"Lilith! Lilith!", Yuno hugged her.

Lass turned around, looking at them both. "What the...her powers are at a whole new extreme.", he gazed at Ikarisa. "It's like... it never happened? That's amazing..."

Yuno kept tightening his grip around Lilith, almost as if he felt that she was going to go away from him again. His tears gradually turning into a smile, he looked over at Ikarisa.

"Despite being who we are and just tiny compared to you...thank, goddess. Thank you so much! I...I wouldn't be able to take anything on without her!"

"Size has nothing to do with this. I know how much she means to you...because she means that much to me as well. Lilith, is my Guardian.", Ikarisa said. "However, it's not the normal Child-Guardian relationship, as we are not exactly...connected, in a way."

"That...wouldn't surprise me. She always used to tell me some of her weird stories from outside Kaci, how she travelled the world with someone. And no matter how much I'd get hurt, she'd use her powers to heal me. Just like you.", Yuno said.

"Well yes but...it's complicated.", Ikarisa exhaled heavily. "Whew. That took a bit more out of me than what I though. But anyway, we can't stay here for long. We need to break everyone out and get moving quickly."

Lass turned his back on the other prisoners and moved towards his friends' cell.

"Risa is right, we need to get outta here as fast as possible. We already made as much noise as we could, and I doubt that it'll pass as prisoner bickering for long."

"Right.", Yuno picked Lilith up. "I'll carry her."

"Not so fast, big guy.", Anya said. "Risa over here, has a huge plan. Go ahead, Risa!"

"I promised I'll help whenever and however I can...hear me out. When they perform the ritual with the eclipse, they'll try to gather and shoot they will try to use whatever Obsulyte signature they have to convert me into one of them. And all that energy will be amplified with a prism they will set up over-ground! So I'm sure of it...I can try and fight back the prism, and light everything up!"

"But goddess, that's way too risky! What about you?!", Yuno said.

"I will have to agree with this flying menace here. It's way riskier than what we did back in Reingard, you're going to actively try to take the hurt, not bring it closer. If we coordinate a better attack, we can probably try to brake the prism and face them at the forest path's choke point during a retreat..."

"You won't be able to brake it in time. I don't need to run any tests to tell you this big guy, that prism is exactly the same as what Gygas had worn the day he...well he essentially became a monster. I manage to get my ways around and got a hold of that thing. I don't know what that rock was, but it's very distinguishable and extraordinarily hard. More so than Damascus metals made with extra hard materials...you can probably break it, but the timing will be...well impossible.", Anya said.

"We are still not about to let the goddess engage into such reckless behavior!"

"Wait, who are you? Are you with Lass?"

"Long story short, I am basically the new Childs' Guardian and all that. Now what are you gonna do?"

"Oh, it's the little Hyrusa again!", Anya remembered Yuno's face.

"Excuse me what?"

"Oh I-uh...never-mind! Heheh..."

"Wait a minute...those legs...and that tail. You're the sword thief?!"

"Oh drop it already, I was gonna take the freaking sword sooner or later!", Lass stepped in. "Risa, there's no way you're doing this. We'll save everyone with something else."

"Lass, I'm sorry but there's no other way. Even if you get me out I won't come...my mind's set!"

"I've got backup!", Anya smiled. "I managed to loosen up the chains of everyone in here. When Risa lights everything up, we'll all help!"

"What do you think?", Yuno turned to Lass.

"Hmph...I heavily dislike this."

"I'll get back in the cell...when the assault happens, I want to help too! I had a few days of soldier training with my father...I can do this!", Lilith said.

"Alright fine. I get it, we'll go with that...I'm warning you however, if things don't go the way they where supposed to, I'm cutting this plan short!", Lass said. "I also have another idea. If the prism is so hard as Anya said, then it probably is made to hold against really energy-intense situations. If I intervene right when Risa starts to fight back, I should be able to finish the prism off. After all, I suspect insane energy concentration at that point."

"Yeap, we can do that! Let's get the plan into motion!"

Lass and Yuno then proceeded to get out of the hole in the ground, stealthily passing through Shadower soldiers by disguising their aura like one of theirs thanks to Lass. They then swiftly got into position and waited till sundown. And as soon as the first dim rays of moonlight started to appear, everything was ready to go into motion...

"Lass, there she is! She's being brought up in the platform!"

"Alright, lets do this."

