Nicholai stared at the three figures before him. Vesta, the girl he helped, and two others he was unacquainted with. Either or, he wanted an explanation.

“Vesta! What’s happening?” Nicholai screamed, hoping for a response.

“Kid…..run.” He heard a faint voice. It was Benneb, begging the young man to flee while he had the chance.

“No chance. Nimul, get him.” Vesta said quickly. Prompting the other woman who quickly dash at Nicholai. He didn’t know how to react at first. So he just put his staff in a defensive position and the woman stuck it with her leg. The attack made Nicholai slide backwards. He now knew something was afoot, and had to put a stop to them even if alone. He raised his staff.

“Muse 6: Geometry!” Nicholai casted his spell. The rubble from the club started to lift and come to his call. Large chunks of the building flew directly in front of the woman before each of her attacks could land. However this wasn’t the full idea. As each piece would gather around not just Nimul, but would trap Vesta in a box, and restrain the fire giant.

His efforts broke immediately. The fire giant broke from the restraints. He then brought his sword down to the mage. Nicholai quickly reacted. He summoned more water as a barrier. It douse the flames. Completely putting out the flames and making the sword dissolve away. He then pushed all the water into the giant. Making it disappear and leaving behind the body of Sera.

The box holding Vesta started to be cut by a white beam. She appeared out.

“Nicholai. Seems you’re quick witted. But I’d do best not to try and fight us. You won't last very long. Just like you didn’t against Grimm.” Vesta spoke to the sorcerer.

“You’re not Grimm!” Nicholai yelled irritated. He rose his staff again, then slammed it into the ground. This time a huge wave of ice rushed towards them. Sera quickly stood and blasted fire, nullifying it. Vesta then attacked by shooting her beam, which shot directly at Nicholai’s staff, breaking not the staff itself, but the crystal embedded in it. It shattered and the pieces scattered across the floor. Nicholai dropped to his knees. Unable to do anything.

“Grab him as well.” Vesta ordered. Sera moved to Nicholai. He punched the young man in the face. Knocking him unconscious.

Hours passed. Nicholai was moved to the mayor's house. Both were restrained to a wall. Benneb himself was particularly hanging from his arms. Blood still running down his face.

Nicholai awoke. The sun was slightly beginning to rise. He immediately looked up to see the mayor’s home torn apart, all the furniture flipped over or broken. His books on the shelves all opened and were thrown on the floor. Vesta and Nimul were sitting down in silence. Vesta turned and saw Nicholai awake. She stood up, bringing with her something to drink.

“So you’re awake. Here.” She brought the drink to his mouth. Yet he didn’t begin drinking. “Nicholai I have no reason to kill you. Just drink.” Nicholai then began to drink. He emptied the glass, which restored some of his energy.

“What’s going on?” Nicholai asked.

“You haven’t figured it out. We’re spies Nicholai.” Vesta said, before moving to the mayor and slapping his small face, making him jolt awake.

“VESTA! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?” Benneb immediately screamed.

“You know what old man. It’s been 3 long years. We’ve waited for so long for this opportunity.” Vesta began to speak. “I’m sure you told Nicholai the story. Dragging such a handsome young man into this. If he dies it will be all your fault. But he won’t have to. Unless you….give us what we want.”

Benneb started to sweat and he knew exactly what they wanted. “No. Who are you?”

Vesta smirked. “You know me by Vesta, but my true name is Teresa. Third born princess of the Hulion Empire!” Benneb eyes widen and his teeth gritted with anger.

“Hulion Empire. You're from the other empire invading the Freelands.” Nicholai said.

“That’s right. However we had a different mission. We had to bide our time. Waiting to kill two birds with one stone. It was far too easy for us to get on your good side old man. Now. I’m going to make this simple. Where are the blueprints to Genesis?” Vesta questioned. Benneb stared into her eyes angrily.

“You’ll have to get down and suck my cock before I hand over something as valuable as those plans.” Benneb taunted.

