“Don’t turn your back to me.” Grimm furiously said. Virion stopped.

“Don’t turn your back to me he says.” Virion grew angry hearing the man. He granted the request and faced him. “Alright. If you want to do this so badly.”

“I don’t. The Freelands is small. Take your men and leave.” Grimm ordered.

“Oh. Think I'm just going to bow to your whim now. Even after all these years, you still think you’re better than everyone else.”

“Pops, you know this guy?” One of the boys asked.

“Yeah. We used to be friends.” Grimm answered.

“Ha! Yeah. Used to. But look at us now. MEN! CHANGE OF PLANS. I’ll take Grimm so you don’t have to worry about soiling your armor. What I do want from you is to kill every last one of those young men. And when you're done, find the villagers and kill them as well.” Virion ordered. The young knights all hesitated for a moment. Then took their arms and turned to the young men.

“You all know what happens if you die right?” Grimm called over to his boys. They all nodded. “Good.”

The two groups resumed their combat. Grimm and Virion stared at each other viciously.

“It’s good to see you Virion, but i have to do this. I can’t let you go any further.” Grimm said, reaching behind and grabbing his scythe.

“Honestly. I don't care about this damn invasion. Now that I know you’re here. I can finally let off some steam.” Virion grabbed his axe from his back.

“How is she?” Grimm asked. Virion grew even more furious and lunged at Grimm. Both of their weapons collided.

“HOW DO YOU THINK!?” Virion screamed. A roaring wave was sent by the strength of their collison. Virion pushed Grimm back. Causing Grimm towing his scythe, and sending ice at the captain. Virion lifted his axe, then a green hue began to cover the weapon.

He slashed down, and the ice dispelled away from him, however still covered the area around him. Virion brought his axe down again onto the ground. The floor beneath Grimm started to crack, then the ground beneath him fell in. He jumped to safety. Then dashed back at Virion,

“I have to disarm him!” Grimm thought to himself.

“Don’t you even speak about her! You were everyone’s favorite! You were the one the other cared about so much! While we had to sit in darkness, pushing ourselves to the point that we bled!” Virion screamed as Grimm approached. He parried the large scythe. Grimm easily recovered, making Virion more angry. He then started to relentlessly attack. “Don’t now start to pretend like you care about anybody!”

Virion’s attacks were almost nothing for Grimm, yet his words continued to knock him off balance. He saw an opening, and sent ice towards Virion’s face. The captain quickly dodged and sent his weapon-less hand towards Grimm’s stomach. Upon contact, Grimm felt immense pain. He rushed back to get away.

However the attack didn’t cause lasting damage, as Grimm’s body soon recovered from it relatively quickly.

“And there it is. The famous power of the ‘Boy Who Can’t Die’. Learned anything else in your time of absence?”

“Yeah. I’ve learned you haven’t changed one bit. You're still the same asshole you were all those years ago. I’d thought you grew out of it. Yet, you’re still the same as always.” Grimm scolded. “Is that all you plan to do for the rest of your life?”

“I intended to become a great knight. Be surrounded by beautiful women all day. And have the admiration of those around me. But I guess one man's desire is another man's legacy.” Virion spouted. He then jumped into the air towards Grimm. His axe swung down, Grimm dodge and Virion didn’t let up. Everywhere his axe touched it would soon break into pieces. Grimm blasted ice, immobilizing the captain. Yet Virion’s eyes flashed green, then the ice broke apart.

Grimm started to swing his scythe towards Virion, attempting to take him down.

“You really think I’m some fool. I know how that scythe works. You’re trying to make it to where I can’t use my magic. Not today.” Virion said, bringing his leg over Grimm’s arm. He then flipped himself, causing Grimm to follow and be knocked flat on the ground. Virion went in for a final blow to the face with his axe. However, he was stopped by a large sword. Ezra had saved Grimm.

The large sword deflected the axe away. Making him jump back. Grimm rose to his feet.