Ikarisa was forced to kneel and the eclipse happened. It was a weak eclipse since the sun hadn't fully set, but that didn't stop them. They pinned Ikarisa down at the platform and began their ritual, chanting up at the prism. The amount of raw energy that went on to Ikarisa was severe, as Lass began to doubt the plan midway and was ready to raise his blade preemptively. But then she did it. Using both her own strength and that of the Wing of Aether, Ikarisa redirected all of the energy back into the prism. Lass then swiftly jumped in, creating a lance from his abilities and hurdling it directly on to the prism. The entire camp lit up on fire as multiple rays of light launched left and right, each causing a massive explosion on impact with the ground and killing a huge chunk of the Shadowers's numbers. The prisoners then rushed above ground after the barrage was over, starting to run towards the woods while also defending against what few forces the Shadowers managed to scramble back together to pursue them.

"Everyone, there's our opening! Go, go, go!", Anya yelled at the prisoners.

With that, the last of the prisoners came rushing out and began to run away from the Shadowers and that's when Lass jumped in as well. He told Yuno to split up with him and get Ikarisa and everyone back to the village so that she could recover. The night was young and as soon as everyone evacuated the area is when Lass started to set himself off.

"My oh my, me...surely there's quite the number of insects I need to squash. Hmm...let's start with you then!", 'Lass' menacingly approached the monsters.

Lass grabbed a nearby Shadower at inhuman speeds by the face. He smiled with upmost joy as he tightened his grip more and more. The monsters face unable to fend off against the agonizing pressure gave in, as it shattered itself into pieces, blood and bones splashing all over the area.

"Oops. This one had a host recently? Oh well...", Lass closed in and smelled his bloody hand. "I have a lot more cleaning to do. Who dies next?", he pointed his blade at the Shadowers, letting of a menacing smile.

One after the other, the monsters fell in front of him and piled up. Even the monsters themselves who out of instinct alone decided to make a retreat or surrender, failed to do so, as Lass caught up and gifted them with death. He did not look back and he did not hesitate. So long as he was in his rush, nothing else mattered.

Lass panted. "Why...why?"

"I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't meant to...but I had to.", Mellistar echoed.

"It's all useless in the end...I'll never do it...", Lass kneeled down after a long battle.

"This won't end so easily...", Mellistar comforted Lass.

A few hours later, when none were left standing, he slowly made his way back to the village.

"Oh! There's Lass!", Ikarisa ran up and hugged Lass. "What took you so long?"

"I got a little lost. Besides that, everyone sure looks happy again, eh?"

"You get we are big guy! I got all my gear back too! Not to mention the party, there's alcohol for days!

"I found out what I'll be doing in the morning...dammit mutt.", Lass facepalmed.

Lilith closed in. "Hey-hey you guys! It worked out didn't it?! Did anyone get hurt during the assault?"

"Ah, you're awake! Welcome back...but how did you know about the assault?", Anya asked.

"Once I woke up in the Elder's house where Yuno brought me, everyone told me about the great escape! Amazing!", Lilith applauded everyone.

"Risa looks fine. Everyone looks happy...I think we can count this one as a success." Lass said. "Did we miss anyone?"

"Nope, not at all. I know everyone here and it seems that they're all back safe and sound! I want to thank you, but since it was you who initially started this I don't know what to say anymore...", Yuno shrugged.

"'Thank you!' is what you should say Yuno! My Goddess, you and the One saved us! How could we ever repay you?", Weis happily said.

"Don't worry, it was nothing! We don't need anything from you guys, we're just glad we got everything sorted out! Now we must be heading out to Delpha...don't want to sidetrack a lot from our path!", Ikarisa proudly stood up.

"Well, I sure am glad to see you took this more seriously.", Lass patted Ikarisa. "Now then, since everything is ok, we should head out. We've got a lot of negotiations to do."

"Leaving so soon? Won't you stay for the festival at least? We prepared it just for you all!", Weis insisted.

"I don't know there's a lot of things that need-", Lass got stopped by Ikarisa.

"Absolutely!"

"Didn't you just say to start moving ahead?"

"But what about...you're right."

"Well it'd be a shame and rude of us to waste all the efforts they made for the party just like that! It's for one night only...", Anya gave puppy eyes to Lass.

After a small moment of hesitation, Lass came into a conclusion.

"Oh my gods...fine! But one night tomorrow morning we're out we have a world to save!"

