Ram, Rom, Sage, Harley and you two. I’m sure they are safe.” Holding back the tears Zero Grabbed the photos showing them to Ziro, the two exchanged looks for a few seconds until Ziro gave the photos to Zero to safe Guard. “Thanks Kali for everything.” Cried Ziro, “Thanks for Keeping Zero safe for this long.” “Then why don’t you join us, so you can keep each other safe.” Ziro looked up at Wisp and Kali, then to Zero, “I wouldn’t be in the way?”

“In the way? How would you be in the way?!” Shouted Zero, “You haven’t been in anyway shape or form in the way. In fact you helped me out the most by being here instead of some random ass nobody!” “But.” “No buts! Also you killed a general of the dark army, think of the money!” Ziro laughed at the words that just came out of Zero’s mouth. “You always did care about three things in this world, Your team, money and me.” “Yes I do hehe” Poking her nose Zero pulled up Ziro and the three became four, as they continued back home. They reported to the guild that they killed the general of the dark army Scarab and were reward 100 gold coins! Zero took Ziro shopping for new gear, Kali and Wisp returned to the inn and all was quiet. For the time being that is……

“The blasted fool Scarab got himself killed! Even after everything I gave him!” “When you can’t do a simple job as to stop 4 souls from figuring out your plans, makes him a failure of a minion.” Veksis walked back and forth in his throne room. “Failures! Everyone of them. The saying goes If they can’t do something right then do it yourself.” Veksis Stormed out of his room leaving what appeared to be some sort of crystal ball that had a scene playing in repeat over and over again. It showed 2 elates and a human with a sprite then red covered the scene and repeated.