“Ha! Even if I could I wouldn’t stoop so low as to do anything with you. Nicholai is more my cup of tea.” Teresa taunted back at the old man. However she knew he wouldn’t give in so easily, so she thought to punish him in a way a man like him would never forget. She took the end of her staff and pressed them on his manhood. Pushing them into the wall, making it excruciating for him. He let out pained screams, and Teresa stayed adamant on torturing him.

Outside, Sera stood guard. He motioned the rest of the villagers back to their homes. Telling them there was nothing to worry about.

“Damn. Why the fuck am I stuck outside? Those two better compensate me for this.” He said to himself. However from this height of the village something else became clear. Someone was approaching the village. A gang of horses which all had unknown people doubled up on them, as well as Grimm’s boys and Katreena. Sera took the elevator down. He greeted them at the gate.

“Welcome back boys. How did the mission go?” Sera asked.

“Not well. There’s a fleet of airships coming this way.” One of the boys answered. Making Sera concerned.

“What about Grimm? And the other boy Ezra?”

“They stayed back. Ezra was in pretty bad shape. Grimm is going somewhere to patch him up.” Katreena said riding in on Anabelle’s back.

“That’s a shame. These the villagers. Bring them in, we’ll get them situated.”

“Where’s Nicholai? I thought maybe he would greet us when we returned.” Anabelle asked the large man.

“Oh the kid’s probably on the upper floor playing around with some of the ladies.”

“Okay. Then what was that cloud of smoke we saw coming from the upper layer. We should go check on him.” Anabelle replied.

“Actually. The top floor is off limits. Mayor said no one's allowed up there because of the incident.” Sera continued to hold them off.

“We have to report to him. If we can’t go up there then tell the old man to come to us.” Katreena forcefully said.

“That-” Sera began, before immediately being cut off.

“Can’t be done as well. Fuck it. I’ll go up myself.” Katreena angrily said, brushing past the man. He quickly grabbed her shoulder.

‘I said no one gets up there.” Sera said forcefully. Anabelle caught wind of the man.

“Katreena!” She yelled. Making the man summon his fire sword and try to attack the girl. But she quickly countered with a defensive kick.

“What the hell is going on here?” The tall fighter asked. The boys turned to see her action.

“What are you doing?” Mokil screamed.

“Something’s not right!” Anabelle yelled. Sera and Katreena bounced back from each other. The girl dashed back forward, bringing forward fast punches and kicks to the man. He was quickly deflecting or dodging them. Yet Katreena managed to keep up rather simply.Sera took an open window, and punched her right in the stomach. His fist then erupted fire, switch blasted Katreena back, knocking her down. The girl twitched her body in pain.

Seeing this, the boys drew their weapons and charged at the man. They all attacked him together. Yet their attacked too were nothing for him, as he evaded each and every one of them. However he was the least of their worries. Nimul emerged and started to attack them as well. Completely immobilizing them then knocking them unconscious.

‘Good work. Looks like Grimm is still somewhere out there. As well as Ezra. We should report this to Princess Teresa.” Sera said to Nimul as they looked over the fallen bodies.

Katreena crawled over to Anabelle. And tried to mount the stead. Nimul caught her in time and knocked her off.

“Not so fast darling. Let’s lock them up.” Sera laughed at all the weaklings in his eyes. Until. He heard the boys heavy breaths. They were all standing up again. This time. Each of them had the potion made by Vesta in their hands. Both of them.

“GO!” Mokil yelled out to Katreena. The boys all then drank both potions simultaneously. And gained impressive strength.

“Impossible. Those potions were supposed to be useless. Teresa specifically sabotaged them so they wouldn’t work.” Sera yelled out in confusion.

“How are they getting this strength?” Nimul asked frightened, as each of the boys weapons were imbued with the element of ice.

‘It doesn’t matter. Should we kill them?” Sera asked menacingly.

“No. I’d rather not be brutally murdered by Grimm.” Nimul answered.

“Fine. Then let’s keep knocking them down until they stay that way.” Sera finished as he and Nimul charged at the boys, and they did the same.

Katreena mounted Anabelle in pain and started to ride away on the horse. Anabelle ran as fast as possible. She knew going back up the mountain may cause her to lose energy, but things were different now. She had to push through. In order to save everyone.