"Understood!", Anya and Ikarisa saluted.

"I'll be joining you too. My job is to be your guardian and on top of that, my role in this place is non-existent anymore...so would be better if I just self-exiled myself in a good way.", Yuno sighed.

Lilith then slowly approached Yuno.

"Ah, Lili. I see your injuries are long gone? You don't hurt anywhere else, do you?", Yuno checked on Lilith.

"Nope! Thanks to the goddess, I'm back in tip-top shape!", she smiled.

"Good. Hopefully you can keep yourself out of trouble this time Lili.", Yuno folded his arms. "Besides, I'm not planning to stick around for long anyway.", Yuno said.

Lilith nodded. "Yuno. You're not exiling yourself. Treat this as a simple journey with your friends! I know it's been rough around the village ever since the incident but...you don't have to be like that! It's not just your fault, like I said...we are all to blame. And now more than ever, I can see that everyone is realizing it! So...I, and the entirety of the village will be waiting for you when you return! Safe travels!", Lilith happily flew next to Yuno.

"Oh, that's so cute! Kiss, kiss, kiss!", an already drunk Anya said.

"What the hell is even wrong with you?!", Lass stopped her.

"I'm trying to get them together!"

"You damn mutt, you ran after an illusion and got yourself lost in the woods because of it! You're done doing any more of those shitshow scenarios until we're out of the woods!"

"Who did you call a mutt?! You wanna go bro?! Come on, step up!"

Lass and Anya grabbed onto each other and started fighting.

"Are they always like that?", Yuno asked.

"You'll get used to it eventually...I hope.", Ikarisa facepalmed. "Such kids..."

"I'm in for quite the ride aren't I?", Yuno looked at Anya and Lass fighting.

"You can have yourselves the guest house in the main hall if you wish. After their...dwindling and the festivities, I'm sure you'll need quite the rest.", Weis said.

"Thanks elder. For everything.", Yuno said

"Not a problem at all. Have a good night from me, this partying has taken quite the toll on an old-timer dragon like me. I'm going to sleep."

"Good night Mr. Weis!", Ikarisa waved.

The rest of the festival rolled out smoothly even after Lass was done fighting with Anya. Partying, dancing and all sorts of foods were laid out for them all. After all that, they were brought into the elder's guest house, which held some human sized bedrooms, where they could finally rest...except from one who's eyes could not shut for even a moment, as he found comfort into the moonlit balcony.

"How many times are we going to do this back and forth? I know it's like that, but...", Lass said.

"I said I'm sorry, alright?! Don't push it!", Mellistar echoed.

Ikarisa slowly stepped out to the balcony and approached Lass.

"Lass..."

"Hmm? What is it? Is Anya too wasted to sleep?"

"No, it's just...are you alright? You had a grim face when you came back..."

"Well...I'll be fine. Now you should go."

"No, I won't. You can't keep pushing people away every time you need them the most. You were there for us, so why do you have to be so cold and distant when it's for you? Just...tell me what's wrong."

Lass sighed. "Have you ever felt...like there's another 'you'? A part of you you wish never existed? That you desperately try to hide from others, more than yourself, and forget it exists, only for it to come back ten times stronger? And throughout it all you lose both that 'you' and the one you currently are, only to be left with unanswered questions?", he chuckled. "An extremely weird way to put it...but it couldn't be more accurate."

"I...I can't fully resonate with that...fully."

"So, if the millennia old goddess can't, who will be able to? Look, it's my problem, my burden. I'll figure it out myself."

"But Lass, why won't you let us help you like you did?"

"Please, if everyone was to cry for help then there'd be no one to help."

"But if that's how it is, how are we supposed to feel?!"

"It's up to you. Look...let's not do this tonight."

"I know that if we don't you'll try to hurry it under the rug. I just...I know it...it's so you."

"Some things you just...can't help. Because they are too far gone to receive that help. Look, Risa...just drop it. It will be better that way."

Lass stepped in and out of Ikarisa's sight, leaving her alone with her thoughts on the balcony. Tears seemed to roll down her eyes, as she lamented what she knew that he couldn't.

"I'm so sorry Lass...in the end, I just have to wonder. Who was to be happy during all this...or were they in the first place. I can't see you like that again and again...but I can't just...I'm so, so sorry."

As the moon reached it's peak, silence fell upon the forest, as everyone was preparing for the events to come...