"You alright?" Asked Grimm.

"Yeah. The mayor gave me a potion. Think we can take this guy?"

"No need too!" From behind The boys and Katreena appeared. Having defeated the Knights. Virion knew he couldn't beat the whole group. He put his axe away.

“Virion. Please. Just go home. Take these men and leave. You already said you don’t care about the invasion. And you know you can’t defeat me.” Grimm said to the old friend.

“Hmm. Same as always. You never had to fight for anything. I’ve stopped caring about everything and everyone else. At this point I don’t know if i’m fighting for me, or for fighting because it’s the last thing that gives me life. Guess we’ll never know. I’ve fought for my life, and not a single piece of recognition. You disgust Grimm. People like you are why so many others are at the place they are at now.” Virion said, before he quickly struck the ground. Grimm gasped.

"You didn't!"

"No point in trying. I'll be taking the mayor." Virion said walking away from the group. The ground began to shake.

"What's happening?" One of the boys panickingly asked.

“The village is collapsing.” Grimm answered. They all started to run away finding the closest exit. However Grimm came to the unconscious bodies of the soldiers. “VIRION! WHAT ABOUT YOUR MEN!?”

Virion didn’t respond. Grimm took the chance, even with the ground beneath him breaking apart. He created a large ice bowl. Then lifted each of the men inside, and carried the bowl over his head. He continued to run outside of the village. The bowl was left at a safe distance from the collapsed village.

Grimm and the rest continued to run, back towards the horses. However, Ezra was not with the group. While the potion had helped him back up, it didn’t heal the damage from his small battle with Virion. Grimm looked in horror. Ezra was still somewhere in the collapse village. He dashed back. Hoping to find the young man. However, as soon as he got close, Ezra was pulling himself from the wreckage, even more damaged than before.

“Ezra!” Grimm yelled. He quickly grabbed him and put him over his shoulders. He sprinted away from the wreckage, following behind the others.

“Holy shit, he’s beat up!” One of the boys yelled.

“Let’s hurry back to the horses!” Grimm ordered. However Katreena stopped and was looking back. Grimm turned, hoping Virion wasn’t following them, but it was much worse. Airships. Tons of them. Flying over the Freelands. Virions was not joking about reinforcements. “Shit!”

Grimm thought about everything happening at once. Ezra was in critical condition, numerous Serx Knights were invading, and they were hours away from Cloudwick.

“Pops, what now!” One of the boys asked, scared. Grimm knew a battle was coming. And despite it all. They would need every fighter they could get. He alone could take an army, but just himself was not enough to save the whole Freelands.

“Alright here’s what we need to do. Katreena take the boys and the villagers back to Cloudwick. Take the cloudroad. I’ll go to Dustgarde and spread the word to Granius. Katreena, when you get there, tell Benneb to put the shields up so they can’t enter the village.” Grimm stated.

“What about you?” Katreena asked.

“I need to take care of Ezra. If i try to get back to Cloudwick he wont make it, plus there isn’t much we can do there.”

“I…..know…..somewhere.” Ezra faintly said.

“What?” Grimm replied.

“There…….is…...secret…..village….” Ezra said again. He lifted his head slightly. “Katreena….tell...Anabelle….I’ll be…….in Fayspell.” His head dropped again.

“Fayspell? This isn't the time for games, kid.”

“I don’t think he’s playing. Grimm. We should listen to him.” Katreena came in with. Grimm complied.

“Fine. Hurry back. Make sure all of them get to safety. Give them the horses the rest of you go on foot!” Grimm ordered. The boys and Katreena ran off with the villagers. “Alright kid, where’s this secret village?” Grimm asked.

“It’s before Dustgarde.” A voice said. Emerging from the trees. Grimm turned, and before him was a tall woman, even taller than Katreena, her sky covered hair tied into buns, and her large staff that was similar to her own height.

“Irene….” Ezra faintly said, before completely falling unconscious.